IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTERBALANCES FOR GAS HOLDERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas Sugg, of Vincent Street, in the City of
Westminster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTERBALANCES FOR
GAS HOLDERS." A communication from abroad by Richard Andrews and
George Reed, both of Sandhurst, in the Colony of Victoria.
100
T10170
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas Sugg at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th June 1878.
"IM-
WILLIAM THOMAS SUGG, of Vincent Street, in the City of Westminster.
PROVEMENTS IN COUNTERBALANCES FOR GAS HOLDERS." [A communication from
abroad by Richard Andrews and George Reed, both of Sandhurst, in the Colony of
Victoria.]
This Invention has for its object the construction of counterbalances in such a
manner as to offer great facility for varying their weight in accordance with the
pressure it is desired that the gas holder shall give, and consists in providing as
many iron tanks (either galvanized or otherwise) as it is requisite to have counter-
balance weights. One of these tanks may be suspended from the gas holder near
each column, or each intermediate column, by a chain which passes over suspension
pullies, the same as when iron weights are employed as counterpoises; or one tank
only may be used, having fixed to it chains which pass over appropriate pullies and
are fixed to the gas holder at suitable points of suspension. On each side of each
column to which these tanks are applied there is a guide rod or bar rising from the
curb of the gas holder tank to the girders connecting the tops of the columns.
These guide rods or bars pass through eyes attached to each tank and serve to
l ....מr

page_text: guide the tank so as to prevent it from striking against the gas holder when rising
or falling.
For guides, instead of eyes, grooved wheels may be substituted, and arranged to
roll against the vertical bars.
Near each column, and rising to about the top of the girders is a water pipe,
curved at the top so that its mouth may be over its corresponding tank. When
the gas holder is down and about to be raised by the incoming gas, the tank or
tanks will be elevated, and water is then caused to flow from each of the pipes into
its tank until the weight of the tanks and the water contained in them counter-
poises the gas holder, or reduces the pressure of it to the requisite extent. When
the gas holder is full and the supply of gas to the district is about to commence,
water may be withdrawn from the tanks by suitable pipes and taps until the gas
holder gives the desired pressure. The taps may be so arranged as to be capable of
being opened or closed by means of a rod or lever, even when they are at a con-
siderable altitude from the ground, and the water in falling may be directed into
the gas holder tank.
"
In lieu of the tank or tanks as before described, an annular tank or belt to
contain water may be provided, but inasmuch as the weight is likely to prepon-
derate to one side or the other no claim is made to such an arrangement.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Thomas Sugg in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 19th
December 1878.
WILLIAM THOMAS SUGG, of Vincent Street, in the City of Westminster. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN COUNTERBALANCES FOR GAS HOLDERS." A communication from
abroad by Richard Andrews and George Reed, both of Sandhurst, in the Colony of
Victoria.
.
:: This Invention has for its object the construction of counterbalances in such a
manner as to offer great facility for varying their weight in accordance with the
pressure it is desired that the gas holder shall give, and consists in providing as
many iron tanks (either galvanized or otherwise) as it is requisite to have counter-
balance weights. One of these tanks may be suspended from the gas holder near
each column, or each intermediate column, by a chain which passes over suspension
pullies, the same as when iron weights are employed as counterpoises; or one tank
only may be used, having fixed to it chains which pass over appropriate pullies and
are fixed to the gas holder at suitable points of suspension. On each side of each
column to which these tanks are applied there is a guide rod or bar rising from the
curb of the gas holder tank to the girders connecting the tops of the columns.
These guide rods or bars pass through eyes. attached to each tank, and serve to

page_text: guide the tank so as to prevent it from striking against the gas holder when rising
or falling.
For guides, instead of eyes, grooved wheels may be substituted, and arranged to
roll against the vertical bars.
Near each column, and rising to about the top of the girders, is a water pipe,
curved at the top so that its mouth and a flexible tube depending therefrom inay
be over its corresponding tank. When the gas holder is down and about to be
raised by the incoming gas the tank or tanks will be elevated, and water is then
caused to flow from cach of the pipes into its tank until the weight of the tanks
and the water contained in them counterpoises the gas holder, or reduces the
pressure of it to the requisite extent. When the gas holder is full and the supply
of gas to the district is about to commence, water may be withdrawn from the
tanks by suitable pipes and taps until the gas holder gives the desired pressure.
The taps may be so arranged as to be capable of being opened or closed by means
or rods, levers, chains, or wire ropes, even when they are at a considerable altitude
from the ground, and the water in falling may be directed into the gas holder tank.
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 side elevation of one of the columns and counterpoising tanks, and
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.
In each of the Figures, similar letters of reference relate to the same parts.
A, is the gas holder tank; B, tho gas holder; C, the column; D, D, the pullics at
the top thereof; and E, the counterpoising water tank which is suspended over the
wheels D, D, by the chain F, one end of which is fixed to the holder at G. H, H,
are the bars for guiding the tank in its ascent and descent. To assist in its guidance,
the tank is furnished with eyes, as at I, or rollors, as at J, or both kind of guides
attached to the same tank may be used. K is the supply water pipe, curved at its
top, from which may depend the flexible tube M, and is provided with a valve or
cock at L. N is a valve or cock inserted in the lower part of the tank in order to
draw off water when required. It is actuated by a lever and two wire or other
ropes or chains O, O, and when open allows the water to flow into the gas holder
tank by the pipe P.
Instead of the tanks being constructed in the form shown, they may be made
much deeper in proportion to their width. The guides and guide bars may then be
dispensed with, but it will be necessary to provide a well for each of the counter-
poises to sink into when the gas holder is at its full height.
Hitherto great difficulty has been experienced in adding to or reducing the
counterbalance weights when the gas holder is low and the weights consequently at
a considerable altitude, but by the adoption of the foregoing apparatus the weights
may be altered at any point of its height. Where no exhauster is used, too, by
means of this apparatus, the gas holder may be employed to supply its place, and
caused to draw the gas from the retorts and through the intervening apparatus
used in its manufacture.
In lieu of the tank or tanks as before described, an annular tank or belt to con-
tain water may be provided, but inasmuch as the weight is likely to preponderate
to one side or the other, no claim is made to such an arrangement.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Inven-
tion, 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 Inven-
tion, 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 construc-
tion of water tank counterpoises for gas holders, together with the pipes, tubes,
cocks, and valves for increasing or decreasing the weight of the same by the
introduction or withdrawal of water, and to be used either with or without

page_text: the guide bars H and guides I and J, as herein described, and shown on the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas Sugg, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
m STICA
T. SUGC. (s.)
THEO FITI AA.
WILL