IMPROVE- MENTS IN PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Symes, of Goding Street, Vauxhall, in
the County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of “IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS."
Sealed the 17th March 1871, and dated the 29th September 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Symes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th September 1870.
I, GEORGE SYMES, of Goding Street, Vauxhall, in the County of
5 Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS," to be
as follows:
The object of my Invention is the introduction into common and
public use of a cheap and simple apparatus for manufacturing illumi-
nating gas without danger of explosion or other unpleasant consequences,
which apparatus may be readily and conveniently placed in private
dwelling houses, offices, and other buildings, and may also be advan-
tageously adapted for railway carriages and signals, for ships or vessels,

page_text: and in all cases where it is necessary or desirable to have a pure and
brilliant light without great expense, either in providing the apparatus
or in the production of the light, and where it is absolutely necessary
that there should be no danger from an explosion at any part of the
apparatus.
I prefer to generate the gas from wood, but may use coal, paper, peat,
resin, "dead oil," and other materials, and I wish it distinctly understood
that no part of my said Invention relates to the use of any particular
substance or compound for producing the gas for burning the wood or
other substance. The apparatus is provided with a circular box or retort
of iron or other suitable material, which may be placed in a kitchen
range or in any ordinary stove. The form of this box or retort allows it
to be surrounded by the fire, and I thereby obtain a quick and economical
production of gas. The said box is preferably closed by a cover fitted to
a face like a valve instead of being made tight by means of lime or
cement as in ordinary gas retorts. The said retort is connected by a
pipe or tube to a hydraulic main, which may be a cylindrical vessel of
cast iron or other suitable metal, and which may be placed in the
chimney, or arranged and supported in any convenient position in or
near the house or structure. This vessel is partially filled with water,
and the pipe or tube which connects the retort with the hydraulic main
has one opening above the water and another opening below the surface
thereof. The hydraulic main is provided with a safety valve, and when
the pressure in the retort rises above a certain degree the safety valve is
forced open, and the gas escapes into the chimney or into a pipe or
passage leading into the same, except when the safety valve is open the
gas leaves the pipe through the opening below the water level, and the
apparatus will thereby work with a pressure considerably less than if
the gas entered the main above the water. The exit pipe for the gas is
at the top of the hydraulic main, and the tar pipe is at the end or side
The aforesaid main is
thereof level with the surface of the water.
provided with a covered aperture for pouring in the water, and with a
cock or tap for permitting the same to escape; by this means the level
of the water in the main can be so regulated as to ensure the continual
proper working of the apparatus. The gaseous products of combustion
received from the retort into the hydraulic main are by the latter
separated so that the gas passes away through the exit pipe, while the
tar and other impurities, except the sulphur, are carried off by the tar
pipe, which terminates in a larger tube or cylindrical vessel arranged

page_text: below the main. The hydraulic main is connected by the gas exit pipe
or tube to a condenser, which is a vessel having within it a series of
vertical partition plates so arranged that the gas passes alternately over
one and under the other till it leaves the condenser. The latter is
connected to a purifying vessel, which is divided vertically into two
chambers, in one of which there is a series of sieves containing lime, and
in the other a series of sieves containing sawdust, sand, or other suitable
material. The gas as it enters the purifier passes up through the lime and
enters the second chamber and descends through the sawdust and thence
passes free from sulphur away through a suitable pipe or tube to the
gas holder. The said gas holder is preferably a cylindrical vessel, which
may be made of sheet iron, zinc, or other suitable metal, and is partially
filled with water. This vessel may be of any required capacity, and is
preferably supported upon a metal stand or column. Inside the cylin-.
drical vessel is an inverted chamber which opens into the water, and
which rises and descends in the water in proportion to the quantity
of gas in the holder; at the top this interior vessel or chamber is
provided with a small tube which passes through a guide at the top of
the holder; this small tube is provided with a burner whereby the quality
of the gas in the holder may be tested at any time. Instead of using a
cylindrical metal gas holder, as above described, I may use an air-tight
bag made of india-rubber, gutta percha, leather, or other flexible material.
The gas passes away from the holder to the service pipe from which it is
conducted to the burners.
In cases where it is necessary or desirable to increase the brilliancy or
power of the light I provide a small carburetting vessel, which is
partially filled with undistilled naptha or other carbonaceous liquid.
The gas passes from the gas holder into this vessel, where it absorbs
carbon and is taken therefrom to the service pipe.
30 SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Symes in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th March 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
SYMES, of Goding Street, Vauxhall, in the County of Surrey, Engineer,
35 send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in
the thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said George Symes, Her special
licence, that I, the said George Symes, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Symes, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Symes, my executors or administrators,
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 the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Symes, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification.
The object of my Invention is the introduction into common use of a
cheap and simple apparatus for manufacturing illuminating gas, which
'apparatus without danger of explosion or other unpleasant consequences
may be readily and conveniently placed and used in private dwelling
houses, offices, shops, warehouses, factories, and other buildings, and
may also be advantageously adapted for railway carriages and signals,
ships, steam boats, and other vessels, and may be used in all cases where
it is necessary or desirable to have a pure and brilliant light without
great expense either in providing the apparatus or in the production of
the light, and where it is absolutely necessary that there should be no
danger from an explosion at any part of the apparatus.
1
I prefer to generate the gas from wood but may use coal, paper, peat,
resin, "dead oil," and other materials, and I wish it distinctly understood

