US865480A - Gas-holder. - Google Patents

Description

I No. 865,480. PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907.

G. E. CROSBY. GAS HOLDER,

APPLIOATION FILED APR.11.19( )7.

PATENT, OFFICE.

GEORGE E.- CROSBY, or ALLSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

GAS-HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. CRosBY, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at.Allston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Holders, of i which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

The invention relates to gas holders and more particularly to that classthereofemploying a bell and tank and a water seal therebetween. j

The main object of the invention is to provide a tank and bell .wherein the water'in the water seal or seals between the tank and the'bell, or between adjoining bell sections, will, during the winter season, be prevented from freezing by means of an apparatus which may be economically installed, maintained and operated:

A further object is to provides tank and bell wherein the water'seals, during the winter season, will not only .20

have the temperature of the water therein raised and g maintained above the freezing point, but will have a' substantially constantsupply of fresh flowing water of a temperature higher tharr the freezing point, discharged thereinto.

A still further object is to provide the water seals of a bell and tank with a feed water supply system which will automatically adapt itself to the change in the alti- '-tude ofthe hell or hell sections A still further object is to provide a feed water supply system which will utilize the exhaust steam from .the power :plant,'or other part of the producer plant, for

' heating thefeed water prior to its discharge into the lation of warm water in each water-seal thus causing the constant agitation or flow of water to aid in prevent-. 340

ing the formation of ice.

A still further object is to providein'a bell and tank gas holder, a feed water system which will not only thebell. And a still further object is to provide a bell cause the various water seals to overflow, but will also impart a rotary impulse to the water contained in each seal in a'manner to cause i tto;flow continuously about and tank gas holder wherein the various: appliances supplying water to the water seals will be so positioned and arranged as to notobstruct thejtscent and descen of the bells,-or be disarrange'd thereby. v The invention consists primarily in a gas holder embodying in combination a--tank, a bell, a water seal be? tween said tank and said bell, and means whereby watr-may be constantly discharged into said seal to set up a continuous circulation of water therein; and in Specification of Letters Patent. Application fil d April 11,1907. Serial N0- 367|665| =ume of water accumulated therein.

Patented Sept. 10, 1907.

such other novel features'of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forthand described and moreparticularlypointedout in the claims hereto appended. I l

Referring to the drawings: Figure l' is a side el'evation of a gasholder and feed water-system for the water seals embodying my invention; one of the seals between adjoining bell sections being shown in section Fig. 2 is a cross section of a water seal betweenlthe bell sections on a larger scale; Fig'."3 -is a plan view partly in elevation and partly-in section ofa part of one of the said water seals on a larger scale, and-Fig. .lis a plan view of a part of the water sealbetween the tank an adjoining bell section on alarge scale.

Like letters 'referto likep'arts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of my invention shown iii the drawings, I have indicated ata, a tank of ordinaryconstruction in connection with which are shown three interlockirrgbell sections, b, c and d, also of the usual construction and arrangement, which are inclosed bysuitable braced guide pillars e. The tank a is provided with a suitable overflow outlet, as a, to limit the vol- Between the tank a and the lowermost bell, b, and ,80' between the adjoining bell sections is what is termed a water seal. Between the adjoining bell sections each seal comprises a trough f formed about the lower part of the bellsection by meansof the outwardly and upwardly turned bottom plates, and of a penderit flange g formed byflthe inwardly and downwardly turned top plates of thebell sections; and between the tank sand the bell b the water itself constitutes the seal, the sides of the top of the tank and of the bottom of the bell' b being substantially straight, a construction and arrange- 9,0 ment which is now in general use.

The tank-a being normally filled with water, the space between the tank and its bell is consequently I filled with water, thereby constituting a seal. The trough f is filled with watei'r'n wlficlithhfiange g is so submerged as to form-a perfectly gas tight joint between these parts,- when they become interlocked as hereinafter stated. The dimensions of the trough and the. distancelof the flange from the hell are such as toafford the clearance necessary to make the deviceo perative, 10(' thus causing said trough to always carry a considerable volume of water. I

It is essential for the water seal to be always free,

and to avoid the freezing of the water therein various \expedients have-heretofore been adopted. To .keep y the water at a desired temperature by the most approved of these expedients," it has heretoforobeeu found necessary to maintain separate boilers, thus 7 resulting in considerable expense. To obviate this expense, and at the same time effectively prevent the freezing of the water in the troughs, I provide a feed water system which, during the cold weather, may be used to constantly .lischarge water into each Water seal, thus setting up a constant circulation of Water .and utilizing to a certain extent the principle that flowingwaters do not readily freeze.

