AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CAR- BURETTING AIR AND DELIVERING OR DISTRIBUTING THE SAME FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Saunders Muir of Highgate Road in the county
of Middlesex for an Invention of AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CAR-
BURETTING AIR AND DELIVERING OR DISTRIBUTING THE SAME FOR LIGHTING
AND HEATING PURPOSES WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Saunders Muir at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th June 1883.
JOHN SAUNDERS MUIR of Highgate Road in the county of Middlesex
AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CARBURETTING AIR AND DELIVERING OR DISTRIBUTING
THE SAME FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
My invention relates primarily to apparatus for carburetting air and has for its
object the construction of a simple apparatus which at the same time as it effectually
carburets the air delivers or distributes the carburetted air to the burners where it
is to be used in a steady equable flow without the use of governors or regulators or
accumulators or the like so that the said carburetted air will reach the burners at a
certain determined pressure whether there are one or more burners in use. This
apparatus can also be used for forcing air into a room or chamber or elsewhere or
for withdrawing or exhausting the same therefrom which air may be heated or
cooled or scented or impregnated with whatever material I choose.
In order to explain my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
I refer to the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my apparatus with part of the outer casing
removed. Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of this apparatus.
Figure 5 is a
Figure 3 is
a front end elevation of the same with the outer casing removed. Figure 4 is a
rear end elevation of the same with the outer casing removed.
transverse vertical section of this apparatus. The letters refer to the same parts in
all the Figures.

page_text: I make an air tight casing A of any convenient shape and size. I prefer to
make it as shewn with a semicircular top. On the inner sides of the ends of this
casing AI fit two bearings B for the ends of a shaft C which preferably does not
project through the said ends of the casing as shewn. Round the centre of the
shaft C I fit an air tight cylindrical chamber D which is made of a suitable size for
the purpose hereinafter mentioned. Surrounding this chamber D I make an annular
drum the inner shell E of which is secured by the stays F to the chamber D while
the outer shell G is supported by the end plates or rings H which plates or rings
are tightly soldered or otherwise secured to both the said shells. Between the said
shells are also soldered or otherwise tightly secured the wings K so that a series of
air tight chambers are formed in the said drum. Long slots L are formed in the
inner shell E and corresponding slots M are formed in the outer shell G one pair
being given to each of the aforesaid chambers. These slots extend the whole
length or nearly the whole length of the drum. The drum is surrounded by a sheet
of perforated metal or wire gauze N which is supported a small distance outside of
the outer shell G by the end plates or rings H. The casing A is filled with liquid
hydrocarbon up to a convenient level so that the air tight chamber D may act as a
float and support the entire weight of the drum whereby no strain is laid on the
shaft and the friction of the same in its bearings is reduced to a minimum and the
motive power only has to effect the revolution of the drum. It will be found in
practice that this chamber D is therefore mainly submerged in the liquid and the
end plates or rings H are made to approach so closely to the central shaft as to
enter the liquid on the upper side or above the shaft and thereby effect a seal on
the chambers in the drum. A supply air pipe O is led in through the upper part
of the casing A and is passed through the annular space in the end plate H round
the shaft C below the level of the liquid when it is turned upward and opens above
the said liquid into the space immediately beneath the inner shell E as shewn in
Figures 2 and 3. Atmospheric air is by this pipe introduced into the chambers in
the drum hereinbefore described. The chambers in the drum and the wings which
create the transverse shape of the same are so formed and arranged that no chamber
has both its slots hereinbefore described clear of or above the liquid at one and the
same time.
I consider that the shape shewn in Figure 5 of these said wings is very
suitable for this purpose as aforesaid but they may also be formed of any other
shape to effect this object as herein before described. The shaft C I prefer to gear
by toothed wheels or otherwise with the shaft I which passes out through a stuffing
box in the end of the casing A above the level of the liquid. By this means I
avoid the necessity of having a stuffing box or other cause of leakage under or in
the liquid which prove in practice so objectionable. To the shaft I is connected
the motive power necessary to revolve the drum which may conveniently be given
by clock work as very little power is required and the said drum ought only to
make two or three revolutions per minute or thereabouts. But any other motive
power may also be used.
I will now proceed to describe the action of this apparatus referring to Figures
2 and 5. In Figure 5 the chamber P between the inner shell E and the outer shell
G is now entirely sealed both its slots L and M being below the level of the liquid
but as the drum revolves in the direction of the arrows the slot M is lifted above
and freed from the liquid which entering the slot L forces the air contained in the
chamber P out through the slot M. At the same time while the drum is in the
position shewn the air from the pipe O is freely entering the next chamber P¹
through the slot L' and as the drum revolves as aforesaid the vacuum caused thereby
in the chamber P¹ draws in more air until in the revolution of the drum the slot L'
enters the liquid and the chamber P¹ is sealed soon after which is effected the slot
M' is raised above the liquid and the air in the chamber P' is forced out as herein-
before described. In the same manner all the chambers in the drum are successively
tilled and emptied of air. At the same time the perforated sheet N which revolves
with the drum as hereinbefore described takes up some of the liquid with it which
drops through and sprinkles the air as it is being forced out of the said chambers.

