Improvements in Apparatus for Heating or Evaporating by Means of Hydrocarbon Liquids of any Density.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 30th Oct., 1897
Improvements in Apparatus for Heating or Evaporating by Means of
Hydrocarbon Liquids of any Density.
I, PIERRE JULES EUGENE EDOUARD CHAMBOST of 31 Rue Montcalm, Paris
France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in a system of apparatus permitting the heating of all
kinds of fire places by means of hydrocarbon liquids of any density. The system
is susceptible of most diverse applications such as to the heating of stationary or
other steam boilers and for industrial, agricultural and other installations.
The essential feature of my system is that I obtain the vaporization of the hydro-
carbon by circulating it in a retort or heating vessel provided with partitions so
that it issues therefrom in a state of vapour and ready for being burnt. This
arrangement permits of the reduction to à vaporous combustible of hydrocarbons
of any density supplied to the apparatus while producing only an insignificant
amount of coke and allows of easy cleaning when required.
I pass the liquid hydrocarbon into a cylinder provided with obstructing partitions
or diaphragms and externally heated the hydrocarbon traversing the cylinder
while becoming vaporized; it then in a vaporous state passes off by a pipe provided
with burners (which may be of any suitable form but by preference of a form
presently to be described) for being utilized in any heating appliance. From
the burner feed pipe a pipe branches off for part of the vapours to pass to a series
of auxiliary burners which serve to heat the vaporizing cylinder externally. The
cylinders are by preference arranged in pairs, one in each pair being in use while
the other is being cleaned and the two cylinders are so constructed that one may
he started, when the other is to be cleaned, without for an instant interrupting
the action of the furnace. One part of the vapours from the cylinder in use may
be employed to heat the other before it is put to work.
In heating apparatus employing hydrocarbon liquids it has heretofore been
practically impossible to use heavy hydrocarbons because they while being
vaporized are partially formed into coke which obstructs the action. My vaporiz-
ing cylinders however are worked so that coke even in large quantities may
deposit therein without impairing the working and so that they can be easily
opened when it is useful to remove the coke and clean the apparatus. I thus
realize a very important advantage for even supposing the production of coke in
a given case be rather large the facility for cleaning enables me to utilize products
such as very heavy petroleum and liquid hydrocarbons as thick as pitch which
up till now have not been used and hence are cheap while of a very high caloric
capacity. In one form of apparatus two horizontal cylinders are arranged side
by side set in brickwork. One or both the end covers are detachable. A screwed
bar in the cylinder is provided with diaphragms which fit the interior except in
one place where a segment is cut off. The bar is mounted with centre points in
the covers. The diaphragms are easily moved and detached from the screw bar.
The hydrocarbon liquid entering from one end passes through it zigzag fashion

page_text: while being vaporized by the high heat. If coke is formed it is deposited on the
diaphragms, the bar, and the covers; the vapours pass off by a pipe to one or
mores series of burners; from the said pipe a branch pipe passes down to convey
part of the vapours to series of auxiliary burners for heating the cylinders.
To prevent loss of heat the cylinders are surrounded by a jacket of refractory
material with intermediate annular space for the passage of the vapours. This
jacket is made in pieces for easy taking apart for cleaning. Valves are provided
for shutting off the gas to the various series of burners. This permits of shutting
off one side of the apparatus for cleaning while the other is at work.
To make the apparatus work regularly it is necessary that the liquid hydro-
carbon fed to the cylinder should be in a quantity proportional to the volume of
vapours passing to the burners and at a nearly constant pressure. For this purpose
I interpose a self acting pressure regulating device on the liquid supply pipe to
prevent the vapours from striking back into the liquid supply tank. This device
may consist of a box with two valves seated in opposite directions and with a
helical spring interposed between them: The lower valve rests on a seat having
grooves of sufficiently large section for allowing the required outlet for hydrocarbon
when the valve is on its seat. This valve has a stem which passes into a lower
cavity formed in the upper valve, said cavity being SO deep as to permit the lower
valve, to rise to a certain extent without affecting the upper valve.
