Improvements in or relating to Gas and Steam Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 6th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 23rd June, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Gas and Steam Generators.
I, THOMAS HILL, Junior, of 14, Goswell Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to generators for the production of gases, and has for
its object to utilize the exhaust steam from, for example, a steam engine, to
assist in producing combustible gases in the furnace.
According to this invention I arrange beneath, say a steam generator, of some
convenient type, one or more furnaces which can be used independently. Fuel
is supplied to these furnaces through suitable shoots, provided with jackets
through and around which hot air or gases can pass. The jacket of the fuel
shoots may form a jacket enclosing part of the generator itself. Outside the hot
air jacket is arranged a second jacket through which the feed water passes, a
tube within this jacket enabling the air supplied to the furnace to receive a cer-
tain amount of heat from the feed water which is in turn heated from the inner
hot air jacket.
The fuel which is preferably coal in each shoot, being heated by the hot air
around it generates coal gas, which passes downwards into the furnace chamber
leneath which the hot air which caused the production of this gas is being drawn
from the aforementioned tube in the feed water jacket. While coal gas is being
formed air is shut off from the furnace chamber into which this gas passes, the
fuel which remains in the furnace being in a state of incandescence
Within the steam generator I arrange a chamber of suitable shape, provided
with some form of valve communicating with the interior of the generator: this
chamber will hereinafter be termed the explosion chamber. The exhaust steam
from the engine is led into tlie furnace chamber where water gas is formed and
is together with-the coal, gas from the heated fuel drawn into the explosion
chamber and there exploded by an electric spark or otherwise, as found con-
venient; the explosion causing the products of the explosion to be injected into
the generator itself through the above-mentioned valve. The vacuum formed in
the explosion chamber, after each explosion, serves to draw in the next charge of.
coal and water gas.
A thermostat of some convenient type is provided, which automatically, as soon.
as the fuel in one shoot, has given off all its gas and become dulled, admits air
into that furnace and at the same time shutting off the air to one of the other
furnaces. This causes full combustion to take place in the one furnace while in
the other furnace the fuel remains merely in a state. of incandescence, while coal
gas is being generated in the fuel shoot above it. The supply of exhaust steam
is shut off from the furnace in which full combustion is to take place, at approxi-
mately the same time as air is admitted to it. and as soon as this combustion is
started the products of combustion pass into the hot air jacket surrounding the
fuel shoot of the other furnace serving thus to produce the coal gas from this
fuel.
In an alternative construction in place of supplying the steam to the furnace

page_text: for the production of water gas, the exhaust steam may be conducted directly
into the explosion chamber in the generator, where it mingles with the coal gas
and is, in consequence of the explosion, forced into the generator.
Suitable
means may be provided for enabling the air necessary to produce the explosion,
to be admitted to the explosion chamber.
If desired a portion of the water gas or coal gas or both in place of entering
the explosion chamber, may be conducted into a carburettor where, with the air
of a suitable hydrocarbon a gas may be produced suitable for illuminating or
other purposes.
It has been mentioned that I may employ two or more furnaces, but I have so
far found four furnaces to be a convenient number.
The main generator in which steam is produced may be of any well known type,
and the arrangements of the coal shoots, furnaces and jackets may be as found
most convenient, preferably however, I prefer to arrange all the parts adjacent
to one another in such a way that with the aid of suitable valves, an equilibrium
of pressure may be maintained throughout the whole system except when a
carburettor is employed.
The details of construction may be varied without departing from the 'spirit
of the invention:
Dated this 6th day of Jul 1800
BOULT & WADE
Agents for the Applicant.
WORLD DEMUITICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Gas and Steam Generators.
I, THOMAS HILL, Junior, of 1, Devonshire Street, Portland Place, formerly of
14, Goswell Road, both in the County of Middlesex, 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;-
In existing processes of fuel combustion wherein fuel such as coal is imper-
fectly burnt, especially as pertaining to its application in the generation of
steam, in no instance am I acquainted with a process by which the distillation
and combustion is so periodically effected, that various latent combustible proper-
ties of the fuel subjected to these two distinct modes of treatment, are obtained
and separately applied for the purpose of completing and sustaining the circu-
lation of steam under working pressure.
