Improvements in Apparatus for Mixing Air and Gas.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Mixing Air and Gas.
I, EMIL FÜLLER, of 31, Krautstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, Gas
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
For mixing air and gas in a constant proportion for illuminating, heating or
other purposes certain apparatus have hitherto been employed consisting each of
a gas meter and an air suction apparatus connected positively to operate in
unison and thereby delivering a mixture of gas and ordinary air to the discharge
pipe.
Such apparatus, are, however, unreliable especially when the pressure of the
gas is comparatively low, since the pressure of the gas 'is required for driving
not only the gas meter, but also the air suction apparatus, whereby it is apt to
be more or less reduced. The mixture of gas and air thus produced having a
low pressure, would not, for example, be suitable for feeding incandescent gas
light lamps, since the illuminating power of the latter would thereby be greatly
reduced.
My invention relates to improvements in the above mentioned apparatuses
and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a device for supplying com-
pressed air and for conducting it to the air-suction apparatus, which serves as
an air meter; second, to provide a device fór regulating the work of the first
named device.
In apparatus provided with the said improvements the gas and the air are
always mixed in a constant proportion and the pressure of the mixture obtained
can be kept at a convenient height. This is important for illuminating pur-
the illuminat-
poses especially for feeding incandescent gas light lamps, as
ing power of the burner, the incandescence gas lamps and the like will be
The air meter
greatly increased and the mixture can be utilized to the utmost.
being supplied with compressed air instead of air under atmospheric pressure,
the gas is no longer charged alone with the duty of driving the air meter,
but the compressed air itself will drive the air meter. Thus it is possible
save the pressure
according to the pressure of the compressed air, to
or
of the
even exceed that
of the gas from being spent more less upon the driving
air meter. The pressure of the compressed air may
of the gas and help to drive the gas meter, i.e. the drum, bellows or other
part of the same. Therefore a pressure of any height in the main discharge
piping, as may be desired, can be attained.
In one form of apparatus consisting respectively of a gas meter, an air meter
and a suction apparatus each composed of a drum arranged within a casing.
These three parts of the apparatus are similar in construction to the common
gas meter. The drum of the gas meter and the drum of the air meter are in a
well-known manner, rigidly connected by means of a common shaft passing
The drum of the air-suction
through suitable stuffing boxes of the two casings.
apparatus is driven from without by means of a rope or band passing round a

page_text: pulley on the shaft. As in a common gas meter the casings and the chambers
connected with said casings are partly filled with a liquid such as water, glycerine
or the like. During its revolution the drum of the suction apparatus draws
in air through the sieve or grating located on top of the open chamber and through
a bent pipe and discharges it compressed into the space above the liquid inside
the casing of the suction apparatus and thence into a pipe communicating with
the chamber of the air meter. To preserve the pressure of the compressed air in
the said pipe a back pressure valve is arranged at the top of the casing of the
suction apparatus.
The compressed air is conducted by the said pipe to the chamber of the air
meter and through a bent pipe to the drum of the air meter, which drum will
therefore be revolved by. the compressed air.
Gas is fed through a pipe into the chamber of the gas meter and through
a bent pipe to the gas meter drum which it will likewise revolve. Since the gas
and air meter drums arc rigidly connected by their shaft both the compressed
air and the gas under pressure serve to drive the two drums simultaneously, so
that at each revolution invariable quantities of air and of gas are discharged
into the spaces above the liquids inside the casing of said meters. The com-
pressed air conducted from the air meter through its discharge pipe and the gas
conducted from the gas meter through its discharge pipe enter a common main
delivery pipe where they mix togther always in the same proportion. The mixture is
then conducted further to the place of consumption as for example, to incan-
descent gas lamps, or to motors or stoves or other apparatus, as the case may be.
The proportion of the gas and air in the mixture, of course, depends upon the
size of the two meter drums and upon the pressure of the gas and of the com-
pressed air. The pressure in the main delivery pipe will equally depend upon
the pressure of the gas and that of the compressed air conducted to the air meter.
It will be obvious, that by regulating the pressure of the compressed air the
pressure in the main delivery pipe may be kept at a certain height. Any failure
in the working of the apparatus will therefore be prevented, even, when the
pressure of the gas drops. The drum of the air-suction apparatus may be driven
from without in any other manner, than that above described.