page_text: that no part of my said Invention relates to the novel use of any par-
ticular substance or compound for producing the gas. For burning the
wood or other substance the apparatus is provided with a circular box or
retort of iron, fire-clay, or other suitable material which may be placed
in a kitchen range, in any ordinary stove, or in a stove especially con-
structed for the purpose. The form of this box or retort allows it to be
surrounded by the fire, and I thereby obtain a quick and economical
production of gas. The said box is preferably closed by a cover or
mouth-piece fitted to a face like a valve instead of being "luted" or
made tight by means of lime or cement as in ordinary gas retorts. The
said retort is connected by a pipe or tube to a hydraulic main, which
may be a cylindrical vessel of cast iron or other suitable metal, and may
be placed in the chimney or arranged and supported in any convenient
position in or near the house or structure. This vessel is partially filled
with water, and the pipe or tube which connects the retort with the
hydraulic main extends down into the water, its opening being below the
surface thereof. The hydraulic main is provided with a safety valve, and
when the pressure in the retort rises above a certain degree the safety
valve is forced open and the gas escapes into the chimney or into a pipe or
passage leading into the same. Except when the safety valve is thus open
the gas flows from the pipe into the water, and by having the opening of
the pipe below the surface of the water the apparatus will work with a
pressure considerably less than if the gas entered the main above the
water. The exit pipe for the gas is at the top of the hydraulic main and
the tar pipe is at the end or side thereof level with, the surface of the
water. The aforesaid main is provided with a covered aperture for
pouring in the water and with a cock or tap for permitting the same to
escape; by this means the level of the water in the main can be so
regulated as to ensure the continual proper working of the apparatus.
The gaseous products of combustion received from the retort into the
hydraulic main are by the latter separated so that the gas passes away
through the exit pipe while the tar and other impurities except the
sulphur are carried off by the tar pipe, which terminates in a larger
tube or cylindrical vessel arranged below the main. The hydraulic main
is connected by the gas exit pipe or tube to a condenser, which is a
vessel having within it a series of vertical partition plates and transverse
obstructing pieces so arranged that the gas passes alternately over one
and under the other till it leaves the condenser. The latter is connected
to a purifying vessel which is divided vertically into two chambers, in

