US3924648A

US3924648A - Method and means for applying additives to industrial gas

Info

Publication number: US3924648A
Authority: US
Inventors: Berwyn E Etter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-05-07
Filing date: 1975-03-17
Publication date: 1975-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-09

Abstract

A device for applying additives to industrial gas comprises a container, and first, second and third conduits providing communication from outside the container to the interior thereof. One of the conduits introduces a fluid gas additive to the interior of the container and another of the conduits introduces fuel gas into the interior of the chamber. The gas is introduced into the container at a point below the level of the fluid gas additive so that the gas percolates upwardly through the additive, thereby causing mixing of the additive with the gas. The third conduit includes an inlet positioned at the upper end of the chamber above the level of the gas additive. This third conduit receives the vapor mixture of fuel gas and fuel additive and carries this vapor mixture to the cutting torch. A valve is associated with the first conduit so as to limit the level of liquid within the container at a predetermined height. A safety valve is also associated with the third conduit to close the third conduit in the event the liquid level rises higher than the opening of the third conduit.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,924,648

Etter [4 1 Dec. 9, 1975 METHOD AND MEANS FOR APPLYING Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan ADDITIVES T0 INDUSTRIAL GAS Assistant Examiner-Gerald A. Michalsky [76] Inventor: Berwyn E. Etter, 10355 Paradise s g Agent or Flrm zarley McKee Thomte &

Blvd, Treasure Island, Fla. 33740 oor ees [22] Filed: 7 Mar. 17, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl 558945 A device for applying additives to industrial gas com- Related US. Application D t prises a container, and first, second and third conduits [63] Continuation of set No 358 005 May, 7 1973 providing communication from outside the container abandone to the interior thereof. One of the conduits introduces a fluid gas additive to the interior of the container and 52 us. or. 137/3; 137/423; 261/124; another of the conduits introduces fuel gas into the 431 4 terior of the chamber. The gas is introduced into the [51] Int. Cl. C10J 1/20 container at a Point below the level of the fluid gas [58] Field of Search 137/3, 391, 423; 239/372; ditive 89 that the gas Pereeletes p y through the 261/122, 124; 431/4 additive, thereby causing mixing of the additive with the gas. The third conduit includes an inlet positioned [56] R f e Cited at the upper end of the chamber above the level of the UN gas additive. This third conduit receives the vapor ITED STATES PATENTS mixture of fuel gas and fuel additive and carries this 654,378 7/1900 Barckdall 261/122 X 261/122 X vapor mixture to the cutting torch. valve is associ- 1,899,262 2/1933 Davis :1... 239/372 g i first f as to of 1,974,843 9/1934 Blashfield 261,122 UX liquid within the container at a predetermined height. 2,842,465 7/l958 Harrison 239/372 x A Safety valve is also associated With the third Conduit to close the third conduit in the event the liquid level FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS rises higher than the opening of the third conduit. 541,593 7/1922 France 239/372 1,276,937 8/1918 McKenney 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures l/I/ll/l/l US Patent Dec. 9, 1975 ciency. Many types of additives are utilized, one of such additives being manufactured and sold by Flamex Distributors, Inc., Clearwater, Fla., under the registered trademark FLAMEX. Mixing ,the additives with the fuel gas in an efficient manner has proved to be a somewhat difficult task. In some previous devices the additive and the fuel gas were placed in a container and the container placed in communication with the cutting torch. This procedure required a huge number of containers or tanks to be employed thereby increasing the inventory costs of such an operation. Certain improvements to this prior method of mixing are disclosed .in my co-pending applications, Ser. No. 295,133, filed Oct. 5, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,069 and Ser. No. 312,570, filed Dec. 6, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,805,819.

The present invention contemplates the use of a container which permits the propane or fuel gas to percolate upwardly through the liquid additive, thereby causing the two ingredients to mix and result in a vapor mixture which is then carried to the cutting torch. The improvement of the present invention has resulted in a forty per cent increase in the cutting speed of one inch steel. Furthermore, during the cutting operation, an increase supply of oxygen is introduced to the cutting torch initially so as to preheat the object being cut. The use of the present invention decreases the oxygen consumption during this preheat stage by approximately forty per cent. Also, an improved quality of out has resulted from., the present invention.

Therefore a primary object of the present invention is the provision of a method and means for applying additives to industrial gas.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of means for continuously mixing the additive with the gas so as to eliminate the necessity for shutting down the cutting torch periodically.

A further object of the present invention is to increase the thoroughness and consistency with which the additive is mixed. with the gas so as to improve cutting efficiency of the torch.

