in or relating to gas producers
Year: 1898

page_text: I, JOHN DYMOND, of 112, High Street, Crediton, in the County of Devon,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows: --
This invention of improvements in or relating to gas producers has for object
to ensure the production of either producer or water gas of a more uniformly
high quality than has hitherto been usual with the generators at present in use.
A gas producer for this purpose according to this invention is constructed
with a superheater arranged above the discharging end of the hopper so as to
superheat the escaping gas, and with a divided top adapted to form a heater for
the air supplied to the producer, the gas escaping from the gas superheater
passing into outlet pipes that are or may be located vertically in the lining of
the producer and communicate with a depositing chamber located below the
fuel chamber, the outlet end of the discharging pipe being preferably connected
to a pipe provided with a water-sealed non-return valve.
According to one construction my improved gas producer or generator com-
prises an approximately cylindrical metal shell lined internally with fire brick
from the bottom up to the normal height of the fuel or to the lower end of the
charging hopper. The fire bricks employed are or may advantageously be
formed each with a V or other shaped projection that enters or partly enters
a corresponding notch in the adjacent face of the next brick (as illustrated in the
drawings accompanying the Specification of another application for Letters
Patent filed by me No. 22066 of 1897) and also with a projection on the upper
or lower face that enters a corresponding notch or groove in the adjacent face
of the next upper or lower brick. Above the said normal height of the fuel there
is provided a fire clay or brick lining that forms a superheating gas passage
and tapers in from the said feed point or hopper end in such a manner as to
reduce the internal diameter of the said gas passage or superheating device
below the crown, the contracted part or superheater being in such close
proximity to the fire that very great heat is retained and therefore better genera-
tion of gas is obtained. The contracted part prevents over stoking or filling
of the gas outlet with coal. The contracted crown is made in two or more
sections bound together with metal rings or cramps, instead of being made in
one piece, for the purpose of more effectually withstanding the heat. Above
and in close contact with the superheater is placed a fire clay or brick outlet
block which may be made in one piece or in parts and is provided with one or
more holes through its centre. At the back and directly around the hole or
holes, the said block is provided with a collar or boss, to fit inside a metal outlet
pipe which is enlarged at this point to receive the said collar or boss, or the said
boss may be adapted to be bolted to a flange on the said pipe. The outlet block
and the crown are advantageously bound together by means of metal rings. The
outlet may be arranged at an angle with the cylinder or it may extend through

page_text: the top, but advantageously the metal pipe passes down inside the cylinder close
to or within the fire brick lining and is connected to a double bottom from which
point the gas may be withdrawn, or as preferred it is carried through a suitable
passage in the bottom, which is provided with cleaning doors, and up again at
the opposite side of the fire lining and then out. These metal pipes are covered
with fire brick or any other suitable non-conductor of heat. When the pipes
are arranged outside the firebrick lining, the wall of the cylinder is bent outwards
to give the necessary space for the metal pipes to be placed therein. The outlet
end of the said metal pipes is connected to a vertical pipe having at its extreme
end an hydraulic valve box the valve of which is bell shaped and provided with
rack and pinion or other suitable means for operating it. The inner portion of
the valve covers the gas inlet pipe to the said box and is located in a water
seal to prevent escape of gas when closed. The said hydraulic box has a con-
tinuous water supply and overflow to keep the seal at the required height.
This valve serves to prevent back pressure when the process is stopped. The
hopper is of an angular pattern fitted with two valves, the top valve being
adapted to turn back clear of the hopper head for feeding and pivotted at its
centre to allow of its being rotated for the purpose of grinding it on its seat-
ing to obtain a gas-tight fit. The lower end of the hopper is normally closed
by a lift valve that can be operated by a lever and link. The said hopper is
fixed on one side of the generator close to the crown and is fitted with the
necessary mechanism for operating the said valves. The top of the generator
is made of two metal plates separated one from the other by an outer ring, a
central ring, and division pieces all bolted or riveted together, the top being
provided with air inlet and outlet holes or ports, and the air being directed
through curved passages so as to be superheated between the two plates. The top
is provided with a central valve for use in removing clinker, the said valve having
a fire clay end block secured thereto and so shaped at its lower end as to direct
the flow of gas towards the outlet block, and also with a safety valve if desired.
The inlet or air supply may be taken from around the gas outlet pipe and
be carried through curved passages or flues to the injector or injectors. A
portion of the cylinder may be bent inwards vertically and covered with a shield
which is lagged to form an air heating and retaining passage and is provided with
doors to give access to the injectors. The steam and air injector tube is pro-
vided with two or more air inlets or ports provided with regulators which may
be operated from the outside by means of suitable screws and rods so as to
supply more or less air as may be found essential to the production of the gas.
The air injector is provided with a steam injector with regulator attached such
as described in the aforesaid Specification of another application for Letters
Patent filed by me No. 22066 of 1897. The inner end of the steam and air
injector tube is curved upwards or inclined towards the centre of the burning
fuel and made in such a manner as to prevent the coal ash or clinker from
impeding the continuous flow of steam and air injected. Plates are provided
under the fire brick base as described in my former Specification and the fire bars
may be of the patterns usually employed or they may be jointed in the centre
for raising and lowering purposes and be provided with a parallel motion fire
bar cleaner worked with a lever from the outside. A rotary fan may be provided
for supplying a current of air through a suitable pipe to the hot air or air heat-
ing passages that lead to the injectors.
A steam superheating coil or pipe is or may be fixed inside the gas outlet
pipe, the connection to the injectors being covered with an outer metal shield
to prevent condensation. The second or special bottom hereinbefore referred to
serves to superheat the injected steam and air as well as to afford the other
advantages mentioned.
A water top can be dispensed with in my improved generator and the heat
that would otherwise be wasted by such top utilized for air heating purposes.
A gas flame may be provided on any of the ports or air inlets to heat the air

