Improvements in Apparatus for Naphthalizing or Carburetting Illuminating and other Gas.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May. 1889-Accepted, 6th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Naphthalizing or Carburetting
Illuminating and other Gas.
1, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57D, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for naphthalizing or carburetting illuminating and
other gas.
Many attempts have heretofore been made to produce carburetted coal-gas with a
volatile hydrocarbon such as gasoline, naphtha, or benzole, and a great number of
patents have been obtained for apparatus for naphthalizing or carburetting gas, but such
apparatus as heretofore constructed, is defective for the reason that the degree of
carburation of the gas is not constant, that is to say, the quantity of carbon taken
up by the gas as it passes through the carburetor varies, the gas, when the apparatus
freshly changed, being enriched to a far greater extent than after the apparatus bas
heen in operation for some considerable time, the quantity of hydro-carbon taken up
by the gas becoming then considerably less. The density is also much affected by the
number of burners in use, by the specific gravity of the material employed, by the
temperature of the atmosphere, and the length of time the burners have been in use.
A peculiar burner, moreover, is required for a particular density, it having been found
impracticable to so construct an apparatus that the same burner would serve for all
degrees of density of the carburette gas produced by the apparatus.
The main object of my invention is to obviate the above defects and to provide an
apparatus by means of which the density of the gas is suitably regulated by means of
a body suspended in the carburetted gas.
My said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide a cylinder or chainber like
that of an ordinary naphthalizer or carburetor. Upon the upper extremity of the
said cylinder I provide a suitable tank for the liquid hydrocarbon, and the said cylinder
is provided with a float for regulating the supply of the said liquid hydrocarbon. I
provide, moreover, a second cylinder in which is placed a balloon or float suspended by
means of a spiral or other spring or in any other convenient manner. The gas to be
naphthalized or carburetted enters the first cylinder and passes over the hydrocarbon
contained in the lower part thereof; it then passes upward over various evaporating
pans arranged therein in succession and finally enters the second cylinder through a
suitable connecting pipe. As the gas passes through the first cylinder it takes up the
volatile hydrocarbon and is thus enriched. Its specific gravity is also very much
increased.
The balloon or float in the second cylinder is buoyed up or raised by the heavy gas
as it enters the said cylinder, and opens a valve at the lower end of the said second
cylinder sufficiently to permit the entrance of gas which will dilute the enriched gas
and thus cause the said balloon or float to descend until it closes or partly closes the
said valve. The balloon or float thus acts like a ball-cock or regulator and keeps the
gas at a uniform density which depends on the tension of the spring by means of
which the said balloon or float is suspended in the second cylinder. Suitable means
are provided for adjusting the tension of the spring to increase or diminish the
quantity of carbon in the gas. If the gas from the carburetor is too rich, the valvo
is opened by the balloon or float and gas from a supply pipe or tube is permitted
If the gas
to enter the second cylinder without passing through the carburetor.
on the contrary is not enriched sufficiently, the valve is closed and all the gas passes
through the carburetor. By this means the quality of the gas may be regulated so

page_text: as to suit any given burner and the balloon or float acts so as to keep it uniformly at
at this density.
In order to permit the gasoline or other liquid hydrocarbon from the tank to enter
the first cylinder I provide a suitable valve connected by an arrangement of levers in
a peculiar manner with the aforesaid float in this cylinder. As it is necessary to apply
considerable force upon this valve in order to cause it to close under all conditions I
connect it to the said float by means of compound levers so that a very slight degree
of force applied to the said float will be multiplied and will exert a considerable
amount of force upon the said valve.
In all machines for carburetting gas or air it is found that a considerable amount of
refrigerating action takes place; the refrigerating action being in proportion to the
quantity of gas passed through the apparatus and the quantity of liquid evaporated.
To counteract this refrigerating action and to ensure the proper working of the
apparatus at all times, I place a coiled pipe in the bottom of each of the several
evaporating pans. These coils may be all connected together and provided with any
suitable means for effecting the circulation through them of water or other material
which will prevent the refrigerating action by restoring a sufficient amount of caloric.
I prefer to employ for this purpose cold water; which provided the temperature of
the apparatus does not fall below the freezing point, will operate satisfactorily.
Instead of a spring for sustaining the weight of the balloon or float hereinbefore
described, I sometimes employ a balance-lever or scale-beam, the valve moreover need
not be attached directly to the float, it may be connected therewith in any other con-
venient manner. The density of the gas may be regulated when the spring is
employed by a thumb-nut which adjusts the tension of the said spring.