When the pressure above the upper valve prevails over the pressure in the
cylinder it opens the said valve and pressing upon the stem of the lower valve
closes the latter; the hydrocarbon can then pass from the supply tank into the
cylinder through the grooves of the lower valve seau; when on the other hand
the pressure in the cylinder prevails the lower valve is raised and its stem raises
the upper valve against its seat whereby all escape of hydrocarbon from the
supply tank is stopped until the pressure above the regulator again prevails.
The burner which I prefer consists of a valve box having one or more vapour
exit openings formed in a very thin screwed cap which serves as a seat for an
adjustable valve. The stem of this valve is screwed and passes through
box screwed outside and having a corresponding cap screwed inside; this cap
a stuffing
forms the nut for the screw thread of the stem and as it is exposed to cooling
there is no fear of the parts sticking or binding which would take place if the
screw thread were formed in a very hot piece of metal.
The series of burners may be variously arranged and sometimes at an angle.
The auxiliary burners for heating the cylinders externally may be placed laterally
instead of underneath. Instead of playing directly upon the cylinder, through
one or more apertures they may convey the flame to a kind of jacket of refractory
material surrounding the cylinder and into which air is blown or drawn by hydro-
carbon vapour jets; the gaseous products of combustion after traversing the jacket
could be made to lick round the cylinder and in escaping meet the direction of
the entering air to heat it before it mixes with the combustible gas. The jacket
might itself be surrounded by a double refractory jacket with intermediate insulat-
ing air space.
The cylinder need not be circular. It may be of any other suitable form such
as shape with shallow ribs on the bottom inside and partitions reaching almost
to the bottom.
The cylinder covers may be fixed in place by bolts in the cylinder flanges or
springs may be employed which are pressed against the ends of the cylinder by
cross bars which can be brought towards each other by means of screw bolts.
To start the apparatus the cylinders may first be heated in any suitable manner
say for instance by means of ordinary lighting gas fed to the auxiliary burners;
or by burning spirits underneath in a lamp or vase. The cylinders may first be
charged with some very volatile essence which at a low heat gives off
that are passed to the auxiliary burners for heating the cylinder; when the latter 5
is sufficiently hot the hydrocarbon liquid is turned on and which as stated may
be very heavy.
vapours

page_text: I do not limit myself to any special details or any forms or dimensions of fire-
place. Sometimes I use only one cylinder if space is limited or if the cleaning
can be easily effected during stoppages while in other cases I use a number of
cylinders arranged in pairs or not.
Dated this Seventeenth day of December 1896.
Improvements in Apparatus for Heating or Evaporating by Means of
Hydrocarbon Liquids of any Density.
I, PIERRE JULES EUGÈNE EDOUARD CHAMBOST of 31 Rue Montcalm, Paris,
France, Engineer, 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 consists in a system of apparatus permitting the heating of all
kinds of fireplaces by means of hydrocarbon liquids of any density. The system
is susceptible of most diverse applications such as to the heating of stationary or
other steam boilers and for industrial, agricultural and other installations.
The essential feature of my system is that I obtain the vaporisation of the
hydrocarbon by circulating it in a retort or heating vessel divided into compart-
ments each of which it traverses successively and freely so that it issues therefrom
in a state of vapour and ready for being burnt. This arrangement permits of the
reduction to a gaseous combustible of hydrocarbons of any density supplied to
the apparatus while producing only an insignificant amount of coke and allows
of casy cleaning when required.
pass the liquid hydrocarbon into a cylinder provided with obstructing partitions
or diaphragms and externally heated, the hydrocarbon traversing the cylinder from
one end to the other while becoming vaporised; it then in a gascous state passes
off by a pipe to burners (which may be of any suitable form but by preference
constructed and arranged as presently to be described) for being utilized in any
heating appliance. From the burner feed pipe a pipe branches off for part of the
vapours to pass to a series of auxiliary burners which serve to heat the vaporizing
cylinder.