page_text: The air therefore is thoroughly carburetted when it is discharged into the upper
part of the casing A whence it is delivered or distributed to the burners by the pipe
or pipes R in manner as may be desired. Thus in this apparatus there is always a
succession of chambers receiving fresh atmospheric air from outside and discharging
carburetted air into the casing and there can be no return of the carburetted air
through the pipe O as the slots L are always sealed before the slots M are opened
or unsealed as shewn in the drawing while the end plates H also effect a seal. The
motion of this apparatus is also governed automatically for when there is little or no
flow of the carburetted air through the discharging pipe consequent on some or all
of the burners being shut off the pressure of the carburetted air in the casing A acts
as a back pressure and prevents the liquid from forcing any more carburetted air
out of the chambers in the drum thereby bringing the said drum to rest.
therefore the proper pressure has been allowed for this pressure will be maintained
in the casing irrespective of the number of burners in use.
When
In order to maintain the hydrocarbon liquid at its proper level in the casing on
which the due action of this apparatus depends I may construct over the casing a
tank or vessel S for the said hydrocarbon. But though I prefer this method I do
not limit myself to it. When this vessel S is constructed as shewn I lead a pipe T
therefrom through the top of the casing A nearly to the required level of the liquid
in the said casing and I govern the admission of the liquid from the vessel S into
the casing A by a float V which through the lever W operates the conical valve X
in the end of the pipe T which is formed to make a seating therefor as shewn in
Figure 4 by which apparatus the liquid is always maintained at its proper level.
To shew also whether there is sufficient liquid in the vessel S I secure a glass or
other tube Y with a closed top to the top of the vessel S within which rises the
spindle of the float Z as shewn in Figure 2. The action of the whole apparatus is
thus entirely automatic.
When this apparatus is used for cooling or heating or otherwise treating air for
ventilation or other purposes I place water in the casing instead of the hydro-
carbon liquid. This water may be cooled or heated or there may be mixed there-
with any scent or any disinfecting liquid or other liquid as may be required. The
air supply pipe or the air delivery pipe can then be connected as required to the
room or other chamber to be operated on. The action of the apparatus is the same
as herein before described and the air can either be withdrawn or exhausted from
the room or other chamber or can be forced into the same impregnated with what-
ever liquid or material I may place in the casing. The tank above would be
charged with the same liquid or material.
I would however have it clearly understood that I do not limit myself to the
exact shapes or the precise methods of construction of the various parts of my
apparatus as described and shewn in the drawing for the same may be varied
without departing from my invention neither do I limit myself to the combination
of the air chamber or float with the revolving drum for the said drum can be used
without the said chamber or float neither do I limit myself to the combination of
the supply tank with the apparatus for carburetting or otherwise treating air for
the same may be used without the said tank but at the same time I would state
that I consider that the said shapes and methods of construction and the combina-
tions of the various parts of my apparatus as herein before described and as shewn
in the drawing are the best and most suitable for carrying out my objects as
herein before described.
Having thus particularly described and clearly ascertained my invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed I would state that I claim as my
invention
1. The apparatus for carburetting air and delivering or distributing the same for
lighting and heating purposes the said apparatus consisting of the casing partly
filled with liquid hydrocarbon and containing the revolving annular drum
surrounded by a sheet of perforated metal or wire gauze the said drum being
divided into a series of chambers into which atmospheric air is drawn by the

page_text: vacuum created therein and from out of which chambers carburetted air is forced
by the said liquid hydrocarbon into the upper part of the said casing whence it
is delivered or distributed to the burners the whole apparatus constructed and
combined and operating substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described
and set forth.
2. The apparatus for cooling or otherwise treating air the said apparatus con-
sisting of the casing partly filled with water or other liquid and containing the
revolving annular drum surrounded by a sheet of perforated metal or wire gauze
the said drum being divided into a series of chambers into which the air is drawn
by the vacuum created therein and from out of which chambers the air treated as
desired is forced by the said water or other liquid into the upper part of the said
casing whence it is delivered or discharged as required the whole apparatus con-
structed and combined and operating substantially as and for the purpose berein-
before described and set forth.
3. In an apparatus for carburetting or otherwise treating air the method herein-
before described of drawing the air into the apparatus impregnating or treating
the said air with the liquid or with the vapour arising naturally from the liquid
contained in the said apparatus and expelling or discharging the said air from the
said apparatus substantially as herein before described and set forth.
4. In an apparatus for carburetting or otherwise treating air and for delivering
or distributing the said air after treatment the arrangement and construction of
the parts as herein before described by the action of which the air is so delivered or
distributed in a steady equable flow at a certain determined pressure the said
regulation of the flow and pressure being effected automatically substantially as
herein before described and set forth.
5. The combination of the air chamber or float and the revolving annular drum
by which air chamber the said drum is floated and its weight taken off the shaft
thereof substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth.
6. The complete apparatus hereinbefore described the said apparatus consisting
of the combination of the casing partly filled with liquid the revolving annular
drum surrounded by a sheet of perforated metal or wire gauze and divided into a
series of air tight chambers the air chamber or Boat by which the said revolving
annular drum is floated and its weight taken off the shaft thereof and the supply
tank above from which the liquid required in the said casing is delivered into the
same as and when it is wanted the whole apparatus constructed and combined and
operating substantially as herein before described and set forth.
In witness whereof I the said John Saunders Muir have hereunto set my
hand and seal this fourth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
TATENT SITTASTARDS
TID
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