Improvements in Apparatus for Mixing, Incorporating, or Effecting the Circulation of Liquids and Semi Liquids in Vessels.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 12th. Oct., 1889-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Mixing, Incorporating, or
Effecting the Circulation of Liquids and Semi Liquids in
Vessels.
We, SAMUEL BAGSTER BOULTON, THOMAS BURT HAYWOOD, and HAROLD EDWIN
BOULTON, trading under the firm of Burt, Boulton, and Haywood, of 64 Cannon
Street, in the City of London, Manufacturers. and EDMOND RICH GABBETT, of Old
Charlton, Kent. Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
According to this invention we effect the mixing or incorporation of liquids or
semi liquids or the circulation of a liquid within a cauldron or tank by the action of
centrifugal force upon part of such liquid or liquids in such manner that a body of
liquid is thereby continuously withdrawn from the bottom and delivered at the top.
or vice versa, thus producing a continuously ascending or descending column of fluid
within the apparatus and a corresponding movement in the contrary direction in the
body of liquid outside the apparatus. By thus effecting the mixing or circulation of
the liquid entirely by centrifugal action we avoid in a great measure the loss of power
due to the friction of mechanical devices moving in the liquid, such as occur in
apparatus with helical propelling blades and the like heretofore employed.
The apparatus may be constructed in various ways for operating according to our
invention; thus according to one arrangement we employ a conical, conoidal, para-
boloidal or hemispherical shell immersed in a vertical position in the liquid and having
both its upper and lower ends open, the end of larger diameter being situated at top
if the circulation is to be in an upward direction through it, and at bottom if a down-
ward circulation is required.
This shell is fixed by suitable arms to a central shaft carried in bearings above the
cauldron or vat, so that when more or less rapid rotary motion is imparted to it, and
consequently to the body of liquid situated within it, the centrifugal force will act in
the well known manner upon such body of liquid, causing it to rise up on the inner
walls of the shell and to flow over the upper edge thereof, into the body of liquid
surrounding it, while at the same time fresh liquid will enter the lower end of the
shell to replace that which is ejected at top. Tu place of only a single shell two or
more concentric shells may be employed so as to cause a body of liquid to ascend the
sides of each shell by centrifugal action, or the body of ascending liquid can be
confined within an annular space formed between two concentrical shells, the inner one
of which has no opening at the lower end.
When the upper end of the shell is immersed more or less below the level of the
liquid, the central part of the upper opening thereof may be covered in by a shield so
as to prevent the pressure of the column of liquid above the shell from interfering
with the centrifugal action. In order to prevent slip between the inner surface of the
shell and the liquid in contact therewith, the shell may be provided with internal
longitudinal ribs or vanes.
According to another modification the shell is constructed with the lower end of
more or less cylindrical tubular form, while the upper end is widened out to a trumpei-
mouth shape, and the central part of this may-also-be-more or less enclosed so that
the centrifugal action in ejecting the liquid from the annular orifice thus formed will
cause the liquid to be drawn up by the suction produced. Or the entire shell may be
of a trumpet mouth shape, and it may be provided with an inner shell as above
described with reference to the conical form.
Or, again, the upper end may be formed into two or more hollow horizontal arms
communicating at the centre with the vertical tubular part, so that the liquid in beinơ

page_text: ejected by centrifugal action from the hollow arms will produce a suction in the
vertical tube.
According to another modification, instead of employing a continuous shell a
number of separate tubular or trough shaped channels may be employed, receding
from the central axis as they proceed upward, so that the liquid entering their lower
ends is caused to ascend in them by centrifugal action, and flows out at the upper
ends.
In all the above described constructions the reverse action may be obtained, that is
to say, the liquid may be made to flow downwards through the apparatus by inverting
the position of the latter.
In cases where it is preferred to suspend the shaft of the apparatus from bearings
above the cauldron or tank, the downward pressure on the bearings due to the weight
of the shell may be reduced by making the latter more-or-less-buoyant either_by
forming it hollow with closed air spaces, or by combining therewith a float of any
suitable construction.
The above described invention is applicable with particular advantage in cases where
the material to be acted upon requires to be maintained at a comparatively high tem-
perature in order to maintain it in a liquid condition, as in such cases the employment
of an ordinary circulating pump within the vessel or cauldron would be subject to
considerable difficulties.
Dated this 16th day of January 1889.
