IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CARBURETTING GAS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Woodward, of Euston Road, in the County
of Middlesex, Gas Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR CARBURETTING GAS."
Sealed the 4th November 1864, and dated the 7th May 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Woodward at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th May 1864.
I, HENRY WOODWARD, of Euston Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CARBURETTING GAS," to be as follows:-
According to my improvements I maintain the level of the naptha or carburet-
ting liquid in a vessel in which it is subjected to the contact and action of the
gas to be carburetted, and whereby it is taken up, a fresh supply constantly
taking the place of the liquid evaporated, which is thus renewed, fresh and
fresh, from the source of supply. I cause the gas to impinge on and remain
in the presence of the liquid in such manner that it becomes sufficiently
impregnated therewith to improve the illuminating power as required.
The apparatus I effect this with is as follows:-I have an external drum
or reservoir, the lower part of which is the reservoir of liquid. In this vessel
or drum I fit a hollow metal disc-like vessel, which forms a horizontal dia-
phragm, and is accurately fitted to the reservoir, but slides up and down there-

page_text: in freely, the upper surface of this has a shallow tray-like recess occupying
nearly the whole area. This flat hollow vessel is so weighted as to float in the
liquid so that it may rise to the bottom of the shallow receptacle or tray (a
little higher or lower which may require to be regulated according to the
pressure of the gas) channels of communication are made through this flat
floating vessel to allow the liquid to pass from below up into the tray, these I
prefer to fill with cotton, which, if the liquid is below the level of the tray,
will carry it up by capillary attraction, and these cotton wick-like appliances I
coil flat in the bottom of the tray so as to cover its entire surface, and which
will at all times be saturated with the liquid brought up from below. The
pipe for the supply of the gas enters at the bottom and passes up by a central
standard pipe. The disc or flat drum-like vessel has a cover fixed on it, on
the under side of which is a hollow projecting surface rather smaller than the
tray recess before-mentioned into which it dips to a slight extent, this surface
is studded with minute perforations from which the gas is emitted, and which
impinges on the saturated cottons in the tray below, or it may be on the liquid
itself, over which it travels, passing thence to an annular recess between the
periphery of the perforated cover chamber and the extreme diameter of the
tray; from this annular chamber or passage it escapes by suitable apertures
into the upper part of the containing vessel, and passes thence by the outlet
pipe. The floating disc vessel has a central opening which permits of the
passage of the ingress central stand pipe before-mentioned which rises up to the
top of the main vessel, it is enclosed at the upper part by a tube of consider-
ably larger diameter, closed at top and fixed in the cover of the floating vessel.
This conveys the gas down to the space comprised between the said cover and
the perforated surface where it escapes, thus the gas will at all times be con-
strained to pass through into this distributer and so be caused to act on and
absorb the carburetting liquid.
A small central chamber rises from the top of the apparatus to receive
the closed floating cover pipe or channel when at its highest elevation,
the position of the floating vessel being known by viewing this pipe or
channel. (which is closed at top) through a piece of glass or talc in the
side of the small raised chamber receiving it. The orifices through which
the cottons pass and the liquid flows from the lower to the upper side of
the floating vessel, bave short tube continuations depending below, which
immerse the cottons thoroughly, and also act as feet to prevent the too low
descent of the floating vessel, as it might sometimes be necessary to draw off
the residue of the liquid from the bottom of the reservoir by a suitable stóp
cock, a screw cap nozzle is provided at top of the apparatus for filling it with

page_text: the liquid when required. By this means it will be apparent that when the
apparatus is charged with liquid the floating vessel will rise to the top, and:
only a small portion of the contents will be subjected to the action of the gas,
the bulk remaining below in a pure state to be supplied from time to time to
5 the tray which presents it to the emission of the gas as before described,.
the floating vessel preserving the bulk from contact with the gas passing
through.
I attach a ring foot to the apparatus to keep it from the ground of same:
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Woodward in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th November 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY.
WOODWARD, of Euston Road, in the County of Middlesex, Gas Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year
'of.
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Henry Woodward, Her special licence that I; the said.
Henry Woodward, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others:
as I, the said Henry Woodward, 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, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great:
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CARBURETTING GAS," upon the condition.
(amongst others) that I, the said Henry Woodward, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said.
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar:
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE,. that I, the said Henry Woodward, do hereby!
declare the nature of my said. Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the.

