US2066297A - Gasholder - Google Patents

Description

.29, 1.9316.' J. A. MASON 2,065,297'

1 GASHOLDER Filed June so, 19,52 5 sheds-.sheet 1 Mag/.i

ma@ M Gttomegs.

D. 29, J. A. MASN n GASHOLDER Filed June 50, 1932 5 Sheets-Sh-eet 2 I Dec. 29, 1936.

J. A. MASON 'GAsHoLDER Filed June 30, 193?.Y

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. A. MASON Dec. 29, 1936.

GASHOLDER Filed June 30, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Gftornegs.

Patented 'Dec'. 29s,' 1936v dSTA'if-gs,

NPATENT ori-ICE N .GASHOLDER John A. Mason, Baltimore, Md., .assignon by mes'ne assignments, to Koppers Company, a l corporation of Delaware l Application June 3o, 1932, serial No. 620,244 claims. r(ci. 4s-m) This invention pertains to gas holders and more particularly to that type commonly known as waterless holders. Such type j-'of holders are shown in' Letters Patent-to Jagschitz Number 1'5 tend inwardly of the shell it becomes necessary to employ'special sealing means between them and the piston closure. Again, means is provided,

- especially in large holders, to prevent the sealing liquid from owing around in the usual trough 2o or gutter'surrounding the closure to one side thereof. Guiding rollers are also commonly employed.

With the present invention a number of outside tanks may be done awa'y with, as well as 25 corresponding pumps .and pipes, and in place thereof there is mounted upon the piston-like closure a centrally disposed reservoiror tank from which the sealing uid passes to the -trough or gutter. Such tank, together with the liquid therein acts in a measure, atleast, to weight the piston.

Temperature changes have a marked eiTect upon a holder and the sealing medium. Where the sealing iluid, 'such as tamis fed, as' at present,

to the upper end ofthe shell and flows down the inner face thereof theftar will have a tendency to congeal or stiften, if the surface is cold, where' as if the surface is hot, the light oils of the tar will be driven ofi. So too, the tar within thetrough is subject to" variations in temperature at diierent points or areas in the circumference of the tank. ,v

By the employment of a tank as above specied, from which pipes or conduits extend to the I gutter or trough which surrounds the piston, the

bulk of the sealing liquid is held in storage, so-to speak, remote from the walls of the shell and is, thereforavnot subject to the temperature variations which exist throughout the wall of the shell or at diiferent portions thereof. This is' particu- 'Further-more," by 'connecting "wardly, to the surrounding gutter or trough.

posed reservoir with thetrough by a plurality of pipes a'ilow of sealing liquid will obtain around the trough and through the pipes, thereby having a tendencyto equalize the temperature-of the sealing liquid throughout the system.

Instead of employing shell-columns, guiding ,rollers, and the like, to maintain the piston-like closure in centralized position with reference to the shelll and to prevent tipping pr canting thereof, there are present one or more vertically disposed guiding columns which pass through suitable bearings or guideways carried by the piston.

Again, the sealing liquid is pumped to the upper portion of the holder and 'distributed upon the upper part of a vertically disposed column; flowing downward thereover; lubricating the same,

and the cooperative sealing means .carried by the piston; and finally owing into the centrally disposed tank or reservoir from which it flows out- With these and other objects in View, reference will be had to th'e accompanying drawings wherein:

l Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of a portion of a gas holder embodying my invention;

Fig. 2, an enlarged horizontal sectional view of a portion of the holder'showing the sealing means and allied parts, the section being taken on the line II-II of Figure 1; 1

Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view taken on the line III-UI of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a perspective view illustrating the trough construction which encircles the piston closure and the allied rubbing bars;

Fig. 5, a transverse vertical sectional view illustrative of the manner inA which the trough is formed;

Fig. 6, a perspective view of the adjacent ends of two of the rubbing bars; Y Y

Fig. 7, a perspective view of two of the elements which enter into the trough construction;

