IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATING AND OTHER USES FROM HYDROCARBONS, WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO ADAPTED TO BE USED FOR CULINARY AND OTHER HEATING PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: in the said County, Gas Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATING
AND OTHER USES FROM HYDROCARBONS, WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO ADAPTED
TO BE USED FOR CULINARY AND OTHER HEATING PURPOSES."
Sealed the 17th December 1867, and dated the 25th June 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adam Aitchison and
Thomas South at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 25th June 1867.
We, ADAM AITCHISON, of No. 6, Park Terrace, Peckham, in the County of
Surrey, and THOMAS SOUTH, of Bridge Street, Southwark, in the said County,
Gas Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GAS FOR ILLU-
MINATING AND OTHER USES FROM HYDROCARBONS, WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO
ADAPTED TO BE USED FOR CULINARY AND OTHER HEATING PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
The improvements relate to apparatus by which hydrocarbons may be con-
verted into gas for illuminating and other uses, and which may also be utilized

page_text: for culinary or other heating purposes. The hydrocarbon is conducted by a
suitable pipe from a reservoir into a retort formed by preference of cast iron;
this retort is provided with a lump or lumps of fire-clay or other substance
adapted to receive sufficient heat, and when so heated to convert hydrocarbon
falling thereon into gas. The opening in this retort from the pipe conducting
the bydrocarbon from the reservoir of it is placed so that such matter may
drop or flow over on to the lump or lumps of fire-clay or other matter. A
spherical we find to be a suitable form for the lumps of matter on which the
hydrocarbon is to drop or flow. The vapor or gas thus generated rising in
the retort passes through numerous perforations or openings in a surface of fire-
clay or other suitable matter applied so as to become highly heated and form
a partition towards the upper part of the retort by the heat thereof to further
heat the vapour or gas obtained, and which thence passes into the upper part
of the retort, and is conveyed away to a purifying and storing apparatus for
use.
The form of the retort may be varied, and in place of the second heating
of the gas being by passing through perforations in a heated partition in the
upper part of the retort the partition may be otherwise placed, and the second
heating of the vapour or gas may be obtained by conducting it through a separate
heating chamber.
A convenient method of heating the retort or generating means is by
supporting it in a close stove or fire-place lined with fire-clay and with
the fuel surrounding the retort, or a casing of wrought iron or fire-clay
surrounding the retort. This stove is provided with fire-bars to support the
fuel, and with a close ash-pit with a regulator; there is also a regulator for
the admission of air in regulated quantities to act upon the fuel and products
of combustion in the stove. The fuel is fed by one or more openings with
covers, which openings may also be used to receive kettles, saucepans, stew-
pans, or other vessels for culinary or other heating purposes. The stove may
also be formed with parts to remove or open, so that a part may be used as an
open grate for cooking or other purposes. The smoke and products of com-
bustion may be conveyed away by a suitable pipe.
In place of only one two or more retorts or gas generating chambers may
be used.
The movement of the gasometer used for storing the gas generated acts by
levers or connections on the valve for regulating the supply of the hydrocarbon
to be converted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Adam Aitchison and Thomas South in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th December 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ADAM
AITCHISON, of No. 6, Park Terrace, Peckham, in the County of Surrey, and
THOMAS SOUTH, of Bridge Street, Southwark, in the said County, Gas
Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said. Adam Aitchison and Thomas South, Her special licence that we, the said
Adam Aitchison and Thomas South, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Adam Aitchison and Thomas South,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR
APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATING AND OTHER USES FROM
HYDROCARBONS, WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO ADAPTED TO BE USED FOR CULINARY
AND OTHER HEATING PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said Adam Aitchison and Thomas South, our executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals.
or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, should particularly
déscribe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas South, on behalf of myself
and the said Adam Aitchison, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to
say
The improvements relate to apparatus by which hydrocarbons may be
converted into gas for illuminating and other uses, and which may also be
utilized for culinary or other heating purposes. The hydrocarbon is conducted
by a suitable pipe from a reservoir into a retort formed by preference of cast

