Fuel Gas.
Year: 1888

page_text: Fuel Gas.
I, HENRY CUNNINGHAM REW, residing at 2619 Prairie Avenue, Chicago, in the
County of Cook, and State of Illinois, U.S.A., gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The present invention embraces improvements upon matters described in my
Letters Patent of the United States of America: No. 290,926, dated Dec. 25,
A.D. 1883, which related to the continuous generation and fixing of gas, oil
vapors being introduced into the fixing chamber to enrich the gas, superheating and
fixing chambers being heated simultaneously by the combustion of gas free from
ash, and nitrogen being excluded from the final product patent No. 339,471, dated
April 6, A.D. 1886, which related to a method of heating superheating and fixing
chambers simultaneously by passing downwardly through the hot products of com-
bustion from two hard coal furnaces connected at the base, the heat of the latter being
maintained by conducting away the manufactured gas at the base in a similar manner.
Said superheating and fixing chambers containing refractory material extended from
the bottom of the apparatus about its full height, means are provided for introducing
oil into the fixing chambers (the use of external metallic flues for the passage of pro-
ducts or gases to the chambers being avoided); patent No. 339,472, dated April 6,
presence of
A.D. 1866, relates to the decomposition of superheated steam in the
in
gas
a chamber containing heated refractory material, the use of oil vapors to convert
carbonic acid thus produced to carbonic oxide, and to enrich the final product.
the fuel in chambers located above the chambers containing refractory materia
being heated by radiation and direct upward circulation of the gases used in heating
the latter chambers, and by conduction through open flues in the masonry to save
heat that would otherwise be radiated upwardly into the open air and lost patent
No. 341,506, dated May 11, A.D. 1886, which related to a method of heating both
steam superheating and fixing gas chambers simultaneously, by passing hot products
of combustion, generated in two hard coal furnaces connected at the top, downwardly

page_text: through them, the heat of the latter being maintained, as in patent 339,471, by con-
ducting away the manufactured gas at the base in a similar manner, said super-
heating and fixing chambers in this case being located immediately below the fuel
chambers.
The object of the present invention for improvements upon the foregoing, is to
provide much quicker and more efficient means for completely utilizing bituminous
coal in the manufacture of illuminating and fuel gas by methods and apparatus, which,
though they have a general resemblance to matters heretofore known, are new in
respect to the processes and constructions hereinafter pointed out in the claims. The
operation is such that hydrocarbon vapors and gases are quickly expelled from
bituminous coal, and the coal is first reduced to coke without the use of externally
heated retorts and without the passage therethrough of the heated products of com-
bustion. Means are provided for conducting the hot hydrocarbon vapors and gases
from the vertical retorts or compartments, adapted for coking coal, into the current
of hot gases generated by the decomposition of steam, air or gas in and by the hot
coke, which is first, rendered incandescent by air blasts. Said coke is supplied by
gravity from said coking compartments to the compartments or chambers adapted for the
decomposition of superheated steam, all as specified hereinafter. The coal can be quickly
coked and the coke can then be converted into water gas in one continuous operation,
and the latter can be enriched by the coal gas passing from the coking compartments or
chambers without carbonizing or burning the hydrocarbon vapors, and without
suspending the operation to introduce either coal or coke. The heat radiated and
conducted directly from the generating compartments and regenerators to the coal in
the coking compartments or chambers is utilized to quickly expel the volatile and
gaseous hydrocarbons and from the bituminous coal employed, thus avoiding the use
of costly and poor heat-conducting retorts and converting the coke into water gas
without withdrawing it from the apparatus.
In the accompanying drawings, which form part of the specification,
Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of a gas apparatus, showing the fuel chambers,
the upper coking chambers being connected at the top by a valved pipe, and the
lower generating chambers at the base by an open flue.
Fig. 2, a side view of a furnace and regenerator looking to the left and partly in
section on line ww, fig. 3, showing the two connections between the fuel and
regenerative chambers.
