IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING GAS FROM OILY AND FATTY SUBSTANCES, AND IN COOLERS AND HOLDERS OR GASOMETERS
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Benjamin Joseph Spedding at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st January 1860.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH SPEDDING, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING GAS FROM OILY AND FATTY SUBSTANCES,
AND IN COOLERS AND HOLDERS OR GASOMETERS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in apparatus for manufacturing gas for illuminating and
heating purposes relate to the parts known as the retort, the pipes or tubes for
the same, the coolers or condenser, and the holder. The retort is made of any
convenient shape, the circular form being preferred with the open part or
mouth upwards, the edges of which form a trough or groove to receive a lid
herein-after described, and has on the outside two flanges forming a flue; or
one flange may be cast thereon, and the flue formed by another casting of the
same shape as the retort but larger, so as to leave a passage for draught, the
passage being widest at the side opposite the chimney. The retort and flue
afore described are either built in brickwork or placed in an iron portable
frame. The lid above referred to has inverted flanges to fit into the groove or
trough formed round the mouth of the retort, in which groove for stationary
purposes is placed lead or other metal, liquified at a low temperature, to allow
the lid to be moved; attached inside of the lid, passing downwards into the
retort are chains, rods, worms, or other contrivance, which rub against the
inside of the retort, or against each other, and prevent the deposit of car-

page_text: bonaceous matter, the great difficulty hitherto in making gas from oleaginous
substances. In apparatus for steam and other ships the lid is firmly fixed in
the groove or trough, and luted air and gas tight, and the chains, rods, worms,
or other contrivance within the retort, as before described, are attached to a
rod working in a pipe passing through the lid, the top edge of the pipe or
tube forming a trough or groove similar to that round the mouth of the retort,
the rod having flanges at its upper end to fit into the same, the trough or
groove being filled with water, oil, or other. fluid to make an air-tight joint.
The oil or other fatty substance is admitted through the lid by regulating taps
and syphons or otherwise, and on the lid is a safety valve to allow the gas to
escape when the holder is full. The outlet pipes or tubes may be arranged in
various ways, say by the outlet being in the side of the retort, or by a pipe
leading through the bottom, but all have traps or doors, with chains, rods, or
screws working from the outside, for cleaning or preventing deposit, in the
same manner as in the retort. The cooler or condenser consists of a vessel of
convenient shape, partially filled with water, which may be kept cool by an
arrangement of taps admitting and withdrawing a constant stream of cold water;
the gas enters at the top, and is made to travel over a considerable surface by
the lid having a series of projections downwards into the water.
The holders (suitable for holding gas of any kind) are, 1st, that adapted for
stationary purposes, made of suitable material in the form of a quadrant, with
one of the sides open, placed in a well or tank supported by hinges, and
balanced by weights. The gas is admitted at the highest part by a flexible or
jointed tube, which may serve as inlet and outlet by having a stop-cock
between it and the condenser; and, 2nd, the holder suitable for steam and
_other_boats (but also applicable for other moveable and stationary purposes),
_and_which consists of a vessel of any shape provided with a tap at the top and
bottom for the admission and egress of water. This holder is alternately filled
with water and gas; suppose it filled with the former, and the space required
for the latter, by opening the cock in the bottom a vacuum will be created for
the gas; to withdraw the gas, it would only be necessary to admit water to
displace the gas, the quantity admitted would regulate the pressure. In steam
vessels the waste water might be pumped into the boilers.