Improvements in the Production by the Cold Process of Gas for Lighting and Motive Power, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 9th June, 1897-Accepted, 17th July, 1897
Improvements in the Production by the Cold Process of Gas for
Lighting and Motive Power, and Apparatus therefor.
I, GUSTAVE KREMER, of Gilly, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a special method of and apparatus for the production, by the
cold process, with the aid of petroleum or other carburetted liquid, of gas which may
be used for lighting and motive power; the essential features of the invention
are:
1. The employment of arrangements permitting a liquid rich in carburets to be
brought in a state of very fine division in air under pressure, which liquid in its
finely divided state is carried along by the air under pressure and gives up to the
latter the whole of the carburets which it may contain.
2. The employment of baffles arranged and constructed in a special manner,
which baffles have the effect of ensuing the intimate admixture of the air and
the carburets, as well as the dryness of this mixture.
In carrying out my invention I employ a gas generator connected by means of
a tube to an air pump or similar apparatus adapted to force air into a receiver
within which the said tube extends upwards. The generator consists of a metallic
receptacle divided into a certain number of superposed chambers separated from
each other by suitable partitions.
Through each of these walls is arranged a large number of tubes extending
downwardly to near the bottom of the next lower chamber; the upper end of
each tube is surrounded and supported by a truncated cone, covering its aperture
and so arranged that larger apertures of these truncated cones open out into the
chamber below same. The small aperture at the top of the truncated cone is
arranged concentrically at a somewhat higher level than the aperture at the upper
end of the inner tube."
Each such truncated cone is surmounted by another similar truncated cone
placed inversely on the former, and provided at its upper end with a convex or
spherical perforated cap preferably formed of close-meshed wire gauze.
At the level of the uppermost wall and in the centre of the apparatus, is a vertical
pipe or conduit provided at its top with a valve by means of which the upper part of
the apparatus communicates with the lowermost chamber thereof. In the upper
chamber the dimensions of which are comparatively much larger than those of the
lower chambers, is arranged a cap or chamber of sheet metal, the sides of which are
finely perforated, and above it in same chamber is arranged a cone provided at
its lower end with a close-meshed wire gauze partition. This cone is surmounted
by a second cone reversely placed on the former and likewise provided with one or
more wire gauze partitions.
The upper part of the apparatus is connected by a tube to a reservoir or holder
of any desired construction. To start the working of the apparatus and the
production of gas by the cold process, a certain quantity of petroleum or of any other

page_text: liquid more or less rich in carburets, is introduced into the apparatus until the lower
chamber becomes about half filled therewith the level being indicated by a gauge-glass.
Then the air compressor is brought into operation and forces the air under pressure
into the apparatus through the connecting tube and this compressed air entering the
lower chamber exerts pressure upon the petroleum or other contained liquid and
forces same into the small tubes of each of the atomising chambers whence it emerges
with force by reason of the small aperture at the junction of the two superposed reversed
truncated cones. The liquid jet not being able to escape immediately by this
aperture bursts against the wall of the lower truncated cone in the centre of the air
under pressure which arrives by the annular space between the wall of the truncated
cone and the tube. This causes a preliminary breaking up of the liquid employed,
due in a measure to the presence of the mixing chamber formed by the lower cone
and the upper extremity of the tube. The finely divided liquid together with the air
under pressure continuing to carry this liquid along, escape by the central cone
aperture and enter with force the upper truncated cone which serves as an additional
mixing chamber within the main atomising chamber. This upper truncated cone by
reason of its surface of wire gauze arranged as above described, in the form of a spherical
cap, ensures the escape of this mixture in the form of a spray composed of fine liquid
particles in the required directions, so as to fill part of a sphere of comparatively large
diameter. By this construction also the various jets of liquid particles, escaping from
several chambers adjacent toench other, are bound to meet and to mutually cause each
other to be finely divided. The result of this spraying is to saturate the air with the
volatile carburets contained in the petroleum or, in any other liquid that may be
employed and which is rich in carburets.
This saturation is further assisted by the eddy of the air in the lower carburetting
chamber and of the carburetted liquid falling back on the lower wall of the same
chamber. This liquid forms a new layer on the said wall, whilst the air under
pressure already charged with carburet, acting anew, compels the liquid employed to
rush into the small tubes of this chamber.
