US1345047A - Automatic gas-analyzer - Google Patents

Description

S. 8. WEEKS.

AUTOMATIC. GAS ANALYZER.

1,345,047. APPLICATION FILED JAN- 27, I919. 29

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

jiiz'rigyj War/1s INVENTOR Q/ ZZM QW ATTORNEY S. 8. WEEKS.

' AUTOMATIC GAS ANALYZER.

0 2. 9 1T 9 m 28 mm H w m m a P on M u N M D E H N 0 n A W H P A 1' S URCE ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHIRLEY s. WEEKS, or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC Gas-ANALYZER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHIRLEY S; WEEKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and- State of California, have invented certain new and useful'lmprovements in Automatic Gas-Analyzers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic. gas analyzers of the type in which at predetermined intervals agaseous mixture is held in aclosed chamber, the gas which it is desired to determineabsorbedby suitable means and the resultant reduction" of pressure indicated, or recorded as a percenta e of the original inclosed volume.

The present invention has more particularly to do with the apparatus for collecting and tightly inclosing a sample of mixed provide an automatic apparatus for performing the functions above outlined which will be reliable in operation and which will give results having a high degree of accuracy.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the apparatus by utilizing a piston for separating the absorbent solution from the gases during the period in which fresh gases are being taken into the apparatus, and to further utilize the same piston for forcing the inclosed volume of gas into contact with the absorbent solution without the usual losses due to end clearances and leakage past the piston. In my device the solution, piston and gases are tightly held in one chamber and hence no losses occur in transferrlng the gas from the measuring chamber into contact with the absorbent solution. V

Another object of the invention is to construct and operate the piston so that move-' ment thereof conveys the absorbent solution 'ito contact with the gas, but the absorbent solution will not by such movement be conveyed to the Walls of the inclosing chamber, thereby preventing absorptlon prior to the time the required volume is lnclosed.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11113 29 192(1 Application filed January 27, 1919. Serial No. 273,433.

A further object of the inventionis to so arrange the piston and associated mechanismthat the amount of residual gas retained on the opposite side of the piston during the measuring and absorbing periods respectively will be a minimum and always of the same amount. This enables the recording or indicating instrument to be cali brated to compensate for the slight errors residual amount of gas. s I

' A still further object of the invention is to utilize a fan or similar mechanical means for supplying the gaseous mixture to the device, making it practical to displace a large volume of gas. supply of gas directly from thesource thereof for each analysis regardless of the length whichwould otherwise be introduced by the of pipe connecting the deviceto the source of Igas 11 general 1 aim to provide a device of thecharacter set forth which is mechanically simple in construction but which is accurate in operation, and which will continuously at periodical-intervals perform the cycle of operations necessary to deter mine the percentage of the desired constitu ent of thegaseous mixture.

With these and other objects' in the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combinations andarrangements or parts hereinafter described andjmore specifically pointed out in the appended claims; it being understood that changes in form, proportion, size and minor details of'construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of. the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

This assures a fresh view,

References being had to the drawings" forming apart of the specification:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation'of my improved analyzing device. :1

Fig. 2 is a View in plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in section through. the solution container,- the measuring chamber and the valve mechanism. i a

Referring to corresponding parts by the same numerals'of-reference, ldenotes a base plate, having a bracket 2 by which it may be attached to a wall orother supporting; Or if the device is for portable surface.

use, feet'may be provided for'standing it on a horizontal surface.

Attached to the underside of. plate 1 is the air tight solution container denoted by 3 which consists of the cylindrical vessel .4 having a removable cover plate 5. Extending upward from the cover plate is a tubular upright 6 which is closed at its upper end and which passes through a hole 7 in the with an opening in, hub 14, is arranged coaxially with the container and extends a short distance into the tubular portion 6.

v Slidably mounted on the lower end of the rod 15 is a sleeve 16 to which is attached a spider 18 which carries an agitator 17. The hub of this spider is so positioned that it is engaged by the end of arm 12. Above sleeve 16 is a long perforated sleeve which is slidable on the guide bar 15. This sleeve has a float 20 attached to its upper end and a smaller float 21 to its lower end. The floats are thus held in spaced relation by the sleeve and stretched between their adjacent faces is aplurality of chains 22 which have an open type link. The upper float 20 is con centric with the bore of upright 6 but of smaller. diameter and has attached to its upper end a piston 23 which divides the space in the upper end of the upright into two chambers.

