Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 26th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
A communication from abroad by Professor ELIHU THOMSON, of Swampscott,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Electrical Engineer.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE of 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of
London Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a supply of gas similar in some respects
to water gas, and for use in gas engines or for general heating purposes. The
invention is based on the same principles as have been employed in the production
of a fuel gas, namely, the passage of steam over very hot carbonaceous fuel. In
the invention, also, the combustion is kept up simultaneously by the passage of
air over a portion of the combustible. The chief advantage secured by this
invention is the complete utilization of the heat of combustion, and the production,
therefore, with the minimum expenditure of fuel for maintaining the heat in the
producer, of the richest quality of gas compatible with the simultaneous combustion
of the fuel.
In this invention a gas generator is employed in which the regenerative principle
of storing and returning heat is utilized. Briefly, the invention consists in confining
a body of fuel in a combustion chamber situated above a portion of the apparatus
in which is material capable of absorbing and giving up heat, accordingly as bot
or cold gases are passed therethrough; supplying air which is heated by the
passage through the regenerative material before reaching the combustion area,
and in causing the products of combustion, or the gas generated, to heat the
regenerative material in another portion of the apparatus, steam or water being
fed into the apparatus in the vicinity of the combustion area for the purpose of
converting it into gas. A reversal of the direction of the flow of gases is
accomplished from time to time on the same general principle as in the application
of regenerators to heating furnaces.
In the drawings;
Fig. 1, is a vertical section of a gas producer embodying the principles of the
invention.
Fig. 2, is a modification thereof,
Figs. 3 and 4, are details, showing the principle of the valve operations.
In Fig. 1, C, is a chamber, preferably of gas-tight construction, lined with
refractory material, at least so far as its upper portion is concerned.
The lining is preferably a good non-conductor of heat. The chamber is divided
into two portions at the lower part, and has two grates G, G', for supporting &
mass of material above the grate. A cover or lid L, is arranged so as to be
approximately gas-tight, and is capable of being opened for the replenishment of
the chamber with fuel. A draft pipe D, with a valve or damper therein for
closing it on occasion is provided for starting the fire in the apparatus. Suitable
means are provided for the removal of the ashes from the portions below the
grates, and for the clearing of the grates themselves as occasion requires, though
this is not an essential portion of the invention, but one of the methods which is

page_text: preferably employed and which is incorporated herein, as shown in Fig. 2, to be
hereafter described.
Leading into the spaces below the grates G, G¹, are openings a, b, respectively,
and also connected with such spaces are branches from an eduction pipe P. This
pipe P, is attached to any means for withdrawing gas, such as a suction fan F,
though it is to be understood that the apparatus might be worked by a blast of air
driven into the openings a, b, in which case, it would be worked under pressure,
superior to that of the external air. In the case shown in the figure, which is the
preferable condition as avoiding the escape of gases, the pressure of the working
is below atmospheric pressure. Governing the connections of the pipe P, from
each side, and also the openings of the apparatus to air, a, b, are suitable valves
connected with means for changing their position, that is, opening and closing
'them.
Thus, in Fig. 3, b, represents an opening to the air, while P is a branch of the
eduction pipe, and I, would connect with the spaces under the grate, as G.
Suitable valves V, V', are arranged, one to close the connection of the eduction
pipe P, and shown closed in the figure, the other to close the connection from the
external air b, shown open in the figure. A bell crank lever L, suitably pivoted,
is arranged so that by being thrown back or forth, these valves may be alternately
opened and closed, V, being opened when V₁, is closed, and V₁ being opened
when V is closed. At the same time, if a certain amount of lost motion of the
lever be allowed between it and the valves there will be in the intermediate position
between opening and closing a closure of both valves V, VI, which is desirable to
prevent at any time a direct connection between the eduction pipe P, and the air
opening b. If in the apparatus Fig. 1, the valves on the left be marked Vi
and V³,
and those on the right be marked V3 and V, then when the valves are, as
shown in the figure, V2, V3, closed and V1, V, open, the suction of the fan F,
will draw air in at 6, which passes directly under the grate G', up through the
-mass of material resting thereon, out through valve. V', to eduction pipe P. The
part of the chamber above the grates G, G, is however, filled with fuel, such as
fine anthracite coal or coke, with sufficient kindlings to start combustion when
lighted in the ordinary way. The bed of fuel extends downward into the two
divisions above the grates G, G', such grates, however, supporting both the fuel
and mass of material which is not combustible, but only capable of being heated
and cooled. To this end the ashes of the fire left after the burning of a certain
amount of fuel will be sufficient, or pieces of fire-brick or other resisting material
might be placed upon the grates. However, when the operation of gas production
is continuous the ashes themselves are allowed to accumulate in a bank of sufficient
thickness, say eight to ten inches in a smail size apparatus, and to a greater depth
in larger apparatus. A line joining the letters, a, may indicate the lower edge of
the zone of combustion or of unburned fuel, while below that position only the
burned fuel or the ashes thereof would be found.
