Improvements in Metallic Capsules for Storing Compressed or Liquified Gases.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 30th Apr.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Capsules for Storing Compressed or
Liquified Gases.
I, JEAN MARIE THEVENET-LE-BOUL, of 41, Rue Taitbout, Paris, 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:-
The metallic capsule for containing and preserving compressed or liquified gases
according to my invention is shown in section in Figure 1 of the annexed drawing.
It consists of two tubes A and B of steel or other metal, both closed at one end and
open at the other, and which are placed one within the other in such a manner that
the open end of the one corresponds to the closed end of the other.
Before introducing the tube A inside the tube B, a washer C of some compressible
material having neither odour nor taste, such as pasteboard asbestos, or a soft alloy
or other substance capable of forming a tight joint by compression, is placed under-
neath the lower edge of the inner tube A.
This compression is obtained by firmly closing the free end d of the outer tube
inwards upon the bottom e of the inner tube.
This capsule is distinguished from other capsules formed also of two tubes one
inside the other, in that it possesses no valve or special arrangement for the introduc-
tion of the gas, and it is this that allows the use of caoutchouc, ebonite, or other
material which might communicate to the confined gas a disagreeable odour or
taste, to be dispensed with.
In order to obtain this result the capsule is filled by closing over its outer casing
gas under
and this closing is effected when the capsule is entirely surrounded by the
pressure.
Different arrangements may be adopted for carrying out this operation :
Figure 2. of the annexed drawings indicates one arrangement which operates in the
following manner.
The joint washer C is first placed at the bottom of the outer tube, the inner tube
is then introduced, its edge not resting upon this washer; the capsule is now placed,
still unclosed, in a metallic vessel formed of two pieces; the one D fixed and the
other E vertically moveable and fitting over the top of the fixed portion, a hollow
ring F F of rubber being interposed to make the joint tighter.
The capsule being placed in the bottom of the vessel D, when the moveable
portion E is lifted, this latter is lowered until partial compression of the rubber joint;
at this moment the compressed gas is introduced into the closed vessel by a tube G.
The gas by its own pressure passes into the capillary space which separates the two
A suffi-
tubes, passes under the lower edge of the inner tube and fills the capsule.
cient pressure is then exerted upon the moveable cover to cause it to descend and
strongly compress the rubber joint; by this movement the bottom H of the cover,
which is suitably shaped as indicated in the drawing causes the closing of the edge
of the outer tube inwards strongly compressing the obturating washer C and thus
affecting the final closing of the capsule.

page_text: Figures 3 and 4 show arrangement of capsule formed on the same principle and
which differs only from the preceding arrangement by the addition of a second
obturating washer a, of the same material as the washer C having neither odour nor
taste and which is placed upon a shoulder near to the closed end of the inner tube.
Figure 3 shows the capsule unclosed ready to be placed in the filling apparatus
and then closed by pressing inwards the free end of the outer tube.
The washer a allows a little play between it and the wall of the outer tube, in such
manner as to allow the introduction of the gas by the space between the two tubes.
Figure 4 shows the capsule closed and finished, in the operation which causes the
closing, the washer a is compressed between the two tubes and causes double obtura-
tion which has the great advantage of being autoclavic that is to say it opposes the
escape of the gas the more the greater the inside pressure. The tension of the
inside gas in effect tends to compress this washer and to close every exit.
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. The construction of capsules for storing compressed gas of two tubes one closing
the other with an obturating washer, having neither odour nor taste, compressed by
the closing of the free end of the outer tube upon the bottom end of the inner tube.
2. The arrangement for introducing the gas into the capsule through the annular
space between the two tubes not effecting the closing of the junction of these two
tubes until after filling the capsule and whilst still surrounded by the compressed
gas.
3. The use for effecting the filling and the closing, of a receptacle having a move-
able cover forming a closing matrix such as shown in Figure 2 of the annexed
drawings.
4. The supplementary arrangement consisting in a second obturating washer
placed upon a shoulder formed upon the bottom of the inner tube and forming an
autoclavic closing when drawn in.