IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ILLUMINATING AND HEATING GAS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR”
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult of 323 High Holborn in the County
of Middlesex for an Invention of." IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
ILLUMINATING AND HEATING GAS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR” a commu-
nication from John Hanlon of the City and State of New York and James
E Leadley of Camden, New Jersey, both in the United States of America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1883.
"
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
Engineer IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ILLUMINATING AND HEATING
GAS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR "
a communication to me from John Hanlon of
the City and State of New York, and James E Leadley of Camden, New Jersey,
both in the United States of America.
This invention relates to the manufacture of illuminating and heating gas, first
by the decomposition of steam in contact with incandescent or highly heated
carbonaceous fuel;-second by the distillation of bituminous or soft coal in furnaces
at a suitable temperature to preserve the resulting carbureted bydrogen gas or
hydrocarbon vapors from destructive decomposition and produce hot-coke for
decomposing steam--third, by the vaporization of liquid hydrocarbon and fourth
by combining the gases hydrogen and carbonic oxide resulting from the decomposed
steam, the gas from the coal and the gas and vapors from the hydrocarbon liquid
and converting them into a homogeneous fixed gas in a heated fixing chamber.
The apparatus for carrying out our process of manufacturing gas may be
constructed in various forms as illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming
part of this specification and it comprises generally a decomposing and generating
chamber or furnace in which the steam is decomposed and the bituminous coal is
distilled and this chamber may be in duplicate; a separate retort or chamber (one
or more is desired) in which the hydrocarbon oil is vaporized and mixed with the
gas from the steam and coal;-a chamber in which the gases and vapors are
combined and fixed;-a coal feeding or charging apparatus; a steam boiler; a
water cooled valve; and connecting pipes for supplying air, steam and oil to the
different chambers of the apparatus.

page_text: The invention will be described under four different heads or divisions in order
to clearly point out the details of construction in the various form of apparatus
used in carrying out the process.
The apparatus described under the first head of our invention is illustrated in
figures 1 to 10 inclusive of the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 represents
a front elevation of the generating furnace and the charging cylinders on top:
Figure 2 represents a vertical cross section of the furnace and retorts on the line y y
Figure 5: Figure 3 represents a side elevation of the generator and fixing chamber:
Figure 4 represents a vertical central longitudinal section of the furnace, fixing
chamber and hydraulic seal box on the line x x figures 1 and 2: Figure
represents a horizontal section of the generating furnace and superheating or fixing
chamber on the line z z figures 2 and 4 on the smaller scale: Figure 6 represents a
horizontal section of the generating furnace above the retorts, and of the fixing
chamber. Figure 7 represents a vertical section through the generator on the
line y y figure 2 Figure 8 is a vertical, sectional view of a valve casing valve
and water pipes extending to the hollow-valve. Figure 9 is a transverse section of
the casing and hollow-valve. Figure 10 represents a perspective view of the
charging or feeding cylinders with parts broken away for showing the coal in one
of the cylinders and for showing the water cooled base.
The process under the first head of our invention is as follows: The fuel
preferably anthracite coal or coke is raised to incandescence by blasts of air and
the resulting gaseous products are caused to impinge upon retorts in the top of the
generating furnace and are then conducted into a fixing chamber where their
complete combustion is caused by a blast of air and the resulting heat stored in
refractory material filling the fixing chamber and the waste products of combustion
are finally conducted off through the stack. The fuel having been highly heated;
the air blast is shut off and steam is admitted into and decomposed in the hot fuel
resulting in the production of hydrogen and carbonic oxide which rise through the
fuel above. About the time or before the steam is admitted to the fuel fresh
charges of bituminous coal-one or more are dropped upon the top of the hot fuel,
by which the rich, carbureted, hydrogen and carbonic oxide, rising from the hot
bed of fuel below, aid very materially in carrying off the rich gases from the fresh
coal and conveying them to the fixing chamber.
The retorts in the top of the generator are now sufficiently heated to produce
gas from oil and immediately after the admission of steam to the fuel, a portion of
the resulting gas is passed from the generating furnace, together with small streams
of oil from separate pipes, into the side retorts from which the mingled vapors and
gas pass through a central retort and thence into the fixing chamber, into which
the main portion of the gas resulting from decomposed steam and fresh charges of
coal, are also admitted from the furnace generator. In this fixing chamber the
gases from the various sources are combined and fixed in the form of a homogeneous
gas which is conducted into the hydraulic main and thence to the purifier and
storage holder, or to any place of immediate use as desired.
The charge of coal having been distilled and reduced to coke and the temperature
of the bed of fuel having been reduced too low for properly decomposing steam it
is shut off, and the air blast again applied till the fuel is again raised to an incan-
descent state, the retorts heated and the fixing chamber heated-then the operation
of making gas as above explained, is repeated.
The details of the operation will be more fully defined after a description of the
apparatus, and the process constituting our particular invention herein will be
pointed out in the claims.
The parts of the apparatus and the combination thereof constituting my invention
herein will also be defined in the claims.
Having set forth the nature of our invention and given a general statement of
the process, we will now describe particularly the construction and arrangement of
the apparatus for carrying out the process.

page_text: In the following description, the same letters of reference designate like parts in
figures 1 to 10 inclusive of drawing.
The generating furnace A and the fixing chamber B are constructed of fire-brick
with surrounding casings of riveted boiler iron, a space being left between the
5 casing and brick. work for containing a packing of non-conducting material.
