Improved Method of Generating Gas from Hydrocarbon Oils, and Apparatus therefor, Applicable to Kilns, Furnaces, or the Heat Chambers or Flues of Steam Boilers.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of Generating Gas from Hydrocarbon Oils, and
Apparatus therefor, Applicable to Kilns, Furnaces, or the Heat
Chambers or Flues of Steam Boilers.
I, RICHARD RICHARDSON HUTCHINSON of 114 Edith Grove, Brompton, London S.W.
Electrical and Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :-
My Invention relates to the volatization of mineral and other hydrocarbon oils, and
the generation of gas therefrom for heating, lighting or other purposes, in connection
with a furnace, fire box, flues, uptake, or smoke box of a locomotive, traction, portable
or other boiler, or any type of furnace or kiln, such as those appertaining to smelting,
lime and cement burning, brick making, potteries, glass blowing, foundries, hothouses,
and fire places generally, where a red heat is obtainable.
In carrying out my Invention I provide a tank or tanks, or any suitable reservoir
or reservoirs for containing a pre-deterinined quantity of hydro-carbon oil, creasote, or
the like, said tanks or reservoirs being fixed upon any part of a locomotive or traction
engine, the tenders thereof, or adjacent to any furnace, kiln or the like to which the
apparatus may be adapted.
Said tanks or containers are made of metal, and sufficiently strong so as to with-
stand a considerable degree of internal pressure, and are provided with stop and safety
valves, pressure guages, and other devices for indicating and regulating said pressure,
and the supply and discharge of the oils contained therein.
I connect to any part of the bottom plates of said reservoir or reservoirs, a discharge
pipe, and provide a rose or strainer attached to the orifice thereof, within the tank or
reservoir, and also a check, or non return valve, or other equivalent device, for the
retention of the pressure within said tank. 1 further provide an air-pump, driven by
the engine or other motor, or by any suitable method, the outlet pipe of which, pro-
vided with the necessary appliances, is passed into the closed tank or reservoir above
mentioned. The air brake pump as usually provided upon a locomotive engine, or in
other cases, steam pressure derived from any convenient source, may be applied for
this purpose, a branch outlet pipe being provided for the delivery of the compressed
air or steam pressure into said tank or reservoir, the object in view being the generation
and maintenance of pressure upon the surface of the liquid hydro carbon contained in
said tank or reservoir, or as an alternative device I may cause said liquid hydro
carbon to flow from the tank by the action of gravity. I also provide a check or non-
return valve upon the pump outlet, at or near the point where the latter is connected
to the reservoir. The pressure maintained within said tank, causes the hydro carbon
to be ejected therefrom through the discharge pipe hèreinbefore referred to, to which
I connect by means of a suitable junction, a second pipe conveying either "live
steam from the boiler, or exhaust steam from the engine, or air, which may be com-
pressed or heated, with an injector or other device, regulating valve or the like
interposed to control the quantity of steam, steam and water, or air, passing the junction
aforesaid, and mixing with the hydrocarbon under pressure within said discharge
pipe.
"
I may, in cases where I employ an injector as above described, dispense with said
air pressure, and allow the hydrocarbon to be discharged from the tank by gravity, as
before referred to, assisted by the vacuum which is produced by the steam issuing
from the nozzle or tuyerè of the injector above referred to, thus atomizing and
thoroughly incorporating the hydro carbon with steam, steam and water, or air.
I also provide, and arrange a pipe, series of pipes, or a coil of pipes, according to
the requirements of the particular adaptation of the apparatus according to my Inven-
tion, said pipe or pipes being of great structural strength, so as to withstand internal

page_text: pressure, and formed preferably of elliptical cross section, where such shape is
admissable. Said pipe or pipes is or are attached to, or formed part of, the roof of the
fire box of a boiler, furnace or kiln, or otherwise situated or placed therein so as to
become highly heated by the action of the fire. Said pipe or pipes, hereinafter termed
the "generator" may be enclosed or surrounded by any suitable refractory material
or substance, such as fireclay, in order to maintain the same in a red hot condition.
The liquid hydro carbon being atomized and mingled with steam, steam and water, or
air, or simply atomized, is forced by the air pressure, caused to flow by gravity, or
forced by the injector herein before mentioned, through the generator from the discharge
pipe leading from the tank or reservoir herein before referred to and described, thus
becoming perfectly gaseous, and highly heated and expanded, is forced onward by the
resultant pressure to a suitable cylinder, or other containing vessel or vessels, herein-
after called the gas holder or holders. Said gas may be thus stored in its heated state,
or the temperature thereof may be reduced by passing it through the ordinary feed
water tank appertaining to a boiler, or other vessel containing water, or a system of
jacketted pipes with cold water circulating round them. Said gas holder or holders
may, in the case of a train of vehicles, be placed upon the roofs, or under the floors
thereof, and gas may be stored at a high pressure for either heating or lighting
purposes, suitable burners being provided for the utilization thereof. In order to
diminish the high initial pressure of said gas before allowing same to pass through the
burners or other device for obtaining heat or light therefrom, I interpose suitable
reducing valves or pressure governors, and in certain cases the pipe or. pipes which
convey the gas from the generator to the gas holder or holders may be so arranged
that, in addition to the light and heat derived from the combustion of said gas in the
ordinary way, the heat retained by said gas from the generation thereof in the red hot
generator may be caused to radiate from the gas holders, or pipes in connection there-
with, for the purpose of warming the carriages of a train, or any apartment, workshop
or building in the proximity of the apparatus according to my Invention.
In the case of the adaptation of the foregoing device to a train, I provide suitable
flexible couplings for the purpose of connecting the gas holders carried by each
vehicle, together, and also provide for the detachment of each or any of these without
allowing the gas to escape.
In order to accomplish the atomizing of the bydro-carbon before entering the
generator hereinbefore described, I may provide a nozzle within or connected to the
discharge pipe, said nozzle having a spiral partition or diaphragm formed therein for
the purpose of breaking up into particles, or atomizing said hydro-carbon on its passage
to the generator, this alternative device allowing of the use or employment of said
hydro carbon direct, without the admixture of steam, steam and water, or air, as
hereinbefore referred to and described.
Dated this 19th day of November 1888.
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Little Moorfields, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of Generating Gas from Hydrocarbon Oils, and
Apparatus therefor, Applicable to Kilns, Furnaces, or the Heat
Chambers or Flues of Steam Boilers.
I, RICHARD RICHARDSON HUTCHINSON, of 114 Edith Grove Brompton, London, S.W.,
Electrical and Mechanical Engineer 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:-
My invention relates to the volatization of mineral and other hydro carbon oils and
the generation of gas therefrom for heating, lighting, or other purposes, in connection
with a furnace, fire box, flue, uptake or the smoke box of a locomotive, traction
portable or other boiler, or any type of furnace or kiln, such as those appertaining to

page_text: smelting, lime and cement burning, brick-making, potteries, glass blowing, foundries,
hot houses and fire-places generally, where a great heat is obtainable.
The following description of my invention and the manner in which it is carried
into effect may be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of
drawings in which Figure 1 represents the application of my said invention to a
stationary boiler, Figures 2, 3, and 4, details thereof, shewn detached and drawn to a
larger scale, Figure 5 is a diagram shewing the corresponding method of applying
said invention to a locomotive engine and vehicles, and Figure 6 is a flexible connection
or joint, shewn in section, and hereinafter to be fully described.
Referring first to Figure 1, I employ a tank or reservoir A, filled with a suitable
quantity of hydrocarbon oil, creasote, or the like, and provided with a cover so that
pressure may be maintained therein. I may, in certain cases employ a series of such
tanks or reservoirs, and dispose them in any suitable manner, so that the proper
connection may be made therewith, and the other parts of the apparatus.
Said tank or tanks is or are made of metal, and of sufficient strength to withstand
a considerable degree of internal pressure, and may be provided with stop and safety
valves, pressure guages, and other devices for indicating and regulating said pressure,
and also the rate of supply and discharge of the oils contained therein.
