IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE of GAS FOR HEATING AND LIGHTING PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Kenneth McLeay Phin Louttit, of Greenwich, in the County
of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE of GAS
FOR HEATING AND LIGHTING PURPOSES."
Scaled the 16th June 1876, and dated the 8th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Kenneth McLeay Phiu Louttit
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th April 1876.
KENNETH MCLEAY PHIN LOUTTIT, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent. " IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR HEATING AND LIGHTING PURPOSES.'
The object of my Invention is to impart heating and illuminating properties to
ordinary steam, air, or vapour in such wise as to obtain the largest quantity of gas
without any deposition of carbon, securing thereby a gas of great purity and
brilliancy.
I will first describe my method of converting steam into illuminating gas.
I propose to pass the steam through a superheater, from whence it enters retorts,
ovens, or chambers, preferably vertical, containing carbonaceous matter in an
incandescent state. These retorts compose a portion of a bench of vertical and
horizontal retorts, or ovens, or chambers, containing carbonaceous matter.
Into the neck of the vertical retorts, and preferably at an angle, I introduce a
pipe by which I pass non-superheated steam or air, either or both, and also a pipe
through which I pass any oil of any gravity or any hydrocarbon oil or spirit entering
the neck of the retort at a point of heat by which the least quantity of oil will be
decomposed along with the non-superheated steam or air, or both, and by its junction
with the carbonic oxide and hydrogen, produced from the vertical retorts, will pass
off through a horizontal or a series of horizontal retorts to a condenser, and if
necessary, through a purifier to the gas holder. I may use vertical retorts open at
both ends or not, as I may find most desirable, the bottom of the retort being
submerged in water or other fluid.
I will now describe my process of manufacturing illuminating gas from atmo-
spheric air and any hydrocarbon oil or spirit.
I propose to propel the air by steam or other power through a superheater and
then into a retort heated to redness, or more or less according, to the gravity of the
oil used. I then introduce any oil or spirit into this retort, and preferably so as to
join the highly superheated air at an angle and pass with it through one or more
other retorts and thence to a condenser and gas holder.
[Price Gd.l

page_text: I propose to fill my retorts with carbonaceous matter in blocks with broken
bricks, or to obtain in the most convenient manner a great travelling surface for the
air and oil or spirit to combine and form an illuminating gas in their passage to the
condenser, and thence to a gasholder in which the gas is stored for use.
By graduating the oil and steam or air pipes, and ascertaining the evaporating
points of the oils according to their gravity, and regulating the heat in conformity
therewith, I am enabled to produce by the above processes the largest amount of
gas with the highest illuminating properties, and least deposition of carbon in the
retorts.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Kenneth McLeay Phin Louttit in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th October 1870.
"IM-
KENNETHI McLEAY PHIN LOUTTIT, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent.
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR HEATING AND LIGHTING PUR-
POSES.
"
The object of my Invention is to give heating and illuminating properties to
ordinary steam, air, or vapour, so as to obtain the greatest quantity of gas without
any deposition of carbon, thus producing a gas of great purity and brilliancy.
I will first explain my method of converting ordinary steam into lighting gas.
I pass the steam through a superheater and from thence into retorts, ovens, or
chambers, preferably vertical, containing carbonaceous matter in an incandescent
state. These retorts form part of a bench of retorts, ovens, or chambers, vertical
and horizontal, containing carbonaceous matter.
;
In the neck of the vertical retorts, and preferably at an angle, I introduce a pipe,
through which I pass non-superheated steam or air, the one or the other, or both
also a pipe through which I pass an oil of no matter what gravity, or any hydro-
carbon oil or spirit, entering into the retort when this latter is at a degree of heat
which will decompose the least quantity of oil with the non-superheated steam or air
or both, and joining the carbonic oxide and hydrogen produced from the vertical
retorts pass by a horizontal retort or a series of horizontal retorts into a condenser,
and when necessary by a purifier into a gas holder. I may use vertical retorts
either closed or open at each end, as may be found most desirable, the lower end
of each open retort being submerged in water or other fluid.
I will now describe my process of manufacturing lighting gas from atmospheric
air and any hydrocarbon oil or spirit.
I propel the air by the aid of steam, or otherwise, through a superheater, and from
thence into a retort heated to a red heat, or more or less heated, according to the
gravity of the oil used. I then introduce any kind of oil or spirit into this retort, and
preferably so as to join the highly superheated steam at an angle, and to pass with
it through one or more other retorts, and from thence to the condenser and gas-
holder. I fill my retorts with blocks of carbon or pieces of brick, or obtain in any
convenient manner a great travelling surface over which the air and the oil or
spirit travel in combining, and forming in their passage to the condenser an illumi-
nating gas which passes thence into a holder and is stored for use.. By the gradu-
ation of the oil, steam, or air pipes, and ascertaining the evaporating points of the
oils according to their gravity, and regulating the heat in conformity therewith, I
am enabled to produce by the aforesaid processes the greatest quantity of gas with
the highest illuminating properties, and least deposition of carbon in the retorts.
For the better comprehension of my Invention I have annexed to this my
Specification a diagram showing the point of junction of the gasses produced in the
vertical retort with the non-superheated steam and air and oil or spirit.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is or may be performed, I claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent the combination of the

page_text: non-superheated steam or air, or of both, and of the oil or spirit, with the gasses
generated by the passage of the superheated steam or air through the retorts,
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before specified.
In witness wherof, I, the said Kenneth McLeay Phin Louttit, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of October in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
KENNETH McLEAY PHIN LOUTTIT. (L.S.)