CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF GASSES AND FOR A
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME GREETING,
I, the said WILLIAM RADLEY, late of Laburnum Terrace, Kingsland Road, in
the County of Middlesex, but now of West Square, in the County of Surrey,
Engineering Chymist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, in and by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland called England, bearing date at Westminster, the Third day of
May, One thousand eight hundred and forty-five, in the eighth year of Her
reign, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, did give and grant unto me, the
said William Radley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her especial
license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said William
Radley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and such others as I, the
said William Radley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within that part of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland called England, the Dominion of Wales, and Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, in Her Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark,
and Man, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF GASSES AND FOR
A

page_text: THEIR APPLICATION TO PURPOSES OF GENERAL ILLUMINATION, AND IN THE APPARATUS
AND MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN MANUFACTURING, MEASURING, AND DISTRI-
BUTING THE SAME;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso,
that I, the said William Radley, shall 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, to be inrolled in IIer
said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Radley, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following instrument in writing, reference being to
the letters and figures therein contained, and to the Drawings thereunto
annexed.
SPECIFICATION OF MACHINERY, APPARATUS, AND MATERIALS.
My Invention consists, in the first place, of a variation in the construction
and arrangement of the several parts of an ordinary furnace for heating gas
retorts, or for any other purpose whatsoever where the production of heat is
the primary object to be answered, which I will now describe.
Instead of the ordinary fire or furnace bars and framework, I use a bar
and frame of cast or wrought iron, whose section presents the shape of the
letter V, the angular cavity in which, with the open part or base placed upwards
towards the burning fuel, is to be occupied by a wedged-shaped bar of fire clay,
burnt to the condition of the best fire bricks of porcelain, common earthenware,
or any other substance of a like nature which is a bad or non-conductor of
heat or electricity. I do not presume upon any alteration or particular
method of the arrangement of the furnace bars and the framework which
supports the said bars, but I apply a wedge of the aforesaid non-conductor of
heat and electricity to the upper face of all the metallic framework supporting
the bars, and to each and every bar of the furnace, so as to present a
surface to the burning fuel which is a bad or non-conductor of heat and
electricity and thus prevent any contact between the burning fuel and the
metallic framework and bars of the furnace, which could become a source
of conduction of either or both of the before-mentioned imponderables, as
heat and electricity are technically termed in chymical language, generated
simultaneously in all furnaces whose object is the production of heat as
a residuary principle. The like method I pursue with the dead plate or any

page_text: substitute therefore situate immediately behind the furnace door, and upon
one side of which dead plate the shoulders of the furnace bars sometimes rest,
by making such dead plate of cast or wrought iron with a metallic border or
rib upon each of its two sides, so as to give lodgment to a slab or slaps of
porcelain, glass, enamel, earthenware, burnt fire-clay, or any other vitreous
or semi-vitreous, or other substance whatsoever which is a bad or non-conductor
of heat or electricity. The ribs upon the sides of the dead plate may be about
one inch square in transverse section projecting upwards from the face of the
plate, and the non-conducting slab or slabs so thick as to present a continuous
or unbroken surface with the furnace bars and framework when the latter is
so constructed as to stand up flush with the surface of the furnace bars. I
further construct the furnace so that the metallic framework of the doorway
of all furnaces shall stand behind but in contact with the lining of fire bricks,
fire lumps, fire stone, or any other substance difficult of fusion or softening by
intense heat with which a furnace may be or is usually lined, so that no
substance composing the said doorway framework may by its heat or electric
conducting power abstract either or both of these imponderables from the
flame or heated air on gasses contained within the furnace. The construction
of the fire or furnace door is to be on the same principle as the dead plate, but
so varied by a projecting rib or border on each of its four sides that a slab or
slabs covering the furnace face of said door may not slip therefrom by the
effect of gravity, and so provided with gudgeons or cotters keying the slab or
slabs unalterably in their situation as that they cannot fall thereout, or other-
wise retaining the said slab or slabs in their place or places by screws or
other like fastenings inserted into the back part of the substance of the slab
or slabs in contact with the door, and fastened by their heads or by riveting
into the door itself. I do not intend those heretofore described wedges, slabs,
or earthen or vitreous bars or slabs, as protections against metallic or other
corrosion by acrid gasses generated within the furnace, but as aids to the con-
centration of thermo-electric influence within the furnace.
For further illustrations on this first part of my Invention the reader is
referred to Drawing I., where Figure I, (a) represents the transverse section
of a furnace bar, with its angular cavity to give lodgment to the wedge-shaped
bar herein-before described; (b), the transverse section of the non-conducting
wedge-shaped bar shewing its angular form downwards, surmounted by its two
shoulders of such dimension as effectually to cover the thickness of the sides
or walls of the V-shaped furnace bar. Fig. 2, (d), section of furnace door-
way, shewing the position of the door frame (c, e,) behind the furnace lining
of fire bricks (f.f); (9) is a section of the furnace door with its ribs: and

page_text: (h), the slab with its overlapping shoulders. Fig. 3, (e), section of dead plate,
showing the projecting ribs or borders completely covered by the projecting
shoulders of the slab or slabs (9, 9); (j), the slab; (k), dead plate; (1), bar
of framework; '(m), part of furnace bar, with its fuel insulator (n).
And, whereas it is absolutely necessary that the flame and hot air or gasses
generated within a furnace shall not impinge directly upon the external walls
or sides of any metallic vessel whose contents require to be raised up to 300°
of Fahrenheit's thermometer, and that the flame from sulphureous fuel shall
not actually lick the outer surface of any retort or vessel whatsoever which
may be set within any furnace in order that its contents may be subjected to
the action of heat, retorts and vessels so circumstanced have been partially
covered and so protected from sulphureous and other corrosion by earthen and
semi-vitreous saddles or curvilinear slabs, and are accustomed to be otherwise,
in furtherance of the same object, far removed from that part of the furnace
where the residuary heat exists in greatest and most useful intensity by location
in ovens or flues more or less detached from the furnace to the
great deteriora-
tion of the economy of the process. I prefer to set a retort or other vessel
circumstanced as above described within the body of the furnace itself, but
separated from the fuel in actual combustion by a septum or partition composed
of fire slabs, as herein-before described, as regards their physical constitution
or composition but pierced full of cylindric or other shaped apertures like the
tiles of a malt kiln floor; the said slabs to be three feet in length, one foot in
breadth, and six inches in thickness, or thereabouts, for a furnace five feet
in width, and of proportionably less or greater dimensions as the furnace may
be of less or greater magnitude; the said apertures to be about half an inch
in diameter at or near one end of the slab, and increase gradually in diameter
to two inches near the other end; but this arrangement of apertures and
width of the same may be varied to suit other occasions different in require-
ment from those herein-after described, to which this particular Specifica
tion is more particularly applicable. If the fuel which is used to actuate
and feed the furnace be of a sulphureous nature, or contain much bisulphuret
of iron, otherwise called iron pyrites, then plates of wrought or cast iron, pro-
vided with holes of the size and in manner herein-before described, which
being less expensive than retorts and other similar vessels, may be substituted
with advantage for the slabs of fire-clay, and removed as often as they may be
destroyed.
In Drawing No. 1, Fig. 4, will be seen a description of the fire slab with
its apertures; or immediately in front of the said septum of pierced fire clay
slabs, a row of iron or earthern pipes, about two inches diameter, and drilled

page_text: full of small holes on the sides next to the interior of the furnace may be
fixed in the brickwork, so as that by one of their extremities they may com-
municate with the ash-pit of the furnace. These pipes, to the number of 6 to
10, may be ranged within two or three inches of the apertures in the before-
named septum or partition, one above the other, at suitable distances, so that
the atmosphere which passes from the ash-pit of the furnace to and through
the holes in the pipes may, by combining with sulphur in vapour or smoke of
a carbonaceous quality consume the latter, and give the former a constitution
in which at high temperatures it has no corrosive effect upon iron.
My Invention further relates to the retort or vessel within which the coal,
cannel wood, bones, and other animal and vegetable or fossil matter is subjected
to the process of calcination for the production of gasses to be used for purposes
of general illumination, or within which the old iron, coke, or other carbona-
ceous is to be heated for the production of hydrogen of greater or less purity,
or carburet of hydrogen to be afterwards used in the process of dilution of
other gasses, rich in hyduret and binhyduret of acetule or other highly illumi-
native gas or gasses or vapours, performed as herein-after described, and
consists in the first place of a cylindric cast or wrought iron or earthern vessel,
say, four feet in diameter by four feet long, having a man-hole elliptic in form,
eighteen inches one way and twelve inches the other, and lid to cover the same
in the middle of one side, and a similar man-hole and lid opening through one
end into the interior of the before-mentioned cylinder at the distances of about
six inches from the lower surface of the cylinder, as shown in Drawing II.,
Fig. 5 being an end view, and Fig. 6 a side view, shewing the bottom thicker
than the top. Within this cylinder is made to rotate a machine like unto the
paddle wheel of a steam boat, whose paddles, six in number, are composed of
what is called angle iron, as shewn in Fig. 7. The vessel or retort is to be set
in brickwork after the manner of an ordinary furnace, or in the arched roof of
a coke oven, lying on its side, with the first-named man-hole directly upwards,
and the other man-hole at the lower part of the front end; the ends of this
vessel must be semi-spherical, or parabolic, or flat, to suit the circumstances of
its application, as herein-after specified; one end of the shaft of this paddle-
wheel works in a footstep in the midst of one end of the said cylindric vessel
without passing through the substance of the end, and the other passes actually
through the opposite end, in order to be connected with a medium of circular
motion by means of a catch or coupling box, so that the requisite movement
may be given to the said paddle-wheel; a collar is screwed on to the said shaft
which works against a bush, turned true and bored, so as to give easy bearing
to the shaft, and prevent by the contact of the collar with the bush any