It is by means of a periodical or alternating combustion and distillation or
a periodical and alternating combustion and distillation however that I propose
to establish such circulation, based upon the fact, that, of the combustible gases
of the fuel, such quantity necessary for overcoming the boiler pressure so as to
provide a free return passage for the exhaust steam, shall be distilled off and
separately applied from the gases remaining in the fuel to undergo combustion
for the main heating of the generator and the application of the distilled gases
would form a somewhat appreciable analogy to the working of an ordinary gas
or explosion engine or such engine in combination with a suitable pump.
The foregoing being a rough outline of the main principles upon which the
working of this invention is proposed, for the detail of a convenient arrangement
for its practicalization, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of a generator, on the line 44 of
Figure 3 planned on the lines of this invention.

page_text: Figure 2 is also a vertical transverse section, showing in diagrammatic plau
one set of compound valve connections.
Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 and ·dia-
grammatically illustrates the thermostatic connections.
I have found four furnaces or a furnace hermetically divided into four separate
compartments a convenient arrangement for carrying the above process into effect.
Such furnaces being suitably mounted beneath the boiler, the exhaust steam to be
reinstated under pressure may either enter certain furnaces during the distilla-
tion of the fuel or be taken direct to a chamber wherein it is acted upon by
the explosive force of gases distilled for that purpose and by means of which its
reintroduction is effected.
to
In Figure 1, A and A° represent two of the fuel shoots and a aº their respec-
tive doors and 10 the doors leading to the ash pit 6, the latter being divided
from the furnace by the grate bars and are two of the furnace and
ash pit door-retainers. Cand C, one pair of opposing thermostats, of which the
following is a detail; represents an alloy or metal fusible at the temperature
usually employed in the production of water gas or at such temperature as found
advisable; el, a keeper, corrugated or otherwise as found preterable and which
may be partly or completely imbedded in the fusible alloy or metal and of which
the spindle to forms a part or is attached., is the outer cylinder forming
the wall or casing of the receptacle in which the fusible material is retained and
is capped by the detachable cover . Inserted within the lower end of this cylin-
der or casing and nicely fitting same so that it may freely revolve, is a second
cylinder or drum e, bridged by the disc e as is also the outer cylinder or casing
by the disc. The removable collars and retained by the adjustable
screws and, retain the combination in the necessary constant mechanical
relation, leaving the spindle e always free to turn. The outer cylinder or casing,
which should be constructed of a suitable fire resisting or refractory material, is
fastened to the grate bars by the bolts and flanges c and the inner turning
cylinder or drum is held in relation to the outer cylinder or casing
by the spring retained pawle which works in a suitable circular
rack around the outer cylinder or casing. A strong volute spring 3,
with one end attached to the spindle and the other end
the inner cylinder e, is capable of being wound by the handle attached to the
inner cylinder c', the effect of which is as follows: After having wound the
sprang upon the alloy or metal becoming fused thereby also liberating the
keeper c, the chain-wheel c of the spindle c, rolates a certain distance governed'
by a suitable regulating device to be hereinafter described. The main spring &
of each opposing thermostat of the pair, should be arranged to unwind in the
opposite direction to that of the other. The spindle of one opposing thermostat
should be longer than that of the other for purpose of accommodating a double
chain wheel. Instead of employing springs 1 may employ weights or steam pres-
sure to operate the thermostats: The framework N, merely acts as a support
for the thermostats, valves etc., extending beneath the furnace and similar pro-
visions might be made for reinforcing the bottom of the generator. Mare the
standards, legs or supports. D and 1º, are the spindles of two compound rotary.
valves, and the spindle 10°, shown extending below the spindle D in Figure 1, is.
made the longest in order to allow for the cross working of each set of chain
connections. dare chain wheels upon the valve spindle D and held in turn-
ing relation thereto by suitable pawls, so arranged as to be operative in one direc-
tion, leaving the wheel free to turn in the reverse direction. Each compound
rotary valve has two tiers or distinct sets of openings, representing twenty open-
ings in all for each valve, each tier or distinct set of ten representing one furnace.
