IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS AND MACHINERY USED FOR CHARGING RECEPTACLES FOR THE SAME, WHETHER ON RAILWAY CARRIAGES OR ELSEWHERE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Smith, of 3, Penistone Street, Shepherd's Bush
Common, in the County of Middlesex, Gas Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS AND
MACHINERY USED FOR CHARGING RECEPTACLES FOR THE SAME, WHETHER ON
RAILWAY CARRIAGES OR ELSEWHERE
"
Sealed the 9th January 1880, and dated the 22nd October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October 1879.
"
THE
GEORGE SMITH, of 3, Penistone Street, Shepherd's Bush Common, in the County
of Middlesex, Gas Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATUS FOR
MANUFACTURE OF GAS AND MACHINERY USED FOR CHARGING RECEPTACLES FOR
THE SAME, WHETHER ON RAILWAY CARRIAGES OR ELSEWHERE."
This Invention is designed in the first place to render the apparatus for the
manufacture of gas more compact, simple, and durable in construction, and
by the heating again of the residuary products, more economical in working than
has heretofore been usual, especially in the case of small works.
The retort or retorts over the furnace I make of any convenient shape and of any
suitable material, but with a circular mouth. In order to close the retort perfectly
without the use of packing I make a door in which is contained a globe or sphere
of any suitable material larger than the mouth of the retort, so constructed that on
the door being shut the globe or sphere comes into perfect contact with the mouth
of the retort, which is bevelled so as to receive it.
There is a tall dome made of any suitable material attached to the retort, which
is fitted inside with a low fireclay dome of a smaller diameter than the tall one,
stepped on lugs near the bottom. I also fit a syphon pipe on the outside of the tall
dome with a funnel on the top; into this funnel I pour whatever residuary product
or other material I deem expedient. This finds its way through the syphon pipe
into the tall dome, and falls on the low fireclay one inside. It is thereby in part
turned into gas, while what still remains falls again on the coke in the retort, and
is again acted on by the heat of the furnace. I place a door in the outer dome to
enable me to renew the fireclay dome whenever required.

page_text: '
I place the hydraulic main low down, level with the bottom of the furnace. The
main pipe leading from the top of the dome to the hydraulic main I construct in
such a manner that by fitting two doors similar to the one at the mouth of the
retort I can easily clean the pipe, both towards the dome, and also towards the
hydraulic main.
The purifier, which is a wet one, I construct in such a manner that one end of
each pipe is under the level of the liquid contained therein, and the other end above.
I hereby improve the quality of the gas.
I place a funnel on the outside of the purifier connected with a pipe that descends
through to below the level of the liquid, through which I charge the purifier with
whatever is requisite.
At the lower part of the purifier I construct an agitator, the circular motion of
which is obtained in any convenient manner.
By these methods I claim to make a larger quantity and a purer gas than by any
other. I now proceed to charge the receptacle for gas, using as an illustration a
railway carriage, which operation I claim to do in a more speedy and perfect manner
than heretofore has been the case.
For this purpose I use a pipe or pipes of any suitable size, and of sufficient strength,
to be placed on the top of the carriage as a reservoir, one end of which will be
brought down to the lower part of the carriage for the convenience of loading; and
to prevent any leakage of gas, and thereby any danger of explosion, in addition to
the ordinary cock, I place on the gas side thereof a valve so constructed that while
allowing free admission it prevents any gas from returning. I also use an ordinary
pump of any suitable size driven by steam, gas, or any other power, and connect
this pump with the pipe or pipes that form the reservoir through the above
mentioned cock and valve, and pump in the gas to any pressure that may be deemed
expedient. The reservoir is connected with the burners by any number of small
pipes that may be requisite, and for the purpose of keeping the flame alight in the
burner, even while I am charging the reservoir, and for preventing any waste of
gas consequent on the high pressure, I use a regulator with two or more diaphragms
so constructed that it only allows low pressure gas to reach the burners, even though
there may be a very high pressure in the reservoir. By this I claim to improve
and simplify the charging of railway carriages with gas. On every other kind of
carriage, and for every other purpose, I should use reservoirs and fill them after the
same manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th April
1880.
.
g
GEORGE SMITH, of 3, Penistone Street, Shepherd's Bush Common, in the County
of Middlesex, Gas Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATUS FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF GAS AND MACHINERY USED FOR CHARGING RECEPTACLES FOR THE
SAME, WHETHER ON RAILWAY CARRIAGES OR ELSEWHERE."
My Invention relates in the first place to improvements in the apparatus for the
manufacture of gas, rendering the process more compact, simple, and durable, and
by the heating again of the residuary products, or some of them, more economical
in the working than has heretofore been the case, especially in small works.
For this purpose I make the retort or retorts over the furnace with a circular
mouth, and I gradually enlarge the retort towards the back, and make it of a D
shape, as is hereinafter shewn. I may enlarge the retort at the back to whatever
diameter I may deem desirable, but I consider that to make the back of the retort
double the diameter of the mouth thereof is a very good proportion. In order to
close the retort perfectly without the aid of packing I make a door in which is
contained a globe or sphere, either hollow or solid, made of any suitable material,
slightly larger than the mouth of the retort, and this door I so arrange that on its
being shut the globe or sphere comes into perfect contact with the mouth of the
retort, which may be bevilled so as to receive it; and with the aid of a screw on the
door the mouth of the retort is perfectly closed by the globe or sphere without any
packing, as is hereinafter shewn. I also make a tall dome of any suitable material,
and of any size I may require, attached to the retort, which aforesaid dome has
fixed inside, stepped on lugs near the bottom thereof, a low fireclay dome of a smaller
diameter than the tall dome aforesaid. I fit a syphon pipe on the outside of the
aforesaid tall dome with a funnel on the outer end. Into this funnel I pour
whatever residuary product or other material I deem expedient. This residuary
product or other material finds its way through the syphon pipe into the aforesaid
tall dome, and falls on the before mentioned low fireclay dome inside. It is thereby
in part turned into gas, while what remains falls on the coke in the retort, and is
acted upon by the heat of the furnace, as is hereinafter shewn. I also place a door
in the before mentioned tall dome, to enable me to renew the before mentioned low
fireclay dome whenever expedient.
I place the hydraulic main low down, level, or thereabouts, with the bottom of
the furnace. The ascension pipe leading from the top of the tall dome, hereinbefore
mentioned, to the hydraulic main I construct in such a manner that by fitting two
doors with globes or spheres, similar to the door with globe or sphere at the mouth
of the retort, as herein before described, and joining the aforesaid ascension pipe
below these doors I can easily clean the aforesaid ascension pipe both towards the
retort on the tall dome and towards the hydraulic main, as hereinafter described
and shewn. I can also place similar doors with globes or spheres or any other pipe
I choose whereever I may want to open or close the pipe quickly and easily for
cleaning or any other purpose.
The purifier, which is a wet one, I so construct that one end of each pipe is below
the level of the liquid therein contained, and the other end of the said pipe is above
the said level of the liquid. As the gas comes in from the main to the purifier, it
is led to below the level of the liquid. The gas then finds a pipe whose mouth is
above the said level, by which pipe it is again led below the said level of the liquid
in another compartment of the beforementioned purifier, and so on as often as I.
deem expedient, as is hereinafter shewn. I place a funnel on the outside of the
beforementioned purifier, connected with a pipe that descends through to below the
level of the liquid contained in the said purifier, through which funnel and pipe I
charge the said purifier with line or whatever is requisite. At the lower part of

page_text: the before mentioned purifier I construct an agitator having two or more arms or
blades, the circular motion of which agitator is obtained in any convenient manner.
This agitator aforesaid prevents the lime or other material from settling at the
bottom of the purifier bereinbefore mentioned.
The tar or other residuary product is drawn off from the beforementioned purifier
by a sypbon pipe leading from low down in the said purifier through the side of
the said purifier to the level of the liquid contained in the said purifier, or a little
above the said level, and then down into the pipe or drain leading to the tar tank
as is hereinafter shewn.
By these methods, as herein before described, I claim to make a purer gas and a
larger quantity as well has a higher quality than has heretofore been usual. My
Invention relates in the second place to improvements in the method of using the
gas, and machinery for filling receptacles for the same, whether on railway carriages
or elsewhere. I use as an illustration a railway carriage.
