US2541798A - Chemical feeder - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 13, 1951 E. B. WHITE 2,541,798

CHEMICAL FEEDER Filed May 22, 1947 y '2 Sheets-Sheet l E. B. WHITE CHEMICAL FEEDER Feb. i3, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22. 194'? Patented Feb. 13, 1951 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 2,541,798 CHEMICAL FEEDER Eugene B. White, Oak Park, Ill. Application May 22, 1947, serial No. 149,691

4 Claims.

The invention relates generally to a feeding or injection device, and more particularly to a device for automatically feeding chemicals or the like into a fluid system.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in feeding a chemical solution into a fluid system, wherein the chemical concentration of the solution being fed may be automatically and continuously varied to provide a desired control of the chemicals being fed into the system. A typical example of a situation wherein such type of apparatus may be readily utilized is in theantisepticizing of water in swimming pools, wherein it is desirable to maintain a residual of the anti- 4-septicizing material in the water during the period -of pool use.

The invention has .among its objects the production of a feeding or injecting device, which will automatically vary the characteristics or 4elements may be readily replaced if necessary.

A further object of the invention yis the construction of such va device which is relatively free 4,romclogging and which is so constructed that the operation of the device may be visually ascertained.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a device which utilizes a pressure vrdifferential in the fluid line-which is to receive the material being 'fed for actuation of the device whereby a pressure failure in such fluid line will automatically render the device inoperative and stop the feeding action thereof,

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

'I'o this end my invention consists in the novel construction. arrangement and combination of lparts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference charcters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a device ,embodying the present invention;

2 Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings and more particu-v larly to Figs. 1 and 2, the embodiment of the invention illustrated comprises a hydraulic fluid injector mechanism, indicated generally by the numeral I, adapted to be operatively connected to a fluid line 2, having a relatively high uid pressure and to a line 3, having a relatively lower fluid pressure existing therein. Also connected to the injector mechanism I is a feed line 4 com municating with a suitable tank or container 5, adapted to hold the supply of fluid being injected i into the line 3.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, 6 indicates generally a housing similar in shape to a standard pipe T, having a bore 'I extending through the housing 6 and threaded at the respective ends 8 and 9 as indicated at II, for receiving closure members l2 and I3 respectively, the inner ends of which are cup-shaped as indicated at I4. f.

Positioned in the cup-shaped portions of the closure members I 2 and I3 are resilient rings I5 and I6, the rings I6.being seated on their respective rings I5 as illustrated in Fig. 3. Positioned in the bore 'I and seated upon the rings I6 are a pair of tubular members i1 and I8 positioned adjacent the closure members I2 and I3 respectively. The member I8 is internally threaded adjacent its -free end as indicated at I9, to receive a hollow nipple 2| the free end 22 of which is externally threaded and carries an internally threaded sleeve 23, having a tapered shoulder 24 adapted to cooperate with the tapered portion 25 of the tubular member I1, a suitablev gasket ring 26 being interposed between the respective tapered surfaces. Positioned in the nipple 2l is an insert 21 having a slightly flaring aperture 28 therein communicating at its respective ends with the interior of the members I'I and I8 respectively. The threaded end 22 of the nipple 2| is also provided with an aperture 29 extending transversely therethrough and intersecting the aperture 28 in the insert 21, thus forming a pair of orifices connecting the bore 1 of the housing 6 `with the aperture 28. p

The lower portion of the housing 6, in the ccnstruction illustrated, is internally threadedas indicated at 3| into which is threaded a block 32, thereby sealing the lower portion of the -bore 1, the block 32 having a chamber 33 therein communicating with an inlet pipe 34 connected to the block through a bushing 35. Also threaded into the block 32 and communicating with the chamber 33 is a pipe 36 operatively connected to a valve 31 through the L 38, nipple 39 and union 4I, the valve 31 being operatively connected to the chamber I1a, formed by the member I1, by the pipe 42 threaded into the closure member I2. An outlet pipe v43 threaded into the closure member F3 connects the chamber I8a formed by the tubular member I8, with the low pressure line 3. It will be apparent that while the housing 6 and block 32 are illustrated as being formed of two 545 threaded into the respective elements vand having a bore 46 therein operatively connecting Ithe interior of the member 44 with the bore 1 of the housing 6. A dome-shaped member 41 of 4glass or other transparent material is seated on a sealing gasket member 48 which in turn is l seated on the shoulder 49 of the member 44, the

