IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS PRODUCERS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, ALFRED WILSON, of "The Trees," Stafford, in the County of Stafford,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for “IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAS PRODUCERS" to be as follows:-
--
According to this invention in a gas producer constructed to be worked above or
below the pressure of the atmosphere air alone or with steam or with other gas or
gases is injected into a mass of fuel in a combustion chamber through a vertical
pipe or conduit which is open at its lower end and terminates a short distance
above the bottom or hearth of the combustion chamber (which may sometimes
contain water to form a lute to prevent the escape of gases whilst matter is
withdrawn) in such manner that the air or mixture injected passes first downward
through the pipe or conduit, is then discharged into the lower part of the mass of
fuel and thence passes upward through the mass.
To prevent loss of gas escaping at the charging hopper, or poking holes the
injector for supplying the air (or air and steam or gas) is so arranged in relation to
the hopper or poking holes that escaping gas is by the action of the injector sucked
or drawn back into the apparatus with the inflowing air.
The pipe or conduit through which the air or air and gas is or are injected is
according to one plan arranged to be capable of rotary motion and is provided
with an arm or projection (or there may be more than one) for the purpose of
stirring or breaking up fuel within the combustion chamber. The pipe or conduit
may be of a conical or bell mouthed form and be either arranged centrally or
otherwise.
When placed centrally the charging cone for fuel can conveniently be arranged
to work upon it.
The outlet for gas generated in the apparatus is situate at or near the top of the
producer, whilst the opening or openings for cleaning out the combustion chamber
may be at the bottom or side thereof.
By my invention the whole of the hearth area is made available for the deposit
of incombustible residue up to the level of the bottom end of the vertical tuyere-
allowing longer periods of work without cleaning out than in a chamber of the
same size-whose capacity is diminished by tuyeres projecting through its bottom
CD

page_text: or sides. Furthermore as there is nothing over the area of the hearth within the
walls for clinker to adhere to uninterrupted access may be had to its whole area
from one point in the sides or bottom for purposes of clinkering or stirring up the
charge.
As the outlet of the tuyere is downwards no part of the charge can get into it to
obstruct the passage of the air supply as happens with tuyere outlets pointing
upwards or horizontally into the fuel, and a minimum size of tuyere as regards the
area occupied in the chamber will deliver a maximum amount of blast.
In gas producers worked under pressure the poking resorted to from the top to
stir up the charge results in an escape of gas at the time of poking which is a loss
and a nuisance. The above described arrangement of descending tuyere open at
the bottom down which there is a strong current whilst the top is open to the
atmosphere admits of poking down through the tuyere without allowing escape.
In producers worked below the pressure of the atmosphere, poking from the top
admits air amongst the gas-giving liability to explosions-or deterioration of the
gas by combustion in the producer. Now a producer worked by suction on the gas
outlet and provided with this tuyere arrangement can be poked from the top
through the tuyere.
The principle wear and tear of tuyeres in gas producers results from gradual.
burning, at such times as the producer is temporily suspended from active work
and whilst no current of blast is passing through such tuyeres to keep them cool.
The arrangement described above offers great facility for temporarily withdrawing
the tuyere entirely out of the charge at such times—and a tuyere may be changed
without stopping the fire if required.
I would remark in conclusion that my invention is applicable, in whole or in
part, to gas producers of various constructions.

page_text: I, ALFRED WILSON, of "The Trees," Stafford, in the county of Stafford,
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:-
According to this invention in a gas producer constructed to be worked above or
below the pressure of the atmosphere, air alone or with steam or with other gas
or gases is injected into a mass of fuel in a combustion chamber through a vertical
pipe or conduit which is open at its lower end and terminates a short distance
above the bottom or hearth of the combustion chamber (which may sometimes
contain water to form a lute to prevent the escape of gases whilst matter is
withdrawn) in such manner that the air or mixture injected passes first downward
through the pipe or conduit, is then discharged into the lower part of the mass of
fuel and thence passes upward through the mass.
To prevent loss of gas escaping at the charging hopper, or poking holes, the
injector for supplying the air (or air and steam or gas) is so arranged in relation
to the hopper or poking holes that escaping gas is by the action of the injector
sucked or drawn back into the apparatus with the inflowing air.
The pipe or conduit may be of a conical or bell mouthed form and be either
arranged centrally or otherwise. When placed centrally the charging cone for fuel
can conveniently be arranged to work upon it.
The outlet for gas generated in the apparatus is situate at or near the top of the
producer, whilst the opening or openings for cleaning out the combustion chamber
may be at the bottom or side thereof.
By my invention the whole of the hearth area is made available for the deposit
of incombustible residue up to the level of the bottom end of the vertical tuyere―
allowing longer periods of work without cleaning out than in a chamber of the
same size whose capacity is diminished by tuyeres projecting through its bottom
or sides. Furthermore as there is nothing over the area of the hearth within the
walls for clinker to adhere to uninterrupted access may be had to its whole area
from one point in the sides or bottom for purposes of clinkering or stirring up the
charge.
As the outlet of the tuyere is downwards no part of the charge can get into it
to obstruct the passage of the air supply as happens with tuyere outlets pointing
upwards or horizontally into the fuel, and a minimum size of tuyere as regards the
area occupied in the chamber will deliver a maximum amount of blast.
In gas producers worked under pressure the poking resorted to from the top to
stir up the charge results in an escape of gas at the time of poking which is a loss
and a nuisance. The above described arrangement of descending tuyere open at
the bottom down which there is a strong current whilst the top is open to the
atmosphere admits of poking down through the tuyere without allowing escape.