The operation is continued in the same manner in each of the carburetting
chambers or compartments of the apparatus, the number of these chambers varying
according to the magnitude of the generator, and consequently the gas grows richer
and richer in carburetted products as it passes successively through each of these
chambers. The gas and carburetted liquid thus reaching the uppermost chamber of
the apparatus and passing with force through the atomisers located in the bottom of
this chamber, meet the aforesaid cap or chamber of sheet metal against which they
are thrown, thus experiencing a violent shock, which causes an intimate mixture of
the gas particles. The liquid which has been carried along is retained to a great
extent, whereas the gas escapes by the perforated side plates or metallic gauze, and
enters the upper part of this chamber. Here the gas again meets the wire gauze
partition located at the bottom part or large aperture of the lower cone. This wire
gauze causes the gas particles to become still more intimately mixed likewise
retaining a part of the liquid that may have been carried along under the influence of
the pressure. Any small part of the liquid particles that night however still find
their way through this wire gauze, will be caught by the metallic surface of the
lower cone on which the liquid will become condensed.
Lastly, one or more surfaces of wire gauze are located in the upper cone to ensure
ultimately the complete drying of the gas, which, passing through the communicating
tube enters the reservoir or gasholder.
The particles of petroleum or other liquid, which may collect on the cap or have
passed through the various surfaces of wire gauze referred to, as well as those which
have become condensed on the two superposed reversed cones fall back upon the floor
of the upper chamber, upon which they form again a layer of liquid. This liquid
returns into the lowermost chamber of the apparatus through the central tube so soon
as a discontinuance of the pressure produced by the air compressor has enabled the
valve thereof to clear the orifice of the tube at the level of the floor of the upper
chamber of the generator. It will be seen that by means of the hereinbefore

page_text: described apparatus a gas is obtained, which is rich in carburets, of sufficient dryness
and ready for immediate use without requiring any filtration whatever.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details of
construction and form above indicated, but reserve the right to any modification
thereof as being part of my invention.
1000
J. C. CHAPMAN, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in the Production by the Cold Process of Gas for
Lighting and Motive Power, and Apparatus therefor.
I, GUSTAVE KREMER, of Gilly, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what inanner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a special method of and apparatus for the production, by
the cold process, with the aid of petroleum or other carburetted liquid, of a gas which
may be used for lighting and motive power; the essential features of the invention
are:
1. The employment of arrangements permitting a liquid rich in carburets to be
brought into a state of very fine division in air under pressure, which liquid in its
finely divided state is carried along by the air under pressure and gives up to the
latter the whole of the carburets which it may contain.
2. The employment of baffles or obstructions arranged and constructed in a special
manner, which have the effect of ensuring the intimate admixture of the air and the
carburets as well as the dryness of this mixture. In describing my invention I will
refer to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a section through my improved
gas generating apparatus. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through one of the atomisers
and Fig. 3 shows an alternative and modified form of my gas generating apparatus
conveniently combined with a holder for the gas as hereinafter explained.
In carrying out my invention I employ a gas generator A connected by means of a
tube T to an air pump or similar apparatus adapted to force air into a receiver within
which the said tube T extends. The generator A consists of a metallic receptacle
divided into a certain number of superposed chambers C, C1, C2, C3, C4, separated from
each other by partitions e, el, e, e³.
Through each of these partitions is arranged a large number of tubes t extending
downwardly to near the bottom of the next chamber below; the upper end of each
tube t is surrounded and supported by a truncated cone f covering its aperture and
so arranged that the larger apertures of these truncated cones open into the
chamber below same. The small aperture at the top of the truncated cone is
arranged concentrically at a somewhat higher level than the aperture at the upper end
of the inner tube t.
Each such truncated cone f is surmounted by another similar truncated cone f
placed reversely on the former, and provided at its upper end with a convex or
spherical perforated cap me preferably formed of close-meshed wire gauze.
At the level of the uppermost partition e³ and in the centre of the apparatus, is a
vertical pipe or conduit d provided at its top with a valve S by means of which the
upper part of the apparatus communicates with the lowermost chamber C thereof.
In the uppermost chamber C which is much larger than the lower chambers described,
is arranged a cap or chamber F of sheet metal, the sides of which are finely

page_text: perforated at a and above it in same chamber is arranged a cone E provided at or
near its lower end with a close-meshed wire gauze partition m¹. This cone E is
surmounted by a second cone E' reversely placed on the former and likewise provided
with one or more wire gauze partitions m².
