Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of N° 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Mr Victor Popp, of
10 Rue St Fargeau, Paris, France, Manager of "La Cie des Horloges Pneumatiques")
to be as follows:-
This invention has for object improvements in means or apparatus for the
production, and distribution of compressed air either by canalisation in large
towns, or by smaller installations in workshops, or private establishments. The
compressed air may be utilised in motors, or for any other purpose to which it
is applicable such as refrigeration and ventilation, a constant pressure being
maintained, according to the requirement of the case, at some point of the principal
or secondary conduit of distribution.
Any form of air compressing machine may be employed.
The arrangement of an air compressing and distributing installation capable of
turning out fifty thousand cubic metres of air per hour is represented by way of
example on the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation
and Fig. 2 a plan. The installation is so designed that it may be erected by
instalments and thus the outlay may be gradual and increase with the demand for
the compressed air.
In these two figures A is the building containing the steam engines and the
compressors; B B are the engines; C, C, the air compressors; D the reservoir
house; E, E the compressed air reservoirs; F the pipe from the compressor to the
reservoir; G the main conduit of distribution; H the pressure regulator; I the
boiler house; J J the boilers K K the chimneys; L the coal store; M the offices;
N the mechanics' shop; O the lodge; P the store; Q a weighbridge; R the
building enclosing the well and pumps; S water tank; T the water main.
Figa 3, 4 and 5 give in plan transverse section and longitudinal section the
details of three groups of engines, with boilers, compressors, and accessories, They

page_text: show the special arrangement whereby the pressure and the output in the main
conduit may be regulated by making the air contained in the reservoirs I. I to
pass through the regulator K, which is described below with reference to Figs. 11
and 12.
This arrangement permits of the air being compressed in the reservoirs I I to a
higher pressure than is required in the main conduit J. J, and of the output being
increased or diminished automatically from the conduit J while a constant and
desired pressure is maintained.
In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 A. A are the boilers; B the chimney; C the steam pipe;
D the subsidiary steam pipe; E. E the engines; F. F, the compressors; G the
compressed air pipe; H the air drying apparatus; L the water main; M the ball
cock; N the condensing water tank; O the injection pipes; P the injection pumps
for the compressors; the pipes from the pumps; R the tank for injection water;
SS pipes for circulation of water in the jacket of the compressors; T. T outlet
pipe; U U overflow pipes, V, V, discharge pipes from the condenser.
Fig. 6 is a diagram of an installation for the production and distribution of
compressed air. The air being compressed by the steam engine D by means of the
piston compresser E, is conducted by the pipe H into the reservoir I, and passes
through the pressure regulator, Minto the general conduit of distribution J. at &
'pressure regulated in accordance with the consumption KK, are secondary
conduits; the air which they receive is regulated according to the demands upon
them by means of a pressure regulator N°N, which serves at the same time as a
stop-cock, and is placed at the junction of the general and secondary conduits.
From the secondary conduits there spring the vertical pipes L L L L coupled to
the motors R by the pipes Q Q in the premises of the subscribers, after having
passed the regulator OO and reservoir P."
The expanded air escapes by the pipes S.S.into the small-reservoirs T. T where
it may produce cold by expansion, or the air escaping at low pressure may be
collected in the reservoir V by the return pipes U U, for application for blowing,
lighting, or other purposes which only require a small pressure.
...
Z is a pressure gauge, which indicates the leakage; X is an automatic syphon
for the evacuation of water of. condensation.
The object of this arrangement is as follows
- t
1
It is not easy to foretell what will be the consumption or the method of
employment of the air at any given spot in the system, and this uncertainty
renders it difficult to determine the diameter of the conduit to be laid, and the
pressure at which the air is to be supplied. This latter will vary according to the
demand on the system and the method of employment. For example, for motive
power, the most suitable pressure is three kilogrammes per square centimetre,
while for raising liquids it should not exceed two kilos; for ventilation one kilo;
and for blowing, light, medical purposes, etc. 30 to 40 centimetres of water.
.
