Improvements in Jet Apparatus for Propelling Air or other Fluids.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890)
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Jet Apparatus for Propelling Air or other
Fluids.
A communication from abroad from LOUIS SCHUTTE, of the City and County of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.L.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 invention relates to that class of apparatus used for exhausting and blowing
purposes known under the generic name of "jet apparatus." Such apparatus in its
various forms consists essentially of a nozzle from which an actuating jet of steam, air
or gas is projected through a series of so called "mixing nozzles of successively
increasing area provided with openings through which the air or other fluid to be
moved is admitted.
The aims of the invention are primarily to effect an automatic regulation of the
apparatus and secure a uniform action and rate of delivery under the varying
conditions encountered in practice, and, second, to simplify the construction and
facilitate access to the interior of the apparatus.
The first improvement is based upon the fact that the volume of the discharge from
the apparatus bears a definite relation to the velocity of the current, and this without
regard to variations in the counter pressure or pressure against which the discharge is
effected. The actuating jet is therefore governed by the velocity of the current
passing through the throat or mixing nozzle of the apparatus. This is accomplisheil
by utilizing the current to produce a vacuum and, consequently, by an increasing or
diminishing discharge from the actuating nozzle.
Mr. Schutte is aware that efforts have been made to control the actuating jet through
mechanism actuated by the pressure at the delivery end of the apparatus, but, as this
pressure will vary according to variations in the resistance or counter pressure against
which the discharge is effected without reference to the rate or volume of discharge,
the action is not in all cases satisfactory. The essence of the invention resides in the
fact that the velocity is utilized as a means of governing the jet as distinguished from
the pressure of the current.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section through an apparatus provided with the
automatic means for regulating the steam jet.
Figure 2 is a similar section through the apparatus provided with means for
automatically regulating the steam jet and also with automatic means for changing
the area of the air nozzles.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus as shown in the preceding figures, with
a portion in section on the line 3-3 of Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 is a vertical central section through the steam admission device of
Figures 1 and 2, the section being taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a like view showing the same parts in slightly modified form.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the steam-controlling spindle and its actuating
pinion.
Figure 7 is a vertical section illustrating the steam-controlling spindle and adjacent
parts in a modified form adapted more particularly for apparatus of large size.
Figures 8 and 9 are vertical sections illustrating the mode of suspending the blower
na stack or chimney.

page_text: Figure 10 is a cross-section on the line 10-10 of Figure 9.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2,
A represents the nozzle through which the actuating jet is delivered, commonly
known as the "actuating nozzle," B BB2 B3 are the series of mixing nozzles of
successively increasing area, arranged to discharge each into the next, with annular
openings between them for the admission of the air or other fluid to be moved,
C is a discharge nozzle jointed at its smaller end to the smaller or delivery end
of the last mixing nozzle B. D is a casing surrounding the series of nozzles.
The foregoing parts, as regards their general construction, arrangement and
operation, are the same as those now in general use.
In order to secure an automatic governing action, the actuating nozzle A is
provided with a tapered controlling spindle, a, formed with a rack, a¹, engaging
the pinion a, on the end of a horizontal shaft a³, which is projected outward
through a surrounding tube a*, and provided at its outer end with a crank-wheel
or arm a, connected, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, by a link a, to one end of
a link a, which is mounted on a central fulcrum and provided at its opposite
end with an adjustable weight as, which tends to open the throttle and increase
the volume of the actuating jet.
This lever is connected at its unweighted end to a piston a* by a rod a
mounted in a fixed cylinder ao, the lower end of which is closed and connected
to a tube a", which leads into the apparatus at or near the throat, that is to say,
at or near the smaller end of the last mixing nozzle where the current, passing
through the apparatus, travels with its greatest velocity.
When the apparatus is operating in the proper manner there is no pressure at
the throat. The current, passing the mouth of the pipe all with a high velocity,
has an exhausting effect and produces a vacuum therein causing the piston to
descend, and, overcoming the weight, hold the throttle of the actuating nozzle in
a nearly closed position. This condition of affairs continues as long as the jet is
sufficient to maintain the proper rate of discharge. If, however, by reason of an
increased counter-pressure or other cause, the jet becomes insufficient to maintain
the discharge, the velocity of the current through the throat will be diminished
in degree, and as a consequence the weight will act to open the throttle. The
extent of this opening movement will bear an exact relation to the degree of the
vacuum, which will in turn bear a definite relation to the velocity of the current.
The opening of the throttle will be continued until the velocity of the current
through the throat of the apparatus is raised to the proper limit. By adjusting
the weight so that it offers more or less resistance, the discharge apparatus may
be regulated as required.
A pipe, tapped into the side of the throat so that the current passes across its
nozzle, is the most simple contrivance within the inventor's knowledge for pro-
ducing a vacuum or suction by means of a rapidly moving current may be employed
in place of this pipe.
While Mr. Schutte prefers to employ the weight as a means of opening the valve, it
will, of course, be understood that a spring may be substituted in the manner shown
in dotted lines in Figure 3, or in any other appropriate manner.
$6
As the connections for operating the throttle are operated by means of a vacuum,
they are for convenience of reference hereinafter designated simply as the
mechanism."
vacuum
Referring to the apparatus represented in Figure 2, the throttle for the actuating jet
and the vacuum mechanism connected therewith are identical with those represented in
the preceding figures. As an additional means, however, of governing the action of the
apparatus, the inlet openings to the last mixing nozzle B3 are provided with balanced
inwardly opening valves E, which may be of any appropriate construction, and which
in the form shown are sustained by weighted links e. When the apparatus is working
effectively and to the best advantage, these valves are opened by the inflowing air.
When, however, the velocity of the current is diminished so that the suction through
the opening ceases, the valves close automatically and the end of the nozzle B³ becomes

