Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Gas from Atmospheric Air.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 28th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Gas from
Atmospheric Air.
I, JEAN FRANCOIS LÉONARD MONIER of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais Paris,
France, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of the present application is to provide a new apparatus for making gas
by means of the carburation of atmospheric air and which offers the following
advantages over the various patterns of the same style of apparatus at present in use
namely
-
1. The apparatus being entirely metallic and without special mechanism it is not
liable to get out of order, and works with perfect regularity.
2. The use of an automatic feed reservoir for the carburettor admits of
replenishment at distant intervals inasmuch as the capacity of said reservoir is pro-
portionate to the number of burners which the apparatus is meant to supply.
12°
3. The atmospheric air reaches the carburettor at a pressure of at least
which permits of passing it through a layer of hydrocarbonet (a light essence of
petroleum known by the name of gazoline, or any other equivalent liquid) in a state
of ebullition which promotes evaporation.
This arrangement ensures a continuously equal process of curburation and the
complete consumption of the liquid contents of the apparatus while dispensing with
the necessity for storing up a supply of gas.
The fundamental principle of the apparatus consists in the application of an ejector
based upon the Giffard system with a draught of air by means of a jet of steam and
planned in such wise that given an effective minimum pressure for example equivalent
to 1 kilog. 500 while the volume of air drawn along shall correspond to the required
supply the carburetted air thus transformed into illuminant gas will issue at the outlet
of the apparatus under a pressure of water equivalent to at least 0 070 m/m whereby
gas can be carried to great distances and up to any desired altitude.
In the apparatus are embodied the following parts viz. :-
An ejector drawing the air by a steain jet coming along a pipe fitted to
same.
A coiled pipe conducting air and steam mixed together and crossing a vessel filled
with water for the purpose of condensing the steam.
A condensation reservoir the capacity whereof must exceed the quantity of condensed
water receivable so as to allow for the circulation of air.
A pipe conducting the air freed from stean into a dome or hell fitted at the upper
part of the apparatus and the weight of which dome must be proportionate to the
pressure of steam forcing air into the carburettor. The vertical guidance of this
dome or bell is effected by means of an iron rod fitted to the bottom of the reservoir
and extending into a pipe fixed to the upper part of the bell. The lower extremity
of this pipe is perforated or provided with several wide slits to allow the surplus of
air not utilized to escape at a time when owing to pressure the bell might be caused
to ascend higher than the pre-determined level.
A pipe for conducting air into the carburettor fitted at the lower part of the
apparatus. This pipe is made in the shape of a double coil or two rings and is pierced
along its entire length with a number of perforations through which the air escapes
across the liquid.
A tray or shelf with a large number of perforations.
An outlet vine conducting the gas to the gas supply pipe.

page_text: A reservoir and a syphon pipe for conducting the liquid into it and insuring a
perfectly hermetic seal.
A feed pipe to carburettor.
A tube for determining the level of the liquid in the carburettor when as a con-
sequence of evaporation, this tube becoming uncovered at its lower extremity the air
will penetrate into the reservoir and by exerting pressure upon the liquid therein
contained impels it to run out through the last mentioned feed pipe until
the re-establishment of the level whereby an automatic feed for the carburettor is
insured.
A vessel for receiving the condensation liquid produced in the ascent of pipe 3 in
the water.
It will thus be seen that it will suffice to connect a steam pipe to the ejector
provided such steam be at a pressure of 1 kilog. 500 as a minimum to draw the air
which is borne along in a state of admixture with the steam into a coiled pipe running
through a basin of water so as to condense the steam with which it is mixed, carry
the air into the bell placed at the upper part of the apparatus in order to force it into
the carburettor and obtain at the egress therefrom a supply of carburetted air trans-
formed into illuminant gas of great power.
It will not be necessary to have any gas stored up unless desired for it will suffice
to exhaust the air from the bell.
The apparatus is easy of application in establishments where a steam engine is
fitted; it is similarly applicable in private houses if a small steam generator a boiler or
analogous steam apparatus be provided.
