IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE PURIFICATION OF GAS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Williams Box of Crayford in the County of
Kent for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE
PURIFICATION OF GAS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Williams Box at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th September 1882.
WILLIAM WILLIAMS Box of Crayford in the County of Kent "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS USED IN THE PURIFICATION OF GAS,"
This invention has for its object the construction of apparatus, technically known
as Scrubber-Washers for the more complete removal of the ammonia and some
other impurities contained in unpurified coal gas.
The invention consists of a cast iron case having a horizontal bottom with
vertical sides and ends, and a semicircular top. There is an inlet for gas near one
end and an outlet for the same near the other.-The case is divided internally by
partitions so as to form chambers or compartments, varying in number, according
to the size of the apparatus, Somewhat above the centre of these partitions there
are openings to admit of a shaft passing through them and through stuffing boxes
at each end of the case. The shaft is square except at and near the ends and
where it passes through the partitions, it being there made round and supported by
suitable bearings fitted to one or more of the partitions or division plates.-Around
the shaft in each of the chambers there is placed a cylinder or drum pierced with
holes to receive and fasten thereto the ends of a number of radiating arms or bars,
or instead of one cylinder a number of short cylinders, collars or discs may be
used for the same purpose. These bars have attached to each side of them, and at
right angles thereto perforated metal plates. There is a series of five such bars
and plates in each chamber and they are so arranged that the plates of one set of
radiating bars overlap those next to it in the series. Fixed to the outer extremity
of each of the first and last radiating bars and extending the length of each series
is a double angle or otherwise bent iron trough, made so as to contain and raise
Do31

page_text: liquid, or a V shaped trough may be used so arranged as to tip when it has
attained a certain position and discharge its contents. Water or other suitable
liquid is supplied at the top of one end of the case and runs from one chamber to
the other throughout the whole compartments by a suitable overflow channel
formed in each compartment, the level of the liquid being controlled by a regulating
overflow valve attached to the opposite end of the case to that by which it entered.
Above the level of the water or other liquid a communication is made from one
chamber to the next by means of a bend so that the gas may pass from one com-
partment or chamber to the next in the course of its transit from the inlet to the
outlet of the apparatus.
A modification of the forgoing consists in fixing to two discs which encircle and
are fastened at or near the two extremities of the shaft in each chamber a number
of radiating T iron bars to which are fixed at right angles thereto a quantity of
wooden or iron rods, bars, or tubes having interstices between and stretching
from one to the other in the direction of the length of the compartment. These
rods, bars, or tubes are kept in their places by intermediate distance pieces of
wood or other material, the whole being retained in position by a single bolt and
nut to each segment. Angle or other bent iron troughs are also attached as
mentioned in the previous arrangement.
The action of the apparatus is as follows. The whole of the chambers being
supplied with water, motion is imparted to the central shaft and the radiating bars
with their perforated metal plates, bars, rods, or tubes are caused to revolve and
pass through the liquid the whole or nearly the whole surface being thereby
wetted the remainder being wetted by the liquid falling from the troughs before
described. As the gas enters by the inlet on one side it becomes divided into
innumerable streams and passes between, through, or over the radiating arms,
plates, bars or tubes and is consequently both scrubbed and washed by its contact
with the wetted surfaces and falling water. It then passes off from the first
compartment by the bend to the inlet of the second one where, on its entrance,
it is similarly treated, and so on through the whole of the remaining compartments
until it reaches the final outlet, when it will be found that the whole of the
ammonia, and much of the other impurities have been eliminated.
The apparatus may be fitted as described in the second paragraph or with that
as described in the third, or both combined in the same apparatus. It is also
provided with suitable manholes and covers for cleaning out the bottom, and is
further so arranged that one of the upper plates of each compartments may be
removed in order to repair, adjust or take out in segments or otherwise, any of
the parts contained therein.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Williams Box in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th March 1883.
WILLIAM WILLIAMS Box of Crayford, in the County of Kent
IN APPARATUS USED IN THE PURIFICATION OF GAS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
This invention has for its object the construction of apparatus technically known
as "scrubber-washers," for the more complete removal of the ammonia and some
other impurities contained in unpurified coal gas.
The invention consists of a cast iron case having a horizontal bottom, with
vertical sides and ends and a semicircular top. There is an inlet for gas near one
end and an outlet for the same near the other. The case is divided internally by
partitions so as to form chambers or compartments varying in number according
to the size of the apparatus. Somewhat above the centre of these partitions there
are openings to admit of a shaft passing through them, which shaft also passes
through stuffing boxes at each end of the case. The shaft is square except at and
near the ends and where it passes through the partitions, it being there made
round and supported by a suitable bearing, fitted to one or more of the partitions
or division plates. Around the shaft in each of the chambers there is placed a
cylinder, or drum pierced with holes to receive and fasten thereto the ends of a
number of radiating arms or bars, or instead of one cylinder a number of short
cylinders, rollers or discs may be used for the same purpose. These bars have
attached to each side of them and at right angles thereto, perforated metal plates.
There is a series of five, or more, or less of such bars and plates in each chamber
and they are so arranged that the plates of one set of radiating bars overlap those
next to it, in the series. Fixed to the outer extremity of each of the first and last
radiating bars and extending the length of each series is a double angle or
otherwise bent iron trough, made so as to contain and raise liquid, or a V shaped
trough may be used, so arranged as to tip when it has attained a certain position,
and discharge its contents. Water or other suitable liquid is supplied at the top
of one end of the case, and runs from one chamber to the other throughout the
whole, by a suitable overflow channel formed in each compartment, the level of the
liquid being controlled by a regulating overflow valve attached to the opposite
end of the case to that by which it entered Above the level of the water or other
liquid a communication is made from one chamber to the next by means of a bend
so that the gas may pass from one compartment or chamber to the next in the
course of its transit from the inlet to the outlet of the apparatus. In order to
prevent the gas from passing round the case instead of through the perforated
plates, longitudinal brushes of bass or other appropriate substance are fixed between
each of the troughs, to the radiating arms.
A modification of the foregoing consists in fixing to two discs which encircle
and are fastened at or near the two extremities of the shaft in each chamber a
number of radiating T iron bars to which are fixed at right angles thereto, a
quantity of wooden or iron rods, bars, or tubes having interstices between and
stretching from one to the other in the direction of the length of the compartment
These rods, bars, or tubes are kept in their places by intermediate distance pieces
of wood, or other material, the whole being retained in position by a single bolt
and nut to each segment. Angle or other bent iron troughs and brushes are also
attached as mentioned in the previous arrangement.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood drawings are attached
hereto of which the following is a description-Fig 1 is in part a longitudinal

