IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GASOMETERS, WHEREBY PROBY THEY ARE RENDERED APPLICABLE TO LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Jefferson Thompson, of Greenwood Park,
Newry, in the County of Down, Ireland, Mechanical Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GASOMETERS, WHEREBY
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Jefferson
Thompson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 5th March 1857.
I, THOMAS JEFFERSON THOMPSON, of Greenwood Park, Newry, in the County
of Down, Ireland, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GASOMETERS,
WHEREBY THEY ARE RENDERED APPLICABLE TO LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES."
to be as follows:-
This Invention is designed with a view to improving the construction of
ordinary fixed gasometers, and for rendering the same applicable to the
lighting of railway carriages. As regards these improvements, the principal
feature of novelty consists in dispensing with the ordinary mass and weight of
water at present used in gasometers of the ordinary construction, as by this
Invention no more water is required than is sufficient to form an hydraulic
packing of about one inch in breadth, so as to prevent all escape of gas'
during the working of the gasometer. To effect this I form the improved.
[Price 8d.]

page_text: gasometer in the following manner:-I form a rectangular-shaped tank,
the top of which is open, and the bottom thereof, instead of extending over
the entire width of the tank on one and the same plane, is on two different
planes, that is to say, one part is fixed to the lowermost edge of the tank,
and the other part is fixed nearly on a level with the top edge of the aforesaid
tank; these two parts are connected together water-tight by plates of metal,
thus leaving a narrow channel all round the inside of the tank, which is filled
with water, and receives the ordinary moveable part or rising cover of the
gasometer, which should be counterbalanced inthe mannercommonly practised.
By the above improved mode of constructing gasometers, as the cover
descends the water displaced thereby will principally occupy the space between
the said cover and the uppermost part of the aforesaid bottom, so that when
thegasometer is nearly emptied of gas there shall be a water pressure therein
of about six inches of water. I also propose to dispense with the counter-
balance weights commonly employed, and to use in lieu thereof guides and
spring catches; and to enable the gas in the gasometer to be used at high
préssure, that is to say, from 3 to 12 inches of water, I form the sides of the
gasometer and the outside plates thereof sufficiently high to allow of the rise
of water by pressure: The supply of water for packing is thus always pre-
served, for when the gasometer descends, the water displaced thereby, instead
of overflowing(and by so doing rendering it necessa up the deficiency
upon the gasometer being-again-filled with gas), the improved arrangement
is such that the water so displaced flows over the top or roof of the tank,
which holds the same, and flows down as the gasometer rises..
'In adapting the above improved gasometer for lighting railway carriages,
the gasometer may be connected to the several carriages by means of pipes
connected to each carriage by an independent elastic pipe, which when the
couplings of the carriages become disengaged or any unusual strain comes
upon said pipe, such strain effects the shutting off of the gas, thereby preventing
escape and loss of the same...
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Jefferson Thompson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th September 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS, SHALL COME, I,. THOMAS
JEFFERSON THOMPSON, of Greenwood Park, Newry, in the County of. Down,
Ireland, send greeting.
.1.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Jefferson Thompson, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Jefferson Thompson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Jefferson Thompson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GASOMETERS, WHEREBY THEY ARE
RENDERED APPLICABLE TO LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Jefferson Thompson, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Jefferson Thompson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
The principal feature of novelty of my said Invention consists in dispensing
with the ordinary mass and weight of water at present used in gasometers of
the ordinary construction, as by my said Invention no more water is required
than is sufficient to form an hydraulic packing of about one inch in breadth, so
as to prevent all escape of gas during the working of the gasometer. To effect
this I form the gasometer in the following manner:-I form a rectangular
tank sufficient for the supply of water to a locomotive engine. The tank has
no lid or opening excepting a funnel, which enters the bottom of tank from
back part of gasometer for the purpose of filling said tank with water. Round
the four sides of this tank I put a thin iron sheeting, about one inch from the
sides of the tank, and extending above the top of tank about 12 inches. This
sheeting is connected with the tank by a wrought-iron frame or angle iron
round the bottom of tank, to which it is rivetted; I thus gain a space all
round said water tank of one inch in breadth, which I fill with water until the
water is about one inch in depth over top of tank. I then form the moveable