In another form or arrangement the drums of the gas and air meters are
enclosed in the same casing. In other respects the manner of operation is the
same as before. For producing the compressed air a pair of bellows is employed
and driven in a well-known manner as follows:-The weight suspended from
pulley blocks exercises through a rope a pull upon a drum which transmits its
revolution through bevel wheels, the shaft and the friction wheels to a horizontal
shaft carrying a crank. The said crank will, by means of a slotted link or
other means, reciprocate a rod connected to the covers of the two bellows whereby
the latter are operated. In one position of the various parts the air enters
the bottom bellows through the valves so that on the slotted rod moving down-
wards the air will be compressed and open valves in the lower bellows to escape
through a pipe to the vessel arranged upon the upper bellows. At the top bellows
on the contrary the air previously admitted through valves into the upper bellows
and compressed centres the pressure regulating vessel through other valves.
For attaining an equal pressure of the compressed air the vessel is constructed
as a bellow, which can be loaded to any desired degree by suitable weights placed
upon it. The compressed air is conducted through the communication pipe the
air meter chamber and the bent pipe to the drum which it will drive. By means
of the weights upon the aforesaid vessel the advantage is obtained, that the air
meter is always driven by compressed air under a constant pressure. Instead
of being constructed as a bellows the vessel may be constructed in any other
known manner for attaining a constant pressure of the compressed air.
The gas is conducted as before through a piping the chamber of the gas meter
and the bent pipe therein to the drum which it will revolve. Above the liquid
inside the casing of the gas and air meter the gas and compressed air leave their
-

page_text: respective drums and mix together, whereupon the mixture is conducted through
the delivery pipe to the place of consumption.
For regulating the operation of the apparatus producing the compressed air,
the vertical shaft is in a well-known manner arranged to be shifted from the
regulator described as follows: The chamber arranged on the casing of the
gas and air meters and placed in open communication therewith is at the top
closed by a diaphragm or a sliding piston. The diaphragm or piston is loaded
with suitable weights to produce the desired pressure in the main delivery pipe.
By means of a rod attached at one end to the diaphragm, a pivoted lever and a
rod connected to the aforesaid vertical rod, the diaphragm is connected
with the vertical rod. When the consumption of the air and
mixture increases or decreases, the diaphragm will be lowered or raised respec-
tively. Then by the transmission described the vertical shaft or rod with the
friction wheel will be shifted up or down for altering the speed of the air com-
pressor or for putting the latter in or out of motion. By this means the supply
of the compressed air will be kept in proportion to the requirements. By altering
the weights the work of the air suction and compressing apparatus may be
regulated according to the circumstances.
gas-
In a further modified form of arrangement the construction of the gas meter,
the air meter, the vessel and the regulator is the same as before, while the
apparatus for producing the compressed air above described is replaced by an
apparatus similar to that first herein described. For operating this apparatus
a battery is employed, which is capable of supplying current to an electric motor
by means of conducting wires or links. The electric motor will by means of
worm and bevel gearing revolve the drum of the suction apparatus which latter
draws in air through the sieve located above the open chamber and through a
bent pipe and discharge it compressed into the space above the liquid and thence
through the back pressure valve into the pressure regulating vessel. When the
consumption of the air- and gas-mixture decreases, the diaphragm will be raised,
whereby the lever is so turned, as to bring its arm out of contact with the con-
tact piece so that the circuit is broken, whereupon the electric motor will stop
and cease to revolve the drum.
With the apparatus in the various forms above described it is essential, that
a device be provided for supplying the air meter with compressed air and that
a device be provided for regulating the operation of the apparatus for producing
the compressed air in accordance with the pressure required in the main discharge
pipe. The latter device may be driven from any suitable source.
The apparatus for producing the compressed air may be of any kind and the
manner of introducing the compressed air to the air meter may be altered to suit
circumstances. Blast fans, blowers, compressors or other machines may be
employed for producing the compressed air and they may be driven from any
source of power, such as a spring, weight, electricity or by other means. Special
vessels filled with compressed air independently of the working of the apparatus
may be employed.
'The gas and air drums working positively together may instead of being
coupled by a common shaft, he connected in any other manner. For example
their shafts may be placed parallel to each other and connected by gear wheels
chain wheels and chain, or pulleys and belt or rope.