For a clearer detail, reference is made to Figure 2, in which a compound rotary
valve is shown in two horizontal cross sections. The plug portion of the com-
pound rotary valve is made twice the necessary length, the upper half being:
plain, so that same may be drawn down to close all passages to and from one

page_text: pair of furnaces, thereby facilitating manipulation. It also has six cross pas-
sages throuch the plug portion, at 5, and 18, 1920 representing two
distinct sets or tiers of passages running three at right angles to the other three,
and one distinct set or tier of passages above or below the other. The socket
or casing O, also has two distinct sets or tiers of passages one above the other
and each distinct set or tier consisting of two sets of openings one set repre-
sented by o', 0, 0³, ot, o³, 06, or all, o, 13, 14, 15, 16, six in each set facing
and in a line with and opposite to each other and also two sets of openings, one
set represented by o², os, o³, old, or oli, 18, 19, 20, four in each set facing and in
a line with and opposite to each other, the second set being at right angles to the
first set and one distinct set or tier in a vertical plane with and above or below.
the other distinct set or tier, each distinct set or tier representing its own fur-
nace. By reference now to Figure 3, in which the adjustable regulator for the
turning of the thermostats is represented by the free wheel d carrying bumper d
between bumper posts and d and held between the pitched gear chains d'
and by their own tension or otherwise, it will be readily seen that providing
the opposing thermostats are oppositely wound and the regulating bumpers pro-
perly set, there will, in view of the reciprocation of the regulator, he a definite
rotation every time either furnace becomes sufficiently incandescent to fuse the
alloy or metal of the thermostat. It should be readily observed that by means
of the two independent gear wheels d and d', upon the compound rotary valve
spindle as described and the straight pitch gear chain and twisted pitched
gear chain and the opposite rotational tendency of the thermostatic gear
wheels and co, that either thermostat may turn the same valve spindle in the
same direction by an independent wheel a definite distance, and further that by
an additional straight chain upon the double chain wheel and idlers and
jockeys,,,, the suspeniled regulator's reciprocation and consequently
the angle of rotation of the compound valve, will be determined by the exact dis-
tance between the two bumper posts 3 and 4 Y and Z form the outer cylin-
drical shell of the generator above the furnaces and may be arranged to retain
suitable heat insulating material, and in the case of high pressures, the shell Y
may be bound with steel tape, hoops or the like. The next inner concentric
cylinder y forms a water supply jacket, supplied through the valve K, and a
spiral air tube I, which may be fed externally through the supply pipe i,
encircles same to the compound valves. The next. inner concentric cylinder
forms the inner wall of a jacket into which the products of combustion pass to
heat the fuel in the shoots and also the wall of the steam boiler F. By suitable
stays or webs all three cylinders may be retained in secure, permanent mechanical
relation and the capping, dome or base pieces y³, y', y, would preferably
be of thicker material, well flanged and secured. The boiler, hot jacket and
water jacket should maintain pressure equilibrium through the medium of the
one way valves R, S, T, Q, and the furnaces, during the reinvigoration or full
combustion period, would likewise incur pressure equilibrium by reason of having
to force their products of combustion into the hot jacket. Referring again to
Figure 2, the entrances into the two furnaces shown, are represented by 2¹
and and exits by 12 7 8. In this plan as in Figure 1, we have two alter-
nating or opposing furnaces B and B working through the medium of single
compound rotary valve. In one position exhaust steam from the engine finds
access through, d, o, p', into the furnace B, and the resultant gases through
passages 2, 0, 1, 0, 2, into the explosion chamber E, it being understood that
when coal gas is produced, the same channels are followed, communication
between carburettor L and furnace B existing at the same time through pas-
sages p³, o³, 16, 02, 13, 11, but subject to the position of hand valve At the
same time we find air from the pipe I passing through passages o¹º, 18, 17, 117,
into the furnace B and the resulting products of combustion through passages 28,
o18, 20, into the hot jacket J, passage between the carburettor L and the