Preferably, how ever, I supplement this with heating means whereby the water being constantly placed in circulation, is brought to a temperature which will preclude its freezing, and at the same time raise the temperature 0f=the water contained in the trough to a point above freezing. This system comprises a force pump h, the inlet h of which is in communication, preferably through a feed water heater 1' and pipes t, i" and i with the interior of the tank o the pipe 7? extending to a point near the ,bottom of said tank. The outlet 12 of said pump is in connection with a stand pipe I; by. the pipe The pump h is driven from any source of power, as the engine It.

The feed water heater is of the usual and well known construction embodying a closed casing. In the interest of economy, however, I couple the heater i to a second feed-water heater l with the pipe Z, which lleatcl supplies the boiler, and causes the exhaust steam to pass through said heaters successively. It not being requisite for the water passing through the heater i to be brought to a very high temperature to tit it for use I cause the steam to pass through it last, thus heating the feed water for the water seals, by what would otherwise be a waste steam, and at thisame time partially or totally condense said steam. After the steam has passed through the heater 1' it may be discharged into the open, or into a condcnscr M, as desired. Encircling the top outer edge of the tank a. and of each bell, b and c, excepting the topmost bell, such having no seal at the top thcrcof, I extend a pipe n, n and n disposed about the water seal and having a plurality of jet nozzles 0 extending over the top olthe 'turned portion of the plate forming the flange g and over the top of the tank a, and directed and projecting diagonally downwardly into the water or just under the surface thereof, all such nozzles in a trough being given the same direction. The volume of water passing through the nozzles is regulated by the valves 0.

iy positioning said pipes 71' on the curve of the top edge and within the edge of the bell proper they are readily accessible, are convenient for the arrangement of the nozzle 0 and are notin the way of the bells or tanks as the same rise and fall.

Each pipe. n and n is connected with a nozzle 1), p", u-spcctively, of the stand pipe I; by a flexible hose s and s", which are of a sufficient length to permit; the nccc sary range of movement of the bells I], c. The pipe n is rigidly connected with a nozzle p of the stand pipe L. \\'liilc the nozzles o are carried by the bells 'a iljaccnt to thc pcndciit flange 1 they are nevertheless always properly posiiioucd \vhcn the seal is formed by the trough f and said flanges. The stand pipe is may be stlpportcd in any desired manner, clamps k mounted on one of tl;-.- standards 1: being preferably em ployed.

'lhc opt-ration of thc l'icrctofore described tank and roll. gas holder, or gasomcter, is substantially as follows: The tankiu is normally tilled with water, the supply tin-roof being rcplcnisl-red byrain, or melted snow.

the rcquirelnents of the use of the apparatus.

When the water contained in the tank reaches the highest desired level, any excess is carried away through thedrain'u. It will thus'beobserve-d that there is always a sut'licient supply ofwatcr in said tank. Before the bulls are filled with gas, and as the volumcof the gas therein contained diminishes, the sections I), c,

tioned within the greatest; diameter of thcirrespective bell sections b, r: pass freely within the tank a and bcll I; respectivt-ly. it will thus be seen that the operation of my lecd water system for the watcrseal to be described hereinafter, is not intcrl'cred with by this movement of the hell or bell sections of the gasoincter. As the bell sections l, 4.. b ascend in the order named, the trough is tilled with water from the tank a and interlocks with the danger forming a sinuous channel, the elbow of which is filled with water, in the usual manner. to form the water seal. In cold weather the water is apt to freeze. and to avoid such, the feed water heater i is put in circuit with the boiler feed water heater 1 and the pump it started drawing water from the tank a through the pipe i to thc feed water heater i where it is heated by the exhaust steam passing through said heater, and through the pipe ito the pump. It is then forced through the pipe j to the stand pipe 1;, and through the nozzles p, p, F thereof and the connections 3, s. 3" to the pipes nun/(n The nozzles o of each said pipe, discharge the water at a downward angle into the watcr seal in a plurality of small, strong jets which sets up a circulation of water, more or less rapid. about each bell section. This constant movement of the water will. in itself. tend to avoidthe formation of ice, but the heating of the water maintains the cntiro volume of water in the trough at a temperature whithprecludcs anypossibilityof its fret lug. Thejctsof freshlyh atcd water, in addition to setting up a local circulation as described, mix this water thoroughly with that already in the trough. This constant discharge of water into the' troughs cause them. to ovcrflow, but this 'ovcrilow merely passes from trough to trough or to the tank (i, thus setting up a general circulation of watt-r from the tank, to the pump, to the trough and back to the tank (1. Thus it. will be seen that the water is alwayschanging either in a local or in a general circulative syst m and additionally. that freshly heated water is being constantly discharged into the water seals which; by rea son of theii cxposed position and the small volume of water therein, are most likely to freeze. it will also be observed that my entire heating system is maintained without added cost of maintenance, thus insuring great economy, tests having demonstrated that the cost of llltlll'lftlllllK'tHJi mysystem is but 5% of that of ordinary systems, with as high a degree of cilicicncy, under similar conditions.