For this purpose I use a pipe or pipes of any suitable size, and of sufficient
strength to be used as a reservoir. I place these on the top of the carriage, bringing
one end down to the lower part thereof for convenience of filling. I can also place
these pipes in any other part of the carriage I choose, or I can make this aforesaid
reservoir of any shape or size I may require, discarding the use of pipes entirely,
and I may place this reservoir anywhere on the carriage I may deem desirable, but
in this latter case I should have a small pipe fitted to this reservoir for convenience
of filling.
At the filling end of the pipe that communicates with this before-
mentioned reservoir, in addition to the ordinary cock I place on the inside or gas
side thereof a seat valve so constructed that while it allows free admission to the
gas it prevents any gas from returning, and prevents also thereby any leakage or
any danger of explosion. I also use an ordinary pump of any suitable size, driven
by steam, gas, water, or any other power, and connect this pump aforesaid either
through a gas holder or otherwise by pipes with the reservoir herein before mentioned
through the beforementioned cock and seat valve, and I then pump in the
gas to the reservoir hereinbefore mentioned to any pressure that may be deemed
expedient.
The before mentioned reservoir is connected with the burners by any number of
small pipes that may be deemed necessary, and for the purpose of keeping the flames
alight in the burners, even while I am charging the reservoir, and for preventing
any waste of gas consequent on the high pressure, I use a regulator between the
reservoir and the burners, as hereinafter described.
The gas enters the lowest compartment of the regulator by a small pipe on the
inside of which is fitted a stop valve. The top of this aforesaid lowest compartment
of the regulator is formed by a diaphragm of leather or other suitable material. To
the centre of this beforementioned diaphragm is attached a rod which actuates the
lever fitted to the stop valve hereinbefore mentioned. The action therefore is as
follows: As this before mentioned lowest compartment of the regulator fills, the
pressure of the gas raises the before mentioned diaphragm, and thereby closes the
pipe through which the gas enters, as hereinbefore mentioned, by the action of the
lever and stop valve, hereinbefore described, and therefore prevents any more gas
from entering. The gas now finds its way by a suitable pipe to the upper compart-
ment of the regulator. The top of this upper compartment is fitted with a pipe
leading to the middle compartment of the said regulator, immediately above the
diaphragm of leather or other material hereinbefore mentioned. The top of this said
middle compartment of the regulator is formed by a rigid diaphragm of metal,
which separates the middle compartment from the upper compartment hereinbefore
mentioned. The gas being brought as herein before described into the middle com-
partment of the regulator exerts its pressure downwards on the diaphragm of leather
or other material, herein before mentioned, and thereby opens the before mentioned
entering pipe by the action of the lever and stop valve, as herein before described.
The mouth of the before mentioned pipe in the top of the upper compartment of the
regulator is fitted with a stop valve of a conical shape with the apex upwards, the

page_text: said mouth being shaped so as to receive it. To prevent the said pipe being closed
entirely by the aforesaid conical stop valve through the pressure of the gas under-
neath, I fit a rod to the apex of the aforesaid conical stop valve, which rod goes up
through the pipe hereinbefore mentioned, and is attached to a diaphragm of leather
or other suitable material, which said diaphragm is so weighted that it forces the
conical shaped stop valve herein before mentioned to open the above mentioned pipe
as much as I deem desirable, as is hereinafter shewn. By this regulator therefore
I can by altering the weights on the last before mentioned diaphragm regulate
exactly the amount of gas I allow to reach the burners, even though the pressure in
the reservoir is very high. I also place a cap of perforated metal over the outlet
pipe of the regulator to prevent any foreign substance reaching the burners.
Having thus particularly described my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed and used, in order to clearly explain the same I refer to the
accompanying Drawings.
Sheet I., Figure 1, is a vertical section of the retort, the two domes, and ascension
pipe.
f
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the retort. The letters are the same in both
Figures.
A is the furnace with the retort B over it, gradually enlarging towards the back,
as herein before described; D is the door containing the globe or sphere E, which
closes the retort B perfectly with the aid of the screw F,-as hereinbefore described;
G is the tall dome attached to the retort B, which has the low fireclay dome H
inside, stepped on the lugs I, I, as herein before described; K is the syphon pipe on
the outside of the tall dome G, through which I pour residuary product or other
material on the low fireclay dome H; and L is the door in the tall dome G. to enable
me to renew the low dome H whenever expedient, as hereinbefore described; M is
the hydraulic main with the ascension pipe N leading to it. 0, 01, are the two
doors with globes or spheres fitted to the ascension pipe N, to enable me to clean
the same whenever required, as hereinbefore described; P is the flue, and P' the
connecting flue; R is the damper.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the purifier.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the purifier with the plate removed.