Thefioat 20 has an opening 25 extending longitudinally tlierethrough, the upper end of which communicates with an opening in thepiston and which forms a seat for the ball plug from which extends a small tube 29,

thebore of which serves as aguide for the stem 30 which extends fromthe ball 27. A very light spring 28 is interposed between the plug and the ball and holds the latter on its seat. Extending from opening 25 to the annular space around float 20, is apassageway 26 and extending the entire length of the interior Wall of the upright 61s a small groove 26'.

On the upright 6 are lugs 31, 32 and 33 all of which have openings communicating with the interior of this upright. To the first of the lugs is attached an indicating or recording vacuum gage (not shown). As I deal with a volume of gas in an inclosed chamber the removal of one of its constituentswill cause a reduction of'pressure and I calibrate my gages s0 that this reduction of pressure is read as a percentage of the original volume of the sample of gas.

To the lugs 32 and 33 are attached valve casings 34 and 35 respectively, each of which is provided with a bore that communicates with the interior of upright 6; Casing 34 has a side'branch 36,,whi-le casing 35 has two adj acent branches 37 and 38 and a third side branch 39 spaced somewhat farther away. The side outlet 39 is connected with 36 through a gas tight member 40, which has an interior cavity of comparatively large volume. Within the bore of casing 34 is a tight fitting piston 42 and in threaded engagement with the outer end ofthe casing is" a sleeve 41. The valve stem 43 on which the piston is attached'extends through the closed end of sleeve 41 and within the latter v is provided with an abutment 44. A spring 45 is interposed between this abutment and the end of the sleeve, tending thus to force the piston to its closed position;

Likewise in threaded engagement with the outer end of valve casing 35 is a similar sleeve 46 and extending therethrough into the bore ofthe casing is a rod 47 This rod hasa spring 48 which tends to move the red toward the upright and on this red aremounted two pistons 50 and 51 which are spacedat such a distance as to-control the flow of gas through the side branches of this valve in the manner hereinafter described. Sleeve 46 has asmall opening 35 which when the valve is closed places the interior of connection 40 in communication with the atmosphere.

It will be noted that the ends of the valve casings which enter the supporting lugs are provided with orifices 52 and' 52 which are smaller than the, bores of the casings thereby forming shoulders 53-. Pistons 42 and 51 have the valve stem extending through them an 'amount'equal to'the' length of theseorifices which have a diameter only slightly larger than the ends of the valve stem. The pistonsthemselves are faced as shown at 54 with material which will make a tight joint when in contact with the shoulders 53.

The driving mechanism for the valves and arm 12 comprises a motor 60 which is connected. to a shaft 61 through a flexible c'ou pling 62. This shaft is revolubly mounted in journals 63 between which a threaded .worm 64 is attached to the shaft.

The latterextends to the opposite side of the plate where it drives the fan or air pump 65.

i is

=Above shaft 61 and at right angles thercto is another shaft 66 which is revolubly mounted in journals 6'? and has'attached thereto a worm wheel 71 and a toothed spur p1n1on 68. The former is engaged by the worm 64 while the latter meshes with a toothed gear 69 attached to the shaft70- This'shaft is revolubly mounted in journals 72 and has attached thereon cams 73, 74, and? 5. r

.Cam 73 isengaged by a roller 80 on arm" 76, one end of which is pivotally mounted as at 77, while the other end is ,pivotally attached to a connecting link 7 8, the lower end of which is in turn connected to the arm 79 on shaft 10. Cam 74 reciprocated a rod 81 which is slidably mounted in a bracket 82 and has its direction of movement parallel to the valve rod 47, to which it is connected by an arm 88. Cam 75 reciprocates a rod 84 which is parallel to valve rod 13 and connected thereto by the arm 85. Rod 8-1 is slidably mounted in bearings 86, and as here illustrated this rod is provided with a forked head 87 having a pivotally mounted roller 88. A spring 89 is interposed between the back of this head and the adjacent bearing to hold the roller in contact with the associated cam. In like manner rod 81 has a forked head 93 containing a roller 94 for contact with the cam/74L and this roller is urged toward the cam by a spring 95.

