IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ILLUMINATING GAS, IN THE DISTILLATION OF HYDROCARBONS, AND THE MAKING OF GASEOUS FUEL FOR HEATING PURPOSES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF ILLUMINATING GAS, IN THE DISTILLATION OF HYDROCARBONS, AND THE
MAKING OF GASEOUS FUEL FOR HEATING PURPOSES."-A communication
from abroad by Levi Stevens, of Washington City, District of
Columbia, United States of America.
Sealed the 8th May 1868, and dated the 16th March 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 16th March 1868.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
ILLUMINATING GAS, IN THE DISTILLATION OF HYDROCARBONS, AND THE MAKING
OF GASEOUS FUEL FOR HEATING PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, first, in the mixing of hydrocarbon and
hydro-oxygen in a vaporous condition for the purposes of making an

page_text: illuminating gas, or for the distillation and afterward condensation of
hydrocarbons, or for producing gaseous fuel for heating purposes.
Secondly. In superheating these mixed vapors before they are con-
verted into a fixed gas, or are condensed for purification in the distillation
of hydrocarbons.
Thirdly. In mixing with the vapors of hydrocarbons and of hydro-
oxygen (after they have been acted upon in the retorts) atmospheric air,
for the purpose of swelling or increasing their volume, and aiding in
their free burning when used either as illuminating gas or as gaseous
fuel.
Fourthly. In cooling the air-mixed gas before it goes to the purifier,
for the purpose of depositing any portion thereof that may not have
become a fixed gas, or which not being a fixed gas yet retains its
vaporous condition.
Fifthly. In the use of chloride of calcium as a purifying agent for
removing the noxious compounds contained in the gas.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th September 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special
licence that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and 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 lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for

page_text: "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ILLUMINATING GAS, IN THE DISTILLATION
OF HYDROCARBONS, AND THE MAKING OF GASEOUS FUEL FOR HEATING PURPOSES,"
being a communication to me from abroad, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe 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 tlie said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I,. the said William Edward Newton, 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 Drawing
hereunto annexed and to the letters. and figures marked thereon (that
is to say) -
This Invention consists, first, in the mixing of hydrocarbon and
hydro-oxygen in a vaporous condition for the purposes of making an
illuminating gas, or for the distillation and afterward condensation
of hydrocarbons, or for producing gaseous fuel for heating purposes.
Secondly. In. superheating these mixed vapors before they are con-
verted into a fixed. or permanent gas, or are condensed for purification
in the distillation of hydrocarbons.
Thirdly. In mixing with the vapors of hydrocarbons and of hydro-
oxygen (after they have been acted upon in the retorts) atmospheric air,
for the purpose of swelling or increasing their volume, and aiding in
their free burning: when used either as an illuminating gas or as
gaseous fuel.
Fourthly. In cooling the air-mixed gas (before it goes to the purifier)
for the purpose of depositing any portion thereof that may not have
become a fixed gas, or which not being a fixed gas yet retains its:
vaporous condition.
Fifthly. In the use of chloride of calcium as a purifying agent for
removing the noxious compounds contained in the gas...
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective elevation of
an apparatus whereby the Invention may be successfully carried out;
Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the same.

