US1098487A - Apparatus for treating liquids. - Google Patents

Description

H. L. DOHBRTY.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 15, 1910.

Patented June 2,

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COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH C0,. WASHINGTON. n. c

H. L. DOHERTY.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS. APPLICATION FILED 00T.15,1910.

1,098,481 Patented June 2, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMIIA PLARDCIIADH 4:0..WAQNIN6'MN. n. c.

H. L. DOHERTY.

APPARATUS FOKTREATING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED 001". 15, 1910.

1,098,487, Patented June 2, 1914.

Q 5 SHEET$-QHEET 3. Q Q a L M $3M hi5 affo'lmmg \ZOLUMBA PLANOGRAPH co WASHINGTON, D. C

H. L. DOHERTY.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS. APPLICATION FILED OOT.15, 1910.

Patented June 2, 1914.

5 SHEETS-$112151 4.

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APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS. APPLICATION IILED 0OT.15, 1910. 1 09 4 1 Patented June 2, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co.,v\'AsmNu'roN. n. c

HENRY It. DOI-IER'IY, OF NEW YORK, Y.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1914.

Application filed October 15, 1910. Serial No. 587,245.

To all whom it may concern:

lle it known that l, HENRY L. Deanery, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Liquids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating liquids and, in particular, to that form of such apparatus which is of the general type of that described and claimed in my Letters Patent No. 844,336, dated Feb. 19, 1907, in which the liquid to be treated is distributed in a thin film over suitable exposure surfaces and contacted with. a current of air, whereby a portion of the liquid is evaporated, the heat for the evaporation of said portion of liquid being furnished by the main body of liquid. Some oi the sensible heat of the liquid is also transferred to the air itself and to the vapor of that portion of the liquid evaporated, by conduction, and to some small extent by radiation.

The objects of the improvements on my inveiiition herein described are, among other things, the securing ot' the maximum suriiace of contact between the liquid and air in proportion to the crosssectional area of the air passages, the securing of a uniform d1stribution of the liquid over the said contact or evaporating surfaces irrespective of the volume of liquid supplied to the apparatus, the circulation of air entirely by natural draft, the securing of aunii'orrn velocity of flow of the air throughout the cross-section of the apparatus, and the providing of an apparatus of simple and lnexpenslve construction for accomplishing these ob ects.

I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, since the details of the apparatus may be varied considerably without departing from the essential. characteristics of my invention. I have, however, found the form of apparatus herein shown to give a high c'lliciency and to be at the same time, simple in construction, inexpensive as to materials, and easily regulated.

Briefly, my invention comprises a tower divided into a plurality oi cooling or evaporating and ventilating sections. The cooling or evaporating sections contain a plurality of substantially parallel exposure curtains, preferably suspended directly from the supports of the sub-canals which supply the liquid to the curtains, deflecting sheets which distribute the liquid discharged from the sub-canals substantially uniformly over the curtains; transverse distributing sluiccs of special construction, which distribute the liquid substantially uniformly to all the sub-canals, and a draft producing stack superimposed upon the cooling or evaporating sections. The ventilating sections are simply open air compartments locatcd between the Cooling or evaporating sections which permit of the free access of air, in the atmospheric condition of humidity, to all parts of the bottom of the tower. These ventilating sections avoid the necessity of drawing the air for the cooling or evaporating sections over the surface of the liquid in the catclrbasin beneath the tower,

which would cause the air to reach the cooling or evapo'ating sections in a partially saturated condition.

I prefer to make the sections of my apparatus of a certain standard size, adapting the apparatus to the capacity demanded in any case by varying the number of sections.

l have found that the following dimensions are very satisfactory from the point of view of cheapness, ease of construction and efficiency although the actual dimensions may, of course, be varied to suit local conditions of the personal preference of the designer. For the cooling sections a length of about. 38 ft. with a width of about 12 it. and a height of about it. A distance of about 17 it. between adjacent cooling sec tions will leave ample space for the ventilating sections.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred form oi my apparatus, in which like numerals designate the same parts in all figures.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan 01 same. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic section along the line A A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section along the line ll B of Fig. 1. ibig. l is a detail cross-section of one 01 the distributing sluices along the line C C of Fig. 5 and showing its relative position to the sub-canals. Fig. 5 is an elevation of part of the distributing sluice shown in Fig. t showing method of support and its relative position to the sub-canals.

6 is a side elevation of an end of a subcanal, showing an exposure curtain attached and means for supporting same. Fig. '7 is able framework.

a cross-section of a sub-canal along the line D D of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an elevation of a sub-canal spacer. Fig. 9 is an elevation of a deflecting sheet in its expanded form. Fig. 10 is a cross-section along the line F F of Fig. 9, after ribbing the deflecting sheet along the dotted lines a a. Fig. 11 is similar to Fig. 10 but shows the sheet bent to its final shape. Fig. 12 is a side view of the sub-canal spacer showing the sheet as corrugated. Fig. 13 is a detail elevation of an exposure curtain, showing method of supporting and stretching same. Fig. 14 is a cross-section of an exposure curtain along the line G G of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is an elevation of an end of a curtain spacer showing method of supporting same and showing the lower part of a curtain engaged thereto. Fig. 16 is a plan view of the end of the spacer shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a longitudinal cross-section through the center of a distributing sluice showing connection between same and one of the main supply canals. Fig. 18 is a partial top plan view of one of the main canals and a distributing sluice.