page_text: gasseous matters escaping from the interior of this vessel, which, with all its
appendages, I denominate a paddle-wheel retort, see Drawing I., Figs. 5, 6, 7,
where (a) represents the superior man-hole," (6) the inferior or end man-hole,
with their flanches; (c) shews the relative thickness of top and bottom; (d) the
paddle-wheel with its six arms; (e) shews the angle iron paddle; (f) the
bath of molten lead; (9) dotted line, shewing the height to which the sub-
stance to be carbonized is to occupy; and (h), Fig. 6, the situation of the
outlet for the gas and other vapours. From the aforesaid Drawing and des-
cription, it will be perceived that the man-hole or opening in the front end of
this paddle-wheel retort does not meet by its lower side the inner surface of
the lowmost part of the retort itself, but makes a step of about six inches deep.
Into the bottom of this retort I introduce metallic lead in a state of fusion or
otherwise, but so that when melted it shall rise to near the lower edge of the
man-hole or opening in the front end of this paddle-wheel retort, and by its
fluidity and disposition, allow of easy motion upon its surface, thus reducing the
amount of power otherwise required, by the paddle-wheel continually to remove
by means of its paddles that stratum or layer of coal which lies next to the red-
hot surface or heated wall of the retort itself. This retort will hold when half
filled with coal, cannel, bones, &c., &c., as herein-before recited, about twenty-
two cubical feet, equal to about half a ton of either coal or bones, which, by
the methods stated herein, subsequently may be calcined in four hours. This
retort is to be charged from a hopper through its upper man-hole, into which
hopper is to be previously placed the requisite weight or bulk to constitute a
charge, so that immediately after a charge has been withdrawn from the retort
through the lower man-hole and the lid secured, the lid of the upper man-hole
may be removed and the charge projected into the retort and the lid secured.
The lids
may be secured in the usual manner or by a method to be afterwards
recited.
My Invention respecting retorts consists in the second place of a vessel
of cast or wrought iron, whose transverse section is a circle of twelve
inches diameter, or an ellipse having a conjugate diameter of thirty inches,
and a transverse one of twelve inches, the whole length of the retort
being twelve feet; at the distance of three feet from each end there is a
flanch on the outside of the retort about six inches broad. This retort is
intended to stand erect with one of its flanches resting on a cast-iron plate,
having an elliptical aperture equal to the area of the retort externally, which
plate rests on and is otherwise fixed in the centre of an arch situated below
the bed of the furnace, and upon whose crown the ash-pit of the furnace
or hearth of the coke oven is situated and rests. A series of these arches

page_text: composing the roof of the vault may be ranged together, or instead of the
arches the coke vault may be covered with a flat roof, supported by cast-iron
beams and columns, upon which proper flooring may be laid, taking care to
locate proper supports for the verticle retorts to rest on by means of their
lower flanches. To the upper flanch of the vertical retort is jointed with iron
or other cement an elliptic vessel, three feet in length, having an ex-
ternal flanch at one end, about three inches broad, to suit the breadth of
the flanch on the body of the retort, and to which it is to be securely bolted.
This vessel represented in Drawing II., Fig. I., where (a, a,) shews the body
of the retort; b, b, b, b, the six-inch flanches; c, c, the socket piece separately
and "in situ," bolted to said upper flanch; (d, d.) socket cap, separately and
"in situ;" (e, e,) its diaphragm concave within to resist pressure; (f, f;)
concentric space, to contain molten lead or metallic alloy; (g, g.) the gudgeons,
to which are to be affixed the levers; (h) the cap; and (i, i,) the upper con-
centric space; (j,j.) gudgeons to lift the cap; (k) the gas outlet pipe; (m)
the pipe, inserted in the diaphragm of the socket cap to answer as gas outlet
or inlet to steam to be resolved into gas as herein-after mentioned, must be four
inches more in width internally than each dimension of the retorts to which it
is to be appended. Its thickness in metal, if cast-iron, about one inch; if
wrought-iron half an inch; into the concentric space formed by the external
surface of the retorts and internal surface of the latter-named vessel, which I
denominate a "socket piece," another vessel, which I call a cap, is to be
fitted so as to dip freely within the said space, and rests its lower edge or rim
on the flanch to which the socket piece is bolted. This cap is imperforate at
one end, so that when the concentric space is half or more filled with molten
lead, or an alloy composed of eight parts by weight of bismuth, five of lead,
and three of tin, and the aforesaid cap is inserted within the aforesaid con-
centric space, and plunged by its rim below the surface of molten metal or
alloy, the upper end of the retorts will be imperviously sealed or closed. On
to the lower end of this vertical retort, and below the lower flanch of the same,
is adapted what I denominate a socket cap, because it consists of both the
parts necessary to close the lower orifice of the retort, being formed like two
letters one larger than the other, with the smaller one inserted within the
larger wrong way up, and thus presenting a similar concentric space to that at
the upper end of the retort, into which when a proper quantity of molten
lead or metallic alloy, as before recited, is put, and the socket cap is adapted to
the lower end of the retort, so that the three feet portion of the said retort
may become insumated into the concentric space between the two walls of the
socket cap and its rim or lower edge, and dip into and below the surface or

page_text: the molten metal or alloy so far that the external U or socket may touch the
under surface of the lower flanch of the aforesaid vertical retort, and the
internal one, by means of its diaphragm, completely close and stop up the lower
orifice of the retort, as shewn in the Drawing. The before-mentioned socket
cap is provided with a suitable lever or combination of levers, which every
skilful artisan knows well how to execute, to raise it into connection with the
retort before a charge of coal or bones is inserted, and to depress it when the
exhausted charge is to be withdrawn in order to obviate any inconvenience or
delay in its use arising from its great weight and unwieldiness. The cap at
the upper orifice is to be similarly fitted, and both must slide accurately up and
down proper slides by means of proper appendages to prevent any inaccuracy or
unnecessary delay in operation by workmen more or less unskilful. The charge
of these elliptico-vertical retorts will be about five to six hundredweight of
one hundred and twelve pounds, which is confined to the body of the retort from
one flanch to the other by a metal stopping continuous with the rim of the inner
cylinder composing part of the socket cap; as shown in the Drawing. The outlet
for the gas may be either by a pipe affixed to the diaphragm closing the inner
cylinder of the socket eap, or to the closed top of the cap at the upper end of
the retort. In either case the pipe so affixed by a flanch and bolted in the
usual manner must be truly and accurately turned and so fitted to a gland or
stuffing box in the end of a pipe connected with the retort main, as to work
fredly up and down, yet remaining perfectly air-tight, and be provided with an
air-tight valve opening into the pipe towards the retort; which valve is to be
open when the retort is at work, and closed before shifting the charge. This
vertical retort may be deprived of its lower appendages consisting of the lower
flanch and socket cap with the exit pipe and stuffing box, the retort's main in
that case being situate above the retorts, and the retorts be cast with a cur-
vilinear bottom and made to rest upon a proper pedestal in the base of the
furnace or chamber which contains it. In this instance I provide a case of
thin sheet iron rivetted together, and of the same figure in section as the
retort which it is made to fit accurately. This case, which I denominate a
coal case, is of such a length as to be easily taken hold of by hooks by means
of two holes or loops near its open end, in order to be lifted out of the retort
when a charge is to be withdrawn, and another coal case filled to a proper
height with coal, is to be inserted within the retort, such charge to be always
kept in readiness so as to expedite the charge and discharge as much as
.possible. The coke vault containing the socket cap and its appendages, and
into which the red hot coke, or in some instances the bone charcoal, is pro-
jected, must be so closed in by walls and a door that the hot coke may be

