IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRE VALVES FOR GAS PURIFIERS
Year: 1884

page_text: We, GEORGE DAWSON and WILLIAM FROGGATT, both of Thorncliffe in the
County of York, Engineers do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRE VALVES FOR GAS PURIFIERS to be as follows:-
"
Our invention relates to centre valves used in connection with Gas Purifiers, by
which the gas is made to pass in the proper direction through a certain number of
the purifiers connected with and regulated by the centre valve whilst any one of:
such purifiers as desired is left out of the circuit so that access can be had to it for
the purpose of cleaning and replenishing with purifying material.
It has for its object a novel method of construction of the centre valve and of the
parts in connection with it so that the whole of the purifiers can when desired be
put into the circuit through which the gas passes whilst any one of them can be
cut out of the circuit for cleaning when desired.
In methods heretofore proposed and used for this purpose a second or supple-
mentary second separate valve has been used in connection with but worked
independently of the main centre valve itself, and our present invention has for its
object a novel method of constructing the valve and the passages in connection
with it so that the desired object is effected without the use of such supplementary
valve, and in this way considerable simplicity and economy are gained.
Supposing that the invention is to be applied to a centre valve connected with
four purifiers, any three of which can be retained in use whilst the fourth is cut off,
or on the other hand the whole four purifiers can be in use at once, we arrange
the apparatus on the same general principle as the well known "Thorncliffe" dry
faced centre valve, the main inlet for the gas entering a lower tank and rising into
the valve through a centre annular opening round a descending main outlet pipe.
The valve consists of a series of eight chambers divided by radial ribs or
divisions, each chamber being itself divided into two parts by a similar division,
one of such parts having no communication with the connections to the purifiers
whilst the other part communicates with one of either the inlet or outlet pipes to
the purifiers which pipes are arranged round the side of the apparatus.
The openings into these pipes preferably extend over the closed parts so as to
afford full area for the passage of gas, partitions being arranged to prevent the
latter from having access to the closed parts. Pipes descend from the bottom of the
chambers into the seal tank to carry off any condensation liquid, which is then
withdrawn through a suitable passage.

page_text: The upper parts of the chambers are open and their edges are faced so that a
similarly faced circular valve may revolve upon them making a dry joint. This
circular valve is open above and closed below in the usual way, and it is
provided with radial and other divisions by which it is divided into separate
parts, a central opening fitting above the outlet opening in the lower part already
described but communicating laterally with a radial chamber fitting and covering
the two parts of one of the divided or double chambers below, and an annular
space being formed round the remainder of the central opening so as to be in
communication with the annular inlet passage below, this annular space in the
valve also communicating laterally with two radial chambers each large enough to
cover one only of the two parts into which each lower chamber is divided as
already described, and the two being arranged at the proper distance apart in
plan.
When it is required to work the whole four purifiers together, the valve is turned
so that one of these two radial chambers in it covers one of the closed divisions of
a chamber below, and the divisions in the valve then fit upon the chambers below
in such manner that the gas can pass through the four purifiers, whilst when three
only are to be worked the valve is turned so that whilst the corresponding inlet is
then open, the other (used for four purifiers) is closed, and in this position access
can be had to the purifiers which is not in operation through a moveable cleaning
door in the top of the valve over such inoperative part. This can be done and the
drain pipes already described can also be cleaned, without lifting the valve or
interfering with the operation of the remainder of the apparatus.
The valve may be made to revolve by means of a toothed wheel upon its outer
circumference worked by a toothed pinion and handle, or in any other convenient
way.
It will be seen that the valve or cover is the only moving part and that no
auxiliary valve is used the entire apparatus being very simple and not liable to
get out of order.
1
+
2 T
100

