IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
A communication.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st October 1855.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF GAS" to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the production and carbonization of
hydrogen gas, obtained by the action of hydrochloric or other acid upon
metallic zinc, and consists in certain details and improvements whereby the
objections to the methods heretofore adopted may be obviated.
The first part of the Invention consists in making use of the heat produced
by the evolution of the gas to heat the material employed to carbonize it, and
for this purpose the hydrocarbon is placed within the generator, in contact with
the gas-generating materials, or in immediate proximity thereto, in lieu of

page_text: placing it in a separate vessel without the generator, and heating it by means
employed for the
purpose.
The second part of the Invention relates to the packing of the joint between
the cover and the generator by means of a water chamber, into which the
cover is caused to descend. This part of the Invention consists in elevating
the water chamber or packing sufficiently above the bottom of the generator
to permit of the insertion of the pipe for leading off the gas above the surface
of the acid, and out of the reach of any scum or foam which may rise thereon.
Gas generated and carbonized in the manner about to be described when first
evolved contains moisture, which it deposits shortly after it is formed within
the pipes in the immediate vicinity of the generator; this renders it necessary
to draw the gas from the highest and dryest portion of the receiver or holder,
at the same time that the condensation is permitted to pass freely from the
pipe. To accomplish both these ends, the eduction pipe enters the side of a
long vertical passage or pipe open at both ends, one end being immersed in
the acid and the other opening into the upper portion of the receiver, whereby
the gas is extracted from the driest part of the holder, where it is unaffected
by the spray and effervescence of the gas-generating materials, and the con-
densation is permitted to pass from the pipes freely back to the generator.
Great difficulty has heretofore been experienced in introducing the zine into
the generator; the disagreeable odor of the gas which escaped each time the
cover was raised for the purpose, as well as the waste of that thus liberated,
rendered it desirable to effect this end without opening the generator or
stopping its operation. It is now proposed to accomplish this object by means
of an endless chain of buckets, the lower portion of which is immersed in a
water chaniber communicating with that which surrounds the upper portion of
the generator, while the upper part of the chain overhangs the zinc basket.
The metallic zinc may thus be introduced in such quantities as may be
desired without the loss of gas and without stopping the operation of the
generator. It also becomes necessary to introduce the acid and to draw off
the liquid chloride of zinc without opening the generator, and without the use
of cocks, which soon wear, loose under the action of the acid; for this purpose
a flexible tube is employed for: introducing the acid. When it becomes
necessary to empty the generator, it is simply necessary to depress the tube, and
the liquid flows off.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th April 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsinan, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord
1855, in the nineteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her
special license that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
.vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF GAS," being a communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed
and to the letters, and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
'
Fig. 1 is a plan; Fig. 2, a vertical section upon the line A, A, of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3, a vertical section upon the line B, B, of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a horizontal
section upon the line C, C, of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a plan of the apparatus, with
the cover removed; Fig. 6, a perspective view of the cover inverted; Fig. 7,
a vertical section, similar to Fig. 2, but with the machine in operation.
This Invention has for its object the production and carbonization of
hydrogen gas, and consists in certain details and improvements, whereby we
are enabled to obviate the objections to which the methods heretofore adopted
have been liable.
Gas generated and carbonized in the manner about to be described when