The outside structure consists of any suit- The main framework of the present apparatus consists of uprights 1, cross pieces 2 and diagonal braces 3, supported on the beams 77, which in turn rest on a foundation of concrete end walls and piers 4. The framework forming the cooling or evaporating sections is preferably sheathed inside by corrugated galvanized iron sheets 5, extending the entire height of the section on the ends but terminating several feet above the foundation on the sides so as to form an opening for the entrance of air to the inside of the cooling sections.

46 are the evaporating or cooling sections and 47 are ventilating sections.

Each evaporating or cooling section is divided into two parts, a lower, or evaporating or cooling part 45, and an upper draft producing stack part 44. At about half the height of the evaporating or cooling sections, or at about the point where the lower or evaporating or cooling part 45 ends and the upper or draft producing part 44 begins, are placed the cross stringers or beams 13, supported at the side walls of the sec tions by beams 49 between pieces 50, and in turn supporting the beam 14 and distributing sluices 12. The beam 14 supports the T-beams 20 at their middle points, by means of the U pieces 15, straps or hangers 16, angles 16' and bolts 17. The T-beams 20 are supported at their ends by their projecting parts 20 inserted in steps 51 cut in the pieces 52. Several holes, 38, are drilled at intervals in the stern of the T-beam for supporting hooks 22, which in turn support the upper stretchers 53 of the curtain 23 through holes 38. The stretchers 53 are composed of three strips of metal or wood, an inner heavy strip 54 and outer light strips 55. The upper edge of the curtain is given rigidity by being wrapped around the relatively heavy inner strip 54 and having the lighter strips 55 placed over it on either side, the whole being fastened together by rivets 53. The bottom of each curtain is fastened in a similar manner between strips 56 and 57 of stretcher 58 by bolts or rivets 53'. The extremities 56 of the heavy strips 56 project beyond the corresponding ends of the outer strips 57 and curtains 23 and enter notches 59 in the bottom of curtain spacers 60. The ends of these spacers are guided and supported between angle- irons 61 and 61 which are fastened to the horizontal beams or sills 62 of the tower by bolts 63 and 63. The angle-irons have a number of holes 64 uniformly spaced the-rein. A hole 65 is drilled at each end of the spacer 60 at such a distance from the ends of the spacers that they will register with the holes 64 in the angle-irons when the spacer is in a horizontal position. The spacer is fixed at the desired height by simply inserting pins 66 through the holes 65 in the spacer and the registering holes 64 in the angle-irons. As the curtains 23 stretch, the spacers 60 are lowered and again fixed in their new posi tion by reinserting the pins 66. By thus securely anchoring both the top and bottom extremities of the curtains 23, the flapping of the curtains due to the up-draft of air through the cooling section is reduced to a minimum.

The central passage or compartment 25 of the distributing sluice 12 is in communication with the main outside supply canals 11 and 11' through the openings 24 and 24' which are low in height but comparatively wide, as shown more clearly in Fig. 17. Short lengths of planking, 69, are fastened across the canals 11 at intervals to supply a cross bracing for the side walls 70 and 71 of the main canals and also to furnish walks for the operator. The walls 32 and 32 of the central passage 25 are arranged to converge from each end toward the middle of the distributing sluice to a degree to be eX- plained later, and best shown in diagrammatic Fig. 1. The outer walls 33 and 33 of the side passages or compartments 27 and 27, respectively, are, in the construction shown, arranged parallel to the walls 32 and 32, respectively, of the central passage 25 which constitute the inner walls of the side passages 27 and 27, respectively. These outer walls 33 and 33 are made up by fastening to the bottom 72 short lengths of planking 33 spaced apart so as to leave narrow'vertical slots 28 and 28 located vertically over the sub-canals 18 for the discharge of liquid from 27 and 27, respectively. The piece or pieces 35 extend the Locate? full length of the canals 27 and 27 and have the upper parts of the short lengths 33 fastened to them. Pieces 3'? serve as a crossbracing For the pieces 35 which connect short lengths 33". Pieces 3G in a si1nilar manner serve as cross-braces or spacers for the Walls 32 and 32 of the respective canals 25. Pieces 34L, similar to pieces 35, run the full length of the canals and act as top braces for the sectional walls 32 and 32 of canals 25.

In the walls 32 and 3a of: central passage 25 are vertical slots 6 and 23, respectively, which are of greater area than the slots 28 and 28 but fewer in nun'iber. lhe slots 26 and 26, in the construction shown, are located between each set of two of the slots 28 and 28, respectively. The liquid discharging from the central passage 25 through the slots 26 and. 26 therefore impinges on the outer walls 33 and 33 of the side passages 27 and 27, respectively, and its direction of l'lOW is consecpien'lly changed to one longitudinally of the outer passages 27 and 27. This is to prevent the velocity head oi? the liquid issuing through the slots 20 and 2-6 from a'll ecting the discharge from any one oi the slots 28 and 28',

would be the case were the slots 26 and 26' located opposite some of the slots 28 and 28, respectively.

