IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, AND IN PROVISIONAL SP RETORTS AND OTHER APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Basford, of No. 15, Lowther Cottages,
Liverpool Road, Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, AND IN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Basford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st December 1857.
I, WILLIAM BASFORD, of No. 15, Lowther Cottages, Liverpool Road,
Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, AND
IN RETORTS AND OTHER APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object a better means of distilling coal or other
known materials or substances used in making illuminating gas, and for the
more effectuallyconverting the vapours and products evolved therefrom during
distillation, and for the production of gas in greater abundance, of better
quality, and with less smoke and nuisance than when made in the ordinary
manner.
In order to carry the object of my Invention into effect, I make a long
vessel of a flat oval shape, divided lengthwise in the centre by a vertical
partition which forms it into two separate chambers communicating with each
Price Bd1

page_text: other at the back, the partition being kept short for that purpose; these
chambers having the appearance of two retorts placed side by side, I call twin
retorts, and make them of cast or wrought iron or fire clay.
The front ends of the twin retorts are fitted with mouthpieces, having
outlet pipes attached thereto to convey away the gas as it is generated, or the
outlet pipes can be cast on the front ends of the retorts without the mouth-
pieces. A lid or cover is fitted to ench retort or mouthpiece, and is secured
to the same with a cross bar and screw.
A conical vessel made of cast or wrought ircn, which I call a receiver,
having a cap on the top, and a lid or door in front, is fixed to and over the
outlet pipes to receive the gas from the retorts, and a connecting pipe is fitted
or cast upon the same to convey away the gas to the apparatus for purifying
coal gas, for which I obtained Royal Letters Patent, No. 1099, dated 9th May
1856, and in which apparatus is contained prepared charcoal, through which
the gas passes, and is conveyed from thence by connecting pipes to an
hydraulic chest or vessel.
The hydraulic chest or vessel is made of cast or wrought iron, of a square
or oblong form, partly cased with zinc or lead, and fitted up inside with
partitions so as to divide the same into compartments; perforated plates are
placed horizontally near the top, and the chest or vessel is partly filled with
saturated limo water and a small quantity of charcoal. The connecting pipes
dip into the water to form a seal, and are fitted with stop-cocks or valves, io
change the gas from one compartment to another, or to shut off the gas
altogether when not required. The gas passes from the connecting pipes
through the lime water contained in the compartments, rises through the
perforated plates into the upper part of the hydraulic chest or vessel, and from
thence by other connecting pipes into the gasholder.
A self-acting pipe supplies the chest with a continuous flow of saturated
lime water, and an outlet pipe or syphon conveys away the overflow, so as to
keep the water constantly refreshed.
A valve is fitted within the receiver over each ontlet pipe ofthe twin retorts;
the valves are made of a ball or cup-like form, or conical, and fitted into seats
on the outlet pipes, and are acted upon by levers and shafts passed through
the sides or top of the receiver. By means of these levers and shafts the valves
are raised or lowered as required, and are so fitted as to be acted upon by or
before the removal of the lid from the retort.
The twin retorts are built in ovens, with flues and furnaces in tlie usual
manner, and the purifying apparatus is built with furnace and flues under and
at the sides, but not at the top, the top being left clear for the purpose of

page_text: obtaining easy access to the lids, or the said apparatus may be built in or over
the same furnace or oven with the retorts.
When I desire to manufacture gas I charge the twin retorts with coal or
other known fuel or substance used in making illuminating gas, in the
following manner :-The valve attached to the retort to be first charged is shut
down, while the valve to the other or twin retort is kept open, the lid of the
first retort is then removed, the chamber charged, and the lid replaced or
closed. When the charge in the first retort has remained about half the time
required for its distillation, the valve of the retort containing the first chargo
is opened, and the other valve to the twin retort closed. The lid of the second
retort is then removed, the chamber charged, and the lid replaced or closed.
By this change in the valves the currents are reversed, causing the gas evolved
in the retort last charged to pass through or over the coke or heated contents
of the other or twin retort first charged, before escaping through the outlet
pipes into the receiver. When the charge is worked off, the valves are to be
again reversed, the coke or refuse is withdrawn, and the said first retort
recharged.
The process is continued by discharging and recharging the retorts, and
reversing the valves alternately as before, taking care that the valve of the
retort to be charged is always closed, while the other to the twin retort is
always open.
The progress of the manufacture of the gas may be traced as follows:-
The gas being made in the first chamber or retort passes through or over the
coke or heated contents in the second or twin chamber or retort, thence
through the outlet pipe (the valve being open) of the said second retort into
the receiverover; from the receiver the gas passes through the heated charcoal
Contained in the purifying apparatus to the hydraulic chest, it then passes
through the lime water contained in the hydraulic chest, and is conveyed by
the connecting pipes to the gasholder.
› SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,filed
by the said William Basford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st June 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BASFORD, of No. 15, Lowther Cottages, Liverpool Road, Islington, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,give and grant unto
me, the said William Basford, Her special licence that the said William
Basford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others ns I, the
said William Basford, my executors, administrators, and assigus, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed should and lawfully might make
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Chaunel. Islands,and Isle of Man,an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, AND IN RETORTS AND OTHER APPARATUS TO BE USED
THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,the said William Basford,
iny executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under ny,or their
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what mauner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Basford, do hereby declare
tho nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formned, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement —
My Invention has for its object a better means of distilling coal or other
known materials or substances used in making illuminating gas, and for the
moro effectually converting the vapours and products evolved therefrom during
distillation, in greater abundance, of equal or better quality, and with less
smoke and nuisance than when made in the ordinary manner.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood, I have hereunto
annexed a Sheet of Drawings, with letters of reference marked thereon,
corresponding with lettors of reference in this Specification; the same letters
refer to the same parts in the several Figures.
•
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, front view of the twin retort and receiver over; Fig. 2, plau
over top of receiver, looking down; Fig. 3, plan of inouthpiece and part of
twin retort; Fig. 4, transverse section through the mouthpiece of twin retort,
receiver, valves, and outlet pipes; Fig. 5, vertical section through twin retort,
receiver, valve, and outlet pipe; Fig.6, sectional plan through twin retort and

