IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Small Cathels, of Shrewsbury, in the County
of Shropshire,. for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.".
Sealed the 1st May 1868, and dated the 14th November 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Small Cathels
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th November 1862.
I, EDMUND SMALL CATHELS, of Shrewsbury, in the County of Shropshire,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to a machine for the purpose of maintaining
a continuous exhaust. in the hydraulic main and pipes conveying the gas
therefrom, thereby removing the pressure in the interior of the retorts. It is
also applicable for the transmission of gas from one place to another, and for
blowing air into furnaces, cupolas, and such other apparatus or places where
a blast or an exhaust is necessary. The exhauster is constructed in accordance
with the following description:-There are two axles, each having four or
more radiating arms or blades of suitable shape fixed thereto, and fitted into
a case with semicircular ends, the one axle being placed near the radius of
the circle described by the arms attached to the other axle. The axles are
connected at one or both ends to cogged wheels or pinions
placed in a box

page_text: having communication with the interior of the case in which the arms revolve.
The teeth or cogs of these wheels or pinions take into each other, giving the
axles and arms a rotary motion in opposite directions. These arms or blades
are so shaped that they revolve nearly, though not quite, in contact with those
attached to the other axle, and with the semicircular ends of the case into
which they are fitted, so that when they are at rest the passage of the gas is
almost stopped. Motion is imparted to the axles and radial arms or blades
by means of a driving rigger or pulley fixed on the end of one of the axles,
which passes through a stuffing box and out of the case. An oblong opening
on each side of the case serves as the inlet and outlet respectively. To prevent
a stoppage in the flow of gas should the exhauster 'suddenly cease to act, a
by-pass is provided as follows:-Both the inlet and outlet connections have
on their upper sides ports or holes which open into chambers connected
together by a pipe or communication which passes over the outside of the
upper semicircular end of the case, and a valve of leather or other suitable
material is fixed in the opening into the chamber on the inlet side of the
exhauster, such valve being weighted if required, so as to keep closed. while
the exhauster is in action, but in the event of the exhauster stopping the
pressure of the gas issuing from the retorts forces open the valve, and the
gas flows through such valve and annular space to the outlet connection.
The object of having a valve chamber on each side of the exhauster is that
the valve may be fitted on either side to suit the line of piping to which the
exhauster may be attached, either side of the machine answering as the inlet.
Both the valve chambers are covered with a moveable plate or blank flange
secured with bolts, for the facility of getting at the valve.
Secondly, to a by-pass valve in connection with the exhauster, the construc-
tion of the valve, being such that it answers all the purposes of three ordinary
valves, and which is also applicable as a valve for purifiers or other apparatus.
These valves are substantially constructed as follows:-An oblong rectangular
or other suitably shaped cast-iron box is divided vertically into two equal parts
by a partition placed parallel to the inlet line of piping, but this partition
does not extend quite to either the top or bottom of the box or case, so that
the gas on entering the top or bottom may flow into either side of the partition
There is an outlet port or opening in each of the sides of the box or case
parallel with the partition, and both above and below these ports or openings
a narrow horizontal ledge projects from the inside of the sides of the chamber
on each side of the partition. A plate of wood or other suitable material
wood strengthened by the addition of a metallic plate being preferred, is made
to shut up or down gas-tight on these projecting ledges, the one plate being

page_text: raised so as to press against the upper ledge on one side of the partition,
while the other plate is simultaneously pushed down against the lower ledge
on the other side of the partition, by means of spindles connected to the plates
passing out through the top lid and stuffing boxes, and to each of which rods
or spindles there is a rack attached, the teeth or cogs of both racks projecting
inwards, and between which there is fixed either a vertical toothed pinion, the
teeth of which gear into the teeth or cogs in both racks, or a horizontal wheel
with a spiral thread around its circumference of the same pitch as the teeth in
the racks. The turning of such pinion or screw simultaneously raises the one
plate and depresses the other. A frame bolted on to the top plate or cover
of the valve passes over and protects the racks, and to a cross bar of such
frame the pinion or screw is fixed. The racks are kept in their places by
means of small friction wheels or rollers placed behind the racks in the cross
bar through which the racks pass.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edmund Small Cathels in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 13th May 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDMUND
SMALL CATHELS, of Shrewsbury, in the County of Shropshire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign; did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Edmund Small Cathels, Her special licence, that I, the said Edmund
Small Cathels, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Edmund Small Cathels, 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 USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS," upon the
condition, amongst others, that I, the said Edmund Small Cathels, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly 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 Sea