The upper part of the apparatus is connected by a tube T¹ to a reservoir or holder
of any desired construction which may be separate or combined with the producer as
hereinafter shown. To start the working of the apparatus and the production of gas
by the cold process or "in the cold" a certain quantity of petroleum or of any other
liquid more or less rich in carburets, is introduced into the apparatus A until the lower
chamber Cbecomes about half filled therewith the level being indicated by a gauge-
glass. Then the air compressor is brought into operation and forces the air under
pressure into the apparatus through the connecting tube T and this compressed air
entering the lower chamber C exerts pressure upon the petroleum or other contained
liquid and forces same into the small tubes t t of each of the atomising chambers
whence it emerges with force by reason of the small aperture o Fig. 2 at the junction
of the two superposed reversed truncated cones f, f. The liquid jet not being able
to escape immediately by this aperture o impinges against the wall of the lower
truncated cone fin the centre of the air under pressure which arrives by the annular
space between the wall of the truncated cone f and the tube t. This causes a
preliminary breaking up of the liquid employed, due in a measure to the presence of
the mixing chamber formed by the lower cone f and the upper extremity of the
tube t. The finely divided liquid together with the air under pressure continuing to
carry this liquid along, escapes by the central cone aperture o and enters with
considerable force into the upper truncated cone f which serves as an additional
mixing chamber within the main atomising chamber. This upper truncated cone f
by reason of its surface of wire gauze m arranged as above described, in the form of a
spherical cap, ensures the escape of this mixture in the form of spray composed of
fine liquid particles in the required directions as indicated by the arrow, so as to fill
part of a sphere of comparatively large diameter. By this construction also the
various jets of liquid particles, escaping from several chambers adjacent to each other,
are bound to meet and to mutually cause each other to be finely divided. The result
of this spraying is to saturate the air with the volatile carburets contained in the
petroleum or in any other liquid that may be employed and which is rich in
carburets. This saturation is further assisted by the eddy of the air in the lower
carburetting chamber C' and of the carburetted liquid falling back on the floor of
the same chamber. This liquid forms a new layer on the floor e whilst the air under
pressure already charged with carburet acting anew, compels the liquid employed to
rush through the small tubes in this chamber into the upper chamber C².
The operation is continued in the same manner in each of the carburetting chambers
or compartments of the apparatus, the number of these chambers varying according
to the magnitude of the generator, and consequently the gas grows richer and richer
in carburetted products as it passes successively through each of these chambers.
The gas and carburetted liquid thus reaching the uppermost chamber C' of the
apparatus and passing with force through the atomisers located in the floor of this
chamber, meet the aforesaid chamber of sheet metal against which they are thrown,
thus experiencing a violent shock, which causes an intimate mixture of the gas
particles. The liquid which has been carried along is retained to a great extent,
whereas the gas escapes by the perforated side plates of metallic gauzen and enters
the upper part of this chamber C. Here the gas meets the wire gauze partition m¹
located at or near the bottom part or large aperture of the lower cone E. This
wire gauze causes the gas particles to become still more intimately mixed
likewise retaining part of the liquid that may have been carried along under the
influence of the pressure. Any small part of the liquid particles that might
however still find their way through this wire gauze m will be caught by the
metallic surface of the lower cone E on which the liquid will become
condensed.
Lastly, one or more surfaces of wire gauze m² being as described located in the

page_text: upper cone E ensure ultimately the complete drying of the gas, which, passing
through the communicating tube T enters the reservoir or gasholder.
The particles of petroleum or other liquid, which may collect on the cap F or have
passed through the various surfaces of wire gauze m, m, m2, as well as those which
have become condensed on the two superposed reversed cones E, E¹ fall back upon
the floor of the upper chamber C, upon which they form again a layer of liquid.
This liquid returns into the lowermost chamber C of the apparatus through the
central tube d so soon as a discontinuance of the pressure produced by the air
compressor has enabled the valve S thereof to clear the orifice of the tube d at the
level of the floor e of the upper chamber C of the generator. In Fig. 3 I have
illustrated a modified form of generator which admits of a preliminary division of the
air entering the lower chamber C by its passage through the carburetting liquid
therein, and means are provided also for the automatic feed of the petroleum or other
carburet. I have also shown a gas holder such as above referred to conveniently
combined with the generating apparatus the bell of the said holder being well
adapted to regulate the introduction of air in order to avoid excess thereof
in the apparatus. Thus I am able to provide a more compact and efficient
apparatus.