Fig. 3, a plan view of the whole apparatus parily in section on lines 1-2 and 3-4
of Fig. 4.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section of one furnace and regenerator in line y-y of Fig. 3,
showing also the flues connecting the other fuel chambers at the top and base.
Vertical sections of both sides of the apparatus are identical in forin and con-
struction.
Similar letters of reference designate like parts in the several figures of the
drawings. The construction shown in figures 1 and 2 will be first described and
modifications will be subsequently referred to in connection with other figures.
My improved gas producing apparatus includes two furnaces which comprise water
gas generating compartments or chambers A A¹ situated below the flues L. L', which
are located approximately near the vertical center of the furnace. These chambers
are provided at their bases, with means for introducing air blasts, steam or gases for
the purpose either of heating coke to incandescence therein, or of decomposing steam
or gases. They are herein styled generators or generating chambers, such terms being
customarily applied in the art to furnace chambers adapted to generate gases by decom-
position of steam. These chambers are preferably connected below the grate bars or at
the base by the flue C. Flues D D¹ for air blasts, and pipes G G¹ for steam, and H2 H3
for gas, enter both of the ash-pits below the grate bars. Suitable doors B, are provided
for cleaning the grates, removing ashes, and other purposes.
Steam inlets and gas exits L L connect the generating chambers A A¹ from four
to six feet above the grate bars with the upper part of regenerative or heat storing
chambers EE, which latter are nearly filled with any suitable loosely piled

page_text: refractory material, such as fire brick, lime, soap stone or quartz rock. The generating
chambers A A are surmounted by coking compartments or chambers A² A³ situated
above the flues L IA, and are directly connected therewith in order that hot gases may
circulate freely through the space adjacent to the flues and that the coal when coked
in the upper compartments may pass freely down by gravity into the lower com-
partments below the flues L. The main body of the apparatus is preferably
covered with gas tight iron shells and suitable non-conducting material, as indicated
in figure 4, and the pipes and external conduits may also be so covered. The coking
chambers are preferably fitted at the top with any suitable tight feeding apparatus or
gas tight covers, and openings in the sides with covers may be provided for clinker
bars, which can be used to ascertain the condition of the coal and to facilitate the
downward movement of the coke from the upper to the lower compartments. A
pipe A, controlled by valve a, connects the upper compartments at the top, and
pipes A5 A6, all for conducting coal gas, controlled by valves as a may connect the
upper parts of said compartments with the upper part of the regenerative chambers.
(See figures 3 and 4.).
The regenerative chambers E E', are supplied at their tops with hot air inlet
conduits FF, steam inlet pipes C4 or H and oil or oil vapor inlet pipes M M³, all of
which pipes are controlled by suitable valves as indicated. At their bases they are
similarly supplied with gas inlet pipes H or H, air inlet pipes F2 and steam inlet
pipes G G³ or G, also with similar outlet pipes for products of combustion K K', and
gas outlet pipes 00, all of which pipes are provided with valves or cocks. The
lower inlet, gas, air, and steam pipes may connect directly with the base of the
regenerators or with outlet pipes 0 0¹ or with both.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:
The fuel chambers A A', A² A³ are first filled with hard coal or coke, and the
openings at the top of the coking furnaces are tightly closed.
The valves, controlling the outlets K K for products of combustion are then
opened. The fuel is ignited on the line of the grate bars, and air blasts are
admitted below the grate bars through pipes D D, which urge combustion simul-
taneously in both generating chambers. The products of combustion, of which about
20 per cent, are carbonic oxide which is combustible, and about 8 per cent. carbonic
acid and 72 per cent. nitrogen, which are incombustible, pass through flues LL, into the
tops of the regenerative chambers E E¹. Air blasts preferably heated by passing
upward through flues in the walls of the regenerative chambers, are then admitted, and
the carbonic oxide is burned simultaneously in both generators. The highly heated
incombustible products of this second combustion (carbonic acid and nitrogen) pass
down through the refractory material and out at the outlets K K', leaving their heat
in the refractory material. When the fuel in both combustion chambers has been
raised to incandescence and the refractory material in both generators sufficiently
heated (as through properly provided peep holes) the air blasts are shut off. Jets of
steam are then admitted into the tops of the regenerative chambers or below the fuel
in order to drive out the air and incombustible gases remaining in the apparatus.