page_text: but in a generator constructed as above described this will usually not be
necessary.
Dated this 27th day of September 1898.
W. LLOYD WISE,
6, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
Improvements in or relating to Gas Producers,
I, JOHN DYMOND, of 112, High Street, Crediton, in the County of Devon,
Engineer, 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 of improvements in or relating to gas producers has for object
to ensure the production of producer or water gas of a more uniformly high
quality than has hitherto been usual with the generators at present in use.
A gas producer for this purpose according to this invention is constructed
with a superheater arranged above the discharging end of the fuel hopper so as to
superheat the escaping gas, and with the divided top adapted to form a heater
for the air supplied to the producer, the gas escaping from the gas superheater
passing into outlet pipes that are or may be located vertically in the lining of
the producer and communicate with a depositing chamber located below the fuel
chamber, the discharging end of the last outlet pipe being preferably connected
to a pipe provided with a water sealed non-return valve.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying illustrative drawings are vertical sections
at right angles to one another, and Fig. a plan, showing a gas producer accord-
ing to this invention. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line A A. of Fig. 1.
The improved gas producer or generator shown in the drawings comprises an
approximately cylindrical metal shell 1 lined internally with fire bricks 2 from
the bottom up to the normal height of the fuel or to the lower end of the charging
hopper 3 which delivers into the fuel space 4. The fire bricks employed, may,
as shown, advantageously be formed each with a V- or other shaped projection 5
that enters or partly enters a corresponding notch 5" in the adjacent face of the
next brick (see Fig. 4), and also with a projection 6 on one face that enters a
corresponding notch or groove 7 in the adjacent face of the next brick. Above
the said normal height of the fuel there is provided a fire clay or brick lining.
or crown 8 that constitutes a gas superheater and is formed with a superheating
gas passage 9 that tapers in from the feed point or hopper end 3 in such a
manner that the internal diameter is reduced below the crown, the contracted part
of the superheater being in such close proximity to the fire that very great heat
is retained therein whereby a better generation of gas is obtained than would
otherwise be the case. The contracted part also prevents over stocking or fill-
ing of the gas outlet with coal. The lining or crown 8 is or may be made in
two or more sections that may be bound together with metal rings or cramps
for the purpose of enabling them to more effectually withstand the heat. Above
and in close contact with the contracted part of the superheater is placed a fire
clay or brick outlet block 10 which may be made in one piece or in parts and is
provided with a hole 11, or there may be more than one, therethrough. At
the back and directly around the hole 11 (or holes) the said block is provided
with a collar or boss 12, to fit inside a metal outlet pipe 13 which is enlarged at
this point to receive the said collar or boss, or the said boss may be adapted to be
bolted to a flange on the said pipe. The outlet block 10 and the crown
may

