Improvements in or connected with Gas Hydraulic Mains.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Gas Hydraulic Mains.
I, JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of 12, Hackins Hey, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to those mains used in gas works into which the
gas made in the retorts is conveyed by pipes and in which a liquid is used to form a
seal with the different pipes of the retorts in order to prevent a return of gas from
the main to the retorts when they or any of them are opened, and also to regulate
the pressure in the retorts by the depth of immersion of the outlet end of said pipes
into the liquid.
According to the present invention I form a hydraulic main with a part open to
the atmospheric pressure whilst a part is under the pressure of gas in the main
Water or liquid is maintained' in both portions, but the two portions are separated
above by a curtain or other septum, connection between the two only existing below
the liquid level.
In action, when say all the retorts are working, the pressure in the part of the
hydraulic main used for conveying the gas away; is at its maximum, and tho 'liquid
will stand highest in the portion in communication with the atmospheric pressure,
while the depth of seal or inmersion of the gas dip-pipes will be at its minimum,
and this in some cases may be practically nil and a free flow admitted. When,
however, one or more of the retorts cease working, or the inake of gas is reduced,
the pressure in the gas main is diminished and the liquid level rises, the sealing of
the pipes is therefore secured, and when one or more of the retorts is or are
opened the escape of gas is prevented.
In cases where this automatic regulation above specified is employed, the
hydraulic main may be of duplex form divided by a curtain, one side being used
for gas only, and the other acted upon by the atmosphere, the two parts being of
In other cases the
equal size or other relative size to give the effect specified.
main may be of other or modified forms or constructions.
Dated this 15th day of March 1893.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P:A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Gas Hydraulio Mains.
1, JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINAMORE, of 12, Hackins Hey, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to those mains used in gas works, into which the
gas made in the retorts is conveyed by pipes, in which a liquid is used to form a
seal with the different pipes of the retorts in order to prevent a return of gas from
the main to the retorts when they or any of them are opened, and also to regulate
the pressure in the retorts by the depth of immersion of the outlet end of said pipes
into the liquid.
According to the present invention I form a hydraulic main with a part open to

page_text: the atmospheric pressure whilst a part is under the pressure of gas in the main.
Water or liquid is maintained in both portions, but the two portions are separated
above by a curtain or other septum, connection between the two only existing below
the liquid level.
In action, when say all the retorts are working, the pressure in the part of the
hydraulic main used for conveying the gas away, is at its maximum, and the liquid
will stand highest in the portion in communication with the atmospheric pressure,
while the depth of scal or immersion of the gas dip-pipes will be at its minimum,
and this in some cases may be practically nil and a free flow admitted. When,
*however, one or more of the retorts cease working, or the make of gas is reduced,
the pressure in the gas main is diminished and the liquid level rises, the sealing of
the pipes is therefore secured, and when one or more of the retorts is or are
opened the escape of gas is prevented.
In cases where this automatic regulation above specified is employed, the
hydraulic main may be of duplex form divided by a curtain, one side being used
for gas only, and the other acted upon by the atinosphere, the two parts being of
equal size or other relative size to give the effect specified. In other cases the
main may be of other or modified forms or constructions.
In the drawings illustrating this invention, there is illustrated in Figure 1 and
Figure 2-which are front elevation and cross section, respectively-one form of
hydraulic main according to this invention, shewing it applied to gas apparatus
operating after the process known.as the "Dinsmore" process, and wherein the gas
is carried down from the gas-making apparatus into a hydraulic main or vessel, and
out of same to a dry main.
Referring to the drawings, a is the shell or case of the hydraulic main'; b.is the
partition or septum therein; c is a cover on one half of the trough or vessel a,
inclosing and making a tight chamber of that part of the trough, on that side:
d is a loose plate covering loosely the other side of the trough and enabling the
atmospheric pressure to act upon the surface of the liquid therein; e are the
descension pipes by which the gas from the gas-making apparatus is conveyed to
the hydraulic main; and are the dip pipes on the end of the pipes e within the
trough a; is the pipe or dry main by which the gas is carried off from the main
or trough a.
The septum b, as will be seen in Figure 2, is not carried to the bottom of the
trough or main a (or is provided with apertures at its lower edge) by which com-
munication is made between the two sides of it, and the liquid is free to pass from
one to the other.
The dip pipes dip into the liquid in a to a small depth only, say for
instance of an inch; and that only when no pressure of gas exists in the gas
making apparatus and presses on the liquid. In that state the pressure on both
sides of the septum b is equal.
In operation, when a pressure of gas, due to the production of gas in the gas-
making apparatus, exists in that side of the main a, on which the descension
pipes e are provided, the pressure in that side, being greater than that of the
atmosphere acting on the other side, depresses the liquid therein, and forces it up the
other side, and unseals.or uncovers the ends of the dip pipes (which then cease to
be dip pipes) and so allow the gas to pass away through the outlet pipe 'without
passing through and being subjected to the action of the liquor in the main a; thus
preventing the absorption, condensation or destruction of any of the valuable
illuminants or illuminating constituents of the gas. When the make of gas
ceases, the pipes f become again sealed, and act as dip pipes to the gas-making
apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
In gas making apparatus, a gas main having a liquid in it (commonly called a

page_text: hydraulic main), and a septum or partition therein, whereby it is separated into two
portione, one being closed and in communication with the gas, and the other open
to the atmosphere, the pipes conveying the gas from the gas making apparatus
having pipes dipping into said liquid, when no pressure of gas exists thereon, a small
5 depth only, and being unsealed when gas is being passed into said main; sub-
stantially as herein. set forth.
Dated this 15th day of December 1893.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.