IMPROVEMENTS IN THE UTILIZATION OF BISULPHIDE OF CARBON AND GLYCERINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MOTIVE POWER AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE UTILIZATION OF BISULPHIDE OF
CARBON AND GLYCERINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MOTIVE POWER AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by William Gordon Smith,
Thomas Mara Fell, and Henry Budds Bunster, all of the City of New York,
in the United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 9th June 1877.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
UTILIZATION OF BISULPHIDE OF CARBON AND GLYCERINE FOR THE PRODUCTION
OF MOTIVE POWER AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES." Communicated from abroad
by William Gordon Smith, Thomas Mara Fell, and Henry Budds Bunster, all
of the City of New York, in the United States of America.
The Invention consists in certain new and useful improvements in the arts by
utilizing bisulphide of carbon and glycerine for the production of motive power, and
in combination and separately for other purposes.
For motive power, the Invention is, the employment of a heated bath of
glycerine or a compound thereof, into which we inject the bisulphide of carbon.
For heating or warming purposes or for the evaporation of liquids use is made of
glycerine which is susceptible of being heated to about 400 degrees (Fabrenheit)
without practical change, and may be conveyed by pipes or vessels to any point
required.
Further, the said Invention consists in using th vapor which is produced from
the bisulphide of carbon for bleaching and dissolving any and all substances for
which it is applicable in the arts or manufactures.
In order that the said Invention may be plainly understood and applied the
following statement is given :-Hitherto the production of the vapor of bisulphide
of carbon for motive power and other uses has been in one of two general ways,
first, evaporated from heated water; or second, evaporated from heated metal
Die A77

page_text: .
surfaces. The vapors from the first source, necessarily contain a large quantity of the
vapor of water which arises therefrom, and while the admixture of salts afford an
evaporating medium capable of being heated above the boiling point of water
(212 degrees), the proportion of aqueous vapor produced is only lessened to a
small extent. The effect of aqueous vapor causes a decomposition of the vapor of
the bisulphide of carbon at all temperatures over 149 degrees (Fahrenheit)
into CO, + SO, (carbonic and sulphurous acids) and free carbon; the result so far
as motive power is concerned is a rapid destruction of the vessels or engine using
the same, and for the purposes for which a pure undecomposed vapor is required
for chemical manipulations, such as bleaching as in the case of sugar, or for bleaching
and dissolving purposes as in the case of caoutchouc; the useful effect is more or
less destroyed in proportion to the amount of this decomposition.
Further, in the second general way of obtaining bisulphide vapor, viz., evaporating
from metal surfaces; while this plan partially avoids the bad effects of HO, other
'objections occur which are as follows:-A great difficulty of maintaining the necessary
even temperature; the combination of the moisture of the air in the vessels and
pipes also causes decomposition.
Further, should the temperature reach between 500 to 600 degrees (Fahrenhoit),
which is unavoidable, there is obtained permanent gases which are uncondensible,
and other products which are produced at the expense or loss of so much bisulphide
of carbon.
The power to be derived from the expansion of the liquid of bisulphide of carbon
into a vapor is several times as economical as the force of aqueous vapor produced.
from water; this may be clearly understood on reference to the following points.:-
Water requires 213 degrees sensible temperature for the production of atmospheric
steam which possesses no momentive power; bisulphide of carbon liquid produces a
working pressure vapor of 60 pounds and more at 110 degrees; steam to produce
the same pressure (60 pounds) requires about 308 degrees of sensible heat. The
latent heat of absorption is also different, steam being 1000 degrees, and bisulphide
of carbon 280 degrees. The economy is therefore evident and can be understood
by adding the latent and sensible heats of each, and comparing the proportions of
caloric necessary to keep them in the condition of vapors.
The attempt to use the vapor of bisulphide of carbon as a motive power has.
failed only in its method of application; theoretically it has been a success, but
owing to the defects as before, and as further herein-after stated the practical
results have been neutralized.
Now by the Invention herein. described dry pure vapor of bisulphide of carbon
may be successfully obtained and utilized both for motive power and other uses in
the arts and manufactures. Glycerine or a compound thereof will absorb heat to.
the sensible temperature of 400 to 500 degrees (Fahrenheit) without undergoing
elementary separation; it becomes thin and capable of circulating like water, but
without pressure on the vessels or pipes. If therefore any kind of vessel or
boiler or a series of pipes be filled therewith and heated, a circulation of high
temperature may be had and conveyed to any point, either for heating or for the
purpose of evaporation of liquids.
When bisulphide of carbon is injected into heated glycerine or a compound
thereof, especially when air is removed from the various pipes, vessels or evaporators
a pure anhydrous vapor is quickly, safely, and economically produced, which may
then be used to give motion to machinery and afterwards for bleaching or dissolving
purposes. Or owing to the high temperature obtainable the heated glycerine may
be first applied for heating or evaporating uses, and afterwards for motive power, as
a temperature of about 110 degrees is sufficient to vaporize bisulphide of carbon.
This combined use from the one heating will effect a great saving in the cost of
fuel. Any kind of vessel, evaporator or ordinary boiler as now used for evaporating
water may be used for heating glycerine.
To remove the air from the vessel's pipes and cylinder of the engine (the exhaust
port of which is immediately connected with a condenser) an air pump or other

page_text: contrivance should be attached. The vapor after giving motion to machinery by
any ordinary mechanical motor is allowed to escape by the exit port to the
condenser, which again produces the liquid bisulphide of carbon for re-use.
Now as glycerine can be heated to 400 to 500 degrees (Fahrenheit) without any
material change of its constituents, it follows that if the same be heated to this
degree before injecting the bisulphide, the difference between 110 degrees (the
evaporating point of the latter) and the above temperature can be used to expand
the resulting vapor under the common law of expansion of gases, which is
say th for each sensible degree, thus producing nearly double the pressure
obtainable at 110 degrees.
1
By the
As already stated, the chemical objections arising from aqueous moisture,
further, the mechanical effect of the presence of atmospheric air or any permanent
gas, prevents to a large extent a proper condensation of the vapor of the bisulphide
which is highly necessary when the same is used for motive power.
exclusion of this air and gases and evaporating the liquid bisulphide of carbon from
heated glycerine an undecomposed normal vapor useful for many purposes besides
motive power
is obtained or produced; and as a distinct application the circulating
heating medium of glycerine can be beneficially substituted for either hot water or
steam, as it affords a superior means of warming or heating, or for the evaporation
of liquids on account of its higher temperature and without pressure on the vessels
or pipes.
In the manufacture of raw sugar the whole of the said Invention can be used in
combination, by first using the high degree for the evaporation of solutions by the
usual worms or pipes or double pans, and afterwards conducting the comparatively
cooled glycerine into a second vessel into which the bisulphide of carbon can then
be injected to furnish vapor for motive power, or for purposes of bleaching or both,
as may be desired.
Therefore is claimed as the Invention is,-
First. The production of motive power from the bisulphide of carbon when the
same is injected into or used in connection with heated glycerine or a compound
thereof, substantially as is above set forth.
Second. Evaporating bisulphide of carbon by injecting same into heated glycerine
or a compound thereof, for the purpose of producing a dry, pure, and undecomposed
vapor for various uses in the arts and manufactures, substantially in the manner as
herein set forth.
Third. Procuring and using a high temperature circulating heated medium by
the use of glycerine for warming, heating, or evaporating purposes, separately or in
combination with the production of motive power, substantially as is herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Pitt, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
night hundred and seventy_caron