AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING VAPOURS FROM LIQUIDS
Year: 1885

page_text: JAMES MURRIE, 206 Gallowgate Street Glasgow, Lanarkshire, North Britain
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING VAPOURS FROM LIQUIDS to be as follows:-
My said Invention has for its object the construction of apparatus for separating
vapours from liquids, but more particularly for separating water or air from steam.
The principles embodied in the apparatus being the same or resembling the new
Thermometer patented by me Nos 15,947 of 1884 and 303 of 1885.
In apparatus of the kind referred to water or other liquid is confined in a vessel
or chamber which chamber has leading from its base or near its base, an open tube
containing a liquid or liquids: the end of the tube opposite to the aforesaid
chamber has fitted at its extremity any known form of diaphragm, spring, piston
or other contrivance which yields or changes its position on the confined liquid
being subjected to pressure.
The aforesaid chamber is placed in a receptacle or trap which has one part
open to the steam air or condensed water and another part open to the atmosphere
or receiver, but having betwixt the receptacle and the receiver a valve piston cock
or other known mechanical contrivance for regulating the flow of the fluids therein.
The valve cock or contrivance being actuated by the piston or diaphragm on the
extremity of the tube which forms part of the inside chamber. The connecting
tube may or may not be placed inside the receptacle or trap which is open to the
steam, and the aforesaid tube may consist of a straight, bent or twisted tube and
may be of indefinite length. The passage betwixt the receptacle or trap referred to
and the mechanism for regulating the escape of the respective fluids may or may
not consist of a tube of any desired diameter and may be of indefinite length, and
made straight or curved as may be found advantageous. The tube for conveying
the air or condensed vapour to the receiver from the regulating valve may also be
made in any desired form. When it is preferred to dispense with a piston valve or
diaphragm on the regulating tube, the extremity of the tube may be enlarged and
have a vessel suspended inside which vessel is wholly or partially filled with an
elastic fluid, the elastic fluid on being subjected to pressure is partially displaced
by a more dense fluid and in consequence the vessel has a tendency to ascend or
ID 1

page_text: descend, which action or movement is made to open or close the discharge or outlet
valve on the outlet tube.
The apparatus is arranged so that on steam finding its way into the receptacle or
trap a pressure is generated in the inner chamber, which pressure is transmitted to
the aforesaid mechanism for regulating the escape of water and air, in this case
steam being in the trap, the outlet is closed, and on water displacing the steam in
the trap, the exhaust or outlet passage is clear to admit of the air or water
escaping. The receptacle or trap may or may not be fitted with gauge cocks, with
or without water glasses to shew the working of the apparatus and the chamber
containing the elastic fluid may or may not be graduated to shew the pressure
and temperature of the steam or water in the trap.

page_text: Improved Apparatus for Separating Vapours from Liquids.
JAMES MURRIE, 9 Shuttle Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, North Britain, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
SEPARATING VAPOURS FROM LIQUIDS, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My said invention has for its object the construction of apparatus for separating
vapours from liquids, but more particularly for separating water or air from steam.
The principles embodied in the apparatus being the same or resembling the new
thermometers patented by me N° 15947 and 30385.
'
In apparatus of the kind referred to water or other liquid is confined in a vessel
or chamber which chamber has leading from its base or near its base an open tube
containing a liquid or liquids: the end of the tube opposite to the aforesaid
chamber has fitted at its extremity any known form of diaphragm, spring, piston,
or other contrivance which yields or changes its position on the confined liquid
being subjected to pressure..
The aforesaid chamber is placed in a receptacle or trap which has one part open
to the steam, air or condensed water and another part open to the atmosphere or
receiver, but having betwixt the receptacle and the receiver a valve piston cock or
other known mechanical contrivance for regulating the flow of the fluids therein.
The valve cock or contrivance being actuated by the piston or diaphragm on the
extremity of the tube which forms part of the inside chamber. The connecting
tube may or may not be placed inside the receptacle or trap which is open to the
steam, and the aforesaid tube may consist of a straight bent or twisted tube, and
may be of indefinite length. The passage betwixt the receptacle or trap referred
to and the mechanism for regulating the escape of the respective fluids may consist
of a tube of. any desired diameter and may be of indefinite length, and made
straight or curved as may be found advantageous. The tube for conveying the
air or condensed vapour to the receiver from the regulating valve may also be made
in any desired form.
When it is preferred to dispense with a piston valve or diaphragm on the
regulating tube, the extremity of the tube may be enlarged and have a vessel
suspended inside, which vessel is wholly or partially filled with an elastic fluid;
the elastic fluid on being subjected to pressure is partially displaced by a more
dense fluid and in consequence the vessel has a tendency to ascend or descend,
which action or movement is made to open or close the discharge or outlet valve on
the outlet pipe..
The apparatus is arranged so that on steam finding its way into the receptacle or
trap, a pressure is generated in the inner chamber, which pressure is transmitted to

