Improvements in Apparatus for Mixing Gases.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 1st Mar., 1899-Accepted, 1st Apr., 1899
Improvements in Apparatus for Mixing Gases.
I, GEORGES DE ROUSSY DE SALES, of 133, Cours Gambetta, Lyon (Rhone), in
the Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
to be as follows:-
"This invention has for its object to provide an apparatus, by means of which two
gases, the initial pressures of which are different, can be mixed intimately and in
the required proportions.
I will, for example, suppose that a mixture in due proportion of illuminating
or coal gas at low pressure and acetylene gas at high pressure is required to be
produced by the apparatus. Pipes are provided for the admission of illuminating
gas and acetylene gas to the compartments of a first receiver which is widened
out into the form of a basin, and which is, by a partition, divided into two equal
compartments. The said partition extends down to within a short distance of the
bottom of the receiver the space beneath the partition affording communication
between its two compartments.
In the respective compartments of the said receiver the two gases are reduced to
the same pressure, so as to admit of their discharge being ultimately regular. For
this purpose the pipe for the illuminating or coal gas has its extremity covered
by a thimble or inverted cup, carrying an axial screw-threaded stop pin which,
by a screw nut, can be caused to project more or less from the thimble or cup.
In the lower part of the receiver mercury is placed, upon which mercury the
thimble or cup floats;'
+4
The stop pin so limits the movements of the thimble or cup as to prevent it from
leaving the pipe altogether. The pipe for the acetylene gas is provided with a
bracket, which carries a centre pin on which a lever turns the said lever being
provided with a counterweight and carrying a stopper or valve preferably of
paraffined cork. When the mercury level and the counterweight have been pro-
perly set the device maintains equality of pressure in both compartments of the
receiver, because if the pressure increase in either one or the other of the two
compartments of the said receiver the mercury level will fall therein, and the
corresponding pipe be closed.
:
The gases thus reduced to the same pressure, pass respectively through pipes
leading to a second receiver the said pipes being of equal cross sectional area and
each can be closed by a counter-balanced valve. The said pipes terminate
respectively in the compartment of the second receiver. The bottom of the said
second receiver can serve as a lid. or cover for the first receiver. The bottom of
the second receiver also receives mercury communication with the outside being
established by a pressure gauge. A partition separates the said second receiver
into two compartments as in the first receiver.
After the proper adjustment, regularity of the discharge is obtained as follows:-
The counterweights which counterbalance the valves of the pipes leading from one
receiver to the other are partly immersed in the mercury in the second receiver
so that they participate in all fluctuations which the mercury level undergoes,
and transmit these fluctuations to the valves; these counterweights are adjusted to
PQ77

page_text: suit the desired discharge, which can be easily effected, by moving them along the
levers which carry them. If either of the pipes discharges more than the proper
amount of gas relatively to the other, the pressure increases in the corresponding
compartment of the second receiver and the mercury level therein falls, so that
the outlet for gas from one of the pipes is contracted, whilst the level in the other
compartment simultaneously rises, so that the outlet for gas from the other pipe
is widened, and thus the desired proportion in the discharge of the gases is restored,
and the two gases pass, in the desired proportions through pipes into the upper
part of the apparatus, which constitutes the mixing apparatus proper. This mixing
apparatus is contained in a cylinder. A short distance above the bottom of this
cylinder is fixed an inverted cone into the interior of which the said two pipes
The
open their outlets being directed towards the internal sides of the said cone.
gases commence to mix in this cone, and as they pass along under its edges they
undergo a contraction; and they subsequently expand in a chamber comprised
between the said cone and an inverted funnel which has its lower edge secured
on to the cylinder.
The upper tubular part of this funnel has a cross sectional area smaller than the
sum of the effective or working cross sectional areas of the pipes giving com-
munication between the two receivers. Consequently the gases become again
compressed in traversing the upper tubular part of the said funnel. The gases
pass from the said tubular part of the funnel into an inverted and rotating cone
provided with fan blades arranged like those of ventilators; and the gases rotate
the said cone, so that the mechanical beating or stirring operation of the said fan
blades completes the mixing of the gases which then pass into the feed or outlet
conduit.
The characteristic features of this improved apparatus are taking the gases at
different pressures, reducing them to an equal pressure, regulating the discharge
of each gas, so as to cause it to enter in any desired proportion to the other gas,
and then intimately mixing the gases by mechanical means.
I have described the apparatus as employed for mixing two kinds of gases, but
it will be evident, that by duplicating or multiplying the parts the apparatus can
be adapted for mixing any number of gases.
Dated this 20th day of June 1898.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
.
Improvements in Apparatus for Mixing Gases.
I, GEORGES DE ROUSSY DE SALES, of 133, Cours Gambetta, Lyon (Rhone), in
the Republic of France, 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 for its object to provide an apparatus by means of which two
gases, the initial pressures of which are different, can be mixed intimately and in
the required proportions.
The accompanying drawing represents a central vertical section of an apparatus
constructed in accordance with this invention which is however not limited to the
precise details shewn.
I will, for example, suppose, that a mixture in due proportion of illuminating or
coal gas at low pressure, and acetylene gas at high pressure is required to be pro-
duced by the apparatus.