The outlets K K¹ for products of combustion are then closed and one of the outlets for
gas, as for example 0%, is then opened by moving valve o'. Steam, air or gas, or any
desired mixture of the same, is then admitted at the bottom of chamber E, through
pipes GF H, and is passed up through the heated refractory material, raising the
steam or mixed gases to the temperature (about 2000 degrees Fah.) necessary for their
thorough decomposition when brought into contact with incandescent carbon. From
the top of chamber E, the superheated steam or mixed gases are passed through flue L
into and down through the incandescent fuel in chamber A, then through the
flue C, up and through the incandescent fuel in chamber A'. By their passage through
the chamber E, where they are first highly superheated, then through and in intimate
contact with the incandescent fuel in chambers A A', the gases are completely
decomposed, and pure carbonic oxide and hydrogen highly combustible gases (provided
that gas or steam only, or a mixture of them, are admitted to the superheating
chamber E), enriched by the hydrocarbons derived from the coal, are the result.

page_text: From the top of the combustion chamber A', the hot gases are passed through the
flue into the top of the regenerative or heat storing chamber E, then down
through the heated refractory material, wherein they are combined and fixed into a
homogeneous gas, and out at the outlet to the gas main O'. A test burner t is
attached to the main, and, in case the gas needs still further enriching, liquid hydro-
carbons or their vapors may be introduced into chamber E¹, through the pipe M¹:
and in their passage down through the heated refractory material, they are combined
and fixed with the other gases into a homogeneous gas of any desired candle power,
according to the quantity of oil or rich gases admitted through pipe M¹. While
making gas, the oil pipes may discharge oil or oil vapors directly into the coking
chambers above flues L'L' by the branch pipe indicated in figure 4, wherein it is
volatilized and vaporized by heat radiated and conducted directly from the com-
bustion and regenerative chambers, and the vapors may pass from thence with the
coal gas through the connecting Hues into the enriching and fixing chamber. Air
alone or a mixture of steam and air, may be used as a gaseous medium in the
manufacture of gas and passed into and through the incandescent coke, provided
that it is desired to generate a heating gas which contains a portion of incombustible
nitrogen. A non-illuminating natural gas may be used as a gaseous medium in
the manufacture of gas instead of steam, and converted into an illuminating gas of
high candle power. This method is advantageous in regions where natural gas can be
cheaply and abundantly obtained. As it contains a large proportion of light car-
buretted hydrogen and little or no oxygen, the heat of the fires in the generators is
longer maintained, and it has been found necessary to highly heat hydrogen or natural
gas in order to cause it to unite with the enriching carbon, and to hold it in combination
until carried to the place of combustion. Water gas, oxygen, hydrogen, carbonic oxide,
carbonic acid, or light carbureted hydrogen may be used alone or in various mixtures and
with or without steam and passed through the incandescent coke. And gases produced
in the generating chamber as hereinbefore described may be increased in volume and
enriched by mingling the same with natural gas and then fixing the mixture in the
regenerative chambers, thus avoiding the burning of the hydrocarbons contained in
the natural gas in the fires.
As the inlets and outlets to the regenerative chambers E E' are similar, the
operation of gas making can be reversed at will, according to the condition of the fuel
and regenerative chambers.
For instance, after heating up the apparatus, steam, air or gas, or any desired
mixture of them, may be passed into the base of chamber E, and through the
combustion or generating chambers, and the resulting gases may be combined and
fixed in chamber E, and the gases passed out of the apparatus through the outlet O.