page_text: the aforesaid mechanism for regulating the escape of water & air, in this case steam
being in the trap, the outlet closed, and on water displacing the steam in the
trap, the exhaust or outlet passage is clear to admit of the air or water escaping.
The receptacle or trap may or may not be fitted with gauge cocks with or without
water glasses to shew the working of the apparatus, and the chamber containing
the elastic fluid may or may not be graduated to shew the pressure and
temperature of the steam or water in the trap.
In order that the aforesaid apparatus may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect I will describe in detail the accompanying sketches.
Fig. 1. Illustrates the pressure or temperature indicating apparatus more par-
ticularly described in the aforesaid complete specifications; No 30385 and 1080585
in particular.
A, represents the expansion chamber in which mercury, water, ether, ammonia
or other liquid is placed. B, the hollow connecting tube, common to the
generator "A" and the indicator "C" "C," the indicator which shews the
pressure and temperature of the confined fluid or fluids in chamber "A." The
action essentially consists in the fluid or fluids in the expansion chamber on
being subjected to the action of the heat, expanding, and in consequence creating
a pressure in the expansion chamber, which pressure is transmitted to the
indicator "C," by means of the liquid confined in the connecting tube.
Fig. 2. Illustrates the aforesaid temperature or pressure indicating apparatus in
combination with a diaphragm, piston, plunger or other mechanical contrivance,
which changes, or has a tendency to change its position on being subjected to pressure
and which in doing so, gives motion to mechanism, for instance an alarm or audible
indicator, such as a steam whistle, substantially as described in my complete
specification N° 10805. The letters given to represent the different parts of
the apparatus, correspond in each subsequent illustration. "D" represents the
diaphragm or mechanical contrivance referred to. "E," the cap, plug, or valve, for
exhausting or charging the apparatus with a fluid or fluids, so that in the event of
the confined fluids escaping, said apparatus can be readily recharged with a fluid
or fluids.
Fig. 3. Illustrates the aforesaid apparatus in combination with a diaphragm, or
other mechanical device, applied to separating a vapour from a liquid, which is
confined in a chamber or chambers. F, represents the tube for conveying the
vapour to a chamber or vessel, in which the expansion chamber A, of the apparatus
described in Figs. 1 and 2 is placed. G" represents said chamber. H," represents
the tube for conveying the water to the chamber G, or to a receiver or vessel.
I, represents a valve, cock, or other contrivance for regulating the flow of a fluid in
the hollow tube to which it is attached.
"
The arrangement shewn in this fig.-is mainly intended to maintain the level of
the liquid at a fixed point, that is to maintain a neutral zone between the two
liquids, which zone passes thro' the centre or near the centre of the expansion
chamber A. If the liquid rises above this centre or division line, evaporation of
heat, rapidly ensues, the temperature of the liquid being lowered and in consequence
the pressure being lowered in proportion in the expansion chamber A: the result
being that the diaphragm plate, or piston, changes its relative position, and in
doing so, actuates mechanism, which is adjusted to open or close the valve I. which
valve regulates the flow of the liquid from the chamber G. If the liquid fall below
the expansion chamber A. the reverse action takes place, the fluid in the expansion
chamber, thro' being raised to the temperature of the surrounding vapour, expands,
and by the aforesaid mode and apparatus either closes the valve, or permits a
liquid to enter to maintain the level in the manner hereinafter described. The
indicator "C" may in addition to shewing the pressure and temperature in the
chamber "G" be graduated to shew the line of demarcation between the two
fluids, and also to shew approximately the depth of water in which the expansion

