IMPROVEMENTS. IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Myron Hopkins Strong, of Brooklyn, in the State of
New York, United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS.
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATING AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 8th September 1877, and dated the 9th June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Myron Hopkins Strong at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th June 1877.
MYRON HOPKINS STRONG, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United States
of America. “IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATING
AND OTHER PURPOSES."
.
I make use of a vertical retort or chamber that is provided with a fire at the
lower end, by which it is highly heated, the products of combustion passing by a
suitable flue or chimney. When the chamber has become heated sufficiently, the
escape flue is tightly closed, and carbon introduced at the upper end of the retort,
such carbon being in the form of finely-ground coal or of liquid hydro-carbon; the
same falling down through the heated retort is volatilized, and combines with steam
that is also admitted into the retort in a highly heated condition, and the gases pass.
down through the bed of incandescent carbon, the heat of which serves to combine
and fixes the gases.
The gases are passed away from an opening in the ash-pit to the hydraulic main,
or else the gases are allowed to rise again into another heated chamber, in which
olefiant or similar gas is produced from carbon, gradually supplied into it, so as to
enrich the gas and adapt it to illuminating purposes.
It is preferable to employ a vertical chamber filled with loose pieces of fire-brick
or similar material between the gas-making retort and the chimney, so that when,
the gas making is periodically stopped and the retorts are being heated up again,
the products of combustion pass through this retort, heating the pieces of fire-brick

page_text: to a high temperature. When the heating operation is suspended and the gas
making brought into action, the stean is highly super-heated by passing through
the retort containing the heated bricks.
The whole apparatus is to be enclosed in a casing, and non-conducting filling is
used so as to economize the heat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Myron Hopkins Strong in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
December 1877.
MYRON HOPKINS STRONG, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United States
of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATING
AND OTHER PURPOSES."
"
I make use of a vertical retort or chamber that is provided with a fire at the
lower end, by which it is highly heated, the products of combustion passing by a
suitable flue or chimney. When the chamber has become heated sufficiently, the
escape flue is tightly closed, and carbon introduced at the upper end of the retort,
such carbon being in the form of finely-ground coal or of liquid hydro-carbon; the
same falling down through the heated retort is volatilized, and combines with steain
that is also admitted into the retort in a highly heated condition, and the gases pass
down through the bed of incandescent carbon, the heat of which serves to combine
and fix the gases.
The gases are passed away from an opening in the ash-pit to the hydraulic main,
or else the gases are allowed to rise again into another heated chamber, into which
olefiant or similar gas is produced from carbon, gradually supplied into it, so as to
enrich the gas and adapt it to illuminating purposes.
It is preferable to employ a vertical chamber filled with loose pieces of fire-brick
or similar material between the gas-making retort and the chimney, so that when
the gas making is periodically stopped and the retorts are being heated up again,
the products of combustion pass through this retort, heating the pieces of fire-brick
to a high temperature. When the heating operation is suspended and the gas
making brought into action, the steam is highly super-heated by passing through
the retort containing the heated bricks.
The whole apparatus is to be enclosed in a casing, and non-conducting filling is
used so as to economize the heat.
In the Drawing,―
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the retort complete, and
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the case and tubes.
The compound. retort is made with the two chambers a, b, separated by the parti-
tion c, and the enclosure or walls d of such retorts may be in a square or cylindrical
form, preferably the former, and the whole is enclosed in a metal casing e, with
intervening ashes, fire-clay, or other [non-conducting material. The walls of the
chambers are of fire-brick, and the first chamber a is filled with fire-brick or similar
material packed in loosely, and at the bottom of the second chamber b is the fire-

page_text: bed f. There is a tube or chimney g connecting with the lower part of the chamber
a, and in this is the jet exhauster h that promotes a draught. through the retort
when the valve i is open.
The fuel on the fire-bed fis consumed when the exhauster h is in operation, air
being admitted by the door k; and it is preferable to admit a second supply of air
to the chambers in the upper part, where the chambers a and b unite.
I have shown a tube l, passing down to a perforated fire-tile 1, as-the means for
furnishing this second supply of air. There should be a' valve or cock to regulate
the quantity of air passing in at this pipe l.
The object of admitting air at this point is to consume any carbonic oxyd
present, and thus obtain the maximum heating power from the fuel.
The results of this construction of the retort and the operations thus far
described are, that the chambers can be highly heated at intervals whenever.
required.
In order to manufacture combustible.gas, I close the valve i, stop the exhauster
h, and admit steam in the proper quantity by the pipe m, and the same descends in
the pipe g, and passes up through the chamber a, and becomes highly heated.
I introduce carbon at or near the junction of the chambers a and b; the same
may be in the form of a liquid hydro-carbon, from a pipe; or preferably carbon in
the form of finely-ground coal is introduced through the hopper n in small, regu-
lated quantities, by a feeding screw n² or otherwise, so that the carbon falls through
the highly heated steam in detail or in a shower, and in so doing it is caused to
combine with the steam, there being a decomposition and re-composition as afore-
said, and the coke or refuse falls upon the fire-bed fand within the chamber b.
The resulting gases pass through the incandescent fuel and receive an additional
element of carbon, as aforesaid, and are taken off by the pipe o to the hydraulic
main; or if it is desired to further carburet the gas to make illuminating gas, it is
passed up through bituminous coal supplied into the third chamber r of the compound
retort, and from there the gas is led to the hydraulic main by the pipe 8.
I provide a hopper t for the supply of coal to the chamber r, and a stoke hole or
stirring hole u is provided to pass the fuel down from the chamber into the
chamber b.
The proper valves or covers are provided to the respective openings, and sight
holes also should be introduced, through which to inspect the condition of the
interior of the retort.
What I claim as my Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,―
First. The process herein specified of making gas, consisting in the introduction
of carbon into a highly heated retort in the presence of steam, supplying pulverized
carbon, separately and in detail, upon a bed of incandescent carbon, and then
passing the resulting gases through that incandescent carbon, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
Second. The process herein specified of making gas, consisting in heating steam
to a high temperature, and bringing the steam into contact with carbonaceous
material, supplied gradually, or in detail, into a retort, and passing the two together
down through the heated retort, and then completing the process and fixing the
resulting gases by passing such gases through a bed of incandescent carbon, sub-
stantially as specified.
Third. The compound retort, with two vertical chambers a, b, separated by a
partition wall C, and the whole enclosed in one casing, the retort a having a filling
of fire-brick, or similar material, in combination with means for supplying steam at
the lower end of the chamber a, and for supplying carbon gradually, or in detail, at
the upper end of the chamber b, and a fire-bed at the bottom of such chamber b,
substantially as specified.
Fourth. The retort b having a fire-bed ƒ at the bottom, the super-heating retort a,
and the carburetting chamber 7, in combination with the steam supply pipe m, the
connection from the retort a to the retort b, the gradual fuel supply apparatus at

page_text: the top of the chamber b, the enclosing casing, and the gas delivery tube connected
to the third chamber and the fire-bed, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Myron Hopkins Strong, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 15th day of November, A.D. 1877.
Witnesses,
GEO. T. PINCKNEY, 76, Chambers-St., New York.
CHA³. H. SMITH
"
22
M. H. STRONG. (LS.)