Apparatus for Automatically Discharging Air from Air Conduits Temporarily Supplied with Air Under Pressure.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Feb., 1891-Accepted. 21st Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Automatically Discharging Air from Air Conduits
Temporarily Supplied with Air Under Pressure.
I, VICTOR POPP, of 54, Rue Etienne Marcol, Paris, France, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus forming the subject of the present invention has for its object to
effect in an automatic manner the removal of the excess of air pressure over that
of the external atmosphere from within conduits that are temporarily filled with
compressed air for working pneumatic clocks or other winding up devices.
The said apparatus comprises a vessel into which the compressed air enters to
act upon the surface of mercury or other suitable liquid (hereinafter referred to as
mercury) therein and which is thereby partially raised to open by its weight a
valve that is otherwise closed, and past which the compressed air can escaper When
the mercury thus raised again sinks into the vessel by reason of a decrease in the
pressure, the load being thus removed from the valve, the latter will close.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings show an apparatus according to
this invention, Fig. 1 showing the valve and other parts in their closed positions
and Fig. 2 showing these parts in their open positions.
A is a vessel containing mercury in its lower part and communicating by incans
of the pipe B with the air conduit. Within and across this pipe is stretched a
membrane filter which serves to prevent the entry into the apparatus of any
impurities that may be carried along by the air. The vessel A is closed by a
cover C which has a central opening that is capable of being closed by a valve D.
G is a rod
This valve is secured upon a tube E on which a dish F is also fixed.
that passes through the tube E, it carries at its lower end a valve H for closing
the lower end of the tube, and at its upper end a float K. The portion of the
tube E projecting into the dish has an opening e which communicates with a similar
opening in an adjustable outer tubular or pipe valve S, secured by means of a
nut T to the tube E. The lower portion of the tube E projecting into the vessel A
is guided at e¹.
f is a rod or link attached to the dish F and connected to one end of a lever M
that is fulcrumed at me and carries an adjustable counterweight whilst N is
another lever fulcrumed at a and connected with the lever M by a rod n¹.
The counterweight is adjusted in such a manner as to slightly raise the dish F
and the tube E, and to keep the valve D closed.
With this construction when compressed air enters the vessel A through the
pipe B, it presses upon the mercury the surface of which is at and forces it when
the valve H is open, through the central tube E and the opening e into the dish F.
By rotating the tubular or pipe-valve S, the size of the opening e cau be varied,
and the rate of flow of mercury therethrough regulated. The mercury passing
into the dish rises finally to such a height that it raises the blades ¹ of the
float K and thereby closes the valve H, and prevents any further entry of
mercury.
The apparatus remains in this position until the compressed air has performed
its work in the various apparatus for instance for operating pneumatic clocks or
the like, connected with the conduit, whereupon the compressed air conduit_is
opened at a suitable point to cause a slight decrease in the pressure therein. By
this means the mercury in the dish F is enabled to overbalance the counterweight m¹
and to suddenly open the air valve D by the depression of the dish F as shown in

page_text: Fig. 2, whereupon.compressed air in the conduit can escape past the opened air
valve D and the pressure in the conduit reduced to that of the external atmosphere.
Simultaneously with the depression of the dish F and air valve D, the lever N
is partly turned. on its fulcrum by means of the lever M and rod . The right
hand arm of the said lever N being longer than the corresponding arm of the
lever M, it moves quicker than the latter and its forked part n² will embrace
the nut on the float rod G and bear upon the shoulder 2 of the float K so as
to press down the float quickly. By this means the valve H is suddenly opened
to its full extent and the mercury which was previously only flowing out slowly
will flow back quickly through the tube E into the vessel A. The dish F being
now freed from its load, will be again raised by the counterweight m¹ so as to again
close the air valve D. The float K and the valve H fall by their own weight into
the position shown in Fig. 1 the said valve then remaining open ready for the next
operation of the apparatus.
The time during which the air valve D remains open, is quite sufficient to reduce
the pressure in the air conduit to that of the external atmosphere.
It is to be understood that other means can be employed in lieu of mercury for
the purpose described without departing from the nature of this invention.
Dated this 30th day of May 1890.
VICTOR POPP,
Per L. W.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Automatically Discharging Air from Air Conduits
Temporarily Supplied with Air Under Pressure.
I, VICTOR POPP, of 54, Rue Etienne Marcol, Paris, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention has reference to apparatus having for object to effect in an
automatic manner, the removal of the excess of air pressure, over that of the
external atmosphere, from within conduits that are temporarily filled with com-
pressed air for working pneumatic clocks or other winding up devices.
The apparatus comprises a vessel into which the compressed air enters and acts
upon the surface of a suitable liquid, for example mercury, contained therein, and
which is thereby partially raised and caused to open by its weight, a valve that is
otherwise closed, and past which the compressed air can escape. When the mercury
thus raised again sinks into the vessel by reason of a decrease in the pressure, the
load being removed from the valve, the latter will close.
Referring to the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification, Figs. 1 and 2
show an apparatus according to this invention, Fig. 1 showing the valve and other
parts in their closed positions and Fig. 2 showing these parts in their open
positions.
A is a vessel containing mercury in its lower part and communicating by
means of the pipe B with the air conduit the excess of pressure within which is to
be reduced.
Within and across this pipe is stretched a membrane filter 6 of suitable
material as for example cotton which serves to prevent the entry into the apparatus
of any impurities that may be carried along by the air.
The vessel A is closed by a cover C which has a central opening capable of
being closed by a valve D. This valve is secured upon a tube E on which a dish F
is also fixed. G is a rod that passes through the tube E; it carries at its lower
end a valve H for closing the lower end of the tube, and at its upper end a float K.
The portion of the tube E projecting into the dish has an opening e which

