AN IMPROVED METHOD OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING GAS TO BE APPLIED FOR LIGHTS AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1827

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
PINEUS, of Philadelphia, in the State of Pensylvania, in the United States of
North America, but now residing in the Quadrant Hotel, Regent Street, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Fifteenth day of August, in the eighth year of His said
Majesty's reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and' grant
unto me, the said Henry Pinkus, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
His special licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
Henry Pinkus, my exors, admors, and assigns, by myself and themselves, or such
other person as I orthey should appoint or agree with, and no others, from -
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term of years therein and
herein-after expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend
my Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING GAS TO
BE APPLIED FOR LIGHTS AND OTHER PURPOSES," within that part of His Majesty's
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, His Dominion of Wales,
and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His Majesty's Plantations
and Colonies abroad, in such manner as to me, the said Henry Pinkus, my

page_text: exors, admors, and assigns, or any of them, shall in my or their discretion seem
meet, and that 1, the said Henry Pinkus, my exors, adññors, and assigns,
should and lawfully might have and enjoy all the profits, benefits, and advan-
tages from time to time coming, growing, accruing, and arising by reason of
the said Invention, for and during the term of fourteen years, from the date of
the said Letters Patent next ensuing, and fully to be complete and ended
according to the form and effect of the Statute therein mentioned; in which
said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso, requiring me, the said Henry
Pinkus, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in His
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as by the said
Letters Patent, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I the said
Henry Pinkus, do by this Instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
and by the Drawings hereto annexed, and the references thereto, and the
explanations and descriptions therein and herein-after mentioned and contained,
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, as follows, (that is to say):-
:-
My Invention of An Improved Method or Apparatus for Generating Gas
to be applied for Lights and other Purposes consists in the application to a
common fire grate, kitchen range, or other ordinary fire place used for domestic
or other purposes, of a cylindrical retort, as shewn in Fig. 1, and Fig. II., and
Fig. 3; also of a retort of an oblong form, as shewn in Fig, 4, of iron or other
metal or material not too readily fusible; in all of which Figures the circum-
ference is a, a, a, in each Figure. The cylindrical retort is divided into two
or more compartments b, b, b, the partitions, of which compartments from
the inner side of the periphery of the retort terminate in a hollow axis c, of
a conical shape, of which the small end is placed in front. The back end of
that retort is conical terminating in a small circular projection d, intended for
its support or resting point. The compartments of the retort in Fig. I., Fig. 2,
and Fig. 3, with the partitions and hollow axis, all terminate upon an inverted
cup-shaped partition seen at e, e, in section, in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, which forms
an eliptical cavity f in Fig. 3, and is used as a reservoir. This inverted cup-
shaped partition is perforated with holes shewn at c, e, Fig. 3, forming a free
communication with the compartments and hollow axis through the whole

page_text: interior of the retort. A front view of this retort is shewn at Fig. 1, as applied
to an ordinary kitchen range, and is equally applicable to any other ordinary.
fireplace. The same is also shewn in cross section in Fig. 2, and in longitudinal
section in Fig. 3. The front edge of the periphery of the retort is turned.
smooth with a shoulder, and fitted into a cast-iron rim g, g, in which it
revolves by means of a nut with the assistance of a common winch. This-
plate is the support of the retort in front, and conceals the recess or furnace-
from view, and together with the projection d, Fig. 3, holds the retort in a
horizontal position. The front of the retort is provided with a circular
aperture for each of its compartments, having conical doors h, h, h, in Fig. 1,.
and Fig. 3, and Fig. 4, close fitted, and fastened by means of cross bars and
screws, or in any other convenient and ordinary manner, or common circular-
doors closely fitting the apertures, but applied with luting in the usual.
way may be adopted. The hollow axis of the retort is. terminated at the
lesser end in a small projection, by means of a short pipe k screwed in.
the front. To this projection a pipe 7, in Fig. I. and in Fig. 3, is attached:
by an air-tight conical joint for leading off the gas as it is evolved. The
hollow axis may be perforated with holes near the lesser end, communicating
with the divisions of the retort, so as to allow the tar as it is condensed
to fall into the compartments without first entering the eliptical cavity. In
order to prevent the small material in the retort from falling into the hollow.
axis a thin semi-cylindrical plate is attached to the conical joint, always
covering the upper holes in this hollow axis. At the lower side of the rim g,
in front of the retort is a ledge m, in Fig. 3, and on each of the perpendicular
sides are projections, having rabits or grooves in their edges, to admit of a
sliding panel n, Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, to fall down upon the ledge, in order to
conceal the whole front of the retort from view, and to protect it from the
immediate action of the fire. In the back part of the fireplace, and behind
the ordinary grate or kitchen range is to be formed a circular recess, which
I call a furnace, formed or lined with fire-bricks or other material fire-proof,
and of sufficient capacity to receive into it the retort, and leave a small clear
space all round between the retort and furnace, except at the lower side, where
it may be larger. Into this. furnace the retort must be placed, supported.
behind by its projection d, Fig. 3, and in front by the rim g. In the back.
plate of the grate must be formed an aperture o, from four to eight inches
wide, and from eight to twelve inches long, making a free communication.
between the fire grate and the furnace. The retort being placed in its position,
in the furnace is charged with coals (or any other material from which gas is,