The cylinders are by preference arranged in pairs one in each pair being in
use when the other is to be cleaned, without for an instant interrupting the action
of the furnace.
In heating apparatus now known employing hydro carbon. liquids it has heretofore
been practically impossible to use heavy hydrocarbons because they, while being
vaporized, are partially formed into coke which, obstructs the action. My vaporis-
ing cylinders however are on the contrary worked so that coke may be deposited
therein even in large quantities without impairing the working and so that they
can be easily opened when it is advisable to remove the coke and clean the apparatus.
I thus obtain a very important advantage for even supposing the production of
coke in a given case be, rather large the facility for cleaning enables me to utilize
products such as very heavy petroleums and liquid hydrocarbons as thick as pitch
which up till now have not been used and hence are cheap while of a very high
caloric capacity.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal section and
Figure 2 is in part a front view and in part transverse section.
Figure 3 is a partly sectional elevation of a detail.

page_text: Figure 4 is a transverse section and longitudinal section of a modified form of
vaporiser.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal view partly in section of another construction and
Figure 6 is a similar view of yet another modification.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings an apparatus for
vaporising hydrocarbon is shown arranged according to my invention. In this
construction the fireplace consists of a singie pair of vaporising cylinders A A',
one only of which are in use at a time under normal conditions. These cylinders
are provided with ends of which at least one is removable. In the centre of each
cylinder there is a shaft B pointed at each end for centering in the cylinder ends.
This shaft is screwed to receive the tapped bosses of partly circular plates b which
are drilled or chamfered at one point so as to form partitions.
The shaft B being simply centred in the ends of the cylinder is easily withdrawn
for cleaning and being screwed from end to end permits of detaching the plates b
or regulating their relative positions thereon.
The hydrocarbon coming from a reservoir passes in by a pipe C Figure 1 at the
right hand end of the cylinder, traverses the cylinder zigzag fashion and becomes
vaporised under the influence of the high temperature therein. If coke be formed
it is deposited on the plates, the shaft and the inner surface of the cylinder. The
vapours formed pass by the distributing pipes DJ to a pipe or pipes E having a
row or rows of burners for heating any kind of apparatus.
From the pipe D a part of the vapours pass by branch pipes F and H to a
pipe G having a row of burners for heating the cylinder A.
As shewn upon the drawings, to avoid the loss of heat by radiation this
cylinder A is surrounded by refractory or nonconducting material a space er
spaces being left for the passage of the gases of combustion from the burners on
the pipe G. This nonconducting material is preferably formed in blocks and
sections so as to permit of being easily removed for cleaning purposes.
It will be noticed in Figure 2 that the arrangement is symmetrical, the two
cylinders A and A¹ being connected to the same pipe J by the pipes D, D¹ having
stop cocks and the branch pipe F being connected to the two rows of burners
on the pipes G, G¹ by the pipes H, H' having stop cocks h h¹.
This arrangement permits of the substitution of one cylinder for the other at
any time without any trouble. For instance supposing that the cylinder A is in
use, the stop cocks are closed and the vapours produced in A pass to the
principal burners by the pipe D, J, and to the row of burners on pipe G by
the branch pipes F and H. When it appears advisable to clean the cylinder A the
stop cock is opened and the row of burners on G¹ are lit to warm the cylinder A¹
and when this is sufficiently hot the hydrocarbon liquid is admitted the stop
cock being slowly opened while the stopcock his closed a little at the same
time. The cylinder A now begins to supply less vapour while the cylinder A
begins to supply some. The stopcocks d and h are then closed by degrees and the
cocks and are similarly opened until the cocks d and h are quite shut off
and the cocks d¹ and h¹ open sufficiently for the proper working of the apparatus.
It follows therefore that when this occurs the cylinder A¹ replaces the cylinder A.
To make the apparatus work regularly, it is necessary that the amount of liquid
hydrocarbon fed to the vaporising cylinder should be in proportion to the volume
of vapours passing to the burners by the pipe D in order that the pressure may
be approximately constant in the cylinder. For this purpose I interpose a pressure
regulating device in the liquid hydrocarbon supply pipe C to prevent the vapours
from striking back into the liquid supply tank.
