IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF GAS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Thomas Livesey, of the South Metro-
politan Gas Works, Old Kent Road, in the County of Surrey, for
30
Sealed the 19th April 1870, and dated the 20th December 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Thomas Livesey
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 20th December 1869.
I, GEORGE THOMAS LIVESEY, of the South Metropolitan Gas Works,
Old Kent Road, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF GAS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in hydraulic valves adapted to
many purposes, but especially designed for use in gas works, and consists,
firstly, in the construction of valves for purifier or other use; and
secondly, to a valve or valves, seal or seals, by means of which greater
facilities are given for the cleansing of or removal of obstructions from
the inlet and outlet pipes of gas holders.

page_text: The following is a description of the valve first referred to:-A
rectangular, oval, round, or other suitably formed chamber is con-
structed of cast iron or other material closed both at top and bottom,
having inlet and outlet openings on opposite sides near the top, but
divided from each other by a diaphragm which extends from the top of
the chamber to within a short distance of its bottom. At or near the
bottom of the chamber a three-way cock is attached, one of the ways of
such cock being in communication with a pipe or tube leading to a
cistern containing water which is kept at an uniform level by means of a
ball cock or other suitable contrivance, while the other way or outlet of
the cock is made to dip into a seal cup. So long as the cock is turned
from the water the valve will remain open and the gas will pass from
the inlet into the "chamber, dip beneath the diaphragm, and pass on to
the outlet. When it becomes necessary to close the valve the cock is
simply turned on to the cistern, when the water will flow into and rise
in the chamber to such a height as to form an efficient seal, and cut off
all communication between the gas inlet and outlet pipes. To reopen
the valve the cock must be turned off from the cistern, when the water
in the chamber will run off by the outlet way of the cock and thus
re-establish a communication between the gas inlet and outlet.
In lieu of the foregoing arrangement a U-shaped pipe may be used,
and instead of the three-way cock two ordinary cocks may be employed.
The form before described is however preferred.
The mode of constructing the second form of hydraulic valve or scal
adapted for gas holder use is as follows:-Over and surrounding the
inlet and outlet pipes of the gas holder and their corresponding man-
lids a ring of sheet iron is attached to the under side of the roof of the
gas holder, and of such a depth as to dip into the water contained in the
tank and form a sufficient seal when the gas holder is landed. An
opening in the upper part of this ring is formed proportionate in size to
the inlet and outlet pipes, and below the opening attached to the ring
and forming part of it is a water trough. Immediately over this water
trough and parallel to it a piece of sheet iron is fixed vertically to the
roof the gas holder, the ends of it being bent and fastened to the ring
before mentioned on each side of the opening, the lower edge dipping
into the water trough but not reaching to the bottom thereof. Outside
the gas holder and over the water trough a S pipe with a funnel head
is fastened, and on the interior of the ring a small orifice is made at a

page_text: height corresponding to and communicating with the bottom of the
water trough, an arrangement being made to close the said orifice either
by a plug or cock which may be operated upon by means of a spindle
working through a gland in the top of the gas holder. Or the cock may
be placed on the exterior side of the gas holder and communicate by a
pipe with the trough.
A modification of the foregoing and one equally well adapted for use
in some situations consists in extending the water trough all round the
éxterior circumference of the ring before alluded to, a second ring of
sheet iron of such diameter and depth as shall dip into the water trough
being fixed to the roof of the gas holder.
.
Another modification consists in forming a ring water trough
independent of and unattached to the gas holder, but surrounding and
supported from the top of the inlet and outlet pipes by hooks, straps,
bolts, or other suitable means, the lower and inner circumferential edge
of the trough being constructed so as to dip into the water in the gas
holder tank sufficiently to form a seal. Or the trough may be cast with
and form part of the pipe or pipes, the sheet-iron ring described as
the "second ring" in the last paragraph being in this case retained.
As described the valve is open and no seal exists. To close the valve
or effect the sealing all that is necessary is to pour into the funnel water
until it fills the trough or rises high enough to cut off the com-
munication between the gas in the crown of the gas holder and the inlet
and outlet pipes. The man-lids may then be removed and ready access
obtained to the inlet and outlet pipes without fear of any gas escaping
from the gas holder or the ingress of atmospheric air and the danger of
forming an explosive mixture. To open this valve it is only requisite to
replace the man-lids and open the cock in connection with the water
trough, when the water will flow away, destroy the seal, and re-establish
a communication between the inlet and outlet pipes and the gas holder.
Separate valves may be applied to the inlet and outlet pipes, or one may
be used surrounding both as described. And although sheet iron is
frequently spoken of in the foregoing as the material employed, it is
to be understood that any suitable material may be used for the con-
struction of the various parts.

