IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF COAL GAS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Albert Northcote, of Quebec Street, Montague
Square, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER
OF COAL GAS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Albert Northcote
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th February 1881.
GEORGE ALBERT NORTHCOTE, of Quebec Street, Montague Square, in the
County of Middlesex. " IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND
INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF COAL GAS."
According to my Invention, gas to be purified and enriched is caused to traverse
a series of curtains or partitions of absorbent porous material arranged above a float
and dipping or extending into hydrocarbon in which that float is immersed. One
arrangement is as follows:-In a vessel or chamber containing hydrocarbon, and
through which extends a stand pipe whereby gas to be treated enters, I provide a
float, a moveable dome or roof supported by the float, and between these a series of
annular curtains or partitions which may be made of flannel or other absorbent
porous material.
The dome or roof has a pipe or case closed at top and which surrounds the gas
supply or stand pipe, but leaves the dome or roof and float free to rise and fall
as the level of the hydrocarbon in the containing vessel or chamber varies.
Passages traverse the float, whose upper surface is concave and is below the level
of the hydrocarbon, so that the curtains or partitions dip or extend as it were into
a bath of hydrocarbon above the float. Gas entering by the stand pipe passes into
the space between the dome or roof and the float, and thence proceeds laterally or
radially, and traverses the curtains or partitions, which being charged with
hydrocarbon the gas is enriched. Impurities from the gas are deposited on the
curtains or partitions and float, and thence fall to the bottom of the containing
chamber.
As is obvious, apparatus may be constructed in various forms to operate on the
principle of my Invention, as hereinabove set forth.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Albert Northcote in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th August 1881.
GEORGE ALBERT NORTHCOTE, of Quebec Street, Montague Square, in the.
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND
INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF COAL GAS."
According to my Invention, gas to be purified and enriched is caused to traverse
a series of curtains or partitions of absorbent porous material, arranged above a
float and dipping or extending into hydrocarbon in which the float is immersed.
Referring to the accompanying Drawing, A is a vessel or chamber containing
hydrocarbon, and through which extends a stand pipe B, whereby gas to be treated
enters, its course being indicated by the arrows; C is a float, and D a movable
dome or roof supported by the float; between these is a series of annular curtains
or partitions E, E, which may be made of flannel or other absorbent porous
material, preferring cotton wool. The dome or roof has a pipe or case F closed at
top and which surrounds the gas supply or stand pipe B, but leaves the dome or
roof and float free to rise and fall as the level of the hydrocarbon in the containing
vessel or chamber varies. Passages G, G, traverse the float, whose upper surface is
concave and is below the level of the hydrocarbon, so that the curtains or
partitions E, E, dip or extend as it were into a bath of hydrocarbon above the
float. Gas entering by the stand pipe passes into the space between the dome or
roof D and the float C, and thence proceeds laterally or radially and traverses the
curtains or partitions, which being charged with hydrocarbon the gas is enriched.
Impurities from the gas are deposited on the curtains or partitions and float and
thence fall to the bottom of the containing chamber. H is a reservoir for hydro-
carbon, which is admitted to the vessel A by the valve J, which is closed by the
lever K and the ring or tappet L when the float reaches the upper extremity of
its travel.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and the way in which
it is to be carried into practical effect, I would have it understood that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as secured to me under the
Letters Patent hereinbefore in part recited is,-
1. Causing the gas to be purified and enriched to traverse a series of curtains or.
partitions of absorbent porous material, arranged above a float and dipping or
extending into hydrocarbon in which that float is immersed, substantially as described.
2. The apparatus for purifying and increasing the illuminating power of coal
gas, constructed, arranged, and operating as described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Albert Northcote, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
CHOPC
AT DUDT NORTHCOTE
Tal