IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Somerville, of Denmark Park, in the County of
Surrey, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Somerville at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th April 1881.
JOHN SOMERVILLE, of Denmark Park, in the County of Surrey.
MENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
"
IMPROVE-
The object of this Invention is in the first place to construct mouthpieces and
lids of retorts in such a way that a sound gas tight joint may be made without the
aid of luting; and in the second place, the application of apparatus whereby the
retorts may be relieved from the pressure of the gas, such apparatus being operated
upon simultaneously with the opening or closing of the retort lids.
The Invention consists in the first place of a retort mouthpiece, which is cast
with a slightly conical seating at its front interior circumference, such seating
being planed or turned or otherwise made smooth to receive the lid, which is in
the form of a thin or shallow plug, having its exterior circumference turned or
made smooth to correspond with and fit truly against the interior of the mouth-
piece.
A cross bar made of malleable iron, steel, or other suitable material, hinged to
the mouthpiece, supports the lid by a central steel or other suitable metal pin,
which passes through the cross bar and a square socket in the lid, and is fastened
thereto by a screw nut inside..
On the exterior of the lid is cast a circular projection on which the cross bar
impinges for the purpose of forcing the lid into its place when the fastening at the
side is brought to bear on the end of the cross bar; or this circular projection may
be made in the form of two circular wedges or inclined planes, so that when the
lid is closed and held by a catch at the side, a handle applied to the central pin
will cause the lid to revolve, and the inclined planes pressing against the cross bar
will force the lid into the mouthpiece, and drive any tarry or carbonaceous

page_text: matter adhering to the smooth part of the mouthpiece before it and so make a
tight joint.
The fastening at the side is formed by a wedge or inclined plane arrangement,
partly fixed to the cross bar and partly to a handle attached by a screw bolt to the
side of the mouthpiece, so that when the lid is closed and the handle brought into
contact with the wedge on the end of the cross-bar, the inclined plane or wedge on
the handle presses on that of the cross-bar and forces the lid into place.
The screw bolt securing the handle to the mouthpiece may be made partly
eccentric, so that when partially turned it will take up any wear on the inclined
planes of the fastening, but when the tightening up of the lid is made by the
circular wedges aforesaid, it is only necessary to have a catch attached to the
mouthpiece by a bolt.
The Invention in the second place consists in attaching to the catch or handle a
rod or chain, or other suitable connection for actuating a lever and spindle rod,
which passes through a stuffing box on the top of the hydraulic main or a small
chamber fixed thereto. Attached to the spindle just mentioned is a bent lever, one
end of which is connected to the handle on the side of the mouthpiece, and the
other end is furnished with a weight. The spindle has also a short lever fixed to
it, and motion imparted to this lever causes an elbow attached to the lower part
of the dip pipe to partially turn round. The lower part of the dip pipe has a boss
cast on it, which boss has a hole through its centre and is joined to the elbow by a
hollow screw or swivel contrivance. In order to maintain a gas tight joint between
the elbow and the dip-pipe it may be found necessary to apply a leaden or other
washer and back nut for the elbow to fit against. The elbow is so placed that
when the retort is open, the lower part or open end of the said elbow is turned
down and sealed in the liquor, but on closing the lid of the retort, the lever is
actuated by the handle and rod, and draws up the elbow until its lower part is
raised sufficiently high to allow of a free passage for the gas to flow from the dip-
pipe to the hydraulic main without passing through the liquid.
Where the Invention has to be applied to existing apparatus, the connection of
the elbow to the dip pipe may be made by a band or collar suitably fastened
thereto.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Somerville in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th October 1881.
JOHN SOMERVILLE, of Denmark Park, in the County of Surrey.
MENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
" IMPROVE-
The object of this Invention is in the first place to construct mouthpieces and
lids of retorts in such a way that a sound gas tight joint may be made without
the aid of luting, and in the second place the application of apparatus whereby the
retorts may be relieved from the pressure of the gas, such apparatus being operated
upon simultaneously with the opening or closing of the retort lids.
The Invention consists in the first place of a retort mouthpiece which is cast
with a slightly conical seating at its front interior circumference, such seating being
planed or turned or otherwise made smooth to receive the lid, which is in the form
of a shallow plug, having its exterior circumference turned or made smooth to
correspond with and fit truly against the interior of the mouthpiece.
A cross bar made of malleable iron, steel, or other suitable material hinged to
the mouthpiece supports the lid by a central steel or other suitable metal pin
which passes through the cross bar and a square socket in the lid, and is fastened
thereto by a screw nut inside.
On the exterior of the lid is cast a circular projection on which the cross bar
impinges, for the purpose of forcing the lid into its place when the fastening at the
side is brought to bear on the end of the cross bar; or this circular projection may
be made in the form of two semi-circular wedges or inclined planes, so that when
the lid is closed and held by a catch at the side a handle applied to the central pin
will cause the lid to revolve or partially revolve, and the inclined planes pressing
against the cross bar will force the lid into the mouthpiece and drive any tarry or
carbonaceous matter adhering to the smooth part of the mouthpiece before it, and
so make a tight joint.
The fastening at the side is formed by a wedge or inclined plane arrangement
partly fixed to the cross bar, and partly to a handle attached by a screw bolt to the
side of the mouthpiece, so that when the lid is closed and the handle brought into
contact with the wedge on the end of the cross bar, the inclined plane or wedge
on the handle presses on that of the cross bar and forces the lid into place.
The screw bolt securing the handle to the mouthpiece may be made partly
eccentric, so that when partially turned it will take up any wear on the inclined
planes of the fastening, but when the tightening up of the lid is made by the
semi-circular wedges aforesaid it is only necessary to have a catch. attached to the
mouthpiece by a bolt.
The Invention in the second place consists in attaching to the catch or handle a
rod or chain, or other suitable connection, for actuating a lever and spindle rod
which passes through a stuffing box on the top of the hydraulic main or a small
chamber fixed thereto. Attached to the spindle just mentioned is a lever, one end
of which is connected to the handle on the side of the mouthpiece, and the other
end is furnished with a weight; or the spindle may have fixed to it another arm
to which the weight is applied. The spindle bas also a short lever fixed to it
within the chamber connected to the hydraulic main, and motion imparted to this
lever causes an elbow attached to the lower part of the dip pipe to partially turn
round. The lower part of the dip pipe has a boss cast on it, which boss has a hole
through its centre, and is joined to the elbow by a hollow screw or swivel con-
trivance. In order to maintain a gas tight joint between the elbow and the dip pipe,
it may be found necessary to apply a leaden or other washer and back nut for the