page_text: We, GEORGE DAWSON, and WILLIAM FROGGATT, both of Thorncliffe in the
County of York, Engineers do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRE VALVES FOR GAS PURIFIERS" and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and accompanying drawings:-
Our invention relates to centre valves used in connection with Gas Purifiers, by
which the gas is made to pass in the proper direction through a certain number of
the purifiers connected with and regulated by the centre valve whilst any of such
purifiers may be left out of the circuit so that access can be had for the purpose of
cleaning and replenishing with purifying material. It has for its object a novel
method of construction of the centre valve and of the parts in connection with it so
that the whole of the purifiers can when desired be put into the circuit through
which the gas passes, whilst any of them can be cut out of the circuit for cleaning
when required.
In methods heretofore proposed and used for this purpose it has been usual to
employ a second or supplementary separate valve in connection with but worked
independently of the main centre valve itself, and our present invention has for its
object a novel method of constructing the valve and the passages in connection
with it so that the desired object is effected without the use of such supplementary
valve, and in this way considerable simplicity and economy are gained.
Supposing that the invention is to be applied to a centre valve connected with
four purifiers, any three of which can be retained in use whilst the fourth is cut off,
or on the other hand the whole four purifiers can be in use at once, we arrange the
apparatus on the same general principle as the well known "Thorncliffe" dry-faced
centre valve, the main inlet for the gas entering a lower tank and rising into the
valve through a centre annular opening round a descending main outlet pipe. The
valve consists of a series of eight chambers divided by radial ribs or divisions, each
chamber being itself divided into two parts by a similar division, one of such parts
having no communication with the connections to the purifiers whilst the other
part communicates with one of either the inlet or outlet pipes to the purifiers
which pipes are arranged round the side of the apparatus. The openings into
these pipes preferably extend over the closed parts so as to afford full area for the
passage of gas, partitions being arranged to prevent the latter from having access
to the closed parts. Pipes descend from the bottom of the chambers into the seal
tank to carry off any condensation liquid, which is then withdrawn through a
suitable passage.
The upper parts of the chambers have their edges faced so that a similarly faced
circular valve or cover may revolve upon them making a dry joint.
This circular cover is open below and closed above in the usual way, and it is
provided with radial and other divisions by which it is divided into separate parts,
a central opening fitting above the outlet opening in the lower part already
described but communicating laterally with a radial chamber fitting and covering
the two parts of one of the divided or double chambers below, and an annular
space being formed round the remainder of the central opening so as to be in
communication with the annular inlet passage below, this annular space in the
valve also communicating laterally with two radial chambers each large enough to
cover one only of the two parts into which each lower chamber is divided as
already described, and the two being arranged at the proper distance apart in
plan, so that when one is over an open part the other is over a closed part of the
Chambers below,

