IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING GASES FOR ILLUMINATING AND HEATING PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Benson, of No. 9, Southampton Buildings,
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF
MANUFACTURING GASES FOR ILLUMINATING AND HEATING PURPOSES, AND IN
THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."-A communication from abroad
by George W. Morris, John S. Robinson, and George N. Mackenzie,
all of the City of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, United States
of North America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Martin Benson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th November 1873.
I, MARTIN BENSON, of No. 9, Southampton Buildings, London, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING GASES FOR ILLUMINATING AND HEATING PURPOSES,
AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFORE," a (communication to me from
abroad by George W. Morris, John S. Robinson, and George N.

page_text: Mackenzie, all of the City of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland,
United States of North America) to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention consists in producing vapour or gas from
oil, petroleum, and other oleagenous and carbonaceous substances by
means of superheated steam.
By using superheated steam for vapourising the oil, the formation and
deposit of solid carbon is prevented by the application and diffusion of
heat in such manner and degree as is requisite without decomposing it,
and by mixing superheated steam or vapour with the vapour or gas thus
produced we increase the heat, combine the vapours, produce gases for
heating and illuminating purposes, secure perfect combustion, and save
largely in the quantity of carbonaceous substances required, and in a
more economical way than has heretofore been accomplished. By this
improvement a carbonated hydrogen gas is produced by decomposing
superheated steam, and carbonating the same by means of a carbon gas
made from petroleum or any other oleaginous substance, and combining
the same together under great heat, thereby producing a fixed car-
bonated hydrogen gas, in the manner herein-after described.
Many attempts have been made to use petroleum for generating
steam and for producing heat and light, but the obstacles heretofore
encountered in the deposits of carbon and consequent filling up of the
pipes, and also the difficulty in obtaining it in a managable form have
prevented its use. By the application of superheated steam to obtain
the gas the deposition of carbon is by this Invention prevented, and by
first producing gas before burning the difficulties of introducing the
liquid fuel directly into the fire-box or furnace are avoided.
The apparatus employed for effecting this is simple in construction,
and to enable others skilled in the art to make and use the Invention
reference will be made to the accompanying Drawings by letters of
reference marked thereon and made to form part of this Specification.
The Drawings represent one form or modification in which the
apparatus may be made and used, which may be varied to suit tho
requirements and size of the apparatus employed.
Fig. 1 represents a portion of the improvement showing a sectional
view of the gas generator and its connection with a fire-box of a boiler

page_text: for burning the gas and superheating the steam for vapourising the
oil.
The generator for producing the gas is composed of a cylinder usualy
made of boiler iron with cast-iron heads bolted to the cylinder. The
heads are cast with a hollow steam space, and connected with each other
through the cylinder by tubes A, A. The space b, b, in the cylinder
and around the tubes is filled with oil. The gas escapes through the
head of the cylinder into the dome by an opening J ; E, E, is the steam
space at each end of the cylinder allowing full and free circulation of
the steam. F is the steam pipe coming from the boiler; f is the steam
pipe leading into the steam space E with suitable stop-cocks. G is a
pipe for carrying off the condensed steam; H is the oil gauge by which
the quantity of oil in the generator can at any time be ascertained.
I is the supply pipe to feed the machine with oil; J is the pipe or
opening from the oil space to the dome L; M is the gas or vapour pipe
leading from the machine to the fire chamber which is provided with
suitable stop-cocks, and also a check valve which opens only with the
pressure of the gas and closes when the pressure is withdrawn. R repre-
sents the fire-box and burners, showing one way of consuming the gas
for fuel; N represents the coil of pipe in the fire-box by which the
steam is superheated, or another form of superheater may be used with
perhaps greater advantage, represented by Fig. 2. S is a superheater in
the fire-box R composed of a cast-iron cylinder filled with scraps or
pieces of iron and provided with steam-tight heads, through one of
which steam is introduced from the boiler, and through the other super-
heated steam is conveyed by the connecting pipes to the machine; or in
other words steam is taken from the boiler Q by pipe F into the super-
heater in the fire-box R, from whence it passes through the pipe F into
the steam space E in the generator, filling the steam tubes A, A, and
steam space E with the superheated steam, and thereby heating the
oil in space b, b, in the generator, so that it is immediately converted
into gas or vapour and passes off through the openings J into the dome,
and is there taken through the gas pipe M to the point of combustion.
The mode of operating this machine is as follows:-Steam is taken
from the boiler which passes down through the fire-box R and through
the steam coil N into the main steam pipe F, from thence into the steam
space E, E, which fills the tubes in the cylinder, and thereby heats the
oil in the cylinder, which immediately passes off into gas or vapour

