IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR Ex- HAUSTING GAS RETORTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick William Fison, of Eastmoor, Ilkley, in the County
of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR Ex-
HAUSTING GAS RETORTS."
Sealed the 8th December 1876, and dated the 10th June 187
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick William Fison at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th June 1876.
FREDERICK WILLIAM FISON, of Eastmoor, Ilkley, in the County of York.
"IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING GAS RETORTS."
This Invention relates to the means of drawing away from gas retorts the gas as
it is generated, and that in a regular manner or at a uniform pressure whatever be
the speed of generation.
And the improvements consist in combining an ordinary exhauster with any
kind of motive power (but by preference a gas engine) and certain other appliances
in such manner that the uniform speed of the motive power is converted into the
varying speed of the exhauster consequent upon the varying quantity of gas made
or generated; the rate of speed of the exhauster being indirectly regulated by the
appliances above referred to. These appliances consist of a pair of ordinary conical
driving rollers placed betwixt the motive power and the exhauster with screw
shaft for traversing the driving belt as usual, and of an improved regulator. A rod
in connection with the "bell or float of which regulator is connected to a lever
carrying two friction pullies driven in opposite directions to each other in such
manner that either one or the other of thein, or neither of them, can bear in or upon
another friction pulley fixed on the screw shaft, whereby the said shaft is turned in
either direction or remains at rest, according as to which pulley is in contact with
the pulley on the screw shaft, or neither of them may be in contact with the said
shaft, so that the belt or strap will be traversed to vary the speed of the exhauster,
which can thus be increased or diminished according to the increase or decrease
of pressure of gas in the interior of the "bell" of the regulator. I have also a
moveable weight so applied to the spindle of the "bell" as to prevent any undue
oscillation in the rate of speed of the exhauster.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick William Fison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th December 1876.
FREDERICK WILLIAM FISON, of Eastmoor, Ilkley, in the County. of York.
"IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING GAS RETORTS."
This Invention relates to apparatus for regulating the action of the exhauster
when drawing away the gas from the retorts, the object being to adjust the speed
of the exhauster to the rate at which the gas is generated so as to maintain an
uniform or nearly uniform pressure of gas within the retorts. To do this it is necessary
to convert the constant speed of the motive power into the ever varying speed of the
exhauster, consequent upon the rate of the "make" of gas, and this is effected by
the use of apparatus constituting the present Invention, and of which the following
is a description :-
In order that the Invention may be more easily understood Drawings having
letters of reference are attached hereto. Fig. 1 being a part elevation of the
regulator and part section, and a side elevation of the apparatus through which the
regulator acts; Fig. 2 a plan of that part of the apparatus upon which the regulator
acts; Fig. 3 an isolated part of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 an end elevation of the same.
In each of the views similar letters represent the same parts. In this as in most
apparatus of the kind the motive power to drive the exhauster is an engine worked
by gas, steam, water, or any other motivo power, while the motive power to operate
upon the regulator is the pressure of the gas itself.
The improved regulator consists of a circular tank A, Fig. 1, wherein rises
and falls a circular bell or gas holder B supported by chains hung by means of
knife edges and steel rings from short beams C, C. These beams are pivotted or
hung upon knife edges which rest on pillars D, D, attached to each side of the
tank, and are furnished with weights E, E, at their outer ends attached to the
beams by means of knife edges and steel rings to counterpoise the gasholder. The
two pillars are connected together near the top by a cross beam F, in the middle of
which there is a vertical hole. In the centre of the tank is an upright pipe or
tube G, open at both ends and of sufficient diameter to admit of a stout rod H
rising and falling within it without touching its sides. This rod passes through and
is fixed to the crown or top of the bell or gasholder, and extends below the tank
in one direction and through the hole in and above the cross beam, in the other
being kept in its proper vertical position by two pairs of grooved friction rollers,
one pair I, I, mounted on the top of the cross beam, and the other pair J, J, attached
to the bottom of the tank. In order to prevent the escape of gas the bell is
provided with a central pipe or tube K that descends and surrounds the upright
pipe fixed to the tank, which being partially filled with water effectually seals the
opening. It being necessary to prevent the regulator from being unduly sensitive,
the following contrivance is applied:-A moveable weight L rests on a fixed bracket
M attached to the cross beam. This weight has a hole bored through its centre,
through which the rod or spindle of the gasholder can pass freely, and a small
collar N is fastened to the spindle, which can pass easily through the bracket but
not through the hole in the weight, so that when the regulator is set the collar
touches but does not lift the weight. The connection between the lower part of
the rod or spindle H and the rest of the apparatus is effected by a spring coupling O
so that even when the gasholder rises and raises the weight no sudden jerk is
produced. In general appearance the regulator is very like that of an ordinary
gas governor. Beneath the regulator, and mounted upon a suitable frame, is a
screw shaft P, upon one end of which is fastened a large friction wheel Q with a
V groove cut in its rim. Above it are two small friction wheels R, S, with edges
turned to fit the V groove of the large wheel. These two wheels are carried on a
lever T which turns upon a stud fixed to the frame, and is pivotted at one end U
to the lower part of the spring coupling O before alluded to in connection with

page_text: the regulator. The wheels R, S, are so placed that when the lever T is horizontal
both wheels though near to it are free from touching the large friction wheel Qat
the end of the screw, when, however, either end of the lever is depressed the
corresponding wheel R or S is pressed into the large friction wheel, and by means
of a train of toothed wheels, such as are shown on the Drawing and marked V,
the said large friction wheel and consequently the screw P are revolved thereby.
