IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS HOLDERS OR GASOMETERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Barker, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS HOLDERS
OR GASOMETERS."
Sealed the 18th July 1879, and dated the 18th January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Barker at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th January 1879.
GEORGE BARKER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN GAS HOLDERS OR GASOMETERS."
My Invention has reference to improvements in gas-holders or gasometers which
are used for the storeage of gas in gas works and other places.
Gas holders are at present surrounded by a framework for the purpose of
steadying them as they rise and fall and also to protect them from the effects of
wind.
By my Invention I do away with outside framework and guide the holder as it
rises and falls by a central column which would generally be made by a series of
cast iron rings, or from wrought iron or steel plates filled when necessary with
earth work or concrete, or from any other suitable material such as stone, concrete,
or brick work, the whole being set upon a good foundation. A ring would be
constructed in connection with the roof of the holder to slide over the central column,
provided when necessary with friction rollers to guide its motion. The gas would
be prevented from escaping by an internal casing or casings (whether the holder
was a single lift or telescopic) surrounding the central column entering the water,
and acting similarly to the way in which the outer casings of gas-holders are at
present made gas tight.
By my Invention I am enabled to economize the material for steadying the
holder because the same strength of support can be obtained in a central column
with very much less metal. I am also enabled to make a cheaper roof by utilizing
the sliding ring as a junction for the rafters and also for the tie rods, and the
roof may by this means be constructed in two shorter spans, instead of in one
span. Great economy of space is also effected, amounting to about twenty per
cent.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Barker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th July
1879.
GEORGE BARKER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer. "I-
PROVEMENTS IN GAS HOLDERS OR GASOMETERS."
My Invention has reference to improvements in gasholders or gasometers which
are used for the storage of gas in gas works and other places.
Gasholders are at present surrounded by a framework for the purpose of
steadying them as they rise and fall, and also to protect them from the effects of
wind.
By my Invention I do away with outside framework and guide the holder as it
rises and falls by central column, which would generally be made by a series of cast
iron rings or hollow cylinders, or from wrought iron or steel plates filled when
necessary with earthwork or concrete, or from any other suitable material such as
stone, concrete, or brickwork, the whole being set upon a good foundation. A ring
is constructed in connection with the roof of the holder to slide over the central
column, provided with friction rollers to guide its motion. The gas is prevented
from escaping by an internal casing or casings (whether the holder is a single lift
or telescopic) surrounding the central column entering the water and acting similarly
to the way in which the outer casings of gasholders are at present made gas
tight.
By my Invention I am enabled to economize the material for steadying the
holder because the same strength of support can be obtained in a central column by
my plans with very much less metal.
I am also enabled to make a cheaper roof by utilizing the sliding ring as a
junction for the rafters, and also for the tie-rods, and the roof may by this means
be constructed in two shorter spans instead of one span.
Great economy of space is also effected, amounting to about twenty per cent.
In order that my Invention may be clearly and fully understood, I will proceed
to describe the same by referring to the annexed Drawings, which represent several
ways in which my Invention may be carried into effect.
Figure 1 is a sectional clevation, and Figure 2 is a plan of one modification of
my improved holder, showing rings or hollow cylinders A, A, A, A, A, A, combined
together to form a central column or support. These rings or cylinders may be
constructed from any kind of metal, such as cast iron, wrought iron or steel, and
the stability will be increased by filling them up with earthwork or concrete.
In some cases it may be found desirable to substitute stanchions or braced frame-
work for these rings, thus formning a central column, but the economy of metal will
not be so great as with the filled up rings. If desirable masonry or brickwork may
be carried up from the bottom of the tank to form one foundation, or separate
foundations inay be made for the rings, stanchions, or braced framework, the whole
being firmly connected by girders or their equivalent at the top, and when necessary
at the foundations and at intermediate places. A circular platform is erected a
little above the water level as shown by b, b, b.
Figures 3 and 4 are a sectional elevation and a plan of a holder with a central
column formed by eight girders C, C, C, C, C, C, C, C, which form the roller guides
for the holder. These girders are connected together at the inside flanges by
plates d, d, d, d, d, d, d, d, and the central space is then filled up with earth work
(which may be that excavated from the tank) except in cases where it may be
found desirable to use some concrete or other matter to stiffen the casing. This
casing may be carried to the bottom of the tank, as shown, or a foundation of
masonry or brickwork may be used, or a ring of brickwork or concrete filled up
with earthwork running up to a little above the water level to form a platform
around the casing between the girders.

page_text: In place of the girders and plates shown in Figure 4, in cases where metal is too
dear, I build a wall of hard bricks or stone bonded together in any approved manner,
the inside of the wall being filled or partly filled up with earthwork, dry out of the
tank, thus making a cheap column of great stability.
