IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE AND PURIFICATION OF GAS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Joseph Barton Symes, of Oxford Street, Stepney,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE AND PURIFICATION OF GAS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Joseph Barton
Symes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st December
1880.
WILLIAM JOSEPH BARTON SYMES, of Oxford Street, Stepney, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE
AND PURIFICATION OF GAS."
My Invention relates to apparatus to be used in the manufacture of coal and
other gas, also to apparatus for purifying and increasing the illuminating power
of the same.
According to the present practice in the manufacture of illuminating gas no
means are provided for indicating when the charge of coal or other material in the
retort has been sufficiently burned, or, in other words, when the whole of the gas
has been obtained therefrom, consequently it sometimes happens that the charge is
drawn too soon, or left burning for a longer time than should be the case, the
custom being to withdraw the charge after it has been burning a certain number
of hours; therefore if the charge be left in the retort for too long a time a portion
of the gas remains in the same when drawn out and is practically lost, and on the
other hand if the charge be left burning after all the gas has been obtained time
is lost and the quality of the coke is impaired.
One part of my said Invention is designed to provide simple and effectual means
whereby the attendant may at any time ascertain the condition of a charge in the
retort, that is to say, whether gas is still being made or generated or whether all
that the charge contained has been given off.
In carrying this part of my said Invention into practice I provide in the mouth-

page_text: piece of the retort, and preferably on one side thereof, a cock or valve of any
suitable construction, the said cock or valve communicating freely with the space
enclosed by the mouth-piece and consequently with the interior of the retort. By
opening this cock or valve it can at any time be ascertained immediately whether
gas is or is not being made, as in the former case there will be a rush of gas
through the cock or valve, and in the latter case no gas will come through the
same. This cock or valve may be applied to any kind of retort whatever may be
its position.
Another part of my said Invention relates to means for preventing the explosion
of the sulphurous vapours which frequently occurs upon the loosening or removal
of the retort-lid when the spent charge is to be withdrawn. It is customary in
gas-works to prevent this explosion by inserting a light within the mouth-piece
as soon as the lid becomes sufficiently loosened, but this precaution is frequently
neglected and a more or less violent explosion is the result.
According to this part of my said Invention I provide a cock or valve on the
retort lid whereby the explosion of the sulphurous vapour may be entirely prevented.
This cock or valve is fitted into the lid at any convenient part thereof and com-
municates freely with the interior of the retort. By simply opening this cock or
valve before the lid is at all loosened the sulphurous vapour escapes through the
same and the lid may then be removed without any danger of an explosion.
According to another part of this Invention I provide a steam chest, 'box, or
tube, and place the same in the furnace, the said chest, box, or tube being supplied
with water or other suitable liquid by means of a supply pipe in which there is an
ordinary cock or valve or a self regulating device for admitting liquid according to
the rate at which it is evaporated. The liquid in this chest, box, or tube becomes
heated and evaporates, the steam therefrom passing into the hydraulic main or
retort for the purpose of scrubbing the gas or freeing it from ammonia.
Another part of my said Invention relates to apparatus for purifying or cleaning
the gas, and for this purpose I provide a filter or vessel, into which a pipe dips and
extends nearly to the bottom of the said vessel. At the lower part of the latter
there is a coiled pipe (or a chamber) having a series of small apertures along its
upper surface, and being provided with a series of small tubes attached to and
depending vertically from its under surface, these tubes being sealed by a liquid.
The dip-pipe enters the coiled pipe, and the gas as it comes from the hydraulic main
is thus caused to circulate in the said coiled pipe, and any ammonia in the gas falls
through the vertical tubes to the bottom of the filter, while the gas thus purified
escapes through the apertures in the upper surface of the coiled pipe and then passes
upwards through divisions provided with oxidized iron, and if desirable through
wool or other material saturated with some suitable hydro carbon to enrich the
gas. The latter passes from the filter in a purified condition and ready for use.
