Improvements in Self-regulating Apparatus for the Manufacture of Oil Gas for Domestic and General Illuminating and Heating Purposes, or for Motive Power.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1892-Accepted. 11th Mar. 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-regulating Apparatus for the Manufacture of
Oil Gas for Domestic and General Illuminating and Heating
Purposes, or for Motive Power.
We JOSEPH LEE, of Askrigg, Station Master, and SAMUEL LANCASTER, of
Bainbridge, School Teacher, both in the County of York, do hereby declare the
nature of our invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to self regulating apparatus for the manufacture of oil
gas by the action of heat on liquid hydrocarbons of a specific gravity of not less
than 0-7 where water equals unity.
In such machine the hydrocarbon is in small successive charges conducted to a
vessel in which by heat it is entirely raised into vapour. Of the vapour so formed
a part is used to produce by its combustion the heat necessary to maintain, the
working of the machine and to transform the remainder of the said vapour into
the permanent oil gas produced by the machine.
To obtain the heat for starting the machine, sufficient permanent oil gas is
stored in a small holder forming part of its construction.
This gas is conducted to a suitable burner in the base of the machine and by its
combustion raises sufficient vapour to set the machine in action.
DESCRIPTION OF MACHINE. THE RESERVOIR.
Sheet 1. R is a reservoir of liquid hydrocarbon which may be of any convenient
size and placed in any convenient locality at sufficient height above the machine
for the liquid to flow by gravity thereto; is a vertical tube attached to the
reservoir R and connected therewith by openings at the top and bottom of the said
reservoir. The said tube is provided with an airtight stuffing-box at the top
through which passes the rod carrying at its lower end a perforated disc as
shown in the drawing. is a buoyant valve hollow, and loaded sufficiently to allow
it only to rise slowly through the liquid in the tube in which it fits loosely.
Sufficient of the tube is formed of transparent glass to enable it to serve as a
gauge glass or indicator of the amount of liquid in the reservoir R.
t' is an
airtight tube connected with the reservoir R as shown in the drawing. p is an
airtight screw plug for replenishing the reservoir R. is the seating on which
the valve descends and cuts off any continuous supply of hydrocarbon to the
machine.
4
THE RISING HEAD.
t
S
Sheets 2 and 1. This is of the form and proportions shown in the drawing.
t is the continuation of the vertical tube t connected to the reservoir R in the fore-
going description and leading in the manner shown in the drawing into the feed-
tube whose upper end is in airtight connection with the air tube t¹ connected
with the reservoir R, as before shown.
The lower end of the tube dips just below the level of the hydrocarbon
in the rising-head H so as to be sealed and thereby prevent air entering the tube ƒ
and passing to the reservoir R by the tube t'.
Under these conditions no liquid can leave R until by the working of the
machine the level falls and exposes the end of, when air entering passes up.
through the liquid into the air tube t' and thence to the reservoir R when an
equal bulk of hydrocarbon flows into H and again seals the tube f. The use of the
valve is to prevent a continuous flow of liquid from R if from any cause the
pneumatic tension of the reservoir R is destroyed.

page_text: THE VAPOUR GENERATOR OR BOILER.
From the rising head H the hydrocarbon passes through the lower half of the
pressure tube P to the boiler B which is generally of the form and proportions
shown in the drawing though for large machines several vertical flue-tubes may be
introduced in its construction if more heating surface be required than is obtained
in the design shown; where B is a cylindrical vessel having an inner slightly
conical tube with strong seating-plates S' S firmly brazed or hard soldered into
it to withstand the pressure of the screw-cap X by which the boiler B is attached
to the central tube T of the machine, the said central tube T having a stout collar
hard soldered or brazed to it, on which rests the lower of the two plates S. S¹.
aa aa are apertures through which the vapour from the hydrocarbon in B passes
to the tube T.
THE SUPERHEATERS.
Sheet 2. S is the principal superheater, its use is to prevent the premature
condensation of the hydrocarbon vapour during its transit to the jets J. Its con-
struction for large machines is shown in the drawing. It may be described as two
or more concentric annular channels on each side of a web-plate of metal arranged
substantially in the manner of the detail drawing Fig. 3 in Sheet 3, hereinafter
described, but receiving at the centre on the upperside the web-plate and
delivering at the centre on the lower side the web-plate as shown in the section
at S Sheet 2.
In small machines the superheater S would be a plain solid disc of metal of
the size and shape shown at S, the passage for the vapour being straight through
the axis.