Fig. 8, a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the centrally disposed column, the centrally disposed tank, lthe guiding and sealing means employed between the column and the various surroundingelements, and likewise the means for causing the sealing liquid which passes downwardly over the outer surface of the gulding column to be gathered and finally passed to the centrally Idisposed tank or reservoir;

Fig. 9, a vertical sectional view of the upper distributor employed for receiving the sealing liquid and directing it onto the outer surface of the guiding column;

Fig. 10, a horizontal sectional view taken on the line X-X of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11, a perspective view of a portion of the shell, the piston, the trough, -a portion of the rubbing bars, and the means employed for preventing relative rotative movement of said bars with reference to the piston and trough;

Fig. l2, a detail perspective view with parts broken away showing one manner of forming the shell of the holder;

Fig. 13, a perspective view of a portion of the means femployed to prevent relative rotative movement of the rubbing b ars with reference to the piston; and

Fig. 14, a horizontal sectional view showing a plurality of iixed guiding elements associated with the piston closure, the latter being broken away.

In the drawings (Figs. 1 to 13), III denotes the shell of the holder as a whole, the shell being circular in cross section and preferably producedl from a plurality of plates welded or riveted together and likewise secured to a plurality of vertical columns. Such a structure is best shown in Figs. 11 and 12 whereinl II indicates the plates, each of which is provided at its upper and lower ends with outwardly extending anges I2 and I3. The upper flange I2 of eachplate is preferably wider than the lower ange I3 and both of said flanges terminate short of the side edges of the plates so as to permit the plates to pass over and against the inner face of vertically disposed columns |4 and the vertical or side edges of the plates to abut or stand in close spaced relation.

The plates are curved to such a radius that when assembled they will produce a shell of the desired diameter. of the body of each plate, where it merges into the flanges I2 and I3, is slightly rounded,the'

purpose of which will presently appear.

The plates 'are temporarily secured to each other, and to the inner flange of the I-beam co1- umns I4, by rivets I5 widely spaced as shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 2 and the various parts are electrically welded along and about the various edges or marginal portions and along the joints produced by the adjacent curved or rounded portions just mentioned, the welding being denoted generally by I6. By the construction thus described there will be produced on the inner face of the shell a series of seams, as at II, extending entirely around the shell. The surface of these seams may be depressed slightly with reference to the inner'faceof the shell by proper manipulation of the welding apparatus.. 'I'hese depressions coact with the lsealing means and the liquid sealing medium to properly lubricate the inner face of the shell in a manner shortly to -be described.

The provision of the flanges |2 and 'I3 on the plates, and making the former wider and longer, facilitates the welding of such parts. So too, the flanges, in addition to facilitating the jointure of the plates, materialy strengthen the shell as a whole as they produce in effect a series of spaced ribs which extend circumferentially of the exterior of the shell, interrupted only by the vertical column I4, while the construction of the shell, as above described, has been found advantageous, still the invention is not limited thereto as any shell which is circular in cross section may be utilized. A

The piston closure may be said to comprise a main body I8 having a centrally disposed tank lor reservoir 9 while at the outer edge of the main body I8 there is secured a downwardly extending plate 20, which at its lower portion is curved outwardly, forming a shelf-like member Suitable angle irons 22 (see more particularly Fig. 11) are'embodied in the upper portion of the piston-likestructure and serve to stiien the same. Structural elements,- shown in the present instance as I beams denoted by 23, are secured to the elements 2U and extend downwardly below the shelf 2|, the lower ends thereof servil ls legs to properlyfsupport the piston when in it! lowermost position, as shown in Fig. l.

A pair of inclined braces 24 and 25 extend downwardly from the head of the piston, and preferably from beneath the elements 22,V and at their lower ends extend outwardly and beneath the shelf-like member 2 I.

