Improvements in the Manufacture of Illuminating Gas.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application 23rd June 1890-Accented, 2nd Aug. 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in the Manufacture of Illuminating Gas.
1. SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, (a communication
to me from abroad by Erazm Joseph Jerzmanowski, of the City, County and State of
New York, United States of America,) 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':-
This invention relates to an improvement in adding illuminant to gas, by which a
better product can be obtained and a lower quality of illuminant added.
In the process ordinarily employed the illuminant (generally naphtha) is added to
the gas in what is known as a fixing retort, being an externally heated chamber,
generally longitudinally arranged, and passes together with such gas through the fixing
retort. The difficulty in connection with this process is that the illuminant comes in
contact with surfaces cooled by the incoming gas, and therefore is likely to deposit,
and is less thoroughly vaporized. By my improvement the illuminant comes in to the
retort at the end opposite from that into which the gas is flowing, thereby becoming
thoroughly vaporized by the high heat there, the gas itself being in a hotter condition
and therefore more ready to receive and assimilate the illuminant.
My invention will be readily understood from the accompanying drawings, in
which: :-
Figure 1 represents an elevation of the front of the bench of retorts.
Figure 2, a lateral elevation of the same.
Figure 3, a vertical section through one of the retorts, and
Figure 4 an elevation of the rear of the retorts.
A represents the retorts. B the pipes conveying the already manufactured gas to
the receiving end of these retorts." The retorts themselves are heated beneath by
furnace C in the well known way. The oil or hydrocarbon to be volatilized is
introduced at the discharge end of the retort by pipe D, which communicates by
suitable valves and connections with the general oil-supply pipe E.
The connections are such that the oil may be heated by passing through the walls
of the bench before entering the retorts, or may be passed directly into the retorts if
desired. Superheating contrivances are shown at F, and may be of any ordinary
construction. Pipe G communicates with live steam, and may likewise be caused to
communicate with the pipe D by suitable valves. The finished gas escapes by pipes H
to the hydraulic main in the usual way. The operation of this carburetting and fixing
device is as follows:-The retort being brought to a suitable heat the oil is introduced
through pipes D and thence through the retort pipe K it escapes into the interior of
the retort at a point by preference about two thirds of the length of the retort from its
point of entrance. The pipe K serves as a retort to heat the oil before its escape.
The vaporized oil then returns back upon its course together with the gas and escapes
by delivery pipes. In this way the problem of using low grade illuminating oils, as
for instance, crude oil, is solved. These oils have hitherto been very difficult of
utilization, causing considerable deposit. In case the retort should be so hot as to
endanger the deposit of lamp black, a sufficient amount of steam can be caused to enter
the oil-supply pipes preliminary to chill these pipes to the required temperature, and
the steam is likewise useful in keeping these pipes clear, in case they should have a
tendency to choke up.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The process of carburetting gas herein described which consists in so arranging
the respective admissions into the body of the retort of the gas and of the carburetting

page_text: material that the latter shall not enter into the body of the retort at a place where the
temperature is low owing to the cooling effect on its entrance of the gas to he
carburetted.
2. The process of carburetting gas herein described, which consists in admitting the
gas at one end of an externally heated retort and admitting the oil at the other end of
such retort, thereby volatilizing the oil and fixing the same, substantially as described.
3. The combination of the externally heared retort, the delivery pipe for delivering
gas therein at one end and an oil supply pipe at the other end, with or without a
steam supply pipe, substantially as described.
the
4. The combination of the externally heated retort A, gas supply pipe B, oil supply
pipe D, and internal retort pipe K. connecting therewith, the said oil supply pipe
entering the retort at the delivery end and passing longitudinally therein, with or
without the steam supply pipes substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of June 1890.
SYDNEY PITT.