The lower superheater is shown at S¹ Sheet 2. in section and at S¹ Fig. 4
Sheet 3. in plan and is of the size and shape therein shown, the lower side contains
the stuffing-box S2 Sheet 2 packed with asbestos or other fireproof material,
through which said stuffing-box slides the valve-rod carrying the valves and v²
as shown in the drawing.
By the relative terms "large" and "small" we mean that a machine capable of
supplying oil gas sufficient in quantity to continuously maintain about fifty, sixteen
standard candle power lights, we should call a large machine. If the machine
could maintain not more than twenty of the above mentioned lights we should call
it a small machine.
THE VAPOUR BURNER.
This is formed of light iron castings shown in section at B Sheet 2, and in plan
at B' Sheet 3 Fig. 4. It is made in two parts the base-plate and the cover c
(Sheet 2) substantially of the form and proportions shown in the drawing.
b
The base-plate & rests upon and is firmly fastened to two upright cast iron tubes
rectangular in cross-section, shown in section in Fig. 5. Sheet 3.
These tubes are attached by the lugs to the foundation plate of the whole
apparatus and serve as rigid supports to the burner B¹.
C
The air necessary to the combustion of the vapour issuing from the jets J is
drawn in through these tubes which pass down through the bed-plate of the
apparatus as shown in the drawings. The upper conical part of the cover c has a
channel formed round its edge into which fits the downward projecting lip or rim
of the ring casting forming the base of the muffle case m, Sheet 2. This channel
and lip serves to securely bold round its edge the sheet of reticulated or perforated
material on which the combustion of the vapour takes place and readily permits of the
renewal of the said sheet at any time it may be required. Rising from the base-plate b
is a wide tube having a shoulder and sleeve between which the inner edge of the
above mentioned sheet of material is gripped and securely held by the compression

page_text: of the nut n the sleeve ¹ and tube on which it fits have several holes h pierced
through them. These holes serve, firstly, for the firing or lighting of the vapour
on a portion of it being drawn through them into the flame from the starting gas
burner G passing up the tube band producing the required draught, secondly as
soon as the flame on the burner B' is established its superior heating and con-
sequent draught producing power reverses the current through the holes h and they
now serve to supply the small quantity of air necessary to retain the flame on the
surface of the burner B. This flame is about half an inch in length and very
powerful, it is amply sufficient to maintain the interior of the muffle at a bright
red heat, a temperature high enough to instantly re-kindle any vapour rising
from the burner, should at any time the supply of vapour be interrupted for a
This is shown at G Sheet 2. It consists of a cylindrical box Daving a reticulated
or perforated top or cap, a tube passes through the centre to allow the valve rod r
to pass through it and is constructed as shown in the drawing.
GAS ECONOMIZER.
of
Sheet 2. In the rising head H is the gas economizer consisting of three
concentric tubes 2, 3, 4,- being fitted with a gastight stuffing box through which
slides the rod firmly attached to the closed upper end of the tube t³. In the
tube is a longitudinal slit or saw cut to through which, in its passage from holder
to burner, the gas passes as shown by the arrows in the drawing Sheet 2. the
effective length of this slit is governed by the level of the liquid in the tube
the rising head H, the tubes 3 and in the rising head H being open at the
bottom, so as to allow the liquid in the rising head H to enter them and by the
rising and falling of the level of its surface in them vary the amount of gas passed
through the slit to. When there is no pressure in the boiler B as at starting, when
the apparatus is cold, in rising head and in boiler are approximately at the
same height and the gas from holder feeds the burner G at the full capacity of the
slit, a greater length of said slit being uncovered by the level of the liquid in
the tube t being depressed. As the pressure in the boiler B and consequent level
of the liquid in H. and rises, the gas is partially cut off from the burner G by the
When the
shortening of the effective length of the slit and thus economized.
muffle M and dissociator D have become hot the gas is cut off at the tappet valve
by the arm to attached to the holder, Sheet 1, passing and depressing the trip
lever as the holder falls, thereby drawing, by the action of the rod R¹ and
quadrant the rod R to the right releasing the weighted lever L' which in its
turn revolves cam 3 and closes the tappet valve . The precise mechanism by
which this is effected is described and ascertained under the heading of "Automatic
Gearing." In small machines the whole of this economizer would be dispensed with
and the gas taken direct from the tube to the burner G.

page_text: THE COOLERS.
Sheets 3. and 1. These are arranged one above another with the heads or
inlets alternately disposed as shown at C Sheet I. One of them is shown in
longitudinal section in Fig. 1. Sheet 3. C2 is a casting in the form of a long
shallow trough formed as shown by the dotted lines in the end elevation at C² in
Sheet 2, round the margin of which a deep channel is formed into which the edges
of the cover-tray made of very thin latten brass sheet, dip, and are secured by a
suitable cement such as plaster of paris Between the body of the casting and the
cover-tray which conforms to it in shape is a shallow space along which the gas
flows in contact with the under side of the thin latten tray and is cooled by the
direct radiation of its heat into the atmosphere. The condensible products flow
from the upper to the lower coolers and are received into the head of the tube T².
