IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND" APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING GAS, AND THE APPLICATION THEREOF FOR DOMESTIC, MANUFACTURING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Jacob, of Brünn, in the Empire of Austria;.
but at present residing in Golden Square (W.), London, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND"
APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING GAS, AND THE APPLICATION THEREOF FOR DOMESTIC,
MANUFACTURING AND OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad
by Carl Preisenhammer and Carl Weniger, both of Zöptau, in the
Empire of Austria.
Sealed the 17th May 1861, and dated the 9th March 1861.
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION
left by the said Joseph Jacob at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th March 1861.
I, JOSEPH JACOB, of Brünn, in the Empire of Austria, but at present residing
in Golden Square, (W.,) London, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby"
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF
AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING GAS, AND THE APPLICATION THEREOF FOR DOMESTIC,
MANUFACTURING, AND OTHER PURPOSES," (a communication,) to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to modes and means of producing and employing
pure hydrogen gas on a scale and in a manner that will enable the gas to be
used commercially for various purposes, such as heating, lighting, and manu-
facturing operations, with advantage both in point of economy and as regards

page_text: the purity of the gas supplied for producing combustion. One method of
producing this gas, but which has hitherto only been demonstrated experi
mentally in the laboratory, consists. in passing steam through a tube or pipe
which contains certain quantities of iron in the form of borings or filings, so
as to present a large surface to the action of the steam, the iron being heated
in the said tube or pipe to à red heat. By this process the steam is decom-
posed, the oxygen being absorbed bythe iron, and the hydrogen, being liberated,
is conducted to a suitable receiver.
Now, in order to produce the hydrogen gas in large quantities, and at a
comparatively trifling cost, so as to make it available for commercial purposes,
steam is generated in a steam boiler of the ordinary or any other suitable
construction, and caused to pass through a series of retorts (which may be
arranged in two sets for the purpose herein-after mentioned), each retort
containing a certain quantity of iron in the shape of turnings, borings,
shavings, filings, or other scraps, heated to a red heat, from whence, after the
steam has been decomposed, the liberated hydrogen gas is conducted by pipes
into a receiver or holder of the requisite dimensions, to be from thence dis-
tributed' as occasion may require. Both the retorts and the boiler may be so
constructed and placed as to be heated from a common furnace or fireplace,
or by different ones. After a sufficient supply of hydrogen gas has once
been produced it is intended to use the same both under the retorts and under
the steam boiler in the place of or together with other kinds of fuel. It will
be found that after a time the iron with which the steam has been in contact
becomes so much oxydized that it does not sufficiently absorb the oxygen and
produce the desired result, the oxydized iron is then removed from the retorts
and replaced by a fresh supply of iron in its metallic state; or where the
retorts are used in sets, the currents of steam are in that case shut off from
the series of retorts containing the iron so oxydized in excess, and are caused
to pass through the second set of retorts, which also contain heated iron
scraps, filings, or turnings. At the same time the hydrogen gas thus produced
in the second set of retorts is conducted through the first set, and by its
passage over the iron, oxydized in excess, it again renders it fit for use. The
gas is conducted, as before said, to a suitable receiver. By this process the two
sets of retorts can be used alternately without the necessity of emptying or
recharging them. Though iron is preferred, it should be stated that other
metals, which do not melt or become volatilized at the required degrees of
heat, and which would then possess the property of decomposing steam, such
for instance as copper, may be employed instead of iron. The hydrogen gas
so obtained may be employed in a pure state for a great variety of purposes,

page_text: for instance, for heating or warming apartments, & cooking stoves and for
other domestic purposes, as also for heating the various descriptions of boilers,
and for the generation of steam and other similar purposes. For metallurgical
operations, and for the manufacture of glass & pottery, and other similar
purposes, it may in some cases be desirable to obtain a greater intensity of
heat, and in such cases the hydrogen gas is burnt and used in combination
with atmospheric air, either under the ordinary atmospheric pressure or com-
pressed to a greater or less extent; or instead of atmospheric air, pure oxygen
gas (or a combination of oxygen gas with atmospheric air) may be burnt with
the hydrogen gas.
When burnt with compressed air or pure oxygen the light
of the hydrogen gas is exceedingly brilliant and pure, and the products of
combustion, unlike those of the ordinary gas, have no unpleasant smell, and
are not detrimental to health, and do not injure the various objects which are
exposed to its influence. Where purity in the fuel employed is an object, as
in certain cases in the manufacture of iron, pottery, & glass, the advantage of
employing the hydrogen gas produced as above described will be found to be
very great.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Jacob in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
September 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
JACOB, of Brünn, in the Empire of Austria, but at present residing in Golden
Square (W.), London, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
·
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign,, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Joseph Jacob, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph Jacob, my
executors,, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Jacob, 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 Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS. IN THE MODE OF
AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING GAS, AND THE APPLICATION THEREOF FOR DOMESTIC,
MANUFACTURING, AND OTHER PURPOSES," (a communication to. me from abroad

