Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Water Gas.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Water Gas.
I JOHN TOWNSEND WESTCOTT Mechanical Engineer of the Town of Cramer
Hill in the County of Camden of the State of New Jersey, one of the United
States of America, at present residing in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows --
My invention has reference to apparatus for the manufacture of water gas and is
applicable to water gas apparatus having the generator and the superheater fixing
chamber or carburetter in separate shells and more particularly to the apparatus
described in Specification No. 8371 of 1893.
The improved apparatus which forms the subject of the present invention
comprises a generator having a steam supply at top and a steam supply at bottom,
a superheater or fixing chamber and a passage way or flue (or more than one such
passage way) to conduct the gases to the superheater. This passage way is
connected with the upper and lower parts respectively of the generator by separate
passage ways or flues each of which is fitted with a valve. The two valves
are provided with mechanism for opening and closing them and preferably they are
connected together, and the mechanism is so arranged that they are operated
simultaneously, the one being open while the other is shut. The invention includes
special mechanism for this purpose, and the use of a weight which with the weight
of one valve counterbalances the weight of the other.
The valves are cooled by
their boxes being made hollow and supplied with water and they are of special form
or construction as hereinafter described. In connection with each valve is a bonnet
into which it is drawn when raised, its lower end being then opposite the hollow
water-filled walls in the top of the box. A washer connected with the outlet pipe
of the superheater is cooled by the water that supplies the valve boxes.
The superheater may consist of two independent superheating or fixing chambers,
one located directly above the other, and communicating with each other, and there
may be an intermediate chamber between the generator and the superheater with
one or more air blast passages and a similar chamber at the bottom of the lower
chamber of the superheater.
Having stated generally the construction of the apparatus I will proceed to
describe more fully how the invention may be carried into effect.
The generator is provided with the usual and well known appliances for supplying
air and coal, and a steam pipe below the body of the fuel for sending steam
upwardly through the same, and a steam pipe above the body of the fire for
sending steam downward through the fuel. The superheater or fixing chamber has
the air blast pipes, an oil pipe and a passage way or flue with an opening to connect
it with the bottom of the superheater or fixing chamber. The upper part of this
passage way or flue is connected by a passage way or flue with the upper part of
the generator, and the lower part of the said passage way, with the lower part of the
generator by another passage way or flue. Each passage way connecting with the
generator is provided with a valve which may be opened and closed at pleasure.
When the lower valve is closed, water gas is made by passing steam upwardly
through the fire and to the superheater through the corresponding passage ways.
When the upper valve is closed, steam is admitted to the upper part of the
generator and passes down through the fire and to the superheater through the
corresponding passage ways.
In passing the water gas from the generator to the superheater, it is desirable t>
have the flues connected with the generator as short as possible, so that loss from

page_text: radiation will be reduced to the minimum. To reduce these flues to the shortest
length the valves are made of the minimum distance from face to face. The faces
of the valve are inclined from the top, bottom and sides toward the centre forming
a double faced combined wedge-shaped valve, having the thinnest part in the
middle for a purpose hereinafter explained. To insure the valve against the
intense heat of the flues, the valve boxes are made with hollow walls forming
a space through which cold water is constantly passed to keep the walls of the
boxes cool. The valves while in these boxes are kept cool by the cold inner walls
of the boxes, this effect being more readily accomplished by the formation of the
valve, which is gradually decreased in thickness from the edges to the centre,
so that as the distance from the edges increases the amount of metal to be kept
cool is decreased. Each valve box is provided with a bonnet into which its valve
is drawn when a flue is to be opened for the passage of the water gas. The bonnet
is of sufficient height to permit the entire valve to be withdrawn from the passage
way or flue so that the lower edge will be the only part that is subject to the heat
of the gas and that part will be cooled by the upper part of the water box, and kept
from expansion by reason of the heat. The advantages of such a construction are
that instead of being loose fitting to allow for expansion and contraction, the valves
can be made to fit close and thereby prevent any leakage; that they are also kept
from expansion and thereby prevent cramping of the valves in the box as would be
the case if no protective means were used; and that they can also be easily moved
in their boxes, a feature that is very important when it is desired to reverse the
flow of steam or water gas through the generator. The water boxes are supplied
with water from any source and are preferably connected together by a pipe,
leading from one box to the other. The supply is furnished when so connected by
a pipe leading to the washer connected with the outlet pipe of the superheater
which washer is thereby supplied with warm or hot water, thus preventing the
escaping gases from the superheater or fixing chamber from being subjected
to cold water in the washer and thereby insuring great oil or liquid hydro-carbon
economy.
