IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE STORAGE AND DISCHARGE OF AIR AT UNIFORM PRESSURES
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE of the Office for Patents, Breams Buildings
Chancery Lane in, the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby declare
the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE
STORAGE AND DISCHARGE OF AIR AT UNIFORM PRESSURES," and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:
This Invention relates to an apparatus which may be quickly filled with air
compressed to any suitable degree, and from, which the stored air may be discharged
at an even pressure and be utilized in a variety of ways during considerable
periods.
Among the purposes to which this apparatus may be profitably applied are the
following:
1. Supplying oil to lamps by pneumatic pressure.
€
2. Driving small machines such as sewing machines for domestic and other
purposes by suitable cylinders and pistons.
.
3. Screw ventilators.
4. Wind motors (for effecting the regular discharge of the power):
J
In the accompanying Drawing Fig: 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus;
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same;
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the apparatus with smoke jacket and furnace.
Figs. 4 to 6 represent details of construction of cylinders for the compressed air.
On the bed plate A, the cylinder B and air. pump C are mounted; the interior
spaces of both are in connection by means of a valve box c. The piston 6 moving
air tight in the cylinder B, is in connection, by means of the piston rod d and
beam D, with the variable weights G. The piston rod d is guided in its movements
by the stuffing box e. In the cylinder cover, openings are provided through which
the air in the space above the piston, can escape slowly therefrom when the piston
is moving upwards. The cover of the cylinder B, perforated to allow of the free
D

page_text: and uninterrupted motion upwards of the piston, may be replaced, if desired, by a
cross head or beam. The cock f serves for shutting off or regulating the rate of
discharge of the air through the air tube o leading from the cylinder B to the
apparatus to be driven. When the piston of the air pump a is set in motion by
means of the hand lever g, the cock f being closed, the piston b will be raised more
or less quickly according to the extent to which it is weighted whilst at the same
time the air forced in beneath the piston b will be more or less compressed,-though
always to a uniform degree according to the special requirements for the time being,
and when the apparatus is in action the air will continue to be discharged at that
pressure, until the piston b has gradually sunk to its lowest position.
Instead of forcing up the piston, together with its weights, by means of the
pump, it may be raised direct by means of the piston rod and when so raised
the air pump may be brought into action the cock f being turned accordingly; but
in this case the cock f must be a three-way cock and be so arranged that when
turned into one position the air from outside enters below the piston b, as the piston
is lifted..
It is clear that while this compressed air reservoir is discharging its contents air
may be pumped into the cylinder B without causing any disturbing action, and
that the piston B, under the given amount of weighting, may thus be maintained
at any given height. A wind motor may thus be used to replenish the reservoir
with compressed air and this air may be discharged at a steady regulated pressure
independently of the fast or slow working of the wind motor.
}
In order to be able to observe the amount of compression, at any moment, in the
above apparatus a pressure gauge may be fitted to the cylinder B in any desired
and suitable position. To prevent over compression, the piston is perforated and
provided with a suitable safety valve. In large apparatus of this kind, in particular
for the purpose of regulating wind motors, it is very advisable to form the
cylinder, B as shown at Fig. 6 out of masonry k faced on the inside with a kind of
plaster-marble-; or to provide the masonry k, as in Fig. 5 with an inner cylinder
of sheet steel m; the masonry being securely held together by means of outside.
bands of wrought iron n.
In working with such a cylinder a very good packing can be attained by
surrounding the piston 6 with strips of leather which are extended from within by
means of springs, against the wall of the cylinder. In order to save the cost of
truing cast iron cylinders for the air reservoirs these may be lined inside with
cylinders of sheet steel m as shewn at Fig. 4.
If it is desired to obtain a more intense effect from the compressed air by raising
the temperature of the same, the apparatus may be connected with a small furnace
as shewn at Fig 3-The-cylinder-B-in-this-case-will-be-surrounded-by-a-jacket-h,
and the gases of combustion, after being led through channels around the cylinder B
will pass through the smoke tube into the chimney.
2.
Having now, particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The construction and arrangement of apparatus hereinabove described with
reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawing, for facilitating the
storage of air and its discharge under steady uniform pressures and in regulated
quantity, at any desired spot and for various useful purposes, as set forth.
2. In an apparatus for the storage and discharge of air under pressure the
combination with an air. reservoir such as B, piston or crosshead b working air
tight therein and piston rod d adapted to receive the variable weights G, of an
air pump C adapted to force air into, the reservoir B below said piston, and a
'discharge pipe o fitted with a cock f substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The construction and arrangement of apparatus described with reference to
Fig. 3 of the Drawing for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 4. In an apparatus for the storage and discharge of air under steady and
uniform pressures the use of air reservoirs constructed as described with reference
to Figs. 4 5 and 6 of the Drawings, in combination with pistons such as b moving
air tight therein; adjustable weights G, one or more air pumps C adapted to charge
the reservoir with air by hand or fluid pressure, and means such as o, f, for
regulating the discharge of the compressed air, and conveying it to the required
spot.