US2577023A - Vaporization apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4, 1'95] J. c. LINCOLN 2,5 ,023

VAPORIZATION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24. 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTOR. Johw c. L INCOL. N BY GTTOiZ/VEVS.

Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VAPORIZATION APPARATUS .John C. LincohnPhoenix, Ariz., assignor to Precipitation Control Comp corporation of Arizona Application August 24, 1949, Serial -No. 1I2,130

- Claims.

The present invention relates as indicated to an apparatus for vaporizing materials to be used as condensation nuclei in seeding clouds.

It has been foundthat it is possible-to cause and control precipitation over desired areas by the artificial seeding of clouds and in this manner, disturbing the semi-stable state of equilibrium existing in super-cooled cloud formations. Various methods have been used to attain this result, the most popular being the dispersing of Dry Ice particles into the cloud formations. Another method is dispelsing finely divided water particles into the top of the clouds. Certain chemical substances, such as silver iodide, have been found to yield good results when used as condensation nuclei after being prepared for such use.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an apparatus for the seeding of clouds that is generally more satisfactory than any heretofore previously employed.

Another object is to provide apparatus that is relatively simple of construction and operation, economical of operation, and readily portable.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus that may be easily carried by a small airplane.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

Broadly stated, this invention comprises in an automatic electric vaporizing system, a pair of carbon rod electrodes adapted to move relative to each other, means for automatically striking an are between said electrodes, means formoving said electrodes toward each other at the same speed at which they are consumed including a variable speed motor connected across said electrodes, a source of electric current to cause an arc between said electrodes and feeding means adapted to supply a constant stream of silver iodide particles to said are to be vaporized.

More specifically stated, this invention comprises in an automatic electric vaporizing system, a pair of carbon rod electrodes adapted to move relative to each other, a high voltage coil connected across said electrodes adapted to move one electrode into touching contact with said other electrode and then moving said electrodes any, Phoenix, .Ariz., a

apart thereby striking an are, a small motor connected across said are and operatively included in a rack and pinion set-up adapted to move said electrodes toward each other at the same speed at which they are consumed thereby keeping the space gap between said electrodes constant, a source of electric current applied across said electrodes to cause an arc therebetween, and a silver iodide feed. mechanism including a variable speed motor and operatively associated paddles adapted to supply a constant stream of silver iodide particles to said arc.

In the further explanationof my invention, it becomes convenient to illustrate apparatus by which the invention may be carried out, one form-of such apparatus being illustratedinthe drawings, in which- Fig. 1 represents a top plan view of one-preferred form of my invention;

Fig. 2 represents a front elevation view of the preferred form of my invention as shown .in Fig.1;

Fig. .3 represents a side elevation'view;

Fig. 4 represents an enlarged cut-away view of the silver iodide feeding mechanism;

Fig. Srepresents a cross sectional view of the solenoid mechanism controlling the carbon rods; and

:Figneis an exploded view ofthe sprocket chain driving feed roll mechanism.

Referringnow more particularly to the drawings, Figs. 1,2,. and 3 show two racks I- carrying carbon rods 2. Racks I are operated by pinion 3 and are driven by motor 4. Reduction gearing is generally indicated at 5. Motord is connected across the carbon arc and the speed of the motor is. such that the-pinion 3 draws the carbon rods 2 together at the same rate that the carbons are consumed by the operation of the arc. A high voltage coil 6 .is also connected across the arc and details of such high voltage coil are shown in Fig. 5. The high voltage coil 6 is attached to therighthand rack l and the righthand carbon rod 2 is-connected by clamp 8. When the voltagev is high, the armature 9 is drawn into the solenoidagainst a spring l8 and causes the righthand carbon to approach the lefthand carbon approximately of an inch. The operation of the carbon rod operating motor 4 will in a few seconds bring the carbon rods 2 together and then the voltage across the coil ll drops to zero and the spring I!) pushes armature 9 out against a mechanical stop automatically striking an arc. The voltage across the are is approximately 25 volts and the current through the solenoid coil I I is small enough at this particular voltage so that it will not draw armature 9 into the solenoid against the pressure of spring 10. The voltage is consequently low enough so that there is no appreciable heating of the coil l l. The alternating current supply for the arc is connected to the clamps 8 and I2, by flexible connections indicated at l3.

The power supplied is from a 24-volt, 100-ampere generator (not shown) driven by the aircraft engine. In order to have an arc that is stationary, it has to be fed with an alternating current.

Consequently, to supply the arc with alternating current, direct current from the generator is passed through an inverter which is a 4-pole machine revolving at about 4,000 revolutions a minute thereby giving about 133 cycles per second on the alternating current which is thereby produced. This alternating current then passes through the primary of a transformer. The primary and secondary of the transformer are separated preferably by a considerable air gap. Therefore, there is a large amount of magnetic leakage by the primary and secondary windings. This transformer is designed so that at open circuit, the secondary has a voltage of about 85 or 90 volts. At short circuit, the current is maximum and the voltage is zero and the transformer is so designed that the energy in the primary when the secondary is short circuited is less than it is when the arc is operating at the normal voltage.

