IMPROVEMENTS IN GENERATORS FOR GENERATING CARBONIC ACID GAS OR OTHER GASES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James McEwen of Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Engineer, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN GENERATORS FOR
GENERATING CARBONIC ACID GAS OR OTHER GASES
"
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James McEwen at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd March 1883.
•>>
JAMES MCEWEN of Manchester in the County of Lancaster. Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN GENERATORS FOR GENERATING CARBONIC ACID GAS, OR
OTHER GASES.
This invention relates to improvements in generators for generating carbonic
acid gas or other gases, and consists of a novel method for filling, emptying and
washing out, without loss of gas or admitting atmospheric air.
To the underside of the generator is placed a three way tap provided with an
inlet pipe, on the top side of which is a charging vessel for receiving the whiteing
or other substance to be used. On the outer end of the three way tap is placed an
outlet pipe for the purpose of emptying, (or nearly so) the generator of its contents.
When the three way tap is open to admit the whiteing, the inlet to the generator
is also open, and the outlet pipe is closed.
When it is desired to empty the generator, the three way tap is turned, when
the inlet pipe is thereby closed, and the outlet pipe opened to the generator, thus
preventing loss. In case the three way tap is turned clean round the opening to
the generator is closed, and the inlet and outlet pipes become one, whereby the
inlet pipe and vessel can be emptied, for the purpose of economy or washing out.
On the end of the outlet pipe is placed a swivel syphon, the raising of which
entirely prevents the admission of atmospheric air, while the generator is being
emptied.
On the top or otherwise of the said generator is placed a small gas holder or
regulator of equal capacity or more to the generator proper, floating in water;
being connected to the generator by a vertical pipe rising to the top of water tub.
The object of this regulator being to facilitate the inlet and outlet of the whiteing
or other material or substance used. Another pipe rises inside to the same height

page_text: as the inlet gas pipe, being connected with the pumps for drawing off the gas as
generated.
The second part of my invention relates to an improved valve for regulating
automatically the flow of the Acid into the generator.
To the underside of the acid inlet pipe is placed a double valve in a glass vessel
or its equivalent, which is operated upon by a rod or wire, worked from a lever
which is actuated by the rise and fall of the gas holder or regulator; thus when
the gas holder descends the lever drops and opens the valve, thus admitting more
acid, which immediately unites with the whiteing in the generator, and gas is
generated when the gas holder again rises and lifts the lever and shuts the double
valve until such time as the gas is reduced in pressure; when the action is repeated
and so on continuously.
From the underside of the glass or other acid vessel is fixed a syphon pipe,
connecting with the upper side of the generator.
Another important part of this invention is an application for drawing the
attention of the person in charge.
It consists of a novel way of fixing to the side or otherwise of the gas holder or
regulator a spring or its equivalent, which in its fall comes in contact with a spring
which is connected to an electric bell.
When the whiteing or other substance in the generator is spent, the pressure
diminishes and the regulator lowers, thereby closing the acid valve, and brings the
springs into contact, thereby the electric bell rings, which will continue to do so
until the attendant recharges it; when the regulator again rises and releases the
springs, when the bell ceases ringing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James McEwen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st September 1883.
JAMES MCEWEN of Manchester in the County of Lancaster Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GENERATORS FOR GENERATING CARBONIC ACID GAS, OR
OTHER GASES
»-
This Invention relates to improvements in generators for generating carbonic
acid gas or other gases, and consists of a novel method for filling, emptying, and
washing out, without loss of gas or admitting atmospheric air.
To the underside of the generator is placed a three-way tap provided with an
inlet pipe, on the top side of which.is a charging vessel for receiving the whiteing
or other substance to be used.
On the outer end of the three way tap is placed an outlet pipe for the purpose
of emptying or nearly so, the generator of its contents-When the three way tap is
open to admit whiteing the inlet to the generator is also open and the outlet pipe
is closed. When it is desired to empty the generator the three way tap is turned,
when the inlet pipe is thereby closed, and the outlet pipe opened to the generator,
thus preventing loss. In case the three way tap is turned clean round the opening
to the generator is closed, and the inlet and outlet pipes become one, whereby the
inlet pipe and vessel can be emptied for the purpose of economy or washing out
On the end of the outlet pipe is placed a swivel syphon the raising of which
entirely prevents the admission of atmospheric air, while the generator is being
emptied.
On the top or otherwise of the said generator is placed a small gas holder or
regulator of equal capacity or more to the generator proper, floating in water; being
connected to the generator by a vertical pipe rising to the top of water tub-The
object of this regulator being to facilitate the inlet and outlet of the whiteing or
other material or substance used. Another pipe rises inside to the same height as
the inlet gas pipe, being connected with the pumps for drawing off the gas as
generated.
The second part of my invention relates to an improved valve for regulating
automatically the flow of the acid into the generator.
To the underside of the acid inlet pipe is placed a double valve in a glass vessel
or its equivalents, which is operated upon by a rod or wire, worked from a lever
which is actuated by the rise and fall of the gas holder or regulator; thus when
the gas holder descends the lever drops and opens the valve, thus admitting more
acid, which immediately unites with the whiteing in the generator, and gas is
generated when the gas holder again rises and lifts the lever and shuts the double
valve until such time as the gas is reduced in pressure when the action is repeated
and so on continuously.
From the underside of the glass or other acid vessel is fixed a syphon pipe,
connecting with the upper side of the generator
Another important part of this invention is an application for drawing the
attention of the person in charge.
It consists of a novel way of fixing to the side or otherwise of the gas holder or
regulator a spring or its equivalent, which in its fall comes in contact with a spring
which is connected to an electric bell.
When the whiteing or other substance in the generator is spent, the pressure
diminishes and the regulator lowers thereby closing the acid valve, and brings the
springs into contact, thereby the electric Bell rings, which will continue to do so
until the attendant recharges it when the regulator again rises and releases the
springs when the bell ceases ringing.
!

page_text: .
In order that my said invention may be more fully understood I will now
proceed to describe the drawings upon the sheet hereunto annexed the same letters
and figures of reference being used throughout all the figures to indicate the same
or corresponding parts of my invention.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my invention, A is the generator-B, the
agitator, C, the agitator shaft, D the trunnions and stuffing boxes through which
the agitator shaft C revolves, being provided with the fast and loose pullies E
which are driven by straps as shewn from any convenient position, or by gearing
such as wheels and pinions, or other equivalents.
To the underside of the generator A is fixed the three way tap F provided with
the inlet pipe G. on the top end of which is placed the charging vessel H for
receiving the whiteing or other substance to be used the outer end of the tap F is
fitted with the union or swivel joint I for receiving the syphon pipe J. which is
provided for the purpose of emptying the generator A of its contents, or nearly so
when in the position shewn on drawing-When the tap F is open to admit
whiteing or other substances to the generator A the outlet pipe or syphon pipe J is
closed as in Fig: 1.
In case it is requisite to empty the generator A of its contents the stopper of the
three way tap F is turned as shewn in Fig: 3 by which operation the inlet pipe G
is closed and the outlet or syphon J open to the generator, thus preventing loss, at
the same time performing the operation without admitting atmospheric air, owing
to the position of the outlet of the syphon being about level with the bottom of the
generator; the cavity in the tap and lower part of the syphon being filled with
liquid from the generator.
If it is desired to empty the whiteing or other substance from the charging
vessel H and inlet pipe G without discharging it into the generator, the stopper of
the tap F is turned to the position shewn in Fig: 4 and the syphon pipe J turned
'down, when the whole of the contents can be emptied into any receptacle prepared
to receive it, thereby economising as well as facilitating the operation of washing
out and cleaning the passages.
The generator A is made of lead, or other suitable material being made in halves
for the purpose of admitting the agitator B-The joint is formed by providing the
flanges (a) being bolted together by bolts in the ordinary way, the trunnions or
stuffing boxes being of brass or other metallic materials as desired in halves as in
Fig 5, being brazed to the sides of the generator or otherwise and which, are held
firmly together by the nut S-The gland D with a circular threaded nut serves
the double purpose of locking the bosses together as well as that of a gland for the
purpose of packing to prevent air being drawn.
On the top or above or otherwise of the generator A is placed the gas holder or
regulator K of equal capacity or otherwise to the capacity of the generator A, made
of copper or wood or any other suitable material-The water tub L is provided for
the purpose of floating the regulator K thus preventing the escape of gas as it is
supplied to the holder from the generator by the vertical pipe M-The inside of
the regulator K is provided with the tube or funnel O which acts as a guide for
the rising and falling of the same on the spindle or standard P fastened to the
bottom of the water or liquid tub L-The pipe N is for drawing off the gas by the
action of the ordinary pumps as generated;
Another part of my invention relates to the improved valve for regulating
automatically the flow of the acid into the generator
To the underside of the acid inlet pipe 1 is placed the double valve 2 composed
of glass or earthenware, fitted with lead or other suitable connections to resist the
action of the acid which is enclosed in the glass vessel or case T and provided with
the cross bar 3, to which is secured the suspending or operating rods 4. 4. worked
from the lever 5 which is actuated by the rise and fall of the gas holder or
regulator K. When the gas holder K descends the lever 5 drops causing the
opposite end to rise with the rods 4. 4 thus opening the double valve 2 by which.
more acid is admitted which immediately unites with the whiteing in the generator.

page_text: and gas
is generated, causing the gas holder or regulator K to rise and operate the
lever 5 upwards, shutting the double valve 2. until the gas in the regulator K is
again reduced in pressure, when the action is again repeated automatically, and so
on continuously.
The acid is conveyed from the glass cylinder or vessel T by means of the syphon
pipe 6, which connects with the upper side of the generator A-This syphon pipe
is fixed in such a position as to balance the pressure in the regulator K, so as to
supply the acid in regular quantities as required by the pressure of gas in the
regulator K
When the Whiteing or other substance in the charging vessel H and in the
agitator A is spent, the regulator K drops, through the diminishing of the pressure at
the same time closing the double acid valve 2 thus preventing any unnecessary waste
of the acid-To call the attention of the attendant to this I provide the gas holder
or regulator K. with the finger or spring 7 which rises and falls with it-In case the
regulator falls the finger 7 strikes the spring 8, which is secured to the side of the
water or liquid tub L, being connected to an electric bell in any convenient position
by the rod 9 or other equivalents-When the finger 7 strikes the spring 8 the bell
is set ringing and will continue to do so until the vessel is recharged when gas will
be immediately generated causing the regulator K to rise and release the finger 7
and spring 8 when the ringing will cease.
Having thus stated the nature of my invention and described the mode of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the.
precise details or configuration of the parts I have shown and described as the
same may be varied or modified without departing from the principle of my
invention and that they may be applied either jointly or severally to the machine
as shewn or any existing machine or gas generator, but what I claim and desire to
be secured to me by Letters Patent is :-
First The arrangement use and construction of parts forming my improvements
for filling, emptying and washing out the generator or its connections, without the
loss of gas or admitting atmospheric air into the generator for the purposes herein
described, substantially as described and as shewn on the drawings
Second-The use and construction of the double acid valve 2, with the glass
vessel and connections for regulating automatically the flow of the acid into the
generator, for the purpose described, and as shewn on the drawings
In witness whereof I the said James M°Ewen have hereunto set my hand and
seal this eighteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
TAMES MOTWEN
al