IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES AND IN APPARATUS OR MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN to be as follows :-
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM PURVIS WILSON of 2 Great George Street in the City of Westminster
Gas Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said 'invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES AND IN APPARATUS
OR MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN to be as follows :-
"
This invention has for its chief object the conservation of the hydrocarbon
vapours produced in the retorts but which have hitherto been lost during the
processes of refrigeration and purification the resulting illuminating gas obtained
by my invention being as rich in illuminants as when originally produced in the
retort. I obtain this result by the employment of apparatus so arranged and
constructed as to conserve the illuminants in the crude gas as produced in the
retorts.
For this purpose I employ at any point between the mouthpiece of the retort
and the outlet of the hydraulic main a mechanically worked Interceptor consisting
of discs cylinders or boxes of any suitable shape or material dipping into liquids
and furnished with or presenting a permeable body or material through which the
crude gas has to pass whilst maintained at a more or less elevated temperature such
permeable body or material being caused by the movement of the Interceptor to
dip into and rise out of the liquid or liquids thereby always presenting a wetted
surface for the gas to impinge upon, the tar and other impurities being precipitated
by frictional contact upon the said permeable moving wetted surfaces.
The said liquid and the apparatus employed between the mouthpiece of the retort
and the outlet of the hydraulic main is maintained at the necessary temperature
(according to the nature of the gas produced) either by enclosing or otherwise
protecting the same from the refrigerating influence of the atmosphere or by the
application of heat thereto in any suitable or convenient manner in order to
prevent the deposition or abstraction of any of the illuminants, and in continuation
of the same object I employ certain peculiar arrangements of hydraulic mains or
equivalent scaling apparatus which arrangements are also applicable to existing
bydraulic mains and suitable for one or more dip pipes whereby the entering gas
is prevented from coming in contact with the Tar excepting where required for
further precipitation purposes and a constant or an intermittent seal can be
obtained by raising and lowering the level of the sealing liquid.
.

page_text: In carrying out this part of my invention I construct the hydraulic main which
may be of any convenient cross section with an upper and a lower liquid chamber
connected by a tubular or other connection such as a dipping diaphragm or flange
sealing in the liquid in the lower chamber. In order to effect the sealing and
unsealing of the dip pipe the liquid in the lower chamber is forced into the upper
one by the existing pressure of the gas in the works or otherwise such pressure
being regulated or controlled by stop cocks and branch pipes connected with both
chambers so as to admit of varying the seal and of equalizing the pressure with
a view to the escape of the contained liquids through the overflow so that the dip
pipe or pipes shall remain unsealed while the retorts are making gas or be sealed
while out of action. The overflow pipe may either be contained within the
section of the hydraulic main or be situate outside the same forming a part
thereof or connected by by branch pipes thereto. The said chambers may either
form part of the hydraulic main or be fitted separately into any form of existing
hydraulic main. By a modified arrangement the two chambers may be formed on
the same level or side by side and connected by an overflow serving for returning
the liquid from one chamber to the other, when sealing or unscaling the dip pipe
a second overflow being also provided for the escape of the surplus liquids. The
tar then sinks by reason of its greater specific gravity to the bottom of the dip
pipe chamber leaving a sealing surface of liquor and thence passes to the outlet
of the overflow through which it is expelled by the contained liquor in the dip
pipe chamber. In adapting these improvements to existing hydraulic mains I apply
thereto or fit therein a shallow box or tray with inclined bottom so as to divide
the hydraulic main into an upper and a lower liquid chamber the junctions between
the sides and ends of the said box or tray and the hydraulic main being made gas
tight or left open as preferred. The said box or tray may further be subdivided
by transverse partitions dipping nearly to the inclined bottom thereof whereby
one or more compartments are formed and one or any number of dip pipes may be
accomodated in one and the same box. A communication is formed between the
upper and lower chambers of the lowest part of the inclined bottom of the box
for the escape of the surplus liquids the tar being expelled first in a similar manner
to that herein before described. The said opening or communication between the
two chambers also permits the sealing and unsealing of the dip pipe or pipes in
the said box which may be effected in the manner also herein before described.
1
1 200

