Process and Apparatus for Drawing Off Liquids, Gases, or Vapours, and for Measuring the Volume of Liquids Drawn Off.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 4th July, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process and Apparatus for Drawing Off Liquids, Gases, or Vapours,
and for Measuring the Volume of Liquids Drawn Off.
I, AUGUST HORTMANN, Manufacturer, of Wesel on the Rhine, Germany, 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:-
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate various forms of apparatus
embodying my invention,
Fig. 1 is an elevation of an apparatus mounted on wheels.
Figs. 2 and 3 are elevations of fixed apparatus, without the special appliances for
generating gas.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section and
Fig. 5 a plan of a measuring cock which may be employed under certain
conditions.
1. Portable apparatus (Fig. 1).
By heating the coke-furnace B, gas is generated in the retort A, whence it
passes into an extensible receiver D through a tube C. A tube E serves to
carry off the condensed liquid and dips into a water receptacle or cup, as shown.
An india-rubber tube F conducts the gas into the portable receiver G, which has
a lid or cover H provided with a hinge J. When the cock K is opened, gas
passes from the receiver D through a perforated tube L into the main vessel or
receiver G and forms with the air, which it originally contains, an explosive
mixture of gases. By touching the knob of an electric exploder which is screwed
in at M, this gaseous mixture is ignited; it may, however, be ignited by any other
suitable incans.
In consequence of the explosion, the lid H flies up, permitting
the escape of the exploded gases. The pressure of the external atmosphere shuts
the lid I down, and by means of the india-rubber packing ring causes it to close
hermetically. A vacuum is therefore formed inside the vessel G. Immediately
after the explosion, the fluid which is to be drawn off enters the empty vessel G
through the pipe P and continues to flow into it, so long as there remains a
sufficient vacuum; the remaining vacuum is still sufficient to permit the entry into
the vessel G of gas on turning the cock K, and of air on turning the cock Q, after
After
which, on permitting a spark to pass at M, another explosion takes place.
three or four such explosions, the main vessel G is filled up to the cock R. If
the flexible tube P, and the cock R are sufficiently large, no stoppage takes place,
as there are no valves. The amount sucked in through K and Q may be observed
by means of the vacuum gauge S. When the vessel G has been filled, the flexible
tube P is unscrewed, the igniting orifice M closed by a screw, and the cover H
fastened down by the hoop T. A calibrated chain is attached to the vessel G
at U and V and actuated by the crank W, by which means the vessel G is made to
turn on the axle X which passes through it. In this way, the liquid contained in
the vessel G can be emptied through the cock R, as desired. A spray-producer
or irrigating apparatus may be screwed to the cock R, during the employment of
which the air cock Q is used. If it be necessary to empty the vessel G quickly,
the hoop T is removed, and the vessel turned right over by means of the crank W.
II. Fixed apparatus.
Figs. 2 and 3 show the fixed apparatus in two modifications, which, however,
embody the same principle.
The apparatus Fig. 2 is connected with the gas pipe, in localities, where a gas

page_text: supply is available, otherwise the necessary gas must be generated independently in
the manner described above, or by any other suitable means. The india-rubber
bag D is filled from the gas tube with as much gas as suffices for an explosion. The
gas is admitted into the vessel (from this bag and exploded by the igniter. The
vacuum then formed, draws the liquids from the space to be exhausted, for instance,
from a cask in the cellar, after which it may be poured out or measured off by
means of a cock specially constructed for the purpose, (see Figs. 4 and 5). This
cock consists as usual of case and plug. The case 6, which is connected with P by
means of the tube, and with the cask by the connecting piece y', has an annular
projection c, which is provided with a screw thread for screwing on a ring, which
serves to hold the dished dise on which is plneed a caoutchour pad. A tubular
opening is also arranged in the cock case, as shown. The plug a which is furnished
with a handle 2, hins an axial opening a running upwards and terminating at the
side, as shown, where it communicates with the connecting tube g', while the ring-
shaped groove a' serves to establish a connection between the tube and the
aperture. The glass or other vessel to be filled is pressed against the caoutchouc
pad mentioned above.
If now the glass to be filled is brought into communication with P by means
of the aperture and the groove a', on turning the plug a, the air contained in the
glass is sucked out by the receiver in (. If the plug be turned so far, that the
connection between the glass and the vessel († is interrupted and connection between
the glass and the cask established, the liquid will flow from the cask into the glass
and fill it, and so a definite quantity of the liquid will be drawn off.
To permit of the removal of the glass, the plug is turned still further to the left,
so as to bring an opening leading to the external nir into communication with the
groove a', which communicates with the glass through the perforation 6. Con-
sequently, air is admitted and the removal of the bottle rendered possible. The
plug is prevented from turning beyond a certain point, by means of a pin and nick
in the case. The apparatus for removing water or gases from cellars, shown by
Fig. 3 is based upon the same principle." It, too. must be connected with a gas
supply pipe, unless gas be produced specially for the purpose. After the explosion
has taken place, the cellar water passes through the suction tube into the receiver
and can be let off below. In the case of offensive smelling vapours, they may be
admitted simultaneously with the gas contained in the bag, and burnt in the
receiver at the next explosion.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same may be performed declare what I
claim is :-
1. The method of exhausting spaces or drawing off fluids, which consists in
admitting combustible gas and air to a vessel or receiver in proportions to form a
suitable explosive mixture, then igniting the said mixture, allowing a portion of the
hot gaseous products of combustion to escape, subsequently closing the said vessel
and utilising the vacuum thus produced for drawing fiquid gas or vapour from the
space or vessel to be exhausted, substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for drawing off liquids, gases or vapours, comprising a portable or
stationary main vessel or receiver (i, provided with an automatically closing
cover H, a flexible intermediate receptacle D, connecting pipes and valves, with or
without a special gas generator, the whole being constructed and adapted to operate
substantially as described and illustrated.
3. The method of removing noxious gases from closed spaces and of destroying
the same, which consists in admitting them to the main vessel or receiver described
above simultaneously with the combustible gas from the Hexible intermediate
receptacle, and then igniting the mixture, substantially as described.
4. The employment, in connection with the method or apparatus described above,
of a cock consisting of a body or casing ↳ provided with a dished disc d, longitudinal

page_text: bore b¹, connecting tube g³, and pipe e, and a plug a provided with aperture a³ and
ring shaped groove a', substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 30th day of August 1890.
AUGUST HORTMANN.
By Fairfax & Wetter,
433, Strand, London, Agents.