Improvements in the Production of Illuminating Gas.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 18th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 30th May, 1896
Improvements in the Production of Illuminating Gas.
I, THOMAS LEOPOLD WILLSON of Plaza Hotel, Fifth Avenue, corner
59th Street, New York City in the United States of America, Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I have discovered that under certain conditions combustible gas can be enriched
by adding thereto the products of decomposition of acetylene.
If acetylene is added to a non-luminous water gas in its ordinary condition, the
illuminating power of the acetylene after a short time is practically lost. If,
however, there be added to such gas the gaseous products obtained from heating
acetylene, the illuminating power remains. I may add such decomposition
products either by primarily heating the acetylene and adding the gaseous
products in determined percentage to the gas, or I may add the acetylene and
pass the combustible gas carrying the acetylene through a fixing retort or heated
tubes. They should be, approximately, of a red to a bright red heat, and I may
add from ten to twenty-five per cent., of the volume of the combustible gas in such
decomposed products of acetylene.
The result of this action is to prevent a decomposition of the acetylene which
would occur if the acetylene were added to such water gas without either prior or
subsequent heating. I am not informed as to what the chemical action is, but it is
probable that a new carbon compound is formed under these conditions and it is
the formation of such compound and the consequent destruction or reduction of
the illuminating power that I am desirous of avoiding.
I may add the products of decomposition of acetylene as well to coal gas or
enriched water gas; but the especial advantages of the process are to be derived
from the addition of such products of decomposition to a practically non-
luminous gas.
Dated this 15th day of July 1895.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in the Production of Illuminating Gas.
I, THOMAS LEOPOLD WILLSON of Plaza Hotel, Fifth Avenue, corner
59th Street, New York City in the United States of America, Electrical
Engineer, 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 :-
I have discovered that under certain conditions com bustible gas can be enriched
by adding thereto the products of decomposition of acetylene...
If acetylene is added to a non-luminous water gas in its ordinary condition, the
illuminating power of the acetylene after a short time is practically lost. If,
however, there be added to such gas the gaseous products obtained from heating
acetylene, the illuminating power remains. I may add such decomposition
products either by primarily heating the acetylene and adding the gaseous
products in determined percentage to the gas, or I may add the acetylene and pass
the combustible gas carrying the acetylene through a fixing retort or heated tubes.
They should be approximately of a red to a bright red heat, and I may add from
ten to twenty-five per cent. of the volume of the combustible gas in such
decomposed products of acetylene.
The result of this action is to prevent a decomposition of the acetylene which
would occur if the acetylene were added to such water gas without either prior or
subsequent heating. I am not aware what the chemical action is, but it is probable
that a new carbon compound is formed under these conditions, and it is the
formation of such compound and the consequent destruction or reduction of the
illuminating power that I am desirous of avoiding.
I may add the products of decomposition of acetylene as well to coal gas or
enriched water gas; but the especial advantages of the process are to be derived
from the addition of such products of decomposition to a practically non-
luminous gas.
'
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that 1 am
aware that acetylene has been heated in hot tubes for the production of benzol,
and I make no claim thereto, but what I claim is :-
1. The manufacture of illuminating gas by adding to a combustible gas the
products of decomposition of acetylene produced by heating the same in a heated
chamber, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. An improved illuminating gas consisting of the combination of a combustible
gas and the products obtained by decomposing acetylene by heat, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
3
1000
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.