A water supply tank W, or steam generator may be connected by a pipe p,
having a regulating valve, for passing into the combustion chamber either water
which is to be vaporized in contact with the incandescent fuel, or steam which is to
be passed or drawn down through the fuel by the suction. In case of operating
the apparatus under pressure the steam or water would be put under suitable
pressure to cause it to enter. The vapor of water coming into the mass of fuel
passes through a bed of fuel in a highly heated state and is decomposed in contact
with the heated fuel into carbonic oxide and hydrogen. The cycle of operation is
as follows: Assuming the conditions such as have been described, the entrance of
air at b, and its passage up through the grate G', and the mass of material above
.it, will cause such air to be highly heated and upon reaching the fuel it will burn
the fuel. The heat of combustion and production of carbonic acid and carbonic
oxide will be fed to another mass of fuel when the carbonic acid will be
further converted into carbonic oxide and the carbonic oxide and nitrogen of the
air will pass forward, being drawn down into the second space above the grate G,

page_text: where the bed of ashes above the grate will rab the gases of their heat and the
gases will be discharged into the eduction pipe P, as carbonic oxide and nitrogen,
or if steam or water vapor has been passed through the small pipe P, and passed
downward, it will pass through a hody of incandescent fuel, be there decomposed
and the original carbonic oxide and hydrogen will be mixed with an additional
portion of carbonic oxide and hydrogen with, of course, some carbonic acid present.
If this direction of flow be maintained for a time the result will be to bring a
considerable body of the incandescent fuel to a high temperature as well as a
portion of the material under the fuel and above the grate G, which then becomes
a storer of heat. Now, if the reverse position of :ll the valves be made so as to
open valve V, close valve V, open valve V, and close valve V, the air entering
at aperture & a will pass up through grate G, at once reaching a bed of incandescent
ashes, be thereby heated to a high temperature before reaching the incandescent
fuel, and the incandescent fuel will then be fed by a hot blast, will barn in part,
and vaporize water or stean, will mingle with the gases going forward, which will
pass down through the material over the grate G, and below the fuel will likewise
he a heating of the ashes above G', while that over the grate G, will be cooled.
By making the shifts of the valves at proper intervals there will be only a very
slight escape of heat from the apparatus with the produced gases, or, in other
words, the regenerative action will cool the gases which are produced and the heat
of combustion being thus almost entirely retained, much less air for combustion
will be required than if the gases escaped hot and had to be cooled before use or
storage. This enables me to produce a richer gas than would be possible with a
continuous combustion process.
In Fig. 2, is shown how the apparatus may produce gas for use in a gas engine
for power. This figure aleo shows certain modifications in the disposition of the
parts. In Fig. 2, practically, two upright chambers lined with refractory non-
conductor for heat are connected together near their upper portions by a short Hae
or passage, which may or may not be lined. Covers are provided at L, L', for
introducing fuel into each of the receptacles. A draft pipe D, is provided in one
of them, or might be applied to both, for starting the fire, the valve in this draft
pipe being closed after the heat has attained a sufficient development, it being
understood that in starting the fire the air openings at the bottom are kept open,
the valve in the draft pipe D, open, and the covers L, L', kept closed. The fresh
combustible occupies the upper part of each receptacle and is gradually consumed
in working its way down in burning, while the lower part of this receptacle is, as
before, filled with the ashes or remains of combustion of the fuel, forming, as it
were, a gas sieve for the collection of the heat and its retention. The lower part
of each receptacle dips into a tank containing water of sufficient depth to cover
the lower edges of the receptacles, as shown at T. Into this tank also drops the
ashes as they are formed and they can be removed as often as is required by
shovelling them out in the wet state. This gives a water seal or gas tight joint,
while permitting the free removal of the ashes at any time. The tank T, must bel
eituated sufficiently low down and the receptacle extend towards the tank to a
sufficient distance to prevent capillary creeping of the liquid in the tank T, to a
height suflicient to interfere with the draft. The valve arrangements are similar
to what they are in Fig. 1, and the operation is substantially the same as therein
specified. A water supply or steam supply pipe may enter either between the two
receptacles, enter each receptacle separately, or the supply may be divided between
these three points; that is to say, a portion may be entered by suitable pipes at
the top of each receptacle as two points of entrance, and also by a pipe leading to
the neck between the two receptacles as the third point of entrance. I prefer,
however, in most cases, to have it enter in the neck connecting the two receptacles.
