US2147273A - Water injecting device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 14, 1939. H. 1.. SMITH. JR

WATER INJECTING DEVICE Filed April 16, 1958 INVENTOR J 'fwzz}.

ATTO R N EYS Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES WATER INJECTING DEVICE Horace L. Smith, Jr., Richmond, Va., assignor to Thermal Engineering Corporation, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Virginia Application April 16, 1938, Serial No. 202,395

Claims.

This invention relates tosteam and water injecting apparatus and more particularly concerns an improved device for introducing water and steam into the interior of a treatment cham- 5 her. 1

In certain treatment processes, it is necessary to subject materials to the action of steam under subatmospheric pressures whereby moisture may be supplied to the materials. Thus, for example, in the process disclosed in the Patent No. 2,086,446, tobacco is successively subjected to a high vacuum, supplied with steam with an increase in absolute pressure to a higher but still subatmospheric value, and again subjected to a it relatively high vacuum. This process increases the moisture content of tobacco without discoloration or other undesirable heat deterioration of the tobacco. The treatment described involves the introduction of steam to a treatment I chamber previously evacuated to a vacuum which may have a value of 29 inches of mercury or more. When steam under pressure is thus introduced to a previously evacuated chamber, the reduction in pressure, unaccompanied by the performance of work, liberates heat which results in superheating of the steam. Since unnecessary heating of the tobacco is to be avoided, it is advisable to 'desuperheat the steam so introduced. It is further desirable in many cases to supply so to the tobacco an amount 01' moisture. in excess of that obtainable from the introduction of steam alone. These objects are accomplished by injecting both steam and water into the treatment chamber containing the tobacco, the water preferably taking the form of a fine mist or spray superheat the steam at the reduced pressure,-

whereby excess water, preferably in the form of a fine spray, suspension or mist, is entrained with the steam and carried into contact with the tobacco structure thereby. i

In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed to provide an'improved steam and water injecting device capable of simultaneously introducing steam and water in the form of a very .fine entrained mist or spray to a treatment chamber containing tobacco or other material subjected to the above described or similar treatment processes. The improved device is so devised that the steam is desuperheated as it enters the chamber and the excess water is broken up into a very fine mist or spray which is entrained II with the desuperheated steam and carried thereby into intimate contact with the material under treatment. A further object of the invention is the provision of a steam and water injecting device of" the type described which is so designed and arranged as to inject the mixture of water 5 and steam along a course in which it does not directly impinge uponthe material under treatment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description. 10

In describing theinvention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawing in which an embodiment thereof has been illustrated. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a steam 16 and water injecting device embodying the invention; and

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the device shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the embodiment of 20 the invention there illustratedcomprises an insuch as the nipple 5. The head H includes a hollow inlet portion 6 and a connected hollow cylindrical portion 1 which has oppositely disposed open ends as shown. A nipple 4 is preferably fixed within each of the open ends of the 35 cylindrical head portion I. The head portion 1 is preferably disposed at right angles to the inlet duct-i so that fluid flowing from the open ends of the head is directed in paths substantially parallel to the chamber wall 2 rather than directly 40 into contact with the material under treatment in the chamber.

One or more water spray nozzles are disposed in each open end of the cylindrical head portion 1 in such a manner that passages or orifices are. 45 provided for the flow of steam between and around the jets of water issuing from the nozzles. In the disclosed embodiment, this is accomplished by providing a nozzle cluster N within each open end of the cylindrical head portion 1. Since the 50 nozzle clusters are identical, but one will .be described and corresponding reference characters will be used to designate the corresponding parts of the other cluster. Each nozzle cluster N comprises a hollow member 8 having a plurality of I radially extending circumferentially spaced portions 9, the rounded ends of which fit snugly within and engage the inner surfaces of the head opening nipples 4. As shown in Figure 2, the radial portions 9 of the nozzle cluster N are so formed and spaced as to provide steam'egress openings or orifices In between and substantially surrounding these radial portions. A water spray nozzle l I is carried in each of the radial portions 9, being threaded or otherwise suitably secured thereto in communication with the interior of the hollow member 8. The nozzles II are of known construction and are provided with restricted orifices l 2 adapted to emit water in the form of a fine spray or mist. As shown, the nozzles are disposed in parallel relation and are directed outwardly through the open ends of the cylindricalhead portion I.

