An Improved Manufacture of Water-gas.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Manufacture of Water-gas.
We, JACOB EDUARD GOLDSCHMID Banker, of Friedensstrasse 7, Frankfurt
a/m Main, in the Empire of Germany and CARL DELLWIK Engineer of Lilje-
holmen, near Stockholm, in the Kingdom of Sweden, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
In the processes hitherto applied to the manufacture of water-gas, steam was
led through a glowing mass of coke either only from the top or only from the
bottom, whereby the coke was utilized only at the top or at the bottom, and the
quantity of gas obtained was small, as the cooling of the glowing mass by
the superheated steam was not uniform, and therefore complete utilization of the
mass of coke could not be obtained.
In the new process an arrangement is made to ensure firstly a perfectly uniform
glowing of the column of coke throughout its whole height, and secondly, its
complete utilisation. The first desideratum is realized by arranging tuyeres along
the whole height of the coke column, which supply air in such quantities, that the
air introduced at the bottom suffices for the combustion or gasification of the lower
layers, and the upper layers owing to the air introduced into them glow brightly
also.
The manufacture of water-gas is effected by forcing steam through the glowing
mass of coke alternately from the top and from the bottom. It is found that the
best method is to force the steam twice from the bottom and once from the top
after each blowing-up of the contents of the column or generator.
The generator or furnace has air supply valves, through which the air is
introduced under the grate and also through tuyeres at different heights, and thus
forced into the glowing mass. Outlet-pipes are provided for the water gas
produced, they meet in a valve casing from which leads the main outlet pipe.
Steam admission pipes are provided at top and bottom of the apparatus, and also
an outlet for the combustion products formed during the blowing-up, which in
The
these circumstances consist of nearly pure carbonic acid and nitrogen.
advantages of the new process are: the production of uniform heat in the whole
generator and the uniform utilization of the hot mass in the whole generator.
the same time the length of the period of blowing-up is reduced and the length
of the period during which the water gas is manufactured is increased, whilst the
rate of production during that lengthened period is greater than that which
prevailed during the shorter periods under old methods. Another consequence of
the new process is that the slag is chilled by the steam, becomes brittle, and can be
removed very readily.
At
The grate and the brickwork are protected from overheating as well as the valve
for the steam cools all of them simultaneously.
Arrangements comprised in this invention serve for shutting off the gas outlet
pipes and air supply pipes of the valve and tuyeres in such a way that one valve
cannot be closed or opened by accident or carelessness without bringing the other
valve in a position corresponding to the altered position of the first valve. In this
way it is possible to avoid accidents through too high a pressure in the generator,
or through the escape of gases or through forcing of atmospheric air into the gas
pipes.
The valve is assumed here to be a distributing slide-valve and consists for

page_text: instance of a box with passages which communicate partly with the outlet pipe.
On these passages slides a valve which in its middle position closes both groups of
the passages, but iu its right or left hand position closes only one or the other
group, so that only one of the two gas outlets can be open at a time, but both can
be closed at the same time. From the middle part of the valve casing starts a pipe
which serves as outlet pipe for gas. The slide valve sliding on the valve seat can
be turned by means of a hand wheel and spindle. On the underside of the wheel
there is a disc provided on one side with a notch, into which fits a pawl pivotted on
the bracket supporting the spindle. There are corresponding parts for the air
admission valve; one of them carries a balance weight, which normally keeps it
out of engagement with the disc of the air valve. The two pawls connected to each
other by a rod in such a manner that when one pawl engages with the notch in the
one disc the other pawl is brought out of engagement with the other disc and
vice versa. The one pawl is withdrawn from its notch by pressing against a rod
which is connected to the pawl in a suitable manner. The outlet valve for the
combustion products formed during the period of blowing up, consists of a conical
valve which is lifted from its seat by pulling a chain or rope; this rope goes over
guide pulleys and has on one end a rod guided in a suitable manner. On this rod
there is a uut while at the lower part of it there is a plate placed with its flat side
against the air-valve. To the vertical spindle of the gas valve is connected a
crank to which is articulated a fork. When the gas valve is closed and the outlet
valve opened, the plate descends and the crank is extended in the direction of the
outlet valve and in consequence of this the fork is moved forward to encircle the
rod; as the nut cannot pass through the fork it is impossible for the outlet valve
to be closed before the gas valve has been turned to the left or to the right and the
fork withdrawu. When on the other hand the outlet valve is closed the fork on
account of the plate cannot be pressed forward, so that it is impossible to close
the gas valve.
