US1477733A - Fluid-removing device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 18,1923. 11,477,733}

F. VAN INWAGEN FLUID REMOVING DEVICE Filed April 18. 1921 W0fe 3 Wank l an Mwagen.

Patented Dec. 118, 19923.

STATES ()FFHCE.

FRANK VAN INWAGEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF TI .EE-FOURTHS TO GORDON L. HARRIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLUID-REMOVING DEVICE.

Application filed April 18, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK VAN INWAGEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Removing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fluid scavenging devices and refers more particularly to devices, designed to assist in the removal of 'fluids, both liquids and gases from heating systems, dryers, evaporators, or other steam or liquid circulatory heating, drying'or evaporating systems and is applicable to so-called vacuum heating systems.

The salient object of the invention is to provide a device which will economica'ly withdraw from such a system the condensa tion liquid and such air or fluid as may be contained therein and to deliver such condensate separately to a boiler or other reservoir and also to separately deliver any entrained air or light non-liquid gases or vapors through a separate system of piping to the atmosphere or other container as desired.

The single figure of the drawing is an elevational view of the apparatus with parts broken away.

Considerable difficulty has been encountered by devices being manufactured to accomplish the removal of the gases and liquid from systems of the type described but not an economical device has beenproduced as yet which will properly eliminate such fluids. I have combined into one unit certain well known devices which have the ability to do one or more of the aforementioned processes and assembled .into a single packlng machine, the necessary apparatus to eflect all of these operations with the minimum expenditure of power. In the past it has been diflicult to arrange for the removal of the liquid separately from the lighter vaporous fluids when there is a Serial No. 462,469.

may be more easily drawn oil to a liquid handling pump. In general, I have designed an improved, compact, easily operated and semi-automatic device.

Referring in particular to the drawings, the general arrangement of the mechanism as shown in the drawing is connected to the drain line from the heating system, condensers, evaporator-s or other device. The returns from these systems enter through the line 1 and pass through the check valve 2 into receiver 3. This receiver is of a size sufficient to permit the separation by gravity of the gaseous fluid which mingles with the vapor and fills the upper part of the receiver. The lower part of the receiver holds the heavier liquid which has a tendency to drain off through the pipe 4c into the suction side 5 of the pump 6. This pump as shown is of the centrifugal type being driven through the horizontal shaft 6 by motor 6". This motor operating the cen- -trifugal pump forces the liquid through the delivery line 7 to the line 8 in which is interposed a check valve 9. The liquid from the line 8 is directed to any convenient receptacle for such water or liquid, whether it be a boiler, receiver, tank or to the sewer as desired. The check valve is interposed to prevent any back flow to the pump when it is shutdown or when there exists less pressure within the pump than exists in the boiler, receiver, or other collecting reservoir. By means of this apparatus, water or other liquids may be rapidly removed from the receiver-but as centrifugal pumps are notoriously inefficient in circulating liquids or fluids which possess a low specific gravity, the air, vapor or lighter fluids must be withdrawn from the receiver 3 through a separate device which shall have the quality of being a positive vacuum producing mecha nism.

The lighter or aseous fluids are removed from the top of t e receiver through a line 10, connecting leads 11, which convey the lighter fluids to the suction connection of a positive type of vacuum producing mechanism designated as 12. This mechanism is preferably of rotary t pe so that it may be directly connected to t e shaft 6 which operates the centrifugal pump 6. When the mechanism is in operation it will be seen that a positive displacement of the lighter fluids and air in the upper part of the receiver 3 will be accomplished and these lighter fluids will be removed. These lighter fluids discharged from the vacuum pump 12 are discharged through the pipe 13, in which is interposed a check valve 14, either to the atmosphere or to suitable collecting receptacle.

Experience has proven, however, that this operation of a positive fluid handling device such as a pump 12 will cause a relatively high vacuum to exist on the receiver 3, thus seriously interfering with the easy drainage of the heavier liquids contained in the receiver and checking, to a certain extent, the amount of liquid which will drain through the pipe 1 and be handled through the centrifugal pump 6. This high vacuum tends to maintain a liquid level in the tank 3 and to take advantage of this level to cause a more desirable operation, I have designed an interrupting device, consisting principally of a float mechanism pivoted within the tank and indicated at 14. To the arm of this float is attached a valve 15 which seats in the opening in the top of the receiver which leads to the line 10. The float arm is pivoted at 16 on a bracket 17 within the receiver and as the float arm rises with the liquid level of the receiver, the outlet line will be closed by means of the valve 15. The closing of this Valve throttles the vacuum imposed upon the liquid in the tank, obviating its effect and permitting-the liquid to drain freely through the line 4 to the centrifugal pump 6. As the liquid level lowers with the draining of the receiver, the valve 15 will again open and the lighter fluids again pass off through the outlet line 10 to the vacuumpump 12 as explained. This action will prove more or less intermittent but will overcome difficulties heretofore experienced in handling properly the returns from systems of the type mentioned.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fluid removing device for the removal of fluids from systems, the combination with a collecting means connected with the system outflow line, of liquid and gas drawofl's connected thereto, means automatically controlled by the liquid level in.the collecting means for controlling the withdrawal of the gas and liquids removed from the system.

2. In a fluid removing device for the removal of fluids from systems, the combination with collecting means connected with the system, of liquid and gas drawofl' lines connected thereto, separate means for removing the gas and liquid from the collecting means, and automatic means operable to control the vacuum imposed upon the collecting means and the withdrawal of liquid and gaseous fluids from the system.

3. In a fluid removing device for the removal of fluids from systems, the combination with a means connected to an outlet of the system for collecting the fluids drained therefrom, of liquid and gaseous fluid drawofl' lines connected thereto, a float and valve for the gas outlet actuated by the liquid level to vary the vacuum imposed upon the system and to re late the relative flows of gas and liquid from the collecting means.

4. In a fluid removing device for the removal of fluids from systems, the combination with a collecting means connected with the system outflow line, of liquid and gas drawofl's connected thereto, and automatic means for varying the vacuum imposed upon the collecting means and for controlling the relative gaseous and liuid drains.

FRANK VAN IN AGEN.

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