Improvements in Cylinders for Storing Gas or Gaseous Fluids under Pressure.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cylinders for Storing Gas or Gaseous Fluids
under Pressure.
We, WILLIAM LAWSON of Rectory View, Newton-le-Willows, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, and THOMAS PRESCOTT, of Mount Pleasant, Sale, in the
County of Chester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to cylinders for storing and conveying compressed gases
and the like, such as oxygen gas that is employed for inhaling, illuminating, or
other purposes, hydrogen gas, gaseous fluids, and other expansive agents such as
are or may be employed for the propulsion of carriages or auto-cars and like uses,
and for purposes where force in a portable form is required.
The object of this invention is to avoid the risk of explosion from excessive
internal pressure that may be caused either by overcharging or by concussion.
For the purpose of this specification the term gas is used as signifying any of
the herein before named expansive or explosive agents.
In the accompanying drawing to which we hereinafter refer
•
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a cylinder constructed according to this invention.
Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sections of the same fitted with automatic safety
valves or outlets.
Cylinders that have hitherto been constructed for any of the above named purposes
have not been provided with any means of expansion or for the escape of gas
under excessive pressure, and have consequently exploded with fatal effects at
various times either in consequence of being overcharged or from concussion.
In this invention we construct a cylinder as a with the sides either fluted
longitudinally or with transverse corrugations b as shown on the drawing: by these
means a flexible cylinder is obtained, as the aforesaid corrugations are capable of
expansion to a limited extent without fracture, and the risk of explosion is thereby
avoided or greatly reduced: Said cylinders may be fitted with the ordinary inlet
and outlet valves c and d as at present in use in cylinders that are employed for
the storage of compressed oxygen gas, or may be fitted with other preferred form
of valve for ordinary inlet and outlet uses.
In order to provide complete immunity from explosion from any cause, we fit
automatic valves as g within the aforesaid cylinders. Said valves are separate from
and act independently of the ordinary valves, and are constructed so as to permit
the compressed gas to escape if the internal pressure in the cylinder exceeds the
limit allowed.
In Figs. 2 and 3 on the drawing the valve g is formed of a tube h that is closely
fitted at one end on a seating j and with a free outlet at the opposite end at 1:
In charging a cylinder the plug m is screwed up tightly against the end of the
tube until the allowed limit of internal pressure of the gas is reached: leakage
If the internal
or tampering is prevented by means of the additional plug p.
pressure is accidentally exceeded an expansion of the corrugated cylinder causes the
end of the tube h to be drawn away more or less from the seating ; when the
excess gas will pass into the tube h through the aperture q and escape at 1.
When the excess pressure is overcome the cylinder will again contract, and the

page_text: end of the tube will rest against the seating; and prevent further escape of
gas: Fig. 2 shows the tube of a straight form, and Fig. 3 shows the same
tube coiled.
We do not confine ourselves to the precise construction of valves shown on the
drawing, as the undue expansion of the gas, or the expansion of the cylinder
from excessive internal pressure may in like manner actuate other forms of valves
when the limit of pressure is reached and thereby permit the escape of an excess
quantity of gas.
The exterior surfaces of the corrugations may be protected by india rubber
or other flexible coverings: By these means, gas under great pressure may be
safely stored or conveyed.
Dated this 16th day of June 1806
THOMAS PRESCOTT,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cylinders for Storing Gas or Gaseous Fluids
under Pressure.
We, WILLIAM LAWSON of Rectory View, Newton-le-Willows, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer and THOMAS PRESCOTT of Mount Pleasant, Sale in the County
of Chester, Engineer 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:-
This invention relates to cylinders for storing and conveying compressed gases
and the like, such as oxygen gas that is employed for inhaling, illuminating, or
other purposes, hydrogen gas, gaseous fluids, and other expansive agents, such as
are or may be employed for the propulsion of carriages or auto cars and like
uses, and for purposes where force in a portable form is required.
