An Improved Method of Charging Liquids with Gas.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1395-Accepted, 24th May, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Charging Liquids with Gas.
1, JOSEPH SCHNEIBLE, residing at No: 30 East 119th Street, in the City of
New York, in the County and State of New York, United States of America,
Manufacturer, 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 and accompanying drawings:-
".
Prior to the date of the invention for which Letters Patent of Great Britain,
No. 8809 of 1892 were granted various methods of charging liquids with gas on the
run had been tried and submitted to the test of actual use with varying but
generally indifferent success. Generally speaking the gas used had been supplied
under a greater pressure than that under which the liquid was supplied, it being
deemed essential, apparently, that the gas, being of relatively smaller density,
should be injected into the liquid. By the long continued experiments and practical
tests which led up to the invention referred to it was found that better results than
were theretofore possible could be secured by supplying both the liquid and the gas
under substantially equal pressures. The method which was based upon this
discovery was found to be productive of good results when the prescribed conditions
could be maintained, but through the experience gained by the continued operation
of the method it has been found that further advantages follow from a further
change from the old methods which were in vogue before the date alluded to and
from that set forth in said Letters Patent. That is to say, whereas such old
methods required the supply of gas under à pressure greater than that on the liquid;
and whereas in accordance with the improved method described in said Patent, the
pressure on the gas was reduced until it was substantially equal to that on the
liquid, the new method which is the basis of, the present invention involves
the supplying of gas under a 'less pressure than that upon the liquid and the
mingling of the gas with the flowing liquid. The practice of this method,
particularly when there is maintained on the mingled gas and liquid a pressure
higher than that on the gas at the point of mingling, permits a greater uniformity.
in the character of the finished product to be secured, enables, the quantity of gas
introduced into the liquid to be varied as required, renders the operation of the
method less liable to be interrupted and makes the constant supervision by an
attendant less necessary. I will proceed to describe the improved method' more at
length hereinafter, setting forth also other steps which may be adopted in practice
in conjunction with that referred to above and are desirable 'for the attainment of
the best results.
In the accompanying drawings
'1
F1.
Figure 1 represents, partly in outline and partly in section, the main features of
one form of apparatus which is adapted for the practice of the improved method.
Figure 2 is a section on the line of Figure 1, illustrating more clearly a
portion of the apparatus referred to hereinafter.
"
>
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line y-y of Figure 1, on a larger scale,
to show somewhat more clearly the arrangement of the aspirator.
It will be understood that although a certain form of apparatus has been selected
for illustration, the method sought to be covered is independent of any and all
particular form of apparatus and that my present invention is not restricted except
as may be indicated in the claims.
The annaratus which has been chosen for illustration of the principle of this
L

page_text: invention comprises a conductor A through which the liquid is supplied under
pressure from a pump or by gravity, a conductor B through which the gas is
supplied from any source, a regulating device, indicated at C, which would be used
in the form shown or in some other form when the gas is supplied under pressure,
for the purpose of causing variations of pressure on the liquid to produce corre-
sponding variations in the pressure on the gas admitted for introduction into the
liquid, an aspirator or other device indicated at D through which the liquid is
forced and draws the gas onward and mingles it with itself, an absorption chamber
or vessel which may be in the form of one or more coils E, E', of tubing in which
observation glasses e, el are set, a régulating valve or other device, indicated at F,
for maintaining automatically more or less pressure upon the liquid after the gas
has been introduced into the same, and a discharge pipe G which may be equipped
with a regulating valve or device, indicated at H, for automatically checking the
operation of charging should the pressure in the vessel to which the charged liquid
may be conducted rise above a predetermined degree.
