IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE PURIFICATION OF GAS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Ford, of Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of
Durham, Mechanical Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS USED IN THE PURIFICATION OF GAS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Ford at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd October 1880.
ANDREW FORD, of Stockton on Tees, in the County of Durham, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE PURIFICATION OF GAS."
This Invention relates to that class of apparatus known as washers used in the
purification of coal or other illuminating gas, and has for its object their con-
struction in such a manner as to make them more efficient and convenient for the
removal of ammonia, together with some of the sulphur compounds and other
impurities with which gas is charged after leaving the condenser.
The Invention consists in forming a box or chamber, closed at the top, and of a
size proportionate to the quantity of gas to be purified. Its shape may be circular,
square, or rectangular. If square or rectangular, it is provided with a vertical
In the lower part
partition so as to divide the chamber into two compartments.
of this partition a number of holes or perforations are made. An inlet for gas is
formed in the upper part of one of the sides, and the compartment into which the
gas enters is divided by a horizontal plate or partition fastened to its sides and
made gas-tight. This horizontal plate has a number of holes in it, and in each of
the holes is fixed a pipe, open at both ends, and descends some distance into the
lower compartment, but does not reach the bottom. Beneath the division or plate
just described there is another horizontal but loose plate. This plate has also a
number of holes, into each of which a pipe, open at both ends, is fixed. The upper
part of each pipe, which is smaller than those before referred to, rises within the
corresponding descending pipe, and is concentric thereto. The lower plate having
a number of these pipes attached is capable of being raised or lowered by suitable
screws, or may be arranged so as to float in the liquid with which the vessel is
charged. These horizontal loose plates may be multiplied in number and placed
in tiers under each other, each being furnished with pipes or tubes of suitable
diameter to leave concentric spaces between them and the corresponding pipes

page_text: through which the gas is destined to travel. In the other compartment of the
chamber first mentioned there is also a fixed horizontal partition having a number
of holes or perforations therein similar to those in the vertical partition, and above
this division is formed the outlet for the gas.
When the washer is made circular in form the partition may be arranged
similarly, or the division of the chamber may be made annular.
The number of chambers or vessels will vary according to the work they are
designed to do, and each is charged with water or other liquid, the height of which
is capable of being adjusted by means of one or more overflow pipes, or it may be
done by a well known automatic arrangement operated upon by the pressure of
the gas within the vessels. These vessels too may be so contrived as to receive
an oscillating or rotary motion by means of any suitable motive power.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The vessels being charged with
suitable liquid gas is admitted into the inlet chamber of the first series.
The gas
passes down each concentric space between the pipes, and escaping from the bottom
of each inlet pipe rises through the liquid and passes through the perforations in
the vertical partition, and subsequently through the perforations in the horizontal
partition to the outlet chamber, from whence it is conveyed by the outlet pipe to
the next vessel in series or other apparatus. It will be observed that the space for
the escape of gas from between each of the two pipes may be reduced or increased
within certain limits at pleasure by raising or lowering the loose horizontal plate,
or this same space may be practically closed entirely, when the gas would be
compelled to pass down the interior of the smaller pipes and through the liquid
as before described. By these means much of the impurities contained in gas may
be removed.
The apparatus may be made of cast iron, wrought iron, wood, or a combination
of these or other suitable materials.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Andrew Ford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
April 1881.
ANDREW FORD, of Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of Durham.
MENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE PURIFICATION OF GAS."
"IMPROVE-
Another
A box or chamber, closed at the top, and of a size proportionate to the quantity
of gas to be purified, is constructed of iron plates bolted together at the edges so
as to make gas-tight joints. Its shape may be square, circular, or rectangular.
It is subdivided by vertical and horizontal partitions. The vertical partition forms
an inner shell concentric with or parallel to the vertical sides of the outer box ; it
rests on the bottom of the box below, and is fastened to the horizontal partition
above, and it is perforated with numerous holes round its lower margin to allow
free circulation of liquid between the central compartment and the annular com-
partment surrounding it. The horizontal partition extends completely across the
box at a short distance below and parallel to the top plate of the box, and is
fastened by gas-tight joints to the vertical sides of the said box. The gas inlet
opens into this top compartment, which lies above the horizontal partition. In that
part of the horizontal partition which forms the roof of the central compartment
In each of
enclosed by the vertical partition are a number of equidistant holes.