For the various applications where no steam engine is available I have designed a
small steam generator constructed as follows:-
In an iron frame there are provided two superposed spherical copper vessels contain-
ing the water to be converted into steam; and under each of these vessels there is
placed a gas stove or burner.
One of these vessels exceeds in capacity to the extent of one third part the volume
of steam required to be generated, (so as not to run short of water) and in accordance
with the needful quantity of air to feed the apparatus in view of the number of burners
it is wanted to supply and that on the basis that 1 kilog. of steam will draw one cubic
metre of atmospheric air.
The second vessel or recipient is much smaller in dimensions as it is employed
merely to produce the necessary amount of steam wherewith to draw the air to be
transformed into gas, heat the upper vessel or recipient destined to feed the ejector in
quantities sufficient for the supply of air according to the duration of the period of
illumination and to the number of burners in use.
Thermometric cocks or thermostats closing to a considerable extent (so as to
allow only a very small passage for the gas) the ways to the gas stoves in such
wise as to secure an automatic process of regulation the moment the temperature
inside the recipient attains to a degree answering to the pressure required to work
the whole system.
The pipe feeding the gas stoves is connected to the outlet pipe of the
carburettor.
In this apparatus there are also provided a suitable pressure gauge, a cock for
allowing the outer air to pass into the bell, a stop cock, ineans for raising the bell
with a view of getting a sufficient quantity of air for heating the smaller of the
before-mentioned spherical vessels and screw plugs which serve at same time the purpose
of safety valves.
Thus the working of the steam generator will be readily understood.
It will suffice to raise the bell after first shutting the stop cock and opening the
cock for admitting atmospheric air to the bell which last must be shut as soon as
the bell shall have reached the end of its ascending course while the stop cock must
to opened to procure without delay an adequate supply of gas to heat the smaller
spherical vessel.
The moment the temperature inside this vessel has risen to the degree necessary to

page_text: obtain the requisite amount of steam and pressure the bell which will have sensibly
come down will at once again ascend.
At this moment the tap of the stove of the larger spherical vessel must be opened.
When the gauge indicates one kilog. 500 the tap of the stove of the smaller spherical
vessel may be shut and the normal degree of pressure will be maintained by means of
the thermometric tap.
The water of condensation may be drawn off for use for any desired purpose by
means of a pipe fitted between the condenser reservoir and the steam generator.
Dated this 29th day of July 1889.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Gas from
Atmospheric Air.
I, JEAN FRANÇOIS LÉONARD MONIER, Engineer, of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais,
Paris in the Republic of France, 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:
-
The object of the present application is to provide a new apparatus for making
gas by means of the carburation of atmospheric air and which offers the following
advantages over the various patterns of the same style of apparatus at present in use
namely
:-
1. The apparatus being entirely metallic and without special mechanism it is not
liable to get out of order, and works with perfect regularity.
2. The use of an automatic feed reservoir for the carburettor admits of replenish-
ment at distant intervals, inasmuch as the capacity of said reservoir is proportionate
to the number of burners which the apparatus is meant to supply.
3. The atmospheric air reaches the carburettor at a pressure of at least 0, 12°
which permits of passing it through a layer of hydrocarburet (a light essence of
petroleum know by the name of gazoline or any other equivalent liquid) in a state of
ebullition which promotes evaporation.
This arrangement insures a continuously equal process of carburation and the
complete consumption of the liquid contents of the apparatus while dispensing with the
necessity for storing up a supply of gas.
The fundamental principle of the apparatus consists in the application of an
injector based upon the Giffard system with a draught of air by means of a jet of
steam, and planned in such wise that, given an effective minimum pressure for
example equivalent to 1 kilog. 500 while the volume of air drawn along shall
correspond to the required supply, the carburetted air thus transformed into
illuminant gas, will issue at the outlet of the apparatus under a pressure of water
equivalent to at least 0m 070mm whereby gas can be carried to great distances and up
to any desired altitude.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus in.
cylindrical form showing its internal and external organisation.
Figs. 3 and 5 are horizontal sections taken at different levels.