A further object of the present invention is to increase the cutting speed of the torch over that previously obtained.

A further object of the present invention is to improve the quality of cut which the torch provides.

A further object of the present invention is to reduce the oxygen consumption of the torch during the preheat stage of the cutting operation.

A further objection of the present invention is to provide a method and means which will accomodate a plurality of cutting torches.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a means which is economical to manufacture and durable in use.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of .FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the container of the present invention. A cutting torch 12 is shown to be operatively connected to container 10 by means of a mixture conduit 14. Torch 12 includes a nozzle 16 and a body 18. Connected to body 18 are mixture conduit 14, an oxygen conduit 20 and an industrial gas conduit 22.

Container 10 includes cylindrical side walls 24, a bottom wall 26 and a top wall 28 which is detachably secured to the remainder of cylinder 10 by means of a plurality of bolts 30. Cylindrical side walls 24,. bottom wall 26, and top wall 28 define a substantially airtight chamber 32, and this airtight characteristic is further enhanced by virtue of gasket 34 which is interposed between top wall 28 and the upper edges of side walls 24. An additive conduit 36 extends through a sealed fitting 38 in top wall 28 so as to provide communication from the exterior of chamber 32 to the interior thereof. Additive conduit 36 is adapted to be connected to a pressurized source of fluid additive. The additive ispreferred to be a liquid, but other fluid additives would work satisfactorily so long as they have a weightwhich is greater than air and also greater than the gas with which the additive is to be mixed. An example of an additive which may be used by the present invention is the additive sold by Flamex Distributors, 1nc., Clearwater Fla. under the registered trademark FLAMEX.

The lower end of additive conduit 36 includes an open end 40 through which the additive may enter into chamber 32. A needle valve 42 is inserted within open end 40and is adapted to close open end 40in response to upward movement of valve 42. A yolk or bracket 44 extends downward from the lower end'of additive conduit 36. Pivotally mounted to bracket 44 is a float arm 46 having a float 48 on one end thereof. Arm 46 is adapted to engage needle valve 42 in responseto upwardly swinging movement aboutits pivotal axis with respect to bracket 44. Thus, as float 48 is lifted upwardly by the level of fluid within container 10, it causes needle valve 42 to be pushed upwardly so as to close the open end 40 of conduit36. The effect of this structure is to limit the level of fluid within container 10 to a predetermined level. As the fluid recedes from this predetermined level float 48 reopens valve 42 thereby introducing additional fluid-into the container. A gas conduit 50 also extends through a sealed fitting 52 in top wall 28. Gas conduit 50 is adapted to be connected to a source of industrial gas used for cutting torches. An example of such a gas would be propane. Conduit 50 extends downwardly into chamber 32 and inheads are shown in the drawings, the number of outlet heads which may be used may vary according to choice.

Mixture conduit 14 extends through a sealed fitting 64 in top wall 28 and includes an open end 66 on the interior of chamber 32. Open end 66 is positioned well above the predetermined level of the fluid within chamber 32 so that the liquid fluid cannot enter into open end 66. As a further safety precaution against fluid entering open end 66, a needle valve 68 having a float 70 attached thereto is inserted within open end 66. In the event that the liquid within container 32 rises to the proximity of open end 66, float 70 will also rise thereby causing needle valve 68 to close opening 66. Thus, float 70 and needle valve 68 provide a safety factor which will prevent the liquid fluid from being carried to the cutting torch in its liquid form.

Conduits

14, 36 and 50 are each provided with a manually controllable valve 71 which permits the selective manual opening and closing of each conduit, respectively.

In operation the additive fluid is introduced into conduit 36. The fluid enters chamber 32 through open end 40 of conduit 36 and rises within chamber 32 until float 48 causes needle valve 42 to close. Then manual valve 71 of conduit 50 is opened and the industrial gas is permitted to enter conduit 50 under pressure. The gas exits through apertures 62 of outlet heads 56 and percolates upwardly through the liquid within container 10. This percolating or bubbling action causes the gas and the additive to be mixed together into a vapor mixture. When the gas exits through the upper surface of the liquid, it carries certain vaporized particles of the liquid with it and begins to rise upwardly toward open end 66 of mixture conduit 14. By virtue of the introduction of gas under pressure into chamber 32, the pressure within chamber 32 is also increased. Consequently, the vapors within chamber 32 are forced outwardly through open end 66 of conduit 14 toward cutting torch 12. Outlet opening 60 of conduit 50 provides an overflow for additional gas which cannot be vented through aperture 62 of outlet heads 56. Thus, if more than one cutting torch is connected to container 10, the mixing process can be increased by increasing the amount of gas which is introduced through conduit 50.

