Improvements in Apparatus for use in the Manufacture of Gas.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 5th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in the Manufacture of Gas.
JAMES PRICE, of Blythe Road, Coleshill, Warwickshire, Gas Manager and
Erector of Gas and Water Plant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
First. The hydraulic main is removed from over the retort benchs to the front of
the bens direct over the assension pipes removing it from the heat having such
direct acion upon the licquor and tar inside.
Seconi. The gas from the retorts will enter the hydraulic main from underneath
in place of the top as in the present arrangement so that it will dispence with the
expence of arch pipes and part of the length of assension pipes, and be more simple
for re-erection.
Third. The gas from the retort will enter the hydraulic main by a pipe above the
water line, over this pipe will be a cover of block tin or iron dipping in the licquor
contained in the hydraulic main the box named will be perforated, the moment
the gas enters this box it lifts the box to the water level and acts automaticly
acording to the flow of gas, by this means the back pressure is taken of the
retorts and prevents carbonization upon the retorts, otherwise the box can be
worked up above the water or lowered in the water by a lever, or made a fixture
by a screw, by this means every box becomes a perfect washer throughout the
whole hydraulic main and extracts the tar before it enters the condencer.
Forthly. The tar is taken from the bottom of the hydraulic main so that gas is
only in contact with ammoniacal licquor, and a tank placed above the lever of the
hydraulic main containing ammoniacal licquor and the licquor conveyed and
distributed in the hydraulic main, the same licquor worked over again at will,
hads strength to the licquor and keeps the hydraulic cool, the licquor is then
much stronger for making sulphate of ammonia.
1. Theire is economy in fixing.
2. Back pressure is relieved from retorts and the hydraulic main removed from
the heat upon the retort bench.
3. If needed the gas is washed and partily condenced by the one process and
thoroughly broken up before leaving the hydraulic main.
Dated this 26th day of January 1891.
JAMES PRICE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in the Manufacture of Gas.
I, JAMES PRICE, of Blythe Road, Coleshill, Warwickshire, Gas Manager and
Erector of Gas and Water Plants, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object :-improvements in apparatus for use in the
manufacture of gas: by which I am enabled to remove the hydraulic main from
over the retort benches to a convenient position at the front thereof so that the
ascension pipes may be carried direct into the hydraulic main from the bottom
without the usual complicated arch pipes now used thus saving a considerable
length of pipe and having all the parts more accessible besides avoiding the direct
action of the heat of the retorts, upon the liquor and tar at the bottom of the
hydraulic main. Besides these advantages I am able to more effectively wash the

page_text: gas by my new apparatus and to keep the gas from contact with the tar which I
remove from the bottom.
The gas from the retorts enters the hydraulic main from underneath instead of
the top as at present arranged thus dispensing with the expense of arched pipes
and part of the length of the ascension pipes which simplifies the erection and
re-erection. The gas from the retort enters the hydraulic main by a vertical
pipe issuing above the water line. Over this pipe is a cover or inverted thimble of
block tin or iron dipping into the liquor contained in the hydraulic main. This
box, or cover, or inverted thimble, before named is perforated so that the moment
the gas enters the box it lifts the box to the water level and acts automatically
according to the flow of gas. By this means the back pressure is taken off the
retorts and thus prevents carbonization upon the retorts otherwise the box can be
worked from above the water or lowered into the water by a lever or made a fixture
by a screw. By this means every box becomes a perfect washer through the whole
hydraulic main and extracts the tar before it enters the condenser. The tar is
taken from the bottom of the hydraulic main so that the gas is only in contact with
ammoniacal liquor and a tank placed above the level of the hydraulic main containing
ammoniacal liquor or water and this liquor or water conveyed and distributed in
the hydraulic main the same liquor worked over again at will adds strength to the
liquor and keeps the hydraulic cool the liquor is then much stronger for making
sulphate of ammonia.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice, I have appended hereunto a double sized sheet of drawings upon
which is illustrated one example thereof which will serve to show the principle and
enable others conversant with the art to apply the same to the various circumstances
and conditions which may be met without difficulty.
Figure 1, is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the hydraulic main A shewing
the connection of the ascension pipes therewith and various parts of the apparatus
connected.
Figure 2, is a cross sectional elevation of the hydraulic main and various parts
connected therewith.
Figure 3, shews in sectional elevation a loose sealing cap or tube M which is
adapted for cutting off any single ascension pipe in a temporary manner during
repairs.
According to my invention the hydraulic main A is placed at any convenient
position at the front of the retorts about the mouth pieces and the pipe B is con-
nected with the re'ort and the pipe B₁ with the hydraulic main A. These pipes B
and B are connected together by the removable socket which is constituted of two
parts 2 and 3 fastened together by suitable flanges 5 and 6 thus forming a stuffing
box for the gland which maintains a sealed connection between the two pipes
and affords great flexibility for erection and renewals besides giving perfect freedom
for expansion and contraction in the parts thus preventing undue strains upon the
various parts. The portion B of the ascension pipe, issues into the main above the
water level W with a simple open end. Over this open end I place the tin, metal,
or other inverted deflecting bonnet or cap E which has the effect of deflecting or
turning the gas downwards in the direction of the arrows n. The gas enters the
main A through the holes e¹ in the bonnets E when the bonnet is lifted up by the
force of the gas as is the case in the right hand bonnet upon the drawing as seen at
Figure 1, the left hand bonnet being shown in a position where no gas can be dis-
charged into the main. This mode prevents back pressure or limits it to any
desired amount according to the weight of the bonnet or the pressure placed upon
it in any mechanical manner. These bonnets E are guided in their lifting action
by a suitable rod 2 passing through a guide hole in the guide plate a' which is
attached to the removable cover a which removable cover also carries the stuffing
box at for regulating the distance rod a³ by which the lift of the bonnet E may be
regulated to the level of the water W. The guide rollers e keep the bottom of
the thimbles E steady and the air chambers et assist to balance their weight and

page_text: may be made any desired size. Should anything go wrong with any one of the
ascension pipes it is only necessary to lift the cover a replacing it by the sealing
cap M which is of a size over its flange m' to just fit in the place of a when the
working of this particular ascension pipe is stopped during repairs which may go on
without in any further manner interfering with the working of the other ascension
pipes or the hydraulic main itself. The suspended partition a, leaves the opening a
at the bottom through which the tar has to pass to the passage of K where it is
drawn off. By this means the tar which is heaviest, gravitates, and escapes by this
passage, thus the main is kept nearly empty of tar which is. of advantage.
My plan enables me to break up and wash the gas more thoroughly by the
arrangement of the perforated pipes c which communicate with the vessel C con-
taining water or ammoniacal liquor which passes along the pipe. c and is sealed
against the passage of gas by syphon pipe c³.
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 :-
1st. The improvements in the apparatus for use in the manufacture of gas;
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth & as illustrated upon the
accompanying drawings.
2nd. In apparatus for the manufacture of gas the particular arrangement of the
hydraulic main A in front of the retorts in combination with the pipes B entering
the bottom of the main; substantially as herein set forth & shewn upon the
drawings.
3rd. In apparatus for the manufacture of gas the bonnet or cap E for sealing
& deflecting the gas and for limiting the back pressure in the retorts.
4th. In apparatus for the manufacture of gas the suspended partition a' and
passage a with the general arrangement of parts by which the tar is drawn away
from the bottom of the hydraulic main.
5th. In apparatus for the manufacture of gas the mode of breaking up and
washing the gas by the pipes c³; substantially as herein set forth and shewn upon
the drawings.
Dated this 4th day of March 1891.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.