Another modification is illustrated by Figures 5 and 6, which show a central
column formed by two rings, an inner ring and an outer ring, the annular space
being filled in with earthwork, concrete, or other available matter. A staircase or
ladder may be placed inside the inner ring, and doorways of communication
may be utilized for other purposes such as a draft way or for any other useful
purpose. Outer and inner rings may be used for any other of the columns herein
described.
Figures 11 and 12 represent a modification of the central principle having three
(or there may be more) supports N, N, N, connected by girders. This form is
specially adapted for very large holders and would be attended with considerable
economy, as very little excavation would be needed in the tank, and the roof could
be supported when down upon the inner casings O, 0, 0, which could be connected
together by light girders or purlines.
I have hereinbefore mentioned that by the employment of my central column for
the gasholder I am enabled to make a cheaper roof, as it may be constructed in two
shorter spans instead of in one span. I make the roof to fall towards the centre
either partly, as seen in Figures 1 and 3, or entirely, as seen in Figure 5, in both
cases I obtain a segmental or arched form instead of the complicated dome roof
usually employed, and I thus obtain simplicity, strength, and lightness of construc-
tion. With either of the forms, Figures 1 and 3, and Figure 5, the holder can be
nearly emptied of gas when down, and the wind surface per cubic feet of storage
capacity is much lessened as compared with the old dome form of roof, which is
indicated by the dotted line e, e, e, Figures 1 and 3; the space enclosed by e, o, e, f,
is saved.
Figures 7 and 8 are enlarged part, plan, and elevation of a roller carriage and guide
where two side rollers h, h, and one central roller j are used to each ring, or girder,
or main post, which will enable the roller to rise steadily and casily under heavy
side winds. The space within the bent plate k may be filled up with sand, or earth-
work, or concrete. Other guides such as channel iron may be used in the place of
the bent plates.
By the means herein before described great facility is obtained for building
telescopic holders, as shown by Figure 3, inasmuch as the rings of my column can
be erected with ease without scaffolding, and be filled up with earth as the work
progresses in height, whereas the erection of the outside guides at present in use is
often a most dangerous an difficult operation. Further, a large central support
constructed according to my plan is much steadier than outside guides.
The stability of my central column, Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10, can be calculated
with certainty, whereas that of the outside framework usually employed cannot bo
more than roughly approximated, which leads to great waste of material in con-
struction or to dangerous lightness.
The value of my Invention increases with large holders as the roof of a three
hundred or four hundred feet holder with my central coluinn would be less in
span than a two hundred feet holder with outside supports.
It will be clearly seen that my Invention in every case provides ample facility
for workmen to examine and operate around the central column or rings or
braced framework, for the purpose of adjusting the guides and rollers at any time;
that there is no liability of the holder to stick and tipple, as has been found to
be the case when it has been attempted to guide holders at the centre by a simple
rod or hollow mast or single hollow column nearly fitting the holder; and that
the greatest stability and facility of adjustment are obtained with a minimum
cost for material.
The maximum of economy may probably be obtained by the modification shown
by Figures 3 and 4, whereas the next most economical arrangement would be by

page_text: forming the column of three rings or cylinders instead of six, as shown in Figures 1
and 2, but even in the case of using six or more rings (which would be something
liko dropping an annular holder outside instead of inside of the framework of a
holder as at present built) there would be a great economy in cost. The rings may
(when desired) be supported by an inner wall of concrete, masonry, or brickwork
filled up with earthwork, as shown by Figures 9 and 10, which would form a good
support when facility for obtaining the material justified the adoption of that
plan.
Having thus described my Invention and means for carrying the same into effect,
I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
1st. Constructing gasholders or gasometers substantially as hereinbefore described,
and represented in Figures 1 and 2, with a central column or support formed of a
series of rings or cylinders or their equivalent connected or braced together.
2nd. Constructing gasholders or gasometers substantially as hereinbefore described
and represented in Figures 3 and 4, with a central support formed of earth, concrete,
or other material surrounded by a suitable casing.
3rd. Constructing gasholders or gasometers substantially as hereinbefore described,
with a central support formed of a wall of bricks or stone filled or partly filled up
inside.
4th. Constructing gasholders or gasometers substantially as hereinbefore described
and represented in Figures 5 and 6, with a central support formed of an outer and
inner ring filled in between.
5th. The particular arrangement for guiding large gasholders with three or more
columns, substantially as hereinbefore described.
6th. In combination with a central column or support such as hereinbefore
described, I claim constructing the roofs of gasholders so that they fall partly or
entirely towards the centre, substantially as for the purpose hereinbefore described,
and represented in the Drawings.
7th. Constructing gasholders or gasometers as hereinbefore described and repre-
sented in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Barker, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
GEORGE PRICE,
Clerk to Georgo Barker,
77, Colmore Row,
Birmingham.
GEORGE BARKER. (L.S.)