IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING COAL GAB.
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Basford, of No. 16, Talbot Road, Kentish
Town, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING COAL GAB.
Sealed the 12th August 1856, and dated the 9th May 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Basford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th May 1856.
I, WILLIAM BASFORD, of No. 16, Talbot Road, Kentish Town, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING COAL GAS," to be as
follows:-
My Invention has for its object a better means, by an apparatus herein-after
described, of carrying out my Invention for "improvements in the purifica-
tion of coal gas, and for obtaining a residium therefrom," for which I
obtained Letters Patent, dated 19th October 1855.
My new and improved apparatus consists of an oblong chest with circular
bottom, made of iron, in two longitudinal compartments, placed one over the
other. The lower compartment is continued at each end beyond the upper
one, and to each of these ends is attached a mouth-piece, with a cover or lid
fixed upon it, in a similar manner to covers or lids of retorts; so that when

page_text: these lids are removed a free passage is left all through the lower compart-
ment of the apparatus. In each of the covers or lids of the mouth-pieces is
fixed a small sight glass, so as to allow the state of heat of the contents to be
seen when the lids are closed and the apparatus is in operation.
The upper compartment is divided crosswise by a vertical partition into two
chambers, communicating with each other by openings made in the partition.
Each of the chambers has an opening at the top, through which the apparatus
is charged with the prepared charcoal, hereafter mentioned, and a lid or cap is
fastened thereto, in a similar.way..to the lids before described, after the
apparatus is charged.
The upper compartment is divided from the lower by means of two gratings
or perforated plates, whicli form the bottoms of the two chambers and top of the
lower compartment. These gratings or perforated plates slide lengthwise to
and fro at pleasure, and can be wholly removed when required, or they may
be hinged, or made loose and fit into a rebate. I also place on each side of
the lower compartment a perforated partition to receive and support the
charcoal; so that the whole of the heated surface of the lower-compartment
may be covered with charcoal. These partitions may be either fixed or loose.
In the mouth-piece attached to one end of the lower compartment is fixed
the inlet pipe or pipes, through which the gas is conducted from the retorts,
and at the other or opposite end of the upper compartment is fixed the outlet
pipe, to convey the gas, after passing through the heated charcoal, away to the
bydraulic main. In the centre of the apparatus, at the top, another opening
is left, with a lid or cap, similar to the lids or caps before described; through
which a pipe furnished with a cock or valve passes, having branches com-
municating with the chambers containing the prepared charcoal; hereafter
mentionel; the said pipe leads from a vessel or cistern containing saturated
lime water?
The apparatus is built in a furnace, with flues under and on the sides; but is
left clear at the top, for the purpose of obtaining access to the lids or coversion
the top of the apparatus; or the apparatus may be built in the same furnace
or oven with the retorts.
4:
When required for use, the upper chambers of the apparatus are filled or
partly filled with the prepared charcoal; as described in the complete Specifica-
tion of my Patent-herein-before referred to, and the lower cónipartment has a
small portion of the prepared charcoal distributed over and along the circular
'bottom'; the apparatus is then heated to a temperature: between.á dull red and
a bright red, when it is ready to receive the gas from the retorts. The gas is
now' received by the inlet pipe or pipes from the retort, and is passed into the