page_text: mouthpiece, shewing one lid on and the other off; Fig. 7, sectional plan of
receiver, showing shafts, valves, levers, and outlet pipes; Fig. S, side view
of twin retort, mouthpiece, receiver, outlet pipe, balance lever, and handle;
Fig. 9, plan over top of hydraulic chest, looking down; Fig. 10, longitudinal
section of ditto.
Detailed Description of the several Parts in the several Figures.
A, A¹, chambers forming the twin retort a, longitudinal partition dividing
the two chambers; a¹, open space at end of partition; B, B', mouthpiece;
b, b', flanges to connect mouthpiece with chambers; C, cover or lid to mouth-
piece; c, open or slitend of mouthpiece to receive lugs d to secure cross bars;
D, screw cross bar and cover; e, pin or stud on cover to keep back handle of
lever; E, outlet pipes; F, receiver; G, G', valves; g. 9', levers to suspend
and work the valves; H, H', shafts to work the valves; h, h, balance levers;
J, cap to receiver; j,j, flanges to secure cap to receiver; K, connecting
pipe; L, door opening to receiver; M, hydraulic chest; m, upper part of ditto;
N, horizontal partition or ledge; n, n', openings in ditto; O, O', perforated
plates; y, y', charcoal and lime; P, inlet pipe; p, opening in ditto with cover,
cross bar, and screw; Q, inlet connecting pipe; R, outlet pipe; S, outlet
connecting pipe; T, inlet water pipe; t, stop-cock; U, outlet water pipe;
u, plug; V, V, man-holes or openings in top; W, W, lids or traps to ditto,
with cross bars and screws; X, water line or level.
My improvements consist in making a long vessel A, A, of a flat oval shape
divided lengthwise in the centre by a vertical partition a, which forms the
vessel into two separate chambers A, A', communicating with each other at
the back at a', the partition a being kept short for that purpose. These
chambers A, A', having the appearance of two retorts joined into one, I call
a twin retort, and make it of cast or wrought iron or fire clay.
The front ends of the chambers A, A', are fitted with a mouthpiece B, B',
having outlet pipes E, E, attached thereto, to convey away the gas as it is
generated, or the outlet pipes may be cast or fixed on to the front end of the
chambers without the mouthpiece. A lid or cover C is fitted to each chamber.
or mouthpiece, and is secured to the same with a cross bar and screw D, in
the usual way. A conical vessel F, made of cast or wrought iron, and which
I call a receiver, having a cap j at the top, and a lid or door at L in front, is
fixed to and over the outlet pipes E, E', to receive the gas from the chambers
A, A', and a connecting pipe K is fitted or cast upon the receiver F, to
convey away the gas to the "Apparatus for Purifying Coal Gas," for which
I obtaine Royal Letters Patent, No. 1099, date Ninth May, One thousand

