IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS PURIFIERS OR SCRUBBERS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Whiteley, Fitter, and Richard Pickles, Traveller,
both of Bradford, in the County of York, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAS PURIFIERS OR SCRUBBERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Whiteley and
Richard Pickles at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th
August 1880.
JOSEPH WHITELEY, Fitter, and RICHARD PICKLES, Traveller, both of Bradford, in
the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS PURIFIERS OR SCRUBBERS."
Our Invention relates to employing gas purifiers or scrubbers fitted with revolving
beaters instead of the common form of gas purifiers used in gas works, which
consist of a casing surrounded on the sides with water, the inside of the casing
being fitted with layers or strata of oxyde, through which the gas is caused to
ascend from below and filtered through the layers or strata of the oxyde, and when
such layers of oxyde require to be removed men have first to remove a plug to
allow the escape of any gas left in the cistern, and afterwards by means of cranes to
remove heavy covers and then shovel out the layers of oxyde and remove the
gratings on which the layers are placed, besides making new tight joints to the
heavy covers. Our improved purifier does away with the labour of removing the
covers and of removing gratings and shovelling out the exhausted oxyde, by
which means we economize and cheapen the cost of labour, besides producing a more
effective purifier.
For this purpose we construct a frame, in which we fix a casing having a rounded
bottom end; the casing is fitted with divisional plates, but of less height than the
cistern; the divisional plates form separate oxyde receivers, the numbers of which
may be three, four, or more, according to the size of the purifier; through the
cistern and the separate receivers is passed a shaft, which works in bearings fitted
outside the casing; the shaft is actuated by a pulley and belting; on the shaft and
in each separate receiver is fitted a boss having four projecting pieces, in which are
fitted series of small round rods, which, in revolving, act as beaters, and turn over
the oxyde; in the bottom of the casing and to each separate receiver is fitted a

page_text: sliding valve or door, and which are opened to remove the oxyde when required,
and to give a fresh supply of oxyde to each receiver hoppers are made to each
receiver, or a hopper may be made the length of the cistern. The hopper or hoppers
is or are fitted to the side of the cistern, and on this side of the cistern and within
the hopper or hoppers are fitted sliding valves or doors, which are made with well
fitted joints; the valves or doors are opened to give a fresh supply of oxyde; a cover
is fitted over the cistern, but which only requires removing when any repairs are
required to be made to the beaters.
In the bottom part of the cistern and on one side is fitted a block, through which
is passed the gas supply pipe; the gas passes into the first divisional receiver and
through the turned over oxyde (the beaters in revolving giving a turned over
action); the gas ascending passes over the divisional plate, a space being left
between the tops of the plates and the cover; the gas passes on into the second
receiver and through the oxyde, and in a similar manner into the third, or into any
other receiver, and escapes through a pipe fitted into a block, which is secured to
the outside of the end plate of the receiver, the escape pipe being fitted near the
top of the cistern.
When the oxyde requires to be removed, the gas is turned off and the bottom
valves are opened, which allow the oxyde to fall in boxes or receivers, to be after-
wards removed; the oxyde having been removed, the valves or doors are closed
and the valves or doors within the hopper are opened, and a fresh supply of oxyde
is shovelled into the hopper or hoppers and passes through the openings into cach
receiver, and when filled the valves or doors are closed and the gas turned on, and
the gas is purified.
By these means we do away with much labour, and cheapen the cost of
production.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Whiteley and Richard Pickles in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the Sth February 1881.
JOSEPH WHITELEY, Fitter, and RICHARD PICKLES, Traveller, both of Bradford, in
the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS PURIFIERS OR SCRUBBERS."
The said Invention relates to employing gas purifiers or scrubbers fitted with
revolving beaters, instead of the common form of gas purifiers used in gas works,
which consist of a casing surrounded on the sides with water, the inside of the
casing being fitted with layers or strata of oxyde, through which the gas is caused
to ascend from below and filtered through the layers or strata of the oxyde, and
then such layers of oxyde require to be removed; men have first to remove a plug
to allow the escape of any gas left in the cistern, and afterwards by means of
cranes to remove heavy covers, and then shovel out the layers of oxyde and
remove the gratings on which the layers are placed, besides bolting on the heavy
covers.

