A Method of and Apparatus for Carbureting and Mixing Gas and Air.
Year: 1886

page_text: A Method of and Apparatus for Carbureting and Mixing Gas
and Air.
I, GEORGE ROSCO COTTRELL, of 212 West 14th Street, in the City and State
of New York, United States of America, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
partially described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an Improved Method of and Apparatus for Carbureting
and Mixing Gas and Air and it consists first, in heating the gas and conveying it
to a carbureting chamber containing crystallized naphthalene, or other hydrocarbon,
and thereby enriching the gas; second, introducing a mixture of oxy-hydrocarbon
gas and atmospheric air into the carbureting chamber with the heated enriched gas
third, removing condensable particles from the mixture of enriched carbureted gas
and oxy-hydrocarbon gas and air; and fourth, purifying the same, preparatory to
introducing it to the service pipes: It also consists in certain combinations of steps
or operations, as hereinafter set forth.
The invention further consists in the peculiar construction and combination of
devices constituting the apparatus that will be more fully set forth hereinafter and
particularly pointed out in the claims.
The object of my invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for car-
bureting fixed illuminating gas and mixing it with air or oxygen in any desired
proportion, and submitting it to any desired pressure and thereby causing it to
yield a light of uniform and any desired candle power, for illuminating or heating
purposes as required.
The accompanying drawing represents a vertical longitudinal central section of
an apparatus embodying my invention.
A, representa a carbureting chamber which is prefering the section of a cone and
communicating with a purifying chamber B, which forms a cylinder of reduced
diameter. Surrounding the inclined sides of. the upper portion of the carbureting
chamber, is a water jacket C. D, represents the usual gas meter, such as supplied
by the gas companies in cities that are illuminated by gas, from which extends a
pipe E, having a series of branch pipes F. Coils F¹ are formed in the lower ends
TD 031

page_text: of these branch pipes, below the bottom of the carbureting chamber, and the
upper ends of the said pipes are provided with downwardly extending discharge
pipes F. The pipe G, leads from one side of the carbureting chamber to a mixing
machine H. This mixing machine is divided into two compartiments' h and h³,
which are filled to any desired depth with water. The pipe G, leads to the
compartment h, which is only about one-third as large as the compartment h¹, and
the latter has an inlet pipe I, for supplying atmospheric air. In the compartment h,
is journalled a horizontal rotating screw or pump K, and in the compartment h¹
is journalled a similar pump or screw L, which has about three times the capacity
of the pump K. Any other preferred form of pump may be substituted for those
herein before shown and described, and the water may be omitted from the com-
partments h and h¹, as these are particulars which are not essential to the operation
of my invention.
From the compartment h, extends the pipe M; from the compartment h¹ extends
a pipe N, of about three times the capacity of the pipe M. These pipes M. and N,
lead to a mixing chamber or union pipe O, the capacity of which is a little more
than equal to the combined capacity of the pipes M and N. P, represents a pipe
which extends from the mixing chamber or union pipe O, into the carbureting
chamber, and the inner end of the said pipe P, is turned downwardly in the center
of the carbureting chamber. A stop-cock P¹ is located in the pipe P, and from the
said pipe depends a branch pipe R, the lower end of which is bent at right angles
and extends horizontally under the horizontal branch of the pipe E, and at a
suitable distance below the same and below the coils F. A series of burners R¹
are provided for the horizontal branch of the pipe R.
From the union pipe O, extends a second pipe S, which leads to any desired
portion of the building, and is provided with burners S¹ (one or more) which are
used for heating or culinary purposes.
In order to rotate the screw pumps K and L, I connect them by suitable gearing
with a shaft T, which has the pinion T¹. A gear wheel U, meshes with the pinion T₁,
which gear wheel and pinion are located between the compartments h and h¹, and
on the upper side of the mixing machine is journalled a shaft V, having a pinion V1
that meshes with the gear wheel U: to the outer end of shaft V, is attached a
drum W. A crank W₁ is also provided for the shaft V, by means of which the
latter may be rotated by hand. A cord x, is coiled on the drum W and passes over
a pulley y, and to the free end of the cord is attached a weight 2. It will be
readily understood that as the weight descends, the shaft V will be rotated, and
thereby cause the screw pumps K and L which are geared to the said shaft, to
rotate.
I do not desire to limit myself to the weight, cord, and drum for rotating the
screw pumps, as these are merely shown for convenience in illustration, and any
preferred motor may be employed for actuating the pumps.
The carbureting chamber is partly filled, to any required depth, with crystallized
naphthaline, and the purifying chamber B, filled with excelsior and any, suitable
purifying chemicals, such as lime or chloride of calcium, or a mixture of these and
charcoal.
The gas from the meter passes through the pipe E to the coils F¹ and is heated
by the flames from the burners R¹, and forced through the pipes F, into the
carbureting chamber, where it is enriched or carbureted by vapors of the
crystallized naphthaline. This enriched gas is too rich to burn with the best
results, and a portion of it passes through the pipes G, into the compartment h, and
from thence is forced by the pump K, through the pipe M, into the mixing chamber
or union pipe O.
Atmospheric air is sucked into compartment h¹ by pump L, and forced through
pipe N, into the mixing chamber or union pipe O, where it mixes with the gas
in the proportion of about three parts to one of the latter, forming a blue gas
which is suitable for heating and cooking purposes, but not for illuminating purposes.