The intake opening of the fanis connected to the side branch 38 by means of a tube 90, while from branch 37 a tube 91 extends to the source from which the sample of gas for analysis is to be obtained. The top plate 5 is provided with a filling tube 92 which is so arranged that by filling to a given mark, the solution within the upright portion 6 will beat a predetermined level.

The operation is as follows:

The motor 6 0 continuously rotates the shaft 61 and thus drives the fan65 at high speed and by means of. the various gears drives the shaft at a much slower speed. In the drawings, the apparatus is illustrated with all valves open, and in this condition the suction produced by the fan 65 draws through the tube 91 which, is connected to the source of gas, through the side branch 37, the-orifice 52 into the chamber above the plunger 20. From this cavity the gas passes through the orifice 52, valve casing 3 1-, through the sideoutlet 36, the gas tight member 4C0, the side branch 39, through the casing 35 between pistons 50 and 51' and then through the side branch 38 and hose 90 to the intake of the fan. Thus during the time the valves are so positioned, a continuous stream of gas is being drawn through the chamber above the plunger. Groove'26 is provided so that there is no danger-10f the piston sticking in its upward position and so that no pressure is accumulate-d below the piston when it passes below opening 52. The lateral passageway 26 is provided for the same purpose in respect to the space in opening 25.

After a predetermined interval cam 74 permits the springs 95 and 48 to move the rods 4-7 and 81 to the right as viewed in Fig. This closes the orifice 52, connects the passageway in the sidebranch 39 with the atmosphere, closes passage in branch 39 from that in 3-8, and connects the passageways of side branches 37 and 38 with each There is an appreciable interval between the closing of orifice 52 and the closing of the passageway in branch 36 by piston 42, the

object of which'is to allow the gas in the chamber above the piston to come to atmospheric pressure as otherwise it would be at slightly less pressure due to the fan suction in drawing the gas through the apparatus. In order to secure uniform results it is necessary that the gas analyzed be brought to atmospheric pressure which is accomplished by the delayed closing of valve 34. After the orifice 52" is closed'the passageway in branch 36 remains unclosed by piston 42 a sufiicient length of time that atmospheric pressure entering through the hole 35' into connection 40 may force the gas within the latter into the measuring chamber, bringing the pressure therein to that of the atmosphere. The volume of 10 is so large in comparison with the amount of gas necessaryto bring the inclosed gas to atmospheric pressure that there is no danger of air being forced into the measuring chain her. fter the piston 42 has closed the orifice 52, cam 73 moves the arm 76 in a downward direction, thereby raising the 12 within the container 1. The movement of this aim raises the spider 1S and the attached member 17 and the upper end of sleeve 16 contacts with the bottom of sleeve 1), thereby raising this sleeve and the floats on the top and] bottom thereof. As the piston 23is raised the gas which is above the same passes through the valve 27 and groove 26 into the cavity below the piston and float. This movement of the plunger continues until the fiat upper surface of the piston is in contact with the top wallet the upright por tion 6, and substantially all the is in the space below the said plunger. This upward,

the absorption of the given constituent of gas is indicated by a suitable gage or meter attached to the opening of this lug.

The solution After an interval sufficient to permit the complete absorption of the given gaseous element, the cams are arranged to move their respective contact members in the'opposite direction and thus to open the valves 34, 35 and to move down arm 12.

It will be noted that the spider 18 is not attached to the arm 12 and that sleeve 19 is not attached to sleeve 16. Thus these parts are free to move downwardly inde pendent of the movement of the arm. The weight, of the piston, floats and attached part is such that the piston always floats at a given distance above the solution, and therefore the gas trapped beneath the piston isof the same volume each operation. The space between the upper end of the sleeve 16 and the lower end of sleeve 19 allows for a drop in the level of the solution without affecting the relation of the .float with re spect to the solution level.

The solution is agitated by the up and down movements of the member 17 so that a uniform strength is maintained. The normal solution level is as indicated.

It will be understood that no exact solution level or position for the plunger is re 'quired as the reduction in pressure isindependent of the volume of gas acted upon.