page_text: through the opening J into the dome, where it passes from its own
pressure into the tube leading to the fire chamber; suitable cocks and
valves are placed between the connections for regulating the supply of
gas.
I do not claim generating gas from petroleum by passing steam
directly through the oil, as that has been long used to remove the
lighter portions from petroleum.
Attempts have often been made in manufacturing hydrocarbon gas
to find a means of reducing the illuminating powers of it to the standard
of ordinary illuminating gas, but they have invariably failed; air has
been used for this purpose, but it has entirely failed to achieve the
desired result. By this Invention the richest carbon gases may be
deluted and reduced to any degree of illuminating strength that may be
desired.
In describing the apparatus and process of this portion of the In-
vention reference will be made to the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 3
showing a sectional view of the same.
The apparatus consists of a bench of three iron retorts set perpen-
dicular, and enclosed in a furnace of fire-brick or other material with a
partition dividing each retort and furnace from the other, thus making
three separate compartments under and around each retort for heating
the same.
The two end retorts are less in size than the middle one;
one of the end retorts for making hydrogen is filled with charcoal or
other carbonaceous substance, through which the steam passes from the
bottom to the top. The steam passes through a pipe in the top of the
retort, nearly to the bottom of the same, with an elbow carrying it
nearly to the centre of the retort, upon which there is an iron cap,
perforated at its bottom and side, which throws the steam against the
bottom or near it, thus protecting the bottom of the retort from the
action of the intense heat on the outside. The retort is heated to a
very high degree from the furnace below, and the charcoal inside is
heated to as high a degree as is necessary, and the steam passing from
the bottom of the retort up through the incandescent charchoal is con-
verted into a fixed hydrogen gas by the affinity of the carbon of the coal,
for the oxygen of the steam is converted into a carbonic oxide, thus
making free hydrogen gas. The carbonic oxide passes off as a gas and
mixes with the free hydrogen, which passes off through a pipe at the

page_text: top of the retort into the middle or large retort used for mixing the
gases, the pipe passing down nearly to the bottom of the retort, with an
elbow on the pipe forcing the discharge of the gas towards the centre
of the retort, and directly opposite the end of the pipe for the discharge
of the carbon gas.
The other end retort is used for converting hydrocarbon vapour into a
fixed gas, and is constructed and heated in the same manner. This
retort is filled with pieces of pumice stone from one to two inches in
diameter, which are put in for the purpose of retarding the flow of
vapour and exposing the same to a greater heating surface. The
hydrocarbon vapour is taken from the generator through the top of the
retort, nearly to the bottom of the same, which passing up through the
pumice stone (or any other suitable substance may be substituted for re-
tarding the flow of the vapour and increasing the heating surface) is con-
verted into a fixed hydrocarbon gas, which passes out through the top
of the retort through a pipe, thence into the middle or large retort for
combining the gases, and by a pipe passing down nearly to the bottom
provided with an elbow turned towards the centre of the same, and
directly opposite the pipe discharging the hydrogen, thus making a
perfect mixture of the gases.
The middle or large retort is constructed in the same way as the other
two, only larger, is heated as they are, and only used for mixing the
gases, and has an outlet consisting of a large pipe to conduct the gas
when made to any desired point.
The following is a description of the construction and mode of
operating this portion of the improved apparatus:-The retorts for
making the gases are constructed of cast iron, with four lugs for suspend-
ing them in the furnace, and with flanges at the top with cast-iron heads
fitted and bolted on, and are slightly oval at the bottom. The furnaces
are constructed with a fire-grate the size of the bottom of the furnace,
with an ash-pit underneath, and so that the fire may envelope the entire
retorts nearly to the extreme top, with a chimney in the rear. The two
end retorts passes up through the brickwork of the furnace, so that the
heads can be taken off to get at the inside of the retort if necessary.
A is the retort for decomposing the steam and making the hydrogen
gas; B is the pipe for introducing the superheated steam into the same;
C is the cap for distributing the steam on the bottom of the retort;

