Improvements in and Connected with Siphons.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 12th July, 1889-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Siphons..
1, PATRICK MOLYNEUX, of Atlantic Wharf, Bow Common, London, E., Wharf
Superintendent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in and connected with siphons whereby
certain advantages are obtained.
A well known device for withdrawing liquids from vessels is the ordinary siphon.
When the quantity of liquid is considerable and it is desired to remove the whole of it
from a closed vessel quickly a siphon as ordinarily constructed is unsuitable. The
reason of this is that the siphon tube in order to remove the liquid quickly must be of
large gauge, in which case a considerable quantity of the liquid may remain in the siphon
instead of being discharged.
My invention is designed to overcome this drawback.
In accordance with my invention I employ what I may term a compound siphon
consisting of two siphon tubes, the one enclosing the other, the inner tube being
relatively of much smaller diameter than the outer. The said tubes may be in one or
more lengths and when of more than one length capable of being suitably connected
together by unions or other couplings.
The discharge end of the siphon may be fitted with a tap or valve and with a hand
pump or other convenient form of exhausting device.
The action of my invention is as follows. The hand pump is put into operation to
exhaust the air from the siphon, and the tap is then turned on.
The liquid now passes
through the two siphon tubes, withdrawing the liquid from the closed vessel. After a
timo the larger tubo ceases to withdraw the liquid but the smaller tube continues the
operation till the vessel is exhausted or practically so.
1000
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.S.T.E., M. Inst. M.E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent, Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, W.C.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Siphons.
1, PATRICK MOLYNEUX, of Atlantic Wharf, Bow Common, London, F., Wharf
Superintendent, 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 improvements in and connected with siphons whereby
certain advantages are obtained.
A well known device for withdrawing liquids from vessels is the ordinary siphon.
When the quantity of liquid is large and it is desired to remove the whole of it from
the vessel quickly a siphon as ordinarily constructed is unsuitable. The reason of this
is that the siphon tube in order to remove the liquid quickly must be of large gauge
in which case a considerable quantity of the liquid may remain in the siphon instead
of being discharged.
My invention is designed to overcome this drawback.
In accordance with my invention I have devised and employ what I may term a
compound siphon, that is, a siphon consisting of two distinct siphon tubes the one
enclosing the other, and the inner tube being relatively of much smaller diameter or
cross section than the outer. The said compound siphon may be in one or more

page_text: lengths, such lengths being connected. together by any suitable pipe unions or
couplings.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying sheet of drawings illustrate a convenient form
of my compound 'siphon.
In figure 1, B is the compound siphon shown in connection with a tank waggon A
(here represented in cross section), b¹ being the outer tube and 62 the inner one. In
this case the siphon consists of three lengths connected together at D, D. The outer
tube 61 passes to the foot of the tank at which point it is suitably perforated for the
admission of the liquid to it and to the inner tube. It is here held in position by
three elbow pieces a¹. The inner tube is supported or retained in the outer one by any
convenient known method such for example as by screws passing in a tight manner
through to b².
Figure 2 illustrates an arrangement which I find very convenient for the connection
of two lengths of my compound siphon. It will be seen that the two ends of the
outer tube are fitted in the usual way for an ordinary screw union, whilst the ends
of the two lengths of the inner tube are coupled together as follows. The end of
one of the lengths is flared or dilated whilst the end of the other length is constricted
and this in such manner that the constricted end will pass into and be surrounded by
the dilated end, the two ends thus overlapping as it were. In order that the joint thus
made in the inner tube may be tight a tubular rubber washer rubber c is inserted, after
which the screwing up of the union on the outer tube will make the joint sound
and good.
The discharge end of the siphon may be fitted with a tap or cock and with a hand
pump as shown in figure 1 where E is the tap and F the pump. Any convenient form
of tap and of pump may be employed.
In the figure I have shown the two siphon tubes which constitute my compound
siphon as concentric, this being the arrangement which I prefer.
If the bottom of the tank A were flat it would be advantageous to provide it with
a small sump or depression into which the end of the short limb of the siphon would
reach for the purpose of emptying the tank completely, or nearly so.
In practice I find it convenient to make the outer tube of my compound siphon about
two inches in diameter and the inner tube about half-an-inch in diameter, the sectional
areas of the two tubes being then as 16 to 1.
The action of my invention is as follows. The hand pump is put into operation
to exhaust the air from the siphon, and the tap is then turned on. The liquid now
passes through the two siphon tubes. After a time the larger tube ceases to withdraw
the liquid but the smaller tube continues.the operation till the vessel is exhausted or
nearly so.
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 improvement in siphons consisting in the combination of two siphon tubes
of different diameter to constitute what I have herein termed a compound siphon
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The improvement connected with siphons consisting in the combination of
a compound siphon a hand pump and a tap substantially as and for the purpose
set forth
Dated this 11th day of July 1889.
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M. Inst. M.É., M. Inst. E.E.,
Patent Agent & Consulting Engineer, Norfolk House,
Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C.