IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID HYDROCARBONS APPLICABLE TO THE GENERATION OF STEAM AND OTHER HEATING PURPOSES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID HYDROCARBONS
APPLICABLE TO THE GENERATION OF STEAM AND OTHER HEATING PURPOSES."
-A communication from abroad by Homer Taylor, of the City of
Montreal, Canada, Builder.
Sealed the 9th October 1869, and dated the 14th April 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th April 1869.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BURNING HYDROCARBONS
APPLICABLE TO THE GENERATION OF STEAM AND OTHER HEATING PURPOSES," a
communication from abroad by Homer Taylor, of the City of Montreal,
Canada, Builder, to be as follows:-

page_text: carbons in a gaseous state in lieu of solid fuel for the generation of
steam for working caloric engines, and for other heating purposes.
According to this Invention the liquid hydrocarbon contained in a
suitable reservoir is admitted either directly into a gas generator or
vaporizor or into a superheating chamber or chambers from which the
gas generated from the heated hydrocarbon passes into the generator,
where the vaporization is completed. Air or steam, or both, are
admitted along with the oil into the superheating chambers and generator
in adjusted proportions according to the heat required, the proportions
of oil, air, and steam being regulated by means of indicator cocks pro-
vided with graduated or divided dials or quadrant plates and indicators.
The steam may be obtained from a boiler or other source, and the air
from any convenient forcing apparatus. The bottom of the generator,
which consists of a metal chamber, is corrugated or provided with
raised ledges to maintain an even covering of oil thereon under the
disturbing influences to which it is liable when adapted to the fire-boxes
of locomotive engines or to marine boilers. A perforated division plate
is placed horizontally in the generator for the purpose of ensuring a
thorough admixture of the gas with the air or steam before it passes to
the burners where it is consumed. One set of burners is placed directly
in the top or cover of the generator itself, and serve as the heat-
producing agents for generating steam or other purposes, whilst they at
the same time serve to heat the superheating chambers for the oil and
air or steam, or both, which are situate above the top of the generator.
Another set of burners is fitted into the bottom of the gas generator,
and serves to impart heat thereto for the purpose of vaporizing the oil
supplied thereto from perforated branch pipes leading from the main oi!
supply pipes. In some cases the superheating chambers and generator
are heated by the waste or exhaust steam from the engine or by the
waste heat from the fire-box on its way to the chimney. The improved
burners consist of finely grooved or perforated plugs of metal or other
suitable material fitted into reverberating cups which deflect the flame
in the direction required, and keep the burners always at a sufficiently
elevated temperature to prevent deposition of carbon therein.
The outer
ends of the burners may also be expanded so as to enable the flame to
impinge thereon, and impart heat thereto. In some cases the surround-
ing reverberating cups may consist of separate attachments, in others
they may consist simply of sunk portions or depressions in the cover of

page_text: the generator. In lieu of special burners the cover of the generator
itself may be provided with slits or perforations, and sunk cups or hollow
cones, also perforated, may be formed in the said cover to serve as
burners for the escape and combustion of the gas. It is sometimes
proposed to employ bat-wing or other burners arranged in circles on
the top of the generator, and to surround each group with a perforated
ring, through which steam or air, or both, are admitted from a chamber
formed upon the top of the generator, and surrounding the perforated
rings above referred to.. The top of this chamber has openings formed
therein above each group of burners, but inside the perforated rings for
the passage of the flame. The lower set of burners above referred to
may in some cases be dispensed with by vaporing the oil in the super-
heating chambers, which it enters along with the heated air or steam,
or both, or it may enter by a separate supply pipe of its own. Or the
petroleum or the heavier hydrocarbon oils may be heated by a coil of
piping, or a suitable vessel or chamber placed in the smoke box, the oil
after being heated being conveyed by a suitable pipe to the gas generator
or vaporizer.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th October 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middle-
sex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson,
Her special license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and gend, within the United Kingdom

page_text: of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID HYDRO-
THE GENERATION OF STEAM
CARBONS
APPLICABLE TO
AND
OTHER HEATING
PURPOSES," a communication from abroad by Homer Taylor, of the
City of Montreal, Canada, Builder, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly described and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say
The said Invention relates to a peculiar construction, arrangement,
and combination of apparatus for burning petroleum and other liquid
hydrocarbons in a gaseous state in lieu of using solid fuel for the
generation of steam for working caloric engines, and for other heating
purposes.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents an elevation, and Figure 2 a
longitudinal vertical section of an arrangement of apparatus constructed
in accordance with this Invention. The rest of the Figures represent
various details and modifications which will be herein-after more par-
ticularly described and referred to.
A, A, is a gas generator or receiver, the bottom B of which is provided
with a man-hole; C, D, is a series of upper gas jets or burners fitted
into the top of the generator, the burners being shewn separately on an
enlarged scale at Figures 3 and 4; E are reverberating cups surrounding
the burners; F, F, are the lower burners fitted into the bottom of the gas