furnace B being blocked. All passages leading into and out of the furnaces

page_text: A
would preferably be provided with suitable tuyeres and each pipe with a hand
tap or valve to further convenience furnace manipulation. The passages leading
hot products of combustion into the hot jacket, should also be provided with non-
return valves to prevent the products from returning when the same furnaces are
working as gas producers. is the chamber in which the hydrocarbon used for
curiching the gus.is heated by the heat radiated from the boiler, jackets and
other chambers, and the filling of this chamber as well as the boiler may be
effected and accurately gauged in any desirable way. The central chamber E
within the steam generator is that in which the combustible gases of the fuel are
exploded for the purpose of overcoming the pressure of the generator and returning
exhaust steam into same. At any time or position' one of the compound rotary
valves offers free and direct communication between one pair of furnaces in which
combustible gas is being produced and this explosion chamber and also to the
carburettor L, but in the latter case the amount of gas capable of entering is
determined by the position of hand valve 12 Combustible gas enters the explo-
sion chamber at 23, opening the one way valves e, el, ell, passing down through
passage e¹³, raising the one way valves 3 and 4. When the piston el is at
rest upon the stops the slide valve ele is open and gas is free to enter.
definite quantity of air determined by the position of land valve also enters
the explosion chamber at c where the same mixes and follows the sanfe course
with the aforementioned gas. From this arrangement it is evident that any
quality of gas may be obtained. In the event of the exhaust steam from the
main G coming to the explosion chamber instead of going first to the furnace to
be decomposed into gases, the same may enter through pipe g and orifice e where-
upon it immediately mixes with the combustible gas from the furnace and follows
the same course. The sparking mechanism c, is always kept in constant
periodical activity except when it is found desirable to carburet all the gas, in
which case by reason of its inactivity, the produced gases seek the carburettor
as the only remaining outlet and in the event of valve not being sufficiently
open to accommodate the same, the increased pressure thereby occasioned may
be made to automatically operate a safety valve similar to one shortly to be
described in connection with the boiler pressure. When the gases are ignited
in the explosion chamber, the charge determined should be that requisite to lift
the piston el to its highest point, represented by the stops e18, against the action
of the powerful spring e (which is of a higher pressure than the boiler) and also
at the same time compressing the next charge of gas beyond the one way
valves elo, ell, ela and e¹. At that point the levers e, e, are operated upon
the air tight pivots thereby opening the valve e and introducing the burnt
gases to the boiler, which being of a lower pressure than that of the spring e,
receives the products of the explosion through valve e³. Upon the piston
returning to rest in its original position, it operates the levers and spring e, e³,
,, thereby returning the valve el to its former position and finally depress-
ing the slide valvo e6 to receive the next charge and repeat the cycle of opera-
tions. The safety valve in connection with the boiler pressure just above referred
to, is retained in position at the top of the explosion chamber by.
the spring which operates at a less pressure than that of the
main safety valve H which latter is gauged by the safety limits
of the generator. The piston e reinforcel by the
retains the valve e by the rod and upon an increase of pressure to the requisite
spring
degree the valve is depressed thereby opening communication between cham-
berse and through passage e, which in view of the pipe 13 extending from
the top of the explosion chamber to the carburettor is almost equivalent to clear-
ing free and direct communication between furnace and carburettor. The power-
ful springs V perform the two-fold service of sustaining the explosion chamber in
the desired position and at the same time cushioning or neutralizing to a con-
sislerable degree the explosive, vibrations. 7 is a gas main for conveying the
carburetted surplus gases to a suitable reservoir or tank and part or all of such
gases might be supplied with air and externally burnt upon the generator, suit-

page_text: able provision being made for thoroughly absorbing and using the full heat of
such final combustion. f is the working pressure main.
