Self Igniting Luminous Gas for Signalling Purposes.
Year: 1884

page_text: Self Igniting Luminous Gas for Signalling Purposes.
I WILLIAM RICHARD HODGKINSON of 29 Pembroke Square Kensington in the
County of Middlesex Professor of Chemistry, do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND MATERIALS EMPLOYED IN
PRODUCING SELF IGNITING LUMINOUS GAS FOR SIGNALLING PURPOSES, to be as
follows:-
The object of the invention is the production of self igniting luminous gas for
signalling purposes so as to afford a sustained illumination continuously or with
long sustained successions and intermissions of illumination particularly well
adapted for, use in indicating the course or position of a life buoy, a torpedo, or
other object in the water to which such signalling means is attached and this is
effected by the employment of improved chemical bodies or combinations of
chemical bodies herein after more fully described with the aid of improved
apparatus also more fully described hereafter adapted to regulate and control the
emission of gas when produced by access of liquid, with increased quantity and
brightness of flame with avoidance of clogging of the apparatus and other
advantages.
In carrying out my invention I form a cylinder of metal or other suitable
material of watertight character provided with two tubes which pass from what, as
the vessel floats, is its upper end. One of these tubes is formed with an orifice of
smaller diameter than the other and somewhat coned or contracted from the
diameter of its tube and raised beyond the surface of the end of the tube.
This tube which I call the gas exit tube is about midway or at other convenient
part formed into a bulb or enlargement and the tube reaches to say about one half
of an inch of the bottom of the cylinder or so as to terminate somewhat higher up
than the other or what I call the water ingress tube which tube passes down of
even diameter to within a sixteenth of an inch of the bottom or closer than the gas
exit tube.
The material with which I charge the vessel is a phosphide of sodium or a compound
of phosphorus and sodium adapted with on access of suitable liquid to give off a
gas which in the atmosphere is self inflammant. Or in order to increase the
volume of gas evolved or prolong the duration of the flame I, in addition to the
before mentioned compound of phosphorus and sodium, charge the vessel with an
alloy of sodium with zinc, mercury or other metal adapted to moderate the action
of the sodium compound in the presence of the liquid. When employed this

page_text: deterring compound or moderating addition, will be added in a proportion to the
phosphorus and sodium compound varying from say about 20 to 80 per centum
according to the greater or less activity of the evolution of the gas desired in the
vessel.
When desired the phorphorus and sodium compound may be substituted by a
magnesium silicide either alone in the vessel or in addition to the deterring or
moderating compound and in this case the proportions of the substances would be
about those already described.
In operation the water or other liquid having by the removal or piercing of a
cover to the orifices, gained access to the compound with which the vessel is
charged for instance by the launch of a life buoy, or torpedo, with such a vessel
attached into the sea, its action causes evolution of gas within the vessel which gas
forces its way up the gas exit into the atmosphere where it ignites giving the
desired visible flame and smoke to indicate the position of the vessel and therefore
of the buoy or torpedo to which it is attached. After a short interval the gas is
checked momentarily in its current of exit by the quantity of liquid that has
entered rising above the level of that orifice of gas exit and the evolution of gas
continuing the pressure increases within until sufficient to force out the super-
abundant liquid which is blown out of the liquid ingress tube and thereby again
uncovers the gas exit and so on. By these means a long continued intermittent
luminous gas is emitted into the atmosphere which by these means may be readily
sustained for a period of two hours and upwards with a very small expenditure of
the gas producing compound. 'In practice; the adjustment of the quantity of
compound, the surface at once exposed to the contact of liquid, and the size of exit
orifice relatively to the size of vessel, will enable various periods of sustained
illumination to be attained, modified also in a marked degree by the fineness or
coarseness of the division of particles of compound employed.
When it is desired that the vessel should sustain a position of floatation just
below the surface of the water, in the case say of attachment to a buoy, or other
floating object I place such vessel in connection with a buoyant piece which is
conveniently constituted by a wooden or cork ring, or perforated. disc the vessel
'occupying the central position in the opening and the line of floatation being
regulated by such float.
When it is desired that the color of the flame produced by the combustion of the
emitted gas should be colored by the mixture with the gas near point of its exit
from the vessel of a matter adapted to that purpose or that such emission of a
current of gas capable of ignition in the atmosphere should be continuous or that
both these conditions should obtain, I somewhat modify the form of the vessel and
the proportions or admixtures of the compounds employed to produce the gas.
Thus the exit tube for the gas instead of being contracted into a jet slightly above
the surface of the vessel may be adapted to be connected to another length of tube
formed with an enlargement or a suitable holder from near the outer end of such
tube and surrounding the orifice of such additional length and within the outer
edge of this opening of the surrounding bulb or cover or holding arms I provide a
short cylinder or open thimble of metal capable of holding in position around the
issuing jet of gas a quantity of a suitable flame coloring material such as salts of
thallium (for a vivid green) or other salts according to the color required. This
composition may be applied as a cylinder of the matter, protected by waterproof
paper, until contact of flame.

