AN IMPROVED GAS SCRUBBER OR WASHER
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Edward Savillo, of Sowerby Bridge, in the
County of York, Gas Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED GAS
SCRUBBER OR WASHER."
Sealed the 7th July 1876, and dated the 11th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Edward Saville at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th March 1876.
GEORGE EDWARD SAVILLE, of Sowerby Bridge, in the County of York, Gas
Engineer. "AN IMPROVED GAS SCRUBBER OR WASHER."
My improved scrubber or washer consists of a gas-tight box or chamber provided
with inlet and outlet pipes for gas and water. The outlet for water is so placed
that there shall be a quantity of water in the bottom of the box or chamber, and
this water surrounds the inlet pipe for gas, the top of which is placed a little higher
than the water. The mouth of this inlet pipe for gas is covered by an inverted
vessel, the edges of which dip into the surrounding water. The gas is forced under
the sides of this vessel through the water, and so the tar carried along with the gas
is arrested. The box is partially filled with water troughs placed over one another,
the sides of each trough dipping slightly into the water in the one underneath. For
this purpose the troughs are so formed as to be similar in vertical section to the
letter H.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Edward Saville in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
September 1876.
GEORGE EDWARD SAVILLE, of Sowerby Bridge, in the County of York, Gas
Engineer. "AN IMPROVED GAS SCRUBBER OR WASHER."
My Invention relates to improved apparatus to be employed for the purification
of gas in the processes known as scrubbing and washing, whereby the apparatus is
rendered more compact, and increased economy and efficiency are obtained.
The two Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed illustrate apparatus constructed
and arranged in accordance with my Invention, which I shall now proceed par-
ticularly to describe.

page_text: Sheet of my Drawings represents one form of my scrubber and washer, and
Sheet 2 illustrates modifications of the same.
Referring to Sheet 1 of my Drawings Figure 1 represents a side elevation partly
in section of the apparatus, Figure 2 is a plan partly in section, and Figures 3, 4,
and 5 are details to be heroin-after referred to.
Similar letters indicate like parts in all the corresponding Figures.
A is a gas-tight box or vessel, into which the gas to be purified is introduced
through one or more inlets B, B, and into which the water or other purifying fluid
is supplied through one or more inlets C, C. The gas inlet or inlets B, B, are so
arranged as to project to any determined height above the bottom of the said box
or vessel, and the outlet for water, (assuming water to be the purifying fluid
employed,) which is shown at D, is so placed relatively to the bottom of the box or
vessel and to the top of the projecting inlet pipe or pipes that there shall always be
a quantity of water in the bottom of the box or vessel surrounding such gas inlet
pipe or pipes. E is an inverted vessel or trough covering the mouth of the gas
inlet pipe or pipes B, B, the bottom edge of which cover or trough dips into the
surrounding water, so that the gas which enters through the said inlet pipe or pipes
is by means of the cover or trough deflected, as indicated by the arrows in
Figure 1, and caused to dip into and pass through the water in order that the tar
or other extraneous matters carried along with the gas may be arrested and
separated therefrom before its admission into the inlet chamber F of the box or
vessel A. The gas thus introduced ascends through a series of water troughs G,
which separate the inlet chamber F from the outlet chamber H, whence the gas
escapes through the outlet pipe I, as indicated by the arrows. These troughs,
which form the chief feature of this Invention, are shewn in their position in
Figure 1, arranged in six tiers, one above another, and so formed and fitted in
relation to each other that the lower edges of each upper tier dip into the water
contained in the tier immediately below it.
The detail views, Figures 3, 4, and 5, shew clearly one construction and arrange-
ment of the troughs, Figures 3 and 4 being respectively a plan and vertical section
drawn to a larger scale of a square or segment of one tier of troughs, and Figure 5
an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the same. It will be seen from an
inspection of the enlarged section, Figure 5, that the troughs are similar in vertical
cross section to a letter H, the body G of the trough being divided by a horizontal
partition K into two parts L, M, the upper one (L) of which contains water, whilst
the lower part M forms a chamber or passage for gas. Between each two adjacent
troughs G there is formed a gas channel or passage N, and the several tiers of
troughs are so arranged in relation to each other that the gas channels or passagos N
of any lower tier breaks joint with or is arranged midway between two gas
channels or passages N¹ of the tier immediately above, which dip into the water
contained in the upper portions L of the lower tier. By means of this arrangement
the gas in its ascent from the lower chamber F to the upper chamber H rises
slowly through the spaces extending over the whole area of the box or vessel A
simultaneously, and is deflected and caused to dip into and pass in a vertical zig-zag
course through the water contained in the upper portions L of the whole of the
tiers of troughs in succession, such gas first passing through the most impure liquor,
and then successively passing through liquor containing less impurity, and ultimately
through clear water by reason of the upper tier being constantly supplied with clean
water through the pipes C.
