Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Gas from Hydro- carbon Oils and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES HENRY WILDER, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Carbon Manufacturer, and
Mining Engineer.]
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Gas from Hydro-
carbon Oils and to Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
This invention relates to the manufacture of gas for illuminating and heating
purposes, by vaporizing oil in a vaporizing retort and mixing it with heated
atmospheric air in an air and vapor mixing retort.
The object of the invention is to provide a novel method or process of feeding oil,
or any hydrocarbon liquid to the vaporizing retort, whereby sediment and other
foreign matter contained in the oil is precipitated or deposited prior to the entrance
of the oil into the vaporizing retort.
gas
for
The invention also has for its object to provide a novel method of cleaning or
purifying the oil and subsequently feeding it uniformly to the vaporizing retort
whereby Lima oil can be practicably utilized in the manufacture of
illuminating and heating purposes, without the residuum in the retorts of offensive
odors from the oil-vapor, while obtaining a larger proportion of gas from a given
quantity of oil.
The invention also has for its object to provide novel means for feeding
the oil to the vaporizing retort through the medium of hydrostatic pressure
on a body of heated water whereby the oil is not only fed uniformly to the retort,
but sediment and other foreign matter is deposited before the oil enters the
retort.
The invention also has for its object to provide a novel apparatus for manu-
facturing gas by commingling vaporized oil with air.
These objects are accomplished in the manner and by the means hereinafter
described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which—
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus designed for carrying the invention
into practice.
Figure 2, is a side elevation partly in section, showing the arrangement of
furnaces and retorts.
Figures 3 and 4 are detail views of the diaphragms for sub-dividing the air and
vapor mixing retort.
Figure 5 is an end view showing a modified arrangement for heating the oil
feeding water-tank.
Figures 6 and 7 are similar views showing other modifications for heating the
oil feeding water-tank.
In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention I will
now describe the same in detail referring to the drawings where :-
The numeral 1 indicates a furnace structure having a fire-grate 2 and containing
a horizontal vaporizing retort 3, projecting from the end walls of the furnace
structure and through the end 4 of which retort enters an air pipe 5. The other
end 6 of said retort is provided with a pipe 7, of larger diameter than the air pipe 5,
and this pipe 7, communicates with the end 8 of a second or air and gas mixing
retort 9, arranged in a second furnace 10, the air pipe 5 having its open end
terminated in the pipe 7.
"Through the end 6 of the retort 3, enters an oil feed pipe 12, which carries the

page_text: oil from the oil feeding water-tank 13, such feed pipe being provided with a hori-
zontal branch 12" which terminates within the retort, its open end lying preferably,
ɛomewhat nearer the end 4, than the opposite end 6.
In the pipe 12 at the coupling 15, is placed a plug 16 to enable the oil pipe 12*
to be cleansed. In the air pipe 5, outside the retort 3, is located a cock 17 for
regulating the volume of air, said cock having a lever 18 which is provided with a
pin, or point 19, moving over a segmental scale 20, by which the volume of air
admitted may be regulated.
The second, or air and vapor mixing retort 9, which is connected with the
vaporizing retort by the pipe 7, is heated through the medium of a grate 21,
similar in all essential respects to that in the furnace structure 1. This second
retort while it is of the same general form as the retort 3, is usually made some-
what longer, and is divided interiorly, into a series of chambers 22, by transverse
diaphragms or partitions 23 and 24. Each of these diaphragms is provided with
nipples, or similar projections 25, whereby they are retained at a suitable distance,
one from another, to form the chambers 22. The diaphragms 23, which alternate
with the diaphragms 24, are cut away upon their edges, to form peripheral
openings 26, as shown in Figure 3, while each of the diaphragms 24 is provided
with a central opening 27. In this manner it will readily be seen that the vapors
of the oil and the air passing to the retort 9, will be compelled to pass through
the openings 26, and thence through the central openings 27 alternately, thereby
effecting a complete and thorough admixture of the air and vapor, thus forming a
fixed gas.
