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

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Laycock, Gas Engineer, and Thomas Clapham,
Ironfounder, both of Keighley, in the County of York, for an Invention of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Laycock and Thomas
Clapham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th December
1881.
JOHN LAYCOCK, Gas Engineer, and THOMAS CLAPHAM, Ironfounder, both of
Keighley, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
Our said Invention relates to improved apparatus for scrubbing and washing
gas for the purpose of removing the ammonia and other impurities and purifying
the gas.
For this purpose we construct our improved apparatus with a cast iron
vessel made in two parts, the botton part to receive water, and the top part for
the passage of the gas to be operated on; the bottom part may be made semicircular
or straight in the front part; in the vessel are fitted divisional plates to form
separate water chambers, and on the tops are cast flanges which are planed to form
tight joints when the cover is bolted on, and this cover is also made semicircular;
all joints are made air tight and true to prevent any escape of gas; the ends of the
bottom vessel and cover are fitted with end plates, and are securely bolted to the
flanges of the bottom vessel and cover. We may construct the apparatus with
securely connected compartments, and a number of such compartments may be
employed according to the power or efficiency required.
The end plates are made with stufling boxes to which are fitted glands, and
through which is passed and works a shaft which is driven in the usual manner;
the shaft also works in bearings formed on the tops of the divisional plates, and
over the shaft and in each compartiment are fitted short tubular castings which are
made with circular flanges, to which are secured radial arms; on the tops of these
arms and at a given distance from the semicircular cover are secured sectional
parts of a ring, and in the spaces between the sectional parts of the ring are fitted
LD C

page_text: buckets, the bottom parts of which are made with a series of small holes. We fit
in each compartment and on the shaft two tubular castings, the flanges being a
certain distance apart, according to the width to be given to the revolving screens
formed of wood, small coke, cork, or other suitable material kept in by wires
secured from one radial arm to the other, or by wire netting, and which form
highly porous revolving screens.
We fit by preference two buckets in each wire compartment; the top plates are
struck from the centre of the semicircular cover, and nearly touch the inside of the
cover; on the side for the inlet of gas and inside the cover are fitted rings which
are truly turned on the face, so that the sides of the buckets may fit the faces of
the rings to form joints, and prevent escape of gas; the buckets are made with
openings, so that the screens in revolving and the buckets passing through the
water get filled on the up stroke, and the water in the buckets in revolving passes
through small holes made in the bottom plate of the buckets, which water keeps
dripping and falling in the wood, small coke, cork, or other suitable material, and
saturates the same; openings are made in the tops of the buckets to allow gas to
enter the buckets, and cause the water to pass through the small holes.
Gas passes into the apparatus through an inlet or opening made in the top part
of the cover and-in-one-of-the-end-plates, and passes through each screen, and comes
in contact with the moisture and water contained therein, and also with the pieces.
of wood, small coke, cork, or the like; and in the course of its progress to the
outlet is compelled to traverse and pass through the top revolving parts of each
screen, the gas being separated into innumerable finely divided streams, which in
their passage undergo a complete washing and a thorough scrubbing, thus effecting
an almost complete or entire removal of the ammonia.
The water is fed to the apparatus through a pipe in the cover, and the liquid is
removed through a suitable opening made in the bottom vessel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Laycock and Thomas Clapham in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th June 1882.
JOHN LAYCOCK, Gas Engineer, and THOMAS CLAPHAM, Ironfounder, both of
Keighley, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
The said Invention relates to improved apparatus for scrubbing and washing
gas for the purpose of removing the ammonia and other impurities therefrom.
For this purpose we construct our improved apparatus of a cast iron vessel made
of two parts, the bottom part to receive water, and the top part for the passage of
the gus to be operated on; the bottom part may be made of semicircular or straight
form in the front part; in the vessel are fitted divisional plates to form separate
water chambers, and on the tops are cast flanges which are planed to form tight
joints when the cover is bolted on, and this cover is made of a semicircular form,
all the joints are made tight and true to prevent escape of gas; the ends of the
bottom vessel and cover are fitted with end plates securely bolted to the flanges of
the bottom vessel and cover. We may construct the apparatus with securely
connected compartments, and a number of such compartments may be employed
according to the power or efficiency required.
The end plates are made with stuffing boxes to which are fitted glands, through
which is passed and works a shaft driven in the usual manner, the shaft also works
in bearings formed on the tops of the divisional plates and over the shaft, and in
each compartment are fitted short tubular castings, to which are secured radial
arms made the width of the tubular castings, and the tops of the arms are made
with bosses to which are secured lugs formed on the sides of buckets secured to
the arms by set screws; the bottom parts of the buckets are made with a series of
small holes, and we fit in each compartment and on the shaft two tubular castings
at a certain distance apart according to the width given to the revolving screens,
and which are lined or filled with wood or balls of wood, small coke, cork, or any
suitable material kept in by wires secured from one radial arm to the other, or by
wire netting so as to fonn highly porous revolving screens. We fit by preference &
bucket in each wire compartiment, the top plates are struck from the centre of the
semicircular cover and nearly touch the inside of the cover, and on the side of the
inlet of gas and inside the cover are cast or fitted rings which are truly turned on
the face, so that the sides of the buckets may fit the face of the ring to form joints
and prevent escape of gas.
The screens in revolving cause the buckets on the up stroke and in passing
through the water to get filled, the water entering through the small holes made
in the bottom plates of the buckets, and when the buckets arrive at the top
revolving, the water keeps dripping and falling into the wood, wood balls, small
coke, cork, or other suitable material with which the screens are lined and saturates
the same; openings are made in the tops of the buckets to allow gas entering in
the buckets to cause the water to pass freely through the small holes and fall in
the linings.
Gas passes into the apparatus through an outlet or opening made in the top part
of the cover and in one of the end plates, the gas passes through each screen and
comes in contact with the moisture and water contained therein, and also in contact
with the pieces of wood, wooden balls, sinall coke, cork, or other material, and in
the course of its progress to the outlet the gas is compelled to traverse and pass
through the top revolving part of each screen, the gas being separated into
innumerable finely divided streams which in their passage undergo a complete