In order that the method may be readily understood I will proceed to describe
the construction of the regulating devices C, F and H and of the aspirator D which
are represented in the drawing, although it will be understood that the invention is
not in anywise restricted thereby. The regulating device comprises an outer
shell c enclosing a chamber to which liquid is admitted, an inner shell' c' enclosing
a chamber to which the gas is adinitted, a movable diaphragm c³ which separates
the two chambers and is adapted to move as the pressure thereon varies, and a
valve which is carried by said diaphragm and is adapted to control the
admission of gas to the inner chamber. A rod c* and spring c may also be provided
for the purpose of influencing the action of the diaphragm at will' and thereby varying
the pressure, at which the valve plug c shall open or close to control the admission of
gas to the inner chamber. The spring is compressed within a sleeve c,.attached
to the diaphragm, by the upward movement of the rod and serves particularly
to compensate the over-pressure of the liquid on the upper side of the diaphragm
and so to close the valve when the flow of liquid ceases. The outer chamber of
the regulator communicates directly with the aspirator or jet pump D to which
the gas is
of any also conducted from the inner chamber. The aspirator or jet pump is '
.i
form which will cause the liquid, as it flows through the same,
to exert suction upon the gas and then impel it onward, it being desirable, in
order that the relative amount of gas admitted shall be always under control,
that the gas shall not enter the aspirator except as it is made to enter by the
liquid. In order that the power of the same may be varied readily according to
the varying requirements of the work to be done it is preferably provided with
an inwardly tapering sleeve d, which is longitudinally adjustable with respect to
a central core d' or vice versa. Immediately below the line of greatest contraction
the bore of the sleeve is enlarged to form a chamber which has an area in cross
section considerably greater than the area in cross section of the orifice
through which the liquid and gas are discharged into it, so that the area in cross
section of the stream of liquid immediately after the gas is mingled therewith
shall be in like proportion to the area in cross section of the stream of liquid at
the point where the liquid and gas come in contact, whereby it becomes possible
to maintain the flow of the gas and the mingling thereof with the liquid although
the gas is under a lower pressure than that on the liquid and to a certain extent to
measure and control the flow or quantity of the gas by that of the liquid. The
regulating device F comprises a diaphragm which is adapted to move as the
pressure thereon varies, a valve plug carried by said diaphragm and adapted to
permit the escape of the charged liquid into the discharge pipe G only when the
pressure thereon is sufficient to lift the diaphragm, and a screw-threaded rod f
and spring by means of which the action of the diaphragm may be influenced.
The pressure regulating device H is similar in construction to the device F, but
its diaphragm his exposed to the back pressure in the pipe I, which may conduct
the liquid to a receiving vessel, and the valve plug h carried by it will be moved

page_text: by any excess of such back pressure, above a predetermined degree, to prevent the
escape of the charged liquid from the pipe G and to stop the operation. The
degree of pressure at which the valve shall close may be regulated by a
screw-threaded rod and spring .
In the practice of the improved method, whether carried on in the apparatus
represented or in any other form of apparatus the liquid to be charged is supplied
under a pressure which may vary according to. the requirements of each case.
In order to obtain the best results as regards uniformity in the character of the
finished product and to enable the practice of the method to be carried on with
the greatest economy of time and attention it is desirable that the liquid should
be supplied in a constant stream and under substantially uniform pressure,
particularly in the use of the apparatus shown in which variation of pressure would
cause variation of the action of the aspirator. In the use of the apparatus shown,
when the gas is supplied through the pipe B under more or less pressure, any
material increase of pressure on the liquid will depress the diaphragm and will
shift the valve plug 3 to permit a proportionately greater flow of gas into the
inner chamber to be drawn therefrom by the onward flow of the liquid. As the
liquid passes on from the point where, in the apparatus shown, its pressure is
made to determine the pressure of the gas in the inner chamber, it flows through
the device at D and is caused to mingle with itself the gas from the inner
chamber c and to impei it onward with itself in its flow, in a finely divided state,
into the absorption chamber in which there is maintained a pressure preferably
greater than that under which the gas is supplied. The device indicated at C may
act as a check-valve to prevent the back flow of the liquid into the
gas
when the flow through the coils E, E¹, is stopped, for as the spring supports the
diaphragm, in operation, against the over-pressure of the liquid on its upper side, it is
evident that when the pressure on the under side of the diaphragm approaches
that on the upper side, which will be the case when the flow of liquid ceases, the
spring will then immediately lift the diaphragm and close the valve.
conductor
The gas is conducted to the chamber through the pipe B from any
suitable source of supply, as from a vessel in which it is stored under pressure,
or directly from the point where it is generated or set free. In any case,
however, its pressure, when it approaches the point where it is introduced
into the liquid or brought in contact with the liquid, is less than the pressure
on the liquid so that it shall not be injected into the body of the flowing
liquid, but may rather be drawn on by and with the liquid in its onward
passage. It is important that the gas shall not pass into the liquid under the
influence of its own pressure independent of the action or influence of the liquid,
for the reason that it would then be practically impossible to control the relative
quantity of gas admitted for absorption with the certainty that is desirable. As
the liquid and gas pass on together from the point where the two first come in
contact the gas may be compressed to a certain extent by the impact of the denser
particles of the liquid driven by greater pressure; this compression is increased
when, as under the preferred conditions of operation, a pressure is maintained in
the absorption chamber materially greater than that under which the gas is supplied.