page_text: In producers worked below the pressure of the atmosphere, poking from the top
admits air amongst the gas giving liability to explosions or deterioration of the
gas by combustion in the producer. Now a producer worked by suction on the
gas outlet and provided with this tuyere arrangement can be poked from the top
through the tuyere.
The principal wear and tear of tuyeres in gas producers results from gradual
burning, at such times as the producer is temporarily suspended from active work
and whilst no current of blast is passing through such tuyeres to keep them cool.
The arrangement described above offers great facility for temporarily withdrawing
the tuyere entirely out of the charge at such times-and a tuyere may be changed
without stopping the fire if required.
I would remark in conclusion that my invention is applicable, in whole or in
part, to gas producers of various constructions.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a gas
producer according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in vertical
section; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in the line x x of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan or
top view; Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a modification; Fig. 6 is a part plan of
the same.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, A. is the combustion chamber the lower end of which is
formed with a conical extension A', which is shown as being made of metal. This
extends into a vessel B that forms the hearth, and which is intended to contain
water to form a luted joint. Thus there is formed all round an annular opening C
for clearing the incombustible residue out of the apparatus. In the upper part of
the apparatus charging and poking holes are provided. Each of these is furnished
with a stopper D arranged to be lifted by a handle, or it may be by other means.
E is a throat-pipe through which air forced into the combustion chamber by
means of a steam jet projected from an injector F. G is a suction-box; the
injector F is so arranged in relation to this suction-box and to the charging and
poking holes, that escaping gas is by the action of the injector sucked or drawn
through the suction-box G, and forced back into the combustion chamber A with
the steam, by the throat-pipe E. H is a radial grid that is closed when the
injector is required to suck the gases through the suction-box G as just referred to.
I. I are conical openings provided for the insertion of a bar occasionally for the
purpose of stirring up the fuel, and are provided with stoppers for preventing
the escape of gas when not in use, K is the outlet for gas generated in the
combustion chamber.
In the modification illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, A is the combustion chamber,
A² an orifice through which the apparatus is supplied with fuel, this orifice being
provided with a stopper L arranged to be lifted by a lever M, or it may be by other
means. E is the throat-pipe through which air is forced into the combustion
chamber by means of a steam jet projected from the injector F. G is the suction-
box so arranged in relation to the hopper and poking holes that escaping gas can
by the action of the injector, be sucked or drawn along the suction-box G and
forced back into the combustion chamber A with the steam, by the throat-pipe E
and openings E¹. D. D are the stoppers of the poking holes. C is a hole for
clearing the incombustible residue out of the apparatus; it is closed by one or
more doors. N is a long hole (but there may be several short ones instead of one
long one) through which bars can be temporarily introduced to support the fuel in
the combustion chamber whilst the residue is removed from below.
Having described the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I hereby declare that no general claim is made to the use of an
injector in connection with a pipe passing down within the combustion chamber
and opening at its lower end into the same, but what I do claim is :-
1. In a gas producer the use of an injector arranged in relation to the charging
or feeding and poking aperture or apertures in such a manner that by its means

page_text: escape of gas at the said aperture or apertures may be prevented by causing the gas
to return to the combustion chamber.
2. Providing a gas producer with a throat-pipe and an injector arranged in such
a manner as to force air into the combustion chamber and also to prevent the
escape of gas at the feeding or charging and poking apertures as hereinabove
described.
3. The combination of parts constituting the improved gas producer constructed,
arranged and operating as described with reference to and illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4
inclusive of the drawings.