Improved Means of Separating Moisture in connection with Compressed Air Apparatus, Curburetters, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 29th Apr., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Separating Moisture in connection with
Compressed Air Apparatus, Curburetters, and the like.
I, JOHN MCINTYRE, Engineer, of No. 46, Ogden Avenue, Jersey City, in the
County of Hudson and State of New Jersey, United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 relates to reheaters for compressed air, carburetters, or the
like, and in which the motive agent is deprived of its surcharge of moisture
previous to doing work in a motor.
The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved internal
separator, which is extremely simple and durable in construction, and arranged
to completely remove all surplus moisture from the motive agent before the
admission of the latter to the air or gas space in the re-heater, carburetter, or
like device on which the improvement is used.
The invention consists of novel features, parts and details and combinations
of the same, as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the improvement as applied.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of the improvement, on-
the line 2-2 of Figure 8.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same, on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and
Figures 4 and 5 are sectional side elevations of other modified forms of the
improvement.
In carburetters used for producing a gas of a high combustible power by
passing the gas through enriching liquid, or in apparatus having an air-
compressor discharging into a storage chamber it is necessary that the air or gas
be relieved of the surplus moisture taken up during the passage of the gaseous
fluid through the liquid or during the cooling of the compressed air after its
compression and during its passage to the storage chamber. In such apparatus
as heretofore constructed and mounted on a travelling vehicle the liquid is not
only lifted by the inrush of the air through it, but is constantly disturbed and
caused to splash violently, owing to the shocks and jars incident to the vehicle
travelling over the roadway and sudden stops and starts at stations, and
consequently a proper separation of the surcharged moisture and gas cannot
take place, and the latter is kept greatly surcharged with moisture at the time
of its entrance to the motor. The disastrous results caused by such surcharged
motive agent in the motor are too well known to need further description: but
the importance of preventing waste of stored power from a compressed-air
reheater or a carburetter is best illustrated in such vehicles which take on

page_text: board their measure of power for the run, as in those driven by compressed air
which is first reheated in water or in those driven by carburetted gas made
during the run. In the former case a waste of water takes place and in the
latter a waste of oil, so that such vehicles are unable to complete their run.
Now with my improvement presently to be described in detail, the surcharge
gas or air is completely relieved of its moisture within the reheater or
carburetter itself before its entrance to the motor. At the same time any
waste of liquid is prevented.
As shown in Figure 1, the shell A of the reheater or carburetter is partly filled
with a liquid B; preferably water for a reheater and oil for a carburetter,
suitable external or other means being employed for heating the liquid to the
proper degree.
Through the bottom of the shell A passes a pipe C, for
discharging the air or gas directly into the fluid, the inner end of the said pipe
being preferably provided with a distributing plate 0, for directing the air
or gas under a perforated distributing plate D, so that the air and gas in rising
is minutely divided to insure the proper heating or carburetting of the same.
The air and gas rising through the liquid finally passes into a separating
chamber E, from which leads a zigzag passage F into a receiving or storing
chamber within the shell A above the chamber E, and provided with an
outlet pipe H for carrying the gaseous fluid to the motor.
The chamber E, as shown in Figure 1, has its ceiling I located a suitable
distance above the upper end of the wall of the said chamber, the said wall
extending to within a short distance of the bottom of the shell A, so that the
fluid discharged by the pipe C must rise in that part of the liquid contained
within the said wall to pass into the chamber and to then reach the zigzag
passage F. The ceiling I, which may be the crown of the shell A, supports a
downwardly extending wall or baffle plate I, placed a suitable distance outside
of the upper end wall of the chamber E, and a second such wall Iª depends from
the outer end of the ceiling I. Between the walls I and I extends a wall I³,
terminating at its upper end a short distance from the ceiling I and extending
with its lower end lower than the lower end of the walls 1, 1s and preferably
though not necessarily, extending with its lower end into the liquid B contained
in the shell A. The lower ends of the walls and are located a suitable
distance above the level of the liquid B and above the lower end of the wall I³,
it being understood that the passage F thus formed by the walls mentioned is
open at its bottom to the liquid, so that any fluid passing through the zigzag
passage F and striking the walls I, I, I is relieved of its surplus moisture,
which adheres to and finally runs down the said walls to return to the liquid B
contained in the shell. The gaseous fluid, on the other hand, after leaving the
end wall 1, rises into the chamber G completely devoid of surplus moisture to
then pass to the motor by the pipe H.
The ceiling I is preferably attached to the inside of the shell A by suitable
brackets J, and the wall of the chamber E and also the wall Is are attached by
suitable stay-bolts I to the walls I and I, and a stay-bolt Is also connects the
submerged part of the wall I with the wall of the chamber E.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the shell A¹, containing the liquid B', is arranged
horizontally, with a horizontal perforated discharge pipe C for delivering the
gaseous fluid into the liquid within the walls of the chamber E, as plainly
indicated in the figures referred to. The zigzag passage F1 leads, preferably,
from one side only of the chamber E¹, at the upper end thereof, to connect the 5
said chamber with the receiving or storing chamber G, having an outlet pipe H.
As shown in Figure 4, the shell A", containing the liquid Ba, is provided in
its lower end with a fire-box K, from which extend the flues L through the
separating chamber E, and the receiving or storing chamber G³, having the
outlet pipe H. The supply pipe C extends into the liquid B around the fire 5
box K, to discharge the gaseous fluid into the liquid, but within the wall of
the chamber Eª, connected by the zigzag passage F with the before-mentioned

