IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING OR EXHAUSTING AËRIFORM FLUIDS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Howard Lane at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 21st April 1883.
HOWARD LANE, of Palmerston Buildings, in the City of London; Engineer,
" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING OR EXHAUSTING
AËRIFORM FLUIDS "
My invention has for its principal object the compression of large volumes of air
to a moderate degree of pressure, as for instance is effected by blowing.engines;
the apparatus employed by me being, however, simpler in design and more
economical in cost of construction and maintenance than that hitherto used for the
purpose mentioned. Nevertheless, my invention is not limited in its application
to this particular class of apparatus; but may be adapted for compressing aëriform
fluids to a higher or lower degree of pressure than is appropriate in the example
alluded to, and may also be employed for producing a partial vacuum.
In carrying out my Invention, instead of using the ordinary steam and air
cylinders pistons and other expensive parts commonly appertaining to a compressor,
blowing engine or exhauster, I employ a U-shaped vessel, which I partially fill with
liquid. The upper extremity of each limb or branch of the vessel being closed by
a cover, a chamber is formed between each such cover and the surface of the
contained liquid. Whilst air or other aëriform fluid to be compressed is confined
within one of the chambers formed in the manner described, steam is admitted to
the chamber in the opposite branch of the U-shaped vessel; and, exerting its
pressure on the surface of the liquid, causes the level thereof to fall in the one
branch and correspondingly to rise, in the other, thus compressing the air confined
in the latter. The air so compressed having been conveyed away through a
suitable delivery valve or valves and the steam having been allowed to escape, the
liquid commences to fall in the air chamber branch and to rise in the steam branch.
During the continuance of this movement, the liquid acquires a certain momentuin
which carries it beyond its original position in the U-shaped vessel; the capacity
of the steam chamber being thereby diminished, whilst that of the air chamber is
correspondingly increased. In order to assist this action, the release of the steam
from the steam chamber may be immediately followed by the application of
vacuum thereto. The liquid may thus be caused to completely occupy the stea'n
[Price 201

page_text: chamber, or nearly so, at each pulsation of the apparatus; whilst the atmosphere
or other aëriform fluid to be compressed is freely admitted to the opposite branch
of the vessel.
By a converse operation the apparatus may be adapted for performing the
functions of an exhauster.
I
In adapting the apparatus for use as a blowing engine, it is desirable the air
delivery or blast should be practically uniform in character. In such a case,
arrange several sets of apparatus of the above description to work in conjunction
with one another; the steain admission to each section being so regulated as to
ensure a regular succession of operations by the various sections or sets of apparatus
composing the system.
When water is employed as the liquid intervening between the steam and air
chambers of the U-shaped vessel, I prefer to introduce a float composed of wood or
other non-conducting material; same being interposed between the steam and the
surface of the water, and serving to modify the condensing effect of the water on
the steam, as well as the evaporating effect of the steam on the water. The water
As a further means for
may also, if preferred, be protected by a layer of oil.
providing against an undue rise of temperature in the water and consequent
heating of the air, under compression, I admit & supply of cold water to the branch
containing, or connected with, the air chamber; and, at a suitable point in the
U-shaped vessel, I withdraw a portion of the water which may have become
heated; the latter being utilised for feeding the steam generator or for some other
useful purpose.
The valves for alternately admitting and releasing the steam to and from the one
branch of the U-shaped vessel and for discharging the compressed air from and
subsequently admitting the atmosphere to the other branch may be actuated in
various ways; as for instance, by means of the float, either directly or through
contact with other bodies arranged at the lower and upper ends of its stroke
respectively; or by means of a pivotted or otherwise mounted blade, placed in the
liquid between the steam and air chambers and operated by the flow of the said
liquid in alternate directions; or by independent mechanism operated by steam or
otherwise.