Suitable means are provided for supplying steam and water to the injecting device. In the disclosed embodiment, a steam supply pipe I3 is connected through a T fitting l4 and a nipple l5 to the inlet duct I. Steam from the pipe l3 flows through the hollow head H and out of the orifices l0 between and around the water spray nozzles I I. Water is preferably supplied to the nozzles through a duct disposed within the steam inlet duct and head. For this purpose, a water supply pipe I9 enters the T fitting l4 through a suitable packed connection l6 and is connected through a T fitting l1 and pipes l8 to the interiors of the hollow members 8 of the nozzle clusters N and thus with the nozzles ll.

When steam and water are respectively supplied to the device through the pipes l3 and 19, the steam flows outwardly from the open ends of the head H through the orifices Ill and substantially surrounds the sprays of water issuing from the nozzles II. If the steam is superheated at the absolute pressure of the treatment chamber, it is immediately saturated by the evaporation therein of water from the nozzles II. The steam picks up and entrains the water spray, or so much thereof as is not evaporated in desuperheating the steam, breaks up the spray into a finely divided mist and carries it into intimate contact with the material under treatment. Since the injectedfluid is directed substantially parallel to the wall 2 of the treatment chamber,

the water spray does not impinge directly upon the treated material and localized moistening and other undesirable efiects are avoided.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the structure disclosed by way of illustration but includes all such modifications thereof as fall within thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for injecting a mixture of water and steam into a treatment chamber comprising a cylindrical duct having an open end, a nozzle cluster within and adjacent theopen end of said duct and comprising a plurality of substantially parallel spray nozzles directed outwardly through said open end oi said duct and relatively spaced circumferentially with respect to said duct whereby fiuid outlet openings are provided at the open end of said duct between the nozzles of said cluster, means for supplying steam to said duct and means for supplying water to the nozzles of said cluster.

2. Apparatus for injecting a mixture of water and steam into a treatment chamber comprising a cylindrical duct having an open end, a nozzle cluster within and adjacent the open end of said duct comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending portions, each carrying a spray nozzle directed outwardly through said open end of said duct, said nozzle cluster providing a plurality fluid outlet passages in said duct in the circumferential spaces between said radially extending portions, said passages extending between and substantially surrounding said spray nozzles, means for supplying steam to said duct and means for supplying water to said nozzles.

3. Apparatus for injecting a mixture of water and steam into a treatment chamber comprising a cylindrical duct having an open end, a nozzle cluster within and adjacent the open end of said duct comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending portions, each carrying a spray nozzle disposed substantially parallel to and direct outwardly through the open end of said duct, said radially extending portions of said nozzle cluster providing fluid egress orifices for said duct betweenan'd substantially surrounding said spray nozzles, conduit means for supplying steam to said duct and means within said conduit means for supplying water to said spray nozzles.

4. In combination with a treatment chamber having a wall, apparatus for injecting a mixture of water and steam into said chamber through said wall comprising a duct extending through and substantially normal to said wall, a hollow cylindrical head secured to said duct within said wall and extending substantially parallel to said wall, said head having oppositely disposed open ends, a nozzle cluster within and adjacent eachof the open ends of said head and each, comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending portions each carrying a spray nozzle directed outwardly through the open head end, said nozzle clusters providing fluid outlet passages between and substantially surrounding said spray nozzles and the radially extending portions carrying the same, means for supplying steam to said duct and means within'said duct and said head for supplying water to said spray nozzles.

5. In combination with a. treatment chamber having a wall, apparatus for injecting a mixture of water and steam into said chamber through said wall comprising a duct extending through and substantially normal to said wall, a T shaped. head communicating with said duct within said wall and including a hollow cylindrical portion extending substantially at right angles to said duct and parallel to said wall, said cylindrical. portion of said head having oppositely disposed open ends, a nozzle cluster within and adjacent each of the open ends of said head, each nozzle cluster comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending portions, each carrying a spray nozzle disposed substantially parallel to and directed outwardly through "the open end of said cylindrical head portion, said radially extending portions of said nozzle cluster providing fluid egress orifices between and substantially surrounding said spray nozzles, means for supplying steam to said duct and means,

within said duct and said head for supplying wates to said spray nozzles.

HORACE L. SMITH, JR.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent. No. 2,lh.7,2'(5. February 111', 1939.

HORACE 1.. SMITH, JR.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numberedpetent requiring correction as follows; Page 1, second column, line 28, for the word "had" read head; page 2, second column line 22, claim 5, for "direct! read directed} and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein th t th ame may confrom to the record of the case in the Patent Office. I

Signed and sealed this 21st day of March, A. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale. v

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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