page_text: E, E, E, is the furnace around the retorts; F, F, F, is the ash-pits; G is
the cast-iron head of each retort bolted to the top of the same; H is
the pipe leading from the hydrogen retort to the large retort for mixing
the gases; I is the large retort for mixing the gases; J is the pipe
leading from the top of the large retort to the gas holder; K is the
retort for converting the carbon vapour into fixed gas; L is the pipe
leading from the vapour generator to the retort K; M is the pipe leading
from the retort K into the retort I for mixing the gases; N is the steam
gauge on the pipe L leading into the retort K for showing the pressure
of the hydrocarbon vapour; O is the steam gauge on pipe 6 for showing
the pressure of the superheated steam on retort A.
Suitable stop-cocks and valves are placed between all the connections
for regulating the supply of gas.
The mode of operating the apparatus is as follows:-The two end or
small retorts are charged or filled, the retort A with charcoal, and the
retort K with pumice stone; fire is then placed in the furnaces under the
retorts, which are heated to the degree required to thoroughly fix the
gases, and as the furnaces are separate it will be easy to regulate the heat
of each retort to the required degree.
When the retorts become sufficiently hot to convert the vapour into a
fixed gases steam is taken from the boiler, and after being thoroughly
superheated is conducted into the retort A, through the pipe b, and
discharged on the bottom of the retort through the cap C. The steam
passing up through the incandescent coal is converted into a free
hydrogen gas by the carbon of the coal taking up the oxygen of the a
steam, thus freeing the hydrogen and leaving no deposit or oxide, as the
combination of the carbon of the coal and the oxygen of the steam form
a carbonic oxide, which passes off in the form of a gas with the free
hydrogen through the pipe H into tho retort I, which is used for mixing
the gases. At the same time that steam is taken into the retort A, a
hydrocarbon vapour is taken in from an oil generator through the pipe
L into the retort K, which is used for converting the carbon vapour into
a fixed gas, and discharges it at the bottom, which, rising up through
the pumice stone, is converted into a fixed carbon gas, which passes off
through the pipe M into the bottom of the retort I, and is made to impinge 3
or jet against the current of hydrogen gas coming from the retort A,
thus forming a thorough mixture of the two gases, which are then heated

page_text: again in the retort I, and passes out by the pipe J through a condenser
to the holder. As the steam which is taken into the retort A through
the pipe 6 can be regulated by suitable stop-cocks, and the carbon vapour
which is taken through the pipe L into the retort K can also be regulated
by a stop-cock, tho quality of gas can always be made of any illumi-
nating power desired, as the carbon will enrich and the hydrogen
impoverish it.
The steam gauges, as shown on pipe L and also on pipe B, will enable
the operator to make any combination he wishes, as the whole apparatus
is run under pressure. The retort I, which passes above the brickwork
of the furnace and all pipes exposed to the atmosphere should be
insolated by suitable non-conducting substances.
The steam used for the hydrogen retort may be supplied from any
steam boiler and superheated by any ordinary superheating apparatus.
The hydrocarbon vapour used for this process is generated by super-
heated steam in a tubular generator, and without the application of fire
heat. It is designed to use the generator herein-before described in this
Specification, and represented in Figs. 1 and 2.
The reservoir or supply of oil may be kept at any required distance,
even beyond the limits of the largest city, and is brought to the
generator by means of pumps or by its own gravity, not more than one
barrel of oil being necessary at any one time in a generator capable of
generating one hundred barrels per day.
The special new features in the improvement for illuminating are as
follows: By placing the charcoal or other carbonaceous material in an
upright retort and passing the steam through it longitudinally it is
thoroughly decomposed, and a large amount of hydrogen is generated,
and it is easy to keep any quantity or desired depth of coal in the retort.
By keeping the retort hot by setting it in a furnace it is not chilled by
the action of the steam; by superheating to a high degree the chilling
action is light. By generating the gases made by the decomposition of
steam and that from petroleum or other oleaginous material in separate
retorts and then mixing them they can always be brought together in
the proper proportion so as to produce a gas best adapted for the
purpose. The mode of mixing by putting the two gases against each
other thoroughly mixes them, by which uniformity of composition is

