Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying Steam, Water, or other Fluid to the Cups of Telescopic Gasholders.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 14th May, 1896-Accepted, 11th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying Steam, Water, or other
Fluid to the Cups of Telescopic Gasholders.
1, GEORGE ALBERT HORTON of The Gas Light and Coke Company, York Road,
King's Cross N. in the County of Middlesex Gas Engineer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention has reference to improvements in the mode, or manner, in the
construction and application of apparatus for the supply of steam, hot water, or
other fluid to the cup, or cups of telescopic gasholders, with the object of the melting
of ice, the prevention of the freezing of the water therein, to compensate for
leakage of the water or for other purposes.
My invention is carried out as follows. At a point on the edge of the tank, I.
place a drum, round which metallic or other flexible tubing suitable for the con-
veyance of steam, water etc. to the cup of gasholder, is coiled, when the cup of
gasholder is at its lowest point. This drum, the outer sides of which may be formed
of iron, wood or other suitable material, has an inner case, or steam chest, or
cylinder, which is the receptacle for the steam, water etc., from whence it is
conveyed to the outer sides of the drum, and so to the end of the flexible tube,
which is attached at this point. A shaft or axle passes through the centre of the
inner case which has a stuffing box at either end to make it steam or water tight.
This axle which is fixed to suitable supports, is hollow at one end, until it enters
the inner case, for the admission of the steam water etc., and to which end the
steam or water connection is made. The inner case and outer drum, being stayed
well together revolve round the axle. Suitable bib cocks are inserted for lubrication,
and to run off any condensation where steam is used. The other end of the
flexible tube being supported by a short standard attached to the grip or in any
other suitable manner, and from thence dipping down into the gasholder cup; it
is obvious that as the gasholder rises, the flexible tube will by revolving the drum
unwind itself.
For the purpose of winding up the slack of the flexible tube, as the gasholder
descends; a wire rope, chain or cord is attached at a point on the other end of
the drum, and passing round the drum in the reverse direction to that of the
flexible tube, runs over a pulley wheel or wheels, suspended from the gasholder
framing, and from thence is attached to the grip or foot. Or instead of attaching
the end of the wire rope, chain or cord to the grip or foot of gasholder, a
counterpoise weight may be attached thereto.
In the case of the wire rope being attached to the grip, the diameter of the
drum at that end round which the wire rope, chain or cord coils, is so proportioned
as to compensate for the difference in diameters of the wire rope and flexible tube,
and thus avoid any slack on either.
The action which takes place is as follows. When the gasholder rises, the
flexible tube unwinds from the drum while the wire rope or chain is coiled upon
it; as the gasholder descends the reverse is the case.
Instead of the flexible tube entering the cup, the tube may be connected to a
pipe attached to the grip of the gasholder, and encircling or partly encircling the
same; and from this the steam or water may be conveyed to the cups by short
pipes or otherwise at any points..
!!
With the apparatus described above; steam, hot water or other fluid, niay be
'

page_text: injected into the gasholder cup or cups, when the gasholder is at any altitude. In
the case of the cup of a gasholder rising to any great height, the apparatus may
be if more convenient attached at any suitable point to the guide framing of the
gasholder.
The various advantages I claim for my invention may be described under three
heads:
Firstly Where no counterpoise weights are used the danger of these falling or
swinging due to high winds and damaging the sides of gasholder is thus obviated.
Secondly-Small amount of condensation where steam is used.
"Thirdly Simple automatic and inexpensive.
Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying Steam, Water, or other
Fluid to the Cups of Telescopic Gasholders.
I, GEORGE ALBERT HORTON of The Gas Light and Coke Company, York
Road, King's Cross, N. in the County of Middlesex, Gas Engineer, do hereby.
declare the nature of this invention and in what munner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention has reference to improvements in the mode or manner in the
construction and application of apparatus for the supply of steam, hot water, or other
fluid, to the cup or cups of telescopic gasbolders, with the object of the melting
of ice, the prevention of the water being frozen therein, to, compensate for leakage, or
for other purposes.