It is clear from what has been hereinbefore set forth that the air valve can be
opened only when the gas valve is closed. Under such circumstances the outlet
valve cannot be closed either, as the fork prevents its movement by preventing the
rod from being raised. When the air valve is closed and secured in that position
by the pawl the gas valve can be opened, as one pawl engages with the notch of
the disc, and the other pawl is withdrawn from the other notch when the handle is
pulled downward. After that has taken place, the outlet valve can be closed, as the
fork is out of engagement with the rod; the valves of the generator are then in a
position suitable for the gas-producing operation; and steam must be introduced
into the generator. When after the end of that period, blowing up has to take
place again, the outlet valve bas to be first opened before the gas valve can be closed,
and only after that can the air supply valve be opened.
In an alternate construction of the new locking appliances they are applied to
closing-devices which are moved in a straight line, as for instance by a rack and
pinion. The pawls engage in such case in notches made on the side of the sliding
valves. The red is connected to the air valve while the fork is replaced by a loop
with two enlargements; here also the thicker part of the rod can be raised only
when the gas valve is moved out of its middle position-which is the closing
position to one side and thus opened. When the rod is raised and thereby the
outlet valve opened the gas valve caunot be closed.
Thus it is made impossible to introduce air into the gas pipes or let the gas into
the air pipes, which would happen were the air and gas valves simultaneously
opened and the outlet valve closed; further it is impossible for a pressure in the
generator to become too great in consequence of the gas valve being closed at the
same time as the outlet valve.
Dated this 27th day of May 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: We, JACOB EDUARD GOLDSCHMID, of 7 Friedenstrasse Frankfort Main,
Germany, Banker, and CARL DELLWIK, of Liljeholmen, near Stockholm, Sweden,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
In the processes hitherto applied to the manufacture of water-gas, steam was
led through a glowing mass of coke either only from the top or only from the
bottom, whereby the coke was utilised only at the top or at the bottom and the
quantity of gas obtained was small the cooling of the glowing mass by the super-
heated steam was not uniform and therefore complete utilisation of the mass of
coke could not be obtained.
In the new process an arrangement is made to ensure firstly a perfectly uniform
glowing of the column of coke throughout its whole height, and secondly, its
complete utilisation. The first desideratum is realised by arranging tuyeres along
the whole height of the coke-column, which supply air in such quantities, that the
air introduced at the bottom suffices for the combustion or gasification of the lower
layers, and the upper layers owing to the air introduced into them glow brightly
also.
The manufacture of water-gas is effected by forcing steam through the glowing
mass of coke alternately from the top and from the bottom. It is found that the
best method is to force the steam twice from the bottom and once from the top
after each blowing-up of the contents of the column or generator.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shows in vertical central section an apparatus for carrying out the new
process.
Figs. 2 and 3 show in elevation and plan respectively the valve arrangements of
the apparatus.
Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively elevation and plan of an alternative construction
of valve-locking device according to this invention.
The generator or furnace A has at D and D' air supply valves, through which
the air is introduced under the grater and also through tuyeres xxx and thus
forced into the glowing mass. B and B are outlet-pipes for the water gas
produced; they meet in a valve casing C, from which leads the main outlet pipe G.
y and z are steam admission pipes and M' is an outlet for the combustion products
formed during the blowing-up, which in these circumstances consist of nearly
pure carbonic acid and nitrogen. The advantages of the new process are; the
production of uniform heat in the whole generator and the uniform utilisation of
the hot mass in the whole generator. At the same time the length of the period
of blowing up is reduced and the length of the period during which the water gas
is manufactured is increased, whilst the rate of production during that lengthened
period is greater than that which prevailed during the shorter periods under old
methods.
Another advantage of the new process is that the slag is chilled by the steam,
becomes brittle, and can be removed very readily.
The slags formed are removed in an improved manner and dissolve more readily.
The grater and the brickwork are protected from overheating as well as the
valve M, as the steam cools all of them simultaneously.
The arrangements shown in Figures 2 to 5 serve for shutting off the gas outlet
pipes B B¹ and air supply pipes of the valve D and tuyeres xxx in such a way
that one valve cannot be closed or opened by accident or carelessness without

page_text: bringing the other valve in a position corresponding to the altered position of the
first valve. In this way it is possible to avoid accidents through too high a
pressure in the generator or through the escape of gases or through forcing of
atmospheric air into the gas pipes.