page_text: The pipe 1 is for illuminating gas, and the pipe 2 is for acetylene. By these
pipes the gases enter the compartments of a first receiver 3, which is widened out
into the form of a basin, and which is by a partition 4, shewn as being cast in
one piece with the cover of the receiver 3, divided into two equal compartments.
The said partition 4 extends down to within a short distance of the bottom of the
receiver 3, the space beneath the partition affording communication between its
two compartments.
In the respective compartments of the said receiver 3 the two gases are reduced
to the same pressure, so as to admit of their discharge being ultimately regular.
For this purpose the pipe 1 has its extremity covered by a thimble or inverted
cup 5, carrying an axial screw-threaded stop pin 6 which, by a screw nut, can be
caused to project more or less from the thimble or cup 5. In the lower part of
the receiver 3 mercury is placed, upon which mercury the thimble or cup 5 floats.
The stop pin 6 so limits the movements of the thimble or cup 5 as to prevent it
from leaving the pipe 1 altogether. The pipe 2 is provided with a bracket 7 which
carries a centre pin on which a lever 8 turns the said lever being provided with
a counterweight 9, and carrying a stopper or valve preferably of paraffined cork.
When the mercury level and the counterweight 9 have been properly set the device
maintains equality of pressure in both compartments of the receiver 3 because if
the pressure increase in either one or the other of the two compartments of the said
receiver the mercury level will fall therein and the corresponding pipe (1 or 2)
be closed.
The gases thus reduced to the same pressure pass respectively through pipes 10
and 11 leading to a second receiver the said pipes being of equal cross-sectional area
and each can be closed by a counterbalanced valve 12 or 13, the construction of
which is clearly shewn in the drawing. The said pipes 10 and 11 terminate respec-
tively in the compartments of a second receiver 14 preferably made of cast metal.
The bottom of the said second receiver 14 serves as a lid or cover for the receiver 3.
The bottom of the second receiver 14 also receives mercury, communication with
the outside being established by a pressure-gauge 15. A partition 16 preferably
cast in one piece with the lid 17 of the second receiver separates the said second
receiver 14 into two compartments as in the first receiver.
After the proper adjustment, regularity of the discharge is obtained as follows:
The counterweights which counterbalance the valves 12 and 13 are parily
immersed in the mercury in the second receiver so that they participate in all
fluctuations which the mercury level undergoes, and transmit these fluctuations to
the valves. These counterweights are adjusted to suit the desired discharge, which
can be easily effected by moving them along the levers which carry them. If either
of the pipes discharges more than the proper amount of gas relatively to the other,
the pressure increases in the corresponding compartment of the second receiver 14,
and the mercury level therein falls so that the outlet for gas from one of the
pipes 10 or 11 is contracted, whilst the level in the other compartment simul-
taneously rises, so that the outlet for gas from the other pipe is widened and thus
the desired proportion in the discharge of the gases is restored, and the two gases
pass in the desired proportions through the pipes 18 and 19 and enter into the upper
part of the apparatus, which constitutes the mixing apparatus proper. This
mixing apparatus is contained in a cylinder 20 which with the other parts of the
mixer may be of strong tin plate or lead coated sheet iron. A short distance above
the bottom 21 of this cylinder is fixed, by means of claws or supports 22, an in-
verted cone 23 into the interior of which the said two pipes 18 and 19 open, their
The gases
outlets being directed towards the internal sides of the said cone.
commence to mix in this cone, and as they pass along under its edges they undergo
a contraction, and they subsequently expand in a chamber comprised between the
said cone 23 and an inverted funnel 24, which has its lower edge secured on to the
cylinder 20. The upper tubular part of this funnel has a cross sectional area
smaller than the sum of the effective or working cross sectional areas of the pipes 10
and 11. Consequently the gases become again compressed in traversing the upper

page_text: tubular part of the said funnel 24. The gases pass from the said tubular part of
the funnel into an inverted and rotating cone 25 provided with fan blades. The
lower extremity of the spindle which supports the said inverted and rotating
cone is received in a footstep bearing 26 carried by the cone 23, whilst its upper
extremity of the said spindle is in a bearing in a bar above. The fan blades of
the said inverted and rotating cone are arranged like those of ventilators, and the
gases rotate the said cone so that the mechanical beating or stirring operation of
the said fan blades completes the mixing of the gases which then pass into the
feed or outlet conduit 27.
The characteristic features of this improved apparatus are taking the gases at
different pressures, reducing them to an equal pressure, regulating the discharge of
each gas so as to cause it to enter in any desired proportion to the other gas, and
then intimately, mixing the gases by inechanical means.
I have described and represented the apparatus as employed for mixing two
kinds of gases, but it will be evident that by duplicating or multiplying the parts
the apparatus can be adapted for mixing any number of gases.
!
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1. An apparatus by which an intimate mixture in the desired proportions of..
two or more gases at different initial pressures can be obtained the said apparatus
consisting of the combination of a device for reducing the gases to an equal pres-
sure, a device for regulating the discharge of the gases, and a device for intimately
mixing them, the whole being arranged substantially as herein before described
with reference to the accompanying drawing.
2. In an apparatus for the purpose described for reducing the gases to equal
pressure a mercury bath, serving as a bottom for communicating compartments to
which the respective gases are admitted and valves or regulating devices for con-
trolling the feed of the gases to the respective compartments and acted upon by the
mercury as its level in each compartment is altered by the variations of pressure
and thus effecting to vary the respective gas inlets substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. In an apparatus for the purpose described for regulating the feed or discharge
of the respective gases, from one compartment to another, a mercury bath, serving
as a bottom for communicating compartments, upon which bath the counter-
weights of the valves, which regulate the passages for the gases, rest so that these
counterweights and consequently the valves follow the fluctuations of the mercury
level in each compartment so as always to maintain the proper proportionate flow
of the gases, substantially as herein before described.
1000
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.