page_text: either stifled by confinement in its own vapours, or its contained heat be
carried off by a current of air passing from openings communicating with the
body of the retort house, or otherwise through another opening into the ash-
pit of the furnace which heats the retort, so as to elovate the temperature of
the otherwise cold air, and so economise fuel. The retort main may be con-
structed similar to the ordinary hydraulic main; but I reserve to myself the
power of dispensing with or using its cavity as a means of closing or sealing, by
its contained bituminous liquor, the apertures of the exit pipes which bring
the gas from the retorts, where I dispense with the use of its hydraulic action.
I prefer to have it set contiguous to the retorts incased with brickwork, and in
some instances beset by the flue of the retort furnace previous to its entrance
into the chimney shaft, and set therein aslant so as to keep fluid and favor the
easy escape of any thick bitumen which some kinds of coal will yield in greater
quantity than others. From the lowermost end of this retort main a vertical
pipe of equal width takes its origin, whose lower or dependant end is termi-
nated by an inverted X piece or doubly angular pipe of the same width as
the retort main, the one branch hereof descending to the right, and the other
the left hand, each terminated at a convenient distance in a valve piece con-
taining a valve opening towards the retort main. Each of these valve pieces
is to be jointed by its flanch or socket to a strong sheet or cast iron vessel of a
cylindrical shape with curvilinear ends, and of such a capacity as to contain
when half full all the bituminous and other products of the decomposition of
coal, bones, wood, or other matters, as herein-before recited, which can distil
over within twenty-four hours. These vessels, which I shall term common
receivers, are provided with a wrought-iron worm or series of worms winding
through their interiors from top to bottom, the common receivers being
supposed to stand on end through which worm or worm pipes, hot or cold
water, or air or gases may from time to time be transmitted. These common
receivers, at least two in number, together with the pipes connecting them with
the retort main, are to be so constructed and connected on the one side with the
branch pipes leading from the retort main, and on the other side with the
exhausting ram as to be interchangeable, the one instead of the other, each
being capable of attachment to and detachment from the branch pipes on the
one side, and ram on the other reciprocally and respectively so as to allow of one
being cleansed, whilst and during that the other is in use. These common
receivers must each stand on one end, and be provided with casings or jackets
extending from the apex of their lower ends upwards, and covering about one-
third of their whole exterior dimension. These U-shaped jackets must be
bolted and jointed to a flanch which extends round the body of the receiver,

page_text: and be fitted with a pipe and orifice near said joint to blow steam into the
space between the receiver and jacket, and also with an outlet and pipe pro-
vided with a cock to clear away condensed vapour. The bitumen and other
matters which collect in the bottoms of these vessels is to be drawn off through
an opening in the bottom, continued by a bush through the outer casing or
jacket, and provided with a cock or valve to close the same when required.
In Drawing No. II., Fig. 2 is a description of this arrangement, where (a)
lower third of said receiver; (b) jacket; c, c, angle iron flanches to join the
jacket to the receiver; (d) bush for transmitting the worm pipe and with-
drawing the bitumen and other matter of condesed water outlet as at any
time to apply sufficient heat to their bottoms as to render fluid any solid
bitumen which may from time to time be found within them, so that the
same can be drawn off through an opening in their bottom, provided and con-
structed with a valve for that purpose, and to close the same when in use.
The branch pipes from the retort main must enter these receivers at their
sides midway between the top and bottom, and at or near the top or dome of
each of the said receivers an exit or exhaust pipe is to take origin from a point
opposite to that at which the before-mentioned branch inlet pipes are attached,
so that the gas in its passage shall impinge against the cold water worm
pipes, and thus traverse half the length of each of the said receivers. The outlet
from each of the common receivers terminates at a convenient distance thero-
from in a valve piece containing an air-tight valve, either slide or cup opening
inwards towards the common receiver, for the purpose of stopping all communica-
tion with the exhausting receivers whilst the common receiver is being cleansed.
Each of these valve pieces is to be connected on the opposite side to that of
the common receivers with the exhausting receivers, which are two wrought
or cast iron vessels, of magnitude and shape similar to the common receivers
with which they are each connected on the one side, and on the other side
intercepted by a suitable valve piece and valve, with a double exhausting and
condensing pump. The inlets for the gas coming from the common receivers
into these exhausting receivers, are to be at or near the edge of the domes,
forming the bottoms of the same, and the outlets leading to the exhauster are
to be in a like situation at the top of the opposite side. An outlet in the
bottom of each, furnished with a valve opening outwards, permits the discharge
of liquid from their interiors, the whole of which may be lined with sheet lead
to prevent corrosion. These exhausting receivers may be provided with a
worm or worms through which cold water, air, or gas, may be made to
circulate in order to the refrigeration of gasses and condensation of vapours
escaping these effects in the common receivers, and passing thence into the

page_text: exhausting receivers. The use of those receivers is to equalize the exhausting
action of the pump, and prevent any irregular impulses in the retorts or
intermediate apparatus.
My Invention further consists in a double action ram and plunger, exhausting
and condensing pump which consists of a working barrel well and truly bored,
surmounted by a gland or stuffing box, through which, and within the barrel
aforesaid, a metallic ram passes and works air-tight and fits accurately the
aforesaid barrel; this portion may be denominated the exhausting ram. This
ram has a bored cavity within, and acts the part thereby of a second barrel
to a plunger turned to fit the bore of said ram accurately. The ram is
further provided with a stuffing box or gland through which the plunger works
air-tight; a cover to the barrel carrying a valve opening into the cavity of the
barrel is firmly bolted and accurately jointed to a flanch on the barrel; a
similar valve is fitted into the end of the ram and opening into its cavity
occupied by the plunger, which plunger is fitted and provided with a valve
opening within a longitudinal cavity, which traverses the whole length of the
said plunger and terminating at its foot in a pipe leading directly to the
condensing mains. The whole of this ram and plunger pump must be located
within a cistern filled with and through which cold water is copiously passing
in order to keep it cool. A further description of this pump will be found in
Drawing No. III., where (a, a,) represents the barrel, and (a', a',) gland or
stuffing box; (6,6,) ram, and (61, 6',) gland in it; (c, c,) plunger; (d, d,) strong
sole plate of cast iron; (e, e,) cap to give fixity to the barrel; (f, f.) pillars to
adjust the distance between sole and cap; (9) outlet to the condensing receivers ;
(h) inlet from the expansion receivers; (i, i,) gudgeons on the head of the ram
to work the same by; k, k, connecting rods to connect the gudgeons with the
cross head of the lower piston rod of the steam or gas dilating engines. From
the foot of the plunger of the condensing pump originates a pipe of convenient
capacity to transmit the condensed gasses into the condensing mains, and at a
suitable distance from the foot of the said plunger in the said pipe, is a valve
piece and valve, opening inwards towards the condensing main, to sustain the
pressure of condensed gasses therein, whilst the pump is undergoing any repairs.
The condensing main is a pipe of suitable width extending the greater
part of the length of the building destined to contain the gasholders; it
must be made of strength proportionate to its diameter, to enable it to
sustain a pressure of at least eight atmospheres, or about one hundred and
twenty pounds on the square inch, and if made of cast iron, must have its
internal surface covered over and its poros whereby any exosmose can take
place, grouted with bitumen or asphalte resulting from the distillation of

page_text: naptha from coal tar, or any other similar resinous or bituminous substance,
which object is to be obtained by filling the pipe or pipes of any descrip-
tion if made of cast iron, and destined to transmit gas, water, or other fluids
liable or likely to ooze through the sides thereof with the aforesaid bituminous
or resinous matters in a melted state, keeping them so exposed to heat as to
keep the aforesaid contents in a highly fluid state, during which the interior of
the pipes are respectively and alternately to be subjected to severe pressure by
confining the pipe or pipes between strong cheeks of iron, tied together with
strong tie bolts, and through one of which cheeks a plunger can be thrust
through a suitable gland stuffing box in said cheek by any convenient
machanical contrivance, and so by diminishing the cavity of the pipe, force
some of its fluid contents into the pores of the metal. The same effect can be
attained with a small force pump, so contrived as to be able to draw liquid
bitumen within its barrel, and force it into the pipe, after the manner of an
ordinary hydraulic press. This condensing main must have a branch or
elbow pipe opposite to each of the gasholders, into the interior of which, and
through the wrought-iron plate forming part of the cylinder of each of the said
gasholders, the said elbow or branch pipe must be inserted, and strongly
jointed and bolted thereto in the usual manner. Between the condensing
main and gasholder in each of the aforesaid branch pipes a two-valve
piece and valves must be inserted, the one valve being seated so as to open or
slide on the side next to the interior of the gasholder; that of the other the
reverse way, the better to sustain the pressure of the main when.the gasholder
is empty, and vice versa. The gasholders are a series of not less than three
cylindric vessels of sheet iron, with hemispherical ends strongly rivetted
together, and braced within with strong and numerous wrought-iron bars or
braces, made of such diameter and length as to be proportionate in capacity to
the number and size of retorts in actual use and production of gas, the
collective contents of any two out of the three, or four out of five, of such gras-
holders multiplied by eight, to be equal in cubical capacity to three days' con-
sumption of gas, a dimension which any skilful gas engineer can easily
determine. They are to be sunk in the ground, within suitable tanks or pits
formed of bricks and mortar, and lined with Roman or other cement to a
depth such that not more than twenty feet of their length, including their ends,
may project above the level of the floor of the enclosing building. They are
each to be connected to each other by a pipe jointed and bolted to their tops,
or to their contiguous surfaces, at an easy distance above the floor aforesaid,
and in such a manner by the pipe which connects No. 1 to No. 2 being
simply jointed by a flanch on the said pipe to the plate forming part of the

page_text: wall of the gasholder, but the said pipe must pass some distance through the
iron plate forming part of the side of No. 2, say, to the distance of twelve
inches interiorly, and be retained in that position by an external flanch on the
said pipe at the distance of twelve and three-quarter inches from the end
which is made to protrude into No. 2, and jointed and strongly bolted to the
side of the said No. 2 gasholder. This pipe must be provided with a double
valve piece, and two valves seated in opposite directions. The end of the pipe
which projects to twelve inches within the No. 2 gasholder must be provided
with a blow or escape valve, weighted in such a manner as to adjust and keep
up the precise amount of pressure which experience may show to be most
effectual with economy of power for the precipitation within the gasholder of
the gasseous contaminations of coal, and other gasses to be stored within
them, and permit no gas to flow from No. 1 into No. 2 gasholder, except
when the pressure in No. 1 exceeds that at which it is determined it shall
flow, whether it be eight or ten atmospheres, or less than one atmosphere plus
the ordinary atmospheric pressure. No. 2 gasholder must be connected with
No. 3 in the same manner; No. 3 with No. 4; and No. 4 with No. 5;
besides which No. 1 must be in like manner connected with No. 3, and No. 4,
and No. 5, so as to leave No. 2 out of the series. No. 2 must be also con-
nected with No. 4 and No. 5, so as to disconnect No. 3, and so on of the
rest. A man-holo and lid properly jointed is to be provided for each of these
gasholders, and an aperture in the bottom of each, to which is fitted a pipe
and valve opening upwards into the interior of the gasholders, and connected
by a rod passing through the axis of the gasholders, and through proper
stuffing boxes in the domes of each, so that a person can lift the valve, and
so blow out of the said gasholders respectively any napthaline or aqueous
deposits which may be present therein. The lower dome of each gasholder,
on which it partially rests, must be lined with thin sheet lead, to present a
surface to any corrosive depositions which may from time to time collect there,
and which might prove very destructive to the wrought iron composing the
bottoms of the said gasholders. This leaden lining must be continuous with
a leaden pipe, situated within the wrought-iron pipe, which, in the form of the
letter S, cominences at the bottom of each gasholder, and passing up between
the side of the gasholder and tank, terminates in a small orifice furnishod
with a cock or valve, through which and into suitable vessels the noisomo
contents of the basin of the gasholders can be occasionally withdrawn, and
removed to other places where their nuisance will not be considered, and
where the same can be used as articles of commercial operation. On the side of
the range of the gasholders, opposite that where the condensing main lios,

page_text: another similar pipe, furnished with similar branches and double valve pieces
with valves, called the expansion main, is to be situated, connected by ono end
with a pipe or conduit of equal strength with the rest, and leading into the
dilating engine and station meter. The dilating engine is the lesser of two
steam engines, geared and worked together, the lesser by gasseous and the
larger by steam pressure, the cylinder hereof with its moveable piston being
about the one-sixth in area that the other is, but made very strong in all its
parts, so as to sustain a working pressure of one hundred and twenty pounds
on the square inch, the piston rod and all the geering being of strength and
solidity proportionate. In a large gas manufactory this engine may be double,
consisting of two cylinders, as above described, and each piston, by means of
its rod or otherwise, be applied to a common shaft through the medium of a
sway beam and connecting rod to a crank, each crank to be fixed on the said
shaft at an angle of ninety degrees to each other, so that the two pistons
actuated by the condensed gas flowing from the gasholders through the
expansion main into the cylinders of the said dilating engine may cause the
shaft to revolve without the use of fly wheel. The piston rod or rods of this
single or double dilating engine, besides being carried through the upper
cylinder cover to be connected with the end or ends of the sway beam or
beams, must also pass through the cylinder bottoms, which must be provided
with a gland or stuffing box. Such lower piston rods must be respectively
connected by cross heads and connecting rods, with the gudgeons on the sides
of each of the heads of the rams of the aforesaid exhausting and condensing
pumps. The engine, whether single or double, as the case may be, which is
intended to be driven by steam power, in order to work another pump or
pumps, as before described, for exhausting the retorts and intermediate vessels,
and condensing the gas or gasses into the gasholders, and used as a prime
mover, must be constructed and connected in all respects similarly to the gas
dilating engine, which latter engine must be provided with expansion valves of
the usual kind, in order to dilate the gas, and expand it to the service pressure
within the cylinder itself, if thought necessary. The gas thus expanded by the
dilating engine or engines must immediately pass through the tortuous casing
of the water. tanks, whence the common and exhausting receivers derive their
supply of cold water, herein-before described as flowing through their contained
worm or spiral pipes, and thence into the central shaft or hollow spindle of the
station meter. Or the gas may be directly transmitted from the gasholders
through the expansion mains into the serpentine or tortuous casing of the
aforesaid cold water tanks, which may be so performed as to freeze into ice
larger quantities of water. The water tanks above mentioned may be

page_text: of any suitable capacity and shape, and formed of wrought iron or copper,
wholly or in part, and be provided with outer casings or jackets, besetting
every part of the exterior of said water tanks, except the top or upper-
most surface, which may be fitted with a lid to open and shut. This
casing must be divided by ribs in such a manner as to convert the whole
space between the tanks and casings into a continuous pipe, in which the
gas expanding and requiring a large quantity of heat to accommodate
its increasing volume, it will absorb it from every part of said tanks and
serpentine casing, and so cool or freeze the water. The exterior of these
casings ought to be covered with wooden shrouding. Within these serpentine
or tortuous casings, snow, ice, and other solid matters may from time to time
be deposited, so that in order to cleanse the same without interrupting the
continuation of the processes. These tanks aforesaid must be more in number
than one serics of at least two in such series, and must therefore consist of two
sets of two or three cach, so connected by valve pieces and valves with the
dilating engine and the station meter as to be interchangeable the one for the
other. The dilating engine, cylinders, and valve boxes, with their connecting
and other usual pipes, must be encased with wood so that currents of air may
be cooled by passing them through the spaces so formed, which may subse-
quently be applied by means of suitable pipes in the worm, spiral, or other
form permeating the gasholders aforesaid from top to bottom to cool the gas
therein, whose latent heat has in great part become sensible by the effect of
compression. These engines being exact models of ordinary steam engines,
except the downward prolongation of the piston rods, need no further descrip-
tion. The station meter which is destined to the office of measuring the whole
volume of gas manufactured, or which is found in the gasholders previously
to its entrance into the service mains through the moderator and siccatory or
drying chambers, forms the model of a service meter, and is also intended to
mete out the individual supply of gas to the consumers, and used in all
respects as and in the place of the usual consumer's or service meter. It is
thus constructed, see Drawing No. IV., Fig. 1st. This gas meter acts as
such on the principle of a gasseous wire drawer, and derives its motion from
the application of the pressure or elasticity which the gas possesses when it
arrives within the meter, acting unequally in the hollow revolving arms at
opposite points of the centre of its motion, the individual motion of each arm
being constituted of the same forces and acting on the same principle as a
common sky rocket or catherine wheel. I do not confine myself to any forms of
the motory part, whether the apertures through and by which the gas or other
fluid (whether elastic or inelastic it matters not) flows and produces motion

page_text: on the principle above recited be situated in any part of the periphery or arms
of a wheel drum or other similar or dissimilar apparatus or machine, or
whether the arms shewn in the Drawing hereunto annexed be curvilinear or
straight; but I claim this method of measuring fluids in every variety of phase
of which the principle is capable of assuming. To this meter, when intended to
be used by companies as a station meter, or by consumers as a service meter,
who do not manufacture or consume gas by any or all of the methods or
principles herein-before specified, a large or small siccatory herein-before
mentioned, and hereafter to be described, is appended, containing any of the
substances hercin-after mentioned, which have the property of freeing the
gas to be consumed from the aqueous vapor which it more or less holds in
solution, a description of which on the large scale will be found in a sub-
sequent part of this Specification, and on the small or service scale in the
Drawing hereunto annexed, where a the pillar; 6 support to affix the whole
in any required situation; c, gas inlet; d, gas pipe projecting upwards under
the cone; e, e, cone, with its fringed connection, with the sides of the sicca-
tory; f, hollow of pillar filled with lumps of chloride or alkali; 9, outlet for
solution; h, ornamental stoppage to the aperture, whereby the chloride, &c. is
supplied; i, i, ii, cylindric case of meter; j,j, front of case, with its centre
occupied by a circular sheet of plate glass to view the index; k, plate glass;
1, 1, axis of the prime mover; m, m, swivel moving thereon, and carrying the
revolving arms; n, n, revolving arms; o, one tooth pinion; p, wheel driven by
this pinion; q, r, other wheels; s, gas outlet. The registering index or train
of wheels to be attached to this meter is much the same as that of any other
meter which can be as they now are constructed by any skilful artizan accus-
tomed to such work, but the first wheel of the train immediately driven by the
spindle of the prime mover with its intermediate mechanism is so far different
to other wheels destined to perform the same work as to require special
notice. This wheel is constructed like an ordinary clock wheel intended to be
driven by a pinion whose number of teeth cannot in any individual case be
precisely ascertained otherwise than by actual experiment with each meter
respectively, on account principally of the impossibility of ascertaining with
sufficient accuracy the areas of the tubes of which the prime mover is
composed, and through which the gas or other fluid flows to give motion, in
order to have its volume measured. The pinion which is attached to the
spindle of the prime mover and intended to drive the first wheel herein-before
mentioned, is so constructed as to have only one leaf on its cylinder instead of
many, in order whilst it fulfils the intention and purpose of a worm by moving
only one tooth of the aforesaid wheel for each of its own revolutions, allows

