US1680334A

US1680334A - Testing device

Info

Publication number: US1680334A
Application number: US178974A
Authority: US
Inventors: James O Lewis; Homer R Pierce
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-03-28
Filing date: 1927-03-28
Publication date: 1928-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1945-08-14

Description

J. O. LEWIS ET AL TESTING DEVICE Filed March 28, 1927 o l 7x. @www the same property;

, sage therethrough Patented Aug; M, 192%.

JAMES O. LEWIS AND HOMER R. PIERCE,

0F TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

TESTING DEVICE.

Application led March 28, 1927. Serial No. 178,974.

Our invention relates to testing devices and particularly to devices of this character which are designed to test the combustl` bility of explosive gases.

One of the prime objects of the invention is the provision of a device embodylnga construction which is particularly useful 1n oil and gas fields for testing the gas emanating from a well which is sometimes employed as fuel for an internal combustion engine for driving a compressor located at the property, the compressor being employed to provide air pressure to supplement the natural pressure of the well and thus force oi-l from adjoining connected wells. The compressed air fed to the wells lnits pasbecomes mixed with gases and gasoline and gasoline vapors contained in the well and is transmitted to the compressor and passed back into the well. The resultant mixture varies at different locations and also varies from time to time on thus itis evident that the air supplied by the compressor and orced into the air Well might become combined with the gases emanating from the oils therein and connected wells and might result in a mixture -of high combustbility which would thus increase the explosive azard. y

The device forming the basis of this application is designed to provide a means whereby the mixture of air and gas which results by forcing air into the oil well by the compressor, may be tested as to its combustibility and have either air or gas added thereto so that the mixture which is returned he well by the compressor may have or gas corresponding in quantity lto that shown by the test and thus produce a mixture in the line and well The device may be any gas fuel used for actuatmg engines or for burning to determine whether the mixture fed thereto is either .too rich or lean or proper combustion.

he device may also be employed to test spark plugs or ignition systems for any predetermined condition of pressure, temperature and mixture.

The invention has as an object the provision of a construction whereby a part of the gas employed for actuating the engine or that resultingfrom the mixture of air and a part hereof.

also employed to testA of the gas or its mixture.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a means for agitating the mixcombustion chamber ture contained in the to mix the fluid contents of the combustion chamber. Y

The invention has these and other objects, all of which will be explained in detail and more readily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of which the invention is susceptible, it being obvious, however, that changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the appended claims forming In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing a construction rwhereby the above mentioned objects may be accomplished.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows, the coil box and switch being in elevation, and

Fig.v 3 is a section ta Fig. 2. Y

In the embodiment of the trated in the d ployed en on theilin'e 3 3 of invention illusa coil box l 1s emrelation to the coil box. Rod ed in the brackets so that said ciated devices lll@ Y position by means of the thumb screws 5. The upper ends of the rods 4 are each formed to provide bearings 6 and 7 in which nipples 8 and 9 are rotatably mounted, the latter having one end thereof threaded into an opening provided in the combustion chamber 10 which is located between the bearings 6 and 7.

AThe combustion, chamber 10 has a spark plug 11 connected thereto, the terminal thereof being connected by means of a conductor 12 to a terminal 13 of a switch 14, which is connected in circuit with the coils provided in the coil box. 1t is manifest that upon operation of the switch 14, any combustible charge contained in the combustion chamber 10 will be ignited through the sure gauge 23 -tween the combustion chamber 10 and the means just referred to if all conditions are suitable.

The trunnion 8 has pipe fittings 15 secured to it to provide separate air and gas branches 16 and 17, which are respectively controlled by

valves

18 and 19, said valves being provided to control the passage of gas and air to the interior of the combustion chamber 10.

The trunnion 9 is also provided with pipe fittings, one of which, such as 20, is connected with a registering gauge 2l 'and the other, such as 22, being connected to a pres- A valve 24 is arranged bepressure gauge 23. The pressure gauge 23 is employed to measure the pressure of the fluid content in the combustion chamber 10 and the registering gauge 21 is employed to measure the explosive force of the fluid contents of the combustion chamber 10 when the fluid is ignited through the medium of the spark plug 11 and connections therewith, the valve 24 being shut during the explosion in order to protect the measuring gauge 23 which is of more sensitive and less rugged construction than the gauge 21.

The combustion chamber 10 is supplied with a means for agitating the mixture contained in the combustion chamber 10 so as to thoroughly mix the contents of the chamber. The means herein shown for accomplishing this last-mentioned function includes a ball 25 which is freely movable within the interior of the combust-ion chamber, it being actua upon oscillation or rotation of the combustion chamber in the bearings 6 and 7 in which it is mounted.