Fig. 2 shows the head of the uppermost cooler and the manner in which it is modified
so that the gas may be delivered from it. A screwed bolt is fitted to the central
hole which binds down firmly the cover c with its delivery tube T3 Sheet 1.
which conducts the gas to the holder and delivers it in the manner shown in the
drawing, any backflow being prevented by the end dipping below the surface of the
water in the tank of the holder.
THE HOLDER.
Sheet 1. This is shown in section and consists of a tank filled with water up
to the dotted line 4. Passing through and soldered to the bottom are the
tubes T, T, and T. In this tank rises and falls the bell B containing the gas,
in the usual manner of gas bolders. The bell is guided in its motion by the fixed
vertical rod R which passes down a central tube forming part of the said bell.
Attached to the crown of the bell are pulleys or V grooved rollers to ease friction
and prevent rotation of the said bell as shown in the drawing. C³ is an air caisson
the buoyancy of which may be altered at will by the amount of water ballast
admitted or displaced from it through the tube t' by the admission of air forced through
the tube t. Its use is to avoid having to counterbalance the bell by weights and
pulleys with their unavoidable friction and unsteadiness. Through this caisson
are openings to allow the upright tubes to pass without touching and also to
freely allow the water to pass into and out of the bell. Attached to the side of the
tank T is the pressure gauge P¹ consisting of three concentric tubes, the centre
one of metal and the other two of transparent glass the inner of the two glass
tubes is closed at the top and registers the level of the water inside the bell, the
outer one registers the level of the water in the tank outside the bell, the difference
of the levels gives the pressure, as shown in the drawing. The tube T conducts
the gas out of the holder through the adjusting tap T and the tappet valve v to
the inain.
1. His 15 of two kinds,--the starting and stopping gear, and the controlling gear.
THE STARTING AND STOPPING GEAR.
This is actuated, in the first place by the raising by hand on starting the apparatus
of the lever L' to an upper position of the one shewn in the drawing. There are
three positions of the lever L', the first where the lever L' is raised above its
present position, secondly when the lever L' is in the position drawn, and thirdly
when the lever. L' is below its present position. The apparatus as drawn is
supposed to be working normally and the lever L' is in its second position having

page_text: In
been released from its first position by the holder's falling and causing the wheel
on the bracket w¹ Sheet 1, to depress the trip-lever and by the quadrant q draw
the rod R² to the right thereby disengaging the knuckle-jointed piece N from the
tooth or catch 2 and allowing the lever L' to fall into the position shown. This
part of the apparatus is shown in detail on Sheet 4 where Fig. 1, is an elevation of
the shaft carrying the cams 1, 2, 3, and 4, and the steel piece k, 2, and lever L'
all firmly attached to the said shaft. The particular shape of each cam is shown
in Fig. 3, and the three positions of the lever L' and steel piece ¹² in Fig. 4
Fig. 2 is a plan of the shaft aforesaid and shows the slotted piece d in which
revolves the steel piece and also the piece N. Fracture lines are shown at
each end of one side of this slotted piece and in Fig. 4 this side of the said piece
is supposed to be removed so as to display the working of the pieces and N
and the fractures are shown in hatched lines. nnnn Figs 2 and 4 are four links,
the upper ends of which are attached to the framework of the apparatus. These
links allow of the swinging in a longitudinal direction of the slotted piece_d
independently of the shaft carrying the piece which remains fixed.
Fig. 4, No. 1 shows the first position of the lever L' which has been raised until
the catch has passed the knuckle-jointed piece N which prevents its return and
When the before-described action of
now supports the lever L and weight W.
