OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND REMOVING WATER OR LIQUID FROM GAS MAINS AND SILT OR DEPOSIT FROM WATER MAINS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Pullin of Newcastle-under-Lyme in the County
of Stafford Plumber and Harold Bonser of Newcastle aforesaid Civil and
Mining Engineer for an invention of NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
COLLECTING AND REMOVING WATER OR LIQUID FROM GAS MAINS AND SILT OR
DEPOSIT FROM WATER MAINS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Pullin and Harold
Bonser at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1882.
THOMAS PULLIN of Newcastle-under-Lyme in the County of Stafford Plumber
and Harold Bonser of Newcastle aforesaid Civil and Mining Engineer
"NEW OR
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND REMOVING WATER OR LIQUID FROM
GAS MAINS AND SILT OR DEPOSIT FROM WATER MAINS."
Our invention has for its object to facilitate the removal of water and other
liquid matters condensed in gas mains and the removal of the silt or solid deposit
collected in water mains; and consists of new or improved apparatus constructed
in the manner herein after described by the use of which the removal of the
condensed liquid from gas mains and the solid deposit from water mains is easily
and conveniently effected.
At any
The apparatus is constructed essentially in the following manner.
convenient part of the gas or water main we fix a vessel made preferably of cast
iron. The capacity of this vessel may vary from two to eight gallons but we do
not limit ourselves to any particular sizes. The gas or water main opens into the
said box at opposite sides and near the top so that the gas or water flows without
obstruction through the said box. The bottom of the said box is at a considerably
lower level than the level of the main and the liquid in the case of a gas main or
the silt or deposit in the case of a water main collects in the said box.
The box is open at top but has a tight fitting lid or cover which may be fixed in
its place by screw bolts and nuts or other fastenings. The said lid has at its
middle an opening surmounted by a stuffing box through which opening and

page_text: stuffing box a vertical cylindrical rod passes and in which it works air and water
tight. The upper end of this rod is made angular so that a key can be fitted on for
the purpose of turning it. On the underside of the lid a screw box is fixed and
the middle portion of the rod or that part which passes through the screw box has
a screw thread cut upon it which engages with the screw thread of the screw box
so that by turning the said rod by means of its key, in one or other direction it is
made to rise or fall by its advancing into or retiring from the fixed screw box.
The lower end of the said rod carries a conical plug or valve which accurately
fits a conical hole or valve seat in the bottom of the box. By turning the rod by
means of its key this valve can be raised from its seat and the contents of the box
allowed to flow out or the valve may be pressed to its seat and the opening in the
bottom of the box closed. The valve is connected to the rod by a swivel joint so
that sticking of the valve is prevented.
The opening in the bottom of the box has a short external pipe to which a lead
or other pipe is connected and by which the liquid or silt from the main may be
conducted to a sewer or other receptacle.
An apparatus of the kind described is fixed at such intervals in the gas or water
main as may be deemed advisable. By the use of our invention gas mains are
cleared of their liquid contents without the use of the pump and appliances usually
employed and the silt or deposit is removed from water mains without the necessity
of frequent flushing of the mains and the loss of water consequent thereon.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Pullin and Harold Bonser in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th October 1882.
THOMAS PULLIN of Newcastle-under-Lyme in the County of Stafford Plumber
and Harold Bonser of Newcastle aforesaid Civil and Mining Engineer
" NEW OR
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND REMOVING WATER OR LIQUID FROM
GAS MAINS AND SILT OR DEPOSIT FROM WATER MAINS
"
Our invention has for its object to facilitate the removal of water and other.
liquid matters condensed in gas mains and the removal of the silt or solid deposit
collected in water mains; and our said invention consists of new or improved
apparatus constructed in the manner hereinafter described, by the use of which the
removal of the condensed liquid from gas mains and the solid deposit from water
mains is easily and conveniently effected.
The said apparatus is constructed essentially in the following manner.
At any convenient part of the gas or water main we fix a box or vessel made
preferably of cast iron The capacity of this box or vessel may vary from two
to eight gallons but we do not limit ourselves to any particular sizes. The gas
or water main opens into the said box at opposite sides and near the top so that
the gas or water flows without obstruction through the said box. The bottom of

