IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING AND FORCING FLUIDS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING AND FORCING FLUIDS." A communication
from abroad by Henri Félix Louis Worms de Romilly, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 20th September 1878, and dated the 20th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th July 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING AND FORCING
FLUIDS." [A communication from abroad by Henri Félix Louis Worms de Romilly,
of Paris, France.]
The improved machine of this Invention consists of a rotary drum containing a
liquid which is carried round by a drum in its rotation, and a stationary pipe ter-
minating in a branch having an orifice of peculiar shape, which is immersed in the
liquid in said drum near its circumference, and in which pipe a fluid is exhausted
or forced, or both, according to the direction of motion of the liquid in the drum
relatively to the said orifice and the construction of the pipe as hereafter described.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood, I will describe
it in detail with reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which it is illustrated
by way of example only.
A, Figure 1, is the drum in the form of a short, hollow, right cylinder closed at
bottom and mounted axially upon a spindle C, passing through a central boss on the
bottom B, turning on coned centres in a strong fixed frame F. An opening is left
around the spindle C, which forms a kind of inwardly projecting circular flange or
rim to prevent the liquid being thrown out of the drum by centrifugal action. The
inside edge of this rim D is also provided with a downardly projecting lip to prevent
anlashing

page_text: The drum is driven from a suitable motor, either by a belt or spur gearing
applied to a pulley E or a toothed wheel or cone keyed on spindle C.
H is a pipe parallel to the spindle C and fixed to the frame F, and projecting into
the drum A. The tube H is bent at a right angle, and then extends radially close up
to the circumference of the drum. This branch of the pipe is flattened to the
lenticular form in cross section, shown at I, Figure 2, the two opposite acute angles
being in a line forming a chord to the circumference of the drum. Two partition
plates J, K, Figures 2 and 3, extend from these opposite angles to the middle of
the width of the tube, and terminate in a line parallel to a generatrix of the cylinder
or drum. These two plates are curved somewhat to the circular form of the cylinder,
but to a rather smaller radius than if they were concentric therewith. The meeting
line of the two divisions is thus the nearest point to the circumference of the drum,
and the one plate K is set slightly nearer this circumference than the other, so
that where the two plates meet, or rather nearly meet, a linear orifice L is formed
in the shape of an elongated rectangular slit parallel to the axis and in a plane
passing through said axis. As the two divisions terminate in the same median
line, the linear orifice will only give passage in or out to a jet of liquid or gaseous
fluid tangential to the curve of the extremity of the tube.
The other end of pipe H is either connected to a receiver in which it is
required to create a vacuum, or put in communication with the fluid (liquid or
gaseous) to be exhausted through the linear orifice.
The following is the action :-A certain quantity of water is first placed in the
drum, which is then revolved in such direction that the water carried round there-
with shall first pass over the partition plate nearest the circumference; then over
the other, and thus produce a small cataract. If the pipe be in communication with
an air-tight vessel provided with a vacuum gauge, a vacuum will be seen to gradually
form; this vacuum is a function of the velocity of rotation of the drum.
By closing cock M, Figure 1, the vacuum may be maintained after the machine
ceases to work; or it may be maintained by keeping the machine in motion.
Instead of the machine being used to create a vacuum, it may be made in a
similar manner to exhaust a gas or liquid.
By rotating the cylinder in the reverse direction so as to cause the water to first
pass over the division farthest from the circumference of the drum, the water
will be made to enter the pipe H, and the gauge will now indicate a pressure
increasing as the square of the speed of the drum.
If the receiver be provided with an orifice, or the pipe terminates directly in the
open air, the water will flow out therefrom at a velocity which is a function of the
speed of rotation, and of the height to which the water is raised in the pipe before
it escapes, due allowance being also made for the difference in the size of the inlet
and outlet orifices, and also for friction bends in the pipes, &c.
The extremity of the branch pipe may also be made of the flattened form shown
at N, Figures 4 and 5, so as to present a minimum resistance to the circulating
current of water, the orifice P being normal to the direction of the water, the form
of the orifice being in this case much more simple.