the holder's falling and through the quadrant 7 drawing the rod R² to the right
takes place, this rod R2 being attached to the piece d carrying the knuckle-jointed
piece N, disengages the said piece N from the catch and at the same time draws
the piece d under the catch or step k, the lever L' now falls until retained by the
step. This is shown in No. 2. or second position of the lever L', the position
of in which the apparatus is working normally. When the gas produced by
the apparatus is no longer required and the last light in the house is turned out,
there being now no demand on the holder it of course rapidly rises until the wheel
on the rigidly projecting bracket w near the top of the holder Sheet 1 comes in
contact with and raises the trip-lever k, this depresses the rod R which through
the quadrant moves the rod R' to the left releasing the end of the piece d Fig. 4
Sheet 4 No. 2 from the step and returning the piece d to its first position, that
shown in No. 1 and No. 3. The lever L now falls into the third position shown
in No. 3 ready to be again raised by hand into position No. 1 on again starting
the apparatus. The position of the piece N as the catch 2 passes it on starting the
apparatus is shown in dotted lines in No. 3. The falling of the lever L'into the
third or lowest position, position No. 3, brings the cams 1, 2, 3, 4, into such position
that the valve rod Sheet 2 is raised to the top of its stroke by the action of
cam 1, and the valve sliding over the apertures a, a, in the central tube T, cuts
off the supply of vapour from the boiler B to the apparatus, extinguishing the flame
on the burner B', the tappet valve u is closed by its lever A2 descending by the
action of cam 2 and allowing the spindle of the said valve to fall. The lever A
is raised by the action of cam 4 and the rising and falling cup or well Q attached
to the upper end of the rod R³ raises some of the liquid in the rising head H
in which is immersed during the working of the apparatus, and receiving the
lower end of the tube in the liquid so raised from that in H seals and makes
secure any leak that might take place past the valve in the reservoir R Sheet 1
consequent on air entering the lower end of the tube f Sheet 2 by the lowering of
the level of the liquid in H as the pressure in the apparatus subsides.
the flame on the burner B' of the apparatus is extinguished by the closing of the
valve there is sufficient heat in the apparatus to drive back the liquid in the
boiler through the tube P into the rising head H. When the horizontal part of
the tube P is empty the pressure in the boiler is relieved by the vapour snifting
through the upper half of the tube P into the rising head where it is condensed by
the cooler liquid. The upper half of the tube P also serves as a safety tube if
from any cause a vacuum should be formed in any part of the machine.
When
To start the apparatus the lever L' is raised by hand until the catch 2 passes

page_text: governs
the end of the knuckle jointed piece N and is retained thereby in the manner
hereinbefore described see Fig. 4 Sheet 4 No. 1. This action brings the cams 1, 2, 3, 4,
Sheet 2 into such position that the valve rod r is lowered half way through its
stroke by the action of cam 1, opening the valve ³, but not the valve », the
valve being made twice the length of the valve 2 so that it will not open at half
stroke of the valve rod r but at full stroke only. The tappet valve v just behind v*
and exactly like it, but governing the supply of gas to the burner G, as
the supply to the main outlet shown in the drawing, this said valve is by the
action of cam 3 opened and gas flows from the holder through T Sheet 1. to the.
branch tube which is jointed into T, through the tappet valve ³ to the burner G
where it is ignited by applying a flame to it. The sealing tube or well attached
to the upper end of the rod R³ Sheet 2. is by the action of cam 4 lowered allowing
the apparatus to feed by unsealing the end of the tube and allowing air to enter
and consequently hydrocarbon from the reservoir R to leave it. The holder now
descends. As the hydrocarbon in the boiler gets hot and the vapour rises, the
level, Sheet 2. in the rising head H also rises and curtails the supply of gas to
the burner G during the time the muffle is getting hot; the heat necessary to the
boiler being now supplied by the waste heat from the muffle.
As the holder continues to fall the wheel w Sheet 1, depresses the trip-lever k³,
this raises the rod R' and through the quadranty draws the rod R² to the right, releasing
the catch and in the manner hereinbefore described allows the lever to fall into
the second position-that shown in Sheet 2 and at Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 Sheet 4 No. 2.
This action brings the cams 1, 2, 3, 4, into such position that the valve rod r¹
Sheet 2 is lowered to the bottom of its stroke opening the valve v and allowing
the apparatus to produce gas to supply the holder; at the same time the tappet
valve is by the action of cam 2 and lever A opened allowing the gas to flow to
the main and the machine is in full action as shown in the drawing.
THE CONTROLLING GEAR.