The generating furnace A has in its centre extending from front to back and
from its base to about half its height a hollow brick wall C containing baffle
plates extending alternately from the front and back wall nearly across the
intervening space forming a zig-zag passage this constitutes the air heater (see
Figures 2 and 4) and has at the base the flues c' c' leading into the ash pits D D¹
at the top of which are placed the grates d d' The generator is thus divided
into two fuel chambers E E' freely communicating at the top. Steam pipes e e
enter the fuel chambers near their bases. The air pipe S and branch S¹ (figure 1)
supply air to the top of the heater C which after being heated is admitted into
the ash boxes below the grates, and the branches 8 8 supply air above the fuel for
burning the gaseous products when heating up. The main pipe S also extends to
the fixing chamber B figure 2 for supplying air to support combustion while
heating up such chamber.
The brick arches T (figures 24 and 7) are built across from the front to the
rear wall near the top of the generating chamber for supporting the retorts G G¹
and G The side retorts G¹ G are the oil vaporizers and have connecting with
their front ends, the oil pipes ff1 and the gas supply pipes g¹ gll also connecting
with the interior of the generating furnace; and oil and gas pipes unite with a
single pipe extending to near the rear end of each retort, where the mingled oil
vapor and highly heated gas are discharged. Short pipes b' connect the side
retorts with the centre retort, and the centre retort connects by the pipe H with
the superheater B (see figures 4 and 6).
h
The opening Y leads into the flue F which conducts gas from the generator to
the base of the superheater. The gas flues II connect the base of the generator
below the grates with the superheater as shewn in figures 2 and 5. A stack T
having a tight fitting lid t rising from the top of the generator, conveys away the
products of combustion when desired.
The charging cylinders K K¹ are placed on the staging above the generator;
they are secured to a revolving pivoted plate R R1 at the bottom having openings
through it at the junction with the cylinders and this plate turns upon a pivot
secured in a plate below, which is also provided with an opening directly above
the chute of the generator. The base of the charging cylinder is provided with
a water chamber, having inlet and outlet water pipes for keeping the cylinders
sufficiently cool to prevent any distillation of the coal.
the top plate of the water chamber with the chute The pivotted plate R has
A short pipe connects
cast upon its upper surface, lugs forming sockets m into which a bar may be.
inserted for turning the cylinders into position over the chute (see figures 2 and 10)
Each cylinder has a lid.
The fixing chamber B is provided with the vertical suspended partition B¹ and
standing partition B" and with the baffle plates 6" of refractory material projecting
nto the space between the partition B" and the outer wall of the chamber for
affording sufficient heat absorbing surface and causing the gases to be fixed to
ake a circuitous course in passing to the seal-box or main. The waste products
of combustion which have been used in heating the fixing chamber, pass out at
he bottom through pipe L and out of the stack L₁ its cap or lid n' being open
nd the lower end being sealed in the water of the box M-while the gases to
be stored are caused to pass into the box M through the water and to the purifier
nd storage holder not shown through the pipe M the lid n' of stack L
eing at that time closed. Waste products of combustion may be passed directly
rom the top of the fixing chamber through the stack N by opening its lid n.
The gas eduction pipes FII' leading from the base of the generating chamber,
re provided with water cooled valves O surrounded by a water box O¹. The

page_text: slide or gate o of the valve is made hollow and its chamber has connecting with
it, two open ended pipes p passing through the valve casing and opening into the
water box for permitting a circulation of water through the hollow valve for
keeping it properly cooled. Tight joints are made between the pipes > and the
valve casing by stuffing boxes and glands for permitting the pipes to slide as the 5
valve is raised or lowered. The stems P of the valves extend above the staging
where the operating levers are applied. The water box 0¹ is provided with an
inlet water cock r¹ and an over flow pipe r.
Funnels R are placed above the stacks for conducting away the smoke. Doors U
are fitted to the front of the generating furnace, and open into the ash pits and 1
fuel chamber. The air, steam and oil pipes are fitted with suitable valves.
In operating our apparatus fires are kindled on the grates and the chambers are
charged with fuel, anthracite coal or coke and the air blast is admitted through
pipe S¹ and its branches and air heater C into the ash pits D D' the doors thereof
being closed and the cap n' of stack L¹ being open. The air blast is continued
till the bodies of fuel are brought to an incandescent state, the hot gaseous products
being at the same time conducted into the fixing chamber where complete
combustion takes place by the admission of air, and where the resulting heat is
stored in the refractory material and the waste products of combustion are
conducted away by smoke stack L' The beds of fuel and the fixing chamber
having been heated to the desired temperature, the air blast is shut off and the
lid n closed and the valve of pipe F is left open. Steam is now admitted into the
hot fuel by pipo e e¹ and at about the same time or before a charge of bituminous
coal is dropped upon the top of the bed of fuel or a small charge may be supplied to
each side of the generator, then the valves in the gas pipe g g¹ are opened, admitting
gas from the generator chamber into the retorts G G₁ and the oil pipes are
opened, admitting oil into the pipes h which is carried along by the highly
heated gas and vaporized, and the vapors are discharged into the rear ends of the
retorts.
The steam admitted is decomposed into hydrogen and carbonic oxide, which
rising through the fresh charge of coal, now in a state of distillation carry off the
rich carbureted hydrogen vapors and gases and pass with them into the retorts and
directly into the fixing chamber B. The highly heated gas conducted with the
vaporizing retorts aid in vaporizing the oil and carrying the vapors forward
through the central retort and into the fixing chamber. The gases and vapors are
combined and converted into a fixed homogeneous gas in the fixing chamber, which
is passed through the hydraulic seal box, and stand pipe to the purifiers and storage
holder. More or less oil may be admitted to the retorts to enrich the gas as desired.