page_text: M is
sectional elevation of the apparatus the section being through C. D. Fig 9 and
the other part is in side elevation. In Fig 1 E is the exterior case, F one of the
partitions G is the shaft and H one of the cylinders surrounding it-I, I, are
the radiating arms and J, J, the perforated metal plates-K, K, are the water
troughs and L, L, the brushes fixed to the periphery of the radiating arms.
an inlet water supply valve fitted with a regulator, and N is the outlet to which
is attached a regulating overflow valve O. The gas outlet is at P, the inlet Q
being similar in position but on the other side and at the other end of the case
as seen in Fig 9.-R is one of the bends leading from one chamber to another.-
S, S, are covers to sludge holes for cleaning out the bottom, and T. T are man hole
lids on taking off of which the internal parts may be removed. Figs: 2, 3, 4, 10
and 11 are enlarged views of the details of the construction of the radial arms
and perforated metal plates-Fig: 5 is a part elevation and a part longitudinal
sectional elevation of one of the water troughs and Fig 6 is a cross section of the
same-Fig 7 is a longitudinal elevation of one of the brushes and Fig 8 is a
transverse section of it-Fig 9 is a section through A B Fig 1 and shews at U
one of the boxes for leading the liquid overflow from one chamber to the next-
Fig 12 is a similar section to Fig 9, but shewing the modification before referred
to, and the arrangement when a number of wooden bars are used instead of the
perforated metal plates. Fig 13 is an enlarged and detailed view of one of the
segments shewn in Fig 12 and Fig 14 is a plan of the same. In each of the Figs
similar letters refer to the same parts.
The action of the apparatus is as follows. The whole of the chambers being
supplied with water or other suitable liquid, motion is imparted to the central
shaft and the radiating bars with their perforated metal plates, bars, rods, or tubes
are caused to revolve and pass through the liquid, the whole or nearly the whole
surface being thereby wetted, the remainder being wetted by the liquid falling
from the troughs before described. As the gas enters by the inlet on one side it
becomes divided into innumerable streams and passes between, through, or over the
radiating arms, plates, bars, or tubes, and is consequently both scrubbed and
washed by its contact with the wetted surfaces and falling water-It then passes
off from the first compartment by the bend to the inlet of the second one where
on its entrance it is similarly treated, and so on through the whole of the
remaining compartments until it reaches the final outlet, when it will be found
that the whole of the ammonia and much of the other impurities have been
eliminated
The apparatus may be fitted in either of the manners before described or
both combined in the same apparatus. It is also so arranged that one of the
upper plates of each compartment may be removed in order to repair, adjust,
or take out in segments, or otherwise any of the parts contained therein.
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 hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is
Firstly. The construction of gas scrubbing and washing apparatus with radial
arms and perforated metal plates, arranged as herein described and shewn on the
drawings.
Secondly. The water troughs made and arranged as herein described and shewn
on the drawings.
Thirdly. The construction of gas scrubbing and washing apparatus wherein
a number of wooden rods or bars are arranged as herein described and shewn on
the drawings in Fins 12 12 and 11

page_text: Fourthly. The application of iron rods, bars or tubes instead of the wooden
bars in Figs 12, 13, but similarly arranged to them and as herein described.
Fifthly. The formation of sludge holes and covers S, arranged as herein
described and shewn on the drawings, and,
Sixthly. The formation of man holes and lids T arranged as herein described
and shewn on the drawings.
In witness whereof I the said William Williams Box have hereunto set my
hand and seal this seventh day of March in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
WILLIAM WILLIAMS BOX (L.S.)