Improvements in Apparatus for Humidifying, Cooling, and Disinfecting Air, and for Ventilating.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1896-Accepted, 23rd May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Humidifying, Cooling, and
Disinfecting Air, and for Ventilating.
I, HERMANN BIEDERMANN, of 6, Tabor, Vienna, Austria, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for humidifying, cooling,
and disinfecting air and for ventilating, wherein liquid is diffused, i.e. a suction of
air created and particularly to an improved construction of water nozzle which
creates the suction and to an improved construction of sprayer.
The liquid conveyed under pressure to the said sprayer issues from the same in
the form of a hollow coned jet and drawing down with it a column of air existing
above a jacket employed around the sprayer. If the apparatus is intended for
ventilating purposes only no special diffusion device will be employed and only
provisions made for the exit of the water. Apparatus which are adapted to
humidify, cool or disinfect by intimately mixing the air particles with the liquid
issuing from the sprayer and also to propel the air have below the sprayer a body
or surface arranged parallel thereto against which the liquid is projected and which
through repeated reflections causes the spray to be diffused.
The improvements made in the said sprayer and parallel body or surface form
the essence of my invention which hereinafter will be referred to in the order
above mentioned.
The improvements relating to the said sprayer have for their object to effect an
automatic closing of the same when at rest as well as at the beginning when starting
the apparatus until the moment the liquid has reached the pressure which is
required to create an active injector action whereby loss of pressure and liquid is
obvinted.
To this end when the sprayer is at rest the nozzle orifice is closed by a coned
spindle, owing to its upper end being connected to a diaphragm secured between
the casing and cover of the sprayer, which diaphragm has the tendency of forcing
the said coned spindle downwards so that the water under low pressure forced
into the sprayer enters an annular space around the said nozzle and then passes
through channels formed tangentially in the nozzle into a space formed therein
whilst the said coned spindle remains clear of the nozzle orifice until the pressure
exerted upon the diaphragm by the pressure of liquid acting in an upwards
direction, overcomes the pressure of the diaphragin and lifts the said coned spindle-
out of the said nozzle orifice and frees the same the movement of the spindle being
controlled by the set screw. The pressure of liquid at which the sprayer has to
operate can thus be determined by the kind of diaphragm used, so that the same
will be equal to any minimum pressure whereby an active injector action is attained
and not the slightest quantity of liquid can leave the sprayer without having created
a suction.
When stopping the sprayer dirt which may accumulate around the said nozzle
orifice will be removed by the coned spindle entering the said nozzle.
The capacity of the space in the sprayer above the diaphragm being reduced
when the diaphragm bulges out, by means of a small hole it is made to communicate
with the atmosphere in order to prevent back pressure of air.
In some cases a spiral spring is employed in lieu of the flexible diaphragm which

page_text: forces the said coned spindle into the said nozzle orifice and which when starting
the sprayer is compressed by the pressure of liquid acting upon the underside of
and raising the said coned spindle which is ground into the said nozzle. In this
case the said spiral spring in cross section corresponds with the cross section of the
said coned spindle exposed to the pressure of liquid, in order to obtain the analogous
effect explained in respect of the diaphragm.
The capacity of the space above the said coned spindle which when the nozzle
orifice is opened, ie, when the coned spindle recedes, is reduced, also communicates
with the atmosphere, by means of a channel in order to obviate the back pressure
of the liquid which might accumulate above the said coned spindle as well as that
of the air.
A modification of my invention consists in forming the nozzle spinile in two
parte, riz. of a movable outer part which has the functions of the spindle herein-
before described and of an inner part fixed and employed concentrically in a hole
formed in the outer part, the conical point of which indicates the working position
of the spindle.
The said outer spindle part, the lower end of which is shaped to form the
continuation of the conical point of the inner part, may be employed in the same
manner as in the previous described construction wherein it is forced down by
means of the said spring, or a diaphragm may be employed to obtain a downward
pressure.
In some cases both diaphragmn and spring may be used to attain the effect
herein before referred to, the outer spindle part being suitably connected with the
diaphragm secured between the casing and cover of the sprayer and a spiral spring
employed between the diaphragm and the cover.
In this case the pressure acting upon the diaphragin and the cross section of the
spindle exposed to the liquid pressure must overcome that of the said diaphragm
and the spring before the nozzle orifice is opened.