page_text: Figure 16 illustrates the arrangement of the clastic bags which may
be used instead of the said holder.
Figure 17 is a section of the carburetting vessel.
Figure 18 illustrates the manner of using my improved apparatus in
connection with an ordinary kitchen range.
Figures 3 to 9 and Figure 17 are drawn to an enlarged scale.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
In Figure 1 I have shown the retort a placed in a stove 6 constructed
especially for my apparatus, but this stove will not always be required as
the retort may in many cases be placed in the kitchen range or cooking
stove of a dwelling house, as shown in Figure 18. The stove b is
provided with small slides 6¹ for regulating the draft, and the stove pipe
or chimney 62 is furnished with a damper 63; 6* is a screw connection
which is shown covered with a cap 65; but this cap may be removed and
a pipe screwed on the connection * to convey heated air to any part of
the building for warming the rooms or for other purposes. 6° is a raised
rim with an aperture in its centre, over which a kettle or other vessel
may be placed; ' is a metal plate for covering the said aperture, and
which serves for heating plates and dishes, flat irons, and other articles.
The retort a is constructed with internal longitudinal bars or ribs a¹,
as shown in Figures 3 and 4, which are so curved or inclined, as shown,
that at the centre of the retort they project considerably above its inner
periphery, while their ends are merged into the same. The external
periphery of the retort is not changed by these ribs, but forms in
transverse section a complete circle. By this means I greatly strengthen
the retort without impeding the transmission of heat into it; and I
prevent the injury to which the said retort would otherwise be subjected
from the unequal expansion of its interior and exterior surfaces; a² is the
cover or mouthpiece of the retort. This mouthpiece is hinged on the
frame as, which is secured to the retort by screw bolts passed through
the flanges a. The said cover is made conical, as shown in Figure 5,
and is well fitted into a conical seat like a valve, and therefore when
properly closed will be tight without luting. The cover is secured when
closed by the screw a³ passed through the sliding bar a. The said bar
is held at one end by the catch a' which passes through
the slot a³ in

page_text: the bar, and at the other end is made to slide like a bolt into a mortise
in the plate a³. The said catch and plate are fixed on the frame a
When the bar is inserted in the mortise its other end will be held under
the catch a', the screw as is then tightened upon the cover, which is
thereby forced securely into its conical seat. When the said cover is to
be opened the screw a³ is slackened, and the bar drawn out of the socket
and clear of the catch; the cover can then be turned back on its hinges.
When the gas is to be generated from coal I use the semicircular per-
forated plate or screen, Figures 6 and 6b, which in charging the retort is
placed in the bottom of the scoop used for that purpose. When the
charge of coal is deposited in the bottom of the retort the said screen is
turned over and lies on the top of the coal. This device prevents the
stoppage of the stand pipe leading from the retort to the hydraulic main
by the expansion of the coal, while permitting the free passage of the
gas through the perforations. The aforesaid pipe c which connects the
retort a with the hydraulic main d has a safety valve c¹ on the top. This
safety valve prevents the possibility of an explosion through a stoppage
of the pipe, which might sometimes be caused by an accumulation of tar
at the end of the said pipe under the water. By referring to Figure 1 it
will be seen that the pipe c has a horizontal part c² which is connected
to the main d, and extends into the same, its end c³ being bent upward
and terminating below the water line 1 in the said main. Consequently
the gas as it leaves the said pipe rises through the water instead of
being blown against it, as in other gas apparatus. My apparatus will
therefore work at a very low pressure, and when burned the gas will be
found entirely free from moisture, and consequently will be much cleaner
and will possess much greater illuminating power than the gas now
commonly used. The safety valve d' on the hydraulic main will relieve
the same and the other vessels from excessive pressure of the gas that
has passed through the water. It will therefore be seen that by these
two valves all danger of explosion at any part of the apparatus is entirely
obviated. e is a cover for closing the aperture through which the water
is introduced into the main; f is a cock for withdrawing the dirty water
therefrom, and g is a gauge for indicating the height of the water in the
main. The tar deposited by the gas in the said main passes from the
surface of the water through the aperture d², down the pipe h into the
vessel h¹, which is partially filled with water. The bent pipe i connects
the hydraulic main with the condenser j. The peculiar construction of
the latter vessel is clearly illustrated in Figures 11 and 12. j³‚ Î³‚Ì³‚Ì¹³‚
,