Instead of the so-called
wet gas meter or air meter as described a so-called dry gas meter or air meter
respectively may be employed. When employing a dry gas meter and a dry air
meter, their bellows may be connected positively in a suitable manner to work
in unison, or their valve gears may be connected positively to produce the same
result.
Instead of the regulating devices other known devices may be employed for
regulating the operation of the apparatus.
The apparatus in the various forms described is intended chiefly for illuminating
purposes, especially for feeding incandescence gas lamps, but it may also be

page_text: employed for other purposes, for example for heating purposes for driving motors
and so on, where a constant mixture of air and gas under a certain pressure is
required.
D1 L: 01
A
1200
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant. .'
I, EMIL FULLER, of 31, Krautstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, Gas
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:.
:-
For mixing air and gas in a constant proportion for illuminating, heating or
other purposes certain apparatus have hitherto been employed consisting each of
a gas meter and an air-suction apparatus connected positively to operate in
unison and thereby delivering a mixture of gas and ordinary air to the discharge
pipe.
Such apparatus are however, unreliable, especially when the pressure of the
gas is comparatively low, since such pressure is required for driving not only
the gas meter, but also the air suction apparatus, whereby it is liable to become
more or less reduced. The mixture of gas and air thus produced having a low
pressure, would not for example, be suitable for supplying incandescent gas
lamps, since the illuminating power of the latter would be thereby greatly
reduced.
My invention relates to improvements in the above mentioned apparatus
and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a device for supplying com-
pressed air and for conducting it to the air-suction apparatus, which serves as
an air meter; second, to provide a device for regulating the work of the first
named device.
In apparatus provided with the said improvements the gas and the air are
always mixed in a constant proportion and the pressure of the mixture obtained
can be kept at a convenient height. This is important for illuminating pur-
poses, especially for supplying incandescent gas lamps, as the illuminat-
ing power of the burners, the incandescence gas lamps and the like will be
greatly increased and the mixture can be utilized to the utmost. The air meter
being supplied with compressed air instead of air under atmospheric pressure,
the gas is no longer charged alone with the duty of driving the air meter,
but the compressed air itself will drive the air meter. Thus it is possible,
according to the pressure of the compressed air to save the pressure
of the gas from being spent more
or less
upon the driving of the
air meter. The pressure of the compressed air may even exceed that
of the gas and help to drive the gas meter, i.e. the drum, bellows or other
part of the same. Therefore a pressure of any height in the main discharge
pipe, as may be desired, can be attained.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the arrangement of a gas
meter, an air meter and an air suction apparatus driven from without all of
which are of a similar construction.

page_text: Figure
is a vertical longitudinal section of a modification of the arrange-
ment, in which the compressed air is produced by a pair of bellows operated by
a weight.
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of an arrangement similar to that
shown in Figure 1, the air suction apparatus of which is driven by a battery
and an electric motor.
In the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the numeral 4 indicates the drum and 5
the casing of the gas meter, 10 is the drum and 11 the casing of the air meter,
and 17 is the drum and 18 the casing of the air-suction apparatus. These
apparatus are similar in construction
to the common
gas meter. The
drum 4 of the gas meter and the drum 10 of the air meter are in a well
known manner rigidly connected by means of a common shaft 6 passing through
suitable stuffing boxes of the casings 5 and 11. The drum 17 of the air-suction
apparatus is driven from the outside by means of a rope or band passing over a
pulley 15 on the shaft 16.
As in a common gas méter the casings 5, 11 and 18 and the chambers 2, 8
and 20 are partly filled with a liquid such as water, glycerine or the like. During
its revolution the drum 17 draws air through the sieve or grating 19 located on
the top of the open chamber 20, through the bent pipe 21 and discharges it in a
compressed state into the space above the liquid in the casing 18 and thence
into the pipe 26. To preserve the pressure of the compressed air in the pipe 26
a back pressure valve 22 is arranged at the top of the casing 19. The compressed
to the
air is conducted by the pipe 26, the chamber 8 and the bent pipe
drum 10 of the air meter, which drum will therefore be revolved by the com-
pressed air.
