IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CAR- BURETTING GAS
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th June 1878. A communication from
abroad by James Monroe Palmer, of Cambridge, Clergyman, and Charles
Albert Shaw, of Salem, Solicitor of Patents, both in Massachusetts, United
States of America.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. " IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CAR-
BURETTING GAS." [A communication from abroad by James Monroe Palmer, of
Cambridge, Clergyman, and Charles Albert Shaw, of Salem, Solicitor of Patents,
both in Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to means for increasing the illuminating properties of
ordinary carburetted hydrogen gas, and consists in an apparatus or machine of
novel construction and arrangement of parts, by which a safer, more convenient,
and effective device of this character is produced than has heretofore been
employed.
The said apparatus or carburetter is divided into two general compartments or
sections by a diaphragm, the upper compartment or section forming a tank, and the
lower compartment or section forming a generator.
Within the said generator there are two horizontal shelves or discs arranged one
above the other, provided with upwardly turned lips or flanges around their peri-
pheries, and with a series of perforations surrounded with upwardly projecting
nipples or guards. Each of the said shelves is also provided with a gas pipe or duct,
and is fitted closely in the body of the said generator.
Between the bottom and lower shelf there is a spiral or evolute gas duct, composed
of a vertically arranged coiled strip of sheet metal, and between the said shelf and
the upper shelf there is a like coil or duct. The said lower shelf rests upon the
lower coil, and the other shelf upon the upper one, and between the upper shelf and
diaphragm there is a series of radial partitions provided with lateral openings, and a
tube on which the said diaphragın rests.

page_text: The said tube and partitions are provided with small openings near the bottom,
but both the partitions and the tube may be omitted if desired; or the partitions
may be used on all of the shelves, and also on the bottom, if desired, instead of the
spiral ducts, the spaces between being filled with wool, sponge, or other good absor-
bent, but the said spiral ducts are preferable.
A float is disposed in a well in the lower part of the said generator, this well
being provided with a tubular extension reaching above the upper shelf, and sur-
mounted with a parachute or cap, through which the float rod passes.
A screw plug is fitted closely in the aforesaid diaphragm, and through the centre
of this plug there is a vertical opening, in which the stem of the valve works
loosely. The upper side of this valve, whose diameter is nearly as great as that of
the cap, is covered or packed with leather, and there is a series of perforations or
conduits leading from the tank through a plug to an opening in which the stem
works, and thence to the generator below.
A valve, concave on its lower side, is provided to receive the upper end of the
float rod, and in the upper end of the said stem there is a pin to prevent the dropping
of the stem too low as the Hoat falls.
The walls of the coils, the lower sides of the shelves and diaphragm, the sides of
the partitions and tube, and the interior walls of the generator are to be covered
with felting or cloth for absorbing the gasolene or hydrocarbon oil, and thus pro-
ducing a greater evaporating surface.
In a modification of this apparatus I use a valve having its float rod adjustable by
means of the valve stem, its upper end being provided with a screw to fit the valve
stem, and the lower end provided with a square portion arranged to work vertically,
but not to rotate in a square socket in the upper part of the float. This mode of con-
struction enables the float rod to be lengthened or shortened, and the flow of gasolene
to be regulated as required by turning the valve stem.
The said square portion, instead of being formed on the lower end of the rod, may
be placed on its upper end, and a square socket provided in the stem to receive it,
the screw on the said rod being arranged to screw into the float if preferred.
A filling pipe and vent pipe are inserted in the top of the tank, and there is also
a pipe passing vertically through the tank, diaphragm, and shelves to the bottom of
the generator. This last-named pipe is fitted tightly in the diaphragm and shelves,
and is designed for "sounding" the generator to ascertain the depth of fluid on the
bottom, and for pumping out the fluid when from any cause it becomes too deep or
of too great density in the generator.
A casing or jacket surrounds the carburetter, the space between the two being
filled with fine coal ashes or other good non-conductor of heat.
It will be obvious that the aforesaid spiral ducts and shelves may be increased in
number, according to the amount of evaporating surface desired.
When the float rod is used, as first above described, it is rendered vertically
adjustable in the float by a screw on its lower end, its upper end being free, a
square vertical stud being arranged to work in a corresponding aperture in the
lower part of the float to prevent the turning of the float as the rod is adjusted.
Instead of the aforesaid tank a tank may be located at a distance from the gene-
rator, and connected therewith by a pipe arranged to open and close by the valve
mechanism to feed the apparatus or machine automatically.