IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR MOISTENING, COOLING, AND PURIFYING AIR
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Clayton Mewburn at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th April 1881. A communication
from abroad by Antoine Joseph Desmarest, Paul Cosnard, Edmond Sée, and
Paul Sée, all of Lille, France.
JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of 169, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent and Consulting Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR
MOISTENING, COOLING, AND PURIFYING AIR." [A communication from abroad
by Antoine Joseph Desmarest, Paul Cosnard, Edmond Sée, and Paul Sée, all of
Lille, France.]
The object of this Invention is to moisten, cool, and purify air by reducing to
spray or atomizing water or other liquids by means of a pressure of air, steam, or
other gas, and for this purpose capillary apparatus such as those used for atomizing
perfumes are employed.
In many manufactures, particularly in textile manufactures, the dryness of the
air is an objection and often an obstacle to the work. Hitherto it has been
customary to moisten the air either by steam jets or by currents of water, but
steam jets greatly heat the air, and this in summer is a serious objection, while
currents of water have not proved effectual.
Now the present Invention, consisting in atomizing water, has the advantage of
notably lowering the temperature of the air, and of being of great efficacy.
Steam or compressed air is employed as the motive agent. In the case of steam
the calorific element which it brings into the atomized liquid has the effect of
keeping almost constant the temperature of the air which is suitable in winter.
By employing compressed air the atomized liquid notably lowers the ambiant
temperature, which is of great advantage during the heat of summer, or in hot
climates.
Instead of steam or compressed air any other suitable gas or vapor may be
employed, also any other liquid than water, according to circumstances; for
example, for purifying an infected place, antiseptic or disinfecting liquids may be
atomized or reduced to spray.
For moistening the air in places where textile manufactures are carried on the
apparatus for atomizing the liquid may with advantage be constructed as follows:-
A container in the form of a horizontal pipe holds the liquid to be atomized, which

page_text: is maintained at a constant level therein by means of a float valve or other like
device. At the upper part the pipe has a number of outlets fitted with atomizing
cocks. The compressed air or steam enters the pipe by an inlet provided for the
purpose, and forces out the water in the atomized state, or as spray through the
cocks. The pipe or container can be placed on supports or be suspended, and can
be made to direct the spray in any direction. In order to maintain a constant
level in the pipe or container it is put in communication with a closed tank or
vessel, which supports the same pressure as the pipe or container, and the level is
regulated by a float valve or otherwise, as already mentioned. A force pump
supplies the tank in a continuous manner, and a valve loaded to a greater pressure
than that in the pipe or container is arranged so that when the float prevents the
flow of the liquid the liquid passes through the loaded valve in another direction;
or any other suitable arrangement for maintaining a constant level in the pipe or
container may be employed.
In another form of apparatus for atomizing the liquid, the liquid is contained in
an open trough, and the steam or compressed air is forced through a pipe which
does not contain any liquid, but is formed with capillary nozzles through which
the steam or compressed air issues. Capillary tubes in the trough terminate at top
in capillary nozzles adjoining the steam or compressed air nozzles, so that the jets
of steam or air issuing from these nozzles suck up and atomize the liquid in the
trough. The liquid level in the trough is maintained by any suitable arrangement,
and below the nozzles a cup or gutter may be fitted to catch any liquid not
sufficiently atomized, and this liquid may be returned to the trough by a pipe. ·