A New or Improved Apparatus and Process for Directing the Passage and Controlling the Speed of Gases, Air, or Fluids Ascending through other Fluids or Liquids for the Purpose of causing Absorption of said Gases, or for Sterilising or otherwise Treating the Liquids through which the Gases Ad, for Treating Water for Brewing Purposes or Aerating Malt Worts but is also applicable for other purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 8th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 8th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus and Process for Directing the
Passage and Controlling the Speed of Gases, Air, or Fluids
Ascending through other Fluids or Liquids for the Purpose of
causing Absorption of said Gases, or for Sterilising or otherwise
Treating the Liquids through which the Gases Ascend, for
Treating Water for Brewing Purposes or Aerating Malt Worts,
but is also applicable for other purposes.
We, RICHARD GREENSHIELS Ross, Engineer of Ravensleigh, Dowanhill
Gardens, JOSEPH Banks HILLIARD, Surgical Instrument Maker of 65 Renfield
Street, & WILLIAM PATERSON, Manufacturing Chemist of Phoenix Works,
Maryhill, all of Glasgow in the County of Lanark, North Britain, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved apparatus and process for directing
the passage and controlling the speed of gases, air or fluids ascending through other
fluids or liquids for the purpose of causing absorption of said gases or for sterilising
or otherwise treating the liquids through which the gases ascend. The apparatus
enables this to be done at a low pressure thus saving the cost of providing high
pressure machinery to effect the same purpose. It is specially useful in treating
water for brewing purposes or in aerating malt worts but may be utilized for
many other purposes. It also enables the user to determine the length of time
the gas is to be kept in contact with the liquid. The invention is also useful for
the manufacture of solution of sulphurcus acid or bisulphites of any of the
alkalis or their solutions from sulphurous acid gas. For the carbonizing of any
liquid or solution of any caustic body or any soluble salt by carbonic acid gas.
For the manufacture of liquid ammonia from ammoniated gas. For the manufacture
of solution of chlorine or chlorates from chlorine gas, and the manufacture of any
other material which requires a gas or mixed gases to be blown or drawn through
it. Hitherto it has been the practice to blow air or other gases into a tank or
other vessel by a blowing engine very often under high pressure. At the moment
the gases are liberated from the pipe which is bent down to the bottom of the tank,
they at once ascend to the top of the liquid contained in the tank after having
been only in contact a moment with the liquid, resulting in an almost total loss
of the gas used unless by repeated usc. For the purpose of obtaining the full or the
greatest possible benefit of the gases used and to discard the expensive blowing
machinery, we substitute for the ordinary tank generally used, a flat vessel which
we prefer to call an aerator or absorber.
The aerator or absorber consists of one or more inclined planes with guiding
channels on their under surfaces, immersed in the liquid. The gas is liberated
under the lower end of the lowest plane and in its ascent follows the course
of the channels. When it leaves one plane it is caught by the next and 50
on until its virtue is exhausted and it escapes at the surface of the liquid. The
planes may be of any shape, size or material, and may be placed in any receiver,
vat or vessel.
Dated this 4th day of June 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus and Process for Directing the
Passage and Controlling the Speed of Gases, Air, or Fluids
Ascending through other Fluids or Liquids for the Purpose of
causing Absorption of said Gases, or for Sterilising or otherwise
Treating the Liquids through which the Gases Ascend, for
Treating Water for Brewing Purposes or Aerating Malt Worts,
but is also applicable for other purposes.
We, RICHARD GREENSHIELDS Ross, Engineer of Ravensleigh, Dowanhill
Gardens, JOSEPH BANKS HILLIARD, Surgical Instrument Maker, 65 Reufield
Street and WILLIAM PATERSON, Manufacturing Chemist of Phoenix Works
Maryhill all of Glasgow in the County of Lanark, North Britain 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 :-
This invention relates to a new or improved apparatus and process for directing
the passage and controlling the speed for gases, air or fluids ascending or passing
through other fluids or liquids, for the purpose of causing absorption of, or
otherwise treating, said gases or for sterilizing or otherwise treating the liquids or
fluids through which said gases pass. The apparatus enables this to be done with
small expenditure of power at a low pressure, thus saving the cost of providing
high pressure machinery to effect the same or a similar purpose. It is especially
useful for treating water for brewing purposes as described in the Specification of
our former application No. 9165 of 14th May 1892, or in aerating malt worts, but
may be used for many other purposes hereinafter mentioned. It also enables the
user to determine the length of time the moving gas or fluid is to be kept in
contact with the liquid through which it passes. The invention may be used in
the manufacture of solution of sulphurous acid or bi-sulphites of any of the
alkalies or their solutions from sulphurous acid gas. For the carbonizing or other-
wise treating any liquid, or material in the liquid, (such as cauterizing or destroying
organisms etc.), or solution of any caustic body or any soluble salt by carbonic acid
gas. For the manufacture of solutions of chlorine or chlorates from chlorine gas.
