IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OR IMPREGNATING ATMOSPHERIC AIR WITH THE VAPOUR OF HYDROCARBON LIQUIDS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Weightman Harrison, of High Holborn,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OR IMPREGNATING ATMOSPHERIC
AIR WITH THE VAPOUR OF HYDROCARBON LIQUIDS,"
Scaled the 5th September 1878, and dated the 8th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Weightman
Harrison at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 8th March 1873.
I, CHARLES WEIGHTMAN HARRISON, of High Holborn, in the County.
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OR IMPREGNATING
ATMOSPHERIC AIR WITH THE VAPOUR OF HYDROCARBON LIQUIDS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for charging or
impregnating atmospheric air with the vapour of hydrocarbon liquids for
the purpose of producing inflammablo gas or vapour adapted for lighting.
and heating purposes. -

page_text: According to this Invention I construct a helical coil of tubing made
of metal or other suitable material, but by preference of copper, and so
that the whole length of the tube thus coiled will be in the same hori-
zontal plane. This tubing is charged with any suitable hydrocarbon
liquid to about the height of its horizontal diameter, the given level of 5
the liquid being always maintained by a ball cock acting in connection
with a reservoir containing the supply of hydrocarbon liquid. Thus
there will be a space between the surface of the hydrocarbon liquid and
the upper part of the tube throughout its entire length, and through this
space the air to be charged with the vapour of the liquid is conveyed. 1
It is forced in at one end of the tube by means of any suitable and well-
known air blowing or forcing apparatus, and after passing through the
whole length of the tube (wherein it will become charged with the
vapour of the liquid contained therein) is led away from the other end
as inflammable gas or vapour.
]
In coiling the tube I prefer that the several coils shall not touch ono
another in order that they may be wholly surrounded by the atmosphere,
as when no artificial means are employed for supplying the heat absorbed
by the vaporization of the liquid this heat has to be drawn from the
surrounding atmosphere, which should therefore be present on the whole 2
outer surface of the tube. It is for the above reason also that I prefer
to make the coil of copper, it being a good conductor of heat, and
therefore well adapted to convey it from the surrounding atmosphere to
the liquid contained within, and thus maintain an equilibrium of tem-
perature between the liquid and the sourrounding atmosphere.
When desired any suitable and well-known apparatus may be em-
ployed for supplying by artificial means the heat absorbed in the
vaporization of the liquid. A convenient method of accomplishing this
is by resting the said coil on steam or hot air or water pipes, which may
bo warmed or heated to any required extent.
2
3
The above apparatus may be modified in various ways without
departing from the principle of the Invention. For example, instead
of coiling the tube, a succession of lengths placed side by side may be
employed, communicating with one another cither by bends at their
ends or by the ends of all the lengths taking into continuous chambers g
placed one on each side of them, thus maintaining the communication,
"

page_text: tho required level of the hydrocarbon liquid being ensured in the samo
manner as above described.
I sometimes vary this method of charging atmospheric air with the
vapour of hydrocarbon liquids as follows:-From a reservoir of hydro-
carbon liquid placed at any suitable height I allow the liquid to run
slowly down a coil of tubing, so coiled that the incline will be very
gradual, and the liquid will therefore run slowly, the quantity of liquid
allowed to flow down being regulated by a cock or otherwise. Near the
reservoir air by any suitable means is introduced into the said coil
through a branch tube, and follows the hydrocarbon liquid as it desconds
the pipe, thereby vaporizing the liquid, and taking up or becoming
impregnated with its vapour. Any portion of the liquid which is not
thus vaporized in its descent is caught in a vossol below to be returned
to the reservoir above as and when convenient, whilst the charged air is
led away in another direction as inflammable gas or vapour to whero
required for usc.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Lotters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Weightman Harrison in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 8th September 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
WEIGHTMAN HARRISON, of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-sixth-
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Ier heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Charles Weightman Harrison, Her special licensą
that I, the said Charles Weightmah Harrison, my executors, adminis
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Weightman
Harrison, my 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, usc,.
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and.
Ireland, the Channel, Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for,

page_text: conveniently accomplished by a ball cock B, acting in connection with
any suitable reservoir for the supply of the hydrocarbon liquid. The
coil being thus charged there will be a space O between the horizontal
surface of the liquid and tho upper arched surface of the tube throughout
its entire length, and through this space the air to be charged with tho
vapour of the liquid is conveyed. It is forced in at one end of the coil
through a small branch pipe D, by means of any suitable and well-known
air blowing or forcing apparatus, and during its passage through the
whole length of the coil vaporizes and takes up or becomes impregnated
with the vapour of the liquid contained therein, and is led away from
the other end of the coil through a suitable pipe E as inflammable gas
or vapour.
In coiling the tubo I prefer that the several coils shall not touch one
another in order that they may be wholly surrounded by the atmosphero,
as when no artificial means are employed for supplying the heat carried
off by the vaporization of the liquid this heat has to be drawn from tho
surrounding atmosphere, which should therefore be present on the wholo
exterior surface of the tube. It is for the above reason also that I profer
to make the coil of copper, it being a good conductor of heat, and
thereforo well adapted to convey it from the surrounding atmosphere to
the liquid contained within the coil, and thus maintain an equilibrium of
temperaturo between the said liquid and the surrounding atmosphere.
When desired, however, any suitable apparatus may be employed for
supplying by artificial means the heat carried off by the vaporization of
the liquid. A convenient method of accomplishing this is by resting
tho said coil on steam or hot air or water pipes, which may be warmed
or heated to any required degree. In the accompanying Drawings the
ball cock B is shewn enclosed in a receptacle F, and the coil A is shewn
resting on a suitable stand G, a glass II is provided at any suitable part
of the coil, so that the height of the liquid may be observed, and thus
the action of the ball cock be checked.
The above apparatus may be modified in various ways without departing
from the principle of my Invention. For example, instead of coiling the
tube, a succession of lengths placed side by side may be employed communi-
cating with one another either by bends at their ends, as shewn in Figures
3 and 4, or by the ends of all the lengths taking into continuous chambers
placed one on each side of them, and thus maintaining the communica-

page_text: tion. This form of apparatus is shewn at Figures 5 and 6, where, in
order to cause the air passing through the combined lengths of tubes to
take a continuous course from one end of the extended passage to the
other partitions are placed between the ends of the tubes alternately, as
shewn in the Drawings. These tubes dip from the top of the side t
chambers into the liquid, and thus effectually guide the course of the air.
I sometimes vary the above method of charging atmospheric air
with the vapour of hydrocarbon liquid as follows:-From a reservoir I,
of hydrocarbon liquid placed at any suitable height I allow the liquid to
flow slowly down a coil of tubing J, so coiled that the incline will be 1
very gradual, and the liquid will therefore run slowly, the quantity
allowed to flow down being regulated by a cock K, or by other suitable
means. Near the reservoir air is introduced into the coil through a
small branch pipe L, by means of any suitable and well-known air
forcing or blowing apparatus. The air thus introduced follows the 1
hydrocarbon liquid and takes up or becomes impregnated with the
vapour thereof, and is led away from the lower end of the coil through
a suitable pipe M as inflammable gas or vapour. Any portion of the
hydrocarbon liquid which is not thus vaporized in its descent is caught
in a vessel N below to be returned to the reservoir above as and when 2
convenient.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to or may be
performed, I claim as my Invention to be secured by the herein-beforo
in part recited Letters Patent, the new or improved apparatus for 2
charging or impregnating atmospheric air with the vapour of hydro-
carbon liquids substantially as herein-before set forth and described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whercof, I, the said Charles Weightman Harrison, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of September, 3
in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-