An angle lplate 26 is secured to the shelf-like member 2| and likewise to the member 20 where these parts merge into one another and a similar angle plate 21 is secured to the braces 24, 25 and to the adjacent flanges of the vertically disposed I beam 23. This arrangement produces a rigid structure throughout, affording suiiicient stability to the piston and to the outwardly extending shelf 2l. It will of course be appreciated that any suitable bracing may be employed for the piston-like closure.

Ihe shelf-like element 2I- is designed to form one portion of the bottom of a trough which extends circumferentially of the piston and is connected to the reservoir I9 by a plurality of pipes 9. These pipes extend from the lower portion of the reservoir I9 and consequently the 'sealing liquid within the trough will always be The upper and lower portion maintained at the same level as the liquid in the reservoir.

Secured to the under Aface of the shelf 2| (see Fig. 5), and adjacent the outer edge thereof, is an angle'plate 28. To the upper face of the shelf 2|, and inward of the edge thereof, there is secured an angle plate 29 to the upper portion of which there is attached the inner por-` tion of a flexible fabric member 30. This'member overlies a wooden element 3| secured to the upper face of the shelf 2|, the member 3| supporting a portion of the member 3II which dlrectly overlies the same and holds it out of contact with the metal shelf 2| which might otherwise tend to abrade it as relative movement takes place between the parts in-the up and down movement of the piston. As above noted, the member 30, together with the shelf 2| and upstanding member 20 formed a trough'for the reception of the sealing liquid and as a con- -sequenc'e the outer portion of the fabric member 30 extends upwardly and is secured in the following manner to a sectional rubbing bar 32.

The fabric at its upper edge is folded upon itself and over a flange 33 extending upwardly from a rounded body 34, the parts being formed from sheet metal bent to form, as best shown in Fig. 7.

A plate 35 is secured against the downturned upper portion of the.fabric. The parts are held in place by bolts which pass through the rubbing bar, the fabric, the upstanding ange 33 and the plate 35. Ins certain instances where -parts of the mechanism employed to move the rubbing bar 32 outwardly into facewise contact with the inner face of the shell are present, the bolts likewise pass through such elements. One of such elements, or a bracket 36, is shown in Fig.

5 with the securing bolt passing through all of 75 'and through the rubbingbar4 32 and likewise through Spacer blocks 31 interposed between the bracket and the rubbing bar.: In this way a gutter is formed by the downwardly. extending element 28 andthe exible fabric member 30. The member 34, of which there will be a continuous series around the rubbing bars,will hold the fabric out of contact with the inner'face of the shell as well as out of contact with the rubbing bar so that it will not be subjectedfto wear and will last almost indenitely. .l

The'rubbing bars 32 are so contoured and of such length as to make a close t with the interior surface of the shell. Each bar at'o'ne end is provided with projections 38, 39 (see more particularly Figs. 4 and 6) thus producing an intermediate space'or recess 49, the latter being of such size as to receive a tongue 4I upon the opposite end of an adjacent bar.

The vertical edges of the rubbing bars are beveled or inclined, the inclination of the bevel.

of the tongue preferably being the reverse of the inclination on the end faces of the projections 38 and 39. 'I'he complemental faces upon the various bars are of course reversely inclined so that as the endsaof the bars come together a :slightl wedging action is produced. To maintain the ends-of the bars in proper alignment, one of the sections may be provided with a pair of outwardly extending lugs or fingers 42 and 43 which cooperate with suitable retaining blocks 44 and 45.

-The elements or bracketsA 36 are arranged in pairs around and about the structure. Each bracket is provided in the upper portion thereof with an arcuate slot 46 (see Fig. 4). Into each of said slots extends a bar or rod 41 carried by a lever 48 fulcrumed upon a shaft 49 mounted in the brackets 36. The levers 48. at their upper ends extend rearwardly and are provided with adjustable weights 50. The levers 48 arear- Y ranged in pairs (see Fig. 2) and'are interconnected by a rod or bar 5I which ilnds its bearings in the lower end. of brackets 52 secured to and extending downwardly and outwardly from the-upper portion of the piston: 'I'hese weightedv levers, acting through the`brackets. force the rubbing bars outwardly into close facewise 'contact with the inner face` of the shell and tend to hold them in such position at all times.