page_text: lower compartment; it then ascends through the gratings or perforated, plates
into the heated charcoal contained in the upper chambers, and from thence,
making its way through the outlet pipe, it passes into the hydraulic main..
In order to assist and continue the working powers of the charcoal, and
extend, (or defer) the, time, for withdrawing the same, I refreshen the charcoal
within the upper chambers from time to time by turning on the cock or valve
fixed to the pipe, herein-before described, and, attached to the top of the
apparatus, and allow as much of the lime water to run into the chambers as
will refreshen the charcoal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Basford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th November 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BASFORD, of No. 16, Talbot Road, Kentish Town, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Basford, Her special licence that I, the said William Basford, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Basford, 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 therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING COAL GAS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Basford, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and 'immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Basford, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
1
My Invention has for its object, by means of the apparatus herein-after
described, the purification of. coal gas, and a better means of carrying out
my Invention for "improvements in the purification of coal gas, and for
obtaining a residium therefrom," for which I obtained Letters Patent,
No. 2845, dated 19th October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
:
In order that my Invention may be fully understood, I have hereunto
annexed a Sheet of Drawings, with letters of reference marked thereon,
corresponding with letters of reference in this Specification; the same letters
refer to the same parts in the several Figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shows the plan of the top of the apparatus without the lids; Fig. 2,
sectional plan, showing the grated or perforated bottom C, C', of the upper
chambers A, A¹, extension of the lower compartment B, B', and mouth-
pieces F, F; Fig. 3, longitudinal section, taken through centre of the
apparatus; Fig. 4, transverse section, taken through centre of the man-hole
or opening I; Fig. 5, transverse section, taken through the centre of the
apparatus, showing the cross partition E, receiver O, water supply pipes M,
&c.; Fig. 6, end view.
My new and improved apparatus consists of an iron chest with circular
bottom, made in two longitudinal compartments, placed one over the other.
The lower compartment B, B', is continued at each end beyond the upper
compartment A, A'. The bottom of the lower compartment is inclined from
the mouth-pieces, F', at each end towards the centre, say, at about the rate
of a quarter of an inch to each foot, so as to allow any liquid or tarry matter
accumulating near the lid of the mouth-piece to flow towards the centre. To
each end of the lower compartment a mouth-piece F, F, is attached, the bottom
of which is inclined at the rate before described, and for a similar purpose; a
cover or lid f,f, is fixed upon the outer end of the mouth-piece by a cross
bar and screw s, similar to those used to the covers or lids of retorts, so that
when these lids are removed a free passage B, B', is left all through the lower
compartment of the apparatus. In each of the covers or lids of the mouth-
pieces F, F, is fixed a small sight hole H with plug, so as by removing the
plug the state of the heat of the contents can be seen when the lids are closed
and the apparatus is in opération, as herein-after described.
The upper compartment is divided crosswise in the centre by a skeleton

page_text: partition E, cast with and forming part of the casting of the chest, into two
chambers A, A', communicating with each other by the openings in the said
partition, which said partition also is intended and does strengthen the sides of
the apparatus. Each of the chambers has a man-hole or opening I at the top;
through which the apparatus is charged with the prepared charcoal, herein-
after mentioned, and a lid or cap i is, after the apparatus is charged, fastened
thereto in a similar way to the lids or caps before described.
The upper chambers are divided from the lower compartment by means of
two iron gratings or perforated plates C, C', which form the bottoms of the
two chambers A, A', and top of the lower compartment B, B'. These gratings
or perforated plates slide lengthwise on the top of the side partitions to and
fro at pleasure, and can be wholly removed by means of the handles c, c¹,
when required; or they may be hinged, hung on centres, or made loose and
fitted into a rebate or ledge. Both sides of the lower compartment are fitted
with iron grated or perforated partitions D, D, secured at the bottom by a
groove or fillet d, cast upon the apparatus, and kept upright by studs e, cast on
the centre partition, which support the grating or perforated bottom of the
upper chambers, and form receptacles or pockets to receive the prepared
charcoal on the sides, herein-after mentioned. In each of the mouth-pieces,
attached by nut and screw bolts to the ends of the lower compartment, are
fixed the inlet pipes G, G¹, through which the gas to be purified is conducted
from the retorts into the apparatus; and in the top of the upper compartment
are fixed by nut and screw bolts the outer pipes K, K¹, to convey away the
gas after passing through the heated charcoal, herein-after mentioned, into the
hydraulic main.
The lids or covers to the mouth-pieces are sometimes made double, either
by fitting and luting against a rebate in the mouth-piece an iron plate or fire-
clay tile r, or by connecting the iron plate or fire-clay tile r to the outer lid, in
a similar way to those fitted to furnace doors. The object of the double lid or
cover is to protect the gas from the external influence of the atmosphere on
the outer lid. On the outside, and cast with the apparatus longitudinally, are
small ribs or bearers P, P¹, for the purpose of assisting to support and
strengthen the apparatus; they are also made to receive tiles or fire-clay
placed around the apparatus, which said tiles or fire-clay protect the apparatus
from the direct action of the heat, and thereby secure a more uniform tempe-
rature to the vessel. The apparatus is supported in an upright position by
the bearers Q, Q, Q. The apparatus is then built in a furnace with flues
under and at the sides but not at the top, the top being left clear for the.
purpose of obtaining casy acces to, the lids or covers; or the apparatus may be