The balloon or float may moreover he employed for various other purposes.
For instance, it may be so arranged that when the gas becomes very poor and has
not sufficient density, it will open a suitable communication or passage-way and allow
certain gases to escape which may be employed for beating the carburetor or heating
the circulation water which passes through the carburetor thus when the apparatus
becomes very cold and the density of the gas becomes consequently less, the balloon
or float allows gas to escape which may be employed for heating the carburetor and
thus again increasing the density sufficiently to raise the balloon or float and shut off
or partly shut off the supply of gas.
The balloon or float may he employed in a variety of ways for regulating the supply
of air or the circulation of the water or for both or I may employ two or more
balloons or floats for regulating the entrance of air when the gas is too rich, and
for opening a suitable communication or passageway for the gas, for the purpose
of heating the carburetor.
Dated this 30th day of August 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Naphthalizing or Carburetting
Illuminating and other Gas.
1. HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of Crayford Works, Crayford, in the County of Kent,
Mechanical 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:-
My invention relates to apparatus for naphthalizing or carburetting illuminating
and other gas.
Many attempts have heretofore been made to produce carburetted coal gas with a
volatile hydro carbon such as gasoline, naphtha or benzole, and a great number of
patents have been obtained for apparatus for carburetting gas; but such apparatus, as
heretofore constructed, is defective for the reason that the degree of carburation of

page_text: the gas is not constant, that is to say, the quantity of carbon taken up by the gas
is it passes through the carburettor varies; the gas, when the apparatus is freshly
charged, being enriched to a far greater extent than after the apparatus has been
n operation for some considerable time, when the quantity of hydrocarbon taken
ap by the gas is very much reduced. The density is also much affected by the
number of burners in use or the quantity of carburetted gas consumed, by the specific
gravity of the hydrocarbon employed, by the temperature of the atmosphere, and by
the length of time the burners have been in use. A peculiar burner, moreover, is
required for gas of a particular density, as it has been found impracticable to so
construct an apparatus that the same burner will serve for all degrees of density of
the carburetted gas.
The main objects of my invention are to obviate the above defects and to provide
an apparatus by means of which the richness or density of the carburetted gas is
suitably regulated by means of a body suspended in, or acted upon by, the carburetted
ga.
My said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal central section of one form of my improved
apparatus, some of the parts being shewn in side elevation.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line e, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 shews a portion of Figure 1 drawn to an enlarged scale.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the casing or shell of the carburetting chamber; this casing or shell is pre-
ferably cylindrical; it may, however, be of other suitable form.
B is
The said casing or shell is closed at its lower end by a plate A' and at its upper end by
a plate A. It is provided with an inlet-pipe A³ for the gas to be carburetted.
a tank which is arranged above the carburetting chamber, the top of the latter forming
the bottom of the said tank; this tank is designed to contain the liquid hydrocarbon,
A small pipe A* is
and is provided with a pipe B for the introduction of the same.
connected with the upper end of the carburetting chamber and extends upward in
the tank B nearly to the top thereof, so that the air or gas displaced from the said
carburetting chamber by the flow of the liquid into the same, may escape into the
said tank.
The carburettor is provided with a series of evaporating pans CC arranged one
above another. The pans Care provided at their outer edges with overflow pipes or
passages C, and the pans are provided with central overflow pipes or passages C³.
A coiled pipe D is arranged in combination with the pans C, C for the purpose of
counteracting the refrigeration due to evaporation, by the circulation of water or other
liquid or heating medium through the said pipe. The said pipe 1) may, moreover,
have any desired number of coils arranged in the lower part of the chamber A.
For regulating or controlling the flow of gasoline or other liquid hydrocarbon
from the tank B into the carburetting chamber A, 1 provide a valve E connected
with a rod E which rests upon a lever F pivoted at F to lugs G firmly attached to
the casing A. The said lever F is provided with a fork F2 to which is pivotted at H
a float H. To ensure the closing of the valve E, when necessary, under varying
conditions, the said lever F is made of great length and the rod E is arranged to
rest thereon at a point near the pivot or fulcrum of the said lever, so that a very
slight degree of force applied to the said float H by the liquid rising in the chamber A
will cause the exertion of considerable force upon the valve E through the said rod E¹.
The valve E and rod E¹ and the pivot or fulcrum of the lever Fare outside of the
carburetting chamber and are enclosed in a casing J so that they are readily accessible
for repairs, readjustment or other purposes, without removing or disturbing any part
of the carburetting chamber. The casing J is preferably provided with sides or
windows of mica or other suitable transparent material to permit the inspection
of the valve without the necessity for removing the cover of the said casing.
