US682811A

US682811A - Hydraulic air-compressor.

Info

Publication number: US682811A
Application number: US3538500A
Authority: US
Inventors: John Paterson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1900-11-03
Filing date: 1900-11-03
Publication date: 1901-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 1918-09-17

Description

Patented Sept. I7, |90I.

.L PATgnsnN. HYDRAULIC AIB COMPRESSOR.

(Application led Nov. 3, 1900.)

(No Model.)

Wl. Ill

Witnesses z @Miorney mi mums PETERS co. Pmvoum'n.. WASHINGTON. :ma4

l UNITED STATES- PATENT OEEI'CE. f

JOHN PATRsoN, `or NELSON, OANADA.

HYDRAULIC AIB-COMPRESSOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 682,811, dated September 17, 1901. Application filed November 3, 1900. Serial No. 35,385. (No model.)

To rif/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PATERsON, a subject of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Nelson, in the county of Kootenai, Province of British Columbia, Canada,

lhave invented certain new and usefulilmprovemeuts in Hydraulic Air-Compressors; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains 'to make and' use the same.

vMy invention relates vto improvements in hydraulic air-compressors; and the important object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for compressing air at mines and at other places in districts Where there are streams of water having a high head and'whose energy is available for the purpose of compressing air, the latter adapted to be utilized for operating drills,hoists, and other mechanical appliances.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of a portable nature which necessitates the construction of certain of the parts of comparatively light material, which is a feature of considerable importance in a mountainous country, because of the fact that the apparatus must ofttimes be transported by pack-animals, and, furthermore, to provide means for reinforcing these comparatively light parts of the apparatus in order to secure the requisite strength and stidness to withstand the service. 1

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the subjoined description, and the novelty in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts will be defined by the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly broken away and with certain parts in section, of the upper part of my apparatus adapted to be installed at the head of the Water-supply and intended to primarily receive the watercurrent the energy of which is to be utilized for compressing air. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly broken away and in section, of the lower part of the machine or the apparatus and other appliances associated therewith. Fig. 3 is a transverse secl tion taken in the plane of the annular series of openings in the external tube or pipe 9.

The same characters of reference denote like parts in all the figures of the drawings. The water received at the upper part of the machine (shown by Fig. l) is allowed to come long pipe or conduit, (indicated bythe reference character W) and during its progress through the upper section ot' the machine the water becomes impregnated or commingled with the air which passes through the conduit with it, said conduit being provided to convey the air and water from the upper part of the machineto the lower part thereof. This water and air conduit may be laid down in the most convenient manner to suit the inclination of a mountain or other elevation. The commingled water and air on arriving at the lower part of the machine is there separated, the water being allowed to escape, while the air, being under compression, is conveyed away from the apparatus to the machine which is tobe operated by its energy.

VI will now proceed'to describe in detail the preferred construction shown by the iigures of the drawings, reference being first had more particularly to Fig. l.

5 designates a flume, preferably of metallic construction and rectangular form both in side elevation and in cross-section. A sluicegate 6 is provided in the flume for regulating the iiow of water therethrough, said gate being connected with an operating-lever 7, to which is attached a cable 8, the latter leading from the lever to a point near the lower part of the machine, Where the end of the rope may be connected to a suitable device (not shown) for operating the sluice-gate as desired.

A cylindrical pipe 9 is attached'in a suitable way to the under side of the flume 5, and within the upper part of this pipe is arranged a funnel-shaped or conical tube 10, the latter having its upper larger end in communication with the chamber of the flume by the provision of a suitable opening 11 in the bottom of the latter, whereby the water from the ilume is adapted to pass directly into the inverted conical tube. 10. Another funnelshaped tube 12 is inserted or arranged within the cylindrical reinforcement pipe 9, said 'in contact with the free air as it traverses a IOG communicate directly with the annular air- A passage 14, so as to provide for the inflow of a current of air through the ports and the passage by the energy developed by the downwardly-moving column of liquid flowing through the tubes 10 12. The air-ports 15 have a collective area about equal to one-half of the area of the lower end of the upper conical tube 10.

A double funnel-shaped tu be 16 is arranged for its portion of greatest diameter to t snugly within the lower open extremity of the external cylindrical pipe 9. The bellied portion of the double funnelshaped tube is united at 17 to the foot of said pipe 9, while its upper extremity is united at 18 to the lower portion of the conical tube 12, whereby the tube 16 is disposed in axial alinement with the conical tubes 10 12 for the current of mingled air and water to flow directly into said tube 16. It is to be understood that the tube 16 has a tight connection with the tube 12 and that each of the

tubes

10, 12, and 16 -is attached to the cylindrical pipe 9. This construction enables each of the tubes to be made of comparatively light material, a feature of considerable importance when it is necessary to transport the apparatus in a mountainous country; but the requisite strength and stiffness of the parts when they are assembled for use are secured by the provision of the pipe 9, the latter having individual union with each of the series of funnel-shaped tubes.

