Improvements in Means for Generating and Utilising Gas or Vapour, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Generating and Utilising Gas or
Vapour, and in Apparatus therefor.
I, PIERRE LOUIS GIRARDET Junior of Constantine, Algeria, Lamp Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to he particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
The question of the carbonization of air so as to obtain a gas applicable for heating
and for lighting has been treated by a great many specialists, and the result answered
more or less to the needs which it was intended to satisfy.
The inventor sought for a new manner of treating hydro-carbons, volatile oils such
as wood spirit etc. and has succeeded by means of the simple apparatus hereinafter
described in directly obtaining gas which can be used either for heating or lighting
purposes or for operating gas motors.
The two sheets of drawing accompanying this specification show the gas producing
apparatus in all its details and point out its application.
On Sheet 1 Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation of the gas-generator as applied for
heating purposes.
Fig. 2 represents a plan of it and
Fig. 3 represents a plan of the gas burner.
The gas generator which is the basis of the apparatus is of great simplicity. It is
composed of an inverted U-shaped or breeches pipe B the upper part of which is fitted
with a branch or nozzle C of small diameter.
This nozzle as shown in Fig. 2 is perforated as at d at its upper or closed end.
The vertical parts or limbs of the tube B, are filled with wicks A of asbestos, cotton
or any other suitable material which fill the said tube up to the bent portion or
converting chamber B¹.
These wicks A as well as the lower ends of the tube B dip into a reservoir D in
which is the liquid to be converted into gas.
The reservoir is provided with a charging plug M, and in its centre with a wick T
which can be more or less raised in the tube H, by means of the screw-key E.
The working of the apparatus is as follows:-
If the wick T is lighted at the top, the flame produced heats the converting
chamber B of the tube B and causes the formation of gas therein above the wicks A.
This gas preeminently combustible issues with pressure through the holes d, of the
nozzle C, and can then be ignited.
When the apparatus is constructed for heating purposes above the nozzle C is
arranged a cap or cover G of a little larger diameter which is connected with the
burner N Figs. 1 and 3 by means of the arms or branches L L¹.
The arrows indicate the direction of the gaseous current and when the production
of gas is effected one can light it at the burners N N¹ at will.
The volume of inflammable gas is regulated by accelerating or retarding its
production by means of the key E. A hood or casing surrounding part of the
apparatus is provided with a small opening F by which one can ascertain the height
of the flame.
As has been before explained the tube G is a little larger than the nozzle C;
laterally between C and G, the outer air is drawn in by the inflammable gas produced
and can thus augment the combustible volume serving for the combustion.
To the nozzle C can also be attached directly a burner such as C¹ Fig. 4 Sheet 1.
The gas produced as before described can then be used at will for all purposes whether
with or without the admixture of the outer air.
Sheet 2 shows an application of this invention for lighting purposes (Fig. 1 Sheet 2)

page_text: with or without a regenerator Q. Figs. 2 and 3 Sheet 2 are horizontal sections, Fig. 2
on line A B, and Fig. 3 on line C 1), of Fig. 1.
Figs. 4 and 5 Sheet show the application to a kind of burner suitable either for
heating or lighting apparatus or to be applied to a dutch-oven, "cheerful" stove or
the like.
The elements of these various apparatus remain the same for whatever purpose
they may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
.invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by any foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is --
1. The production of gas for lighting or heating purposes by conveying into a
heated chainber by capillary attraction the oil or spirit which therein is converted
into a gas substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In an apparatus for producing gas for lighting, or heating purposes the com-
bination with a converting chamber such as B1 of wicks such as A for the purpose of
conveying from the reservoir D the liquid hydrocarbon substantially as described and
illustrated, in the accompanying drawings.
3. In an apparatus for producing gas for lighting or heating purposes the com-
bination with a chamber such as B¹ and wick A of a burner such as H for the purpose of
heating the chamber B' substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
"drawings.
4. The complete gas producing apparatus substantially as described and illustrated
in Figs. sheets 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Thad this 17th day of October 1889
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.