page_text: the aforesaid wheel to be placed in a plane parallel to the plane of the casing
of the meter, and thus economiso space and material. This meter case is
attached to a pillar or other suitable support, whose shaft, pedestal, and capital
are hollow, and filled with coarse lumps of perfectly dry caustic potash or
soda, dry chloride of calcium, otherwise called muriate of lime, perfectly dry
and well burnt animal or vegetable charcoal, dry meal of rye, grain, or dry,
coarsely powdered whinstone, through which the gas must pass in its way to
be measured in the case of the meter, as before set forth and shewn in the
Drawing. The spindle or axle upon which the swivel moves is made taper or
conical, the thicker end being farthest from the incoming current of gas so as
by its pressure to keep the junction gas-tight, and both well turned and oiled
to move freely. The axle to be drilled full of holes just opposite to the aper-
tures in the revolving arms aforesaid. The gas after passing the station
meter enters a pipe of suitable area to be conveyed to the moderator, which is
made in its general feature somewhat to resemble and take the place of the
ordinary gasholder, pressure regulator, and moderator of supply of gas to the
service mains, and consists of a tank formed of two concentric cylinders of
sheet iron, rivetted, or cast iron, bolted and joined together, the one within
the other, at the distance of about one to four inches; the bottom of this
concentric cavity is closed so as to admit of the whole being filled and kept
full of
any suitable liquid. The inner cylinder is provided with a top of any
suitable thickness of metal, concave downwards and convex upwards, so as to
prevent its flapping downwards, and it is further strengthened with tie bolts
extending from one part of the circumference to the other in different direc-
tions, like so many radii, each sloped a little downwards, and tied to a circle of
wrought iron of about four feet in diameter, made strong, from which said tie
bolts spandrils or uprights extend to the concavity to support the same. An
ordinary gasholder a little less than the exterior cylinder of this concentric
tank, and a little larger in diameter than the inner cylinder of the same, is to
be inverted with its mouth downwards into the concentric space between the
outer and inner cylinders aforesaid, and in this respect it completely resembles
and discharges the office of an ordinary gasholder. The whole height of this
gasholder may be about the one-third to one-half of its diameter. In the
centre of the dome or parabolic top of the inner cylinder of the concentric
tank aforesaid is a suitable gland or stuffing box for the passage of a brass or
copper rod turned truly throughout its length, which may be from one to ten
feet, and about four inches in diameter, cast hollow to save weight. This rod
or tube is affixed in any suitable manner to the under surface of the con-
cavity of the top of the gasholder aforesaid, at or near its central part, and

page_text: thence passing through the gas-tight stuffing box herein-before mentioned is
to be connected by means of a disc with two, three, four, or more arms for
the attachment of chains, or the ends of sway beams, which chains after passing
over pullies situated in any strong and suitable framework affixed to the four-
feet wrought-iron circle herein-before mentioned, passing thence towards the
inner walls of the concentric tank aforesaid, and over other pullies affixed to the
sides or periphery of the inner cylinder of the concentric tank, tend downwards,
to be attached to pistons moving up and down within suitable cylinders of brass
or copper, well and truly bored, and fitted by means of proper packing to the
pistons aforesaid. The diameter of these last-named cylinders must be such
that one inch column or more of water or other liquid, multiplied by the
number of cylinders in use, may equal in weight a like quantity in height of
the metallic wall of the floating gasholder, multiplied by the whole circum-
ference in similar terms, by which means, and after the gasholder has been
well balanced by the arrangement of the aforesaid mechanism, the increased
or diminished pressure on the service mains, due to the increasing or diminish-
ing weight or specific gravity of said gasholder by its elevation above and
depression below the line of medium floatation, will be effectually compensated
by water or other fluid flowing from a suitable reservoir over the brims of the
cylinders last mentioned, destined to the purposes of a balanco whereby the
pistons will be depressed or elevated, increasing or diminishing the column of
fluid pressing upon them in a ratio proportionate, weight for weight, to the
emerged or submerged wall of the aforesaid gasholder. The inequality of
pressure resulting to the gas in the service mains, by the effects of a variable
bulk of a fluid of low specific gravity within the gasholder, acting antithetically
to the heavier fluid of the atmosphere, I propose to obviate by not permitting
the rise and fall of the aforesaid gasholder to exceed twelve to twenty inches.
The concentric tank into which the gasholder dips may be filled to a suitable
height with any noncorrosive solution as respects iron, which, instead of its
permitting the escape of watery vapor, is continually in disposition to absorb it,
as a strong solution of caustic potash or soda, a like strong solution of chloride
of calcium, but I prefer the use of oil, previously well boiled, to destroy
membrane, mucus, and other matters capable of absorbing and exhaling
watery vapor as a fluid, wherewith to fill the concentric tank to produce
buoyancy in the gasholder. A concentric disc of leather, well oiled to keep it
soft, may be so affixed to the brim of the external cylinder of the concentric
tank as to cover over, yet allow of free motion in the gasholder, the concentric
space between the side of the tank and wall of the gasholder. A lever connected
by one end with the armed disc aforesaid, communicates in the usual manner,

page_text: with the throttle valve or valves of the gas dilating engine aforesaid, whoreby
when the gasholder to which this armed disc is appended, begins to lower or
descend by reason of the opening of all or any of the service or main cocks or
valves, the motion thus communicated to the lever will, by its connection
aforesaid, remove the sliding valve from the seating, wherein is situated
the slott or chase, which is situated between and forms the only connection of
the expansion main and gas dilating engine or engines. The whole area
of this slott or chase in the throttle valve seating must be from twelve to
twenty times as long as it is wide, and equal in area to that of the pipe of which
it is properly a continuation. The concentric tank forming the basis of tho
moderator, may be located upon a circular breast wall, of from six to ten or
more feet in height, with all convenient doorways and windows properly con-
structed in the same, so as to form, to all intents and purposes, a building of
which the concentric tank aforesaid is a continuation of the walls upwards, and
the parabolic covering of the inner cylinder of said tank is the roof; a full and
complete reference to this moderator and its appendages and connections will
be found in Drawing No. 5, Fig. 1, where a, a, represents the concentric tank ;
b, the gasholder; c, hollow space under the tank; d, d, brass or metal rod;
e, e, balance pistons within the cylinders; f, f, cylinders; g, stuffing box and
cap; (h) armed disc; i, i, i, i, connecting chains; j, j,j, j, pulleys; 1 four-
feet ring; m, m, m, m, circular breast wall; n, n, windows therein; o door-
way. The siccatory or drying apparatus is connected on the one side with the
exit pipe of the moderator, and on the other with the valve piece containing
the main valve, immediately in connection with the service mains, and consists
of two or more series of wrought or cast-iron vessels of a cylindric or
cubical shape, each series consisting of at least two, separately and distinctly
connected by valve pieces and valves with the two-fold termination of the pipe
forming the outlet of the moderator, of a capacity that each shall conveniently
hold one ton weight of chloride of calcium or caustic potash or soda in lumps.
The gas inlets into the bases of these vessels is by a flanched joint in the usual
manner securely bolted, the pipe being continued within the cavity of each
siccatory upwards for about thirty inches. Over the tops of the orifice of each
of these inlet pipes is fixed a cone or pyramid of cast or sheet iron, whose apex
is impervious, and affixed to the sides of the said vessels at about one-third of
their elevation interiorly by a fringed or serrated connection, so that the gas
to be freed from moisture entering by the inlet pipes, descends freely within the
cone or pyramid as the case may be, and finding an exit at the point of junction
of such cone or pyramid with the side of the metal, permeates through the mass
of broken ingredient with which the vessel is fillel, depositing its moisture

