Improvements in Apparatus for Carburetting or Enriching Gas or Air.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1893-Accepted, 17th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Carburetting or Enriching Gas
or Air.
We, JAMES LOVE, of 2 Larman Villas, Linton Road, Barking, in the County
of Essex, Gas Engineer, and DYSON WESTON of 138, Leadenhall Street, in the
City of London, Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for carburetting or enriching
gas or air in small or large quantities. Our said invention comprizes moreover
various improvements hereinafter set forth. In carrying our said invention into
practice, we provide a cylindrical vessel with a loose cover at each end containing
a gland in the centres thereof. In the inside of the said cylinder, we place a wire
basket or drum with eight or more fans of the same material, this drum of wire
work is attached to a hollow casting with a square hole through the centre and
through this hole we pass a square spindle or shaft turned true at each end these
turned ends pass through the glands of the cylinder covers and the said covers are
then bolted to the ends of the cylinder.
On each side of this cylinder are short pipes with flanges, and are placed in the
centre of the cylinder and connected by a chamber running from one end to the
other of the cylinder, this chamber is to spread the gas in the cylinder equal from
one end to the other to prevent the gas geting through without being enriched.
On the bottom side of cylinder there is also a chamber as before described with a
small pipe and flange which are connected with a valve and pipe to a sealed tank
fitted with a screw plug, also a gun-metal valve, this tank is herein termed a
"purge
tank" and is for taking the heavy oils from the cylinder or chamber. On the top
side of the cylinder is provided a half round recess and on the swell of this recess
we fix one or more gun-metal pumps with stuffing box or gland at top through
which works a metal plunger, on one side of this is an inlet with a union for
connection. The bottom of this pump is solid with a thread cut upon it so as to
screw in a tapped hole in the swell on top of cylinder.
The bottom of the pump projects down into the swell and is perforated with
small holes on the outside edge so as to form a vapourizer when more than one of
these vapourizers are used they are placed at any required position on the cylinder.
On the top of the cylinder is attached a metal frame having bearings at each end
through which works a small shafting one end has fitted upon it a number of various
size pullys like the pullys of a lathe head and on the before mentioned shafting of
the cylinder we fix similar pully wheels. A band or strap is placed over one wheel
and over the opposite pully on the other shafting. At the other end of the
cylinder on the large shafting we fit a tight and loose pully, over the tight pully
passes a band and on to a pully on the spindle of a gas exhauster or any other
motive power. The small shaft on top of the cylinder has eccentric fixed upon it
and the bands of these eccentric are connected to the plungers of the pumps,
placed a few feet above the cylinder upon the before mentioned framework or in
any other suitable place is a sealed tank with a large plug at the top and also
a gun-metal valve and union connected with which is a pipe bending over the side
of the tank and passing down towards the ground with a valve on the end, this
said pipe is termed the "charging pipe" for filling the tank with liquid. Another
small valve is connected to the tank with a pipe connected to the main. At
the lower part of the aforesaid tank is another valve and pipe this pipe is fixed on
to the frame-work of the cylinder and is connected with a pipe running length
ways with the cylinder; valves are put in this pipe to suit the number of vapourizers
ΓΟ
gas

page_text: each of these valves are connected by suitable means to a glass cylinder and a tube
from the valve projects well down into this cylinder so that it can be seen at the
bottom, part
this cylinder has also a cover with a tube standing up in the centre
and into this tube is fitted a glass funnel across the top of which is placed some
very fine gauze wire and on the outside of the bottom cover is a union joint
connected to which is a pipe connected to a three way valve, the plug of which has
two ports only at right angles to each other, the last mentioned pipe is connected
by a union joint to the left hand side of the three way cock, and the right hand
union and pipe is connected by a valve to the gas main, and the centre union joint
is connected by a pipe to the union joint on the before mentioned vapourizer, and
in a like manner to any number that may be required.
When fixed this apparatus lies horizontally with the ends right and left hand.
The centre flange in side of cylinder which is called the inlet is connected by a
pipe and valve with the gas main, this gas main runs under the apparatus and is
provided with a stop valve. The flange pipe at the other side called the outlet is
connected to the gas main in a like manner as the inlet pipe.
We will now describe the method of working this invention.