page_text: built in or over the same furnace or oven with the retorts. Although the
apparatus, has been described, as being made of iron, part of it, namely, the
body, may be made of fire-clay tile or brick, and the bottom, instead of being
circular, may be made flat.
For the purposes of refreshening the contents of the upper chambers A, A', as
hereafter, described, another opening L is, formed, with a lid or cap, secured by
nut and screw bolts, through which a pipe Mipasses, furnished with a cock.or
valve.m, for conveying the, water from the receiver N to the cup O, placed
loosely by the flange or rim on a bearer within the apparatus. The receiver N
is supplied with water from a cistern by the pipe M, and regulated, by the
stop-cock o, and is also furnished, with a blow-off cock n.
When the apparatus is required for use, the upper chambers. A, A', are
filled or partly filled with. the prepared charcoal, described in the complete
Specification of my Patent berein-before referred to; the receptacles or, pockets
formed by the vertical gratings ifixed or placed (on the sides of the lower com-
partment B, B', are also filled with; the same material, and a small quantity, of
tlie said prepared charcoal is likewise distributed over, and along the bottom,
so that the whole of the heated surface of the apparatus may be covered with
the said prepared charcoal. The apparatus is then heated to a temperature
between.a. dull and a bright red, when it is ready to receive the gas from the
retorts. The gas is now in its crude state received from the retorts through
the inlet pipes G, G', and mouth-pieces F, F, into the lower compartment
B, B, where, being exposed to the action of the heated charcoal, a second
distillation, of the products of the coal commences, evolving. more gas and
precipitating impurities. The gas then passes through the gratings or,,perfo
rated plates C, C', ascends through the prepared and heated charcoal contained
in the upper chamber A, A';;and becomes for purification; it then makes it
way through the outlet pipes K, K, into the hydraulic,main, and from thence
to the gas-holder. In place of the prepared charcoal,,herein before,mentioned,
the upper chamber and receptacles or pockets and the lower compartment
may be charged; tas rherein-before described, with ordinary charcoal, peat
charcoal, or coke, either alone:or in combination with saturated lime water..
In order to assist and continue the working powers of the charcoal or other
substances before, mentioned that may be, used, I refresben,the same from
-time to time in the following manner: I first ascertain, whether, there is any
water in the cup: O by opening or turning on the lower cock,or, valve, m, and
opening the:small blow-off cockin: situated over, the receiver N, when, if there
is no water in the cup Ogas will be emitted through the blow-off,.cock. I
then close the lower cock.or. valve, and by turning on the upper or supply

page_text: cock o, charge the receiver N with water, and when full, which I ascertain by
observing when the water begins to run out of the blow-off cock, I immediately
turn off the upper supply cock and open the lower cock m, when the contents
of the receiver N passes into the cup O situated within the apparatus. The
water is then decomposed by the heated charcoal, and passes into the upper
part of the apparatus in a state of vapour, when it refreshens the charcoal, and
facilitates the passage of the gas, and contributes to secure a uniform heat in
the upper part of the apparatus.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to any of
the parts separately, nor do I confine myself to the precise details; but what I
claim is, the general construction and arrangement of an apparatus in the
manner and for the purposes above described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Basford, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
HENRY LAXTON, Patent Agent,
19, Arundel Street, Strand.
WILLIAM BASFORD. (L.S.)