page_text: first evolved contains moisture, which it deposits shortly after it is formed
within the pipes in the immediate vicinity of the generator; this renders it
necessary that the gas be drawn from the highest and driest portion of the
receiver or holder, at the same time that the condensation be permitted to pass
freely from the pipes. To accomplish both these ends, the eduction pipe is
caused to enter the side of a long vertical passage or pipe open at its two
extremities, one end being immersed in the acid and the other opening into
the upper portion of the receiver, whereby the gas is extracted from the
dryest part of the holder, where it is unaffected by the spray and effervessence
of the gas-generating materials, and the condensation is permitted to pass from
the pipes freely. back to the generator.
Great difficulty has heretofore been experienced in introducing the zinc into
the generator; the disagreeable odor of the gas which escapes each time the
.cover was raised for the purpose, as well as the waste of that thus liberated,
rendered it extremely desirable to effect this end without opening the generator
or stopping its operations. This is accomplished by means of an endless chain
of buckets, the lower portion of which is immersed in a water chamber com-
municating with that which surrounds the upper portion of the generator, the
upper part of the chain overhanging the zinc basket, by which means the
metallic zinc may be introduced in such quantities as may be desired without
the loss of gas, and without stopping the operation of the generator. It also
becomes necessary to introduce the acid and to draw off the liquid chloride of
zinc without opening the generator, and without the use of cocks, which soon
wear loose under the action of the acids; for this purpose a flexible tube is
employed, which is ordinarily secured in an elevated position, and through
which the acid is introduced. When it becomes necessary to empty the
-generator, it is simply necessary to depress the tube, and the liquid flows off: .
In the accompanying Drawings, D is the vessel which contains the hydro-
chloric or other acid used in the production of the gas. This vessel is
cylindrical, and may be made of sheet copper or other suitable material; its top
edge rises to the point a, except for a short distance between y, y, of Fig. 1,
upon one side, where it is cut away and rises only to the point 6 (Fig. 2).
E is a vessel which surrounds the cylinder D, and is attached thereto at the
point c about midway between the top and bottom of the cylinder upon one
'side. This vessel enlarges into an oblong chamber E' (Figs. 1 & 2), which
descends to a level with the bottom of the cylinder D for the purpose of
accomodating the endless chain, by which the zinc is introduced into the
generator, as will be hereafter described. F is the cover or gas holder, which
descends into the space between the vessels D and E, and also into the enlarge-

page_text: ment E. G is a pipe by which the gas is taken from the machine, and
which is caused to enter the vessel D above the surface of the acid, and below
the point c, where the vessels D and E are united. In order that the gas may
be drawn from the upper or dryest part of the holder or cover, at the same
time that any condensation in the gas pipe may be free to return to the vessel
beneath, the pipe C is caused to enter a vertical pipe or passage H, open at
each end, through the top of which the gas is drawn, and through the bottom
of which the condensation is permitted to pass. K is a metallic basket, into
which the zinc is placed, and which is suspended by the strips L from the
cover F, with which it rises and falls. The bottom of this basket is pierced
with holes & to admit the acid to the zinc. M, N, are polygonal shafts, the
former of which is turned by the handle P, by which means motion is given to
the endless chain carrier Q, the buckets R of which serve to receive the
metallic zinc, and convey it to the basket without the necessity of raising the
cover for the purpose.
.
>
In this apparatus advantage has been taken of the heat generated by the
action of the gas-forming materials to raise the temperature of, the hydro-
carbon, whereby the requisite degree of heat is at all times ensured, and the
expense of the auxiliary apparatus heretofore employed for the purpose is
avoided. In order to accomplish this, the naptha or other material is placed
in the same vessel with the acid, and in immediate contact therewith. In
Fig. 7 the naptha is seen at W* floating upon the surface of the acid.
In lieu of bringing the hydrocarbon thus in immediate contact with the acid;
it may be placed in a vessel attached to the basket K, or in some other method
within the generator, or where it may feel the effect of the heat produced by
the evolution of the gas. It is evident that were the gas holder or cover
allowed to descend to the bottom of the generator, or nearly thereto, that there
would be no method of drawing off the gas except through the movable gas
holder, which could not be conveniently accomplished. If this tube were
caused to enter at the bottom of the generator and turn up to a point above
the level of the acid, it would soon fill with the liquid condensed from the pipe.
The water chamber is, therefore, raised sufficiently above the bottom of the
generator to enable the eduction pipe to enter the generator above the level of
the acid, as seen in the Drawings. The basket K is suspended, as before
stated, from the cover F, by which means the pressure to which the gas is sub-
jected may be graduated by loading the basket with a greater or less quantity
of zinc. In Fig. 7 the machine is represented in operation, the blue lines X', X';
representing the level of the water within the gas holder, and the red line y', y',
the surface of the acid. The requisite quantity of acid and naptha, or of some