The valve C is assumed here to be a slide-valve and consists for instance of a
hox with passages, which communicate partly with the pipe b, partly with the
pipe the former being the prolongation of B, and the latter of B. On these
passages slides a valve which in its middle position closes hoth groups of the
passages, but in its right or left hand position closes only one or the other group,
so that only one of the two gas outlets, B B' can be open at a time, but both can
be closed at the same time. From the middle part of the valve casing starts a
pipe which serves as outlet pipe for gas coming from the pipes ban.. The
slide valve sliding on the valve seat can he turned by means of a hand wheel E
and spindle F (Figures 2 and 3). On the underside of the wheel E there is a
dise G provided on one side with a notch, into which fits a pawl H pivotted on the
bracket supporting the spindle. The corresponding parts of the air admission
valve are indicated by corresponding letters: valve body C valve D', hand
wheel E', spindle F, disc G' and pawl H'; the latter carries a balance weight.
which normally keeps it out of engagement with the disc G¹. The pawls H
and H are connected to each other by a rod I in such a manner that when the
pawl H engages with the notch in the dise G the pawl H' is brought out of
engagement with the disc G' and vice versa. The pawf H is withdrawn from its
notch by pressing against a rod L, which is connected to the pawl in a suitablo
manner for instance like the balance weight is connected to the pawl H. The
outlet valve for the combustion products formed during the period of blowing up,
consists of a conical valve M which is lifted from its seat by pulling a chain or rope N;
this rope goes over guide pulleys and has on one end a rod O, guided in a suitable
manner. On this rod (in the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3) there is a nut O'.
To the vertical spindle F of the gas valve is connected a crank P (see Fig. 3) to
which is articulated a fork R; when the gas valve C is closed and the outlet
valve M opened the plate O descends and the crank P is extended in the direction
of the valve M and in consequence of this fork R is moved forward to encircle the
rod O; as the nut O¹ cannot pass through the fork it is impossible for the valve M
to be closed before the gas valve has been turned to the left or to the right and
the fork R withdrawn. When on the other hand the valve M is closed the fork R
on account of the plate O cannot be pressed forward, so that it is impossible to
close the gas valve.
It is clear from what has been hereinbefore set forth that the air valve D¹ can
be opened only when the gas valve C is closed. Under such circumstances the
outlet valve M cannot be closed either, as the fork R prevents its movement by
preventing the rod O from being raised. When the air valve is closed and secured
in that position by the pawl H (Fig. 2) the gas valve can be opened, as the pawl
engages with the notch of the disc G, and the pawl H is withdrawn from the
noteh G when the handle L is pulled downward. After that has taken place, the
outlet valve M can be closed, as the fork R is out of engagement with the rod O;
the valves of the generator are then in a position suitable for the gas-producing
operation; and steam must be introduced into the generator. When after the end
of that period, blowing up has to take place again, the outlet valve M has to be
first opened before the gas valve can be closed, and only after that can the air
supply valve be opened.
Figs. 4 and 5 show an alternate construction of the new locking appliances
applied to closing devices which are moved in a straight line, as for instance by a
rack and pinion. The pawls H and H engage in such case in notches made on the
side of the sliding valves. The rod P is connected to the valve D, while the fork
is replaced by a loop R with two enlargements; here also the thicker part O' of
the rod can be raised only when the gas valve is moved out of its middle
position-which is the closing position-to one side and thus opened. When

page_text: the rod O is raised and thereby the valve M opened, the gas valve cannot be
closed.
Thus it is made impossible to introduce air into the gas pipes or let the gas
the air pipes, which would happen were the air and gas valves simultaneously
opened and the outlet valve closed; further it is impossible for a pressure in the
generator to become too great in consequence of the gas valve being closed at
the same time as the outlet valve.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A process for the manufacture of water-gas characterised by the uniform
heating of the coke or the like by means of air introduced at different points of its
height and its uniform utilisation for water-gas production by alternately introducing
steam from under the grate and from the top of the coke column preferably two
admissions from the bottom to one from the top.
2. A locking appliance for air and gas valves in water-gas apparatus such as is
used for the process set forth in Claim 1 characterised by pawls (H and H¹).
connected to each other aud engaging with notches in the valve mechanism in such
manner as to ensure one pawl being always disengaged when the other engages
with its notch substantially as described.
3. A locking appliance as per Claim 2 between the gas outlet and air inlet in.
connection with the locking appliance of the water gas outlet and of the outlet for
combustion gases consisting of a fork or rod (R) which is connected to the gas
valve in such a manner that the closing of the outlet valve is impossible as long as
the water gas valve remains closed and that the water gas valve cannot be closed
as long as the outlet valve remains closed substantially as described.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a complete water gas
generator substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in Figure 1
of the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a complete control
apparatus for the valves of water gas generators substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 or Figures 4 and 5 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of February 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants..