US2428889A

US2428889A - Bubble cap

Info

Publication number: US2428889A
Application number: US611480A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nutter Irvin Earl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-08-20
Filing date: 1945-08-20
Publication date: 1947-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1964-10-14

Description

I. E. 'NUTTER BUBBLE CAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1945 wnllllllllllllll mIIlI'IIlI/l mmmm mmmm f.

Patented Oct. 14, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims. (01. 261-114) The present invention relates to a contact apparatus and, more particularly, to an improved bubble tower cap construction for insuring intimate contact of a gas with a liquid.

An important feature of the invention consists in associating with a bubble cap a reciprocating valve for controlling the flow of a gaseous fluid from below the bubble cap plate to the inside of ing of the valve.

' taining the bubble cap 40 in a fixed position on A further object consists in the provision of means associated with a bubble cap for reduction of turbulence of gas withinthe bubble cap which is effected by virtue of the increased area and more direct passage of gas through the gas opening controlled by the reciprocating valve, and at high ranges of capacity, results in considerable less pressure loss as compared with the conventional bubble cap construction provided with a chimney. In other words, simple, efllcient,

and positive means are provided'ior permitting Y a greater capacity of gas flow at an equal pres 'sure difierential from below the bubble tray to above the tray than has heretofore been obtainable. 1 1

Another object comprehends the provision of means for releasably maintaining the bubble cap in a fixed position on the tray plate.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following deopenings of difierent configurations.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a further modified form of bubble cap.

Figure 9 is a side view of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a plan view of another modified form of bubble cap, and

Figure 11.is a side view of'Figure 10;

In the form of the invention shown in Figures l and 2, means are provided for releasably mainthe tray plate 4| so as to conveniently permit access to the parts housed by the cap for the purpose of inspection or repair. The cap 40 has a closed top 42 and is shown of square shape with its sides 43 diverging downwardly from the top so as to rest on the tray plate 4|. Each of the sides 43 of the cap is provided with suitable through passages such as the elongated openings 44 which extend downwardly to a point adjacent the lower end of the cap. A reciprocating gravity operated disk valve 45 is positioned within the cap 40 for controlling the flow of gases upwardly through the valve opening 45 in the tray plate 4| and has a bevelled lower surface 41 arranged to engage a complementary formed surface or valve seat 48 on the upper wall of the opening 48, The valve 45 has extending upwardly and centrally therefrom -a tubular portion or stem 49 which is of such a length that when the valve 45 is in its extreme upper or openedposition, it will be moved above the openings 44 at the lower extremity of bevis properly centered relative to the valve opening-46 to insure the valve being moved into sealing engagement with the seat 48, when the gas pressure below the tray plate 4| drops to allow the valve to fall by gravity to close the opening 45. The lower end of the bolt 50 has a transverse arm or head 5| connected medially thereto as at 52 in any suitable manner, such as by welding or the like. The arm 5| extends diametricallyacross the valve opening 46. and has its ends formed with reduced shoulder portions ing 46. The arm 5| is of such length that its end portions 54 overlap and engage the adjacent undersuriace of the tray plate 4| when the parts are assembled. The upper or free end of the belt or rod 50 extends outwardly from the top 42 of the cap 40 and is preferably threaded" as at 55 to receive a retaining nut 56 in order to firmly clamp the 'cap 4|] in a fixed position. It will be seen that upon tightening of the nut 55 on the bolt 50 that the 'end portions 54 of the arm. 5| are brought into firm engagement with the underside of the tray plate 4| so as to maintain the cap in a fixed position. When the parts are assembled, the arm is properly centered in the valve openingdfi of the tray plate and the bolt or rod 50 positioned within the cap 60 constitutes a guide means for insuring .the proper positioning of the valve 55 in engagement with its seat as for the purpose of cutting oil communication of the inside of the bubble cap to with the bottom of the plate 41. The upward movement of the valve 45 is limited by the stem 39 being brought into contact with the top d2 of the cap 40. When it is desired to obtain access to the interior of the cap Ml, this may readily be done by removing the nut 56 from the bolt 56 and lifting the cap 40. Thus, simple and eiiicient means are provided for firmly clamping the cap Ml in position and for maintaining the valve 45 and its associated parts in proper operative relation with the opening 46 in the tray plate I.

The bubble cap may assume various shapes and, as shown in' Figure 3, the cap 51 is formed with a curved or round side 58 having elongated openings or slots 59 in the side thereof and a central opening 50 in its top for receiving a bolt such as disclosed in Figure 1, so that the cap 51 may be interchangeably used or substituted for either the cap l3 or the cap 40.

