Improvements in or Connected with Steam "Jet Apparatus" in which the Supply of the Motor Fluid is Automatically Controlled.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 4th May, 1889
Improvements in or Connected with Steam "Jet Apparatus" in which
the Supply of the Motor Fluid is Automatically Controlled.
I, JAMES JONES MELDRUM of 25 Cathedral Yard Manchester do hereby declare
the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference generally to that class of jet exhausters, or blowing
apparatus, wherein the supply of motor fluid to the nozzle of the apparatus is controlled
automatically, by the agency of the varying pressures of the fluid (moved) or (to be
move). I will however for the sake of simplicity particularize the application of
my invention to the drawing off of gas from the hydraulic or other main of illumi-
nating gas making plant, where it is necessary to keep the pressure in the main
constant under a varying rate of production of gas and volume to be moved there-
from; from this application of my invention it will be readily seen how it can be
applied to various other purposes where like or equivalent conditions have to be
complied with.
In the manufacture of illuminating gas the rate of production varies considerably,
and consequently the volume passing into and through the hydraulic or other main
from the retorts will vary directly with the increased production; now it is necessary
that whatever the amount the volume of gas is passing into the hydraulic or other
main, the pressure within such inain must be kept constant, and in order to effect
this end exhausting apparatus have to be employed which shall be capable of drawing
off from the main varying volumes and of being controlled by the pressure in the
main.
"
Steam jet exhausters have hitherto been proposed for the purpose, in which the
steam actuating nozzle has been controlled automatically by the varying pressure in
the main, acting, or being caused to act, upon a Governor bell" working in water
or other liquid; but in most cases hitherto proposed or carried out, the governor has
been connected to a throttle valve placed in the steam pipe, which has the effect of
varying the pressure of steam in the nozzle of the apparatus, which is objectionable.
It has, however, also been proposed to operate the apparatus automatically by a

page_text: "
governor bell," in such a manner, that the pressure of steam within the nozzle up
to the point of discharge, is not reduced; in these cases the "governor bell" has been
connected to the regulating spindle or other device in such a manner, that one end
of such spindle or device has been subjected to the pressure of the steam, whilst the
other has been subjected only to the pressure of the atmosphere. This form of
governor requires a very large bell; or otherwise it is not very sensitive.
Now according to my present invention apparatus of the type herein specified is so
designed and arranged, that the pressure of steam in the nozzle. up to the point of
discharge, is retained, the power required to actuate it, and the size of the "governor
bell" need be only comparatively small, and the apparatus is very sensitive. These
effects obtain, mainly, by so designing and arranging the parts of the apparatus
that the pressure of steam acts upon both ends of the regulating device, or so that,
that device is and works as far as possible in equilibrium.
An example of jet apparatus embodying my invention consists as follows:-The
governor bell is suspended in a tank containing water or other suitable liquid, and is
connected to a counterpoise weight, by a chain or cord, which is of such a size and
weight, that each inch in length weighs in air, one half the weight of liquid displaced,
by each inch of height of the body of the bell. The counterpoise is weighted
according to the degree of absolute pressure required at any given place, with which
the bell is in communication. The centre of the top of the bell is also freely connected
by a moveable joint to the lower end of a link, the top of which is also freely
connected at the joint with a second lever, the other end of which lever is clipped to
an operating shaft of the jet apparatus which is mounted in centres and has forged
upon it a crank or arm.
The operating shaft passes into the interior of the casing of the apparatus through
an easy steam tight joint such as a stuffing box.
On the end of the arın of the operating shaft a pin is provided and works freely,
but with as little play as possible, in a slot in a regulating spindle. The spindle is
made in three parts, a body having a slot and two screwed sockets in which screws
or fit the guide and spindle proper; the stem of the spindle is also guided.
A spring is provided on the spindle to take the place of the pressure of the steam
which is exerted upon the tapered end of the said spindle when completely out
of the nozzle and within its casing, in order to equalize the pressure upon the
two ends.