page_text: the said box is at a considerably lower level than the level of the main and the
liquid in the case of a gas main or the silt or deposit in the case of a water main
collects in the said box.
The box is open at top but has a tight fitting lid or cover which may be fixed
in its place by screw bolts and nuts or other fastenings. The said lid has at its
middle an opening surmounted by a stuffing box through which opening and
stuffing box a vertical cylindrical rod passes and in which it works air and water
tight. The upper end of this rod is made angular so that a key can be fitted on
for the purpose of turning it. On the underside of the lid, a screw. box is fixed
and the middle portion of the rod or that part which passes through the screw
box has a screw thread cut upon it which engages with the screw thread. of
the screw box, so that by turning the said rod by means of its key in one or other
direction it is made to rise or fall by its advancing into or retiring from the fixed
screw box.
The lower end of the said rod carries a conical plug or valve which accurately
fits a conical hole or valve seat in the bottom of the box. By turning the rod by
means of its key this valve can be raised from its seat and the contents of the box
allowed to flow out, or the valve may be pressed to its seat and the opening in the
bottom of the box closed. The valve is connected to the rod by a swivel joint so
that sticking of the valve is prevented. The opening in the bottom of the box
has a short external pipe to which a lead or other pipe is connected and by which
the liquid or silt from the main may be conducted to a sewer or other receptacle.
We will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing
the manner in which our invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal vertical section our new or improved apparatus
for collecting and removing water or other liquid from gas mains and silt or deposit
from water mains; Figures 2 and 3 are plans of the apparatus Figure 2 showing
the arrangement of the cover when the apparatus is used in connection with gas
mains and Figure 3 showing the arrangement of the cover when the apparatus is
used in connection with water mains.
b
The same letters indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the drawing.
a is the box or vessel made preferably of cast iron for receiving the water or
liquid matter condensed in gas mains or the solid deposit from water mains. The
said box or vessel a is fixed to the gas or water main by means of the short
pipes b, 6 on opposite sides. The pipes b, b in connection with the gas or water
main are situated near the top of the vessel a so that the gas or water flows
without obstruction through it. The catch or receiving part of the box or vessel a
is at a lower level than the level of the main (see Figure 1) so that the condensed
water or deposit collects in the said box or vessel as the gas or water passes
through it; c is the outlet or exit pipe for the water or deposit at the bottom of
the box. To this pipe, a lead or other pipe is connected by which the liquid or
silt accumulated in the box or vessel may be conducted to a sewer or other
receptacle.
When the apparatus is used with water mains, we prefer to give the bottom of
the box or vessel a concave figure in order to facilitate the removal of the solid
contents of the said box when the valve is opened.
The open top of the box or vessel is provided with a tight fitting lid or cover d
fastened in its place by two screw bolts and nuts as at e, e Figure 2 when used
with a gas main; or by four screw bolts and nuts as at ff ff. Figure 3, when used
with a water main, or in any other convenient manner. On the upper side of the
lid or cover d is a stuffing box g through which a vertical cylindrical rod / passes
and works water and air tight, the middle part of the rod being screwed at i.
Upon the angular top of the said rod, a key may be fitted for turning it. On the
underside of the lid or cover d is a projecting piece k in which a screw box / of
gun metal or other hard metal is secured. Through this screw box / the screwed
part of the rod h works. By turning the rod h, i by its key in one or other
direction it is made to rise or fall by its screwed part i advancing into or retiring

page_text: out of the fixed screw box l; m is a conical plug or valve connected to the bottom
of the rod h. This valve accurately fits in a conical hole or valve seat at m³ in the
opening of the exit pipe c. The valve m is not connected rigidly to the rod h but
is connected by a swivel joint at p so that the sticking of the valve is prevented.
A stop g on the rod limits the rising motion of the valve m.
When the parts of the apparatus are in the positions represented in Figure 1
the box or vessel a is closed except to the gas or water passing through it. When
it is desired to remove or empty the contents of the box, the valve m is raised
from its seat m³ by turning the rod h in the proper direction. The contents of the
box are thereby permitted to flow out or pass out at the open valve into the exit
pipe o from whence they pass to the sewer or other receptacle. On pressing
the valve m to its seat, the exit pipe c is closed and the apparatus is again ready
for use.
An apparatus of the kind described and represented is fixed at such intervals in
the gas or water main as may be deemed advisable.
By the use of our invention, gas mains are cleared of their liquid contents
without the use of the pump and appliances usually employed and the silt or
deposit is removed from water mains without the necessity of frequent flushing of
the mains and the loss of water consequent thereon.
Having now described the nature of our invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed we wish it to be understood that we claim as our
invention-New or improved apparatus for collecting and removing water or
liquid from gas mains and silt or deposit from water mains, the parts of the said
apparatus being constructed arranged and used substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Pullin have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Seventh day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-two.
Witness,
JONATHAN WRENCH
Deansgate,
Newcastle-under-Lyme.
THOMAS PULLIN (LS.)