US370510A

US370510A - Gas-supply system

Info

Publication number: US370510A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1887-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 1904-09-27

Description

(No Model.)

' G. WESTINGHOUSE, Jr.

GAS SUPPLY SYSTEM. No. 370,510. Patented Sept. 27, 1887..

INVENTOR,

i I j Atty.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

GEORGE l/VESTINGHOUSE, JR, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-8U PPLY SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,510, dated September 27, 1887.

Application filed December 18, 1886. Serial No. 221,932. (No model) To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, Jr., residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United States, have invented or discovered a certain new and useful Improvement in Gas-Supply Systems, of which improvement the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to enable the supply and distribution of either fuel-gas or illuminating-gas in any desired portion or portions of a city or supply district to be effected without necessarily involving the employment of a duplicatesystem of pipes or mains throughout the area to be supplied, the invention being particularly designed for application in the conversion in a practical and systematic manner of a gas-plant for illuminating purposes into a plant suitable for the supply of fuel-gas.

To this endmy invention, generally stated, consists in the combination,with a system of gas-supply mains, of a fuel-gas producer, a special main leading therefrom and adapted to deliver gas directly into service-pipes and into the supply-main system, a series of valves governing the delivery of fuel-gas to different portions of said system, and a series of serv ice-pipes leading out of said system and provided with pressure-regulators.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

The pressure carried in a system of supplymai us, such as is ordinarily employed for the distribution of illuminating-gas, is equal to a column of water from one and one-half inch to two and one-half inches high, and the service-pipes leading therefrom are usually about the size required for supplying the requisite amount of illuminating-gas at such pressure; but these service-pipes under the pressure usually carried for illuminating purposes are wholly inadequate in capacity for the supply of a sufficient amount of gas for heating purposes and the main pipes are likewise insufficient to convey the requisite quantity of fuel-gas.

' In view of the satisfactory results attained in practical service with the electric light and the constantly-increasing demand therefor, it is deemed probable by many who have given consideration to the subject that the introduction of the electric light will within a reasonable period be so far extended as to render in many instances investments in illuminating-gas plants unprofitable, unless the same can be utilized for other purposes; and my invention is particularly designed to provide for the supply of heating or fuel gas to such portions of a town or district in which the electric light has been adopted to the substantial exclusion of illuminating-gas without duplication of mains or interruption of the supply of illuminating-gas in other portions of the same town or district.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide for the supply of fuel-gas and electric light by means of apparatus located in the same works, in order that the waste heat evolved in the manufacture of fuel-gas may be made available for the generation of steam to actuate the apparatus for producing electricity for the lights.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of a town, illustratingthe application of my invention.

The supply of illuminating-gas is shown as provided by a gas-generating apparatus, 1, which delivers the illuminatinggas produced to a gas-holder, 2, and thence by proper valves vand meters located in a valve-house, 3, and

adapted to control and measure the gas to a system of supply-mains, 4, laid under the streets in the usual manner and extending throughout the service district.

111 the practice of. my invention a fuel-gasgenerating apparatus, 5, and gasholder 6, connected therewith, is erected at any convenient point, preferably convenient to the illuminatinggas works when the same are favorably lo cated with due regard to the economical pro duction of gas, although the particular location of the fuelgas works is not material in carrying out the objects of the invention.

A fuel-gas main, 7, the supply ofgas to which from the holder 6 is measured and regulated by meters and valves in a valve-house, 8, is laid in such relation to the system of illuminating-gas-supply mains 4 as to be adapted, first, to distribute gas for heating purposes along its own line, and, second, to supply fuel gas to such portions of the illuminating-gassupply mains as may be desired, as hereinafter to be described. The holder 6 and valves in the valve-house 8 are constructed to maintain a pressure of from one to two pounds in the fuel-gas main 7.

In order to admit of the supply of fuel-gas to sections where the supply of illuminatinggas may be discontinued, the fuel-gas main 7 is connected at one or more points with the system of illuminating-gas-supply mains 4, a stop cook or valve, 9, for turning 011 and off the gas being interposed at each connection. The illuminatinggas-supply mains 4 are provided with stop-valves 10, located in such position that different sections of the mains 4 may be cut off from the remainder of the system as desiredgand it should be noted that before using the illuminating-gas mains for fuel-gas purposes the sections of the same-which are 'to'serve therefor must be carefully examined,

their joints made as tight'and secureas practicable, andsuitable safety devices and escapepipes for carrying off an'y'gas that may escape under the increased pressure which is necessary for the purpose of distributing fuel-gas be provided.

As an illustration of the operation of' the invention, let it be assumed that it is desired to discontinue the supply of illuminating-gas to the two blocks of buildings indicated by 11 and 12 and to supply the same with fuel-gas. Those portions of the system of illuminatinggas-supply mains *4 which are to be used to establish communication between the fuel-gas main 7 and the service-pipes 13 of the blocks 11 and 12, having been previously tested and fitted with safety appliances for carrying the higher pressure,'as before specified, the stopvalves 10 between such portion of the sys-f tem of mains' 4 and the remainder thereof are closed and the valve 9 is open'ed,permitting the fuel-gas which is constantly under; pressure in the main 7 to pass into the portions of the system of mains 4 requisite for. the supply of the'blocksll and 12 and into; the service-pipes13 of the several buildings of said blocks.

standing fluctuations of several ounces per square inch in the main, and when provided making the-pipes of very large size, and thus making the cost of a plant too great to permit of the economical distribution of fuel-gas in this manner.

When the portions of the system of illuminating-gas mains 4 leading to other blocks, as 14 and 15, have been properly prepared for the distribution of fuel-gas, additional stopvalves 10 may be closed to shut off other portions of the system 4 and other stopvalves 9 openedto establish communication with the fuel-gas main 7.

I further design to provide the main 7 with branches of considerable size extending to differentsections of the district, whereby fuelgas may be supplied thereto without interrupting the supply of illuminating-gas except in such places as have been previously determined upon.

I claim herein'as my invention 1. The combination of a fuel-gas producer, a special supply-main leading therefrom, a second'and independent system of gas-supply mains, a series of valves governing the delivery of gas from the producer-main to different-portions of the independent supplymain system, and a series of service-pipes leading out of said system, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a fuel-gas producer, a special supply-main leading therefrom, a second and independent system of gassupply mains, a series of valves governing the delivery of gas from the producer-main to different portions of the supply-main system, a series of service-pipes leading out of said system, and a series of pressure-regulators controlling said service-pipes and adapted to effects. reduction of delivery'pressure therein, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEO. WESTINGHOUSE, JR. Witnesses:

R. H. WuITTLEsEY, O. M. CLARKE.

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