IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS PURIFYING AND REGULATING APPARATUS
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd May 1873.-A communication from abroad by Edward
Kavanagh, of Peabody, Massachusetts, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS PURIFYING AND
REGULATING APPARATUS," a communication, to be as follows:-
The main object of this Invention is to relieve gases, more particularly
the ordinary illuminating hydrogen gas, of their impurities and their
vaporized watery and other liquid elements, thereby increasing the
illuminating power and giving a greater brilliancy and clearness as well
as steadiness and evenness to the flame, and obviating all "flickering."
This object is secured according to this Invention by the use of an
absorbent material, as for instance sponge prepared with glycerine,
closely confined or packed within a chamber or vessel suitably con-
structed for the gas to enter and escape from the same, and in its passage
to pass through the said absorbent material; the latter absorbs the

page_text: vaporized watery elements of the gas and otherwise relieves it of those
impurities or elements which, if not removed, detract from and impair
the brilliancy and clearness of the light. The passage of the gas
through an absorbent material as above stated also serves to regulate its
pressure and to impart steadiness to the flame, and by the said Invention
this effect is increased by combining with the above a chamber to receive
the gas after its passage through the absorbent material.
In practising this Invention I use a vessel or chamber made in two
parts, and each of a similar conical shape. These two parts are joined
and held together at their bases by holding rings bolted together, and
the joint is suitably packed. The two parts form one continuous chamber,
which has at the apex of each conical part an opening suitably con-
structed for attachment to a gas supply pipe.
Within the lower part of the said chamber is fixed a supplementary
chamber also conical in shape, with its apex toward the apex, and its
base at the base of the said part, a space is left entirely around the said
supplementary chamber between it and the interior periphery of the
conical part of the main chamber. The base and side of this conical
supplementary chamber are similarly perforated, and the interior of the
chamber is tightly and closely packed with the absorbent material.
I place a cap at the apex of the supplementary chamber. This
cap is adapted to be attached and removed at pleasure, so that the said
chamber may be readily packed and unpacked.
The aforesaid apparatus is applied to the supply gas pipe, so that the
gas will enter the lower part, and passing through its chamber of
absorbent material will escape into the upper part, and thence will pass
to the burners.
The form of the chambers may be varied at pleasure, and if desired,
the pressure regulating chamber may be dispensed with, but the con-
struction above described is found to be most efficient for ensuring the
passage of the gas through the sponge. It is best to tightly pack it,
and where it comes in contact with the sides of its confining chamber to
secure it thereto by glue or other adhesive material.