The part of the tube perpendicular to a generatrix of the cylinder is tapered or
flattened so as to resemble a double-edged blade, and in one of its lateral edges
near the point a slit P is made, which is radial, and presented directly to the
affluent water in the cylinder or drum.
The sides of the orifice and also the immersed portion of the tube should be as
reduced in thickness as possible so as to present little resistance to the water.
This form of orifice may be used for exhausting as well as for forcing fluids.
The orifice may also be placed both in the one case and the other radially on the
top or bottom side of the branch pipe.
By having two orifices on the same tube, opposite one another, and separated by
a longitudinal partition, the apparatus may be used both for exhausting and forcing
a gaseous or liquid fluid.
In the case of a liquid, the forcing is effected at that portion of the divided

page_text: tube at which the liquid enters, and the exhaustion takes place at the opposite
side. Thus the liquid exhausted, instead of being immediately forced, has time
to acquire sufficient speed during its circular motion in the drum before it arrives
at the orifice through which it is to be forced.
In the above example I have spoken of but one exhausting and forcing pipe,
but it will be understood that several may be used in the same drum.
In cases also where it is desired to both lift and force by the same drum, two
of these may be placed concentrically, one in the other, upon the same spindle;
the two drums would communicate and the suction would take place in the
smaller turbine and the forcing in the larger one, in cases where it is desired to
raise water to a great height.
The liquid employed for exhausting is usually water, but mercury, oil, brine, &c.,
may be used, according to circumstances.
One or more small turbines driven from spindle C may be specially employed
for producing a circulation of oil for lubricating the moving parts.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 20th January 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery. Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING AND FORCING
FLUIDS." A communication from abroad by Henri Félix Louis Worms de Romilly,
of Paris, France.
The improved apparatus of this Invention consists of two distinct parts, viz.,
1st, a rotary drum containing a liquid which is carried round by the drum in its
rotation; and 2nd, a stationary pipe terminating in a branch having an orifice of
peculiar shape, which is immersed in the liquid in said drum near its circumference,
and in which pipe a fluid is exhausted or forced (or both), according to the construc-
tion of the pipe, and to the direction of motion of the liquid in the drum relatively
to the said orifice as hereafter described.
The above describes in general terms the nature of the Invention, but in order
that it may be more readily understood, I will describe it in detail with reference
to the accompanying Drawing, in which it is illustrated by way of example only.
I. THE DRUM.
In Figure 1 A is the drum in the form of a short, hollow, right cylinder closed at
bottom and mounted axially upon a spindle C which passes through a central boss

page_text: '
T
II. THE EXHAUSTING AND FORCING APPARATUS.
(a). Exhausting.-H is a pipe fixed to the frame F; this pipe is parallel to the
spindle C, and projects into the drum A at about the middle of the height of the
drum. The tube H is bent at a right angle and then extends radially or in a
direction perpendicular to the drum's axis close up to the circumference of the drum.
This arm of the pipe is flattened to the lenticular form in cross section, shown at I,
Figure 2, the two opposite acute angles being in a line forming a chord to the
circumference of the drum. Two plates J, K, Figure 2, extend from these opposite
angles to the medium line of the tubular arm and terminate in a line parallel to a
generating line of the cylinder or drum. These two plates are curved to a rather
smaller radius than if they were concentric therewith. The meeting line of the
two plates is thus the nearest point to the circumference of the drum, and the one
plate K is set slightly nearer this circumference than the other, so that where the
two plates meet or rather nearly meet, a linear orifice L is formed in the shape of
an elongated rectangular slit parallel to the axis of the drum, and in a plane passing
through said axis. As the two plates terminate in the same median line, the linear
orifice will only give passage in or out to a jet of liquid or gaseous fluid in a
direction tangential to the curve of the extremity of the tubular arm.
The pipe H is either connected at the other end to a receiver, in which it is
required to create a vacuum, or put in communication with the fluid (liquid or
gaseous) to be exhausted through the linear orifice of the tubular arm above
mentioned.
The following is the action:-A certain quantity of water is first placed in the
drum, which is then revolved in such direction that the water carried round there-
with shall first pass over the plate K nearest the circumference, and then over the
other plate J, and thus produce a small cataract across the linear orifice between
the two plates. If the pipe H be in communication with an air-tight vessel pro-
vided with a vacuum gauge, a vacuum will be seen to gradually form; this vacuum
is a function of the velocity of rotation of the drum.