In the apparatus are embodied the following parts viz. :-
An injector 1 drawing the air by a steam jet coming along pipe 2 fitted to same.
A coiled pipe 3 conducting air and steam mixed together and crossing a vessel
filled with water for the purpose of condensing the steam.
A condensation reservoir 4 the capacity whereof must exceed the quantity of
condensed water receivable so as to allow for the circulation of air.
A pipe 5 conducting the air freed from steam into a dome or bell 6 fitted at the
upper part of the apparatus and the weight of which dome 6 must be proportionate
to the pressure of steam forcing air into the carburettor. The vertical guidance of.

page_text: this dome or bell is effected by means of an iron rod fitted to the bottom of the
reservoir and extending into a pipe fixed to the upper part of the bell. The lower
extremity of this pipe is perforated or provided with several wide slits to allow the
surplus of air not utilized to escape, at a time when, owing to pressure, the bell
might be caused to ascend higher than the pre-determined level.
A pipe 7 for conducting air into the carburettor fitted at the lower part of the
apparatus. This pipe as shown in Fig. 5 is made in the shape of a double coil or
two rings and is pierced along its entire length with a number of perforations through
which the air escapes across the liquid.
A tray or shelf 8 with a large number of perforations.
An outlet pipe 9 conducting the gas to the gas supply pipe.
A filling basin 10.
A reservoir 12 and a syphon pipe 11 for conducting the liquid into the reservoir
and insuring a perfectly hermetic seal.
A feed pipe 13 to carburettor.
A tube 14 for determining the level of the liquid in the carburettor when as a
consequence of evaporation this tube becoming uncovered at its lower extremity the
air will penetrate into the reservoir and by exerting pressure upon the liquid therein
contained impels it to run out through the pipe 13 until the re-establishment of
the level determined by tube 14 whereby an automatic feed for the carburettor is
insured.
A vessel 26 for receiving the condensation liquid produced in the ascent of pipe 3
in the water.
It will thus be seen that it will suffice to connect a steam pipe to the injector
provided such steam be at a pressure of 1 kilog. 500 as a minimum, to draw the air,
which is borne along in a state of admixture with the steam, into a coiled pipe
running through a basin of water so as to condense the steain with which it is
mixed, carry the air into the bell placed at the upper part of the apparatus in order
to force it into the carburet for and obtain at the egress therefrom a supply of
carburetted air transformed into illuminant gas of great power.
It will not be necessary to have any gas stored up unless desired for it will suffice
to turn the tap 21 after first closing tap 22 to completely exhaust the air from the
bell.
The apparatus is easy of application in establishments where a steam engine is fitted;
it is similarly applicable in private houses if a small steam generator, a boiler or
analogous steam apparatus, he provided.
For the various applications where no steam engine is available I have designed
a small steam generator which is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 and which is constructed
of the following parts :-
·
An iron frame in which there are provided two superposed spherical_copper
vessels 15 and 16 containing the water to be converted into steam; and under each
of these vessels there is placed a gas stove or burner.
The vessel 1 exceeds in capacity to the extent of one third part the volume of
steam required to be generated (so as not to run short of water) and in accordance
with the needful quantity of air to feed the apparatus in view of the number of
burners it is wanted to supply, and that on the basis that one kilog. of steam will draw
one cubic metre of atmospheric air.
The second vessel or recipient 16 is much smaller in dimensions as it is employed
merely to produce the necessary amount of steam wherewith to draw the air to be
transformed into gas, heat the upper vessel or recipient destined to feed the ejector
in quantities sufficient for the supply of air, according to the duration of the perio
of illumination and to the number of burners in use.
Thermometric cocks or thermostats 17 closing to a considerable extent (so as to
allow only a very small passage for the gas) the passages to the gas stoves, in such
wise as to secure automatic regulation the moment the temperature inside the
recipient attains to a degree answering to the pressure required to work the whole
system.

page_text: The pipe 18 feeding the gas stoves 19 is connected to the outlet pipe of the
carburettor.
In this apparatus there are also provided a suitable pressure gauge 20).
A cock 21 for allowing the outer air to pass into the bell.