The above detail having been principally confined to definite combinations, I
will endeavour to show the working of such combinations, together with various
important modifications.
MODUS OPERANDI.
After partially filling the boiler F and carburettor L (suitable filling and
gauging devices having been provided) fuel is introduced into all of the fuel
shoots, one of which is provided to each furnace, after which the lids of the shoots
are securely fastened to prevent gas escapes. The fuel having now deposited itself
upon the grates of the furnaces, thereby also surrounding or covering the
thermostats projecting thereinto and the air supply having been started through
the pipe I encircling the water jacket K, fire should now be introduced into that
pair of furnaces which by virtue of the position of the compound rotary valve.
are now receiving or are in a position to receive their supply of air, the opposite
pair remaining undisturbed because as yet no steam has been generated which
might exhaust into their chambers; and in the event of such generation and
exhaust taking place before the proper time, suitable provisions may be made
for directing same into other channels. The resulting products of this full com-
bustion being discharged into the inner jacket surrounding the fuel shoots,
heats the same together with heating the water of, and air in the tube I in, the
outer jacket. The fuel which for example we will say is coal in each shoot
being heated by the hot air, water and products of combustion around it, gene-
rates coal gas which passes downwards into the furnace, into the ash pits beneath
which the hot air which assisted in the production of this gas is being drawn
from the aforementioned tube I in the water jacket. While coal gas is being
formed, air is shut off from the furnaces into which it is passing, the fuel which
remains being in a state of incandescence. In other words, hot air, hot water
and the products of combustion, assist the furnaces in gasifying the fuel in the
shoots, and the combustible gas which is produced, descends into the furnaces
where together with the aforementioned hot air, combustion proceeds more
vigorously, until the temperature of one of the furnaces becomes high enough to
operate one of the thermostats, which closes off the air, and allows the furnaces
to act as gas producers. That is to say, according to the arrangement shown in
the drawings, when the first pair of furnaces have arrived at the desired tem-
perature (say 1000° Centigrade) and considering for convenience that both fur-
naces arrive at this temperature simultaneously, the alloy or metal of the ther-
mostats in those furnaces fuse and the liberated spindles of the same now
influenced by spring power, gravity or the pressure of the generator, operates the
compound rotary valves governing all the entrances to and from all the furnaces,
thereby completely changing the entire action of the furnaces and it is at this
juncture, when the second pair of furnaces are brought into the first phase of the
the first pair of furnaces, that the same ignition of fuel should be effected. From
this it will be seen that as soon as the fuel in one pair of shoots has given off its
gas and become dulled (presuming for the moment that the generator is fully
working) the fuel from the opposite pair of shoots will have arisen to the opposite
extreme state, thereby working the thermostats and altering the phase of the
furnaces by admitting air into the dulled furnaces as described.
This causes
-
full combustion to take place in one pair of furnaces while in the other pair of
furnaces the fuel merely remains in a state of incandescence and coal gas is
being generated in the fuel shoots, or providing steam had been generated, the
other pair of furnaces may now be used for the production of water gas. It also
follows from this arrangement that where the exhaust steam from the main G is
taken into the furnaces before going to the explosion chamber, the supply of
exliaust steam is shut off from the furnaces in which full combustion is to take
place, at approximately the same time as air is admitted to it, and as soon as

page_text: this full combustion is started, the products of combustion pass into the inner hot
jacket surrounding the fuel shoots; or if desired the inner hot jacket may be
divided so that the hot products of the full combustion period of one furnace
will augment the coal distillation period of another furnace, and by such an
arrangement the products of combustion will alternately choose different divisions
of the hot jacket, or they may enter separate jackets, and less coal gas would
thus be burnt during the full combustion period. Separate compound rotary
valves for cutting steam into and air out of the furnaces may be used, the former
following the latter by a definite degree of time, thus positively obviating back
pressures. Where a single thermostat, furnace and fuel supply are used,a ther-
mostat depending upon the action of both the expansion and contraction of a
solid body would be preferable, as by such means when the furnace dropped or
rose to the working temperature the metallic agent would through physical
change perform the necessary. mechanical movements in the desired manner.