For the cooling & cleansing & purifying of lighting gas. For the manufacture of oil
gas, by passing the air or gas through the oil, such as by passing air through petroleum:
oil so as to impregnate the air with petroleum. For the absorption and cleansing of
smoke. For the heating or boiling of fluids by hot air. For the cooling-freezing-
aerating or crystallising of fluids by cold air. For treating molten iron, steel or other
molten metal, or mercury or any material in a fluid state. For absorbing ammonia or
other substances from liquids, gases, or molten metal, or other fluid material. For
condensing, deodorising or otherwise treating sewage, mud, or other thick fluid
material. For use in the making of white lead. For the manufacture and treat-
ment of any other material which requires a gas or mixed gases to be blown or
drawn or forced or guided through other liquid or fluid. Or for passing a fluid
of a light specific gravity through a fluid of heavier gravity, such as oil through
water. Hitherto it has been the practice to force the air or gas into a tank or
other vessel by a blowing engine very often under high pressure, and when the
gases escape from the pipe which is at the bottom of the tank, they at once ascend
to the surface of the liquid contained in the tank, after having been in contact with
the liquid but a short time. This results in almost total loss of the gas used unless
the process is indefinitely repeated. For the purpose of obtaining the greatest
possible benefit from the gases and fluids used, and to obviate the need for
expensive blowing machinery, we substitute for the ordinary apparatus generally
used; the following arrangement which we prefer to call an "absorber."
The absorber may consist of a vessel containing or fitted with one or more
inclined frames or planes, preferably with guiding channels on their under surfaces

page_text: immersed in the liquid. The bottom of receiver should preferably be constructed
as an incline to facilitate the deposition of sediment which will thus fall to the
lower angle and be more easily removed. The gas is liberated in or under the
lower ends of the lowest set of channels and in its passage to the surface follows.
the course of the channels. When it leaves one set of channels it is caught and
guided by the next, and so on, until its virtue is exhausted and it is allowed to-
escape at the surface. The desirable qualities of the gas being thus absorbed by
the fluid through which it passes, or vice versa, as may be considered necessary in
any given process. The frames or planes and channels may be made of any
suitable shape, size or material, and they may be set at any desired angle within:
any suitable receiver, vat or vessel.
But in order that our said invention may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively part cross section and part longitudinal section,
of an apparatus for carrying out our said invention as constructed in accordance
therewith.
Referring to the said drawings, we construct of wood, iron or other material a
vessel or tank A which may be of any desired size and preferably of a rectangular
shape as shown; the said tank A has mounted within it one or more inclined
frames or planes B having a number of guiding channels C formed on or attached
to their under surfaces. The said frames or planes B are suitably mounted and
immersed in the liquid contained in the vessel or tank A so as to enable the gas
being treated giving off its qualities as it passes up along the said channels C; the
said gas is fed or liberated in or under the lower ends of the planes B, by means of
the supply pipes D and branch pipes E, there being preferably one of such branch
pipes E for each channel C. The said brauch pipes E pass through suitable
stuffing boxes and glands F, which are mounted on the top of the vessel or tank A,.
as shown, so as to prevent any gas escaping. After the gas passes up the
channels C, it gets escaping through the liquid which is preferably kept at a level
as indicated by the line G, and which may be maintained by any suitable means,.
the gas after escaping from the liquid passes out through the outlet pipe or pipes H,.
to any desired place. The whole arrangement thus forms an effective and simple
working apparatus, and one which may be used for the various purposes already
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
(1) In apparatus for directing the passage and controlling the speed of gases air
or fluids passing through other fluids or liquids, the process of causing the gas,.
air or fluid to be treated or to treat the liquid to pass in at or under the lower ends
of one or more immersed inclined planes and to pass up through channels and
escape at the top of the fluid or liquid, substantially in the manner as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described.
(2) In apparatus as hereinbefore described, the employment of one or more
inclined planes having channels formed or attached to their under sides sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
(3) The general arrangement and combination of the various parts constituting
the apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.