IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTure of Gas
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Holman, of Queen Victoria Street, in the City
of London, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTure of Gas."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Holman at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd July 1879.
STEPHEN HOLMAN, of Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
My Invention relates to the method of controlling the discharge of gas from
retorts in order to reduce or obviate pressure therein when the lid of the retort is
closed, and to prevent the return or escape of gas when the lid of the retort
is open.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a seal pipe which is by preference
formed with a flange or enlarged upper end fitted to a recess in a suitable casting,
and provided with openings for the passage of the gas. The upper surface of this
flange is turned true, and upon it rests a movable or swivelling disc valve, also
having openings for the passage of gas. According to one modification the
enlarged upper end is formed with two sets of openings, one set communicating
with the interior of the said seal pipe and the other set with its exterior. The
valve is formed with alternate solid and open portions so arranged in relation to
the openings in the seal pipe, that by the act of turning the valve to the extent of
a fraction of a revolution, the solid parts shall be caused respectively to cover and
leave free any openings determined. When the retort is open, the valve is BO
placed that the gas is unable to return, the bottom of the seal pipe being immersed
in the liquid of the hydraulic main, and immediately that the retort is closed, the
gas passes through one set of openings in the seal pipe and through the liquid in
the hydraulic main, whilst on the valve being turned a determined fraction of a
revolution, the set of openings communicating with the exterior of the seal pipe
are uncovered, thus permitting the free escape of the gas without passing through
the liquid of the hydraulic main. In the apparatus constructed according to the
foregoing arrangement, the gas is admitted above the top of the said valve and

page_text: thence passes through it and through the openings leading either through the seal
pipe or to its exterior, one set or the other of the said openings being always open
to the retort.
According to another modification which is adapted for use when the ascension
pipe from the retort passes up through the hydraulic main; the flange of the scal
pipe is formed with alternate solid and open portions, and the valve is also pro-
vided with alternate solid and open portions to correspond with the same, and is
moreover furnished with a central passage immediately over the ascension pipe.
When the valve is so placed that its solid portions cover the openings in the flange
of the seal pipe, the gas will pass through the annular passage formed by the
exterior of the ascension pipe and the exterior of the seal pipe and through the
liquid in the hydraulic main, whilst when the valve is turned so as to uncover the
openings in the flange of the seal pipe, the gas passes through the central passages
of the valve and thence through the side passages of the exterior of the seal pipe,
thus permitting a free passage of the gas from the retort without passing through
the liquid in the hydraulic main.
In order to operate the valve when constructed according to either modification,
the valve is formed with a suitable head having a hole for the reception of an
actuating spindle which is fitted to a hole truly bored in the cover of the valve
chamber. The said spindle is provided with a collar or enlarged portion which is
truly turned so as to form a gas tight seating on the top of the said cover, thus dis-
pensing with a stuffing box. The valve may be actuated either direct by the act
of operating a lever fitted to or formed on the valve spindle, or it may be actuated
through the intervention of a vertical rod and suitable connections extending down
within reach of the workman on the charging stage of the retort house, suitable
stops being provided on the cover and actuating lever to ensure the definite range
and position of the valve when moved in either direction.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Stephen Holman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd January
1880.
STEPHEN HOLMAN, of Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
My said Invention relates to apparatus for effecting and controlling the discharge
of gas from retorts in order to reduce or obviate pressure therein when the lid of
the retort is closed, and to prevent the return or escape of gas when the lid of the
retort is open.
In carrying out my said Invention I employ a seal pipe which is by preference formed
with a flange or enlarged upper end fitted to a recess in a suitable casting, and pro-
vided with openings for the passage of the gas. The upper surface of this flange is
turned true and upon it rests a swivelling disc valve, also having openings for tho
passage of gas. According to one modification the enlarged upper end is formed with
two sets of openings, one set communicating with the interior of the said seal pipe and
the other set with its exterior. The valve is formed with alternate solid and open
portions so arranged in relation to the openings in the seal pipe, that by the act of
turning the valve to the extent of a fraction of a revolution the solid parts shall
be caused respectively to cover and leave free any openings determined. When
the valve is in one position the gas passes through one set of openings in the seal
pipe and through the liquid in the hydraulic main, the said liquid preventing tho
return of the gas, whilst on the valve being turned a determined fraction of a
revolution the set of openings communicating with the exterior of the seal pipe are
uncovered, thus permitting the free escape of the gas without passing through the
¡liquid of the hydraulic main. In the apparatus constructed according to the fore-
going arrangement, the gas is admitted above the top of the said valve and thence
passes through it, and through the openings leading either through the seal pipe or
to its exterior, one set or the other of the said openings being always open to the
retort.
According to another modification which is adapted for use when the ascension
pipe from the retort passes up through the hydraulic main, the flange of the seal
pipe is formed with alternate solid and open portions, and the valve is also pro-
vided with alternate solid and open portions to correspond with the same, and is
moreover furnished with a central passage immediately over the ascension pipe.
When the valve is so placed that its solid portions cover the openings in the flange
of the seal pipe the gas will pass through the annular passage formed by the
exterior of the ascension pipe and the interior of the seal pipe and through the
liquid in the hydraulic main, whilst when the valve is turned so as to uncover
the openings in the flange of the seal pipe, the gas passes through the sido passages
to the exterior of the seal pipe, thus permitting a free passage of the gas from the
retort without passing through the liquid in the hydraulic main.
The valve may be formed in one with the seal pipe, the valve seating being
constructed with openings as herein before described.
In order to operate the valve when constructed according to either modification
the valve is formed with a suitable head, having a hole for the reception of an
actuating spindle which is fitted to a hole truly bored in the cover of the valve
chamber. The said spindle is provided with a collar or enlarged portion which is
truly turned so as to form a gas tight seating on the top of the said cover, thus
dispensing with a stuffing box. The valve may be actuated either direct by the
act of operating a lever fitted to or formed on the valve spindle, or it may be
actuated through the intervention of a vertical rod and suitable connections
extending down to within reach of the workman on the charging stage of the
retort house, suitable stops being provided on the cover to ensure the definite range
of the actuating lever and position of the valve when moved in either direction,

