IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF MIXING GASES AND VAPOUR, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Jackson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th April 1865.
I, WILLIAM JACKSON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF MIXING GASES AND VAPOUR, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to an improved vaporizer which consists of two
apparatus, the one for producing a current of the aeriform fluid which is
required to be charged with vapour, and the other for charging the aeriform
fluid with the vapour. The first apparatus it is preferred to designate as the
air machine, and the second the charger. The air machine consists of an
outer case containing water or other liquid, in which revolves a drum having
a hollow axis. The drum is divided into chambers by divisions in line with
the axis, and running from the circumference of the hollow axis to the
circumference of the drum, or these divisions may be arranged diagonally and
extending from side to side, or situated in any other suitable manner. These
chambers have openings at one side for the entrance, and at the other side for
exit of the aeriform fluid. The openings are formed by the sides of the
chambers being placed diagonally and continued, so as to overlap the sides of
the adjoining chamber to such a distance that when one side of any given

page_text: chamber is submerged to a required depth the other shall begin to rise out of
the water, and also that when the sides are in these positions the water
shall begin to flow into the chamber and expel the aeriform fluid. The
chambers and slits do not occupy. all the width of the drum, but there is a
portion left vacant at the side, in which stands a tube passing through the
side of the drum at the axis, and the top of which is above the level of the
water, for the conveyance of the aeriform fluid pressed out of the chambers.
In cases where it is required to charge atmospheric air this vacant space is
only necessary at one side, but in cases where any other aeriform fluid is to be
charged it is necessary to have a like space and tube on the other side for the
purpose of drawing in the gas to be charged. The number of chambers is
entirely a matter of discretion, taking into account relatively the required
pressure and the diameter of the drum; but in cases where few chambers
are used it will be well to have openings in the side or sides of the drum at
the axis to assist the water in keeping a uniform level. The charger is a
case divided into two parts by a division parallel to the top and bottom,
into which division are fixed tubes running down towards the bottom of the
case. These tubes are closed at the lower end, but holes are punctured through
the circumference. Each tube is enclosed in one or more tubular wicks
fastened to the tube above the holes and closed at the bottom by tying or in any
other suitable manner, and in order to procure thorough distribution of the
aeriform fluid to be charged spiral wires having a diameter slightly exceeding
that of the outside of the tubes are inserted between the tubes and the wicks
surrounding the former and within the latter. If it is desired to more fully
saturate the aeriform fluid with the vapour of liquid the wicks surrounding
each tube may be increased in number by again slipping over the first wick a
spiral wire slightly larger in diameter and then another wick fastened as before,
and so on, the spiral wires and tubular wicks gradually increasing in diameter.
The air machine and vaporizer are connected by a conduit pipe from the former
as already described, and entering the vaporizer above the division referred to,
and the vaporizer is further furnished with an exit pipe placed as far as
convenient from the entrance, and further the tubes nearest the entrance
have slightly more or larger holes punctured in them than those nearer the
exit pipe.