Improvements in or connected with Apparatus used in the Manu- facture of Gas from Coal and Analogous Substances.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left. 28th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 10th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Apparatus used in the Manu-
facture of Gas from Coal and Analogous Substances.
I, JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE of 22 Marsden Street Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to
be as follows:-
According to this invention gas made and coming from the retorts is not cooled
by coming into contact with liquor as happens in ordinary practice, but is passed
through or by a "dry" valve or valves on its way to the foul main or in the case of
Dinsmore or like processes to a heated duct or chamber, that is to say as regards
Dinsmore or like processes a valve or valvular valve or devices is interposed between
the retorts and the heated duct or chamber.
The valvular device may consist of a chamber having radiating ports or passages
communicating separately with each retort these passages being controlled by a
plurality of valves mounted on arms on a common centre or spindle and so arranged
that all the said passages may be covered or uncovered at will by operating said
valves. The operation may be effected through a lever, wheel and chain, or any
known suitable means.
In action assuming all the valves to be opposite the aforesaid passages and say
1, retort open and the others in operation, the pressure of gas upon the valves of
the latter would owing to their (the valves) being kept up to their faces by compara-
tively weak springs be forced away so allowing the gas to pass into the valve chamber.
The passage or escape of the gas past the valve of the open retort being prevented by
its valve covering it.
Another form of valve and arrangement of passages may consist of cylindrical or
like valve having apertures which when opposite the passages for the entrance of gas
from the retorts allow such gas to flow freely into and from the device, but when
these apertures are turned away from the gas entrance passage, the gas from those
retorts which are in operation have to lift separate valves in the main valve. These
valves may operate by gravity, spring or by both and may be of any known suitable
kind.
The above arrangements constituting as they do, merely examples involving my
invention, may be made in barreld, disc, cylindrical or other form and one, or two or
more may be arranged and used in connection with the ascension pipes of a bench of
retorts or set of benches.
The light spring valves or any of them according to this invention may be made of
a metal or alloy of a not readily oxidizable nature.
Also according to this invention where gas is passed from the retorts to a heated
duct or chamber as in the Dinsmore process
use a valve having four passages
leading thereto and therefrom and a moveable diaphragm plug. These passages are
connected to the gas supply from the retorts the duct, foul main, and from the duct
in such a manner that setting the valve in one way or the other the gas may be
caused to pass through such duct or chamber to the foul main or duct to the foul
main without passing through the duct.
The aforesaid valve or valvular device and the foreway valve last described may be
provided with a jacket through which a cooling fluid may be passed to keep the parts
cool, and may also be provided with an escape pipe for ammoniacal liquors and tar
that may condense in them.
The valves may be provided with a cover or case or cap or equivalent means or so
constructed and arranged in their case that they may be withdrawn wholly or

page_text: partially therefrom during the process of making gas without allowing the escape of
gas and they may be thus examined and cleaned if necessary or otherwise
manipulated and put back in position.
I would state in conclusion that apparatus according to this invention may be used
in whole or in part to existing or new works and in various ways; and that it may
take various forms, arrangements and combinations.
Dated this 27th day of Inne 1980
JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Apparatus used in the
Manufacture of Gas from Coal and Analogous Substances.
I, JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of 22, Marsden Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, 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 :—
This Invention has chiefly reference to those processes of making illuminating gas
in which coal or analogous material is distilled in closed retorts, and the resultant gas
is subsequently passed through a second retort or fixing chamber.
The main object and effect of my Invention is to prevent the tarry or heavy non-
permanent vapours existing in the gas, as it leaves the retorts, from condensing, and
to convert them into permanent gas, and to do this in a bench of retorts wherein a
fixing retort or chamber is common to a plurality of coal distilling retorts.
"
According to this invention, gas made, and coming from the retorts is not cooled
by coming into contact with liquor as happens in ordinary practice, but is passed
through or by a dry" valve, or valves, or valved chamber, on its way to the fixing
retort or chamber (which for convenience is termed herein the "duct") such as is
used in the "Dinsmore or like processes; that is to say, as regards Dinsmore or
like processes, a valve, or valvular device, or devices, is or are interposed between
the retorts and the heating duct or chamber.
37
In the drawings which serve to illustrate my Invention, and which form a part
of the Specification, are shown, four arrangements, constituting so many examples
according to this invention, differing in detail of disposition and combination of
parts. Figure 1 is an outside end view showing a bench of gas making apparatus
according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a part of same.
Figure 3 shows a modification of arrangement of parts of the apparatus illustrated
in Figures 1 and 2. Figures 4 and 4 show a modified form and arrangement of
valved chamber or device above referred to. Figure 5 shows in part sectional end
view a modification of the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 to 4.
Referring generally to the Drawings, A designates retorts of the ordinary closed
kind used in making illuminating gas, and set in a bench B, and heated by a fire in
the usual manner; and C is a valved chamber.
Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the valve chamber C consists
of a casing c¹, and plug c², and branches c, c, c, the branches 3 being connected to
pipes a communicating with the retorts A, and the branch c¹ being connected to
and communicating with the mouth of the fixing retort D, whilst the branch
constitutes a by-pass, through which the gas from the retorts
passes to the foul
main, when so desired, as hereinafter explained. The foul main is designated H
(see Figure 2), and is in connection with the branch of the valved chamber C
by the pipe, on the one side, and by a pipe f2 on the other side with the
artificially cooled conduit E,-by which conduit the gases are cooled on leaving the
duct D. and designate non-return valves, of any suitable known kind, by which

page_text: the flow of gas out of the foul main, and towards the device C, and to the pipes f¹
and f, respectively, is prevented, but which allow it to flow into the said main from
these pipes.
In operation, the gas being distilled in the retorts A, and coming off from the coal
in the ordinary way, passes under ordinary conditions by way of their respective
pipes a to the branches c³, and so into the chainber C; from here, under ordinary
conditions, it passes by way of the branch o into the duct D, and then outwards
therethrough eventually finding its way into the foul main H. Now if, or when,
a retort A is not making gas, or it has to be opened to charge it, or for any other
purpose, then, in order to prevent the outflow of gas from the chamber C, or inflow
of air into said device, the aperture of its branch, c³, is closed by working the plug c
of the chamber C, so that its solid portion c covers the aperture: this portion c
under ordinary conditions lies over the branch co, so preventing gas to pass thereby.
To prevent, however, the gas flowing to the foul main H, by way of the branch c
and pipe fi, when the plug of the valved chamber is in this position, the valve f³ is
made heavier than the valve f, so that it remains shut, the gas going to the foul
main by way. of the duct D, pipe f2, and valve f', (the lighter of the two).
Then, if it is desired to by-pass the gas from the duct D, that is, to cause it to pass
direct from the chamber C to the foul main H, without passing by way of the duct D,
the solid portion of the plug c² of the chamber C is so moved that it covers the
aperture of the branch c¹, thereby, at the same time uncovering the branch c³. Then
the gas is free to pass up by the branch passage e, pipe f¹, and past the valve f³, and
to the foul main H. As access to the duct B is only rarely required, and for short
durations of time, such as for scraping it, or examination of its state, and the like, it
may be done (in cases in which this form of valved chamber is used) when all the
distilling retorts are closed.
The outlet pipe E may be artificially cooled by causing cold water or other suitable
cooling fluid to circulate round it, externally, or in any suitable way, and it is used to
cool the gas as it leaves the fixing retort, and to thereby prevent the formation and
deposition of pitch within it, and the pipes following it, and from their becoming
blocked without it, this result would follow.
The chamber C in the examples of apparatus shown under Figures 1 and 2, and 3,
constitutes a multiple way valved device, having a single solid portion c" for covering
the apertures of the branches c³, c, c³ in its case cl, as described.
The arrangement shewn in Figure 3, is one in which the valved chamber C is
disposed below the mouth of the duct D instead of above it, as in Figures 1 and 2 ;
the pipes a¹ are consequently shorter in this arrangement, and the gas from the
retorts gets sooner into the duct D.
The modification of chamber C shown in Figures 4 and 4ª is a vertical arrange-
ment. In this case the plug c is provided with two apertures or slots at c', and
four flap non-return valves c; these are equivalent to the solid portion cº of the plug
of the chamber C, set forth with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 so far as they affect
the control of the branches c³. The branch c is controlled by a lift valve d', opened
and closed by any suitable means from above through its spindle d²; and the branch c
is always open to the interior of the valve case. The arrangement of the foul main
and valves, and pipes set forth with reference to Figures 1 and 2, may be conveniently
employed in connection with this chamber C. In operation, under ordinary conditions,
the valve plug c is so set, that the apertures c' of the plug come opposite the branches c³,
as in Figure 44, but when it is desired to open a retort A for any purpose, the plug
is moved to the position shewn in Figure 4, whereby the valves c come opposite
these branches, and prevent the flow of gas from the device towards that retort.
The plugs in the above examples of the chambers C are adapted to be moved by
a handle
; but of course any other suitable equivalent means may be used in its
In the modification shown in Figure 5, the chamber C is horizontal, and the
pipes a¹ enter in at the bottom, their outlets each being provided with a valve cl
operated by handles h disposed on the outside. A valve d' is provided on the pipe c*
stead.

page_text: leading from the chamber C to the duct D for the purpose of by-passing the gas from
such duct, and leading it direct to the hydraulic or other main, when so desired.
When the gas is so by-passed, it flows by the pipes a² to an hydraulic main; or past a
dry valve, or other outlet.
By the arrangement according to this invention, as herein described, it will be
seen the gas distilled in the retorts A is caused to pass directly therefrom into the
dnet D, by way of the short pipes a¹ and chamber C; and in consequence of the small
extent of surface of the pipes a', and the length of time taken in travelling from the
retorts A to the duct D, practically no condensation of heavy or tarry vapours
existing in the gas as it comes from the retorts A takes place before it enters the
duct, which, being under a temperature such as that denoted by a clear cherry red
colour, obviously causes such vapours to a great extent to be converted into
permanent gas.
If desired the solid or plug portion of the valves in Figures 1 to 4 may be spring
retained, that is to say, kept up to their faces or seats by light springs, so that if a
retort were closed thereby, and a pressure of gas created in that retort, such pressure
of gas upon the valve would force it away from its seat, thereby allowing the gas to
pass into the chamber C.
The valves, or any of them, according to this invention may be made of a metal, or
an alloy, of a not readily oxidizable nature.
The aforesaid valves or valvular devices may be provided with a jacket through
which a cooling fluid may be passed to keep the parts cool, and they may also be
provided with an escape pipe for ammoniacal liquors and tar that may condense in
them.
The valves may be provided with a cover, or case, or cap, or equivalent means, or
so constructed and arranged in their case, that they may be withdrawn wholly or
partially therefrom during the process of making gas without allowing the escape
of gas; and they may be thus examined-and cleaned if necessary, or otherwise
manipulated and put back in position.
I would state in conclusion that apparatus according to this invention may be used
in whole or in part to existing or new works, and in various ways; and that it may
take various forms, arrangements, and combinations.
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 in respect of the herein described invention is :-
1. The herein described method of making gas, consisting in distilling coal in a
bench of, or a plurality of, closed retorts; conveying the combined volume of gas
from such retorts directly into a heating "duct" or chamber, and before tarry vapours
of such gas condense; and heating such gases in such duct or chamber; and then
cooling the gases as they leave such duct or chamber; for the purposes specified.
2. In apparatus for making gas from coal in which a heating "duct" or chamber
is employed for the purposes described; the employment and interposition of a
chamber between the distilling retorts and the heating duct, said chamber or conduits
communicating by pipes with the retorts, and by a pipe or conduit with said heating
duct, such pipes and chamber being so arranged in relation to the heating duct as to
cause the gases from the distilling retorts to flow to and enter the heating duct
without condensation of tarry vapours therein.
3. In apparatus for making gas from coal in which a heating duct or chamber is
employed for the purposes described; the employment and interposition of a chamber
between the distilling retorts and the heating duct, having valved connections with
such retorts, and such chamber and connections being so arranged in relation to the
heating duct as to cause the gases from the distilling retorts to How to and enter the
heating duct without condensation of tarry vapours therein.
4. In apparatus for making gas, the combination of a plurality of coal distilling
retorts A, set in bench B; a heating duct, D, adapted to receive and heat the com-
bined volumes of gas produced in said retorts A; a series of gas pipes a¹ for conveying

page_text: away the gas from the retorts A; and a circular chamber, C, having valved con-
nections by which the flow of gas from such retorts A, and the flow to the duct is
controlled; for the purposes described.
5. In apparatus for inaking gas, the combination of a plurality of coal distilling
retorts, A, set in bench B; a duct, D, adapted to receive and heat the combined
volumes of gas produced in such retorts A; a series of gas pipes a¹ for conveying
away the gas from the retorts A; and a vertically arranged chamber, C, having
valved connections, by which the flow of gas from such retorts A, and the flow to the
duct is controlled; for the purposes described.
6. In apparatus for making gas, the combination of a plurality of coal distilling
retorts, A, set in bench B; a heating duct, D, adapted to receive and heat the com-
bined volumes of gas produced in said retorts A; a series of gas pipes a' for
conveying away the gas from the retorts A; and a horizontally arranged chamber, C,
having valved connections by which the flow of gas from such retorts and the flow
to the duct is controlled; for the purposes described.
7. Apparatus for making gas, comprising a heating duct or chamber; a plurality
of coal distilling retorts; a chamber to which the gas produced in the retorts is led
before entering the heating duct; and means substantially as described. in or con-
nected with such chamber, by which such gas is caused to pass through such heating
duct, or be by-passed therefrom; for the purposes described.
8. In apparatus for making gas from coal, the combination of a plurality of
distilling retorts A; a heating duct D; pipes al for conveying the gas from said
retorts directly to said duct for the purposes described; and a cooling duct or
conduit E on said duct D by which the gas is cooled on leaving same.
9. The retorts A, duct D, pipes a', and valvular device or valved chamber C,
arranged and adapted to operate as set forth respectively with reference to Figures 1
and 2; Figure 3; Figures 4 and 44; and Figure 5, of the drawings.
1. The circular valvular chamber () arranged and adapted to operate substantially
as and for the purposes set forth with reference to Figures 1 and 2, and 3 of the
drawings.
11. The vertical chamber C having valved connections, and arranged and adapted
to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth with reference to Figures
and 4 of the drawings.
12. The horizontal chamber C having valved connections, and arranged and
adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth with reference to
Figure 5 of the Drawings.
Dated this 27th day of March 1890
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Agents.