Improvements in and relating to Means for Venting Casks and similar Vessels, with a View to Preventing the Accidental Ignition of the Liquid Contents, when Inflammable.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1899-Accepted, 9th Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Means for Venting Casks and
similar Vessels, with a View to Preventing the Accidental
Ignition of the Liquid Contents, when Inflammable.
I, FERDINAND HENZE, Chemist, of Salzkotten, near Paderborn, in the Empire of
Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The device about to be described serves to prevent explosions in vessels filled
with liquids of a dangerous character, owing to their liability to become ignited.
The device is so constructed as to be capable of insertion into the vessel in the
same way as a plug, and during the transport of the vessel will keep the same
completely closed, whilst on emptying the vessel, the gases that may have become
developed will be allowed to escape at a certain determined degree of pressure.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 represents, in longitudinal section, a vessel provided with an apparatus
or device of the kind specified.
Fig. 2 represents the same apparatus on a larger scale.
Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line A-A of Fig. 2; and
Fig. 4 is a modified form of said apparatus or device.
As seen readily from the accompanying drawing, the device consists of a
cylinder, formed of wire-net of a somewhat fine mesh, and made from any
suitable metal or alloy and closed at the lower end.
Within the wire-net cylinder a is a protecting shield b, which is provided with
perforations and projections, the latter being so arranged that no damage can
be caused to the cylinder a through the protecting piece or body b. At its upper
portion the cylinder a carries a solid metal tube c, provided (as seen from the
drawing) with a flange d, by means of which the apparatus is secured to the
side of the containing vessel by means of screws in any suitable manner. In the
interior of the tube c is provided a suitable plug f, which will open automatically
at a certain given pressure of gas, and may be of any desired construction. The
upper portion of the tube e is provided with an exterior screw-thread, onto
which screws a protecting cover g, to prevent an accidental opening of the
plug during transport of the containing vessel.
The above described apparatus or device will preferably be made of a length
equal to the diameter of the cask or vessel to which it is to be applied, so that
the lower end of the same may be fastened to the opposite side or wall of the
cask, as may be seen from Fig. 2.
When the cask provided with its protecting screw-cap g is to be emptied, the
protecting cap g is first unscrewed, and then the plug f is removed, so that
the necessary air entering through the tube c can reach the interior of the vessel,
so as to allow of the emptying thereof.
Should, during this operation, any flame strike into this hole or opening, only
that portion of the combustible liquid can become ignited which is inside the

page_text: protecting shield b, or inside the cylinder a, as the passage of the flame to the other
parts of the vessel will be prevented by the wire netting.
After a certain portion of the liquid has been extracted from the vessel,
the plug is replaced in the tube c, so as to prevent the escape of gases generated
by the liquid. If, however, the said gases become collected at an undue pressure,
the plug will be lifted and opened thereby, so that they may freely escape, and
therefore a bursting of the cask or vessel through excessive gas pressure will
be rendered. impossible.
It is not absolutely necessary that the perforations of the protecting shield b
should be formed in the manner shewn at Fig. 2. They may, on the contrary,
be of any suitable shape; for instance, as represented at Fig. 4.
It should be borne in mind, however, in considering the question of shape, that
the wire cylinder might be damaged maliciously from the outside. As already
mentioned, in place of the plug f, there may be a valve of any desired form.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is―
An apparatus or device for the prevention of explosions in vessels filled with
easily ignitable liquids, having the following characteristic features, viz.:—a
wire-net cylinder closed at its lower end, and intended to be secured into the
cask or vessel, the said cylinder being provided with a protecting shield, and
having at its upper end a safety valve, which, during transport of the filled
cask or vessel, is held securely closed by a protecting cover or cap, substantially
as described with reference to the drawing.
Date this 19th love of T..1.. 1000
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.