IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR LIGHTING, HEATING, OR OTHER PURPOSES AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR AND FOR UTILIZING THE SAME FOR MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Barnabas Russ at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 11th May 1882.
BARNABAS RUss, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR LIGHTING, HEATING, OR OTHER
PURPOSES AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR AND FOR UTILIZING THE SAME FOR
MOTIVE POWER."
This invention relates to the manufacture of gas for lighting and heating
purposes and to the utilization of the said gas, in combination with atmospheric
air, as a motive power and to apparatus therefor.
According to the said invention I produce gas by the decomposition, in suitablo
apparatus of a mixture of hydrocarbon or hydrocarbons, potash, and water with or
without the addition of ammonia or ammoniacal liquor or I may use soda or other
material to facilitate the mixing (of the hydrocarbons and water. The apparatus
and mode of manufacture which I prefer to employ are hereinafter described.
In carrying my invention into practice I provide a receptacle or receiver of cast
or rolled metal with two chambers one chamber being arranged within the other,
and I connect the larger chamber to a retort by means of a pipe or any other
suitable means. In the larger chamber of the receiver I place two decomposing
or generating coils of different dimensions the outlet of the small coil being
connected to the inlet of the large coil, and the outlet of the large coil with the
retort, and I connect the inlet of the small coil to a force-pump of any suitable
kind which draws the mixture of chemicals from a supply tank or tanks; the
inlet of the large coil is also connected to the delivery of an air force pump
hereinafter described. I also provide the above described apparatus with valves,
pressure-gauges cocks and other mountings requisite for the proper working of
the same.
The retort consists essentially of a cylindrical body of wrought iron or other
suitable material with a furnace or combustion-chamber in one end thereof, and
a central chamber, provided with tubes through which the heated air and products
of combustion pass into another chamber at the other end of the retort. The
said retort is also provided with a dome or domes from which the gas or fluid
may be conducted to a motor or motors The chainber at the end of the retort

page_text: opposite to the furnace has a vertical chamber connected to it and passing
through the aforesaid receiver, which receiver may be fixed to the top of
the retort. The said vertical chamber is fitted with tubes through which the
products of combustion pass into a chimney provided with a damper and thence
into the atmosphere.
The retort or furnace front is constructed with a flange whereby it may be
secured to the retort and removed at any time for repairing purposes. It is also
provided with a sliding door worked by a lever and at the lower part I provide a
device for regulating the draught. This device consists essentially of one or more
gratings with doors or covers capable of being moved from side to side for the
purpose of opening and closing the said gratings.
I charge the supply tank or tanks the small coil, and the retort with a mixture
of hydrocarbon potash, and water, either with or without the addition of ammonia
or ammoniacal liquor, and heat the retort by means of a fire in or under the same.
Or, at starting I may charge the retort with water only. When the heat from the
furnace causes gas or steam to be generated in the retort, I charge the larger
chamber of the receiver from the tank and thereby surround the coils with the
mixture thus causing gas to form from the chemicals contained in the small coil,
which is discharged into the inlet of the larger coil and there combined with
atmospheric air, and passes through the coils to the retort where it displaces the
steam, should any be present, and the combined gas or fluid and air accumulate in
the dome or domes.
In order to apply the gas as a motive power I connect the supply pipe of a prime
mover with the dome or domes of the retort, and the exhaust from the same with
the smaller chamber or pocket of the receiver by means of pipes. When sufficient
gas or fluid is formed in the retort I start the prime mover which delivers its
exhaust into the smaller chamber of the receiver which is connected by pipes to
the chamber in the end of the retort opposite to the furnace, into which chamber
the exhaust gases or vapours are delivered and from which they pass into the
atmosphere with the products of combustion.
The
In order to apply the gas for heating purposes I make a connection between any
convenient part of the apparatus containing gas, or a purifying chamber or holder,
and discharge the same into the receptacle chamber or furnace, where heat is
requisite and ignite it by means of electricity or in any well known manner.
pipe or pipes supplying the gas to the furnace is or are preferably provided with
an injector or injectors, or other suitable devices whereby atmospheric air, or air
combined with exhaust gas or vapor, may be introduced into the furnace together
with the gas supplied direct from any of the sources named.
For preparing gas for lighting purposes I pump from a tank, through a small
pipe, a mixture of the aforesaid ingredients in suitable proportions. The said small
pipe is formed into a coil within the chamber at the end of the retort opposite the
furnace, thence the said pipe passes into a hollow bridge or accumulator in the
furnace, in which the said mixture is received and from which it passes through a
larger pipe which is also formed into a coil within the said chamber, thence the
mixture, which is by this time converted into gas or fluid by the decomposition
caused by the heat from the retort furnace, is conducted to a purifier and from the
purifier to a holder. At a short distance from the hollow bridge or accumulator I
connect a small pipe to the said larger pipe and conduct the small pipe to a tank
in which the liquid draining from the said small pipe is received and from which it
may be pumped when desired.
The motor which I prefer to employ consists essentially in a cylinder provided
with an outer casing or jacket and suitable means for circulating water or other
liquid within or around the same in order to keep it cool and for lubricating
purposes. In this cylinder works a piston with a rod passing through both ends
of the cylinder, the free end of the said rod being covered by a cap or bonnet, and
the other end being connected in any well known manner to a crank. I employ a
conical valve or plug for admitting gas or fluid to the said cylinder; this valve is

page_text: made with suitable ports and is worked by means of excentrics upon the crank-
shaft and hand-levers are also provided for operating the said valve.
The air forcing pump herein before referred to is constructed in a somewhat
similar manner to the motor above described, but is provided with suction and
delivery valves. I prefer to make the valve-seats conical and to secure them in
position by means of screws passing through exterior plates or covers.
I also employ an exhauster which consists essentially in a suitable casing in
which is fitted a shaft carried in bearings and provided with a fan having three or
more blades; upon this shaft is fixed a pulley which is connected by means of a
belt with another pulley upon a small shaft situated above the aforesaid fan.
Upon this small shaft is fixed a bevel wheel gearing with another bevel wheel
fixed on a vertical shaft carrying a small fan or propeller wheel.