Improvements in the Method of and in Apparatus for the Production of Carbonic Acid Gas.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and in Apparatus for the Production
of Carbonic Acid Gas.
We, WILLIAM STONES, and Robert Bardsley, trading as Jewsbury and
Brown, of Grosvenor Street, Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Chemists
and Manufacturers of Mineral Waters, and THOMAS HENRY HAYES, Foreman to
the firm of Jewsbury and Brown, of Grosvenor Street Manchester aforesaid, 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 relates to the method of and to apparatus for the production of
carbon dioxide (carbonic acid gas), and its objects are to simplify and cheapen the
apparatus and to control the production of the gas by automatic means and in such
a manner that the gas is produced only as it is required or used.
According to our improvements, the gas, as it leaves the generator, enters a closed
receiver containing water, the water space of which is in free communication with
an open vessel also containing water. Should the gas pass into the receiver faster
than it is used, the accumulated volume will displace some of the water into the
open vessel, the level in which consequently rises. If, on the contrary, the demand
for the gas is greater than the supply, the reverse condition will exist, and the level
of the water in the open vessel will fall. We employ the variations of level in the
open water vessel for the purpose of controlling the supply of acid to the gas
generator in such a manner that when the water level in the open vessel rises
owing to an accumulation of gas in the receiver, the supply of acid to the generator
is diminished or cut off, and when the level falls owing to a reduction of the
volume of gas in the receiver, the supply of the acid will be opened. This may be
accomplished by means of a ball-cock or of a float and valve, the ball or Hoat
rising and falling with the variations in level of the water in the open vessel, and
by its motion actuating the cock or valve through which the acid passes to the
generator.
The accompanying diagram illustrates our invention and in what manner it may
be carried into practical effect.
In this diagram, A, indicates the gas receiver; B, the open vessel containing
water; C, the acid box; D, the float; E, the acid valve; F, the outlet from the
acid box to the generator; G, the inlet from the generator to the receiver; H, the
gas outlet from the receiver to the pumps or other apparatus by which the gas is
utilised; I, an air valve in the receiver; and J, the pipe through which exists the
free communication between the water spaces in A and B respectively.
Although in the diagram the vessels A, B, and C, are indicated as being
arranged close to each other, there is no necessity for this arrangement provided
some other is more convenient under especial conditions, but it is preferred that
in ordinary circumstances the level of water in B should be normally higher than
that in A.
The motion of the float D when used, may be communicated to the valve E, by
means of a cord and pulleys, or by means of a balance lever, or by other well
understood means.
Assuming the gas from the generator to be accumulating in A, some of the water
therein will be forced through the pipe J into B, raising the level therein. This
alteration in level will lift the float D, the motion of which will be coinmunicated
to and close or partly close the valve E. Since no more acid can now pass from the
acid box to the generator, the supply of acid will be diminished, and finally
topped, if the volume of gas in A still accumulates. When the production of the

page_text: gas has been so far diminished owing to the complete or partial cessation of the
acid supply, the reduction of its volume in A, permits the water in B to flow back,
thus lowering the level in that vessel. The float follows the level and opens the
acid valve, whereupon acid again passes to the generator, and the supply of acid
increases or re-commences.
The gas is delivered through the inlet C, to the vessel A, near the bottom, so
that it is thoroughly washed in passing to the upper part of the receiver from the
perforated pipe K.
The same apparatus and method may be employed in the production of other
gases which are liberated by the action of an acid in a similar manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. The hereinbefore described method of producing carbon dioxide under auto-
matic control, substantially as set forth.
2. Apparatus for producing carbon dioxide under automatic control, constructed
arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by
the accompanying diagram.
3. In apparatus for producing carbon dioxide, the combination with the gas
generator of a closed receiver containing water, an open water.vessel the water
space, of which communicates with the water space in the receiver, an acid box
having a valve controlled outlet, and a float in the open water vessel connected with
the acid valve; substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and as
, indicated by the accompanying diagram.
Dated this 22nd day of August A.D. 1892.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants.