BALANCE FOR WEIGHING ABSORBERS.
The complete removal of water-vapor and carbon dioxide from a current of air moving at the rate of 75 liters per minute calls for large and somewhat unwieldy vessels in which is placed the absorbing material. This is particularly the case with the vessels containing the rather large amounts of sulphuric acid required to dry the air. In the course of an hour there is ordinarily removed from the chamber not far from 25 grams of water-vapor and 20 to 30 grams of carbon dioxide. This necessitates weighing the absorbers to within 0.25 gram if an accuracy of 1 per cent is desired. The sulphuric-acid absorbers weigh about 18 kilograms when filled with acid. In order to weigh this receptacle so as to measure accurately the increase in weight due to the absorption of water to within less than 1 per cent, we use the balance shown in fig. 29. This balance has been employed in a number of other manipulations in connection with the respiration calorimeter and accessory apparatus and the general type of balance leaves nothing to be desired as a balance capable of carrying a heavy load with remarkable sensitiveness.
The balance is rigidly mounted on a frame consisting of four upright structural-steel angle-irons, fastened at the top to a substantial wooden bed. Two heavy wooden pieces run the length of the table and furnish a substantial base to which the standard of the balance is bolted. The balance is surrounded by a glass case to prevent errors due to air-currents (see fig. 2). The pan of the balance is not large enough to permit the weighing of an absorber, hence provision is made for suspending it on a steel or brass rod from one of the hanger arms. This rod passes through a hole in the bottom of the balance case, and its lower end is provided with a piece of pipe having hooks at either end. Since the increase in weight rather than the absolute weight of the absorber is used, the greater part of the weight is taken up by lead counterpoises suspended above the pan on the right-hand arm of the balance. The remainder of the weight is made up with brass weights placed in the pan.
Fig. 29.—Balance for weighing absorbers, showing general type of balance and case surrounding it, with counterpoise and weights upon right-hand pan. A sulphuric-acid absorber is suspended in position ready for weighing. Elevator with compressed-air system is shown in lower part of case.
In order to suspend this heavy absorber, a small elevator has been constructed, so that the vessel may be raised by a compressed-air piston. This piston is placed in an upright position at the right of the elevator and is connected with the compressed-air service of the building. The pressure is about 25 pounds per square inch and the diameter of the cylinder is 2.5 inches, thus giving ample service for raising and lowering the elevator and its load. By turning a 3-way valve at the end of the compressed-air supply-pipe, so that the air rushes into the cylinder above the piston, the piston is pushed to the base of the cylinder and the elevator thereby raised. The pressure of the compressed air holds the elevator in this position while the hooks are being adjusted on the absorber. By turning the 3-way valve so as to open the exhaust leading to the upper part of the cylinder to the air, the weight of the elevator expels the air, and it soon settles into the position shown in the figure. The weighing can then be made as the absorber is swinging freely in the air. After the weighing has been made, the elevator is again lifted, the hooks are released, and by turning the valve the elevator and load are safely lowered.
The size of the openings of the pipes into the cylinder is so adjusted that the movement of the elevator is regular and moderate whether it is being raised or lowered, thus avoiding any sudden jars that might cause an accident to the absorbers. With this system it is possible to weigh these absorbers to within 0.1 gram and, were it necessary, probably the error could be diminished so that the weight could be taken to 0.05 gram. On a balance of this type described elsewhere,[20] weighings could be obtained to within 0.02 gram. For all practical purposes, however, we do not use the balance for weighing the absorbers closer than to within 0.10 gram. In attempting to secure accuracy no greater than this, it is unnecessary to lower the glass door to the balance case or, indeed, to close the two doors to the compartment in which the elevator is closed, as the slight air-currents do not affect the accuracy of the weighing when only 0.1 gram sensitiveness is required.