Improvements in the Construction of Compressing Machinery or Apparatus for the Condensation and Liquefaction of Gases.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Compressing Machinery or
Apparatus for the Condensation and Liquefaction of Gases.
We, JOHN PULLMAN, of 17 Greek Street, Soho Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer, and HOWARD LANE, of Corporation Street, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
This invention refers to the class of machinery employed for the compression
and liquefaction of carbonic acid, nitrous oxide, and other substances which exist
in a gaseous condition at ordinary atmospheric temperatures and pressures and
which under such circumstances require very considerable pressure with disengage-
ment of heat in order to liquefy them.
The pumps or engines hitherto employed for the purpose of compressing such
gases consist ordinarily of cylinders fitted with pistons or plungers actuated by
means of crank shafts connecting rods &c. Each cylinder delivers the gas subse-
quent to its compression into a coil or cooler where cooling takes place previous
to further compression. Usually two or three cylinders, or stages of compression,
are employed, and the compressed gas is delivered ultimately into an independent
condensing coil or system of pipes, where final abstraction of heat and liquefaction
occurs.
The liquefied gas is then delivered into cylinders or other reservoirs in which
it is stored and conveyed away as required.
The improvements which form the subject of the present invention consist of
the combination and amalgamation in one machine of the compressing cylinders
and pistons, the intermediate cooling coils, and the final condensing and liquefying
apparatus; also the attachments for passing the liquefied gas into the cylindrical
vessels or reservoirs.
To attain the object of the invention a portion of the framework of the
compressing engine is made hollow and watertight. Within this watertight space
are arranged the condensing and liquefying coils or pipes, with their ultimate
outlets at the lowest level.
The said outlets are connected with the exterior fittings, to which the reservoir
for the final reception of the liquefied gas is attached. In actual work the space
fitted with the condensing apparatus is filled with water.
By the novel arrangement described, economy of space and simplicity and
cheapness of construction are attained.
ד
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Compressing Machinery or
Apparatus for the Condensation and Liquefaction of Gases.
We, JOHN PULLMAN, of 17 Greek Street, Soho Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer, and HoWARD LANE, of Corporation Street, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, 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 and accompanying drawing' that
is to say :-
This invention refers to the class of machinery employed for the compression

page_text: and liquefaction of carbonic acid, nitrous oxide, and other substances which exist in
a gaseous condition at ordinary atmospheric temperatures and pressures and which
under such circumstances require very considerable pressure, with disengagement
of heat, in order to liquefy them.
The pumps or engines hitherto employed for the purpose of compressing such
gases consist ordinarily of cylinders fitted with pistons or plungers actuated by
means of crank shafts connecting rods &c. Each cylinder delivers the gas subse-
quent to its compression into a coil or cooler where cooling takes place previous
to further compression. Usually two or three cylinders, or stages of compression,
are employed, and the compressed gas is delivered ultimately into an independent
condensing coil or system of pipes, where final abstraction of heat and liquefaction
occurs.
The liquefied gas is then delivered into cylinders or other reservoirs in which
it is stored and conveyed away as required.
The improvements which form the subject of the present invention consist in
the combination and amalgamation in one machine of the compressing cylinders
and pistons, the intermediate cooling coils, and the final condensing and liquefying
apparatus; also the attachments for passing the liquefied gas into the cylindrical
vessels or reservoirs.
To attain the object of the present invention a portion of the framework of the
compressing engine is made hollow and watertight. Within this watertight space
are arranged the condensing and liquefying coils or pipes, with their ultimate
outlets at the lowest level.
The said outlets are connected with the exterior fittings, to which the reservoir
for the final reception of the liquefied gas is attached. In actual work the space
fitted with the condensing apparatus is filled with water.
The accompanying drawing which is in illustration of our invention represents a
machine having three compressing cylinders,
Figure 1 is a front view, and Figure 2 a transverse vertical section.
a is a bed plate supporting the frame of the compressing machine, and also
shewn carrying a steam engine c of any ordinary form of construction. Any other
power may however be used. d is a hollow frame or standard of sufficient strength
and capacity, carrying at its upper end the base e upon which the cylinders are
bolted. is a water tank surrounding the cylinders and carried upon the upper
end of the hollow standard d. The front of the cylinder base e is shewn supported
by columns 9, 9, 9, the lower ends of which are bolted to the frame b, upon which
frame are also formed or attached the bearings for the shaft h which is provided
with three cranks or excentrics i, i, i, driving by means of connecting rods & the
piston rod 1, and plungers m and n, the lower ends of which are guided by guides n¹.
The piston rod is connected to a piston working in the cylinder above it, which is
the largest of the three, and as the piston rises it draws the gas which is to be
compressed, from any suitable receiver or generator, through a pipe and valve at
the lower end of the cylinder (not shewn in the drawing) the gas above the piston
being compressed through a valve into a set of coiled or sinuous pipes o contained
in the water tank formed by the hollow standard d. Two or more of these pipes o
are arranged side by side all communicating with the delivery or discharge valve
from the upper end of the cylinder, their lower ends being bent and carried up as
shewn at o' and all communicating with a passage leading to the upper end of the
intermediate or central cylinder and provided with an inlet valve. On the descent
of the piston rod / the gas which has been drawn in below the piston passes through
a valve in the latter and is ready to be compressed as described during the next
upstroke of the piston.
The next or intermediate crank is shewn actuating a plunger m, working in the
central cylinder and passing down through a stuffing box p. This plunger is of
smaller diameter than the piston in the first cylinder, and is so proportioned that
the compressed gas delivered to its upper end from the pipe o' as described at the
down stroke of the plunger is further sufficiently compressed during its up-stroke

page_text: and is delivered through another series of coiled or sinuous pipes resembling and
adjoining those o, o³, first described, and from the upper ends of these it passes
through a valve into the upper end of the third or smallest cylinder in which the
plunger n works, through a stuffing box r. At the upstroke of this plunger n the
compressed gas is finally delivered through a delivery valve into a third set of
coiled or sinuous pipes in the tank or hollow standard d. The lower ends of these
last mentioned pipes instead of being turned up (as at o¹) communicate with a pipe
or chamber at s from whence a delivery pipe t, provided preferably with a stop
valve u, conducts the compressed or liquefied gas to a receiver placed in a water
tank w by which it is kept cool. This receiver has a union joint and valve at its
upper end, by which the pipe t is connected to it and disconnected when required,
and it is shewn supported in its place by the bracket . Pressure gauges y, Y, Y,
are shewn connected with the three compressing cylinders.
"
The number of coiled or sinuous pipes o from each cylinder are varied as may
be found necessary, a much larger number being preferably used for the last or
smallest cylinder especially if carbonic acid gas is being liquefied, when a large
amount of heat is disengaged.
The water may be made to circulate in the hollow standard and tank by pumps
or other convenient means, and the relative proportions of the piston and plungers
are adjusted so as to give the most useful effect.
Instead of three cylinders, two, four, or any other desired number may be used.
By the novel methods of construction and arrangement described, economy of
space and simplicity and cheapness of construction are attained.
We do not confine ourselves to any precise method of construction and arrange-
ment of the parts of the improved apparatus, which may be varied more or less
as may be found desirable, to suit different circumstances, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The combination, in one machine of the compressing apparatus, consisting of
cylinders, containing piston and plungers actuated by a shaft driven by steam or
other power, and the condensing and cooling apparatus arranged in and supported
by the frame of the machine itself, substantially as described and shewn.
2. The combination in one machine of the compressing pumps, hollow frame d,
forming a water reservoir, and coiled or sinuous pipes o, arranged and operating
substantially in the manner and for the purpose described and illustrated.
3. The combination in one machine, of the compressing pumps, hollow frame and
tank df, forming a water reservoir, cooling pipes o, o', delivery pipe t, and also gas
receiver v, arranged and operating substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 30th day of September 1892.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.