IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING PRODUCTS FROM' BLAST-FURNACE AND OTHER COMBUSTIBLE GASES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Alexander, and Andrew Kirkwood McCosh, both of
Gartsherrie Iron Works, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING PRODUCTS FROM'
BLAST-FURNACE AND OTHER COMBUSTIBLE GASES." "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Alexander and Andrew
Kirkwood McCosh at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
31st July 1882.
JOHN ALEXANDER and ANDREW KIRKWOOD McCOSH, both of Gartsherrie Iron
Works, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR OBTAINING PRODUCTS FROM BLAST-FURNACE AND OTHER COMBUSTIBLE GASES
"
This Invention relates to processes and apparatus generally of the kind described
in the Specifications of Patents obtained by the present applicants and officially
numbered 4117 of 1879, 1433 of 1880, and 3785 of 1881, the principal object of
the said processes and apparatus, and of the present Invention being to deal
satisfactorily and profitably with the large volumes of gases proceeding from blast
furnaces, these gases offering peculiar difficulties in their treatment from the
character of the tarry and other matters deposited from them.
The present Invention consists of improvements in a part of the apparatus in
which the gases are cooled by means of water for the purpose of causing the
condensation and deposition or separation from them of tarry and other condensible
matters. And in one modification the apparatus consists of a rectangular structure.
constructed principally of sheets or plates of iron fixed to a suitable iron framework.
The interior of the structure is divided by parallel vertical partitions, which may
consist of single plates or sheets, but which are by preference made double or
hollow and have cold water circulated through them. The partitions are not of the
full vertical length of the interior of the structure and are placed so as to leave
openings alternately at the top and bottom, so that the gases which are admitted
at one end may pass through the compartments in succession and in upward and
downward directions alternately. Pipes of wrought-iron or cast-iron are placed

page_text: horizontally across the compartments, and their ends, outside of the structure, are
connected by elbow pieces into sets which are by preference horizontal, and
through which streams of cold water are passed. The cold water is admitted into
the sets of horizontal pipes from one or more vertical pipes placed at the end
of the structure from which the gases pass from it, and the water leaves the
horizontal pipes at the other end at which the gases enter. The several rows of
horizontal pipes are by preference arranged so that the pipes of each row are
opposite the spaces of the rows next it, the object of this arrangement being to
repeatedly subdivide the streams of gases and thereby render the condensing action
more efficient. At the bottom of each compartment there is a discharge pipe
leading into a main pipe by which the condensed tarry matters are drawn off; and
large valves or doors are provided at the tops and bottoms of the compartments to
give easy relief to undue internal pressure caused by ignition of the gases or
otherwise. A raised rim is formed round the top of the structure and water is
continuously led into the shallow trough thus formed, and overflowing through
holes in the rim, drips down the sides and ends of the structure thereby materially
aiding the cooling action.
In a second modification the apparatus is made of a vertical cylindrical form
instead of being rectangular, and inside of the apparatus there are a number of
compartments formed by casings of cylindrical or other convenient form. These
compartments are connected alternately at the top and bottom as in the first
niodification so that the gases may pass through them in succession, and there are
vertical pipes in them, the cold water employed to effect the condensation being
passed through the last named pipes and in the space within the outer casing not
occupied by the inner gas casings.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Alexander and Andrew Kirkwood MoCosh in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 27th January 1883.
JOHN ALEXANDER, and ANDREW KIRKWOOD McCOSH, both of Gartsherrie Iron
Works, in the County of Lanark, North Britain "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR OBTAINING PRODUCTS FROM BLAST FURNACE AND OTHER COMBUSTIBLE GASES
"
Our said Invention relates to processes and apparatus generally of the kind
described in the Specifications of Patents obtained by us, and officially num-
bered 4117 of 1879, 1433 of 1880 and 3785 of 1881; the principal object of the
said processes and apparatus, and of our present Invention being to deal
satisfactorily and profitably with the large volumes of gases proceeding from blast
furnaces, these gases offering peculiar difficulties in their treatment, from the
character of the tarry and other matters deposited from them.