After the charge of coal is distilled and coked, the eduction pipe, F is closed by its
valve, and the valve of pipe I' leading from ash pit D¹ to the fixing chamber is
opened and the valve of steam pipe e is closed; steam is now passed into the bed
of fuel E and the products rising from this bed, are forced down through the bed
of fuel E¹.
By this method any steam escaping decomposition in the first bed of fuel, is
decomposed in the second bed, and any carbonic acid arising from the first bed is
changed into carbonic oxide by passage through the second bed of fuel. This
method of operating also causes a pressure of gas in the top of the generating
chamber, which better heats the retorts and causes a good flow of highly heated
gas into the retorts to assist in vaporizing and atomising the oil and in carrying
the vapors forward into the fixing chamber. Of course the current of steam and
gas could be conducted in the reverse direction, into and out of the generating
chamber, and the direction of the current may be determined by the side o
chamber of the generator which has been last charged with coal.
The manufacture of gas is continued till the temperature of the fuel, the retort
and the fixing chamber is reduced too low when the steam and oil are shut off an
the valves are properly arranged for heating the fixing chamber and the air blast i
admitted into the fuel. After the beds of fuel the retorts, and the fixing chambe

page_text: are properly heated, the blast is shut off and the parts again arranged for making
gas and the production of gas is repeated as above explained.
It will be understood that when it is desired to drop a charge of coal into the
generator, one of the cylinders containing a charge is turned to register with the
chute of the generator when the charge will slide into place.
The cylinders after having been discharged and turned away from the chute, are
again filled with coal.
By our process the bituminous coal is conveniently coked, as but a small charge
thereof is dropped upon the hot bed of fuel at any one time, and the rich gas and
vapor evolved are all saved and serve to enrich the hydrogen of the water gas; no
tar is produced for the reason that all the rich vapors are combined with the water
gas and converted into non-condensable gas in the fixing chamber.
Hot water-gas being admitted to the oil retorts assists in vaporizing and
atomising the oil, and carrying the vapors forward, and thus prevent them from
being deposited as hard carbon, on the surfaces of the retorts, and the water gas is
thus enriched and fitted for illuminating purposes.
By vaporizing the oil in the retorts it is not burned and destroyed as it would
be if admitted directly upon the hot fuel in the generator.
Under the second head of our invention a modified form of apparatus is
described and it is illustrated in figures 11 to 16 inclusive of the accompanying
drawing in which.
Figure 11 represents a front elevation of my apparatus: Figure 12 represents a
vertical section through the two generators illustrating the operation conducted
from left to right through the generators: Figure 13 represents a side elevation
of one of the generators, and a vertical section of the fixing chamber and the
hydraulic seal box. Figure 14 represents a top plan view: Figure 15 represents
a horizontal section on the line xx figure 11 through tops of the generators, the
base of the fixing chamber and the water box containing the water-cooled valves.
Figure 16 represents a horizontal section on the line y y through the base of the
generators.
In the following description the same letters of reference designate like parts in
figures 11 to 16 inclusive, of the drawing.
The two generating and decomposing furnaces A and A' are constructed of fire-
brick and are covered by tight-jackets composed of rivetted plates of boiler-iron
each has a fuel chamber B B₁ provided with grates 661 and a steam superheating
chamber C. C above separated from the fuel chamber by a perforated arch c c²
The steam superheating chambers are partially filled with refractory brick-work
laid in the usual form of regenerators and resting on the perforated arches c c The
upper part of each chamber is charged with iron scraps or turnings & d' resting
upon the brick-work. A vertical retort or charging chute a a' extends centrally
through each superheating chamber, through which the coal and oil are supplied
to the distilling chambers. An oil pipe R R¹ connects with each chute a a¹ and
steam supply pipe 1 11 connect with the top of each superheating chamber by
which steam is admitted into the iron scraps. The oil is supplied from a tank or
reservoir R and is forced up by the pressure of water admitted at the bottom of the
tank by a pipen from an elevated water tank W having an inlet pipe connecting
with the water main or other source of supply.
The chambers B B¹ are connected with each other by a pipe D opening below the
grate of each for the passage of gases from one to the other in either direction as
shown by the arrows in figures 2 and 3.
Each fuel chamber is provided at its upper contracted portion with inlet
passages G G¹ having tight-fitting caps g g₁ for the insertion of bars to remove
clinkers and to stir and break up the coke or coal in case it becomes necessary. The
passages are given an inclined direction for permitting the better operation of the
bars. Doors d d are provided, opening into the ash-pit of each furnace for the
removal of ashes &c and doors m m' are provided in the tops of the superheating.
chambers for the insertion and removal of the iron scraps or turnings. An air blast

page_text: pipe Y connects by branches Y Y2 with the ash-pit and the top of each decomposing
chamber B B and the branches are provided with gate valves vv¹ for controlling
the admission of the blast for blowing up the fuel and for burning the gaseous
products above the fuel for heating the superheaters and the fixing chamber.
The coal charging apparatus X X' is mounted above each generator and is
composed of cylinders mounted on a revolving disc, so that each cylinder may be
made to register with the chute a or a¹ which extends down through the
superheaters and the arched partitions c c² to the top of the fuel chambers. The
revolving discs carrying the cylinders also carry the smoke stacks xx¹ having close
fitting caps, at their tops for the discharge of products of combustion when desired.