page_text: part of gasometer so that it works freely up and down in this water space, its
working being kept true by means of guide rods, the bottoms of which are
fastened through the wrought-iron foundation ring (to which the outside
sheeting is rivetted), and the tops are kept true by means of stays to side
plates. Upon the moveable part of the gasometer there are guides fastened to
work upon these rods; the uppermost guide to cach rod (which works above
the water level) has a spring catch, which works in a ratchet fixed upon the
guide rod, to prevent any jumping of gasometer upon a rough road. The roof
of the moveable part of gasometer will be about 1 inches above the roof
of water tank when no gas is in the gasometer.
in
By the above mode of constructing gasometers, as the cover descends,
the water displaced thereby will occupy the space between the said cover and
the uppermost part or roof of the tank. so that when the gasometer' is again
filled with gas the water will flow off roof of tank to supply the deficiency
made by the gasometer cover rising out of the water space.. I also propose to
dispense with the counterbalance.weights commonly employed, and-to-use in
lieu thereof guides and spring catches, and the working-pressure of the
gas
the gasometer will be from 2 to 6 inches (water). I form the sides of the
moveable part of gasometer and the outside plates sufficiently high to allow of
the rise of the water by pressure. When filling at stations the working
pressure of supply gasometers at stations is about 12 inches of water. The
supply of water to suit the variation of pressure is always preserved, for when
the gasometer descends, the water displaced thereby, instead of overflowing
(and by so doing rendering it necessary to fill up the deficiency upon the
gasometer being again filled with gas), the improved arrangement is such
that the water so displaced flows over the top or roof of the tank and
flows down as the gasometer rises.
In adapting my improved gasometer to the lighting of railway carriages
I proceed as follows:-The connection of the different carriages is effected
by means of vulcanized india-rubber tubes, which are coupled to the cut-off
apparatus, which is permanently fixed upon each end of every carriage, and
consists in a small branch pipe, which when the gas is turned on and the
carriages coupled is kept in its proper position by means of a spring; but
when any strain comes upon the aforesaid coupling pipe, from the carriages
becoming detached, or from other causes, the strain upon the pipe will then
draw the cut-off pipe out at right angles to the end of the carriage, and thus
turn off the gas. The union joint upon the end of the pipe cant ot be
unscrewed without first turning off gas, as the plate upon which the cut-off
pipe is screwed has two wings, which project round the union joint, thereby

page_text: preventing any possibility of its being disengaged while the gas is turned on
in that cut-off pipe, thereby preventing escape and loss of same.
"
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheets of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference
marked thereon respectively, as follows:-
31.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Sheet 1 represents a longitudinal and vertical section of a gasometer ex-
hibited, adapted for railways as a gasometer tender, same being constructed
according to my said Invention to carry 200 cubic feet of gas, 1650 gallons
of water, and 100 cubic feet of coke. The Drawing is to a scale of 1 inch
to I fout.
Sheet 2 represents detached portions of said gasometer, as also the self-
acting mechanical arrangements or contrivances which I employ for shut-
ting off the communication between the several railway carriages and the
gasometer when the carriages are accidentally or otherwise detached from
each other.
1:
1.
Figures 1 and 2 respectively exhibit sections of the guide rods and guides
of my improved gasometer, drawn to a scale of half size; Figures 3 and 4
exhibit sections of gas coupling apparatus for ends of carriages, said couplings
being drawn to a scale of full size, to supply a train of about 12 carriages.
At each of the foregoing Figures of each Sheet of Drawings I employ similar
letters of reference to denote corresponding parts, in so far as such parts
appear or can be seen at each of such said Figures respectively.
A, A, is the wooden framing of a railway tender, suitably braced together
and mounted upon running wheels B, B, in the usual way; C, C, the wrought-
iron tender tank for containing water for the supply of engine; D, a pipe
to allow the air from the water tank E to escape when the tank is being
filled at funnel K; E, pipe for filling gasometer G with gas; H, pipe leading
therefrom to cut off apparatus at end of gasometer, and from thence to the
carriages of train. Each carriage has a permanent pipe the length of itself,
which connects the cut-off apparatus at each end of the carriage. From this
pipe there is a small bag or self-acting supply apparatus, not shewn by the
Drawing, which keeps the lights from going out when carriages are being
shunted at stations. I, elastic coupling pipe, for establishing a connection
between the several carriages and the aforesaid gasometer; K, wrought-iron
funnel for filling the tender tank C, C, with water; L, wrought-iron stays,