page_text: The accompanying drawings are in illustration of our invention. Figure 1 is a
vertical section of our invention applied to a centre valve connected with four
purifiers. Figure 2 is a plan of the same with the cover removed, figure 3 a plan
of the cover inverted, figure 4 a plan of the cover from above shewing the divisions
and the indicating stops, and figure 5 an elevation of the entire valve and cover.
Figure 10 shews, in the form of a diagram, the position of the cover when four
purifiers are in operation, and figure 11 shews similarly its position when only
three purifiers are in operation. Figure 6 shews a plan of our improved valve, and
figure 7 of its cover, for the purpose of working three purifiers in all; and figure 8
is a plan of our improved valve, and figure 9 of its cover, for working two purifiers
in all. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures.
The shaded parts represent the parts open for the passage of gas.
In figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, c is the main gas inlet entering the lower seal tank d
and rising through the centre annular opening e into the cover which has a
corresponding annular chamber e¹. The upper part of the valve is divided into
eight chambers a b, ab, ab, ab, ab, ab, ab, ab, each of which is again divided
into two parts one of which a is closed having no communication with the purifier
connections, whilst the other b is open and communicates with one or other of the
pipes which are connected with the purifiers. Pipes g descend to the bottom of
the seal tank & to carry off any condensation liquid which passes away at h. The
revolving cover has circular faces as shewn in figure 3 corresponding with those
upon the valve below, and it is provided with ribs by which it is divided into
separate parts, a central opening fitting above the corresponding central opening i
in the valve below which communicates with the outlet pipe k.
The opening communicates laterally with a chamber sufficiently large to
cover two of the ports a b, which form one of the lower chambers. e¹ is an annular
space in the cover corresponding with the annular inlet passage e below, e¹ com-
municating laterally with the two radial chambers a¹, b¹, each of which corresponds
in size with one of the parts a, b, into which each of the chambers below is divided,
and the two being arranged in such position that when one covers a closed part a,
the other covers an open part b.
In order that the cover may be turned round upon its seat when desired, it is
provided with a toothed ring round it at n actuated by the pinions n¹, n', upon
spindles o, o¹, one of which o projects above the top of the cover for the purpose
hereinafter described.
When it is required to work four purifiers together, the cover is turned into the
position indicated by the diagram at figure 10, the letters in which A, B, C, D,
E, F, refer to the corresponding letters indicating the several chambers of the cover
in figure 4. It will be seen that in this position the gas passes successively through
each purifier the passages in the cover regulating its course.
Supposing that it is required to work three purifiers only, the cover is turned
into the position indicated by the diagram in figure 11, in which the same letters
refer to the chambers in figure 4.
In this position it will be seen that the gas passes through three purifiers only,
the chamber A being above a closed part a, and the chamber B being entirely cut
off so that the purifier connected with the pipes below it may be opened and cleaned
or replenished.
One or more openings with moveable covers are preferably made in the top of
the cover above the part which is cut off as described, through which openings
access can be had to the drain pipes g below so that they can be cleaned and
examined without lifting the cover and whilst the remaining purifiers continue in
active operation.
The arrangements shewn in figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, are similar to those shewn in
the other figures and described above, only the necessary modifications in size,
form, and the number of chambers and divisions, being made to adapt them for
use with three purifiers and two purifiers in all, respectively.

page_text: For the purpose of clearly indicating the current the gas is taking through
the purifiers or other vessels with which the valve is connected, and the number
of purifiers which are in operation at any time, numbers are cut or fixed to the
body of the valve (as shewn in figure 5) corresponding to the number of purifiers
connected with it.
For instance, the valve for working four purifiers as shewn has the numbers 1, 2,
3, 4, arranged one number between each of the four pairs of ports, each purifier
being designated by the number immediately between the two ports which connect
that purifier with the valve.
Round the circumference of the top of the valve cover are fixed hinged or drop
stops, as shewn in figures 4, 7, and 9, corresponding in number with the number of
changes which can be effected by means of the valve. Each stop has upon it
numbers which indicate the purifiers which are in operation, in the order in which
the gas is passing through them when any particular stop is turned down and
brought in contact with the turning gear spindle o (figure 1) which projects above
the top of the cover as already described.
For instance if the stop bearing the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, upon it is brought in
contact with the spindle o the gas will be passing through four purifiers, namely
through No 1 first, then through No 2, No 3, and lastly No 4. Or, supposing the
stop having the numbers 4, 1, 2, upon it is in contact with the spindle o, the gas
will be passing through three purifiers, namely through No 4 first, then through N° 1
and lastly No 2; and in the same way for any other set or arrangement of numbers
that may be marked upon the stop which is brought in contact with the spindle o.
The valve cover may be turned in either direction, but of course the stops
must always be brought in contact with the same side of the spindle o. By this
arrangement the position of the valve cover and the order in which the gas is
passing through the purifiers is adjusted and indicated with great case and
readiness.
In our invention as described and shewn the cover is the only moving part, and
it has no auxiliary valve or valves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The method of constructing the valve and its moveable cover so that the
whole or any number of the purifiers may be put in connection with it as desired
without the addition of any supplementary valve, substantially as described and
shewn in the drawings.
2. The arrangement of a cleaning door or doors in the moveable cover for the
purpose of cleaning the drain pipes in the valve body whilst the purifiers are
working without lifting the cover, substantially as described and shewn in the
drawing.
1001