Improvements in Carburetting Apparatus.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in Carburetting Apparatus.
We, ORSON WILLIAM BENNETT, residing at, 2003, 11th Street North West, and
SILAS OTTLEY HEMENWAY, residing at 1643, 13th Street, North West, both of the
City of Washington District of Columbia, United States of America, Gentlemen, 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 :-
Our invention relates to apparatus for generating and enriching illuminating gas,
and particularly to that class of machines in which there is a floating generating
or enriching chamber through which the air or gas must pass in the process of
admixture.
The object of our invention is to produce an apparatus of this. character which will
be of simple, inexpensive and durable construction, effective and complete in its
operation, and safe and reliable in use; and the improvements which we have made
for carrying out these objects will be specifically described and embraced in separate
and distinct claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1, is a vertical central section showing the interior construction and arrange-
ment of a carburetting apparatus embracing our invention.
Fig. 2, is a horizontal section taken on a plane denoted by the line, x-x, fig. 1, the
absorbent being removed from the floating generating chamber, F.
Fig. 3, is a vertical section of a modification of our invention.
Fig. 4, is a horizontal section on line, y-y, figure, 3.
The letter, A, designates the main chamber or vessel which is composed of an inner

page_text: and an outer casing, the inner being of copper, and the outer preferably of galvanized
iron and having an intermediate packing, B, of a suitable non-conductor of heat for
example, ashes or asbestos, or a mixture of both. D, designates another and interior
perforated cylinder or wall, also preferably of galvanized iron or wire gauze.
Between this last named cylinder and the main vessel, A, is interposed a packing of
absorbent material, for example asbestos and excelsior. The perforations permit the
access of oil to the absorbent material which becomes wholly saturated by capillary
attraction. These perforations also permit the free evolution of vapor of hydrocarbon
into the upper or open portion of the chamber. I secure on the head of the main
vessel (preferably by means of soldering), a suitable water seal receptacle. This seal
is formed centrally upon the top of the case by means of a raised water tight cap
which encloses the upper end of the valved feed tube the valved vent tube and a
closed opening which affords access to the machine, so that the water in the cap will
cover these open parts.
The sealing cap is protected by a hinged cover secured by a lock. By attaching
the seal holding receptacle to the head of the cylinder, A, by means of a solder
joint" the same can be readily removed by melting such joint when access is desired
to the interior parts for their removal, renewal or repair.
E, designates the feed tube, or that through which hydrocarbon is supplied to the
apparatus. This tube is arranged to extend the entire depth of the vessel and its
lower end is open to permit the hydrocarbon to flow into the chamber. It is
preferably located centrally in the chamber, and has its lower end secured in a
suitable frame, or socket, to prevent lateral movement, and its upper end projecting
into the water seal, where it is provided with a suitable stop cock.
The floating generating chamber, F, is made of a suitable sheet metal, divided
internally with vertical partitions extending radially from the central tube to the outer
wall, and having openings occuring alternately at the central tube and outer wall.
One of said partitions being solid, so that the gas is compelled to take a circuitous
route (as indicated by the arrows) in passing from the inlet to the outlet, which are
made upon opposite sides of the solid partition. The bottom of the chamber, is made
of perforated sheet metal or wire gauze to permit the free flow of oil to the absorbent
material with which the chamber is filled, and is provided on its bottom with the
extension,, which is filled with absorbent and extends downward through the central
opening of the float G, its bottom being perforated and on a level with the under side
of said float.
The floating chamber is provided with a central tube, a, through which the feed
tube, E, passes; the latter serving as a guide and means to retain the chamber in
proper position. The chamber is supported upon the liquid oil by means of- floats
consisting first; of a hollow liquid tight sheet metal disc, G, having a central opening
to allow it to move upon the central tube, E, and to permit of the passing through it
of the extension, f, formed on the under side of the generating chamber, F, and
secondly of hollow tight sheet metal segmental portions, E¹, arranged around and
adjustably secured to the generating or admixing chambers. The upper edge of the
under float, G, is provided with a suitable number of studs, or projections, b, upon
which the generating or admixing chamber rests and which serves the double purpose
of keeping the bottom of said chamber a little above the upper surface of said float,
to permit the free flow of oil between the two and of preventing lateral movement of
the generating chamber on the float and their consequent dislodgement from their
"proper position.