The gas outlets 0 01 may discharge into a common water seal, or hydraulic main, and
the waste products of final combustion may also be discharged into or exhausted by a
single chimney or smoke-stack, all as indicated in figure 3. The several chambers,
connecting flues, outlets and other parts illustrated in figures 1 and 2, can be
arranged in line, if desired, though such arrangement is not preferred, as an additional
chimney and water seal are required.
The combustion or generating chambers A A' are supplied with additional hot fuel
as fast as it is consumed, by the coal or coke in the upper chambers A² A³, descending
by gravity. Clinker bars or rods can be introduced through openings to break
up adhering fuel and hasten its descent, if desired. As the coke or hard fuel first
supplied in heating up the apparatus sinks down in the upper chambers A² A³, fresh
bituminous coal is supplied through the openings at the tops of the chambers, after
each run of gas, or as required to keep the chambers full. Preferably, these openings
or fuel chutes are provided each with a valve at the top, and also at the bottom in a
well known form, as indicated in section in figure 4, in order to prevent the escape of
gas while charging coal into the furnace. As the coal enters the chambers A² A³ it is
exposed to heat radiated directly and continuously from the conbustion or generating
chambers and regenerators, and its volatile hydrocarbons are thrown off and the coal
is reduced to coke during its descent through the upper chambers AA³. --While

page_text: heating up the apparatus, in the manner above described, the rich gases evolved in
the coking chambers, may pass down through the coal into the combustion chambers,
or through the pipes A6 A6 into the regenerators, where they will mingle with the
products of combustion passing through flues LL, and with the heated air entering
the upper parts of the regenerators through ports connected with the vertical air
flues FF, and be burned, and thus aid in quickly heating the regenerative chambers
previous to making gas.
In case the coal gas or a part of it is allowed to pass into the regenerators through
pipes A A, the valves may be partially closed if necessary to prevent products of
combustion from passing through the bituminous coal from below. Ordinarily, the
pressure in the generating or combustion chamber will not be sufficient to carry the
products of combustion much above the flues L L'.
While making gas, in case the chamber E is used as a superheating chamber, and the
chamber E as a combining and fixing chamber, the coal gas valve a" is closed, and
the valves at and a (see Figs. 2 and 3) are wholly or partially opened, thus directing
the rich coal and oil gases from both coking chambers into the top of the chamber A¹
or through pipe A and thence into the top of the combining and fixing chamber E',
where they are mixed with water gas generated in the lower chambers, and aid in
enriching and carbureting said gases; or, when operating the apparatus in a reverse
direction, the rich coal and oil gases generated in the coking chambers A² A³ may in
like manner be directed into chamber E by closing the valve a" and wholly or partially
opening the valves at a³.
It will be understood that in heating up the coke by an air blast in chambers A A¹
the valves in pipes A A may be wholly or partially closed. When the coke has been
made incandescent and steam and gases are thereupon introduced into the same, one
of these valves and the valve a' may be wholly or partially opened and regulated so
that the gases expelled from the fresh coal in the coking chambers may pass as above
described into the fixing chamber through the pipes, the valve over the steam super-
heating chamber being closed. A test burner 2 on pipe A furnishes the means
of determining the character of these gases which may be varied by opening the valve a*
more or less to allow a suitable portion of the water gas to ascend through the coal and
mingle with and carry off the coal gases. All of the gas made in the chambers A A'may
be made to pass out through exits I. L', but preferably a regulable portion controlled by
valve a is allowed to ascend in chambers A2 A3, and pass out through the valved pipes
together with the coal gases with the effect to aid in heating and coking the bituminous
coal in the upper compartments and partially mix the various gases.
By this method of manufacturing water gas and simultaneously utilizing bituminous
coal and coke, less'oil will be required to enrich the gas to the desired candle power,
and the coke and the tar, which are the principle products (or so-called "residuals")
of coal gas works, being nearly pure carbon, may thus be completely utilized, and
wholly applied to the manufacture of gas, leaving no residual but the ash.
