IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HYDROGEN GAS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer, of Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HYDROGEN GAS." A communication from abroad
by Eugène Ernest Egasse, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 12th August 1879, and dated the 14th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Griffith Brewer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th February 1879.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HYDROGEN GAS."
(A communication from abroad by Eugène Ernest Egasse, of Paris, France.)
This Invention refers to the combination of or apparatus for producing hydrogen
gas quickly and economically, and a convenient way of carrying the Invention into
effect is as follows:-
I provide an air reservoir where the compression is obtained by means of an air
pump; at top of reservoir is fixed a pressure indicator and a pipe for supplying
with air a vessel containing "chlorydic" acid; to avoid any accident in case of
breakage of this vessel it is enclosed in lead casing, and a stud which stops the
orifice of the vessel is arranged so as to admit the air supply pipe as well as the
acid supply pipe which feeds the receiver; (this latter is provided with safety valve
and a pressure gauge which may be used, if desired, when considered necessary,
that is to say, on the receiver and those containing zinc or zinc scrapings, reaction
taking place the gases pass through pipes provided for the purpose and are brought
to a washer, where after having passed through the whole washing liquid they
leave through another pipe and are collected in a receiver; thence they pass through
cleansing material, and last, they come into another receiver which serves as
reservoir or gas holder, to which one or more pipes are provided in order to convey
the gas to be consumed.

page_text: The particular arrangements of this apparatus are such as to render it of great
utility, it is easy to understand, as, for example, for filling balloons with gas the
small size of the apparatus making it very portable and replaces gas apparatus, in
some cases expensive. This apparatus on a small scale might also when placed
in balloons be utilized to replace the gas, and in case of need to refill the balloon.
The above is only given as an example of the way in which the Invention is
applied, it is impossible to describe the numerous uses to which this apparatus may
be applied..
Another advantage-of-the-Invention-consists-in-the -utilization-of-chlorures
produced-in-the-receiver, which reduces the price of gas to-zero.-

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Griffith Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
August 1879.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HYDROGEN GAS."
(A communication from abroad by Eugène Ernest Egasse, of Paris, France.)
This Invention refers to the combination of apparatus for producing hydrogen
gas quickly and economically, and a convenient way of carrying the Invention
into effect is as follows, and will be understood by reference to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings:-
a, Figure 1, is an air reservoir, where the compression is obtained by means of
an air pump b; at top of reservoir a is fixed a pressure indicator c and a pipe a¹
for supplying with air a vessel d containing hydrochloric acid; to avoid any
accident, in case of breakage of this vessel, it is enclosed in a lead casing d', and a
stud d², which stops the orifice of the vessel, is arranged so as to admit the air
supply pipe a¹ as well as the acid supply pipe d³ which feeds the receiver e; (the
latter is provided with safety valve and a pressure gauge which may be used, if
desired, when considered necessary, that is to say, on the receiver. e as well as on
the others g, h, i, j,) which contain zinc or zinc scrapings e', reaction taking place
the gases pass through one or more pipes ƒ provided for the purpose and are brought
to a washer, where after having passed through the whole washing liquid they
leave through another pipe g' and are collected in a receiver h; thence they pass
through cleaning material i, and, lastly, they come into another receiver; which
serves as reservoir or gas holder, to which one or more pipes are provided in order
to convey the gas to be consumed, or it may pass direct to the balloon.
The receiver h is not indispensable for the gas intended for the inflating of
balloons; it may be left out or employed as a dryer for lighting gas or as a
carburetter.
The apparatus are here for clearness' sake shewn all in a line, but for larger
production they may be differently arranged.
Figures 2, 3, and 4 shew other types of construction. In certain cases the air
vessel a is omitted and the pump acts directly in the vessel d; the dryer or car-
buretter h may also be omitted.
In Figure 2, b represents an air pump; a, an air reservoir; d, a series of
receivers; e, a boiler; g, a washer. The connections between them are as in
Figure 1.
In Figures 3 and 4 the air vessel a and dryer or carburetter h are omitted, and
the receivers & are replaced by a special receiver d which may be of refractory clay,
of lead, vulcanized india rubber, or other suitable material. By this arrangement
great power may be obtained in a small space, and in order to divide and expand
the gases in a more general manner they are made to traverse tubes e², g², perforated
throughout their whole length.
The particular arrangement of this apparatus is such as to render it of great
utility, as, for example, for filling balloons with gas, the small size of the apparatus
making it very portable and replaces, in some cases, expensive gas apparatus.
This apparatus on a small scale might also when placed in balloons be utilized
to replace the gas, and in case of need to refill the balloon.
The above is only given as an example of the way in which the Invention is
applied; it is impossible to describe the numerous uses to which this apparatus may
be applied.
Another advantage of the Invention consists in the utilization of chlorures
produced in the receiver e, which reduce the price of gas to zero.
Having thus described the characteristic principle of this Invention, I wish it to
be understood that I have only given a simple example in order to render it easier

page_text: to explain; but I do not limit myself to these details as the forms and dimensions
may be varied and the several parts may be combined as desired, as shewn in the
Drawings, Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, where these combined parts so to say consist only
of a single recipient with compartments.
I claim the combination and mode of operation of the several parts described and
shewn, substantially as set forth for the manufacture of hydrogen gas.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, have hereunto set
-my-hand-and-seal,-this-Twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand-eight-hundred-and-seventy-nine.