The gas is conducted through the pipe 1, the chamber 2 and the pipe 3 to the
drum 4 of the gas meter, which will likewise be rotated. Since the two drums 4
and 10 are rigidly connected by their shaft G, the compressed air and the gas under
pressure serve to drive the two drums simultaneously, so that at each revolution
invariable quantities of air and gas are discharged into the spaces above the
liquids inside the casings and 11. The compressed air conducted from the
air meter through the pipe 12 and the gas conducted from the gas meter through
the pipe 7 enter the common main 13, where they mix together always in the
same proportion. The mixture is then conducted further to the place of con-
sumption, for example to incandescent gas lamps, such as 14, or to motors
stoves or other apparatus, as the case may be.
The portion of the gas and air in the mixture, of course, depends upon the
size of the drums 4 and 10 and upon the pressures of the gas and of the compressed
air. The pressure in the main discharge pipe 13 will equally depend upon the
pressure of the gas and that of the compressed air conducted to the air meter.
It will he obvious, that by regulating the pressure of the compressed air the
pressure in the main discharge pipe 13 may be kept at a certain height. Any
failure in the working of the apparatus will therefore be prevented, even, when
the pressure of the gas falls.
The drum 17 of the air-suction apparatus may be driven from the outside in
any manner other than that shown."
In the arrangement shown in Figure 2 the drums 4 and 10 of the gas and
air meters are enclosed in the same casing 54, but the operation is the same as
that before described with reference fò Figure 1. For producing the compressed
air a pair of bellows 27, 31 is emploved and driven in a well known manner
as follows. The weight 34 suspended from the pulley blocks 35, 36 exerts a pull
upon the rope 37 wound upon the drum 38, which transmits its motion through
bevel wheels 39 and 40 to a shaft 41 and from this shaft through friction wheels 42
and 43 to a shaft 44. A crank 45 is provided on the shaft 44 and will by means
of a slotted link 46 or other means, reciprocate the rod 47 connected to the ends
or covers of the two bellows 27, 31 whereby the latter are operated. In the

page_text: position of the various parts shown in Figure 2 the air enters the bottom bellows 27
through the valves 28, so that on the rod 47 moving downwards the air will
be compressed and open the valves 29 to escape through the pipe 30 to the
vessel 23. In the top bellows 31 on the contrary, in the position shown, the air
previously admitted through the valves 32 into the bellows and compressed, enters
the vessel 23 through the valves 33. For attaining an equal pressure of the com-
pressed air the vessels 23 is constructed as a bellow, which can be loaded to any
desired degree by suitable weights 25 placed upon it. The compressed air is
conducted through the pipe 26, the chamber 8 and the pipe 9 to the drum 10
which it will operate. By means of the weights 25 upon the vessel 23 the
advantage is obtained that the air meter is always driven by compressed air under
a constant pressure. Instead of being constructed as a bellow the vessel 23
may be constructed in any other well known manner for attaining a constant
pressure of the compressed air.
The gas is conducted, as before, through the pipe 1, the chamber 2 and the pipe 3
to the drum 4, which it will revolve. Above the liquid inside the casing 54 the
gas and compressed air leave their respective drums 4 and 10 and mix together,
whereupon the mixture is conducted through the pipe 13 to the place of consump-
tion.
For regulating the operation of the apparatus producing the compressed air,
the shaft 41 is in a well known manner, arranged to be shifted longitudinally
as follows. The chamber 48 placed on the casing 54 and placed in open com-
munication therewith, is at the top closed by a diaphragm 49 or a sliding piston.
The diaphragm or piston 49 is loaded with suitable weights 50 to produce the
desired pressure in the main discharge pipe 13. By means of the rod 51, the
lever 52 and the rod 53 the diaphragm 49 is connected with the shifting shaft 41.
When the consumption of the air-and-gas mixture increases or decreases, the
diaphragm 49 will be lowered or raised respectively. Then by the transmission
described the shaft +1 with the friction wheel 42 will be shifted up or down for
altering the speed of the air compressor or for putting the latter in or out of
motion. By this means the supply of the compressed air will be regulated in
proportion to the requirements. By altering the weights 25 and 50 the work
of the air-suction and compressing apparatus may be regulated according to the
circumstances.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 3 the construction of the gas meter, the
air meter, the vessel 23 and the regulator 48, 49, 50 is the same as before, while
the apparatus for producing the compressed air described before is replaced by an
apparatus 17, 18 similar to that shown in Figure 1. For driving this apparatus
a battery 55 is employed, which is capable of supplying current to the electric
motor 61 by means of the conducting wires or lines 56, 57, 60. The electric
motor will through the worm 62, the worm wheel 63, the shaft 64, the bevel
wheels 65, 66, and the shaft 16 revolve the drum 17, which latter draws in air
through the sieve 19 located above the open chamber 20 and through the pipe 21 and
discharges it compressed into the space above the liquid and thence through the back
pressure valve 22 into the vessel 23. When the consumption of the air-and-gas mix-
ture decreases, the diaphragm 49 will be raised, whereby the lever 52 is so oscillated
so as to bring its arm 59 out of contact with the contact piece 58, whereby the
circuit is broken, the electric motor 61 will thus stop.
