Improvements in the Manufacture of Carbonic Acid Gas and Apparatus for use therein, and in Tubes for Containing Carbonic Acid Gas.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 14th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Carbonic Acid Gas and
Apparatus for use therein, and in Tubes for Containing
Carbonic Acid Gas.
1 DAN RYLANDS of Shepcote, Stairfoot, near Barnsley in the County of York
Glass Bottle Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
According to my present invention I take limestone or any other suitable material
which will give off carbonic acid gas, and I either pulverize the same or leave it in its
rough state according to the shape of the retort or chamber of which I make use.
The retort in which I charge this limestone will in the case of finely pulverized
limestone be so arranged as to allow for a thin layer of pulverized limestone being
deposited in any suitable way therein, leaving sufficient space for the carbonic acid
gas which is driven off to pass freely into the receiver. Any number of these
retorts may be connected by means of suitable pipes and valves so that after the
limestone has been charged into any one of them and the mouth has been made
airtight the atmospheric air still remaining may be pumped out from the retort or
retorts. After this has been done the proper heat is applied to the retort and the
carbonic.acid gas is drawn or driven off and sent forward through suitable washers
or scrubbers into a suitable gas holder, or where it can be conveniently arranged
the said gas may be compressed as it is drawn off into suitable tubes made of steel
or glass. In some cases these tubes have a draw-off valve at both ends, and are so
arranged that three or four can be connected in a row so that the carbonic acid gas
can be drawn off from them more completely.
Where roughly pulverized limestone is used it may be better to have the retorts
set vertically instead of horizontally, and to charge them in from the top and to
have a revolving. or sliding door at the bottom which will allow of the contents
being emptied straight out. After the whole of the carbonic acid gas has been
drawn off the lime (whether pulverized or in the rough) is then fit for slaking.
In some cases where pulverized limestone is used 1 fix the retorts at such an
angle that when the pulverized limestone is charged into the retorts the limestone
will not run to the bottom of the retort but remains in such a position that the
carbonic acid gas can be driven off from it, and yet so that after the carbonic acid
gas has been driven off the lime can then be pushed out from the retort by means
of a suitably-shaped rake.
In order to expedite the evolution of the carbonic acid gas a suitable vacuum
pump may be applied. to the retorts. By this means a quicker evolution may be
secured.
Dâted this 8th day of June 1891.
DAN RYLANDS.
t
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements' in the Manufacture of Carbonic Acid Gas and
Apparatus for use' therein, and in Tubes for Containing
Oarbonic Acid Gas.
I DAN RYLANDS, of 'Shepcote, Stairfoot, near Barnsley in the County of York;
Glass Bottle Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and'ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
According to my present invention I take limestone or any other suitable

page_text: material which will give off carbonic acid gas, and 1 either pulverise the same or
leave it in its rough state according to the shape of the retort or chamber of which
I make use.
The retort in which I charge this limestone. will in the case of finely
pulverized limestone be so arranged as to allow for a thin layer of pulverized
limestone being deposited in any suitable way therein, leaving sufficient space for
the carbonic acid gas which is driven off to pass freely into the receiver. Any
number of these retorts may be connected by means of suitable pipes and valves, 50
that after the limestone has been charged into any one of them and the month has
been made airtight the atmospheric air still remaining may be pumped out from the
retort or retorts. After this has been done the proper heat is applied to the retort
and the carbonic acid gas is drawn or driven off and sent forward through suitable
washers or scrubbers into a suitable gas holder, or where it can be conveniently
arranged the said gas may be compressed as it is drawn off into suitable tubes made
of steel or glass. In some cases these tubes have a draw-off valve at both ends, and
are so arranged that three or four can be connected in a row so that the carbonic
acid gas can be drawn off from them more completely.
Where roughly pulverized limestone is used it may be better to have the retorts
set vertically instead of horizontally, and to charge them in from the top and to
have a revolving or sliding door at the bottom which will allow of the contents
being emptied straight out. After the whole of the carbonic acid gas has been
drawn off, the lime (whether pulverized or in the rough) is then fit for slaking.