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Basford, of No. 16, Talbot Road, Kentish
Town, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING COAL GAS.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Basford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his. Petition, on the
9th May 1856.
I WILLIAM BASFORD, of No. 16, Talbot. Road, Kentish Town, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING COAL GAS," to be as
follows:
My Invention has for its object a better means, by an apparatus herein-after
described, of carrying out my Invention for "improvements in the purifica-
tion of coal gas, and for obtaining a residium therefrom," for which I
obtained Letters Patent, dated 19th October 1855.
My new and improved apparatus consists of an oblong chest with circular
bottom, made of iron, in two longitudinal compartments, placed one over the
other. The lower compartment is continued at each end beyond' the upper
one, and to each of thèse ends is attached a mouth-piece, with a cover or lid
fixed upon it, in a similar manner to covers or lids of retorts; so that when

page_text: these lids are removed a free passage is left all through the lower compart-
ment of the apparatus. In each of the covers or lids of the mouth-pieces is '
fixed a small sight glass, so as to allow the state of heat of the contents to be
seen when the lids are closed and the apparatus is in operation.
The upper compartment is divided crosswise by a vertical partition into two
chambers, communicating with each other by openings made in the partition.
Each of the chambers has an opening at the top, through which the apparatus
is charged with the prepared charcoal,, hereafter mentioned, and a lid or cap is
fastened thereto, in a similar, way to the lids, before. described, after the
apparatus is charged.
The upper compartment is divided from the lower by means of two gratings
or perforated plates, which form the bottoms of the two chambers and top of the
lower compartment. These gratings or perforated plates slide lengthwise to
and fro at pleasure, and can be wholly removed when required, or they may
be hinged, or made loose and fit into a rebate. I also place on each side of
the lower compartment a perforated partition to receive and support the
charcoal; so that the whole of the heated 'surface of the lower compartment
may be covered with charcoal. These partitions may be either fixed or loose.
In the mouth-piece attached to, one end of the lower compartment. is fixed
the inlet pipe or pipes, through which the gas is conducted from the retorts,
and at the other or opposite end of the upper compartment is fixed the outlet
pipe, to convey the gas, after passing through the heated charcoal, away to the
hydraulic main. In the centre of the apparatus, at the top, another opening
is left, with a lid or cap, similar to the lids or caps before described, through
which a pipe furnished with a cock or valve passes, having branches com-
municating with the chambers containing the prepared. charcoal, hereafter
mentioned; the said pipe leads from a vessel or cistern containing saturated
lime water? wilay
The apparatus is built in a furnace, with flues under and on the sides, but is
left clear at the top, for the purpose of obtaining access to the lids or covers on
the top of the apparatus; or the apparatus may be built in the same furnace
or oven with the retorts. A na
C
When required for use, the upper. chambers of the apparatus are filled.or
partly filled with the prepared charcoal, as described in the complete! Specifica-
tion of my Patent herein-before-referred to, and the lower cónipartment has a
small portion of the prepared charcoal distributed over and along the circular
bottom; the apparatus is then heated to a temperature.between a dull red and
'a bright red, when it is ready to receive the gas from the retorts. The gas is
now received by the inlet pipe or pipes from the retort, and is passed into the