page_text: secured. The result of the three processes is a compound gas made of
hydrogen, carbonic oxide, carbonated hydrogen, and oil gas.
The word "oil," whenever and wherever it occurs, and standing alone
as descriptive of the material from which gas or vapour is produced in
the generator, is intended to include any and every oleaginous and
carbonaceous substance which may or can be introduced into the
generator in a liquid or fluid state.
This Invention is not limited to the use of petroleum, coal oil, shale
oil, and the like, since there are many hydrocarbons which may be
vapourised by superheated steam, and then mixed and combined with
superheated steam, so as to produce the combustible gas or vapour which
constitutes one part of this Invention.
The burners represented by the accompanying Drawings, Figs. 4 and
5, are designed for the purpose of being attached to the machine or
apparatus set forth in the foregoing Specifications, and is constructed on
the principle of the steam jet used for producing or inducting a draft
in locomotive chimneys; the burners are connected thereto, and by
proper couplings or attachments a series of them may be placed under-
neath the boiler, within the furnace, so as to bring the flame emanating
from the burners directly in contact with the boiler.
Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of the improvement as attached
to pipes when placed in an ordinary furnace for a steam boiler with
a portion broken out so as to show the construction and arrangement of
pipes and burners.
Fig. 5 represents a different arrangement of the pipes, but the
operation and results are similar. A represents the superheating steam
pipe placed within the gas and vapour pipe B in such a manner as to
form an annular space, around and through which the gas and vapour
are conducted to the burner C, in which an annular space is also formed
by the introduction of steam pipe a, which connects with the super-
heating steam pipe A. D, D, are couplings that may be made in any
of the known forms; E and F are coupling pipes employed when a
series of burners are designed to be used; G is the main gas or vapour
supply pipe connecting the generating apparatus in the Specifications
herein-before described, while all the steam pipes connect with the 3
superheater. a', a', are caps fitted over the ends of the steam and gas
pipes.

page_text: Fig. 5 shows a different arrangement of the steam and gas pipes, the
steam pipe A being located immediately below the gas pipe B. This
plan is equally good but more expensive. For economy the plan as
shown in Fig. 4 is preferable. The burners together with the pipes as
herein shown are placed within the furnace, under the boiler, or wherever
the heat is designed to be applied, and as the gas and vapour are gene-
rated in the apparatus from petroleum or other oleaginous substances
the burners having proper connections with the gas generating apparatus
and steam boiler, the gas is admitted under pressure through the pipe B
to the burner C, where it is united, and at the same time a jet of super-
heated steam is admitted through the pipe a at a temperature of about
800° Fahrenheit, when it comes in contact with the gas flame, which
immediately decomposes and converts the same into hydrogen gas,
which instantly ignites and greatly increases the intensity and volume
of the flame.
The flow of both steam and gas is regulated by suitable valves, so
that the intensity of heat may be controlled as occasion may require.
The quantites or properties of steam and gas may also be regulated by
proper valves.
SPECIFICATION. in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Martin Benson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd May 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARTIN
BENSON, of No. 9, Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of November, 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 suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Martin Benson, Her special
licence that I, the said Martin Benson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Martin Benson, 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