In some cases where pulverized limestone is used I fix the retorts at such an
angle that when the pulverized limestone is charged into the retorts the limestone
will not run to the bottom of the retort, but remains in such a position that the
carbonic acid gas can be driven off from it, and yet so that after the carbonic acid
gas has been driven off, the lime can then be pushed out from the retort by means
of a suitably-shaped rake. In order to expedite the evolution of the carbonic acid
gas a suitable vacuum pump may be applied to the retorts. By this means a quicker
evolution may be secured.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood attach drawings of which
the following is a description :-
Fig. 1 is an elevation in section showing an arrangement of horizontal retorts
suitable for the evolution of carbonic acid gas from limestone, chalk or other suitable
material.
Fig. 2. is a sectional elevation of retorts set diagonally.
Fig. 3, also in sectional elevation shows the retorts set vertically.
In Figs. 1 and 2, a a are retorts of fireclay or other refractory material provided
with the usual mouthpieces b, ascension pipes c, H pipes d, and hydraulic mains e e.
The setting of the retorts, and the method of applying heat to them by furnaces
are in every way similar to the setting of a bench of ordinary gas retorts and will
be well understood without further explanation.
In Fig. 3. the retorts a are shown set vertically in a chamber of any suitable
width and length, and in which any convenient number of retorts may be grouped:
are iron Hoor plates carried by the longitudinal girder i, and side walls jj, the
longitudinal girder being supported by pillars. The iron plates are protected
from the heat of the chamber g by a covering of firebrick /. The floor plates arc
formed on their upper surface with projecting rings or seatings m for the reception
of the lower end of the retorts; nn are discharging doors, o the charging platform.
The method of working the horizontal and inclined retorts shown by Figs. 1 and 2
is as follows: The retorts being charged with limestone, chalk, or other suitable
carbonate, are closed and made airtight in the usual manner. The proper heat
being now applied to the retorts and their contents will result in the limestone
giving off its carbonic acid gas, which by means of ascension pipes cc, and hydraulic
mains e e is conveyed to a suitable scrubbing or washing apparatus, and from thence
to the gasholder. To aid and expedite the giving off of the carbonic acid gas, I
provide and fix in any suitable position an exhauster or pump capable of making a
partial vacuum in the interior of the retorts. Sufficient time having been given for

page_text: the evolution of the carbonic acid gas, and the transition of the limestone into lime,
the contents of the retorts can be withdrawn and the retorts again charged.
The vertical retorts shown by Fig. 3 are charged from the top, and being of
larger area at the bottom or discharging end than at the upper or charging end afford
a ready means for emptying the contents of the retorts into the waggon shown.
The retorts after having been charged with limestone will contain a considerable
quantity of atmospheric air, and as it is desirable to obtain the carbonic acid gas in
as pure a state as possible it is necessary to draw off the air before placing the
retorts in communication with the scrubber and gasholder which can very readily
be effected by placing the retorts in groups of any convenient number, cach group
being furnished with a separate hydraulic main, a pipe p (Fig. 1) leading from the
main to an exhauster or pump will draw off the air contained in the retorts, ascension
pipes, H pipes, and hydraulic main. After the air has been exhausted communica-
tion is closed between the hydraulic main and the air exhauster, and the retorts
put in communication with the gas exhauster, scrubber, and gasholder. By this
method of working the retorts in rotation, a continuous supply of nearly pure gas
will be obtained, the last-charged retorts giving off an excess of gas compensating for
the decreasing quantity given off by the prior charged ones. In some cases
dispense with the hydraulic mains and ascension pipes, and couple up by suitable
connecting pipes the retorts to the air and gas exhausters. Suitable taps or valves
are provided to place the retorts in connection either with the gas or air exhausters;
or the gas may be withdrawn direct from the retorts by a gas compressing pump,
passing from the pump through coils of condensing pipes to the iron storage
bottle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvement in the manufacture of carbonic acid gas from limestone or
other suitable material by means of closed retorts which prevent the products of
combustion mixing with the gas and thus secure a pure gas, as described and
illustrated by Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
2. The use of vertical retorts in the aforesaid process, such retorts being fitted
with falling or sliding bottom doors as shown at Fig. 3.
3. In combination with the retorts named in the preceding claim the application
of means for drawing off the carbonic acid gas as it is generated substantially as
lescribed.
Dated this 8th day of April 1802
DAN RYLANDS.