The troughs may be employed in any required number above each other, and be
made of other forms than that shewn in Figures 3, 4, and 5, Sheet 1, and herein-
before described. For example, the gas channels or passages N may consist of a
series of round apertures, as shewn in plan and vertical section in Figures 6 and 7,
Shoet 2; or they may be made of any other desired form.
The troughs may also be composed of any suitable materials. In the arrangements
herein-before described they are represented as constructed of iron, but they may be
made of wood, if desired, as shewn in Figures 8, 9, and 10, Sheet 2, Figure 8 being

page_text: a horizontal section of the box or vessel A with the troughs G in plan, and
Figures 9 and 10 vertical sections taken at right angles to each other. L', L₁, indicato
cross channels formed by cutting away portions of the sides of the troughs so as to
obtain an uniform water level throughout the whole area of the box or vessel.
Another form of my apparatus is illustrated in vertical section in Figure 11,
Sheet 2. In this example the box or vessel A. is divided into chambers or com-
partments A1, A2, A3, A5, A5, by series of troughs G, G, G, G, arranged in tiers at
suitable distances apart, above each of which (excepting the upper tier G*) there are
placed a series of horizontal rods or bars O fitted in suitable frames extending from
one side to the other, and arranged so that any one of a row of such rods or bars
shall be situate between two of the rods or bars of the next rows.
The troughs
which form an essential feature of this modification are arranged, as is also the case
in the arrangement shewn in Sheet 1 and previously described, in a perfectly level
position, so that the overflow of water shall be uniform over the whole area of the
box or vessel, whereby the necessity for the employment of motive power for
distributing the water is entirely obviated. The gas enters at B, and is first
deffected by the inverted vessel or trough E and caused to dip into and pass
through the water contained in the bottom of the box or vessel A, and it thence
passes through the troughs in the manner herein-before described with reference to
the arrangement shewn in Sheet 1, and through the interstices of the series of rods
or bars in succession until it arrives at the upper chamber or compartment A³,
the upper tier of trouglis G in which is employed to distribute the water
automatically over the whole area and contents of the box or vessel A. The gas
thus cleansed from its impurities escapes by the pipe I, whilst the tar and ammoniacal
liquor are discharged through the pipe P.
When only one tier of dips is required in each box or vessel, or, as shewn in
Figure 11, in each compartment thereof, the troughs are made in the shape that
would be obtained by dividing them horizontally along the line of their partition K,
and placing the upper portions containing the water receptacles L at the bottom,
and the lower portions forming the gas chambers or passages M at the top, as shewn
in that Figure, from an inspection of which it will be seen that the upper portions
are so placed as to dip into the water contained in the lower portions, whereby the
gas in its ascent is deflected and caused to dip into and pass through the water in
the manner herein-beforo described.
The bottom trough L and top gas chamber or passage M of the shape lastly
herein-before described may be made to form the lower and upper tiers of the series
of troughs shewn in Figure 1, Sheet 1.
It is obvious that other forms of troughs may be employed without departing
from the principle of my Invention, such, for example, as a U or V shape, or any
other convenient shape in the cross section thereof.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that 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, the employment in gas scrubbers or washers of troughs
containing water or other purifying liquid, constructed and arranged in such a
manner that the gas in its ascent simultaneously throughout the whole area of the
box or vessel between the inlet at the bottom and the outlet at the top shall be
deflected and caused to dip into and pass in a vertical zig-zag course through the
water or other liquid contained in such troughs, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated by my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Edward Saville, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of September, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six
GEORGE EDWARD SAVILLE. (L.S.)