The walls 32 and 32 of the central. passage 25 of the distributing sluice 12 are an 'anged to converge at such a rate that the cross-section oi? the compartment at each pair of slots 26 and 26 varies directly with the volume of liquid flowing by the slots. By this device the tendency oi the head oi liquid on each pair of slots to diminish progressively with each pair of slots 26 and 26 from either end toward the middle of the distributing sluices is avoided, since the cross-section oi the passage 25 has been din'iinished at each place oi discharge to correspond to the volume of water withdrawn at that place. By thus adjusting the crosssection of the compartment 25 at each pair of slots, to the volume of water that flows by that pair, the velocity of flow of the water by each pair of slots is substantially equal throughout the length of: the con'ipartment. Since the actual pressure head on the slots varies with the velocity of flow of the liquid by the slots, by keeping the velocity of flow oi? the liquid by each pair of slots 26 and 26 uniform, unihirinity is secured in the pressure head producing discharge throughout the length of the distributing sluices, irrespective of the height of the liqui d in the sluices. The outer passages or compartments 27 and 2?, being oi. uniform crosssection and receiving equal volumes oi? the liquid at short and equal intervals throughout their lengths, will have uniform depths of liquid throughout, and therefore discharge equal volumes of liquid from each of the slots 28 and 28, respectively.

As before stated, the slots 28 and Er are located immediately above the sub-canals 18. As there are two distributing sluices for each cooling section, it is evident that each one of the sub-canals 18 receives an influx of water at four diiierent points.

The subcanals IS-are, in the construction. shown, constructed of plain standard sheets of galvanized metal, which is perforated, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, with narrow slots 29, before being bent into shape. These slots 29, as shown, are located. in inclined rows, the slots in the upper end of each row overlapping the slots in the lower end of the adjacent row. The middle portion of the sheet which is to form the bottom is perfoalied only with holes 17 to receive the rivets 17 which hold the sub-canals 18 in place on the supporting T-beain 20. After being properly perforated the sheet is bent up to form the gutter shaped section 18, shown in Fig. 7. End pieces 18 are then fastened to the ends of the gutters, in any suitable way, to form the sub-canals 18. After being properly bent to shape the sub-canals 18 are mounted upon their respective Thomas 20, and riveted to the flanges oi? the beams by rivets 17. At the middle of each sub-canal 18, the angle 16 is secured to the hanger ill at its lower end by rivets 16, and both hanger 1G and angle 16 are riveted to the flange of the i'"-beam 20 by the rivets l3? through the holes 17 at the bottom of the sub-canal 18. The upper extremity of the hanger 16 is bent over to form the hook 67. The hanger ill, by means of hook 67, is suspended from the U-piece l5 and the suhcanals are in shape for operation. The curtains 23 are next suspended from the stem oil. the "it-beam 20, by means of hooks 22 in the manner already explained, and. the deflecting sheets 19 hung on the sides of the subcanals 18.

The deflecting sheet is of novel, but very simple construction, and off suflicient ri idity to perform its function. It is preferably simply a standard sheet of galvanized steel, 19, or other suitable material, with openings 39, $0 and ll, and notches 41:2 punched in it, as most clearly seen in Fig. 9. The sheet is then ribbed along the dotted lines (in, so that ii the widths of the openings and notches were, say inch the heights or depths of the ribs 13 would be about {i inch. The openings and notches are so spaced apart along the length of the sheet to give a suiiicient number of ribs 43, to produce the required rigidity. Tie length of the sheet 19, must eventually be the same as that oil the canal 18. It is therefore evident that the original length or the sheetmust necessarily be greater than that of the canal 18 by, approximately the amount equal to twice the sum of the heights of the ribs 43 that the sheet is to contain. Fig. 10 is a cross-section of the sheet 19, along the line FF of Fig. 9, after the sheet has been ribbed, but to a different scale, showing clearly the rib 43 formed by creasing the sheet 19 along the lines are. As stated above, the function of the ribs 43 is to give rigidity to the deflecting sheet 19, and also to s, ace the sheet away from the sides of the sub-canals 18, so that it will not interfere with the discharge of the liquid therefrom. The deflecting sheets are now bent as shown in 11 and placed on both sides of the canal 18. The openings 39 in the ribs 43 are for the purpose of supporting the deflecting sheets by simply passing them over the edges of the canals 18, as shown in Fig. 7. It is evident that the other openings in the sheet are necessary for the proper bending of the sheet to the shape required for guiding the water to the curtains 23, through the narrow opening 30.

Fig. 8 shows a sub-canal spacer in elevation which is placed between adjacent defleeting sheets, and Fig. 12 is a cross-section of same along the line EE of Fig. 8. The spacer is preferably a corrugated sheet of metal having its upper edge bent and fiat tened to serve as a support and at the same time to give it rigidity.