page_text: Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING GASES FOR ILLUMINATING AND HEATING PURPOSES,
AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," a communication to me from
abroad by George W. Morris, John S. Robinson, and George N.
Mackenzie, all of the City of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland,
United States of North America, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Martin Benson, 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 Martin Benson, do hereby declaro
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:--
By using superheated steam for vapourising the oil the formation and
deposit of solid carbon is prevented by the application and diffusion of
heat in such manner and degree as is requisite without decomposing
it, and by mixing superheated steam or vapour with the vapour or gas
thus produced we increase the heat, combine the vapours, produce gases
for heating and illuminating purposes, secure perfect combustion, and save
largely in the quantity of carbonaceous substances required, and in a
more ecnomical way than has heretofore been accomplished. By this
improvement a carbonated hydrogen gas is produced by decomposing
superheated steam, and carbonating the same by means of a carbon gas
made from petroleum or any other oleaginous substance, and combining
the same together under great heat, thereby producing a fixed carbonated
hydrogen gas in the manner herein-after described.
Many attempts have been made to use petroleum for generating
steam and for producing heat and light, but the obstacels heretofore
encountered in the deposits of carbon and consequent filling up of the
pipes, and also the difficulty in obtaining it in a managable form have
prevented its use. By the application of superheated steam to obtain
the gas the deposition of carbon is by this Invention prevented, and by
first producing gas before burning the difficulties of introducing liquid
fuel directly into the fire-box or furnace are avoided.

page_text: The apparatus employed for effecting this is simple in construction,
and to enable others skilled in the art to make and use the Invention,
reference will be made to the accompanying Drawings by letters of
reference marked thereon and made to form part of this Specification.
The Drawings represent one form or modification in which the
apparatus may be made and used, which may be varied to suit the
requirements and size apparatus employed.
Fig. 1 represents a portion of the improvement showing a sectional
view of the gas generator, and its connection with a fire-box of a.
boiler for burning the gas and superheating [the steam for vapourising
the oil.
The generator for producing the gas is composed of a cylinder usualy
made of boiler iron with cast-iron heads bolted or rivited to the cylinder,
as more fully represented in Fig. 6. The heads are cast with a hollow
or steam space and connected with each other through the cylinder by
tubes A, A. The space b, b, in the cylinder around the tubes is filled
with oil. The gas escapes through the head of the cylinder into the
dome by opening J. E, E, is the steam space at each end of the
cylinder allowing full and free circulation of the steam; F is the steam
pipe coming from the boiler; f is the steam pipe leading into the steam
space E with suitable stop-cocks; G is a pipe for carrying off the
condensed steam; H is the oil gauge by which the quantity of oil in the
generator can at any time be ascertained; I is the supply pipe to feed
the machine with oil; J is the pipe or opening from the oil space to the
dome L; M is the gas or vapour pipe leading from the machine to the
fire-chamber which is provided with suitable stop-cocks, and also a
check valve which opens only with the pressure of the gas, and closes
when the pressure is withdrawn; R represents the fire-box and burners
showing one way of consuming the gas for fuel; N represents the coil
of pipe in the fire-box by which the steam is superheated. Or another
form of superheater may be used with perhaps greater advantage,
represented by Fig. 2; S is a superheater in the fire-box R¹ composed of
a cast-iron cylinder filled with scraps or pieces of iron, and provided with
steam-tight heads through one of which steam is introduced from the
boiler, and through the other superheated steam is conveyed by the
connecting pipes to the machine. Or in other words steam is taken
from the boiler Q by pipe F into the superheater in the fire-box R³,