It will be seen that the apparatus may be divided and made into two separate and
complete sets of generators and fixing chambers by closing the flue C (and pipe A¹),
by placing a valve or diaphragm on the dotted line, or by closing the flue C
with masonry, or in any suitable manner. Then, after heating up the apparatus as
before described, air, steam or gas, or any mixture of them, may be driven into the
ash-pits below the grate bars through pipes D D₁, GG, H2 H³, and passed up through
the lower combustion or generating chambers A A', and the resulting gases through
flues LL, into the side regenerative chambers E E', where they may be enriched
with the volatile hydrocarbons liberated in the upper coking chambers, and with oil
vapors, as described, and combined and fixed by passing them down through the
heated refractory material in chambers E E. This method of operating is according
to my invention and is convenient when the manufacture of the gas is confined to one
side of the apparatus, as when operation is suspended in one part for repairs; although
less satisfactory results are obtained, for the reason that the steam partially puts out
the fire when driven in at the base of the combustion chambers, and decomposition of

page_text: the gaseous media is less complete when they are not first superheated, and when they
are passed through only a single bed of incandescent fuel to be decomposed.
With the outlets for the products of combustion is connected a chimney K² or a
steam or other exhaust. The use of an exhausting device with means for supplying
an air blast to the generator and also another between the generator and the
regenerative chamber to burn the product is new, and has an important relation to
the combustion of gases leaving the generator. If air and the products of combustion
he forced through the apparatus by the blasts as heretofore practised, where an air
supply between the generator and brick work chamber has been utilized to burn the
products, perfect combustion and the most economic heating of the regenerative
chamber cannot be secured because the final products are discharged by the force of
the blasts and sufficient time is not allowed for the proper mingling of the air and
partially burned gases, and it further appears that such incombustible gases as are
present are not so drawn away as to prevent their interference with combustion in or
above the regenerator. Exhausting devices principally for combustible gas have been
used in gas apparatus, but the present improvement relates to the use of such means
for exhausting the final non-combustible products of combustion in connection with an
air blast for the fuel and supplemental air blast between the fuel chamber and the
regenerator to burn the products.
Steam pipes G provided with stop cocks are connected with the pipes A³ A° for use
under special conditions, as when it may for any reason be desired in commencing
operation or at other times, to more suddenly raise the temperature in the coking
chambers. The invention, however, obviates the evils resulting from the constant and
compulsory passage of products through the coking chamber, and the steam pipes
above described are provided to give more thorough control of the temperature, and of
the evolution of the hydrocarbon gases in the coking chamber under exceptional
circumstances. These steam pipes may admit steam to the regenerators, as before
stated.
It will be seen that the present arrangement of the regenerators and the fuel
chamber supplies a proper depth of refractory material and also leaves an open space
below the latter, and that this is utilized for the collection and removal of ashes.
Preferably, close ash chambers having tightly closing doors are provided immediately
below the grates, as indicated, and spaces are left below these into which a truck or
wagon may run, as has heretofore been practised in metallurgie furnaces. The upper
doors B2 B3 give access to the upper surface of the grates, and the lower doors B
provide for occasionally dropping the refuse. The whole space below each grate
inight, if desired, be thrown into one chamber made gas fight and provided with a
closely fitting door. But the construction illustrated is preferable, as less surface is
exposed to heat radiation.
It will be understood that I do not limit myself to the preciso arrangements and
details of my improved apparatus, as hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, as the construction may be variously modified without
departing from the nature of my invention. As for instance, the hot products of
combustion and gases may be passed into the base of regenerative chambers and out
at their tops or sides, the regenerators may be placed directly beneath the combustion
chambers, the apparatus may be constructed all in one or in two structures with
suitable dividing gas tight walls, and the details of the construction of the combined
combustion and coking chambers may be modified without radical departure from my
invention, as for example, by varying somewhat the contour or relative size of said
chambers, none of the variations noted being substantially inconsistent with the
described construction and operation of the coking and generating chambers.