page_text: .
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Small Cathels, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
.statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
Firstly, to a machine for the purpose of maintaining a continuous exhaust
.in the hydraulic main and pipes conveying the gas therefrom, thereby removing
the pressure in the interior of the retorts. It is also applicable for the
transmission of gas from one place to another, and for blowing air into furnaces,
cupolas, and such other apparatus or places where a blast or an exhaust is
necessary. The exhauster is constructed in accordance with the following
description: There are two axles, each having four or more radiating arms or
blades of suitable shape fixed thereto, and fitted into a case with semicircular
ends, the one axle being placed at or near the radius of the circle described by
the arms attached to the other axle. The axles are connected at one or both
ends to cogged wheels or pinions placed in a box attached to the side or sides
'of the case in which the arms revolve, suitable bearings being fixed in the
end plate of the case, which forms a partition between the box and case for
the pinions to revolve in. The teeth or cogs of these wheels or pinions take
into each other, giving the axles and arms a rotary motion in opposite directions.
These arms or blades are so shaped and placed that they revolve nearly
though not quite in contact with those attached to the other axle, and with
the semicircular ends of the case into which they are fitted, so that when
they are at rest the passage of the gas is stopped. Motion is imparted to the
axles and radial arms or blades by means of a driving rigger or pulley fixed
on the end of the lower axle, which passes through a stuffing box out
of the box containing the pinions. An oblong opening on each side of
the case serves as the inlet and outlet respectively. The exhauster con-
structed as thus described is provided with a sole or base to rest on, and
the necessary means of lubricating the bearings or other rubbing surfaces is
complete of itself, but to prevent a stoppage in the flow of gas, should the
exhauster suddenly cease to act, a by-pass may be added as follows:-Both
the inlet and outlet connections have on their upper sides ports or holes [in
which an open grating is fixed] that open into a pipe or communication that
passes over the outside of the upper semicircular end of the case and a valve
of leather or other suitable material or materials is fixed over the grating on
the inlet side of the exhauster, such valve being weighted if required, so as to

page_text: keep closed while the exhauster is in action; but in the event of the exhauster
stopping, the pressure of the gas issuing from the retorts forces open the valve,
and the gas flows through such valve and annular space to the outlet connec-
tion. The valve may be fitted on either side of the exhauster to suit the line
of piping to which it is to be attached, either side of the machine serving as
the inlet. Moveable plates or blank flanges secured with bolts are provided
for the facility of getting at the valve.
The construction of the foregoing, or first part of this Invention, is so simple
that Drawings of the apparatus are considered unnecessary.
Secondly, to a by-pass valve in connection with the exhauster, the construc-
tion of the valve being such that it answers all the purposes.of three ordinary
valves, and which is also applicable as a valve for purifiers or other apparatus.
These valves are substantially constructed as follows: An oblong, rectangular,
or other suitably shaped cast-iron box, is divided vertically into two equal
parts by a partition A, Fig. 1, placed parallel with the inlet line of piping, but
this partition does not extend quite to either the top or bottom of the box or
case, so that the gas on entering the top or bottom may flow into either side
of the partition: There is an outlet, port or opening O, B, in each of the
sides of the box or case at right angles to the partition, and both above and
below these ports or openings a narrow horizontal ledge C projects from the
inside of the sides of the chamber on each side of the partition. A disc. or
plate D, of wood or other suitable material, wood strengthened by the addition
of a metallic plate being preferred, is made to shut up and down gas-tight on
these projecting ledges; the one plate being raised so as to press against the
upper ledge on one side of the partition, while the other plate is simul-
taneously pushed down against the lower ledge on the other side of the
partition by means of spindles E connected to the discs, passing out through
the top lid and stuffing boxes F, and to each of which rods or spindles there is
a rack G attached, the teeth or cogs of both racks projecting inwards, and
between which there is fixed a vertical toothed pinion, the teeth of which
gears into the teeth or cogs in both racks. Or a horizontal drum H, with a
spiral thread around its circumference of the same pitch as the teeth of the
rack, may be employed. The turning of such pinion or screw simultaneously
raises the one disc and depresses the other.
Or instead of the above means of actuating the discs, the following mode,
well adapted for large valves, may be substituted :-In place of racks, rods or
bars having a strong thread screwed on them, and which turn on swivel
joints where they are attached to the spindles, each pass through a small
toothed horizontal pinion having a female thread that fits the thread of the