A stop cock 22.
A tube 23 communicating with the condenser reservoir.
A cord and handle 24 or equivalent for raising the bell with a view of getting a
sufficient quantity of air for heating the smaller spherical vessel 16, and screw
plugs 25 which serve at same time the purpose of safety valves.
It will
Thus the working of the steam generator will be readily understood.
suffice to raise the bell 6 by pulling down the handle 24 after first shutting the stop
cock 22 and opening the cock 21 for admitting atmospheric air to the bell which last
must be shut as soon as the bell shall have reached the end of its ascending course
while the stop cock 22 must be opened to procure without delay an adequate supply
of gas to heat the smaller spherical vessel 16.
The moment the temperature inside this vessel 16 has risen to the degree necessary
to obtain the requisite amount of steam and pressure the bell which will have sensibly
come down will at once again ascend.
At this moment the tap of the stove of the larger spherical vessel 15 must be
opened. When the gauge indicates 1 kilog. 500, the tap of the stove of the smaller
spherical vessel 16 may be shut and a normal degree of pressure will be maintained
by means of the thermometric tap.
The water of condensation may be drawn off for use for any desired purpose
by means of a pipe 23 fitted between the condenser reservoir and the steam
generator.
In Fig. 6 is shown a modification of the apparatus described above merely differing
from the latter in the relative position of its parts. The object of these modifications
is to simplify the apparatus and to improve its operation, by henting the essence with
the steam employed and by maintaining it at a constant temperature no matter what
may be the time occupied by the generation of the gas and the production of the
required circumambient temperature such result being obtained by the application
of an automatic shutting or heat controlling device such as is hereinafter described.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the apparatus thus modified and improved.
In comparing the two figures of the drawing it will readily be seen
1), that both the condensation liquid receiver 26 and the dome or bell 6 (fig. 1) are
dispensed with in the arrangement shown Fig. 6.
2), that the carburettor and its essence reservoir which in the first form of apparatus
were arranged underneath the condensing basin containing the coiled tube are in the
modification placed above the said basin.
The receiver 26 shown in Fig. 1 is also omitted since in the modification shown in
Fig. 6 all the condensed steam issuing from the said coiled tube is collected in the
reservoir.
In lieu of the dome or bell shown in Fig. 1 a tube 11 is provided in the arrange-
ment shown in Fig. 6 which tube is connected with the compartment D and conducts
the unutilized air into the basin whence the air escapes through a water column
whose height determines the pressure within the chamber D and consequently the
pressure of the gas.
The essence is maintained at a uniform temperature in the following manner :-
On the steam pipe 2 leading to the injector 1 a small tube 9 with an air inlet is
fitted at a point situated just before the junction of pipe 2 with the injector ;
this tube conveys a small amount of steam to the shutting or controlling device X
dipped into the essence and owing to the latter thus being placed in contact
with the tubes 9 and 10 and the case of the controlling device X heated by the
steam, the temperature of the essence rises to a sufficiently high degree to facilitate
evaporation.
The controlling device shown in detail in Fig. 7 is arranged as follows:-
1 are two thin concentric brass tubes between which there is a very narrow annular

page_text: space. These tubes are closed at their ends. In the closing plate is fitted a small
tube 2 connected with a bellows 3 which consists of very thin shallow ribbed metal
lens similar to those used for aneroid barometers.
This lens-shaped bellows is arranged within a brass case 4 which contains a device
consisting of a lever 5 and its pivot. This lever closes the steam or hot air inlet
pipe. Below the same there is a stop or support 6 and a spring 7 whereby the end
of the shutter lever is prevented from adhering to the orifice of the inlet pipe. A
screw 8 is fitted in the lever arm and by impinging on the bellows causes the said
lever to rise.
When the vacuum is obtained the concentric pipes and consequently the lens-shaped
bellows also, are entirely filled up with alcohol.