The bubble cap instead of having diverging sides or being rounded may be 01 any desired configuration, such as square-shaped, and may have its side formed with openings such as slots, recesses or the like of different sizes and shapes, As illustrative of some of the various configurations the openings in the sides of the cap may assume, there is disclosed in Figure 4, a cap M which has its side provided with elongated openings 62 that extend upwardly from the lower edge of the cap a suitable d stance so as to insure a free fiow of the gas from below the tray plate into and through the cap when the valve is in its open position.

In Figure 5, the side of the bubble cap 83 is formed with upwardly diverging or tapering openings or slots 64 that decrease in width and have their lower ends 65 closed and spaced from the bottom edge of the cap. In Figure 6, the side of the cap 56 is formed with upwardly diverging openings 61 that have their lower ends 68 open and in substantial transverse alignment with the lower edge 69 of the cap 65. In Figure '1, the side of the bubble cap is shown provided with small openings or perforations H for communicating the inside of the bubble cap with the outside thereof when the valve is moved away from its seat.

In Figures 8 and 9, there is shown a modified form of bubble cap construction in which the cap 12 is of rectangular shape and has inwardly sloping or inclined sides 13 having elongated openings 14 adjacent its lower'edge. The cap is of such a length as to be able to house a number of valves but, if desired, may be of a size to be used with a single valve such as shown in Figure 1.

In Figures 10 and 11, a further modification of a bubble cap is disclosed in which the cap 15 is provided with sloping sides 16 having slots 11 therein and a round oblong top 18. The size and shape of the cap may vary and be of such a length as to be associated with one or more valves for controlling the flow of the gas from below a tray plate into and through the cap when the valve or valves therein are open, and the openings in the sides of these caps may be such changes may be made as falls within the purview of one skilled in the art, without'departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a. contact apparatus of the class described, a tray plate having a valve opening provided with a valve seat, a bubble cap having a closed top and an open bottom and mounted on said plate to enclose said opening, the sides of the bubble cap being provided with openings, a reciprocating valve within said bubble cap and arranged normally to engage said seat, said valve having a central opening and a tubular stem, the top of the bubble cap having a central orifice registering with said tubular stem, a retaining member for releasably securing the bubble cap to the tray plate, said member including a bolt having a transverse arm connected medially to one end thereof and extending across said valve opening so that the end portions of the aim overlap and engage the underside of the tray plate, the other end portion of the bolt being threaded and extending through the opening in the valve, the tubular stem and the central orifice, and a nut connected to the threaded end portion of the bolt for forcing the ends of said arm into engagement with the tray plate to maintain the cap in a fixed position when the parts are assembled.

2. In a contact apparatus of the class described, a tray plate having a valve opening provided with a valve seat, a bubble cap having a closed top and an open bottom and mounted on said plate to enclose said opening, the sides of the bubble cap being provided with discharge openings, a reciprocating valve within said bubble cap and arranged normally to engage said seat, said valve having a central opening and a tubular stem, a retaining member for releasably securing the top of the bubble cap to the tray plate, said member including a bolt having a transverse arm connected medially to the lower end thereof and extending diametrically across said valve opening, so that the end portions of the arm overlap and engage the underside of the tray plate, said arm adjacent the end portions being formed with reduced shoulders to provide an intermediate portion that extends into and engages the wall of the valve opening, the upper end of said bolt being threaded and extending through the orifice in the valve and the stem andthe top of the cap, and a nut connected to the threaded end portion of the bolt iorforcing the ends of said arm into engagement with the tray plate to maintain the cap in a fixed position when the parts are assembled.

3. In a contact apparatus of the class described, a tray plate having a valve opening provided with a valve seat, a bubble cap having a closed top and an open bottom and mounted on said plate to enclose said opening, the sides of the bubble cap being provided with openings, a reciprocating' valve within said bubble cap and arranged normally to engage said seat. said valve having a central opening and a tubular stem. the top of the bubblecap having a central orifice registering with said tubular stem, a retaining,

member for releasably securing the bubble cap to the tray plate. said member including a bolt having a transverse arm connected medially to i the lower end thereof and extending diametrically across said valve opening, so that the end portions of the arm overlap and engage the underside of the tray plate, the upper end of said bolt being threaded and extending through the orifice in the valve. and the stem and the top 01 the cap, said valve and tubular stem being slidable' on the bolt and having their upward movement limited by engagement of the tubular stem with the top or the bubble cap when the valve is moved above said discharge openings. and a nut connected to the threaded end portion of the bolt for forcing the ends of said arm into engagement 0 with the tray plate to maintain the cap in a fixed 2 position when the parts are assembled. 1

IRVIN EARL NUTTER.

8 nmnmvcos crrEn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS