Improvements in Seal Pipes for Reducing the Pressure in Gas Retorts.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 29th June, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 21st Sept., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
.
Improvements in Seal Pipes for Reducing the Pressure in Gas
Retorts.
ROBERT PALMER, Gas Manager 44 Carwood Lane Sheffield in the County of York
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This Seal Pipe is intended to dispense with the old ordinary dip pipe, thereby
giving a larger area for flow of Gas in Hydraulic Mains, reducing the Pressure on
retorts & stopping the great amount of Leakage through cracks & fissures which are
caused by excessive pressure on the retorts.
To attain my object I fix my ascension pipe in a vertical or any suitable position.
At a convenient point on circumference of ascension Pipe I attach a flange joint to
receive a similar joint with my improved seal pipe, which is connected one end with
ascension pipe the other with Hydraulic Main. This seal pipe is bent
or any suit-
able shape the end fixed in Hydraulic Main being lower than end fixed in ascension
pipe. It will now be seen that the pressure of Gas in Retort will displace the water
in the bend of seal pipe & allow Gas to flow into Hydraulic Main. When the
pressure of Gas is reduced the water will find its own level & return again to bend
in seal pipe.
Dated this 27th day of February 1888.

page_text: hydraulic main D the ordinary anti-dip-pipe has from 2 to 3 inches of water or tar to
displace from the time the charge of coal has been placed in the retort A until all the
gas is given off it will be seen at a glance from the accompanying drawing that
my shaped pipe C, has nothing of this kind to perform. My improved pipe C
offering less resistance to the discharge of Gas from the retort. When the charge is
in and the lids secured the first discharge of Gas displaces the water seal, allowing
the Gas the freest access to the hydraulic main D, the resistance is reduced to a minimum,
thereby relieving the pressure on the retorts. As the discharge of Gas becomes
weaker from the retorts the water seal returns to its position in proportion to the
volume of Gas that has to be discharged, when all the gas is given off from the retort
the seal will become perfect against any gas backing down the ascension pipe B. By
the use of my seal pipe CI increase the make of gas per ton of coal carbonized &
retain a better beat by reducing the carbonaceous deposits on the retorts A.
It will also be seen that my seal pipe C inasmuch as it reduces the pressure on
the retorts A, prevents to a great extent blowing & leakage. With my seal pipe C the
life & durability of the retorts A will be prolonged, & the simplicity of my arrange-
ment allows for increased capacity in the hydraulic main D thereby giving a greater
area for the flow of gas. I accomplish the above objects by securing my seal pipe C
(which may be made of wrot or cast iron) at one end to the vertical ascension
pipe B from the retorts A, the other I secure to the hydraulic main D, with flange &
bolts or any other suitable means. I dispense entirely with the ordinary H pipe used
between the ascension pipe B & the hydraulic main D.
My pipe C is charged with water or the distilate, or residuals from the carbonization
of the coal in the hydraulic main D. The discharge of Gas from Retorts to hydraulic
main displaces the water seal C & gives free passage of Gas to hydraulic main D. In

page_text: proportion as the pressure from the retort A decreases the liquid returns to my seal
pipe C preventing any back pressure to retorts A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
An improved seal pipe for reducing the pressure in gas retorts by means of a suit-
able pipe so arranged as to offer the least possible resistance to the pressure of gas
from retorts by means of the liquid contained therein.
Dated this Twenty eighth day of June Eighteen hundred and eighty eight.
ROBERT PALMER,
Applicant.