'
The exhaust steam from the engine is led into the furnace chamber, where its
conveyor may form the bars of the grate or walls of the furnace, and the steam
thus highly superheated, being ejected through tuyeres beneath or into the
incandescent fuel, forms water gas which is together with the coal gas from the
heated fuel, drawn or sucked into the explosion chamber E. In an alternate con-
struction, in place of supplying the steam to the furnaces for the production of
water gas, the exhaust steam may be conducted directly from its superheating
chambers into the explosion chamber E where it may mingle with the coal gas
or occupy a separate chamber and in consequence of the explosion be forced into
the steam generator. F.
If desired a portion of the water-gas or coal-gas or both, before or in place of
entering the explosion chamber E. may be conducted into the carburettor L,
where with the aid of a suitable hydrocarbon, a gas may be produced suitable for
illuminating or other purposes.
There is no object in placing the explosion chamber E within the steam gene-
rator F other than the fact that by so doing, very little heat can be. radiated
without being absorbed. An outside chamber suitably jacketted may provo
equally efficient, The igniter might be worked through a Rulimkorff coil or by
any other suitable means. The chambers e¹, e, e, e, 50, are all independent
and guarded by non-return valves as shown. The valve e communicating with
the interior of the generator, replaces itself by the little spring. Upon the
upstroke of the piston e a portion of the contents of the chamber is forced
beyond valve e and perhaps safety valve e" and the vacuous condition brought
about when the piston descends; acts as a suction pump for the next charge.
Coal or water gas or their mixture, enters the explosion chamber E through
inlet p3 which enters into the separate chamber e and wherein the exhaust steam
highly superheated or not superheated may enter through pipe g regulated by
hand valve g and containing non-return valve 76. This separate chamber e
communicating with the next separate chamber e by the only passage guarded
by the spring retained non-return valve and into which a definite quantity of
air from the air coil I regulated by the hand valve may enter through the non-
return valve e. the chamber e acting as a separate mixing chamber for the gasez
and wherein the proper dilution of the explosive gases may be determined by
working the various valves of their respective mains. The vertical reciproca-
tion of the piston el separating the two chambers and e, caused by the alter-
nating influences of explosion and the expansion of the powerful spring e, periodi-
cally creates compression and an imperfect vacuum which alternate in the cham-
bere, thus admirably serving as a pump for drawing, the gas or gas and steam
from chamber e and air through non-return valve e and forcing same bevond
non-return valves e, e, chamber e, passage e, non-return valve e¹ and cham-
ber and some beyond non-return valve e¹, where same is compressed for next
charge, the large amount being compressed in chamber and at each end of
the explosion chamber. The piston when inactive, rests upon the ledges or pro-

page_text: jections, and when in this position, the rod of extending from its face, forces
the slide valve el against the action of the spring e, thereby opening passage
for the compressed gases to enter, the same not of necessity being compressed for
the initial working of the apparatus. When these gases are exploded beneath the
piston where the explosion takes place. the only two exits from such chamber
being guarded by the non-return valves el and o¹, this piston rises to the upper
projections or ledges e18, at a point immediately previous to which the lever es
connected to the levers eo and working on air tight ball and socket or like
joints, opens the primary exhaust valve e', and the piston es now being con-
siderably relieved of its propellent, and exploded gases having extended beyond
the second exhaust valve e retained by the spring e, the gases are now swept
by the downward stroke of the piston e15, which acting under the influence of a
powerful spring e, exerts a higher pressure than the boiler and the gases seek
rest in the boiler. Upon the establishment of pressure equilibrium between
the remaining exploded gases in the cliamber and the water of the boiler,
the piston in completing its descent to its resting ledges e, reinstates in position
the primary exhaust valve e through levers 40, 23, spring ea and lever ea, the
slide valve again being opened for another charge of compressed combustible
gases and lastly the second exhaust valve is finally replaced by its spring e!⁹
where it remains undisturbed until the next cycle of operation.
