AN IMPROVED MODE OF, AND APPARATUS FOR CARBURETTING GASES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ILLUMINATION
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick John Evans, of the Gas Works, Horse-
ferry Road, in the City of Westminster, Gas Engineer, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED MODE OF, AND APPARATUS FOR CARBURETTING GASES FOR
THE PURPOSE OF ILLUMINATION."
Sealed the 17th January 1862, and dated the 19th October 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick John Evans at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th October 1861.
I, FREDERICK JOHN EVANS, of the Gas Works, Horseferry Road, in the
City of Westminster, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF, AND APPARATUS FOR CARBURETTING GASES
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ILLUMINATION," to be as follows:—
This Invention relates to improvements in the carburetting of gaseous
bodies, the object being to impart thereto illuminating properties or to heighten
the illuminating properties which they already possess. To this end I propose
to raise the temperature of the gaseous bodies by passing it through a suitable
arrangement of heating apparatus, and while in this heated state leading it off
to a vessel containing hydrocarbon. The passage of the gas through this
vessel will vaporize the hydrocarbon, which will mix with the heated gas and
impart the requisite illuminating power thereto. The mixed gas may then be
led off to a burner to be consumed.

page_text: The form of apparatus which I prefer to employ for heating the gaseous
'body consists of a closed annular-chamber formed by two inverted cylinders of
different diameters arranged concentrically and closed at top. The inner
cylinder is open at bottom to form a combustion chamber, into which
projects a gas burner for imparting the requisite heat to the apparatus. The
two cylinders are connected together at their edges so as to form the bottom
of the annular chamber. Near the bottom of this chamber a union joint is
fitted for admitting gas thereto, and at the top of the chamber is a similar
union joint for the escape of the gas. This annular chamber I pack with iron
borings or other good heat absorber, and I cause the gaseous body intended to
be carburetted to percolate through the heat absorbing medium. After
passing therefore through this apparatus, the temperature of which is raised
and maintained by the heat evolved from the gas burner, the heated gas will
be ready to enter the vessel containing the hydrocarbon, and combine there-
with as explained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederick John Evans in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th April 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
JOHN EVANS, of the Gas Works, Horseferry Road, in the City of Westminster,
Gas Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand-eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Frederick John Evans, Her special license that I, the said Frederick
John Evans, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Frederick John Evans, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN. IMPROVED MODE OF, AND APPARATUS FOR CARBURETTING GASES FOR THE
PURPOSE OF ILLUMINATION," upon the condition (amongst others) that the
said Erederick John Evans, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
'

page_text: said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
-Patent.
:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick John Evans, do hereby.
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
The object of this Invention is to effect the carburetting of gaseous bodies,
and thus to impart thereto illuminating properties, or to heighten the illumi-
nating properties which they may already possess. This end I propose to attain.
by passing the gaseous body, intended to be carburetted through a suitable
arrangement of heating apparatus, and while in a heated state leading it off
to a vessel containing an easily volatilizable bydrocarbon. As the gas passes.
through this vessel the hydrocarbon will be vapourized and combine with the
heated gas, whereby the requisite illuminating power will be imparted.
thereto. The mixed gas may then be led off to a burner to be consumed.
The form of apparatus which I prefer to employ for heating the gaseous
body is shewn in the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 being a vertical section,
and Fig. 2 a plan view of the same.
It consists mainly of a closed annular chamber A, formed by two inverted
cylinders B, C, of different diameters arranged concentrically and closed at top.
This chamber is mounted on short pillars a, a, to permit of access of air to
the interior of the inner cylinder B, which forms a combustion chamber. The
inner cylinder B is open at bottom to the atmosphere, and is made slightly
conical at that part to increase its diameter. An outlet pipe b, fitted to the
top of this chamber B, and passing through the removable cover c of the
annular chamber A, is employed for ventilating the combustion chamber.
Projecting into the combustion chamber B is a Bunsen or other suitable gas
burner D, for imparting the requisite heat to the apparatus. The bottom
edges of the two cylinders B, C, are provided with flanges, which flanges are
connected together by bolts and nuts so as to close the bottom of the annular
chamber A. Near the bottom of this chamber a union joint E is fitted for
admitting gas thereto, and at the top of the chamber A is a similar union
joint F, to allow of the escape of the gas. The annular chamber A, I pack
with iron borings or other good heat absorbing material, removing for that
purpose the cover c, which, when the chamber is filled, is to be replaced and
made secure by screws d, d. I now cause the gaseous body intended to be

page_text: carburetted, whether it be atmospheric air or a weak illuminating gas, to
percolate through the heat absorbing medium. After passing through this
apparatus, the temperature of the chamber A being raised to and maintained
at from sixty to one hundred and sixty degrees Fahrenheit (according to the
quality of hydrocarbon used) by the flame of the gas burner, the heated
gaseous body will be ready to enter the vessel containing the hydrocarbon.
The heat of the gaseous body acting on the hydrocarbon (that which I prefer
to use being coal tar naphtha) will vaporize the same, and a combination
instantly taking place a luminous gas will result as above explained.
"
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "An Improved Mode
of, and Apparatus for Carburetting Gases for the Purpose of Illumination,"
and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be
understood that under the above in-part recited Letters Patent, I claim,-
First, passing gaseous bodies, while in a heated state, through vessels con-
taining liquid hydrocarbon, for the purpose above explained.
And, secondly, I claim the construction of apparatus above described for
heating the gaseous bodies intended to be carburetted.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick John Evans, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
F. J. EVANS. (L.S.)