page_text: Our present Invention consists of improvements in a part of the apparatus in
which the gases are cooled by means of water, for the purpose of causing the
condensation and deposition or separation from them of tarry and other condensible
matters. And in one modification the apparatus consists of a rectangular structure
the interior of which is divided by parallel vertical partitions placed so as to leave
openings alternately at the top and bottom, so that the gases which are admitted
at one end may pass through the compartments in succession and in upward and
downward directions alternately. Pipes of wrought-iron or cast-iron are placed
horizontally across the compartments, and streams of cold water are passed through
them according to a special arrangement hereinafter particularly described. At the
bottom of each compartment there is a discharge pipe leading into a main pipe by
which the condensed tarry matters are drawn off; and large valves or doors are
provided at the tops and bottoms of the compartments to give easy relief to undue
internal pressure caused by ignition of the gases or otherwise.
In a second modification the apparatus is made of a vertical cylindrical form
instead of being rectangular, and inside of the apparatus there are a number of
compartments formed by casings of cylindrical or other convenient form.
And in order that our said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood we hereunto append three sheets of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to and representing our improved apparatus.
Figures 1, and 2, on sheet 1, of the accompanying drawings are vertical sections
as at right angles to each other of one modification of our improved rectangular
condensing or cooling apparatus; and figure, 3, on sheet 2, is a corresponding
sectional plan. Figure, 4, on sheet, 2, is a vertical section showing a modification
of part of the apparatus shown in figures 1, 2, 3. Figures, 5, and 6, on sheet, 3, are
a plan and a vertical section of a modification of our improved cylindrical.
condensing or cooling apparatus. In these drawings the same reference numerals
are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
In the modification shown in figures 1, 2, 3, the rectangular casing of the
apparatus is constructed principally of sheets or plates of iron fixed to a suitable
iron framework; and the interior is divided by parallel vertical partitions, 7, con-
sisting in this example of single plates or sheets. The partitions, 7, are not of the
full vertical length of the interior of the structure, and they are placed so as to
leave openings alternately at the top and bottom, so that the gases which enter by
an inlet, S, at the bottom of one end of the structure, may pass through the com-
partments in succession and in upward and downward directions alternately, finally
leaving by an outlet, 9, at the bottom of the opposite end of the structure.
Pipes, 10, of wrought-iron or cast-iron are placed horizontally across the compart-
ments, and their ends, outside of the structure, are connected by elbow pieces, 11,
into separate horizontal sets. The cold water is admitted into the sets of horizontal
pipes, 10, by vertical pipes, 12, placed at the outlet end of the structure; and the
water leaves the horizontal pipes by vertical pipes, 13, at the inlet end of the
structure. Every alternate horizontal set of water pipes, 10, is connected to one
vertical admission pipe, 12, and one vertical discharge pipe, 13; and the other
alternate horizontal sets are connected to the other vertical admission and discharge
pipes, 12, 13. The branches connecting the horizontal water pipes, 10, to the
vertical pipes, 12, 13, are provided with stopcocks or regulating valves so that each
horizontal set of pipes can have the flow of water through it separately regulated
or controlled. The several rows or horizontal sets of water pipes, 10, are by
preference arranged so that the pipes of each row are opposite the spaces of the
rows next it, the object of this arrangement being to repeatedly subdivide the
streams of gases and thereby render the condensing action more efficient. At the
bottom of each compartiment there is a discharge pipe, 14, leading into a main
pipe, 15, for leading the condensed tarry matters off into a tank, 16; and large
valves or doors, 17, are provided at the tops of the compartments and at the
bottoms of the sides to act as relief valves should the internal pressure become
unduly great from any cause. A raised rim, 18, is formed round the top of the

page_text: structure and water is continuously led into the shallow trough thus formed, and
overflowing through holes in the rim, drips down the sides and ends of the
structure, thereby materially aiding the cooling action.
In the modification shown in figure, 4, the partitions, 7, instead of being made
of single plates or sheets are made double so as to form thin spaces through which
water is passed to assist the cooling and condensing action
In the modification shown in figures, 5, and 6, the casing is in the form of a
vertical cylinder, 19; and inside of it there are constructed a number of vertical
cylindrical compartments, 20, which are connected alternately at the top and
bottom so that the gases may pass through them in succession. In each of the
compartments, 20, there are a number of vertical pipes, 21, which are open at top
and bottom to the space surrounding the compartments, and the cold water
employed to effect the condensation passes through the pipes, 21, and fills the space
in the casing, 19, not occupied by the compartments or inner gas casings, 20.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention and the manner of
performing the same we have to state that we do not restrict ourselves to the
precise details herein described or delineated but that what we believe to be novel
and original and claim as the Invention secured to us by and in terms of the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of apparatus for obtaining
products from blast-furnace and other combustible gases substantially in the
improved manner herein before described with reference to figures 1 to 4, of the
accompanying drawings.
2. The combination in apparatus for cooling combustible gases and causing the
condensation and separation of tarry matters, of compartments traversed vertically
by the gases, with internal horizontal cold-water pipes, and with apparatus for
applying films or streams of water externally substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. The arranging or combining together of the parts of apparatus for obtaining
products from blast-furnace and other combustible gases substantially in the
improved manner hereinbefore described with reference to figures, 5, and 6, of the
accompanying drawings.
In Witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Kirkwood McCosh on behalf of the
said John Alexander and myself have hereunto set my hand and seal this
twenty-sixth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty-three.

page_text: FIG. 3.