IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE PURIPI- ICATION OF GAS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Thomas Livesey, of the South Metro-
politan Gas Works, Old Kent Road, in the County of Surrey, for
T
ADDADA D
AND DRY
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Thomas Livesey
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th May 1875.
I, GEORGE THOMAS LIVESEY, of the South Metropolitan Gas Works,
Old Kent Road, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE PURIPI-
ICATION OF GAS," to be as follows :-
This Invention has reference to apparatus by the employment of
which the ammonia and other impurities contained in crude gas may be
more effectually removed, and the resulting liquor enhanced in value,
and consists in the construction and use of one or more oblong, square
or other suitably shaped but somewhat shallow boxes, chambers, or

page_text: vessels, each divided by a number of vertical partitions, the lower part
of the sides of which are bent or curved so as to recede from each other
though they may be left vertical, the ends being closed. The curved or
lower part of each partition is perforated with a great number of small
holes, and between every alternate partition a horizontal plate, also
pierced with fine holes is fixed to the said partitions. It is preferred
that two or more of these boxes, chambers, or vessels technically called
washers," shall be placed side by side at different elevations, so that
the liquid supplied to the highest vessel may by a suitable pipe flow to
the next lower one, and from that to the next, and so on.
"
Each vessel being supplied with either water, ammoniacal liquor, or
other suitable liquid, the gas is admitted to the lowest vessel when it
descends between the partitions before spoken of, depresses the liquid
contained therein and escapes through the perforations in the sides into
the spaces covered by the horizontal plates. The gas then passes
through the liquid and the apertures in the horizontal plates and
emerges into the space above, from whence it proceeds by means of a
suitable channel and pipe to the next vessel above, where the operation
is repeated. The repetition of the process may be made as many times
as there are vessels in use. The liquid preferred to be used in the
upper vessel is ordinary pure water.
Each vessel is furnished with a suitable pipe for the delivery of liquid,
and also an overflow pipe from which the liquid descends to the next
vessel. Suitable inlet and outlet pipes for the gas are also provided
together with valves so arranged as to form bye-passes and allow of any a
one or more of the vessels being thrown out of action.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said George Thomas Livesey in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th November 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE 30
THOMAS LIVESEY, of the South Metropolitan Gas Works, Old Kent
Road, in the County of Surrey, send greeting.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said George Thomas Livesey in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th November 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE 30
THOMAS LIVESEY, of the South Metropolitan Gas Works, Old Kent
Road, in the County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year

page_text: part of each partition is perforated with a great number of holes of
about one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter, more or less, and between
every alternate partition a horizontal plate C, also pierced with fine
holes of about the diameter before mentioned, is fixed to the said
partitions. It is preferred that two or more of these boxes, chambers,
or vessels technically called " washers," shall be placed side by side at
different elevations, so that the liquid supplied to the highest vessel
may, by a suitable pipe, flow to the next lower one, and from that to the
next, and so on.
Each vessel being supplied with either water ammoniacal liquor, or
other suitable liquid, the gas is admitted to the lowest vessel when it
descends between the partitions before spoken of, depresses the liquid
contained therein and escapes through the perforations in the sides into
the spaces covered by the upper part of the perforated plates. The gas
then continues its passage through the liquid and the apertures in the
upper part of the perforated plates, and passing through another stratum
of liquid emerges into the space above marked D, from whence it
proceeds to the side chambers E, E, and from thence to the next vessel
above, where the operation is repeated. The repetition of the process
may be made as many times as there are vessels in use. The liquid to
be used in the upper vessel may be ordinary pure water where there are
no scrubbers, but when scrubbers are used the liquor may flow from tho
scrubbers to the washers.
Each vessel is furnished with a suitable pipe for the delivery of liquid,
and also an overflow pipe from which the liquid descends to the next
vessel. Suitable inlet and outlet pipes for the gas are also provided
together with valves so arranged as to form byc-passes, and allow of any
one or more of the vessels being thrown out of action.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this
Invention, and the manner in which the same is, or may be used, or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine
or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
described or referred to; as variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of this Invention, but
what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the construction and application of a chamber or chambers
wherein vertical or inclined perforated plates in combination with

page_text: horizontal plates similarly perforated, immersed or partially immersed
in suitable liquid are used as herein described and shown on the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Thomas Livesey, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-five.