Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Gas.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Gas.
We, WILLIAM HENRY RUSSELL and GEORGE ELLSWORTH RUSSELL, of Hasbrouck
Heights, in the County of Bergen and State of New Jersey, United States of
America, Electricians, 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 relates to the manufacture of combustible gas, and particularly to
gas employed for illumination, although gas for heating purposes only may as well
be made according to the invention.
It is well understood that water may be decomposed by electrolysis and it has
been before proposed to carburet the resulting gases and employ them for
illuminating purposes, but this has not, so far as known, been successfully accom-
plished heretofore.
"
The present invention has for its object, in part, to produce a cheap gas of
low specific gravity and high illuminating power, which may be carried in pipes
of relatively small diameter and which may be burned in half-foot burners yielding
as much light as the ordinary four-foot burners using the ordinary "street gas,
80-called. The gas produced is not more dangerous than the ordinary "street"
or coal gas. The apparatus employed is well adapted for small, private plants for
dwelling houses, factories, and the like.
In the accompanying drawing is illustrated an apparatus adapted for use in
making gas of various qualities according to our invention. In this drawing, which
is a sectional elevation-
A represents the generator as a whole, B the air-forcing apparatus; C the
intermediate carbureter for the air, and D and E two like gas-carbureters either
of which may be used at will for purposes that will be hereinafter explained.
Tho generator A is adapted for decomposing acidulated water both electrolytically
and chemically for the production of nascent oxygen and hydrogen. This generator
comprises an outer, open vessel, 1, provided with a cock-controlled waste-outlet, 2,
for drawing off sediment, etc. Within the vessel 1 is the holder 3, in the form of
an inverted cup and made preferably of copper to form one electrode of the
generating pile. This holder rests at its lower edge on suitable supports, 4, in the
outer vessel, whereby the acidulated liquid, 5, in the generator, which forms
the liquid electrolyte, may pass freely under its lower edge.
-Mounted in the top of the gas-holder 3, and insulated electrically therefrom is
a tubular conductor, 0, preferably of copper and having a perforated receptacle, 6*,
at its lower end to contain the other electrode, 7, preferably zinc in granules or bits.
The receptacle 6* may form an integral part of the conductor 6. This tube 6 is
closed at its outer end by a removable cap, 6b, and it is capable of being lifted (sce
dotted lines) in order to raise the holder or basket 0°, above or out of the acidulated
liquid 5. On the top of the holder 3 is a contact piece, 8, which closes the circuit
between the two electrodes by contact with the cap 6b, when the tube 0 is depressed
and immersed, as in full lines iu the drawing.
Coupled detachably to the holder 8, is a gas-delivery pipe, 9, which connects with
the service pipe, 11, either directly, or through one of the carbureters D or E. Each

page_text: of these carbureters has a branch 9 leading from the pipe 9 down into the liquid
hydrocarbon, 10, in the carbureter, where it is, or may be supplied with a rose-
nozzle, 9b. The carbureted gas passes up through a filtering diaphragm, 10, and
thence to the service pipe, 11, by a pipe, 11. The service pipe is shown as provided
with burners, 12.
When the basket 6" is submerged in the acidulated liquid 5, electro-chemical
action is set up; by the electrical action water is decomposed and the liberated
guses rise in the holder 3. Chemical decomposition is also set up; the zine
combining with the acid of the liquid electrolyte 5 to form a salt-usually a sulphate
-and the liberated hydrogen rising in the holder. The mixed gases flow to and
through the carbureter, D or E, where they are carbureted before passing to the
burners.
In order to increase the volume and illuminating qualities of the gas, the air-
forcing apparatus B, is employed; this we call au invigorator. The device B may
be a blower, ruu by any power, as a weight for example. It connects by an air-
pipe, 16, directly with the holder 3, through a pipe, 17, coupled to the latter, or the
air may, and preferably will, be made to pass through the intermediate air-
carbureter C, through a pipe 16, and a delivery pipe, 17. When it is desired
that the air shall pass through the carbureter C, the cock 18 is opened and the
cock 19 closed. There may also be a cock in the pipe 17.