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 20th June 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
THOMAS LIVESEY, of the South Metropolitan Gas Works, Old Kent Road,
in the County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said George Thomas Livesey, Her special licence
that I, the said George Thomas Livesey, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Thomas Livesey, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Thomas
Livesey, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Thomas Livesey, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
This Invention relates to improvements in hydraulic valves adapted
to many purposes, but especially designed for use in gas works, and
consists, firstly, in the construction of valves for purifier or other use,
whereby perfect soundness is obtained; and secondly, to a valve or valves,
seal or seals, by means of which greater facilities are given for the

page_text: cleansing of or removal of obstructions from the inlet and outlet pipes
of gas holders.
The following is a description of the valve first referred to:-A rect-
angular, oval, round, or other suitably formed chamber A, Fig. 1, is con-
structed of cast iron or other material, closed both at top and bottom,
having inlet and outlet openings B and C on opposite sides near the top,
but divided from each other by a diaphragm D which extends from the
top of the chamber to within a short distance of its bottom. At or near
the bottom of the chamber a three-way cock E is attached, one of the
ways of such cock being in communication with a pipe or tube F leading
to a cistern containing water, which is kept at an uniform level by
means of a ball cock or other suitable contrivance, while the other way
or outlet of the cock is made to dip into a seal cup G. So long as the
cock is turned from the water the valve will remain open, and the gas
will pass from the inlet into the chamber, dip beneath the diaphragm,
and pass on to the outlet. When it becomes necessary to close the valve
the cock is simply turned on to the cistern, when the water will flow
into and rise in the chamber to such a height as to form an efficient seal
and cut off all communication between the gas inlet and outlet pipes.
In the Drawing Fig. 1, the valve is shewn charged with water and
consequently shut. To re-open the valve the cock must be turned off
from the cistern when the water in the chamber will run off by the outlet
way of the cock, and thus re-establish a communication between the gas
inlet and outlet, the gas then passing in the direction of the arrows.
These valves are well adapted for being worked in groups, and are
specially adapted for purifier use, any number being supplied from one
tank or water cistern; Fig. 2 represents a sectional plan through H, I,
Fig. 1.
In lieu of the foregoing arrangement a U-shaped pipe may be used,
and instead of the three-way cock two ordinary cocks may be employed.
The form before described is, however, preferred,
The mode of constructing in the manner preferred the second form of
hydraulic valve or seal adapted for gas holder use is exhibited in Fig. 3,
and is as follows:-Over and surrounding the inlet and outlet pipes J of
the
gas holder and their corresponding man-lids a ring of sheet iron K
is attached to the under side of the roof of the gas holder, and of such a
depth as to dip into the water contained in the tank and form a sufficient
seal when the gas holder is landed. An opening L in the upper part of

page_text: this ring is formed proportionate in size to the inlet and outlet pipes, and
below the opening attached to the ring and forming part of it is a water
trough M. Immediately over this water trough and parallel to it a
piece of sheet iron N is fixed vertically to the roof of the gas holder,, the
ends of it being bent and fastened to the ring before mentioned on each
side of the opening, the lower edge dipping into the water trough, but
not reaching to the bottom thoreof. Outside the gas holder and over the
water trough a S pipe O with a funnel head is fastened, and on the
interior of the ring a small orifice P is made at a height corresponding
to and communicating with the bottom of the water trough, an arrange-
ment being made to close the said orifice either by a plug or cock, which
may be operated upon by means of a spindle working through a gland
in the top of the gas holder. Or the cock may be placed on the exterior
side of the gas holder and communicate by a pipe with the trough.
A modification of the foregoing, and one equally well adapted for use
in some situations, consists in extending the water trough all round the
exterior circumference of the ring before alluded to, a second ring of
sheet iron of such diameter and depth as shall dip into the water trough
being fixed to the roof of the gas holder.
Another modification consists in forming a ring water trough in-
dependent of and unattached to the gas holder, but surrounding and
supported from the top of the inlet and outlet pipes by hooks, straps,
bolts, or other suitable means, the lower and inner circumferential edge
of the trough being constructed so as to dip into the water in the gas-
holder tank sufficiently to form a seal, or the trough may be cast with
and form part of the pipe or pipes, the sheet-iron ring described as the
"second ring" in the last paragraph being in this case retained. This
form of apparatus is, however, not claimed by me.
As before described the valve is open and no scal exists. To close the
valve or effect the sealing as shewn in the Drawing all that is necessary
is to pour into the funnel water until it fills the trough or rises high
enough to cut off the communication between the gas in the crown of
the gas holder and the inlet and outlet pipes. The man-lids may then bo
removed and ready access obtained to the inlet and outlet pipes without
fear of any gas escaping from the gas holder or the ingress of atmospheric
air and the danger of forming an explosive mixture. To open this valve
it is only requisite to replace the man-lids and open the cock in con-
nection with the water trough when the water will flow away, destroy

page_text: the seal, and re-establish a communication between the inlet and outlet
pipes and the gas holder. Separate valves may be applied to the inlet
and outlet pipes, or one may be used surrounding both, as described.
And although sheet iron is frequently spoken of in the foregoing as the
materials employed, it is to be understood that any suitable material may
be used for the construction of the various 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 which I have
described or referred to, as variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of this 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 and use of hydraulic valves, substantially as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Thomas Livesey, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy.