An Improved Method of Conveying Air and other Gases, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: An Improved Method of Conveying Air and other Gases, and
Apparatus therefor.
I, STRETHILL HARRY WRIGITT of Ganarew Manor House, near Monmouth in the
County of Hereford, Doctor of Medicine, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Fluids falling perpendicularly or part perpendicularly in a tube have the power
of conveying air or other gases with them in their fall, & this power of conveying
gases is dependent on the part-bore charge with which fluid is supplied to these
tubes, but the gas-conveying power of any tube charged with fluid depends not
only upon the charge of fluid to the tube, but also upon the perpendicular length
of the tube itself from the point of admixture of fluid & gas, also, economically,
the diameter of any given tube determines its value as an air-conveying apparatus,
so that a tube as an air-conveying apparatus or exhaust-machine depends, for the
purposes of this specification, on three things: (1) it's diameter, (2) the amount
of fluid charge supplied to it, (3) its perpendicular height.
These are the conditions which regulate the well-known apparatus known as
Sprengel's Pump, as developed by my own experiments, Sprengel's Pump works
well when the tube is of the diameter of inch, is supplied with fluid to one
quarter of its full capacity, & its efficiency increases with every increase of per-
pendicular length from the point of admixture of fluid & gas in it. The efficiency
of Sprengel's Pump depends on three things: the part-bore charge, the diameter
of the tube, & its perpendicular length from the point of admixture of gas & fluid.
The apparatus which is the object of this application substitutes the power afforded
by perpendicular length from the point of admixture of gas & gas-conveying fluid,
by the power supplied by centrifugal force. An apparatus for the attainment of
this object in view, I describe as follows:-
I take a vessel, preferably funnel-shaped. In the bottom of this vessel, which
is otherwise closed, I enter perpendicularly a small tube, say of inch diameter,
which I name tube A. On this tube A, I fit another tube, B, which turns on
tube A air-tight, perpendicularly, as on a pivot. Entered to the lower extremity
of tube B at a convenient angle, I place a third tube, C, which rotates with tube B,
as the spoke of a wheel does round its hub, inside the funnel. In this third
tube, C, I bore a hole at the angle of its juncture with tube B, & so arrange it
that as it revolves round tube A, constant communication is established between
tube C & tube A. I plunge the whole apparatus in fluid to, say the depth of an
inch in the funnel-shaped vessel, taking care that except for the hole bored in
tube C, tube B with its appendage tube C revolves air-tight on tube A. I then
rotate rapidly the tube B to which the entry of the tube C is arranged beneath the
level of the liquid in the funnel-shaped vessel; the result is that the fluid in the

page_text: funnel enters the hole in tube C & is centrifugally expelled from tube C, but in
being thus expelled, it engages air from tube A with which it communicates, &
so creates more or less a vacuum in that tube, & in any apparatus to which that
tube is attached.
In the foregoing, I have described the simplest form of such apparatus, briefly
it may be described as an improvement on Sprengel's Pump, in which the per-
pendicular length below the point of admixture of gas & fluid which supplies
motor power in Sprengel's Pump is replaced by a centrifugally acting force. But
it will be observed that unlike the ordinary form of Sprengel's Pump, the fluid
thus used to produce vacuum is not wasted, but falls back to the bottom of the
funnel, to re-enter tube C & again become the agent for conveying air or
other gas from tube A & its connexions. If mercury be employed as the fluid
agent, this circulation without waste becomes of importance. I would point out
that in fact, in this application I claim protection for the discharge of a mixed
gaseous & fluid column, in which fluid charges a pipe part-bore, which pipe
communicates centrifugal action to such part-bore charge of fluid supplied to it,
which part-bore charge, taking up "gas" at a centre, discharges it at a circum-
ference, so that whatever may be the motor power which causes revolution of such
discharging pipe, the rationale of the machine is that the perpendicular force of
the so-called Sprengel's Pump, is replaced by the centrifugal force of the apparatus
herein described. I would add that I include mercury as a fluid in the sense of
this specification, & I would point out that the apparatus described, by using
again & again the same fluid, provides for its economical use:
Dated this 9th day of November 1896.
STRETHILL H. WRIGHT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Conveying 'Air and other Gases, and
Apparatus therefor.
I, STRETHILL HARRY WRIGHT, of Ganarew Manor House, in the County of
Monmouth, Doctor of Medicine, 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 my Invention, "The Centrifugal force" is caused to determine the
amount of air or other gas which tubes, part-filled with water or other fluid, may
convey.