dome being securely held in place by a U-shaped bale 5I, pivotally connected at its lower ends to .the member 44 and provided at its upper end vwith a threaded stem 52 upon which is threaded a thumb wheel 53 adapted to urge the dome 41 4into sealing engagement with the gasket 43 and .member 44 through a bell-shaped washer 54. Thus, by screwing the thumb wheel 53 downward towards the member 44 the dome 41 and .washer 48 will be securely clamped between the shoulder 49 and washer 54, thus providing a iluid tightconnection. Threaded into the bottom of Vthe member 44 is a nipple 55, providing a support.

for a vertically extending tube or stem 56, the

tube 56 being operatively connected to the feed Iline 4 by a collar 58 threaded on the free end of Ithe nipple 55.

56 is provided with an insert 51 having a metering orice 58 therein.

, Positioned at the top of the housing 6 is a suit- The free upper end of the tube able vacuum gage 59 operatively communicating with the bore 1 of the housing.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, the tank or container `5 is supported on a stand indicated generally by the numeral 6I, having a platform 62 on which Athe tank 5 is positioned, the platform 62 being raised from the oor by legs 63. The pipe 34 is connected to the fluid inlet line 2 by means of the Ts 64 and 65, nipples 66, 61 and 58 and L 66, the pipe being connected to the nipple 66 by a union 41I so that the entire injector mechanism I may be disconnected from the piping when desired by 1breaking the union 1 I The T 65 is provided with a partition 12 which seals the lower end of the T "from the nipples 61 and 68'so that the T 65 func'- 'tio'nally serves as an L. A supporting pipe 13 fis threaded into the lower end of the T 65 and is seated in a pipe flange 14 mounted on the platform 62, thus the pipe 13 will support the injec- 'tor I and the rest of the piping, no fluid, however, 'entering the pipe 13. If desired, a suitable strainver may be inserted in the line 2 to remove any Lmaterial in the line. Connected to the lower end of the T 64 by means of a pipe nipple 15 is a gate vvalve 11 operatively connected to a float valve 18 'of common construction and actuated by a float 19. Ihe feed line 4 extends downwardly into thev tank 5, terminating adjacent the bottom thereof in a T SI. It will be apparent that'th'e tubular members I1 and I8, washers I5 and I 6;

nipples 2l and sleeve 23, as well as the other elements of the device may be readily formed from suitable materials to minimize deterioration.

In the operation of the device the lines 2 and 3 are operatively connected in the fluid line, into which the solution is to be fed, the line 2 being connected to a high pressure side and the line 3 to va relatively low pressure side of the system in which the receiving fluid flows. The tank 5 is then lled with the solution to be injected and the valve 31 opened to permit fluid to iiow from the line 2 into the line 3. As this operation takes place the passage of fluid through the aperture 28 in the insert 21 will result in a withdrawal of air from the bore 1 into the pipe 43 of the line 3, thus creating a vacuum in the bore 1 and communicating chambers and passages, such as the member 44 and line 4, causing liquid to be drawn from ,the tank 5 through the member 44, into the bore 1 and through the orifices formed by the aperture 29, into the line 3. The amount of the solution entering the line 3 will be dependent upon the rate of flow from the chamber Ila to the chamber I8a through the aperture 28, and the degree of vacuum existing in the bore 1, so that by rotating the handle 31 of the valve 31 to inicrease or reduce the flow from the line 2 to the line 3, the amount of solution fed into the line 2 may be vreadily and accurately controlled, as the K amount of solution withdrawn into the line will be more or less proportional to the degree of vacuum in the chamber I1a.