page_text: to be generated) through the apertures communicating with the compartments,
which are then to be closed in Fig. I., II., III.; or at the door in Fig. IV.
The retort being thus charged, one of the compartments is placed at the lower
side of the furnace nearest to the fire, which is then made in the usual common
manner, when a part of the flame and heat will pass through the aperture o
into the furnace, and will act on the lower side of the retort and produce a red
heat, and then passing around the retort will escape through a small aperture.p
in Fig. 1, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, and Fig. 5, at the top of the furnace into the chimney.
When the compartment, or the part of the retort nearest the fire, attains a red
heat, gas will be evolved from the material within it. In Fig. 3 the gas will pass
through the perforations. in the cup-shaped partition to the cavity or reservoir,
thence through the hollow axis to the connecting pipe l, which will communi
cate with the refrigerator, which should be situated: higher than the retort, so
that the grosser parts evolved from the material in the retort when condensed
will fall into the pipe 7, and descend through the hollow axis and reservoir into
the lower compartment, and those parts coming in contact with the ignited
material, or with the red-hot sides of the retort, gas will be again partly
evolved and pass off as before. When any of the divisions 6 of the retort in
Fig. 3 has remained a sufficient time against the direct action of the fire to
decompose its contents, the retort is to be turned on its supports d, and rim g,
and one of the other compartments brought down to the position previously
occupied by that division, the contents of which have been so decomposed.
The same process is to be observed with all the divisions until the whole of
the material in the retort has been sufficiently decomposed. The object
I have in. view by this form of the retort is a separation of the coals or other
material to be decomposed into smaller quantities, and presenting successively
thinner layers to the action of heat, which will more readily penetrate, and
effect decomposition. Another form of a retort adapted to my improved
method. of generating gas is shewn in in Fig. 4. In this Figure, which is
represented with its front plate off, a, a, a, is an oblong retort rounded at its
ends; this retort is to be placed horizontally into an oblong furnace situated
similarly to that before described and made. in the same manner. Between
the back of the retort and furnace, as seen at 7, in section, Fig. 5, is a space
about one inch wide extending the whole length and half the height of the
retort. The retort is to be placed in its proper position in the furnace, and
may be supported by two bars of iron 7, 7, in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 placed under
it at the back and front of the furnace. At the bottom of and in contact with
the retort and nearest the fire, cross bars of iron s, s, s, in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5

page_text: are placed with their ends resting on the bars r, r,which are bent to. receive
them. These cross bars are intended to protect the bottom of the retort from
the intense action of the fire on that part of it, and when much burnt may
be withdrawn, and fresh ones substituted. On the upper side of the retort
Fig. 4 are dampers t, t, for regulating the draught, and 7 is a pipe for carrying
off the gas. In Fig. 1, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, and Fig. 5, is a pipe u, u, which
brings into the retort the condensed matter from the refrigerator. Fig. 5 is a
cross sectional view of Fig. 4, with an oblong retort in action. Fig. 6
represents a longitudinal section of a refrigerator v, v,, v,; immersed in a vessel,
of water w, w, for cooling and causing condensation in the gas. This refrige-
rator is connected with a tar vessel x, x, by the branch pipes y, y,;y, y, which
dip into the tar and deposit the condensed matter, and T is an additional
vessel or feeder communicating with the other tar vessel by a bent tube.
Fig. 7 is a cross section of the refrigerator and of, the tar vessel. The opera-
tion in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 is as follows:-This retort being charged with coal
or other material to be subjected to distillation, the door is then to be placed on
and fastened as before described by a cross bar. The fire in the grate is made
in the usual way, when a part of the heat will pass through the aperture o and
around the retort, and will impart to it a red heat at the bottom, top, ends,
and at the back. Gas will then be evolved from the material in the retort
and will rise through the conducting pipe 7 which dips into the tar vessel x, x,
in Fig. 6, whence it issues, and rising through the tar, enters the refrigerator
at v. The gas then passes through the pipes v, v, v, v, and tar falling is
received into the vessel x, x, through the pipes y,.y, y, whilst the gas passes
off at z, into a pipe leading to a gazometer. As the fluid rises in the tar
vessel (by deposits from the condenser or supply from, the feeder. T.), to the top
of the pipe u, u, in the tar vessel it will flow into .and descend through .the
pipe u, u, u, into the retort, where gas will be again evolved and pass off as
before. The pipe u is bended as shewn in Fig 6, so as to contain a column of
fluid greater than the dip pipe in the tar vessel. This will prevent the gas
during the action of the retort from rising through the tar pipe u, u.
I
I claim to be the original inventor of the combinations herein described,
which are made up by combining retorts for generating gas placed in furnaces
with the common fire grates or kitchen ranges and refrigerators, however
the retorts, grates, ranges, furnaces, or refrigerators may be varied in their
forms or construction; and I claim to be the original inventor of the
combination making up the retort specified and shewn in Fig. I., Fig. II.,
and Fig. III.; but I disclaim being the discoverer or inventor of the separate

page_text: parts thereof.
And I further disclaim being the inventor of any of the
particular things which it has been necessary for me to mention, not included
in the above claims made by me.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Pinkus, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight.
Inrolled the Fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight.