Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Fluids.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 19th June, 1897
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Fluids.
I, EUGEN WIDEMANN Contractor, of 81 Neumyn Strasse, Berlin, in the Empire
of Germany, 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 :-
The process of producing a sudden vacuum in a container by means of explosions
in order to thereby raise upwards and into the container large quantities of fluid
without slow and difficult pump work is in itself already known. The first
experiments of this nature were made about ten years ago with lighting gas which
was introduced into the air tight container in suitable quantities to form, with the
air contained therein, an easily exploded mixture, which was then exploded at an
open flame, thereby raising up the container cover and expelling the interior air.
the cover at once again hermetically closing the container, the required vacuum
being obtained by the consequent cooling. These apparatuses have not meanwhile
been approved; the explosion was too violent and dangerous and their use very
limited since they were not available except in places having gas producing works.
Recently the lighting gas has been replaced by a liquid fuel which is vaporised in
the container and thereby forms an explosive mixture with the air contained
therein, and which after ignition at a flame also acts in the manner described.
These apparatuses are accompanied by no lesser difficulties than the lighting gas
apparatus. The explosion is much too strong and noisy. The inner receiving
container for the fuel is subject to rapid destruction and as it is necessarily fitted
above the level of the fluid to be moved with each operation a large flame passes
out, having a prejudicial effect, the gases of which with the suddenness of the
upward and return motion of the container cover have very little time to spread
themselves in the whole space of the container but are naturally expelled for the
most part without effect, through the cover into the open. A very great
disadvantage of these apparatuses consists also therein that they are dependent.
upon the existing atmospheric temperature. Experience has shown that, the colder
the outer air is, the greater are the number of explosions necessary to produce the
required vacuum.
The arrangement which is the subject of the present invention avoids all these
difficulties in a successful manner. The previously used means of explosion are
replaced therein by a solid explosive substance which is preferably made up for use
in the form of a cartridge. The improvement is thus effected that the detonations
can be produced in the lower part of the container, and that the inner space of the
latter remains quite free of working parts. The few and simple parts are all fixed
on the outside of the container.
The invention is shown on the accompanying drawing. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal
section of the arrangement Fig. 2 a plan, Fig. 3 a side elevation, Fig. 4 a transverse
section through the line - of Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 are details.
The chamber A, entirely free inside, of any desired shape but preferably
cylindrical, of suitable length and large diameter contains at the top one or more
openings which are closed each by a cover C hung on a hinge B. The lower edge
of the cover is provided with a joint ring of rubber or the like so that when closed
no air is admitted. The height of lift of the cover is limited for example by a
curved rod D fastened to the surface of the chamber with the spiral spring E and
stop-knob F which catches in an eye ring G on the cover. Above the chamber is
also fitted the small air cock H. The nozzle J for the inlet and outlet of the fluid
to be raised is fitted to the end of the chamber and is closed by the valve K'

page_text: moved by the hand lever K or by other suitable means. Close thereto or in
another position in the lower or upper part of the container is a small chamber L
to receive the explosive cartridge. It is so arranged that the latter lays in front
of an opening M in the container. The bore in the cartridge case or its receiving
chamber is made to close so that after the explosion is effected all connections with
the outer air is cut off. For this purpose the chamber L can be arranged to rotate
about a fixed bolt N whilst the single or socket case O in which the cartridge is
inserted is made eccentrically in the chamber L. After loaling the chamber Lis
rotated 180° by means of the handie P so that the open cartridge case co nes
opposite the solid container surface and the container opening M opposite the
closed part of the cartridge chamber.
As charge for the cartridge case gun powder can be usel or a preparation male
therefrom, having a great explosive force. The quantity of the charge is suited
to the cubical contents of the container which must be built of corresponding
strength. In the same way the total size of the top openings in the container must
be in correct proportion to the cubical contents. These proportions of quantity
and size are to be found by practical experiments.
The discharge of the cartridge by any desired means such as electrical or other
ignition, striking, friction etc. has only as a consequence the appearance of a small
flame whilst it effects the instantaneous filling of the whole container with the
explosion gases, forcing out practically the whole of the air contents through the
upward raised covers. The covers close again at once by their own weight and by
the spring pressure and in consequence of the immediate cooling and condensation
of the gases remaining in the container a high degree of vacuum is at once
obtained which ou the opening of the valve K' permits the inlet, through the
suction pipe connected to the nozzle J, of the fluid to be raised, up to nearly
the full height of the container. The discharge can also take place through the
nozzle J, the suction pipe being unscrewed and the cock H opened for the admission
of air.
As already mentioned there is produced in this new apparatus only a slight
invisible flame, the outthrow of large flames is quite avoided. The detonation is
correspondingly smaller. The gases of explosion act from below upwards through
the entire depth of the container and consequently produce the greatest possible
vacuum. As all the working parts are fitted outside the container they cannot be
damaged by the repeated explosions. The apparatus is entirely independent of the
existing atmospheric temperature. With a single apparatus a number of containers
may if desired have a vacuum produced therein, as they may be connectel together
by a pipe with a stop cock, and the explosions repeated correspondingly often.
The vacuum already produced is, furthermore, increased by repeated explosions
since for the latter a certain quantity of air is not required in the container as is the
case with previous apparatuses.
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 [
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for the raising of fluids by the production of a vacuum by means
of explosions, the use of solid explosive substances in the form of cartridges which
are brought, for discharge, opposite the outside of an opening, capable of being
closed, in the fluid container.
2. The arrangement and construction of apparatuses for raising fluids substantially
as described and shown.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.