US312777A - Means for carrying off leakage from gas-mains - Google Patents

Description

LNo Model.) l G. WESTINGHOUSB, Jr.

MEANS FOR'OARRYING; OFP LBAKAGE FROM GAS MAINS. No.l 312,777. Patented Peb. 24. 1885...

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UNITED STATES EATENT OEEICEo GEORGE VVESTINGHOUSE, Jlt., OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR CARRYiNG OFF LAKAGE FROM GAS-MAINS.l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,777, dated February 2%, 1885.

Application tiled January 26, 1885.

To all whom, it 11m- 7j concern.-

Be it known that 1, GEORGE WEsTrNGHoUsE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Carrying Off Leakage from Gras- Mains, of which improvements the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawing, which makes part of this specification, the figure is a longitudinal central section through an underground gas-main with my improvementapplied. t

My present invention is of the class exemplilied in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 306,556, granted and issued to me under date of October 14, 1884, and in my application,Serial No. 153,481, tiled January 22, 1885; audits object is to insure the conveyance of all leakage of gas within determined lengths of a line of underground gas-main to suitablylocated escape-pipes, and to thereby guard against the passage of such leakage through the ground to adjacent structures or excavations.

To this end my invention, generally stated, consists in the combination, with an underground gas-main, of a leakage-pipe leading from a point adjacent to the main to an es-v cape-pipe discharging at a point above the surface of the ground, andan exhauster connected with the escape-pipe and adapted to induce an upward current therein.

The improvements claimed are hereinafter fully set forth.

In the practice of my invention a line of waste-gas-conducting pipe, 9, of small diameter relatively to the main 1, through which gas is conveyed, but sufficiently large to carry away any ordinary leakage Without substantial increase of pressure, is laid at such level below the ground as to be conveniently accessible. The line 9 is, as in my application Serial No. 153,481, above referred to, divided into sections of any desired length-as, for instance, one or more blocks in cities, or the Width of fields or inclosures in country districts-and a seriesof leakage-pipes, 5, leads from the conducting-pipe 9 to points adjacent to joints or branch connections of the main 1, so as to beadapted to carry gas leaking there- (No model.)

screw cap or plug, 8, is secured on the conducting-pipe 9, adjacent to theupper end of each leakage-pipe, or the same may be fixed in small pipes connected to the line 9 and extending to or near the surface of the ground, and the leakage-pipes may, if desired, be iitted loosely within open-ended socket-pipes, projecting downwardly from the conductingline. The lower ends of the leakage-pipes are preferably inserted in bodies of loose packing 2, formed of fragments of stone or metal, coarse gravel, or any other material which will provide an open space or a series of in tercommunicating recesses, so as to form an avenue or avenues for directing the escaping gas into the leakage-pipes, and the sections of the main 1 may be surrounded by tight packing 11, of clay, cement, or other material which will resist the passage of gas along the outside of the main, and direct the same into the loose packing 2 and leakage-pipes 5. A detector and escape pipe, 4, is connected to each section ot' the line of conducting-pipe 9 at any convenient point in its length, and extends therefrom to a point above the level of the ground,located conveniently for testing, and in such position relatively to adjacent buildings, railways,` 8m., that escape of gas may be permitted Withoutliability to accident from its ignition. The pipes 4. may be passed up through lamp-posts, when the same are sufficientl y near to the line ofthe main, or be placed in any other suitable position where they will be exempt from being tampered with by unauthorized persons, and may in some instances be provided with small jets, which can be kept constantly lighted and serve as street-lamps, any excess in their flame indicating a corresponding increase of leakage. By the application of a light to the delivery ends ot' the pipes 4 the existence and approximate extent of leaks throughout the section of the main corresponding with a particular section of the conducting-pipe will be indicated, and the same may be located and stopped by removing a plug or plugs, testing the conducting-pipe, and excavating at the point Where a defective joint or connection is found.

For the purpose of promoting the flow of gas which may leak from the main to and through the escape-pipe 4, and opposing any tendency from into the conducting-pipe. A removable of the same to gain access to buildings, cellars,

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.draft or suction therein and in the leakagepipes, which communicate therewith through the conducting-line 9. In this instance the eX- hauster illustrated is a contracted nozzle or jet, 17, which is directed upwardly within the escape-pipe 4, and connected to apipe, 18, supplying steam or compressed air to the nozzle.

An exhaust fan or pump of any suitable construction, or a heated liue or chimney, may be substituted for the contracted nozzle, if deemed preferable, and gas from the main may be employed for heating the chimney. A lighted jet in the escape-pipe 4 may also serve for inducing upward draft therein.

It will be seen that the action of the upward draft produced by the exhauster tends to create a partial vacuum in the spaces within the loose packing-bodies 2, adjacent to the ends of the leakagepipes, and thereby induces currents drawing the leakage ot' gas toward and into said pipes, in lieu of permitting the same, as otherwise might bethe case, to work outwardly through the earth and gain access to adjacent structures or excavations. Stop-cocks may be located in the several escape-pipes 4 and in the conducting-line 9, which may be made continuous and connected with an exhauster at any point convenient for the application ofsteam. An upward current may thus be maintained throughout the length of the conducting-line by opening its stop-cocks, so

as to place it continuously in communication with the exhauster, and closing those of the escape-pipes, except that with which the operated eXhauster is connected, and when it is desired to investigate the location of possible leaks, the same may be detected by closing the stop-cocks of the conducting-line, so as to divide it into separate sections, and opening the cocks of the escape-pipes, which may then be severally tested, as before speciied.

I claim herein as my inventionm l. The combination, with an underground gas-main, of a leakage-pipe leading from a point adjacent to the main to an escape-pipe having its discharge-openingat a point-.above the surface of the ground, and an eXhauster connected with the escape-pipe and adapted to induce an upward current therein, substantially as set forth.

2. rIllie combination, with an underground gas-1nain,ot'aline ofconductingpipes, a series ot' leakage-pipes, each leading from said conducting-pipe to a body ot' loose packing surrounding the main, an escape-pipe leading from the conducting-pipe to a point ot' discharge above the surface of the ground, and Y an exhauster connected with the escape-pipe and adapted to induce an upward current therein, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEO. VVESTINGHOUSE, JR. W'itn csses:

J. S-NownnN BELL, R. H. W HITTLESEY.

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