A passage J is formed in the upper end of the casing J for communication
between the tank B and the carburetting chamber A when the valve E is open; and

page_text: a deflector E' is fixed upon the rod E to prevent the flow of hydrocarbon down
the said rod.
K is a cylindrical chamber in which is placed a balloon or float L formed of sheet-
metal or other suitable material. This balloon or float is suspended in the carburetted
gas by means of a spiral spring M or in any other convenient manner so that any
variation in the density of the carburetted gas will cause the said balloon or float to
rise or fall. The spring M is attached at its lower end to the top of the float L and at
its upper end to an adjusting screw M passed through the top of a casing M² extend-
ing upward from the chamber K and enclosing the said spring. The chamber Kis
connected, near its upper end, with the carburettor by a pipe K and near its lower
end with the gas inlet A' by a pipe N provided with a valve N which is attached, by
a piece N of wire or cord or in any other suitable manner, to the balloon or float L.
The chamber K is also connected by a pipe O with a gas-governor or regulator of
any well-known or other suitable construction, which is connected by a pipe Q with
the burners or other devices for the consumption of the carburetted gas.
To prevent displacement of the balloon or Hoat L (other than that due to variation
in the density of the gas) by a sudden and rapid inflow of gas through the pipe K
or through the pipe N, 1 provide the chamber with an outer casing K to which the
pipe K is connected and with an inner lining or casing K³ which is suitably
perforated so that it will not obstruct the required flow of the gas through the
apparatus but will prevent violent impact of the gas entering by the pipe K
against the balloon or float. L. 1 also secure a perforated plate K in the
chamber K above the pipe N and valve N for a similar purpose. The outer
casing K is connected with the space beneath the said plate K and is also connected
with the space between the shell of the chamber K and its inner lining or casing K³
by perforations in the said shell.
The operation of the apparatus above described is as follows:-assuming that the
carburettor is empty and that the tank B contains liquid hydrocarbon; the valve E
being open the liquid hydrocarbon flows from the said tank through the passage J
into the uppermost pan C. When this pan is full, the liquid hydrocarbon overflows
through the pipes or passages C2 into the next pan C. When the said pan O' is full,
the liquid overflows thence through the central pipe or passage C³ into the pan next.
below it, and so on. The liquid hydrocarbon, therefore, flows alternately to and
from the centre of the carburettor. From the lowermost pan C, the liquid overflows
into the lower part of the carburetting chamber. As the liquid rises in the said
chamber, it lifts the float H, thus raising the valve E until, when the liquid has
attained a certain level the said valve is closed. When the level of the liquid
descends by reason of the evaporation of the same, the valve E is again opened
and liquid from the tank B again allowed to flow into the pans C, C. The supply
of hydrocarbon liquid to the evaporating pans is, thus regulated or controlled as
required.
The gas to be napthalized or carburetted enters the chamber A through the pipe A³
and passes over the liquid hydrocarbon contained in the lower part of the said
chamber; it then ascends and passes over the liquid hydrocarbon in the series of
evaporating pans C, C, the gas flowing in the reverse direction to the liquid hydro-
carbon that is to say passing alternately from the centre to the periphery of the
chamber. As the gas passes through the carburetting chamber it takes up the
volatile hydrocarbon and is thus enriched and has its specific gravity very much
increased. It then enters the density regulator K through the connecting pipe K¹
and casings K², K³.
The heavy gas as it enters the chamber K buoys up or raises the balloon or float L
in the said chamber thereby opening the valve N sufficiently to permit the entrance
of gas from the main through the pipe A'; the enriched gas being thus diluted
the said balloon or float L descends and closes, or partly closes the said valve N¹.
Therefore if the gas from the carburettor is too rich, the valve N₁ is opened by the
balloon or float Land gas from the main is permitted to enter the chamber K without
passing through the carburettor. If on the contrary, the gas is not enriched

page_text: sufficiently the valve N¹ is closed and all the gas passes through the carburettor the
balloon or float L acting like a ball-cock or regulator and keeping the gas at a
uniform density, by increasing or diminishing the quantity of carbon contained in
the gas. The density of the gas supplied to the burners depends on the tension of
the spring M and can. therefore, he varied by adjusting the said spring by means of
the screw M.
By these means, the quality or density of the gas may be regulated so as to suit
any given burner and the balloon or float L acts to keep it uniformly at this
density.