In order to prevent relative rotative movement of the piston with reference to the rubbing bars and the placing ofy undue strain upon the fabric 3l, means is provided for holding the rubbing bars against such relative movement with reference to the piston. To this end there is secured to the rubbing bar a block 53 having an outwardly projecting stud or finger 54 `(see more particularly Figs. 3, l1 and 13). Secured to the downwardly extending element 2n.of the piston and opposite the block 53 is an angle. iron 55 which forms the support for a channel-shaped bracket 56 (see more particularlyFigs. 3 and 11) in the outer end of which is mounted a shaft or rod 51.

clined so that the arms will have'a fair bearing against the block 53.

Inasmuch as the bracket 56 and the allied J low the main structure or body of the piston I6.

Extending from the foundation of the holder upwardly to the-roof structure, which latter is designated generally by 62, and secured to the beams thereof, is a vertically disposed column 63. This column is designed to guide and centralize the piston with reference to the shell. It becomes essential, of course, to seal said piston with reference to the column and to that end liquid sealing means is employed.

Mounted centrally 4,of the'tank and extending' 'downwardly therethrough is an annular sleeve or cylinder 64, open at its lower end and adapted, when the piston is in its lowermost position and supported upon the I beams 23 asin Fig. 1, to form a dip seal with the liquid within the reservoir 65 located immediately below the member 64. The reservoir 65 is connected by a plurality of pipes 66 (Fig. l) with an annular gutter 61 which extends around the base of the holderv within the shell.

'I'he member 64 khas a collar 68 secured to its upper end, which latter is bolted -to a ange 6,9

extending outwardly from a sleeve 18. v'I'he bolts for securing the parts together also pass through laterally extending flanges of the beams 22 heretofore referred to.

Mounted and held within the lower end of the sleeve 10 by welding is a cast steel ring 12, the

yinterior face whereof is grooved, tlhe face having slight clearance withv reference to the column 63.

v Mounted within the upperportion of the sleeve 18 above the ring is an annular rubbing shoe 13 preferably made up of segmental pieces and held in place by a packing ring 14 having an upwardly extending annular member 15 in which are mounted a plurality of packing rings 16 held in place by a gland 11.

reference to the shoe 13 by bolts 18 which extend through a ange projecting outwardly from the' ring and through asimilar flange 19 formed on the'upper part of the member 10.

Mounted upon the member 19 is a tank 80 designed to be iilled with'sealing liquid. An overflow pipe -8I extends from the upper portion of this tank and terminates in the main supply tank I9.` located above the tank 8 0 is a cup 82 which receives the sealing liquid which passes down- The ring 14, as willxbe seenupon reference to Fig. 8, is drawn to position with wardly over the outer surface of the column 63. A'

Said cup is attached to and/supported by a sleeve or cylindrical element 83 which in turn is secured" to various bracing elements 84 forming a partof 'the bracing for the piston roof.

Within. the cylindrical element 83 is mounted a sealingring 85 similar to the ring 12 and sim` ilarly grooved. Loated above it is a rubbing Y Sealing liquid will of course, as in theJagschitz hates at a level somewhat above lthe ring Il, ex-

tends from the cup 82 into tank 80.

The structure just described, to wit, the members 10, 13, 14 and 15, form one bearing for the piston; while the members l5, 86 and 81 form a second bearing. Thesebearings stand in spaced relation vertically of each other, and tend to prevent tipping or canting of the piston except to a slight degree.