When it is desired to discharge products of combustion through the stacks they
are turned to register with the chutes a a¹
J The generating furnaces are connected at the tops of their superheating
chamber CC by pipes or flues E E E³ (see figures 12 13 and 14) with the base of
the fixing chamber F below its perforated supporting arch f¹ The pipes E E¹
extend into the water-box H where each is provided with a water cooled valve e e¹
In the box, the pipes E E¹ connect at right angles with the pipe E' leading back
into the fixing chamber.
The fixing chamber F is constructed of fire-brick covered by a jacket composed
of rivetted plates of boiler iron, and it is mounted upon the columns / resting
upon the brick or stone foundation T. It is filled with regenerator brick work
above the perforated supporting arch fand is provided with a central eduction
pipe for gas extending down into the hydraulic seal box I and is also provided
at the top with a smoke stack Z having a tight fitting cap Z¹ An air blast pipe Y³
having a valve all connects with the base of chamber F for supplying air to
support combustion of gases used in heating up the chamber. A pipe I conducts the
gas from the hydraulic seal box I to the purifier or scrubber or holder as desired.
Having described the construction of our improved apparatus we will now
describe the operation carried out therein for the production of illuminating or
heating gas as follows.
The entire apparatus is first heated up by internal combustion of fuel and
gaseous products to the desired temperature for successfully manufacturing gas by
the decomposition of steam, distillation of soft or bituminous coal, vaporization of
oil and the combining and fixing of the gases and vapors from the different
sources each chamber being heated to the particular degree best suited for
performing its particular function. Fires are first kindled in the chambers B B¹ of
the generators with anthracite coal or coke, the fuel being gradually fed in and
the combustion thereof urged by air blasts; 1 admitted through pipes Y Y¹ till
two beds of highly heated fuel each two or more feet thick are formed.
During this operation of firing up, the gaseous products, containing a valuable
per centage of carbonic oxide; are burned by the admission of air blasts through
pipes Y2 above the fuel, and the hot products of combustion are utilized for heating
the refractory brick-work and the iron scrap in superheating chambers C C¹ and
the brick-work in fixing chamber F Should any combustible gas pass into
chamber F it is completely consumed by a blast air admitted to the base of the
chamber by pipe Ys and if desired the gaseous products may be conducted previous
to their combustion, through chambers C C¹ directly into the fixing chamber F and
there burned. The combustible gases may be burned partially in chambers CƠ¹
and partially in chamber F as found desirable or necessary for heating the chambers
to the proper degree for superheating steam and fixing the gases and vapors. In the
first instance the bed of fuel in chamber B which is first used to decompose steam, is
raised to the highest-temperature, preferably to an incandescent state, while the bed
of fuel in chamber B is raised to a lower temperature, only sufficiently high to
properly distill bituminous coal the air blasts are then shut off and the caps at the
tops of the smoke stacks are closed steam is then admitted by a number of pipes 1
into the highly heated iron scrap or turnings at the top of chamber C and is therein
partially decomposed, hydrogen being set free, then the hydrogen and decomposed

page_text: steam are passed down through the highly heated bed of fuel in chamber B where
decomposition is completed and the resulting hot gases are conducted into the bed
of fuel in chamber B where any carbonic acid in the gases is converted into
carbonic oxide. About the time that steam is admitted to the top of chamber Ca
charge of soft coal is dropped through chute a¹ upon the cooler bed of fuel in
chamber B and the distillation thereof commenced. A small stream of oil, is
required for encircling the gases, is also passed into the chute and vaporized. The
hot-water gases before mentioned pass up through the distilling bituminous coal
and carry off the rich carbureted hydrogen gas and vapors being evolved
therefrom and also unite with the vapors or gas from the oil and they pass through
chamber C¹ into the fixing chamber F where they are converted into a fixed
homogeneous gas of high candle power.
The operation just described is continued till the bodies of fuel, and the super-
heating and fixing chambers are reduced too low in temperature for successfully
carrying on the operation of making gas then the steam and oil are shut off
and the air blasts are again admitted for heating up the beds of fuel and the
superheating and fixing chambers in the manner previously described the Z' at the
top of the stack Z being at the time opened for conducting off the waste products
of combustion.
During the period that the air blasts are admitted to both furnaces A. A¹ both
of the valves e e are opened for admitting the gaseous products into fixing
chamber F.
During the period in which steam is passed into chamber C and the gases are
passed from left to right through chambers B' and C¹ as illustrated in figure 12
valve e is closed and valve e is opened, and when the gases are passed in the
reverse direction, the valves, are reversed in position, that is, valve e¹ is closed and
valve e is opened. In the second operation of heating up, the body of fuel in
chamber B composed largely of coke from the soft coal previously distilled in such
chamber, and the superheating chamber C₁ are most highly heated as they are now,
to be used for superheating and decomposing steam.
At the time of heating up the fuel and chambers hot gaseous products con-
taining carbonic oxide are passed up through the oxidized metal scrap in the
top of chamber C and deoxidizes it, the carbon of the carbonic oxide gas uniting
with the oxygen of the oxidized metal, reduces the latter to the metallic state so
that it will be again in condition for decomposing steam.
The oxidized metal, produced by the passage of steam through it, is thus
repeatedly revivified or changed to the metallic state by the passage of carbonic
oxide or other carbureted gas through it, so that the same body of metal may be
used over and over again for decomposing steam.
The bodies of fuel and the superheating and fixing chambers being the second
time properly heated, the air. blasts are shut off, the caps at the tops of the stacks
are closed valve e¹ closed and valve e opened-then- steam is superheated and
decomposed by passage down through chamber C₁ and the hot bed of fuel in
chamber B¹ and the resulting gases are thence passed to the left, up through the
distilling coal in chamber B taking up and carrying off gases and vapors from the
coal and oil admitted to this chamber and carrying them into the fixing chamber F
when they are converted into a homogenous fixed gas as in. the first instance.
