IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ILLUMINATING GAS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Roswell Sabine Ripley, of 8, New Inn, Wych Street,
Strand, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF ILLUMINATING GAS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
A communication from abroad by William Henry St. John, of Bay Shore,
Long Island, State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 28th October 1879, and dated the 1st May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Roswell Sabine Ripley at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st May 1879.
26
ROSWELL SABINE RIPLEY, of 8, New Inn, Wych Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ILLUMINATING GAS, AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR." [A communication from abroad by William Henry St.
John, of Bay Shore, Long Island, State of New York, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to improvements in the process and apparatus for which
Letters Patent were granted to my correspondent, William Henry St. John, dated
the 24th day of July, in the year 1873, No. 2527.
The gas is caused to come into intimate contact with the liquid brought over
from the hydraulic main, in a series of chambers or boxes that are constantly
supplied. This liquid effects a complete removal of the tar, dissolving the napthaline,
also it removes a portion of the sulphur and other impurities. At the same time it
gives to the gas a much higher illuminating power. Prior however to passing the
gas through the series of boxes which are supplied with hydraulic main liquor, it
is advantageous to pass it through two other similar series of boxes; the first series
containing an alkaline solution, and the second series water, or a diluted alkali.
These arrangements take the place of the usual washing and other expensive and
deteriorating condensing processes or operations.
The Invention comprises a novel apparatus for carrying into effect the treatment
just briefly set forth. It consists of series of chambers or boxes supplied with dip
tubes which subdivide the volume of gas and secure the action of the liquid upon
every portion of the gas. Immediately below these dip tubes is placed a wire
gauze which also subdivides the volume of the gas. This wire gauze is placed in
every box, and is always submerged in the liquid immediately at the bottom of the
tubes. It is at this point that the most energetic action is ensured.
The alkaline solution with which the first series of boxes is charged consists by
preference of an ammoniacal liquid obtained by purifying and rendering caustic a
portion of the liquid drawn from the bydraulic main.

page_text: The water or weak liquor with which the second series of boxes is charged serves
to absorb any ammonia which may be carried forward with the gas.
The third series of boxes as already stated is supplied with liquor drawn direct
from the hydraulic main.
By the passage of the gas through these three successive series of boxes, the tar
with the napthaline is completely extracted as well as a large quantity of the
sulphur compounds; the gas also absorbs from the bydraulic main liquor the light
hydrocarbons which increase its illuminating power from one to two candles or
more.
The apparatus also comprises vertical pipes
purpose of condensing the aqueous vapour in
point. Also a spray of ammoniacal liquor is
ammonia as well as the sulphur compounds.
resting upon boxes, they serve the
the gas held in suspension at this
introduced into them to arrest the
These vertical pipes are supplied with a series of corrugated plates which are so
placed as to subdivide the volume of gas into thin sheets, and by this process the
ammonia can be extracted.
The boxes of each series are connected by an equalizing pipe which maintains
uniformity in the level of the liquid throughout the series.
A cock also in each case regulates the depth to which the dip tubes are
immersed.
When this apparatus is used, the volume of gas produced from a given amount of
coal can be materially increased by a prolonged distillation of the coal, or by in-
troducing into the retorts for a period after the coal has been converted into coke, a
jet of steam which it would be preferable to have superheated. The attenuated
gas produced by prolonged distillation, will be enriched by the bydrocarbons con-
tained in the liquid brought into the apparatus from the hydraulic main. When
steam is used in the manner stated above it will be decomposed, and the resultant
gases will be hydrogen and carbonic oxide, which will be enriched by passing
through the above named liquids, and increase the quantity of illuminating gas.
Besides, the formation of injurious incrustations of carbon on the interior surface of
the retorts will be prevented.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Roswell Sabine Ripley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
November 1879.
ROSWELL SABINE RIPLEY, of 8, New Inn, Wych Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ILLUMINATING GAS, AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication from abroad by William Henry St.
John, of Bay Shore, Long Island, State of New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in the process and apparatus for which
Letters Patent were granted to my correspondent, William Henry St. John, dated
the 24th day of July, in the year 1873, No. 2527.
The gas is caused to come into intimate contact with the liquid brought over
from the hydraulic main in a series of chambers or boxes that are constantly
supplied. This liquid effects a complete removal of the tar, dissolving the naphthaline,
also it removes a portion of the sulphur and other impurities. At the same time it