The valve on the gas pipe connecting the main with the storage tank must be
opened and the valve in the bottom of the same tank shut, a sealed tank of liquid
is then connected to the pipe which hangs down from the storage tank and when
this is connected the valves on the two drums are open and is pressed into the
lower tank which forces the liquid into the top tank the gas in the said top tank
being forced back into the main. After the storage tank is full the valves
connecting the two tanks must be closed then the lower empty tank may be taken
away. A gauge glass may be fitted to the storage tank to indicate the level of the
liquid therein then the valve at the bottom of the storage tank is turned on and
the liquid is seen running through the small cock in the glass chamber to drop on
the gauze and through into the funnel below the cock on the top of the glass
chamber is the one to regulate the desired quantity of liquid so that by this means
any desired amount of carburation may be obtained, the liquid passes through this
funnel and the pipe in to the three way cock, the plug of which is turned so as to
stop the gas passage this gas passage is to admit gas into the pump, when the liquid
is shut off by the three way cock and open the liquid passage, in the outlet of this
three way cock along through the pipe and along into the vapourizer. Now the
axle is turned by means of the exhauster or otherwise, the inlet and outlet gas
valves being previously opened; and the centre valve on the main closed, this is
done when all the gas has to be enriched by working these valves, all or any part
of the gas may be enriched, this turning of the drum or axle imparts a motion to
the small shaft on top of the cylinder and so works the plungers by means of the
eccentric and forces the liquid out of the vapourizers through the small holes in the
form of very fine vapour, this vapour falling down in the chamber while the gas is
passing through, a portion of the vapour is carried away by the gas, the other
portion falling into the wire work, and a small portion falling into the cylinder,
that which falls to the bottom of the cylinder being again picked up by the
revolving wire drum, it is again and again picked up by the wire drum, the drum
is turned in the opposite direction to the flow of gas, the said drum being of wire
all of which is wet with hydrocarbon it causes the gas to be perfectly carburetted
any increase or decrease of carburation may be obtained by turning on or off more
of the liquid which is seen running through the glass vessel and the heavy
hydrocarbons which are not carried off by the gas are run off into a tank when
required, and may be emptied at any time. This tank has a pipe from the top into
the side of the carburetting chamber to form over flow for the chamber and vent
for the purge tank, it has also a stop valve fitted to it.
It may be found in gas works that there is not sufficient room to place the large
carburetting chamber, we prefer to dispence with the carburetting chamber and
connect the fittings to there present and future exhausters and in this way the
carburation may be obtained.

page_text: It will be apparant that by a simple modification this apparatus or principal
parts thereof may be applied by other means of motion, for instance; by clock
work, water, or any other motive power, or it may be made to work by the flow of
gas through the main, in this case half the fans or plates may be used so that the
gas drives them round like a water gas meter and so work the vapourizer, this may
be very convenient for gas companies as they may place a carburetter any distance
from the works, and the machine will operate by the flow of gas.
Dated this 17th day of November 1892.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, W., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Carburetting or Enriching Gas
or Air.
We, JAMES LOVE, 2 Larman Villas, Linton Road, Barking in the County of
Essex, Gas Engineer, and DYSON WESTON of 138 Leadenhall Street, in the City
of London, Merchant, 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 improvements in apparatus for carburetting or enriching
gas or air in small or large quantities.
In order that our said invention may be clearly understood we will now proceed
to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein
Figure 1 is an end elevation, with a part in section, of an improved carburetting-
apparatus constructed according to this invention,
Figure 2 is an elevation at right angles to Figure 1,
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a longitudinal central section and an end
elevation of a detail of the machine to be hereinafter particularly explained;
these views are on a larger scale than Figures 1 and 2.
Like reference-letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the carburetting chamber. B B are pumps or vaporizers supported upon
the carburetting chamber and employed for a purpose hereinafter fully explained.
C is a supply tank whence the carburetting material is supplied to the said
pumps B which deliver it to the interior of the chamber A in the manner hereinafter
set forth.
D is a "
purge " tank situated below the carburetting chamber and employed to
receive the heavy hydrocarbon deposit and other residual matter from the said
carburetting chamber.
The carburetting chamber A is cylindrical and at each end is provided with a
removable cover A'. AA are glands provided in the said covers A'. A shaft E
passes through the said glands A2 and centrally through the chamber A. Within
the said chamber a drum F is firmly secured upon the said shaft. The said drum
is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. It is perforated as at F' so as to displace as little
of the contents of the chamber as is possible.