In Fig. 6 1 have shown the lower edge of the deflecting sheet 19 with crimps 68 so as to obtain further stiffening of the sheet if found necessary.

Any suitable material may be used for the exposure or cooling curtains 23, but I prefer to use a porous or fibrous material, such, as, for example, heavy coarse-thread burlap. To increase its durability it may be impregnated with coal tar, pitch, sarco, or any other suitable preservative, although such treatment is not essential to fit it for a cooling surface, unless the liquid to be cooled or evaporated should have some specific corrosive action on the material.

The method of operating my invention is as follows: T .e liquid to be cooled is pumped to the tower through the pipe 7. From 7 it flows to the pipe 8, from 8 to the iorizontal pipes 9 and 9, and thence up through the. vertical pipes 10 and 10, respectively, to the main supply canals 11 and 11. The pipe 8 is supported by the beams (planks on edge as shown) 74, which in turn rest in the hangers 7 5. Planks 76, also rest ing on beams '24, permit of access to pipe 8 and inspection of the tower. From 11 and 11 the liquid discharges through the apertures and 24 into the middle passages of the distributing sluices 12. From 25 the liquid passes through the slots 28 and 26 into the outer passages 27 and 27 of the distributing sluices 12, thence through the slots 28 and 28 in the outer walls of 27 and 27 respectively, into the sub-canals 18.

From 18 the liquid discharges through the perforations 29 against the deflecting sheets 19 which guide the liquid against the curtain 23 through the narrow opening 30. Owing to the arrangement of the deflecting sheets and curtains the liquid discharges onto the curtains as a thin sheet, uniformly distributed across the breadth of the curtain. As the liquid flows down over the curtain it is exposed to contact with the current of air which is passing through the cooling section of the tower, The air, as mentioned, enters the cooling sections 46 through the ventilating sections 47, thence under the sheathing 5 on the sides of the cooling sections and is distributed to the several compartments in the cooling sections formed by the curtains 23. The liquid being much hotter than the air as it enters the tower, the liquid of course is cooled as it descends, while the air is heated- The liquid at the top is therefore always in contact with air cooler than itself. Therefore even if the air reaches the upper partof the evaporation portion of the tower saturated at the temperature at which i is at that time, a portion of the water will be at once evaporated from the liquid, since the liquid being hotter than the air raises the temperature of the latter, thus increasing its capacity for vapor. Evaporation at once takes place until the air is again loaded with vapor at the temperature at which it passes out of contact with the liquid. Since the evaporation of 1 ib. of water at, say 100 F., requires 1044.4 B. t. u. it is plain that for every lb. of water evaporated 1044.4 lbs. of the residual liquid (assuming that it had the same specific heat as water) could be cooled 1 F. As the liquid descends on the curtains it is being continually contacted with a current of air which in a condition, as regards humidity, which would render it unsaturated with vapor at the temperature of the liquid, the above cooling process is continually in operation. 1f the air entered at the bottom of the cooling sections be very dry, as it would be in many interior regions, the liquid may be cooled a number of degrees below the initial temperature of the air, since the thermal conductivity of dry air is very low, and the rate of transfer of the sensible heat roni the entering air to the cooler water is less than the rate of cooling of the water ie to the evaporation required to saturate e air. It requires an appreciable length of '"or the entering air to assume the temture of the liquid at the same level in wer. The rate of evaporation of the .ter or other vapor) from the liquid in 7. In apparatus for treating the combination of a plurality of substantially parallel curtains of textile material, means for fixing the upper extremities of said curtains, means for distributing approximately equal portions of the liquid to be treated to each side of each of said curtains, and means for rigidly anchoring the lower extremity of each of said curtains, said anchoring means comprising a curtain spacer, notches spaced at equal intervals along said spacer, and means for fixing said spacer at different heights.

8. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a plurality of substantially parallel curtains of textile material vertically disposed in an inclosing chamber, means for distributing substantially equal portions of the liquid to be cooled to each side of each of said curtains, means for fixing the upper extremity of said curtains, and means for anchoring the bottom of said curtains, said anchoring means comprising cross-stretchers for the bottoms of said curtains, means for fixing the said stretchers to prevent lateral movement of the same, and means for varying the vertical position of said fixing means.

9. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a plurality of vertically disposed curtains of textile fabric, means for supporting said curtains, a canal for feeding the liquid tobe cooled cooperating with each of said curtains, one or more distributing sluices, discharge apertures in said sluices, one or more of said discharge apertures cooperating with each of said canals, the said sluices being constructed to maintain a substantially equal head of liquid upon each of said discharge apertures, whereby the said sluices are adapted to discharge a substantially equal portion of said liquid into each of said canals.

10. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a plurality of curtains of textile material vertically disposed in an inclosed chamber, means for supporting said curtains, a plurality of canals for feeding liquid onto said curtains, one of said canals cooperating with each of said curtains, one or more distributing sluices, a plurality of narrow slots in the walls of said sluices, one or more of said slots cooperating with each of said canals, said slots extending to the bottoms of said sluices, the said sluices being constructed to maintain a substantially equal head of water upon each of said slots, whereby said sluioes are adapted to discharge substantially equal portions of said liquid into each of said canals, means for admitting a gaseous fluid, unclersaturated with the vapor of said liquid, at one extremity of said inclosed chamber and means for withdrawing the said gaseous fluid from, at, or near the opposite extremiquids,

ity of said inclosed chamber after the said fluid has been contacted with said liquid.