The operation of making gas is thus carried on alternately in opposite directions in
the two generators, the steam always being admitted to and decomposed in the
generator at the higher temperature and the soft coal being always charged, into
and distilled and the rich illuminating gases therefrom saved without the wasteful
production of soot or lamp black and that beds of coke are thus obtained for the
subsequent decomposition of steam. During a run for the production of gas one
or several charges of soft coal may be dropped into the distilling chamber, depending
upon the size of the charges and the progress of the distillation. During the
operation of fixing up the waste products of combustion are readily passed out of
the stack Z¹ as it cap is open and the lower end of the gas eduction pipe ƒ is

page_text: sealed in the hydraulic box I but while gas is being made the cap Z is tightly
closed and the gas completed to pass down through the liquid in the seal-box and
is thence passed off by pipe I to the place of storage or use. By passing the
steam down through the fuel it spreads more uniformly through it, and is thus
brought more intimately in contact with every portion of the carbon and is
therefore better decomposed and the fuel is better utilized.
Under the third head of our invention another modified form of apparatus is
described adapted for carrying out the process of manufacturing gas in a manner
similar to that described under the second head but the apparatus is simpler in
construction than that last described and is better fitted for small low priced
works; it is illustrated in figures 17 to 19 inclusive of the accompanying drawing
in which Figure 17 represents a front elevation of the generating furnace:
Figure 18 represents a vertical section through the furnace, Figure 19 represents
a vertical longitudinal section at right angles to figure 18 through the furnace, the
vaporizing and mixing chamber and the fixing chamber. Figures 20 and 21 are
horizontal sections on lines X X and y y of figures 19.
The generating furnace A is set upon a brick-work or stone foundation t it is
constructed of fire brick and covered by a jacket of rivetted plates of boiler iron
and is divided into two chambers, one above the other. The lower chamber B is
the larger in diameter, and is for decomposing steam; the smaller one B¹ is divided
from the lower one by a perforated or open work fire-brick arch b placed at the
contracted upper portion of chamber B and is for containing bituminous coal to be
distilled for the production of gas. The chamber B has two chutes a a one on each
side at its top for the admission of coal. The chutes connect with the charging
apparatus C C previously described.
The chamber B is provided with a like charging apparatus C¹ mounted upon
its top. An air blast pipe D extends vertically up the side of the furnace A and
is provided with a branch d having a valve, which connects with the ash pit of the
generating and decomposing chamber B and a branch d¹ having a valve, which
connects with the top of such chamber and a branch d¹¹ having a valve which
connects with the upper part of the coal distilling chamber B.
Steam pipes E E having valves, connect with the base of the decomposing
chamber B.
The chambers B B¹ have each near its base an opening and tight-fitting door for
the removal of ashes and coke.
The mixing and vaporizing chamber F is built of fire-brick supported on the
foundation and is covered by riveted plate of boiler-iron; it is provided internally
with baffle plates f of fire-brick or other suitable material, extending alternately
from opposite sides, inclined downward and inward, and overlapping as shown to
form a zig-zag passage for the gases and vapors. This chamber is provided with a
smoke stack I having a tight-fitting lid and it is connected to the decomposing
chamber B¹ near its top by pipe G having a water cooled valve g¹ it is also
connected to the coal distilling chamber B near its top by pipe H. An oil supply
pipe h connects with its upper part for discharging hydrocarbon oil on the baffie
plate for encircling the gas from the generating chambers
The vaporizing and mixing chamber F connects with the fixing chamber L by a
pipe K at the base. Chamber L is constructed of fire-brick covered by rivetted
plates of boiler-iron and is provided with a smoke stack having a lid or cover l¹
it is also provided with a large central flue M open at the top and connecting at
the bottom with a pipe N leading out of the chamber. The flue M is provided
with a wide spiral flange in extending from its outer surface to the inner wall of
chamber L and from bottom to top of the tube. This construction of the tube and
flange set in the chamber provides a long spiral passage with a large heating
surface for the passage of the gases to be combined and fixed. The pipe N leads
to a steam boiler, or directly to a wash and seal-box as preferred. The air pipe D
also connects by branches with the chambers F and L to supply air for supporting
combustion in these chambers of gaseous products while heating up the apparatus,

page_text: Preparatory to the manufacture of illuminating or heating gas for storage the
entire apparatus is heated up by internal combustion. A fire is first kindled in
chamber B and combustion therein is urged by an air blast till a body of fuel,
several feet thick composed of coke or anthracite coal, which is gradually fed in is
raised to an incandescent state and the other chambers, the mixing and vaporizing
chamber and the fixing chamber are raised to the desired temperature by the com-
bustion within them of the hot gaseous products containing a valuable per centage
of carbonic oxide from the fuel in chamber B The air blast may be admitted to
the upper portion of chamber B for burning the carbonic oxide above the fuel for
heating chamber B and after the chamber is partially heated, it may be gradually
charged with bituminous coal by the charging apparatus C¹ The gases driven off
from this coal while the air blast is on, are burned above the fuel and the hot
products of combustion conducted into chamber F through pipe H and then passed
into and through chamber L. Should the combustion of the gases be incomplete in
the first chamber the air blast may be admitted into the succeeding chambers by
opening the valves in branch pipes D D and.combustion therein completed.