page_text: I WILLIAM PURVIS WILSON of 2 Great Georgo Street in the City of West-
minster Gas Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES AND
IN APPARATUS OR MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN" and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:—
This Invention has for its chief object the conservation of the hydrocarbon
vapours produced in the retorts but which have hitherto been lost during the
processes of refrigeration and purification the resulting illuminating gas obtained
by my invention being as rich in illuminants as when originally produced in the
retort. I obtain this result by the employment of apparatus so arranged and
constructed as to conserve the illuminants in the crude gas as produced in the
retorts.
For this purpose I employ at any point between the mouthpiece of the retort
and the outlet of the hydraulic main a mechanically worked Interceptor consisting
of discs cylinders boxes or chambers of any suitable shape or material dipping into
liquids and furnished with or presenting a permeable body or material through
which the crude gas has to pass whilst maintained at a more or less elevated
temperature such permeable body or material being caused by the movement of the
Interceptor to dip into and rise out of the liquid or liquids thereby always presenting
a wetted surface for the gas to impinge upon, the tar and other impurities being
precipitated by frictional contact upon the said permeable moving wetted surfaces.
The said liquid and the apparatus employed between the mouthpiece of the retort
and the outlet of the hydraulic main is maintained at the necessary temperature
(according to the nature of the gas produced) either by enclosing or otherwise
protecting the same from the refrigerating influence of the atmosphere or by the
application of heat thereto in any suitable or convenient manner in order to prevent
the deposition or abstraction of any of the illuminants and in continuation of the
same object I employ certain peculiar arrangements of hydraulic mains or
equivalent scaling apparatus which arrangements are also applicable to enisting
hydraulic mains and suitable for one or more dip pipes whereby the entering gas
is prevented from coming in contact with the Tar excepting where required for
further precipitation purposes and a constant or an intermittent seal can be obtained
by raising and lowering the level of the sealing liquid.
In carrying out this part of my invention I construct the hydraulic main which
may be of any convenient cross section with an upper and a lower liquid chamber
connected by a tubular or other connection such as a dipping diaphragin or flange
sealing in the liquid in the lower chamber. In order to effect the sealing and
unsealing of the dip pipe the liquid in the lower chamber is forced into the upper
one by the existing pressure of the gas in the works or otherwise such pressure
being regulated or controlled by stop cocks and branch pipes connected with both
chambers so as to admit of varying the seal and of equalizing the pressure with a
view to the escape of the contained liquids through the overflow so that the dip
pipe or pipes shall remained unsealed while the retorts are making gas or be sealed
while out of action. The overflow pipe may either be contained within the section
of the hydraulic main or be situate outside the same forming a part thereof or
connected by branch pipes thereto. The said liquid chambers may either form part
of the hydraulic main (in the case of new mains) or be fitted separately into any
form of existing hydraulic main. By a modified arrangement the two liquid

page_text: chambers may be formed on the same level or side by side and connected by an
overflow serving for returning the liquid from one chamber to the other, when
senling or unsealing the dip pipe a second overflow being also provided for the
escape of the surplus liquids. The tar then sinks by reason of its greater specific
gravity to the bottom of the dip pipe chamber leaving a scaling surface of liquor
and thence passes to the outlet of the overflow through which it is expelled by
the contained liquor in the dip pipe chamber. In adapting these improvements to
existing hydraulic mains I apply thereto or fit therein a shallow box or tray with
inclined bottom so as to divide the hydraulic main into an upper and a lower liquid
chamber as bereinbefore described the junctions between the sides and ends of the
said box or tray and the hydraulic main being made gas tight or left open as
preferred. The said box or tray may further be subdivided by partitions dipping
nearly to the inclined bottom thereof whereby one or more compartments are
formed and one or any number of dip pipes may be accomodated in one and the
same box or tray. A communication is formed between the upper and lower
chambers at the lowest part of the inclined bottom of the box or tray for the
escape of the surplus liquids the tar being expelled first in a similar manner to
that hereinbefore described. The said opening or communication between the two
chambers also permits the sealing and unscaling of the dip pipe or pipes in the
said box or tray which may be effected in the manner also hereinbefore described.
Figure 1 of my Drawings is a vertical section of one form (given by way of
example) of the mechanically worked Interceptor consisting of a series of discs a
mounted on a shaft b to which a slow rotary inotion is imparted from the engine
or other motive power in any well known manner. These dises dip into a trough
or tank c containing liquid and are by preference of wire gauze perforated metal
or other permeable material. d is the ascension pipe opening into the covered
tank c above the level of the liquid and e is the dip pipe leading from the upper
part of the same tank to the Hydraulic main. The liquid in the tank c is to be
maintained at an elevated temperature which may be effected in various ways as
for example by steam jacketting the tank or by a steam pipe f at the bottom
thereof as shown. The said tank may be divided by partitions into any number
of compartments, each compartment containing one or more discs and corresponding
to each retort in the setting or several retorts may communicate in common with
one and the same compartment or tank.
Figure 2 of my Drawings is a longitudinal vertical section of an existing
Hydraulic Main showing the application thereto of my improved sealing apparatus
as adapted for two or more settings wherby I prevent the entering gas from
coming into contact with the tar excepting where required for further precipitation
purposes and whereby I obtain also either a constant or an intermittent seal by
raising and lowering the level of the sealing liquid which may be accomplished by
the pressure of gas or air or by the addition of further liquid as hereinafter
described. Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section of the same arrangement corre-
sponding to figure 2. Figures 4 and 5 are longitudinal sections of modified
arrangements hereinafter referred to, as applied to existing mains. Figures 6, 7,
and 7. are transverse sections of other modifications of my said arrangement also
applied to existing inains and Figures 8, 9, and 10 are transverse sections of now
Mains constructed in accordance with my invention, and showing various modifi-
cations thereof. In all these figures e indicates the dip pipes, y is the Hydraulic
Main which may be of any convenient section but which according to my invention
is to be divided into two liquid chambers h and i (the former constituting the dip
pipe chamber) in free communication with each other (the said chambers being
shown as disposed one above the other in figures 2, 3, 4 and 5) and formed by the
introduction into an existing main of a tray or trays & with inclined bottoms
provided or not with transverse diaphragms or partitions and having an opening
m at the lowest part dipping into the liquid in the lower chamber i. In figure 4 a
separate box or tray is shown as introduced for each dip pipe and in Figure 5
I have shown the said inclined bottomed trays or boxes as adapted for one two or