I have shown the eduction pipe P, leading directly to a gas engine cylinder K, the
motions of which engine suffice to pump the supply of gas required for its own
operation. No details of the engine itself are shown, or the valve mechanism
employed, it being understood that it is such an engine as will, by its own motions,

page_text: draw in a mixed charge of gas and air and explode them by suitable means on com-
pression. A reservoir with flexible sides, as at R, is preferably provided for
damping the impulses of the engine, and containing a supply of gas which can be
drawn upon suddenly by the engine. This constitutes the draft for the gas producer
itself. The reservoir R, might, of course, be replaced by a closed tank of suitable
dimensions without any flexibility, the elasticity of the gas itself being sufficient, or a
suitable weighted gas holder arranged to draw the gas might be employed to main-
tain a continuous suction on the pipe P. I have indicated also, in Fig. 2, how the
motions of the engine may cause the sudden shifting of the valves, or alternating
their position at intervals of a greater or less length of time. To this end it is
only necessary to connect to the shaft of the engine a reducing gear so as to cause
the final motions for working the valves to take place only after a considerable
interval. Thus, in the shaft Z, carries upon it an eccentric or cam and makes only
one revolution in several minutes during the action of the engine it will reciprocate
the lever H, back and forth, said lever being pivoted to a fixed support at J, and
held against the cam by a spring, as shown. A slotted opening in the upper
part of H, engages with a pin in the lower part of a second lever pivoted at I, the
upper extremity of which is forked at f. A spring S is carried, on the motion to
and fro of this second lever, above and below the pivot I, said spring being strained
in the direction of its fixed extremity t. The spring S, in such case will cause
the fork F, to snap back and forth. When the lever H, has caused the spring to
pass over the centre or fulcrum I, in éither direction, the spring S, will at once
continue the motion rapidly in the same direction, a slotted opening Y, in the
lever H, permitting the free play. The result is that the fork f, will, if adjusted
in the opening between its prongs, net intermittently to work the valves governing
the entrance or exit of gas during the operation of the engine which is supplied
with the gas. The nature of the valve motion required is readily exemplified by
Fig. 4, where P, would represent the connection to the eduction pipes, where the
open ends a, b, would represent the connections to the external air, and the
portions m n, the connections to the receptacle or chamber containing the combustible.
Here the valves V, V', are connected together by a valve sten r, which is
reciprocated. In the position of the valve shown air enters at a, and passes freely
to m, while gas passes downward from a to P. By throwing the valves from the
position shown over to the left air may be made to enter at b and pass through n,
and gas be drawn from m, to P, the motion being the same, practically, as that
used in a steam engine in reversing the direction of flow of steam.
Dated this 28th day of July 1896.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Gas, and Apparatus therefor.
A communication from abroad by Professor ELIHU THOMSON, of Swampscott,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Electrical Engineer.
1, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent 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 object of this invention is to provide a supply of gas similar in some respects
to water gas, and suitable for use in gas engines or for general heating purposes.

page_text: The invention is based on the same principles as have been employed in the
production of a fuel gas, namely, the passage of steam over very hot carbonaceous
fuel. The combustion is also kept up simultaneously by the passage of air over
a portion of the combustible. The chief advantage secured by this invention is
the complete utilization of the heat of combustion, and the production, therefore,
with the minimum expenditure of fuel for maintaining the heat in the pro lucer,
of the richest quality of gas compatible with the simultaneous combustion of
the fuel.