In order to effect a preliminary division of the air I introduce same into the
apparatus, below the level of the carburetting liquid and so cause some of the
particles of liquid to be entrained in a state of fine division. I arrange below the
lower chatnber Can air chamber X separated therefrom by a partition ein which are
fixed cones provided with wire gauze caps similar to the atomisers m above referred
to. Further I provide under these cones and also below the cones f of the upper
compartments, wire gauze caps n' which offer a slight resistance to the passage of the
air so much the more since the liquid particles drawn in obstructs the interstics of
the gauzes in such a manner that the air tends to carry these impeding particles
along, so dividing them into still finer particles. I thus obtain at the same
time a better division of the liquid particles and a practically constant flow of
gas.
In this modification I am enabled to dispense with the charging cocks, which
are indispensable in the apparatus represented in Fig. 1, for the purpose of providing
each compartment with the necessary quantity of petroleum and I have replaced them
by a device for automatically feeding the lowest compartment C. This device
comprises a petroleum reservoir P placed near the apparatus at the level of the
highest compartment. This reservoir communicates by means of a tube ¹ with a
verticular tubulure v placed on the floor of the lower compartment C. This tubulure is
furnished within with two perforated plates p, p' which constitute sents for a
conical valve a the stem of which carries a float G floating in the petroleum contained
in the lowest compartment C of the apparatus. By means of this arrangement the
level of the petroleum remains constant in the said compartment C.
In operation the petroleum fed continually by the tube
the float G which then closes the opening in the upper plate p³.
The acting air pressure forces a certain quantity of petroleum into the carburetting
devices and during its action pushes the float G downwards thus preventing the
passage of the petroleum. Immediately the pressure ceases, for instance during the
suction of the air compressor, a fresh quantity of petroleum can enter the
lower compartment Cof the apparatus wherein the liquid is maintained at a constant
level.
serves to raise
On examining Fig. 3, it will be seen that I also dispense with the central tube d
with valve S shown in Fig. 1, for allowing the condensed petroleum in the upper
compartment to fall back into the lower compartment C. And for the same purpose
I substitute an external return tube d provided at its lower extremity with a flap
valve S. This arrangement ensures regular working since the valve S before opening
upward is subjected to the pressure of the liquid in the apparatus which ensures its
closure at the proper time.
In the combined arrangement shown the bell H of the gas holder works up and

page_text: down between guides I fixed to the walls of the exterior receiver R which forms the
hydraulic joint or lute for the gas holder.
Along the receiver R, slides in suitable guides, a rod k fitted at its upper part with
a stop b and attached at its lower part to the lever J of a three-way cock D upon
which also acts a counterweight E. When the bell H reaches its highest position, a
tappet meeting the stop b raises the rod k which acts on the lever J of the cock D,
putting the air pressure pipe T in communication with the atmosphere. When the
bell redecends, the counterweight E acting on the rod k and lever J of the three-way
cock, re-establishes communication with the lower air chamber X of the carburetting
apparatus. The air before entering the apparatus in this manner is preferably passed
through a suitable purifier U adapted for the purpose of preparing it as far as possible
for the carburetting process. It will be seen that by means of the herein described
apparatus a gas is obtained, which is rich in carburets, of sufficient dryness and
ready for immediate use without requiring any filtration whatever.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details of
construction and form above indicated, though those described are suitable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The production by the cold process and by a series of operations such as are
herein described of a gas for the purposes set forth.
2. The herein described method of producing by the cold process gas for lighting
and motive power in which petroleum or other liquid rich in carburets is brought into
a state of fine division by the action of air under pressure and the carburets of the
said liquid are taken up and intimately mixed with said air and the gas dried
substantially in the manner set forth.
3. An apparatus for carrying out the method above referred to wherein (a) two
or more carburetting chambers intercommunicate by atomising devices such as
above described which cause the air and the liquid under pressure to be
simultaneously broken up into minute particles and the air to be impregnated
with carburets derived from the liquid. (b) one or more cones and surfaces of
wire gauze or the like forming baffles or obstacles are arranged above the
carburetting chambers and across the directions of flow of the uprising humid gas
for effecting the separation and condensation of the entrained liquid and the
intimate mixing of the gas particles, substantially as herein set forth.
4. A gas producing apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as and for the
several purposes described in reference to and shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
5. A gas producing apparatus such as above referred to combine with a gas holder
and arranged substantially in the manner and for the purposes described in reference
to and shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.
Dated this ath day of T 1007
Dated this Oth day of June 1907.
For the Applicant,
J. C. CHAPMAN,
70 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.