When the sprayer is at rest the fixed spindle part remains as it is set from the
beginning, whilst the outer part influenced by the pressure of the spring, ie. the
diaphragm or spring and diaphragm places itself against the nozzle orifice and
closes it.
When starting the type of sprayers just described the water under pressure
enters first the outer annular nozzle space from which it passes through the
channels formed tangentially in the nozzle into the space inside thereof in which
spaces it is retained until the pressure exerted upon the outer spindle or upon the
diaphragm overcomes that of the said spiral spring or that of both the spring and
the diaphragm after which the outer spindle part is forced upwards and the nozzle
orifice opened, in which position as previously described the outer movable spindle
part forms the continuation of the fixed spindle part.
As previously described, the part of the casing, the capacity of which is reduced
when the spindle outer part ascends, is also in this case formed with a hole
communicating with the atmosphere.
It may be remarked that in some cases the water under pressure enters the
sprayer at the side and in others at the top.
Besides effecting the cleansing of the nozzle orifice as described when stopping
the sprayer the descent of the outer spindle part also strips any dirt which may
have accumulated off the inner part.
My improved parallel bodies or surfaces herein before referred to are composed
of elastic cones rendered relatively movable or stationary and formed of suitable
rings, spiral coils, elastic ring surfaces or plain rings or rings having bulges.
According to one form, the said parallel body or surface may consist of round
sectioned rings superposed and connected to three or more bands fixed to a dish
suspended from the aforesaid jacket.
In lieu of using rings round in section they inay be of any other section suitable
for the production of a spray.
According to a modification the said parallel body or surface anay consist of a

page_text: spiral coil the lower end of which is fixed to the said dish and the upper end to a
support on the sprayer jacket.
By adjusting the said dish which is guided in the lower part of the sprayer
jacket by the three rods, the distance between the dish and the lower edge of the
sprayer jacket may be varied, whereby the sail spiral coil is expanded more or less
and thus the distance of the coils varied.
According to another modification the said rings may be rendered adjustable hy
mounting the same upou elastic or corrugated bauds the lower ends of which are
fixed to the said dish and the upper ends to a collar fixed to the upper end of a
spindle.
This spindle is mounted in a boss formed with a screw thread internally and
attached to the said dish and carries at its lower end a hand wheel by means of
which the said ring can be lifted and lowered which varies the heights of the
whole system of rings, i.e. enlarges the space between the separate rings so that by
suitably turning the said hand wheel the position which will produce the best spray
can be easily ascertained.
According to another modification the adjustment of the rings may be attained
by keying upon the said spindle short bushes formed externally with a different
pitched screw threads, the pitch increasing from the bottom to the top.
Each of the said bushes receives the boss of a ring formed internally with a
corresponding thread, which ring is prevented from turning by guide rods held at
both ends and passing through corresponding holes in.the ring arms.
Thus if the said spindle which is mounted in the said dish and in a support fixed
to the sprayer jacket and the said bushes are turned by means of the said hand
wheel, the whole system of rings with the exception of the lowest one which rests
upon a plain part of the said spindle, are raised, the third ring rising double the
distance of the second, the fourth three times and the fifth four times the distance
of the second ring, so that the distances between all the rings remain equal.
According to another modification the said rings may be mounted upon an
annular elastic disc the outer periphery of which is fixed to the said dish or to the
sprayer jacket and the inner periphery to a ring formed with army, carried by the
aforesaid adjustable spindle so that when raising the said ad ring the inner
periphery of the said disc is lifted out of the plain of er periphery and the
rings assume the form of a cone.
Another modification of the parallel surface consists in employing an
elastic annular disc the edges (".t. may be fixed to the said dish or to the
sprayer jacket, whilst its middle rests upon a head carried by the said adjustable
spindle so that when turning the latter the said middle is forced out of the plain of
the dise and formed into a cone of variable height.
The said discs may either be plain or corrugated, rings being employed inside
the cone to support the same.
Dated this 29th day of February 1896.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Humidifying, Cooling, and
Disinfecting Air, and for Ventilating.
I, HERMANN BIEDERMANN, of 6, Tabor, Vienna, Austria, Manufacturer, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for humidifying, cooling and

page_text: disinfecting air and for ventilating wherein liquid is diffused, .. a Betion of air
created and particularly to an improved construction of water nozzle which creates
the suction and to an improved construction of sprayer.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understool I have caused to
be appended hereunto three sheets of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures.
'
Fig. 1, Sheet I, shows the general arrangement of an apparatus for ventilating
without diffusing device consisting of a nozzle and suction pipe.
Figs. 2 & 2 show a nozzle with single spindle open and closed respectively.
Fig. 3 a plan in section through line of Fig. 2.
Figs. 4 & a modification of the nozzle with single spindle shown open and
closed respectively.
Fig. 5 & 5 and 6 & 6 show respectively two modifications of the nozzle with
double spindle open and closed.
Fig. 7 & 8, Sheet II, show my improved apparatus complete with nozzle and
novel diffusing device.
Figs. 9 & 10 are modifications of the diffusing device.
Figs. 11 & 12 show each three modifications of the various diffusing devices.
Fig. 13, Sheet III, shows a further modification in the fixing of diffusion rings.
Figs. 14, 15 & 16 show diffusion bodies having either rings or bulges or being
plain and elastic.
In the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 7 & 8, the liquid conveyed under pressure to
the sprayer A issues from the same in the form of a hollow coned jet, drawing
down with it in the direction of the arrow 1, the column of air existing above the
jacket V employed around the sprayer. If the apparatus is intended for ventilating
purposes only, it will take in general the form shown in Fig. 1, no special diffusion
device being necessary and only provisions made for the exit of the water.
Apparatus which are adapted to humidify, cool or disinfect by intimately mixing
the air particles with the liquid issuing from the sprayer and also to propel the air,
have below the sprayer A, see Figs. 7 & 8, a body or surface C, arranged parallel
thereto against which the liquid is projected and which through repeated reflections
causes the spray to be diffused.
The improvements made in the sprayer A and parallel body or surface C form
the essence of my invention which hereinafter will be referred to in the order above
mentioned.
The improvements relating to the sprayer A have for their object to effect an
automatic cleansing and an automatic closing of the same when at rest as well as at
the beginning when starting the apparatus until the moment the liquid has reached
the pressure which is required to create an active injector action whereby loss of
pressure and liquid is obviated.
To this end as will be seen from Fig. 2, the nozzle orifice d is closed by a coned
spindle, when the sprayer is at rest, owing to its upper end being connected to a
diaphragm se nred between the casing D and cover D' of the sprayer, which
diaphragm has the tendency of forcing the coned spindle downwards so that the
water under low pressure forced through the pipe a into the sprayer enters the
auuular space T around the upper part of the nozzle and then passes through
chaunels formed therein tangentially into its interior whilst the coned spindle
remains clear of the nozzle orificed until the pressure exerted upon the diaphragm m
by the pressure of liquid acting in an upwards direction, overcomes the pressure of
the diaphragm m, lifts the coned spindle fout of the said nozzle oriliced into
position shown in Fig. 24, and frees the same, the movement of the spindle being
controlled by the set screw m. The pressure of liquid at which the sprayer has to
operate can thus be determined by the kind of diaphragm used, so that the same
will be equal to any minimum pressure, whereby an active injector action is attained
and not the slightest quantity of liquid can leave the sprayer without having created
a suction.
The dirt which may accumulate around the nozzle orifice d during the working

page_text: of the sprayer is removed by the coned spindle fentering the nozzle when stopping
the sprayer.
The capacity of the space R above the diaphragm m being reduced when the
diaphragm bulges out, by means of a small hole it is made to communicate with
the atmosphere in order to prevent back pressure of air.
T
In the modification shown in Figs. 4 & 4 a spiral spring n is employed in lieu
of a flexible diaphragm, which forces the coned spindle f into the said nozzle
orifice d and which when starting the sprayer, is compressed by the pressure of
liquid acting upon the underside of and raising the coned spindle which is ground
into the upper part D' of the nozzle. In this case the spiral spring n in cross
section corresponds with the cross section of the coned spindle/exposed to the
pressure of liquid, in order to obtain the analogous effect explained in respect of
the diaphragm m.
The capacity of the space R above the coned spindle f, which when the nozzle
orificed is opened, i.e. when the coned spindle recedes, is reduced, also communicates
with the atmosphere, by means of a channel r in order to obviate the back pressure
of the liquid which might accumulate above the coned spindle as well as that
of the air.
