IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OR IMPREGNATING ATMOSPHERIC AIR WITH VAPOUR OF HYDROCARBON LIQUIDS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Weightman Harrison and Alfred Horatio
Harrison, both of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentlemen, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
CHARGING OR IMPREGNATING ATMOSPHERIC AIR WITH VAPOUR OF HYDROCARBON
LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 16th May 1878, and dated the 20th November 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Weightman
Harrison and Alfred Horatio Harrison at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 20th November
1872.
We, CHARLES WEIGHTMAN HARRISON and ALFRED HORATIO HAR-
RISON, both of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Gentlemen,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OR IMPREGNATING ATMOSPHERIC AIR WITH VAPOUR OF
HYDROCARBON LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
=
This Invention relates to or consists in improvements in apparatus for
charging or impregnating atmospheric air with vapour of liquid hydro-

page_text: carbons (for the purpose of manufacturing inflammable gas or vapour
adapted for lighting and heating purposes) by directing under pressure
fine streams of air direct on to the surface of the liquid, and either at
right angles thereto, or at any other angle found desirable; we prefer
however not to exceed an angle of 45° to the liquid..
Our apparatus in a simple form is as follows:-In an enclosed vessel
containing the liquid hydrocarbon we place a hollow float made buoyant
by any suitable means, and so as to remain immersed to a given depth
in the liquid, whatever be the level of the said liquid in the vessel.
This hollow float is also made to carry at some distance above the level:
of the liquid any required number of jets communicating with its
interior, and with their nozzles directed downwards and brought to
within a short distance of the level of the liquid. From this it follows
that if atmospheric air be forced into the said float it will pass out
through the said jets in a downward direction, and thus will be impelled
in fine streams on to the surface of the liquid hydrocarbon, and in its
contact therewith will vaporize and take up or become impregnated with
a certain portion thereof, and thus be converted into inflammable gas or
vapour, and will at the same time collect in the upper part of the vessel,
whence it is led away by pipes either to suitable holders for storage and
future use, or direct to burners for immediate combustion. Commu-
nication between the interior of the said float and the outer atmosphere
or any suitable air forcing apparatus is established by means of a vertical
tube extending up the centre of the said vessel from the bottom nearly
to the top thereof. This tube passes out of the bottom of the vessel :
(and may thus be connected with any suitable air forcing apparatus)
and communicates at its upper end with the interior of a chamber
attached to the said float, and in communication with the interior
thereof, from which it follows that any air forced through the said tube
will enter the said chamber and pass down the same into the-float, and
thence through the said pits on to the surface of the liquid hydrocarbon,
as before described. The said vertical tube also serves as a guide to
keep the float in the centre of the vessel as it rises and falls, according
to the changing level of the liquid.
Instead of forcing air into the said float from without as above
described, it may be drawn through the same with such force as to
impel the air on to the surface of the liquid, as and for the purpose

page_text: herein-before described. In this case any suitable apparatus may be
used which will tend to cause a vacuum in the upper part of the said
vessel, and thus draw the air into it. A simple method to effect this
is as follows:-We surround the said vessel with an outer casing open
at the top, and fill the same with water. Into this outer chamber is
made to dip a bell similar to the bell of an ordinary rising and falling
gas holder, and connected with suitable guides, so that it may be raised
and lowered as required, and is constructed so that when right down it
will dip nearly to the bottom of the said outer casing. The said vertical
tube is in this case left open to the atmosphere, instead of being
connected with air forcing apparatus.
It follows from the arrangement just described that if the bell be
raised a partial vacuum will be formed underneath it, and as the only
communication with the external atmosphere is through the said vertical
tube the air will rush up the same and thence into the float, and out
of the said jets on to the surface of the liquid hydrocarbon, as before
described. Thus the quicker the said bell is raised the greater will be
the force with which the air will be drawn in and impelled on to the
surface of the liquid. The raising of the holder may be accomplished
by any suitable and well known means.
We sometimes prefer to impel the said streams of air at an angle
to the liquid, instead of at right angles thereto, as by this means a
circuitous motion is imparted to the liquid, thereby constantly charging
and bringing fresh unchilled liquid to be acted upon by the said
streams.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Weightman Harrison and Alfred Horatio
Harrison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CHARLES
O WEIGHTMAN HARRISON and ALFRED HORATIO HARRISON, both of High
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Gentlemen, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of November, in the

page_text: year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Charles Weightman Harrison and
Alfred Horatio Harrison, Her special license that we, the said Charles
Weightman Harrison and Alfred Horatio Harrison, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Charles
Weightman Harrison and Alfred Horatio Harrison, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OR IMPREGNATING ATMOSPHERIC AIR WITH VAPOUR OF
HYDROCARBON LIQUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Charles Weightman Harrison and Alfred Horatio Harrison, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or
their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
"the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
cause
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Weightman Harrison on
behalf of myself & the said Alfred Horatio Harrison, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say. :-
-
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for charging or
impregnating atmospheric air with the vapour of hydrocarbon liquids
for the purpose of producing inflammable gas or vapour adapted for
lighting and heating purposes, and consists in directing under pressure
by suitable apparatus fine streams of air direct on to the surface of the
liquid, and either at right angles thereto or at any other angle found
desirable.