11. In apparatus for treating liquids,the combination of liquid-cooling sections and, alternating therewith, ventilating sections, a plurality of cooling surfaces disposed in said liquid-cooling sections, means for supporting said surfaces, and means for distributing the liquid to be cooled with substantial uniformity between said cooling surfaces, said distributing means comprising two main canals, traversing the corresponding ends of all of said sections, one of said canals being located at one end of said sections and the other of said canals being located at the other end of said sections, a plurality of sub-canals, one of said subcanals cooperating with each of said cooling surfaces, one or more distributing sluices receiving liquid from said main canals and distributing said liquid to said sub-canals, and a plurality of discharge apertures in said sluices, one or more of said apertures cooperating with each of said sub-canals, the said sluices being constructed to maintain an equal head of liquid upon each of said apertures.

12. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of liquid cooling sections, and, alternating therewith, a plurality of ventilating sections, a plurality of parallel cooling surfaces, vertically disposed in said liquid cooling sections, means for supporting said cooling surfaces, and means for distributing the liquid to be cooled with substantial uniformity between said cooling surfaces, said distributing means comprising two main canals traversing corresponding ends of all of said sections, one of said canals being located at one end of said sections and the other of said canals being located at the other end of said sections, a plurality of sub-canals, one of said subcanals cooperating with each of said cooling surfaces, one or more distributing sluices receiving liquid from said main canals and distributing said liquid to said sub-canals, and a plurality of discharge apertures in said sluices, one or more of said apertures cooperating with each of said sub-canals, the said sluices being constructed to maintain an equal head of liquid upon each of said apertures.

13. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a frame, a plurality of trans verse beams supported at their ends by longitudinally placed beams, said transverse beams supporting one or more longitudinally placed distributing sluices and a central longitudinal beam, a plurality of transversely placed sub-canals, means for supporting said sub-canals, at their centers, to said central longitudinal beam, and their ends to the sides of the framework, said sub-canals registering under slots formed in said distributing sluice or sluices, for the purpose of receiving liquid therefrom, openings in the sides of said sub-canals, deflecting sheets supported by said sub-canals and placed at the sides thereof, for the purpose of guiding the liquid, the lower ends of said. deflecting sheets forming narrow openings, means for supporting exposure or cooling surfaces through. the said termed narrow openings to the bottoms oi said subcanals so as to receive the liquid from said sub-canals, main canals supplying liquid to he cooled to the distrihuting sluices, and means at the bottom of the cooling appa atus for the purpose oi? carrying oil? the liquid dripping; from the cooling surfaces.

l.-"l-. ln apparatus tor treating" liquid, a distriluitinn sluice, one or more inlets for liquid in. the said sluice, said sluice having its side walls converging substantially equal angles in a direction or directions away from said. inlets.

15. In apparatus for treating liquids, a distributing sluice, one or more inlets tor liquid in said sluice, av plurality of substantially uniformly spaced zu ertiu'cs for the dis charge of liquid from said sluice, saic, sluice having both its walls converging toward the medial line of said sluice in a direction away from said inlets at a rate such that the cross-section ot the said sluice at each aperture shall he appr Xiuiately proportional to the volume or liquid, flowing past that aperture, whcrehy substantially the same head ot' liquid is maintained upon each aperture.

16. in, apparatus "for treating liquids, a distrihuting, sluice having; a central and side passages, one of more iul its for liiplid into the central passage 0t said sluice, a plurality of iuli't'ormly spaced apertures for the discharge oi liquid from said central passage into said side passages, said central passage having its walls converging away "from said inlets at a rate such that the cross-section oi? the side walls at each aperture shall be approximately proportional to he volume of liquid flowing past that aperture, whereby an equal head oil: liquid is maintained upon each a urrturc.

1?. ln apparatus for treating liquids, a distributing sluice comprising a central and side passages, one or more inlets for liquid into said central passage, the walls of said central passage converging away tron said inlet or inlets, whereby the cross-sectitm of said central passage is diminished in the same direction, said side passages having :1 ant)- stantially uniform cross-section throughout their length.

18. In ap iaratus for treating" liquids, a. distributing, sluice comprising central and side passages, into said con apertures for a plurality of liquid tram the said ccntra passage into said side passages, the crosssection oi said central passage diminishing in a direction away from. said inlet or inlets.

19. in apparatus for treating liquids, a distributing sluice comprising a central and. side pzssages, openings establishing comuunicatien between said central and side passages, the valls of said cmtral passage converging from each end to the middle thereof.

it). In .zp 'iaratus for treating; liquids, a sluice comprising; a. central and side passages, the walls of said central passage converging iron the ends toward. the middle thereof, and the outer walls of said side passages being substantially parallel to their respective inner walls, openings in the inner c nreruiugi walls separatine' the central from the side passages establishing OUll1llilLI- nitration thcrethrough, and openings in the outer alls ot the side passages.