page_text: from whence it passes through the pipe F into the steam space E in the
generator, filling the steam tubes A, A, and steam space E with the
superheated steam, and thereby heating the oil in space b, b, in the
generator, so that it is immediately converted into gas or vapour and
passes off through the opening J into the dome, and is there taken
through the gas pipe M to the point of combustion.
The mode of operating this machine is as follows:-Refering to Fig. 1
steam is taken from the boiler which passes down through the fire-box R
and through the steam coil N into the main steam pipe F; from thence
into the steam space E, E, which fills the tubes in the cylinder, and
thereby heats the oil in the cylinder, which immediately passes off into
gas or vapour through the opening J into the dome, where it passes from
its own pressure into the tube leading to the fire-chamber; suitable
cocks and valves are placed between the connections for regulating the
supply of gas.
I do not claim generating gas from petroleum by passing steam directly
through the oil, as that has been long used to remove the lighter portions
from petroleum.
Attempts have often been made in manufacturing hydrocarbon gas
to find a means for reducing the illuminating powers of it to the standard
of ordinary illuminating gas, but they have invariably failed, air has
been used for this purpose but it has entirely failed to acheive the
desired result. By this Invention the richest carbon gases may be
deluted and reduced to any degree of illuminating strength that may be
desired.
In describing the apparatus and process of this portion of the
Invention reference will be made to Fig. 3, showing a sectional view of
the same.
The apparatus consists of a bench of three iron retorts set perpendi-
cular, and inclosed in a furnace of fire-brick or other suitable material,
with a partition dividing each retort and furnace from the other, thus
making three separate compartments under and around each retort for
heating the same. The two end retorts are less in size than the middle
one; one of the end retorts for making hydrogen is filled with
charcoal or other carbonaceous substances through which the steam
passes from the bottom to the top. The steam passes through a pipe in

page_text: the top of the retort nearly to the bottom of the same, with an elbow
carrying it nearly to the centre of the retort, upon which there is an
iron cap perforated at its bottom and side, which throws the steam
against the bottom or near it, thus protecting the bottom of the retort
from the action of the intense heat on the outside. The retort is heated
to a very high degree from the furnace below, and the charcoal inside is
heated to as high a degree as is necessary, and the steam passing from
the bottom of the retort up through the incandescent charcoal is con-
verted into a fixed hydrogen gas by the affinity of the carbon of the
coal, for the oxygen of the steam is converted into a carbonic oxide,
thus making free hydrogen gas. The carbonic oxide passes off as a gas
and mixes with the free hydrogen which passes off through a pipe at
the top of the retort into the middle or large retort used for mixing the
gases, the pipe passing down nearly to the bottom of the retort with an
elbow on the pipe forcing the discharge of the gas towards the centre of
the retort and directly opposite the end of the pipe for the discharge of
the carbon gas.
The other end retort is used for converting hydrocarbon vapour
into a fixed gas, and is constructed and heated in the same manner.
This retort is filled with pieces of pumice stone from one to two inches
in diameter, which are put in for the purpose of retarding the flow of
vapour and exposing the same to a greater heating surface. The hydro-
carbon vapour is taken from the generator through the top of the retort
nearly to the bottom of the same, which passing up through the pumice-
stone (or any other suitable substance may be substituted for retarding
the flow of the vapour and increasing the heating surface) is converted
into a fixed hydrocarbon gas which passes out through the top of the retort
through a pipe, thence into the middle or large retort for combining the
gases, and by a pipe passing down nearly to the bottom provided with
an elbow turned towards the centre of the same, and directly opposite
the pipe discharging the hydrogen, thus making a perfect mixture of
the gases.
The middle or large retort I is constructed in the same way as the
other two, only larger, is heated as they are, and only used for mixing
the gases, and has an outlet J to conduct the gas when made to any
desired point for use.
The following is a description of the construction and mode of
onerating this portion of the improved apparatus :-The retorts for

