US175832A - Improvement in hydraulic gas-mains - Google Patents

Description

F.. GRINNELL.

l HYDRAULIC GAS-MAIN. 110.175,832. Patented Apr'1111. 1876.

INVENTOR- UNITED STAT-ns PATENT Orrrcn `FREDERICK GRINNELL, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROVIDENCE STEAM LAND GAS PIPE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IIYMPROVE MENT-.IN HYDRAULIC GAS-MAINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.175,832, dated April 1l, 1876; application led March 1, 1876.

I'o all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FREDERICK GRINNELL, of the city of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements relating `to Gas Manu-I facturing Apparatus, of which the following is a specication:

The invention is intended to apply mainly or entirely to the manufacture of gas from petroleum.

I have modified the construction of that part of gas apparatus which is ordinarily termed the hydraulic main, and have provided the same with a liberal current of water. In the ordinary hydraulic main the Water is gradually replaced by tarry liquids, and the Huid in the hydraulic main becomes practically tar. For the ordinary uses oi' the hydraulic main, simply to form a stop to prevent the return of the gas when the retorts are open, such change of the fluid to tar is not objectionable. But in my apparatus I seek to accomplish, in addition to that end, another important end, which is a practical washing of the gas, sucient, without further washing, to avoid all risk of smoking. This can only be attained by contact with water. I ind it practicable to ei'ect a suicient washing by'means of my hydraulic main, and of thel water flowing through the same, so that any further washing may be dispensed with, and to maintain in connection therewith a practically uniform depth of seal, no matter how greatly the supply of water may be accidentally or intention- 4 ally varied.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention. The accompanying drawings form a part of this specication.

Figure l is a perspective view of the entire gas-washing apparatus. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the main vessel or hydraulic main with the cover removed. Fig. 3 is a crosssection through the apparatus. v

Similar letters ot'referenceindicate like parts in all the figures.

A is a chest of iron, corresponding to the ordinary hydraulic main, and which willbe hereafter so designated. B B are the standing pipes, which deliver gas from the retorts, not represented, through the short nozzles or dippipes A],`Which are cast in one with the cover ot' the chest A, or are otherwise-tightly connected thereto. A2 is a partition, forming an internal compartmenam, in `the chest or main A. It may, if` preferred, extend not only along the length, but also across within the the chest A, forming in eiect an internal box or vessel sufficiently capacious, but not filling the whole area ot' the base of the chest A. C is a supply-pipe, bringing water from a reservoir at a higher level, not represented. The water entering through the pipe C in a constant stream, flows strongly along near the bottom, and, while agitating the tar at the bottom, adds continually to the water in the compartment m1, and, causing the tarry matters to rise to the top, removes them promptly by causing such matters, with the water, to iow constantly over the edge of the partition A2, and fall to the bottom ot' the other compartment m2. A liberal discharge-pipe, E, formed with a deep trap, is connected to the compartment m2 at or near its base. The gas may be taken from the top of the chest or main A in the ordinary manner, represented by the pipe M. The inilowing water keeps the level in the compartment 'm1 always a little above the top edge of the partition A2, and the water-level in the compartment m1 is, by reason ot' the long line of overflow, practically uniform, however the admission of the water is varied. The construct-ion allows the employment of a discharge-Siphon sufficiently large to carry away a large and widely varying quantity of water. The water in the compartment m1 forms a seal on the pipes B in the same manner as the tar in an ordinary hydraulic main seals the corresponding pipes. But the construction insures uniformity of depth of seal, because any surplus water lows oft instantly, and the provision for receiving an active current of water and for removing it perfectly, however variable may be the quantity, insures that it shall be water, and not tar, to which the gas is presented in bubbling up from the open lower ends of the dippipes. If the large Siphon-pipe E were alone relied upon to effect the discharge, and if, as is usual, the inflow is liable to vary in such -ml stand practically in the middle of the chest, with an overflow on all sides, thus presenting a still longer line of overflow. Or I can, if desired,in any case make the compart` nient m2, instead of m1, in the form of such an isolated box with the Water descending into it on all sides.

The contents of the main being water, constantly renewed, the bubbling up of the gas around the lower ends of the nozzles A1 Will present it to the Water sufficiently to effect the washing necessary., Such bubbling also aids to agitate and maintain a raw surface of water over the Whole top of thecompartment m1, which Will be further effective. The falling of the water in a thin sheet or stratum oil the perpendicular surface of the partition Az also presents the Water to the gas in an agitated condition.

I claim as my invention- The hydraulic main and gas-washer described, having, in combination with the main A, gas-passages B M, and Water-passages C and E, the partition`A2, forming a Water-corn` partment, m1, of less height than the main,

and presenting relatively-clear Water in anv activelyagitated condition to the dip-pipes, with a uniform depth of seal, asV herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set -my hand this 28th day of February, 1876, in

Vthe presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

FREDERICK GRINNELL.

Witnesses:

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, C. C. S'rETsoN.

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