The construction shown in the drawings is, however, the most preferable, as the
regenerators absorb and retain heat in the most economical manner and aid in
maintaining the heat in the central chambers to the best advantage, as practised in
open-hearth metallurgical furnaces..
It is characteristic of my improvement that the upper coking chambers are in free

page_text: and open communication with the lower generating chambers and that exits, such
as II, are provided near the bottom of the former and top of the latter or at about
mid height of the furnaces, the construction being such that (1) distilled gases from
the first named chambers and the "generated "gases from the second may pass out
of common exit flues when desired; and that (2) coal may be coked by heat from the
gas generators and heated brick work in the regenerators without the passage there-
through of products of combustion, the communication between the chambers being
open and unobstructed; and that (3) coke can freely descend by gravity from the
coking or coal gas chamber into the water gas generators without the necessity of
opening the furnaces or retorts.
To provide for the two last named objects and particularly for the easy descent of
coal in the coking chamber and for the free delivery of the same when coked into the
generating chamber, it is essential that the coking chamber should not be materially
contracted in their lower parts. I therefore make the bottom of the coking chambers
which are adjacent to the exits L L'as large or larger horizontally than any part of
the same, and this is an essential feature. For were the bottom of the coking chamber
contracted in any considerable degree, or if said chamber communicated with the
combustion chamber below by a contracted passage instead of the wide and open
passage substantially as illustrated, such contraction would not only interfere with the
upward radiation of heat and its conduction through the coal, but it would in
operation produce a choking or clogging by the bituminous coal in the coking
chambers, owing to the well known, liability of such coal when heated to become
agglomerated in masses and adherent to furnace walls.
I do not herein claim decomposing steam by the aid of incandescent coal or coke,
enriching the gases resulting from such decomposition with vapors and gases whether
produced by vaporizing oil or heating bituminous coal and then fixing the enriched
gases in separate externally heated retorts, as such process is old and has been
conducted by the use of various apparatus. Nor do I claim herein a process in
which the products of combustion are passed through bituminous coal for coking the
) same.
Heretofore, a chamber for bituminous coal has been located above a combustion
chamber, but the two chambers were separated by an open space having a perforated
arch through which very little or no coke could pass, a side door being necessary for
its removal, and a distinct charging apparatus and side door for supplying coke to the
generator being also required whereby much gas and heat were wasted. In other
furnaces heretofore proposed, the lower end of an upper chamber was too contracted
to permit the use of bituminous coal, and in another form which was not liable to the
said objections no provision was made for the removal of ashes and refuse except as
slag, which latter would carry off much heat and chill and clog the exit and render
such construction inoperative for my purposes.
My vertical chambers or retorts for bituminous coal are located at the upper parts
of the furnaces and above the exits from the gas generators, and are in direct contact
and heated by conduction and radiation from below. The natural tendency of the
upper parts of the furnaces to become highly heated, is utilized to distill the gases
from soft coal. The passing of products of combustion through such coal charged
from time to time, is objectionable as it burns or carbonizes the hydrocarbon vapors
and unduly heats the upper part of the furnace and the coal contained therein. It
also expels volatile and gaseous hydrocarbons too suddenly from the bituminous coal
with the effect to make the mixed gases introduced' into the fixing chamber for the
time too rich in carbon, and proportionately too poor thereafter.
A more gradual expulsion of such hydrocarbons by the direct contact of radiated
heat and the regulable admission of hot gas from the generating chamber by my
process while utilizing heat which would otherwise be lost by conduction and radiation
into the open air in an upward direction, is a characteristic of my improvement, and
these advantages are secured in a new method of procedure wherein hot gases or
products are always passed downwardly in the brick work chambers and wherein also

page_text: coal may be charged at any time without interrupting the process of gas making. It
also provides for conducting hydrocarbon gases and vapors from the upper parts of
the coking chambers to a regenerative fixing chamber into a current of hot water gas,
and from either of two coking chambers to the other. It also provides that gas or
steam, or a mixture of these, may be passed through a regenerating or superheating
chamber, and then through both generating chambers, and the resulting gases into a
fixing chamber without quenching the fires at the base, and then the operation
reversed.
