IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS
Year: 1884

page_text: We, BENJAMIN MIDGLEY, of Milnsbridge, and WILLIAM NUNWICK, of Longwood,
both in the County of York, Gas Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF GAS" to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to apparatus for purifying coal gas by removing the tar,
ammoniacal liquor and other impurities therefrom, and comprises the novel
construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described.
In carrying our said invention into practice we provide two cylinders, one of
which is placed within the other. The end plates which close the cylinders are
common to both of them. The space within the inner cylinder forms a scrubber
and washer and the space between the inner and outer cylinders a condenser.
Within the inner cylinder is a wrought iron shaft, one end of which is supported
in a socket or bearing formed in one of the end plates, the other end passing
through a stuffing box on the other end plate. The said shaft projects sufficiently
through the said stuffing box to enable the gearing for revolving the shaft to be
fitted thereon.
Threaded on this shaft, and fixed alternately to the same and to the
circumference of the inner cylinder are circular iron plates placed at suitable
distances apart and having perforations. The perforations of the fixed plates are
near the centres thereof. The revolving plates are provided with suitable boxes
for enabling them to be keyed onto the shaft with which they revolve and have
their perforations around the outer edge.
At each side of these revolving plates are secured circular brushes, filling up the
spaces between the fixed plates and the revolving plates, the ends of the brushes
being made to meet the fixed plates, so as to prevent any gas passing otherwise
than through the brushes. Provision is made at the lowest point of each fixed
plate for the ammoniacal liquor and tar which are contained in the inner cylinder
to pass from end to end of the same, or these plates can be made so as to keep
each compartment separate, and have a separate overflow, the overflows being placed
at a low level to allow the heavier portions of the contained liquor or tar to run
off. The inlet and outlet for gas are placed at convenient positions in the end
plates.

page_text: The space between the inner and outer cylinders forms a condenser, and provision
is made at each end for attaching pipes for conveying water into and out of the
same. The quantity of water supplied can be regulated by taps or other suitable
means.
The outer cylinder may be dispensed with where it is only desired to scrub and
wash the gas.
Water or other liquid is supplied into the inner cylinder so that, when the shaft
and the revolving plates which have the brushes attached are made to revolve, the
said brushes are kept constantly wet. As the gas, before it can leave the apparatus,
must pass through each one of these circular brushes by reason of the arrangement
of the perforations it undergoes a complete breaking up and exposure to a thoroughly
wetted surface thereby ensuring the removal of the ammonia and other impurities
from the gas.
The apparatus may be provided with any number of compartments, no one
compartment however containing less than one revolving plate with brushes
attached.
34
1
T
7001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: We, BENJAMIN MIDGLEY, of Milnsbridge, and WILLIAM NUNWICK, of Longwood,
both in the County of York, Gas Engineers do hereby declare the nature of our
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
GAS " and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to apparatus for use in the manufacture of coal-gas, and is
designed to provide for the purfication of such gas by the removal therefrom of
the tar, ammoniacal liquor and other impurities.
For this purpose our improved apparatus is so constructed that the gas, as it
passes through the same, must come in contact with brushes which are caused to
revolve in a chamber containing water, and are thus kept continually wet.
In the accompanying drawing we have shown how our said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, and
Figure 2 an end elevation, shewing our improved apparatus and an engine for
operating the same.
Figure 3 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 1, and
Figure 4 is a section on the line y, y, Figure 1.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
a is a cylinder or cylindrical chamber, which is suitably supported in a horizontal
position, and within which is arranged another cylinder or cylindrical chamber b.
These cylinders are closed at each end by plates o c¹ which are common to both of
them, and which serve to support the cylinder b.
Within the cylinder b is a wrought iron shaft d, one end of which is supported
in a socket or bearing e formed integrally with, or firmly secured to, the end plate c¹.
The other end of the said shaft passes through a stuffing-box f on the end plate c,
and carries a gear-wheel g whereby motion is imparted to it through a pinion g¹ on
the engine-shaft.
h, h are circular plates or discs placed at suitable distances apart upon the shaft d.
The plates h are provided with bosses h³ whereby they are keyed upon the shaft d;
they, therefore, rotate with the said shaft. The plates h' are attached to the
cylinder b and are stationary. The plates h¹ are perforated near the centre and the
plates h are perforated near the edges, as shewn,
To each of the rotating plates h are secured circular brushes i (made of pieces of
broom or other suitable material) which extend from the said plates to the
stationary plates h¹, and thus prevent the passage of gas otherwise than through
the said brushes as hereinafter specified. Provision is made at the lowest point of
each of the plates h¹ for the ammoniacal liquor and tar, which accumulate in the
cylinder b, to pass from end to end thereof. These impurities are carried away
with the water through the overflow pipe b¹. We sometimes keep the compartments
between the plates h¹ separate and provide an overflow pipe for each compartment.
The overflow pipe must be connected with the cylinder b at a low level to allow
the heavier portions of the said impurities to be run off. The gas is passed
through the cylinder b, the inlet ; and outlet k for the gas being connected with
the end plates o c¹³, in any convenient position.
Cold water is circulated by any suitable means through the space between the
cylinders a and b. 7 is the inlet and m the outlet for the water. The quantity of
water supplied can be regulated by cocks or other suitable devices. This water
cools or condenses the gas in the cylinder b.

page_text: The operation of the apparatus is as follows, that is to say:-Water or other
liquid is supplied to the cylinder b through the pipe b' and overflows through the
pipe 61, the water in the said cylinder remaining at the level of the bend of the
overflow pipe, or nearly so. When, therefore, the shaft d and the plates ordiscs
carrying the brushes are caused to rotate, the said brushes are kept continually
wet. The gas, in its passage through the apparatus, must pass alternately through
the perforations in the plates h and those in the plates h¹, as indicated by the
arrows in Figure 1; the said gas must, consequently, pass through the series of
circular brushes. It is thus distributed or broken up and comes into intimate
contact with the thoroughly wetted surfaces of the brushes; the removal from it of
the ammonia and other impurities is thereby ensured. The space within the
cylinder b is thus made to serve as a scrubber and washer.
If it is only desired to scrub and wash the gas, the cylinder a can be dispensed
with and the cylinder b be supported in any suitable manner.
The apparatus may, if desired, be divided into any number of compartments ;
each compartment must, however, contain at least one rotating plate with brushes
attached.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention. and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
=
The above described improved apparatus wherein one or more perforated plates
carrying brushes are arranged to rotate between stationary perforated plates
within a chamber containing water, in such a manner that the said brushes will be
kept continually wet, and the gas, in its passage through the said chamber, must
pass through the said brushes and come in contact with the wetted surfaces thereof,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.