In the drawings attached,hereto,
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion; of a telescopic gasholder, with the outer
lift almost at its highest elevation, and with this invention, applied.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the druin which foruis the chief novelty in this:
invention and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through centre of drum.
My invention is carried out as follows.
At a point on the edge of the tank, I place a drum, round which metallic or
other flexible tubing, suitable for the conveyance of steam or water to the cup of
gasholder, is coiled when the cup of gasholder is at its lowest point. This drum,
the outer sides of which may be formed of iron, wood or other suitable material,
has an inner case, or steam chest or cylinder A. which is the receptacle for the
steam, water or other fluid, from whence it is conveyed to the outer sides of the
drum by the pipe B. and so to the end of the flexible tube, which is attached
at this point. A shaft or axle C. passes through the centre of the inner case,
which has a stuffing box at either end, to make it steam.or water tight. This
axle which may be made of a piece of bydraulic or other tube, is fixed to suitable
supports, and is drilled for the admission of stean or water as shewn at D., and to
one end of which the steam or water connection is made. The inner case and outer drum
being stayed well together, revolve round the axle. Suitable bib-cocks are inserted
for lubrication, and to run off any condensation where steam is used.
The other
end of the flexible tube is supported by a short standard attached to the grip, or
in any other suitable manner, and from thence dipping down into the gasholder
"It is obvious that as the gasholder rises, the flexible tube will, by revolving
the drum, unwind itself.
For the purpose of winding up the slack of the flexible .tube, as the gasholder
sinks; a wire rope, chain or cord is attached at a point on the other end of the
:

page_text: drum, and passing round the drum in the reverse direction to that of the flexible.
tube, runs over a pulley wheel or wheels, suspended from the gasholder framing,
and from thence is attached to the grip.
Or alternately instead of attaching the end of the wire rope, chain or cord to
the grip of gasholder; a counterpoise weight may be attached thereto.
In the case of the wire rope being attached to the grip; the diameter of the
drum at that end round which the wire rope, chain or cord coils, is so proportioned
as to compensate for the difference in diameters of the wire rope and flexible tube,
and thus avoid any slack on either.
The action which takes place is as follows. When the gasholder rises, the-
flexible tube unwinds from the drum, while the wire rope or chain is coiled upon
it, when the gasholder sinks, the reverse is the case.
Or the wire rope or chain having passed round the drum, and one end over an
elevated pulley, may have both ends attached to the standard fixed on the grip of
gasholder, thus causing the drum to rotate automatically with the rise and fall of
the holder.
As another alternative it is proposed for the purpose of winding up the slack of
the metallic or rubber tube, to adopt the use of a steel spring, which in effect
would produce the same result as that obtained by the wire rope.
Instead of the flexible tube entering the cup, the tube may be connected to a
pipe attached to the grip of the gasholder, and encircling or partly encircling the
same, and from this the steam or water may be conveyed to cup by short pipes or
otherwise at any points.
It is advisable that a check or stop valve be introduced into the steam supply pipe..
With the apparatus described above, steam, hot water or other fluid, may be-
injected into the gasholder cup or cups, when the gasholder is at any
altitude.
In the case of the cup of a gasholder rising to any great height, the apparatus
may be, if more convenient, attached at any suitable point, to the guide-framing
of the gasholder.
:-
The various advantages I claim for my invention, may be stated under three heads..
Firstly Where no counterpoise weights are used, the danger of these falling,
or swinging, due to high winds, and damaging the sides of gasholder, is thus obviated..
Secondly-Small amount of condensation where steam is used.
Thirdly Simple automatic and inexpensive.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
The apparatus for supplying steam water or other fluid to the cups of telescopic.
gasholders, by means of a drum, round which the flexible tube, used for the con-
veyance of the steam or water, coils and uncoils, as the gasholder sinks or rises,.
as herein described and shown on the drawings.
11
1000
GEO. A. HORTON.