Suspended from the roof structure is a receptacle 88, shown as annular in outline, provided with an upstanding collar 89 spaced away from the exterior of the column 63 (see more particularly Fig. 9). The collar 89 is provided, adjacent its lower end, with a series of openings 90 and the lower wall of the receptacle 8l is also provided with a series of openings 9|, which latter, conjointly with the openings 9B, allow the sealing liquid to pass from the receptacle 88 onto the exterior of the column.

Overflow pipes 92 extend through the bottom of the receptacle and are inclined so that their lower open ends will discharge any sealing liquid pxaissing therethrough directly onto the column 6 Sealing liquid is, as is usual, pumped from a tanlf;l or reservoir, indicated by 93 (Fig. 1), and passes upwardly through a pipe 94 into a lateral 95 which terminates in a short section 96. 'Ihis section discharges into the receptacle 88. 'I'he pump (not shown) will of course only be operated for a period of time suilicient to fill the cup 82, the tank 80, the main reservoir or tank I9, and the gutter surrounding the piston. rIt will then be stopped until the level of the sealing liquid within the reservoir Il, and consequently in the gutter, falls below a point where the liquid will not longer function with the rubbing bars, at which time the pump will of course have to be again brought into operation.

The rubbing bars will of course function with the sealing liquid to effectively seal the piston against the escape of gas around the circumference of the piston. The various sealing elements heretofore described `for effecting a gas-tight' luxnn and the packing elements associated withsaid tank and. cup are in a sense submerged within the sealing liquid.

While the sealing elements for effecting a tight joint between the column andpiston have been described somewhat invdetail, it is not intended thereby to limit the invention to any such structure but to include broadly any sealing means, and primarily liquid sealing means, between the piston and column.

' patent heretofore referred to, seep down between l be drawn oi! from the gutter i1 through suitable offtake devices which form no part of the present invention and which are'shown diagrammatically and designated by 91 (Fig. 1).

spaans? element 6I passes into the liquidlin sealing relation therewith. As a consequence, no gas can pass upwardly around the column nor around the edge of the piston, and workmen are free to move over the upper surface or elements of the pistonlike closure and readjust or repair the vertically separated bearing members, heretofore described. In fact, there is no necessity of evacuating the gas which may be entrapped below the piston when it comes to its lowermost position: a condition which so far as I am aware is not true of any other holder. Such evacuation frequently takes considerable time, and .as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, an admixture of air and gas below the piston' is a dangerous condition.

It is thought that from the foregoing theoper ation of the structure will be readily understood but a brief rsum may be given. Initially, sealingliquid will be forced through the pipe ll, l5

into the receptacle Il, passing downwardly overl the exterior of the column into the cup I2. The column is thus lubricated and the sealing liquid, after filling the Vcup to the desired degree, will pass into the sealing tank Il from which it will ultimately flow into the main reservoir or tank I9. From this it flows through the pipes l into the gutter and when the desired level is reached, which may be readily determined by a suitable indicating mechanism (not shown), the pump is stopped. Inasmuch as the bulk-,of the liquid in the reservoir I! stands at a level above the upper edge of the rubbing bars or shoes, the gutter I with said rubbing bars or shoes for a considerable period of time and, as previously noted, this does away with the frequent stopping and starting of the pumpsas in prior structures.

As the piston Vmoves upwardly and over vthe seams formedlbetween the edges of the plates, a certain amount of the sealing liquid (tar, heavy oil, and the like) will be entrapped and, as a consequence, when the rubbing bars pass the seam the entrapped liquid will be released and will ilow down the inner face of the shell. In this way the inner surface of the shell may be said to be lubricated, which of course assists the free movement of the piston in its descent.

While the'constructionemploying the column and reservoir or storage tank has been described in some detail, it is to be understood that in its generic sense the invention is not limited thereto. Thus. for instance, it is conceiyablethat a large storage reservoir may be mounted upon or built into the piston closure and employed to supply the gutter with sealing iluid;-and thiswithout the necessity of the central- 'guiding column. In other words, such a centralized reservoir could, with advantage, be employed with structures such as shown in the patent to Jagschita above mentloned,-the tank being recharged from time to time as occasion required. It would of course do `away withl the draw-backs that inhere with the discharge of the sealing liquid or fluid directly onto the shell as well as other disadvantages.