.
By means of the extension, f, formed on the under side of the floating generating
chamber, F, and extending downward through the central opening in the float, G, we
are enabled to bring the perforated bottom of said extension, f, in contact with the
bottom of the main chamber or vessel, A, and thus absorb into said extension, and
from it by capillary attraction up into the main generating chamber, F, the oil that
would otherwise not be used owing to the distance between the bottom of the float, 'G,
and the under side of the chamber, F.

page_text: We have also found that a considerable portion, if not all of the residuum which
settles upon the bottom of the vessel A, is sucked up into the extension, f, and thus
saves the enriching properties remaining in said residuum and the labor of its removal
through the central tube, E.
The segmental floats are shown to be four in number, but it is obvious that any
other suitable number may be employed and they are secured to the sides of the
generating chamber, F by means of adjusting screws, d, passing through lugs, e,
and, el, secured upon the generating chamber and floats respectively as shown; so
that the floats are adjustable with relation to the generating chamber and the latter
may be raised, or lowered to extend the desired distance into the oil according to the
gravity of the same. The adjusting screw may be fixed as to its longitudinal
movement in either of the lugs, so that the turning of the screw will move one with
relation to the other.
The outlet of the generating chamber is connected by means of a flexible, or jointed
tube, or pipe, H, with a short tube, H', passing through the walls constituting the
main chamber. The air or gas inlet to the main vessel, consists of the perforated
tube, L, made of three tolescoping sections, 1, 2, and, 3, one of the shorter sections, 1,
is fitted permanently in, and passing through the wall at one side of the main
chamber, and the other shorter section, which is movable upon the intermediate
section, 3, projects into a socket or rest in the opposite side of the wall. By this
arrangement, the short section, 2, may be slid upon the intermediate section, 3, and
then said section removed from the end of section, 1, which will enable it to be
removed for repair, cleaning, or, for operations upon the other interior parts.
In the use of my apparatus, the oil is fed through the central tube, E, until the
required amount is supplied by capillary attraction. This will thoroughly saturate
the absorbent packing in the walls of the main vessel, and in the generating chamber.
The pipe, 1, is then connected with a suitable source of supply of air or gas, which
enters the upper open space above the oil, and is there partially admixed or enriched
by the vapor from the walls and the surface of the oil itself; it then descends to the
surface of the oil and finds its way through the spaces between the segmental floats
and the generating chamber, enters said chamber at the inlet at one side of the solid
partition, passing entirely around and through the same in the circuitous path to the
exit and into the flexible tube from whence it is led through the tube, H¹, to the point
of consumption.
The flexible tube may have an internal coiled wire distending tube to prevent it from
accidentally bending at any point, and thus prevent the passing of the gas.
In figures, 3, and, 4, we have shown a modified form of construction there being in .
addition to the absorbent packed-perforated wall a perforated cylinder in the centre
of the vessel which is packed with absorbent, and through the centre of which the
oil supply pipe passes, and around which the floating generating or admixing chamber
is arranged in the form of a ring, so that the central cylinder acts as a guide for the
movement of said generating or admixing chamber. It is obvious that this and other
changes may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention.
An apparatus constructed as above described, will be found specially adapted, for
domestic and commercial use. When desired, the residuum may be removed from the
main vessel by connecting a suitable hose and exhaust pump with the upper end of the
feed tube, E.
The purpose of enclosing the carburetting chamber in a wall of non conducting
material is to render it, in connection with the top water seal perfectly secure against
fire; to increase the capillary attraction of the oil upward through the absorbent in
the wall compartment, by maintaining the temperature within said compartment
uniform with that in the chamber of the vessel, and thereby render the absorption of
the oil by the absorbent uniform; while at the same time maintaining a uniform tem-
perature within the entire closure, and increasing the evaporating surface.
