IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS ON GAZOMETERS
Year: 1817

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARTHUR
HOWE HOLDSWORTH, of Dartmouth, in the County of Devon, Esquire, send
greeting.
"WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Nineteenth day of
December, in the fifty-eighth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the
said Arthur Howe Holdsworth, my exors, adññors, and assigns, His special
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Arthur
Howe Holdsworth, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, should and lawfully might,
during term of years therein mentioned, make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS ON GAZOMETERS ;" in which said Letters
Patent there is contained a proviso that if I, the said Arthur Howe Holds-
worth, shall not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said
Invention; and in what-manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in
His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within two calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, that then the
said Letters Patent; and all liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby
granted, shall utterly cease, determine, and become void, as in and by the
same, relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Arthur Howe Holdsworth, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and the following description thereof (that is to say):-
To describe as accurately as I can the mode by which I propose to improve
gazometers, I should say that those in common use at present are square or
cylindrical vessels made of thin metal, open at one end, which end is down-
wards, and suspended by a balance weight, so adjusted as to allow it to pass
on the gas within with such force as may be found most convenient for
driving it to the burners. These vessels are suspended over tanks of water,
in which they move up and down, in order to receive or discharge the gas.
All the gas that can be stowed in this vessel must be above the water,
consequently the tank is of no other use than to hold the gasometer. Others
have been erected in which the interior part of the tanks is filled up with
masonery, leaving on all sides between this and the exterior wall a space
about a foot in diameter, for the purpose of containing the water in which the
gasometer works. My mode differs from these by using the whole of the
tank above described to store my gas in, except such a portion of it as
is necessary to contain water, in which the gasometer may work, and the plan
I prefer is as follows:-If to improve one already built, I make a wall within
the tank about a foot from its side, A, Fig. 1, sufficiently strong to hold the
water between it and the side, when the whole space within the wall is
capable of being filled with gas. This wall may be made of brick, iron, or other
material best suited to that of which the tank is composed, but it will be
obvious that where the works are new, the tank may be made to any size
or depth that the premises will permit, provided the cystern be properly
.secured in which the gasometer moves up and down.
The pipes that bring
in and convey away the gas are arranged as in those at present in use. The
mode in which I work it is as follows:-I fill the whole tank with water both
-between the wall and sides, and within the wall itself, and the gasometer is at
present raised by the gas that flows in. As soon as it is full I withdraw the
water that is within the wall or body of the tank; the gas descends as the
water flows away, and occupies the whole of the tank within the wall. The
gasometer descends with it until the gas which continues to flow in from the
retorts again raises it to its highest point, when the whole may be safely left
for use.
If the tank be deep and will contain more than the gasometer, the
water is only withdrawn until the gasometer descends to its place of rest,
when the water is left in till, from the flowing in of fresh gas,
the gasometer

page_text: has again ascended to its greatest height, when another portion of water,
equal in space to the gas within the gasometer, is withdrawn, and thus it is
continued to be raised and water withdrawn until the whole tank is full of gas
as well as the gasometer at it highest points. When the gas is to be expelled
for burning, the cock of the main being opened the gasometer descends to its
place of rest, on which as much water must be let into the tank as will, by
driving up the gas again, raise the gasometer to its highest point, when the
water must be stopped until the gasometer has again descended, and which
operation must be continued. until the inside of the top of the gasometer and
the surface of the water meet, when the whole of the gas will have been
expelled, and the operation of refilling may be commenced as before described.
The mode of introducing and withdrawing the water from the tanks is too
simple to need description; it would be wise so to place the tank as to com-
mand a stream of water to flow into it with a sufficient fall below to let it
again escape, otherwise it must be done by the aid of a pump. It will be
readily seen, that the water of one gasometer tank will do the work of any
number if fitted in the mode I have first described, independant of the water
in which the gasometer moves up and down, and which water is stationary.
Suppose A, B, C, three gasometers all at rest, A, with its tank full of water,
B and C as when first altered to my plan, before any water is let into them,
except the space between the wall and the sides, which must be filled with
water, each of these gasometers with a valve in its top two or three inches
wide opening inwards, but kept fast by a spring or weight equal to two pounds;
in the top also, but near the side, a cock which can be turned at pleasure,
when the gasometer is at its place of rest; between A and B and between
B and C, communicating pipes from the bottom of the tanks with a stop-
cock on cach; a small cistern also near the tanks, whose base is rather
below the bottom of the tanks, provided with a pump, and another cystern
rather above the level of the top of the tanks; a pipe from each tank to the
under cystern, and another from each tank to the upper cystern, each provided
with a stopcock; turn the gas into A until the gasometer raises to its
greatest height, when the water which is in A is immediately lett off into B;
but as the space within the wall in B is full of common air, whilst the water.
is running in, the cock in the top of its gasometer must be kept open to let
the air escape. The two tanks being on a level the water will flow in until
B is half full, when the communicating pipe between them must be stopped;
the water remaining in A m:st then be let into the cystern, from whence
being pumped into the upper cystern, the communicating pipe from thence
to .B being opened, the tank B is filled, the air cock in the top of its gasometer