page_text: other suitable bydrocarbon, being introduced into the generator through the
pipe S, water is poured into the cavity between the generator D and the
chamber E, which also flows into and fills the chamber E', rising all around
and above the bottom edge of the cover or gas holder F. Metallic zinc is
then dropped in at T, and is directed by the guide W on to the buckets of the
endless chain Q, and on turning the crank P the zinc is delivered into the
basket K. By turning a cock X upon the pipe G, the air within the cover
is allowed to escape, and the zinc sinks into the acid. The generation of the
hydrogen now commences, the gas as it rises passing through the naptha
which floats upon the surface of the acid, whereby it is carbonized or sufficiently
impregnated with the bydrocarbon to cause it to burn with a luminous flame,
and the cover F, together with the zinc basket, rises until the latter is above
the surface, of the acid, when the formation of the gas ceases.
As the gas is
drawn off the basket sinks and fresh gas is evolved, the zinc being kept just in
contact with the surface of the acid whenever the gas is being drawn off.
Whenever the acid requires replenishing, the liquid chloride of zinc may be
drawn off by lowering the end of the pipe S; through which the fresh acid is
introduced. Where the zinc has been placed within an inverted stationary
receiver, out of which the acid is forced as the gas is formed, (as in the well-
known German apparatus for producing light, by throwing a current of
hydrogen gas upon a platina sponge,) the gas is subjected to a statical pressure,
which varies according as the number of burners may vary, owing to the
variable height at which the water will stand outside the gas holder. It is
evident, however, that where the basket containing the zinc is caused to hang
upon the cover or holder, and to rise and fall therewith, so long as the quantity
of zinc remains about the same, there will be no material variation in the pressure
upon the gas, whether the number of the burners be more or less, or whether
the holder be more or less filled with gas. Where there is danger from freezing,
naptha or some oil not liable to congelation may be used in place of water to
pack the joint between the generator and the receiver.
The liquid chloride of zinc which is drawn off from the generator after the
acid has been completely saturated has been found to answer perfectly for this
purpose. A graduated gauge may be applied to the vessel E, for the purpose
of indicating the height of the liquid therein, and the consequent pressure upon
the gas. To avoid the possibility of explosion from the ignition of the gas
within the pipes, and in case of failure to exclude the atmospheric air when
the apparatus is first started, a disk of wire gauze or perforated sheet metal may
be placed behind each burner, or anywhere within the pipe leading from the
generator.

page_text: Having now set forth the nature of this Invention, and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under
the above recited Letters Patent I claim,-
1st, placing the hydrocarbon used to carbonize the hydrogen within the gas
generator, or in immediate contact therewith, that the heat evolved by the
generation of the gas may serve to maintain the requisite temperature in the
hydrocarbon, as set forth.
2nd, uniting the gas holder with the generator by means of the water space,
when this water space or packing is placed sufficiently high above the bottom of
the generator, to enable the gas to be drawn off at a point above the surface
of the acid, in the manner substantially as herein set forth.
3d, the endless chain carrier, constructed and operating in the manner sub-
stantially as herein described, for the purpose of introducing the zinc without
raising the gas holder, as set forth.
4th, opening the egress pipe G into the vertical pipe H, in the manner
substantially as herein described, for the purpose of drawing off the gas from
the dryest part of the receiver, at the same time that the gas pipe is protected
from the scum and foam upon the top of the acid, and the condensation is
permitted to pass off, in the manner set forth.
5th, the elastic tube S, operating in the manner described, for the purpose
of feeding the generator, and drawing off the residium without the use of cocks
or valves, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)