Improvements in Gas-making Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas-making Apparatus.
1
,. FREDERICK LAMPLOUGH, of Glen Ridge, New Jersey, in the United States
of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
J
The, object.of this invention is to generate an illuminating gas or admixture by
the admixture of light petroleum spirit, such as gasoline, with air, the process being
conducted pneumatically under seal to prevent the possibility of explosion and obviate
the necessity of cumbrous floating gas holders, etc.
To achieve this, by means of a suitable pump, I compress and force air through the
petroleum spirit, which, on account of the slight rise in temperature consequent upon
being compressed, takes up sufficient of the spirit to form an inflammable gas or
combination of air and vapour. On issuing from the spirit, the newly formed gas or
admixture passes through a suitable pipe to a gas bottle, where it is stored, under
compression ready for use. The exit of the gas or admixture from the bottle is
regulated down to a suitable working pressure by means of a suitably constructed
reducing valve.
:.
The air is compressed by means of a hand pump, or is controlled by a small water
motor working from the water'main, in which case it is arranged to give a continuous
supply of gas or admixture by balancing the pressure in the gas bottle with the
pressure on the water main, which would cause the motor to re-start when' the
gas was drawn off, and stop by the balancing of the pressure when the gas was
not being used.
Dneth of Fahmani iege

page_text: the possibility of explosion and obviate the necessity of cumbrous floating
gasholders, &c.
To achieve this; by means of a suitable pump, I compress and force air through
the volatile hydro-carbon, which, on account of the slight rise in temperature
consequent upon being compressed, takes up sufficient of the spirit to form an
inflammable gas or combination of air and vapour. On issuing from the spirit, the
newly formed gas or admixture passes through a suitable pipe to a gas bottle, where it
is stored under compression ready for use. The exit of the gas or admixture from the
bottle is regulated down to a suitable working pressure by means of a suitably
constructed reducing valve.
The air may be compressed by means of a hand pump or it may be compressed and
controlled by a small water motor working from the water main in which case it is
arranged to give a continuous supply of gas or admixture by balancing the pressure in
the gas bottle with the pressure on the water main, which would cause the motor to
restart when the gas was drawn off, and stop by the balancing of the pressure when the
gas was not being used.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an
elevation partly in section of my improved gas making apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical
section of the force pump and Fig. 3 is a plan partly in section showing a detail of
the pressure regulating apparatus.
"
a is the container for the gasoline or other volatile hydro-carbon, a¹ is a
tubular glass gauge attached to the container a to indicate the height of the
gasoline or other volatile hydro-carbon therein and a² is a pressure gauge on the
top of the container a, b is a gas bottle or reservoir into which the condensed gas or
vapour charged air passes from the container a through the opening a³,c is a pump which
is used first to pump the supply of gasoline or other volatile hydro-carbon into the
container a and then to pump air through the volatile hydro-carbon in said container,
the bottom of the pump barrel is fitted with a self-acting non return valve c¹ and
immediately above said valve c¹ is a suction or lift valve c². The pump pistón c³ is
hollow and is fitted with a spring pressed escape valve c', it communicates with the
hollow piston rod and handle c so that when pumping if an excess of pressure
should arise the valve c¹ will open and permit the excess of air to escape through the
handle to the open air. is a tube connecting the pump c with the container a
and e is a screw stop valve mounted in the pump fitting to enable the passage
from the pump c to the tube d to be closed when the apparatus has been fully charged
with air.
In the upper part of the gas bottle or reservoir 6 is a reducing valve chamber f
communicating with said reservoir b by openings f¹ in the lower cylindrical part of
said chamber f.
A hollow cross bar f2 communicating at its ends with such openings f¹ is fixed
across the chamber f and at the centre of such cross bar on its under side is a valve
seat ff is a valve carried by a frame f guided at its lower end in the cylindrical
bottom f of the chamber f and connected at its upper end to a flexible diaphragm f
fixed within a chamber f8 the upper part of which is open to atmospheric pressure.
The chamber has an opening to which a pipe is connected which conveys the
gas or admixture to the burners.
When charging the container a with gasoline or other volatile hydro-carbon one
end of a piece of flexible tube is attracted to the pipe cs at the bottom of the pump.
This tube is at its other end connected to a cask or other reservoir of gasoline or other
volatile hydro-carbon.
The pump c is then worked, on the out stroke the volatile hydro-carbon is drawn
into the pump barrel whilst on the in stroke it is forced along the tube d into the
container a. When the container a is charged with the volatile hydro-carbon up to
say the dotted line x the flexible tube is disconnected from the pipe c8 which latter
is left open to the atmosphere. Air is then drawn in by the pump and forced out
therefrom through the tube d and into the container a when it rises through the
hydro-carbon and passes through the opening a³ into the gas bottle or reservoir b.

page_text: When a pressure of 40 lbs. or 50 lbs. is indicated on the gauge a² the apparatus is.
ready for use, a constant pressure to the burners being maintained by means of the
reducing apparatus f. As soon as the working pressure rises a few inches in the
chamber the diaphragm f draws the valve to its seat f³ only opening again to let
a little more of the compressed gas or admixture into the chamber fas and when the
pressure falls.
The escape valve c* serves to prevent accident should the operator continue to
pump air into the machine when the latter is already fully charged, this valve c* can
be set to work at any pre-determined pressure. On this pressure being reached,
the valve clifts and the surplus air is expelled through the piston rod c5 and
handle 66.
The stop valve e is used to shut off the air inlet when the work of the pump is
accomplished and thereby prevent any undue leakage through the valves.
In lieu of compressing the air by means of a hand pump cas above described a
small water motor working from the water main may be employed to operate a
pump, in which case it is arranged to give a continuous supply of gas or admixture
by balancing the pressure in the gas bottle b with the pressure on the water main
which will cause the motor to re-start when the gas or admixture is drawn off, and
stop when the gas is not being used. I have not thought it necessary to illustrate
this arrangement as such will be readily understood from the above description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a gas making apparatus the combination of a container for holding the
gasoline or other volatile hydro-carbon, a level and pressure gauge on said container,
a pump to supply said container with the hydro-carbon and with air, a lift valve and
a non return valve at the foot of the pump, an escape valve in the pump piston,
communicating with a hollow piston rod and handle, a gas bottle or reservoir to
receive and contain the compressed gas or admixture of air and vapor from the
hydro-carbon container, a reducing valve apparatus in said gas bottle or reservoir and
an outlet from the pressure reducing apparatus to the gas fittings, substantially as
herein set forth.
2. In a gas making apparatus the combination of a container for gasoline or other
volatile hydro-carbon, means for charging the same with the said liquid and with air
under pressure, a level and pressure gauge on said container, a gas bottle or reservoir
connected with said container to receive the compressed gas or admixture, pressure
reducing apparatus to maintain a constant pressure to the burners, and means for
stopping the supply of air to the apparatus when the required pressure in the gas
bottle or reservoir is reached, substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 96th day of November 1808
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.