I may also provide a motor of any suitable description for forcing atmospheric air
into the said filter.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Joseph Barton Symes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st June 1881.
WILLIAM JOSEPH BARTON SYMES, of Oxford Street, Stepney, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE
AND PURIFICATION OF GAS."
.
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus to be used in the manufacture
of coal and other gas, and also to improvements in apparatus for purifying and
increasing the illuminating power of the same.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a gas-retort provided with my improved means
or devices for ascertaining whether gas is or is not being made, and with means for
preventing the explosion of sulphurous vapour and for generating steam, as
hereinafter described, and
Figure 2 is a plan partly in section of the hollow chests or fire-bars employed in
the same and hereinafter described.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of a retort illustrating a modified arrangement of
the devices for generating steam.
Figure 4 is an elevation, and
Figure 5, a central vertical section of my improved purifying or cleaning
apparatus or filter..
Figure 6 is a horizontal section of the said apparatus on the line x, x,
Figure 5.
In apparatus for the manufacture of illuminating gas as heretofore constructed
no means are provided for indicating when the charge of coal or other material in
the retort has been sufficiently burned, or, in other words, when the whole of the
gas has been obtained therefrom; consequently it sometimes happens that the
charge is drawn too soon or left burning for a longer time than necessary, the
custom being to withdraw the charge after it has been burning a certain number
of hours. Therefore, if the charge be left in the retort for too short a time a
portion of the gas capable of being produced therefrom is practically lost, and,
on the other hand, if the charge be left burning after all the gas has emanated
therefrom time is lost and the quality of the coke is impaired.
In order to obviate these disadvantages I provide according to my Invention simple
and effectual means whereby an attendant may at any time ascertain the condition
of a charge in a retort, that is to say, whether gas is still being made or generated,
or whether all the gas that the charge can yield has been given off.
This part of my Invention is illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the Drawing, in
which a represents a retort-casing, which may be formed of metal or of brickwork
or the like, and which encloses the retort b. This retort, in the example shewn in
the Drawing, is L-shaped, that is to say, it has a horizontal portion b¹ and a vertical.
portion 62; 63 is the mouth-piece of the said retort. In connection with this
mouth-piece b³ and at one side thereof, as shewn in Figure 1, or in the top or cover
of the said mouth-piece, as shewn in Figure 3, I arrange a cock or valve c, of any
suitable construction;, this cock or valve communicates freely with the space
enclosed by the said mouth-piece and consequently with the interior of the retort.
By opening this cock or valve I am enabled immediately and at any time to
ascertain whether gas is or is not being made, as in the former case there will be a
rush of gas through the said cock or valve and in the latter case no gas will pass
through the same. This cock or valve may be applied to a retort arranged either
horizontally, vertically, or otherwise.

page_text: Another part of my Invention relates to means for preventing the explosion of
the sulphurous vapours, which frequently occurs upon the loosening or removal of
the retort-lid when the spent charge is to be withdrawn. It is customary in gas-
works to prevent this explosion by inserting a light within the mouthpiece as soon
as the lid becomes sufficiently loosened, but this precaution is frequently neglected,
and a more or less violent explosion is the result.
According to this part of my said Invention I provide a cock or valve d, whereby
the explosion of the sulphurous vapours may be entirely prevented. This cock or
valve is fitted upon the lid e of the horizontal portion 6' of the retort, as shewn in
Figures 1 and 3, or upon any convenient part thereof, or at the side of the said
portion 6', which projects beyond the casing a and communicates freely with the
interior of the retort. By simply opening this cock or valve before the lid is
loosened the sulphurous vapours are allowed to escape through the same, and the lid
may then be removed without any danger of an explosion.
Another part of this Invention relates to means for producing steam to be
admitted to the retort, or to the ascension-pipe, or to the hydraulic main, for the
purpose of scrubbing the gas and freeing it from ammonia.
