IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURe of Gas
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Stafford Ellery, of Bath, in the County of
Somerset, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE
MANUFACTURe of Gas."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Stafford Ellery at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd July 1881.
CHARLES STAFFORD ELLERY, of Bath, in the County of Somerset. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
This Invention has for its object the construction of apparatus whereby the
pressure caused in the retort by the dip in the ordinary hydraulic main is
obviated, but is so arranged that it may be worked with an adjustable dip or seal
if desired.
The apparatus consists of a cast iron box made with a suitable flange so as to
allow of it being bolted to the ascension pipe, and is divided into several chambers
by vertical partitions. The first partition extends upwards to within one fourth
[or thereabouts] of its height from the top. The second partition extends from top
to bottom, but has an opening in the lower part. On one side of the partition, and
in the third chamber, round the opening the surface is planed or otherwise made
true so as to permit of a sliding valve working against it, the valve being kept in
its place by a groove or fillet and spring. The valve has connected to it a spindle
which passes through a stuffing box in the cover of the box and is pivotted to a
lever which is also pivotted to a fulcrum, and is at one end furnished with a
weight, and at the other is provided with a rod, rope, or chain, which at its other
extremnity has some suitable appliance for attaching it to the cross bar of the retort
mouthpiece. In the upper part of the third chamber is formed the outlet for the
gas, and in the lower part there is an opening leading to a fourth and fifth
chamber or tar seal box which serves as an overflow inlet and outlet for tar and
liquor, the bottom of the fifth chamber being connected to the tar main, which is
in as many sections as there are retort benches, but may be connected together by

page_text: expansion joints or by bent pipes. On each side of the box a communication is
formed between the second and third chambers, so that should the valve become
incapable of being actuated a passage either free or having any desired depth of
seal is afforded for the gas to flow through.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The second and third chambers may
be charged with water, if preferred, and when the retort is open the valve will by
its own weight and that of the weight at the end of the lever remain closed, but
on the lid of the retort being shut the rod or chain will be pulled down and
attached to the cross bar, when the valve will be raised above the level of the
liquid, if any is there, and a passage between the ascension and the outlet for the
gas will be formed, each outlet being connected to a general conducting gas main.
The passage may be either free or by adjusting the valve to a suitable height any
amount of dip may be produced. It will be seen that by these means not only
may each bed be worked at different pressures, but that each retort may have its
dip varied to suit particular circumstances.
There is also an arrangement which is a modification of the foregoing, whereby
the tar seal applied to each box may be dispensed with, branches being connected
from each box to a general tar main, and on to this is fixed a tar overflow box
fitted with a hollow cylindrical valve that is capable of adjustment, so as to give
either a free passage for the gas from the second to the third chamber, or such an
amount of dip or seal as it may be considered desirable to work with.
In each form of apparatus provision is made for drawing off any superfluous
liquor from the different chambers.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Stafford Ellery in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th January 1882.
CHARLES STAFFORD ELLERY, of Bath, in the County of Somerset.
MENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
"IMPROVE-
:
This Invention has for its object the construction of apparatus whereby the
pressure caused in the retort by the dip in the ordinary hydraulic main is
obviated, but is so arranged that it may be worked with an adjustable dip or seal
if desired.
The apparatus consists of a cast iron box or case made with a suitable flange so
as to allow of it being bolted to the ascension pipe or other part of the retort
fittings, and is divided into several chambers by vertical partitions. The first
partition extends upwards to within one fourth [or thereabouts] of its height from
the top. The second partition extends from top to bottom, but has an opening in
the lower part. On one side of the partition, and in the third chamber, round the
opening the surface is planed or otherwise made true so as to permit of a sliding
valve working gas tight against it, the valve being kept in its place by a groove or
fillet and spring. The valve has connected to it a spindle which passes through a
stuffing box in the cover of the outer case and is pivotted to a lever which is also
pivotted to a fulcrum, and is at one end furnished with a weight, and at the other
is provided with a rod, rope, or chain, which at its other extremity has some
suitable appliance for attaching it to the cross bar of the retort mouthpiece. In
the upper part of the third chamber is formed the outlet for the gas, and in the
lower part there is an opening leading to a fourth and fifth chamber or tar scal
box which serves as an overflow inlet and outlet for tar and liquor, the bottom of
the fifth chamber being connected to the tar main, which is in as many sections as
there are retort benches, but may be connected together by expansion joints or by
bent pipes. On each side of the box a communication is formed between the
second and third chambers, so that should the valve become incapable of being
actuated a passage either free or having any desired depth of seal is afforded for
the gas to flow through.
