Apparatus therefor and Connected therewith.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 17th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 9th Aug., 1887.
Apparatus therefor and Connected therewith.
I, JOHN MILLER TURNBULL of 6 Rose Street, Edinburgh, in the County of
Midlothian, Photographic Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :-
This invention has for its object the manufacture of burning gas from mineral oil
by a continuous process by means of apparatus consisting of a retort or generator
which is composed of an iron or steel tube preferably oval in transverse section and
flanged at the ends. Inside the tube one or more shelves or platforms of fire-brick
or similar material are placed and on these, asbestos or other like material is laid
loosely, the shelves being so arranged that the oil runs from end to end of the retort
until it finally reaches the bottom thereby giving a large heating surface. The oil is
let into the retort from the upper side through a pipe fitted with a regulating cock or
it may be injected into the retort in the form of a spray by the action of a pump
worked by an engine or other motor. The retort is fixed or carried in a frame or
casing lined with fire-brick and when of small sizes it is or may be heated by gas
produced by the apparatus itself, coal or coke being used to heat larger sizes.
The gas produced in the retort passes therefrom into a washer and cooler of ordinary
description and from thence to a reservoir which is in the form of a bellows, or in
folds similar to the trunk or body of a photographic camera. The trunk of the
reservoir is made of india rubber, cloth, leather or equivalent material the folds being
strengthened by frames and boards of wood or the like. The ends of the reservoir are
made of flat boards or plates and in conjunction with them rollers or wheels are
provided to guide the bellows in distending and collapsing. The reservoir is placed

page_text: within a box or frame on which the guide rollers work and inlet and outlet pipes for
the gas are fitted to the base board.
Amongst other applications the mode of manufacture and apparatus hereinbefore
described may be adapted to supply gas as the motive force in gas engines whether
stationary or for locomotive purposes, for yachts and other marine vessels, and for the
lighting of railway carriages, tram cars, ships or vessels, and the reservoir being
constantly in communication with the retort a continuous supply is maintained for as
long a period as may be required.
Dated this Sixteenth day of Santamber 1886.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents.
'
The Retort or Generator is made of fine iron or mild steel of a section as shewn in
Fig. 2 of Drawing, of from th to inch thick. The Oil is let in at the top from a
supply tank, placed above, and is carried the whole length of the retort tube, by a pipe
nside, pierced with small holes in a zig zag manner to distribute the Oil equally
along the ridge of the retort. The Oil runs down the sides of the tube into the

page_text: hollows on each side and is converted into Gas, which passes out by outlet tube to
Coolers. In order to increase the heating surface these hollows may be filled with
small pieces of asbestos, firebrick, metal, or iron wire or other substance of like nature.
This retort is placed in an outer casing of cast metal, having much the appearance of
an elongated stove, and is for a 40 feet an hour capacity, about 28 inches long 18 broad
and stands on its feet about 24 inches high, but can be made of any sutiable capacity
larger or smaller this casing is lined with fire brick, and has sufficient firespace to
keep the retort tube at a red heat. It has also a chimney and ashpit. Ordinary coke
being used as fuel. There are also other forms in which the retort may be made
such as the retort tube of circular or other shape, being placed in an upright manner
and filled with asbestos, or other similar substance and kept at a red heat, the oil being
let in by a pipe near the bottom. The vapour of the oil passing through the red hot
pieces of firebrick or other sutiable substance is decomposed into gas before reaching
the top of the retort, where it passes out.

page_text: Oil is stored in a tank O, and is admitted to the retort R, R, by a pipe A, it then
passes into pipe H, H., which distributes it along the ridge of the retort, where coming
in contact with the retort tube at a red heat, it runs down the sides and is converted
into gas, which passes out by C, C, C, the coolers, to washer W, and passing through
the water, it goes through pipe E to bellows B, from thence it passes by the cock G
to supply the engine or burners. J is a cast iron frame, holding the retort, F fire
space, Pashpit I chimney, T trap boxes on coolers D wood frame work, enclosing
bellows and in which they slide up and down Y topboard of bellows, which on rising
to Y', lifts V weight of automatic regulator to V₁. This moves M, crank of regulator,
to M¹. This motion by means of L connecting rod, moves N lever of tap on oil tube,
to N¹. This movement shuts of supply of oil. These movements are reversed when
the topboard of bellows Y¹, falls from B¹ to Y or lower.
Having now particularly described and acertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare, that what
I claim as novel is,
1st. The design of the retort and the fittings of it, by which a large heating surface
is obtained, and the oil quickly decomposed into gas, and its use in conjuncton with
bellows and regulator, for purposes named, to give a continuous supply of gas.
2d. The Bellows or Reservoir with Automatic Regulator as described and its use
in connection with the other parts of the apparatus as already stated.
3d. The application of a continuous supply of gas, produced by the apparatus as
stated, to supply Gas Engines fitted with sutiable connections for driving Tramway
Cars and other Road Vehicles also Engines for Marine and other purposes, also the
Lighting of Railway Trains, Steamboats, and other Marine Vessels, Tramway Cars,
and other applications to which it may be sutiable.
In witness whereof 1 the said John Millar Turnbull have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and
eighty seven years.
JOHN MILLER TURNBULL.