page_text: generator in order to heat the same and so vaporize the oil therein;
G represents a chamber for superheating steam which is used with the
gas; and H represents another chamber for heating atmospheric air
which may be used either separately or in conjunction with the steam.
These steam and air heating chambers G and II are heated by the flame
jets from the upper set of burners D. In some cases the same pipes and
chambers will serve either for steam or air, or both combined (I is the
pipe by which the superheated steam enters the gas generator); K is
the entrance for the air; and L is the entrance pipe for the petroleum or
other liquid hydrocarbon. The superheating chamber G is connected
with a boiler or other source of steam by a metal pipe G', provided with
suitable valves or cocks, and the air chamber H is connected in like
manner by the pipe H' to any convenient air forcing apparatus.
The
inlet pipe L for the petroleum having as many branches and perforations
inside the gas generator as may be required is connected with the oil
reservoir M by the upright pipe N, and the flow of the oil is controlled
by the graduated stop-cock O. P indicates the inner surface of the fire-
box or other analogous chamber belonging to a boiler or furnace where
the flame and heat are put to practical use, as it should be borne in mind
that this apparatus may also be adapted to the warming of buildings or
employed for other heating purposes. The petroleum reservoir being
placed in the most convenient position near the apparatus and all care
being taken for its safety, the pipe communicating therewith is carried
through the gas generator. This pipe at L inside the gas generator is
perforated and provided with several perforated branches so as to dis-
tribute the oil uniformly over the corrugated bottom of such generator.
In order to prevent waves of unmixed steam or gas from reaching the
burners a perforated diaphragm or horizontal or division plate Q of iron
or other metal is fitted inside the generator, through which the gas and
steam must pass before reaching the jet holes or burners in the top plate,
thus ensuring the perfect admixture of the same. The upper burners or
jets D, (one of which is shown on an enlarged scale at Figures 3 and 4)
may consist each of a cylinder a of suitable size and length, having fine
longitudinal grooves b cut in its surface so as to form jets or gas passages.
A branched or expanded head c is also provided, which tends to spread
the flame and promote combustion. These burners are placed in rever-
berating cups E for the purpose of concentrating the heat and so
obtaining a high temperature at the point of ignition, whereby the
deposit of carbon in the jet holes is prevented.

page_text: Figures 5 and 6 represent another modification of the upper burners,
wherein the grooved cylinder is replaced by a perforated cylinder a, with
the branched head or deflector c screwed into the top. Any number of
jet holes may be used in each burner, from a single one (as shewn at
Figure 7) upwards. Perforated sunk cones (Figures 8 and 9) or slits
made in the top of the generator itself (Figures 10 and 11) or other
suitably shaped burners may be employed, all of which, including the
reverberating cups E (as shewn in Figures 12 and 13), may be partially
or wholly sunk into the body of the gas generator. R, R, are pipes for
drawing off any superfluous oil which may be contained in the gas gene-
rator. The lower burners F, F, (shown on enlarged scale at Figures 14
and 15) are formed so as to turn the flame upwards to the bottom of the
gas generator and to act as reverberators to the point of ignition. They
may be held in place by being screwed in to the end of the tube d
(Figure 2) or otherwise secured, the tube d being perforated at its upper
end to admit the gas to the jet holes (see Figure 14). These lower
burners may be made with grooved cylinders, as in Figures 3 and 4, or
with perforated ones, as in Figures 5 and 6. It has been found that if
the gases be subjected to the slightest cooling influence by passing
through pipes to the burners or otherwise they will decompose and
deposit their heaviest ingredient, namely, carbon, in the pipes and jet
holes, which in time becoming solidified chokes them up. It is therefore
indispensible that all those parts with which the gases come in contact
should be maintained at a temperature at least as high as that of the gases
themselves. The mode of effecting this consists in projecting the burners
into the body of the gas generator itself instead of carrying the gases
in pipes outside the generator to the burners, consequently the burners
are maintained at a temperature as high as the gases by which they are
surrounded, and by the action of the reverberating cups E on the burners
their temperature is still further increased, and all tendency to decom.
position of the gases is avoided, the passages moreover are kept clear,
and the gases are completely consumed. The bottom or heating plate B
of the gas generator is corrugated, grooved, or otherwise divided by
raised ribs into square, circular, polygonal, or other suitable forms, the
object of which arrangement is to retain the oil as uniformly as possible
over the whole surface of the bottom, since the apparatus would be
continually changing its level when in use in locomotives or steamers.
Cup-shaped depressions or elevations on the bottom plate might be
employed for the same purpose.

page_text: The operation of this apparatus is as follows:-An external and
temporary source of heat, consisting of a small fire or of flame produced
from spirits or by other means is required at the beginning of the
operation in order to heat the gas generator, after which a supply of oil
is turned on by opening the graduated stop-cock O as well as the lower
one S, the cocks T and U being shut. The oil is conveyed into the
generator at L, and distributed by the branches and perforations over
the bottom plate B, where it is vaporized by the heat of the bottom
plate; then by opening the graduated cock the air is admitted
from the forcing apparatus into the air heating chamber II, passing
thence into the gas generator by the pipe K, where it mixes with
the gas and supplies the upper and lower burners, which may then be
lighted and the temporary fire be dispensed with. The process may be
continued thus with oil and air alone until steam can be obtained from
the boiler, or, if preferred, a small detached boiler may be used for
generating steam at starting. The steam may also be then turned on
by opening the cock W, which admits it into the steam superheating
chamber (, whence it passes into the gas generator through the pipe I,
the proportions of oil, steam, and air being regulated by graduated
indicator cocks, as shewn. The apparatus will now be in full action.
The graduated dial plates or indicators in connection with the stop-cocks
of the oil, steam, and air are employed in order that the exact proportion
of oxygen may be adjusted and supplied to the hydrocarbon gas so as to
form chemical union or perfect combustion without depending on the
judgment of the person in charge of the apparatus when changing the
volume of flame or heat to any grade of its power from the minimum to
the maximum inclusive.
According to another arrangement the lower burners F may be dis-
pensed with, and the oil he vaporized in one or both of the superheating
chambers G and I as follows:-After the gas generator has been heated
by the temporary fire and the process continued until steam can be had
from the boiler and turned on, as described, the oil pipe may be connected
with the steam and air pipes through the branches X by opening one or
both of the cocks T and U and shutting the cock S. The oil is then
conveyed to the superheating chambers (, H, by the steam and air
pipes G, H, which are carried into the chambers a short distance. The
pressure of the steam and air force into and distribute the oil in those
highly heated chambers, where it is vaporized and the gas carried into
the receiver or gasometer A along with the steam and air. Or the oil

page_text: pipe may pass directly into or through the superheating chambers, as
shewn at Y (Figure 1), a number of perforations being made in such
pipe in order to distribute the oil uniformly in the said chambers. This
oil is vaporized by the heat of the chamber and the action of the steam
and air therein, and is passed to the gasometer or receiver A, as pre-
viously described, along with the superheated steam and air. In some
cases two or more superheating chambers are used, as shewn at G, G",
and H, H, (Figure 1), the extra chambers G and H" being connected
with the main steam and air pipes G' and H' by the branch pipes g', h',
provided with cocks, by using which the exact required quantity of the
graduated supply having been forced into the larger chambers G, H, the
remainder after passing through the smaller superheating chambers
G", H", enters the gasometer by the pipes Z and Z'.
By another modification the ordinary illuminating gas burner of
enlarged size may be used, as shewn in sectional elevation and plan
at e, e, in Figures 16 and 17, or other burners of suitable shape may be
employed. Any number of burners from one upwards are enclosed in a
metal ring f, over which rings there is placed a cover of metal g ex-
tending over the whole surface of the top h of the gasometer or gas
generator, such cover having openings corresponding with the rings of
burners for the issue of the flame. As many rings or nests of burners
may be placed in the top h as may be found requisite.
The cover g may
be fitted on, either in one piece or in sections properly secured; its entire
surface is perforated with a number of small holes, as shewn, and a
space of about one inch in depth is left between the top of the
receiver or generator and the cover g. Into this space is introduced one
or more jets of superheated steam or heated air, or both, which being
prevented from reaching the burners by reason of the rings surrounding
them are forced through the small perforations in the cover g and ascend
with the flame, thereby bringing the oxygen of the steam into direct
contact with every portion of the flame and thus supplying with oxygen
any portion of the hydrocarbon that has not previously received its
equivalent, besides supplementing the hydrocarbon with the hydrogen of
the steam and reducing the expenditure of fuel. A conical metal
deflector c is placed in the centre of the ring or nest of burners in order
to promote the combination of the gases, such deflector being kept in
place by a metal pin or otherwise. Figs. 18 and 19 represent a similar
arrangement shewing eight burners to each nest in lieu of four and
provided with a fire-brick deflector c¹.