page_text: making the gases are constructed of cast iron with lugs D for sus-
pending them in the furnace, and with flanges at the top with cast-
iron heads fitted and bolted on, and are slightly oval at the bottom.
The furnaces are constructed with a fire-grate and ash-pit underneath,
so that the fire may envelope the entire retorts nearly to the extreme
top with a chimney in the rear. The two end retorts pass up through
the brickwork of the furnace, so that the heads can be taken off to
get at the inside of the retorts, if necessary. A is the retort for decom-
posing the steam and making the hydrogen gas; B is the pipe for
introducing the superheated steam into the same; O is the cap for
distributing the steam on the bottom of the retort; E, E, E, is the
furnace around the retorts; F, F, F, is the ash-pit; G is the cast-iron
head of each retort usually bolted on; H is the pipe leading from
the hydrogen retort to the large retort for mixing the gases; I is
the large retort for mixing the gases; J is the pipe leading from
the top of the large retort to the gas holder; K is the retort for
converting the carbon vapour into fixed gas; L is the pipe leading
from the vapour generator to the retort K; M is the pipe leading
from the retort K into the retort I for mixing the gases; N is the
steam gauge on the pipe L leading into the retort K for showing
the pressure of the hydrocarbon vapour; O is the steam gauge on
pipe b for showing the pressure of superheated steam in the retort A.
Suitable stop-cocks and valves are placed between all the connections
for regulating the supply of gas.
The mode of operating the apparatus is as follows:-The two end
or small retorts are charged or filled, the retort A with charcoal, and
the retort K with pumice stone; fire is then placed in the furnaces
under the retorts which are heated to the degree required to thoroughly
fix the gases, and as the furnaces are separate it will be easy to regulate
the heat of each retort to the required degree.
When the retorts become sufficiently hot to convert the vapour
into fixed gases, steam is taken from the boiler and after being
thoroughly superheated is conducted into the retort A. through the
pipe b, and discharged on the bottom of the retort through the cap C.
The steam passing up through the incandescent coal is converted into a
a free hydrogen gas by the carbon of the coal taking up the oxygen
of the steam, thus freeing the hydrogen and leaving no deposite or

page_text: oxide, as the combination of the carbon of the coal and the oxygen
of the steam form a carbonic oxide, which passes off in the form of
a gas with the free hydrogen through the pipe H into retort I
which is used for mixing the gases. At the same time that steam
is taken into the retort A hydrocarbon vapour is taken in from an
oil generator through the pipe L into the retort K, which is used
for converting the carbon vapour into a fixed gas, and discharges it at
the bottom, which rising up through the pumice stone is converted into
a fixed carbon gas which passes off through the pipe M into the bottom
of the retort I, and is made to impinge against the current of hydrogen
gas coming from the retort A, thus forming a thorough mixture of
the two gases, which are then heated again in the retort I, and passes
out by the pipe J through the condenser to the holder. As the steam
which is taken into the retort A through the pipe 6 can be regulated
by suitable stop-cocks, and the carbon vapour which is taken through
the pipe L into the retort K can also be regulated by a stop-cock,
the quality of gas can allways be made of any illuminating power desired,
as the carbon will enrich and the hydrogen impoverish it.
.
The steam gauges, as shown on pipe L, and alsoe on pipe B, will
enable the operator to make any combination he wishes, as the whole
apparatus is run under pressure. The retort I, which passes above the
brickwork of the furnace, and all pipes exposed to the atmosphere, should
be insulated by suitable non-conducting substance.
The steam used for the hydrogen retort may be supplied from any
steam boiler, and superheated by any ordinary superheating apparatus.
The hydrocarbon vapour used for this process is generated by super-
heated steam in a tubular generator, and without the application of fire
heat. It is designed to use the generator herein-before described in this
Specification, and represented in Figs. 1 and 2.
The reservoir or supply of oil may be kep at any required distance,
even beyond the limits of the largest city, and is brought to the gene-
rators by means of pumps or by its own gravity, not more than one
barrel of oil being necessary at any time in a generator capable of
generating one hundred barrels per day.
The special new features in the improvement for illumination are as.
follows: By placing the charcoal or other carbonaceous material in an
upright retort, and passing the steam through it longitudinally, it is.