page_text: chamber "A," is enveloped. The apparatus may also, if an object, be provided
with any known form of alarm apparatus, preferably of the kind described in the
aforesaid complete specification 108058. The object being to give an audible
indication on the liquid rising or falling beyond the neutral zone hereinbefore
referred to.
Fig. 4. Illustrates a mode of dispensing with the diaphragm or piston referred
to. K, represents a lever having a hollow chamber "L," at its extremity, the
lower end of which dips into a more dense fluid, the chamber L, being partially or
wholly filled with an elastic fluid, which on being subjected to pressure is partially
displaced with the more dense liquid, with the result that the hollow chamber L,
has a greater or less tendency to descend, and in doing so, actuates mechanism for
regulating the flow of the fluid in the hollow tube H.
Fig. 5. Illustrates a modification of the apparatus wherein any loss of the liquid
in the chamber is compensated for by fresh liquid being permitted to flow inwards
to maintain the level of the liquid in chamber G. The action being precisely the
same as already described with this difference that the liquid instead of leaving
the hollow tube H, is made to pass upwards, as shewn by the arrows.
The aforesaid apparatus may or may not be provided with water gauge glasses
to shew the level of the liquid in chamber G, as shewn in Fig. 6, or pet cocks may
be placed at any desired point to test the working of the apparatus.
The aforesaid apparatus may also be applied to separate cold water from hot
water, in which case, ether or other volatile liquid is employed in the expansion
chamber A. the motions or action of the apparatus being exactly the same as in
separating water from steam.
The main advantage in working with the aforesaid apparatus consists in the
rapidity with which the mechanism is set in motion, and the comparatively small
divergence of the fluids from the neutral zone, due to the expansion chamber
being placed on the horizontal, and the small sectional area of said chamber. A
very small rise or fall of the liquid having the effect of heating or cooling the
expansion chamber nearly instantaneously. The ease with which the actuating
apparatus can be recharged with fresh liquid or liquids to compensate for loss or
leakage. The diaphragm or piston being entirely isolated from the fluids which
have passage to and from the external chamber it is impossible that it can become
heated or charged with grit. The connecting tubes can be led in any desired
direction and to any desired point, and can be constructed in any desired manner,
without affecting the working of the apparatus in the least degree.
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. The application of the apparatus for indicating temperature or pressure
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Fig. 1. with or without the alarm
apparatus as shewn in Fig. 2 to shew the temperature or pressure existing at a
fixed point, where a vapour and a liquid meet, or have passage in an enclosed
chamber or chambers, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The application of the aforesaid apparatus for indicating temperature or
pressure, combined with a diaphragm or other corresponding contrivance, with or
without the alarm apparatus to separate vapours from liquids in a confined space,
or to maintain a neutral zone between a vapour and a liquid substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5.
3. The mode of obtaining a mechanical motion by the employment of a chamber
charged with an elastic fluid, substantially as shewn in Fig. 4, and as herein before
described.
4. In the apparatus herein before described for separating vapours from liquids,
the application of water gauge glasses to shew the level of the liquid in the
separating chamber G,

page_text: 5. The modified arrangement of the apparatus, wherein a liquid is permitted to
flow inwards to maintain the level in the chamber G, substantially as shewn in
Fig. 5 and herein before described.
'
6. The application of the aforesaid apparatus for separating vapours from liquids
to separate cold from heated water, by employing a more volatile liquid than
water in the expansion chamber A.
7. The application of pet cocks or valves to the aforesaid apparatus for
separating vapours from liquids as a means of testing the working of the apparatus.
Dated this 14th day of June 1886