It is therefore necessary to provide (1) that the production shall be regulated
according to the consumption; (2) that the pressure in the secondary conduits
shall be regulated according to the consumption in the branch pipes placed upon
those conduits; (3) that the pressure should be regulated on the premises of the
consumer according to the method of employment; and (4) that the orifice shall be
increased or diminished according to the consumption, and that the pressure shall
'be economised for the other parts of the system.
A self acting syphon for connexion to pipes under pressure is shown in Figs. 8,
9 and 10.
;
Fig. 7 represents in detail the mode of installation of this system in the different
floors of a building. In that figure A is the principal conduit laid like a sewer:
B the cock which serves the particular branch from the building; C a pipe from
the cock B to the basement, or cellar of the house; D a pressure regulator; Ea
low pressure regulator serving at the same time as a syphon; F a purging cock;
Ga pressure gauge; H a vertical service, pipe in the staircase; I. I branches to
each floor; J. J distributing pipe to the motors; M regulating valve for motors;
་

page_text: N motor worked by compressed air; O tools operated by motors, R conduit
for the service of pneumatic clocks; S branch to operate the clocks in the building;
T pipe going to the pneumatic clock V.
Compressed air always carries in suspension a certain quantity of watery vapours
which partly condenses in the distributing pipes and collects at the lowest point.
Its evacuation, according to this invention is effected by the apparatus represented
in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. This consists of a cylinder A of wrought or cast iron and of
a float B, carrying a rod C which forms a valve; this rod is solidly fixed to the
float and hermetically seals the orifice N which is formed at the bottom of the
cylinder for the release of the water.
The upper hole O of the cylinder, receives the inlet pipe G and the outlet H.
The inlet pipe G is also provided with a strainer of textile material M which
retains the impurities contained in the air; these impurities are deposited on
the perforated plate J, whence they are withdrawn from time to time by the
cleaning device K.
The float B is formed of very light material, and when sufficient water has
accumulated around it to render it buoyant, it rises and lifts the valve C. A part
of the water then escapes and the valve is again closed.
In Figs. 11, 12, and 13 there is represented a high pressure regulator for the
purpose explained above. It regulates the pressure of the air in the principal
distributing conduits, as well as in the secondary conduits. The regulator is
formed of a cylinder A, in which there moves a piston B, connected to the key of
a distributing cock F, by the intermediary of the rod C and the lever G. The
lower side of the piston B, Fig. 13, is subject to the pressure in the reservoirs K
through the small pipe J. The counterweight H opposes a resistance to the
vertical movement of the piston, and it follows, that there is at a given moment
and according to the position of the counterweight, equilibrium between the two
forces; the cock F then remains sufficiently open to allow the necessary quantity
of air to enter into I according to the demands on the system. The pressure of,
the air can be regulated by varying the position of the weight H.
L is a pressure gauge, N a purging cock for condensed water.
In the application of this system to a town, the conduits are divided into two
categories, principal and secondary. The first are always charged with a high and
constant pressure, while the latter have a variable pressure according to the
demand made upon them. This result is obtained as already described with
reference to Figs. 11 to 13. If the consumption should increase during certain
hours of the day, reserve reservoirs may be erected to contain a store of compressed
air for such needs. The air may be utilized for many purposes, such as power,
ventilation and cooling. Or it may be applied first for power and the exhaust air
be further utilized for cooling purposes.

page_text: Improvements in Means or Apparatus for the Production and
Distribution of Compressed Air.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of No 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the county of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Mr. Victor Popp, of 10 Rue
St. Fargeau, Paris, France, Manager of "La Cie des Horloges Pneumatiques") to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for object improvements in means or apparatus for the
production and distribution of compressed air either by canalisation in large towns,
or by smaller installations in workshops, or private establishments. The compressed.
air may be utilised in motors, or for any other purpose to which it is applicable
such as refrigeration and ventilation, a constant pressure being maintained, according
to the requirement of the case, at some point of the principal or secondary conduit
of distribution.
Any form of air compressing machine may be employed.
The arrangement of an air compressing and distributing installation capable of
turning out fifty thousand cubic metres of air per hour is represented on the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation and Fig. 2 a plan.
The installation is so designed that it may be erected by instalments and thus the
outlay may be gradual and increase with the demand for the compressed air.