page_text: thoroughly decomposed, and a large amount of hydrogen is generated,
and it is easy to keep any quantity or desired depth of coal in the retort.
By keeping the retort hot by setting it in a furnace it is not chilled by
the action of the steam; by superheating to a high degree the chilling
action is light. By generating the gases made by the decomposition of
steam, and that from petroleum or oleagenious material in separate
retorts and then mixing them, they can always be brought together in
the proper proportion so as to produce a gas best adapted to the purpose.
The mode of mixing by putting the two gases against each other
thoroughly mixes them, by which uniformity of composition is secured.
The result of these two processes is a compound gas made of hydrogen,
carbonic oxide, carbonated hydrogen, and oil gas.
The word " oil," whenever and wherever it occurs, and standing alone
as descriptive of the material from which gas or vapour is produced in
the generator, is intended to include any and every oleagenous and car-
bonaceous substance which may or can be introduced into the generator
in a liquid or fluid state.
This Invention is not limited to the use of petroleum, coal oil, shale
oil, and the like, since there are many hydrocarbons which may be
vapourised by superheated steam, and then mixed and combined with
superheated steam so as to produce the combustible gas or vapour
which constitutes one part of this Invention.
The burners represented by the accompanying Drawings, Figs. 4 and
5, are designed for the purpose of being attached to the machine or
apparatus set forth in the foregoing Specification, and is constructed on
the principle of the steam jet used for producing or inducting a draught
in locomotive chimneys; the burners are connected thereto, and by
proper couplings or attchments a series of them may be placed under-
neath the boiler within the furnace so as bring the flame eminating
from the burners directly in contact with the boiler.
Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of the improvement as attached to
the pipes when placed in an ordinary furnace for a steam boiler, with a
portition broken out so as to show the construction and arrangement of
pipes and burners.
Fig. 5 represents a different arrangement of the pipes, but the operation
and results are similar.
A represents the superheating steam pipe placed within the gas and
vapour pipe B in such a manner as to form an annular space, around

page_text: and through which the gas and vapours are conducted to the burners C,
in which an annular space is also formed by the introduction of steam
pipe a, which connects with the superheating steam pipe A; D, D, are
couplings that may be made in any of the known forms; E and F are
coupling pipes employed when a series of burners are designed to be
used; G is the main gas or vapour supply pipe, connecting the gene-
rating apparatus in the Specification herein-before described, while all
the steam pipes connect with the superheater; a¹, a¹, are caps fitted
over the ends of the steam and gas pipes. Fig. 5 shows a different
arrangement of the steam and gas pipes, the steam pipe A being located
immediately below the gas pipe B; this plan is equally good, but more
expensive. For economy the plan as shown in Fig. 4 is preferable.
The burners, together with the pipes as herein shown are placed within
the furnace under the boiler, or wherever the heat is designed to be
applied, and as the gas and vapour are generated in the apparatus from
petroleum or other oleagenious substances, the burners having proper
connections with the gas generating apparatus and steam boiler, the
is admitted under pressure through the pipe B to the burner C, where it
is united, and at the same time a jet of superheated steam is admitted
through the pipe a at a temperature of about 800° Fahrenheit, when it
comes in contact with the gas flame, which immediately decomposes,
and converts the same into hydrogen gas, which instantly ignites and
greatly increases the intensity and volume of the flame.
gas
The flow of both steam and gas is regulated by suitable valves, so
that the intensity of heat may be controlled as occasion may require. The
quantities or properties of steam and gas may also be regulated by proper
valves.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation, drawn separate, of the gas
generator shown in Fig. 1, about one-fourth of its full size, excepting it
is provided with a jacket W, W, around its circumference and at the
bottom. This generator may be used with or without the jacket; when
it is constructed without its sides are carried up as represented by
the dotted lines on each side, and bolted or rivited to the top of the
generator.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
constructing and working the same, I would have it understood that I
do not confine myself to the precise detail of constructing the apparatus
as represented by the accompanying Drawings herein-before described,

page_text: as they may be varied without departing from the principle or construc-
tion, and made to produce substantially the same result; but what I
claim is, the manner of making, preparing, and mixing the gases and
vapours in any required proportions for heating and illuminating pur-
poses, as herein-before described.
claim is, the manner of making, preparing, and mixing the gases and
vapours in any required proportions for heating and illuminating pur-
poses, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martin Benson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martin Benson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
MARTIN BENSON. (L.&.)