Improvements in Apparatus for Mixing, Incorporating, or
Effecting the Circulation of Liquids and Semi Liquids in
Vessels.
We, SAMUEL BAGSTER BOULTON, THOMAS BURT HAYWOOD, and HAROLD EDWIN
BOULTON, trading under the firm of Burt Boulton and Haywood of 64 Cannon
Street, in the City of London, Manufacturers, and EDMOND RICH GABRETT, of Old
Charlton, Kent, Čivil 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:—
According to this invention we effect the mixing or incorporation of liquids or
semi-liquids or the circulation of a liquid within a cauldron or tank by the action of
centrifugal force upon part of such liquid or liquids in such manner that a body of
liquid is thereby continuously withdrawn from the bottom and delivered at the top,
or vice versa, thus producing a continuously ascending or descending column of 'fluid
within the apparatus and a corresponding movement in the contrary direction in the
body of liquid outside the apparatus. By thus effecting the mixing or circulation of
the liquid entirely by centrifugal action we avoid in a great measure the loss of power
due to the friction of mechanical devices moving in the liquid, such as occur in
apparatus with helical propelling blades and the like, heretofore employed.
The apparatus may be constructed in various ways for operating according to our
invention, thus according to one arrangement we employ a shell of a conical, conoidal,
paraboloidal, hemispherical or trumpet mouthed shape fitted if necessary with internal
ribs and immersed in a vertical position in the liquid, and having both its upper and
lower ends open, the end of larger diameter being situated at top if the circulation is
to be in an upward direction through it, and at bottom if a downward circulation is
required. The shell is fixed by suitable arms to a central strap carried in bearings
above the cauldron or vat, so that when more or less rapid rotary motion is imparted
to it and consequently to the body of liquid situated within it, the centrifugal force
will act in the well known manner upon such body of liquid causing it to rise up on
the inner wall of the shell and to flow over the upper edge then into the body of

page_text: liquid surrounding it, while at the same time fresh liquid will enter the lower end of
the shell to replace that which is ejected at top.
Holes or
openings may be made in the shell or tubes at various heights to assist
the distribution of the inner column of liquid or semi liquid, through the outer body
or the shell may have reciprocating motion vertical or horizontal given to it or it may
be made to travel round a centre for the same purpose.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shews a vertical section of one form of the
above described apparatus, and Fig. 2 shows a plan.
A is a conical shell having interval ribs A and mounted on a shaft B by which it
is suspended within the vessel or tank C containing the liquid to be acted upon, the
shaft being carried at its upper end by a bracket D and guided by a bush or
stuffing box E on the cover of the vessel C.
Assuming this vessel to be charged with liquid to the level indicated and the shell A
to be rotated by suitable gearing such as indicated at F then the body of liquid within
the shell being carried round with the same by means of the ribs A, the centrifugal
force will cause the liquid to rise along the inclined inner surface of the shell and to
be ejected into the surrounding liquid when arriving at the upper edge thereof while
at the same time the pressure of the surrounding column of liquid in the vessel C, will
cause fresh quantities of liquid to enter the lower end of the shell A to make
good the quantity discharged at the top. Thus a continuous circulation and con-
sequent mixing of the liquid will be effected as indicated by the arrows.
To prevent the carrying round of the body of liquid in the vessel C by its frictional
contact with the outer surface of the shell A, the vessel may be provided with pro-
jecting ribs C as shewn, this is however not absolutely necessary and such rotation of
the liquid may to some extent be prevented by making the vessel C rectangular
instead of circular as shewn, or by arranging a set of two or more revolving shells
such as A in the vessel, either grouped round a central driving shaft or arranged in
a row. Also instead of rotating the shell or shells A. continuously in one and the
same direction they may have their direction of rotation reversed after any desired
intervals of time. This might be effected by applying two driving pullies carrying
respectively an open and a crossed strap which are shifted alternately on to a loose
pulley, as is well understood.
The circulation of the liquid can also be made to take place in the contrary direction
to that described by inverting the position of the shell A so thai the centrifugal action
will cause the liquid within it to travel in a downward direction.
The shell A may also, if desired have an oscillating motion imparted to it, so as to
move continuously or intermittently with its lower end to different parts of the
vessel C, and thus cause the liquid to be drawn consecutively from such different
parts.
This might be effected by connecting the lower part of the shaft B carrying the
shell to the upper part running in fixed hearings by a universal joint, and imparting
the described motion to and fro thereto by a crank, cam or excentric and connecting
rod or by other suitable means.