For this purpose I employ one or more steam chests or tubes f. In Figures 1
and 2, I have shewn a series of steam-chests so arranged in the furnace as to
constitute the fire-bars thereof, whilst in Figure 3 I have shewn one steam-chest
only arranged within the fire-chamber but above the level of the fire-bars, which
may be of any suitable construction. Into each of the said steam-chests passes a
finely perforated pipe or tube g supplied with water or other suitable liquid by
means of a supply pipe g' in which there is an ordinary cock or valve g², or a self
regulating device for admitting liquid according to the rate at which it is
evaporated. The liquid admitted into each of the said pipes g passes through the
fine perforations in the form of spray or jets into contact with the heated surface
of the chests, and is thereby heated and vaporized and passes off as steam into the
pipe h, which, preferably, surrounds the water inlet pipe g¹. From this pipe / the
steam passes by a branch pipe h¹ into the mouth piece b³ or into the ascension pipe i,
or into the hydraulic main, and serves to scrub the gas and free it from ammonia ;
h² represents a safety valve arranged in the pipe h.
To ensure the vaporization of the whole of the water admitted to the steam
chest or chests, and prevent the chilling or cooling of the latter to such an extent
as to deaden the fire in the furnace, I in some cases arrange between the pipe
and the chest f pieces of jagged or rough iron or other material, which by reason
of the great heat imparted to them by the fire will vaporize the greater portion
of the liquid admitted to the chest prior to the contact of such liquid with the
latter.
Another part of my Invention relates to means for purifying or cleaning the gas, 4
and is illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 of the Drawing. For this purpose I provide
a filter or vessel k into which a pipe leading from a gas meter or from the
hydraulic main dips; this pipe extends nearly to the bottom of the said vessel, as
shewn in Figure 5. The lower portion or end of this pipe forms part of or is
attached to a coiled pipe having a series of small apertures in its upper surface, 4
and provided with a series of small tubes or pipes 12. These tubes 12 depend
vertically from the said coil and dip into and are sealed by liquid at m, so that no
gas can escape therethrough. The gas passing through the pipe enters the coil (',
and before reaching the end l* of the same is caused to circulate through and in
contact with the said coiled pipe, and any ammonia contained in the gas will pass &
through the vertical tubes 2 to the bottom of the filter, and may be drawn off
through the cock 13. The gas thus freed from ammonia escapes through the
apertures in the upper surface of the coiled pipe and then into the body of the
vessel k, which is provided with a series of divisions or screens of oxidized iron
plates, bars, or scraps at n, supported upon brackets or tables o. Between these 5
screens I prefer to place wool or other material saturated with some suitable
bydrocarbon, such as benzoline, supplied at k*, so that as the gas passes upward

page_text: through the vessel k to the outlet pipe p, the sulphur contained therein will by
reason of its affinity for iron rust or oxide be removed by the contact of the gas
with the plates n, and such gas will be enriched and its illuminating power
consequently increased.
It is well known that gas is purified to a certain extent prior to its leaving
the gas works, but this improved purifying apparatus or filter is especially
applicable for subsequently still further purifying the gas, and is chiefly designed
to provide householders with means for purifying the gas supplied to them, and
thus increasing the illuminating power thereof.
In some cases I combine with the said filter a suitable motor for forcing
atmospheric air into the said filter to commingle with the gas passing through the
same.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The gas-retort provided with means for ascertaining whether gas is or not
being made therein, and with means for preventing the explosion of sulphurous
vapor, or with either of these devices, substantially as above set forth.
Second. The combination with a gas-retort of a chest or chests or series of tubes
arranged and adapted to generate steam to be admitted to the said retort or to the
ascension pipe or hydraulic main, substantially as above set forth and for the
purposes specified.
Third. In a gas purifying or cleaning apparatus, the employment of the
perforated coiled pipe provided with the dip pipes, and either with or without the
screens having between them wool or other suitable material saturated with
hydrocarbon, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Joseph Barton Symes, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirty first day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.