Several of the above advantages have been heretofore secured more or less efficiently.
My claim of invention pertains to matters hereinafter pointed out, whereby I provide
means for securing combined advantages not before attained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in which manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
:
1. The process of generating gas which consists in blasting simultaneously two
connected bodies of fuel at the bottom with air to render the base of the same
incandescent, air being also admitted above the incandescent fuel to burn the products
of partial combustion passing the resulting hot gases downward through a super-
heating and a fixing chamber loosely filled with refractory material to heat the same;
simultaneously heating comparatively fresh fuel by the direct radiation and conduction
of heat from the combustion and regenerative chambers, thereby causing it to throw
off its volatile gases, as described passing air, gas or steam, or any mixture of the
same, upward through a superheating chamber and through two connected bodies of
fuel, thereby decomposing air, gas or steam; then mingling with the resulting gases
to carburet the same, the volatile hydrocarbons thrown off from the fresh fuel in
the upper part of the generating chambers and others vaporized from liquid hydro-
carbons, if desired; and finally passing the resulting gases downward through the
heated brick work in the fixing chamber thereby fixing and combining the gases into
a homogeneous gas.
2. The steps in the process of manufacturing gas which consists in supplying coke
gradually by gravity to a generating chamber; simultaneously decomposing steam,
gas, air, or a mixture thereof, by said coke rendered incandescent by an air blast
and passing a regulable portion of the gas thus produced through bituminous coal
suitably supplied at intervals to the coking chambers, substantially as set forth,
whereby coke may be automatically and continuously supplied to a generator without
opening the furnace, and whereby the coal may be heated to a desired temperature
by a portion of the gas generated by decomposition of steam or equivalent
substance.
3. The process which consists in the following steps (1) decomposing steam in
incandescent coal, (2) admitting natural gas to increase the volume and carburet the
same, (3) combining the mixed water gas and natural gas by passing them through a
fixing chamber previously heated by raising the fuel to incandescence by an air blast
and burning the products in the fixing chamber, substantially as set forth.
4. In a gas making apparatus two furnaces connected at their bases by a flue and
at their upper portions by a valved pipe, each furnace provided near its mid height.
with a flue for gases and products of combustion having a chamber below said Hue
provided with inlet pipes at its base and with a grate, ash-pit and ash-pit door, said
furnaces each having also above the flue a chamber provided with a charging inlet
and with gas pipes all having valves or equivalent means for closing the same, said
upper chamber or compartment communicating with the lower near the region of
the exit by an opening or passage having substantially the same (or greater) area
in cross section as the main part of the upper chamber, whereby the bituminous
coal can be coked in said upper chamber and the coke thus produced can gradually
pass by gravity into the lower compartments, and whereby distilled gases descending
from the coal above may be mingled near or in the flue with products of combustion

page_text: from the chambers below, and whereby two bodies of fuel in the lower compartments
may be simultaneously heated and then used in succession to generate gas, sub-
stantially as set forth.
5. In a gas producing apparatus the combination of two furnaces connected at the
base, each having a fluc near its mid height for the passage of gases or products of
combustion, and a compartment or chamber for coking coal and provided with a
closable charging inlet above and another compartment for generating gas provided
with inlet pipes below said fue, a valvea pipe by which the upper compartiments
may communicate, whereby the gas generated in the lower compartment may be
passed out of the flue below the upper compartment, and whereby distilled vapors or
gases may be passed from one of the upper compartments to the other and the How of
said vapors regulated, substantially as specificil.