The thorough mingling of the gas with the impelling liquid takes place during the
passage of the two immediately beyond the point where they first come in contact
and the incorporation and absorption of the gas with and by the liquid is effected
rapidly. As already pointed out in describing the apparatus as shown in the
drawing, it is desirable to provide for the variation of the aspirating power of the
liquid, whether by the means, referred to, that is to say, by varying the relative
area in cross section of the stream of liquid at and after the point of contact of the
stream of gas therewith, or by varying the back pressure, or in any other way, in
order that the quantity of gas, relative to the quantity of liquid may be varied
at will during the operation of charging, although other conditions are not
changed.
. 1

page_text: In order that the absorption of the gas by the liquid may be more complete
and permanent, it is desirable that some degree of pressure shall be maintained
upon the mingled gas and liquid for a short time after incorporation has taken
place. The degree of this pressure will be varied according to the necessities of
each case and according to the characteristics of the gas and liquid separately
considered and of the finished product, as will also the length of time during which
the pressure is maintained. In the apparatus represented in the drawing the
degree of pressure is regulated automatically by the device represented at F,
while the duration of the pressure is determined by the length and size of the
intermediate vessel or tubing E. E'. As inlicated above, it is desirable, for
the most successful operation of the method and the production of uniform
results, that this pressure on the newly charged liquid shall be materially greater
than that under which the gas is supplied, thereby furthering the compression
of the gas referred to and aiding in the control of the relative quantity of gas
by preventing the entrance of gas except as it is caused to flow by the impelling
liquid.
"In some cases it may be desirable to deliver the charged liquid directly from the
discharge pipe G into a closed receiving vessel' and it is obvious that from a
variety of causes the pressure in such a receiving vessel might rise to a point
where it would interfere with and vary the conditions which had been fixed for
the practice of the method. It is further desirable that any excessive rise of
pressure whether occasioned in the manner suggested or by checking or by
stopping the discharge should of itself automatically stop the further operation of
charging. For this purpose a check valve, such as is represented in the drawings,
or one of any other suitable form, may be provided, but however the flow of the
liquid from the discharge pipe is stopped it is evident that the stopping of the flow
of liquid will also effect the stopping of the flow of gas for the reason that the gas
is under less pressure than the liquid and passes into it only as it is drawn in and
impelled by the flow of the liquid itself.
It will be understood that the only limitation which is intended to be implied
herein, so far as the supply of gas is concerned, is that there shall not be a pressure
thereon near the point of mingling of the gas and liquid as great as that upon the
liquid at the corresponding point. Within this restriction the gas might be supplied
under any degree of pressure, whether greater or less than atmospheric pressure, the
movement of the gas in the latter case toward the point referred to being induced
by the aspirating action of the stream of liquid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of charging liquids with gas which consists in supplying the
liquid under pressure, supplying the gas under less pressure than that ou the liquid,
causing the liquid to mingle the gas with itself as it flows, and afterward maintaining
on the mingled gas and liquid, while absorption is taking place, a pressure greater
than that under which the gas is supplied, the gas being forced by and with the
liquid against the greater pressure.
2. The method of charging liquids with gas which consists in supplying the
liquid under pressure, supplying the gas under less pressure than that on the liquid,
causing the liquid to draw and impel the gas with it and to effect the mingling
thereof with itself, and afterward maintaining on the mingled gas and liquid, while
absorption is taking place, a pressure greater than that under which the gas is
supplied, the gas being forced by and with the impelling liquid against the greater
pressure.
3. The method of charging liquids with gas which consists in supplying the
liquid under pressure, supplying the gas under a pressure lower than that on the
liquid, causing the pressure on the liquid to control the supply of the gas whereby

page_text: variations in the pressure on the liquid are accompanied by corresponding variations
in the supply of the gas, and causing the liquid as it flows to draw the gas with it
and to effect the incorporation thereof with itself.
Dated this 5th day of April 1895.
JOSEPH SCHNEIBLE.