Improvements in the Manufacture of Gas and in Apparatus to be used therein.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Gas and in Apparatus
to be used therein.
I THEODORE GREEN SPRINGER of 425 La Salle Avenue, Chicago, Illinois,
United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
---
This invention has reference to apparatus wherein steam is decomposed into
hydrogen and carbonic acid gas, by passing it through a body of incandescent
carbon in a closed chamber, and caused to mix with vaporised oil or liquid hydro-
carbons, the mixture being finally passed through a chamber called a fixing
chamber containing refractory material in a highly heated state, wherein the com-
bined gases are rendered a fixed illuminating gas.
In carrying out the manufacture of such gas, it is found desirable to provide
for the treatment of oils of different specific gravity, that is to say, a heavy oil
will require a different heat to properly vaporise it, from a lighter oil. It is
expedient, therefore, to provide for the regulation of the oil vaporising portion of
the apparatus independent of the water or steam gasifier, in order to suit the
requirements of each oil under treatment, whatever may be the specific gravity.
The object of my invention is to provide for such regulation, and thereby to
render the apparatus available under all circumstances, no matter what oils are
submitted for treatment.
According to the present invention, the oil is vaporised in a retort independently
heated, externally, by a furnace of its own. This retort is arranged preferably
within a setting of brickwork above its furnace, the heat from which plays around
the outside of the retort. The form of the retort is such, that the diameter thereof
diminishes downwards, so that the oil delivered from a ring delivery pipe in the
upper part, cannot fail to descend in a thin film in contact with the heated surface
of the retort.
The sides of the retort being inclined inwards and downwards, besides providing
large heating surface, also help to direct uncondensible impurities to the bottom,
whence they can be readily removed. The lower end of the retort is connected by
a pipe with the generator for producing hydrogen and carbonic oxide gas; the
upper end with the fixing chamber, to which the mixed gases and oil vapors are
together led.
The fixing chamber, containing a mass of refractory material, is situated in the
upper part of the setting of a cupola, such as is frequently employed in gas
manufacture.
In addition to the refractory material, the fixing chamber may also contain trays
filled with lime, which is capable of taking up carbonic acid gas from the oil and
water gas, as the heat of the apparatus runs down during the process ef manufacture.
The resultant illuminating gas is thus relieved of part of the purifying operation
to which it has subsequently to be submitted, and an economy is thereby effected.
The reheating or blasting of the apparatus drives off the carbonic acid gas taken
up by the lime, and renders it fit to act again as a purifier in the next period of gas
making.
In practice I preferably employ, in conjunction with each cupola, a pair of
vaporisers or retorts to be used alternately, and by this means I am able to stop
one for cleaning purposes without stopping the manufacture of gas. This is a point
of considérable importance, for with dirty oil it is essential to remove frequently
uncondensable matters from the retort.
The valves which I employ in the apparatus are, where valve boxes are available,

page_text: extend Outside the valve boxes, and are actuated by means of a taurant rack
keyed on the shaft, and a worm in gear with the said rack. With these valves
there is but little reason to fear that cinders and deposits from the furnace will
lodge between the valve and the seat, and prevent the tight closing thereof.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shewn a complete gas-making cupola, with
my improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus complete.
Fig. 2 is a front view of a valve box with my improvement shewn thereon.
Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of the same.
Figs. 4 and 5 are side views of other valves.
A is the cupola furnace or generator (with suitable doors for charging,
stoking etc.), wherein steam is decomposed. A¹ is an enclosed ash pit beneath
the grate bars B.
Within the ash pit A', are air-supply pipes for blasting the fuel in the furnace A,
and getting up a heat.
Above the furnace A, is a combustion chamber C, having communication with
the furnace A through the valve box D. This valve box is furnished with a flap
valve d, opening downwards, which seats itself upon the opening d' (see Figs. 2 and 3).
e is an arm which is fixed on the rock shaft e¹, and which carries the flap valve.
is the sector rack keyed on the rock shaft end outside the valve box. e³ is a
worm in gear with the rack upon a shaft turning in bearings upon the outside of
the valve box, and E is a hand wheel for operating the worm.
F is the fixing chamber situated above the combustion chamber C, containing
refractory material, and shallow perforated trays containing lime for purifying
the gas.
fis a purge valve for allowing the escape of products of combustion during the
heating up of the fuel in the furnace A to an incandescent state.
J is what is called the hydrogen pipe, which, for convenience, is carried up the
whole height of the cupola, but is blocked at j; so that there is no passage from
end to end of the pipe. At its lower end, the pipe J communicates, by a three-way
junction, with the blast pipe K, and with the ash pit A'. k is the entrance for the
air blast to the pipe K, which has communication at c with the combustion
chamber C, as well as with the ash pit. 2 are stop valves situated above and
below the air entrance k. The admission of air to the combustion chamber C is
desirable for completing the combustion of the gases generated during the blasting
of the fuel in the furnace or generating chamber A. Should the combustion be
still incomplete in the chamber C, air is admitted by the pipe K* to the fixing
chamber F, at f¹, where the remainder of the products of combustion, if any, can
be consumed.
J is a valve box situated in the hydrogen pipe J, below the solid flange plate
or block j. Within the valve box J* are two valves (see Figs. 4 and 5), j* and j**
so arranged that one must be closed before the other is opened. j* controls an
opening through a pipe j from the space a, above the furnace A, to the hydrogen
pipe. is capable of closing the hydrogen pipe below the point of connection
of the pipe therewith.
**
d* is a steam admission pipe opening into the valve box D, below the valve d,
and 3 is an alternative steam pipe in the pipe K, to be used as hereafter explained.
G is the oil vaporising retort, made in sections of cast rings or tubes, hooped
around at the joints, situated in a separate setting alongside the cupola, but
communicating at its lower end therewith by a pipe which delivers the water
gas from the cupola through the hydrogen pipe J.
H is the furnace, which delivers its heat through apertures in the dome thereof,
to the space I around the retort G, whence the products of combustion, after
heating the retort, pass to the escape flue i. g is a short pipe communicating with
the bottom of the retort, with a gas tight cover, which can be removed for
cleaning.

