IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Powley Alexander, of 36, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and British and Foreign
Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES." A com-
munication from abroad by Emile Mertz, of Bâle, Switzerland.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Powley Alexander
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th March 1881.
EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER, of 36, Southampton Buildings, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and British and Foreign Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR LIGHTING
AND HEATING PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Emile Mertz, of
Bâle, Switzerland.
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of complete
and self contained apparatus for the manufacture or production of a rich gas for
lighting and heating purposes from the heavy or dead oils of petroleum and schist,
and the like, or from oleaginous and fatty liquid matters, and consists of a retort,
oven, or furnace of cylindrical or other shape composed of sheet metal lined with
fire brick, the fire place being formed in the brickwork and provided with outlets
for the heat and smoke. This oven is covered on the top by a cast iron or other
metal plate to which the retort head is securely fixed. Two lateral apertures are
provided in the fixed retort head, the one admitting a tube for the supply of the
oil from a convenient reservoir into the interior of the body of the retort, and the
other for the passage of the gas to the purifier. A vertical retort, either curved or
inclined, is fitted into and suspended at its upper end from the centre of the head,
in such a manner that the lower portion passes out of the oven in a horizontal
direction (when the curved form of retort is employed). The junction between the
retort head and the retort itself is made good by luting, the contact surfaces being
grooved or channelled so as to form a perfectly tight joint. This improved

page_text: arrangement admits of the ready and expiditious changing and replacing of the retort,
and enables the gas to be produced without any further interruption than is
necessary for the cleaning of the retort, which is effected automatically in from ten
bo fifteen minutes. Moreover, as free expansion of the several parts is allowed for
and the retort is rigidly secured to the oven at any point, leakage or escape of gas
is prevented. The supply of oil to the retort is regulated or controlled by means
of a feed cock provided with a graduated or divided sector, which allows a
regulated flow of oil to enter the retort and spread itself evenly in a thin film over
the surface of the curved or inclined sides nearest the fire. A moveable sheet
metal diaphragm extends longitudinally along the centre of the retort, from the
head to about half way along the body of the retort, the upper part of such
diaphragm being secured to one side of the head and resting upon the oil supply
tube. The object of this diaphragm is to drive back the gas generated on the side
of the retort as far as the middle thereof, whence it ascends and escapes at the top
by the lateral pipe leading to the purifier. By this arrangement the oil is com-
pletely decomposed by contact with the red hot side of the retort, and thus affords
a better yield of gas. A spy hole is provided for ascertaining the temperature of
the retort, and the apparatus once started the quality of the gas can be readily
tested by the aid of a cock placed for that purpose on the purifier. The fire place
is so constructed as to ensure the middle portion of the retort being heated to
redness. In order to cleanse the retort and remove the deposit from its sides the
cover is removed from the head and the lower end of the retort is also opened so as
to admit air freely through the retort from below upwards, thus effecting an
automatic removal of the deposit by spontaneous combustion of the deposited
matter after each operation, thereby greatly facilitating the cleaning of the retort.
The smoke emitted during this operation is conveyed to the chimney by placing
a hood provided with a flue pipe on the retort head, and connecting such pipe
with the chimney, a sliding damper being interposed between the chimney and the
connecting pipe to regulate or shut off the draught.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by 30
the said Edwin Powley Alexander in the Great Seal Patent Office on: the
27th September 1881.
EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER, of 36, Southampton Buildings, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and British and Foreign Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR LIGHTING 38
AND HEATING PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Emile Mertz, of
Bale, Switzerland.
The said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement_of
complete and self contained apparatus for the manufacture or production of a
rich gas for lighting and heating purposes from the heavy or dead oils of 40
petroleum, schist, and the like, or from oleaginous and fatty liquid matters..

page_text: The Drawing hereunto annexed represents the different parts of the said
apparatus.
A is the oven or furnace; B, a cast iron retort disposed either vertically in a
curved direction or inclined, with automatic circulation of air for the removal of
deposit; C, the retort head; D, the fire-place; E, brickwork of fire brick; P, an
apparatus for carrying off the smoke when cleaning the retort. As will be seen from
the general arrangement of the parts, their function and form have been designed
so as to present a complete apparatus. The oven A is constructed externally of sheet
metal, and is lined on the interior with fire bricks of circular or segmental form
corresponding to the cylindrical form of the oven. The fireplace D is formed inside
the said brickwork as well as the openings D' for the heat and K for the smoke.
The oven is covered by a cast metal plate F to which the retort head C is firmly
secured. This retort head is formed with two lateral openings G and H, the one Ğ
serving for the admission of oil from the reservoir into the retort, and the
opening H receives the pipe or pipes for the passage of the gas to the washer. The
upright retort B, whether curved or inclined, is fitted into the centre of the retort
head in a vertical or inclined direction, so that the lower surface shall pass out of
the oven in a horizontal direction when a curved retort is used. This arrangement
is entirely new and affords highly advantageous results. The joint between the
retort B and retort head C may be easily formed of plaster or other suitable
material, the contact surfaces being provided with grooves for completing the
closure. The replacing of the retort as well as its change of position may
be effected in a most simple and expeditious manner. The advantages afforded by
this apparatus are as follows, namely, the production of gas without any other
interruption than is required for the automatic cleaning of the retort, which can be
accomplished in from ten to fifteen minutes at the most. The expansion of the
different parts takes place in the direction of their construction, consequently
leakage of gas is rendered impossible in the said improved system of suspended
retort, the sides of which are not secured to the oven at any point. The supply of
liquid to the retort is effected. and controlled by means of a cock and sector M,
allowing the oil to fall on the side I of the retort, which thus becomes covered with
the liquid over the entire surface of the curved or inclined portion thereof. In the
interior of the retort there is fitted a moveable sheet metal curved tongue or
partition N, the upper part of which rests upon the feed tube G and is in contact
with the side C' of the retort head. The object of this tongue is to drive back the
gas generated on the side I as far as the middle of the retort, whence it ascends in
order to pass out by the elbow pipe H. In this way the oil becomes completely
decomposed in contact with the red hot sides of the retort, and thus affords a
superior yield of gas. The spy hole J admits of the verification of the degree of
temperature of the retort for the proper action of the same. The apparatus having
been once started the quality of the gas produced is also ascertained by means of a
cock provided for this purpose on the washer. The oven E is so constructed that
the retort shall be heated to redness at the middle part thereof. The great
advantage of this arrangement consists in the fact that the oil falling in a fine
stream into the retort flows over the whole of the surface heated to redness so as
to be completely decomposed. In order to clean the retort and remove the graphite
deposited on its sides during its action, the cover F' of the retort head is to be first
reinoved, and afterwards the cover at the lower end o; f, of the retort so as to
produce a circulation of air through the interior of the retort, which has the effect
of automatically cleaning the same by the resulting spontaneous combustion of the
deposit which lines the inner sides of the retort after each operation, thus greatly
simplifying the labour of cleaning the retort. Further, with a view to obviating
the inconvenience of the smoke, which on opening the retort is evolved from tho
decomposition of the oil and tar still present on commencing the cleaning process,
there is fitted over the retort head so soon as the cover is removed a sheet metal
hood P provided with a smoke pipe p, which is fitted into the chimney of the oven
by a sliding sleeve Q. This apparatus conducts the smoke directly into the said

page_text: chimney. In order to facilitate the establishing of communication between this
apparatus and the chimney, there is also provided a sliding damper R which
opens or closes and regulates the draught according to the position in which it is
placed.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said 5
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
The herein described apparatus for the production of a rich gas by the distillation 1
of the heavy oils of schist, residues of petroleum, and the like, or from fatty and
oleaginous liquid matters by heat, such apparatus being self contained and complete
and presenting the following features and advantages, namely:-
1. Sheet metal oven lined with fire brick.
2. Upright retort, either curved or inclined, placed in the centre of the retort 1
head and of the oven, so that the lower portion shall project horizontally from the
said oven.
3. Complete decomposition of the oils upon the surface of the curved or inclined
part of the retort which is further facilitated by the moveable tongue.
4. Easy and expeditious replacement of the retort in case of accident.
5. Production of gas interrupted only for the cleansing or removal of the deposit
from the retort, which can be easily and rapidly accomplished.
6. Controlling the supply of oil to the retort by a sector cock.
20
7. Freedom of expansion of the various parts of the apparatus tending to their
better preservation and working, and rendering all escape or leakage of gas 2
impossible.
These advantages are specially due to the suspension of the retort from the retort
head in such manner that the sides of the retort shall not be fixed to any portion
of the oven or furnace.
8. Facility for observing the temperature of the retort and the quality of the 30
gas produced afforded in the one case by the spy hole J, and in the other by a cock
on the washer.
9. The construction of the furnace so as to heat to redness the middle portion
of the retort.
10. Automatic cleaning of the retort and spontaneous combustion of the 35
graphite or other deposit on its sides by free circulation of air or removing the
covers E and o, f.
11. Removal of the smoke on cleaning the retort by the ready adaptation of the
head P specially arranged for this purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Powley Alexander, have hereunto 40
set my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
TWIN D ALEY ANDER
01
EDWIN DAT
ALEY ANDER
(10)