The introduction of the air or gas into the case walls at the top causes it to pass
down through the absorbent and around the inner perforated cylinder and out through

page_text: its perforations into the chamber giving a large evaporative surface in addition to the
air or gas entering the chamber direct at the top.
The water seal for the opening at the top of the case, is made removable by melting
the solder joint, and it will be seen in fig. 1, of the drawings that the centre plate, s,
contains said opening and that the soldered joint is in this plate where its edges, v, are
seen as lapping over and upon the edges of the centre opening in the top plate of the
vessel through which centre opening access to the interior of the vessel is effected.
The seal itself is shown as being formed by the vertical ring band, j, rising from the
top of the vessel around its top opening and enclosing the tubes, i, and, 1, and the
upper end of the centre tube, E, which passes through the soldered plate, s, and like
the tubes, i, and, I¹, are closed by water tight caps. This enclosed space has a float
cover, E2, provided with a vent, es, which permits the escape of the air which may be
within the sealing space when filled with liquid.
This construction prevents the admission of air or the escape of gas from the
vessel.
A locked cover, F2, is provided for the seal.
Our improvements are directed to a construction by which the vessel is perfectly
protected from danger of explosion; by which the supply pipe is caused to supply
directly, both the vapor generating chamber and the wall absorbent; by which the oil
supply, the air or gas supplying tubes and the mixing floating chamber, are all made
removable for cleaning; and by which the floating mixing chamber is caused to
maintain a central relation to the oil supply pipe and thereby kept at all times free of
the inner perforated walls of the vessel; and, so far as we know and can find the
advantages incident to our improvements are not obtainable in any similar apparatus
hitherto proposed and in use.
The absorbent material we use is asbestos fibre and a woody fibre called excelsior
and we find that the latter material serves to keep the asbestos in loose condition, to
prevent its settling down and packing, and by their incorporation in about equal pro-
portions forms a fine lace like or stringy body which carries the fluid upward rapidly
under capillary attraction, and greatly increases the evaporating surface.
The asbestos, unlike wood or cotton adheres to the excelsior fibre and is held in free
suspension by it so that the asbestos cannot pack and become too dense for air or gas
to pass through it as would be the case if used alone or with cotton or wool.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is:-
1. The combination with a carburetting vessel and the central supply tube, E, for
the volatile liquid, seated upon a fixed bottom skeleton step or foot, with the chamber
surrounding said tube provided with absorbent material and having the perforated
bottom centre ring extension and the float, as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a carburetting vessel, the perforated inlet pipe consisting of the sections,
1, 2, and, 3, the sectional, being fixed in and passing through the walls of the main
vessel at one side and the sections, 2, and, 3, movable upon each other, the sections, 2,
projecting into a socket or rest at the opposite side of the wall, substantially as
described.
3. In combination, the central supply tube, E, for the volatile liquid seated upon a
bottom skeleton step or foot, a supply pipe for air or gas, having telescoping sections,
a top water seal having an enclosed solder connection with the top plate of the
vessel and a floating mixing chamber the said pipes, mixing chamber, float and seal,
being constructed and adapted for removal from the casing of the apparatus, as described
for the purpose specified.
4. The combination of a gas or air enriching vessel having its walls formed of an
outer double casing containing a heat non-conducting filling, an inner perforated
cylinder and an absorbent material placed between the non-conducting and the per-
forated walls, with a tube supplying hydrocarbon to the chamber of said vessel and a
horizontal perforated pipe extending through said chamber and into the absorbent

page_text: containing compartments, whereby air or gas is introduced into said chamber at its top
and into the surrounding absorbent filled compartment, through the vertical walls of
which, it passes into said chamber, substantially as described.
5. In a gas or air enriching apparatus, substantially as described, the combination
of the vapor generating chamber F, having the extension, f, formed upon its bottom
and the float, G, having a central opening to admit of the passage through it of the
said extension whereby its perforated bottom may be brought in contact with the
bottom of the main chamber, A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. The combination with a carburetting vessel, of an absorbent material composed
of fibrous asbestos and a woody fibre called excelsior mixed together, as described to
form an evaporating body within said vessel, as described.