An Improved Method of and Means for the Compression of Air or other Gases
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th June, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for the Compression of Air or
other Gases.
I, DANIEL MCGILL, of Hutt Rood, Pitone, Wellington, New Zealand,
temporarily of 33 Great Tower Street, in the City of London, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an Improved Method of and Means for the Compression
of Air or other Gases and is effected by means of steam acting as a motive power
upon water or other liquid interposed between wood or metallic pistons so as to
make use of the initial pressure and expansive force of the steam through the
medium of the water or other liquid upon air or other gas, a cushioning device
being employed in order to transfer the action backwards and forwards between
two duplicate steam pistons.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing
in which
Figure 1 is an outline diagrammatical & sectional elevation.
D and D¹ are ordinary cylinders commonly used in connection with steam
engines into which steam is alternately admitted and exhausted by slide valves
such as H.
E and E' are ordinary metallic pistons.
F and F are piston rods secured to the pistons E and E¹.
G and G¹ are ordinary air-valve chests commonly used in connection with air
compressors.
H is a valve chest containing a slide valve commonly used in connection with
steam cylinders.
J and Jare cylinders commonly used in connection with air compressors.
K and K are pistons secured to the piston rods F and F' commonly used in air
or water cylinders.
L is a port or pipe connecting the cylinders J and J₁ and either cast in
connection with or otherwise secured to the said cylinders J and J¹.
M is a branch or port on the pipe L.
O is a valve chest cast in connection with or otherwise secured to the pipe or
port L.
P is a cylinder cast in connection with or otherwise secured to the branch M of
the pipe L.
Qis an ordinary engine commonly used in connection with air compressing,
cooling or freezing machinery.
V V1 V2 and V³ are air delivery and suction branches cast on or otherwise
secured to the air-valve chests G. and G¹.
Z are pillars carrying the cylinders D and D'.
It will be seen from this description of the several parts and by reference to
the drawings that my invention consists of compressing air or other gas by means
of steam acting as a motive power on the upper sides of the pistons E. and E' in
the steam cylinders D. and D¹; the piston E. of the steam cylinder D. being
coupled or connected by the piston-rod F with the piston K. in the cylinder J.,
and the piston E¹ being coupled or connected by the piston-rod FI with the
piston Kin the cylinder J¹.
The pipe L., valve chest O., lower part of P., and all the space up to the
bottom of the pistons K. and K' of the cylinders J. and J', the branch M. are
filled with water or other liquid, the space above the liquid level of the cylinder P
containing air or other gas.

page_text: The space in the cylinders J. and J₁ above the pistons K. and K₁ or between
the pistons K. and K' and the air-valve chests G. and G' except what space is
occupied by the piston-rods F. and F¹ is space allowed for the suction and
discharge of air by the pistons K. and K', such air being admitted and discharged
through ordinary air-inlet and air-outlet valves in the air valve chests G. and G¹
and drawn and delivered through the respective air suction and delivery
branches V. V' V' and V³
The cylinder P may be fitted with a wood or metallic piston loaded either by a
spring or otherwise.
In starting my apparatus the engine Q is actuated by steam, the air supplied
from the air cylinders J. and J' being shut off by a valve until sufficient air
pressure is generated in the receiver; the steam and steam exhaust valves in
connection with the engine Q are then shut and the engine Q actuated by air
discharged from the air cylinders J. and J¹.
The stroke is commenced with the initial pressure of steam acting upon one of
the pistons E. when it is at the top of its respective cylinder D., the air piston K.
coupled to which by the piston rod F. simultaneously commencing its stroke in the
act of air suction at which time the pistons in the other steam and air cylinders D¹
and J' respectively have already made five eighths of their return stroke by the
action of the expansive force of the air compressed in the upper portion of the
cylinder P. by the liquid forced into it during the expansion of the steam in
the steam cylinder D' forcing the pistons of the cylinders J¹ and D' back to the
conjoint position they were in when steam was cut off by the slide valve H, in
connection with the steam cylinder D, and expansion commenced; the valve H in
connection with the steam cylinder D' having opened the port D. to exhaust
immediately the slide valve H, in connection with the steam cylinder D, opened
the port to admit the initial pressure to commence the stroke; as before mentioned
five eighths of the return stroke having taken place in the cylinders D' and J',
at this point three eighths of the stroke remains to be completed in the air
cylinder J and D' and the space L between the pistons K and K' being entirely
filled with liquid, the valve in valve chest O communicating between L and P,
having closed these ports or branches M, the piston D is forced down conjointly
with the piston K which acting directly upon the liquid between it and the piston K
in the other air cylinder J' finished the remaining three eighths of the stroke in
the cylinder J and D' with the initial pressure acting upon the piston E in the
steam cylinder D, at the same time discharging the air contained in the space
above the piston K in the cylinder J' through the valve box G' and the branch V!
in proportion to whatever initial pressure is applied in connection with the steam
cylinder D, a like process being performed during each reciprocation of either side
of the apparatus, conjointly, in the manner described.
