Improvements in the Manufacture of Gas for Motive, Heating, and Lighting Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: 4000
Date of Application, 25th May, 1800
Complete Specification Left, 24th Feb., 1900-Accepted, 5th May, 1900
Dalt 0 Application, but may
Complete Specification Left, 24th Feb., 1900-Accepted, 5th May, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Gas for Motive, Heating, and
Lighting Purposes.
We, JOHN STEWART STEWART-WALLACE, of Cliftonville Avenue, Belfast, in
the County of Antrim, Ireland, Justice of the Peace, WILLIAM BLACKWELL
COWELL, of 11, Guion Road, Fulham, in the County of London, Chemist, Jonn
READ PAISLEY, of Bell Lane Iron Works, Wandsworth, in the County of London,
Engineer, and JOHN STENHOUSE KEMP-WELCH, also of Bell Lane Iron Works
aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of gas for motive, lighting and
heating purposes, from substances of the hydrocarbon series, and has chiefly
for its object to so manufacture the gas that it shall be a permanent one and
capable of being used as the motive power for driving engines without causing
the carbonaceous deposit and other objectionable residues which have hitherto
taken place in oil and gas engines and greatly militated against their use.
According to our invention we admit the hydrocarbon in regulated quantities
to a retort or chamber adapted to be heated to a bright red heat and we also
admit to the said retort a suitable quantity of atmospheric air which commingles
with the vapour or gas generated in the heated retort from the hydrocarbon.
This gaseous mixture of air and hydrocarbon vapour or gas is then conducted
through suitable devices to eliminate therefrom aqueous and other objectionable
matter it may contain and is then passed to a gasometer or other receptacle
wherein it is stored; or the said gaseous mixture may be led directly to the
engine for use therein as the motive power.
In carrying our invention into practice we provide a tank or tanks at the
necessary elevation for the storage and supply of the hydrocarbon in the form of
oil to the aforesaid retort, such supply being controlled by an adjustable cock or
valve or other means. The oil is preferably allowed to fall from the supply
tank into a pipe leading to the retort, the said pipe being provided with a funnel
shaped opening where the oil enters. The oil passes into the retort which may
be located in a suitably constructed stove or ordinary furnace to enable it to be
heated to the proper temperature as aforesaid. The atmospheric air in proper
quantities is drawn or forced into the retort by suction or force pumps or by
other appropriate means which may be worked by motive or hand power or both.
The gas or vapour and the air, after commingling in the retort, are drawn forced
or conducted therefrom to a condenser or other device for eliminating the
aqueous and other objectionable matters from the gaseous mixture. A trap is
provided in connection with said condenser to permit of the occasional removal
of the said matters or by-products and at suitable parts of the system we also
prefer to provide one or more hydraulic boxes or seals. The gaseous mixture is
then conducted to a gasometer which may be so arranged in conjunction with
suitably disposed weights as to act to draw in the gaseous mixture from the
retort. We may employ two or more of such gasometers which may be so arranged
that when one is in operative connection with the engine the other or others are

page_text: in operative connection with the retort or condenser, suitable means being
provided for causing these connections to be effected automatically. Or the
saia gaseous mixture may be forced or drawn into the gasometer by pumps.
When the gaseous mixture is intended to be used for motive purposes it may be
conveyed directly to the engine in the desired quantities by pipes; or it may be
conducted to a holder adjacent to the engine, from which holder the supply can
be drawn for working the engine.
When the gaseous mixture is to be used for lighting or heating purposes it may
may be connected to the mains directly from the condenser or from the gasometer
as desired.
The gasometer may be provided with suitable mechanical means for auto-
matically cutting off or regulating the supply of the air and the oil to the retort,
in the event of the gasometer's becoming completely filled, whereby the further
generation of the gaseous mixture in the retort is prevented or retarded so
as to avoid the difficulties that might otherwise arise if the production of the
gaseous mixture continued when the gasometer became full. These means may
comprise lever mechanism connected with the aforesaid adjustable cock or valve
controlling the passage of the oil from the tanks to the retort, such mechanism
being operated by the bell of the gasometer as it performs its up and down
movements under the influence of the gas entering or leaving the same.
If desired we may provide the engine with means whereby the supply or
generation of the gaseous mixture can be regulated or stopped in accordance with
the working or stopping of the engine.
We may also provide in connection with the gasometer a valve and pipe for
conducting any surplus gas to the outside of the building in which the gaso-
meter may be placed or elsewhere as may be desired.
The oil may be injected into the retort by suitable mechanical means or caused
to flow into it by gravity or a jet of air.