page_text: A portion of this blue gas is supplied to the burners R¹ for heating the coils¨F¹,
and a portion also passes through pipe S, to the burners S¹.
The mixture of oxy-hydrocarbon gas and air is supplied through the pipe P to
the center of the carbureting chamber, and there discharged upon the heated
carbureted gas therein, which causes the said gases to mingle and expand against
the sides of the carbureting chamber where the heavier hydrocarbons are condensed
by the water jacket, for the purpose of removing carbonaceous particles that would
cause the gas to smoke when burned. From the carbureting chamber, the gas
passes upward through the purifying chamber B, to the service pipe a, by which
it is conducted to the burners for illuminating purposes.
A gas guage b, is provided for the carbureting chamber, and a stop-cock c, is
provided for the horizontal branch of the pipe R; the said stop-cock being con-
nected with the gas guage by a rod d. Gas is thus admitted to the burners R¹ in
a quantity proportioned to the degree of pressure in the carbureting chamber, by
which means the gas therein is maintained at a uniform pressure and supplied to
the service pipe and thereby caused to yield a steady and uniform light. By
regulating the quantity of gas and air supplied to the carbureting chamber, an
illuminating gas of any desired candle power may be supplied to the burners.
The mixture of oxy-hydrocarbon gas and air in the proportions specified, forms
a heating gas which is very cheap and serviceable.
Crystallized naphthaline is a residue of coal tar or crude petroleum, solid in form
and volatile at 115 deg. F.
By oxy-hydrocarbon gas, I mean the mixture of ordinary carbureted hydrogen,
vapor and oxygen of the atmosphere; or in other words, gas after having been.
enriched or carbureted in the chamber containing hydrocarbon such as naphthaline,
and then mixed with oxygen or air.
A branch pipe E¹ connects with pipe E, at the upper end of the meter, with the
service pipe a at the upper end of the carbureter. This pipe E¹ has a valve e¹, and
the pipe E has a valve e. By closing valve e, and opening valve e¹, the gas may
be conducted directly from the meter to the service pipe, without passing into the
carbureter or mixing machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The method of producing carbureted gas of the desired candle, power for
illuminating or heating purposes which consists in heating the gas, then carbureting
it; withdrawing such gas from the carbureter and mixing with it a suitable
proportion of atmospheric air and conducting it to the place of use.
2. The method of producing carbureted gas of the desired candle power, for
illuminating or heating purposes, which consists in heating the gas, then car-
bureting it, by conducting it in a warm or heated state in contact with volatile:
bydrocarbon; withdrawing from the carbureter a portion of such gas and mixing
with it a definite and measured proportion of atmospheric air, to adapt it for use,
as described.
3. The method of producing carbureted gas of the desired candle power for.
heating or illuminating purposes which consists in heating or warming the
carbureting chamber, supplying heated gas thereto and carbureting it with hydro-
carbon vapors; withdrawing such carbureted gas and mixing with it a suitable:
measured proportion of atmospheric air to adapt it for use, as described.
4. The method of producing carbureted gas of the desired candle power for
illuminating or heating purposes which consists in heating the gas and mingling
therewith hydrocarbon vapors; withdrawing from the carbureter a portion of:
such gas and mixing with it a suitable proportion of atmospheric air; conducting
such mixture into the carbureting chamber and mingling therewith heated
enriched gas, to adapt it for use, as described.
:
i