page_text: Self Igniting. Luminous Gas for Signalling Purposes.
I WILLIAM RICHARD HODGKINSON of 29 Pembroke Square Kensington in the
County of Middlesex Professor of Chemistry do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND MATERIALS EMPLOYED IN PRO-
DUCING "SELF IGNITING' LUMINOUS GAS FOR SIGNALLING PURPOSES, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The object of the invention is the production of self igniting luminous gas or gas
which inflames in contact with the atmosphere for signalling purposes so as to
afford a sustained illumination continuously when so desired or with long sustained
successions and intermissions of illumination in cases where such is more desirable
particularly well adapted for use in indicating the course or position of a life buoy,
a torpedo or other object in the water to which such signalling means is attached
for that purpose and this end is effected by the employment of certain improved
chemical bodies or combinations of chemical bodies hereinafter more fully described
with the aid of improved apparatus for containing the chemicals and for effecting
and controlling the production and discharge of the gases which is also more fully.
described hereafter.
My improved apparatus is adapted to regulate and control the emission of gas
when produced by access of liquid, with increased quantity and brightness of flame
with avoidance of clogging of the apparatus and other advantages.
In carrying out my invention I form a cylinder or containing vessel of metal or
other suitable material of watertight character provided with two tubes or closed
channels which pass from what, as the vessel floats, is its upper end. One of these
tubes or enclosed channels is formed with an orifice of smaller diameter than the
other and somewhat coned or contracted from the diameter of its tube and raised
beyond the surface of the end or head of the tubular vessel or cylinder.
This tube which I call the gas exit tube is about midway or at other convenient
part formed into a bulb or enlargement and the tube reaches to say about one half
of an inch of the bottom of the cylinder or so as to terminate somewhat bigher up
than the other or what I call the water ingress tube. This water ingress tube
passes down of substantially even diameter to within say about a sixteenth of an
inch of the bottom of the cylinder or closer than the gas exit tube.
The improved, material with which I charge the cylinder or vessel is a phosphide
of sodium.,or a compound of phosphorus and sodium and this composition is
adapted, on access of suitable liquid occurring, to give off a gas which in entering
the atmosphere is self inflammant. Or in order to increase the volume of gas
which is evolved or to prolong the duration of the flame I, in addition to the before
mentioned compound of phosphorus and sodium, charge the vessel with an alloy of
Bodium with zinc, mercury or other, metal adapted, to moderate the action of the
sodium compound in the presence of the liquid. When thus employed this
deterring compound, or moderating addition, will most usefully be added in a