We may furthermore provide a by-pass or by-passes to enable any surplus oil
to flow from the feed pipe, when the said cock or valve is turned by the action
of the gasometer or the engine into a position to cut off the supply of the oil to
the retort such surplus oil entering a suitable container from which it can be
removed in any convenient manner and returned to the storage tanks or be
otherwise disposed of.
We do not confine ourselves to the use of only one retort or chamber as two or
more of them may be used if found desirable.
The as manufactured in accordance with our invention will be found specially
suitable for use with oil engines employed for driving motor cars, and in such case
would preferably be contained in a suitable chamber under pressure, said chamber
being carried by the car and connected with the engine.
Suitable means may be provided for controlling the degree of the suction or
vacuum obtained by the pumps or otherwise.
Dated this 25th day of May 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co..
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Gas for Motive, Heating, and
Lighting Purposes.
We, JOHN STEWART STEWART-WALLACE, of Cliftonville Avenue, Belfast, in
the County of Antrim, Ireland, Justice of the Peace. WILLIAM BLACKWELL
COWELL. of 11, Guion Road, Fulham, in the County of London, Chemist, Joux

page_text: READ PAISLEY, of Bell Lane Iron Works, Wandsworth, in the County of London,
Engineer, and Jonx STENHOUSE KEMP-WELCH, also of Bell Lane Iron Works
aforesaid, Engineer, 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 from substances of the hydro-
carbon series for motive, lighting and heating purposes and has chiefly for its
object to so manufacture the gas that it shall be a permanent one and capable
of being used as the motive power for driving engines without causing the car-
bonaceous deposit and other objectionable residues which have hitherto taken
place in oil and gas engines and greatly militated against their use.
According to our invention we admit the hydrocarbon in regulated quantities
to one or more retorts or chambers adapted to be heated to a bright red heat
or to a temperature varying from say 1290° F. to 1470° F., and we also admit to
the said retorts or chambers a suitable quantity of atmospheric air which com-
mingles with the vapour or gas generated from the hydrocarbon in the said retorts.
This gaseous mixture of air and hydrocarbon vapour or gas is then conducted
through suitable devices to eliminate therefrom aqueous and other objectionable
matter it may contain and is then passed to a gasometer or other receptacle
wherein it is stored; or the said gaseous mixture may be led directly to the
engine for use therein as the motive power.
The hydrocarbon we prefer to employ is petroleum oil.
In order that our said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect we will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in elevation, and Figure 2 a diagrammatic
view in plan, of a plant for the manufacture of gas according to our invention.
Certain parts in Figure 1 are shown in section.
Figure 3 is a detail view, drawn to a larger scale, showing more clearly the
means we employ for automatically controlling the supply of the hydrocarbon
and air, as will be hereinafter described.
A is the retort or chamber in which the generation of the gas is effected. This
retort is formed of or lined with plumbago or other suitable material, and is
arranged in a stove or furnace R. B is a storage tank or reservoir for the oil:
and C is a secondary tank into which the oil flows under the control of a ball-
cock. From the tank C the oil flows through the pipe D, and through the cock E
into the pipe G which conducts it to the retort. The supply of the oil to the
retort thus takes place from a constant level and consequently at an approximately
constant pressure.
The atmospheric air is admitted into the pipe G through the opening H and
the cock F and meets the incoming oil with which it passes into the retort. The
apertures in the cocks E and F may be so relatively proportioned that sufficient
air is admitted to supply enough oxygen to convert all the carbon of the oil or
other hydrocarbon employed into carbon monoxide or other conbustible gases.
The proportion of the oil and air may be in the ratio of one to four by volume,
but this ratio may of course be varied in accordance with circumstances.
The said retort is adapted to be raised to the aforesaid temperature, and the
gaseous mixture formed therein passes to the coolers or condensers J. Suitable
traps are provided at K, K, for permitting the removal of any aqueous or other
deposit from these condensers. After traversing the condensers the gaseous
mixture passes through the pipe I to the pumps P, P, which serve to draw the
atmospheric air and the oil delivered through the pipe D into the retort, and
then to draw the gaseous mixture through the condensers J. These pumps also
serve to force the gaseous mixture through the hydraulic boxes or
seals L. L. and thence through the pipe ( to a gas holder or gas
holders M, N. The seals L, L, are provided with suitable means for removing
from time to time any deposit that may be formed,

page_text: Where two or more gas holders are used, an hydraulic box or seal similar to the
boxes L, L, may be placed in the communicating pipe or pipes connecting the
gas holders, as shewn at Q. This is especially useful in cases where the first gas
holder M is used only as a reservoir, from which other gas holders are supplied,
and is not used for supplying the gaseous mixture directly to the point of con-
sumption.
The pumps P, P, may be worked either by motive power through belting, as
shewn or they may be operated directly from the crank shaft of an engine; or
they may be worked by hand. They may also be so constructed as to be worked
either by hand or mechanical power according to which at the moment is the
more convenient.
The gas holders are provided with means for automatically cutting off or
regulating the supply of the air and of the oil to the retorts in the event of the
gas holders becoming completely filled, whereby the further generation of the
gaseous mixture is prevented or retarded so as to avoid the difficulties that might
otherwise arise if the production of gas continued.
These means are clearly
shown in Figure 3 and comprise two links S, S, one for which is pivotally connected
to the arm or lever.e, for operating the oil control cock E, and the other of
which is pivotally connected to the arm or lever f for operating the cock F
.controlling the air supply. The other extremities of these levers S, S, are con-
. nected to the lower end of a rod s whose upper end is connected to a lever t
pivotally supported upon the framing of the gas holder. A weight W is
suspended from the other end of the levert by a rod w. This weight hangs
over or in the path of the bell of the gas holder, and when the gas holder is full
or nearly full and the bell is consequently approximately at its highest position,
it lifts the said weight thereby actuating the lever which pushes down the rod s
and effects a more or less gradual closing of the cocks E and F. When any of
the gaseous mixture is withdrawn from the gas holder and the bell sinks, the
weight W will also fall and will thus open the cocks E and F, and the generation
of gas will recommence. We may however employ other means than those above
described for stopping the generation of the gas.
When the aforesaid pumps P are operated by the motor an arrangement is
preferably provided by which they are automatically disconnected from the motor
when on the gas-holder becoming full the supply of oil and air is stopped; the
said arrangement acting to automatically throw the pumps into operation again
when the bell of the gas-holder falls.
We also provide in connection with the gas-holder or holders, a pipe T and
a weighted safety valve V for conducting any surplus gaseous mixture to the
outside of the building in which the gas-holder or holders may be placed, or
elsewhere as may be desired.
We sometimes provide a pipe X connecting the suction and delivery pipes on
either side of the pumps P, P, said pipe X being fitted with a cock X' or with
other suitable means for controlling the degree of suction or vacuum obtained by
the pumps. We may however control the action of the pumps by other and well
known means if desired.
When the gaseous mixture is intended to be used for motive purposes it may
be conveyed directly to the engine in the desired quantities by pipes or it may
be conducted to one or more holders adjacent to the engine, from which holders
the supply can be drawn for working the engine. In such cases we may if
desired provide the engine with means whereby the supply or generation of the
gaseous mixture can be regulated or stopped in accordance with the working
or stopping of the engine. When however the engine is supplied by adjacent
gas holders the regulation of the production of gas will be effected by the means
above described with reference to Figure 3.
The gaseous mixture manufactured in accordance with our invention will be
found specially suitable for use with gas and oil engines employed for driving
motor cars, and when so employed it would preferably be contained in a suitable

page_text: chamber under pressure, said chamber being carried by the car and placed in
communication with the engine.
When the gaseous mixture is required for heating or lighting purposes it may
be conducted to the mains directly from the hydraulic boxes or seals L, L, or
from the gas-holder or holders through the outlet pipes Y, Y, as desired.
Instead of the oil being supplied to the retort by gravity it may be supplied
thereto by suitable mechanical means or by a jet of air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
11
1. The method of manufacturing gas by passing air through heated retorts to
which a hydrocarbon is supplied substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. The method of manufacturing gas for the purposes specified, consisting in
admitting to an appropriately heated retort or retorts regulated quantities of
a hydrocarbon and in causing regulated quantities of air to pass through said
retort or retorts, the resulting gaseous mixture being passed through condensers
and hydraulic boxes to the place of consumption or to a gas-holder or gas-
holders, substantially as described.
3. One or more retorts adapted to be heated to the hereinstated temperature and
communicating with a reservoir of liquid hydrocarbon and with an air supply
pipe the said retort being provided with means for drawing or forcing the air
through them and for supplying the resulting mixture of air and gas to the
required place, substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. The combination with the aforesaid retorts of a cistern provided with means
for ensuring a constant level of the liquid hydrocarbon supplied to the retorts for
the purpose specified.
5. The combination with the aforesaid retorts of means substantially as
described for automatically checking or stopping the supply of liquid hydrocarbon
and air to the retorts for the purpose specified.
6. Apparatus having its parts constructed arranged and combined to operate
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings for the
purpose specified.
Dated this 21th
Tal
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.
Agents for the Applicants.