page_text: lower compartment; it then ascends through the gratings or perforated plates
into the heated charcoal contained in the upper chambers, and from thence,
making its way through the outlet pipe, it passes into, the hydraulic main."
In order to assist and continue the working powers of the charcoal, and
extend (or defer) the time. for withdrawing the same, I refreshen the charcoal
within the upper chambers from time to time by turning on the cock or valve
fixed to the pipe,, herein-before, described, and attached to the top of the
apparatus, and allow as much of the lime water to run into the chambers as
will refreshen the charcoal...
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Basford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th November 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BASFORD, of No. 16, Talbot Road, Kentish Town, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most, Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letter's
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign.
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the 'said
William Basford, Her special licence that I, the said William Basford, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Basford, 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 therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING COAL GAS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Basford, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Basford, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertamed in and by the following
statement:
1
My Invention has for its object, by means of the apparatus herein-after
described, the purification of coal gas, and a better means of carrying out
my Invention for "improvements in the purification of coal gas, and for
obtaining a residium therefrom," for which I obtained Letters Patent,
No. 2345, dated 19th October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
:
In order that my Invention may be fully understood, I have hereunto
annexed a Sheet of Drawings, with letters of reference marked thereon,
corresponding with letters of reference in this Specification; the same letters
refer to the same parts in the several Figures.
..
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shows the plan of the top of the apparatus, without the lids; Fig. 2,
sectional plan, showing the grated or perforated bottom C, C³, of the upper
chambers A, A, extension of the lower compartment B, B', and mouth-
pieces F, F; Fig. 3, longitudinal section, taken through centre of the
apparatus; Fig. 4, transverse section, taken through centre of the 'man-hole
or opening I; Fig. 5, transverse section, taken through the centre of the
apparatus, showing the cross partition E, receiver O, water, supply pipes M,
&c.; Fig. 6, end view.
20
My new and improved apparatus consists of an iron chest with circular
bottom, made in two longitudinal compártinents, placed one over the other.
The lower compartment B, B!, is continued at each end beyond the upper
compartment A, A. The bottom of the lower compartiment is inclined from
the mouth-pieces F, F, at each end towards the centre, say, at about the rate
of a quarter of an inch to each foot, so as to allow any liquid or tarry matter
accumulating near the lid of the mouth-piece to flow towards the centre. To
each end of the lower compartment a mouth-piece F, F, is attached, the bottom
of which is inclined at the rate before described, and for a similar purpose; i
cover.or. lid ff, is fixed upon the outer end of the mouth-piece by a cross
bar and screws, similar to those used to the covers or lids of retorts, so that
when these lids are removed a free passage B, B', is left all through the lower
compartment. of the apparatus. In each of the covers or lids of the mouth-
pieces F, F, is fixed a small sight hole II with plug, so as by removing the
plug the state of the heat of the contents can be seen when the lids are closed
and the apparatus is in operation, as herein after described.
The upper compartment is divided crosswise in the centre by a skeleton

page_text: partition E, cast with and forming part of the casting of the chest, into two
chambers A, A, communicating with each other by the openings in the said
partition, which said partition also is intended and does strengthen the sides of
the apparatus. Each of the chambers has a man-hole or opening I at the top,
through which the apparatus is charged with the prepared charcoal,' herein-
after mentioned, and a lid or cap i is, after the apparatus is charged, fastened
thereto in a similar way to the lids or caps before described. "
The upper chambers are divided from the lower compartment by means of
two iron gratings.or perforated plates C, C, which. form.. the bottoms of.the
two chambers A; A!, and top of the lower compartment B, B'. These gratings
or perforated plates slide lengthwise on the top of the side partitions to and
fro' at pleasure, and can be wholly removed by means of the handles c, c¹,
when required; or they may be hinged, hung on centres, or made loose and
fitted into a rebate or ledge. Both sides of the lower compartment are fitted
with iron grated or perforated partitions D, D, secured at the bottom by a
groove or fillet d, cast upon the apparatus, and kept upright by-studs e, cast.on
the centre partition, which support the grating or perforated bottom of the
upper chambers, and form receptacles or pockets to receive the prepared
charcoal on the sides, herein-after mentioned. In each of the moutli-pieces;
attached by nut. and screw bolts to the ends of the lower compartment, are
fixed the inlet pipes G, G!, through which the gas to be purified is conducted
from the retorts into the apparatus; and in the top of the upper compartment
are fixed by nut and screw bolts the outer pipes K, K¹, to convey away the
gas after passing through the heated charcoal, herein-after mentioned, into the
hydraulic main.
The lids or covers to the mouth-pieces are sometimes made double, either
by fitting and luting against a rebate in the mouth-pièce an iron plate or fire-
clay tile, or by connecting the iron plate or fire-clay tiler to the outer lid, in
a similar way to those fitted to furnace doors. The object of the double lid or
cover is to protect the gas from the external influence of the atmosphere on
the outer lid. On the outside, and cast with the apparatus longitudinally, aro
small ribs or bearers P, P¹, for the purpose of assisting to support and
strengthen the apparatus; they are also made to receive tiles or fire-clay
placed around the apparatus, which said tiles or fire-clay protect the apparatus
from the direct action of the heat, and thereby secure a more uniform tempe-
rature to the vessel. The apparatus is supported in an upright position by
the bearers Q, Q, Q". The apparatus is then built in a furnace with flues
under and at the sides but not at the top, the top being left clear for the
purpose of obtaining casy acces to the lids or covers; or the apparatus may be

