MOVABLE ASCENSION PIPES FOR GAS RETORTS
Year: 1884

page_text: I JAMES THOMAS of Gaol Lane in the Borough of Bodmin in the County of
Cornwall Manager of Gas Works do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for MOVABLE ASCENSION PIPES FOR GAS RETORTS to be as follows:-
This invention is for the adaptation of movable ascension pipes to Gas Retorts
by which these pipes may be removed and refixed in a short time and while the
Retorts are in work. The movable ascension pipe is a pipe with two joints,
marked A, and B, on the Plan sent herewith, the joint A connects it with the
saddle flange piece D attached to the Retort mouthpiece, and the joint B connects
it with the H or other pipe leading to the hydraulic main.
.The joint A has two bevel flanges which are brought together by the wrought
iron screw cramp, marked C on the plan.
The joint B is a socket with lugs cast on to it, one on each side of its circum-
ference, and into these lugs are fitted two wrought iron bolts, with nuts screwed on
to them, and a gland of cast iron is made to fit into the socket or joint B and is
screwed down by the before named bolts and nuts thus making it a stuffing box
joint, the H or other pipe connected with the hydraulic main is made with a spigot
end over which the stuffing box joint and gland comes and when a pipe has to be
fixed to connect the Retort mouthpiece with the hydraulic main the saddle flange
piece (marked D on the plan) is bolted to the Retort mouthpiece having one half
of the bevel joint A attached to it and is connected with the other part of the pipe
(marked E on plan) having the other half of the bevel joint A attached to it by
the screw cramp 0 (the flanges are put together with glaziers putty and yarn
between). When the pipe E is put into its place the saddle joint D connects it
with the Retort mouth pieco (the latter joint being made with suitable cement) the
top or stuffing box joint B being made with ordinary pipe layers yarn or old rope
twisted together the size required to fit snug around the stuffing box and spigot,
one layer of yarn being pressed down to the bottom of the joint and fire clay or
ordinary putty lime, of the consistency of mortar, placed on the yarn, then another
layer of yarn and more fire clay or putty alternately, until the stuffing box is full,
the gland being then screwed down tight, making a sound and reliable joint,
The size, recommended for these pipes, is five inches, but they may be made of
any other size.

page_text: At the bottom of the stuffing box joint B the pipe E, for six inches of its length,
at F, is made large enough to admit into it, the spigot end of the pipe G which
connects the hydraulic main to the movable ascension pipe (this is done to allow
for any difference in the height of Retorts in different settings).
The advantages claimed for the Movable Ascension pipe are
1. Facility of removal (for cleansing when choked &) and refixing which can
be done by an ordinary laborer and whilst Retorts are in work.
2 Their great durability when once fittel up.
3. In the removal of ascension pipes for renewal of Retorts under the system
now in use, a hammer and chisel, have to be used to cut out the rust or other
cement from the joint, in doing which, the pipe is frequently broken, or has to be
cut, neces-itating the fixing of a new pipe; with the movable Ascension pipe no
hammer or chisel is required, it only being necessary to loosen three bolts and the
pipe can be removed and replaced without difficulty.
4. In taking down or putting up pipes after renewal of Retorts, the work can
be done, by using the Movable Ascension pipes, in one fourth of the time and at
one fourth of the cost of the present system.
The bevel joints A shown on the Plan may be planed or faced and in either case
a little thick paint laid on with a brush is all that is required to ensure a tight
and stanch joint.
EXPLANATION OF PLAN SENT HEREWITH.
Figure 1. Is the sectional side elevation of the Movable Ascension pipe as
attached to Thomas and En.or's Patent Antidip.
Figure 2. 1s the front elevation of the same.
Figure 3 Is the front elevation attached to an H pipe of the present system.
Figure 4. Is the side elevation of the same.
Figure 5. Shows the saddle piece attached to Retort mouthpiece, made as short
as possible, this should be used where practicable; it also shows the screw cramp C
for fastening the bevel joint.
Dated this thirteenth day of March 1884.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, JAMES THOMAS of Gaol Lane in the Borough of Bodmin in the County of
Cornwall, Manager of Gas Works do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for MOVABLE ASCENSION PIPES FOR GAS RETORTS and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention is for the adaptation of Movable Ascension pipes to Gas Retorts
by means of which these pipes may be moved and refixed in a short time and while
the Retorts are in work.
The movable ascension pipe, is a pipe, with two joints, marked A, and B on the
drawings which accompanied my Provisional Specification, the joint A, connects it
with the saddle flange piece, attached to the Retort mouthpiece, and the joint B,
connects it with the H, or other pipe, leading to the hydraulic main.
The joint A has two bevel flanges, which are brought together by the wrought
iron screw cramp, marked C on the drawings already referred to.
The joint B, is a socket, with lugs cast on to it, one on each side of its circum-
ference, and into these lugs, are fitted two wrought iron bolts, with nuts screwed
on to them, and a gland of cast iron is made to fit into the socket, or joint B, and
is screwed down by the before named bolts and nuts, thus making it a stuffing box
joint, the H or other pipe connected with the hydraulic main is made with a
spigot end, over which, the stuffing box joint and gland comes, and when a pipe
has to be fixed to connect the Retort mouthpiece with the hydraulic main the
saddle flange piece, marked D on the plan, is bolted to the Retort mouthpiece,
having one half of the bevel joint A attached to it, and is connected with the other
part of the pipe, marked E on plan, having the other half of the bevel joint A
attached to it by the screw cramp C, (the Hanges are put together with glaziers
putty and yarn between). When the pipe E is put into its place, the saddle
joint D connects it with the Retort mouthpiece, (the latter joint being made with
suitable cement) the top, or stuffing box joint B, being made with ordinary pipe
layers yarn, or old rope, twisted together, the size required to fit snug around the
stuffing box and spigot, one layer of yarn being pressed down to the bottom of the
joint, and fire clay, or ordinary putty lime, of the consistency of mortar, placed on
the yarn, then another layer of yarn and more fire clay, or putty alternately, until
the stuffing box is full, the gland being then screwed down tight making a sound
and reliable joint. The size recommended for these pipes is five inches, but they
may be of any other size, and may be made of either cast or wrought iron.
The bevel joint may be fastened with two ordinary bolts and nuts, instead of
the screw cramp, shown in the drawings.
At the bottom of the stuffing box Joint B, the pipe E, for six inches of its length,
at F, is made large enough, to admit into it, the spigot end of the pipe G, which
connects the hydraulic main to the Movable Ascension pipe (this is done to allow
for any difference in the height of Retorts in different settings).
The bevel joints A, shown on the Plan, may be planed or faced, and in either
case, a little thick paint, laid on with a brush, is all that is required to ensure a
tight and stanch joint.

page_text: 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
1. The movable Ascension pipe for Gas Retorts substantially as described and
illustrated in the Drawings herein before referred to.
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