page_text: following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
According to my improvements I maintain a level of the naptha or carburet-
ting liquid in a vessel or apparatus in which it is subjected to the contact
and action of the gas to be carburetted, and whereby it is taken up, a fresh
supply constantly taking the place of the liquid evaporated, which is thus
renewed again and again, fresh from the source or supply, the purity of which
remains the same as long as it lasts. I cause the gas to impinge on and
remain in the presence of the liquid in such manner that it becomes sufficiently
impregnated therewith to improve the illuminating power as required.
The apparatus of my Invention by which I effect the above is as follows:-I
have an external drum or receiver, in the lower part of which is the reservoir
of liquid. In this vessel or drum I fit a hollow metal disc-like vessel which
forms a horizontal diaphragm, and is somewhat closely fitted to the reservoir, but
slides up and down therein freely, the upper surface of this has a shallow tray-
like recess occupying nearly the whole area. This flat hollow vessel is so
weighted as to float in the liquid so that it may rise nearly to the bottom of
the shallow receptacle or tray (a little higher or lower which may require to
be regulated according to the pressure of the gas) channels of communication
are made through this flat floating vessel to allow the liquid to pass from
below up into the tray, these I fill with cotton, which carry the liquid up by
capillary attraction, and these cotton wick-like appliances I coil flat in the
bottom of the tray so as to cover its entire surface, this surface of cotton will
at all times be saturated with the liquid brought up from below. The pipe
for the supply of the gas enters at the bottom and passes up by a central
standard pipe. The disc or flat drum-like vessel has a cover fixed on it, on
the under side of which cover is a hollow projecting surface, rather smaller
than the tray recess before mentioned, into which it dips a little, this surface
is studded with minute perforations from which the gas is emitted, and which
impinges on the saturated cottons in the tray below, or it may be on the liquid
itself over which it travels, passing thence to an annular recess between the
periphery of the perforated cover chamber and the extreme diameter of the
tray; from this annular chamber or passage it escapes by suitable apertures all
round the periphery into the upper part of the containing vessel, and passes
thence by the outlet pipe. The floating disc vessel has a central opening
which permits of the passage of the ingress central stand pipe before-
mentioned, which pipe rises. up to the top of the main vessel, it is enclosed
at the upper part by a tube of considerably. larger diameter, closed at top and
fixed on the cover of the floating. vessel. This tube conveys the gas down to