page_text: eight hundred and fifty-six, in which apparatus is contained prepared charcoal
orcoko, through which when heated the gas is made to pass, and is conveyed
from thence by connecting pipes to the hydraulic chest or vessel M.
Valves G, G', are fitted within the receiver F, one over cach outlet pipe,
and are made of a ball, semi-spherical, cup like, or conical form, are fitted
into seats or dropped down upon the outlet pipes E, E', and are worked or
acted upon by the shafts FL, H', to which levers are attached, and the valves
suspended therefrom; balance levers h, h', are placed outside the receiver,
and fitted to the shaft so as to raise or lower the valves at pleasure.
As it is necessary that the valve over the end of the chamber that is to be
charged should be closed when the lid is removed, I make the action for
closing it somewhat self-acting in the following manner, namely:-Lattacha
small pin or stud e, to the side of the lid or cover C, and confine the handle,
that works the valve behind it, so that when the lid or cover is removed the
handle is left free, and being acted upon by the balance lever h, causes the
valve by its gravity to drop into its sent aud be closed. The handles i, i¹, are
provided with hinged joints to permit of their being removed from behind
the stud e, when required without moving the lid.
Tho hydraulic chest or vessel M, Figures 9 and 10, is made of cast or
wrought iron of a square or oblong form, and fitted up inside with a horizontal
partition or ledge N, baving openings n, n, therein, over which is laid per-
forated plates 0 0', placed to receive a layer of charcoal and lime Y, laid
thereon. The chest M is partly filled with water, sometimes saturated with
lime, into which the inlet pipe D dips, and forms au hydraulic seal. The
inlet connecting pipe Q is fitted with a stop-cock or valve to change the
current of the gas from one chest or vessel to another, when two or more
hydraulicchests are used, or to shut off the gas altogether when not required.
The outlet pipe R conveys away the gas after it lins passed through the water,
charcoal and lime contained in the said chest, and is carried by the outlet cou
necting pipe S to the holder. The inlet and outlet pipes Pand Rare secured
to the top of the hydraulic chest M by the flange r; an opening p, with
cover, cross bar, and screw, is fitted over the inlet pipe P, in order to cleanse
it when required. A self-acting pipe S supplies the chest M, with a con
tinuous flow of water, or lime water, let in at or near the bottuin, and made
with a trumpot mouth, so as to distribute the water aud agitate the same in
the lower part of the chest, and an outlet pipe or syphon U conveys away the
overflow, so as to keep the water constantly refreshed, and at an uniform level
at X a stop-cock t is fitted to the inlet water pipe U, and a plug u, and
stop cock u', to the outlet pipe; man-holes or openings V, VI, are made in the

page_text: top of the chest M, and doors or lids W, W, with cross bars and screws are
fitted thereto to close them ready for use.
When I desire to manufacture gas by my improved method, I charge the
twin retort with coal or other known material or substance used in making
illuminating gas in the following manner, namely:-1 first cause the valve G³,
attached to the mouthpiece B', or chamber A', to be first charged) to be
closed or shut down, and allow the other valve G, to the mouthpiece B, or
chamber A, to be left open; the lid being removed from the mouthpiece B',
the chamber A' is charged with coal or other known material, or substance,
or substances used in making illuminating gas, and the lid replaced or closed.
When the charge in the first chamber A' has remained about half the usual
time required for its distillation, the valve G is opened by means of the hinged
lever handle, which is placed behind the pin er stud fixed to the cover or
lid. The lid D is then removed from the chamber A, or mouthpiece B, which
releases the handle i, and causes the valve G to fall into its seat and close;
the chamber A is then charged in the manner before described, and the lid C
is again replaced or closed. By this change in the valves the currents of the
crude
egas contained in the retort are reversed, causing the gas evolved in the
chamber last charged, to pass through or over the coke or heated contents of
the chamber first charged before it escapes through the outlet pipe into the
receiver. When the charge is worked off I reverse the valves in the manner
before described, withdraw the coke or refuse in the chamber first charged,
and then recharge the same as before. I continue the process by discharging
and recharging the chambers of the twin retort, and reversing the valves
alternately as before, taking care that the valve of the chamber last charged
be first opened, while the other valve of the chamber to be charged is
closed.
The process of my improved method of manufacturing gas may be traced
as follows, namely:-The gas being made or distilled in the first chamber A¹
of the twin retort, passes over or through the heated contents of the second
chamber A, from thence it passes through the outlet pipe E, (the valve G
being open) into the receiver over; from the receiver F the gas is conducted
to my patent apparatus for purifying coal gas (before mentioned), passes
through the prepared and heated charcoal or coke contained therein, and is
conveyed by connecting pipes to the hydraulic chest M. The gas then passes
through the water, or lime water, charcoal or line contained therein, and is
conveyed by connecting pipes to the gasholder.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood, that I do not claim the

page_text: several connecting pipes, flanges, lids, cross bars, stop cocks, plugs, valves, or
lovers described herein; but what I do claim as my Invention, and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is as follows, namely,-
First, I claim the improved method herein described of manufacturing
coal gas.
Secondly, I claim the twin retort as herein described, and for the purpose
set forth.
Thirdly, I claim the receiver as herein described, and for the purposes set
forth.
Fourthly, I claim the hydraulic chest and fittings as herein described and
for the purpose set forth.
Fifthly, I claim the combination of the valves with the outlet pipes, shafts,
aud levers as herein described, and for the purposes set forth.
Sixthly, I claim the combination of the several vessels, chambers, chests,
valves, levers, and other apparatus herein described, and for the purposes
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Basford, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
WILLIAM BASFORD. (L.S.)
Witness,
HENRY LAXTON, Patent Agent,
19, Arundel Street, Strand.