page_text: thereon, which sweating trickles down to the bottoms of said siccatories, through
openings in the bottoms of which, protected by a valve or cock, the liquid can
from time to time be drawn. By a man-hole and lid in the top of each of
these siccatorics the supply of the before mentioned ingredients can be made.
For further explanations see Drawing No. V., Fig. 2. Where a, a, cylindric
bedy of the siccatory, say three feet diameter and six feet high; b, b, its bottom,
convex inside, to allow the liquor to drain away; c, a cock to draw off said
liquor; d, d, gas inlet pipe; e, fringed cone; f, lumps of chloride or alkali;
9. man-hole and lid; h, gas outlet. The service mains are in nowise different
in arrangement and description from those in ordinary use, except the total
absence of syphon pieces, syphons and wells to draw off virtuminous liquids and
in the mode of joining them together, which I perform as follows:-The pipes
being formed in the usual way, with one end spigot, and the other end fawcet-
shaped, being first truly and equally bored and turned respectively, are to have
their bored and turned surfaces well covered with metallic tin by any suitable
process. They are then to be grouted and varnished interiorly and substantially
with melted bitumen, in manner herein-before described; and when they are
to be jointed together to form a continuous main or service main pipe, the
fawcet and spigot of any two pipes being located within the trench, or other-
wise, must be heated by a brazier of ignited fuel, the fawcet to about 700°
of Fahrenheit, and spigot until a bar or rod of tin being rubbed thereon freely
melts and runs round its surface; the braziers being then withdrawn, the spigot
must without delay be set up into the corresponding fawcet by repeated blows
of a maul, whilst an assistant, by means of a clip on the body of the pipe
whose spigot is under insertion, twines or twists the pipe round in order to
equalize the coating of tin within the joint, which is further secured and
performed by the contraction of the fawcet on the spigot whilst and after the
tin is fluid, thus a permanent joint may be rapidly made. With respect to the
distribution of gas by means of the terminations of service pipes and fittings, I
claim the application of the principle embodied in the description of the
furnace set forth in the first part of this Specification; to wit, rendering
the flames of all burners, whether for the combustion of gas, oil, spirits, or
camphine, or otherwise whatsoever, electro-positive, by forming such burners,
wickholders, tubes, or jets, of any or every description whatsoever, of some bad
or non-conductor of heat or electricity, as of gas, enamel, porcelain, earthen-
ware, clay, or any argillaceous or siliceous materials, whether vitreous or semi-
vitreous, in any of the forms or shapes which may now be in use for the several
purposes aforesaid, but I give preference to those intended for gas to be made
in manner following, as shewn in Drawing VI. Fig. 1 represents two concen-

page_text: tric double chamfered rings, the outer one having both its upper and outer and
lower and inner corners splayed off; the inner ring splayed vice versa. a, a,
represents sections of the outer, and b, b, the inner ring, whilst the fissure for
the gas is shewn at c, c; Fig. 2 represents two cylinders, the one to be inserted
within the other, the inner one fluted outside to afford free passage to the gas
to flow into the chase at 9, 9, the projecting parts of the cylinder giving firm
hold like any stopper in order to adjust the volumes of flame by pushing
one cylinder within the other, or vice versa. a, a, exterior cylinder; d, d, its
chamfered edge; b, b, inner cylinder; c, c, its chamfered flanch; e, e, chase
under the flanch; i, i, flutes for gas to pass. I prepare a socket of brass or
other suitable material, as shewn in the Drawing No. VI., Fig. 3, 4, 5, where
a, a, Fig. 3, 4, 5, represents the socket; b, b, curved tubes to convey the gas, as
in the ordinary gas argand; c, c, gas conduits; d, d, d, circular chase; Fig. 6,
1 and 4 conjoined; Fig. 7, 2 and 3 conjoined; Fig. 8, 2 and 5 conjoined, and
cement, concentric rings, plugs, or jets, composed of any of the materials herein-
before specified, within the circular chase of the socket, as the case may be, such
rings of the shape as shewn in section at Fig. 1 and 2, to be accurately fitted by
grinding or otherwise, so as to leave, when placed the one within the other, a
circular slit or fissure, of a width varying from the roth to the 100th of an
inch, through which the gas is to flow and be ignited and burn with flame at the
upper part of the interspace aforesaid, the jet of flame so produced being of a
cylindric shape. Where the socket is intended for a mounting or burner of a
plug form, the cylinder forming the exterior of the mounting alone is cemented
into the circular chase, whilst the inner one or plug is capable of adjustment,
so as to produce by the chamfered edge of its flanch on the sloped edge of the
ring an oblique jet of flame, resembling in one case a lily; in the other a tulip
flower is the result. This plug may be so constructed as to admit of a draught
of air through its centre like that burner, with rings, Fig. 6, or admit of the
admixture of any proportion of air with the gas just previous to its ignition.
Another description is by simple jet, where a tube or jet of any of the materials
aforesaid is cemented into and forms the continuation of the metallic socket,
surmounting the ordinary stop-cock or fittings. I do not confine myself to
sockets of metal for the adaptation of these non-electric mountings, but I
claim the privilege of making the socket and mounting all in one piece and of
the aforesaid non-conducting substances, as also every description of burner,
wickholder, or jet, where gas or wick, with oil, or any description of spirits as
of turpentine, camphine, naptha, &c., is intended to be ignited and burnt.
And I include in this Specification the claim to the sole use and manufacture of
all the forms and applications of the burners for gas described in the Drawings

page_text: hereunto annexed, whether made of metal or any other description of material
whatsoever. In some cases coal may be used to generate gas by carbonization,
as herein-before specified, containing a greater proportion than usual of
sulphur, in which case I permit to myself the use of an ordinary dry lime
purifier, to be situated between the exhauster and expansion receiver herein-
before described, for the separation of the redundant hydro-sulphuric acid gas,
the necessity for the use of which may be determined by the presence of this
gas in the gasholders. And whereas some descriptions of coal, cannel, &c.,
contain a variable proportion of common or table salt, which, by calcination
with sulphuret of iron or carbon, yields chlorine gas, it is necessary to deprive
the coal of the same, which I perform by steeping the same in warm or hot
water, or exposing the same for some time to rain, whether natural or artificial,
and draining and drying it previous to use. Where retort lids have to be
adapted air and gas-tight to the mouths or man-holes of retorts or other vessels
subjected to a high temperature, I prefer to turn and tin the flanch of such
mouthpiece and face of lid, and joint the same by the application of a little
tin or fusible alloy, as herein-before specified, as occasion requires, fastening the
same with screw, cross bar, and ears, as in the usual manner.
The second part of my Invention consists in the production of volatile and
aeriform carbo-hydrogens for purposes of general illumination, from bones, oils,
fats, and every other description of animal and vegetable substances for the
purposes aforesaid, and to be herein-after mentioned. And first, of bones and
other animal matters, not oils or fats, any quantity of bones, after being
deprived of the best portion of their marrow or fat, are to be smashed
by stamping them between a heavy stamper and a strong cast-iron sole
picce, and when they are so bruised as to be anything but actually broken
to pieces, they are to be put into a strong sheet-iron vessel, like the
case of the paddle-wheel retort, provided with a manhole to put them in at
and another to withdraw them, precisely as stated in reference to that vessel.
Each man-hole must be covered by its respective lid. The vessel being full of
smashed bones is to be charged to the top with a liquor composed of one pound
of potash or soda, but I prefer potash, to the gallon of water, and vacuum pro-
duced within said vessel by a suitable air-exhausting pump, until the pores,
cells, and interstices of the bones are completely charged or grouted with the
alcaline liquor. After the residuary liquor is drawn off and stored in any
convenient cistern, the bones are withdrawn and spread out upon any warm or
hot surface which may be provided for them, in order to dry them thoroughly;
they are then to be introduced into any one of the description of retorts herein-
before mentioned, and calcined, the gas being withdrawn, treated and stored as