On former occasions, as subject of Patent Specifications, or in other connections,
I have defined the conditions which, so far as my own experiments shew, determine
the efficiency of tubes charged with fluid to serve as conveyors of air or other gas.
As these conditions in part regulate the action of the apparatus I now seek to
protect, I recapitulate them:-
1. THE SIZE OF TUBES USED.
The efficiency of tubes devoid of any special fittings, per se, decreases with the
increase of the diameter of such tubes. Tubes of 1/10" diameter are efficient as air
movers: but their efficiency falls rapidly with the increase of their diameter.
Tubes of more than 1" diameter I do not consider as efficient air movvers. But
if tubes over 1" diameter, and up to 3" diameter, be fitted with perforated
diaphragms, as described in my Patent Specification No. 19654, October 19th, 1893,
the efficiency of tubes so fitted again is raised within the limits of practical use.

page_text: 2. THE CHARGE OF FLUID.
The efficiency of tubes as air movers depends upon the charge of fluid admitted
to them, and I name a quarter charge as being of practical efficiency.
3. PERPENDICULAR OR PART PERPENDICULAR LENGTH OF TUBES.
The efficiency of tubes as air movers depends upon their perpendicular or part
perpendicular length, from the point of admission to them, of their fluid charge.
In the apparatus which is the subject of the present specification, conditions Nos. 1
and 2 obtain: but the power. resulting from the conditions described under No. 3,
that is the power resulting from the fall of the mixed air or gas and fluid column
down a certain length of pipe, is replaced by a "centrifugal action." The tube
which conveys this, mixed column of air or gas and fluid, instead of being con-
tinued perpendicularly, is bent horizontally, or in some other transverse direction,
at or closely below the point of admission of the fluid charge: and the result is―
that the power which results from the falling weight of a mixed column of air or
gas and fluid through a perpendicular tube, is replaced by the power gained by
the discharge of such a mixed column forced by centrifugal action through the tube
of lesser or greater length rotated at a higher or lower rate of speed.
In the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, by which I illustrate my inven-
tion, Figure 1 shews a form of perpendicular part-bore air moving apparatus, and
Figure 2 the centrifugally moved part bore tube. The drawings, Figures 1 and 2,
demonstrate the conditions under which the perpendicular part-bore tube, and
the centrifugally moved part bore tube, resemble and differ from each other.
While Figure 2 demonstrates the essential relation of parts which, with modifica-
tions to meet special requirements, determines the action of the centrifugal part-
bore exhaust, and air or gas conveying machines.
Referring in the first instance to Figure 1, a is a small reservoir: bis a
liquid supply pipe with tap to regulate the supply: c is the air pipe: and d is
the draw or motor pipe, the perpendicular length of which below d', the point of
admission of fluid to d, is the third factor in the efficiency of the machine as an
air mover.
In Figure 2 (the centrifugal exhaust apparatus), a is the liquid reservoir: bis
the liquid supply pipe to the reservoir, with tap to regulate supply: c is the air
pipe, which is rigidly fixed, as by a bracket f: d is the draw pipe, the horizontal
measurement of which from the centre d² to the extremity d³, and the rapidity
of the revolution of which, take the place of the third condition of the apparatus
shewn in Figure 1, and determine on this machine, as does the perpendicular
length of d in Figure 1, the efficiency of the centrifugal exhaust as an air con-
veyor. The tube d in Figure 2 may be either horizontal, as shewn, by the whole
lines, or turned up, as shewn by the dotted lines, or disposed at any angle to its
centre d. In the sketch I show two positions of horizontal arms. The point
of practical importance is the measurement from the end of the transverse arm,
however produced, to the centre, or its continuation measured horizontally.
Advantages may attach to many variations in the horizontal arms: i.e., if turned
up, the fluid used for exhaust can repeatedly be returned through the machine.
The tube d is pivotted above at c', and below at e, d being closed at this end,
and may be fitted with a pulley d, or other contrivance, by which its rotation
round c is effected.
The action, in the case of the apparatus shewn in Figure 1, is:-Fluid is
admitted to a through the pipe b in part bore quantity as concerns the pipe d; it
ises in a, and overflows into the draw pipe d at d'; and it engages air and conveys
t down d in quantity dependent upon the perpendicular height of d, and other
considerations stated at the beginning of this Specification.
