IMPROVEMENTS IN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND PURIFYING COAL GAS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN FINNEY BELFIELD of Belle Vue House in the County of the City of
Exeter, Esquire do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND PURIFYING COAL GAS to be
as follows:-
At from 12 to 15 inches from the bottom of a Vertical Cylindrical Vessel
connection is made with the Inlet from Condensers. And immediately above this
is a second Annular bottom or Tray of which the central Hole is of equal Diameter
with Inlet. This has a rim of about an inch in height enabling it to contain that
depth of Liqour and from its bottom rise concentric circles of Pegs of equal height
with the rim.
Through this Hole passes a Vertical Bar resting on a point which is balanced by
an adjustable weight and carries close to the upper side of the Tray but not
touching it a Disk of rather less Diameter but furnished on its under side with
similar concentric circles of Pegs alternating with those on the Tray. Above this
is placed a similar Tray of such size as will pass easily into the Vessel with an
outer rim running downwards as well as upwards of which the lower part rests
on and forms a Water seal with the one below it keeping the two at from 3
to 4 inches apart whilst the upper part retains the liquor and performs the like
duty for the one above it Then follows another Disk at the same distance above
it and so Tray and Disk in succession to as many as may be desired.
Then the Cover is bolted on (the outlet being just below it) and the Bar passing
through it with a Water Seal.
.. 1
Water or liquor being now admitted in small Stream at the Top fills each Tray
in succession and finally escapes by Syphon below whilst the Gas passes upwards in
exactly the contrary direction between each Tray and Disk in' turn..
The Bar is now made to rotate when the Pegs break up the liquor and cause an
intimate mixture between it and the Gas which is thus made to part with much of
its Ammonia and Tar.
The Bar with its Disks being balanced by the above named Weight the effort
of the gas to pass upwards and the consequent Back pressure may be exactly
regulated whilst a Steelyard resting on its Top and connected with a Governor puts.
on such pressure in the case of over exhaustion as ensures that this shall never
reduce that in the retorts below that of the Atmosphere:

page_text: I JOHN FINNEY BELFIELD of Belle Vue House in the County of the City of
Exeter, Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE WASHING AND PURIFYING OF COAL
GAS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The Washer is a Vertical Cylindrical. Vessel with an Inlet pipe at about 15 inches
from the bottom. Immediately above this is a second Annular bottom or Tray the
central hole in which equals the diameter of the Inlet and has a rim of about an
inch in height which enables the Tray to contain that depth of Liquor. From the
bottom of this Tray rise concentric circles of Pegs of equal height with the rim at
such distance between the circles as will allow similar circles to pass freely between
them. Through the central hole and resting on a balanced point passes a square
Vertical Bar with an adjustable Nut at its lower end to carry a horizontal Disk, of
nearly equal size with the Tray, the under side of which is furnished with circles
of Pegs similar to those on the Tray and so placed as to alternate between them
Above this disk is placed a similar Tray resting with a Water seal on the lower
one at a distance of 3 or 4 inches-Above that a second Disk resting also on the
lower one and so on in succession to as many as may be desired-The outlet from
the Washer is immediately under the flat cover which is bolted to it the Vertical
Bar passing through its centre with a Water Seal The point on which this rests
is now adjusted by the moveable weight so as to balance that of the Disks, less
such back pressure as may be desired and the Nut on which the Disks rest being.
screwed up so that these at their lowest point shall just run clear of the Trays.
Water is let in at the Top in a continuous stream filling each Tray in turn and
finally passing out by the escape Pipe below. All openings to the outer air being
now closed the Gas is admitted and passes up between each Tray and Disk in turn
when the Disks are made to rotate and continuously to agitate the Liquor whilst
the Gas passes over it..

page_text: Washing and contain concentric rings of Pegs-And revolving Disks with similar
rings of Pegs on their under sides alternating with those on the Trays Together
with an arrangement of Levers and moveable Weight and secondary Steelyard
adjustment for regulating back pressure All substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Dated this oath too of Candamhan 100