Though I show a safety valve arrangement on the explosion chamber, the same
may be abolished providing the gas hand valve always remains sufficiently
open in this way the explosion chamber continues self feeding as usual and all
surplus gas becomes carburetted, or by cutting off the activity of the igniter, all
gas may be carburetted: Another form of safety device would consist of any
means for automatically opening the electric circuit upon an increase of boiler
pressure less than that capable of operating the safety valve H, thus placing
furnace, when acting as a gas producer, and carburettor into communication.
Considering now that after working the generator for some time, and carburet-
ting all the gas for external use instead of using it for the explosion chamber,
the igniter which was stopped for this purpose is again started and that it so
happens that the pressure in the chamber 50 being in equilibrium with that of
the boiler and above that of the supply chambers or es, the influx of a suffi-
cient volume of combustible gas to raise the piston is prevented. By allowing
the gas producer to act independently and the exhaust from the engine to go free
or become superheated and carburetted, a pressure in both gas producer and
explosion chamber will soon be attained which is superior to. that of the boiler
and working will again be started without difficulty.
Some form of cushion and receiver which could act as a superheater in circuit
with and for the exhaust. steam, might be found convenient for the purpose of
constantising the steam supply to the furnaces and also obviating all possibility
of back pressures.
All boiler and engine exhausts should empty into a common main and suitabile
ports or taps should be provided for cleaning and extracting sediments from the
boiler. or the generator might be constructed in sections for the convenience of
periodical inspection cleaning and repair.
A circular perforated vulcanite disc or similar contrivance might be floated upon
the surface of the water for the double object of muffling the agitation of the
water and also to act as an implement for removing the incrustation upon the
hoiler walls.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the work done by the explo-
sive gases will of necessity represent more than that capable of being done by
the boiler pressure and it remains for practice to prove the exact relative propor-
tion and distribution of elements which will give the best result. The relative
proportion of the various constituents of the complete generator should be exactly
such that the effect of the combustion of the combustible gas extracted from the
fuel supplied to its furnaces, would equal that force requisite to perform the

page_text: essential functions of its explosion chamber in counteracting its boiler pressure
and more particularly by adhering to the coal-gas method, that is to say where
coal-gas instead of water-gas is produced, will the increase or decrease in volume
of combustible gas production vary somewhat in direct ratio with the working
furnace temperatures.
The explosion chamber might be arranged as a cylinder in which the piston is
propelled by the force of exploding gases on one side as before while the other
side forces the exhaust steam back into the boiler, the explosion engine working
from the products of the gas producer. The pisten or pistons of this explosion
engine would preferably work in synchronism with those of the steam engine so
that the pump may constantly exert a suction upon the engine exhaust.
other words, the drawing in or feeding stroke of the pump would be simultaneous
with the exhaust stroke of the engine, and the exhaust stroke of the pump would
be simultaneous with the drawing in or feeding stroke of the engine, it being
understood, that the simplest possible form of steam engine is referred to for
clearness.
In
The force of the explosion may in addition to performing the work described
also be used for pumping air to the furnaces and controlling the feed water
supply etc. and suitable automatic arrangements may be provided whereby any
fluctuations in the pressure of the generator will at once control the air supply
to the furnaces by admitting more or less air, and consequently greater produc-
tion of both combustible gas and heat may thus be effected when heavy loads upon
the engine bring the generator to its maximum working pressure and vice versa.
The products of primary combustion being most largely composed of carbonic
acid (CO2) and nitrogen (N) owing to the large amount of oxygen supplied under
air pressure, may be all or partly dissipated after absorbing their heat, the same
thing also applying to the products of the explosion.
Provision may also be made for purifying the circulating gases.