:
In carrying out this invention a gas generator is employed in which the
regenerative principle of storing and returning heat is utilized. Briefly, the inven-
tion consists in confining a body of fuel in a combustion chamber situated above.
a portion of the apparatus in which is material capable of absorbing an! giving
up heat, accordingly as hot or cold gases are passed therethrough; supplying air
which is heated by the passage through the regenerative material before reaching
the combustion area; and in causing the products of combustion, or the gas
generated, to heat the regenerative material in another portion of the apparatus,
steam or water being fed into the apparatus in the vicinity of the combustion area
for the purpose of converting it into gas. A reversal of the direction of the flow
of gases is accomplished from time to time on the same general principle as in the
application of regenerators to heating furnaces.
Referring to the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification
Fig. 1, is a vertical section of a gas producer embodying the principles of the
invention.
Fig. 2, is a modification thereof.
Figs. 3 and 4, are details, showing the principle of the valve operations.
In Fig. 1, C is a chamber, preferably of gas-tight construction, lined with
refractory material, at least so far as its upper portion is concerned. The lining
is preferably a good non-conductor of beat. The chamber is divided into two
portions at the lower part, and has two grates, G, G' for supporting a mass of
material above each of them. A cover or lid L, is arranged so as to be approxi-
mately gas-tight, and is capable of being opened for the replenishment of the
chamber with fuel. A draft pipe D, with a valve or damper therein for closing
it when desired is provided to facilitate the starting of the fire in the apparatus.
Suitable means are provided for the removal of the ashes from the portions below
the grates, and for the clearing of the grates themselves as occasion requires,
though this is not an essential portion of the invention, but one of the means
which is preferably employed and which is incorporated herein, as shown in Fig. 2,
and is hereinafter described.
Lending into the spaces below the grates G, G, are openings a, b, respectively,
and also connected with such spaces are branches from an eduction pipe P. This
pipe P is attached to any suitable means for withdrawing gas, such as a suction
fan F, though it is to be understood that the apparatus might be worked by a blast
of air driven into the openings a, b, in which case it would be worked under
pressure superior to that of the external atmosphere. In the case shown in the
figure, which is the preferable condition as avoiding the escape of gases, the
working pressure is below atmospheric pressure. Governing the connections of
the pipe P, from each side, and also the openings ab of the apparatus to air, are
suitable valves connected with means for changing their position, that is, for
opening and closing them.
Thus, in Fig. 3, 6 represents an opening to the air, while P, is a brauch of the
eduction pipe, and I would connect with the spaces under the grate, for
example G. Suitable valves V, VI, are arranged, one to close the connection of
the eduction pipe P, and shown closed in the figure, the other to close the
connection 6 from the external air, and shown open in the figure. A bell crank
lever L, suitably pivoted, is arranged so that by being thrown back or forth, these
valves may be alternately opened and closed, V, being opened when V', is closed,
and V1, being opened when V, is closed. At the same time, if a certain amount of

page_text: lost motion be allowed between the lever, and the valves, there will be in the
intermediate position between opening and closing, a closure of both valves V, V,
which is desirable to prevent at any time a direct connection between the eduction
pipe P, and the air opening b. If in the apparatus Fig. 1, the valves on the left
be marked V and V2, and those on the right be marked V and V, then when the
valves V, V are closed and V, V open, as shown in the figure, the suction of
the fan F will draw air in at b, which passes directly under the grate G', up through
the mass of material resting thereon, and out through valve V1 to eduction. pipe P.
The part of the chamber above the grates G, G', is however, filled with fuel, such
as fine anthracite coal or coke, with sufficient kindlings to start combustion when
lighted in the ordinary way. The bed of fuel extends downward into the two
divisions above the grates G, G, such grates, however, supporting both the fuel
aud the mass of material which is not combustible but only capable of being heated
and cooled. For this purpose the ashes of the fire left after the burning of a
certain amount of fuel will be sufficient, or pieces of fire-brick or other refractory
resisting material might he placed upon the grates. However, when the operation
of gas production is continuous the ashes themselves are allowed to accumulate in
a bank of sufficient thickness, say eight to ten inches in a small size apparatus, and
to a greater depth in larger apparatus. A liue joining the letters,, may
indicate the lower edge of the zone of combustion or of unburned fuel, while below
that zone only the burned fuel or the ashes thereof would be found.