page_text: must be then shut. When the interior of the tank of A is full of gas, as
well as the gasometer at its greatest height, the communication with the
retorts is stopped, and the gas turned into B, when the gas fills it and the
water is withdrawn into C as it was into B, and so on in succession to any
number of gasometers, the water remaining in the tank of that filled last. If
there are but three, C will contain the water, and which will be sufficient to
discharge the whole of the gasometers. The gas being expelled first from C,
the main from B is opened, and as soon as its gasometer has fallen away to its
place of rest the water is let into it from C, and which half filling the tank, the
gasometer is again raised to its greatest height (the valve in the top of C
permitting the common air to flow into its tank as fast as the water is
withdrawn, the stopcock on the communicating pipe between the tanks C
and B. is then stopped, and the water remaining in C is run off into the
cystern, from whence it is pumped into the upper cystern, and thence run
into B to raise all the gas into the gasometer, from whence it is all expelled
by the meeting of the water and the top of the gasometer, The same process
is gone through with B and A as was with C and B, and the whole is expelled
to the burners. By this plan the gas is regulated in its discharge to the
burners, as at present, by the falling of the gasometer, it being a sure guide
both to the putting in and withdrawing the water from the tank.
The plan on which I prefer building my gasometers is as follows:-Fig. 2.
-A, pieces of cast iron, made as light as they can be with safety; B, strong
pieces of wrought iron, firmly secured to C by a collar or otherwise; C, a strong
piece of iron rivetted within the gasometer, to which the chain suspending the
weight is attached; D, pieces of flat wrought iron firmly fixed to B; E, a
hoop of flat iron fixed to D; F, thin pieces of iron to assist in supporting
the plates; G, pieces of light cast iron standing on their edge, and attached
to 'A to assist in supporting the plates of the top; H, a space raised above
the other parts of the top of the gasometer to receive (when it has descended
to a state of rest) the tops of the pikes, which bring in and convey away the
gas; T, air cock; K, air valve; L, guide rod working. between the two brass
rollers; M, rollers for guides of A, B, D, and G,-thero must be as many as
the workmen may think sufficient to support the plates of iron of which the
gasometer is composed. If it is desireable to save room over the gasometer,
by reversing the 'cast iron work it may be put within the gasometer, the
plates of the top may then go over it, and if properly done the whole will bo
quite as strong. The great object is to keep the plates of the top perfectly flat
to meet the surface of the water.
· The preceeding 'description applies to the large receptacles in which the