page_text: screw. These pinions are stationary, but are free to revolve, such motion
being imparted to them by a horizontal cogged wheel fixed between them,
the teeth or cogs of which take into those of the pinions, and gives them
rotary motion in opposite directions, which simultaneously screws the one bar
or rod up, and the other down. A frame I, bolted on to the top plate or cover
of the valve, passes over and protects the racks or screws, and to a cross bar J
of such frame the pinions are fixed. The rod K, by which the same are
turned by means of a winch handle, passes up through a suitable bearing in
the top cross bar of the frame. When racks are employed, as described,
they are kept in their places by means of small friction wheels or rollers L,
placed behind the racks in the cross bar J, through which the racks pass.
The action of the valve is as follows:-Suppose the inlet line of piping to
be connected to the inlet port of the valve M, Fig. 1, and the disc in the
chamber N to be shut down gas-tight on the projecting ledge below the outlet
port O, the disc in the chamber P would consequently be drawn up gas-tight
against the projecting ledge in that chamber above the outlet port B, the gas
would consequently flow into the chamber P, and through the outlet port B
into the exhauster or other vessel. After passing through which it would be
conveyed back to the valve through the port Q, Fig. 2, up through the space
or jacket R, and finally, off through the port O, Fig. 1. Should, on the
contrary, the position of the discs be reversed, that is to say, the disc in the
chamber N to be drawn up against the upper ledge, and the disc in the
chamber P pushed down on to the lower ledge, the gas would flow through
the inlet port M, and off at once through the port O. The valve thus being
an effectual by-pass, and answering as three ordinary valves.
In a modification of the above valve, as shewn in the Drawings, Figs. 6, 7,
8, 9, and 10 [on Sheet 2], the port B of Fig. 1 is dispensed with, and in its
place is substituted a communication T between the chamber P and the
jacket R. Now, assuming the discs to be in the same position as above
described, the gas would flow through the communication into the jacket R,
and off through the port Q, the exhauster or other apparatus being in this
case shut off; but in the event of the position of the discs being reversed, the
gas after flowing through the port M, and through the exhauster or other vessel,
would be conveyed back to the valve through the port S, thence through the
communication into the jacket R, and finally off through the exit port Q; the
valve in this case, as in the other, serving as three ordinary valves.
By adopting substantially the foregoing mode of constructing the exhauster,
a steadier and more continuous exhaust is obtained than heretofore, there
being eight deliveries of gas each revolution of the driving pulley, while a

page_text: reaction is effectually prevented by the before-described simply constructed
self-acting by-pass. Also, in the construction of the valves before described
all the advantages of the ordinary gas valve are maintained, without their
objectionable and expensive ground faces and rubbing surfaces, or the incon-
venience of employing a multiplicity of such valves.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same may be constructed or used, I
would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine myself to the precise
details or arrangements which I have described or referred to, as variations
may be made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main
features of this Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is the construction of apparatus substantially as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Small Cathels, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
E. S. CATHELS.
(L.S.)