If the governor and spindle are set at half stroke the counterpoise being set, say
for atmospheric pressure, then supposing the production of gas to fall off, the pressure
in the bell would diminish, or in other words there would be a partial vacuum, which
would draw down the bell, and through the mechanism above described, would force
the conical spindle of the apparatus farther into the nozzle, and so diminish the steam
opening until the required atmospheric pressure were again established. For the
purpose of a gas exhauster I prefer to form the cranks, levers, and spindle, and other
parts subjected to friction, or other parts, of steel, and to electro plate them, or other
parts, or any of them, with nickel or other suitable metal so as to prevent said part
from becoming corroded by the gas or otherwise.
Different forms of apparatus may be devised to meet the requirements of special
cases, but in all, the essential features are, the arrangement and construction of
apparatus substantially as set forth by which the sensitiveness of the apparatus is
obtained and size of " 'governing bell" necessary to actuate the spindle or other
device is rendered small.
Dated this 92nd day of 1000

page_text: Improvements in or Connected with Steam Jet Apparatus in which
the Supply of the Motor Fluid is Automatically Controlled.
I JAMES JONES MELDRUM, of 2. Cathedral Yard, Manchester, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference generally to that class of jet exhausters or blowing
apparatus, wherein the supply of motor fluid to the nozzle of the apparatus is
controlled automatically by the agency of the varying pressures of the fluid moved or
to be moved. I will, however, for the sake of simplicity particularize the application
of my Invention to the drawing off of gas from the hydraulic or other main of
illuminating gas making plant, where it is necessary to keep the pressure in the main
constant under varying rate of production of gas, and volume to be moved therefrom:
from this application of my Invention it will be readily seen how it can be applied
to various other purposes where like or equivalent conditions have to be complied
with.
In the manufacture of illuminating gas the rate of production varies considerably,
and consequently the volume passing into and through the hydraulic or other main
from the retorts will vary directly with the increased production; now it is necessary
that whatever the amount the volume of gas is passing into the hydraulic or other
main, the pressure within such main must be kept constant, and in order to effect
this end, exhausting apparatus have to be employed which shall be capable of
drawing off from the main varying volumes, and of being controlled by the pressure
in the main.
Steam jet exhausters have hitherto been proposed for the purpose, and in which the
steam actuating nozzle has been controlled automatically by the varying pressure in
the main, acting, or being caused to act, upon a "Governor Bell" working on water
or other liquid; but in most cases hitherto proposed or carried out the governor
has been connected to a throttle valve placed in the steam-pipe, which has the effect of
varying the pressure of steam in the nozzle of the apparatus, which is objectionable.
It has, however, also been proposed to operate the apparatus automatically by a
governor bell," in such a manner, that the pressure of steam within the nozzle
up to the point of discharge is not reduced; in these cases the "
governor bell"
has usually been connected to the regulating spindle or other device, in such a
manner, that one end of such spindle or device has been subjected to the pressure
of the steam, whilst the other has been subjected only to the pressure of the
atmosphere. This form of governor requires a very large bell; or otherwise it is
not very sensitive.
แ
Now, according to my present invention apparatus of the type herein specified,
is so designed and arranged, that the full boiler pressure of steam is retained in
the nozzle up to the point of discharge, and the power required to actuate it, and the

page_text: size of the " governor bell" need be only comparatively small; and further, the
apparatus is very sensitive. These effects I obtain mainly by so designing and
arranging the parts of the apparatus that the pressure of steam acts upon both
ends of the regulating device, or so that that device is, and works as far as possible,
in equilibrium.
An example of jet apparatus embodying my invention consists as follows:-The
governor bell is suspended in a tank containing water or other suitable liquid, and is
connected to a counterpoise weight by a chain or cord, which is of such a size and
weight, that each inch in length weighs in air one half the weight of liquid displaced
by each inch of height of the body of the bell. The counterpoise is weighted according
to the degree of pressure required at any given place, with which the bell is in
communication. The centre of the top of the bell also freely connected by a mov-
able joint to the lower end of a link, the top of which is also freely connected at
the joint with a second lever, the other end of which lever is clipped to an operating
shaft of the jet apparatus, which is mounted in centres, and has forged upon it a crank
or arm.
The operating shaft passes into the interior of the casing of the apparatus through
an easy steamtight joint, such as a stuffing box.
On the end of the arm of the operating shaft a pin is provided and works freely
with as little play as possible, in a slot in a regulating spindle. The spindle is made
in three parts, a body having a slot and two screwed sockets, in which screw or fit the
guide and spindle proper; the stem of the spindle is also guided.