A direct current motor M for the silver iodide feeder mechanism is supplied from a storage battery (not shown) and the speed of this motor can be controlled by a switch particularly adaptable for this purpose (also not shown). The reducing mechanism on the motor l4 drives a worm l5. Worm l5 drives a worm wheel l6 and the gearing H which in turn drives the recessed wheel [8 shown in Fig. 6 at the bottom of the silver iodide holder generally indicated at l9 in Fig. 4. This recessed wheel I8 is driven preferably at a very low speed. The righthand end of the shaft 20 is provided with gearing 2i and 22 which drives the paddles 23 in the bottom of silver iodide holder IS. The operation of paddles 23 keeps the recess in the recessed feed roll i8 packed with silver iodide.

Silver iodide feed roll 18 carries the silver, iodide material from the holder l9 down the feed roll scraper 24 which is revolved at a very high speed. Consequently, a constant feed of silver iodide drops through silver iodide feed tube 25 into the are.

A sprocket 29 on the righthand end of driveshaft 20, shown in Fig. 2, drives a chain connecting sprocket 29 to sprocket 30 which in turn drives the silver iodide feed roll scraper 24, as shown in Fig. 6. The silver iodide feeding mechanism generally indicated at 19 is designed to feed a constant stream of silver iodide to the arc and this feed can be regulated by the switch which controls the voltage of the motor l4.

Below the arc are tungsten heat reflectors 26 which catch and vaporiz any silver iodide which is not vaporized by dropping through the arc. The silver iodide vapor exhaust 21 allows air to come in from each side around carbon rods 2 and is connected to exhaust tubes on the side of the ship which carry the silver iodide vapor from the vaporizing chamber 28 to exhaust tubes (not shown) on the outside of the ship which in turn distribute the silver iodide particles to the air.

The vacuum which creates the flow of air around each carbon rod in the vaporizing chamber is provided by having the tubes on the outsome side of the ship bevelled. This bevelling is arranged in such a way that as the ship travels through air at high speed, a slight vacuum is formed in the tube which circulates the air through the vaporizing chamber and carries the vaporized silver iodide from the vaporizing arc to the air around the ship.

It should be apparent that the practical embodiment of my invention lends itself particularly to use in aircraft. The apparatus described can bemade simply and compactly, and is eflicient in its operation. Only small amounts of material need be carried, and the entire apparatus along with its supply of material may be transported in a small aircraft. This is particularly desirable for economy of operation.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In an automatic electric vaporizing system, a pair of electrodes mounted on a rack and pinion set up and adapted to move relative to each other, a high voltage coil connected across said electrodes operative to move said electrodes together;

a motor connected across said are operative to move said electrodes toward each other at the same speed at which they are consumed, a source of electric current applied across said electrodes to cause an arc in the presence of air therebetween, and a silver iodide feed mechanism including a variable speed motor and operatively associated paddles adapted to supply a constant stream of silver iodide particles to said arc.

2. In an automatic electric vaporizing system, a .pair of carbon rod electrodes mounted on a rack and pinion set up and adapted to move relative to each other, a high voltage coil connected across said electrodes operative to move said electrodes together, a small motor connected across said are adapted to move said electrodes toward each other at the same speed at which they are consumed, a source of electric current applied across said electrodes to cause an arc in the presence of air therebetween, and a silver iodide 'feed mechanism including a variable speed motor and operatively associated paddles adapted to supply a constant stream of silver iodide particles to said arc.

3. In an automatic electric vaporizing system, a pair of carbon rod electrodes mounted on a rack and pinion set up and adapted to move relative to each other, a high voltage coil connected across said electrodes adapted to move one electrode into touching contact with said other electrode and a spring adapted to move said electrodes apart thereby striking an arc, a small motor connected across said are adapted to move said electrodes toward each other at the same speed at which they are consumed thereby keeping the space gap between said electrodes constant, a source of electric current applied across said electrodes to cause an arc in the presence of air therebetween, and a silver iodide feed mechanism including a variable speed motor and operatively associated paddles adapted to supply .a constant stream of silver iodide particles to adapted to move relative to each other, an electromagnetic means connected across said electrodes operative to move one electrode into touching contact with said other electrode, and a spring adapted to move said electrodes apart, thereby striking an arc, a small motor connected across said are operative to move said electrodes toward each other at the same speed at which they are consumed thereby keeping the space gap between said electrodes constant, a source of electric current applied across said electrodes to cause an arc therebetween, and a silver iodide feed mechanism including a variable speed motor and operatively associated paddles adapted to supply a constant stream of silver iodide particles to said arc.

5. A device for the vaporization in the presence of air in an airplane of substances such as silver iodide, in combination a pair of carbon rod electrodes mounted on a rack and pinion set up and adapted to move relative to each other, an electromagnetic means connected across said electrodes operative to move one electrode into touching contact with said other electrode, and a spring adapted to move said electrodes apart, thereby striking an arc, a small motor connected across said arc operative to move said electrodes toward each other at the same speed at which they are consumed thereby keeping the space gap between said electrodes constant, a source of electric current applied across said electrodes to cause an arc therebetween supplied by a generator driven by an aircraft engine and a silver iodide feed mechanism including a variable speed motor and operatively associated paddles adapted to supply a constant stream of silver iodide particles to said are.

JOHN C. LINCOLN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 554,542 Seaverns Feb. 11, 1896 1,159,383 Holsten Nov. 9, 1915 1,239,759 Baker Sept. 11, 1917 1,249,151 McKee Dec. 4, 1917 1,268,548 Deardorfi June 4, 1918 1,289,294 Standeford Dec. 31, 1918 2,160,490 Strong May 30, 1939 2,461,798 Anderson Feb. 15, 1949

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