From the second or air and vapor mixing retort 9, this gas passes, by way of
pipe 28 into a third or gas reheating retort 29, consisting of an expanded chamber,
heated by any suitable form of furnace 30. In this third retort the fixed gas is
submitted to a further temperature whereby any substances not fully volatilized
are thrown down prior to their entrance into the gas holder. This third retort is
connected with the gas holder by a pipe 31. The entire internal surfaces of the
several retorts, as well as the diaphragms 23 and 24, and the surfaces of all
metallic parts of the retorts, are covered or coated with a paste-like mixture of
plumbago and a binding such as molasses or its equivalent. The heat converts
the paste into a fixed carbon which is practically indestructible and renders the
retorts more durable while improving the gas and enabling a larger proportion to
be obtained from a given quantity of oil.
The oil feeding pipe 12 is connected by a branch 32, with the top of the tank 13
heretofore mentioned, said tank being provided with an oil supply pipe 34, for
filling the tank and with a pipe 35, having a vertical branch by which the
necessary hydrostatic column is supplied for the feed-pressure, said pressure being
indicated by a gauge 36, while the quantity of oil in the reservoir is shown by a
gauge tube 37. A cock 38 is attached at the bottom of the tank to permit the
withdrawal of the water.
The branch 32 of the oil-feeding pipe 12 has an auxiliary branch 39, provided
with a cock 40, through which the oil may flow when testing the quality, by
running it into an empty measure. In the branch pipe 32, is placed a cock 41,
below the point of union of the auxiliary branch 39 and a second cock 42 above
eaid point. When the cock 42 is properly adjusted, the lower cock 41 is opened
and the cock 40, in the auxiliary branch is closed. When it is necessary to close
the feed, the cock 41 is closed and the cock 42 left open, ready for operation, when-
ever the cock 41 shall be again opened. In this manner the cock 42 is only used
for adjusting the feed of the oil. Both the oil supply and water supply pipes 34
and 35 are provided with cocks, for closing them, said cocks not being shown in the
drawing.
The tank 13 serves to contain a body of water which is constantly acted
upon by a column of water in the pipe 35, and therefore the oil floating on the
water is uniformly fed to the vaporizing retort by the hydrostatic pressure of the
column of water.

page_text: The oil feeding water tank is heated by any suitable heater for the purpose of
heating the water therein, whereby the oil is heated by direct contact with the
water. The action of the heat is such that sediment and other foreign matter
contained in the oil is precipitated or deposited in the water-tank from which it
can be removed through the medium of the waste-cock 38. By this means the oil
is purified or deprived of all sediment prior to its entrance into the oil feeding pipe,
and therefore the collection of sediment in the pipe is entirely avoided, which is an
important feature since deposits in the pipe connections between the tank and the
retort would materially interfere with the perfect operation of the apparatus as a
whole. The oil being heated by direct contact with heated water, is prevented
from rising in temperature to a dangerous degree.
In Figure 1 the oil feeding water tank 13 is heated through the medium of a
suitable furnace structure 43, supporting the tank and having a fire-place and a
grate 44.
In Figure 5, the tank is supported by a suitable structure containing a gas or oil
burner 45 comprising a gang of burner-tips or jets.
In Figure 6, the tank is provided with a vertical heating flue 46, opening at its
lower end into a furnace structure 47 which may contain a fire-place and grate, as
in Figure 1, or a gas or oil burner, as in Figure 5.
In Figure 7, the tank is heated by a coil 48, through which a heating fluid is
caused to flow.
I do not, of course, confine myself to any special contrivance for heating the
body of water on which the oil floats, as this can be accomplished through the
medium of any devices suitable for the conditions required.
By feeding the oil as described, the lighter and most volatile portion is constantly
removed and all danger of explosion is avoided, and by passing the air pipe entirely
through the vaporizing retort, the air and oil vapour are heated to about the same
temperature, while by mingling the heated air with the oil vapour in transit to the
air and vapour mixing retort, the expansion due to their different capacities for the
absorption of heat is fully provided for.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In the manufacture of gas from hydrocarbon oils, the method or process
herein described of purifying the oil and feeding it to a vaporizing retort, which
consists in heating the oil by contact with a body of heated liquid subject to
hydrostatic pressure, substantially as set forth.
Second. The method or process herein described of manufacturing gas from
hydrocarbon oils which consists in heating the oil by direct contact with a body of
heated liquid forcing the heated oil to a vaporizing retort by hydrostatic pressure
on the body of heated water, and mixing heated atmospheric air with the oil-vapor,
substantially as set forth.