On each side of the screw P, parallel with and at a short distance from it, is mounted
one of a pair of what are commonly called "speed cones" W and X, one of which W
is driven by the gas or steam engine, air, water, or any other motive power, and
the other X is in connection with the exhauster. The screw P just mentioned as
lying between the "speed cones "carries a nut Y, upon which is fixed a guide
hook Z for the belt a that transmits motion from one cone to the other, and
according as the screw is turned to the right or to the left so does the nut Y
traverse and alter the position of the belt a and consequently the speed of the
exhauster, the screw being the means by which the regulator indirectly acts.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Assuming that the tank of the regulator
has been filled to a suitable height with water, the gas allowed to enter from the
inlet main of the exhauster by the inlet pipe b, and that motion has been imparted
to the driving cone W. Supposing the gas is being drawn away by the exhauster C
at the same rate as it is generated, the bell B of the regulator will have risen to the
point at which it has been set, and will remain stationary, the lever T upon which
the friction wheels R and S are mounted will be horizontal, and therefore the screw P
will be at rest; but the moment the gas is generated at a greater rate than the
exhauster. carries it away the pressure increases and raises the bell or gasholder of
the regulator, and with it the spindle H and lever T. The consequence is the small
friction wheel S is brought into contact with the large friction wheel Q, which by
means of the train of wheels before referred to is thus together with the screw P
made to revolve so as to cause the nut Y to traverse and carry the belt a to approach
the wider end of the cone W. The result will be the increased speed of the
exhauster C, which will continue until the pressure is reduced by the excess of gas
being carried off, when the bell or gasholder B will descend, and the friction
pullies R and S will be removed from contact with Q. Should the exhauster,
however, be making an effort to carry off the gas faster than it is being made the
effect will be the opposite to that just described, as the bell or gasholder will
descend and depress the lever T so as to bring the small friction pulley R into
contact with the friction wheel Q. The consequence will be that the screw P will
be turned in the contrary direction to that before described, and the nut will lead
the belt a towards the smaller end of the cone W when the speed of the exhauster
will be reduced in proportion to the make of gas.
The employment of a tank and gasholder whereby the pressure of gas is taken
advantage of as a motive power to regulate the speed of the exhauster is not novel,
but the hanging of the gasholder by two balance beams instead of one and the
arrangement for preventing it from being unduly sensitive to small changes of
pressure is new. The use of speed cones, screw friction wheel and pulleys, together
with the train of wheels as described, is also new.
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 which 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-
Firstly. The hanging or supporting of the gasholder by two balance beams, as
described and shewn on the Drawings.
Secondly. The arrangement of weight L, bracket M, collar N, friction rollers J, J,
and spring coupling O, as described and shewn on the Drawings.

page_text: And, thirdly. The screw P, friction wheel Q, friction pulleys R, S, lever T, train of
wheels V, speed cones W and X, nut Y and hook Z, arranged as herein described
and shewn on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Willian Fison, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
J. W. TASKER,
Patent Agent,
Halifax.
FREDERICK WILLIAM FISON. (L.S.)