page_text: L is a ring oil pipe leading from a suitable oil supply, for delivering oil in a thin
stream upon the inner surface of the retort G. The retort is connected by a pipe m
with the upper portion of the pipe J, and thereby with the upper part of the fixing
chamber F of the cupola. Mis a valve for controlling the passage from the retort
to the chamber F, as required.
is an air blast pipe below the fire bars of the furnace H, by means of which the
heat of the said furnace, and consequently the retort Gr, may be increased, or allowed
to diminish, in accordance with the requirements of the oil to be vaporised. By
this means, the oil gas within the retort can be brought into the most favorable
state for combining with the hot water gas as it comes from the cupola, and mixes
with the oil vapors in the retort, before passing to the fixing chamber. The
furnace H is provided with suitable doors for charging and stoking. - is the
line of a working floor.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:
The furnace A, being charged with fuel, the air blast from the pipe K is first
admitted to the ash pit A¹. The blast carries up the products of combustion from
the furnace A through the valve box D and valve d, which is open to the com-
bustion chamber C, where they meet a current of air from the pipe & through the
opening c. Thence the heated products pass to the chamber, rendering the
refractory material and lime troughs therein very hot. Should the combustion be
still incomplete at this point, additional air may be obtained by the pipe K*, as
already mentioned, but where no additional air is required, the pipe K* may
remain closed by the stop valve k*. From the chamber F, the waste products of
combustion from the cupola escape through the purge valve into the open air.
When sufficient heat is obtained in the cupola, the air blast is cut off, and all the
valves are closed in the air pipe; the purge valve f is also closed, and the valve d
is closed.
Steam from the pipe d is admitted into the space d above the furnace A, and
the valve j*, which controls the pipe j', communicating with this space, being
closed, the steam, being under high pressure, is forced downward through the fuel
to the ash pit A', and being converted into hydrogen and carbonic oxide, the
steam enters the base of the hydrogen pipe J, and passes upwards through the
hydrogen pipe, and thence into the retort G by the pipe 2, the valve j** in
the valve box J* being now open. At the same time, the air blast is turned into the
furnace H, and the heat therefrom, regulated, as explained, by the power of the
blast, impinges upon the exterior of the retort G, so as to vaporize the oil flowing
from the pipe L. The mixed gases and oil vapor pass together to the chamber F,
thence down through the lime, which takes up any carbonic acid gas present, and
down through the refractory material, thereby being converted into
illuminating gas.
a fixed
F' is the gas exit pipe connecting to the chamber C, and leading through a
water seal to a gas holder arranged in the ordinary manner. When the temperature
of the generating chamber has been reduced so as not to readily decompose the
steam into hydrogen and carbonic oxide gas, the air blast and oil supply to the
vaporiser is closed, and the blasting of the cupola furnace is repeated, and
the whole operation continued as before.
Should the grate bars become too highly heated by passing the steam down
through the fuel in chamber A, then the stean is admitted into the ash pit by the
pipe, the valve j** being closed, and the valve j* being opened. The steam will
then pass upwards through the fuel to the space a, and thence, by the pipe j', valve
box J, and pipe, to the retort, where it, in the form of water gas, meets the oil
gas as before explained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of manufacturing illuminating gas by the decomposition of steam

page_text: and liquid hydrocarbons, as hereinbefore described, wherein the liquid hydro-
carbon is independently vaporised at a temperature regulated, substantially as
explained, to suit the character of the hydrocarbon liquid under treatment, and
wherein the hydrocarbon vapor, as it is thus separately produced, is allowed to
mix with hot water gas from a gas generator, before both hydrocarbon and water
gases pass together to the fixing chamber, in the manner set forth.
2. Apparatus for manufacturing illuminating gas from oil and water vapors,
consisting of an oil vaporising retort independently heated on the outside by a
separate furnace, and a water gas generator, all arranged and operating substantially
as shewn and described.
3. In fixing chambers of gas making apparatus such as hereinbefore described,
the employment of perforated fire-clay trays containing lime for removing carbonic
acid gas, substantially as described.
4. The construction and arrangement of flap valve as hereinbefore described,
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, for the purpose set forth.
5. The gas-making apparatus constructed, arranged, and operating as herein
described, and illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.
Dated this 12th day of November 1891.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.