The gage 59 provides a means for determining the correct position of the valve 31 to produce the desired amount of feeding action. A further visual indication of the satisfactory operation o f the device and the amount of solution being 1njected, may be obtained by observing the height of the column of solution being ejected from the Ymouth of the tube-55:3v into the dome 41, and if desired the side wall of the latter may be provided with a series of graduations 82 thereby providing a means for obtaining comparison readings of the height of the uid column. Likewise, as the gage 59 would indicate a vacuum in the bore 1 even though solution were not being withdrawn in lthe line, as for example, if an obstruction existed in the line 4 or T 8|, observation through the dome 41 of the mouth of the tube 56 would readily disclose the fact that no solution was entering the housing l. Similarly a comparison of the height of the fluid column flowing from the mouth of the tube 56 with the degree of vacuum L in the bore 1 as indicated by the gage 59 would readilyy disclose whether or not the device was operating properly. For example, if the desired amount of vacuum were indicated by the gage 59, but the column of solution flowing from the tube 56 did not rise to as great a height as it normally would with the same amount of vacuum present, it would indicate an obstruction between the bore 1 and tank 5, or an air leak directly or indirectly 'Y Y uid therein will be substantially continuously reduced as iiuid is withdrawn from the tank into `sometimes be desirable to inject solution of uniform concentration in which case it is merely necessary to close the valve 11 to shutoii the supply -of fluid into the tank 5, whereby dilution of thesolution in the tank will cease. Likewise, in certain-applications it-'may be desirable co-dilute thev solution inthe tank with fluid other than that flowing in the lines 2 and 3 in which case the valve 11 may be disconnected `from the T 64 and line 2, and connected vto a separate huid line, indicated in Fig. 1 in dotted lines and designated by the letter F. Obviously, in this case the T 64 would be replaced by an LV or the lower end of the T may be closed by a suitable pipe plug. v

153A further adjustment of the injector i is provided by the nip-ple 2l and the sleeve 2.3 threaded on the latter, as it will be apparent that the effective size of the orices formed by the aperture`29 may be varied by screwing the sleeve 23 farther on the threaded portion 22 of the nipple 2l thereby partially covering lthe aperture 129 to restrict the flowof il-uid through the latter. The resiliency of the rings l5 and I6 is suicient to compensate for any minor variations in distance between the outer edges` of the members l1 and imdue to the relative position of the sleeve 2h3, with respect to the nipple 2 i, as well as compen- `sate' forv any minor variations yin* assembly between the various elements toeiiciently seal the chambers Ila and lila from the bore l, at all times.