During the operation of heating up the apparatus the products of combustion
pass off at pipe N or through either of the smoke stacks I or i All of the chambers
being heated to the desired temperature and a bed of incandescent fuel obtained in
chamber B all the air blast pipes are closed by their valves, the smoke-stacks are
closed and steam is admitted by pipes E into the lower portion of the bed of incan-
descent fuel in chamber B where it is decomposed. The resulting hot gases
(hydrogen and carbonic-oxide) are passed up through the distilling bed of
bituminous coal in chamber B and carry off such carburetted hydrogen gas evolved
therefrom the tarry vapors are also carried over into chambers F and L and
combined with the hydrogen of the decomposed steam and converted into a fixed gas.
Should the gases from the chambers B and B' be deficient in illuminating power,
and in case an illuminating gas of high candle power is desired, then hydrocarbon
oil is admitted by pipe h upon the baffle plates fin the top of vaporizing chamber F
where it is vaporized and mingled with the gases resulting from the decomposed
steam and that distilled from the coal, and the entire mixture is combined and
fixed in chambers F and L. The production of gas is continued as above described,
till the bed of fuel in chamber B and the chambers connected therewith are reduced
too low in temperature for successful operation, then the steam and oil are shut off,
the lids of the stacks are opened and the air blasts are again admitted to the various
chambers as desired for raising the fuel to incandescence and burning the gaseous
products in order to heat the chambers. The gaseous products arising from the
combustion of fuel in the decomposing chamber B may be conducted directly
into chamber F through pipe G by opening valve g this may be desirable instead
of passing such products through chamber B¹ and thereby carrying off and burning
too large a volume of rich gas from the bituminous coal in such chamber.
Chamber B may be newly charged with coal or coke just after the air blast is
admitted, and chamber B' may receive a fresh charge of bituminous coal just after
the operation of heating up and after the air blast is shut off in order to save the
rich gases distilled therefrom. In case the coke resulting from the distillation of
bituminous coal is not sufficiently decomposed to fall through the openings in the
arch it is removed through the doorway just above the arch b it is
removed through the doorway just above the arch. During the operation of
heating up the apparatus, the body of fuel in chamber B may be highly
heated by burning the gases at the top of the chamber B and conducting the
resulting hot products of combustion up through the fuel in chamber BI and
thence through chambers F and L In case the fuel in chamber B₁ is thus heated,
it serves to convert any carbonic acid that may pass off from chamber B while
steam is being admitted, into carbonic oxide or to fully decompose any steam which
may escape decomposition in the lower bed of fuel. This would be a desirable
method of operating when heating gas was being manufactured and in that case no
coke need be removed from chamber B¹

page_text: Under the fourth head of our invention another modified form of apparatus is
described in which there is provided a peculiarly constructed vaporizing and
mixing chamber, a peculiar fixing chamber and a connected steam boiler, the
object being to better commingle the gases and vapors and convert them into a
fixed gas, and to better utilize the heat of the gases and products of combustion
than has heretofore been accomplished.
The apparatus is illustrated in figures 22 to 24 inclusive of the accompanying
drawing in which Figure 22 represents an elevation of the entire apparatus.
Figure 23 represents a longitudinal vertical section thereof, with the oil and air
tanks in elevation. Figure 24 represents a horizontal section of the apparatus.
The generator A is of the usual construction having a tight-fitting ash-pit
door a and having a flue 6 connecting at its top and extending down through the
wall to the base of the vaporizing and commingling chamber B. Within
chamber B is erected the vertical vaporizing cylinder, or retort C having an open
flaring or trumpet-shaped mouth at the top and connecting at the bottom by
pipe D with the connecting and fixing chamber. The vaporizer has near its top,
a conical oil distributer c resting upon lugs or an annular flange, projecting from
the inside of retort, and the enlarged mouth of the oil inlet-pipe g projects down
over the distributer. Below the distributer are placed the open work or cellular,
commingling devices c¹ formed of bars or slats of fire-brick in the form of double
cones. A dome b is mounted on chamber B for supporting the oil inlet pipe g.
The converting and fixing chamber E has a smoke stack e with a tight fitting lid
opening into a funnel above, and has arranged internally, a central, cylindrical
flue F provided with an external; spiral flange f extending from its top to bottom
and between the flue and the inner surface of the walls of the chamber.
The flue F is open at the top and connects at the bottom by a short flue H with
the large central flue H of the steam boiler R. The boiler is of the flue and
tubular variety having a large central flue H for the passage of hot gases and
waste products of combustion from the generating apparatus, and also having a
fire-box and the ordinary tubes, and stack A pipe L and branch 1 conduct gas
into the hydraulic seal-box L from which it is passed by pipe 11 to the purifiers
or holder, and a rising branch 11 having a tight-fitting lid at the top, conduct
waste products of combustion to the funnel above. The boiler is provided on the
outside with the usual pressure gauge water gage and safety valve, and a pipe R
rising from the done, connects with generator A and with the engine of the air
pump d by a branch R¹
Air pipe having valves x connect with the base of
generator A commingling chamber B and fixing chamber E for supplying air to
support combustion in those chambers. Hydrocarbon oil is supplied to the
vaporizing retort C by pipe g from a pressure tank G. An air pipe d and a
reservoir I connected by a pipe I having a controlling valve are connected to oil
tank by pipe I having valve i The air pipe opens into top of the oil tank,
supplying air under pressure to the surface of the oil, while the outlet oil pipe g
extends down to near the bottom of the tank where its end is open in order to
conduct oil forced by air pressure as long as any oil remains in the tank. Pipe g
conducts oil into the tank. The pipe g is provided with a pressure gauge gll a
valve g¹ and a meter G' The generating chamber A has mounted upon its top,
the charging apparatus A¹ provided with the three coal cylinders heretofore
described and also with a fourth short cylinder M having a cone and a stirring
rod N passing through it, by which the coal in the furnace may be loosened up
and broken should it adhere together or form arches during the distilling and
coking operation. The valves of the air and steam pipes are provided with rods
extending upward, in order to be operated from a floor above if desired.
In operating the apparatus a fire is started in the generator, and the combustion
urged by a blast of air, till a bed of incandescent fuel is obtained and at the same
time the gaseous products, given off, from the fuel, are burned by blasts of air in
the commingling and vaporizing chamber B and in the fixing chamber E raising

page_text: them to a high temperature and the waste products still hot, are conducted
through the boiler and out of the stack.
In case the heat of the waste gases is not required in the boiler such gases are
passed out of stack e at the top of chamber E. The apparatus having been heated,
the air is shut off, the smoke-stacks closed, and the steam is admitted to the base
of the generator and passed up into the incandescent bed of fuel where it is
decomposed and the resulting gases together with gas distilled from the coal are
conducted into the commingling and vaporizing chamber where, at this time oil is
admitted into the distributer c of the vaporizer. The hot gases from the generator,
pass up around the vaporizing retort C and then entering at the open mouth
thereof pass down with the oil vapors; through the cellular commingling devices c¹
the gases serving to carry the oil vapors along and preventing their deposit in the
form of hard carbon or lamp-black, on the sides of the chamber and flues. The
mingled gases and vapors pass thence into the chamber E when they pass through
the long spiral channel around the cylinder F and then down through the cylinder,
during which passage they are fully combined and converted into a fixed gas..
This gas passes through the boiler down into the hydraulic seal box and thence to
the purifiers or holder.
By means of the meter G¹ the quantity of oil supplied to the vaporizing chamber
is accurately measured and the required supply is secured by means of the
controlling valve in the supply pipe. By means of the reservoir I¹ a constant and
uniform pressure of air is supplied from the pump to the top of the oil tank; this
does away with the inconvenience and danger of an elevated oil supply tank.
The generating chamber, and the commingling and vaporizing chamber are
preferably formed in one fire-brick structure covered by tightly rivetted plates of
boiler-iron, and the fixing chamber is formed in a closely connected fire-brick
structure, also covered with tightly rivetted plates of boiler-iron.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and the manner of
performing the same as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents I wish
it to be understood that what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :
First The process of manufacturing gas which consists in raising a body or
bodies of fuel to an incandescent temperature by blasts of air, and burning the
resulting gaseous products and storing the heat in the fixing chamber containing
refractory material and also heating oil retorts, then dropping a charge of bitu-
minous coal upon the bed of hot fuel and distilling it by the direct heat and at
the same time decomposing steam in the bed of incandescent fuel and passing the
resulting gases up through the distilling coal, conducting a portion of the gas to
the oil retorts and thereby carry the oil into the retort and the vapors through the
retorts into the fixing chamber, and finally combining the water gas, the coal gas
and the oil gas and converting them into a fixed homogeneous gas in the heated
fixing chamber.
Second-The single chambered decomposing and generating furnace having
two ash pits, in combination with the hollow wall C rising a short distance
into the decomposing chamber and having baffle plates c forming a zig-zag air
heating passage and air flues c¹ c¹ connecting with the ash pits, the air passage and
a gas flue as described.
Third The generating furnace having air and steam inlet pipes at or near its
base, and the connected oil vaporizing retorts placed in its upper part, in
combination with a fixing chamber and pipes connecting the generating chamber
and the retorts with the tixing chamber.
Fourth-The connected retorts placed in the top of the generating chamber, in
combination with the pipes g₁ g₁ connecting the chamber with the side retorts
and the oil supply pipe connecting with the gas pipes entering the retorts.
Fifth The charging apparatus consisting of two or more cylinders, secured to
a revolving pivotted base plate, having openings corresponding to the cylinders,
and a supporting base having an opening and discharge pipe in combination with

page_text: the generating furnace having the chute connecting with the discharge pipe of
the charging cylinders.
Sixth-The charging apparatus consisting of the cylinders, mounted on a
revolving plate, as described in combination with the hollow supporting base
having inlet and outlet water pipes, and a discharge chute leading into the
furnace.
Seventh-The generating furnace having inlet, air and steam pipes connecting
with both sides thereof, in combination with a fixing chamber, a gas pipe F
connecting the upper portion of the generator with the fixing chamber, and the
gas flues II connecting the ash-pits of the generator with the fixing chamber.
Eighth-In combination with the generator and its eduction gas pipes, the
water cooled valves having hollow slides or gates and circulating tubes connected
as described and the surrounding water box.
Ninth The process of generating gas which consists in charging bituminous
coal into a heated generating chamber containing two bodies of fuel at an
incandescent heat and thereby distilling the rich gas from the coal and reducing
it to coke, then decomposing steam by passing it up through one body of the hot
coke, and converting any carbonic acid in the resulting gases into carbonic oxide
by passing such gases down through the other body of hot coke and at the same
time passing a portion of the hot gas to a heated retort and thereby spraying oil
into such retort and carrying forward the resulting vapors preventing the
formation of carbon and finally combining and fixing all the resulting vapors and
gases in a heated chamber as described.