page_text: in effect the throat of the apparatus. In order to maintain the proper vacuum when
the valves are thus closed, the branch of the vacuum pipe a¹² is tapped into the
nozzle B³ near its delivery end. This branch and also the main pipe are provided with
stop valves a¹s and a".
It will be observed that the device for moving the throttle may be modified in the
details of construction at will. In Figures 1 and 4 the actuating nozzle is screwed in
to the end of the steam-supply pipe F, cast integral with the case or shell which
encloses the throttle and its actuating pinions. The tube a surrounding the pinion
shaft is screwed into the shell just mentioned. The steam pipe and the tube are
threaded at their outer ends, passed through holes in the surrounding shell D, and
secured by nuts or collars d. In Figure are shown the steam-supply pipe, the shell
to enclose the throttle, and the tube to enclose the pinion shaft, as cast integral with
the outer shell or casing D.
When the apparatus is of large size, it is found advisable to utilize the steam
pressure for moving the throttle, and in Figure 7 a construction to this end is
represented. The throttle or spindle has an axial opening therethrough and is
provided at the upper end with a piston a, mounted in a cylinder a¹ which receives
the stean, at its upper end through a port a", from the steam-supply pipe. This port
or passage a¹ is controlled by a secondary throttle a¹ which has its operating spindle
or handle connected to link a', which is in turn connected with a weighted lever and
a piston of a vacuum apparatus in the form and manner shown in Figures 2 and 3.
When the velocity of the current through the apparatus diminishes, lessening the
vacuum, the secondary throttle a is closed and the steam in the cylinder, escaping
through the central opening in the main throttle, permits the latter to be opened by
the pressure of the steam on the underside of the piston a¹.. On the contrary, an
increase in the vacuum, due to an increased velocity of the current through the
apparatus, will cause the secondary throttle a¹8 to open, allowing live steam to pass
into the cylinder above the piston a¹. Whenever this inflow of steam is greater than
the discharge through the central opening of the main throttle, the latter ceases.
It will be observed that this piston mechanism is simply an equivalent for the rack
and pinion shown in the preceding figures for moving the throttle.
In constructing the apparatus, it is proposed to cast the discharge nozzle C, the last
mixing nozzle B and the support for the next mixing nozzle B', as shown in Figure 1,
complete in one piece with an external flange 62 to receive and sustain the casing D.
This construction greatly simplifies the apparatus, avoids numerous joints attending
the ordinary construction, and admits of the parts being quickly separated to give
access to the interior.
In making use of the apparatus in furnace stacks and chimneys, it is proposed to
suspend the same in position to discharge vertically by means of arms or stays G, see
Figure 8, extended upward and outward and secured to the inner walls of the stack.
These arms stand in vertical planes at right angles to the steam-pipe and throttle,
enclosing the tubes, which are extended through the walls of the stack or chimney as
shown in Figure 10. By this simple arrangement of parts, the apparatus is held
firmly in position and slight obstruction offered to the passage of the ascending
currents around the same.
In the apparatus, as shown in Figure 8, the discharge nozzle C is omitted.
Figure 9 shows the apparatus sustained in the chimney in essentially the same
manner as in Figure 8, but with a contracted throat above the same to serve the
purpose of the discharge nozzle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a jet apparatus, and in combination with its actuating nozzle and one or more
mixing nozzles, a throttle to control the delivery from the actuating nozzle and a
vacuum mechanism to control the throttle actuated by the current passing through the
apparatus.

page_text: 2. In a jet apparatus, a throttle to control its actuating jet, a pipe leading into the
interior of the apparatus in position to be exhausted by the outgoing current, and an
intermediate mechanism substantially as shown through which the vacuum is applied
to operate the throttle.
3. In a jet apparatus, comprising the actuating and mixing nozzles, the throttle, the
weight of its equivalent tending to close the throttle, and the vacuum mechanism to
open the throttle, constructed and arranged to be exhausted by the current passing
from the nozzles.
4. In a jet apparatus, the throttle to control the actuating jet, its rack bar, the
pinion, pinion shaft, and crank on the shaft, in combination with the weighted lever,
the cylinder and piston, and the pipe connected at one end to the cylinder and exposed
at the other end to the passing current in the apparatus.
5. In a jet apparatus, the exhausting nozzle, the final mixing nozzle, the support
for a second nozzle, and the support for the external casing all cast in one piece as
described and shown.
Dated this 25th day of August 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.