A water supply tank W, or steam generator, may be connected by a pipe p,
having a regulating valve, for passing into the combustion chamber either water
which is to be vaj orized in contact with the incandescent fuel, or steam which is to
be passed or drawn down through the fuel by the suction. In case of operating
the apparatus under pressure the steam or water would be put under suitable
pressure to cause it to enter. The vapor of water coming into the mass of fuel
passes through a bed of fuel in a highly heated state and is decomposed in contact
with the heated fuel into carbonie oxide and hydrogen. The cycle of operation is
as follows:-Assuming the conditions to be such as have hereinbefore been
described, the entrance of air at b, and its passage up through the grate G
and the inass of material above it, will cause such air to be highly heated
and upon reaching the fuel it will cause the same to burn. The heat of combustion
and the carbonic neid and enrbonie oxide produced will be fed to another mass of
fuel where the carbonic acid will be converted into carbonic oxide and this carbonic
-oxide with the nitrogen of the air will pass forward, being drawn down into the
second space above the grate G, where the bed of ashes above the grate will rob
the gases of their hent and the gases will be discharged into the eduction pipe P,
as carbonic oxide and nitrogen, or if steam or water vapor has been passed down-
ward through the small pipe P it will pass through a budy of incandescent fuel and
be there decomposed so that the original carbonic oxide and hydrogen will be
mixed with an additional portion of carbonic oxide and hydrogen with, of course,
any carbonic acid that may be present. If this direction of flow be maintained for
a time the result will be to bring a considerable body of the incandescent fuel to a
high temperature as well as a portion of the material under the fuel and above the
grate G, which then becomes an accumulator of heat. Now, if the reverse position
of all the valves be made so as to open valve V2, close valve V', open valve V,
and close valve V, the air entering at aperture a, will pass up through grate G
at once reaching a bed of incandescent ashes, and be thereby heated to a high
temperature before reaching the incandescent fuel. The incandescent fuel will
theu be fed by a hot blast, will burn in part, and vaporize water or steam, the
resulting gaseous products mingling with the gases going forward, which will pass
down through the material over the grate G₁, so that the ashes above that grate
will likewise be heated while the material over the grate G, will be cooled. By
reversing the valves at proper intervals there will be only a very slight escape of
heat from the apparatus with the produced gases, or, in other words, the
regenerative action will cool the gases which are produced and the heat of

page_text: combustion being thus almost entirely retained, much less air for combustion will
be required than if the gases escaped hot and had to be cooled before use or
storage. This enables me to produce a richer gas than would be possible with a
continuous combustion process.
In Fig. 2, is shown how the apparatus may produce gas for use in a gas engine
for power purposes. This figure also shows certain modifications in the disposition
of the parts. In Fig. 2, practically, two upright chambers lined with a refractory
non-conductor for heat are connected together near their upper portions by a short:
flue or passage, which may or may not be lined. Covers are provided at L, L', for
introducing fuel into each of the receptacles. A draft pipe D, is provided in one
of them, or might he applied to both, for facilitating the starting of the fire, the
valve in this draft pipe being closed after the beat has attained a sufficient
development, it being understood that in starting the fire the air openings at the
bottom are kept open, the valve in the draft pipe D opened, and the covers L, L'
kept closed. The fresh combustible oerupies the upper part of each receptacle and
is gradually consumed in working its way down in burning, while the lower part.
of this receptacle is, as before, filled with the ashes or remains of combustion of
the fuel, forming, as it were, a gas sieve for the collection and retention of the heat..
The lower part of each receptacle dips into a tank containing water of sufficient.
depth to cover the lower edges of the receptacles, as shown at T. Into this tank.
also drops the ashes as they are formed and they can be removed as often as is.
required by shovelling them ont in the wet state. This gives a water seal or gas
tight joint, while permitting the free removal of the ashes at any time.. The tank T
must be situated sufficiently low down and the receptacle extend towards.
the tank to a sufficient distance to prevent capillary creeping of the liquid.
in the tank T to a height sufficient to interfere with the draft. The valve-
arrangements are similar to what they are in Fig. 1, and the operation,
is substantially the same as therein specifiol. A water supply or steam supply
pipe may enter either between the two receptacles, or enter each receptacle-
separately, or the supply may be divided between these three points, that is to say,
a portion may be entered by suitable pipes at the top of each receptacle as two
points of entrance, and also by a pipe leading to the neck between the two.