The shell A may be made to extend above the level of the liquid, instead of being
entirely immersed as indicated.
Figs. to 10 shew diagram sections of various other forms which may be adopted
for the revolving shell. Fig. shews a paraboloidal shape. Fig. 4 a construction
with hemispherical lower part and cylindrical upper part, the centrifugal action which
drives the fluid upward being confined to the lower part. Fig. 5 shews an arrange-
ment in which there are two or more concentric shells, on each of which a body of
liquid will be made to ascend by centrifugal action or there may be only two con-
centric shells as at Fig. 6 forming a narrow annular space in which the liquid
ascends, there being no opening in the inner shell. If the-shell-has its upper end
immersed to..u-considerable extent below the liquid level, the arrangement shewn at
Fig. 7, may be adopted in which the top of the shell A is covered by a shield A'
leaving a narrow annular orifice at a for the issue of the liquid. By this means the

page_text: pressure of the column of liquid which would otherwise exist in the centre of the
shell, is prevented from interfering with the centrifugal action. Fig. S shews a con-
struction in which the lower part of the shell is made cylindrical while the upper part
is made irumpet mouthed, the centrifugal action being in this case confined to the
upper part or the entire shell might be made of a trumpet mouth shape.
Fig. 9 shews a construction with the lower part A more or less cylindrical and
terminating at top in two or more iubular arms A which may be either radial or
curved. Fig. 10 shews a construction in which instead of employing a continuous
shell two or more separate curved or inclined tubular or trough shaped channels A A
are used, open at the upper and lower ends so that in revolving the liquid will be
caused by the centrifugal action to rise in the tubes or troughs and be discharged at
the upper ends in the same way as with the above described shells.
Such tubes or channels may also be made with a helical curvature relatively to the
axis-of-rotation so as to assist in producing the upward or downward motion of the
liquid.
If found advantageous to lessen the weight or load on the bearings of the shaft by
which the shell is revolved, this can be effected by having an air fight chamber con-
nected to the shell or shaft; thus for instance the shield A shewn in Fig. 7 being
made hollow will by its flotation partly carry the weight of the shell &c. or in that
of Fig. 6 if the inner vessel is covered and rendered air tight, the same purpose will
be attained.
Although it is preferred to impart the necessary" rotary motion to the shell by
gearing as described yet it will be evident that other means might be employed, such
as a turbine fitted on the shaft of the shell and driven by steam or other fluid.
The above described invention is applicable with particular advantage in cases
where the material to be acted upon requires to be maintained at a comparatively high
temperature in order to maintain it in a liquid condition, as in such cases the employ-
ment of an ordinary circulating pump within the vessel or cauldron would be subject
to considerable difficulties.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In apparatus for mixing incorporating or effecting the circulation of liquids
and semi liquids the use of a vessel shell or tube or combination of vessels shells
or tubes partly or wholly immersed in the liquid and having its or their upper
and lower ends open, such vessel shell or tube being so formed as when rotaled
upon its vertical axis it will cause the liquid to rise or descend in the same by
centrifugal action and to he discharged at the upper or lower end substantially as
herein described.
2. In apparatus for mixing incorporating or effecting the circulation of liquids,
and semi liquids, the combination with the tank or cauldron C of a shell A of
conical conoidal or equivalent shape with internal ribs or projections A' and
carried by a vertical axis B driven by suitable gearing so as to cause the liquid
in the tank or cauldron to ascend in the shell by centrifugal action and to be
discharged into the tank at the upper end while at the same time fresh liquid is
made to enter at the lower end, substantially as herein described with reference to
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
3. In apparatus for mixing incorporating or effecting the circulation of liquids
and semi liquids the use of a tubular shell A with arms A carried by a vertical
revolving axis and partly or wholly immersed in the liquid so that by the centrifugal
action of the arms, A¹ the liquid is drawn up through the tubular shell A and expelled
through the arms A¹ substantially as described with reference to Fig. 9.
4. In apparatus for mixing incorporating or effecting the circulation of liquids
and semi liquids the use of tubular or trough shaped arms A curved by a vertical
revolving axis and parily or wholly immersed in the liquid so that by the centrifugal

page_text: action of the arms the liquid is caused to rise through them and to be ejected
through the upper ends thereof, substantially as herein described with reference
to Fig. 10.
111
1
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ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.