page_text: by Carl Preisenhammer and Carl Weniger, both of Zöptau, in the Empire of
Austria, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Jacob,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Jacob, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement-
This Invention relates to modes and means of producing and employing
pure hydrogen gas, and in a manner that will enable the gas to be used com-
mercially for various purposes, such as lighting, heating, and manufacturing
operations with advantage, both in point of economy, and as regards the
purity of the gas supplied for producing combustion.
One method of producing this gas. (but which has hitherto been only
demonstrated experimentally in the laboratory) consists in passing steam
through a tube or pipe which contains small quantities of iron in the form of
borings or filings. In order to produce the hydrogen gas in large quantities,
and at a comparatively trifling cost, so as to make it available for commercial
purposes, steam is generated in a steam boiler of the ordinary or any other
suitable construction, and is caused to pass through a series of retorts, each
retort containing the requisite quantityof iron, in the shape of turnings, borings,
filings, or of iron crushed, ground, or otherwise reduced to powder, andheatedto
a red heat, it being essential to the successful working of the process that the
iron should be in a finely divided state, so as to present a large surface to be
acted upon by the steam. After the steam has been decomposed, the liberated
hydrogen gas is conducted by pipes into a receiver or holder of the requisite
dimensions, to be from thence distributed as occasion may require. Or instead
of the steam being caused to enter only the first of the series of retorts, and
the gas generated therefrom being passed through the whole series or set, con-
sisting of two or more retorts connected together by connecting pipes or joints,
steam may be passed into each separate retort, and the gas generated may be
passed directly into pipes leading to a gasometer. Both the retorts and the
boiler may be so constructed and placed as to be heated from a common
furnace or fire-place, or by different ones. After a sufficient supply of hydrogen
gas has once been produced, it is intended to use the same both under the

page_text: retorts and under the steam boilers in the place of or together with other kinds
of fuel. The iron in proportion as it becomes oxydised by the absorption of the
oxygen from the steam, loses its power of assisting in the production of the
hydrogen gas, and when oxydised to a certain extent, it is discharged from the
retorts, which are then filled or charged with the necessary quantity of new
iron in its metallic state.
In the Provisional Specification I have stated that the retorts may be used
in sets to be employed alternately for the purpose of deoxydising the iron in
one set by cutting off the steam and passing hydrogen gas over the heated
oxydised iron, whilst the second set continues in operation; but I have since
then found that too much gas is consumed by this operation, and I therefore
prefer to recharge the retorts when necessary, as described. The retorts may
be similar in construction to those used in making the ordinary coal gas for
illuminating, with the exception of the steam pipe, which is fitted or attached
to the retort at or near one end of the same, or ordinary iron pipes may be
used fitted with suitable ends. When the iron is to be discharged, the ends of
the retorts or parts of the ends are taken off, and the iron is raked or pushed
out. For the filling of the retort, a scoop of sheet iron of about the length of
the retort is filled with the iron introduced into the retort, and discharged by
turning it round its axis. The scoop is then withdrawn, and the ends secured
to the retort, when the latter will be ready for operation.
The hydrogen gas, obtained as above described, may be employed either in
a pure state or mixed with air under atmospheric pressure, for a great variety
of purposes, such as the heating of stoves, for warming apartments, of cooking
stoves and boilers, and for other domestic purposes. For the heating of the
various descriptions of steam boilers used for different purposes on land, aswell
as for boilers used on board of vessels, for the smeltingof iron and other metal,
and for all metallurgical operations, the manufacture of glass and earthenware,
and for other purposes, where a greater intensity of heat is required, I use
the gas in combination with atmospheric air, both under a certain artificial
pressure, each passing through a separate distinct pipe to one common burner,
at the mouth of which they unite and burn with intense heat. I prefer to use
the gas and the air in the proportion of about 2 parts of the former to 5 parts
of the latter, each under the necessary pressure, which is determined by the
size of the burners; but other proportions of gas and air and more or less
pressure may be used. Instead of atmospheric air, oxygen gas, or a combi-
nation of oxygen gas with atmospheric air may be burnt with the hydrogen
gas.
When used for the purpose of illumination, or lighting of rooms, or other

page_text: places, the flame from the compressedhydrogengas andair, or hydrogen gas and
oxygen gas or hydrogen gas and oxygen gas mixed with air is brought in con-
tact with a solid body, such as chalk, which will produce a very brilliant light.
When purity in the fuel employed is an object, as for instance, in certain
cases in the manufacture of iron and steel; of pottery, and of glass, the advan-
tage of employing the hydrogen gas as described, will be found. to be very
great.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention which has been
communicated to me, I wish it to be understood that what I claim, is,-
Firstly, the process of manufacturing hydrogen gas in a manner suited for
commercial purposes, by passing steam over heated iron filings, or borings, or
iron crushed, ground, or pulverized, as described.
Secondly, the heating of the gas retorts or generators with the hydrogen gas
generated by the process combined with air, and under pressure as described.
And, thirdly, the use of the hydrogen gas and air combined under pressure
for heating and lighting purposes, and for all metallurgical processes, as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Jacob, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
JOSEPH JACOB. (L.S.)