I attach a pipe B to the tank A furnished with a rose or strainer, at or near the
bottom thereof, and also a check or non-return valve, or an equivalent therefor, C, I
may also lead a steam pipe D from the boiler G into the tank A, for the purpose of
maintaining pressure upon the surface of the liquid contained therein, or in lieu thereof,
and to attain the same object, I may provide an air pump, driven by the engine, or
by any other motor, the outlet pipe thereof being led into the tank A to serve the
same purpose as that fulfilled by D. The ordinary air-brake pump may be employed
for this purpose in the case of the application of my invention to locomotives. I may
in other cases allow the liquid hydrocarbon to circulate by the action of gravity alone,
although in the majority of cases in which my invention may be applied, it is essential
that said hydro carbon or the like should be kept under pressure, uniformly maintained
by any of the methods herein before referred to. The pressure thus maintained
within the tank causes the liquid hydro carbon to be ejected therefrom through the
discharge pipe B and check, or non-return valve (, to which I connect, by means of a
suitable junction, a pipe F, conveying either "live" steam from the boiler, as shewn
in the drawing, or exhaust steam from an engine or other source, or air, which may
be under pressure, and heated. At the junction of F and BI may interpose an injector
or ejector H, the action of which may aid or assist the discharge of the tank A, due
to the contained pressure; and also tending to atomize the hydro carbon liquid
during said discharge. This action may be better explained by reference to Figure 4,
shewing a section of the injector or ejector H, with a spiral web or rib a fixed to or
forming part of, the vortex thereof, so that the steam entering at c, and mingling with
the hydro carbon at d may become atomized by reason of the spiral motion imparted
by the web a. The amount of steam that it is desired to mix with the hydro carbon
may be either regulated by the conical spindle b, or by a stop valve I, Figure 1.
may
in cases where I employ an injector as above described, dispense with the air
or steam pressure within the tank A, and allow the hydro carbon liquid contained
therein, to be discharged by the action of gravity as before referred to, assisted by the
vacuum which is produced by the steam issuing from the nozzle or tuyère of said
injector, thus atomizing and thoroughly incorporating the hydrocarbon with steam,
steam and water, or air, this taking place under pressure, due to the velocity of the
mixture. In all cases, a pressure is essential, whether it be applied to the surface of the
liquid in the tank or to said liquid, during and after mixture and atomization. A
continuation of the discharge pipe B, shewn by B¹, Figure 1, serves to convey the
mixture before referred to from the atomizer or injector H to the generator J, and decom-
posing chamber K, from whence the perfect fixed gas passes away by a pipe L to a
gas-holder or other device, to be used for heating, lighting, or motive power.
The generator J may consist of a pipe, series of pipes, or a coil, according to the
requirements of the particular adaptation of the apparatus according to my invention,

page_text: a coil however being chosen for illustration in. the drawing and the description as
herein set forth.
The pipe or pipes forming the generator, are of great structural strength, so as to
withstand great internal pressure, and may be of elliptical cross section where this
shape is admissible. Said pipe or pipes is or are attached to, or arranged to form
part of, the roof of the fire box of a boiler, furnace or kiln, or otherwise situated or placed
therein so as to become highly heated by the action of the fire; for instance in
Figure 1, the generator J and decomposing chamber K form the bridge in the com-
bustion chamber of the boiler G. The generator J may be exposed to the full beat of
the fire, or may be enclosed or surrounded by any refractory material or substance, as
fire-clay, asbestos, or the like, in order to maintain the same in a highly heated
condition, and to protect the metal from deterioration.
The liquid hydro carbon being atomized and mingled with steam, steam and water,
air, or simply atomized, is forced by the pressure in the closed tank A, caused to flow
by gravity, or driven by the injector H, through the pipe B₁ into the generator J, which
is shewn detached, and drawn to a larger scale by Figure 2, and sectional views Figure 3.
The atomized mixture becomes gaseous by passing through the heated generator J, and
from thence through the decomposing chamber, containing carbonaceous matter for
the absorption of, and union with oxygen that may be liberated. One, or any number
of check plates, ee Figures 2 and 3, are placed in the chamber K, formed by the reten-
tion of discs of wire gauze for similar perforated material between the flanges, e e,
acting as perforated diaphragms, and retarding the flow of, decomposing, and atomizing
any residue of the mixture other than the perfect gas. Said gas is conveyed by the
pipe L to a suitable holder, where it may be stored under pressure either in a highly
heated state, or may be reduced in temperature by causing it to pass through the
ordinary feed water tank appertaining to a boiler, or other vessel containing water, or
a system of jacketted pipes with cold water circulating round them.
In the case of applying the apparatus according to my invention to a locomotive
engine and train of vehicles, as shewn by Figure 5, the tank A may be placed upon
the tender, or other convenient part of said engine, and the generator A, and decom-
posing chamber K within the fire box, so that these may become highly heated.