page_text: iron; this retort is provided with a lump or lumps of fire-clay or other
substance adapted to receive sufficient heat, and when so heated to convert
hydrocarbon falling thereon into gas. The opening in this retort from the
pipe conducting the bydrocarbon from the reservoir of it is placed so that such
matter may drop or flow over on to the lump or lumps of fire-clay or other
matter; a spherical or domed form we find to be a suitable form for the lumps
of matter on which the hydrocarbon is to drop or flow. The vapour or gas
thus generated rising in the retort passes through numerous perforations or
openings in a surface of fire-clay or other suitable matter applied so as to
become highly heated and form surfaces towards the upper part of the retort
by the beat thereof to further heat the vapour or gas obtained, and which
thence passes into the upper part of the retort, and is conveyed away to a
purifying and storing apparatus for use.
A convenient method of heating the retort or generating means is by
supporting it in a close stove or fire-place lined with fire-clay and with the
fuel surrounding the retort or a casing of wrought iron or fire-clay surrounding
the retort; this stove is provided with fire-bars to support the fuel, and with a
close ash-pit with a regulator; there is also a regulator for the admission
of air in regulated quantities to act upon the fuel and products of combustion
in the stove. The fuel is fed by one or more openings with covers, which open-
ings may also be used to receive kettles, saucepans, stewpans, or other vessels for
culinary or other heating purposes. In place of only one two or more retorts
or gas generating chambers may be used. The movement of the gasometer
used for storing the gas generated acts by lever or other suitable connection
on the valve for regulating the supply of the hydrocarbon to be converted.
But that the Invention may be fully understood we will, by the aid of
the accompanying Drawings, proceed to describe means pursued by us in
carrying the same into effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows an external elevation of apparatus arranged according to
our Invention, Figure 2 shows a section of parts thereof; and Figure 3 a plan
of a furnace employed therein. In each of the views the same letters indicate
corresponding parts wherever they occur.
a shows a vessel which may be used as a reservoir to contain the hydrocarbon
liquid to be converted into gas, such liquid being conducted by the pipe b
from the reservoir a to the retort c, which is by preference formed of cast iron,
with a cover c¹ capable of being securely held thereon when luted at the joint
thereof with the part c by means of the cross bar c² and screw c³, as is well

page_text: understood. In the lower part of the retort c there is a lump of fire-brick or
fire-clay d with a hole through it, through which passes the end of the pipe b,
as shown, to admit of the hydrocarbon liquid flowing or dropping on to the
surface of the fire-clay d, and by the heat imparted to such clay of being
converted into vapour or gas. In place of only one lump & several lumps may
be employed of a spherical or other form, so long as they are arranged to
prevent the liquid coming in contact with the iron of the retort before it is
converted into gas. The vapour or gas generated by heat imparted to the
block or blocks in the lower part of the retort c rises in the retort through
perforations in a plate e, and thence through perforations in fire-clay contained
in the upper part of the retort or through the spaces or interstices between
blocks or lumps of fire-clay or such like material contained in the upper part
of the retort c; the heat of these lumps further heats the vapour or gas as it
passes through or between them. The gas generated passes away from the.
retort by the pipe f to purifying apparatus g, and thence by the pipe h to
the gas holder or other suitable storing apparatus i for use.
The form of the retort may be varied, and in place of the second heating of
the gas being by passing through perforations in a heated partition in the
upper part of the retort the partition may be otherwise placed, and the second
henting of the vapour or gas may be obtained by conducting it through a separate
heating chamber. The gas retorts as shown is supported in the close stove j,
which has a lining of fire-clay ¹ and a casing j surrounding the retort, the
fuel being supported on bars, and it is fed through openings capable of
being closed by lids luted with sand or other material, whilst the bars may be
cleared by the doorway j. The ash-pit is closed by a doorway j" and there
are ventilators and to regulate the admission of air above and below the
fire-bars ; the stove may also be formed with parts to remove or open so
that a part thereof may be used as an open grate for cooking or other purposes.
The smoke and products of combustion are conveyed away by a pipe 1; m is a
cock or tap in the pipe b with a lever handle n which is acted upon with a
tendency to close the passage of the pipe b as the gas holder rises from the
excess of gas produced over that consumed; on the descent of the gas holder
the weight of the lever n causes it to descend and again open the tap m;
o is a tap to regulate the supply of hydrocarbon to the retort c.
Having thus described our Invention, and means which we adopt in
carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise details shown and described, as these may be
varied; but what we do claim is, the adaptation or combination of means or

page_text: apparatus for the production of gas for illuminating and other uses from
hydrocarbons, substantially as shown and described.
And, secondly, we claim the adaptation of such apparatus to culinary and
other heating purposes, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas South, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
THOMAS SOUTH. (L.S.)