The shape of float 20 is such that capillary attraction will not draw the solution up between the piston and walls of the cylinder. This keeps the walls of the measuring chamber dry and hence the gas does not come into contact with the absorbing chemical before the various valves are closed, and the piston moves upwardly. At the same time the shape of the float is such that a minimum clearance volume is provided below and this is independent of the level of the solution, due to the fact that the plungers and associated parts float therein.

I claim as new and wish to-cover by Letters Patent v V 1. A gas analyzer comprising a vessel for holding an absorbent material, said vessel' having a chamber above said material for inclosing a gaseous mixture, a piston normally separating the contents of said chamber from said material, means within said vessel foroperatin said piston, and bypass means for passing the contents of said chamber to the opposite side of said piston for contact with said absorbent material.

2. A gas analyzer comprising a vessel for holding an absorbent material, said vessel having a chamber adjacent to said material for holding a gaseous mixture, a floating piston normally separating the contents of said chamber from said absorbent material, means below the surface of said solution for moving said piston and normally disconnectedtherefrom, and bypass means for passing the contents of said chamber to the opposite side of said piston.

3. A gas analyzercomprising a vessel for an absorbent solution, a'chamber above said solution for inclosing a gaseous mixture, a piston in said chamber normally separating the contents thereof from said solution, means extending through .said solution for moving said piston'through said chamber, and bypass means to permit the contents of said chamber to flow to the opposite side of said piston for contact with said solution. 4. A gas analyzer comprising a vessel, an absorbent solution held therein, a tubular portion on said vessel, having acavity for inclosing a gaseousmixture, a piston, means passing through said solution for moving said piston longitudinally of said cavity, and bypass means to permit the passage of said mixture from one side of the piston to the other. 7

5. A gas analyzer comprising a closed vessel, an absorbent solution therein, atubular portion on said vessel forming a chamber for inclosing agaseous mixture, a piston movable longitudinally of said chamber, bypass means to permit the passage of the gaseous mixture past said piston, said tubular portionhaving orifices to permit aflow. of gas through said chamber, and valve means for closing said orifices and entirely filling the portion thereof which communicates with said chamber. r I

6. A gas analyzer comprising a tubular vessel, anabsorbent solution in said vessel, said vessel having a chamber abovesaid solution for holding gas, a floating piston movable longitudinally of said chamber and normally separating the gas fromsaid solu- 7 tion, valve means to permit the passage of' the gas past said piston, said vessel having an orifice entering said chamber and connected to a sourceof gas and having an exit orifice, and valve means for closing said orifices, the outer end of said'valve means forming substantially a continuation of the inner surface of saidchamber. 1 7

7. A gas analyzer comprising a tubular vessel, an absorbent solution in said vessel, said vessel having achamber above said solution for holding gas, a pistonIbuoyantly carried by said solution and movable longitudinally of said chamber andnormally separating the gas from said solution, valvc means to-permit the passage of the gas past said piston, said vessel having an orifice entering said chamber and connectedto a, source of gas and having an exit orifice, means for causing a flow of gas through said orifices and said chamber, and means for closing said orifices, which substantially forms a" continuation of the inner surface of'said cham-- ber.

8. A gas analyzer comprising a vessel having a closed chamber in the top thereof, an

absorbent solution in said vessel, 'a piston.

said solution, means normally disconnected from said piston for moving it upwardly through said chamber, a by-pass around said piston, said vessel having intake and exit orifices opening into said chamber, means for drawing a stream of gas through said orifices and valve means for closing said orifices flush with the surface of said chamber.

9. A gas analyzer comprising a vessel having a gas chamber, an absorbent solution in said vessel, piston buoyantly carried by said solution and movable through said chamber, and means within said vessel and normally disconnected from said piston for moving it through said gas chamber.

- 10. A gas analyzer comprising a vessel, an absorbent solution held therein, said vessel having a chamber adjacent said solution,a piston normally separating said chamber from said solution, means whereby said pistonis held at a predetermined distance above said solution, means for drawinga stream of gas through said chamber, valve means for holding a quantity of said gas in saidchamher at atmospheric pressure, and means for by-passing said gas past said piston to contact with said solution. i I

11. In a gas analyzer comprising a vessel having a gas inclosing chamber, valve casings having bore communicating with said chamber, one of said casings having two adjacent side branches having passageways for communication with a source of gas and means for moving the gas respectively, a third side branch having a passageway, said casing having also an opening communicating with the atmosphere, a valve rod movable longitudinally of said casing, pistons on said rod adapted to close the said bore from said chamber, to place said adjacent passageways in communication and said third side branch in communication with the atmosphere, a side branch on the other of said casings having a passageway in communication with the passageway of said third side branch and a piston valve for closing the bore of said other casing after the valve 7 of said first mentioned casing has operated.