page_text: com-
The Drawings illustrate some examples only of the manner in which
this Invention may be carried out, but the Inventor does not confine
himself to those particular arrangements, as many variations and
binations may be made of the different parts constituting this Invention
in order to suit different circumstances and the particular sizes and
shapes of apparatus required without departing from the principles of
the Invention. For example, the reverberating cups E may be dispensed
with in some cases; they may be made of metal, burned fire-clay,
soapstone, or other fire-resisting substances. Also reverberating cups,
cones, blocks, or plates may be used over or amongst the flames
generated by the apparatus, as shewn by the dotted lines at in Figure 1.
Other modes may also be used for vaporizing the oil than those already
described, thus the oil may be carried by a pipe not perforated through the
superheating chambers and delivered to the gasometer or generator in a
highly heated state, wherein vaporization is completed by the action of
the steam and air.
In Figure 1 there is also shewn another mode of vaporizing the oil by
passing the waste heat or products of combustion through a flue m,
shewn in dotted lines, passing under and around the gas generator before
its final exit to the chimney, by which means the generator is sufficiently
heated to vaporize the oil. By another process the petroleum or the
heavier hydrocarbons are heated by a coil of piping or suitable vessel or
chamber placed in the smoke box, and the oil after being heated is
carried by a suitable pipe to the generator, or it may first pass through
the superheating chambers before reaching the generator. Also the
air and steam employed are in some cases heated partially or fully by
means of the waste heat, as described for the petroleum. The steam and
air may be used either conjointly or separately in one or all of the super-
heating chambers and with or without the oil in any of them.
The supply of steam has hitherto been described as being obtained
direct from the boiler, but in the majority of cases it is preferred to use
the exhaust or waste steam from the cylinder of a steam engine in order
to utilise the heat contained in such steam and to avoid overtaxing the
boiler. The means for effecting this are so obvious that they need no
description. With a view to economising oil when the engines are stopped
for any short period it is proposed to employ an arrangement whereby
all the burners on the top of the gas generator or receiver may be shut
off except those situate underneath the superheaters for the steam or

page_text: air, by which means the superheaters will be maintained at the proper
temperature by the expenditure of a comparatively small quantity of
oil and will be always ready for instantaneous resumption of work
Figure 20 represents an under side view of the interior of the top of
the gas generator or receiver, and Figure 21 is a vertical section of the
same, wherein the top plate is provided on its inner face with grooved
guides n, n, between which is fitted a sliding plate o working gas-tight
against the lower orifices of the burners and having apertures p, p, made
therein corresponding to such orifices. This sliding plate may be
adjusted or moved in any convenient manner, for example, by means of
a screwed spindle q passing out through the front A of the generator
and a stationary nut which is rotated by a handle s or otherwise.
When all the burners are required to be in use then the slide o is
placed in such a position that the apertures p will coincide with the
burners, but when some of the burners are to be extinguished the nut r
is rotated and the rod or screw spindle q with the plate o attached is so
moved as to bring the solid parts of the slide o over the mouths of the
burners and thereby cut off the gas therefrom.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The peculiar construction of gas burners, substantially as and
for the purpose herein-before described and illustrated by the Drawings.
Second. The combination with gas burners of reverberating cups,
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described and
illustrated by the Drawings.
Third. The placing of the gas burners directly into the gas generator
or receiver, as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Fourth. The forming of slits or perforations in the gas generator
or receiver to act as gas burners, as and for the purpose herein-before
described.
Fifth. The arranging of gas burners in clusters or groups surrounded
by rings on the top of the gas generator or receiver and in combination
with a perforated cover plate forming a chamber above the surface of
the generator for the reception of steam or air, or both, substantially as
and for the purpose herein-before described.

page_text: Sixth. The application and use of the perforated or reticulated plate
or diaphragm inside the gas generator or receiver, as and for the purpose
herein-before described.
Seventh. The forming of ribs or corrugations, chambers or cells in the
bottom of the gas generator for the purpose herein-before described.
Eighth. The combination of one or more superheating chambers with
the gas generator or receiver, substantially as and for the purpose
herein-before described.
Ninth. The different modes of heating or vaporizing the oils or liquid
hydrocarbons, as herein-before described.
Tenth. The utilising of the waste heat or products of combustion
after they have passed through the boiler or furnace flues, as and for
the purpose herein-before described.
Eleventh. The utilising the exhaust or waste steam from the cylinder
of a steam engine or waste steam from any other source by passing it
through the superheating chamber and thence to the burners, substantially
as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Twelfth. The application of stop-cocks provided with indicators and
graduated plates to the pipes which supply the oil, steam, and air to the
gas generator or receiver for the purpose herein-before described.
Thirteenth. The use of air alone or of steam alone with the hydro-
carbon oil when applied to boilers, furnaces, caloric engines, or other
heating purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to
this my Specification set my hand and seal, the Thirteenth day
of October One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)