page_text: be bound together by means of metal rings. The outlet pipe 13 may be arranged
at an angle with the shell 1 or it may extend through the top, but advantageously
it passes down inside the cylindrical shell 1, close to, or as shown, partly within
the fire brick lining 2 and is connected to a double bottom, from which point
the gas may be withdrawn. I prefer however to cause the gas to flow through a
suitable passage 14 formed in the bottom of the gas producer and provided with
cleaning doors 15, the gas being led up again at the opposite side of the firebrick
lining through another metal outlet pipe 13ª. As will be seen the outlet
pipes 13, 13 are enclosed in material that is a bad conductor of heat; they may
if desired, be lined with refractory material. When the outlet pipes 13, 13"
are arranged outside the firebrick lining 2, the wall of the cylindrical shell is
bent outwards to give the necessary space to accommodate the pipes. The outlet
end 13 of the pipe 13" is connected to a vertical pipe 16 having at its extreme
end an hydraulic valve box 17 the valve 18 of which is bell shaped and pro-
vided with a rack 19 and pinion 20, or other suitable means for operating it.
The valve 18 covers the cud 10 of gas inlet pipe 16 and is located within the
box 17 which contains water that seals the said valve when the same is in its
lowered position so as to then prevent escape of gas.
The valve 18 serves to
prevent back pressure when the generation of gas is stopped. The hydraulic
box 17 has a continuous water supply pipe 21 and an overflow pipe 22 to keep
the water seal at the required height. 23 is a pipe for leading the gas from the
valve box 17 to a scrubber, washer or other gas purifying device and gas holder.
The pipe 16 may be provided with a valve 16 adapted to be operated by a
red 16 and by means of which the outlet pipe 1 can, when desired, be placed
in connection with the external atmosphere through a pipe 164, as in the con-
struction of gas producer shown in the Specification of my former Patent
No. 22066 of 1897.
The fuel hopper is of angular shape and fitted with two valves 24 and 25.
The top valve 24 is adapted as shown, to turn back clear of the hopper head 26 for
feeding, and is mounted at its centre on its carrying lever 27 so as to allow of its
being rotated for the purpose of grinding it on its seating to obtain a gas-tight
fit. The lower end of the hopper head 26 is normally closed by the valve 25
which is a lift valve capable of being operated by a lever 28 and link 29. The
said hopper 3 is fixed on one side of the gas generator close to the crown 8 and
carries the mechanism for operating the said valves 24 and 25.
The top of the gas generator is made of two metal plates 30 and 31 separated
one from the other by an outer ring 32, a central ring 33, and division pieces 34,
bolted or riveted together, the top being provided with air inlet and outlet holes
or ports 35 and 35 respectively, the air being directed through the curved
passages 6 formed by and between the division pieces 34 so as to be heated by its
passage between the two plates 30 and 31, after which it enters the vertical
pipes 36 by which it is delivered into the ash pit 37 below the fire bars 38. The
top plate 30 is provided with a central hole 39 for use in removing clinker, the
said hole being fitted with a valve 40 having a fire clay extension 40 that is
secured thereto and is so shaped at its lower end as to direct the flow of gas
towards the passage 11 in the outlet block 10; the extension may also be pro-
vided with a safety valve if desired.
The air supply may be taken from the space extending partly around or in
proximity to the gas outlet pipe 13 as shown in dotted lines at 35* and after passing
through the curved passages 36 to be delivered to the vertical pipes or passages 36*
each of which is or may be provided with an injector 41 (Fig. 4). Or the air may
enter the divided top of the gas generator through a pipe 35. The air passages 36"
may be located within the brickwork wall of the generator, or be formed by curving
the shell or wall of the generator inward as shown in Fig. 4 each space thus
formed being covered with a lagged plate or shield 42 to form an air heating
and retaining passage which is provided with door to give access to the injector
therein. Each steam and air injector tube 43 is provided with one or more air

page_text: inlets or ports 44 controlled by one or more vertical regulating plates 44 so as
to admit of more or less air being supplied as may be found necessary for the
proper production of the gas. The air injector is provided with a steam injector
or nozzle 47 with regulator 48 attached, such as described in my said former
Specification. The inner end of the steam and air injector tube 43 is curved
upwards or inclined towards the centre of the burning fuel and made in such a
manner as to prevent coal ash or clinker from impeding the continuous flow of
the injected steam and air. A rotary fan or equivalent may be placed in con-
nection with the air supply passage 35 or 35° for forcing air therethrough to
the passages 36. The position of the air and gas passages 36" and 13, 13" may
be varied from that shown. Plates 50 are provided under the fire brick base 2
as described in my said former Specification. The fire bars 38 may be of the
patterns usually employed, or they may, as shown be each made in two parts
jointed or hooked at the centre to a transverse rod 38" to admit of their being
raised and lowered. If desired a parallel motion fire bar cleaner worked with a
lever from the outside may be provided for the purpose of raising and lowering
the fire bars 38 and causing the ashes thereon to fall into the ash pit.
A steam superheating coil or pipe is or may be fixed inside the outlet end 1:3b
of the gas outlet pipe 13", as in the construction of gas producer shown in my
said former specification, or such coil may be arranged to surround the upper end
of the outlet pipe 13 as shown at 51 in Fig. 1, the connecting pipe from the super-
heater to the injector or injectors being covered with an outer metal shield to
prevent condensation, or being led through the hot air passages 36" to the
injectors. The second or special bottom 14 herein before referred to serves to
superheat the steam and air injected into the ash pit 37 and admit of the
generator being worked economically as regards consumption of fuel, with little
or no formation of clinker and with a clear bright fire.
A water top can be dispensed with in my improved generator and the heat
that would otherwise be wasted by such top utilized for air heating purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A gas producer constructed with a superheater arranged above the discharg-
ing end of an inclined laterally arranged fuel hopper so as to superheat the
escaping gas, and with a divided top adapted to form a heater for the air supplied
to the producer, the gas escaping from the gas superheater passing into
outlet pipes that communicate with a depositing chamber located below the fuel
chamber, substantially as described.
2. A gas producer of the kind referred to in the preceding Claim having
vertical air passages provided with air and steam injectors, the air and steam
pipes delivering into the ash pit above a double bottom through which the hot
gases from the generator escape, so that the air and steam will be superheated
by contact with such double bottom, substantially as described.
3. In a gas producer of the kind specified in Claim 1, the combination with the
gas outlet pipe of a hydraulic valve box constructed substantially as described
and shown.
4. The improved gas producer constructed, arranged and operating substantially
as described and shown.