Flexible unions or couplings connect the pipe L leading from the generator, to the
gas-holders or reservoirs M under the carriages or vehicles, which however, may be
otherwise disposed upon or around said vehicles. Gas may thus be stored under
pressure for heating or lighting purposes, suitable burners being provided for the
utilization thereof. In order to diminish the high initial pressure of said gas before
passing the same to the burners or other device for obtaining heat or light therefrom,
I interpose suitable reducing valves or pressure governors, and in certain cases the
pipe or pipes conveying the gas from the generator to the gas holder or holders
may be so arranged that, in addition to the light and heat derived from the com-
bustion thereof in the ordinary way, the heat retained by the gas from the generation
thereof in the highly heated generator may be caused to radiate from the gas holders,
or the pipes in connection therewith, for the purpose of heating the carriages or
vehicles of a train, or any apartment, workshop, or building in the proximity of the
apparatus according to my invention.
In the case of the application of my invention to a railway train, or any portable, or
temporary apparatus, 1 provide flexible couplings, hereinbefore referred to, and
indicated by N, Figure 5, but shewn more particularly by the sectional view Figure 6,
in which a a¹ are flexible tubes, each attached to a metal nipple b and c.
The nipple b
is furnished with an external screw thread, and a female cone, corresponding to the
coupling nut d and male cone respectively, upon e, which enables a gas tight joint to
be readily made between the ends of the flexible tubes a and a¹.
By the adoption of my invention as herein set forth, and shewn by the drawings, I
am enabled to attach a gas producing apparatus to any boiler, kiln or furnace; where
the hydro carbon liquid may be mingled with steam, steam and water, or air, under
pressure, and being atomized, is forced into a red hot generator and decomposing
chamber, and thence into gas holders where it may be stored for the purpose of heating,

page_text: lighting, or transmitting motive power. I may so regulate the proportions of the
constituents of the mixture, as to allow the major part thereof to consist of steam, or
steam and water, which is decomposed in the generator, and separated in the decom-
posing chamber, the smaller proportion of hydrocarbon in this case, simply enriching
the gas so formed, and increasing its illuminating power, while, by causing the
quantity of said hydrocarbon to exceed that of the steam or steam and water, the
resultant gas is rendered more fit for use as an illuminating agent, and various degrees
of mixture, and consequently different qualities of gas may be produced by regulating
the sources of supply.
The chief advantage appertaining to the use of my invention lies in the fact that it
inay be adapted to any existing steam boiler or furnace, in some cases dispensing with
the brick work of the bridge, and the heat hitherto absorbed and lost in said brickwork,
and the walls or sides of combustion chambers may be utilised for generating gas
without the necessity for structural alteration therein.
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;-
First. In an apparatus for the generation of gas from hydro-carbon oils, with or with-
out admixture with steam, or steam and water, the combination of a containing tank A
Figure 1, a pump, injector or ejector H, with an atomizer a Figure 4, and a pipe or
pipes forming a generator, and adapted to form part of, or be attached to a fire box,
furnace, flue or combustion chamber of any steam boiler furnace or kiln, substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth, with reference to the appended drawings.
Second. In a gas producing apparatus as referred to in the preceding claim, the
combination of a pipe, sheaf of pipes, or series of pipes, either coiled, or otherwise
disposed with, or forming part of, the fire box, furnace, flue or combustion chamber of
any type of boiler, furnace or kiln, for the purpose of generating gas, substantially as
herein described.
Third. In a gas producing apparatus as above referred to, the method of, and
means for, maintaining a pressure of air or steam, or both, upon the liquid hydro-
carbon, either before, during, or after the mingling therewith of steam or steam and
water, and also when said mixture is dispensed with, in combination with a heated
generator, substantially as herein described.
Fourth. In a gas producing apparatus, the general arrangement of pipes, tubes, and
valves, shewn by Figure 1, for procuring the circulation, commingling, atomizing,
and decomposition of hydrocarbon oils, steam, or steam and water, and the method of
regulating the same, for the generation of gas, substantially as herein described, and
shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In a gas producing apparatus, applied to a steam boiler, or the like, the
employment of a decomposing chamber K, Figures 1 and 2, with perforated
diaphragms e and ƒ Figure 3, as and for the purposes herein described, with reference
to the drawings.
Dated this 20th day of August 1889
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Little Moorfields, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.