A spring is provided on the spindle to take the place of the pressure of the steam
which is exerted upon the tapered end of the said spindle when out of the nozzle, in
order to equalize the pressure upon the two ends.
If the governor and spindle are at half stroke, the counterpoise being set, say for
atmospheric pressure, then supposing the production of gas to fall off, the pressure in
the bell would diminish, or in other words there would be a partial vacuum, which
would draw down the bell, and through the mechanism above described, would force
the conical spindle of the apparatus farther into the nozzle, and so diminish the steam
opening, until the required atmospheric pressure were again established. For the
purpose of a gas exhauster I prefer to form the cranks, levers, and spindle, and other
parts subjected to friction of steel, and to electro-plate them, (or other parts or any
of them,) with nickel or other suitable metal, so as to prevent said parts from
becoming corroded by the gas or otherwise.
Different forms of apparatus may be devised to meet the requirements of special
cases, but in most cases the main features are the arrangement and construction of
apparatus and mode of operation, substantially as set forth, by which the sensitiveness
of the apparatus is obtained and size of "governing bell" necessary to actuate the
spindle or other device is rendered small.
To illustrate my Invention I give in the annexed sheets of drawings (which form
a part of this specification) views of the example of apparatus embodying to the
invention, above more particularly specified.
In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the apparatus in outside elevation; and
Figures 2 and 3 show the nozzle and its regulating device and a part of the trunk
of the exhauster.
With reference to the Figures of the drawings, a is a governor bell; b is a tank
constructed to contain water or other suitable liquid, and in which the bell a is
arranged and suspended; c designates a chain, connected at one end to the bell a
and supporting in suspension at its other end removable disc counter-balance
weights d, and passed over and working upon the pulley c¹; e is a pipe by which
communication between the space within the bell a and the space (say the "hydraulic
main" of gas making apparatus), the pressure within which effects the operation
of the bell is a lever, connected at one end to the shaft of the nozzle controlling
device, and at the other to the bell a by a connecting rod .g; and h is the head of
lever f, and consists of a lower jaw forming part of the lever itself, and an upper
;

page_text: separate jaw h', said jaws being connected together by a bolt and nut h², and adapted
to clasp and grasp the shaft of the nozzle controlling device.
In the nozzle controlling device and exhauster (shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3) i.
is the shaft which is grasped by the head of the rod f just referred to, and which
passes through and works in the stuffing box j screwed on the body n of the
apparatus, and having centre pivots mounted in bearings in the adjustable centre
bearing and the body n (as shown); is an arm formed on the shaft i and adapted,
through a pin o thereon, to actuate the nozzle controlling spindle; and is a bracket
supporting the bearing k and supported and held in position by the flange of the
stuffing box j.
The nozzle controlling spindle is designated p; it consists of three pieces, two of
which are cylindrical rods and are mounted and work in bearings r, and the third is
a coupling piece, q, adapted to receive the pin 'o of the arm, the aperture in the
coupling piece being a gap; and the ends of this piece are screwed sockets,
in which the two ends of the spindle are fitted. The bearing is a part of a
hollow cap s which communicates by a hole s' with the interior of the body n.
t is a spring surrounding the spindle p, and adapted to bear upon the front bearing r
and coupler q; u is the nozzle in which the coned end of the spindle p works, and
controls the amount of opening accordingly as it fills, more or less, the nozzle orifice;
vis the exhauster body (which is preferably of the type set forth in the specification
of Letters Patent No. 9067 of 1886), and u¹ its inlet passage; and wis the motor
fluid inlet to the body n.
Regarding the mode of operation of the bell, the rise or fall of pressure, as above
stated, within it causes it to rise or fall; and for the purpose of illustration,―as
applied to the governing of pressure within the "hydraulic main " of a gas works,―it
may be assumed to be so weighted and arranged, that when the pressure is equal to
that of the atmosphere, it will stand in a central position when passing gas at a
certain rate, and for all other rates it will stand at certain different heights in its
tank b; the chain or band, as already stated being of such a weight that each inch
in length weighs in air one half the weight of water displaced by each inch of
height of the cylinder of the bell, in order to balance the water thereby displaced,
the chain or band moves over the pulley c¹. The counterbalance weight d is regulated
according to the degree of pressure required at any given place with which the bell a
is in communication by the pipe e:-Then, if in the example taken, the production
of gas in the works falls off, the pressure in the hydraulic main,-and consequently.
also that in the bell a,-would diminish, or in other words there would be a partial
vacuum within it, and the bell would be caused by the pressure of the atmosphere to
move down; and if, on the other hand, the production of gas were to increase, the
pressure in the hydraulic main and bell would undergo proportional increase and the
bell would be raised.