;
There is also an arrangement which is a modification of the foregoing, whereby
the tar seal applied to each box may be dispensed with, branches being connected
from each box to a general tar main, and on to this is fixed a tar overflow box
fitted with a hollow cylindrical valve that is capable of adjustment, so as to give
either a free passage for the gas from the second to the third chamber, or such an
amount of dip or seal as it may be considered desirable to work with.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood Drawings are
attached hereto of which the following is a description:-Fig. 1 represents a
sectional elevation of the apparatus generally, the valve rod, pillar, lever, and
weight being in elevation, and shows the position of the valve when adjusted to
give, say, one inch depth of seal. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but in which the valve
is closed. Fig. 3 is a section through W, X, Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a section
through Y, Z, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the tar seal box as applied
to the general tar main, and Fig. 6 is a part sectional plan of the same.
These
two Figs. 5 and 6 are drawn to a scale double the size of the previous Figs. In
each of the Figs. similar letters refer to the same parts. In the different Figs. A is
the external case fixed to the top of the ascension pipe A' divided by the partition B
into chambers C and D; E is a partition extending from the inside of the top to
the bottom, and has an opening F for the passage of liquid and gas from the
chamber D to the chamber G; H is the valve at the back of the opening F and
attached to the rod I that passes through a stuffing box J in the top of the cover,

page_text: The top of the rod I is connected by a link K to the lever L. This lever is
supported upon a pillar M, and is provided at one end with a weight N and
furnished at the other end with a rod or chain O, the lower part of which is
formed so that it may be connected with or disconnected from some suitable part
of the lid, crossbar, mouthpiece, or ascension pipe. The chamber G has an outlet P
that conveys the gas to a dry gas main; Q is an opening in the chamber G that
leads into a box R divided by a partition S. This opening permits the tar and
liquor to pass from the chamber G into T, over the partition S into U, and from
thence to the tar and liquor main V. In Fig. 2 the lower part of the chambers D
and G which appear black represents an opening communicating with a bye pass
passage, marked a in Fig. 4. This bye pass passage is not absolutely necessary,
but the apparatus may be so constructed when it is desired to provide against the
accidental closing of the valve, a communication between the retort and the gas
main being thus ensured; b is a cock by means of which any liquid contained in
the chambers D and G may be drawn off.
In Fig. 5 d represents the outer case of the tar seal box as applied to the general
tar main, and is divided by the partition e; f is a hollow cylindrical valve that is
capable of being raised or lowered by turning the screw g; h is an inlet connection
that may be fixed immediately to the valve box A, or by an intermediate con-
necting piece; i is the outlet for tar, j being the pipe by which it is conveyed away
to any suitable receptacle; k is a cock through which the tar may be drawn off
without passing over the valve f. It will be seen that by raising or lowering the
valve the level of the liquid in the chambers D and G may be adjusted to the
requisite height.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The chambers D and G are charged
with liquid, and when the retort is open the valve H will by its own weight, with
or without that of the weight N, remain closed, but on the lid of the retort being
shut the red or chain O will be pulled down and attached to an appropriate catch, as
before mentioned, when the valve will be raised above the level of the liquid, and a
perfectly free passage from A¹ to the gas outlet P will be formed. The passage
may be entirely free or by adjusting the valve to a suitable height any amount of
dip may be produced. It will be seen that by these means not only may each bed
be worked at different pressures, but that each retort may have its dip varied to
suit particular circumstances.
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 that 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,
First. The construction of valves with their appropriate cases and adjuncts, for
the purposes herein set forth and as herein described and shown on the Drawings.
Second. The construction of tar seal boxes, as herein described and shown on the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Stafford Ellery, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
CHARLES STAFFORD ELLERY. (L.S.)