IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REVIVIFYING MATERIALS USED IN THE PURIFICATION OF GAS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Fish, of the Gas Works, Hornsey, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REVIVIFYING MATERIALS USED IN THE
PURIFICATION OF GAS."
Sealed the 23rd July 1872, and dated the 4th May 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Fish at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th May 1872.
I, ROBERT FISH, of the Gas Works, Hornsey, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REVIVIFYING MATERIALS
USED IN THE PURIFICATION OF GAS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to the revivification of oxide of iron
which has become inert as a gas purifying agent by reason of its con-
version into sulphuret of iron. The usual plan to revivify it is to remove
it from the purifiers and expose it to the open air. When decomposition
ensues the sulphuret of iron absorbing oxygen from the air deposits its
sulphur and is converted again into oxide of iron. This plan, simple as

page_text: it is, is attended with trouble and expense in its removal from the
purifiers to the revivifying shed or floor, and the object of this Invention
is to avoid the removal, and to cause the revivification to take place in
situ or in the vessel in which it is used. This is accomplished by
providing the purifiers with an inlet and outlet, other than that used for
gas ways (and which may be termed air ways), each inlet being
furnished with a valve to which is attached a short open and somewhat
funnel shaped or expanded pipe. Within the mouth of this conical pipe
a nozzle in connection with a pipe from an ordinary steam boiler is
inserted, the use of the apparatus being as follows:-When the purifying
material has become inert the gas ways are closed and the air ways
opened. A tap is then turned and steam is allowed to flow from the
nozzle into the purifier. The effect of this is to cause a rapid current of
air to flow through the purifier, permeate the purifying material in its
course, and from thence pass to a suitable outlet, in or near to which a
jet of steam may be made to play for the purpose of more completely
removing and diluting any objectionable exhalations; the result of the
process being a complete revivification and conversion into oxide of iron.
The Inventor is aware that the attempt to revivify oxide of iron in
situ by causing a current of air to pass through the purifier is no
novelty, and that the plan was abandoned in consequence of the great
heat which is always generated during the conversion, becoming
dangerous when the material was confined within the purifier, besides
rendering the oxide dry and thereby unfitting for purification without a
subsequent damping.
By the employment of steam however in the manner described, not
only is a sufficient current of air induced to revivify the oxide, but the
use of it keeps the material from getting unduly heated, and produces
that degree of dampness most suitable for this purifying agent.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 30
filed by the said Robert Fish in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd November 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
FISH, of the Gas Works, Hornsey, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
35

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-fifth.
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Robert Fish, Her special licence that I, the said
Robert Fish, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others'
as I, the said Robert Fish, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR REVIVIFYING MATERIALS USED IN THE PURIFICATION OF GAS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Fish, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal.
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Fish, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :—
This Invention has reference to the revivification of oxide of iron,
which has become inert as a gas purifying agent by reason of its con-
version into sulphuret of iron. The usual plan to revivify it is to
remove it from the purifiers and expose it to the open air, when decom-.
position ensues, the sulphuret of iron absorbing oxygen from the air,
deposits its sulphur, and is converted again into oxide of iron. This plan,
simple as it is, is attended with trouble and expense in its removal from
the purifiers to the revivifying shed or floor, and the object of this.
Invention is to avoid the removal and to cause the revivification to take
place in situ, or in the vessel in which it is used. This is accomplished
by providing the purifiers with an inlet and outlet other than that used
for gas ways (and which may be termed air ways), each inlet being
furnished with a short, open, and somewhat funnel-shaped or expanded

page_text: pipe. Within the mouth of this conical pipe a nozzle in connection
with a pipe from an ordinary steam boiler is inserted, the use of the
apparatus being as follows:-When the purifying material has become
inert the gas ways are closed and the air ways opened; a tap is then
turned, and steam is allowed to issue from the nozzle into the purifier. 5
The effect of this is to cause a rapid current of air to flow through the
purifier, permeate the purifying material in its course, and from thenco
pass to a suitable outlet in or near to which a jet of steam may be made
to play for the purpose of more completely removing and diluting any
objectional exhalations, the result of the process being a complete I
revivification and conversion into oxide of iron.
The Inventor is aware that the attempt to revivify oxide of iron in
situ by causing a current of air to pass through the purifier is no
novelty, and that the plan was abandoned in consequence of the great
heat which is always generated during the conversion, becoming 1
dangerous when the material was confined within the purifier, besides
rendering the oxide dry and thereby unfitting it for purification without
a subsequent damping.
By the employment of steam however in the manner described, not
only is a sufficient current of air induced to revivify the oxide, but the 2
use of it keeps the material from getting unduly heated, and produces
that degree of dampness most suitable for this purifying agent.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood Drawings
are attached hereto, of which the following is a description
:-
A and B arc two of a set of purifiers; C is a part of the hydraulic 1
centre valve; D is the steam pipe with nozzles E, E; F, F, are the
funnel-shaped pipes leading to the air inlets G, G; S is the air outlet
connected on to the purifier B at I, and on to the general air outlet
pipe H at the point J. The pipe S is so arranged that it may be also
connected to the purifier A at the point K when the material in that
purifier requires revivifying. At some convenient point along the course
of the pipe H it is proposed to insert a T piece L, into which a jet of
steam enters by means of a nozzle similar to E in communication with
the general steam pipe D. This last jet is employed to assist in perfecting
the draught, or to dilute the exhalations from the purifiers. Between
the points M and N of the pipe H it may be found desirable to introduce
another purifier containing material which will absorb the ammonia

page_text: given off from the purifiers A and B when the oxide of iron is being
revivified by this process, but no claim is made to the employment of a
purifier inserted between M and N. It may be found convenient to
have a valve on the air inlet as at O, or the air inlet may be closed by a
plate bolted or otherwise fastened to the conical shaped pipe, which may
be furnished with a flange for that purpose as at P. Q, Q, are steam
cocks, and R, R, are catch pits for water produced by the condensed
steam.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not confinė or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have described or
referred to, as variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of this Invention, but 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,―
Firstly. The revivification of oxide of iron in the vessels in which it is
employed by means of a current of air induced by the injection of steam,
as herein described.
And, secondly. The general arrangement of apparatus for the purposes
set forth and herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Fish, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of November, in the year"