IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR .THE PRODUCTION OF GASES FOR HEATING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas James Smith, of the Firm of Robertson,
Brooman, and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agents, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
.THE PRODUCTION OF GASES FOR HEATING AND OTHER PURPOSES." A com-
munication from abroad by Pierre Emile Martin, of Paris, France,
Manufacturer.
-
Sealed the 6th September 1872, and dated the 14th March 1872..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas James Smith
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th March 1872:-
I, THOMAS JAMES SMITH, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and
Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GASES FOR HEATING AND OTHER PURPOSES,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction and arrangement of furnaces
by which the ore or mineral placed therein is not only melted, but
.

page_text: France, Manufacturer,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Thomas James Smith, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas James Smith, 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, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to the construction and arrangement of furnaces
by which ore or mineral placed therein is not only melted, but com-
bustible hydrogenous gases are generated which are capable of use for
all metallurgical or ceramic purposes, or may be employed for lighting
and other such object.
The Invention also relates to means and apparatus by which the
hydrogenous gases generated in this manner are purified.
The Inventor places on the upper part of an ordinary blast furnace
charged as usual with fuel and mineral a retort, which is heated directly
by the furnace; this retort is charged with dried wood or other com-
bustible body or material capable of giving off hydrogen, such for
instance as turf or lignite. The gases from the furnace are hydrogenated
by their admixture with the gases developed by the hydrogenous com-
bustible in the retort. On proceeding from the furnace these mixed
gases are cooled, washed, and purified, and in this state they are led into
the different furnaces or apparatus where they are to be consumed or
stored. Thus by means of these furnaces simultaneously with the
fusion of the mineral the combustible gases evolved from the furnace :
are transformed into hydrogenous gases and purified; so as to permit
their employment for heating and lighting purposes with the best
results.
The annexed Drawing shows this furnace or apparatus complete with
the retort and purifying apparatus...
The furnace proper A, charged as usual with mineral and combustible
bodies for the reduction and fusion of the minerals or the production of

page_text: J
cast iron, has a vertical retort B placed on its upper part which is open.
at the bottom and closed at the top by a cover C, through which it may
be supplied with wood, turf, lignite, or other hydrogenous combustible.
This retort is heated directly by the furnace proper, and hydrogen gas is
evolved in it which mingles with The combustible gases proceeding
from the furnace. Holes d are made towards the bottom of the retort B
to give passage to a portion of the gas which mixes with the air admitted
through orifices e in the furnace; this mixture contributes to the heating
of the retort B, the outer surface of which is embraced by the gases
before they escape at the top of the furnace through the openings f
which also serve as sight holes. Pipes x at the bottom of the furnace.
are fed by wind or air heated up to from 400° to 800 degrees Centigrade.
(750 to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit) or more if required. In certain cases
steam or water or even 5 to 10 per cent. of oxygen is introduced in order
to produce the transformation into oxygen gas of the carbon or hydro-
genated carbon of the combustible contained in the retort. Pipes
made in the brickwork of the furnace heat the air, the wind, or when
required the steam which is introduced through the pipes x; oxygen is
introduced when necessary into the pipes x, x, by means of a tube z.
At g at about the middle of the height of the furnaces is the register or
distributing cock of the hydrogenated combustible gases which are led
from the furnace proper A into the purifying apparatus, which is com-
posed as follows:-The gases pass through a pipe h into a vertical
column, and from thence into a lower receiver m divided by a par-
tition m². During the passage a jet of water n at the upper part of
column has cooled the gas, and removed from it soot, tar, and other
foreign bodies, which deposit on the bottom of the receiver m, and which
can be removed therefrom by the orifices o provided with plugs or cocks.
The gas rises from the receiver m into another column and re-descends
through a third column into another receiver m³ similar to the first.
In the fresh passage another jet of water at n' again cools and washes
the gases. This operation may be repeated during several passages of
the gas until its purification is complete, the hydrogenated and purified
combustible gases are then led by pipes r to reverberatory, puddling,
or other furnaces or apparatus for metallurgical or ceramic purpose,
which they serve to heat without the aid of any independent generator.
The furnaces intended more particularly for the heating purposes
unite the following conditions. Tinst the employment of heated air

page_text: either alone or combined with water, steam, or oxygen; secondly, the
hydrogenation of the combustible gases of the furnace by means of
the hydrogen gas developed by the hydrogenous combustible enclosed
in the vertical retort at the upper part of the furnace, and which is
directly heated by the latter; thirdly, the cooling, washing, and puri-
fication of the hydrogenated combustible gases on their proceeding from
the furnace before their distribution to the furnaces and apparatus where
they are to be used for heating purposes. But when the furnaces are
intended for the production of gases for lighting purposes it is necessary,
independently of the preceding conditions, to introduce superheated
steam in the lower part of the furnace, in order to bring about the
separation of the hydro-carburates.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The apparatus or furnace substantially as above described and
shown in the Drawing, whereby the fusion of mineral is effected at the
same time that hydrogenous combustible gases are first produced and
then purified.
Second. The combination or arrangement of the furnace proper A of
the structure with the retort B open at its base and closed at its top, as
described and shewn.
Third. The heating of the retort B by means of the heated gases from
.the furnace proper, as described.
Fourthly. The arrangement of the various pipes for the passage of
the air, steam, or oxygen, substantially as described and shewn.
And, fifthly. The apparatus substantially as described and shown.
"whereby the gases are cooled and purified on proceeding from the furnace.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas James Smith, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.