page_text: gas is kept in store after having been purified; but when I wish to ascertain
the quantity of gas burnt at any particular place, where it is not convenient
to have a gasometer capable of holding a quantity sufficient to feed all the
burners there for the night, and to adjust the supply of the burners to any
pressure below that at which the large gasometer next to the retorts are
acting, I effect these objects by constructing small gasometers which will
fill and discharge themselves, the latter of which will regulate the pressure or
density of the gas to any required standard, and by adjusting a dial to the
first I ascertain the quantity of gas that has passed through it in a given
time, all which contrivances I consider as further improvements in this useful
machine. These are effected by putting a stopcock or valve on the feeding
pipe of the first gasometer, and another on its discharge pipe, and by enabling
the gasometer when it has discharged all its gas to open the former, and at
the same moment shut the latter pipe, and when full to open the latter and
at the same time shut the former.
The plan by which I prefer to effect this operation is as follows:-Fig. 3.-
A, A, A, A, a tank of water; B, a gasometer, the capacity of which is equal
to one cubic foot; C, a second of the same size; D, E, two water valves
or small gasometers, about an inch and half in diameter, and four inches
deep, working over the top of two pipes, which are separated from each other
by a division two inches deep in the gasometers. When these are raised so high
as to permit the division to be above the water, the gas coming from one pipe
can pass into the other; but when the gasometer is let down and the division
is two inches deep in the water, all communication ceases. e, the division
above spoken of; F, pipe from the large gasometer into the first valve; G,
pipe from the first valve to the first gasometer; H; pipe from the first
gasometer to second valve; I, pipe from the second valve to second gaso-
meter; K, pipo from the second gasometer to the burners; L, L, cocks to
turn the gas into the gasometers, and from thence to the burners; M, M, M,
guide rods to the gasometers; N, N, guides to the valves to keep them steady;
O, balance weights on cranks to keep the valves in the position in which they
are left by the beam; these may be attached to the valves wherever it may
be convenient to place them. P, an upright shaft moving on an axis with a
weight, fixed on its top; Q, a beam attached to the shaft on the same axis,
and at right angles with the shaft to open and shut the valves; R, an open
space in the rods of the valves in which the beam (Q) can move, so that it
may not alter the situation of the valves until it has assumed an horizontal
position; S, S, two rods projecting from the shaft P, on which a small roller
(T) attached to the gasometer acts, so as by the means of the alternate motion

page_text: of this latter to raise the shaft (P) to a perpendicular, and then to throw it
over in order to alter the valves (care must be taken that the beam (Q) be
fixed so far behind the shaft of the axis as to permit the roller (T) to pass
before it when moving up and down); T, the roller above mentioned; V, a
dial with a rack on the outer edge of its face; W, a pendulum moving on a
pin in the middle of the dial; X, a pin on the shaft acting on the lower end
of the pendulam, which at one vibration draws it over the back of a tooth on
the rack, and at the other draws round the dial one point. (The hole in the
pendulum at (a) must be made long enough to allow of the curved motion
of the pin on the shaft). If in the middle of the dial a small wheel be placed,
acting on the edge of a large one, it may be adjusted to denote the quantity
of gas delivered in any length of time. The operation is this:-Suppose the
gas in the main driven forward at a pressure equal to an inch and half of
water, or seven and three quarter pounds on a base of a foot square, if the
valve (D) be equal to a square containing two inches, a weight of two ounces
avoirdupoize will be more than sufficient to keep it down and prevent the gas
from passing from one pipe to the other, but it should be adjusted on an
equilibrium, and retained in the position in which the beam places it by a
slight spring and balance weight on a crank. When this valve is open the gas
passes into the first gasometer, which if adjusted to five and a half pounds
pressure, or one inch depth of water, will be acted upon by the gas with a
force of two pounds above its own weight, thus giving it an access of ascending
power equal to two pounds. As it ascends it raises the shaft to a perpen-
dicular position, and at the moment of gaining its own greatest height it will
throw the shaft off its balance to the other side, and instantly close the filling
valve and open that which leads to the other gasometer. This latter gaso-
meter being adjusted at a pressure equal only to three and a half pounds or
five-eighths of an inch of water, will ascend, giving the first gasometer an
excess of descending power equal to two pounds to act on the shaft, and thus
again change the valves. The use of the second gasometer is to keep up the
supply to the burners during the ascent of the first gasometer; it therefore
need not be larger than is necessary to carry that purpose into effect; but to
enable it to regulate the burners it must be furnished with a shaft and beam
(as that before described) to act on a valve placed on the pipe from which it
receives the gas, which valve it should shut when it has ascended to its
greatest height, and open when it has descended half way to its place of rest,
but which apparatus need not be more minutely detailed, as it would be
similar to that attached to the first gasometer. Where a machine is only
required to regulate the pressure of the gas on the burners without measuring,

page_text: this second gasometer alone (as above described) will effect the purpose.
Whatever the size of either may be, and the first should be proportioned to
the number of burners in the house where it is placed, and to the space that
can be allowed it, the adjustment of weight to the square foot or inch will be
perfectly simple, as the force will be proportioned to the surface of the base on
which it acts. One tank will contain the water for all, and the whole may be
formed into a box with the door opening on the front above the tank, and
which may be locked up to keep the works from being disturbed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Howe Holdsworth, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
ARTHUR HOWE (L.S.) HOLDSWORTH.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fourteenth day of February, in
the year of our Lord 1818, the aforesaid Arthur Howe Holdsworth came
before our said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statutes made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Seventeenth day of February, in the year of our Lord Ono
L