Figure 5 is a plan of the purifier.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section of the purifier taken at M, N.
The letters are the same in these four Figures. A is the purifier; B, B, B, are the
pipes, one end of each of which is above the level of the liquid C, and the other end
below this level, as bereinbefore described; D is the main through which the gas
enters the purifier A, and D¹ the pipe by which it leaves the purifier A. for the gas
holder; E is the funnel on the pipe F through which I charge the purifier A with
lime or whatever is requisite, as herein before described; G is the agitator at the
lower part of the purifier A, as hereinbefore described, which is actuated by the
gearing I; H is the syphon pipe that draws off the tar or other product, as herein-
before described.
Sheet II., Figure 7, is a horizontal section through S, T, on Figure 1 of the two
domes.
Figure 8 is an elevation of the door of the retort containing a globe or sphere.
The letters are the same as in Figure 1, hereinbefore described.
Figure 9 is a section of the retort A through V, W, in Figures 1 and 2, as
hereinbefore described.
Figure 10 is a section of the mouth C of the retort A through X, Z, in Figures
1 and 2, as herein before described.
Figure 11 is a section of the cock and seat valve.
A is the cock, and B is the seat valve that allows entrance to the gas, whilst
preventing any escape of the same, as hereinbefore described; C is the entrance for
the gas, and D the delivery port into the reservoir, as herein before described.
Figure 12 is a vertical section of the regulator.
Figure 13 is a horizontal section of the. regulator.

page_text: The letters are the same in both Figures. The gas enters the lowest compartment
A of the regulator. by the pipe D, on the inside of which is fitted the stop valve E,
as hereinbefore described. F is the diaphragm of leather or other material that
forms the top of the compartment A, to the centre of which is attached the rod G,
which actuates the lever H fitted to the stop valve E, and thereby closes the pipe D
by which the gas enters the compartment A, as hereinbefore described. I is the
pipe by which the gas finds its way to the upper compartment. C of the regulator.
K is the pipe leading from the upper compartment C to the middle compartment B,
immediately above the diaphragm of leather or other material F and below the
rigid diaphragm of metal L, as hereinbefore described. The mouth of the pipe I
is fitted with a conical stop valve M, which has the rod N fitted in the apex of the
cone which goes up through the pipe I, and is attached to the diaphragm of leather
or other material O, as hereinbefore described. By altering the weights P on this
diaphragm O, I can regulate the amount of gas I allow to enter the pipe I by means
of the stop valve M, and therefore the amount of gas that enters the compartment B,
and the pressure exerted downwards on the diaphragm F in the said compartment B,
which pressure opens the pipe D and allows the gas to enter the regulator from the
reservoir by the action of the rod G through the lever H on the stop valve E, as
herein before described. S is the cap of perforated metal over the outlet pipe R, as
hereinbefore described.
Having thus particularly described and clearly explained my Invention, I now
state my claims in my said Invention to be as follows:-
1. The shape of the retort gradually enlarging towards the back thereof, as
hereinbefore described.
2. The door of the retort in which is contained a globe or sphere, as hereinbefore
described, and which door I also fit to the ascension pipe, or whereever else or for
whatever purpose I deem expedient, whether in gas works or elsewhere.
3. The two domes on the retort with the syphon pipe outside, the one dome being
inside the other, as herein before described.
4. The purifier with one end of each pipe above the level of the liquid, while
the other end is below the level of the liquid therein contained, and with an
agitator at the lower part of the said purifier, as herein before described.
5. The arrangement of cock and seat valve, as hereinbefore described, whereby
any escape of gas or return of the same is rendered impossible.
6. The regulator herein before described, which only allows a certain regulated
quantity of gas to reach the burners, though gas under high pressure may be in the
reservoir.
7. The application to every kind of carriage, and for every other purpose of the
methods of using the gas berein before described, including the cock and seat valve,
and the regulator, as hereinbefore claimed under claims 5 and 6, and in the
manner bereinbefore described and declared and shewn in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Smith, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fourth day of. February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
night hundand and in
Witness,
J. HART-DAVIES,
26, Budge Row,
Cannon Street,
E.C.
GEORGE SMITH. (L.S.)