The device provides continuous operation by virtue of the fact that the level of the fluid is maintained constant by virtue of float 48 and needle valve 42. In previous devices it was necessary to use up the fluid within the container and then to stop the cutting operation, open the container and insert new fluid therein. The present invention permits continuous addition of fluid and gas to the container.

The present invention is an improvement over present devices because it permits greater flexibility in total volume going through device 10, and additionally provides a more accurately controlled ratio of the compound consumed by vaporization.

Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

I claim:

1. A device of the kind described comprising:

a container having a top, a bottom, and sides forming an enclosed chamber;

a fluid mixture conduit connected to said container and having an inlet opening in communication with the interior of said chamber adjacent the top thereof;

an additive conduit providing communication from a source of fluid gas additive to the interior of said chamber and having an outlet opening below said inlet opening of said mixture conduit;

automatic control means within said container and associated with said additive conduit for maintaining said additive at a predetermined height in said container below said inlet opening of said mixture conduit;

an industrial gas conduit providing communication from a pressurized source of fuel gas into the interior of said chamber;

said gas conduit having first outlet means positioned within said chamber at a point slightly below said predetermined height of said gas additive but well above the bottom level of said gas additive whereby said fuel gas will exist from said outlet means and percolate upwardly through said additive;

said gas conduit having second outlet means positioned within said chamber below said first outlet means for permitting venting of gas overflowing from said first outlet means;

a safety valve associated with said inlet opening of said fluid mixture conduit and being adapted to close said inlet opening in response to the rise of said fluid beyond a second predetermined height above said first mentioned predetermined height.

2. A method for applying additives to industrial gas comprising:

introducing a liquid additive into an enclosed container until said additive reaches a predetermined level within said container;

introducing industrial fuel gas under pressure into' said container through a conduit having a first outlet below said predetermined level and a second outlet below said first outlet whereby said fuel gas will exit through at least said first outlet and percolate upwardly through said additive;

drawing off the mixture of additive and fuel gas which percolates upwardly from the upper surface of said additive,

conveying said mixture away from said container through a fluid mixture conduit;

sensing the level of additive in said container and automatically continuously replenishing said container with additive whenever the level of said additive drops below said predetermined level;

adjusting the ratio of gas and additive in said mixture by varying the pressure at which gas is introduced into said container, percolating gas outwardly from both said first and second outlets when said pressure is at increased pressure rates, and

percolating said gas outwardly from only said first outlet when said pressure is at reduced pressure rates.

Claims

1. A device of the kind described comprising: a container having a top, a bottom, and sides forming an enclosed chamber; a fluid mixture conduit connected to said container and having an inlet opening in communication with the interIor of said chamber adjacent the top thereof; an additive conduit providing communication from a source of fluid gas additive to the interior of said chamber and having an outlet opening below said inlet opening of said mixture conduit; automatic control means within said container and associated with said additive conduit for maintaining said additive at a predetermined height in said container below said inlet opening of said mixture conduit; an industrial gas conduit providing communication from a pressurized source of fuel gas into the interior of said chamber; said gas conduit having first outlet means positioned within said chamber at a point slightly below said predetermined height of said gas additive but well above the bottom level of said gas additive whereby said fuel gas will exist from said outlet means and percolate upwardly through said additive; said gas conduit having second outlet means positioned within said chamber below said first outlet means for permitting venting of gas overflowing from said first outlet means; a safety valve associated with said inlet opening of said fluid mixture conduit and being adapted to close said inlet opening in response to the rise of said fluid beyond a second predetermined height above said first mentioned predetermined height.

2. A method for applying additives to industrial gas comprising: introducing a liquid additive into an enclosed container until said additive reaches a predetermined level within said container; introducing industrial fuel gas under pressure into said container through a conduit having a first outlet below said predetermined level and a second outlet below said first outlet whereby said fuel gas will exit through at least said first outlet and percolate upwardly through said additive; drawing off the mixture of additive and fuel gas which percolates upwardly from the upper surface of said additive, conveying said mixture away from said container through a fluid mixture conduit; sensing the level of additive in said container and automatically continuously replenishing said container with additive whenever the level of said additive drops below said predetermined level; adjusting the ratio of gas and additive in said mixture by varying the pressure at which gas is introduced into said container, percolating gas outwardly from both said first and second outlets when said pressure is at increased pressure rates, and percolating said gas outwardly from only said first outlet when said pressure is at reduced pressure rates.