Process and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Illuminating Gas.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1890
Complete Specification Left 28th Feb.. 1891-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Process and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Illuminating Gas.
1. SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Erazm Joseph Jerzmanowski, of City, County, and
State of New York, United States of America,) do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to a process and apparatus for the manufacture of
illuminating gas, by which in one operation large quantities of such gas can be
regularly and economically produced in one apparatus. By it I produce by the
action of lime on steam and hydrocarbon, by preference liquid, an illuminating gas
in one combined retort and in one combined operation. I charge the combined
generating and fixing retort with a body of lime, by preference charging it with
limestone and then burning it to quicklime, and then utilize this lime for breaking
up the steam and liquid hydrocarbon into illuminating gas and small percentages
of carbonic acid and carbonic oxide and sufficient illuminant is used to make an
illuminating gas which is fixed in other branches of the retort.
By this arrange-
ment I save the, necessity of separate fixing retorts and combine practically one
generating retort with three fixing retorts, thereby accomplishing the full work
of each.
11
My-invention will be readily understood from the accompanying drawings, in
which
Figure 1 represents a vertical elevation of the front of my apparatus ;
Figure 2 a cross section through Figure 5 on the line y-y.
and
Figure 3 a vertical section through the improved hydraulic main.
Figure 4 a section through Figure 1 on the line --;
Figure 5 a section through Figure 2 on the line z―z.
My apparatus is generally enclosed in a suitable casing a, and as shown is
duplicated, two apparatus being contained in the same casing. It consists of two
combined retorts having a horizontal portion B and vertical portions C, C, C,
properly supported in said casing; the cylindrical portions C, C, C, may be made
separate and fitted to the horizontal portion as shown in Figure 2.
may be made of any suitable material but I prefer fire-clay.
These retorts
The oil
These retorts are by preference filled with cominon limestone, which need not be
of the purest variety, but preferably may contain some clay. In the bottom of
the horizontal retorts B, I arrange pipes K by means of which steam and hydro-
carbon is injected into the bottom of the retorts. The retorts are heated by a
furnace D, the heat of which passes up centrally into the space between the
vertical series of retorts, as shown in Figure 5, then horizontally and descends in
the exterior chambers F, thence passing by openings into the longitudinal
chambers G and thence escaping through the chimneys H. Within the chamber G
the superheating pipe mis arranged. The steam and oil are supplied to the bottom
of the retorts by pipes a d, a carrying the oil supply and d the steam.
may be injected directly into the pipe k, through the injector g without super-
heating the oil. By turning a suitable stop-cock shown the oil may pass down the
pipe through the pipe & through the superheating pipe m in the chamber C, thence
through the pipe to the injectory and then be carried in by the steam entering
through pipe e as before. The upper ends of the retort C communicate with three
pipes L, L, L, passing to the hydraulic main M through the automatic pressure
regulators. These consist of adjustable pipes N dipping into the usual water seal,
the lower ends of these pipes N are extended into a sleeve S, which can be vertically
adjusted by a rod 0, which can be adjusted by screw P turning in the supporting
frame and may be set by a set screw R

page_text: The sleeve S is supported from the stem ○ by a suitable spider frame as
shown. The stem O passes through the inner tube J. The gas communicates with
the interior of the pipe N- as shown, and in order that each of the vertical retorts
shall do an equal amount of work, the water pressure can be exactly regulated so
as to make a uniformn and proper flow from each. The lower the sleeve S the
greater the pressure and therefore the less the product from that particular branch
of the vertical retort.
The process can now be readily understood. A suitable fire being kindled in the
furnace D, the retorts are heated, thereby burning the limestone to caustic lime,
thereafter the steam and oil or liquid hydrocarbon, by preference naphtha, being
admitted to the pipe K provided with perforations on its underside the said steam
and oil are converted principally into illuminating gas with a small percentage of
carbonic acid and carbonic oxide, sufficient illuminant being present to make an
illuminating gas of the quality desired. The conversion occurs in the lower
retort B and the vertical retorts C serve to finally fix the illuminant which leaves
the apparatus in one operation a fixed illuminating gas.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1890.
SYDNEY PITT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Process and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Illuminating Gas.
I, SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Erazm Joseph Jerzmanowski, of City, County, and
State of New York, United States of America), 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 :—
The invention relates to a process and to apparatus for the manufacture of
illuminating gas, by which in one operation large quantities of such gas can be
regularly and economically produced in one apparatus. By it I produce by the
action of lime on steam and hydrocarbon, by preference liquid, an illuminating gas
in one combined retort and in one combined operation. I charge the combined
generating and fixing retort with a body of lime, by preference charging it with
limestone and then burning it to quicklime, and then utilize this lime for breaking
up the steam and liquid hydrocarbon into illuminating gas and small percentages
of carbonic acid and carbonic oxide and sufficient illuminant is used to make an
illuminating gas which is fixed in other branches of the retort. By this arrange-
ment I save the necessity of separate fixing retorts and combine practically one
generating retort with three fixing retorts, thereby accomplishing the full work
of each.
My invention will be readily understood from the drawings left with the
Provisional Specification in which
Figure 1 represents a vertical clevation of the front of my apparatus ;
Figure 2 a cross section through Figure 5 on the line y y
Figure 3 a vertical section through the improved hydraulic main.
Figure 4a section through Figure 1 on the line a ; and
Figure 5 a section through Figure 2 on the line zz.
My apparatus is generally enclosed in a suitable casing A, and as shown is
duplicated, two apparatus being contained in the same casing. It consists of two
combined retorts having each a horizontal portion B and vertical portions C, C, C,
properly supported in the said casing; the vertical portions C, C, C, may be made
separate and fitted to the horizontal portion as shown in Figure 2. These retorts
may be made of any suitable material but I prefer fire-clay.
These retorts are by preference filled with common limestone, which need not be
of the purest variety, but preferably may contain some clay. In the bottom of the
horizontal retorts B, I arrange pipes K by means of which steam and hydrocarbon

page_text: k
are injected into the horizontal parts of the retorts. The retorts are heated by a
furnace D, the heat of which passes up centrally into the space between the series
of vertical retorts, as shown in Figure 5, then horizontally and descends in the
exterior chambers F, thence passing by openings Z, into the longitudinal chambers G
and thence escaping through the chimneys H. Within the chamber G a super-
heating pipe m is arranged. The steam and oil are supplied to the bottom of the
retorts by pipes a d, a carrying the oil supply and d the steam. The oil may be
injected directly into the pipe K through the injector g without superheating the
oil. By turning a suitable stop-cock shown the oil may pass down the pipe b
through the pipe & through the superheating pipe m in the chamber G, thence
through the pipe to the injectorg and then be carried in by the steam entering through
pipe e as before. The upper ends of the vertical retorts C communicate with three
pipes L, L, L², passing to the hydraulic main M through the automatic pressure
regulators. These consist of adjustable pipes N dipping into the usual water seal,
the lower ends of these pipes N are extended into a sleeve S which can be
vertically adjusted by a rod O, which can be adjusted by screw P turning in the
supporting frame and may be set by a set screw R. The sleeve S is supported from
the stem by a suitable spider frame as shewn. The stem O passes through the
inner tube J. The gas communicates with the interior of the pipe N as shown,
and in order that each of the vertical retorts shall do an equal amount of work,
the water pressure can be exactly regulated so as to make a uniform and proper
flow from cach. The lower the sleeve S the greater the pressure and therefore
the less the product from that particular branch of the vertical retort.
The process can now be readily understood. A. suitable fire being kindled in the
furnace D, the retorts are heated, thereby burning the limestone to caustic lime,
thereafter the steam and oil or liquid hydrocarbon, by preference naphtha, being
admitted to the pipe K provided with perforations on its underside the said steam
and oil are converted principally into illuminating gas with a small percentage of
carbonic acid and carbonic oxide, sufficient illuminant being present to make an
illuminating gas of the quality desired. The gas is tested at frequent intervals and
the admission of oil or hydrocarbon is regulated accordingly. The conversion
occurs in the lower retort B and the vertical retorts C serve to finally fix the
illuminant which leaves the apparatus in one operation a fixed illuminating gas.
my
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The gas generator herein described which consists of a chamber charged with
lime and formed of a horizontal retort supporting two or more vertical retorts:
an injection pipe for the introduction of steam and hydrocarbon beneath the lime
in combination with an external furnace or other suitable contrivance for con-
tinuously heating the same substantially as described.
2. In combination with the gas generator herein described the pressure regulator
consisting of the adjustable pipes N and the hydraulic main M.
3. In combination with the gas generator herein described the superheating
pipe m and the mechanism which admits of the oil being passed through this pipe
before it enters the lime chamber.
4. The process of producing illuminating gas which consists in burning limestone
in a suitable chamber to produce lime and then injecting amongst the lime, steam
and such a surplus of liquid hydrocarbon as will primarily produce hydrogen
and carbonic acid and then carburet the same and convert it into a permanent
illuminating gas in one operation substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of February 1891.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.