A modification of my invention, see Figs. 5 & 5 and 6 & 64, consists in forming
the nozzle spindle in two parts, viz. of a movable outer part f' which has the
functions of the spindle herein before described and of an inner part fixed and
employed concentrically in a hole formed in the outer part, the conical point of
which indicates the working position of the spindle.
The outer spindle part, the lower end of which is shaped to form the
continuation of the conical point of the inner part, may be employed in the same
manner as in the construction previously described and shown in Fig. 4, viz. as
shown in Fig. 6 wherein it is forced down by means of the spring n or a diaphragm in
may be employed to obtain a downward pressure as in the construction shown
in Fig. 2.
In some cases both diaphragm m and spring a may be used to obtain the effect
hereinbefore referred to, as shown in Fig. 5 the outer spindle part being
suitably connected with the diaphragm m secured between the casing D and cover DI
of the sprayer and a spiral spring a employed between the diaphragm m and the
cover Di
In this ense the pressure acting upon the diaphragm m and the cross section of
the spindle exposed to the liquid pressure must overcome that of the diaphragm m
and the spring n before the nozzle orifice d is opened.
When the sprayer is at rest, see Figs. 5 & 6, the fixed spindle part remains as
it is set from the beginning, whilst the outer part f', influenced by the pressure of
the spring, i.e. the diaphragm m or spring n and diaphragm m, places itself
against the nozzle orifice d and closes it.
When starting the type of sprayer shown in Figs. 5 & 6, the water under
pressure enters first the outer annular nozzle space T from which it passes through
the channels formed tangentially in the nozzle into the space t inside thereof in
which space it is retained until the pressure exerted upon the outer spindle, Fig. 6,
or upon the diaphragm m, Fig. 5, overcomes that of the spiral spring n, Fig. 5, or
that of both spring n and the diaphragm in, Fig. 5, after which the outer spindle
part is forced upwards and the nozzle orifice d opened, in which position, see
Figs. 5 & 64, as previously described the outer movable spindle part forms the
continuation of the fixed spindle part
As previously described, the part R of the casing, the capacity of which is
reduced when the outer spindle part ascends, is also in this case formed with a
hole communicating with the atmosphere.
It may be remarked that in the apparatus shown in Figs. 2 & 5 the water
5 under pressure enters the sprayer at the side and in that shown in Figs. 4 & 6 at
the top.
Besides effecting the cleansing of the nozzle orifice as described in reference to

page_text: Figs. 2 & 4 when stopping the sprayer the two part spindle has for its advantage
that the descent of the outer spindle part also strips any dirt which may have
accumulated off the inner part.
My improved parallel bodies or surfaces hereinbefore referred to are composed
of elastic cones rendered relatively movable or stationary and formed of suitable
rings, spiral coils, elastic ring surfaces or plain rings or rings having bulges.
The application of rings or spiral coils of suitable section relatively fixed or
movable are shown in Figs. 7-14, whilst Figs. 14-16 show the manner of applying
elastic ring surfaces.
Figs. 7 & 8 show the whole of the diffusion apparatus inclusive sprayer A,
jacket V, dish W and parallel surfaces C complete, whilst the other figures slow
only details of modifications of the parallel surfaces or bodies forming a part of this
invention.
Fig. 7 shows the said parallel body or surface consisting of round sectioned
rings superposed and connected to three or more bands & fixed to a dish W
suspended from the jacket V.
In lieu of using rings & round in section they may be of any other section
suitable for the production of a spray as shown in Fig. 12 in three modifications.
In the modification shown in Fig. 8 the parallel body or surface C consists of a
spiral coil the lower end of which is fixed to the dish W and the upper end to a
support on the sprayer jacket V.
By adjusting the dish W which is guided in the lower part of the sprayer
jacket by the three rods ir, ir, ir, the distance between the dish W and the lower
edge of the sprayer jacket V may be varied, whereby the spiral coil his expanded
more or less and thus the distance of the coils varied.
According to another modification, see Figs. 9 & 13, the rings & shaped as shown
in Fig. 12, may be rendered adjustable by mounting the same upon elastic bands or
coils, see respectively Figs. 9 & 13, the lower ends of which are fixed to the
dish W and the upper ends to a collar P fixed to the upper end of a spindle.