page_text: are the vertical partitions, at the sides of which are the transverse
obstructing pieces 2, whilst between the latter are bars which also
form obstructions. These obstructing pieces j³, j³, are secured in the
condenser by bolts passing through them and the cover. The direction
taken by the gas in its passage through this condensing vessel is indi-
cated by the arrows, and it will be readily understood that by the
peculiar arrangement of the vertical partitions and transverse obstructions
the flow of gas through this vessel is checked, and the gas is divided so
that its condensation is thoroughly accomplished, and I thus obtain in a
small compass what has hitherto required a vessel occupying considerable
space. The condenser j is provided with tar pipes k, whose lower ends are
immersed in water in the vessel 1, and the tar which would otherwise
accumulate in the condenser is conducted away through these pipes.
The said condenser is connected by the pipe m with the purifyer n, but
as the gas before being purified serves best for heating purposes I place
between the two vessels a cock m*, from which I may conduct the
unpurified gas away to a stove or other heating apparatus. This
purifying vessel n, as clearly shown in Figures 13 and 14, is divided
vertically into two chambers m³, m², in each of which I place a series of
sieves m³. The sieves in chamber m¹ into which the gas is first admitted
from the condenser are filled with lime; the sieves of the other chamber
may also be filled with lime, or they may be filled with sawdust, sand, or
other suitable filtering material. From the chamber m² of the said
purifyer the gas passes through the pipe o to the holder p. The lower
vessel p¹ of this holder is filled with water to the line Q, and the upper
inverted vessel 2² rises and sinks in the water as the volume of gas in the
holder is increased or diminished. The said upper vessel is guided by
means of the tube q or a perforated rod which slides through the sleeve »
on the cross bar which is supported on the uprights. The tube o
extends up through the water in the vessel p¹ and above the water line,
is bent down, as shown, into a bowl or cup s containing water. This
cup is filled through an aperture in the top of the vessel p², which is
closed by a plug. By this means the end of the pipe o is scaled, and the
return of gas from the holder down the said pipe is prevented. To still
further ensure the safety of the apparatus I provide the sleeve 7 with a
pinching screw, which I can tighten against the tube q, and thereby
lock and retain the vessel p³, so that it shall exert no downward pressure
upon the gas in the holder. When this is done no escape of gas can
occur at any of the burners or at the joints or connections of the

page_text: apparatus. t is a burner for testing the quality of the gas in the holder.
The elastic bags, Figure 16, which are sometimes used instead of the
holder p, are provided with elastic bands p* which will yield to allow
the bag to be inflated with gas, but which when the cock p** is opened
will tend continually to close the bag and expel the gas therefrom into
the service pipe. The outlet pipe u may either conduct the gas direct
from the holder p (or the elastic bags) to the service pipe and burners,
or to the carburetting vessel v, as shown in Figure 1. This vessel is filled
with cotton, wool, or other suitable absorbent substance saturated with
benzine, naphtha, or other hydrocarbon, and the end of the pipe is
inserted in the same. This arrangement prevents any return of the gas
through the vessel into the holder; v¹ is the aperture for pouring in
These
the hydrocarbon, and v² the aperture for withdrawing the same.
apertures are secured by suitable plugs, as shown; w is the service pipe
which is secured in the vessel v by the cap v³.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, I claim,-
First. The circular retort, plain on its external periphery, with internal
longitudinal ribs or bars, and with a cover fitted to a face or seat like a
valve, and made tight without luting, substantially as set forth, and for
the purposes specified.
Second. The hydraulic main constructed as hercin specified, and con-
nected to the retort by a pipe, whose end enters and admits the gas into
the said main under the surface of the water therein, substantially as set
forth for the purposes specified.
Third. Providing the said pipe and main with safety valves for the
purpose specified.
Fourth. The condenser constructed with vertical partitions and trans-
verse obstructions, substantially as set forth for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The purifyer divided vertically into two chambers provided
with sieves for containing lime, sawdust, sand, or other suitable material
substantially as set forth for the purpose specified.
Sixth. The gas holder constructed and operating substantially as
herein described and arranged in combination with the other parts of my
apparatus for the purpose specified.
Seventh. The carburetting vessel filled with cotton, wool, or other
absorbent material saturated with the hydrocarbon liquid, and connected

page_text: with the gas holder and service pipe, substantially as set forth for the
purpose specified.
Eighth. The apparatus consisting of the retort a, hydraulic main d,
and the condensing and purifying vessels j and n, constructed sub-
stantially as set forth in combination together, and with the
gas holder P
or elastic bags or other suitable reservoir, and with or without the
carburetting vessel, substantially as herein described for the purposes
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Symes, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
GEORGE SYMES. (L.S.)
Witness,
W. ROB. LAKE.