US781691A

US781691A - Gas apparatus.

Info

Publication number: US781691A
Application number: US15565003A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles G Strubler
Original assignee: GEORGE H PAINE
Current assignee: GEORGE H PAINE
Priority date: 1903-05-04
Filing date: 1903-05-04
Publication date: 1905-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 1922-02-07

Description

PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905.

C. G. STRUBLER. GAS APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 4. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR CHARLEJ- G 'JTRUBLEE PATENTED FEB. '7, 1905.

C. G. STRUBLER.

GAS APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m B U R E m. A WU L R A H C No. 781,691. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. G. G. STRUBLER.

GAS APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 4. 1903.

a sums-sum a.

/ III-III.

IIIIII IIIIIIII ARLEJ- .uTRz/BLER- UNITED STATES Patented February '7, 1905.

PATENT EEicE.

CHARLES G. STRUBLER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSlH-lOlt OF ONE- HALF TO GEORGE H. PAINE, OF DETROIT, MIUI'IIGAN.

GAS APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent iii 0. 781,691, dated February '7, 1905.

Application filed May 4,1903. Serial No. 155,650.

To all [rim/1t it 'HI/(LIJ concern:

Be it known that I, (Jrmnnns Ur. STRUBLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas Apparatus, of which the followingisaspecitication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to gas apparatuses of that type in which a liquid hydrocarbon is first vaporized by heat and then commingled with air to form a combustible gas.

It is one of the objects of the invention to obtain a construction of vapor generator which will have increased capacity without increasing the size.

It is a further object to provide a safety appliance whereby the vapor is automatically shut off upon an abnormal operation of the generating-burner; further, to provide a combined governor and indicator or gage, and, further. to provide a peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of parts,as hereinafter set forth.

in the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the air-commingling tubes in section. Fig. i is a section through the governing-valve. Fig. 5 is a section through the vapor-generator. Fig. 6 is a section through the shut-off valve for one of the connningling-tubes. Fig. 7 is a section of the controllingwalve for the initial generator. Fig. 8 is a sectional perspective view of the burner-ring for the vaporgenerator. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a combined governor and gage. Fig. 10 is a crosssection therethrough, and Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively rear and front elevations thereof.

In general construction the apparatus comprises a reservoir for the liquid hydrocarbon, which, as shown, comprises two cylindrical tanks A, arranged side by side in a horizontal plane and supported by suitable standards B.

C represents the generators, which are preferably arranged at one end of the tank A and connected thereto at the top and bottom, respectively, by the conduits D and E. l prefing the enlargement 0, also closed.

crably employ two of the generators (,3, each of which consists of a cylinder a, having its axis arranged vertically, being closed at the lower end by cap I) and at its upper end hav- \Vithin this cylinder is placed suitable capillary material for raising the liquid hydrocarlxm, this being preferably formed by wicking (Z, the arrangement being such that the liquid conveyed to the cylinder 1/ from the tank A through the conduit D will be elevated by the wicking regardless of the level of oil in the tank. The vapor is generated within the cylinder u by means of an annular vapor-burner F, which surrounds said cylinder. As the quantity of vapor generated is proportional to the heat developed by this burner, it is desirable to obtain as great a heating effect as possible, and at the same time it is necessary to control and regulate the heat as will be hereinafter set forth. I therefore devised the construction of double burner having vapor-orifices at both top and bottom, thereby doubling the heating effect produced by a single burner. Thisspecilic construction of this burner is preferably as follows: (2 is a ring having at top and bottom the inwardly-projecting flanges f and f and at its center the outwardly-projecting enlargement 7. The flanges f and f are adapted to lit around the cylinder (I, so as to form an inclosed annular chamber la within the ring. The vapor-oritices Z are formed, preferably, by kerling the flangesfandf", the kerfs extending through said flanges and some distance into the ring. Bands j are then placed upon the ring to cover the kerfs in the periphery of the ring, said bands preferably having a screw-threaded engagement with the ring. \V hen thus constructed, the vapor within the ring is free to pass outward at the top and bottom through the kerf but is prevented from passing radially outward by the bands j. The enlarged upper end a of the generator forms a vaporchamber which is connected to the conduit 1 leading back to the upper end of the tank. The vapor-chambers of the two generators are preferably cross-connected by a conduit G and each is connected with a jet-nozzle ll, controlled by the valve I. These jet-nozzles are upwardly directed, being arranged in axial alinement with the commingl'ing-tubes' J and J, which tubes are connected through the yoke K with the service-pipe L. The lower ends of the tubes J are also cross-connected by the air-supply conduit M, which has a plurality of downwardly-extending air-inlet pipes N.

