IMPROVEMENTS. IN THE MANDRA COURT OR GAS AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN.
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Weightman Harrison, of No. 1, High
Holborn, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS. IN THE
MANDRA COURT OR GAS AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Weightman
Harrison at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 30th October 1873.
I, CHARLES WEIGHTMAN HARRISON, of No. 1, High Holborn, Gentle-
man, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN,'
to be as follows:-
"
This Invention relates to the manufacture of gas for lighting and
heating purposes from shale oil or other suitable gas oil in combination
with hydrogen, either alone or mixed with carbonic oxide, and either.
with coal or without.

page_text: For the purposes of my Invention, in making gas without coal, I
mostly employ a pair of retorts set in the same oven and connected
together at the back ends by means of a pipe. These retorts are filled
with pieces of charcoal, coke, broken bricks, or other like materials, and
when brought to a red heat I introduce the oil gradually by means of
suitable connections in the form of a stream or jet into the front part of
one of the retorts, at the same time I bring therein a stream of hydrogen
or hydrogen and carbonic oxide in such manner that these gases may
mix or combine with the hydrocarbon gas or vapours at the moment
when they are given off by the decomposing oil. This is effected by :
causing the oil to run upon or over the face of an inclined plate of iron
or fire-clay slab placed within the retort and in front of the orifice,
through which the said gas is admitted, so that the stream of gas may
play direct upon the decomposing oil. The gas thus formed passes on
through the red hot material contained in that retort, and then by
means of the pipe at the back enters the next retort, and is returned
through the red hot material therein to the stand pipe in front leading
to the hydraulic main.
The hydrogen and carbonic oxide gases may be conveniently generated
in one or more water gas retorts placed either vertical or horizontal, and a
filled with scrap iron, charcoal, or coke, into which water or steam is
introduced. These latter retorts may be heated in the same oven as the
others, or they may be placed in a separate one.
To prevent the oxidation of the hydrocarbon gas or vapours, which
would take place when too much steam is admitted into the water gas 2
retort, I provide a burner in connection with the inlet pipe of the gas
into the first or generating retort to test its quality, and should it not
burn then the quantity of steam must be reduced until it does so.
Another convenient method of producing gas by this means consists
in arranging three vertical retorts connected together by suitable pipes 3
in one oven. Each retort is filled with pieces of charcoal or other
similar material, and when red hot steam or water is caused to flow into
the end of one of the retorts, and gas oil into the end of another, the
gases arising from the decomposed steam and oil pass through the red
hot material in their respective retorts, enter the third retort and 3
pass
through the red hot material therein, whence they together forming
illuminating gas are led away for use.

page_text: In working with these retorts I occasionally change or alternate the
passage through them of the water or steam and oil, by which they are
kept clean for use.
When I use coal in combination with gas oil I employ a vertical filter
bed or retort in connection with one or more horizontal generating
retorts for the purpose of arresting and holding the heavy oils and tar
that may be carried over from the retort until taken up by the passing
hydrogen and carbonic oxide gases, which I introduce by any convenient
means either into the generating retort or directly into the filter bed.
When the coal in the generating retort has given off its illuminating
gaseous and volatile products gas oil, as herein-before described, is
admitted in regulated quantities, and becoming volatilized mixes with
the less illuminating gases being then given off.
One great advantage amongst others of this part of my Invention is
that the coal tar compounds are at once utilised, thereby producing a
largely increased supply of rich and highly illuminating permanent
gas.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Weightman Harrison in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 30th April 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
WEIGHTMAN HARRISON, of No. 1, High Holborn, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Charles Weightman Harrison, Her
special license that I, the said Charles Weightman Harrison, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles
Weightman Harrison, 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
91

page_text: _
The retorts A, A¹, A³, in which the hydrogen and carbonic oxide
gases are generated, are filled with scrap iron, charcoal, or coke, and the
remaining retorts B, B1, B2, B³, with charcoal, coke, broken bricks, or
other like materials. The retorts B, B1, B2, B3, have each at the front
end a plate C extending a short distance into the retort, which plate is
of course heated with the retort and its contents. The shale oil or other
suitable gas oil is allowed to flow slowly down the pipes D, and on
entering the front of the retorts impinges on and spreads over the heated
plates C, and is thereby partially or wholly vaporized. At the same
moment is directed on to the oil and vapour a stream of heated hydrogen
and carbonic oxide gases generated and supplied in the following
manner: Steam or water is supplied gradually by means of the
pipes E to the front ends of the retorts A, A', traversing which,
through the heated material contained therein it passes by the pipes F, FI,
into the back end of the retort A², and by the time it has passed through
the heated contents thereof to the front end it becomes decomposed, and
thence passes by the pipes G to the several retorts B, B¹, B³, B³. The
stream of heated hydrogen and carbonic oxide being thus introduced
into the front of the retort immediately one the plates on which the
flone of oil impinges come into direct contact with the oil, materially
assisting to vaporize the same, and mixes with such vapours at the
moment they are given off. The combined gases and vapours of the oil
then pass through the heated contents of the retorts to the back thereof,
whence they are led away for use by the pipes Has highly illuminating
gas.
In connection with the retorts A, A³, A³, I sometimes provide burners
communicating with the interior thereof to act as indicators for shewing
whether the proper quantity of steam is being admitted. So long as
only such quantity is introduced as the contents of the retorts will
decompose the gas will burn with a blue flame, whilst if too much be
admitted little or no flame will be obtained.
Another convenient method of producing gas according to this part
of
my Invention consists in arranging three vertical retorts in one oven
and connected by suitable pipes, each retort being filled with pieces of
charcoal or other similar material. Steam, superheated or otherwise, or
water, is then caused to flow into the end of one of the retorts, and gas
oil into the end of another. The gases arising from the decomposed
steam and oil passing through the red hot material in their respective

page_text: retorts enter the third retort and pass through the red hot material
therein, whence they are led away for use combined as illuminating
gas.
In working with these retorts I occasionally alternate through them
the passage of the steam or water and oil, by which means they are 5
kept clean for use.
When in manufacturing gas according to my Invention I use coal in
combination with the gas oil I employ a filter bed on the retort (by prefer-
ence vertical) in connection with the horizontal generating retorts. The
filter led is for the purpose of arresting and holding the heavy oils and tar 1
that may be carried over from the generating retorts until taken up by
the passing hydrogen and carbonic oxide gases, which are introduced
either into the generating retorts or directly into the filter bed.
When the coal in the generating retorts has given off its illuminating
gaseous and volatile products gas oil is admitted in regulated quantities, 1
and becoming votalized by the heated contents of the retorts mixes
with the less illuminating gases being then given off.
Hydrogen, or hydrogen and carbonic oxide, may also be introduced
during this process for combination with the vapour of the oil and of the
products arrested from the coal gas.
One great advantage amongst others of this form of my Invention is
that the coal tar compounds are at once utilized by being vapourized,
and combining with hydrogen or other prior illuminating gas, thereby
producing a largely increased supply of rich and highly illuminating
permanent gas.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Weightman Harrison, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of April, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
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