The mechanical details of a generator as planned and described in single and
compact form, may in some cases present undesirable conditions which could he
better obviated by a detachable and individually controlled set of meclianisms.
To apply the invention to existing plants, two or at most three principal addi-
tions only are necessary, namely, a gas producer, an explosion pump or an
explosion engine in combination with a pump and perhaps a carburettor. The
gas producer may be heated by the combustion of its own coke as described in the
Compact form of generator planned to illustrate this invention or part or all of
such coke with or without other fuel may be burnt in the furnace of the gene-
rator and exhaust heat from the latter may be used to heat the former or as found
convenient. By such an arrangement the gas producer would receive daily or
otherwise a definite quantity of fuel sufficient for or more than equal to a day's
running and in this initial process the two combustible constituents of the coal,
coal gas and coke would be separated; the coke being used in conjunction with
air for heating and the coal gas in conjunction with air for making possible the
circulation of live steam. If the working is carried out on the water gas process,..
a separate gas producer may or may not be included and an enriching hydrocarbon
would be advisable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed; I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A multiphase process for the generation of steain and gases wherein fuel
such as coal is first subjected to distillation and the resultant products utilized
for the generation of steam, the solid constituents undergoing continuous com-
bustion so as to heat the steam generator and distil the fuel and the gaseous
products undergoing intermittent combustion in such a manner as to overcome
the pressure of the steam generator substantially as described.
2. A process for the generation of steam and gases in which a steam generator

page_text: is heated by two or more furnaces constructed and arranged so that the fuel in
each furnace is first distilled without admission of air and the residual product
afterwards burnt in the presence of air, the phases of action of the furnaces
alternating so that the products of the combustion phase of one furnace furnish
heat for the distilling phase of the other furnace, the products of distillation
being utilized to form an explosive mixture and carried bodily into the steam
generator or in whole or in part led into a carburettor or exhausted into the
atmosphere substantially as described.
3. In
In apparatus for the generation of steam and gases and in combination one
or more pair of furnaces, means for admitting air into each furnace, and means
regulated by the temperature of the furnaces, such as thermostats, whereby
each furnace of each pair controls the supply of air to the other furnace of the
pair.
J
..
4. In apparatus for the generation of steam and gases and in' combination a
steam generator, two furnaces with controllable air supply, an explosion chamber,
in communication both with the generator and each furnace and means such as a
thermostat in each furnace operated by the temperature of the furnace whereby
the communication between the explosion chamber and each furnace is opened and
closed simultaneously and respectively with the closing and opening of the air
supply to the said furnace, substantially as described.
5. In apparatus for the generation of steam and gases and in combination a
steam generator, two furnaces with controllable air supply, an explosion chamber,
in communication both with the generator and each furnace, means such as a
thermostat in each furnace operated by the temperature of tlie furnace whereby
the communication between the explosion chamber and each furnace is opened
and closed simultaneously and respectively with the closing and opening of the
air supply to the said furnace and a carburettor controllably connected with the
explosion chamber, and with the furnaces substantially as described.
6. In apparatus for the generation and utilization of steam and gases and in
combination a steam generator, two furnaces with controllable air supply, an
explosion chamber in communication both with the generator and each furnace,
a fluid motor receiving its supply of fluid from the generator and with its exhaust
controllably opening into each furnace or into the explosion chamber and means
such as a thermostat in each furnace operated by the temperature of the furnace
whereby the communication between the explosion chamber and each furnace is
opened and closed simultaneously and respectively with the closing and opening
of the air supply and of the aforesaid exhaust openings to the said furnaces sub-
stantially as described.
7. In apparatus for the generation of steam and gases the combination with_a,
steam generator of an explosive chamber having a piston such as e arranged' to
be moved by an explosive charge against the tension of a spring such as e and
valves controlled by the reciprocation of the said piston to allow the products of
the explosion to enter the said steam generator substantially as described.
8. The complete apparatus for the generation and utilization of steam and gases
substantially as described or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated thi. Qah
e
1000