Third. In an apparatus for the manufacture of gas, the combination with a
vaporizing retort, and an air-pipe extending thereinto, of an oil feeding water tank
having a pipe connection at its top portion with the interior of the vaporizing
retort, a heater for heating the body of water in the tank, a pipe for delivering the
oil upon the surface of the heated water, and a pipe for containing a column of
water to subject the body of heated water to hydrostatic pressure for feeding the
oil, substantially as described.
Fourth. In an apparatus for the manufacture of gas, the retorts lined internally
with a mixture of plumbago and molasses, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Fifth. An apparatus for the manufacture of gas, consisting of a furnace structure
containing a vaporizing retort, a furnace structure containing an air and vapor
mixing retort, a tube connection between the adjacent ends of the said retorts, an

page_text: oil supply-pipe extending into the vaporizing retort and delivering the oil in a
heated condition thereinto, and an air supply pipe extending into the vaporizing
retort for delivering heated air into the vaporized oil, substantially as described.
Sixth. An apparatus for the manufacture of gas, consisting of a vaporizing
retort, an air and vapor mixing retort, a tube connection between the adjacent
ends of the said retorts, an oil supply pipe extending into the vaporizing retort for
delivering the oil in a heated condition thereinto, an oil tank with the top of which
the oil supply pipe connects, a water pipe entering the lower end of the oil tank
and delivering water therein to force oil by hydrostatic pressure through the oil
supply pipe, and an air supply pipe extending through the vaporizing retort and 1
terminating in the tube connection between the two retorts for delivering heated
air into the vaporized oil in transit through the tube connection to the mixing
retort, substantially as described.
Seventh. An apparatus for the manufacture of gas consisting of a furnace
structure containing a vaporizing retort, a furnace structure containing an air and
vapor mixing retort, a tube connection between the adjacent ends of the said
retorts, an oil supply pipe entering the vaporizing retort for delivering the oil in a
heated condition thereinto, an oil tank with the top portion of which the oil pipe
connects a water pipe entering the lower end portion of the oil tank to deliver
water therein and to force the oil by hydrostatic pressure through the oil 2
supply-pipe into the vaporizing retort and an air supply pipe for delivering
heated air into the oil vapor in transit to the air and vapor mixing retort, sub-
stantially as described.
Eighth. An apparatus for the manufacture of gas, consisting of a vaporizing
retort having its bottom wall coated or lined with plumbago, an air and vapor
mixing retort having a tube connection with one end of the vaporizing retort, an
oil supply pipe extending into the vaporizing retort and delivering the oil in a
heated condition upon the coating or lining of plumbago, and an air supply pipe for
delivering heated air to the oil vapor in transit to the air and vapor mixing retort,
substantially as described.
Ninth. An apparatus for the manufacture of gas, consisting of a furnace
structure containing a vaporizing retort, a furnace structure containing an air and
oil vapor mixing retort provided interiorly with a series of separated diaphragms
formed with alternating orifices for the tortuous circuit of the air and vapor, a
tube connection between the adjacent ends of the said retorts, an oil supply pipe
entering the vaporizing retort and delivering the oil in a heated condition there-
into, and an air supply pipe arranged within the vaporizing retort for delivering
the heated air into the oil vapor in trausit to the air and vapor mixing retort
substantially as described.
Tenth. An apparatus for the manufacture of gas, consisting of a furnace
structure containing a vaporizing retort, a furnace structure containing an air and
vapor mixing retort, a tube connection between the adjacent ends of the said
retorts, a series of separated diaphragms arranged within the air and vapor mixing
retorts, and provided alternately with orifices for the tortuous circuit of the oil and
vapor and oil supply pipe extending into the vaporizing retort, and arranged to
deliver the oil in a heated condition thereinto and an air supply pipe extending
through the vaporizing retort and terminating within the tube connection between
the retorts for delivering heated air to the oil vapor in transit through the tube
connection, substantially as described.
Eleventh. An apparatus for the manufacture of gas, consisting of a furnace
structure containing a vaporizing retort, a furnace structure containing an air and
vapor mixing retort having a tube connection with one end of the vaporizing retort,
a furnace structure containing a gas reheating retort having a tube connection with
the air and vapor mixing retort at the end thereof opposite that which connects
with the vaporizing retort and arranged to deliver the oil in a heated condition
thereinto, and an air supply pipe extending through the vaporizing retort, and

page_text: arranged to deliver heated air to the oil vapor in transit to the air and vapor
mixing retort, substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of October 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.