The slide valves H, H, and that in valve chest O before mentioned, derive
conveniently their motion from eccentrics, which are secured on a shaft, which
derives its motion from the crank shaft of the engine Q, which is actuated by the
compressed air delivered from the cylinders J and J in the manner before
described.
The proportions I have adopted in the explanation of the action of the apparatus
of five eighths and three eighths of the stroke would vary in accordance with the
initial pressure of steam used which governs the balancing point of the expansive
effect of the steam in its action in compressing the air in the upper portion of the
cylinder P but would be in all cases in corresponding proportion to those given
and in accordance with the terminal pressure due to the initial pressure acting in
the steam cylinders D and D¹.
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1100
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for the Compression of Air or
other Gases.
I, DANIEL MCGILL, of Hutt Rood, Pitone, Wellington, New Zealand,
temporarily of 33 Great Tower Street, in the City of London, 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 :-
My invention relates to an Improved Method of and Means for the Compression
of Air or other Gases and is effected by means of steam acting as a motive power
upon water or other liquid interposed between wood or metallic pistons so as to
make use of the initial pressure and expansive force of the steam through the
medium of the water or other liquid upon air or other gas, a cushioning device
being employed in order to transfer the action backwards and forwards between
two duplicate steam pistons.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings
in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my apparatus; the half marked A is in section
through the steam cylinder and air pump; the half marked B is a general outside
view.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same, sectional through one steam cylinder,
and the chamber P and valve chest thereto.
Figure 3 is a plan of the same.
Figure 4 is an outline diagrammatic sectional elevation.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout.
D and D' are ordinary cylinders commonly used in connection with steam engines
into which steam is alternately admitted and exhausted by slide valves such as H,
Figure 2.
D' and D' are ports or passages.
E and E' are ordinary metallic pistons.
F and F are piston rods secured to the pistons E and E¹.
G and G¹ are ordinary air-valve chests commonly used in connection with air
compressors.
His a slide valve commonly used in connection with steam cylinders.
J and Jare cylinders commonly used in connection with air compressors.
K and K' are pistons secured to the piston rods F and F¹ commonly used' in air
or water cylinders.
L is a port or pipe connecting the cylinders J and J' and either cast in con-
nection with or otherwise secured to the said cylinders J and J.
M is a branch on the pipe or port L.
O is a valve chest cast in connection with or otherwise secured to the pipe or
port L.
0,0' and O' are ports in pipe L and branch M.
P is a cylinder cast in connection with or otherwise secured to the branch M of
the pipe or port L.
Qis an engine of ordinary construction operated by the compressed air and
driving the valve motions.
R is the crank-shaft of engine Q.
S and S¹ are mitre or bevil wheels.
T is a counter shaft.
U, U and U are eccentrics operating valve gear.
V and V¹ are air delivery and suction branches cast on or otherwise secured to
the air-valve chests G and G'.
W and Ware air delivery and suction pipes.

page_text: X is a slide valve controlling communication between L and M.
Y, Y and Y are bearings carrying shaft T.
Z are pillars carrying the cylinders D and D'.
Z is the bed plate of the apparatus.
It will be seen from this description of the several parts and by reference to
the drawings that my apparatus compresses air or other gas by means of steam
acting as a motive power on the upper, sides of the pistons E and E' in the
steam cylinders D and D'; the piston E of the steam cylinder D being coupled or
connected by the piston-rod F with the piston K in the cylinder J and the piston E¹
being coupled or connected by the piston rod F with the piston K¹ in the cylinder J¹.
The pipe or port L, valve chest O, lower part of P, and all the space up to the
bottom of the pistons K, and K₁ of the cylinders J and J', the branch M and port
spaces 0, 0, 0, and O' are filled with water or other liquid; the space above the
liquid level of the cylinder P containing air or other gas.
The space in the cylinders J and J' above the pistons K and K¹ or between the
pistons K and K¹ and the air-valve chests G and G³, except what space is occupied
by the piston-rods, F and F¹ is space allowed for the suction and discharge of air
by the pistons K and K', such air being admitted and discharged through ordinary
air-inlet and air-outlet valves in the air valve chests G and G¹ and is drawn and
delivered through the respective air suction and delivery branches V, V¹, and air
suction and delivery pipes W, and W.
The cylinder P may be fitted with a wood or metallic piston loaded either by a
spring or otherwise, if the air cushion is not effective without such loaded piston.
In starting my apparatus the engine Q is actuated by steam, the air supplied from
the air cylinders J and J¹ being shut off by a valve until sufficient air pressure is
generated in the receiver; the steam and steam exhaust valves in connection with
the engine Q are then shut and the engine Q actuated by air discharged from the
air cylinders J and J'. The cylinder of the engine Q may be of sufficient size to
pass and expand the whole of the compressed air to refrigerate the same.