In machines heretofore constructed for carburetting gas or air, it is found
that a considerable amount of refrigerating action takes place; such refrigeration
being in proportion to the quantity of gas passed through the apparatus and the
quantity of hydrocarbon liquid evaporated. This refrigeration is in some measure,
counteracted in my apparatus by reason of the fact that the gas must pass alternately
from the centre to the periphery of the carburetting chamber, and therefore comes
repeatedly in contact with the outer wall thereof, whereby its temperature is to
some extent maintained. To still further counteract the refrigerating action and to
ensure the proper working of the apparatus at all times, I provide the aforesaid
coiled pipe D which, as above described, extends through each of the evaporating
pans C, C and through the lower part of the chamber A. The coils of this pipe
are connected together and suitable means are provided for effecting the circulation
through them of water or other material which will prevent the refrigerating action
by restoring a sufficient amount of caloric. I sometimes employ for this purpose
cold water (ie. water at ordinary atmospheric temperatures) which I have found will
operate satisfactorily but if it is desired to have the power of controlling the enrich-
ment of the gas by varying the temperature at which the carburetting takes place it
may be desirable that means should be provided for varying the temperature of the
water in the coils so that they act as a temperature regulator.
It is not absolutely necessary that the spring M' should be adjustable. Moreover,
instead of a spring for sustaining the weight of the balloon or float L above
described, I sometimes employ a balance-lover or scale-beam or other suitable device.
The valve N, moreover, need not be attached directly to the float; it may, if desired,
be connected therewith through the medium of levers or in any other convenient
manner.
The balloon or float suspended in the carburetted gas may be otherwise adapted to
maintain uniform the density of the said gas; for instance, it may be so arranged
that, when the gas is not sufficiently dense, the said balloon or float will open a
suitable communication or passage-way and permit the supply of gas for heating the
carburettor, or for heating the circulation water which passes through the carburettor ;
so that, when the apparatus becomes very cold and the density of the gas is con-
sequently diminished, the balloon or float will permit the supply of gas for heating
the circulation water and the density of the gas will thus be increased sufficiently to
raise the balloon or float and shut off or regulate the supply of gas to the heating
burner. Or the balloon or float may be employed in a variety of ways for regulating
the supply of air or other gas to be mixed with the carburetted gas, or for regulating
the circulation of the water, or both; and I may if desired, employ two or more
balloons or floats, one for regulating the entrance of air or other gas when the gas is
too rich, and the other for opening a suitable communication or passage-way for the
supply of gas for heating the circulation water, or for similar purposes. Such
modifications of my invention do not need to be further described here as there are
many well known mechanical expedients which will enable them to be carried out if
desired.
The tank or reservoir for the liquid hydrocarbon may, if desired, be constructed
separately from the carburetting chamber and arranged at any desired distance there-
from, and connected therewith by suitable pipes.
It is evident that my improved apparatus is applicable for carburetting atmospheric
air and other gas.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood
that I claim :-
First: An apparatus for naphthalizing or carburetting gas, wherein one or more
pipes for the circulation of water or other liquid or heating medium are combined
with trays arranged one above another for containing liquid hydrocarbon, substantially
as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second-The combination, with a carburetting chamber and a tank or reservoir
for the liquid hydrocarbon, of a valve controlled by a float and lever and arranged in
a suitable casing outside of the said chamber and tank, substantially in the manner,
and for the purposes, above specified.
Third The combination of the carburetting-chamber provided with the trays, the
pipe for the circulation of water or other liquid or heating medium, the tank or
reservoir, and the valve controlled by the float and lever, substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings and for the purposes above specified.
Fourth An apparatus for naphthalizing or carburetting gas, wherein the car-
buretting-chamber has combined therewith a regulator operating by means of a
balloon or float which rises or falls according to the variations in the density, of the
carburetted gas, for the purposes above specified.
:-
Fifth-In combination with an apparatus for carburetting gas, containing trays
for the carburetting liquid arranged substantially as herein described, of a regulator
operating by means of a balloon or float whose position is automatically varied by any
variation in the density of the carburetted gas, substantially as herein described.
Sixth In an apparatus for carburetting gas, a density regulator for the car-
buretted gas operating by means of a balloon or float suspended by a spring or
equivalent support, with or without means for adjusting the same, substantially as,
and for the purposes, set forth.
-
Seventh The improved apparatus comprising the carburetting-chamber, the tank
or reservoir and the density-regulator constructed, combined and operating sub-
stantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings and for the
purposes above specified.
Did this 20 11
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant. .