IMPROVED MEANS OF OBTAINING LIGHT. HEAT, AND MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Edward Dering, of Lockleys, near Welwyn, in the
County of Herts, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS OF OBTAINING
LIGHT. HEAT, AND MOTIVE POWER."
Sealed the 10th June 1879, and dated the 13th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Edward Dering
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th December 1878.
GEORGE EDWARD DERING, of Lockleys, near Welwyn, in the County of Herts.
"IMPROVED MEANS OF OBTAINING LIGHT, HEAT, AND MOTIVE POWER."
At the present time when magneto-electric or dynamo-electric machines are
employed for obtaining light, the light is usually obtained by causing the electric
current generated in the machine to pass between carbon points or by causing the
When
current to heat a metal wire, or strip, or other conductor to incandescence.
the electric current is utilized in these ways it is necessary that the magneto-
electric or dynamo-electric machine should be constantly at work during the time
the light is required, and when the light is not required the generating machine
cannot usefully remain at work as it is not feasible to use a receiver for storing
electricity.
My improvements have for their object to enable magneto-electric or dynamo-
electric machines, especially the latter, or it may be other machines, by which
motion or work is converted into electricity, whether kept constantly at work or
whether worked occasionally at regular or irregular intervals, or with varying
degrees of force and velocity to form a store or reserve from which light, heat, or
motive power can be obtained whenever desired.
For this purpose I utilize the electric current generated in the magneto-electric or
dynamo-electric machine or their equivalent for decomposing water, and I collect
the resulting gases, hydrogen and oxygen, separately in two separate receivers or
holders under any desired degree of pressure, and from the receivers or holders I
conduct the gases by pipes or conduits any required distance to wherever it may be

page_text: +
desired to utilize them for obtaining light, or heat, or motive power. The gases
may be compressed by compressing apparatus into holders, and if desired portable
holders may be charged with them for conveyance to a distance. Either of the
gases might be utilized separately independently of the other if desirable.
For obtaining light the gases may be burnt together so as to produce what is
known as the Drummond or lime light, or the hydrogen might have carbon com-
bined with it before being burnt together with the oxygen. By this means of
lighting the main impediments or drawbacks to electric lighting as at present
attempted or practiced, namely, the want of means of storage, the impracticably
large conductors requisite for distributing the current, and the difficulties in the
way of subdividing the light and of measuring and registering the supply are
entirely avoided.
For heating purposes the gases may be burnt together, and the heat utilized for
heating steam boilers, or for metallurgic operations or for a vast variety of other
heating purposes, including house-warming, cooking, and domestic fire-places.
For obtaining motive power the gases may either be used directly in what are
known as gas engines, or engines may be worked by steam from steam-boilers
heated by the combustion of the gases or by aeriform fluid heated by their
combustion.
By the combined arrangement above described of magneto-electric or dynamo-
electric machines or their equivalent for generating an electric current water-
decomposing apparatus for utilizing the electric current, gas-holders, or receivers
for storing the gases obtained, and distributing pipes or conduits leading such gases
from the receivers to wherever it is desired to use them, I am enabled, either on
the one hand by maintaining magneto-electric or dynamo-electric machines, or
their equivalent constantly at work, or on the other hand by working them
according to circumstances occasionally at regular or irregular intervals, and it may
be with varying degrees of force and velocity (regulated in such case by governors
if desirable) to accumulate a reserve from which light, heat, or motive power can at
any time be obtained, and conversely to obtain light, heat, or motive power at times
when the generating machines are not necessarily at work.
The magneto-electric or dynamo-electric machines, or their equivalent, must be
so constructed and worked that the electric current from them (which may be
either continuous or intermittent) is not alternating in direction but circulates
constantly in the same direction between the electrodes of the decomposition
apparatus. Steam, caloric, or gas engines, animal power, or other motive forces
may be employed for driving the generating machines, but the means of utilizing
as above described either the constant or the occasional or varying working of such
machines is especially important as rendering it feasible for a constant source of
light, heat, or motive power to be maintained from the action of the wind on wind-
mills, or of falling or moving water upon suitable motive machines, and for such
source or store to be accumulated independently of the cessations or fluctuations of
an inconstant or variable prime mover, thus practically enabling those widely
prevailing and unlimitedly powerful, but intractable, and at present for the most
part unavailable, motive forces of nature, the movements of the atmosphere, whether
of the strength of a breeze or that of a gale of wind, and the movements of water
constituting streams, cataracts, currents, or tides by transformation of their
active energy into a latent or potential condition in the form of hydrogen and
oxygen gases to be stored up ready to develop by the intense combustion of the
gases, light, heat, or power at any convenient future time and at any distant localities
in an exact ratio to the measure of force which has been utilized in the motive
engine employed, and so become the substitute for coal or other "fuel."

