IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, MORE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR LIGHTING PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Reeves, of 3, Arthur Street, Camberwell Road, in the
County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF GAS, MORE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR LIGHTING PURPOSES, AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Sealed the 19th March 1880, and dated the 23rd September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Reeves at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd September 1879.
HENRY REEVES, of 3, Arthur Street, Camberwell Road, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, MORE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR
LIGHTING PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR,'
"
The object of this Invention is to produce gas of the highest illuminating power
from crude petroleum oils, shale oils, dead oils, tars, resins, and other hydro carbons,
capable of yeilding rich gases. I effect the above object by decomposing any of
the above or other hydro carbons at a lowered heat in retorts of cast iron or other
suitable material arranged in the manner hereinafter described, and in ejecting the
rich fixed permanent gases so formed from the retorts before their luminiferous
constituents suffer decomposition by prolonged contact with the heated surfaces of
the retorts. In carrying my Invention into practice, I prefer to use crude American
petroleum on account of its freedom from sulphur compounds, but I may employ
any of the above mentioned or other hydro carbons. In order to enject the oil
into the retorts in a fine spray, I employ a nozzle or injector fitted to a pipe from a
superheater and boiler arranged in such manner that the regulated supply of oil is
met by the superheated steam, and forced into the retorts under a pressure of from
4 to 15 lbs. on the square inch. The employment of superheated steam for the
purposes of injection and rapid removal of luminiferous gases as fast as they are
formed, not only prevents the destruction of the most valuable illuminating
constituents of the gas, but at the same time increases the quantity and keeps the
retorts and pipes perfectly free from incrustation. The effect of the bydro carbon
oil and superheated steam entering the heated retorts in an intimately mixed state,
and in fine spray, is that both the oil and the superheated steam are decomposed,
and a gas of higher illuminating power than has hitherto been produced is the result,
care being taken that no more superheated steam is employed than is absolutely
Prins B21

page_text: necessary for the above objects. The retorts are of cast iron or other suitable
material, cylindrical or of any other form capable of yielding the best results,
arranged in beds from 2 to 12, and connected with each other by means of wrought
iron or other pipes, so that the gas generated in the lowest tier traverses the whole
of the retorts, and is ejected from the last retort of the upper tier in a fixed
permanent state. I prefer to place the whole arrangement in a cast or wrought iron
frame or other suitable setting, arranged as follows:-The fire box over which I
place my retorts in tiers, from 2 to 12, and over the retorts, I fix a superheating coil
of pipes, and over this I have a small steam boiler, and I so arrange my superheater
and boiler that the heat no longer available for the production of permanent gas is
available for producing the necessary steam and superheating it. The oil tank or
reservoir for feeding the retorts may be placed at a considerable distance from the
generator when crude American oil is used, but when heavier and denser oils are
employed the reservoirs may be placed in such proximity to the generator as to
maintain them in a limped state. The gas thus produced is especially adapted on
account of its very high illuminating power to lighting railway trains and stations,
and country mansions, churches, ships, villages, and all places where space is an
object and transport dear, and it is also of the greatest value for enriching ordinary
coal gas as it can be readily employed as an adjunct by the gas companys, with
their present plant at very trifling cost...