By reason of the heat of the liquid in which the concentric tubes are immersed the
alcohol in expanding exerts a pressure upon the diaphragms of the bellows which
consequently raises the shutter lever and closes the steam or hot-air inlet. As the
temperature becomes lower the pressure produced by the diaphragms of the bellows
owing to the expansion of the liquid ceases so that the said diaphragms assume their
normal position and the lever descends and opens the steam or hot-air inlet pipe
until it is once more raised to the closing position as aforesaid.
It is sufficient to adjust once for all the screw 8 passing through the lever 5 and
impinging against the bellows to secure the closing of the steam or hot-air inlet pipe
precisely at the desired temperature.
To enable the operation of the apparatus thus modified and improved to be under-
stood I will here once more fully describe the same :-
The apparatus consists of two main parts :-
1), the carburettor consisting of a reservoir A and a saturator B; and
2) the condenser consisting of a basin or tank C and a compartment or
chainber D.
The injector 1 (fig. 8) being fitted onto a steam pipe 2 draws in air and conveys
it into pipe 3. The steam in traversing the basin C is condensed and the air is
conducted into the chamber D where the water produced by the condensation of
steam is collected. The air is then conducted into the saturator B by the pipe 4
where it passes through a layer of essence in which it causes an agitation or ebullition
whereby the operation is accelerated; whereupon being converted into gas it is
carried to the burners by the pipe 5.
The reservoir A is filled with essence by means of the syphon tube by which it
is also made air tight. The essence descends into the saturator B through pipe 7
until the tube 8 which determines its level is closed.
When owing to evaporation the level of the essence becomes lower the air passes
through the pipe 8 into the reservoir A and the liquid flows freely through the pipe 7;
but as soon as the lower end of the tube 8 is closed the level is restored and the
essence in the reservoir remains in suspension and cannot flow away until the level
of the essence sinks again and causes the pipe 8 to re-open; which operations thus
alternately continue as long as desired the essence being replaced according as it is
volatilized.
The tube 9 being a branch of the tube 3 admits a small amount of steam to the
heat controlling device X arranged within the saturator. This steam in heating the
essence suppresses the cold due either to evaporation or to the external temperature.
As soon as the essence reaches the degree of heat necessary for its complete
evaporation the said controlling device closes the tube 9 which by thus closing and
opening from time to time constantly maintains the essence at a uniform temperature.
The tube 10 is provided for discharging the steam condensation water from the
controlling device. Regularity of the pressure whatever may be the number of
burners used is obtained by the pipe 11 connected with a compartment D which
leads the unutilized air into the basin C whence it escapes through a water column
sufficient to determine the pressure desired in the compartment. D and consequently
the pressure of the gas which pressure may be varied at will by raising or lowering
the water level in the basin or tank C as required.

page_text: 12 and 13 are discharge cocks.
14. are air-inlet cocks for admitting air under pressure, to be mixed with the gas
for heating.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for producing gas by the carburation of atmospheric air the
application of an injector such as Giffard's wherein a current of air is obtained by
means of a jet of steam for the purpose of converting atmospheric air into
illuminating gas at a minimum pressure of 70 millimetres of water enabling the gas
to be carried to great distances and raised to any desired level substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for producing gas by the carburation of atmospheric air the special
arrangement whereby carburation can always be obtained at an equal (uniform) rate
and an exhaustive consumption of the liquid contents of the apparatus ensured while
rendering the storage of gas unnecessary substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
3. The employment in combination with the apparatus claimed in the preceding
claiming clauses of a small boiler such as 16 substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In apparatus for producing gas by the carburation of atmospheric air the
omission of the condensing receiver 26 (Fig. 1) and of the dome or bell 6 and the
substitution for the latter of an automatic pressure controlling device consisting of
a pipe such as 11 Fig. 6 substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
5. The combination with an apparatus for producing gas by the carburation of
atmospheric air of an automatic heat controlling device such as described and shown
in Fig. 7 which by maintaining the essence at a constant temperature whatever may
be the time occupied by the generation of gas and by bringing the temperature to
the desired degree, ensures the production by the apparatus of perfectly homogeneous
gas substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete apparatus
operating substantially as described and illustrated in figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying
drawings.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete apparatus
operating substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of April 1800
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.