page_text: «
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Edward Dering in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th June 1879.
GEORGE EDWARD DERING, of Lockleys, near Welwyn, in the County of Herts.
'IMPROVED MEANS OF OBTAINING LIGHT, HEAT, AND MOTIVE POWER."
At the present time, when magneto-electric or dynamo-electric machines are
employed for obtaining light, the light is usually obtained by causing the electric
current generated in the machine to pass between carbon points or by causing the
current to heat a metal wire or strip, or other conductor to incandescence. When
the electric current is utilized in these ways it is necessary that the magneto-
electric or dynamo-electric machine should be constantly at work during the time
the light is required, and when the light is not required the generating machine
cannot usefully remain at work as it is not feasible to use a receiver for storing
electricity.
My improvements have for their object to enable magneto-electric or dynamo-
electric machines, especially the latter, or it may be other machines by which
motion or work is converted into electricity, whether kept constantly at work or
whether worked occasionally at regular or irregular intervals or with varying
degrees of force and velocity, to form a store or reserve from which light, heat, or
motive power can be obtained whenever desired, whether the demand be continuous,
or whether intermittent or variable.'
For this purpose I utilize the electric current generated in the magneto-electric
or dynamo-electric machine or their equivalent for decomposing water, and I collect
the resulting gases, hydrogen and oxygen, separately in two separate receivers or
holders under any desired degree of pressure, and from the receivers or holders I
conduct the gases by pipes or conduits any required distances to wherever it may
be desired to utilize them for obtaining light, or heat, or motive power. T'he gases
may be compressed by compressing apparatus into holders, and, if desired, portable
holders may be charged with them for conveyance to a distance. Either of the
gases might be utilized separately, independently of the other if desired; for
example, the hydrogen might be burned in connexion with atmospheric air instead of
with the oxygen from the decomposed water, and the latter gas serviceably employed
in some of the arts or manufactures.
For obtaining light the gases may be burned together so as to produce what is
known as the Drummond or lime light, or the hydrogen might have carbon com-
bined with it before being burned together with the oxygen. By this means of
lighting the main impediments or draw-backs to electric lighting as at present
attempted or practiced, namely, the want of means of storage, the impracticably
large conductors requisite for distributing the current, and the difficulties in the
way of subdividing the light and of measuring and. registering the supply are
entirely avoided.
For heating purposes the gases may be burned together, and the heat utilized for
heating steam-boilers, or for metallurgic operations, or for a vast variety of
other heating purposes, including house-warming, cooking, and domestic fire-
places.
For obtaining motive power the gases may either be used directly in what
are known as gas engines, or engines may be worked by steam from steam-boilers
heated by the combustion of the gases or by aeriform fluid heated by their
combustion.
By the combined arrangement above described of magneto-electric or dynamo-
electric machines or their equivalent for generating an electric current, water-
decomposing apparatus for utilizing the electric current, receivers or holders for
storing the gases obtained, and distributing pipes or conduits leading such gases
from the receivers or holders to wherever it is desired to use them, I am enabled,

page_text: either on the one hand by maintaining magneto-electric or dynamo-electric
machines or their equivalent constantly at work, or on the other hand by working
them according to circumstances, occasionally at regular or irregular intervals, and
it may be with varying degrees of force and velocity (regulated in such case by
'governors," if desirable) to accumulate a reserve from which light, heat, or motive
power can at any time be obtained, and conversely to obtain light, heat, or motive
power at times when the generating machines are not necessarily at work.
<
The magneto-electric or dynamo-electric machines or their equivalent must be so
constructed and worked that the electric current from them (which may be either
continuous or intermittent) is not alternating in direction but circulates constantly
in the same direction between the electrodes of the decomposition apparatus.
Steam, caloric, or gas engines, animal power, or other motive forces may be
employed for driving the generating machines, but the means of utilizing, as above
described, either the constant or the occasional or varying working of such machines
is especially important as rendering it feasible for a constant source of light, heat,
or motive power to be maintained from the action of the wind on wind-mills, or
of falling or moving water upon suitable motive machines, and for such source or
store to be accumulated independently of the cessations or fluctuations of an
inconstant or variable prime mover, thus practically enabling those widely pre-
vailing and unlimitedly powerful, but intractable, and at present for the most part
unavailable, motive forces of nature, the movements of the atmosphere, whether of
the strength of a breeze or that of a gale of wind, and the movements of the water
constituting streams, cataracts, currents, or tides by transformation of their active
energy into a latent or potential condition in the form of hydrogen and oxygen
gases to be stored up ready to develop by the intense combustion of the gases,
light, heat, or power at any convenient future time and at any distant localities in
an exact ratio to the measure of force which has been utilized in the motive engine
employed, and so become the substitute for coal or other "fuel."