Instead of a single centrally disposed vcolumn ,'15

- a plurality of guiding columns may be lemployed.

Thus, in Fig. 14 three columns 63, 63" and 63 are shown as extending upwardly through a tank IS carried by the pistonclosure. Said columns will of course have .the necessary sealing means associated therewith.

This application is a continuation in part of my application ledOctober 9, 1931, ySerial No. 567,946. v

VWhat is claimed is:

1. In a waterleSs gas holder,'the combination of a shell; a piston-like closure therein; at least one vertically disposed column located within the shell and extending through the closure, said column serving to guide and stabilize the closure in its movements; a -reservoir carried by the closure for storing a liquid sealing vmedium; sealing means between the column and closure; sealing means between the closure and the inner surface of the shell; and means connecting the reservoir with said last named 'sealing means, said reservoir and sealing means being so posi- 'tioned with reference to each other as to maintain a common level of the sealing mediumv therein.

2. A gas holder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the last named sealing means includes a series .0f rubbing bars contacting the inner face of the shell; vand a gutter for the sealing liquid located intermediate the closure and the bars.

3. In a waterless gas holder, the combination of a shell; a substantially non-yielding or rigid piston-like closure therefor; a rigid column ex of a shell; a piston-like closure therefor; a seriesl of rubbing bars; a gutter interposed between said bars and said closure and connected thereto;

means for forcing the bars outwardly into facewise contact with.' the shell; a rigid column ex# tending upwardly through the piston; a reservoir for sealing liquid located centrally of the pisto said reservoir being located lin substantially` the same horizontal plane as that of the gutter; at least one conduit extending from said reservoir outwardly and opening into the gutter; and means for eecting a gas-tight seal-between the piston and the column.

5. In a waterless gas holder, the combination of a shell; a piston-like closure therefor; a rigid column extending upwardly through the piston;

a reservoir located centrally of the piston and surrounding the column; means carried by the piston for producing a gas-tight joint between the same and the column; means involving the use of a liquid for sealing the piston with reference to the shell; means extending from the reservoir to said last named sealing m`eans; and means for pumping a sealing uid to the upper portion of thel shell and causing it to ow onto 'the exterior of the column.

6. In a waterle'ss gas holder, the combination with a cylindrical shell; a piston-like closure therefor; sealing 'means interposed between the piston and the inner face of the shell; and means acting independently of the sealing means'forpreventing rotative movement of' the sealing means with reference to the piston, whereby the piston and sealing means will be caused to move in unison upon rotative movement of said partswithin the shell and the sealing means,l held against distortion.

7. In a waterls gas holder, 4the combination forming a gutter in conjunction with said bar and piston; a plurality of rounded bodies having upwardly extending' anges, over which anges the adjacent edge of the fabric member is folded; and means for securing said members to the rubbing bar, whereby the fabric member will be held out of contact with the shell.. A

8. In a waterless gas holder, the combination of a. shell; ya piston-like closure therefor; a rubbing bar located'outwardly of the piston; means for forcing said bar against the inner face of the shell; a gutter interposed between the bar and the circumference of the piston; a reservoir carried at the center of the piston; a xed column extending upwardly through the shell and 2.5

through the piston; a sleeve extending downwardly through the reservoir and sealed with reference thereto and standing in spaced relation to the column; a tank located above the piston;

' packing submerged within the tank and'coacting with the column; an overiiow pipe extending from said tank to the reservoir; a cup located above the tank and surrounding the column; packing carried by said cup and coacting with the column; an overflow pipel extending from the cup to the tank; means for supplying a sealing liquid to the outer face of the column. at its upper end; and at least one pipe extending from the lower portion of the reservoir outwardly to and communicating with the gutter.