Radial frames F are secured to the said drum as shown, and to the said
frames F sheets F' of wire gauze perforated metal or other suitable material are.
securely fastened, to constitute radial wings or paddles. The ends of the said
radial wings or paddles are connected by a circumferential winding F of wire
gauze or the like;. the said winding is supported by the aforesaid wings or paddles
so that it forms a polygonal or approximately cylindrical casing therefor, open at
its ends. E' E' are fast and loose pulleys upon one end of the shaft E so that the
said shaft can be conveniently operated from any suitable source of power. E' is a
pulley upon the other end of the shaft E to enable the said shaft to operate, by
means of a belt, the pumps B hereinbefore referred to. Upon opposite sides of the
chamber A small chambers G and H are formed. They are in communication with

page_text: the interior of the chamber A by long narrow openings G' H' which extend across
the full width of the cylinder wall.
.
G'H' are respectively inlet and outlet passages of the chambers G and H for
the gas treated in the chamber A. In the gas main with which our said improved
apparatus is connected we provide a valve at a suitable point and at one side of the
said point we connect a supply pipe from the main to the inlet G²; at the other side
of the said point we make a delivery connection from the outlet H², to the main.
By means of the said valve and connections either the whole or a portion of the gas
flowing in the main can be passed through the carburetting apparatus. At the
bottom of the chamber A is a drainage pocket A3 which is connected by a pipe I
with a suitable valve I' therein, to the tank D. The said tank is fitted with a
screw plug D' which closes an opening through which a pump can be introduced to
withdraw the contents of the tank. D is a drain pipe connecting the chamber A
and the tank D so that any excessive accumulation of liquid in the chamber A can
drain into the tank. D' is a vent pipe which connects the tank D with the
chamber A; the pipe D' communicates with the chamber A at a higher level than
does the pipe D³.
At the top of the cylinder A is a cavity A' the wall of which forms a base to
which three similar pumps or vaporizers B are secured. One of the said pumps or
vaporizers is shown in vertical central section in Figure 1 whence it may be seen
that the bottom of each pump is provided with a perforated diaphragm B through
the perforations B³ of which, communication between the interior of the pump
barrel and the interior of the cavity A* and consequently of the cylinder A, is
afforded.
B³ are the pump plungers. B are the pump stuffing boxes, the glands B³ of
which are provided with channels B to retain a small quantity of glycerine in
contact with the plungers during their working. The said glycerine being of high
specific gravity forms a seal to prevent leakage past the plungers and moreover
coats the said plungers each time that they emerge from the pump barrels, thus
preventing the escape of fluid from the interior of the said barrels into the
outer air.
J is a metal frame placed upon the chamber A to support the tank C. The
tank C is sealed. It has a suitable plug C₁ in an opening at the top and also a
pipe connection C' with the gas main. The connection C has suitable cocks
such as C therein. C is a pipe leading from the top of the tank towards the
ground; it has a valve C' therein and is employed for charging the tank C with
the carburetting liquid as hereinafter specified. C is a valve placed in the top of
the tank C and arranged to open inward; it is normally kept closed by the spring C
which is so regulated that it will effect the opening of the valve to allow air at
atmospheric pressure to pass into the tank C whenever the pressure within the tank
falls to, say, three or four pounds below the pressure upon the exterior of the same.
The said frame is provided with bearings Jin which a crank-shaft K turns.
said crank-shaft is provided at one end with a speed cone K¹ by means of which it
may be operated by a belt from the aforesaid pulley Es upon the shaft E, to
reciprocate the pump plungers B' by means of connecting rods L.
The
For the crank shaft K I may substitute a straight shaft to operate the pump
plungers by eccentrics and eccentric-rods.
M M are pipes having suitable valves M¹ therein; the said pipes connect the
tank C with sight-feed glasses N into which they extend so that their lower ends
are visible. The said lower ends of the pipes M deliver liquid from the tank C
upon sheets of wire gauze N¹ placed over the mouths of glass funnels N'. Each
said funnel is connected directly with the pumps or vaporizers B by pipes M³
arranged to deliver the liquid which passes through the gauzė sheets N' and
funuels N into the pump barrels through an orifice B' in each which is normally
kept closed by the pump plunger, that is to say, is situated high up in the side of
the barrel so as to be opened only when the pump plunger is near the upper end of
its stroke.

page_text: Suitable gauges are fitted upon the tanks and the chamber A in order to enable
the height of the liquid contents thereof to be conveniently observed.
We will now proceed to describe the operation of the said improved apparatus.