page_text: herein set forth, but passed through a dry or hydrate of lime purifier, situated
between the moderator and siccatory, to take out any carbonic acid gas which
may escape with the gas from the condensor or gasholders, and afterwards diluted
with other gasses herein-after to be mentioned; the impurities are treated in all
respects like those of coal, and the charcoal withdrawn and applied as an usual
article of commerce after being ground and otherwise prepared. The liquor,
which may be dissolved by hot water, and separated from this animal or bone
charcoal, may be treated for the production of ferrocyanuret of potassium,
commonly called prussiate of potash. Where oils or fats are to be used they
are to be introduced into any suitable close vessel of cast or wrought iron, and
a heat applied sufficient to cause partial decomposition of the said oils or fats,
whereby will be produced, amongst other things, margaric and sebacic acids
and a variable quantity of gas, rich in illuminating power, and I afterwards
dilute in manner herein to be set forth.
The third part of my Invention consists in the dilution of gasses rich in
illuminating power by hydrogen, of greater or less purity, or by light car-
buretted hydrogen, and reduction to any required standard of density. I
prepare the hydrogen and light carburetted hydrogen by transmitting the
vapour of water through ignited coke made from coal, cannel, or wood, and.
contained in one of the vertical retorts, herein-before described, after the gas
has been generated and withdrawn in the manner herein set forth or otherwise..
The steam is injected through a pipe opening into the bottom of the retort by
means of the socket cap herein-before described, the said pipe being adapted
in all respects the same as is set forth for the gas exit pipe as before specified.
The oldest retorts are to be used for this purpose, and when such retorts are
become unserviceable may be broken into small pieces and treated in all
respects the same as coke for the production of hydrogen.
The fourth and last part of my Invention consists in the treatment of the
volatile parts of animal, vegetable, or mineral tar, for their resolution into
gasses for purposes of general illumination, which I perform in the following
manner:-A spherical vessel, of wrought or cast iron or other suitable material,
is provided with two nozzles or necks, situated opposite to each other, about
the middle of the sphere, each of a width proportionate to the diameter of the
sphere, say, two inches for a four-feet sphere or thereabouts. This spherical
vessel is set in brickwork over a furnace so as to be kept at a full red heat in
daylight over the lower half of its surface. A flue besets and winds round
the remainder of its upper surface, except a space about fifteen inches diameter
at the top, where a man-hole and lid properly secured is situated. In the side
of this man-hole is another nozzle or neck for the insertion of a pipe to give

page_text: exit to the gas generated within, which may be equal in width to the others
before mentioned. This sphere must be set over the middle of three furnaces,
so that the furnace right and left may be appropriated by two other vessels
connected therewith to be now described. One of these vessels is destined to
contain water for the generation of steam and the other tar, as herein-before
mentioned. A pipe, leading from the top of each of these vessels, enters
directly the sides of the flue surrounding the before-mentioned sphere, and aro
connected respectively with the two nozzles first mentioned, through which
they pass, curving downwards and approaching each other to within half of an
inch and within six inches of the bottom of the interior of the said sphero
which is to be completely filled with a mixture of hard lumps of quicklime
mingled with one-fourth its weight of coke and the same weight of scrap iron,
after which the man-hole lid must be secured air-tight in any suitable manner.
The steam generator above mentioned must be provided with a supply of hot
water in any convenient way, and all its upper surface covered up together
with its pipes to keep them as hot as possible. The tar vessel, set over its
furnace, must be provided with an opening, so placed that the asphalte, bitumen,
pitch, or other solid matter resulting from the distillation of tar, may be from
time to time withdrawn, and a pipe must be affixed to its upper surface and
communicate with its interior for the purpose of supplying the animal, vege-
table, or mineral tar to be operated on, which pipe may be connected with
the bottom of the common receivers or tar well under them, and provided with
a pump to operate the supply. The gas exit pipe from the resolving sphere
must be connected with the retort main, and furnished with a valve. The two
pipes carrying steam and volatile bituminous matters must be fitted with valves
to regulate the relative supply of the two vapours. These three vessels may
be of equal size, shape, and material. In Drawing, No. VI., will be found a
more particular description, where (a), Fig. 9, is the revolving sphere; b, tar
boiler; c, steam generator; d and e nozzles and pipes for the introduction of
the vapours of tar and water; F, F, F, furnaces; 9, 9, cocks to regulate the
supply of vapour and steam; h, man-hole; and i, gas exit pipe.
SPECIFICATION OF PROCESSES AND THEIR RATIONALE.
I will now proceed to give a connected statement of the combined uses of
the particular machinery and apparatus herein-before described, with a develope-
ment of the rationale of each process upon which the skilful workman or
artizan may exercise his mind, in order the better to carry out the objects
intended by these Inventions.
Firstly, any one of the retorts herein-before specified being constructed and

page_text: located in the manner described is to be heated to a full red heat by the
furnace in or over which it is set, the electro-positively heated currents of air-
vapours and gasses generated within such a furnace, the whole of whose internal
lining is an electro-nonconductor as herein-before specified, will be powerfully
and rapidly attracted by the retort, which is relatively in a condition electro-
negative, whereby the retort will be powerfully heated and its contents intensely
electrolyzed. A change of coal, bones, or other animal, vegetable, or mineral
matter, previously grouted with or soaked in a solution of potash or soda of com-
merce, so that each respectively may contain distributed within their pores and
crevices about the 10,000 to the 16th of their weights respectively of potash or
soda is now to be introduced into the interior of the retort, the lid of the
man-hole in the end of the paddle wheel retort being first applied and jointed
in the manner and by means of the cement or other method herein-before
described, or if the vertical elliptic retort, open at both ends, is to be used,
then the socket cap with its charge of metallic alloy within its concentric space
is elevated by its lever or other mechanism so as not only to close the lower or
coke orifice of said retort, and prevent the escape of gas to be by-and-bye
generarted, but restrain the descent of the charge by means of its diaphragm
within the hot limits of the retort; or if the second modification of the
last-named retort is used, then without any preparation, the charge is in-
troduced into the coal case, which coal case is to be taken up by a
teagle or crab and dropped gently into and within its respective, retort.
The lid of the superior man-hole of the paddle wheel retort. The lid of
the superior man-hole of the paddle-wheel retort is now to be applied and
jointed in the same manner as described for the other lid. The cap of
the vertical retort is to be insinuated within the concentric space assigned
to it and plunged into the metallic alloy, as before mentioned. In the
case where the retort main is used in preference to the hydraulic main, the
valve situated in the valve piece forming the continuation of the exit pipe from
retort to retort main is to be opened. The exhausting and condensing pump
is to be put in motion and actuated by the steam engine connected therewith,
whereby the gasseous and other matters in a crude state will rush from the
retort through the exit pipe and valve into the retort main and thence into the
common receivers, where, impinging upon the worm pipe or pipes through
which cold water is constantly flowing, the said crude gasses will be re-
frigorated and the vapours condensed by the said cold water pipes; but these
beneficial effects will be most powerfully produced by the expansion or
diminished elasticity, whereby sensible heat becomes latent and intense cold
generated, occuring within the retort main pipes, common receivers, exhausting

page_text: receivers, and more powerfully by the dilatation which has place between the
gasholders and the moderator by means of the station meter or exhausion
engine hereafter to be explained. Every stroke of the ram working within
the barrel of the double pump herein-before described transmits a given
quantity in any particular case of gasseous matter deprived of all the most
easily condensed volatile matters to the plunger working within the ram which
condenses the gasseous matter and forces it volume after volume through the
condensing mains and condensors into one or more of the gasholders at such a
pressure, say eight atmospheres (to which however I do not confine myself),
commencing with the gasholder No. 1, or such other of the series as may be
at liberty, and passing as overflow beyond the required pressure into each of
the rest seriatim. This act of true condensation will have the result of
effectually and completely freeing the carburet of hydrogen from every gasseous
contamination, except the hyduret and binhyduret of acetule and other carbo-
hydrogens rich in illuminative power, which are volatile, because at two atmo-
spheres the sulphureous acid gas becomes liquid like water, and therefore
easily separable from the gasseous contents of the condensors, and gasholders
at four atmospheres cyanogen, which in the gas burner by combustion would
produce ammonia is a liquid. At 6.5 atmosphers, and unconnected with water
or its vapour, ammoniacal gas becomes liquid at four atmospheres; chlorine
becomes liquid whilst at seven atmospheres. Water or its vapours, and
liquid cyanogen (the base of prussic acid) mutually destroy each other; the
hydro-sulphuric acid, which does not become liquid below seventeen atmo-
spheres, attacks and combines with the free and carbonate of ammonia
producing the solid hydro-sulphate of ammonia, which can be subsequently
dissolved by projecting water in sufficient quantity into the condensor whose
turn it is to be cleansed, and afterwards, when an aqueous solution is effected,
injecting by the same pump atmospheric air into the interior of the condensor
and saline solutions, whereby in a few hours the whole of these nauseous and
noisome products will be converted into the harmless sulphate of ammonia
and other valuable substances whose solutions can then, after the lapse of
twelve hours, be transvased into other convenient receptacles and removed to
places where a nuisance will not be considered. The gas, thus freed from the
greater part of its impurities, including the carbo-sulphuric acid, after abiding
within the gasholders until at the surrounding temperature is passed through
the expansion main into the dilating engine or engines, where, imparting the
power due to its great elasticity to the pistons, nearly the whole power required
to condense it is recovered, by applying the motion thus produced to any useful
purpose of the gas establishment. The gas escapes either at full pressure from

