Improvements in the Manufacture of Gas and Apparatus therefor
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., .1887
Complete Left, 3rd Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 4th Apr., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Gas and Apparatus therefor
I, JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of 7, 9, and 11 Emlyn Street, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention to be as follows:-
According to this Invention two retorts or sets of retorts are used one under the
other and preferably placed at an angle from the horizontal. The charge (when coal
is used) is placed in the upper retort and instead of the gas escaping by an ascension
pipe in the usual way, it is passed down a pipe to the front of the lower retort
which is the hotter of the two: it then passes to the opposite end of the retort and
rises by an ascension pipe to the hydraulic main, or seal, the heavier tar escaping
by a down pipe to a well, or receptacle provided for it.
By passing the gas with its bye products through a second retort as above specified
the heavier hydrocarbons are more permanently suspended and so become fixed
illuminants in the gas. And by arresting a great portion of the tar in the manner
specified before it reaches the hydraulic main, the lighter hydrocarbons will not be
absorbed to the same extent as in ordinary practice in the partial condensation of
the crude gas which takes place there, as it would if all the tar flowed with it through
the dip into the main. If oil is used the oil is admitted by a syphon tubo to the
upper retort.
In addition to the ordinary dip pipe which forms the seal in the hydraulic main,
[insert the end of the outlet pipe downwards from the top, or cover of the main ;
nd I also provide an inverted conical, or bell shaped vessel, the bottom, or widest
art of which dips into the liquid. Near the top, or narrower part of the bell the
as enters. The apparatus is so constructed that the gas travels spirally downwards.
By this means the gas is dried to a certain extent by the centrifugal force against
he inside of the vessel. The mouth of the outlet pipe is centrally situated in the
one and is so arranged that it does not come in contact with the centrifugally
spelled residues.
In addition to a considerable length of tubing by which the gas is exposed to the
oling effects of the air, I use a condenser formed of a series of tubes of larger
D

page_text: diameter than is required for the passage of the gas in order that it may
The tubes are placed horizontally and parallel to each other and are connected at
alternate ends by short pipes. One end of each pipe projects into the condenser pipe
to half its diameter; the other end is flush with the interior of the next pipe and
so on with each pipe. The first condenser pipe forming an inlet for gas and water, 5
For more rapid, or effective cooling the
the last one being an outlet for same.
pipes may be encased in a water jacket. At the upper end of the tubing water is
allowed to trickle in by means of a syphon tube. At the other end the outlet is
formed in the same manner and the gas is arranged to travel in an opposite direction
to the water. Thus each horizontal tube forms a shallow pool flowing slowly in the
opposite direction to the flow of the gas and thus exposing each portion of the gas to
successive portions of water, increasing in purity and coolness.
8
The gas flows over the water and by reason of the continual impact of the gas in
its zig zag motion against the interior of the piping and the surface of the liquid the
whole of the gas comes in contact with the liquid and is purified from its ammonia
and cooled also by the absorbent property of the water the gas parts with H, S
and CO, to a great extent. The above simple and effective manner of treating the
gas effects a saving in plant and material and the gas is not impoverished as with
ordinary washers. Also by the free and unobstructed flow of the gas, exhausters will
in many cases be unnecessary. The gas is purified by an arrangement of sieves each
one having supports which serve as handles whercon is placed layers of moss under-
neath the layers of lime, oxide of iron sulphate of soda, or their equivalents.
these I may place a receptacle to contain any suitable volatile hydrocarbon for the
further enrichment of the gas if desired and underneath all these there is a space
where all moist impurities which may find their way to the purifier are arrested and
automatically drawn off to a lower receptacle.
Above

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
5
Improvements in the Manufacture of Gas and Apparatus therefor.
I, JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of 7, 9 and 11 Emlyn Street, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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:-
The object of this Invention is to render practically all the volatile products heavy
and light, given off from coal by distillation, useful for the production of light and
heat, and, at the same time, to produce illuminating gas of a higher illuminating
power than is generally produced at Gas Works, that is, elements that are not
commonly converted into permanent illuminants in the manufacture of illuminating
gas by the common methods adopted, would be rendered permanent and of good
illuminating power. A further object is to construct the apparatus in such a manner
that all carbon and pitch deposited in it can be readily reached from outside the
retorts and removed.
To the above ends, retorts according to this Invention are constructed in compound
form, that is to say, they consist of a main retort and a second retort, which I will
term a duct, leading directly therefrom. The fuel is distilled in the main retort and
the gases as they are evolved pass up and through the above named duct, which is
preferably in the form of a double, or return pipe, having its mouth above that of the
main retort.
The temperature to which the main retort is subjected previous to charging it, is
equivalent to that of, or denoted by a clear cherry red colour, or what is known in gas
making as a medium temperature.
reduction of temperature takes place in it, but however again approaches its initial
But when the retort is charged with fuel a
temperature, as the distillation of the charge nears completion. The duct is also kept
at a temperature equivalent to about that denoted by à clear cherry red colour.
In operation the retort is charged in the usual way with fuel and closed. The
listillation then proceeds in the ordinary way the gases and vapours evolved from the
harge however in passing through the duct are subjected to the temperature of that
uct which causes all, or nearly all gases, or vapours heavy, or fight to become
ermanent before reaching the mouth or exit of such duct.
By the herein described construction and arrangement of retort, and the tem-
eratures employed, a gas can be produced, containing in it as permanent gas that
volved from the heavy or tarry vapours as well as the light vapours, and at the
me time all carbon and pitch deposited within the apparatus can be easily and
adily withdrawn.
The above is a general description of the object, nature and purposes of this
vention, but to set forth the same more clearly and exactly, there are hereunto
nexed four sheets of Drawings, which together with the description contained
rein, will be sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which this Invention
longs, to put it into practice. The Drawings form a part of this Specification and

