IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MAnufacture of Gas
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Williams Box, of the Gas Works,
Crayford, in the County of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MAnufacture of Gas.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Williams Box
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th February 1874.
I, WILLIAM WILLIAMS Box, of the Gas Works, Crayford, in the
County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS," to be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is to render unnecessary the use of liquid
in the present hydraulic main, and with this view the cap on the top of
the dip pipe above the bridge pipe is furnished with a stuffing box,
through which passes a rod or spindle which is attached at one end to a
lever supported on a fulcrum and provided with a counterbalance
weight, while the other end of the lever is extended to any convenient

page_text: length, and is operated upon by a chain, rod, or cord. The other
extremity of the spindle is fastened to a hollow or solid cone made with
a flange or projection at or near its base, the flange being turned true.
The bottom of the dip pipe is also turned or otherwise fashioned to a
true circle with a V shaped, semicircular, or other suitably formed edge.
The cone and dip pipe are thus made into a valve and seat.
The apparatus is used in the following manner:-When the retort is
not in action the weight attached to the lever causes the conical valve to
rise and bear against the edge of its seat or bottom of the dip pipe, thus
closing any communication between the retort and the conducting main,
but as soon as the retort is charged the attendant pulls down the rod or
chain fastened to the lever, which acting through the intervention of the
spindle depresses the valve and opens a way for the free passage of the
gas from the retort to the main, the passage being maintained so long as
the rod or chain is kept down by the hook with which it is furnished
being attached to the retort lid or other fitting about the mouth-
piece.
The valve although by preference is made taper or conical may be of
any other suitable form, and the spindle may be guided at the lower part
by a guide bar fastened to the dip pipe. In lieu of, or in addition to the
counterbalance weight before mentioned, the lever may be acted upon
by a spring either attached to itself and bearing on the bridge pipe or
fixed to the bridge pipe and made to press upon the lever.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Williams Box in the Great Seal Patent 2
Office on the 13th August 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WILLIAMS Box, of the Gas Works, Crayford, in the County of Kent,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 3
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Williams Box,

page_text: Her special licence that I, the said William Williams Box, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Williams Box, 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 William Williams Box,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Williams Box, 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 accom-
panying Drawing and to the letters marked thereon, that is to
say:-
The object of this Invention is to render unnecessary the use of liquid
in the present hydraulic main, and with this view the cap on the top of
the dip pipe above the bridge pipe is furnished with a stuffing box,
through which passes a spindle. This spindle is attached at one end to
a lever, or by preference to an eccentric supported on a fulcrum or
standard, and provided with a counterbalance weight, the other end of
the lever or opposite side of the eccentric having a chain, rod, or cord
attached, whereby the apparatus is acted upon. To the lower extremity
of the spindle is fastened a hollow or solid cone made with a flange or
projection at or near its base, the flange being turned true. The bottom
of the dip pipe is also turned or otherwise fashioned to a true circle with
a V shaped, semicircular, or other suitably formed edge. The cone and
dip pipe are thus made into a valve and scat.
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 section, A being the present hydraulic main. By
the use of this apparatus, however, no liquid is required, therefore

page_text: A becomes merely a conducting main. B is the dip pipe, and C the cone.
D is the stuffing box, and E the spindle which is connected to the
grooved eccentric F by a link G. H is the counterbalance weight, and
I is the chain which is fastened to the eccentric at or about the point L.
It will be seen that the eccentric F is provided with a stop J, which will
rest against the standard K and prevent the attendant from pulling over
the eccentric too far, and consequently the cone too low.
The apparatus is used in the following manner :-When the retort is
not in action the weight attached to the eccentric or lever, if one be
used, causes the conical valve to rise and bear against the edge of its
seat or bottom of the dip pipe, thus closing any communication between
the retort and the conducting main, but as soon as the retort is charged
the attendant pulls down the rod or chain fastened to the eccentric or
lever, which acting through the intervention of the spindle depresses the
valve and opens a way for the free passage of the gas from the retort to
the main, the passage being maintained so long as the rod or chain is
kept down by the hook or other appliance with which it is furnished,
being attached to the retort lid or other fitting about the mouth-
piece.
The valve, although by preference is made taper or conical, may be of
any other suitable form, and the spindle may be guided at the lower
part by a guide bar fastened to the dip pipe. In lieu of, or in addition
to the counterbalance weight before mentioned, the eccentric or lever
'may be acted upon by a spring either attached to itself and bearing on
the cap or bridge pipe, or fixed to the cap or bridge pipe and made to
press upon the eccentric or lever.
In the Drawing the method of applying the Invention to existing
apparatus is shown, but in making new apparatus the dip or that part
of the pipe extending within the main might be dispensed with, the
seat of the valve being at or near the top of the conducting main.
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 and therefore claim as the
e

page_text: Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
Firstly. The construction and application of a conical or other suit-
ably shaped valve similar to that exhibited in the Drawing or before
referred to, to close or seal the gas way between the retort and conduct-
ing main without the use of liquid.
And, Secondly. The construction and application of an eccentric with
its attendant counterpoise and link, as described and shown on the
Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Williams Box, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.