The spindle is mounted in a boss P formed with a screw thread internally and
attached to the dish W and carries at its lower end a hand wheel by means of which
the collar can be lifted and lowered which varies the heights of the whole system
of rings k, ie. enlarges the space between the separate rings & so that by suitably
turning the hand wheel the position which will produce the best spray can be
easily ascertained.
In the modification shown in Fig. 10 the adjustment of the rings may be
attained by keying upon the spindle short bushes 9, 7, 7, 7, formed externally
with a different pitched screw threads the pitch increasing from the bottom to
the top.
Each of the said bushes receives the boss of a ring formed internally with a
corresponding thread, which ring is prevented from turning by guide rods g' held
at both ends and passing through corresponding holes in the ring arms.
Thus, if the spindle 1, which is mounted in the dish W and in a support fixed
to the sprayer jacket V and the said bushes are turned by means of the hand
wheel, the whole system of rings & with the exception of the lowest one which
rests upon a plain part of the spindle 1, are raised, the third ring rising double the
distance of the second, the fourth three times and the fifth four times the distance
of the second ring, so that the distances between all the rings remain equal.
In lieu of the circular section of rings q, shown in Fig. 10, rings in section us
shown in Fig. 11 may be used.
k
According to another modification, see Fig. 14, the rings & may be mounted upon
an annular elastic dise p, see dotted lines, the outer periphery of which is fixed to
the dish W or to the sprayer jacket V and the inner periphery to a ring formed
with arms, carried by the adjustable spindle 4, so that when raising the armed
ring the inner periphery of the said disc is lifted out of the plain of its outer 5
periphery and the rings assume the form of a conc, the absolute and relative
positions of the rings & being varied thereby as will be obvious.

page_text: carried
Another modification of the parallel body or surface, see Figs. 15 & 16, consists
in employing an elastic annular disc p the edges of which may be fixed to the
dish W or to the sprayer jacket V, whilst its middle rests upon a head
by the adjustable spindle I so that when turning the latter the middle is forced out
of the plain of the disc p and formed into a cone of variable height.
The discs p may either be plain, see Fig. 16, or corrugated, see Fig. 15, rings s
being employed inside the cone to support the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what!
clain, is-
1st. In apparatus for humidifying, cooling, cleaning and disinfecting air and for
ventilating, the employment of a sprayer A having a movable spindle, which,
when the apparatus is at rest, is pressed into its nozzle orificed by means of a.
diaphragm m or spring #, or both diaphragm m and spring n, whilst when starting
the apparatus, the said spindle is raised off the nozzle orifice d by the pressure of
liquid acting upon its sectional surface or upon both the diaphragm and spindle, all
substantially as set forth.
2nd. In a sprayer, as specified in the preceding claim, the employment of a two
part spindle, consisting of an axially unmovable part 2 and a tubular part
surrounding the party' mounted in the manner as specified in the preceding
claim.
3rd. In sprayers as specified in Claims 1 & 2, the arrangement of channels r
which when the spindle for the outer spindle part is lifted off the nozzle
orifice d establishes communicating between the space R the capacity of which is
then being reduced and the atmosphere, all substantially as set forth.
4th. In apparatus for humidifying, cooling cleaning and disinfecting air, a liquid
diffusing device consisting of suitably shaped relatively fixed or movable rings k or
coils h, all substantially as set forth.
5th. In apparatus as specified in Claim 4, the employment of rings kupon
corrugated metal bands or coils !', fixed partly to the dish W or jacket V and partly
to the screwed spindle which latter is mounted in the centre of the said dish, all
Bubstantially as set forth.
6th. In apparatus as specified in Claim 5, the employment of axially fixed rings k
upon a screwed spindle 1, capable of being raised varying distances from each other,
all substantially as set forth and with reference to Figs. 10 & 11.
7th. A device for diffusing liquid shown in Fig. 8, consisting of a spiral coil h
one end of which is fixed to the sprayer dish W or sprayer jacket V and the other
to a support mounted in the jacket V or to the end of a screwed spindle mounted
in the sprayer dish W, all substantially as set forth.
8th. A device for diffusing liquid, consisting of elastic discs or ring surfaces pone
of the peripheries of which is fixed and the other resting upon an adjustable
spindle so that the height of the one periphery can be varied, all substantially us
set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of Auril 1896.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.