At the commencement, the cocks C³ in the pipe C³ must be opened, and the
valves M' closed. A closed tank or drum fitted with a suitable coupling and valve
and containing carburetting liquid, is then connected, by a suitable union, with the
pipe C when this connection is effected air is pumped into the tank of car-
buretting liquid so that the said liquid is forced up the pipe C into the tank C.
Any vapour in the top tank is displaced therefrom and delivered into the gas main
by the pipe C. When the tank Ċ is full the valve C in the pipe C is closed, the
emptied tank or drum is disconnected from the said pipe and the valves C³ are
closed. It will be seen from the foregoing description that there is no opportunity
for the escape of vapour into the atmosphere during the operation of charging the
tank C, or during any portion of the subsequent working of the apparatus,
consequently there is no offensive smell; and further, it is an advantageous
feature of our invention that the vapour displaced from the tank C and useful
for the enrichment of the gas, is not lost but delivered into the mains as
aforesaid.
The carburetting liquid from the charged tank C is delivered by way of the
pipes M upon the gauze N' in each sight-feed glass N, and passes through the said
gauze sheets into and through. the funnels N³ into the barrels of the pumps B by
the orifice B' in each.
The rate of flow through the sight-feed chambers is regulated by adjusting the
valves M'.
The shaft E is now rotated, turning the radial wings or paddles F³ and the
circumferential casing or drum F*, and simultaneously imparting rotation to the
shaft K, which latter reciprocates the plungers B³. The liquid delivered by
the pipes M² into the pumps or vaporizers B mingles with the gas drawn thereinto
during the upstroke and the highly-enriched charge thus obtained is forced by the
said plungers through the perforated diaphragms B' into the chamber A, while the
gas treated issues thereinto from the inlet G in a broad thin current.
A portion of the said charge is carried away in the said current; the remaining
portion is retained in the chamber A. either in a gaseous form or as a film or
coating upon the wirework of the drum and wings.
Any of the said charge which collects as a liquid at the bottom of the cylinder,
as will occur, for instance, when the supply of liquid to the pumps or vaporziers is
in excess is picked up from time to time by the paddles F3 and drum F4, which,
being thus kept wet, bring the enriching liquid into intimate contact with the gas
and cause it to be perfectly carburetted; the direction of rotation of the said drum
is indicated by an arrow in Figure 1.
Any increase or decrease of carburation may be obtained by regulating the flow
of carburetting liquid by the valves M. Any liquid in excess in the chamber is
carried off by the pipe D' into the tank D and the heavy hydrocarbon may be
drawn off through the pipe I from time to time as may be necessary. Obviously
we may charge the supply tank C by any suitable means other than those herein-
before described.
It may be found in some gas works that there is not sufficient room in which to
place the large carburetting chamber A. We prefer in such a case to dispense with
the carburetting chamber and combine our improved apparatus with an exhauster;
and in this way the carburetting may be obtained.
It will be apparent that our said improved apparatus can be driven by any
suitable means, for instance by clockwork, water, or any other motive power, or it
may be made to work by the flow of gas through the main; in the latter case half
the number of fans or paddles F3 may be made as hollow chambers so that the gas
drives them round like a water gas-meter, and so works the vaporiser; this may be
very convenient for gas companies as they may place a carburetter any distance
from the works and the machine will operate by the flow of gas therethrough.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :-
1. The combination with a chamber through which air or gas is caused to flow, of
means whereby a charge of carburetting or enriching medium or a charge of highly-
carburetted or highly-enriched gas is delivered, thereinto, and a paddle drum
rotatable in the said chamber, to mingle the gas or air and the said charge for the
purpose specified.
2. The combination with a chamber through which air or gas is caused to flow, of
a pump or vaporiser having a perforated barrel, and having a feed inlet arranged
so as to be kept closed by the plunger except when the latter is near the end of its
out-stroke, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with a chamber through which air or gas is caused to flow, of
pumps for delivering a carburetting or enriching medium thereinto, and sight-feed
devices for indicating the flow of the said medium substantially as hereinbefore
described.
4. A sight-feed apparatus constructed substantially as hereinbefore described and
operating as and for the purpose specified.
5. The combination with a carburetting-chamber, of the supply tank having a
spring-loaded valve, the purge tank, and the arrangement of pipe connections for
the said tanks, substantially as hereinbefore described for the purposes specified.
6. The improved apparatus for carburetting or enriching gas or air, substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of July 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.