In the case of the apparatus shewn in Figure 2, the action is:-Fluid is
dmitted to a by the pipe b; it falls into a; enters the pipe d, through the
perture at d, in less than the full-bore capacity of d; and it is so admitted as

page_text: 1
further to rise in a, till the joint at c', which should in itself be air and fluid
tight is well covered. The horizontal arm attached to the vertical part of d, ind
carrying a with it, is revolved quickly. The part-bore charge entering at is
projected at d and discharged at d³, and produces attenuation of air in c, causing
either a constant current through c, or a vacuum, more or less, in any closed
vessel to which "c is attached. The effect produced by the revolution of the
arm depends either upon the rapidity with which it is rotated, or on its
length from the centre round which it revolves.
I claim mercury as a fluid to be used for the purpose of the specification.
"It is evident' that apparatus of this sort is efficient for,(1) Conveying fluids
of all sorts mixed with air or other gases in varying proportions: (2) For creating
pressure at either extremity of the apparatus; i.e. by exhaust at the air pipe, or
by direct pressure of the fluid discharged on the air or gas, also discharged in a
close vessel into which the arms discharge: (3) For discharging fluids mixed
with various gases in different proportions under pressure or otherwise.
In machines of this kind, when of large size, the employment of perforated
diaphragms in the course of the pipéage enables pipes or tubes of large size to
be used.
In Figure 3, I give a sketch shewing a form of machine when numerous small
pipes of say " for water are used; and when the fluid charge is returned to the
Reservoir to be again circulated through the machine. In this arrangement, I
have retained the lettering of parts used in the other apparatus described.
f is a rigid frame work; a is the reservoir; b the liquid supply, consisting of a
circular trench at 61, communicating by channels 62 with a chamber 3 in f; c is
the rigid air tube; the pivotted end of d; and d the two tubular arms, entered
through the wall of a, and entered tight in d. Between the wall of a, and their
entry to d, these tubes are pierced at d to admit their fluid charge. dis
produced.downwards to be pivotted on e, which is pierced with channels b, which
establish communication with the chamber 3 in f. It is fitted with a pulley
at d.
In action, fluid is supplied by the trench b'. It finds its level by way
of 62, 63, 6, into the reservoir a, and the tubular, apparatus d', d, d³. If now the
portion capable of rotation be revolved, the fluid charge will be discharged
through into the trench 61; but the discharge through d³ is only part-bore,
because it is regulated by the orifices at d. It, therefore, takes air by way of
the pipes and d, which it discharges at the, extremities of d; but the fluid
return to the reservoir by way of the parts 62 63 6. To the trench b', ought
to be fitted an extraneous fluid supply, so that any loss in the operation, as by
evaporation, may be corrected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this Inven-
tion. and in.. what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The herein described improvement connected with the moving of air or gas,
in which the action or movement is effected by fluids passing through tubes or
conduits, consisting in admitting liquid to said tubes or conduits to charge them
to less than their full bore capacity, and effecting the flow of the fluids through
such tubes or conduits by rotating same, and adapting the same to discharge
such fluids centrifugally.
2. Effecting the movement of air or other gas by means of the flow of fluids
through tubes or conduits in the manner specified, and by means of apparatus
constructed and operating substantially as set forth with reference to and shewn
in the drawings (Figures 2 and 3); the fluid being supplied to such apparatus
centrally so as to charge part-bore the tubes or conduits used, whereby air or other
gas. is engaged centrally by such fluid, and so forms a mixed column of air or
other gas and fluid; and the mixed column constituting the contents of the tubes

page_text: being subsequently discharged centrifugally by the rotation of the tubes containing
the mixed gaseous and fluid column round a centre, as described.
3. Apparatus for moving air or gases, comprising a tubular part to which liquid
is admitted, adapted to be revolved about a centre, and having an inlet at the
centre for the admission of air or gas and liquid, the liquid being adapted to be
supplied to the device so as to charge the tube or tubes part-bore, and the
revolving part being adapted to discharge the fluid mixed with air or gas in its
operation introduced into it, centrifugally.
4. In apparatus for effecting the moving of air in the manner herein specified,
the apparatus having parts adapted to operate, and arranged, substantially as
herein se forth with reference to Figures 2 and 3, respectively, of the drawings.
Dated this 10th day of August 1897.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.