page_text: communicates with a similar opening in an adjustable outer tubular or pipe-valve S
secured by means of a nut T to the tube E. The lower portion of the tube E
projecting into the vessel A is guided at e¹.
is a rod or link attached to the dish F and connected to one end of a lever M
that is fulcruned at m and carries an adjustable counterweight m'. N is another
lever fulcrumed at n and connected with the lever M by a rod n'. The counter-
weight is so adjusted on lever M as to slightly raise the dish F and the tube E,
and to normally keep the valve D closed. The valve H and float K are so
adjusted that the weight of mercury that is caused to pass from the vessel A into
the dish F by the compressed air is not sufficient to overcome the pressure of such
air on the underside of the valve D.
With this construction when compressed air enters the vessel A through the
pipe B, it presses upon the mercury, the surface of which is at u and forces it past
the valve H, which is then open, through the central tube E and opening e into the
dish F. By rotating the tubular or pipe-valve S, the size of the opening e can be
varied, and the rate of flow of mercury therethrough regulated.
The mercury
passing into the dish F, rises finally to a height such that it raises the arms ² of the
float and thereby closes the valve H, and prevents the further entry of mercury
into the dish.
The apparatus remains in this position until the compressed air has performed
its work in the various apparatus for instance pneumatic clocks, connected with the
conduit, whereupon the compressed air conduit is opened at a suitable point to
cause a slight decrease in the pressure therein. By this slight reduction of pressure
in the vessel A. the weight of the mercury in the dish F is enabled to overbalance
the counterweight m' and to suddenly open the air valve D by the depression of
the dish Fas shown in Fig. 2 whereupon compressed air in the conduit can escape
past the air valve D, and the pressure in the conduit reduced to that of the external
atinosphere. Simultaneously with the depression of the dish F and air valve D,
the lever N is partly turned on its fulcrum by means of the lever M and rod n².
The right hand arm of the said lever N being longer than the corresponding arm
of the lever M, it moves quicker than the latter and its forked part will embrace
the nut on the float rod G and bear upon the shoulder of the float K so as to
press down the float quickly. By this means the valve Fl will be suddenly opened
to its full extent and the mercury will flow back quickly through the tube É into
the vessel A. The dish F being now freed from its load, will be again raised by
the counterweight m³ so as to again close the air valve D. The float K and the
valve H fall by their own weight into the positions shown in Fig. 1, when the
mercury flows into the vessel A, the said valve H then remaining open ready
for the next operation of the apparatus.
The time during which the air valve D will remain open, will be quite sufficient
to reduce the pressure in the air conduit to that of the external atmosphere.
It is to be understood that other liquid can be employed in lieu of mercury for
the purpose described without departing from the nature of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. For automatically removing excess of air pressure from within an air conduit
temporarily charged with compressed air, an apparatus comprising a vessel A. to
contain a suitable liquid, for example mercury, and provided with an inlet for com-
pressed air, an air outlet normally closed by a valve and a receptacle for liquid, the
arrangement being such that compressed air entering the vessel will act upon the
liquid and force the same into the receptacle, and when a slight decrease of pressure
is produced within the vessel, the liquid by its weight will open the air valve and
allow compressed air to escape, and when the pressure within the vessel and conduit

page_text: is reduced to that of the external atmosphere the valve will be again closed sub-
stantially as herein described.
2. The construction of apparatus for automatically discharging compressed air
from air conduits, substantially as described and illustrated by the drawings
annexed.
Dated this 21st day of February 1891.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.