The object of this invention is to avoid the risk of explosion from excessive
internal pressure that may be caused either by overcharging or by concussion.
For the purpose of this specification the term gas is used as signifying any of
the herein before named expansive or explosive agents:
In the drawings that accompanied the Provisional Specification and to which we
hereinafter refer,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a cylinder constructed according to this
invention:
Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sections of the same cylinder fitted with automatic
safety valves or outlets.
Cylinders that have hitherto been constructed for any of the above named purposes
have not been provided with any means of expansion or for the escape of gas
under excessive pressure, and have consequently exploded with fatal effects at
various times either in consequence of being overcharged or from concussion:
In this invention we construct a cylinder as a with the sides either fluted longi-
tudinally, diagonally, or with transverse corrugations as b shown on the drawing:
by these means a flexible cylinder is obtained as the aforesaid corrugations are
capable of expansion to a limited extent without fracture, and the risk of explosion
is thereby avoided or greatly reduced. Said cylinders may be fitted with the
ordinary inlet and outlet valves c and d as at present in use in cylinders that are
employed for the storage of compressed oxygen gas, or may be fitted with other
preferred form of valve for ordinary inlet and outlet uses.
In order to provide complete immunity from explosion from any cause, we fit

page_text: automatic valves as g within the aforesaid cylinders: Said valves are separate
from and act independently of the ordinary valves, and are constructed so as to
permit the compressed gas to escape if the internal pressure in the cylinder exceeds
the limit allowed.
In Figs. 2 and 3 on the drawing the valve is formed of a tube that is
closely fitted at one end on a seating and with a free outlet at the opposite end
at 1: In charging a cylinder the plug m is screwed up tightly against the end
of the tube until the allowed limit of internal pressure of the gas is reached:
leakage or tampering is prevented by means of the additional plug p. If the internal
pressure is accidentally exceeded an expansion of the corrugated cylinder causes the
end of the tube to be drawn away more or less from the seating when the excess
gas will pass into the tube h through the aperture 4 and escape at 7: When the
excess pressure is overcome the cylinder will again contract and the end of the tube h
will rest against the seating j and prevent further escape of gas: Fig. 2 shows the
tube of a straight form, and Fig. 3 shows the same tube coiled.
We do not confine ourselves to the precise construction of valves when employed,
as shown on the drawing, , as the undue expansion of the gas, or the expansion of the
cylinder from excessive internal pressure may in like manner actuate other forms of
valves when the limit of pressure is reached and thereby permit the escape of an
excess quantity of gas.
The exterior surfaces of the corrugations b. may be protected by india rubber or
other flexible coverings. By these means gas under great pressure may be safely
stored or conveyed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. Cylinders for storing and conveying compressed gases and the like, such as
oxygen gas that is employed for inhaling, illuminating, or other purposes, hydrogen
gas, gaseous fluids, and other expansive agents, such as are or may be employed for the
propulsion of carriages or auto cars and like uses and for purposes where force in a
portable form is required, constructed of corrugated metal fluted either longitudinally
diagonally, or with transverse corrugations substantially as and for the purpose herein
before described.
2nd. Cylinders that are employed for storing and conveying compressed gases and
the like, and constructed of corrugated metal Huted either longitudinally, diagonally
or with transverse corrugations, in combination with an ordinary inlet and outlet
valve substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
3rd. Cylinders that are employed for storing and conveying compressed gases and
the like, and constructed of corrugated metal, fluted either longitudinally, diagonally,
or with transverse corrugations, in combination with automatic regulating valves,
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
4th. In cylinders that are employed for storing and conveying compressed gases and
the like, either separately or connected with other mechanism, for use where force in
a portable form is required, the combination of said cylinders constructed of corrugated
metal, india rubber or like protecting bands on said corrugations, ordinary inlet and
outlet valve or valves, and automatic regulating valve or valves all substantially as
and for the purpose herein before described.
Dated this 16th day of March 1897