In these two figures A is the building containing the steam engines and the
compressors; B B are the engines; C C the air compressors; D the reservoir
house; E E the compressed air reservoirs; F the pipe from the compressor to the
reservoir; G the main conduit of distribution; H the pressure regulator; I the
boiler house; J J the boilers; K K the chimneys; L the coal store; M the offices;
N the mechanics shop; O the lodge; P the store; a weighbridge; R the
building enclosing the well and pumps; S water tank; T the water main.
Figs. 3, 4, and 5 give in plan transverse section and longitudinal section the
details of three groups of engines, with boilers, compressors, and accessories. They
show the special arrangement whereby the pressure and the output in the main
conduit may be regulated by making the air contained in the reservoirs I, I, to
pass through the regulator K, which is described below with reference to Figs. 11
and 12.
This arrangement permits of the air being compressed in the reservoirs I, I, to a
higher pressure than is required in the main conduit J, J, and of the output being
increased or diminished automatically from the conduit J while a constant and
desired pressure is maintained.
In Figs. 3, 4, and 5, A, A, are the boilers; B the chimney; C the steam pipe;
1 the subsidiary steam pipes; E, E, the engines; F, F, the compressors; G the
compressed air pipe; H the air drying apparatus; L the water main; M the ball

page_text: cock;
N the condensing water tank; O the injection pipes; P the injection pumps
for the compressors; Q the pipes from the pumps; R the tank for injection water;
S, S, pipes for circulation of water in the jacket of the compressors; T, T, outlet
pipes; U, U, overflow pipes; V, V, discharge pipes from the condenser.
Fig. 6 is a diagram of an installation for the production and distribution of
compressed air. The air being compressed by the steam engine D by means of
the piston compressor E, is conducted by the pipe H into the reservoir I; and
passes through the pressure regulator M into the general conduit of distribution J
at a pressure regulated in accordance with the consumption. K K are secondary
conduits; the air which they receive is regulated according to the demands upon
them by means of a pressure regulator N, N, which serves at the same time as a
stop-cock, and is placed at the junction of the general and secondary conduits.
From the secondary conduits there spring the vertical pipes L, L, L, L, coupled
to the motors R by the pipes Q, Q, in the premises of the subscribers, after having
passed the regulator O, O, and reservoir P.
The expanded air escapes by the pipes S, S, into the small reservoirs T, T, where
it may produce cold by expansion, or the air escaping at low pressure may be
collected in the reservoir V by the return pipes U, U, for application for blowing,
lighting, or other purpose, which only require a small pressure.
Z is a pressure gauge, which indicates the leakage; X is an automatic syphon
for the evacuation of water of condensation.
The object of this arrangement is as follows:
It is not easy to foretell what will be the consumption or the method of
employment of the air at any given spot in the system, and this uncertainty renders
it difficult to determine the diameter of the conduit to be laid, and the pressure at
which the air is to be supplied. This latter will vary according to the demand on
the system and the method of employment. For example, for motive power, the
most suitable pressure is three kilogrammes per square centimetre, while for
raising liquids it should not exceed two kilos; for ventilation one kilo; and for
blowing, lighting, medical purposes, etc: 30 to 40 centimetres of water.
It is therefore necessary to provide (1) that the production shall be regulated
according to the consumption; (2) that the pressure in the secondary conduits
shall be regulated according to the consumption in the branch pipes placed upon
those conduits; (3) that the pressure should be regulated on the premises of the
consumer according to the method of employment; and (4) that the orifice shall be
increased or diminished according to the consumption, and that the pressure shall
be economised for the other parts of the system.
A self acting syphon for connection to pipes under pressure is shown in Figs. 8,
9, and 10.
Fig. 7 represents in detail the mode of installation of this system in the different
floors of a building. In that figure A is the principal conduit laid like a sewer;
B the cock which serves the particular branch for the building; C a pipe from the
cock B to the basement or cellar of the house; D a pressure regulator; E a low
pressure regulator serving at the same time as a syphon; F a purging cock; G a
pressure gauge; H a vertical service pipe in the staircase; I, I, branches to each
floor; J, J, distributing pipe to the motors; M regulating valve for motors;
N motor worked by compressed air; O tools operated by motors; R conduit for
the service of pneumatic clocks; S branch to operate the clocks in the building;
T pipe going to the pneumatic clock V.