By closing cock M, Figure 1, the vacuum may be maintained after the machine
ceases to work, or if the vacuum tends to become destroyed, it may be maintained
by keeping the machine in motion.
Instead of the machine being used to create a vacuum it may be made in a
similar manner to exhaust a gas or liquid.
The tubular arm may also be of the flattened form shown in Figure 5, and the
slit in it may be radial to the axis of the drum; there may be a slit in one or both
of the broad flattened surfaces of the arm. This slit should always have the edge
over which the water first passes more projecting or farther than the other from a
plane parallel to the base of the drum and passing through the centre of figure of the
tubular arm,
which at this point resembles a broad double-edged sword blade
having near its extremity a longitudinal slit. The position of the slit may however
be varied considerably, as will be readily understood without altering the principle.
In Figure 5 A is the side of the drum; B is the tubular arm flattened so as to
have two opposite acute edges; and Care the exhaust slits or apertures in the upper
and lower sides of said arm.
(b.) Forcing Fluids.- Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, if the drum be rotated
in the reverse direction, so as to cause the water to first pass over the plate farthest
from the circumference of the drum, the water will be made to enter the pipe H,
and the gauge will now indicate a pressure increasing as the square of the velocity
of the drum.

page_text: If the receiver be provided with an orifice, or if the pipe terminates directly in
the open air as in the case of fire or garden hose, the water will flow out therefrom at
a velocity which is a function of the speed of rotation, and of the height to which
the water is raised in the pipe before it escapes, due allowance being also made for
the difference in the size of the inlet and outlet orifices, and also for friction, bends,
and other obstructions in the pipes, &c. .
The extremity of the tubular arm may also be made of the flattened form shown
at N, Figures 3 and 4, so as to present a minimum resistance to the circulating
current of water, the orifice P being normal to the direction of the water.
The part of the tube perpendicular to a generating line of the cylinder is tapered
or flattened so as to resemble a double-edged blade, as shown in perspective in
Figure 4a, and in one of its lateral edges near the extremities an orifice P is made,
which is thus presented directly to the affluent water in the cylinder or drum.
From the orifice P the cross sectional area increases in the form of a cone of 6°
for a distance equal at least to ten times the diameter of the said orifice.
The sides of the orifice and also the immersed portion of the tube should be as
reduced in thickness as possible, so as to present the minimum amount of resistance
to the water. This form of orifice may be used for exhausting as well as for
forcing fluids.
As regards the ascension pipe H, it may be advantageous in forcing-liquids to
cut the pipe across, as on the one hand the velocity of rotation of the drum tends
-to force the water in it through the orifice, and as on the other hand the gravity of
the column of water in the pipe tends to force the water in the opposite direction,
there is a retardation in front of the orifice due to the opposition to the water
circulating at full speed of the water passing through the orifice at a lower speed.
In order to reduce to a minimum the resistance within the drum, the ascension
pipe should be cut across normally to its axis so as to leave just above the drum an
interval or break in the pipe which will not obstruct the discharge of the jet of
water if very short, and if the two adjacent openings of the pipe are of equal
diameter, and if the one which discharges the water into the other is in the form of
30°, and if the other which receives the water is a cone of 6° the two cones having
their smaller ends or bases opposite one another. By this means the resistance due
to the ascending column will take effect at the interval or break, i.e., at the orifice
of the receiving cone. At this point a portion of the water will be rejected and over-
flow, thus showing the obstruction which would have existed if the break were not
made in the pipe. This break may either be outside or inside the drum, but out of
contact with the water circulating therein. This overflow water may be conveyed
back to the drum by a pipe leading in the direction in which the drum is rotating,
so as to avoid loss of power.