page_text: Our improved purifier does away with the labor of removing the covers and
gratings, also the shovelling out of the spent oxyde or lime, by which means
we economise and cheapen the cost of labor, besides producing a more effective
purifier.
For this purpose we construct a frame, in which we fix a casing having the
bottom part partly rounded; the casing is fitted with divisional plates of less
height than the cistern; the divisional plates form separate oxyde or lime receivers,
the number of which may be three, four, or more, according to the size of the
purifier; through the cistern and the separate receivers is passed a shaft, which
works in bearings fitted outside the casing. The shaft is actuated by a worm wheel
and worm, or by a spur wheel and pinion, or by a pulley and belt, or the shaft
may be turned by hand by means of a handle fitted on the shaft. On the shaft are
fitted bosses (in each separate receiver), and the bosses are made with projecting pieces,
in which are fitted small round rods, or these rods may be fitted in the shaft; the
rods in revolving act as beaters and turn over the oxyde. In the bottom of the
casing and to each separate receiver is fitted a sliding valve or door, which, when
opened, allows of the removal of the oxyde when required, and to furnish a fresh
supply of oxyde to each receiver a hopper is made the length of the casing and
formed with division plates, or a hopper may be fitted to each receiver. Each
division is fitted with sliding doors working in slides, and the doors are opened to
give a fresh supply of oxyde or lime; a cover is fitted over the cistern, which only
requires removing when repairs are required to be made to the beaters.
In the bottom part of the cistern is cast a socket, in which is fitted the gas
supply pipe; the gas passes from the supply pipe in the first receiver and through
the oxyde or lime, being turned over by the beaters. The gas ascending passes over
the top of the oxyde or lime and through a passage into the second receiver, and
through the oxyde or lime contained therein, being turned over, and through
another passage into the third, and in a similar manner into any number of receivers
employed, and the gas purified escapes through a pipe fitted in a socket cast near
the top of the cistern.
When the oxyde or lime requires to be removed, the gas is turned off and the
bottom valves or doors are opened, which allows the used up oxyde or lime to fall
in boxes or receivers, to be afterwards removed, and when this oxyde or lime is
removed the valves or doors are closed, and the doors of the hoppers opened and a
fresh supply of oxyde or lime is shovelled into the hopper or hoppers, which passes
through openings made in the cistern into the receivers; the sliding doors are then
closed and the gas turned on to receive the purifying action.
By these means we do away with much labor, and cheapen the cost of
production.
But in order to enable our improvements to be better understood, we will
proceed to more particularly describe the same by reference to the accompanying
Drawing, in which Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of our improved
gas purifier or scrubber; Figure 2, sectional side view; Figure 3, perspective front
view; and Figure 4, plan of the same. Similar letters of reference are used to
represent similar parts. A is the casing fitted in a frame or cast with supports B;
the casing is cast or fitted with divisional plates C, which form separate chambers
or receivers D, in which is placed the oxyde or lime Y; the plates also form
passages E for the passage of the gas from one chamber to the other; through the
plates and through the casing is fitted a shaft F, and the shaft may work in bearings
cast or fitted on the outside of the end plates of the casing. On the shaft F and in
each chamber are fitted tubular shafts G, which are made the width of the inside of
each chamber, and are secured to the shaft F; the tubular shafts are made or are
fitted with rods H or oxyde or lime beaters, which, in revolving, turn over the
oxyde or lime Y as the gas passes through it. On one side of the casing is cast or
fitted a shoot I (or shoots may be cast or fitted to each chamber). The shoot I is
made with divisional plates J, forming separate shoots or a shoot to each chamber,
and the sides of the casing having the shoot are made with openings K, and on the

page_text: sides of the openings are cast or fitted slides L, in which work doors or plates M,
lifted or lowered by the handles N. The bottom parts O of the casing for each
chamber are made slanting, and are cast or fitted with slides P, in which are fitted
plates or doors Q, which are opened or closed by the handles R. When the
purifying quality of the oxyde or lime is used up, the oxyde or lime Y contained in
a chamber or chambers is removed, and for that purpose the door or plate of the
chamber is pulled out, and the oxyde or lime falls in a receiver placed under each
chamber, to be removed afterwards, and when the chamber or chambers is or
are emptied, the door or doors Q is or are closed, and the doors M. of each chamber
or of a chamber, as the case may be, is or are opened, and the oxyde or lime
shovelled into the shoot and the oxyde or lime passed in the chamber; the door is
then closed. A cover S is fitted over the casing and secured by bolts and nuts
thereto; this cover only requires removing when any repairs are required to be
made to the beaters. On one of the ends of the casing is cast or fitted a socket T,
in which is fitted the gas supply pipe. The gas passing through this pipe passes
through the oxyde or lime Y contained in the first chamber, and then through the
turned over oxyde or lime over the oxyde or lime, and through the passage E into
the second chamber, and through the oxyde or lime and second passage E into the
third chamber, and from there in a purified state through a gas pipe fitted in a
socket U cast or fitted to the other end plate of the casing and near the top. The
shaft F is actuated by a worm wheel V, which is worked by a worm W, fitted on
a shaft X. On this shaft several worms may be secured, which will actuate several
worm wheels fitted to several purifiers, which are placed in a row.
The shaft X is
actuated by a pulley and belting.
Having thus described our improvements and the best means we are acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of our Invention, but what we do
claim is,
The construction and employment of improved gas purifiers or scrubbers fitted
with revolving beaters, shoots, and doors for admitting the oxyde or lime, and
sliding doors for the discharge of the same, substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and represented by the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Whiteley, for and on behalf of myself
and the said Richard Pickles, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Third day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and eighty one.
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
JOSEPH WHITELEY. (L.S.)