page_text: gives to the gas a much higher illuminating power. Prior however to passing the
gas through the series of boxes which are supplied with hydraulic main liquor, it is
advantageous to pass it through two other similar series of boxes; the first series
containing an alkaline solution, and the second series water or a diluted alkali.
These arrangements take the place of the usual washing and other expensive and
deteriorating condensing processes or operations.
The Invention comprises a novel apparatus for carrying into effect the treatment
just briefly set forth. It consists of series of chambers or boxes supplied with dip
tubes which subdivide the volume of gas, and secure the action of the liquid upon
every portion of the gas. Immediately below these dip tubes is placed a wire
gauze which also subdivides the volume of the gas. This wire gauze is placed in
every box, and is always submerged in the liquid immediately at the bottom of the
tubes. It is at this point that the most energetic action is ensured.
The alkaline solution with which the first series of boxes is charged consists by
preference of an ammoniacal liquid obtained by purifying and rendering caustic a
portion of the liquid drawn from the hydraulic main.
The water or weak liquor with which the second series of boxes is charged serves
to absorb any ammonia which may be carried forward with the gas.
Third series of boxes as already stated is supplied with liquor drawn direct from
the hydraulic main.
By the passage of the gas through these three successive series of boxes, the tar
with the naphthaline is completely extracted, as well as a large quantity of the
sulphur compounds. The gas also absorbs from the hydraulic main liquor, the liglit
hydrocarbons which increase its illuminating power from one to two candles or
more.
The apparatus also comprises vertical pipes resting upon boxes, they serve the
purpose of condensing the aqueous vapour in the gas held in suspension at this
point. Also a spray of ammoniacal liquor is introduced into them, to arrest the
ammonia as well as the sulphur compounds.
These vertical pipes are supplied with a series of corrugated plates which are so
placed, as to subdivide the volume of gas into thin sheets, and by this process the
ammonia can be extracted.
The boxes of each series are connected by an equalizing pipe which maintains
uniformity in the level of the liquid throughout the series.
A cock also in each case regulates the depth to which the dip tubes are im-
mersed.
When this apparatus is used, the volume of gas produced from a given amount of
coal can be materially increased by a prolonged distillation of the coal, or by
introducing into the retorts for a period after the coal has been converted into coke,
a jet of steam which it would be preferable to have superheated. The attenuated
gas produced by prolonged distillation will be enriched by the hydrocarbons con-
tained in the liquids brought into the apparatus from the hydraulic main. When
steam is used in the manner stated above, it will be decomposed, and the resultant
gases will be hydrogen and carbonic oxide, which will be enriched by passing
through the above named liquids, and increase the quantity of illuminating gas.
Besides, the formation of injurious incrustations of carbon on the interior surface of
the retorts will be prevented.
In order that the Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus constructed according to the Invention,
and designed for the practice of the process constituting part of the said Invention.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus constructed according to the Invention,
and designed for the practice of the process constituting part of the said Invention,
Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus.
A, A, are a series of boxes; there are three such series, although one only is shown,
but it is not essential that each series should consist of four boxes, although this

page_text: number may be used, they are constructed with gas tight compartments at the top.
The inlet pipe B is secured to the top compartment of the first box of the series.
The bottom plates of these top compartments are supplied with the dip tubes C
which form the only passages left for the gas. These dip tubes C are always
submerged in the liquid to any depth that may be required. The liquid is brought
forward in the pipe D where it enters the first of the boxes A.
The gas is forced through the seals or liquid lutes by the exhauster. After
passing this point or seal, the gas rises up through the wire gauze and liquid, and
is then conducted to the next box of the series by the pipe E, and so on throughout
the whole of the series. The gas afterwards enters the first section of vertical
pipes F. It then rises and descends alternately until it passes out at the outlet
pipe G to the purifiers. At the top of the vertical pipes is a pipe H to convey the
ammoniacal liquor of the hydraulic main into the vertical pipes at the top, where it
is introduced in the form of a spray through the perforated disc I, as shown in
Figure 1. M, M, are corrugated plates contained in the pipes F. The liquid
products that are brought forward from the hydraulic main are conducted through
the parts of the apparatus in which this liquor is employed by the pipe K as shown.
The liquor makes its escape at the rear end through an adjustable valve L which
controls the seals on the dip tubes to any given depth. There is a similar valve to
regulate the dip in the first and second series of boxes A.
The arrangement may be varied by passing the gas through the boxes charged
with liquor from the hydraulic main before it is passed through the boxes con-
taining the alkaline solution.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,――
First. The process herein described for purifying illuminating gas by causing it
to pass through an alkaline liquid, and also in contact with the liquids derived from
the gas producing material during distillation, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Second. The combination of boxes with dip tubes and wire gauze, or its equi-
valent placed immediately at the bottom of the dip tubes, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
Tbird. The combination with the vertical pipes of the ammoniacal liquor pipes
at the top of the vertical pipes, introducing at these points a spray for absorbing
the ammonia and sulphur, substantially as herein set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the series of boxes, dip tubes, and the adjustable
valve at the outlet, of the apparatus by which a seal of any required depth may be
secured, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The combination with the series of boxes and dip tubes of the equalizing
pipe connecting the boxes in which the same liquid is employed, thereby producing
uniformity of height of the liquid, substantially as herein set forth.
Sixth. The combined process of admitting steam into the gas producing retorts,
and passing the resulting gas through the liquids derived from the gas producing
materials during distillation, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Roswell Sabine Ripley, have hereunto set my.
hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
R. S. RIPLEY. (L.S.)