An example of this kind of device is illustrated by Figure 3 of the drawings
which shows a suitable valve for the purpose.
This valve consists of a box or casing containing two valves K and L seated
in opposite directions and with a helical spring interposed between them. The
lower valve K is seated on a seating around which are made a number of grooves
or notches k, the combined areas of which are sufficient to ensure the passage of

page_text: the required amount of hydrocarbon even when the valve K is on its seat. This
valve is provided with a stem k which projects into a recess which is made in
the upper valve L to receive it and which is deep enough to permit a certain
amount of vertical displacement of the valves with relation to each other.
When the pressure above the valve L exceeds that in the cylinder A this valve
opens and resting on the stem K' of the valve K presses this latter on its seat.
The liquid hydrocarbon then passes down the grooves by the pipe C to the
cylinder A. If on the contrary the pressure in the cylinder should exceed that
on the valve L the lower valve K is raised from its seat and in rising it closes the
valve L thus preventing all further feed of the hydrocarbon until the pressure
above again becomes greater than that in the cylinder.
As regards the combustion of the vapours formed in the cylinder A, I have
mentioned that the burners at present known are not very suitable because they
casily become dirty or greasy and because the temperature of the combustion
being very high the regulating devices become clogged or jammed and are pre-
vented from operating. I have therefor designed a burner to produce a really
practical fireplace in combination with special burners for my apparatus which are
exempt from the disadvantages indicated. I have shewn one of the burners in
section in Figure 1. The burner proper consists of a valve box N in the bottom
of which are one or more holes for the exit of the vapours. The bottom which
suitably consists of a screwed cap or hollow plug M is made of thin material so
that the holes therein are very short, they are not therefore so likely to clog and
besides they are easily pricked. The plug M is screwed into one of the sides of
the box N and the regulation of the passage through the burner is effected by
a valve of which the seat is formed by the interior of the said hollow screwed
plug M. The stem of this valve passes through a stuffing box formed in the
opposite side of the box N. The stem is screwed beyond the stuffing box for a
portion of its length and passes through a screwed cap 1' which also serves to
tighten up the gland of the stuffing box. As the cap P in the part of the burner
the least exposed to heat and most directly to cooling it follows that clogging is
not to be feared which would be the case if the screw thread of the valve stem
were mounted in a female screw formed in the bottom of the stuffing box where
the temperature is very high.
These new burners may be used in connection with any kind of apparatus for
which iiquid fuel burners can be employed. The arrangement of the burners may
be variously carried out all according to different requirements. For instanco
instead of having a single pipe E as shown in Figures 1 and 2, several parallel
pipes may be arranged stepwise one above the other. The burners may also be
so arranged that their flames impinge or combine either by placing the burners
opposite to each other and in the same plane or by mounting them at a certain
angle with regard to each other.
In the same manner as regards the auxiliary burners which heat the vaporising
cylinders, these burners may if desired be placed laterally or in any other con-
venient position other than underneath as shown. Instead of playing directly
upon the cylinder through one or more apertures they may be so arranged as
to convey the flame to a kind of jacket made of refractory material surrounding
the cylinder and into which air is blown or drawn by the jets of hydrocarbon
vapours. The gaseous products of combustion after traversing the jacket of
refractory material may be caused to lick round the cylinder and in escaping
meet or pass the inlet pipe for the air in order to heat the latter before it mixes
with the combustible vapours. The jacket might itself be surrounded by a double
refractory jacket with intermediate heat nonconducting air space.
In the example shown in Figure 6, the heating is systematic, the vapours for
heating circulate from left to right in a helically formed jacket which surrounds
the cylinder whilst the hydrocarbon vapours circulate in the opposite direction in
a similarly constructed passage formed by the partitions b, which for this purpose
form a true helix outside of the central core or shaft in the cylinder A. This

page_text: helix is kept in place by the two end forks B resting in recesses in the cylinder
ends...
