IMPROVE- OR GIR
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Holme, of the Borough of Kings-
ton-upon-Hull, Gas Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
OR GIR"
Sealed the 6th October 1853, and dated the 1st August 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Holme at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 1st August 1853.
I, RICHARD HOLME, of the Borough of Kingston-upon-Hull, Gas
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of constructing retorts with enlargements or
chambers at the upper parts, so that the gas as it is evolved, in place of
passing away out of the retorts by the rising pipes as heretofore, is
received into the upper parts or gas chambers of the retorts where
there is constantly a quantity of gas, and it is from these chambers the
gas is conveyed to be purified and then to the gasometer. The retorts
are each made either with one or two mouth pieces, and the bottom of

page_text: the retort rises towards the mouth piece or mouth picces, so that the
fluid flows towards the most heated part of the retort, and is converted
into gas; and when the retorts are used for making gas from oils or
fluids they are supplied by means of a tube rising into a cylinder
closed at bottom, and over such tube there is an inverted vessel by
which there is at all times a fluid joint formed opposing the passage
of gas through the hole in the tube by which the fluid passes into the
retort.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Holme in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 1st February 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
RICHARD HOLME, of the Borough of Kingston-upon-Hull, Gas En-
gineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Richard Holme, Her special licence
that I, the said Richard Holme, my executors, administrators, and as-
signs, or such others as I, the said Richard Holme, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF GAS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Richard Holme, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Holme, do hereby de-

page_text: clare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof (that is to say):
This Invention consists of constructing retorts with enlargements or
chambers at the upper parts, so that the gas as it is evolved, in place
of passing away out of the retorts by the rising pipes as heretofore, is
received into the upper parts or gas chambers of the retorts where
there is constantly a quantity of gas, and it is from these chambers the
gas is conveyed to be purified and then to the gasometer. The retorts
are each made either with one or two mouth pieces, and the bottom of
the retort rises towards the mouth piece or mouth pieces, so that the
fluid flows towards the most heated part of the retort, and is converted
into gas; and when the retorts are used for making gas from oils or
fluids they are supplied by means of a tube rising into a cylinder
closed at bottom, and over such tube there is an inverted vessel by
which there is at all times a fluid joint formed opposing the passage
of gas through the hole in the tube by which the fluid passes into the
retort.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed
to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
The Drawing shows a vertical longitudinal section of a retort con-
structed according to my Invention. It may be made with doors at
each end or at one end only, and the ends of the retort rise from the
central portion, whereby any fluid therein will flow towards the hottest
part of the retort. The retort is made with a conical chamber over
the central portion as shown, into which the gas rises as it is evolved.
The retort a, is to be set in such manner that the bottom may be
heated the hottest, and the upper parts of the retort are also to be
heated; the heating of these retorts, as with others, is to be according to
the materials which are being distilled, which is well understood by
gas engineers. The gas passes off at the upper part of the conical
chamber of the retort into the hydraulic main b, as shown, and it passes
from that main by the outlet pipe c. In the hydraulic main there is a

page_text: partition to prevent the gas getting away at the outlet d, where the tar
is allowed to flow off; e, is a tube suspended on the plate or disc f,
fixed to the rod g, which passes through a stuffing box. This appa-
ratus partly stops up the passage at the top of the retort, and carbon
accumulates therein, and the same is to be cleaned out by pressing
down the rod g, when the lower end of the tube e, coming down on
the contents of the retort, the disc will be forced down and remove any
matters which may have been accumulated in the tube e. The tar
accumulating on the water in the hydraulic main is allowed to flow
away, there being a small opening in the partition for that purpose
just above the water. The tar returns to the retort a, by the tube h,
which enters the vessel i, and is covered by the inverted vessel j, there
being openings for the passage of the tar under the inverted vessel j.
The retort may be used, for distilling from coal or other matters, and
when fluids be used such as resin or other oils, they are supplied to the
retort by an apparatus such as is used for conveying back the tar to
the retort.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I would have it
understood that I do not confine my Invention to the use of the precise
form of retort shown, as it may be somewhat varied without departing
from its peculiar character. But what I claim is, the construction of
gas retorts with upper chambers, wherein there will, when at work,
be constantly an accumulation of gas.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Holme, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
RICHARD HOLME. (L.S.)