Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Fuel Gas.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1892-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Fuel Gas.
I, JOHN MASON BAILEY, of Bristol, in the County of Washington and State
of Virginia, United States of America, Physician, 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 :-
My invention relates to the production of fuel gas from crude petroleum oil, for
use in generating steam, in furnaces, smelting works, forges and for general heating
purposes. The object of my invention is to enable such gas to be produced rapidly
and cheaply.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a convenient form of apparatus for my
purpose:
Figure 2 is a cross-section on the line x-x of Figure 1:
Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line y-y of Figure 1.
The manufacture of the gas, is conducted in a closed tank or. vessel A, which
may be of any convenient shape or size. Within the tank I place two diaphragms
or partitions B and B which divide the tank into three compartments A', A³, A³.
The diaphragm or partition B extends from the bottom nearly but not quite to the
top of the tank, leaving an aperture, while the diaphragm or partition B¹ extends
from the top nearly to the bottom, leaving an aperture at the bottom.
A screen
or grating C may be placed in each compartment a few inches above the bottom
and upon this screen, in the compartments A' and A³, is placed a quantity of
broken stone, shells, metallic scrap, or other analogous material. The middle
compartment A is provided with a series of shelves which extend alternately
from opposite sides of the compartment nearly but not quite to the other side, and
the spaces between these shelves are likewise filled with the broken stone or other
analogous material.
The compartment A' is adapted to receive, near its bottom, a constant supply of
air which may be forced in through a suitable pipe D by a pump E, or other con-
venient means. The compartment A3 has, near its top, a connection with a pipe F,
through which the gas may be conducted to the reservoir. The compartment may
also be provided with a pressure gauge G and with a relief valve H.
In the use of the apparatus the compartments Aland A³ are filled with crude
petroleum, or other similar substance, to about the height indicated in the drawing.
Atmospheric air, which preferably has been heated somewhat, is then forced
through the apparatus. By the arrangement described the air is compelled to
travel a considerable distance through the oil and the bubbles thereof are so
thoroughly broken up by their passage through the broken stone that the particles
of air are brought into the most intimate contact with the oil. The result is
that the air is so thoroughly carburetted, or impregnated with the hydro-carbon,
that a combination is formed between the two and a gas is produced which is
sufficiently fixed or permanent for all practical purposes, will not condense
under ordinary temperatures, is highly inflammable, and produces, when ignited,
an intense heat.
The material in the compartment A2 may be saturated with oil at intervals, or
whenever desired, by stopping the pump E and closing the pipe F and allowing
the carburetted air in the compartment A³ to force the air upwardly in the com-
partment A³, a vent being provided for the escape of the carburetted air from the
compartment A¹. The broken stone or other material may thus be kept always in
proper condition at the loss of very little time, even if it should prove necessary to
saturate the material in the compartment A³ at frequent intervals.

page_text: It will be found in practice, that, by the means described, a quantity of gas can
be produced from a single barrel of crude petroleum oil, which will generate more
steam and produce more power than a ton of the best bituminous coal.
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 fuel gas apparatus consisting of a vessel filled nearly to the top with loose
broken stone or analogous material and crude oil, the oil submerging the said
material, an air inlet pipe at or near the bottom of said vessel and a carburetted
air exit pipe at or near the top of said vessel.
2. In a fuel gas apparatus, the combination with a vessel filled nearly to the top
with loose broken stone or other analogous material and crude oil, the oil sub-
merging the said material, of a series of shelves horizontally disposed one above
the other and separated a few inches from each other forming a series of chambers
for said material, each of said shelves having an aperture on one side and arranged.
in said vessel whereby the aperture of each alternate shelf shall be on the opposite
side of the vessel from that of the preceding one, an air inlet pipe at or near the
bottom of the vessel, and a carburetted air exit pipe at or near the top of
said vessel.
Dated this 21st day of July 1892.
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S. W., Agent for the Applicant.