page_text: built in or over the same furnace or oven with the retorts. Although the
apparatus has been described as being made of iron, part of it, namely, the
body, may be made of fire-clay tile or brick, and the bottom, instead of being
circular, may be made flat.
For the purposes of refreshening the contents of the upper chambers A, A', as
hereafter described, another opening L is, formed, with a lid or cap, secured by
nut and screw bolts, through which a pipe M passes, furnished with a cock or
valve m, for conveying the water from the receiver N to the cup O, placed
loosely by the flange or rim on a bearer within the apparatus. The receiver N
is supplied with water from a cistern by the pipe M, and regulated by the
stop-cock o, and is also furnished with a blow-off cock.n.
When the apparatus is required for use, the upper chambers -A, A¹, are
filled or partly filled with the prepared charcoal, described in the complete
Specification of my Patent herein-before referred to; the receptacles or pockets
formed by the vertical gratings fixed or placed on the sides of the lower com-
partment B, B', are also filled with the same material, and a small quantity of
the said prepared charcoal is likewise distributed over and along the bottom,
so that the whole of the heated surface of the apparatus may be covered with
the said prepared charcoal. The apparatus, is then-heated. to a. temperature
between a dull and a bright red;. when it is ready to receive: the gas from the
retorts. The gas is now in its crude state' received from the retorts through
the inlet pipes G, G', and mouth-pieces. F, F, into the lower compartment
B, B; where, being exposed to the. action of the heated charcoal; a second
distillation of the products of the..coal commences, evolving more gas and
precipitating impurities. The gas then passes through the gratings or perfo-
rated plates C, C', ascends through the prepared and heated charcoal contained
in. the upper chamber A, A', and becomes for purification; it then makes it
way through the outlet pipes K, K, into the hydraulic main, and from thence
to the gas-holder.. In place of the prepared charcoal, herein-before mentioned,
the upper chamber. and receptacles .or. pockets and the lower, compartment
may be charged, as herein-before described, with ordinary, charcoal,.. peat
charcoal, or coke, either alone or in combination, with saturated lime water.
In order to assist and continues the working powers.of the charcoal or other
substances before mentioned: that may be used,. I. refreshen the same from
time to time in the following.manner:-I first ascertain whether there is any
water in the cup O by opening or turning on the lower cock or valve m, and
opening the small blow-off cock n, situated over the receiver. N, when, if there
is no water. in the, cup O, gas will be. emitted through 'the blow-off.cock. I
then close the lower cock or valve; and. by turning on the upper or, supply

page_text: cock o, charge the receiver N with water, and when full, which I ascertain by
observing when the water begins to run out of the blow-off cock, I immediately
turn off the upper supply cock and open the lower cock m, when the contents
of the receiver N passes into the cup O situated within the apparatus. The
water is then decomposed by the heated charcoal, and passes into the upper
part of the apparatus in a state of vapour, when it refreshens the charcoal, and
facilitates the passage of the gas, and contributes to secure a uniform heat in
the upper part of the apparatus.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to any of
the parts separately, nor do I confine myself to the precise details; but what I
claim is, the general construction and arrangement of an apparatus in the
manner and for the purposes above described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Basford, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
HENRY LAXTON, Patent Agent,
19, Arundel Street, Strand.
WILLIAM BASFORD. (L.s.)