A Method of and Apparatus for Adding Volatile Substances to Gases.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th July, 1889-Accepted, 17th Aug.,
1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Apparatus for Adding Volatile Substances to Gases.
We, SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge, New Wortley, Leeds, in the County of
York, Engineer and Ironmaster, and EDWARD BLASS, of 78 Caledonian Road Leeds
aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
i
This invention has reference to a method of adding volatile substances to gases, in
definite proportions by causing the gas to pass over the volatile substance or sub-
stances in such a manner that in accordance with a well known principle the volatile
substance or substances will evaporate to an extent proportional or approximately so
to the velocity with which the gas passes over the same.
The volatile substance is placed in a suitable closed vessel we will call the reservoir
whence it is conveyed through a small pipe into another vessel we will call the
evaporating vessel, which is below the reservoir, the pipe dips into the evaporating
vessel so as to maintain the volatile substance at a certain level within the evaporating
vessel, the surface of the volatile substance therein forms an evaporating surface and
over this a part or the whole of the gas flowing through a pipe or conduit is caused
to pass.
The evaporating surface can be increased by placing in the evaporating vessel any
suitable absorbent or porous material it may be cotton wick or other material.
In order that the same amount of evaporative surface shall always be presented to
the gas flowing through the evaporating vessel the volatile substance should be kept
at a practically constant level therein, for which purpose it is that we employ the
reservoir (which we prefer to make of glass) and from which the volatile substance is
supplied by the beforementioned small pipe or a syphon into the evaporating vessel,
such pipe terminating at a point corresponding to the level to be maintained in the
said vessel. The effect of this arrangement is that when the level falls owing to
evaporation a volume of gas will rise into the reservoir and replace a corresponding
quantity of the volatile substance which will descend thereby raising the level in the
evaporating vessel to the required normal point.
In the event of the volatile substance in the evaporating vessel being of a highly
volatile nature we dilute it by mixing with it in the reservoir a less volatile
substance otherwise the evaporation would preceed rapidly even were gas not flowing
through.
1 L
A1 1000
SAMSON FOX.
EDWARD BLASS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Apparatus for Adding Volatile Substances to Gases.
We, SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge, New Wortley, Leeds, in the County of
York, Engineer and Ironmaster, and EDWARD BLASS of 78 Caledonian Road, Leeds
aforesaid, 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 a method of adding volatile substances to gases, in
definite proportions by causing the gas to pass over the volatile substance or sub-
stances in such a manner that in accordance with a well known principle the volatile
substance or substances will evaporate to an extent proportional or approximately so
to the velocity with which the gas passes over the same. .

page_text: The invention may be used for various purposes; among others for imparting
odour to water-gas in order that escapes thereof may be readily detected..
The volatile substance is placed in a suitable closed vessel we will call the reservoir
whence it is conveyed through a small pipe into another vessel we will call the
evaporating vessel which is below the reservoir, the pipe dips into the evaporating
vessel so as to maintain the volatile substance at a certain level within the evaporating
vessel, the surface of the volatile substance therein forms an evaporating surface, and
over this a part or the whole of the gas flowing through a pipe or conduit is caused
to pass.
The evaporating surface can be increased by placing in the evaporating vessel any
suitable absorbent or porous material, it may be cotton wick or other material.-In
order that the same amount of evaporative surface shall always be presented to the gas
flowing through the evaporating vessel, the volatile substance should be kept at a
practically constant level therein, for which purpose it is that we employ the reservoir
(which we prefer to make of glass) and from which the volatile substance is supplied
by the beforementioned small pipe or a siphon into the evaporating vessel, such pipe
terminating at a point corresponding to the level to be maintained in the said vessel.
The effect of this arrangement is that when the level falls owing to evaporation, a
volume of gas will rise into the reservoir and replace a corresponding quantity of the
volatile substance which will descend, thereby raising the level in the evaporating
vessel to the required normal point.
In the event of the volatile substance in the evaporating vessel being of a highly
volatile nature, we dilute it by mixing with it in the reservoir a less volatile
substance, otherwise the evaporation would proceed rapidly even were gas not flowing
through.
The annexed drawing shews partly in vertical section and partly in elevation,
apparatus for adding volatile substances to gases according to this invention.-u, is
the pipe or conduit through which gas or gases flow in the direction of the
arrows b, b, c, is a cock or valve in this pipe for regulating the quantity of gas to be
passed through the said pipe or conduit in a given time,-d, is a closed vessel or
reservoir made of suitable material such as clear glass, it is to contain Mercaptan or
other volatile substance e,f, is a pipe therefrom that dips into the evaporating vessel,
--g, is a cock for regulating the quantity of volatile substance allowed to pass down
the pipe f, into the evaporating vessel, the lower part of which may also be advan-
tageously made of clear glass, being held in place by a screw h 1, carried by a stirrup
or bent bar 2, fixed to the evaporating vessel as shewn,-i, is the volatile substance
within the evaporating vessel.
In communication with the upper part of the evaporating vessel h, (which part may
be of metal,) is a pipe the open lower end i 1, of which is so arranged in the main
pipe or conduit a, as to face the current of gas passing along the pipe or conduit a,
and take up a portion thereof. This portion of the gas enters the evaporating vesselh,
at k, and passes through the same over the volatile substance, then out at 1, down
the pipe m, and into the conduit or pipe a, at n, it mixes with the current of gas flow-
ing in a, in this way it may be used to impart to water-gas the odour of the volatile
substance, -m 1, is a cock in the pipe m, for regulating the quantity of impregnated
gas passing into and mixing with the gas in the pipe or conduit a, and thus when
odour is being imparted to the flowing gas regulating the strength of the odour.
o, is absorbent or porous material such as cotton-wick placed within the evaporating
vessel h, for increasing the evaporating surface thereof, but in some cases this may be
dispensed with, p, is a pipe provided with a cock q. this pipe is placed in com-
munication at one end with the conduit a, at the entrance side of the valve or cock c,
its other end p 1, enters the evaporating vessel h, wherein it extends so far as to dip
into the volatile substance contained therein as shewn. The object of this arrange-
ment is to indicate the existence of any leakage or an open cock, after the main cock c
has been shut, for it will be evident from the drawings that if there should be an
open cock or a leakage on a pipe in connection with that part of the main pipe or
conduit a, to the right of the main cock c, gas would flow through the pipe p, after

page_text: the main cock c, had been shut; would bubble up through the liquid i, and would
pass out through the said open cock or the leak in the pipe in connection with the
pipe a.
It is to be noted that, assuming a solution of a volatile substance to be employed, if
such solution were merely put into the evaporating vessel h, the more volatile part
would evaporate first, leaving the less volatile portion to evaporate afterwards. This
is prevented by bringing the solution to the evaporating vessel h,drop by drop, by the
arrangement of reservoir and siphon or dip pipe described above.
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 hereinabove described method of adding volatile substances to gases.
2. Apparatus substantially as described for the purpose specified.
THOS. E. CRAVEN,
Agent for the Applicants..