O is a conduit connecting with the commingling-tube J and extending downward therefrom, its lower end being connected through the cross-conduit P with each of the burners F.

ith the construction of parts as thus far described it will be understood that the liquid hydrocarbon in the tanks A will be fed through the conduits D into the vapor-generators and whenever the burners F of said generator are in operation the liquid will be vaporized, passing upward into the chamber 0 and being distributed therefrom to the tanks A and jet-nozzles H. From the latter jets of vapor will be directed upward into the commingling-tubes J and J, in which the vapor is commingled with the air drawn in through the conduit M and inlet connections N. Commingled air and vapor will thus pass upward into the servicepipe L and aportion of vapor will also pass downward through the conduit O and crossconnection P to supply combustible gas to the burners F.

Uniform pressure is maintained in the vapor-generators and within the tanks A by means of a governor which automatically controls the supply of gas to the burners F, so as to turn down the flame whenever the pressure is excessive and turned up when the pressure is reduced below the abnormal point. This governor comprises a valve Q, arranged in the conduit O, and an actuating device for said valve operable by fluid-pressure. The automatic regulator is intended to maintain uniform pressure of vapor in the tanks and generators; but as a matter of precaution a gage or indicator is employed by which the pressure on the system may be determined. One of the features of my invention is a construction by which this indicator or gage and the actuating device for the valve Q are combined in a single mechanism, which is constructed as follows: his a casing upon which is arranged the expansible segmental tube Z, operated by the fluid-pressure. One end of this tube is connected through the conduit m with the vapor-space of one of the tanks A. The other end of the tube Zis closed and is connected with the links a and 0. The link a is connected at its opposite end with a lever 12, the opposite end of which is provided with a segmental rack q, engaging with the pinion 7' upon the axially-arranged arbor 5'. One end of this arbor projects outward through the dial 6, forming the front of the case A, and is connected with the index-hand u.

(/2 is a coil-spring connected to'the arbor .5:

and serving to return the hand to normal position.

The parts just described together constitute a well-known type of gage by which the fluidpressure communicated to the tube Z will cause a movement of the link a and lever 19 to revolve the arbor s and indicate the pressure on the dial 2/. The link 0 is connected to a lever w, which is fulcrumed at w upon the casing k. The'outer end of this lever forms an adjustable stop for supporting the rockarm which is attached to the rock-stem i of the valve Q. The valve Q is adapted to drop to its seat by gravity, but'it is normally held from so doing by the resting of the rock-arm w on the lever w. Whenever the pressure in the tank is increased and is communicated to the segment Z, the lever w will be rocked through the medium of the link 0 and permit the closing'of the valve Q, to a greater or less extent. As a consequence the supply of gas to the burners F will be diminished, which will reduce the generation of vapor and bring about a reduction of pressure in the tank.

The generators O are first started in operation by means of an initial heating-burner R and any suitable air-pumping device, such as indicated at S, by which an initial air-pressure is formed within the tanks. The air pumped into the tank by the pump-S will commingle with the vapor of the hydrocarbon within thetank, so that when the valve R of the burner R is opened a combustible mixture of air and vapor will pass from the tank, through the conduit R into the burner, which extends into proximity to one of the generators O. This will cause the heating of said generator until suificient vapor is generated to supply the burner F. In starting the apparatus all of the parts are cold, and only a small flame from the burner R can be used to advantage. As the generator C becomes partially heated a larger flame from the burner R'may be used, and this may be gradually increased in volume until the generator is thoroughly heated.

As has been stated, the combustible gas for the burner R is first supplied through the conduit R and consists of the air pumped into the tank, commingled with vapor of the hydrocarbon within said tank. As the tank is usually nearly full when the apparatus is started, only a small amount of air may be stored above the. liquid hydrocarbon, and it is therefore necessary to continue the pumping until sufficient vapor is generated to maintain the pressure. When this occurs, the vapor passes from the generator O through the conduit E into the tank above the liquid.

It will be evident that the character of the gaseous mixture within the tank A will gradually change, as in the first instance it contains a large proportion of air; but after the generation of vapor commences an increasingly larger percentage of vapor is supplied through the conduit R to the burner R. This requires the commingling of a larger percentage of air with the vapor in the burner R to produce the proper flame. I have therefore devised a construction of initial burner in which the proportion of air and vapor is antomatically changed by opening the valve controlling the vapor-jet, the construction being preferably as follows: R is the tube of the burner R, in which the jet controlled by the needle-valve R is directed. This tube has an air-orifice R formed therein, which is normally closed or restricted by a plug R This plug, as shown, is formed by a screw engaging with one end of a lever I the opposite end of which is curved to engage with an inner face of a cone It on the stem of the valve It. It is a spring for normally holding the lever in position where the plug restricts the aperture It. In operation when the valve h closed the orifice R" is also closed; but upon the opening of the valve R the outward movement of the cone R on the stem of the valve will actuate the lever B", so as to gradually withdraw the plug R" and open the orifice It". The result will be that the greater the quantity of vapor issuing from the jet controlled by the valve R the larger will be the quantity of air admitted to the orifice R commingled with said vapor.

\Yhere the gas is used forilluminating puroses, the demand on the apparatus varies according to the number of lights in use at one time. Thus when a small number of lights are burning the necessary vapor may be easily produced by one of the generators C; but for the full capacity of the machine both generators must be in operation. I therefore provide means for using either one or both of the generators, and to this end a valve J is placed in the commingler J, by which said commingler may cut off from the service connection L. \Yhen this valve is closed, the commingler J alone may be used by opening the jet-valve I for directing vapor therein, which will be commingled with the air and forced into the service-pipe L. ithout the valve J the commingled air and vapor would pass backward through the commingling-tube J and would again be drawn into the commingler J. The quantity of gas supplied to the service-pipe L may also be regulated by adjustment of the valve I to open or close the jetnozxle II to a greater or less extent. WVhenever additional lights are turned on, the valve I should be correspondingly adjusted, and, on the other hand, whenever lights are turned off the valve should be partially closed to diminish the vapor-jet. If this latter adjustment is not made, the excessive quantity of vapor generated and which is prevented from escaping through the service-pipe L will be forced backward through the conduit 0, resulting in increasing the flame in the burners F. Should the quantity of vapor generated be very greatly in excess of the amount consumed, it might even be forced back through the air-inlet conduit i\[ and downwardly-extending pipes N. so as to escape in the room.

The results above set forth could only occur in a case of great carelessness on the part of the operator; but to prevent the possibility of such an accident I have devised an automatic shut-off which will close the vapor-valve jet I before any escape of vapor can take place. As shown, this consists of a spring-actuated closing device for the valve, which is tripped or released by an abnormal increase of the flame in one of the burners F. I may, however, employ other means than the specific construction shown, the essential feature of my improvement being that the valve is antomatically operated by an abnormal increase of vapor generated. In the construction shown the stem of the valve 1 has secured thereto the handle-arm I", by means of which it may be rotated to open or close the valve. T is a stop for the handle I, which is connected to a revoluble head T, surrounding the valve-stem. This head is connected to a tor' sional spring U, which tends to revolve the head in a direction to close the valve I by the engagement of the stop T with the handle I. The stop T is normally held in fixed position against the tension of the spring U by a lock consisting of the bell-crank lever V, one arm of which extends into the path of a lug T on the head T. The opposite arm of the bellcrank V is connected with a link \V, which extends vertically in proximity to the burner F and has a section X, formed of fusible metal. With this construction whenever the flame of the burner F is abnormally increased the link TV will be severed by the fusing of the link X, with the result that the spring U will revolve the head T and the stop T, thereby turning the handle I until the valve is closed.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a gas apparatus, the combination with a retort, of a burner surrounding said retort and having orifices at opposite ends thereof arranged to direct the flame against the walls of said retort on opposite sides of said bu rncr.

2. In a gas apparatus, the combination with a vertical cylindrical retort of an annular burner surrounding said retort having orifices at top and bottom thereof arranged to direct the flame upwardly and downwardly against the walls of said retort.

3. The combination with a retort, of a grooved ring surrounding said retort and kerfed at its opposite ends to form vapor-orifices therein and a band surrounding said ring and closing the kerfs in the periphery thereof.

a. In a gas apparatus, the combination with a retort, of a grooved ring surrounding said retort and kerfed at one end and a band hav ing a screw-threaded engagement with the periphery of said ring and closing the kerfs in the periphery thereof.

5. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a generator, of a service-conduit supplied thereby, a burner supplied from said service-conduit, a shut-off for the supply from said generator to said service-conduit, mechanism for automatically operating said shut-off normally locked from operation and means for unlocking said mechanism upon an abnormal increase of flame in said burner.

6. In a gas apparatus, the combination with the generator and aservice-conduit, of a valve controlling the vapor-supply to said serviceconduit from said generator, said valve being adapted to be set in various positions of adjustment, a burner for said generator supplied from said service-conduit and means for closing said valve from any of its positions of adjustment, said means operatingautomatically upon an abnormal increase of flame in said burner.

7 In a gas apparatus, the combination with a generator, a service-conduit supplied thereby and a burner for said generator supplied from said service-conduit, of a needle-valve controlling the vapor-supply from said generator to said conduit, a lever for operating said valve, an arm arranged to rotate about the axis of the valve and having a lug projecting into the path of said lever, a tension device for operating said arm, a lock for holding said arm from movement and means for disengaging said look upon an abnormal increase of flame in said burner.

8. In a gas apparatus, the combination ofa generator, a supply-tank therefor, of means for developing an air-pressu re within said tank above the hydrocarbon therein, a burner for initially heating said generator comprising a vapor-jet nozzle connected with the air-space within said tank, a valve controlling the said vapor-jet nozzle within a mixing-tube into which said jet is directed and a valve controlling the air-supply in said mixing-tube automatically operated by the operation of said vapor-valve.

9. In a gas apparatus, the combination with a retort, of a grooved ring surrounding said retort and kerfed at one end, and a band upon the ring, olosingthe kerfs in the sides thereof. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES G. S'IRUBLER. Witnesses:

J AS. P. BARRY, Rosa LEONE MORGAN.