An Improvement in Ascension Pipes Used in the Manufacture of Coal Gas.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 6th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Ascension Pipes Used in the Manufacture of
Coal Gas.
We THOMAS JAMES MEEK of No. 3 Whitland Street Draughsman, HENRY_
DAVISON of No. 29 Greame Street Moss Side, Insurance Agent, JOHN SOUTHAM
of No. 78 Cross Street, Solicitor all in the City of Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The main object of the invention is to cleanse ascension pipes by means of an
independent opening hereinafter described without the necessity of opening the
door of the retort and consequent reduction of heat. We claim that by our
improvement there is a great saving of gas by products and labor and an
increased illuminating power. We effect this by means of a short downward
branch pipe projecting at or near the bottom of the pipes now used in a convenient
direction of a suitable diameter and at a suitable angle therefrom.
The outlet from this branch pipe is closed by means of a door, damper, or other
convenient method.
Dated sho 21st dow of December 1896
THOMAS JAMES MEEK..
HENRY DAVISON.
JNO. SOUTHAM.
An Improvement in Ascension Pipes Used in the Manufacture or
Coal Gas.
We THOMAS JAMES MEEK of No. 3 Whitland Street, Draughtsman, HENRY
DAVISON of No. 29 Greame Street Insurance Agent and JOHN SOUTHAM of
No. 78 Cross Street Solicitor all of Manchester in the County of Lancaster do
hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 ascension pipes as used in gas works, tar distilleries,
chemical and other works, and is designed to facilitate the deposit of carbon and
tarry matter and the easy removal of such which accumulates from time to time in
the pipes and stops them up. Further our invention will allow these pipes to be
thoroughly cleaned out whilst in work, and without the present necessity of
opening the doors on the retort-mouthpieces, also without interfering with other
According to our
fittings or apparatus whatsoever in connection therewith.
invention we adopt, instead of the ordinary curved or straight single ascension
pipes now in use (and which are fixed on the top, side, or other convenient position

page_text: on the cast-iron or fire-clay mouthpiece (shewn in Fig. 4 of the plan) for the purpose-
of carrying off the product arising from coal etc., being carbonized in retorts)-a
length of pipe (Figs. 1, 2, 3,) having a short branch piece or bend (a) projecting
from the main pipe (at or near the bottom connecting flange, spigot, or socket, of
the pipe) or at any suitable angle therefrom. This branch pipe shall be of
convenient length or so long as the various settings of retorts will allow, and shall
be made of cast iron or other suitable metal but preferably of the same metal as
the other portions of the ascension pipes (which usually is cast iron) that it may
be made or cast on with the same.
The branch pipe shall be circular in section, and the interior smooth, its diameter
shall not be less than the main ascension pipe, at the joint-but may be of larger
or smaller circumference at the exit, it shall be made with, or cast on to the
lower length of an ascension pipe (the pipes usually being formed of three or
four lengths made to suit the heights at which the retorts stacks are built).
The branch piece (a) shall have at the end a flange (b) larger in diameter
than the pipe, this flange is of suitable thickness the inside rim being flush with
the interior of the branch pipe (a).
On one side of this flange and in the centre of same to be a bracket (c).
This bracket is for the purpose of attaching to the flange a lid or cover (d Fig. 5)
the said lid or cover being used and arranged for sealing the opening at the
exit of the branch, and which is hereafter described.
The flange on the branch pipe must in every case, be faced true and level in
a planing machine or by other process, before the pipes are erected and a
hole "e" of convenient size drilled or bored in the bracket and through the
flange, and afterwards tapped with a screwed tap of standard thread. On the
opposite side to the bracket to be drilled a hole (F Fig. 6) in the centre of
the flange and afterwards tapped with a screwed tap of standard thread. The
hole "e is for inserting a bolt made of steel or other toughened metal, and
upon this bolt the lid used for sealing the opening of the branch will hinge.
"
The hole "F" in the opposite side of the flange is for inserting a wrought-iron
catch marked "G Fig. 8," the tail piece of this catch being screwed through the
flange and secured thereto with a nut "H," this catch is for the purpose of receiving
a lever made with and forming part of the lids marked "Fig. 5"-a knob
marked "K" for convenience in raising and lowering the lids as required is cast or
secured on to the lever. The bracket "C" on the left hand side of the flange will
project outwards from the rim sufficiently to allow the lids to open fully, it shall
have a return piece over the face of the flange and a little way over the interior or
opening of the branch; between the inner side of this return piece and face of flange;
shall be a clear space for a lug "L"that will form part of the lids for the purpose
of hinging them to the flanges.
A hole to be drilled through this lug but not tapped and after the steel bolt above
mentioned is screwed through the hole "E" in the bracket the lids are fitted in and
the bolt passed on through the lug and screwed through the hole in the flange, and
secured with a nut in the usual way. The lid "D" together with the lug and lever
are to be of the shape shown on the drawing and as hereinbefore mentioned are used
for sealing the openings of the branches. They shall be made or cast of steel or
other hard metal of suitable quality and of a thickness that will stand the wear and
tear to which they will be subject, they will be larger in diameter than the openings
of the branches, the inner sides being turned true in a lathe and faced round the
outer edges so that they will fit close against the planed flanges of the branches.
The lids open with an upward movement and when fully opened will rest back upon
the bracket "C." The necessity of this method of opening the lids is that the
whole of the openings of the branches will not be exposed too suddenly. Also that
the rim of the flange having a sharp edge will cut off any deposit adhering to the
lids and leave them clean. From the above it will be seen that the necessity as at
present of opening the retort doors during carbonizing for the purpose of cleaning
out ascension pipes that have become "6 stopped is dispensed with and that the

page_text: said pipes can be cleaned out through the openings at the ends of the branches,.
with greater and less liability of loss of product, saving of time and labour.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-..
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is as follows:-
1. An ascension pipe having at or near its base an opening, the opening being
independent of the retort and forming part of the pipe the said opening to be used
for the purpose of cleaning out the pipe and for removing the deposit of tarry and
other matter &c. that accumulates in ascension pipes, during carbonization of
material.
2. The combination of a pipe with a branch piece attached, the opening of which
to be sealed by a movable lid, working in a manner so that when opening, the orifice.
of the branch is gradually revealed and not too suddenly exposed, as in the case of
retort doors, which open outwardly and expose the whole of the surface of the opening.
at once.
Dated this Wourth der of March 1897
THOMAS JAMES MEEK.
HENRY DAVISON.
JNO. SOUTHAM.