These movements are transmitted to the spindle p through the rod g, lever f,
shaft, arm and pin i, 2, o; and it' (the spindle p) is thereby moved in one way or
the other, alternately filling more or less, or being completely withdrawn from,
the orifice of the nozzle u,-more steam of course being supplied to the exhauster
body as the volume to be moved increases, and vice-versa.
In the arrangement illustrated the mode by which the controlling spindle p is
caused to be, and work in equilibrium, is clearly seen; namely, the steam acts upon
the back as well as the front end of it, and when the spindle is completely with-
drawn from the discharge orifice of the nozzle u, it would be subjected to the pressure
of the steam in all directions. When, however, the point of the spindle is passed
through the nozzle orifice the pressure on the back end will be greater than that on
the opposite one, a portion of it only being acted upon and hence in all positions
of the spindle, with respect to the nozzle u, except that in which it lies entirely
within it, the opposite forces acting on the opposite ends of the spindle are not equal;
but by employing the spring t which of course must be of the proper strength) these
inequalities way be, and are, practically, counter-balanced, and the spindle caused to
be and work, practically, in equilibrium for all positions,

page_text: 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. In jet apparatus for moving fluids, the arrangement substantially as herein
described of the device by which the discharge of motor fluids is controlled; and
operating as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a "jet apparatus" for moving fluids, effecting the equilibration of the motor
fluid discharge orifice controlling spindle or device by the combined action of the
pressure of the motor fluid and a spring or weight.
3. A "jet-apparatus" for moving fluids, in which the spindle or device, by which
the motor fluid discharge orifice is controlled, is held and works in equilibrium, partly
by the pressure of the motor fluid and partly by a spring or springs; substantially as
set forth and for the purposes specified.
4. The combination in a "jet-apparatus" for moving fluids, of a nozzlo u, spindle p,
and spring; operating substantially as described.
5. The combination in a "jet-apparatus" for moving fluids, of a spindle p, arm i²
and shaft i; operating and arranged substantially as described.
6. In "jet-apparatus" for moving fluids, the arrangement substantially herein
set forth wherein the spindle for controlling the nozzle discharge orifice is arranged
entirely within the body or casing thereof and moves in equilibrium as describe:l.
7. An automatically controlled "jet-apparatus" for moving fluids, comprising a
"Governor Bell," a, a counter-balance, d, a shaft, i, connected by suitable means to
said bell, a spindle p, adapted to operate in equilibrium in the case or body, n, a
nozzle, u, and an exhausting or blowing trunk or body v; arranged and operating
substantially as described.
C
8. The governor bell a, a body b; pipe or passage e, chain or band wheel c¹,
and counterbalance weight d; constructed and operating substantially as set forth
with reference to the drawings for the purposes set forth.
9. In a "jet-apparatus" for moving fluids, the combination and arrangement of
the brackets and shaft i; substantially as set forth.
10. In a "jet-apparatus" for moving fluids of the kind herein specified, the combi-
tion of a lever, 9, actuated by the " Governor-bell," clip head h, and shaft i; operating
as described.
11. The mode substantially herein described of counter-balancing the weight of
the part of the "Governor-bell" subject to variable depths of immersion in liquid
of a "jet-apparatus" of the type herein specified, which mode consists in causing
a proportioned weight to act in conjunction with and counterbalance the portion of
the bell drawn out of the liquid as it rises therefrom, and to act in conjunction
with the bell and counterbalance the liquid displaced by the bell as it becomes immersed
therein.
12. The employment in combination with a Governor-bell of a "jet-apparatus "
for moving fluids, of a chain, cord, or band, weighing or weighted, and adapted to
operate in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1889.
JAMES JONES MELDRUM.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents.