Hydraulic Anti-dip for Gas Works and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Jan., 1898-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Hydraulic Anti-dip for Gas Works and the like.
I, JAMES WHIMSTER, Gas Works, Armagh, Ireland, Gas Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an hydraulic anti-dip for gas works and the like; the
object of my invention being to get rid of the pressure occasioned in the retorts
by the hydraulic main seal. This I effect by the employment of an hydraulic
valve to bye-pass the seal in the hydraulic main.
In the carrying out of my invention I attach to the back of the existing bridge-
pipe another pipe connecting with the inlet of the said hydraulic valve which I
employ; the outlet of which valve communicates with the ordinary outlet pipe
from the hydraulic main, at a position between the hydraulic main and the hydraulic
main valve. The said hydraulic valve which I employ is provided with a cup
which dips into a water seal, the said cup being moved into and out from the
water, by being connected to a rod working in a stuffing box, the said rod being
operated by levers from the front of the retort bench.
the said
Whilst the process of drawing and charging the retort is going on,
hydraulic valve is shut and the communication between the retorts and the rest
of the apparatus is controlled by the hydraulic main in the usual way. After the
retort is charged and lid closed, the lever is operated to lift the cup and thus open
the hydraulic valve, the lever being preferably attached to the cross bar or other
convenient part of the retort mouth piece so that the retort cannot be opened
without the lever being released and the hydraulic valve thus shut.
I may employ one water trough or receptacle for each bench of retorts, with a
separate upright pipe and sealing cup for each retort.
I, JAMES WHIMSTER, Gas Works, Armagh, Ireland, Gas Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed. to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
stater.ent:-
This invention relates to an hydraulic anti-dip for gas works and the like and
has for its object to provide an alternative route for the gas from the retorts to
the foul main, so that the resistance offered by the seal in the hydraulic main may

page_text: be removed and the pressure in the retort thus relieved; at the same time retain-
ing the advantages of the said seal during the process of drawing and charging
the process of drawing and charging the retorts."
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is an end elevation partly in section and
Fig. 2 a plan of part of a bench or oven of 4 retorts shewing the simplest method of
carrying out my invention.
Referring to the said drawings the gas issuing from the retorts is ordinarily
carried by means of the ascension pipes A, bridge pipes B, dip pipes D through
the hydraulic main H into the foul main G.
In accordance with my invention I provide the bridge pipe B with an extra
branch communicating with an ordinary hydraulic valve E upon the continuous
or collection catch pipe J connected to the foul main; the said parts constituting
the before mentioned alternative route for the passage of gas from the retorts to
the foul main.
The cup F of the valve E is connected by means of the rod K passing through
the stuffing box L, the lever M and rod K to the bridle of the retort mouthpiece
lid so that it has to be detached before the lid can be removed. The valve E is
thus consequently closed and the communication by that route cut off. When
the retort is closed the cup F is lifted and the gas, bye-passing the dip D, allowed
to get freely away without forcing the seal in the hydraulic main.
If the valve were neglected to be opened again the gas would simply take the
ordinary course through the hydraulic main.
A counter balance weight may be placed upon the lever M to ensure the falling
of the cup F when the rod K' is relieved should it not be heavy enough of itself
to do so.
In this case a separate hydraulic valve is required for each retort but I prefer to
employ a continuous valve box or secondary main as shewn in Figs. 3, 4 and 5
which illustrate a sectional elevation, plan and end elevation respectively of a
bench or oven of 6 retorts.
This continuous valve box is built up in sections N of equal size with a par-
tition n cast on each section as shewn. Each of these sections is fitted with a
stand pipe P and cup F to serve as a hydraulic valve. The centre section N¹
which is opposite no retort is not fitted thus but is utilized for the overflow of tar
into the foul main to be disposed of in the ordinary way. By this arrangement
the return of gas to the retorts through the overflow is prevented; also by means
of the dip of the partitions and the hood Q arranged over the tar outlet pipe q
provision is made for the thick tar passing off first and leaving the lighter tar and
water to seal the cups.
In the event of the middle section N¹ being required for a valve in the case of a
middle retort in the oven, the surplus liquors may be removed by means of a sealed
A similar arrange-
pipe from any of the compartments found most convenient.
ment to this may be employed with the valves first described.
By making this secondary main or valve box in sections of cast iron with the
partitions cast on one end of each section, the invention can be very easily and
very cheaply applied. The sections of the collecting pipe J with stand pipes
would also be all similar so that there would be no multiplicity of patterns required.
The hydraulic valve is a sure protection against gas returning, or in the case of
working under an exhaust the drawing in of air when the retort is open.
Then carelessness in neglecting to open it when the retort is charged only
involves the gas taking the ordinary course through the hydraulic main; so that
there is perfect security with it.
Again with this arrangement in use the dip in the hydraulic main may be made
any depth, as there would be no necessity for risking anything by having it
shallow. I have described my invention as applied to a four and six retort oven
respectively and as if the hydraulic main were in sections one to each oven, but of
course, for a continuous hydraulic main, it could be arranged to suit.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. An hydraulic anti-dip for gas works and the like for use in combination with
the ordinary hydraulic main, arranged to provide an alternative route for the gas
from the retorts to the foul main and controlled by the opening and closing of the
retort mouth lid, in the manner as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
shewn in the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with the hydraulic main of the continuous catch pipe J
built in sections and connected to the foul main G, the said catch pipe being pro-
vided with the valves E corresponding in number to the retorts in the oven,
arranged in the manner as and for the purposes herein before described and shewn
in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The arrangement and construction of the secondary main or valve box con-
nected to the catch pipe of the foul main, substantially as herein before described
and shewn in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The general arrangement, construction and combination of parts constituting
the hydraulic anti-dip for gas works and the like, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of January 1898.
JOHNSONS,
Applicant's Agents, 115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.