page_text: elbow to fit against. The elbow is so placed that when the retort is open the
lower part or open end of the said elbow is turned down and sealed in the liquor,
but on closing the lid of the retort the lever is actuated by the handle and rod,
and draws up the elbow until its lower part is raised sufficiently high to allow of a
free passage for the gas to flow from the dip pipe to the bydraulic main without
passing through the liquid.
Where the Invention has to be applied to existing apparatus, the connection of
the elbow to the dip pipe may be made by a band or collar suitably fastened
thereto.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood Drawings are
attached hereto, of which the following is a description. Fig. 1 is a front elevation ;
Fig. 2, a side elevation; and Fig. 3, a sectional plan of a retort lid and mouthpiece
with circular projection on the lid, and a wedge or inclined plane fastening at the
side. In all the Figs. illustrating this Invention similar letters refer to the same
parts in each of the views. A is the mouthpiece with its conical interior circum-
ference at B; C is the lid turned conical at D to fit B; and E, E, is the circular
projection thereon. F is the cross bar hinged at G, and having a steel pin H
which passes through it and the lid, and is fastened thereto by the nut I; J is tho
stud fixed to the cross bar, over which the handle K with its inclined plane or
wedge at L is brought to bear; M is the eccentric screw bolt for attaching the
handle K to the mouthpiece A.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation; Fig. 5, a side elevation; and Fig. 6, a sectional plan
of the mouthpiece and lid when semi-circular wedge pieces on the lid and projections
on the cross bar are adopted. In this case it will be seen that the cross-bar F is
provided with projections N, N, which bear upon the semi-circular wedges or
inclined planes O, O, of the lid C, so that when the lid is turned partially round
by means of the handle P the inclined planes O, O, and the projections N, N,
impinge upon one another and force the lid into its place in the mouthpiece. In
this arrangement the handle K is provided with a simple catch, as shown at Q,
which falls over the end R of the cross bar, the stud S serving to support the
handle when the lid is open.
Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional elevation of the hydraulic main and anti-dip
arrangement; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same; Fig. 9 is a
plan of the dip pipe with its attendant chamber; and Fig. 10 is a side elevation of
the dip-pipe-socket, chamber, lever, and weight. In Fig. 7, T is the hydraulic;
U, the dip-pipe; V, the chamber attached thereto; and W, the elbow or bend
which partially revolves upon the screw X, a sound joint between the elbow W
and the dip-pipe U being made by the leaden or other washer Y. Z is a lever, the
end a having a chain fastened to it, and the end 6 being fixed to a rod c. This
rod c works in a socket d, and through a stuffing-box e in the chamber V. The
rod c has an arm f which is connected to the elbow W through the intervention of
a rod g, the attachments being made as shown in the Drawing. The rod or
spindle c has also a moveable weight h, which on the release of the chain causes
the bend or elbow W to turn down and be sealed by the liquid in the hydraulic.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict 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,—
Firstly. The construction of mouthpieces and lids, as herein described, turned
conically at the parts marked B and D on the Drawings.
Secondly. The construction of lids with circular projections, as herein described
and marked on the Drawings, Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

page_text: Thirdly. The construction of lids with semi-circular wedges or inclined planes, as
herein described and shown on the Drawings, Figs. 4, 5, and 6.
Fourthly. The construction of cross bars with projections, as herein described
and shown on the Drawing, Fig. 6.
Fifthly. The construction of fastenings for securing the lid to the mouthpiece,
as herein described and shown on the Drawings, Figs. 4, 5, and 6.
Sixthly. The construction of dip pipes furnished with a moveable bend or
elbow W, so arranged as to be capable of being sealed by the liquid in the hydraulic
main, and actuated through the intervention of the appliances as herein described
and shown on the Drawings, Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Somerville, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
JOHN SOMERVILLE. (L.S.)