Another feature of the use of the water cooled valves is the ease with which the
valves can be opened and closed when it is desired to make up or down runs.
During a single heat the steam may be sent up and down through the generator as
many times as may be desired, thereby producing great economy in fuel and
avoiding the formation of clinkers and dead coal or a steam condensing mass on the
grate bar, as is the case when steam is run in only in one direction. The operator
gauging the fire can determine whether the bulk of the gas shall be made by
the up or down run. To insure the proper opening and closing of the valves and
avoid all danger of accident by reason of carelessness or inattention on the part of
the operator, the valves are so connected together that when one is open the other
is closed. Being so connected the operator can change the direction for the gas to
flow with ease and certainty. The preferred means of connecting the valves is
a system of levers and links connecting the stems. This system may be arranged
as follows: The stem of the lower valve carries upon its upper end a tie-piece to
the vertical part of which is pivoted an operating lever having its outer end
fulcrumed upon the upper end of a link that pivoted by its lever end to some
fixed point, preferably the valve box. This link fulcrum permits of the valve being
raised and lowered without any strain upon the valve stem. Pivoted to the outer
ends of a cross piece are links projecting upwardly and outwardly from each other
and connected at their upper ends by levers, each fulcrumed upon the upper end of
a link that is preferably pivoted at its lower end upon the upper valve box. The
inner ends of these levers are pivoted to a cross head fixed to the upper end of the
stem of the upper valve and carrying a counterweight. This counterweight is of
such a size that it requires a certain power applied to the operating lever to move
it either in an up or down direction. It is varied in size according to the differences
between the sizes and weights of the valves, and according to the arrangement of
the levers, links, and cross bars connections, so that when the handle of the

page_text: operating lever is in its highest or lowest position, it will not move without a small
power be applied to this lever. If it be desired to blow up a heat the lower valve
is closed by lowering the handle of the lever. This opens the upper valve and
allows the heat to pass through the upper passage way or flue to the superheater.
The same arrangement of valves is made when steam is admitted below the grate of
the generator for an up run in the usual manner, but when the steam is admitted
for a down run, the lower valve is opened by elevating the handle of the lever.
This movement will also close the upper valve thus forcing the steam down through
the incandescent fuel in the generator and out through the lower passage way.
This device as well as the water cooled valves can be applied to a water gas
apparatus without a superheater when it is desired to use the producer gas in
a boiler or other furnace. If the valves be separated by a floor or platform and it
be desired to operate the valves from the room above the handle of the lever is
provided with a link that extends to the room.
Dated this 14th day of June 1894.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Water Gas. .
I, JOHN TOWNSEND WESTCOTT Mechanical Engineer, of the Town of Cramer
Hill in the County of Camden of the State of New Jersey, one of the United
States of America, at present residing in Toronto, Ontario, Canada 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 has reference to apparatus for the manufacture of water gas and is
applicable to water gas apparatus having the generator and the superheater, fixing
chamber or carburetter in separate shells and more particularly to the apparatus
described in Specification No. 8371 of 1893.