page_text: washing and a thorough scrubbing effecting the removal of the whole or nearly the
whole of the ammonia.
The water is fed to the apparatus through a pipe in the cover, and the liquid is
removed through suitable openings made in the bottom vessel. In order to enable
our improvements to be better understood, we will proceed to describe the same by
reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 represents a side
elevation of our improved apparatus partly shewn in section; Figure 2 represents a
sectional side view of a screen with sections of buckets and framework and cover;
Figure 3 represents a sectional side view of apparatus with divisional plate.
Similar letters of reference are used in all the Figures to represent similar parts.
A is the bottom cistern to receive water, and which may be made semicircular,
in the front in the cistern are fitted divisional plates B to form separate
chambers C, D, E, and the plates B are made with levels F, G, H, the top plates
being cut away as at I; the plates are secured to flanges J cast with the cistern A,
and the cistern is made with top flanges K which are planed to form tight joints
when the flanges L of the cover M are bolted on the flanges K, so as to prevent
any escape of gas; the ends of the cistern A and cover A are fitted with end
plates N, which are securely bolted to the flanges O of the cistern A and to the
_cover_M.;_it_is_obvious_that_we_may_construct_the_apparatus_with_securely
connected compartments, and a number of such compartments may be employed
according to the power or efficiency required. The end plates N have stuffing
boxes P, which are fitted with glands Q, in which works the shaft R of the
apparatus, this shaft is driven in the usual manner by pullies and belting, or may
be driven by wheel gear; one of the ends of the shaft R is actuated by a set
screw S which works through a collar T to press up the shaft when required and
keep the sides U of the tops V of the radial arms W pressed against the face of
the rings X cast inside the cover M; the rings are truly turned on the face and
made to fit the face of the sides U for forming joints to prevent the escape of gas.
The top plates Y of the buckets Z are struck from the centre of the cover M, and
nearly touch the inside of the cover M and the cover is made with alternate
openings A¹, to which are secured covers B¹.
The divisional plates B are made with bosses E' in which are fitted iron bushes C',
through which passes and in which works the shaft R; on the shaft and in each
compartment are secured tubular castings or bosses D¹, having radial arms W made
the width of the bosses, and the ends F of the arms W are made with projections
or lugs G, on which rest lugs H', cast on the sides of the buckets Z; the lugs of
the buckets are cast alternate, and the buckets are secured to the ra lial arms by
set screws 1', which are passed through the lugs H¹ and screwed in the lugs G
thereby securing the buckets in position; the buckets are also made with flanges J',
to which are secured the bottom plates K' of the buckets, these plates are made
with series of small holes L'.
From one radial arm W to the other are secured wires or wire netting M, and
between the wires or netting are placed wooden balls N1, or cork O', or pieces of
wood or small coke, or any other suitable material whereby highly porous revolving
screens are formed.
The screens in revolving pass through the water P' in the bottom cistern A, and
the water enters through the small holes L' of the bottom plates K' of the
buckets Z, and on the buckets arriving by the revolution of the screens at or near
the top of the cover MI, the water drips and falls through the small holes L', passing
on and between the wooden balls or through the cork, small coke, etc., of the
screens, suturating the same; small holes are made in the tops of the buckets to
allow gas to pass in the buckets, allowing the water to freely pass through the
small holes.
Gas passes into the apparatus through the gas supply pipe Q, and is forced to
pass through or traverse the top revolving parts of each screen, the gas in its
passage thereby undergoes a complete washing and a thorough scrubbing, effecting

page_text: the entire or almost the entire removal of the ammonia, and the gas thus treated
passes on through the outlet pipe R¹.
The water for feeding the apparatus passes through a pipe fitted to the cover,
and the liquid is removed through suitable openings made in the bottom cistern or
vessel to which are secured doors.
Having thus described our improvements and the best means we are acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that we do
not confine ourselves to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be
varied without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but what
we do claim is,-
Firstly. The arrangement, combination, and construction of the several parts
constituting the improved apparatus for scrubbing and washing gas for the purpose
of removing the ammonia and other impurities therefrom, and to purify the gas,
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and represented by the
annexed Drawing.
Secondly. The construction and employment of revolving screens having buckets
for the purpose of lifting water from the bottom cistern and for discharging the
same through small holes made in the bottom plates of the buckets onto and in
the linings of the screens, substantially as herein described and represented in the
accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Laycock and Thomas Clapham, have
hereto set our hands and seals, this Third day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
JOHN LAYCOCK.
(L.S.)
THOMAS CLAPHAM. (L.S.)