page_text: any number of dip pipes. Or the said chambers and i may be formed by
inserting into the main one or more lateral diaphragms ' combined with cross
partitions in the manner shown at Figure 6 a free opening m being left at the
lower edge or lip of the diaphragm k'. Or the chamber i may be formed separately
outside the main at or about the same level as the chamber has shown in figure 7,
the same arrangement of outside chamber i being equally applicable to the
arrangement of mains shown at Figure 7 or to any other form or arrangement of
Hydraulic Main. In figures 8, 9, and 10 the before mentioned liquid chambers h
and i are cast in one with the Hydraulic Main. Figures 8 and 9 show a tubular
connection m between the two chambers. Figure 10 shows the chambers as formed
side by side in lieu of one above the other within the body of the Hydraulic main
itself. n is the outlet for the Tar and liquid communicating by the pipe p with
the self-acting overflow pipe o which is situate outside the main (as in figures 3
and 6) or the self-acting overflow may be situate in a chamber outside the main but
forming a part thereof (as shown in figure 8) or it may be contained wholly within
the section of the Hydraulic Main itself as in figures 9 and 10. q is the high
pressure gas or air pipe and r¹ are the two branches therefrom fitted with stop
cocks and communicating respectively with the liquid chambers h and i, and top of
overflow for the purpose of varying the level of the sealing liquid as herein before
mentioned. By opening the cock and closing the main high pressure cock a
communication is established between the dip pipe chamber h and the top of the
overflow chamber whereby the level of the liquid in both chambers is equalised and
the dip pipe unsealed. By closing the cock rand opening the high pressure cock,
high pressure gas or air is admitted into the chamber i as well as into the over flow
chamber thereby forcing the liquid from the chamber i into the chamber h and
sealing the dip pipes. This mode of varying the level of the liquid in the dip pipe
chamber is shown as applied to all the modifications. When using a liquid for
varying the level of the sealing liquid the cock is placed upon the pipe and
the pipe constitutes the liquid supply pipe. The cock shown on pipe p in
figure 7 is to enable any single dip pipe to remain scaled whilst the sealing of the
others may be intermittent. a (figure 10) is the overflow pipe for returning the
sealing liquid from the chamber h to the chamber i or vice versa when unsealing or
sealing the dipt pipe the two chambers being here shown as disposed on the same
level or side by side within the hydraulic main the pipe s being if preferred
replaced by an opening at the bottom of the dividing partition as in Figure 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be perforined, I declare that what
I claim is-
1. The mode or method of preserving the illuminants in the crude gas as pro-
duced in the retorts by causing it to pass, whilst at an elevated temperature
through or in contact with permeable or other surfaces kept constantly wetted with
liquid also maintained at an elevated temperature and situate at any point between
the mouthpiece of the retort and the outlet of the Hydraulic main so that the Tar
and other impurities may be precipitated on the said wetted surfaces by thoir
frictional contact therewith substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The application and use of mechanically worked discs, cylinders boxes or
chambers of permeable material situate in the gas thoroughfare between the
mouthpiece of the Retort and the outlet of the Hydraulic Main and caused to dip
into and rise out of liquid maintained at an elevated temperature so as to take up
the said liquid and present a constantly wetted surface to the gas on its way from
the retort to the Hydraulic main and whilst at a more or less elevated temperature
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. The mode or method of varying at will to any desired extent the height of
the level of the sealing liquid of the dip pipe or pipes in Hydraulic mains by
subjecting the sealing liquid to a regulated pressure of gas or air under the control
of the attendant.

page_text: 4. The application and use of Hydraulic mains provided or formed with two
liquid chambers the one (which constitutes the dip pipe chamber) being in free
communication at its lower part with the other chamber and both chambers being
provided with pipes and cocks for admitting. therein gas or air of any regulated
pressure or for admitting additional liquid as required at will substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
5. The use in combination with existing Hydraulic mains of a separate liquid
chamber situate outside the main but connected with the lower part thereof by a
pipe and cock for the passage of the tar provision being made for admitting any
desired pressure of gas or air or additional liquid into the Hydraulic Main or
into the separate chamber or both at will substantially as and for the purpose
specified.