9. In a waterless gas holder, the combination of a shell; a piston-like closure mounted therein; means for sealing said piston with referenceto the she1l; a vertically disposed` column extending upwardlythrough the piston; means for securing a gas-tight seal between the piston and the column; a sleevev extending downwardly below the piston, said sleeve standing in spaced relation to the column; a gutter extendingaround the base of the shell; a reservoir located at the center of the'holder and into which the sleeve may pass when the piston is in its lowermost position; and at least one conduit connecting the gutter and the reservoir.

10. In a waterless gas holder, the combination of a shell; a piston-like closure therefor; a storage tank for a uent sealing medium 4located centrally of -said closure; sealing means interposed between the closure and the inner face of the shell and involving the presence of such iluent sealing medium to render it eiective, .said tank and sealing means lying in a common plane;

' and at least' one conduit extending from the tank to said sealing means, whereby a relatively large reserve body of fluent sealing medium is maintained within the holder and frequent renewals thereof are avoided.

11. In a waterless gas holder, the combination of a. shell; a piston-like closure mounted within the shell;- a column extending vertically within the shell and through the piston-like member;

vertically spaced bearings carried by the piston- 'like member, said bearings contacting the column at separated points above the piston-like member and serving to stabilize the piston within the shell; sealing means interposed between the shell and the edge of the piston,"said means being provided with pressure-devices positively impelling the sealing periphery of the closure into contact with the inner wall of the shell vand acting `independently of the main body of the pistonlike closure; and means for feeding a sealing medium to the bearings aforesaid and to the sealingmeans between the piston and the shell.

12. In a waterless gas holder, the combination of a shell; a piston-like closure mounted within the shell; a column extending vertically within the shell and through the piston-like member; a plurality of vertically spaced bearings carried by the piston-like member above the same, said bearings contacting the column at separated points, and the lowermost bearing being a combined gas-seal and guide; sealing means interposed between the shell and the edge of the piston; and means for lubricating the bearings, and

likewise lubricating the sealing means for thepiston-like member and shell.

13. In a waterless gas holder, the combination of a shell; a piston-like closure therefor; a reservoir for sealing material located centrally of the piston-like closure; a column extending lupwardly through the holder and passing through4 the reservoir; means for placing the iluid sealing medium upon the upper portion of the column; sealing means surrounding the piston-like closure; and means extending from the reservoir to said last-named sealing means, to conduct the sealing fluid thereto.`

14. In a waterless gas holder, the combination of a shell; a piston-like closure mounted within the shell and free to move up anddown according to the pressure of the gas beneath the same; a column extending vertically. within the shell and through the piston-like member; means for sealing the piston-like closure against the escape of gas with -reference lto the shell; means for placing the fluid sealing medium upon the upper portion of the column; and a bearing carried by the piston-like member and cooperating with the column, said bearing being located above the upper face of the piston-like closure and sealed against the passage of gas by the fluid sealing medium.

15. A gas holder as set forth in claim 14, wherein a reservoir is placed centrally of the'pistonlike member, said reservoir being substantiallyv .on a level with the sealing means for the piston and communicating therewith through at least one pipe or conduit.

16. In a waterless gas holder, in combination:

an outer shell enclosing the gas-space; a rigid center column extending from the base of the holder to thej top thereof; a rigid piston-like to guide it upon and support it in respecto! the v center-column and independently of the shell, said guide-members being located outside of and above the gas-space vand accessible from the upper side of the closure structure without communication with the gas-space, the lower of said guide members acting as a combined gas-seal and guide.

