US340266A - Means for preventing leakage in gas-mains - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen 1.

G. WESTI'NGHOUSR'Jr. MEANS FOR PREVEN ING-LEAKAGE IN GAS MAINS. No. 340,266. "Patented Apr. 20,1886;

N. PETERS- PMlc-LRhngnpher. Washingwn. D, C.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen 2. G. WESTINGHOUSE, Jr.

MEANS FOR PREVENTING LEAKAGE IN GAS MAINS. No. 340,266.

Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

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HNTTED STATns PATENT Grates,

GEORGE \VESTINGHOUSE, JR, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS- FOR PREVENTING LEAKAGE IN GAS-MAlNS.

EPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 340,266, dated April 20, 1886.

Application filed Ful lllfll) R, 1886. Serial No. 190,656. (No moh-l.)

T0 (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Gnonon Wns'rmo- HoUsE, J r., residing at Pittslmrg,in-the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improve ments in cans for Preventing Leakagein Gas-Mains, of which improvements the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings,which make part of this specification, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a transverse section through a gasanain, ill'us trating the application of my invention; Fig. 2, a plan or top view of the same; Fig. 3, Sheet 2, a transverse section through a high pressure and a lower-pressure gasmain, illustrating a modification; and Fig.4, a plan or top View of the same.

The object of my invention is to prevent the escape of gas at the joints of mains or conduits into the surrounding earth or air, and to effect the retention and utilization of such gas as may pass out of the main'through leaks or interstices atits joints.

To this end my invention, generallyr'stated, consists in the coinbiuatiou of a leakage-pipe leading from a chamber formed in or around ajoint of the main toa deliverypipe adapted to convey gas toa desired point of utilization, and an exhausting apparatus receiving gas from said leakage-pipe and actuated by gas supplied from the main. 7

Theimprovements claimed are hereinafter fully set forth.

In the practice of my invention I provide, for the interception of leakage from the joints of a main or conduit through which natural or other gas is conveyed, chambers which inclose or communicate with the joints of the main, and which are so located and bounded as that any gas leaking from the main will be compelled to pass into them before escaping from the main. Instances of such chambers are illustrated in my Letters Patent, Nos. 318,8t0, 318,841, 319,36t, 319,365, and others,

and their precise form and location is uninr' portant so long as they possess the capacity of intercepting leakage by being interposed between the inside of a main andihemedium which surrounds it.

of the gas which may find entrance to said chambers from the main into the surrounding therewith and adjacentthereto.

To prevent the escape earth, maintain a partial vacuum or pressure below that of the atmospherein the chambers, and in order to collect and utilize the gas from the chambers the maintenance of such low pressure is effected by the exhausting action of a current of gas under pressure discharged from the main through a pipe serving for purposes of normal delivery, the leakage-gas exhausted from the chambers be ing thereby carried off \Vllh that which is normally discharged to a desired pointof utilization.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate constructions proper for the practice of my in'vention,'the joints of the main l,through which gas is conducted from a well or generator to be distributed for use, are provided with chambers 7,which may be either formed within the joints, as shown, or may surround the same as external boxes or casings. The several chambers 70f the main are connected by leakage-pipes 2 with a leakageline, 3, of small diameter relatively to that of the main 1, and extending in corresponding direciion An exhausting-pipe,4, provided with a suitable checkvalve, 5, which opens outwardly, leads from the leakage-line to an exhausting apparatus adapted to induce a constant suction in the discharge, said apparatus being preferably an ejector consisting of an enlarged chamber, 6, into which is led a discharge-nozzle, 8, on the outer endol' the pipe 4. A gas supply-pipe,

9, provided with a cook or valve, 10, leads from the main 1 into the ejectorchamber 6, in rear of the opening of the discharge-nozzle 8, and the chamber 6, after being reduced to form an annular passage of smaller diameter than its main body around the opening of the discharge-nozzle, is thereafter enlarged and outwardly extended, and connected to a dischargepipe, 11, leading to a furnace or other desired point of utilization, to which any gas that may enter the chambers 7 and leakage-line '3 is conveyed, together with the gas delivered through the supply-pipe 9. The ejector and its connections may be inclosed in a box or chamber, 12, having an opening or man-hole closed by a door, 13, so as to enable access to be had to the parts when beneath the ground for examination or repair, as may from time to time be necessary. It will be obvious that a single ejector and delivery pipe will be adapted to serve only for a determined length of the main, and that therefore the same must be duplicated at suitable distances apart proportionately to the number of'joints to which the improvement is applied.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the combined leakage and direct supply of gas, in lieu of being discharged from the ejector into a deliverypipe leading directly to a point of utilizatiomas in the formcrcase,passes into a chamber or reservoir, 14:, from which it is led through a pipe, 15, provided with a check-valve, 16, into a low-pressure main, 17, through which it is conducted with the normal supply of said main to the points of distribution supplied thereby. As in thel'ormcr case, the gas lee kir g from the joints of the main 1 is retained and utilized, a direct supply of gas from said main serving as the medium for the exhaustion of its joint-chambers 7. Any water which may pass into thejoint-chambers will be collected in the reservoir 14, which may be provided with a suitable device for trapping the same off from time to time, as desired.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. The combination of a gas-main, a chamber formed in or around a joint thereof, a I leakage-pipe leading from said chamber to a deliverypipe adapted to convey gas to a point l of discharge for utilization, and an exhausting apparatus receiving gas from said leakage-pipe and actuated by gas supplied from the main, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a gasmain, a series of chambers, each formed in or around a joint thereof, leakagepipes connecting said chambers with a leakage-line, an exhausting-pipe leading from said leakageline to the dischargenozzle of an ejector, a gas-supply pipe leading from the main into the ejector-chamber,which incloses said nozzle. and adelivery-pipe adapted to convey gas from the discharge end of said ejector-chamber to a point of discharge for utilization. substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a gas-main, a chamber formedin or around a joint thereof, a leakagepipe leading from said chamber to an ejector discharge-nozzle, asupply-pipeleading from the main to an ejector-chamber inclosing said nozzle, and having its discharge end opening into a chamber or reservoir, and a delivery-pipe connecting said chamber with a low-prcssuie main, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I. have hereunto set my hand.

GEO. WES'IINGHOUSE, JR.

'Wi t n csscs:

J. SNow'nnN BELL, R. H. WurrTLEsEY.

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