receptacles as the third point of entrance. I prefer, however, in most cases, to
have it enter in the neck connecting the two receptacles. I have shown the-
eduction pipe P leading directly to a gas engine cylinder K, the motions of which,
engine suffice to pump the supply of gas required for its own operation. No
details of the engine itself are shown, or of the valve mechanism employed, it.
being understood that it is such an engine as will, by its own motions, draw in a
mixed charge of gas and air and explode it by suitable means on compression...
A reservoir with flexible sides, as at R, is preferably provided for damping the
impulses of the engine, and for containing a supply of gas which can be drawn
upon suddenly by the engine. This constitutes the draft for the gas producer
itself. The reservoir R, might, of course, be replaced by a closed tank of suitable
dimensions without any flexibility, the elasticity of the gas itself being sufficient,
or a suitable weighted gas holder arranged to draw the gas might be employed to.
maintain a continuous suction on the pipe P. I have indicated also, in Fig. 2,
how the motions of the engine may cause the sudden shifting of the valves, or
reversal of their position at intervals of a greater or less length of time. To this
end it is only necessary to connect to the shaft of the engine a reducing gear so as.
to cause the final motions for working the valves to take place only after a
considerable interval. Thus, if the shaft Z carries upon it an eccentric or cam
and makes only one revolution in several minutes during the action of the engine
it will reciprocate the lever H, hack and forth, the said lever being pivoted to a.
fixed support at J, and held against the cam by a spring, as shown. A slotted
opening in the upper part of the lever H, engages with a pin in the lower part of
second lever pivoted at I and the upper extremity of which is forked at f
A spring S is carried, on the motion to and fro of this second lever, above and.

page_text: below the pivot I, the said spring being strained in the direction of its fixed
extremity t. The spring S, in such case will cause the fork, to snap back and
forth. When the lever H has caused the spring to pass over the centre or
fulcrum I, in either direction, the spring S, will at once continue the motion
rapidly in the same direction, a slotted opening Y in the lever H, permitting the
necessary free play. The result is that the fork f, will, if adjusted in the opening
between its prongs, act intermittently to work the valves governing the entrance
or exit of gas during the operation of the engine which is supplied with the gas,
The nature of the valve motion required is readily exemplified by Fig. 4, where P,
would represent the connection to the eduction pipes, where the open ends a, b,
would represent the connections to the external air, and the portions mn, the
connections to the receptacle or chamber containing the combustible. Here the
valves V, V, are connected together by a valve stem r, which is reciprocated. In
the position of the valve shown, air enters at a, and passes freely to m, while gas
passes downward from n to P. By throwing the valves from the position shown,
over to the left, air can be made to enter at b, and pass through n, and gas be
drawn from m to P, the motion being the same, practically, as that used in a steam
engine in reversing the direction of flow of steam.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The manufacture of gas by passing air through à mass of incombustible inert
material in which heat has been stored, then passing the air so heated directly
through a mass of combustible fuel, mixing the products of combustion while on
their passage through the mass of fuel with water vapor or its equivalent whereby
hydrogen is furnished as a constituent gas, continuing the passage of the mixture
of combustion products and water vapor through incandescent fuel, and, abstracting
heat from the gaseous products by passing the same through heat absorbing and
heat storing, inert and incombustible material, the direction of inflow of air and
outflow of gas being reversed from time to time so that the hot gases leaving the
incandescent fuel shall give up to the heat storing material heat which, after
reversal, shall be taken up by the entering air, while the heat storing material
which has been cooled by the entering air is, after reversal, heated by the passage
through it of the gaseous products leaving the incandescent fuel, whereby the
produced gases are delivered in a cooled state and the heat of combustion is
utilized to assist in effecting the chemical reactions, substantially as herein
described.
2. The manufacture of a combustible gas consisting mainly of carbon monoxide
hydrogen and nitrogen substantially in the manner and by the means hereinbefore
described.
3. For the manufacture of gas as herein set forth, apparatus, constructed
arranged and operating substantially as herein before described with reference to
and shown in the drawings referred to.
Dated this 26th day of April 1897
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.