Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1887
Specification Accepted, 22nd Nov.,
1887
1, JOHN WILLIAM SHEEL, of Farley Road, Malvern Link, in the County of
Worcester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
My invention relates to gas producers or generators of the kind or class wherein
hydrocarbon or other gases are generated by the passage of air through suitable fuel
in a state of combustion, and from which the said gases are devolved for use in
gas-furnaces for heating steam-boilers and for other purposes:
In gas producers or generators of this kind or class as hitherto generally constructed,
the blast is introduced into the fuel or combustion chamber only in one particular
part or place, that is to say, in a single jet, consequently the combustion is incomplete
and the gas is not produced at a uniform rate; the bottom of the fuel or combustion
chamber is, moreover, usually made solid, therefore the operation of producing the
gas must be suspended every time it becomes necessary to clean out or remove the
clinkers or non-combustible matter from the gas producer or generator.
The object of my said invention is to obviate the above mentioned defects, that is to
say, to ensure more perfect combustion by an even distribution of the blast, and to obviate
the necessity of stopping the production of the gas to permit the cleaning out of the
apparatus.
One feature of my said invention consists in the employment of a peculiarly shaped
annular tuyere or blast box of metal or other suitable material constructed either in
one or more pieces as hereinafter described.
Another feature of my said invention consists in the provision of a grid or grate
and means whereby the same may be wholly or partially removed as hereinafter more
fully described.
My said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of one form of my improved gas-producer.
Figure 2 is a vertical central section thereof at right angles to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a portion of Figure 2 drawn to an enlarged scale, showing the means
for moving the grid or grate hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is the fuel-chamber or combustion-chamber, into which the fuel is to be introduced
in the usual or any suitable manner, B is a water bottom or bed, C is the blast-pipe.
The construction of these parts is substantially the same as in gas-producers beretofore
employed.

page_text: a is an annular tuyere or blast-box which is fitted in the lower part of the fuel or
combustion chamber A. Beneath this annular tuyere or blast-box a is situated the
wind chest or space b. The said tuyere or blast-box is provided with holes c, for the
passage of the blast or current of air into the said wind chest or space and with holes c¹
for the passage thereof into the fuel or combustion chamber. The directions taken by
the blast are indicated by the arrows d, d², Figure 2.
At the bottom of the annular tuyere or blast-box a is fitted a grid or grate e
constructed of steel or other suitable material and arranged to slide in guides f. To
one extremity of this grid or grate e is attached a rod g furnished throughout a part of
its length with either a V-shaped or a square screw thread k and provided with a nuti
turning in the boss or bearing j and fitted with a hand-wheel has more clearly shown
in Figure 3. Any, other suitable means may, however, be employed for imparting
motion to the grid or grate e so that it may be either wholly or partially removed
from beneath the annular tuyere or blast-box a.
The fuel or combustion chamber A is supported above the narrow part of the
water bottom or bed B upon brick arches l, and the blast is sealed in the wind chest
or space by means of plates n dipping into the water m.
b
The operation of my improved gas producer or generator is as follows, that is to
saya charge of coal or other suitable fuel is introduced into the fuel or combustion
chamber A and is supported upon the grid or grate e while the preliminary heating of
the fuel is taking place. After this preliminary heating is concluded, the grid or
grate e is either wholly or partially removed by turning the hand-wheel h and nut i;
or should the charge consist of very fine slack coal not of a bituminous nature, the grid
or grate e is allowed to remain permanently in position beneath the charge. The
blast arriving by the pipe circulates round the annular tuyere or blast box a; the
main current taking the direction shown by the arrows d passes through the apertures c
and arriving in the wind chest or space b beneath the grid or grate e (sealed as above
described by the water bottom or bed B) passes upwards through the said grid or
grate e. A secondary current takes the direction shown by the arrows d¹ and passes
through the holes c'. By this means an even distribution of the blast through the
fuel is obtained, thus ensuring complete combustion of the charge and the production
gas at a uniform speed.
of
Spaces o are left between the plates n and the bottoin p of the water bed B so that
the ashes or, clinkers which fall from the chamber or retort A may be raked out
without any necessity for stopping the production of gas, and the apparatus may,
therefore, work continuously.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that I
claim
First. A gas producer or generator provided with an annular tuyere or blast-box,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. The employment of a grid or grate beneath the fuel or combustion
chamber and means whereby the said grid or grate may be wholly or partially
withdrawn, as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Third. The improved gas producer or generator consisting of the parts constructed
and combined substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing,
for the purpose specified.
Dated this 20th day of October 1887.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.