Improvements relating to Hydraulic Mains for use in the Manufacture of Gas.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 5th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Hydraulic Mains for use in the
Manufacture of Gas.
I, NEILL MEIKLEJOHN, of Longwood, near Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relatos to anti-dips applied to hydraulic mains used in the manufacture
of gas.
According to my said invention I provide in the hydraulic main in addition to
the usual dip-pipe an alternate thoroughfare, situated above the level of the water,
for discharging the gas coming through the ascension pipe, and I provide for opening
and closing this thoroughfare by means of a slide-valve to allow of the gas passing
through it or through the dip-pipo. When the alternate theroughfare, or anti-dip, is
closed, the gas is compelled to seek an exit by the dip-pipe and through the water in
the usual manner, while, when the anti-dip is open, the gas passes through it directly
into the hydraulic main without having to pass through the water and therefore
without producing pressure in the retort. Normally, the anti-dip is open, and the
gas passes freely through it, but, when it is desired to re-charge the rotort, and just
previous to opening the said retort, this thoroughfare is closed, and the dip-pipo is
thereby brought into action at the time and only at the time that it is required." For
the brief interval of time between effecting this change and opening the retort,
the gas finds its way through the dip-pipe; and, moreover, while the retort remains
open the only available thoroughfare between it and the hydraulic main is the dip-pipe,
and this is effectually sealed. Immediately after the retort is completely charged and
re-scaled, the anti-dip is again opened, and the gas takes that course to the hydraulic
main in preference to the dip-pipe by reason of the smaller resistance offered to
its passage.
I may arrange for operating the aforementioned slide-valve by hand or I may
connect the same to the retort lid in such a manner that the opening of the latter
closes the valve, and the closing of the retort opens the valve. By this means I
obviate the risk of the attendant omitting to close the anti-dip prior to opening the
retort.
In this manner I provide two thoroughfares for the passage of the gas to the
hydraulic main, one of which the ordinary dip-pipe is used only when the retort is
being charged, and the other, the anti-dip, at all other times, the anti-dip being opened
and closed by a slide-valve in the manner hereinbefore indicated.
Dated this 16th day of Tul, 1880
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Hydraulic Mains for use in the
Manufacture of Gas.
I, NEILL MEIKLEJOHN, of Longwood, near Huddersfield in the County of Yorks
Gas engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 relates to hydraulic mains for use in the manufacture of gas and more
particularly to anti-dips applied thereto.
According to my said invention I construct in the hydraulic main above the
level of the water in the same and adjoining the ordinary dip-pipe an additional

page_text: thoroughfare which provides an unsealed communication between the ascension pipe
and the hydraulic main and serves to discharge freely the gas coming through the
former. I moreover provide for opening and closing this thoroughfare or anti-dip
by means of a valve and thus determine by which of the two said passages the gas
shall make its exit from the ascension pipe; that is to say, when the said additional
thoroughfare or anti-dip is open the gas will adopt that route to the hydraulic main
by reason of there being little or no resistance offered to its passage as compared
with that offered by the dip-pipe route, but when the anti-dip is closed, the gas is
compelled to seek exit by way of the dip-pipe in the usual manner. For operating
the said valve I provide a spindle passing out through the side of the valve box or
ascension pipe and connected to the valve by an internal lever or other suitable
arrangement. I may operate the valve by hand or I may so couple it to the retort
lid that the opening and closing of the said lid shall automatically effect the closing
and opening of the anti-dip. By my invention, therefore, I provide means for
allowing the free escape of the gas from the ascension pipe to the hydraulic main
under normal working conditions without producing pressure in the retort, while,
when the retort lid is open, either for re-charging or other purposes, I provide for
closing the said free thoroughfare or anti-dip either by hand or automatically without
interfering with the functions of the ordinary dip-pipe. In other words I make use
of the dip pipe only when it is required, that is to say, when the retort is for any
reason opened.
.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown how my said invention may be con-
veniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Fig. I is a vertical section taken through the dip-pipe, valve, and lover for operating
the same, and a portion of the ascension pipe forming a valve box.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line x, y, Fig. 1 and
Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 2 with the valve box removed.
A is a portion of the hydraulic main provided with an ordinary dip pipe a and an
additional opening or anti-dip b above the level of the water in the main. The upper
face of plate A is machined to a true plane surface and on it is mounted a slide
valve constructed so as to be capable of sliding backwards and forwards so as to
cover or expose the opening b as may be desired. On the plate A is also mounted a
valve box B which forms a continuation of the ascension pipe being coupled to the
said pipe by means of the flange d, or by a faucet and socket joint if desired. The.
valve box B is prépared to receive a spindle e which passes out through a stuffing
box fin the side thereof. This spindle is connected, by a lever g, with the valve cin
such a manner that a partial rotation of the said spindle about its axis will cause the
valve to slide on its sent from one side of the box B to the other. In the arrange-
ment shown in the drawing, the connecting lever g is mounted on a squared portion el
of the spindle and is forked at the lower end to straddle a pin c¹ formed with or fixed
in the valve. It is obvious however that other modes of connecting the spindle and
valve may be adopted without departing from the nature of this invention. The
spindle e is prepared to receive a handle by means of which the valve c may be
operated as desired, that is to say, it may be slid over the opening or anti-dip & so as
to compel the gas to pass through the ordinary dip-pipo or to prevent back draughts
when the retort is opened, or when removed to uncover the anti-dip the gas is
allowed to pass freely into the hydraulic main without causing pressure in the retort.
In the drawing I have represented the valve as entirely closing the mouth of the dip-
pipe when removed from the anti-dip b but this need not necessarily be the case, as,
whether the dip-pipe be closed or not by the valve, the gas will always pass by way of
the passage when the said passage is open.
In order to ensure the closing of the anti-dip b when the retort is opened and
vice versa I may connect the handle of the spindle e to the retort lid by a chain or
otherwise in such a manner that the opening and closing of the said lid will auto-
matically operate the valve. By this means I obviate any risk there might otherwise
be of the valve not being duly operated.
Although I have shown and described the valve c as sliding on the face of the

page_text: plate A it is obvions that I may hinge the valve thereto and connect the lever g to an
upright arm of the valve in such a manner that a partial rotation of the said arm will
swing the valve on its hinge and so raise it from its seat. Or I may provide for
lifting or lowering the valve bodily from its seat by means of the lever g which in
this case would be placed approximately in a horizontal position and would pre-
ferably be coupled to the valve by means of a chain or rod.
In some cases where it is more convenient I may by preference fix a branch pipe
between the rising ascension pipe and the side of the hydraulic main, above the level
of the water in the latter, and place the valve in this branch pipe.
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 1
claim is :-
1. A hydraulic main employed in the manufacture of gas provided with an
ordinary dip-pipe, and with an anti-dip thoroughfare which may be opened or closed
by a valve operated by the partial rotation of a spindle about its axis, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
a
2. A hydraulic main employed in the manufacture of gas provided with an ordinary
dip-pipe, and with an anti-dip thoroughfare which may be opened or closed by
valve operated by the partial rotation of a spindle about its axis, the said spindle
being actuated by hand, or automatically by the opening and closing of the retort lid,
all substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. The apparatus constructed substantially as herein-above described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, and operating in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as specified.
Dated this 5th day of February 1890
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.