To enable others readily and effectively to carry out my Invention it is only
necessary to add that the magneto-electric, or dynamo-electric, or other generating
machines used, whatever variety of construction be adopted, or whatever form
given to them should be so designed in regard to their "internal resistance," that
is to say, the sectional are, length, and number of convolutions of the wire or
other electrical conductor forming their coils or helices and other like conditions,
should be such, in accordance with the principles embodied in what are known as
Ohm's laws (the practical carrying out of which principles is well understood by
electricians) that the electrical currents developed will be of suitable and propor-
tionate electro-motive force for overcoming the resistance offered by the water-
decomposing apparatus, and that preferably the resistance of the water to be
decomposed should be lessened by the admixture of acid, or by its being kept
heated, or by both methods combined. The arrangement most suitable to be used
for the decomposition of the water and separate collection of the gases derived from
it, and delivery of them into the receivers or holders in which they are to be stored
would differ little, except in magnitude, from apparatus now employed by experi-
menters in physical science when it is desired to effect the decomposition of water
by means of electricity, and to lead away the resulting gases separately and
continuously. In such apparatus, which is too well known to need particular
description, the gases, as fast as they become disengaged from the electrodes, ascend
through the liquid into separate compartments, from which there is no exit except
through the tubes or pipes provided for conducting them away, being kept separate
by vertical partitions extending downwards below the water line, and sometimes
by a porous division extending the whole depth of the decomposition vessel. Upon
a larger scale it will be of the utmost importance to employ effectual precautions
for preventing the possibility of any mixture of the gases taking place under any
circumstances. A sufficient depth of "water seal" or the use of extra "water
seals" will probably be all that is requisite, but other means for the purpose will
readily suggest themselves to any engineer if there seem a necessity for adopting

page_text: them. The electrodes may be of platinum, but preferably they are of gas-retort
carbon platinized upon the surface. The storage vessels for the gases would be
similar to the gasometers now used in gas works, the relative capacities of the
holders for the hydrogen and oxygen respectively being about in the proportion of
2 to 1, and the gases will be delivered into them in the same manner that coal-gas
enters the ordinary gasometers.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the best manner I am
acquainted with of performing the same, I would have it understood that I
claim,-
First. The combination of a magneto-electric or dynamo-electric machine or other
machine by which motion or work is converted into electricity, so constructed and
worked as to deliver the current or successive currents of electricity constantly in
the same direction, driven by a motive power engine, with apparatus for decom-
posing water so arranged that the component gases of the water are collected in
separate receivers or holders, and with pipes or conduits from such receivers or
holders to conduct the gases to wherever it is desired to utilize them or charge
other holders (stationary or portable) with them or either of them.
Second. The combination of a magneto-electric or dynamo-electric machine or
other machine by which motion or work is converted into electricity, so constructed
and worked as to deliver the current or successive currents of electricity constantly
in the same direction, driven by gearing actuated by horse or other animal power,
with apparatus for decomposing water so arranged that the component gases of the
water are collected in separate receivers or holders, and with pipes or conduits from
such receivers or holders to conduct the gases to wherever it is desired to
utilize them or charge other holders (stationary or portable) with them or either of
them.
Third. The combination of a magneto-electric or dynamo-electric machine or
other machine by which motion or work is converted into electricity, so constructed
and worked as to deliver the current or successive currents of electricity constantly
in the same direction, driven by means of a wind-mill or engine worked by the
movements of the atmosphere, with apparatus for decomposing water so arranged
that the component gases of the water are collected in separate receivers or holders,
and with pipes or conduits from such receivers or holders to conduct the gases to
wherever it is desired to utilize them or charge other holders (stationary or
portable) with them or either of them.
Fourth. The combination of a magneto-electric or dynamo-electric machine or
other machine by which motion or work is converted into electricity so constructed
and worked as to deliver the current or successive currents of electricity constantly
in the same direction, driven by means of an engine worked by falling or moving
water, with apparatus for decomposing water so arranged that the component gases
of the water are collected in separate receivers or holders, and with pipes or con-
duits from such receivers or holders to conduct the gases to wherever it is desired
to utilize them, or charge other holders (stationary or portable) with them or either
of them.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Edward Dering, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
GEORGE E. DERING. (L.S.)