IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Thomas Livesey, of the South Metropolitan Cas
Works, Old Kent Road, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Thomas Livesey at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th November 1879.
GEORGE THOMAS LIVESEY, of the South Metropolitan Gas Works, Old Kent
Road, in the County of Surrey. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
The object of this Invention is to supersede the present arrangement of dip pipes
in connection with the hydraulic main, by substituting apparatus whereby all
unnecessary pressure is removed from the retorts while engaged in making gas,
the washing of the gas with the tar obviated, and the return of the gas when the
retort is out of use prevented.
The Invention consists in attaching each ascension pipe by suitable means to a
vertical pipe, the bottom of which is connected to a horizontal main for carrying off
the tar. The top of the vertical pipe is made to enter the bottom and project some
inches into the conducting gas main. The upper edge of the vertical pipe is
turned to a true and narrow flat or rounded surface, and upon it is fitted a valve,
consisting either of a plain metal disc with the underside truly faced, and of larger
diameter than the upright pipe, or of a cap or cover having a descending rim which
encircles the pipe, and dips into the liquor in the main. From one side of the valve
there is a projection which works between a forked guide, and to which is attached
a fixed or movable balance weight, the weight being so adjusted that the valve on
being laid upon the top of the upright pipe closes the opening, so that no gas can
enter the ascension pipe from the conducting gas main when the retort is out of
use, but immediately the retort is charged the upward pressure of the gas tilts the
valve, and allows the gas to pass, the counterpoise being adjusted to give the exact
amount of resistance required. With a level gauge in the main the pressure in the
ascension pipe, and consequently in the retort, can be regulated to one tenth of an
inch, or to any desired amount. The valve is not hinged, and when closed simply
lies on the top of the vertical pipe, but when open rests on one side of it only, a
suitable stop, and the guide before mentioned, being used to retain it in proper
position.
Each section of the conducting gas main is furnished with one or more pipes
fitted with a well known contrivance for separating and withdrawing the tar from
the liquor, thus leaving liquor only for the purpose of sealing the edge of the valve,
the tar being conveyed to the tar main below.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Thomas Livesey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
May 1880.
GEORGE THOMAS LIVESEY, of the South Metropolitan Gas Works, Old Kent
Road, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
The object of this Invention is to provide a substitute for the "dip" in the
"hydraulic main," and to supersede the hydraulic main by substituting apparatus
whereby all unnecessary pressure is removed from the retorts while engaged in
making gas, the washing of the gas with the tar obviated, and the return of the
gas when the retort is out of use prevented. This is effected by the use of a
special form of valve hereinafter described, a "receiving main" being substituted
for the hydraulic main, and from which by a simple arrangement the heavy tar
may be taken from the gas at the top of the ascension pipe, whilst in the receiving
main a further separation of the tar from the liquor is effected, as shown at I in
Fig. 1.
The Invention consists in attaching each ascension pipe by suitable means to a
vertical pipe, the bottom of which is connected to a horizontal main for carrying off
the tar. The top of the vertical pipe is made to enter the bottom and project some
inches into the receiving gas main. The upper edge of the vertical pipe is turned
to a true and narrow flat or rounded surface, and upon it is fitted a valve,
consisting either of a plain metal disc with the under side truly faced, and of
larger diameter than the upright pipe, or of a cap or cover consisting of a similar
faced disc, but having a descending rim which encircles the pipe, and dips into the
liquor in the main. From one side of the valve there is a projection which works
between a forked guide, and to which there may or may not be attached a fixed or
moveable balance weight, the weight being so adjusted that the valve on being
laid upon the top of the upright pipe closes the opening, so that no gas can enter
the ascension pipe from the receiving gas main when the retort is out of use, but
immediately the retort is charged the upward pressure of the gas tilts the valve
and allows the gas to pass, the counterpoise being adjusted to give the exact
amount of resistance required. With a level gauge in the main the pressure in the
ascension pipe, and consequently in the retort, can be regulated to one tenth of an
inch, or to any desired amount. The valve is not hinged, and when closed simply
lies on the top of the vertical pipe, but when open rests on one side of it only; a
suitable stop, and the guide before mentioned, being used to retain it in proper
position.
Each section of the receiving gas main is furnished with one or more pipes fitted
with a well known contrivance for separating and withdrawing the tar from the
liquor, thus leaving liquor only for the purpose of sealing the edge of the valve, the
tar being conveyed to the tar main below.
The valve should not be fixed at the top of the ascension pipe, or within so short
a distance from the retort, because it is necessary for its proper action that the
temperature of the gas should be reduced to something like 150° before it reaches
the valve. To accomplish this a pipe is continued from the ascension pipe to a
distance of some ten or fifteen feet, and it is from the base of this pipe, or its
junction with the ascension pipe, that the heavy tar is carried off into the tar
main.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood Drawings are attached
hereto, of which the following is a description:-Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the
receiving gas main, a portion of one side being removed to show the arrangement
of the valves, one of which is exhibited in section; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional
elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse section of part of the same main drawn

page_text: to a larger scale, the view being in the opposite direction to that of Fig. 2; Fig. 4
is a front sectional elevation of the upper part of the vertical pipe with its cover or
valve made of cast iron, and forked or alotted guide; Fig. 5 is a plan of the valve
with its tail-piece or counterpoise; Figs. 6 and 7 show the general arrangement of
the mains and pipes, either one of which arrangements most convenient under the
circumstances may be adopted, but I do not claim either of these particular
arrangements as part of my Invention. In Fig. 1, A is the receiving main; B, B, B,
the vertical pipes in connection with the ascension pipes C, and tar main D shown
in Figs. 6 and 7; E, F, are the valves or covers to the tops of the vertical pipes
with their tail pieces or counterpoises G, G, and guides H, H, E being shown open,
and F closed. At I is drawn a well known device for taking off the thick tar, and
at J, J, are formed hand holes to afford access to the valves, each hole being
provided with a cover as at K. In Figs. 4 and 5, L is simply a strengthening
piece connecting the valve or cover and tail-piece together, and between which the
stop M is formed to keep the valve from sliding away from its true position. In
each of the Figs. similar letters refer to the same parts.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
or arrangements that I have described or referred to, as variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of my 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, the construction
of vertical pipes B with the top edges faced, and valves or covers E, F, together
with their guides H, arranged as herein described and shown on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Thomas Livesey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
GEORGE T. LIVESEY. (L.S.)