12. A gas analyzer comprising a vessel having a gas chamber therein, an absorbent solution below said chamber, a piston fitting within said chamber and adapted to pass the contents of said chamber from one side of the piston to the other side, buoyant means for maintaining said piston out of contact with said solution, and means below the surface of said solution for operating said piston.

13. In a gas analyzer comprising a vessel having a closed chamber, an absorbent solution, means for drawing a continuous stream of gas from the source thereof through said chamber, said chamber having intake and exit openings, valve means for closing said openings flush with the interior surface of said chamber and inclosing a quantity of gas from said stream at atmospheric pressure and by-passing said stream during the time said gas. is inclose d, a piston movable longitudinally of'said' chamber, means to permit the flow of gas past said piston, and solution carrying devices on the underside of said piston for bringing said solution mtoc'ongas through said orifices, or for closing the same and by-passing the said stream, and

means carried by said piston for carrying 50- g lution into said chamber. 1, 15. In a gas analyzer comprising a vessel having a chamber, an absorbent solution in said vessel, a piston movable longitudinally of said chamber, buoyant means carriedby said piston to support the underside there'- of above saidsolution, means to permit the gas, valve means for-directing said stream of passage. of gas from one side of said piston to the opposite side, said vessel having intake and exit orifices opening into said 1 chamber, a fan adapted to move a continu ous stream of gas, valve means for by-passing said stream of gas, closingsaid intake orifice and placing said exit orifice in cominunication with a body of gas at atmospheric pressure, valve means for closing sald exit orlfice, means for moving said plston upwardly through said chamber whlle said orifices are closed, and means for carrying solution into contact with the contents of said chamber when said piston moves upwardly.

16. Ina gas analyzing device comprising a vessel, absorbent solution partly filling said vessel to form a chamber thereabove, a piston in said chamber with its under surfacebuoyantly held at a predetermined distance above said solution, means for per mitting the passage of gas past said piston, means for inclosing a quantity of gas in said chamber .at atmospheric pressure, means passing through said solution for raising said piston so as to cause the contents of said chamber to pass to the underside thereof, and means carried by said pis ton for raising a'quantity of the solution into contact with the gas under said piston.

17..In a device for analyzing gas comher, a piston fitting within said chamber piston to float above said solution, and

means'for moving said piston through said chamber.

18K111 a device for analyzing gas comprising a. vessel for, holding an absorbent solutlon and having a closed chamber above said solution. for holding the gas, a piston movable longitudinally of said chamber, buoyant'means carried by said piston for holding the underside thereof above said solution, by-pass means for permitting the transfer of the contents of said'chamber from one side of said piston to the opposite side, means or movingsaid piston, and means carried by said piston for carrying solution into contact with the gas piston is moved upwardly. V V r 1.9.; In a gas analyzer comprising a vessel having'a chamber an absorbent solution in said vessel, a piston movable longitudinally of said'chamber, buoyant means carried by said piston to support the underside thereof abovesaid solution, means to permit the passage of gas from one'side of said piston to the opposite side, orifices opening into said'chamber, afan adapted to move-a continuous stream of gas, valve means for bypassing said stream of gas, closing said inas said take orifice and placing said exit orifice in communication with a body'of gas at atmospheric pressure, and means for closing said exit orifice.

20. A gas analyzer comprising a vessel,v

having HJI'ZLbSOI'PlZlOIl chamber above said solution, means for inclosing a quantity of gas in said chamber, a plston normally separating said inclosed gas from said solution, and means for maintaining said piston when in its lower position at an invariable distance above the surface of said solution.

22. A gas analyzer comprising atubular vessel havinga'gas absorption chamber, said chamber having intake'and exit orifices communicating therewith,valve means for closing said orifices substantially flush with the surface of said chamber to inclose a quantity of gas and means for bringing gas into .contact with an absorbent solution. 7 i

In testimony whereof I affix my signature;

SHIRLEY S. WEEKS.

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