The cylinder need not necessarily be circular in section for it may be of
shape as shown in Figure 4. Further instead of making the holes or openings
of the partitions b as shown in Figure 1 they are made under certain circum-
stances at a certain place so as to cause the vapours to pass over or impinge
against that part of the cylinder wall which is the hottest. Figure 4 represents
an arrangement of this sort in which all the holes or spaces in the diaphragms
or partitions are formed below where the cylinder is hottest when the heating is
from below.
It is also well to provide the lower part of the cylinder with low internal
ledges as shown in Figure 4 so as to form small reservoirs for holding the liquid
which might be precipitated between any two partitions and to prevent it from
extending the whole length of the cylinder. The same result is obtained in the
constructions shown in Figures 1 and 6 by the lower parts of the diaphragms b.
As regards the number of partitions I reduce this as mucli as possible consistent
with the prolongation of the circulation as much as is necessary for obtaining
sufficient super heating of the vapours.
The closure of the cylinder ends may be varied at desire, for instance, instead
of using bolts as shown in the arrangements illustrated by Figures 1, 2 and 6
a spring device A2 may be employed as shown in Figure 5. In this example the
cylinder covers have external steins on which are threaded springs (those of the
"Belleville" type being shown) and cross bars or bridges R screwed and held
together by bolts R' force the springs together and consequently the cylinder
covers against the two ends of the cylinder. The cylinder covers are provided
with annular grooves into which the ends of the cylinder take without rendering
packing absolutely necessary.
To start the apparatus the cylinder may be heated in any suitable manner, say
for instance by means of ordinary lighting gas supplied to the auxiliary burners G
or by burning spirit or the like in a lamp or suitable container. Moreover, if
desired the cylinder may first be charged with some very volatile essence which at
a comparatively low temperature gives off vapours that are passed to the auxiliary
burners for heating the cylinder. When the latter is hot enough the hydro carbon
liquid is turned on which as stated may be very heavy and even he tar.
I do not limit itself to any special details for it is evident that they vary
according to the nature of the intended application, the form of the fireplace or
furnace, the dimensions and the like. Sometimes I only use ne cylinder if
space be limited or if the cleaning can be easily effected during stoppages, while
in other cases it is necessary to use a number of cylinders arranged in pairs or
not all as found most convenient.
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. An apparatus for heating all kinds of fireplaces or furnaces by means of
liquid hydro carbons of any density, consisting of an exteriorly heated retort or
cylinder (or there may be more than one) through which the hydro carbon is
caused to pass and to issue in a state of vapour ready to be burned, the said retort
or cylinder being provided inside with a number of partitions or diaphragms which
guide the hydro carbon vapours and retard their exit, the hydrocarbon vapours
being conducted to the burners by pipes substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
2. An apparatus of the kind firstly claimed composed of one or several pairs
of retorts or cylinders connected together of which one of a pair or one of each
pair is intended to be working while the other is being cleaned, the connections
being so made that operation of one replacing the other can be effected without
interfering with the action of the fire place substantially as set forth.

page_text: 3. In apparatus of the character above described, the employment of partitions
in the retorts or cylinders for the purpose of guiding the hydrocarbon vapours
and for retarding their passage through the said cylinders substantially as described
and shown.
4. In apparatus of the character above described constructing the cylinder covers
and partitions of the retorts or cylinders in such manner as to permit of their
removal from the said cylinders for cleaning purposes substantially as described
and shown.
5. In apparatus of the character above described the arrangement of the
vapourising cylinders in one or more refractory or heat non-conducting jacket or
jackets for the purpose of preventing the radiation of heat substantially as set
forth.
6. In apparatus of the character above described the arrangement of a regulating
valve serving also as a stop valve in the inlet pipe to the cylinder for the liquid
hydrocarbon substantially as described with reference to Figure 3.
7. The burner for hydrocarbon vapours substantially as described with reference
to Figure 1.
8. The constructions as described and shown on the drawings.
Dated this 14th day of September 1897
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.