page_text: A represents a furnace of any suitable size and form for consuming
fuels and generating heat. Over this furnace is arranged a steam boiler B
with flues C passing through it for the flame or heated products of
combustion from the fire to pass through. Over the boiler, and for
convenience and economy within the same external jacket with it is
a mixing chamber D separated from the boiler by a flue space E, for
the purpose of drying or dry heating the vapours that are to be mixed
in the chamber D; and through the chamber D passes the flue pipe F,
which passes from thence to the chimney or exit pipe G. A pipe a,
Fig. 1, leads from the top or steam space in the boiler B up into the
mixing chamber D for the passage of the steam into the chamber D,
and through another pipe 6 a hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon vapour is
forced by a "Giffard's injector," or by any other suitable forcing
apparatus. These gases or vapors are there mixed, and to some extent
dried by contact with the fire-heated surfaces in the chamber D. From
the mixing chamber D the mingled vapors of the hydrocarbon and
hydro-oxygen (steam) are taken through a pipe c, Fig. 2, into a super-
heater H, which is a closed vessel, arranged so as to be subjected to
the direct action of the fire, or its heated or burning products. The
superheater H is placed in the exit pipe or smoke box G, and near to
the fire in the furnace, so that the flame or heated products of com-
bustion may pass up through the flue opening d, and thence around
(or nearly so) the superheating vessel H, thus subjecting the mixed
vapors contained therein to a high degree of dry heat. From the super-
heater H the mixed and dry vapours may be taken off through a pipe I
to the place where they are to be afterwards used or further treated, as
follows: If the object be to distil the hydrocarbon in order to render
it pure as a commercial article, then it may be taken to a condensing
apparatus of any suitable well-known kind and construction through a
pipe e and condensed, and the water of condensation separated from
the hydrocarbon, when the latter will be found to be perfectly pure
and clear of all crude matter. If the mixed vapors are to be burned
as a fuel for generating steam, or for heating purposes of any kind,
they may be taken directly from the pipo I to the point of combustion,
and it will be found highly advantageous and economical to mix with
the vapors at or near the point or place of combustion atmospheric air,
which intensifies its burning and heating properties. When the mixed
vapors are to be used for making illuminating gas they may be con-
tinued on in the pipe I which passés into a small retort J, Fig. 2, set

page_text: in or over the fire in the usual way, where they will be subjected to a
high degree of heat. The pipe I extends nearly through the retort J,
so that the vapors when beginning to be converted into a fixed gas
after passing out of the end of the pipe may return back through the
retort J, and thence by means of a pipe f be conveyed into the large
retort K, where it is thoroughly converted into a fixed gas, or so much
of it as is convertible into a fixed gas, there being most generally a
residuum of vapor that will condense after it leaves the retort, but
it does not in anywise clog up the retort, as it maintains its vaporous
condition if not converted into a fixed gas. The fact that the material
is carried over and through in a vaporous condition and not in a crude
form keeps all the passages and avenures perfectly clear of any clogging
substances. From the retort K the gas passes through a pipe g into
a mixing chamber L, wherein atmospheric air is introduced through a
pipe 1, Fig. 1, both of the pipes g and h being "trapped" in the usual
way, so that the gases may enter through them but not return. The
gas in the chamber L is increased in bulk by the amount of atmospheric
air that it will take up, and the property and economy of the gas will
be very much increased by this addition of atmospheric air. From
the mixing chamber L the gas and its volume of atmospheric air passes
through a pipe i into a cooling apparatus M, which may be surrounded
by water, or placed in a tank of water N, Fig. 2, and when cooled its
passes through a pipe j into the purifier O, wherein is placed (as a
purifying medium) chloride of calcium, which is found to be the very
best material for taking up and separating the impurities from the
gas; and from this purifier the gas may go direct to the burners, or
to the main or gasometer through a pipe k. The purifier is covered
by an inverted bowl or dome P, which is trapped in water, as at n,
Fig. 2, between the purifier and the outer case Q, as seen in Fig. 2.
When these mixed vapors te used simply as a fuel for heating they
may be taken from the mixing chamber D directly to the furnace
without going through the superheater, but it is preferable to take
them through the superheater. I, however, claim to use either or
both flanged.
Having thus fully described the various improvements which form
the subject of the present Invention, what I claim is,―
First. Mixing the vapors of a hydrocarbon and hydro-oxygen or steam
in a common chamber preparatory to its being afterwards used in the

page_text: making of illuminating gas, or for distillation, or as a burning fuel for
heating purposes, as herein described.
I also claim in combination with the mixed vapors of a hydrocarbon
and hydro-oxygen superheating the same preparatory to their being
condensed for distillation, or to their being introduced into retorts for
making illuminating gas.
I also claim mixing with the gas atmospheric air for swelling its
volume, and promoting its burning and lighting or illuminating
properties.
I also claim cooling the mixed gas and air before it passes into the
purifier, so that whatever crude material may be deposited from the
cooling shall not go into and clog the purifier.
I also claim the use of chloride of calcium as a purifying material
for the gas.
I also claim in connection with the mixed vapors of a hydrocarbon
and hydro-oxygen (steam) when used as a fuel for heating or generating
steam the mixing with said vapors atmospheric air at or near the point
of combustion.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)