The improved apparatus which forms the subject of the present invention
comprises a generator having a steam supply at top and a steam supply at bottom,
a superheater or fixing chamber, and a passage-way or flue (or more than one such
passage way) to conduct the gases to the superheater. This passage way is
connected with the upper and lower parts respectively of the generator by separate
passage ways or flues each of which is fitted with a valve. The two valves are
provided with mechanism for opening and closing them and preferably they are
connected together and the mechanism is so arranged that they are operated
simultaneously the one being open while the other is shut. The invention includes
special mechanism for this purpose and the use of a weight which with the weight
of one valve counterbalances the weight of the other. The valves are cooled by
their boxes being made hollow and supplied with water, and they are of special
form or construction as hereinafter described. In connection with each valve is a
bonnet into which it is drawn when raised, its lower end being then opposite the
bollow water-filled walls in the top of the box. A washer connected with the
outlet pipe of the superheater is cooled by the water that supplies the valve
boxes.
The superheater may consist of two independent superheating or fixing chambers
one located directly above the other and communicating with each other, and there
may be an intermediate chamber between the generator and the superheater with
one or more air-blast passages and a similar chamber at the bottom of the lower
chamber of the superheater.
Having stated generally the construction of the apparatus, I will proceed to

page_text: describe more fully and with the aid of the accompanying drawings how the
invention may
be carried into effect.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus through the line 1-1 of
Figure 2, only so much of the superheater being shown as is necessary to show
the invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same through line 2-2 of Figure 1, and
showing in addition a washer and pipes leading thereto.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, or through the line 3-3
of Figure 4, looking towards the superheater.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the apparatus.
Figure 5 is a section of the water cooled valves on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a section of the same on line 4-4 of Figure 3.
A represents the generator; B the superheater or fixing chamber; and C indicates
a washer connected with the outlet pipe of the fixing chamber. All of these parts
may be of any desired construction or form, but I prefer those shown, particularly
the generator and superheater.
The generator is provided with the usual and well known appliances for supplying
air and coal, and, a steam pipe a below the body of the fuel for sending steam
upwardly through the same, and a steam pipe a' above the body of the fire for
sending steam downward through the fuel. The superheater or fixing chamber
shown has the air blast pipes bb, oil pipe 62 and passage way or flue 63 with an
opening to connect it with the bottom of the superheater or fixing chamber.
The upper part of the passage way or flue 3 is connected by a passage way or
flue with the upper part of the generator, and the lower part of the said passage
way with the lower part of the generator by another passage way or flue 6.
Each passage way is provided with a valve which may be opened and closed
at pleasure. When the lower valve B' is closed water gas is made by passing steam
through pipe a and upwardly through the fire and to the superheater through the
corresponding passage ways 68. When the upper valve B' is closed, steam is
admitted to the upper part of the generator through pipe a¹ and passes down
through the fire and to the superheater through the corresponding passage
ways s
ID passing the water gas from the generator to the superheater, it is desirable to
have the flues 65 and 66 as short as possible so that loss from radiation will be
reduced to the minimum. To reduce the flues 65 and 66 to the shortest length the
valves B and B' are made of the minimum distance from face to face. The faces
of the valve are inclined from the top, bottom and sides toward the centre forming
a double faced combined wedge-shaped valve, having the thinnest part in the
middle for a purpose hereinafter explained. To insure the valve against the intense
heat of the flues, the valve boxes are made with hollow walls forming a space *
through which cold water is constantly passed to keep the walls of the boxes cool.
The valves while in these boxes are kept cool by the cold inner walls of the boxes,
this effect being more readily accomplished by the formation of the valve which is
gradually decreased in thickness from the edges to the centre, so that as the
distance from the edges increases the amount of metal to be kept cool is decreased.
Each valve box is provided with a bonnet a' into which its valve is drawn when a
flue is to be opened for the passage of the water gas. The bounet is of sufficient
height to permit the entire valve to be withdrawn from the passage way or flue, so
that the lower edge will be the only part that is subject to the heat of the gas and
that part will be cooled by the upper part of the water box, and kept from
expansion by reason of the heat. The advantages of such a construction are that
instead of being loose fitting to allow for expansion and contraction, the valves can
be made to fit close and thereby prevent any leakage; that they are also kept from
expansion and thereby prevent cramping of the valves in the box as would be the
case if no protective means were used; and that they can also be easily moved in
their boxes, a feature that is very important when it is desired to reverse the flow
of steam or water gas through the generator. The water boxes are supplied with

page_text: water from any source and are preferably connected together by a pipe 610, leading
from one box to the other. The supply is furnished' when so connected by a pipe bi
leading to the washer connected with the outlet pipe of the superheater which
washer is thereby supplied with warm or hot water, thus preventing the escaping
gases from the superheater or fixing chamber from being subjected to cold water
in the washer and thereby insuring great oil or liquid hydro-carbon economy.
