Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Combustible Gas.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Combustible Gas.
We, HERMANN HEINRICH BÖINDEL, of Finkenau 13, Hamburg, in the Empire
of Germany, Manufacturer, and CHARLES CARROLL YEATON, of 31, Lombard
Street, in the City of London, Merchant, 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:-
This invention relates to apparatus for the production of combustible gas for
illuminating and other purposes by passing a steady blast of air through a sealed
receptacle containing calcined kieselghur or infusorial silica impregnated with
suitable hydrocarbon such for instance as naphtha or benzene, and has for its
object the production of such gas efficiently and economically.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect we will now proceed to describe the same fully in connection with the
accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus employed.
Figure 2 is an elevation partly in section of the air compressor and winding
drum taken at right angles to Figure 1.
is a
a is the outer cylindrical casing of the air compressor which is partially filled
with water or other suitable liquid. b is a horizontal rotary drum mounted
within the casing a and containing a number of helical channels or passages
formed round a central axis and connecting a chamber c at one end of the drum
which is closed, with the opposite end thereof which is open. d is a pipe which
is fixed to the casing a through which it passes, and entering the chamber e admits
atmospheric air thereto above the level of the liquid. The rotary drum has
one end of its spindle journalled in a suitable bearing provided on the pipe d
and the opposite end of its spindle projects through the case a in which it is
suitably journalled. The closed end of the drum b revolves fluid tight round
the pipe d. e is a ratchet wheel fixed on the projecting end of the rotary drum
spindle. f is a winding drum mounted loosely upon this projecting spindle
and provided with a pawl g which engages with the ratchet wheel f.
cord wound upon the drum f, the free end of which after passing over an over-
head pulley or pulleys i has a weight attached to it. is a handle attached
to a square ended spindle on the outer end of the winding drum for the purpose
of re-winding the said drum when it is required to raise the weight j, and 1 is
a pin which is passed through the bracket m and drum f when it is required to
lock the said drum so as to throw the air compressor out of action. n is a
reservoir for the compressed air, o is a pipe leading from the case a to the
reservoir n and p is a pipe controlled by a cock q and leading from the reservoir n
to a sealed carburetter r which contains the calcined kieselghur impregnated
with hydrocarbon. s is an outlet pipe leading from the carburetter to the point
where the gas is to be utilised. t and u are respectively the inlet and outlet,
each closed by a screw plug, for filling or emptying the compressor with liquid,
and is an inlet also closed by a screw plug, for replenishing the carburetter
with hydrocarbon when necessary.

page_text: The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
When the drum b is rotated, air at atmospheric pressure is drawn through
the pipe into the chamber c, this air is imprisoned by the helical passages
within the drum b as the latter revolves through the liquid in the compressor,
and finally liberated at the opposite end of the said drum whence it passes
through the pipe o into the reservoir n. When the pin is withdrawn the
weight slowly falls and in so doing, through the medium of the cord winding
drum f, pawl y, and ratcchet e, causes the drum to revolve in the direction of
the arrow Figure 1, so that when the cock q, is turned on, a steady blast of air
is passed through the carburetter where it absorbs or extracts a sufficient amount
of the hydrocarbon from the kieselghur to render it combustible and is then
conducted through the pipe s to the point of utilisation. When the weight has
reached its lowest point it can be again raised by means of rotating the handle k
in the opposite direction and thus re-winding the cord h upon the drum f, the
pawly now passing freely over the ratchet e, and the drum b remaining stationary.
During this winding operation the pressure in the reservoir is sufficient to
maintain a steady flow of gas.
The relative amount of hydrocarbon absorbed or extracted from the kieselghur
by the air in its passage through the sealed carburetter is very small, but
the resulting mixture of air and hydrocarbon constitutes a highly luminiferous
and combustible gas, which is suitable for heating, lighting, or other purposes
for which combustible gas is applicable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. Air compressing apparatus consisting of an outer fixed casing and an internal
rotary drum having a closed compartment at one end and a number of helical
channels or passages connecting said compartment with the opposite end of the
drum, whereby air is taken in at atmospheric pressure and discharged at a higher
pressure, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. Apparatus for the production of combustible gas from calcined kieselghur
or infusorial silica impregnated with suitable hydrocarbon, having its parts
constructed arranged and operating substantially as described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
1
C T1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.