US645109A - Hydraulic air-compressor. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Mar. 13,1900.' N. J. LocKYER.

HYDRAULIC AIR COMPRESSOR.

(Application filed Nom-3, 1896.)

(No Model.)

R I l i IIIM 0. o 4 2 Hll'l-Wvmwn.. R 3 0 a U a T o O O o A. o I

Ntra rn-'rhs Erre-'rit NORMAN JOSEPH LOCKYER, OF LENZIE, SCOTLAND.

HYDRAUUC Alu-COMPRESSOR,

srnorrrcaron forming part of Letters Patent 10.645,109, dated Maren 1s, 190e.

Application filed November 3, 1896. Serial No. 610,972. (No model.)

To tZZ whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, NORMAN JOsEPH LOOK- YER, engineer, of 14 Regent Square, Lenzie, in the county of Dumbarton, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air- Oompressing Apparatus Afor Raising Beer or other Liquids, ot which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to apparatusforcompressing air for use in raising liquids, such as beer,trom barrels in cellars for delivery at the counter, the improved apparatus being operated by water under regulated pressure from the towns supply Or other source and the desired airepressure being maintained notwithstanding variable consumption.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a vertical section of the appa ratus, and Fig. 2 a modification of a detail.

' The improved apparatus comprises a cylindrical or other vessel A, to which water is admitted from the main for the purpose of compressing air within the vessel and from which it is exhausted to admit a fresh-air supply before repeating the compressing operation. The water is admitted through a pressure-regulating valve B, hereinafter referred to, and thence through an inlet O in the lower end of the air vessel or casing A, a wastewater outlet D being fitted in proximity to the inlet and both terminating in a valve-casing E, in which is fitted a pistonvalve F, adapted to cover or close the outlet D as the inlet O is opened and, vice versa, to

close the inlet C as the outlet D is opened.

The operation of this valve F is effected automatically by means of a tumbler-lever G,

which in turn is actuated by a iioat lLrising with the intlowing water and descending on the discharge of the waste water, the inlet O being opened on the descent of the ioat H to its lowest point,as shown by the drawings, and the discharge-outlet D being opened when the lioat I-I has by the lling of the casing A been raised to its highest level, as indicated by the dotted lines. The valve F being opened, water under pressure enters and gradually lls the casing A, the air withinit being compressed and forced through a nonreturn valve I, iitted at the top, whence it passes through a ilood-preventer,hereinafter described, to a pressiuechamber or directly to the barrels from which the beer is to be raised. As the water enters the casing A the ioat Il rises with it, being guided in its movement by a slotted tube J ,extending vertically upward from the bottom of the casing A. On reaching nearly to its highest point tlie lioat comes into contact with a cross piece or disk K on the upper end of a rod L inside the slotted tube J', said rod L having attached to its lower end a slotted bar M, which can freely rise and fall inside the vertical tube J. The slotted bar M engages one arm of a bellcrank N, whose other arm is connected by means of slotted links O to the piston-valve F, which controls the admission and discharge ot' the water. The third arm Gr on bell-crank spindle P is fitted with a weight G and acts as a tumbler to operate the valve quickly. When the annular iioat H comes in contact with the cross piece or disk K on the vertical rod L, it continues to ascend with the water, and ythe slotted bar M at its lower end rises with it and tilts the bell-crank N until the arm G, carrying the weight G', passes the vertical position, when the tuinbler falls over by gravity. A pin N in the end of the second arm of the bell-crank N is by this movement caused to traverse the slot in the links O, connected to the piston-valve F, and push over the valve, so as to close the inlet-port O and shut oft the supply ot' Water under pressure, at the same time opening the discharge-port D, through which the water in the casing A runs out. When the discharge-port D is opened, an annular passage F', formed around the piston-valve F, brings a passage F2, leading from the outside of the casing A, into communication with an airtube P, and thus permits a fresh supply ot air to enter the casing A, or the partial vacuum caused by the discharge of the water may open an air-valve Q in a pipe P, secured on the casing, as shown at Fig. 2, to admit a fresh supply of air. As the water-level falls the tloat H descends until it rests on projections R on the slot-ted bar M, and as the water-level continues to fall the Weight of the iioat H, resting on the projections R, increases until it becomes suliicient to overcome the resistance of the weighted tumblerarm Gr. The bell-crank N then falls back IOS into the original position and .moves the piston-valve `F with it, thus allowing a :fresh supply of Water under pressure to enter the casing A through the inlet-port O.

For the purpose of regulating the pressure of the Water entering the air-compressor A,

and thus regulating the pressure of the air delivered, the automatic pressure reducing or regulating valve B is provided on the inlet-pipe T from the main. This is composed of a casing U, having a piston-valve U', closing on the annular inlet-orifice and attached to a metallic, leather, or other diaphragm U2, held down by a spring, the pressure on which is regulated by screw-nuts or by a Weighted lever U3, as shown. From the chamber formed under the diaphragm the Water enters the air-compressor by the inlet-port O. Whenever the pressure ou the under side of the diaphragm U2 exceeds a given amount, the spring is compressed or the lever U3 lifted, and the valve reduces or closes the Watersupply until the pressure in the air-compressor A, and consequently, that under the diaphragm U2, is reduced by the reduction of air-pressure in the casks, owing to beer being consumed or to leakage.

In the event of failure of the mechanism in the air-compressor A it is necessary to prevent the entrance ot Water under pressure into the air-pipe V, and thus into the casks. For this purpose I provide a combined nonreturn-valve chamber and a flood-preventing device. This is composed of a closed casing W, connected to the upper end of the compression vesselA by an orifice fitted with the self-closing non-return valve I, already mentioned, and having in it a iioat W2, having on its upper side a valve W2, adapted to close against a seat V4, formed on the outlet for the compressed air, the oat 72 being conveniently guided by an extension of the valvevspindle W5 into the air-delivery pipe V. So

mains off its seat W4 and the ioat W2 does not move. When Water, however, passes the non-return valve I, the float W2 rises and the valve W2 on it takes its seat W4, closing the air-delivery pipe V to the casks. This apparatus is designedly somewhat difficult to restart after a Jfailure of the air-compressor A, so as to render necessary an examination of the parts. The non-retu rn valve I cannot rise from its seat sufficiently to permit of the fioat W2 being raised by the air-pressure, and thus prevent the valve W3 upon the iioa't from stopping the delivery of air to the casks.

Having noW described the invention, What I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent 1sl. In an apparatus for compressing air having suitable air inlet and outlet, and also suitable water inlet and outlet, a piston-valve controlling both water-openings and the air-inlet, a tumbler-lever connected .with said valve, and a float adapted, when it arrives near the upper endof its course, to operate said lever and thus cause the valve to close the Waterinlet and open the air-inlet and Water-outlet, and when said float arrives near the lower end of its course, to open the water-inlet and close the air-inlet and Water-outlet, substantially as set forth. A

2. In apparatus for compressing air, the combination With an air-chamber having suitable Water and air inlet and outlet pipes, of a valve controlling the Water inlet and outlet, a iioat, a slotted tube J along which the same moves, rod L moving in said tube and adapted to engage with the iioat and having a slotted portion M, and bell-crank lever N actuated by said slotted portion and adapted to operate aforesaid valve, substantially as set forth.

Signed at Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, Scotland, this 20th day of October, 1896.

NORMAN JOSEPH LOOKYER. lVitnesses:

WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, JNO. ARMSTRONG, J uur.

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