IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Thomas of Bodmin in the County of Cornwall
and Charles John Ennor of Oporto in the Kingdom of Portugal for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF GAS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Thomas and Charles
John Ennor at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th July
1882.
JAMES THOMAS of Bodmin in the County of Cornwall and CHARLES JOHN.
ENNOR of Oporto in the Kingdom of Portugal "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS,”
This invention has reference to the construction of apparatus for entirely relieving
the retorts from pressure, while it allows of their being worked with any desired
depth of seal, if preferred.
The invention consists in fixing over and in front of each bed an oblong chamber,
something like a short hydraulic main, capable of containing liquid and supported
upon suitable brackets fixed to the front of the retort bed. This chamber has holes
in its bottom corresponding in number and position with the ascension pipes in
each bed, the ascension pipes rising through the bottom to a suitable height within
the chamber. Over each ascension pipe and within the chamber is a cap or
inverted cup which is suspended by a rod that passes through a stuffing-box in the
top of the chamber. The upper part of the rod is connected to a lever which is
pivotted to a fulcrum fixed to the side of the chamber, the other end of the lever
being provided with a rod chain, or rope by which the cap or valve can be raised,
its own weight being sufficient to cause it to descend into the liquid beneath when
the chain is released. Behind each of the chambers just described and communi-
cating therewith by a suitable connection is a hydraulic valve enclosed in a
chamber which is attached to a dry conducting gas main that lies beneath and is
supported by crutches on the top of the retort bench. The gas main has a short
rising pipe, corresponding with each retort bench, that enters the valve chamber

page_text: and extends to a suitable height above its bottom. Over this pipe there is a cap
or inverted cup attached to a spindle that passes through the top of the chamber
and is provided with a handle or wheel whereby the cap may be raised or lowered
at pleasure, thus forming, when liquid is admitted, a similar valve to those described
in the chamber first mentioned. Each of the valve chambers just described is
furnished with a tar overflow pipe that is suitably sealed in a box or syphon
connected to the tar and liquor main which traverses the whole length of the
retort benches. The tar is separated from the gas immediately the latter leaves
the ascension pipes, or may be carried on with the gas, in which case the tar main
is not required.
By the use of the foregoing apparatus cach retort may be relieved entirely of
pressure, or each retort in each bed may be worked with a different amount of dip
or seal, or by the adjustment of the valve in connection with the dry gas main the
whole of the retorts in each bed may be worked with the same depth of dip or
seal, or any bed of retorts may be completely shut off from the others.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Thomas and Charles John Ennor in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th January 1883.
JAMES THOMAS of Bodmin. in the County of Cornwall and CHARLES JOHN
ENNOR of Oporto in the Kingdom of Portugal "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS
"
:
This invention bas reference to the construction of apparatus for entirely.
relieving the retorts from pressure, while it allows of their being worked with any
desired depth of seal, if preferred.
This invention consists in fixing over and in front of each bed an oblong
chamber, something like a short hydraulic main, capable of containing liquid and
supported upon suitable brackets fixed to the front of the retort bed. This
chamber has holes in its bottom corresponding in number and position with the
ascension pipes in each bed, the ascension pipes rising through the bottom to a
suitable height within the chamber. Over each ascension pipe and within the
chamber is a cap or inverted cup which is suspended by a rod that passes through
a stuffing box in the top of the chamber. The upper part of the rod is connected
to a lever which is pivotted to a fulcrum fixed to the side of the chamber, the other
end of the lever being provided with a rod, chain, or rope by which the cap or
valve can be raised, its own weight being sufficient to cause it to descend into the
liquid beneath when the chain is released. Behind each of the chambers just
described and communicating therewith by a suitable connection is a hydraulic
valve enclosed in a chamber which is attached to a dry conducting gas main that
lies beneath and is supported by crutches on the top of the retort bench.-The gas
main has a short rising pipe, corresponding with each retort bench, that enters the
valve chamber and extends to a suitable height above its bottom. Over this pipe
there is a cap or inverted cup attached to a spindle that passes through the top of
the chamber and is provided with a handle or wheel whereby the cap may be
raised or lowered at pleasure, thus forming, when liquid is admitted, a similar
valve to those described in the chamber first mentioned. Each of the valve
chambers just described is furnished with a tar overflow pipe that is suitably sealed
in a box or syphon connected to the tar and liquor main which traverses the whole
length of the retort benches. The tar is separated from the gas immediately the
latter leaves the ascension pipe, or may be carried on with the gas, in which case
the tar main is not required.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood a drawing is attached
hereto of which the following is a description. The drawing represents a transverse
section of the improved apparatus resting upon the retort bench A.-B is the
ascension pipe, C a chamber or short hydraulic main, and D a cap cover or valve
capable of being raised or lowered by the lever E so as to enclose the top of the
ascension pipe and form a deep seal in the liquid beneath it. F is the passage for
conveying the gas and liquor into the chamber G containing liquid at the bottom
and a hydraulic valve H as shown. This cap, cover or valve H is intended to be
kept open when the manufacture of gas is going on, and allows of a free passage
for the gas to pass off through the pipe K to the dry conducting main L, while the
tar and liquor flow through the pipe M into a receiver N and from thence to a tar
main O. When the retorts are put out of action for repair or otherwise, the pipe K
is closed by lowering the valve H into the liquid beneath by means of the rod I and
wheel J, thus producing a most effective seal.
By the use of the foregoing apparatus each retort may be relieved entirely of
pressure, or each retort in each bed may be worked with a different amount of dip

page_text: or seal, or by the adjustment of the valve in connection with the dry gas main the
whole of the retorts in each bed may be worked with the same depth of dip or seal,
_ or any bed of retorts may be completely shut off from the others.
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, we would
observe in conclusion that we do not confine or restrict ourselves to the precise
details or arrangements which we have described or referred to as variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this
invention, but what we consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as
the invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent, is,—
The combination of a number of valves D, enclosed in a short hydraulic main C
connected to the gas main L by means of the pipe F, chamber G and pipe K, the
said chamber G being provided with a valve H and overflow pipe M, and the whole
being arranged as herein described and shown on the drawing.
In witness whereof I the said James Thomas have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 4th day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.