Tenth The process of generating gas which consists in superheating steam,
then passing it down through a body of incandescent or highly heated fuel, where
it is decomposed resulting in the production of hydrogen carbonic oxide, and a
small per centage of carbonic acid, then passing these gases up through a separate
body of heated fuel, thereby converting the carbonic acid into carbonic oxide and
passing them through a charge of distilling soft coal for carrying off the rich gases
therefrom, and finally combining them into a homogeneous fixed gas in a heated
chamber.
:-
Eleventh The process of manufacturing gas consists in decomposing and
superheating steam by passing it through a bed of heated iron scrap, heated
brick-work and then down through a body of incandescent or highly heated fuel,
then passing the resulting gases through a second body of heated fuel for
converting any contained carbonic acid into carbonic oxide, then enriching the
gases by passing them through a charge of distilling soft coal, and by mixing with
them the vapors of liquid hydrocarbon and finally converting them into a fixed
gas by passing them through a heated fixing chamber.
Twelfth In a gas generating apparatus, a generator having a fuel chamber in
its base, and a superheating chamber fitted with brick-work and a body of iron
scrap in its upper part and having a coal chute passing through its superheater in
combination with the blast pipes the steam and oil inlet pipes connected as
described and the coal charging apparatus, as and for the purpose described.
Thirteenth-The generator constructed with a fuel chamber, a superheating
chamber as described and having the connected air blast, steam and oil inlet pipes,
in combination with the fixing chamber, the connecting pipe water-box and water
cooled valve as and for the purpose described.
Fourteenth-A gas generating furnace having a fuel chamber in its base and a
superheating chamber containing refractory material, in its upper part in combina-
tion with steam and oil pipes and a cool charging apparatus connecting with the
superheater, and with a second generator, a pipe connecting the two generators at
the base and a gas eduction pipe connecting with the superheater, as and for the
purpose described.
:-
Fifteenth The combination of two generators, each having a fuel chamber
in its base, a superheater and charging chute in its upper portion with a pipe
connecting them at the base, gas outlet pipes having valves connecting the super-

page_text: heaters with the fixing chamber, means for charging coal, and steam connecting
pipes as and for the purpose described.
Sixteenth-The combination of the two fuel chambers connected by a pipe at
their and each having air and steam inlet pipes, with the chutes and coal charging.
apparatus, the gas fixing chamber and the connecting gas pipes from each fuel
chamber as and for the purpose described.
Seventeenth-The process of generating gas which consists in first raising a
body of fuel to an incandescent state by a blast of air, heating a separate body of
bituminous coal by the resulting hot gaseous products and burning the gaseous
products in the mixing and fixing chambers then decomposing steam in the first
body of incandescent fuel, passing the resulting hot gases through the body of
bituminous coal and thereby distilling and carrying off the carburetted bydrogen
therefrom; carbureting the gases with liquid hydrocarbon and mixing the gases
and vapors in a separate chamber and finally connecting them into a fixed gas in
a separate heated fixing chamber.
Eighteenth-The generating furnace, consisting of the lower decomposing
chamber B the upper distilling chamber B₁ the perforated arch or partition
between them in combination with connecting pipes for steam and air, and an
eduction pipe for gas as described.
Nineteenth-The generating furnace, consisting of the upper and lower fuel
chambers separated by a perforated partition, in combination with the fixing
chamber, and the two connecting pipes H and I one from each fuel chamber as
described.
Twentieth-The generating furnace composed of lower decomposing chamber,
having air and steam supply pipes, the upper distilling chamber and a perforated
arch or partition between them, in combination with a fuel charging apparatus
connected with the lower chamber, a fuel charging apparatus connected with the
upper chamber, and a gas outlet pipe as and for the purpose described.
Twenty first: The generating furnace divided into an upper and lower chamber
by a perforated partition in combination with the charging apparatus connected
with each, the vaporizing and mixing chamber having an oil inlet-pipe, and a
pipe connecting the latter chamber with one of the chambers of the generator as
desired.
Twenty second-The generating furnace constructed with two chambers and
provided with air and steam inlet-pipes, in combination with the charging
apparatus, the mixing and vaporizing chamber, the fixing chamber and the
connecting pipes as described.
Twenty-third In combination with the generating furnace and the charging
apparatus, the short-cylinder M having a stirring rod passing through its cover
and mounted upon a pivotted revolving plate with the coal cylinders whereby it
may be brought into position over the charging chute, so that the rod may be
thrust into the coal for stirring and breaking it up, and then turned away from
heated opening.
Twenty-fourth-In combination with the generator, the commingling and
vaporizing chamber having a central cylinder, or retort open at the top and
provided with a distributer c and the cellular commingling devices c and the
bil supply pipe as and for the purpose described.
Twenty-fifth-In combination with a generator and a commingling and vapo-
izing chamber, the fixing chamber connected to the vaporizer by a tube at the
bottom, and having a central cylinder open at the top and provided with a spiral
lange extending between it and the wall of the chamber, as and for the purpose
lescribed.
Twenty-sixth-The fixing chamber having an inlet flue at the bottom and a
tack and tight-fitting cap at the top and having a central flue or cylinder open at
he top, and having a discharge pipe passing through the outer wall of the chamber
.

page_text: at the bottom and provided with a spiral flange, forming a spiral passage between
the cylinder and the wall of the chamber in combination with a generator.
Twenty-seventh -The combination of the generator, the commingling and
vaporizing chamber, having a central cylinder open at the top, the fixing chamber
having a central flue and spiral flange, and a steam boiler having a central flue
and the connecting pipes as and for the
described.
purpose
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
ALFRED J. BOULT
(L.S.)