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent 'filed'
by the said Henry Reeves in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd March'
1880.
HENRY REEVES, of 3 Arthur Street, Camberwell Road, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, MORE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR
LIGHTING PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
The object of this Invention is to produce gas of the highest illuminating power
from crude petrolium oils, shale oils, dead oils, tars, resins, and other hydro-carbons,
capable of yielding rich gases. I effect the above object by decomposing any of
the above or other hydro carbons at a low red heat in restorts of cast iron or other
suitable material arranged in manner hereinafter described, and in ejecting the
rich fixed permanant gases so formed from the retorts before their luminiferous
constituents suffer decomposition by prolonged contact with the heated surfaces of
the retorts. And in order to explain my said Invention more fully, I will proceed to.
describe the same with reference to the accompanying Drawings. At Sheet 1,
Figure 1, is represented an end elevation of an apparatus constructed according to
my said Invention. Figure 2 is a section through the line A, B, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the purifiers. Figure 4 is a longitudinal section
of the injector, which I prefer to employ. a is the boiler to which is connected the
steam pipe b; this pipe communicates with a tap c for regulating the steam before
it is superheated. d is the tap for regulating the superheated steam. e is a tap for
blowing off any water that may be in the pipe. f is the tank for holding the crude
American petrolium, or other hydro carbon. 9 is the tap through which the oil passes
to the syphon tube h, by means of the funnel i; this tap should be so regulated that
the oil passes out very slowly. The syphon pipe h is connected to the injector k.
This injector is shown full size at Figure 4; 7 shews the retorts of which there are
6 shewn in this apparatus arranged one above the other, but I do not intend to
limit myself to this number, the covers of these retorts are bolted to the apparatus
by means of the lugs; m, n, is the pipe which conveys the gas and steam to the
purifiers, passing through the pipes n¹; the gas then passes to the gas holder through
the outlet pipe p. The pipes n¹ are provided with lids q for facilitating cleaning if
required. shews the furnace. The action of an apparatus constructed as
described, is as follows:-The crude American oil or other hydro carbon is put in
the tank f, and when the steam is at a suitable pressure, say, about 20 lbs., the tap g
is turned, so that the oil may run slowly into the syphon tube h, and when it
reaches the injector i it meets the steam in the mixing chamber × of the injector,
which forces it in fine spray into the retorts, when it is immediately converted into
rich fixed permanant gases, and is ejected from the retorts (before their luminiferous
constituents suffer decomposition by prolonged contact with the heated surfaces),
to the purifiers o, and from thence to the gas holder. The employinent of super-
heated steam for the purposes of injection and rapid removal of luminiferous gases as
fast as they are formed, not only prevents the destruction of the most valuable
illuminating constituents of the gas, but at the same time increases the quantity
and keeps the restorts and pipes perfectly free from incrustation. The effect of the
hydro carbon oil, and superheated steam entering the heated retorts in an inti-
mately mixed state, and in fine spray, is that both the oil and the superheated steam
are decomposed, and a gas of higher illuminating power than has hitherto been
produced is the result, care being taken that no more superheated steam is employed
than is absolutely necessary for the above objects, or ordinary steam may be
employed. At sheet 2 Figure 1 shews a longitudinal section of a special con-
struction of apparatus for manufacturing coal and oil gases at the same time, and
mixing them together. Figure 2 is a cross section of same. A is the retort made
of fire clay or other suitable material. B is a partition of the same material

page_text: extending nearly the entire length of the retort. C is the injector, as hereinbefore
described; d is the hydraulic main. The action is as follows:-The coal gas is
made in the ordinary way in the lower division a of the retort, and the oil and
superheated steam is injected in the upper division in fine spray, as before
described, the pressure of steam forcing the gases formed into the lower division,
where they mix with the coal gas made therein, and pass off together in the
direction of the arrow's flight into the hydraulic main, thus forming coal gas of much
greater illuminating power than at present. Figure 3 shews a retort for putting
into an existing coal gas D shaped retort for making only the oil gas, and having
an injector b in each of the 3 retorts; in this case the gases formed in each retort mix
at the back, and pass off into the hydraulic main D in the direction of the arrow's
flight. Figure 5 shews longitudinal section of retort for adapting an existing round
The action
coal gas retort for making oil gas. Figure 6 is a cross section of same.
is the same as that last described. I propose to fix the burner in a diagonal or
horizontal position with reguard to the floor of a railway carriage, for example, so
that the broad surface of the flame shall be reflected downwards instead of sideways,
as heretofore, by which a much better light will be obtained for reading and other
purposes.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature and object of my said
Invention, and the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I would
remark in conclusion that what I claim as my Invention is the manufacture of gas
from hydro-carbons, capable of yielding rich gases and apparatus for such manu-
facture, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Reeves, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.