The drum is not necessarily located at the level B of the water to be raised, but
may be placed at any higher level to which the water is to be raised. This is
illustrated in Figures 6 and 6ª, in which the water propelled or forced by the action
of the drum A, instead of ascending descends through pipe D to a larger horizontal
pipe E located below the level B. The extremity of pipe D enters pipe E and is
curved until it coincides with the axial line of pipe E, and terminates in a nozzle L
from which the water is projected in the form of a jet. In front of this jet nozzle
there is a receiving cone or orifice G of larger diameter varying according to the
quantity of water to be carried along by the jet. This receiving cone G is formed
on the tube E itself, which from the point of smallest diameter opposite the jet
nozzle becomes gradually larger in the form of a cone of about 6°, and of a length
equal to ten times the smallest diameter until the tube E finally regains its normal
size and then ascends to the level of the drum, or higher still if necessary.
Behind the elbow of the jet pipe D and in the opposite direction to the jet the
pipe E may be carried horizontally for a considerable distance to the supply of
water to be raised. It terminates therein by a slightly flared or conical mouth H.
The advantage of this horizontal portion of the pipe is that there is thus a long
column of water in motion, which at the point where the impulse of the jet takes

page_text: effect has only to acquire an increase of velocity instead of moving from a state of
repose.
As regards the jet itself it may in theory be considered to acquire beyond the
initial velocity due to the action of the drum, a still higher velocity due to its fall,
which alone is sufficient to raise it again to its normal level, and thus its initial
velocity acts with undiminished effect on the water to be raised.
The tube E may either be below the level B or descend into the water from a
higher level, in which case the tube must be otherwise exhausted at starting until
the water rises above the level of the jet. The drum may thus be placed at the
higher level, which would be very suitable in mines or at the lower or any inter-
mediate level.
The same system of exhaustion by a water jet may be used for forming a vacuum
as follows: Referring to Figure 7, C is a closed chamber communicating by a
tube D provided with a stop-cock with the vessel or chamber in which the vacuum
is to be created. A is a jet nozzle on the pipe leading up from the drum as before,
and B is a receiving cone of larger diameter than A in the same axial line there-
with and at a distance therefrom, both A and B being enclosed in chamber C.
Owing to the constant velocity with which the water ascends the jet may be
directed upwards vertically or at an angle from the nozzle A to the receiving
cone B, in which the water is held up by the velocity of the jet; into this water
contained in the receiving cone the jet is projected, carrying along with it air
which becomes entangled with the jet in passing across from A to B. Once this
air mixes with the water held up in the cone B it is impossible for it to return to
the chamber from which it has come, as it is compelled to ascend both by the.
difference of density and by the upward flow of the water itself in the receiving
cone B. The air therefore rises and escapes from the surface in bubbles which
decrease in number as the vacuum becomes more perfect.
The water may either overflow from the receiving cone B or be received in a
cistern R above, and thence descend again to the drum, as shown, to be again used
as before, so that the same water can be used indefinitely; or the pipe may lead
back directly from the upper end of the receiving cone B (which is enlarged) to
the drum.
The jet of water may either be cylindrical or flat so as to present a comparatively
larger surface of contact with the air, the nozzle in that case having a linear orifice
or slit; the jet may also be of annular form.
The orifice of the receiving cone corresponds in all cases with that of the jet
nozzle.
The latter may either be single, as above described, or multiple, that is to say,
form several jets, or several nozzles may be juxtaposed and arranged side by side
either in one or more straight lines, or in a circle or concentric circles.
A separate receiving cone may be provided for each jet, or a single cone may
receive the whole of the jets provided it is so arranged as not to leave between the
jets as they are received in it so much space as to prevent the water being held up
in the receiving cone.
The same arrangement may be used with mercury or other liquid, allowance
being made as regards the power used for the density of the liquids, and as regards
the material of which the apparatus is made for their chemical properties. When
the liquid has reached the cistern above the receiving cone it may be treated in any
suitable way before being returned to the drum, thus mercury if used might be
constantly dried and purified if necessary.
It will be understood that the water raised by the drum may be used for a
water-blowing engine, if desired.
COMBINED FORCING AND EXHAUSTING APPARATUS.