Sheet 1. This consists of a strip of metal of varying width attached at
the top of the bell of the holder and rising and falling with it as shown in
the drawing. This strip moves between two grooved rollers R and R' a fixed
one R* and one carried on the end of and giving motion to the rod R according
to the varying width of the strip S2 as it passes between R and R'. The roller R
is kept in contact with the edge of the strip by the action of the weight WI
attached to one end of the rocking-lever L2 as shown in the drawing. The other
end of the said lever is formed in such manner as to engage with a projection
attached to the connecting piece C³ transmitting motion to the lever L governing
the amount of heat admitted to the boiler. The lower end of the connecting
piece C is jointed to the end of the lever L³ Sheet 2 the other end of the lever L'
working in a fulcrum attached to the baseplate of the apparatus as shown in
Sheet 2 and in Fig. 1 Sheet 4, where the tee-shaped lever A is shown passing up
through the baseplate of the apparatus and receiving the lever L through the hole
in its upper end. This part of the lever A' is somewhat flattened where the afore-
said hole occurs and is shown edgeway in Sheet 2. To this upper end of the
lever A the valve rod is attached as shown in the drawing Sheet 2, so that the
levers L and A' and valve rod r¹ are all actuated by cam 1 and weight W. In
small machines the lever L and the connecting piece C³ may be dispensed with, the
levers L and L² being simply connected by a link or rod. The use of the connecting
piece C3 and lever Lis to economize the gas necessary for starting the apparatus
and so diminish the size of the holder. In cases where the whole of our invention
is not applied the said invention takes the form of an apparatus for the continuous,
but not necessarily automatic, manufacture of oil gas by the action of heat upon
liquid hydrocarbons of a specific gravity not less than 7 where water equals
unity. The dissociator is in such case slightly modified to suit the altered
conditions. In such case the dissociator would consist in a number of castings

page_text: similar to the caps shown in Fig. 3. Sheet 3. and hereinbefore described; the central
opening through each being reduced in size until just large enough to admit a bolt
to assist in holding them firmly together: Fig. 3 shows only two such caps but
when more are used they are made without lugs and inserted face upward between
the web-plate and lower cap shown in elevation. The back of each such cap is
pierced at and p in alternate caps so as to allow the gas to pass through the
channels in accordance with the description hereinbefore given. In an apparatus
of this kind the muffle and vapour burner are removed and a furnace or stove
of suitable construction burning coke or any smokeless fuel substituted, the flue of
such stove or furnace being joined to the top of C. The lever L is in this case
detachable so that it can be operated independently by hand or fixed in any
position required. The waste heat from the furnace or stove is utilized to produce
the evaporation in the boiler substantially in the manner shown in the drawing
Sheet 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is;
1. In a machine or apparatus for the production of permanent oil-gas; the use
of the vapour of hydrocarbon of specific gravity not less than 0.7 where water
equals unity, to produce the required temperature of the dissociator in the manner
detailed in the description and shown in the drawings.
2. The use of superheaters for raising the temperature of the hydrocarbon
vapour sufficiently to prevent condensation in the length of tube found necessary
in the construction of the machine or apparatus substantially according to the
description and drawings.
3. The use in machines designed for the production of permanent oil-gas, of á
permanent gas atmospheric or Bunsen burner supplied from the holder of the machine,
to give the heat necessary to raise the superheaters to the required temperature and
to generate vapour in the boiler.
4. The utilization of the waste heat from the vapour burner or the furnace
heating the dissociator to continue the heating of the superheaters and the
evaporation, in the boiler substantially in the manner detailed in the description
and shown in the drawings.
5. The use of the two vessels detailed in the description and shown in the
drawings, and therein called the rising head and generator or boiler, and lettered H.
and B. respectively, and the utilization of the variation of level of the hydrocarbon
in H consequent on the mutual action and reaction of the pressure exerted on the
liquid contained in each vessel, to control the supply of permanent gas from
the holder to the burner G substantially according to the description before given.
6. The use of a buoyant valve of the construction detailed in the description and
shown in the drawing of the reservoir R and therein lettered v, combined with the
method of separating the air from the hydrocarbon and conveying them by two
separate tubes as detailed in the description and shown in the drawings.
7. The use of a sealing tube for the controlling of the supply of hydrocarbon and
the cessation thereof from the reservoir R by the falling and rising of the said
sealing tube Q actuated by the lever A substantially as shown in the drawing.
8. The controlling of the heat admitted to the boiler by the rising and falling of
the deflecting sleeve S³ Sheet 2. such rising and falling being determined by
the holder according to the supply to and the demand thereon substantially as
detailed in the description and shown in the drawings.
9. The use of castings formed substantially in accordance with the design shown
in Fig. 3. Sheet 3. such castings being placed one above another in number sufficient
to effect the required transformation or dissociation of the hydrocarbon vapour, the
uppermost and lowermost of such castings having lugs for the attachment of bolts
to hold the whole together such whole constituting the arrangement shown in the
drawings and detailed in the description and therein called the dissociator.

page_text: 10. The method as shown in the drawings and description of automatically
controlling the starting, production, and stopping of the production of gas in the
machine.
11. The method of counterbalancing the holder by the use of a caisson as
5 detailed in the description and shown in the drawings.
Dated this Tenth day of March 1892.
THOS. E. CRAVEN,
For the Applicants.