IM- PROVED APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF GAS BAR
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Joseph Woodhouse, of Holbeck, Leeds,
in the County of York, Gas Inspector, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVED APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF GAS
BAR
Sealed the 8th February 1870, and dated the 10th August 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Joseph Wood-
house at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 10th August 1869.
I, SAMUEL JOSEPH WOODHOUSE, of Holbeck, Leeds, in the County of
York, Gas Inspector, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF GAS
TO BURNERS, AND ALSO FOR AN IMPROVED STANDARD TAP," to be as follows:-
My apparatus consists of a case made of brass or other suitable
material attached to the meter by means of a pipe and a union joint. In
the inside of this outer case is a moveable cylinder enclosed at the top,
the circumference of which is perforated with longitudinal apertures
wider in the middle and diminishing to the two points. The size of such
apertures I cause to be pierced for any given number of lights at the
rate of a thirty-second part of a square inch per light, which I find

page_text: is sufficient after allowing a third more of that quantity for friction,
varying according to the different elevation where the gas is consumed,
and so in proportion for any number of lights. As the gas from the
meter first enters my apparatus it is received into a cylinder open at the
top filled with carbon consisting of 3 parts of charcoal and 1 of copperas
enclosed in a covering of wire gauze or other suitable material. The
perforated moveable cylinder is placed over the carbon case; over the two
last-named cylinders I place the outer case before referred to, the
upper part of which has an inner shell, there being a space between it
and the outer case. Two packing rings of leather, oiled silk, or other
suitable substance are placed at the bottom portion of this inner shell, and
between these rings apertures are made of convenient size and distances
from each other. As the gas is forced by pressure through the carbon
case it raises the perforated moveable cylinder till the top portion of the
longitudinal perforations reach the level of the perforations in the space
between the packing rings, and as the taps to the burners are turned on
the gas passes into the chamber between the outer case and the inner
shell through an outlet at the top of the apparatus, and thence to the
burner. As the quantity of gas required is more or less so the moveable
cylinder is raised or lowered, so that as it rises the widest parts of the
longitudinal perforations being brought gradually opposite to the
perforations between the rings more gas is allowed to pass through, and
as a less quantity is required the moveable cylinder gradually rises and
the size of the perforations diminishes. This portion of my improvements
is peculiarly applicable for mills and large buildings, or where a large
supply is required.
a
Another portion of my improvements consists in a standard tap,
which is as follows:-The stopper is made hollow, one half the circum-
ference of which is drilled or pierced with holes of different sizes, but
made on the same scale as the perforations in the moveable cylinder
before mentioned, the other half of the circumference opposite to the
perforations being longitudinal outlet. The gas passes into the tap
through the perforation in size according to the amount of gas required
sufficient to supply the number of lights requisite, and to regulate which
on the flange of the thumb piece of the tap is an index denoting by
figures different numbers of lights. As the tap is turned to any of
these figures a corresponding perforation sufficient to, allow gas to
supply that number of lights is brought opposite to the outlet to, the
burner.

page_text: As it is essential that the perforations in the tap and in the perforated
cylinder before mentioned should retain the dimensions intended, and as
the action of the gas is likely to corrode or choke up those perforations
to some extent if made of such materials at present used for such
purposes, to obviate this I have them cast or made of a material
composed of block tin and copper mixed in such proportions as will
check such corrosion or choking up of the perforations. The union
joint which connects the purifying apparatus to the meter I make of the
same material also..
The advantages of my improvements, as will be now seen, consist in
the great saving of gas by the use thereof, and also a more regular and
clearer light is obtained. A saving is also effected owing to the
durability of the tap.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Joseph Woodhouse in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 10th February 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMÚEL
JOSEPH WOODHOUSE, of Holbeck, Leeds, in the County of York, Gas
Inspector, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of August, 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 Samuel Joseph Woodhouse, Her special
licence that I, the said Samuel Joseph Woodhouse, my executors; adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel Joseph
Woodhouse, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should át 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 "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF GAS.
TO BURNERS, AND ALSO FOR AN IMPROVED STANDARD TAP," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Samuel Joseph Woodhouse, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or

page_text: 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 immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Joseph Woodhouse, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):-
My improved apparatus for purifying and regulating the supply of gas
to burners is shewn in the accompanying Drawing, in which Fig. 1 is
an external elevation of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal
vertical section of the same. It consists of an external case a, a, made
of brass or other suitable material, and is attached to the meter by
means of a pipe and an union joint b. Inside this outer case is a
moveable cylinder c closed at the top but open at the bottom. The
circumference or side of this cylinder is perforated with longitudinal
apertures wider in the middle and diminishing to the two points, as
shewn at Fig. 2. These apertures gradually increase in size from the
ends towards the middle, and they are pierced for any given number of
lights in the proportion of a thirty-second part of an inch square per light,
which I find is sufficient after allowing a third more of that quantity for
friction, varying according to the different elevations where the gas is
consumed and other local causes, such as the different sizes of the
mains, &c., and so in proportion for any number of lights. When the
gas enters the apparatus it is received into a cylinder d open at the top
and filled with solid matters consisting of three parts of charcoal or
peat and one of copperas, to which is added a like quantity of potash.
These materials are arranged in the following manner :-First, a layer
of charcoal; second, a layer of peat; third, a layer of copperas and
potash; fourth, a layer of charcoal or peat. To neutralize the presence
of sulphur in the gas the potash is added, and the whole is covered with
a sheet of wire gauze or other suitable material.
The perforated
moveable cylinder c is placed over the carbon case d, as shewn at
Fig. 2. To the upper part of the case a before referred to, and which
encloses the two last-named cylinders, is secured an inner shell e, e, a

page_text: space being left between it and the part a' of the outer case.
Inside the
shell e, e, are fixed the pendent rods g, g, which serve as guides to the.
moveable cylinder c as it is raised by the pressure of the gas. The
rods g, g, are provided with helical or other springs g', g', which together
with a flat spring g² fixed inside the shell e will prevent the cylinder c
from sticking on the rods g, g. At the lower part of the part a' of the
case apertures e¹, e¹, are made of convenient size and distances from each
other. As the gas enters the apparatus through the tube bit is forced
by pressure through the materials in the carbon case d and raises the.
perforated moveable cylinder c till the top portion of the longitudinal
perforations in this cylinder reach the level of the perforations e¹, e¹, in
the part al of the case, and as the taps to the burners are turned on the
gas passes througli the apertures e¹, e¹, into the chamber between the
outer case a and the inner shell a', and through an outlet fat the top of
the apparatus, and thence to the burners. As the quantity of gas
required is more or less. the moveable cylinder c is raised or lowered
accordingly, so that as it rises the widest parts of the longitudinal per-
forations of the cylinder c will be brought gradually opposite to the
perforations e', and more gas will be allowed to pass through, and as a
less quantity of gas is required the moveable cylinder c will gradually
rise, and the size of the exit apertures will be diminished. This
apparatus will be found peculiarly applicable for mills and large
buildings where a large supply of gas is required.
Another form of apparatus, but constructed on the same principle as
that just described is shewn at Fig. 3. This is called a wet apparatus,
and is intended to be used where the condensation of the gas is very:
rapid. The liquid is composed of dissolved copperas and potash to.
destroy the presence of sulphur in the gas. The liquid from the con-
densation of the gas falls into the liquid space and overflows down the
pipe i into the meter. A suitable aperture secured by a screw plug is
provided for supplying the apparatus with liquid when required.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of an improved construction of
regulating standard tap, and is intended for the use of small consumers;
Fig. 5 is an end view of the same; and Fig. 6 is another section. The
stopper is made hollow, and one-half of the circumference is drilled
or pierced with holes of different sizes but made on the same scale as
the perforations in the moveable cylinder of the other apparatus; the

page_text: other half of the circumference opposite to the perforations is cut in the
form of a long slit so as to constitute a longitudinal outlet. The gas
passes into the tap through one of the perforations corresponding in size
to the amount of gas required, such quantity being sufficient to supply
the number of lights intended to be used. The end of the hollow
stopper carries a dial plate l, on which are marked figures corre-
sponding to the size of the apertures in the stopper. There is also a
fixed index or pointer m and a thumb piece for turning the stopper.
As the stopper is turned to any of these figures a corresponding
perforation sufficient to allow gas to supply that number of lights is
brought opposite to the outlet of the burner, so that the quantity of
gas required for any number of burners may be supplied as may be
desired.
As it is essential that the perforations in the tap shewn in Figures 4, 5,
and 6, and in the perforated cylinder c of Figures 2 and 3 before
mentioned should retain the dimensions intended, and as the action of
the gas is likely to corrode or choke up these perforations to some extent
if made of such materials as are at present used for such purposes, these
parts are cast or made of an alloy composed of block tin and copper mixed
in the proportions of ten parts of copper to two of block tin or there-
abouts. An alloy of this character is not liable to corrode and cause
obstructions which would choke up the perforations. The union joint
which connects the purifying apparatus to the meter may also be made
of the same material.
The advantages of my improvements as will be now seen consist in the
great saving of gas by the use thereof, also in obtaining a more regular
and clearer light and destroying the presence of sulphur in the gas; a
saving is also effected owing to the durability of the tap.
Having now described my Invention of "Improved Apparatus for
Purifying and Regulating the Supply of Gas to Burners, and also for
an Improved Standard Tap," and having explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by
Letters Patent as aforesaid, the apparatus herein set forth, or any mere
modification thereof, for regulating the supply of gas, consisting of a
moveable cylinder having peculiarly shaped openings or slots formed
therein. so as to give varying supplies of gas according to the quantity
required.

page_text: I claim the use of this apparatus either alone or in combination with
the carbon purifier for the purpose of destroying the sulphur and other
noxious impurities in the gas, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Joseph Woodhouse, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Eighth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy.
SAMUEL JOSEPH WOODHOUSE.
(L.S.)
igned, sealed, and delivered
by the said Samuel Joseph
Woodhouse in the pre-
sence of
EDWARD WHITELEY,
Clerk to Messrs. Richardson & Turner,
Solicitors,
Leeds.