US917619A - Air-drier for pneumatic lines. - Google Patents

Description

TL'L. LAMB & T. c. SHEEHAN. AIR DRIER FOR PNEUMATIC LINES. APPLIOATION FILED APR .14, 1906.

91 7,61 9. Patentd Apr. 6, 1909;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

D I 4 {9:32; i? ii 1'! E is W|TNESSES: INVENTORS:

J. L. LAMB & T. G. SHEEHAN.

AIR DRIER FOR PNEUMATIC LINES.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 14, 190B.

Patented Apr, 6, 1909.

2 SHEETS--SHEBT 3.

ENVENTUR S d/i/ WETNESESE purpose, comprises a mass of spongy mate- JAMES L.'LAMB AND TIMOTHY C. SHEEHAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AIR-DRIER FOR PNEUMATIC LINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 6, 1909.

Application filed April 14, 1906. Serial No. 311,628.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES L. LAMB and TIMOTHY C. SHEEHAN, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Briers for Pneumatic Lines, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In manufacturing establishments where pneumatic tools are employed it is custom ary to equip the plant with a pneumatic air system from which compressed air may be drawn at convenient intervals for the purpose of operating the pneumatic tools, within which phraseology 1 include not only mechanical tools, but oil or gasolene torches, such as are employed in large manufacturing establishments as for example, ship yards, etc. Difiiculty has been experienced in the use of such apparatus by reason of the condensation of water within the pipes and tools, owing to the pumping of moist air into the pneumatic line, directly from the compressor. By reason of such condensation, the pneumatic tools become rusted,- and their operation is rendered irregular, moreover with its use in pneumatic torches the flame which they produce become-s inter- 'mittent, and will often be extinguished at a @critical moment, as for example during an annealing operation.

l/Vei have discovered that by passing the air, which is pumped to a pneumatic system of this sort, through an air drier, the moisture conta ned in the air may be removed and the difliculty which has'been described The air drier which we have invented, and which we have found well adapted to this rial suitably supported upon a perforated surface and interposed within the pneumatic system. 'We have illustrated, and will now describe, a convenient form of apparatus embodying our invention, as we have employed it; but itis to be understood that 'the description is illustrative only, and that our requirements of the system in connection with which it'is employed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, illustrates diagrammatically the essential devices required in a pneumatic system;

invention is capable of other and varyingembodiments according to'the nature and including an air drier constructed in accordance with our invention and the tools to be operated. Fig. 11, is a plan view of the drier. Fig. 111, is a vertical sectional view of the same taken along the line 111, III, in Fig. ll.

Referring to Fig. i, is connected to be operated, by the engine 2, but obviously any other prime mover may be employed. The air which is compressed by the compressor is forced into the reservoir 3, and from there is led by the pipe 1, to the drier 5, through which it passes to the pneumatic line 6, which in practice extends and ramiiies as desired, being provided with valve apertures at suitable intervals with which connection may be made for supply ing the compressed air to pneumatic tools, such as hammers 7, torches 8 or other implements as required. The drier 5, comprises a cylindrical shell, having a conical or dished bottom 6, and provided with a removable cover 1.0, clamped upon its upper end by the swing bolts 11. The shell is provided with an aperture 12-, near the bottom through which compressed air is admitted, and with a plurality of apertures 13, near the top from any of which the compressed air may be led to the pneumatic tools. Those apertures not actually employed may be capped, by a screw plug 14, as shown in Fig. ill.

Within the cylindrical shell and supported in more or less central relation thereto is the basket 15, which divides the interior of the cylinder into opposed chambers 16, and 17, at the top and bottom respectively. Said basket 15, is preferably cylindrical and fits snugly within the cylindrical shell of the drier resting around its lower edge u )011 the flange 16. The bottom of this bas lrct 15, consists of the perforated diaphragm 18. The cover of the basket consists of a similarly perforated diaphragm 19, which rests loosely within the basket supported only by the contents thereof and capable of being pressed down thereupon by pressure provided by the screw 20, which extends centrally through the cover of the cylindrical shell in threaded engagement therewith, and.

is provided with the hexagonal head 21, by which it may be rotated to ad'ust the pressure upon the sponge. At the ottom of the cylinder a water exit 25, is provided fitted with an ordinary globe valve 26, leading to a discharge pipe 27.

In operation the basket 15. is filled with a the air compressor 1,

mass of ordinary sponge.- The cover 39, of the basket is then placed upon it, and the cylindrical shell being closed asuitablc dcgroo ol' )ressurc is iinpaitcd to the mass ol' s ongc )y means of the screw 20. Air from t is com n'cssor is than admitted to thc lowor side of the drier below the mass of sponge by way of tho ontrancc .2-, and is forced. tlicrefrom through the upper apertum 13, to the pneumatic line. As the air passes through the mass of sponge tho moisture therein containcd is condensed and drips, carrying impurities with it, to the bottom. of the drier "from whence it is blown out by the compressed air through the valve 26.

iVc have found that the spongy mass continues to perform its l'unction ol removing f Water lromtlic an" even after it has bccoznc itself thoroughly saturated with water, the. excess continuing to drip therefrom and to be discharged at the bottom as has been dsscribed.

By reason of the interposition of a drier of this description in a pneumatic line, we have found that tho dilliculties resulting from condensation ol moisture therein'arc effectually overcome.

tion of moisturcin pneumatic systems such as have been (inscribed. nnlmugh we have named sponqc as the s )ecilic material to be employed, this being too material which We have found best adapted to the purpose, yet it will be understood that other materials ammo having similar absorbent qualities may be employed.

Having thus described our invention, we Claim1-- 1. An air drier for a pneumatic system com prising a 'icrl'orated surface and a mass of mechanically absorbent spongy material interposed within the line of travcrsc of the air of the pneumatic system, the spongy matcrial being supported upon tllo pcrl'orated surface, where y the moisture which. has been removed. by the spongy material from the air-is in turn drained. from the spongy material.

2. An air drier for a pneumatic system, comprising suitable receptacle a perlorated diaphragm dividing the receptacle horizontally; a mass of spongy material supported upon said perforated diaphragm; an air en trance and an air exit on opposite sides of said mass of spongy material; and an aperture below the perforated diaphragm from which the excess of moisture Withdrawn from tho air is discharged. T

An air drier for a pneumatic system comprising a suitable receptacle; perforated diapln'agnis within the rcce tacle; an air cntrance near the bottom an an air exitnear the top of the receptacle; a mass of spongy material supported within the receptacle between the icrl'oratecl dia ihragms; an aperture near the bottom of the receptacle from which the moisturc withdrawn from the air is discharged; and means for causing one of the diaphragms to exert pressure upon the mass of spongy material.

in testimony whereof, We have hereunto signed our names at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 7th day of A ril i906.

JAMEE) L. L 13. TIMOTHY 0. SHEEHAN Witnesses: l

JAMES H. BELL, E. L. FULLERTON.

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