IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR REMOVING THE PRESSURE UPON GAS RETORTS BY THE DIP PIPES GENERALLY INUSE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Percy John Wates, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR
REMOVING THE PRESSURE UPON GAS RETORTS BY THE DIP PIPES GENERALLY
IN USE"
Sealed the 23rd May 1879, and dated the 30th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Percy John Wates at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th November 1878.
PERCY JOHN WATES, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent, Civil Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR REMOVING THE PRESSURE UPON GAS RETORTS
BY THE DIP PIPES GENERALLY IN USE.",
"
"
The object of this Invention is to remove the pressure caused by the "dip pipe'
by means which are quicker, cheaper, and better than those at present adopted,
and is compassed by a cast iron valve, the seat of which is part of a flanged elbow
connection or tube.
The flange of the horizontal tube of the valve is connected to that part of the
dip pipe" which is above the "hydraulic main," and the flange of the vertical
tube is connected to the hydraulic main itself, thus when the valve is open
allowing a free communication between the retorts and the condensers.
The seat of the valve is turned out of the connection.
The valve disc is of cast iron and attached to a turned rod working through a
stuffing box. At the upper part of the rod is a cross-head curved down at each
end for the purpose hereafter explained.
The cover of the valve is held in its position by bolts and nuts, and to one of
these bolts at about every fourth valve is fixed a vertical stay of wrought iron,
to carry one or two (though two are preferred) rods or tubes running the whole
length of the retorts.no matter how many there are.
These rods are placed at such a level and in such a position, that when the valve
is open the under-side of the cross head rests upon the top rod and so prevents its

page_text: closing, and when closed the top of the cross-head presses against the under side of
the lower rod and so prevents the valve rising and gas escaping should any sudden
pressure be thrown upon the under-side of the valve, though the valve may be
made in just the opposite way, i.c., to open on being pressed down and shut upon
being lifted up.
Many contrivances and valves have been used with the same object, but in all
cases where dry valves are used they are pressed down into their seats by means
of screws or weights, while I prefer to use a simple rod in a stuffing box, so that
in shutting the valve it can be rubbed into its seat, removing by this process any-
thing that may have collected thereon and so making the valve tight.
The essential features of this Invention consist of the cross head and the valve
arrangement in connection therewith and in the arrangement of the rods and
supports, and especially for the arrangement which enables the valve to be rubbed
into its seat.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Percy John Wates in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th May
1879.
PERCY JOHN WATES, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent, Civil Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR REMOVING THE PRESSURE UPON GAS RETORTS
BY THE DIP PIPES GENERALLY IN USE,"
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of one arrangement of my improved anti-dip valve
and cross head combined fixed to dip pipe and hydraulic main.
Fig. 2 represents back elevation of the same; Fig. 3 shews cross section of
hydraulic main shewing side elevation of valve in position in illustration of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 shews the back of a series of valves applied to hydraulic main.
The similar parts in the foregoing Figures have the same letters of reference.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the second form of arrangement of my improved anti-
dip valve and cross head with a modified valve or cross head, and Fig. 6 is a part
vertical section of my improved valve with further modified arrangement of securing
valve hereafter described.
""
The object of this Invention is to remove the pressure caused by the "dip_pipe
by means which are quicker, cheaper, and better than those at present adopted,
and is compassed by a cast iron valve a, the seat a¹ of which is part of a flanged
elbow connection or tube b, the flange of the diagonal tube c of which valve is
connected to that part of the "dip pipe" d which is above the hydraulic main e,
and the flange of the vertical tube f is connected to the hydraulic main itself, thus
when the valve a is open as at a² allowing a free communication between the
retorts and the condensers.
The seat a¹ of the valve is turned out of the connection and is made in either of
the two forms shewn in Figs. 1 and 5. The valve a is of cast iron and attached to
a turned rod g, working through a stuffing box h. At the upper end of the rod
is a cross head g', one limb of which is cut off and shouldered as shown at g²,
Fig. 5, or both limbs curved down at each end as in Fig. 1 for the purpose here-
after explained.
The cover h' of the valve is held in its position by bolts and nuts and to one of
these bolts h³ on every valve is affixed a small cast standard i (if method shewn in
Fig. 5 is adopted), having a projection i forming an inclined plane against which
the shortened and shouldered end g³ of cross head g¹ presses, and so keeps the valve
a in its seat, and on the top of which standard i the other part of the crosshead g¹
rests when the valve is open and so prevents it closing. If the other method
shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 is adopted, then at about every sixth valve is fixed
a vertical stay j of wrought iron to carry one or two, though two are preferred,
rods or tubes k and k running the whole length of the retorts to which the valves
are affixed.
These rodsk and k¹ are placed at such a level and in such a position that when
the valves are open the under sides of the cross heads gl rest upon the top of the
upper rod ', and so the valves a are prevented from closing, and when they are
closed the curved tops or cross heads g press against the under side of the lower
rods k, and so the valves a are prevented from opening should there be any unusual
pressure tending to lift them.
Fig. 6 is a modified arrangement for securing valves; in this case the cross head
g¹ is not used as in the two former, but a pin projecting from the vertical spindle
g secures the valve in its seat by passing under a lug , which forms an inclined
plane and is cast on a standard i similar to that shewn in Fig. 5. This standard
also answers the purpose of supporting the valve when open by the spindle being
raised to such a position that the pin 7 can rest on top of it.
In all cases the open valves and cross heads are shewn in dotted lines. Many
contrivances and valves have been devised for the same object, but in all

page_text: cases either weights or screws are used to press the valves into their seats, while I
use a simple rod worked through a stuffing box with a crosshead by which the
valve is rubbed or ground into its seat, this action removing any obstruction and
making the valve perfectly tight.
Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention I would
observe in conclusion that the valve a, Fig. 5, which consists of a curved section on
a flat seat may be used or adapted for the purposes of this Invention but I make
no claim thereto, but that what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
-
First. The general arrangement and special combination of apparatus and
appliances for removing the pressure upon gas retorts caused by the " dip pipes"
generally in use, substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and illustrated
by the Drawings or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The arrangement of the rod working through a stuffing box in com-
bination with a cross head by means of which the valve is ground or rubbed into
its seat for the purpose of removing obstructions and making the valve perfectly
tight, and for the standard with inclined plane for securing the valve in its seat
and holding it up when open as in Fig. 5, the curved cross head and longitudinal
rods as in Fig. 1, and the pin and standard as in Fig. 6, substantially as herein-
before described and shewn on Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Percy John Wates, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
PERCY JOHN WATES. (L.S.)