17. In a waterless gas holder, in combination: an outer shell enclosing' the -gas-space; a rigid center-column extending from the base to the top of the holder; a piston-like closure structure covering the gas-space and adapted to rise and fall in sealed gas-tight relation with the outer l,

shell and the center-column; and vertically widely disposed guide-members adapted to maintain the substantial horizontality and equilibrium of the closure structure and to guide it upon and support it in respect of the center-column and independently of the shell, said guide-members being located outside of and above the gas-space and accessible from the upper side of the closure structure without, communication with the gasspace, and the'lower one of said guide-members being a combined gas-seal and guide; the sealing means between the closure structure and the shell and column comprising substantially continuous contact members and a mobile sealing medium and means for supplying such medium at the sliding surfaces ofthe closure structure.

18. In a waterless gas-holder, in combination: an outer shell enclosing the gas-space; a center column; a piston-like closure structure covering the gas-space and adapted to rise and fall in sealed gas-tight relation with the outer shell and the center-column; guide-members adapted to maintain the substantial horizontality and equilibrium of the closure structure and to guide it upon and support it in respect of the center column and independently of the shell, said guide-members being ing such medium at the sliding surfaces of the closure structure; and means for supplementally sealing the lclosure structure centrally at the bottom of its travel, to permit ydetachment of the contact member around the center column without discharging the gas-space under the closure structure.y

19. In a waterless gas holder, the combination of a shell; a piston-like closure therefor; at least one vertically disposed column within the shell, said column passing through the closure; means for effecting a seal between said column and the closure; .a :duid sealing means between the shell and the closure; means for conducting sealing iiuid-to the column; and means for gathering fluid from the column and conducting the same to the sealing means.

20. A waterless gas holder as set forth in claim 19, wherein the 'fluid sealing means is caused to ilow exteriorly of the column over the guiding portion thereof.

21. In a waterless gas holder, the combina-- tion'of a shell; a piston-like closure therein; means for sealing the closure with reference to the shell; a tank carrledby the shell; a ilxed column extending upwardly throughthe tank; a series' of shoes bearing against thel column at a point within the lower portion of the tank; -means for urging said shoes into facewise contact with the column; and means for supplying a sealing medium to the tank.

22. In a waterless. gas holder, the combination of a shell; a piston-like closure therefor; at least 'one vertically disposed column within the shell, said column through the closure: means for eiflfecting a seal between said column andthe closure; a fluid sealing means between the shell and the closure; means for conducting u vertically widely disposedsealing uid to the upper portion ofthe column; 'a reservoir carried by the closure for gathering such fluid as it flows down the column; and at least one conduit extending from the reservoir to the means for effecting the seal between the closure and the shell.

23. In a gas holder, a holder shell of the type employing therein a vertically translatable piston in sealing engagement with the wallfthereof, said shell comprising a framework, plates arrangedon the -inner surfaces of the framework to form the shell proper, said plates initially positioned and supported on the framework for constituting the shell wall by means of pegs, said pegs integrated with the plates and engaged through the framework, and welds integrating the peg supported and positioned plates with the framework.

24. In a gas holder, a holder shell, said shell adapted to receive a piston vertically translatable therein in sealing engagement with the wall thereof, said shell comprising a framework and plates arranged on the inner surfaces of the framework to form the shell proper, said plates including studs projecting outwardly therefrom through the elements of the framework and havving heads on their exterior ends for preventing velements and with'each other.

inward displacement of the plates and holding the same tightly against the framework, said studs initially placed through the elements and the margins of the plates and integrated with the plates, and means sealing the joints of the plates with the framework.

25. In a gas holder a holder shell of the type employing therein a vertically translatable piston in sealing engagement with the wall thereof, said shell comprising frame elements of upright beam columns having flanges disposed with their inner surfaces aligned circumferentially, plates arranged on the inner surfaces of the frame elements to form the shell proper, means for securing the plates to the frame elements, said means being comprised both of sparsely d istributed securing means comprising widely spaced rivets and of continuous marginal securing means comprising welds substantially completely securing the plates along and about the various edges and marginal portions of the parts'constituting the shell wall, said rivets integrated with said plates and engaged through the frame elements, and said welds integrating the rivet supported and positioned plates with the frame JOHN A. MASON.

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