By having two orifices at opposite sides of the same tubular arm, divided by a
longitudinal partition into two separate thoroughfares, the apparatus may be used
both for exhausting and forcing a ces or lianid

page_text: In the case of a liquid the forcing is effected in that portion of the divided tube
at which the liquid enters and the exhaustion takes place at the opposite side, the
arrangement being, as in Figure 8 for example, which is a horizontal section
through the two orifices, A being the side of the drum; N, the solid end of the
tubular arm; P, P, the orifices; and H, the tubular passages, diminishing in
diameter towards the orifice as a cone of 6. Thus the liquid exhausted instead of
being immediately forced has time to acquire its full velocity during the circular
motion in the drum before it arrives at the orifice through which it is to be
forced.
In the above examples one exhausting or forcing pipe only has been described,
but it will be understood that several may be used in the same drum.
Where it is desired both to exhaust and, to force by the same apparatus, two
drums may be placed concentrically, one in the other, upon the same spindle, the two
drums would communicate and the suction would take place in the smaller turbine,
and the forcing in the larger one, in cases where it is desired to raise water to a
great height.
The liquid employed for exhausting is usually water, but mercury, oil, brine, &c.,
may be used according to circumstances.
The cone centres of the drum spindle are lubricated in the ordinary way.
One or more small lubricators or oil turbines driven from spindle C-may-
be specially employed for producing a circulation of the oil over the bearing
surfaces.
--The foot step bearing of the drum spindle if vertical may have an oil reservoir
from which the oil is drawn up by centrifugal action and enters slits made in that
part of the cone centre which bears in the foot step.
The jet of water obtained as herein described may be applied to any purpose
for which water in motion can be used, for example, for propelling ships by
applying it in the manner described in the Specification of a Patent granted to
ne bearing date 18th July 1878, No. 2871, in which case instead of air or steam
acting intermittently, the drum continuously exhausts and forces the water employed
for propulsion.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
berein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The exhausting and forcing apparatus substantially as specified, consisting
essentially (a) of a drum or cylinder having rotary motion, fixed by one of its bases
or ends on a spindle, the other base or end being open and in form of a simple
rim to retain the liquid, and (b) of a stationary tube projecting into the drum and
having an orifice facing the direction in which the liquid is carried round, for
forcing, or at the opposide side for exhausting, the other end of the tube being
carried to the point to which the liquid to be raised, or whence the liquid or gas
is to be exhausted.
2nd. The flattened form of the part of the tube immersed in the drum so as to
offer but little resistance as described.
3rd. The arrangement of apparatus in which the drum is placed at the level to
which the liquid is to be raised from a lower level, by means of a jet nozzle entering
an ascension tube, having a receiving cone opposite the nozzle, and prolonged behind
the nozzle to the source of supply, in order to utilize the weight of the liquid in
motion arriving at the point where the jet acts on this liquid in order to impart to
it a portion of its velocity, as specified.
4th. The exhaustion produced by the liquid circulating in the tube and over the
tube stationary therein, and provided with a slit or orifice either radial or parallel
to a generating line of the cylinder or drum, the tube being flattened in the form
offering least obstruction to the circulation of the liquid.
5th. The interval or break in the ascension pipe just above the drum, in order to
relieve it of the resistance of the ascending column of liquid, as specified.
6th. The employment, for creating a vacuum or exhausting gases, of the apparatus

page_text: giving a continuous jet projected upwards from a nozzle into a receiving cone of
larger diameter in which the liquid is held suspended and receives from below the
jet mixed with air or gas entangled with it, which air or gas escapes whilst the
liquid returns to the drum, all as specified.
7th. The simultaneous exhaustion and forcing of liquids in the same apparatus
by means of a drum and a divided or double tube having two oppositely directed
orifices, as herein specified.
8th. The employment of small turbines placed in the same shaft for lubricating
the working parts.
9th. The employment of any liquid in the drum of the apparatus of this Inven-
tion for producing the effects above described.
•
10th. An apparatus consisting of a single drum with a number of tubes therein,
similar to that herein described, as specified.
11th: The employment of two concentric drums constructed in one or separately,
but on the same axis, in combination each with a tube projecting therein as
described for simultaneously exhausting and forcing, as specified.
12th. The application of the herein-described apparatus and of the jet of water
which it produces for propelling ships and other purposes generally.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
A 15 CITADTY
Gal