these holes is a pipe, open at both ends, which descends some distance into the
lower compartment, but does not reach the bottom. Beneath the horizontal plate just
described is another horizontal but loose plate. This plate is also perforated with a
series of holes vertically under those in the fixed plate above. In each of these
holes is inserted a pipe, open at both ends, and projecting upwards from the loose
plate. Each ascending pipo in the loose plate is concentric with the corresponding
descending pipe in the fixed plate, and passes inside the latter pipe.
smaller concentric pipe is suspended from the horizontal fixed plate and passes
inside the ascending pipe from the loose plate. Any desirable number of con-
centric pipes may, in this manner, be fastened to the horizontal and loose plates, so
that when the plates are brought together each pipe penetrates into the annular
space between two adjacent pipes on the other plate (except the smallest pipe,
which passes down the centre of the next larger). The largest concentric pipo
fastened on the loose plate encircles the largest descending pipe. All the concentric
pipes fastened on the loose plate may be perforated with numerous holes below the
level of the purifying liquid to permit its free circulation. Sufficient space is left
between each pair of adjacent tubes to allow the gas to circulate. Perforated
vertical sides are fastened to the loose plate and rise a little higher than the
concentric tubes fastened on the said plate. The loose horizontal plate itself is also
perforated with holes to allow free circulation of the water or other purifying
liquid, and the escape of tarry matter to the bottom of the box. The loose box
is suspended by adjustable counterbalance weights and chains, and supported by
springs below; it is thus capable of being fixed at different levels. The object of
this adjustment is to supply more or less scrubbing surface by causing the two sets
The
of concentric tubes to telescope or penetrate more or less into one another.
water or other purifying liquid is admitted into the box by perforated tubes passing
round the upper compartment, and flows down the concentric tubes into the lower
compartments. The outlet pipe is syphon shaped, and communicates with the
annular compartment. The liquid with the tarry matter is drawn off continuously
from the bottom by this syphon pipe; the scum is drawn off occasionally by
opening a valve on the top bend of the syphon. The level of the liquid can be
raised or lowered at pleasure by raising or lowering the cistern into which the end of
the outlet pipe dips. The tubes fixed to the lower or loose plate always rise above

page_text: the level of the water; the descending pipes always dip to a depth suited to the
gas pressure below the surface of the water. The gas, after bubbling through
the water, is conveyed from the central compartment into the annular compartment
by a series of bent tubes which open into the former near the top edge of the
vertical partition, and dip with their lower ends into the liquid in the latter. The
gas, after passing through these tubes rises through the liquid and passes off by
the gas outlet pipe which opens into the annular compartiment. The circulation
of the water or other purifying liquid through the washer is continuous.
To obtain greater scrubbing surface, sets of apparatus similar to those just
described may be arranged in tiers, so as to cause the gas to pass successively
through each.
Instead of obtaining sufficient scrubbing surface by having a number of sets of
concentric tubes it may be obtained with one set of interpenetrating tubes by
increasing the number and diameter of the tubes.
The top as well as the bottom horizontal plate may be made moveable or loose
for the purpose of varying the scrubbing surface.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The Drawings represent a washer with a square box or chamber. Fig. 1 shews
a sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 a part plan and a part sectional plan.
A, A, represents the outer box or chamber; B, B, the vertical partition; C, C, the
horizontal partition; D, D, the concentric tubes fastened to the fixed plate; F, tho
loose plate; E, E, the concentric tubes fastened to it; G, G, the perforated vertical
sides of the loose box; H, H, the counterbalance weights which balance the loose
box; K, K, the suspending chains; L, L, the supporting springs; M, M, the perfo-
rated pipes which admit the purifying liquid; N, N, the syphon pipe which draws
off the liquid and tarry matter; R, R, tho bent pipes which draw off the gas from
the central compartment; O, the valve for removing the scum; P, the cistern into
which the liquid and tarry matter is delivered; J, the inlet pipe for the gas; T, the
outlet pipe for the gas; U, a pipe fitted with a cock for drawing off the heavier
tarry matter from the bottom of the chamber when necessary.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim,-
First. The employment, in gas washing or purifying apparatus, of concentric
tubes fastened to fixed and moveable plates, or to two moveable plates so as to
admit of being more or less inserted into one another for the purpose of varying
tho scrubbing surface, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. The arrangement of the tubes in series, substantially as herein described
with reference to the Drawings, Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, and also in tiers or concentrically
in one set, as herein before described at the end of the general description.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Ford, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this the Eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
החל ממג
WADD