IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN PURIFYING COAL GAS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Watson, the younger, of Addingham, near
Leeds, in the County of York, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Watson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th March 1882.
WILLIAM WATSON the younger, of Addingham near Leeds in the County of
York "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN PURIFYING
COAL GAS."
My invention has for its object Improvements in apparatus for purifying coal
gas and has reference more particularly to "washing" or scrubbing" the same.
For this purpose I provide a vessel by preference of a cylindrical form, this is
supplied with a cover at each end. To each end cover is attached a pipe commu-
nicating with the interior of the cylinder and at the other for withdrawing the
gas or allowing it to pass off. I also provide a pipe at one end for the admission
of water into the cylinder and at the other as an outlet for the same. The interior
of the cylinder is divided into compartments and the whole is filled with gravel,
stones or pebbles, or when preferred small spherical or irregular shapes of stone or
other hard substances are employed. To the cylinder I impart a rotary motion and
by such motion the pebbles or other loose pieces are kept moving about at the .
same time gas is admitted into the interior also a supply of water. The gas is
condensed in passing through the moving and wet material and at the same time
the impurities contained therein are deposited in the water which is afterwards
passed away through the outlet pipe.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Watson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th September 1882.
WILLIAM WATSON the younger of Addingham near Leeds in the County of
York "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN PURIFYING
COAL GAS."
"
My Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for purifying coal
gas, and has reference more particularly to "washing" or scrubbing" the gas.
For this purpose I provide a vessel by preference of a cylindrical form this is
supplied with a cover at each end. To each end cover is attached a pipe commu-
nicating with the interior of the cylinder and at the other end for withdrawing the
gas or allowing it to pass off. I also provide a pipe at one end for the admission
of water into the cylinder, and at the other as an outlet for the same. The interior
of the cylinder is divided into compartments and the whole is filled with gravel,
stone, or pebbles, or when preferred small spherical or irregular shapes of stone or
other hard. substances are employed. To the cylinder I impart a rotary motion
and by such motion the pebbles or other loose pieces are kept moving about at the
same time gas is admitted into the interior, also a supply of water. The gas is
condensed in passing through the moving and wet material and at the same time
the impurities contained therein are deposited in the water which is afterwards
passed away through the outlet pipe.
And in order that my invention may be more completely understood reference
is given to the accompanying sheet of drawings and to the letters and marks
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation. Fig. 2 is a part sectional plan and part plan
looking at the top. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of gas inlet end. Fig 4 an end
elevation of gas egress end; and Fig 5 a section through A B Fig. 2.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings I have shewn the application of my
Invention and how any required number of apparatuses can be coupled and worked
together, such number depending upon the quality and quantity of the gas to bo
operated upon.
a is the vessel by preference of a cylindrical form. This is supplied with a
cover b at each end which is bolted thereto. When a number of these vessels are
employed as shewn in the drawings I connect them together by the hollow necks
or tubes b'. These necks or tubes b¹ are supported in bearings c which by
preference are antifrictional, consisting of the rollers or runners & mounted on the
standards or framework e and are caused to revolve by their contact with the
necks or tubes 6¹ during the rotary movements of the vessel a. The interior of the
vessels a is divided into compartments connected together by the opening fin the
centre, and the whole interior may be filled with gravel stone or pebbles or when
preferred small spherical shapes of stone or other hard substances such as wood,
and I have found in practice that irregular shaped pieces of wood answer well,
and these I by preference retain fixed in position by the perforated concave
plates g which are caused to press against the material by their contact with the
end covers b.
The gas is admitted at and through the fixed pipe i and passes off after
purification at k and through the fixed pipo l.

page_text: The required rotary motion is imparted to the vessel or vessels a from the driving
pulley m through the shaft n and gearing o actuated by some suitable motive
power.
Water is admitted into the interior of the vessel or vessels a through the pipe p
coupled to the fixed outlet tube l, and passes successively through each com-
partment or vessel a, in so doing it absorps the ammonia and other bye products
contained in the gas.
I provide an outlet for the water which has been impregnated with the ammonia
and other bye-products. This outlet consists of a pipe q attached to the stationary
inlet pipe h.
The water fills each compartment to the level of the necks or tubes 61 through
which it overflows into the next compartment. The rotation of the vessels a
keeps the wood or other material therein contained continuously freshly wetted, so
that every portion is effective for the absorption of the ammonia and other bye
products.
A tap is attached at some convenient point to the vessel a for draining off the
tar or other liquid precipitations.
I would have it understood that as the impurities (ammonia and other bye
products) which are extracted from coal gas by this apparatus, are present also in
other gases, these impurities may also be extracted from such gases either separate
or combined with coal gas by the herein described apparatus.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and shewn by the aid of
drawings how the same may be carried into practice I would have it understood
that I do not limit myself to the precise details or configuration of the parts herein
set-forth as the same may be varied or modified without departing from the nature
of my said Invention, what I do claim is :-
Firstly. The arrangement and construction of the vessels a having a rotary
motion imparted to them, substantially as and for the purpose herein set-forth.
Secondly. The arrangement, construction and application of the several parts
forming the apparatus for extracting ammonia and other bye-products from gases
substantially as and for the purposes he set forth.
In Witness whereof, I the said William Watson the younger have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this fourth day of September in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.