page_text: proportion relatively to the phosphorus and sodium compound varying from say
about 20 to 80 per centum according to the greater or less activity of the evolution
of the gas desired in the vessel. The proportions of the alloy which I have found
to give the best results are 1 part lead 10 parts zinc and 50 parts sodium mixed
with either 1, 3, or 5 parts of calcium phosphide, or an alloy of 30 per centum of
zinc with sodium phosphide.
When desired the phosphorus and "sodium compound in the vessel may be
substituted by a magnesium silicide either alone in that vessel or in addition to
the deterring or moderating compound and in this case the proportions of the
substances would be about those already described.
Fig. 1 in the accompanying drawings shows an external side view of a vessel
and Fig. 2 a section relatively thereof Fig. 3 shews a plan and Fig. 4 an undersidė
view thereof Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 by like views shew another form of the vessel
but substantially like the foregoing and Figs. 9, 10, and 11 shew a hollow cylinder
or open thimble respectively by side view, section and plan for containing and
holding in operating position adjacently around the issuing jet of 'inflammant gas
a,quantity of a suitable flame coloring oriflame intensifying or modifying matter in
the cylindrical hollow space..
a is the gas-producing-chemicals containing chamber hereafter called the " vessel"
having a head a¹ and bottom a². b is the water access tube or channel. c is the
gas exit tube or channel. c being the contracted outlet and c³ the bulb or
enlargement.
::(1) is the line of liquid which closes the water channel b against outlet of gas
but leaves the gas outlet c free." (2) is the water level which at once stops outlet
by cuntil accretion of pressure discharges the superfluous liquid by means of b and
reinstates outflow of gas by way of c. d is a hollow vessel which may be of any
convenient section adapted to surround the jet c² giving egress to the inflammant
gas. This hollow or open cored case consists of a close wall d with ends did with
centrical opening through and a perforated or reticulate open wall e concentrically
of or surrounding the through way at h. f is the composition for modifying the
flame of the gas issuant from c²: k are lids or covers either screwed or otherwise
for removal to obtain-access for supply of chemicals to the vessels a. m are copper
or other suitable pieces for use in attaching the signal to the body whose course is
desired to be indicated.
In operation the water or other liquid having by the removal or piercing of a
cover g to the orifices, gained access to the compound with which the vessel a has
been previously charged for instance in.the act of effecting the launch of a 'life buoy
or a torpedo with such a vessel 'attached into the sea, the action of the water causes
'evolution of gas within the vessel a and this gas forces its way up the gas exit c
into the atmosphere where it ignites 'giving 'the 'desired signal or flame and smoke
to render visible and indicate the position of the vessel and therefore of the buoy
or torpedo to which it is attached. After flowing out for a short interval the gas
is checked momentarily in its current of exit by the quantity of liquid, entering
by way of b, rising above the level of the orifice of gas exit 'c and the evolution of
gas in the vessel a continuing without corresponding intermission the pressure
increases within until sufficient to force down the superabundant liquid in the
vessel a and cause it to be blown out through the liquid ingress tube'b by which
it previously, had entered and thereby again uncover the gas exit c and so
on alternating the operations. By these means a long continued intermittent
luminous gas is emitted into the atmosphere which by these means may be readily
sustained for a period of two hours and upwards with a very small expenditure of
the chemicals forming the gas producing compound in a. In practice by the
adjustment of the quantity of compound and the amount of its surface at once
exposed to the contact of the existing liquid and the size of gas exit orifice c
relatively to the size of vessel a will with a very small amount of prearrangement
and practice enable various periods of sustained illumination to be attained and
modified to the circumstances under which the device is to be used and this
:1

page_text: regulation will also in a marked degree be modified by the fineness or coarseness of
the division of particles of compound employed in the vessel a.
When it is desired that the vessel a should sustain a position of floatation just
below the surface of the water, in the case say of attachment to a buoy, or other
floating object I place such vessel a in connection with a buoyant piece which is
conveniently constituted by a wooden or cork ring, or perforated disc the vessel
occupying the central position in the opening and the line of floatation being
regulated by such float as will be readily understood by any competent mechanic
either as suggested by the lines i i or otherwise.
When it is desired that the colour of the flame, produced by the combustion of
the emitted gas, should be colored by the mixture, with the gas near the point of
its exit from the vessel, of a matter adapted to that purpose, or that such emission
of a current of gas capable of ignition in the atmosphere should be continuous or
that both these conditions should obtain, I somewhat modify the form of the
vessel a and the proportions or admixtures of the compounds employed to produce
the gas.
Thus the exit tube for the gas c instead of being contracted into a jet c³ slightly
above the top surface of the vessel a such jet may be adapted to be connected to
another length of tube c³ formed with an enlargement or open bulb for the flame
modifying matter or a suitable holder h (Figs. 9, 10 and 11) may be used from
near the outer end h² of the channel therethrough such tube c2 and surrounding the
orifice of such additional length c³ and I provide within the outer edge of this
opening of the surrounding bulb or cover or alternatively, as a hollow piece
supported on holding arms d³ a short cylinder or open thimble of metal h which
is capable of holding in position between its walls d and e around and accessible
to influence of heat from the issuing jet of inflamed gas a quantity of a suitable
flame coloring material at such as salts of thallium (for a vivid green) or other
salts provided according to the color or effect required. This composition may be
applied as a cylinder of the matter at f protected by a waterproof paper or other
air and moisture excluding cover over the surface of e until contact of flame
destroys it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The herein described compositions of matters for producing gas inflammable
on contact with the atmosphere as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The manufacture and use of apparatus for effecting the production and
regulation of discharge of gas inflammable on contact with the atmosphere capable
of operating as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The combination of matters and apparatus for the production and regulation
of discharge of gas inflammable on contact with the atmosphere with means for
modifying the flame emitted as and for the purposes substantially as set forth.