page_text: the accompanying Drawings, reference being had to the letters and
figures marked thereon, and in which Figures 1 and 4 are vertical
sections taken at the centre line; Figure 2 a sectional plan at the
line a, b, Figure 1; Figure 3 an elevation of part of the apparatus shewn
detached; and Figure 5 a plan view partly in section. In each Figure
the same letter of reference wherever it occurs indicates like or corre-
sponding parts.
In an inclosed vessel (A) (see Figures 1 to 3) containing the hydro-
carbon liquid we place a hollow float (B) made buoyant by an air-tight
compartment (B³) to such an extent as to remain immersed to any given
depth in the liquid whatever be the level of such liquid in the vessel.
This float (B) is also made to carry at some distance above the level of
the liquid any required number of jets (0) communicating with its
interior, and with their nozzles directed downwards and brought to within
a short distance of the level of the liquid. From this it follows that if
atmospheric air be forced into the said hollow float (B) it will pass out
thereof through the said jets (0) in a downward direction, and thus
will be impelled in fine streams on to the surface of the hydrocarbon
liquid. In its contact therewith it will vaporize and take up or become
impregnated with a certain portion thereof, and thus combined will be
converted into inflammable gas or vapour and will collect in the upper
part of the vessel, whence it may be led away by the pipe (K) either to
a suitable holder for. storage and future use, or direct to burners for
immediate combustion. Communication between the interior of the
said float (B) and any suitable air forcing apparatus is established by
means of a vertical tube (D) extending up the centre of the said
vessel (A) from the bottom nearly to the top thereof. This tube turns
at right angles at its lower end, and passes out of the vessel near the
bottom thereof, and may thus be connected with any suitable air forcing
apparatus. At its upper end it communicates with the interior of a
chamber (E) attached to the said float, or forming part thereof, and
communicating with its interior, from which it follows that any air
forced through the said tube (D) will enter the said chamber (E) and
pass down the same into the float and thence through the said jets (C)
on to the surface of the hydrocarbon liquid. The said vertical tube (D)
also serves as a guide to keep the float in the centre of the vessel as it
rises and falls according to the changing level of the liquid. A second

page_text: chamber (F) is constructed on the top of the outer vessel (A) to receive
the previously described chamber (E) as it rises and falls with the float.
This latter chamber also serves for the introduction of the liquid, and is
closed at the top by a screw capsule so as to make a perfectly air-tight
joint.
Instead of forcing air into the said float (B) as above described it may
be drawn through the same with such force as to impel it on to the
surface of the liquid as and for the purpose herein-before set forth. In
this case we prefer to use the means illustrated by Figures 4 and 5 of
the accompanying Drawings. We surround the said vessel (A) with an 1
outer casing (G) open at the top, and fill the same with water. Into
the outer chamber (G) is made to dip a bell (H) similar to the bell of
an ordinary rising and falling gas holder. This bell is supported by
suitable guides (I) to steady it in its ascent and descent, and is con-
structed so that when down to its lowest point it will dip nearly to the 1
bottom of the said outer casing (G). The said vertical tube (D) is in
this case left open to the atmosphere instead of being connected with
air forcing apparatus.
It follows from the arrangement just described that if the bell (H) be
raised by any power from the outside a partial vacuum will be formed 2
underneath it, and as the only communication with the external atmo-
sphere is by means of the said (D) the air will rush through the
same and thence into the float and out of the said jets on to the surface
of the hydrocarbon liquid, as before described, and so will collect in the
upper part of the vessel as inflammable gas or vapour, whence it may be 2
conveyed away for use by a pipe (J) which enters the vessel (A) from
the bottom and uprises vertically nearly to the top thereof. Thus the
quicker the said bell is raised the greater will be the force with which
the air will be drawn in and impelled on to the surface of the liquid.
The rising of the holder may be accomplished by any suitable and 8
well known means, such for example as a weight attached to the top
thereof by means of a chain passed over a pulley or by a chain and
winch. In small apparatus this may be accomplished by hand.
We sometimes prefer to impel the said streams of air at an angle of
inclination to the liquid instead of at right angles thereto, as by this 3
means a circuitous motion is imparted to the liquid, thereby constantly
changing its position and bringing fresh unchilled liquid to be acted on