page_text: connected to the uprights 1, 1, of which there are four, one at each corner
of the gasometer,) said uprights serving as guides for maintaining the gasometer
in its proper course as it rises and falls. The construction of these guides
will be better understood by referring to Figures 1 and 2 of Sheet 2, at
which said Figures M is a casting, fixed to the top of the gasometer at each
corner thereof, as exhibited in plan view at Figure 2. N is another casting,
fixed to the lowermost corner of the said gasometer. These castings are
formed semicircular, and such parts embrace the uprights 1, 1, which are
formed circular. It will be seen upon referring to Figure 1 that the upper
part of the casting N is furnished with a spring catch O, which takes into
the teeth of a ratchet P, fixed to or formed upon the uprights, the use of
such said catch and ratchet being to hold the gasometer steady as it descends.
It will of course be necessary before filling the gasometer with gas to fasten
back all the catches O, which may be done by moving a lever which is in
connection (by a simple arrangement not exhibited). Figure 1 also shews
the mode of connecting the guide rods 1, 1, to the water tank and to the
outer casing C¹².
0
a
I now proceed to describe the construction of the coupling, exhibited at
Figures 3 and 4 of Sheet 2, before referred to, which I employ for connect-
ing the elastic coupling pipes I between the several carriages of a railway
train, as follow:-A' is a casting, formed with wings B', B', for the purpose
of enclosing the coupling apparatus C, D, E, F, thus ensuring the shutting
off of the gas each time the elastic coupling pipe I is connected to or dis-
connected from such said apparatus, as hereafter fully described, said
apparatus being fixed by the casting A to the ends of each railway carriage.
The picce C is an elbow pipe (gun metal by preference), one end of which
is screwed to the casting A', as exhibited, and the other end of said pipe is
turned taper, and ground into a corresponding shaped hole formed in the
casting D', which I call the "cut-off pipe." E, F, are ordinary coupling
pieces; a, b, are openings formed in the pieces C¹ and D'; H', I', are springs
fixed to the casting A'. The clip spring His employed for keeping the
coupling apparatus steady under ordinary circumstances, and the spring I¹
is for keeping the piece D¹ in the position denoted by red color when any
unusual strain comes upon the coupling pipe I, so as to overcome the
resistance offered by the clip spring it, or when the pipe I is being either
coupled or uncoupled by hand.
I would here observe, that in adapting my said Invention to lines of
railway upon which tank engines are used, the gasometer may then be a piece
of rolling stock ;" and as regards railways upon which tenders are used, it

page_text: may in some cases be found more convenient to have the gasometer combined
with the brake van, which should always be at the end of a train, thus
gaining the advantage of the gas for the tail light, and also the weight of
gasometer being an advantage to the brake van, most vans being loaded;
in either case the construction of the gasometer is the same, the only
difference being that when used in connection with brake van the interior
space C, C, is of no use as a water tank.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention of improvements in the construction of gasometers, whereby they
are rendered applicable to lighting railway carriages, together with the best
means I am aquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I
would remark, in conclusion, that I hereby declare my Invention to consist
in, and I claim, a gasometer of the construction above particularly described,
set forth, and represented by the illustrative Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed, whereby I dispense with the necessity for employing a large mass
and weight of water as at present practised in ordinary gasometers, and also
dispensing with the balance weights, as above stated, and also the mode of
coupling, as described and shewn,
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Jefferson Thompson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
THOMAS JEFFERSON THOMPSON. (L.S)
FRED W. KITSON,
Little-wood-house, Leeds.