page_text: And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represent a sectional elevation of an apparatus con-
structed according to one modification of my said Invention for effecting and
controlling the discharge of gas from retorts; Figure 2 is a plan of the same;
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a portion of the apparatus (the section being taken'
at right angles to that on Figure 1). Figure 4 is a horizontal section shewing the
valve seat; and Eigure 5 is a plan of the valve. Figures 6, 7, and 8 illustrato
another modification, Figure being a vertical section; and Figure 7 a plan
of the apparatus; and Figure 8 a plan of the valve; Figure 9 is a vertical section
illustrating another modification.
Referring to the arrangement shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 A is a seal pipe
which at its lower end dips in the liquid contained in the hydraulic main B, and
at its upper end is provided with a flange or enlargement a fitted to a recess in a
casting C. This enlarged upper end is formed with two sets of openings b and c
for the passage of the gas, one set, videlicit, that b, communicating with the interior
of the seal pipe A, whilst the other set of openings (c) communicates with the
spaced at the exterior of the said seal pipe. The upper surface of the enlarged
upper end a is also turned true for the reception of a swivelling disc valve D which
rests upon it and is formed with openings e, capable of being made by turning the
valve to the extent of a fraction of a revolution to communicate with either of the
two sets of openings b or c at will, the intervening portions e' of the valve being
left solid, so as to cover the set of openings in the enlarged upper end of the seal
pipe which for the time are required to be maintained closed.
When the lid of the retort is closed the valve is placed in the position indicated
in the Drawing, the openings e of the valve communicating with the openings a of
the enlarged upper end a of the seal pipe leading to the space d at the exterior of
the said pipe. The gas then escapes freely without passing through the liquid of
the hydraulic main, the bottom of the seal pipe being immersed in the said liquid.
When it is required to open the lid of the retort the valve is turned a quarter revo-
lution, whereby the openings e in the valve are brought opposite the openings 6 in
the enlarged upper end a of the seal pipe leading to the interior of the said pipe;
any remaining gas may then escape through the liquid of the hydraulic main
whilst the liquid prevents the return of the gas.
The gas is admitted by the pipe E above the top of the valve, and thence passes
through the openings leading either through the seal pipe or to its exterior as
hereinbefore described, one set or the other of the said openings being always open
to the retort.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 illustrate another modification which is adapted for use when
the ascension pipe E from the retort passes up through the hydraulic main B. In
this case the enlarged upper end a of the seal pipe A is formed with one set of
openings 6 communicating with the hydraulic main B, and the valve is also pro-
vided with a similar set of openings e, and is moreover furnished with a central
passage immediately over the ascension pipe E. When the valve is in the position
indicated in the Drawings with its openings e opposite the openings b in the
enlarged upper end a of the scal pipe A, the gas admitted by the pipe E passes
through the central passage f of the valve, and thence through the passage e, b, to
the hydraulic main, the gas from the retort being thus permitted to escape freely
without passing through the liquid of the bydraulic main. By turning the valve
however a quarter revolution so as to cause its solid portions c' to cover the
openings b, the passage for the gas at the exterior of the seal pipe is intercepted,
the gas then passes through the annular passage g formed by the exterior of the
ascension pipe E and the interior of the seal pipe A and through the liquid in the
bydraulic main,

page_text: A valve of the construction lastly hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figures 6, 7, and 8 may also be employed when the supply pipe E is above the valve
as shewn in Figure 9. In this case the valve D' may be formed in one with the
seal pipe A, the valve and also the seat being provided with openings as in the
arrangement illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8.
In order to operate the valve when constructed according to either modification,
the valve is formed with a head h having a hole for the reception of an actuating
spindle which is fitted to a hole truly bored in the cover F of the valve chamber.
This spindle is provided with a collar or enlarged portion k which is truly turned
so as to form a gas tight seating at the top of the cover, thus dispensing with a
stuffing box. The valve may be actuated direct by the aid of a lever fitted to or
formed on the valve spindle i, or it may be actuated as indicated in Figures 1
and 2 of my Drawings through the intervention of a vertical rod ↳ connecting
rod m, and levers n, n, the said rod or attachments thereto extending down to
within reach of the workman on the charging stage of the retort house, stops o, o,
being provided on the cover F to ensure the definite range and position of the
valve when moved in either direction.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination of a valvular seal pipe having two sets of openings com-
municating respectively with the interior aud exterior of the said seal pipe, and a
swivelling valve having openings capable of being placed in communication with
either set of openings in the said seal pipe, all substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described.
Second. The combination of a valvular seal pipe, a valve seating having openings
leading to the exterior of the seal pipe direct into the hydraulic valve, and a
swivelling valve having a central opening always open to the seal, and also having
openings capable of being placed in communication with the openings in the valvo
seating, all substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
Third. The general arrangements and combinations of parts forming apparatus
for effecting and controlling the discharge of gas from retorts, substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, Figures 6, 7,
and 8, and Figure 9 of my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Holman, have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal, this Thirty first day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.