page_text: re marked with figures and letters of reference corresponding with MOS
ollowing explanation. Like figures and letters are used to denote like, or corre-
sponding parts throughout the various views.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the retort according to this Invention.
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively longitudinal section and front elevation-partly in 5
section of a bench of retorts according to this Invention.
Figure 4 is a modified construction of the rotort.
With reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the Drawings A is the retort and B is the duct
a is the retort mouth and a¹ the
which is in the form of a return, or double pipe.
retort door. The retort and duct is formed in one piece (this is not essential, but 1
preferable) and is made of cast iron. The temperature above specified to which it is
subjected, or worked, namely, a clear cherry red, is such that the illuminating
properties of the evolved gases are not destroyed or injured and at the same time will
admit of the retort being made of iron without liability to rapid destruction. The
duct B is smaller than the retort A; the proportion shown in the Drawing being one 1
from which good results may be obtained. The seating of the retort is shown in
Figure 1 and consists of a front wall C and a pedestal C¹.
In Figures 2 and 3 three retorts are shown; the setting of these is such that they
shall be protected from the destructive action of the flames and furnace gases and
maintained at equal, or approximately equal, temperatures. This is done by partly
shielding those nearest the fire by brickwork, namely the lower retorts are protected
by slabs of fire brick 2 throughout their length and the upper retort is protected by
slabs c3 at intervals, the ducts B being unprotected in all cases. The arrows shown
in the Drawings indicate the direction of the furnace gases.
It consists of a clay body,
In Figure 4 a modified construction of retort is shown.
or retort proper A, the duct B being of cast iron and secured to the cast iron mouth a.
The main retort A is secured to the mouth a in the usual way by bolts. It is evident
the advantages attending the construction of the retort and duct set forth with
reference to Figure 1 are also in this case secured.
The construction of the duct B as a double, or return pipe is suitable for most kinds
of coal ordinarily used for distilling gas from and is the form I prefer to employ,
but for certain known kinds of coal in which the heavy, or tarry vapours do not
exist to such an extent as in cannel coal for example, or do not require the length
of run provided in the double, or return duct type to convert them into permanent
gases, I may form the duct B upon the end of the retort A as shown in dotted lines
in Figure 1 and marked B thereby providing a diminished length of run for the
gases.
An important feature of my Invention is that I construct a retort A with its duct
so that the point where the duct springs from, or is connected to the retort there shal
be no part incapable of being cleaned, or scraped from the mouths of the retor
and duct. To effect this I construct the parts a³ where the duct and retort, or th
"feather edge" as shown an
two ducts come together, or ramify in the form of a
to provide this characteristic most conveniently I construct and arrange the retort
This feature is maintained whether th
and duct B at an angle to one another.
duct B be a single, or a return pipe. I also construct the apparatus so that the be
of the furnace gases may, as far as possible consistent with the features just describ
come in contact with and surround the duct B. It will be seen the retorts here
shown and described resemble in appearance the letters N or V as the case may be.
Although three retorts are shown in Figures 2 and 3, it must be understood th
any required number of retorts may be set in a bench in the usual way, but care mu
be taken that they are shielded and arranged in the manner just described so that t
temperature of all shall be substantially equal.
I have found that retorts having a double, or return pipe, or duct B through whi
the gases are passed after leaving the distilling retort A and heated to the temperat
specified, effect the best results, that is the luminous qualities combined with
volume of gas obtained from a given quantity of coal give together a more valua
product than by using other temperatures and further that these temperatu

page_text: employed permit of cast iron retorts, or portions of such retorts being used when
shielded as described without liability to rapid destruction.
It will be observed that each retort with its duct is an independent complete gas
making apparatus having no valves and comprising a plain receptacle and open ducts,
that is the ducts contain internally no bodies, or obstructions and direct access can be
had to the retort and lower part of the duct B and they can be cleaned from the
door a¹ of the mouth a; whilst the upper part of the duct B and the mouth b can be
cleaned from the door ; this part of the duct only requires occasional cleaning.
The ascension pipes D lead to a hydraulic main E, the dip pipes E' of which are
inserted into the liquor to a small depth only for instance of an inch. This depth
allows the gas to pass freely out and into the main, causing little back pressure in the
retort, but at the same time is quite sufficient to seal each dip pipe when gas making
is not proceeding in the retort to which it belongs. The main E is open at E² to
the atmosphere and so prevents any undue pressure within it.
In the above description I have set forth a retort in which the duct, or second
retort B is located above the main retort A instead of below it as specified in my
Provisional Specification. The reason that I have adopted this arrangement is that
I have found in practice that the desideratum of working this duct at a higher mean
temperature than the main retort A is better obtained when so arranged than as
proposed in my Provisional Specification and is therefore preferable.
The other portions of the apparatus specified in my Provisional Specification are
herein omitted, as I have found that it is not advisable to make any claim founded
upon them, and they are not essential to the production of the gas, other washing
apparatus of ordinary type being suitable for the purification of it. But I prefer to
employ apparatus for this purpose in which the gas is lightly and evenly washed.
Having now particularly described this Invention, it must be stated in conclusion
that it is well known that the use of compound retorts for converting the tarry, or
heavy vapours given off in the distillation of coal into permanent gases has heretofore
been proposed, and no claim is tlierefore made for these in principle of effect and
operation, but only in so far as they are constructed and operated in the manner
hereinbefore described and illustrated, that is to say what is claimed in respect of this
Invention is :-
First. The combinations of parts constructed substantially as set forth and shown
respectively in Figures 1 and 4 so as to facilitate working and removal of deposits
and operating as and for the purposes specified.
Second. The combination of parts shown in Figures 2 and 3 constructed and
operating as and for the purposes specified.