Another feature of the use of the water cooled valves is the ease with which the
valves can be opened and closed when it is desired to make up or down runs..
During a single beat the steam may be sent up and down through the generator as
many times as desired, thereby producing great economy in fuel and avoiding the
formation of clinkers and dead coal or a steam condensing mass on the grate bar,
as is the case when steam is run in only in one direction. The operator gauging
the fire can determine whether the bulk of the gas shall be made by the up or
down run.
To ensure the proper opening and closing of the valves and avoid all
danger of accident by reason of carelessness or inattention on the part of the
operator, the valves B and B are so connected together that when one is open the
other is closed. Being so connected, the operator can change the direction for
the gas to flow with ease and certainty. The preferred means of connecting the
valves is a system of levers and links connecting the stems 61 and 61 of the valves B'
and B. In the arrangement shown the stem 6" of the lower valve B¹ carries upon its
upper end a tie-piece 61 to the vertical part 617 of which is pivoted an operating
lever having its outer end fulcrumed upon the upper end of a link that is
pivoted at its lower end to some fixed point, preferably the valve box. This link
fulcrum permits of the valve being raised and lowered without any strain upon the
valve stem. Pivoted to the outer ends of a cross piece 120 are links and b
projecting upwardly and outwardly from each other and connected at their upper
ends by levers and 64, each fulcrumed upon, the upper end of a link 6 that is
preferably pivoted at its lower end upon the upper valve box. The inner ends of
the levers 3 and 6 are pivotted to a cross head fixed to the upper end of the
stem of the upper valve B2 and carrying a counterweight B³. This counter-
weight B³ is of such a size that it requires a certain power applied to the operating
lever to move it either in an up or down direction. It is varied in size according
to the differences between the sizes and weights of the valves B' and B³, and
according to the arrangement of the levers, links and cross bars connections, so that
when the handle of the operating lever 18 is in its highest or lowest position, it will
not move without a small power be applied to this lever. If it be desired to blow
up a heat the lower valve is closed by lowering the handle of the lever 18. This
opens the upper valve and allows the heat to pass through the upper passage way
or flue to the superheater. The same arrangement of valves is made when steam
is admitted below the grate of the generator for an up run in the usual manner, but
when the steam is admitted through pipe a' for a down run, the lower valve is
opened by elevating the handle of the lever 618. This movement will also close the
upper valve, thus forcing the steam down through the incandescent fuel in the
generator and out through the lower passage way. This device as well as the water
cooled valves can be applied to a water gas apparatus without a superheater when
it is desired to use the producer gas in a boiler or other furnace. If the valves be
separated by a floor or platform and it be desired to operate the valves from the
room above, the handle of the lever is provided with a link that extends to
the room.
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 in respect of apparatus for the manufacture of water gas is :-
1. The combination of a gas generator having steam supply pipes at top and
bottom, a superheater and fixing chamber, or carburetter having a passage way or
flue for the gases; a passage way or flue connecting the top of the generator
with the passage way or flue 3 of the superheater and having a water cooled valve;

page_text: and a passage way or flue connecting the bottom of the generator with the passage
way or flue of the superheater and having a water cooled valve, substantially as
set forth and shown.
2. The combination of a gas generator having steam supply pipes at top and
bottom; a superheater and fixing chamber or carburetter having passage ways or
flues for the water gas; a passage way or flue connecting the top of the generator
with the superheater and having a water cooled valve; and a passage way or flue
connecting the bottom of the generator with the superheater and having a water
cooled valve, substantially as set forth and shown.