page_text: the space comprised between the said cover and the perforated surface, whence
it escapes, thus the gas will at all times be, constrained to pass into this dis-
tributer and so be caused to act on and absorb the carburetting liquid...
A small central chamber, rises from the top of the apparatus to receive the
closed floating cover pipe or channel, when at its highest elevation, the position
of the floating vessel being known by viewing this pipe or channel (which is
closed at top) through a piece of glass or talc in the side of the small raised
chamber receiving it. The orifices. through which the cottons pass and the
liquid flows from the lower to the upper side of the floating vessel have short
tube continuations. depending. below, which immerse the cottons thoroughly.
and also act as feet to prevent the too low descent of the floating vessel; or
instead of such projecting pipes suitable: feet may be added which are of
advantage, as it is sometimes necessary to draw off the residue of the liquid
from the bottom of the reservoir by a suitable stop-cock, a screw cap nozzle is
provided at top. of the apparatus for filling it with the liquid when required.
By this means it will be apparent that when the apparatus is charged with.
liquid the floating vessel will rise to the top, and only a small portion of the
contents will be subjected to the action of the gas, the bulk remaining
below in a pure state to be supplied from time to time to the tray, presenting
it to the gas as before described, the floating vessel preserving the bulk from
contact with the gas passing through the apparatus..
I sometimes attach a ring foot to the apparatus to raise it from the ground
which I make of same size as the external casing.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents an elevation of the apparatus according to my Invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same, while Figs. 3, 4,
5, 6 and 7 are detached parts of the same apparatus.
a, a, is the external case of the apparatus, which is of circular form as seen
in the plan Fig. 2. It is a closed vessel of tin plate or other suitable: metal
having three openings, the one at the bottom, b, being the gas inlet, the other,
c, the gas outlet on the dome top h, while d is a plugged opening also in the
top for the introduction of the refined naptha or spirit used in carburetting the
gas. The
gas sinlet and outlet b and c are furnished with union joins as usual,
as seen, F, F, is a hollow floating tray or diaphragm separately represented in
Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7. Fig. 4 is a plan of floating tray with its cover removed,
Fig. 5 an under, side plan of the tray cover and perforated or reticulated
surface for distributing the gas; Fig. 6 is a plan of floating tray and its cover,
while Fig. 7 is a detached elevation; of the same. This tray F is so weighted.

page_text: as to float within the case, and with the liquid at about the level of the bottom
of its cup or basin-like surface, as seen in Fig. 3; it is fitted somewhat
closely to the internal capacity of case a, but so as to rise freely up and down;
there is a passage in the centre for the stand inlet pipe g which rises up to
the dome top h.. The upper part of this stand pipe is received within a tube
i carried upwards from the cover k of the floating tray F; this tube i is closed
at top, but permits the gas entering by pipe g to descendand escape under the
cover k of floating tray. F. The cover k is connected to F at three or four
points 1; 1, in the circumference, but otherwise there is a narrow opening all
round for the escape of the gas from under the cover k; tray F has two or
more passages m communicating from above with the liquid below, in which
it floats, through these openings are passed a cotton wick or wicks p, p,
threaded so as to remain therein, and the continuation of which is laid
round in a volute coil in the tray F as seen in Fig. 4. The naptha or
spirit is carried up by that part of the wick p in the trough openings and
conducts it to the coiled part of the wick p in the tray, and this, although
above the level of the liquid will remain constantly saturated so long as any
of the fluid remains in the vessel a under the cover k is the perforated or
reticulated surface r, between which and the cover the gas enters from i, and
spreads itself out in a film; from this space. the gas passes through the reticu-
lated diaphragm r, and by reason of the initial pressure impinges on the saturated
surface of cotton immediately below. The gas is thus minutely subdivided
and distributed over a large area and surface of naptha or spirit, and remains
in its presence a sufficient length of time to produce the carburetting desired.
The gas escapes around the circumference of cover k as before mentioned into
the upper part of the vessel a, and is thence conveyed away by the pipe c for
consumption; t chamber, raised from dome top h to receive and allow of the
rise and fall of tube i; s,-s, are glazed openings in t through which the quan-
tity of liquid contained in the carburetter a, a, can be ascertained by
observing the position of the tube i; this rises to the top when the vessel is
filled, but sinks down out of sight when the vessel is void of liquid.
In charging the vessel it is simply necessary to remove the screwed plug d,
and pour in the carburetting liquid till the top of the tube i rises and shows
at or near the upper part of the glazed opening s. Before charging the car-
buretter the gas should of course be stopped off.
If desired a tap or screwed plug may be added at the bottom of the
vessel for drawing off any residue from time to time if required to cleanse it.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of.
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be

page_text: protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the combina-
tion of parts herein-before described and represented in the Drawing annexed
constituting an apparatus for carburetting, and improving the lighting pro-
perties of gas operating in the manner and as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Woodward, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
W. CLARK,
Patent Agent,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
H. WOODWARD. (L.S.)