2]. 'ln. apparatus for tr ating liquids a distrilnitine' sluice, comprising); a central and side passages, said cci'itral passage h aving a constant depth but varying: cross-section, the cross-section, of said central passage diminishing in the direction of How of the. liquid in said passage, openings in the walls of said central passage establishing cou'lun'uiication to said side passages.

lu appa 'atus for treating liquids, a distrilu:tinu' sluice comprising a central and side passages, said central passage having a cons ant depth but Varying cros ,ction, the arrow-section of said Central passage diminishing in the direction oi flow of liquid in said passage, said side passages being of substantially constant depth and cross-- section openi v in the outer walls of said e passages, and openings in the walls separating the central. i'rom the side pa sage. cstahlislung communication there- 533. in apparatus for treating liquids, a distrilniting sluice, cmiuirisiug a central and side passages, openings in the walls scpa *atinc; said central and side passages establishing;- connnunication thcrethrough, said separ: tine walls converging in. the direction of. tlow of liquid tlierethrougrh and at such a rate as to maintain asubstantially cou- ;l'ant velocity of the liquid flowing there- ,hrcurh, the outer walls of the side rmssages ieinp; parallel to the walls separating; said side passage from said cent al passaac, thereby maintaining a constant crosssection throughout said side passages, and openings in said outer walls of said side pas ages for the outlet of liquid theretluoug'h.

Qel. in apparatus for treat. liquid a distributing sluice, comprising a central and side p5 ssagi es, openings spaced uniformly throughout the. lens; '11s of the walls separah i L l sages establishing communication from said central passage to said side passages, said separating walls converging in the direction of llow of liquid through said central passage, and at such a rate as to maintain a substantially constant velocity of flow of the liquid therethrough, thereby maintaining a constant liquid level or head therein, the outer walls of said side passages being par allel to their inner walls, thus forming passages of constant cross-section throughout their lengths, and having openings spaced uniformly along said outer walls, so as to deliver equal quantities of liquid through said openings in said outer walls.

25. In apparatus for treating liquids, a converging sluice, comprising a central and side passages, said central passage having openings at its ends for the inlet of liquid, walls separating the central from the side passages containing uniformly spaced openings, and converging from the ends having the openings, at such av rate as to maintain a constant velocity of flow of the liquid entering at said ends, thereby maintaining a constant liquid level or head in said central passage, said side passages having outer walls containing uniformly spaced openings for the outlet of liquid therefrom, said outer walls being substantially parallel to said inner walls, and said openings in said outer walls being of greater number than the number of openings in the inner walls and so adapted as to allow of equal deliveries of liquid through said openings in said outer walls.

20. In apparatus for treating liquids, a converging sluice, comprising one relatively large central passage and two smaller side passages, walls separating said central passage from said smaller passages and containing uniformly spaced openings along their lengths, said walls converging so that the central passage is thereby diminished in cross-section in the direction of flow of liquid therethrough, walls forming the outer sides of said side passages being parallel to the walls separating the central from the side passages, said outer walls of said side )assages containing uniformly spaced openings along their lengths of less cross-section but in greater number than the number of openings in the inner walls and so spaced that the openings in the inner walls will come substantially midway between the openings in the outer walls.

27. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a canal for distributing liquid, a plurality of apertures in the side walls of said canal, an exposure surface, and a deflecting means cooperating with each of said walls of said canal and adapted to intercept liquid as discharged from said canal, and guide said liquid onto said exposure surface.

28. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of an exposure surface, a canal for conducting liquid, a plurality of discharge apertures in the walls of said canal, said canal being located above and substantially parallel to said exposure surface, and deflecting sheets arranged to intercept the liquid as it discharges from said apertures and guide it onto said exposure surface.

29. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a canal, deflecting sheets, apertures in said canal for the flow of liquid therethrough, an exposure surface, means for supporting said exposure surface below and substantially parallel with said canal whereby liquid as it flows from said canal through said passages is guided by said deflecting sheets to said exposure surface.

30. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a canal, deflecting sheets, passages in the sides of said canal whereby liquid in said canal is caused to flow through said passages and impinge on said deflecting sheets, an exposure surface, means for sup-.

porting said exposure surface below said canal and between said deflecting sheets, whereby the liquid flowing through the passages in the sides of said canal is guided to the upper end of said exposure surface.

31. in apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a canal made from a single sheet of metal, deflecting sheets suspended from said canal, passages in the sides of said canal so arranged as to cause the liquid to discharge against said sheets in a liquid sheet of substantially uniform thickness, means for supporting an exposure surface below said canal and between the lower ends of said deflecting sheets so that the liquid flowing down said deflecting sheets will be distributed over said exposure surfaces.

32. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a canal made from a single sheet of metal, means for supporting said canal, deflecting sheets, formed from single sheets of metal, said deflecting sheets being ribbed so as to strengthen them thereby, and suspended from the top of said canal, a vertical exposure surface, and means for supporting the said exposure surface below said canal and between the lower ends of said ribbed deflecting sheets.

33. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a canal made from sheet metal, said metal having apertures distributed along the length thereof so that aliquid contained in said canal will discharge therefrom uniformly along the length thereof, deflecting sheets, one on either side of said canal and suspended from the top of said canal, said deflecting sheets being ribbed and bent so as to form a narrow opening between their lower ends, a burlap exposure surface extending through said narrow opening, means for supporting said burlap eXposure surface below said canal, and means for supporting said canal at its ends.

ln apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a canal made from a single sheet of metal, said sheet of metal containing a plurality of apertures punched therein and so placed in the said metal sheet to be included only in the sides of said canal when said sheet is bent to form said canal, a ribbed deflecting sheet of metal suspended on either side of said canal at the top thereof by projecting parts of said defleeting sheets, said deflecting sheets being bent to an angle of substantially 90 at the top of the canal and extending down along the sides of said canal so as to form passages between the sides of said canal and said defleeting sheets, the lower portions of said deflecting sheets being bent toward each other at an angle to the vertical of such a degree as to allow a free flow to the liquid along said inclined portions, the ends of said inclined portions being spaced apart to form a narrow slot between said ends, a vertical burlap cooling surface suspended through said narrow slot so as to receive the sheet of liquid flowing down from the said inclined lower portions of said deflecting metal sheets.

35. In apparatus for treating liquids, means for distributing liquid comprising in combination one or more longitudinal sluices and a plurality of transverse canals located below said sluice or sluices, a plurality of openings in the sides of said longitudinal sluice or sluices, registering above said transverse canals, and adapted to de liver an equal quantity of liquid to each of said canals, a plurality of inclined openings in the sides of said canals, said inclined openings being arranged in horizontal rows one above the other, each succeeding higher row being displaced, with respect to the next succeeding lower row, a distance such that the projections of the inclined openings of the higher row upon a horizontal plane will fall between the projections upon the same horizontal plane of the openings of the next succeeding lower row, deflecting sheets suspended from said canals and extending down along the sides of said canals, forming spaces between said deflecting sheets and said canals, and ribs in said deflecting sheets, the heights of which are equal to the spaces left between said canals and said defleeting sheets, said deflecting sheets being bent toward each other and under the canal from which they are supported to form a narrow slot between their lower ends.

36. in apparatus for treating liquids, a deflecting surface comprising a thin sheet of metal, said sheet of metal being punched so as to form a plurality of vertical rows of openings, a plurality of ribs, said ribs being formed from said sheet of metal by creasing said sheet of metal along the ver tical centers of said vertical rows of openings and at right angles to the expanded sheet of metal, the functions of said openings being the allowing of proper bending of the metal sheet at the ribs thereof.

87. In a liquid treating apparatus, the combination of a plurality of cooling surfaces, a sluice adapted to distribute liquid to said cooling surfaces, said sluice comprising a central and side passages, said central passage having a constant depth but varying cross-section, the cross-section of said central passage diminishing in the direction of fiow of the liquid in said passage, said side passages being of constant depths and run varying cross-sections, openings in the outer sides of said side passages, and openings in the walls separating the central and side passages establishing communication therethrough.

38. In a liquid treating apparatus, the combination of a plurality of cooling surfaces, a plurality of feed canals, one of said canals cooperating with each of said. cooling surfaces, a sluice adapted to distribute liquid to said cooling surfaces through said feed canals, said sluice comprising a central and side passages, said central passage having a constant depth but varying cross'section, the cross-section of said central passage diminishing in the direction of flow of the liquid in said passage, said side passages being of constant depths and unvarying cross-sections, openings in the outer sides of said side passages, and openings in the walls separating the central and side passages establishing comn'iunication therethrough.

39. In apparatus for treating liquids, a plurality of vertically disposed curtains or exposure surfaces, cross stretchers for the bottoms of said curtains, two or more spacers extending at substantially right angles to said stretchers, means for fastening said stretchers to said spacers when the former are in their normal position, whereby the lateral movementof the bottoms of said curtains is prevented, and means for vertically varying the position of said spacers, whereby the said curtains may be vertically stretched.

41:0. ln apparatus for treating liquids, a plurality of vertically disposed. curtains or exposure surfaces, cross strctchers for the bottoms of said curtains, two or more spacers extending at substantially right angles to said stretchers, a plurality of notches in said spacers corresponding in number to said curtains, one of said notches corresponding in position with and adapted to engage each of said stretchers, and means for vertically varying the position of said. spacers.

4:1. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a plurality of exposure sheets, cross stretchers for the bottoms of said exposure sheets, a spacer for said stretchers, notches spaced at intervals along said spacer, holes at the ends of said spacer, and means for supporting said spacer at its ends.

%2. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a plurality of exposure sheets, cross-stretchers for the bottoms of said exposure sheets, a spacer for said stretchers, notches spaced at intervals along said spacer, said notches corresponding in position with and adapted to engage said stretchers to hold the same in a fixed position, holes in said spacer near the extremities thereof, two fixed members having a plurality of apertures, said fixed members being arranged in substantially vertical alinement and in such positions relative to said spacer that the holes near the extremities of said spacer will register with one of the apertures in one of said fixed members, and means for fastening said spacer to said fixed members.

43. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a curtain spacer, notches spaced at equal intervals along said spacer, holes in said spacer near the end thereof, an angle iron or other suitable member, said angle iron or other suitable member having a plurality of perforations or holes along its length, and means for connecting said spacer to said angle iron or other suitable member.

44. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a curtain spacer, notches spaced at substantially equal intervals along said spacer, holes in said spacer near the ends thereof, fixed angle irons or other suitable members having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures, said members being fixed in substantially vertical alinement and so located with respect to said spacer that each of the said holes in said spacer near the ends thereof will register with one of the apertures in one of said spacers when said spacer is in position, and pins or other suitable members inserted through the registering apertures of said spacer and said fixed members, to fix said spacer in the desired position.

45. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a plurality of cooling surfaces or curtains, a curtain spacer, notches spaced at equal intervals along the lower edge of said spacer, so as to engage with stretchers attached to the lower ends of said cooling surfaces or curtains, holes in said spacer near the ends, angle irons or other suitable members fixed at the ends of said spacer and containing substantially vertical rows of closely spaced holes, said holes at the ends of said spacer being placed so as to lie in the same vertical planes passed through the centers of the holes in the supporting angle irons, and when in position to register with one of the said holes in said angle irons so as to allow for the inserting of a. pin or other means for connecting said spacer to said angle irons, said vertical row of holes in said angle irons being for the purpose of permitting the fixing of said spacer at difierent heights according to the len ths of the cooling surfaces.

4o. In apparatus for treating liquids, a curtain spacer, notches spaced at equal intervals along said spacer, and means for fixing said spacer at different heights.

47. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a flexible exposure surface, means for fixing the upper extremity of said exposure surface, and means for delivering a substantially continuous sheet of liquid onto each side of said exposure surface, said liquid-delivering means comprising a canal for carrying liquid, a plurality of discharge openings in the side walls of said canal, and a deflecting means cooperating with each of the said side walls, said deflecting means being adapted to intercept liquid discharged from said discharge openings and guide said liquid onto said exposure surface.

48. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a plurality of flexible cooling surfaces, means for supporting said cooling surfaces, cross stretchers for said cooling surfaces, means for fixing the said stretchers to prevent lateral movement of the same, and means for varying the vertical position of said fixing means.

49. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of an exposure curtain, means by which said exposure curtain is supported along its upper end, said means comprising one inner and two outer members, the upper part of said exposure curtain being folded over said inner member and held in place by fastening said outer members to said inner members over the folded portion of said exposure curtain, and means fixed at the lower end of said exposure curtain for maintaining said exposure curtain in a stretched condition.

50. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a plurality of cooling surfaces or curtains, means for supporting said cooling surfaces at their upper ends, means for maintaining the cooling surfaces or our tains in a stretched condition, said stretching means comprising an inner and two outer strips of metal joined together inclosing the lower ends of said cooling surfaces.

51. In apparatus for treating liquids, the combination of a plurality of cooling surfaces or curtains, means for supporting said cooling surfaces at their upper ends, said means comprising three strips of a suitable material, an inner and two outer strips, said inner strip being heavier than said outer strips, the upper ends of said cooling surrese s? faces being wrapped about said inner strip, said outer strips being fastened to said inner strip, thus inclosing said upper portion of said cooling surfaces between said inner and outer strips, holes spaced along said upper joined strips, said holes affording places of attachment for the supporting means for said surfaces, means placed at the lower ends of said cooling surfaces for the purpose of maintaining said cooling surfaces in a stretched condition, said means comprising three strips of a suitable material, an inner and two outer strips, said outer strips being substantially the same length as the width of said cooling surfaces, said inner strip beingheavier and of greater length than said outer strips and arranged when in position so that its two ends will project beyond the ends of the outer strips and cooling surfaces so as to engage in notches placed along a spacer for the purpose of maintaining the cooling surfaces in a rigid position and spaced at equal intervals.

In apparatus for treating liquids, the con'ibination of a plnality of cooling surfaces, means for maintaining substantially equal distances between said cooling surfaces, said means comprising spacers,

notches placed at equal intervals along the lower edges of said spacers so as to engage with projecting ends of the inner strips of stretchers fastened to the lower ends of said cooling surfaces or curtains, holes in said spacers near the ends thereof, angle irons or other suitable supporting nae-ans fixed at the ends of said spacers and containing vertical rows of closely spaced. holes, said holes at the ends of said spacers being placed, so as to lie in the same vertical planes passed through the centers of the holes in the supporting angle irons, and when in position to register with one of the said holes in said angle irons so as to allow for the inserting of pins or other means for connecting said spacer to said angle irons, said "vertical row of holes in said angle irons providing means for supporting said spacer at dillerent heights upon said angle irons according to the lengths of the cooling surfaces or curtains.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this lath day of October A. D. 1910.

HENRY ll. DOHEETY.

Witnesses liours F. fl lUS'IL, T. U. Wt-amnion.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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