IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING GAS, FOR BLOWING AIR, FOR PUMPING OR FORCING LIQUIDS, AND FOR MEASURING LIQUIDS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Laidlaw and John Thomson, both of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING GAS,
FOR BLOWING AIR, FOR PUMPING OR FORCING LIQUIDS, AND FOR MEASURING
LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 21st August 1868, and dated the 26th February 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Laidlaw and
John Thomson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 26th February 1868.
We, ROBERT LAIDLAW and JOHN THOMSON, both of Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
EXHAUSTING GAS, FOR BLOWING AIR, FOR PUMPING OR FORCING LIQUIDS, AND
FOR MEASURING LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the constructing of apparatus for exhausting
gas, for blowing air, for pumping or forcing liquids, and for measuring
liquids in an extremely simple manner and so as to be maintained in
order with the least possible trouble.

page_text: The improved apparatus comprises two cylindrical bosses on parallel
shafts, which bosses revolve with their cylindrical surfaces in contact,
the shafts being geared together by spur wheels outside of the case in
which the bosses are contained. The case encompasses both bosses, the
part round one boss fitting that boss, whilst the part round the other
boss is of larger diameter than the boss so as to leave an annular space
round it. The boss with the annular space round it has fixed or formed
on it two or more propelling plates each extending out radially from
it and bearing continually against the inside of the case, excepting when
in the course of its revolution it comes to the space occupied by the
other boss. When any one of the propelling plates reaches the other
boss that boss will have turned so as to bring round a groove with which
it is formed, and the plate enters this groove and passes round in it
until from the continuation of the motion it leaves it again on the
other side. The case is provided with an inlet in the side facing the
line of contact of the two cylindrical bosses and an outlet is formed
in the opposite side of the case. When any convenient motive power
is applied to turn the bosses the propelling plates force round the gas
or liquid that is in front of them towards the outlet whilst fresh quan-
tities enter behind the plates and a continuous flow is kept up. When
the apparatus is applied for measuring a liquid any convenient counting
gear with indicating dials is arranged in connection with one of the
axles, and the liquid is allowed to pass through the apparatus, when it
will cause the cylinders or bosses to revolve and the number of their
revolutions will be a measure of the quantity passing. If the liquid
has no head or pressure it may be simultaneously drawn through and
measured by applying power to one of the axles. In using the
apparatus for exhausting, blowing, pumping, or forcing the necessary
power is applied to one of the axles to cause the two cylinders or bosses
to revolve, when a continuous uniform flow will be produced.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Robert Laidlaw and John Thomson,
Her special licence that we, the said Robert Laidlaw and John Thomson,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the
said Robert Laidlaw and John Thomson, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within. the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
EXHAUSTING GAS, FOR BLOWING AIR, FOR PUMPING OR FORCING LIQUIDS, AND
FOR MEASURING LIQUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said Robert Laidlaw and John Thomson, our executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Robert Laidlaw and John
Thomson, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, reference
being had to the accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
Our said Invention relates to the constructing of apparatus for
exhausting gas, for blowing air, for pumping or forcing liquids, and for
measuring liquids in an extremely simple manner and so as to be
maintained in order with the least possible trouble.
And in order that our said Invention and the manner of performing
the same may be properly understood, we have hereunto appended a
Sheet of explanatory Drawings to be herein-after referred to and
representing by way of example two modifications of our improved
apparatus.
Figure 1 is a vertical section, and Figure 2 is a side elevation of one
modification of our apparatus which comprises two cylindrical or partly

page_text: cylindrical bosses 1, 2, fixed on parallel shafts 3, 4. These bosses
revolve with their cylindrical surfaces in contact, the shafts 3, 4, being
geared together by spur wheels 5 outside of the case 6, 7, 8, in which
the bosses 1, 2, are contained. The body 6 of the case encompasses
both bosses 1, 2, the part round the lower boss 2 fitting that boss, whilst
the part round the other boss 1 is of larger diameter than the boss so as
to leave an annular space round it. The upper boss 1 has fixed or
formed on it two (or it might be more) propelling plates 9, each
extending out radially from it and bearing continually against the inside
of the case 6, excepting when in the course of its revolution it comes
to the space occupied by the other boss 2. When any one of the
propelling plates 9 reaches the lower boss 2 that boss will have been
turned by the gearing so as to bring round a groove or cavity 10 with
which it is formed, and the plate 9 enters this groove and passes round
in it until from the continuation of the motion it leaves it again on the
other side. The case 6 is provided with an inlet 12 at one side facing
the line of contact of the two bosses 1, 2, and an outlet 13 is formed
on the opposite side, these are equal and like the other parts of the
apparatus are symmetrically disposed so that the bosses may be turned
in either direction and either opening 12 or 13 be taken for the inlet.
End covers 7, 8, are bolted to the body 6 of the case, one of these being
formed with sockets for the inner ends of the shafts 3, 4, whilst the
other is formed with stuffing boxes for those shafts to pass through.
When any convenient motive power is applied to turn one of the
shafts 3, 4, and with it the bosses 1, 2, the propelling plates 9 force
round the gas or liquid that is in front of them towards the outlet
whilst fresh quantities enter behind the plates and a continuous flow is
kept up.
Figure 3 is a vertical section, and Figure 4 is a side elevation of a
modification which differs from that shown in Figures 1 and 2, simply
in both bosses 1, 2, being formed with propelling plates 9 whilst each
boss is formed with grooves or cavities 10 to receive the propelling
plates of the other boss when passing across. The body 6 of the casing
is modified to suit this arrangement. The shafts 3, 4, are represented
as in the same horizontal plane with the inlet 12 below and the
outlet 13 above (a convenient disposition for a pump for raising water),
but the apparatus may be made with the plane of the shafts in any
position that may be convenient.

page_text: When the apparatus is applied for measuring a liquid any convenient
counting gear with indicating dials is arranged in connection with one
of the shafts or axles and the liquid is allowed to pass through the
apparatus, when it will cause the cylinders or bosses to revolve, and the
number of their revolutions will be a measure of the quantity passing.
If the liquid has no head or pressure it may be simultaneously drawn
through and measured by applying power to one of the axles. In
using the apparatus for exhausting, blowing, pumping, or forcing the
necessary power is applied to one of the axles to cause the two
cylinders or bosses to revolve when a continuous uniform flow will be
produced.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, we have to state that we do not
restrict ourselves to the precise details herein described or delineated,
but that what we believe to be novel and original, and claim as the Inven-
tion secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
is, the exhausting of gas, the blowing of air, the pumping or forcing of
liquids, and the measuring of liquids by improved apparatus, sub-
stantially such as is herein described and delineated.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Laidlaw and John
Thomson, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-
fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-eight.
ROBERT LAIDLAW. (L.S.)
JOHN THOMSON.
(L.S.)
ROBERT LAIDLAW. (L.S.)
JOHN THOMSON.
(L.S.)