Or if
refrigeration of the air is not required, the cylinder of Q may be only of such size
as will drive the valve motion and may be geared in any desired way to the eccentric
shaft T.
The stroke is commenced with the initial pressure of steam acting upon one of
the pistons E when it is at the top of its respective cylinder D, see Figure 4, the
air piston K, coupled to the piston E by the piston rod F, simultaneously commencing
its stroke in the act of air suction, the pistons in the other steam and air cylinders D
and J' respectively being already at about five-eighths of their return stroke by
the support of the liquid in the pipe L and chamber P between the pistons K
and K', the ports 0¹, 03, 0* between L and P being closed by the valve X. At this
point about three-eighths of the stroke remains to be completed in the air
cylinder J and D' and the space L between the pistons Ķ and K' being entirely
filled with liquid, and the ports 01, 0, and O³, communicating between L and P being
closed, the piston D is forced down by the steam conjointly with the piston K,
which acting directly upon the liquid between it and the piston K' in the other air
cylinder Jfinishes the remaining three-eighths of the upward stroke in the
cylinder J¹ and D¹ compressing the air contained in the space above the piston K¹
in the cylinder J', which will be discharged through the valve box G₁ and the
branch W in proportion to whatever initial pressure is applied in connection with
the steam cylinder D.
The valve H appertaining to cylinder D', permits the contents of that cylinder
above the piston E¹ to be discharged to the exhaust during the upward stroke of
the piston E¹.
The piston E has now made downward stroke, with initial steam pressure from
the boiler and at this point. steam is cut off from the cylinder D by the valve H
appertaining to that cylinder but is not allowed to exhaust. The remainder of
the stroke of the piston E is now effected under the expanding action of the steam,
and the valve X, being now timed to open the communication between the pipe L

page_text: and chamber P, the liquid or water in L is forced into the chamber P compressing
the cushion of air therein, until the piston E has completed its stroke, the
piston E remaining stationary during this period at the top of its stroke. The
steam in cylinder Ď is now allowed to exhaust by the valve H appertaining to that
cylinder, and the re-action of the cushion of air in P, operating through the
liquid in L, the valve X still allowing the ports O', 0, 0, to be in communication
with one another, carries back the piston E throughout ths of its upward stroke..
The ports 0, 02, 0³, are now closed by the valve X and the piston E' is at the top
of its stroke ready to repeat the aforesaid operation when steam pressure is admitted
on top of it, while the piston E is now in the position of the piston E' in the foregoing.
description.
Should there be any leakage or waste reducing the necessary volume of liquid.
between the pistons K and K', I provide a pump which may be conveniently
operated by hand attached to any convenient part of the pipe or port L by means.
of which such leakage or waste of liquid may be at once replaced.
The slide valves H H and X before mentioned derive their motion from the
eccentrics U, U' and U2, which are secured on the shaft T which derives its motion.
by means of the mitre or bevil wheels S, and S¹, S being secured to the shaft T
derives its motion from S¹, which is secured to the crank shaft R of the engine Q,.
which is actuated by the compressed air delivered from the cylinders J and J¹ in
the manner before described; or the valves H and X may be operated from th
motion of the piston rods by the usual known tappet gear.
The proportions I have adopted in the explanation of the action of the apparatus
of gths and ths of the stroke would vary in accordance with the initial pressure of
steam used which governs the balancing point of the expansive effect of the steam.
in its action in compressing the air in the upper portion of the cylinder P, but
would be in all cases in corresponding proportion to those given, and in accordance
with the terminal pressure due to the initial pressure acting in the steam cylinders D
and D'.
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 :-
1st. The method of compressing air or gas by direct steam pressure consisting of
the initial pressure of the steam discharging the air or gas when fully compressed
and the resistance is great, and the expanding effort of the steam effecting the first.
compression of the air or gas when the resistance is small.
2nd. In an air or gas compressing engine the combination with duplicate single
acting air cylinders of a pipe or port connecting the open ends of said air cylinders,
and filled with a liquid between said air pistons, and of an air cushion or chamber
communicating with the said connecting pipe or port, by orifices controlled by an
externally operated valve.
3rd. In an air or gas compressing engine, the combination of two single acting
steam cylinders and pistons controlled by ordinary slide valves, with two single
acting air or gas compressing pistons and cylinders with usual inlet and outlet air
valves, and connected at ends opposite to air valves by a pipe or port filled with
liquid, and an air cushion vessel thereon, controlled by shut off valve.
4th. In an air or gas compressing engine the combination of duplicate single
direct acting steam cylinders and air compressing cylinders with steam and air
pistons on single rod in each pair, with an auxiliary engine with crank, fly wheel,.
and counter shaft, operating, by compressed air or gas charge from compressors,
the valve gear of said compressing direct acting engines.
Dated this 6th day of Lune 1801
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.