It will be apparent that the construction of the various elements of the device is such that such elements may be made out of suitable material to handle the desired chemicals being` fed with minimum deterioration.. Likewise, thedevice may be readily cleaned or the members I1 and I8 and associated elements readily replaced with a minimum amount of eiiort. It will be noted from the above description that I have provided a very simple and inexpensive` feeding apparatus by means of which one fluid may be injected into another uid, wherein the concentration of the fluid being fed may beV automatically varied to meet particular requirements, and in which the apparatus may be readily and accurately adjusted to the desired operating conditions.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hydraulic injector, the combination of a housing having a bore therein extending therethrough, a closure member threaded into each end of said bore, each of said members having a hole therein communicating with said bore and adapted to connect the respective opposite ends of the latter with a relatively 'highy pressure iluid line and a relatively low pressure fluid line, a tubular member positioned adjacent each closure member to form a pair of spaced chambers, resilient gasket means interposed between said tubular members and their respective closure members t'o' provdetfluid tight jointsther'ebc= tween, a hollow nipple, one end of which kis threaded into the freeend of one of said tubular members, a sleeve threaded on the other end of said nipple and having a tapered shoulder cof-v operable `'with the free end of the other tubular member, a gasket member 'interposed between .the cooperating surfaces of said sleeve and tubular member -to provide a fluid tight joint therebetween, and-'anapertured insert positioned in said nipple with the aperture deiining a passage be-S tween the chambers formed by the two tubular members, said nipple and insert having an .orifice therein extending transversely to Athe aperture in said insert and communicating with-said aperture and opening in said bore, said sleeve being adapted to partially overlie saidorice and pro'- vide an adjustment for varying the amount of iluid passing therethrough, said housing having a iiuid inlet therein communicating with said bore and said orice. Y .i v I 2,. In a feeding `and mixing device, the combi: nation of a housing having a bore therein extend-l ing therethrough, a closure member threaded into ,each end of said bore, each of said members having v-a hole therein communicating with said bore and 'adapted to connect the respective opposite ends of the latter with a relatively high pressure fluid line'v and a relatively low pressure fluid line; a tubular member positioned adjacenteach elo sure member to form a pair of spaced chambers; resilient gasket means interposed between said tubular membersand their respective closure members to provide fluid tight joints therebetween, a hollow nipple, one end of 'which is threaded into the free end of one of said tubular members, a sleeve threaded on the other end of said nipple and having a tapered shoulder cooperable with the free end of the other tubular member, a gasket member interposed between the cooperating surfaces of said sleeve and tubular member to provide a uid tight joint therebetween, an apertured insert positioned in said nipple with the aperture defining a passage between the chambers formed by the two tubular members, said nipple and insert having an orifice therein extending transversely to the aperture in said insert and communicating with said aperture and opening in said bore, said sleeve being adapted to partially overlie said orifice and provide an adjustment for varying the amount of fluid for passing therethrough, said housing having a iiuid inlet therein communicating with said bore and said orifice, a fluid container, conduit means operatively connecting said container and said uid inlet, conduit means adapted to be connected to a source of fluid, operatively related to said container for supplying fluid thereto, and a float actuated valve connected to said conduit means for controlling the admission of all fluid to said container to maintain the fluid volume therein substantially constant.

3. In a hydraulic injector, the combination of a housing having a bore therein extending therethrough, a closure member threaded into each end of said bore, each of said members having a hole therein communicating with said bore and adapted to connect the respective opposite ends of the latter with a relatively high pressure fluid line and a relatively low pressure fluid line, a tubular member positioned adjacent to and in fiuid tight relation with each closure member to form a pair of spaced chambers, a hollow nipple extending axially from the free end of one of said tubular members, and a sleeve member extending axially from the free end of the other tubular member, said nipple and sleeve member forming a passage between the chambers formed by the two tubular members, said nipple and sleeve member being axially adjustable relative to each other and co-operating to define a transverse passage communicating with said rst passage and opening in said bore, with the eiective size of said second passage being variable by relative axial adjustment of said nipple and sleeve member` for varying the amount of uid passing through said passage, said housing having a fluid inlet therein communicating with said bore and said second passage.

vv4. In a hydraulic injector, the combination of a housing having a bore therein extending therethrough, a closure member threaded` into each end of said bore, each of said members having a hole therein communicating with said bore and adapted to connect the respective opposite ends of the latter with a relatively high pressure uid line and a relatively low pressure fluid line, a tubular member positioned adjacent to and in fluid tight relation with each closure member to form a pair of spaced chambers, a hollow nipple extending axially from the free end of one of said tubular members, a sleeve member extending axially from the free end of the other tubular member, said nipple and sleeve member forming a passage between the chambers formed by the two tubular members, said nipple and sleeve member being axially adjustable relative to each other and co-operating to define a transverse passage communicating with said first passage and opening in said bore, with the effectiveV size of vsaid second passage being variable by relative axial adjustment of said nipple and sleeve mem, Y

EUGENE B. WHITE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date v445,909 Shontz Feb. -3, 1891 1,905,244 Rohlin Apr. 25, 1933 1,922,920 Aherne Aug. 15, 1933 1,946,474 Banks et al. Feb. 13, 1934 1,963,522 Gavaza June 19, 1934 2,009,306 Ware July 23, 1935 2,065,583 Heitzmann Dec. 29, 1936 2,260,936 Everson Oct. 28, 1941 2,381,589 Hayes Aug. 7, 1945 2,461,334

Major Feb. 8, 1949

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