page_text: chamber G. The ceiling 16, together with the walls forming the passage F,
is similar to the one described in the reference to Figure 1, so that further
description thereof is not deemed necessary.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 5 the shell A³, containing the liquid B³,
is also provided with a fire box K³, from which lead the flues L, the latter
extending only through the receiving or storing chamber G³, having the pipe
H³ for carrying the fluid to the motor. The separating chamber E is adjacent
to the shell and is connected by the zigzag passage F with the chamber G³, but
in an inward direction, so that the fluid passes from the separating chamber E³
in an inward direction from the passage to finally reach the chamber G³. The
supply pipe C extends into the fluid within the inner wall of the chamber E³,
so that the gaseous fluid must rise into the chamber E³. It is expressly, however.
understood that the surcharged gaseous fluid after leaving the liquid and passing
into the chamber E3 above the liquid is caused to travel along a zigzag passage
in order to reach the chamber G³, and the said fluid during its travel through
the passage strikes repeatedly against the walls thereof, to cause a separation
of the moisture from the gaseous fluid, so that the latter finally reaches the
chamber G in a comparatively dry condition. As the bottom of the zigzag
passage is open, it is evident that any moisture separated from the gaseous fluid
in the said passage drops by its own gravity back into the liquid for reuse, so
that no waste whatever of the liquid takes place. This is a very important factor
in devices of this class when used on a vehicle carrying its charge of power along,
as previously mentioned.
It will further be seen that the device is very simple and durable in
construction, has no exposed parts, and occupies a very little space, so that it is
not necessary to increase the dimensions, and consequently the weight of the
reheater or carburetter on account of the application of the device to the reheater
or carburetter.
By the arrangement, described, the liquid in the shell retains the same level in the
chamber E as in the shell, as the lower end of the wall of the shell E extends
either within a short distance of the bottom of the shell, as shown in Figures
1, 2 and 3, or is provided at its lower end with openings, as shown in Figures
4 and 5, to allow a free passage of the water from the shell to the chamber, or
vice-versa.
In the drawings various forms of improvements are shown; but it is evident
from the character of my invention as above described that the forms may be
greatly varied to adapt the invention for the various intended purposes, and
hence I do not limit myself to any special construction of the device, as, for instance,
the ceiling may be extended and the walls multiplied, but with the arrangement
that there is always a long and short wall alternately, the long wall allowing
passage between it and the ceiling, and the short wall having no passage between
it and the ceiling the long wall preferably having no passage between it and the
liquid, and the short wall having free passage between it and the liquid.
I prefer to call the device an "internal separator," owing to the fact that it
is placed wholly within the vessel containing the liquid, and thereby clearly
distinguishing my invention from a separator placed outside of the liquid-
containing vessel. Such a separator would require means to convey the deposited
moisture back to the main vessel, and space would be required for two vessels
instead of one, and although it is advantageous to extract the surcharge of the
moisture it is not desirable to abstract heat, and by the, use of an external
separator, heat would be extracted from the motive agent before it reached the
motor.
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
M
11

page_text: alternately, and a ceiling constituting with the liquid a chamber for receiving
the motive agent rising out of the liquid, the baffle walls forming a zigzag
passage for the motive agent from the said chamber to the air or gas outlet or
storage chamber, substantially as shown and described.
2. An internal separator, provided with a chamber, the bottom of which is
formed by the liquid through which passes the gaseous fluid under treatment,
an outlet or storing chamber, and a zigzag pasage baving walls of different lengths
alternately, leading from one chamber to the other and located above the level of
the liquid, substantially as shown and described.
3. An internal separator, provided with a chamber, the bottom of which is
formed by the liquid through which passes the gaseous fluid under treatment,
a supply pipe for the gaseous fluid and discharging into the liquid within the
said chamber, to cause the gaseous fluid to rise through the liquid into the said
chamber, a zigzag passage leading from the said chamber directly above the
liquid and having walls of different lengths alternately, and supported from the
ceiling of the said chamber, and an outlet or storing chamber for the air or gas
and into which discharges the said passage, substantially as shown and described.
4. An internal separator contained within a shell or like vessel containing the
liquid through which passes the gaseous fluid under treatment, said separator
comprising a chamber into which extends the said liquid, a pipe discharging
the gaseous fluid into the said liquid below the said chamber, to cause the gaseous
fluid to pass through the liquid into the said chamber a zigzng passage leading
from the said chamber, having walls of different lengths alternately, and
supported from the ceiling of the said chamber and having the liquid as its
bottom, one or more of its walls extending into the liquid, and a receiving or
storing chamber into which discharges the said passage, substantially as shown
and described.
5. An internal separator provided with a chamber, arranged within the shell
of the reheater or carburetter, the said chamber having its side wall extending
down into the liquid contained in the said shell, and a zigzag passage leading
from the upper end of the said chamber, with the lower ends of the passage
open to the liquid in the shell, and having one of the walls of the passage
extending lower than the wall on each side of it, and terminating below the
ceiling of the chamber, the walls immediately on each side of it depending from
the said ceiling to terminate above the lower end of said wall, substantially us
'described.