6. In a gas making apparatus a furnace provided near its mid height with a Blue
for the passage of gases or products of combustion having a compartment above and
a compartment below said Hue, the lower compartment being provided with pipes
and with a grate and an ash receptacle having a door, and the upper with a charging
inlet provided with a valve for tightly closing the same, and a valved pipe leading
from near its top to a brick work or regenerative chamber and said brick work chamber
all in combination, whereby bituminous coal may be charged and ashes removed,
and whereby gases or products of combustion may pass through the flue below the
upper compartment and distilled vapors or gases from the top of the latter may
pass into the brick work chamber and their flow be regulated, substantially as
specified.
7. In a gas making apparatus the combination of two brick work or regenerative
chambers and two furnaces, each of the latter having a flue near its mid height for
the passage of gases or products of combustion communicating with a regenerative
chamber and each having a compartiment provided with a closable inlet for coal above
said flue, and another compartment for generating gas provided with inlet pipes
below said fluc, a valved pipe by which the upper compartments may communicate,
and valved pipes by which each of the said upper compartaments of the furnace may
communicate respectively with a regenerative chamber, whereby gases or products
of combustion may be passed from the lower furnace compartments and below the
upper into the regenerative chambers, and whereby distilled gases or vapors may
be passed from the upper compartment into said regenerative chamber and the flow of
the latter regulated, substantially as specified.
8. In a gas producing apparatus having a furnace including a gas generating
chamber or compartment provided with inlet pipes, an ash-pit and an ash-pit door,
all located above the base of the apparatus, a regenerative or brick work chamber
extending from near the upper part of said gas generating chamber to the base of
the apparatus and separately enclosed, a flue connecting the tops of said gas
generating and brick work chambers, and a separately enclosed chamber below the
ash pit, whereby access may be had to the under side of the same and sufficient depth
of refractory material supplied in the regenerative chamber, and whereby hot gases
may pass through brick work from the vicinity of the upper part of the gas generating
compartment down below the region of the grate, substantially as specified.
9. The combination, substantially as described, of the fuel or gas generating
chambers or compartments A A² A¹ A³, located partially above the superheating
and fixing chambers E E, connected at the base by the flue C, and at the top by the
valved pipe A, with the superheating and fixing chambers E E, having outlets for
gas and products of combustion and inlets for steam connecting with their bases, and
having the flues L L connecting the tops of the superheating and fixing chambers
with the sides of the gas generating chambers, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
10. The combination of the regenerative or superheating and fixing chambers E E',
connected by the flues L L at their tops with the sides of the gas generating
chambers A A A A³, and having the steam inlets G G', and air inlets FF, and
the oil inlets M M at their tops, and the steam inlets G2 G3, the air inlets 2 F2,
'
B

page_text: and the gas inlets H2 H³, and also the outlets K K1 for products of combustion, and
outlets 001 for gas connected with their bases as shown, the tops of the regenerative
chambers being connected with the tops of the gas generating chambers by the valved
pipes A A³ A, substantially as and for the purpose described.
11. The combination of the gas generating chambers A A A A³ connected at the
base by the flue C and at the top by valved pipes A', having the tight feeding
appliances at their tops, the outlets L L' at their sides for gas and products of
combustion, and the air inlets D D' at their bases, the lower parts of the chambers
being enlarged to permit the free descent of the fuel, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
12. In apparatus for manufacturing gas the combination of a combustion chamber,
means for supplying an air blast to the fuel in the same, a brick work regenerative
chamber, means for supplying an air blast to burn the products of combustion, an
outlet from the regenerator, having a valve adjoining the regenerator, a flue
connecting the combustion and regenerative chambers and an exhaust steam pipe or
equivalent connected with the outlet, substantially as specified, whereby fuel may be
supplied with air and the partially burned products passed into the regenerator and
therein supplied with air and thoroughly burned and the final products drawn through
the brick work, and the various desired movements of air and products of combustion
produced with certainty and efficiency.
Dated this 30th day of July 1888 of New York City USA
Dated September 4th 1888.
HENRY CUNNINGHAM REW.
Hughes, Eli & Hughes,
76, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.