The chemical action in the generator produces considerable heat, and when the
carbureted air enters the holder 3 from the carbureter C, it mixes with gases therein
and is fixed. This fixed and carbureted gas may then flow directly to the burners,
or indirectly through one or more carbureters before reaching the burners. Thus
with the aid of the cocks 18, 19, 20 and 21, it will be readily understood how the
gas may be regulated as to the degree of carburetting to suit various conditions.
The object in using the two carbureters D and E as described is to permit either
to be used, one containing, for an example, a heavier hydrocarbon than the
other.
Should the gases in the generator A accumulate beyond that escaping at the point
of combustion, the pressure on the liquid electrolyte 5 in the holder 3, will depress
the liquid in the holder, as it may rise in the exterior vessel 1, thus removing the
liquid more or less out of contact with the electrode 7, whereby the generation of
gas will of course be reduced. This action of the accumulated gas serves as an
automatic regulator; but any automatic regulator may be employed. If it be
desired to arrest the generation of gas at any time, the electrode 7 is lifted
above the level of the liquid electrolyte 5. To enable this to be done conveniently
the tube 6 is made to play through a gland, 13, in the top of the holder. The
granulated or scrap zinc, or other metal, may be introduced through the
tube 6.
The invention is not limited to copper and zinc for the electrodes; other metals
having similar electrical qualities may be used. For example, iron may be used
instead of zinc and lead instead of copper; and muriatic acid may be used for
acidulating the electrolyte 5 in lieu of sulphuric acid.
The gas produced by practising this invention may be used to enrich the common
illuminating gases, such as common coal gas, or "street" gas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The manufacture of gas, which consists in generating gas in a continuous
manuer from acidulated water by the combined agencies of chemical reaction and
electrolysis, whereby heat is produced in the generating apparatus, and simul-
taneously and continuously forcing air into the said generating apparatus,
whereby the gases are combined under the influence of heat before being led to the
point of ignition.
2. The manufacture of gas for illumination, which consists in generating gas in a

page_text: continuous manner from acidulated water by electrolysis and chemical reaction,
and continuously forcing carbureted air into the hot generating apparatus, whereby
the gases are combined and fixed under the influence of the heat before being led
to the point of ignition.
3. The manufacture of gas for illumination, which consists in generating gas in a
continuous manner from acidulated water by electrolysis and chemical reaction,
forcing carbureted air in a continuous manner into the hot geucrator where the
gases are mixed, and finally recarburetting the mixed gases before they pass to the
point of iguition.
4. The combination to form a gas apparatus, of an electrical generator adapted
for decomposing the electrolyte and comprising a bolder for the resulting gases, a
pipe leading from said generator for carrying the gas to the-point of ignition, an
air-forcing apparatus, connected with the gas-holder of the gonerator and adapted
to supply air thereto, and a carbureter adapted to carburet the gas, substantially as
set forth.
5. In a gas apparatus, the combination with the electrical generator A, of the
carbureter C, the pipe connecting said carbureter and generator, the air-supply
apparatus B, comprising an air-forcing mechanism, a carbureter, and a pipe con-
necting the said carbureter and air-forcing mechanism, and a pipe connecting said
carbureter with the generator A, for supplying carbureted air thereto, substantially as
set forth.
6. In a gas apparatus, an electrical generator A, for decomposing the acidulated
water forming the electrolyte of the generator, said generator comprising a vessel 1,
a holder and electrode 3, inverted in said vessel, a tube 6, mounted in the top of
the holder 3, and insulated therefrom, said tube being adapted to play longitudinally
in its bearing, a foraminous holder or basket 6" on the lower end of the tube 6, and
contaiuing an electrode 7, the said electrode, the liquid electrolyte, and means for
producing an electrical connection between the tube 6 and the cup 3, substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 9th day of December 1807