page_text: 5. The method of producing carbureted gas of the desired candle power for
illuminating or heating purposes which consists in heating gas and enriching it
with hydrocarbon vapor, then mingling with such enriched gas a mixture of gas
and air, united in definite and measured proportion to adapt it for use, as
described.
6. The method of preparing a carbureted mixture of gas and air of the desired
candle power, for illuminating or heating purposes, which consists in enriching gas
with hydrocarbon vapor, forming a mixture of gas and air by uniting them in
definite and measured proportions and then mixing the enriched gas with the
mixture of gas and air, to form a gas of the desired quality.
7. The method of preparing a carbureted mixture of gas and air of the desired
candle power, for illuminating or heating purposes, which consists in vaporizing
solid or crystalline hydrocarbons by heat, and enriching gas with such vapors; then
uniting with such enriched gas a measured proportion of atmospheric air to adapt
it for use, as described.
8. The method of producing carbureted gas of uniform candle power, consisting
first, in heating the gas; second, conveying it to the carbureting chamber. and
thereby enriching the gas; third, introducing a mixture of oxy-hydrocarbon gas
and atmospheric air into the carbureting chamber with the heated and enriched
gas; fourth removing condensable matter from the mixture of enriched carbureted
gas and oxy-hydrocarbon gas and air; and fifth purifying the mixture for
illuminating purposes, substantially as described.
9. The carbureting chamber, having water jacket, in combination with the
purifying chamber communicating with such carbureting chamber, substantially as
described.
10. The carbureting chamber, having the inclined upper sides and the water
jacket surrounding them, in combination with the purifying chamber communicating
with said carbureting chamber, substantially as described.
11. The conibination of the carbureting chamber, the heated coils for supplying
heated gas thereto, means for heating the coils, means for mixing gas and air, and
the pipe for supplying the mixture of oxy-hydrocarbon gas and air to the
carbureting chamber, substantially as described.
12. The combination of the carbureting chamber, the pipes F for supplying
heated gas thereto, the mixing chamber O, communicating with the carbureting
chamber, and the means for supplying oxy-hydrocarbon gas and atmospheric air to
the mixing chamber, in suitable proportions, substantially as described.
13. The combination of the carbureting chamber, the mixing machine com-
municating therewith, and having the pumps K and L, and the mixing chamber
communicating with the mixing machine and also communicating with the car-
bureting chamber, for supplying a mixture of gas and air to the latter, substantially
as described,
14. The combination of the carbureting chamber, having the gas guage and the
heating coils, with the pipe R, having the burners under the heating coils, and the
stop-cock connected to and controlled by the gas guage, for the purpose set forth
and substantially as described.
15. In combination with a carbureting chamber, means for heating gas and
supplying it to such chamber in contact with carbureting material near its bottom
and means as described, arranged at the top of the carbureter for condensing and
removing heavy hydrocarbon particles from the gas for the purpose described.
16. A carbureter provided with supply pipes, having heating coils, means for
heating such coils and the base of the carbureter, in combination with means
for cooling the gas and removing impurities from it, placed at the top of the
carbureter.
17. A carbureting chamber having means for heating it at the base, and having
a water jacket cooling surface applied to its top, for the purpose described.

page_text: 18. A carbureting chamber, having means for heating and vaporizing the
carbureting material and having an inclined water jacket top for condensing and
removing an excess of hydrocarbon particles from the gas.
19. In combination with a carbureter, a gas meter, a connecting supply pipe,
leading from the meter to the carbureter, drums or pumps for delivering gas and
air in measured proportions and pipes connecting such measuring drums with the
carbureter, whereby carbureted gas and air may be mixed in suitable proportions
to form illuminating or heating gas.