With the apparatus in the various forms shown it is essential, that a device
be provided for supplying the air meter with compressed air and that a device
be provided for regulating the operation of the apparatus for producing the com-
pressed air in accordance with the pressure required in the main discharge pipe.
The latter device may be driven from any suitable source.
The apparatus for producing the compressed air may be of any kind and the
manner of introducing the compressed air to the air meter may be altered to suit
circumstances. Fans, blowers, compressors or other apparatus may be employed

page_text: for producing the compressed air and they may be driven from any suitable source
of power, such as a spring, weight, by electricity or other means. Special vessels
filled with compressed air independently of the working of the apparatus may be
employed.
The gas drum 4 and the air drum 10 working positively togetlier may, instead
of being coupled by a common shaft, be connected in any other manner. For
example their shafts may be placed parallel to each other and connected by gear
wheels, chain wheels and chains, or by pulleys and belts or ropes. Instead of the
so-called wet gas meter or air meter as illustrated, a so-called dry gas meter or
air meter respectively may be eniployed. When employing a dry gas meter
and a dry air meter their bellows may be connected positively in a suitable
manner to work in unison, or their valve gears may be connected positively to
produce the same result.
Instead of the regulating devices 23, 25 and 48, 49, 50 other known devices may
be employed for regulating the work of the apparatus.
The apparatus in the various forms described is intended chiefly for illuminating
purposes, especially for supplying incandescence gas lamps, but it may also be
employed for other purposes, for example for heating purposes, for driving motors
and so on, where a constant mixture of air and gas under a certain pressure, is
required.
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 —
1. An apparatus for producing a mixture of air and gas by means of a gas
meter and an air meter, which for the purpose of obtaining a constant mixing
proportion are caused to positively work in unison, characterized by the provision
of a further arrangement or a storing-vessel or chamber for supplying the com-
pressed air to the air-meter independently of the supply of the gas to the gas-
meter for the purpose of obtaining an increased pressure in the service conduit,
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings.
2. An apparatus for producing a mixture of gas and air provided with
an air and a gas-meter arranged to work in unison and with arrange-
ments for introducing compressed air into the air-meter, characterised by
the fact that for the production and introduction of the compressed air into the
said air-meter there is provided an air suction device operated by clock work,
motor or the like, and having a non return valve, interposed between the two
successively arranged air-supply devices, substantially as herein before described
and shown in the drawings.
3. An apparatus for producing a mixture of gas and air provided with an air and
a gas-meter, arranged to work in unison, and with arrangement for introducing
compressed air into the air-meter, characterized by having interposed between the
device for producing compressed air. and the air meter a pressure regulator 23,
substantially as herein before described and shown in the drawings.
4. An apparatus for producing a mixture of gas and air provided with an air
and a gas meter arranged to work in unison, and with arrangement for intro-
ducing compressed air into the air meter, characterized by a regulating device,
such as a diaphragm 49, piston or the like, subjected to the pressure of the
service conduit 15 and operating an adjusting device by means of which the
operation of the compressed air producer depending on the pressure in the
service conduit, can be regulated, stopped and started, substantially as herein-
before described and shown in the drawings.
5. An apparatus for producing a mixture of gas and air provided with an air
and a gas meter arranged to work in unison, and with an arrangement for intro-
ducing compressed air into the air meter, characterized by a device such as a
diaphragm 49, piston or the like, controlled by the pressure in the service-conduit,
13 and acting so as to close or to interrupt the circuit of an electromotor 61

page_text: serving for operating the device for the production of the compressed air as may
be required in accordance with the pressure in the service conduit, substantially
as herein before described and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 8th day of January 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.