- The water entering the flume passes through the opening 11 down the tube 10. As it emerges from the base of this tube it comes in contact with the free air, which is admitted through the ports 15, and the downward motion of the column of wat-er induces or draws the air along with it, the commingled current of air and water forcing its way through the double funnel-shaped tube 16 and through the pipe or conduit W to the separating-chamber below.

I will now proceed to describe that part of the apparatus shown by Fig. 2, in which the letter W indicates a continuation of the water-conduit, thelatteradapted to enter the separatingchamber 20, to which it is united by a tight joint 21, that prevents the escape of any air from the vessel. This chamber is preferably a large cylindrical metallic vessel standing with its axis vertical, into which chamber the column of commingled air and water is conducted to a point a short distance above the center of the vessel by the conduit XV. The water is deposited into a large basin 22, which is secured in the chamber by any approved means and is arranged just below the foot of the water-conduit. The water overflows this basin, so as'to be deposited in the lower portion of the separating-chamber, from whence it flows through a short length of pipe 23 into the chamber of the valve-shell 24, said valvechamber containing a double balanced valve 25, the latter being loaded by a spring 26, which is placed inside the chamber, the pressure of the spring on the valve being regulated by an adjustable screw 27. A draincock 28 is connected to the pipe 23 below the separating-chamber, said cock adapted to be opened whenever it is desired to draw off the water for any particular purpose. The air is separated from the water by the basin 22, thus freeing the air and allowing it to rise into the upper portion of the separatingchamber, from whence it passes into the chamber of the valve-casing 29, the vlatter containing a double valve 30, which is loaded by a spring 31, the latter being controlled by a screw 32, from which description it will be seen that the air-valve is similar in principle to the watervalve. The air is conducted from the separatingchamber and the airvalve chamber, when it attains a pressure sufficient to overcome the resistance ot' the spring 31, by an offbearing pipe 33. A blowoff valve 34: is connected to the separatingchamber, at the top portion thereof, to permit the machine to continue in operation in case the connections above the air-valve are shut olf. A pressure-gage 35 and a water-gage 36 are connected to the shell of the separatingchamber in order that the machine may be regulated. Two manholes 37 are provided in the separator-chamber, near the upper and lower portions thereof.

Changes within the scope of the appended claims may be made in the form and proportion of some of the parts, while their essential features are retained and the spirit of the invention is embodied. Hence I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of all the parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

The double funnel-shaped tube 16 is advantageous in my apparatus, because it tends to check or retard the downward flow of the commingled column of air and water and pei mits the desired separation of the air from the water to take place at the basin, whereby the necessary rapidity of movement of the water column in the upper part of the apparatus to induce the inward iiow of air is attained. It is therefore to be understood that the upper and lower parts of the apparatus are combined together to secure a unitary result in the operation of the hydraulic ai r-compressoiu Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. A hydraulic air-compressor comprising IOO IIO

a cylindrical tube having an annular series of air-inlet openings, a tapered tube 10 eX- tending into the cylindrical tube, another tapered tube 12 secured at its upper end to the cylindrical tube below the openings therein and arranged in parallel relation to the tube 10 and partially surrounding the latter to form therewith an annular air-space which is in communication with said openings, and a double-tapered tube disposed in axial alinement with the aforesaid tube and arranged to receive the contents of the tube 12, substantially as described.

2., A hydraulic air-compressor comprising an external tube 9 provided with an annular series of air-inlet openings, a tapered waterfeed tube l0 secured in said tube 9, another tapered tube 12 secured at its upper end to the tube 9 below the openings therein and arranged to extend below said tube 10, the said tube 12 surrounding the tube 10 and forming therewith an annular air-space which is in communication with the openin gs, and a double-tapered tube 16 secured at its bellied portion to the tube 9 and at its upper end to the tube 12, saidtube 16 arranged in axial alinement with the

tubes

9, 10, 12 and adapted to receive, above the line of its greatest diameter, the contents 0f the tube 12, substantially as described.

3. A hydraulic air-compressor comprising a closed tank forming a separating-chamber, a cross-sectionally-curved basin having an open top and secured in said tank, a water and air combining pipe leading through the ltank and terminating centrally Within the basin at a point below the open top thereof and leaving ample space for the water to flow freely into the basin, a water-drain pipe con.- nected to the bottom of the tank and having a double valve, and an air-outlet pipe connected to the upper portion of the tank and also having a balanced double valve, substantially as described. i l

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN PATERSON. W`itnesses: l

HARRY V. INSKIP, W. I-I. LEE.