The recording gauge 21 preferably comprises a rotatable arm 26 carrying a wick or pencil 27 adapted for recording on a disk 28 and slidable on the arm so that it may be reset after recording each of the explosions of a test and provide a graph of the pressures of the series of explosions. A number of disks 28 may be removably mounted in the gauge housing, one upon the other so that the outer one may record' impressions as to determine whether ornot the fluid contents of the chamber 1s of an explosive or non-explosive character, that the connection 17 of the pipe fittings 15 is connected to a source of gas supply, such as, for instance, a pipe or line leading from a compressor employed to force air into a well to cause oil in` an adjacent well .to flow therefrom.

1t is thus evident that whenthe valve 19 controlling the connection 17 is 'opened an the valve 18 controlling the air connection 16 is closed, gas will be permitted to flow into the combustion chamber through the nipple 8, and from the combustion chamber through the nipple 9 to the pressure gauge 28, upon which a reading of the pressure may be had. When a test is to be made, the

valves

18, 19 and 24 are closed and the switch 14 operated,

it being understood which will cause a spark to occur within the combustion chamber 10, and if the gas or mixture is of a character which will support combustion it will naturally be ignited and the explosive force thereof will be denoted upon the recording gauge 2l. 1f the gaseous content of the chamber is such that it and it is desired to determine the quantity of air or gas necessary to be mixed with the gas so as to provide a mixture which is too rich or too lean to support combustion, then air under pressure or gas is fed separately in quantities, which can be determined by the indication of the pressure gauge, .through the pipe connection 16 to the combustion chamber where it is mixed and the precedingly described operation will be resorted to until a mixture results which is non-combustible, the explosive force of each mixture being recorded on the recording gauge which, together with the chart of mixtures employed may provide a record of the In this manner the quantity of air or gas necessary to be addedto the mixture fed to a well which is non-combustible can be ascertained.

1f it is desired to employ the device to determine the combustibility at the operating pressure of to be employed for actuating the engine whereby the compressor is operated, the above again be portion of gas and air described operation will which is necessary to be added to that in the line or well to supthe pressures recorded on the gauge 21 for the tests From the manifest that a structure is of various mixtures.

disclosed where-- foregoing description, it is ignites y employed and thus the exact proi by the combustibility or non-combustibility to and from the of a gas may be determined and whereby upon Which the c said gas may be rendered combustible or naled.

upon the circumstances or desires.

It is further manifest that after determincontrolling said flu ing by the test the quantity of air or gas with said outlet, a necessary to be added to prevent combustion, Huid outlet, said gas or air in siinilai' proportions may be inand from the ch troduced to the Well and line and thus preupon Which the coinbustio vent conllagration and explosion. naled.

What We claim and desire to secure by 7. In a tes Letters Patent is: scribed, a

1. In a testing device of the character dethe b scribed, the combination of a combustion for connectg chamber, air and gas inlets leading to said coil Within chamber, gauges communicating with said supply of e-lemen.' chamber, means arranged within said chamchamber her for mixing the fluid introduced to Said miinication with the In a testing scribed, a coil b Q. In a testing device of the character demounted on the b scribed, the combination of a combustion tion device, a s chamber, air and gas inlets leadingto said connection betw chamber, gauges communicating with said coils Within the combustion chamber, means for controlling livery of elements the actuation of one of said gauges, and aratelyto the explosion ch means for causing combustion in said comin communication With sa g device of the cha plosion chamber, ow of elements of a f chamber, and means for causing combustion 8. in said chamber.

bustion chamber.

v 3. In a testing device of the character scribed, an ex described, the combination of a movably trolling il mounted combustion chamber, means arto said ch ranged Within said chamber for mixing fluid mixture in said chambe introduced to said chamber, said means bega-uge in communie ing operable upon movement of said chamthe recording er, a fluid inlet leading to said combustion able under chamber, and a gauge in communication plosion cha with said combustion chamber.

4. In a testing device of the character 10. In a testin described, the combination of a movably described, a mounted combustion chamber, means artrolling sep ranged Within said chamber for mixing mixture to the chamb fluid introduced to said chamber, said means connected With the cha being operable upon movement of said chamgauge connected with the er, a Huid inlet leading to said combustion means for sl chamber, gauges in communication with said from the c h combustion chamber, and means for controlrecording ling the passage of pressure to one of said under im gauges. l sion chamber and a m 5. In a testing device of the character deable on said arm. scribed, the combination of a rotatable com- VIn testimon bustion chamber. a fluid inlet and outlet tures.

leading to and from said cliambei', valves controlling said fluid inlet, gauges connected with said outlet, said fluid inlet and outlet Witch contr een the igni X, means co ation with t n explosion cha iutting olf flow o amber to the press gauge comprising a pulses eman JAMES O. LEWIS. HOMER R. PIERCE.

chamber providing means ombustion chamber is ]our gauges connected ve located in said let and outlet to providing means n chamber is jourdevice of the character deplosion chamber prising an igniolling electrical tion device and ntrolling defuel mixture racter demeans conn uel mixture or igniting the fuel d a recording he chamber,

of the character mber, means conof elements of a fuel pressure gauge and a recording fluid medium ure gauge, the n arm rotatable from the eXploarking member adjustloo I y whereof Weaiix our signaf