3. The combination of a gas generator having steam supply pipes at top and
bottom; a superheater and fixing chamber or carburetter having passage ways or
flues for the water gas; a passage way or flue connecting the top of the generator
with the superheater and having a water cooled valve; a passage way or flue
connecting the bottom of the generator with the superheater and having a water
cooled valve, and mechanism for operating the valves, substantially as set forth
and shown.
4. The combination of a gas generator having steam supply pipes at top and
bottom a superheater and fixing chamber or carburetter having passage ways or
flues for the water gas; a passage way or flue connecting the top of the generator
with the superheater and having a water cooled valve; a passage way or flue
connecting the bottom of the generator with the superheater and having a water
cooled valve, the said valves being connected together; and mechanism for
operating the said valves simultaneously and in opposite directions so that when one
is opened the other is closed, substantially as set forth and shown.
5. The combination of a gas generator having steam supply pipes at top and
bottom; a superheater and fixing chamber or carburetter having passage ways or
flues for the water gas; a passage way or flue connecting the top of the generator
with the superheater and having a water cooled valve; a passage way or flue
connecting the bottom of the generator with the superheater and having a water
cooled valve; the said valves being connected together by links and levers; a
counterbalance weight connection with one of the said valves; and a lever for
operating the valves through the links and levers, substantially as set forth
and shown.
6. The combination of a gas generator having steam supply pipes at top and
bottom; a superheater and fixing chamber or carburetter having passage ways or
flues for the water gas; a passage way or flue connecting the top of the generator
with the superbeater and having a water cooled valve; a passage way or flue
connecting the bottom of the generator with the superheater and having a water
cooled valve; the said valves being connected together by links and levers; a
counterbalance weight which with the weight of one of. the valves counterbalances
the weight of the other valve; and a lever for shifting the position of the valves,
substantially as set forth and shown.
7. The combination of a generator having steam supply pipes at top and bottom
and gas flues at top and bottom; valves in the said flues one of which is
open when
the other is closed; and counterbalanced mechanism for holding the valves in
whatever position they may be placed, substantially as set forth and shown.
8. The combination of a generator having steam supply pipes at top and bottom,
and gas flues at top and bottom, valves in the said flues one of which valves is
open
when the other is closed and a lever for adjusting the counterbalance mechanism,
substantially as set forth and shown.
9. The combination of the valves B and B one above the other and connected
with each other by links and levers; and a counterbalance weight connection with
the upper valve and with the said valve balancing the lower valve, whereby the
valves when moved normally remain in the position to which they have been moved,
substantially as set forth and shown.
10. The combination of the valves B and B one above the other and connected
with each other by links and levers, and a counterbalance weight connection with

page_text: the upper valve, and a lever for operating the said valves and connections.
substantially as set forth and shown.
11. In a gas making apparatus, the combination of a water cooled box, and a disc
valve in the water cooled box, substantially as set forth and shown.
12. In a gas making apparatus, the combination of a water cooled box, and a disc
valve of constantly decreasing thickness from the edges to the centre of its faces,
substantially as set forth and shown.
13. In a gas making apparatus, the combination of a water cooled box, and a
double faced combined wedge valve, substantially as set forth and shown.
14. In a gas making apparatus, the combination of a water cooled box, a bonnet
over the opening in the said box, and a disc valve in the said box and when raised
into the bonnet having its lower end opposite the hollow water filled walls in the top
of the said box, substantially as set forth and shown.
15. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a superheater, a generator connected
with the said superbeater by flues, a washer connected with the superheater, and
water cooled valves in the said flues, the water outlets of which are connected with
the washer, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
16. In a gas making apparatus, the combination with the generator having steam
supply pipes at top and bottom, a superheater and fixing chamber consisting of two
independent superheater or fixing chambers one located directly above the other
and communicating with each other, an intermediate chamber having suitable air
blast passage or passages; and a similar chamber at the bottom of the lower super-
heater provided with air blast passage or passages, and flues or passage ways
connecting the generator with the lower chamber of the superheater, the whole
arranged substantially as described and shown for the purposes set forth.
Dated the 20th day of July 1894.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.