Compressed air always carries in suspension a certain quantity of watery vapour
which partly condenses in the distributing pipes and collects at the lowest point.
Its evacuation, according to this invention, is effected by the apparatus represented
in Figs. 8, 9, and 10. This consists of a cylinder A of wrought or cast iron and of
a float B, carrying a rod C which forms a valve; this rod is solidly fixed to the
float and hermetically seals the orifice N which is formed at the bottom of the
cylinder for the release of the water,

page_text: The upper liole O of the cylinder receives the inlet pipe G and the outlét H.
The inlet pipe G is also provided with a strainer of textile material M which
retains the impurities contained in the air; these impurities are deposited on: the
perforated plate J, whence they are withdrawn from time to time by the cleaning
device K.
The float B is formed of very light material, and when sufficient water has
accumulated around it to render it buoyant, it rises and lifts the valve C. A part
of the water then escapes and the valve is again closed.
.
The dimensions and consequently the weight of the float are such that the float
will begin to act when the condensed water rises above the level shown in Fig. 8.
In Figs. 11, 12, and 13 there is represented a high pressure regulator for the
purpose explained above. It regulates the pressure of the air in the principal
distributing conduits, as well as in the secondary conduits. The regulator is.
formed of a cylinder A in which there moves a piston B connected to the key of a
distributing cock F, by the intermediary of the rod C and the lever. G. The lower
side of the piston B, Fig. 13, is subject to the pressure in the reservoirs K through.
the small pipe J. The counterweight H opposes a resistance to the vertical
movement of the piston, and it follows that there is at a given moment and
according to the position of the counterweight, equilibrium between the two
forces; the cock F then remains sufficiently open to allow the necessary quantity
of air to enter into I according to the demands on the system. The pressure of
the air can be regulated by varying the position of the weight H.
L is a pressure gauge, Na purging cock for condensed water.
In the application of this system to a town, the conduits are divided into two
categories, principal and secondary. The first are always charged with a high and
constant pressure, while the latter have variable pressure according to the demand
made upon them. This result is obtained as already described with reference to
Figs. 11 to 13. If the consumption should increase during certain hours of the
day, reserve reservoirs may be erected to contain a store of compressed air for such
needs. Automatic discharging syphons and controlling pressure: gauges may be
placed at various points. The air may be utilised for many purposes such as power,
ventilation, and cooling. Or it may be applied first for power and the exhaust air
be further utilised for cooling purposes.
In order to utilise the motors during the night, a time when the demand upon
them is greatly lessened, pulleys are provided near the fly wheel, and these pulleys
drive dynamos, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, of the drawings. These dynamos
are designed for the production of electricity for electric lighting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
-
1. A central air compressing station connected with secondary distributing
stations (from which air is drawn for motive power and other purposes) by a
system of pipes in which are provided automatic pressure regulators and reservoirs,
the whole being so arranged that the secondary stations are supplied from the
primary station according to the consumption and at a determined pressure,
substantially as described.
2. In an installation comprising a central air compressing station connected by
a system of pipes with secondary distributing stations from which compressed air
is drawn for motive power or other purposes, the use of an automatic pressure
regulating cock or valve such as shown at F in the pipe E (Figs. 11, 12, and 13,)
to govern the delivery into the regulating reservoir K, the said cock or valve being
operated through the lever G by the piston rod of the piston B of the cylinder A,
the lower part of which communicates by means of the pipe J with the reservoir K
substantially as described and shown for the purpose specified..
,

page_text: 3. In an installation comprising a central air compressing station connected by a
system of pipes containing automatic pressure regulators and reservoirs with
secondary distributing stations, the drainage tank A (Figs, 8, 9, and 10,) into which
the extremities G, H, of the pneumatic main are inserted, provided with the float B
and the valve guide C, and through the opening N in the bottom of which, when
the valve guide has been raised by the float, a portion of the water of condensation
may flow and thus be automatically evacuated from the pneumatic tube substan-
tially as described and shown.