page_text: the cylinder or is expanded therein, but in the former case by being expanded
in the surpentine conduits of the casings of the cold or refrigerating water
tanks, large quantities of valuable ice may be incidentally produced without
any expense but its removal. The gas passes onwards through the station meter
into the moderator, where just sufficient pressure is left to it as to overcome
the resistance of the dry lime vessel, siccatory service, mains, meters, and
burners, which in this particular instance will be readily determined at any
time when required by the gas superintendent or engineer.
.
ume when required by the gas superintendent or engineer.
SPECIFICATION OF CLAIM.
Of the machinery, apparatus, processes, and productions herein-before
specified, described, and otherwise set forth by the Drawings hercunto annexed
I lay particular claim to the following, to wit:-
First, I claim the methods and application of the principle herein-before
described of rendering the flame, hot air, and ignited fuel of any furnace,
no matter what its application, or flame from the combustion of gas by
means of a burner or wick with oil, spirits, or naphthaline substances, or any
substitute for a wick, or any argand or other lamps whatsoever intended to give
light or heat, or both, no matter how or by what substance alimented or
supplied, plus electric, by which means intensity of heat and light are the
results, with and by means of the application of all or any of the herein-before
mentioned bad or non-conductors of heat and elictricity or any substitutes
therefor applied to the bars and supports, dead plate, door frame, and door of
all furnaces whatsoever, and by the rings, plugs, jets, &c., of like material
applicable to and used as substitutes for metallic bodies of burners for gas,
wickholders for lamps, or tubes for the combustion of spirituous or naphthaline
substances with and without wicks, with which the flame is or may be in actual
contact. But I do not claim those instances (as in the floating light with
gllass jet as a substitute for wick) where any of these substances aforesaid are
used for the purpose of developing light or heat as matters of accident or
ornament.
Secondly, I claim the methods herein-before set forth of rendering any
vessel exposed to the action of any furnace whatsoever plus electric whereby
the heat is more intensely concentrated upon and attracted by such vessel so
circumstanced.
Thirdly, I claim the application of gas burners whose nature and form are
similar to those herein-before described and shewn in the Drawings Fig. 6,
7, 8, or any variety of the same, whether constituted as aforesaid or made of
any metallic or other substance whatsoever.

page_text: Fourthly, I claim the application of perforated slabs or bricks, so set as to
imitate or be a substitute for the same; or plates or tubes, as herein-before
specified, to be applied in any situation where breaking the mass of flame and
softening its action without injuring its relative intensity may be useful, or for
preventing corrosion by sulphureous vapours, as herein-before described.
Fifthly, I claim the use and application of the paddle wheel retort, either
as herein-before described and shewn in tho Drawings or in any other manner
constructed, as to answer the same purpose, either with or without the metallic
bath or molten metal in its bottom, and worked at or above atmospheric
pressure in the ordinary manner or below the same, as herein-after claimed.
Sixthly, I claim the use and application of the vertical retorts whether
elliptic, circular, or otherwise constructed, and used in the manner herein-before
described, or any modification thereof embodying the same purpose under
the influence of diminished, ordinary, or increased pressure.
Seventhly, I claim the use and application of the coal case to the several
purposes herein-before described, whether the retort be vertical or not. N.B.-
I do not claim the use of the vertical position of the retort.
Eighthly, I claim the method of projecting the red hot or heated coke,
animal wood, or bone charcoal, into a closed vault to stifle it, as herein-before
described, and the subsequent application of its heat to the purpose of elevating
the temperature of the air on its way to the ash-pit of the furnace or furnaces,
as opposed to the present methods of quenching with water and otherwise
with the view of an economy of fuel.
Ninthly, I claim the method of generating gasses for purposes aforesaid
by diminished pressure or elasticity of any degree, ranging from the mean
pressure of the atmosphere to the greatest degree of rarefaction attainable
under the circumstances, such physical condition to be produced in any
manner whatsoever, but particularly by means of the double action ram and
plunger pump herein-before described, together with the incidental use and
application of the common receivers and expansion receivers, with all their
valves, pipes, and other necessary connections, as herein-before described; but
I disclaim the use of bellows, pump, or any other apparatus of a like kind, in
its application to the purpose of obviating the pressure within the ordinary
retorts entailed by the use of hydraulic main washers, purifiers, &c., ordinarily
used.
Tenthly, I claim the use and application to the aforesaid or any other
purpose whatsoever to which it or any modification of it is or may be
applicable, the double action ram and plunger pump, as herein-before described
and shown in the Drawing.

page_text: Eleventhly, I claim the method of varnishing, filling or otherwise grouting
the pores of cast iron, earthenware and other descriptions of pipes and vessels
destined to convey gas, air, water, or other fluids, or to sustain partial vacuum,
by means of substances and in manner herein-before set forth, in order to
prevent exosmosis and endosmosis.
Twelfthly, I claim the incipient purification of gases intended for illumi-
nation by the methods herein-before stated, consisting of the refrigeration of
gases and condensation of vapours within the common and expansion receivers
by dilatation, whereby volatile carbo-hydrogens of high illuminative power are
so expanded as to escape into the gasholders, whence they can be easily collected
and expanded into the service mains; and I further claim the full and complete
purification of such gasses by dynamic condensation within close vessels, where,
being subjected to the action of cold with several hours' rest, all contaminations
are effectually precipitated and ready for separation to be performed as herein-
before described.
Thirteenthly, I claim the method of producing coke, wood, animal and
bone charcoal together with naptha, ice, and other fixed and volatile pro-
ducts, except margaric and sabacic acids incidental to the uses, working,
and application of the several machinery, apparatus, materials and processes
herein-before specified and herein-after and herein-before claimed or to be
claimed.
Fourteenthly, I claim the use of the machine herein-before described and
denominated a station meter in all its several applications as a method or
machine wheroby elastic or inelastic fluids may or can be measured, or in its
use as a gas dilating engine; and I further claim its general and universal
application, together with every possible modification or imitation thereof, to
the purposes of a service or consumer's dry gas meter for measuring out the
quantity of gas delivered, and also its application to the purposes of a meter of
water or any other elastic or inelastic fluid whatsoever, together with or sepa-
rately from the pillar and cavity filled with moisture absorbing substances, as
aforesaid, with its several appendages individually and as one united and
comprehensive whole, including the gas axle and swivel, as herein-before
described, together with the application of the one-leaved pinion to purposes
of converting rapid into slow motion in lieu of a pinion.
Fifteenthly, I claim the use and application of the concentric tank with its
central dome and oleaginous or other fluid contents possessing the properties
and for purposes herein-before specified, together with the stuffing box, brass
rod, armed disc, with all the pulleys, chains or sway beams to transmit the
mation of the floating gasholder aforesaid to the balance or compensation

page_text: pistons and cylinders, which I claim in their entirety to the uses and purposes
of the moderator aforesaid; but I do not claim the use or Invention of the
floating gasholder itself separately. And I further claim the use of the space
included within the breast walls upon which this tank is placed, and the space
within the walls of the tank itself, and the application of the same to general
purposes.
Sixteenthly, I claim the method of freeing the gas intended for illuminativo
purposes from moisture by exposure to the substances aforesaid and by means
of an apparatus herein-before described as a siccatory, or any modification of
the same, and the application of the said apparatus and materials to the afore-
said purposes, forming part of tho manufacture of gas for the purposes of
illumination.
Seventeenthly, I claim the method of joining together the spigot and fawcet
ends of service mains and other pipes, the flanches of pipes and man-holes
and lids sustaining a high temperature, say from 400° to 1200° of Fahrenheit,
by shrinking the fawcet upon the spigot whilst the metallic coating of tin on
their contact surfaces is fluid, the former being made hotter than the latter, as
herein-before set forth, and the union of other surfaces continually exposed to
a temperature sufficient to keep tin melted by similar metallic contact.
Eighteenthly, I claim the method of steeping coal, cannel, &c. in warm or
hot water, and drenching it frequently with natural or artificial rain, in order to
extract the chloride of sodium which some kinds of coal, cannel, &c. contain,
and which by carbonization yields chlorine gas, which is very detrimental to
the illuminative power of the gas so produced.
Nineteenthly, I claim the method of treating bones as herein-before described,
as a preparation of them for the purpose of afterwards using them instead of
coal, cannel, &c. for the generation of gas for general illumination; and I claim
absolutely the application of gas so generated to the purposes aforesaid,
whether made from bones or other animal matters, or oils or fats respectively.
Twentiethly, I claim the method of diluting rich gasseous carbo-hydrogens
with pure or impure hydrogen or carburet of hydrogen, whether produced as
herein-before set forth from wood or decomposition of the vapour of water by
means of animal or vegetable charcoal, coke, tar, or old broked retorts, so as
to reduce them to any required illuminative standard and so diminish their
prime cost.
•
Twenty-firstly, I claim the method of resolving animal, vegetable, or mineral
tar by means of the vapour of water assisted by the materials and apparatus
herein set forth into carburet of hydrogen of various densities.
Twenty-secondly, and I claim the aforesaid apparatus, machinery, materials,

page_text: and processes as one combined whole, for the manufacture, purification, and
distribution of gas for purposes of illumination, and also the incidental methods
of producing coke, carbon, naptha, and ice, inseparable from the free use and
exercise of the processes set forth in this Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Radley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and forty-five.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Thirtieth day of October, in
the ninth year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said William
Radley came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknow-
ledged the instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the instrument aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-fifth year of
the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.