The use of waste steam has been found satis actory as it is not necessary to raise the teitipcrature of the water to a high degrge, and a secondary hcutcr meets all It is not my intention to limit the invention to the details of construction heretofore referred to and shown in the drawings, it being apparcn t that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A gas bolder embodying in combination a tank, a bell, a water seal between said tank and said bell, means whereby water may be discharged into said seal means constantly forcing water through said first mentioned means to said seal, to set up a continuous circulation of water therein and connections between said last mentioned means and a source of water supply.

2. A gas holder embodying in combination a tank, 1!. hell, :1 water seal between said tank and said bell, means whereby water may be discharged into said seal, means constantly forcing water through said first mentioned means to said seal to set up a continuous circulation of warm water therein, a water heater, and connections between said heater and said last mentioned means, and a source of water supply respectively.

:2. A gas holder embodying in combination :1 tank, a lull. and a water seal between said tank and said bell, and a feed water system comprising a distributing pipe discharging into the surface water otthat in said seal whereby water therefrom will set up a surface circulation in said seal. a force pump and pipes between said pump and said distributing pipe, and between said pump and a SOlli'P-r of supply.

4. A gas bolder embodying in combination a tank, a telescopic bell and a pluraliiy of water seals between said tank and the lowermost section of said'bell and helwccn adjoining sections of said hell, and u feed water system comprising a stand pipe, :1 distributing pipe carried by said tank. and bysaid bell sections adjacent to and discharging into the surface water of that in each said water seal, a suitable pipe connection between said stand pipe and each said distributing pipe, a force pump, and pipes between said pump and said stand pipe, and between said pump and a source of supply.

5. A gas holder embodying in combination a tank, a

bell and a water seal between said tank and said bell, and a feed water system comprising a distributing pipe discharging into said water seal, a feed water heater, means whereby exhaust steam is passed.through said heater, a pipe between said heater and a source of water supply, a force pump and pipes between said, pump and said feed water healer and between said pump and said distributing pipe. I G. A gas holder embodying in combination a tank, a bell and a water seal between said tank and said bell, and a feed water system comprising a distributing pipe discharging into said water seal, a boiler feed water heater, a water. seal feed water heater, means whereby exhaust steam is passed successively through said boiler feed water heater and said water seal feed water heater, a pipe between said water seal feed water heater and a source of water snpply,'-u force pump and pipes between said pump and said'ieed water heater, and between said pump and said distributing pipe.

7. A gas holder comprising in combination a tank, a bell and a water seal between said tank and said bell and a feed water system comprising a distributing pipe discharging into said seal, a force pump, and pipes between said pump and said distributing pipe and between said pump and said tank. 7

8. A gas holder comprising in combination a tank, a bell and a wat'pr senl between said tank and said bell, and a feed water system comprising a distributing pipe, :1 discharge nozzle therefor directed at an acute angle into said seal, a force pump, and pipes between said pump and said distributir ig pipe, and between said pump and a source of water suplpy.

9. A gas holder comprising in combination a tank, a bell and a water seal between said tank and said hell, and a feed water'system comprising a distributing pipe encircling said tank about the outer top edge thereof, and having a plurality of jet nozzles disposed about said water seal and directed diagonally downwardly into said seal, all at substantially the same angle, and in the same'direction, a force pump and pipes between said pumps and said distributing pump, and between said pump and a source of water supply. I

10. A gas .holder comprising in combination a tank, a telescopic bell, and a plurality of water senlsbetween said tank and the lowermost section of said bell and between adjoining sections of said bell, and a feed water system comprising a stand pipe, n distributing pipe encircling said tank and each said bell sections about the outer top edge thereof adjacent to the water seal and having a plurality of jet nozzles disposed about said seal and directed diagbnally downwardly into said seal, all at substantially the same angle and in the some direction, suitable connections between said stand pipe and said distributing pipes respectively, a feed water heater, 9. pump and pipe connections between said heater and said tank, and between said pump and said stand pipe.

11. A gas holder embodying in combination a tank. a bell and a water seal between said tank and said hell, and a feed water system comprising a distributing pipe discharging into said water seal, a closed feed water heater, means wheueby exhaust steam is passed through said heater,,a pipe between said heater and a, source of water supply, a force pump and pipes between said pump and said feed water heater, and between said pump and said distributing. pipe.

12. A gas holder embodying in combination a tank, a bell and a water seal between said tank and sold bell, and a feed water system comprising a distributing pipe discharging into said water seal, a. closed feed water heater, means whereby exhaust steam is passed throfigh said heater, a pipe between said heater and a source of water supply, a force pump'and pipes between said pump and said feed water heater, and between said pump and said distributing pipe, and a condenser,

In witness whereof, I have hereunto uflixed my signature this fifth day of April, 1907, in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. CROSBY. Witnesses:

N. L. FROTHINGHAAL. A. A. ASHMAN.

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