Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Gas, and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left. 27th Feb.. 1896-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1898
Date of Application, 27th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left. 27th Feb.. 1896-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Gas, and to Apparatus
therefor.
I, JOHN HASKINS LADD, of 116 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to the manufacture of gas and to apparatus therefor, and
comprises improvements in the method or process and apparatus described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent granted to J. H. W. Stringfellow and dated
29th April 1890, No. 6575.
The method or process of making gas described in the said former Specification,
consists in causing atmospheric air, at the normal temperature or without the
application of heat, to come into intimate contact with liquid hydrocarbon so that
it will become more or less charged with hydrocarbon vapour, and then causing the
gaseous fluid thus formed to come into intimate contact with water at the normal
temperature, so that it will become charged with vapour of water; a gas is
thereby produced which has great heating power and which is useful for a great
variety of purposes.
The apparatus described in the said former Specification comprises a set of
screens or frames covered with absorbent material upon which liquid hydrocarbon
is permitted to fall from a tank above, and through which air is forced. The said
apparatus also comprises a water-chamber in which are placed similar screens or
frames covered with absorbent material, dipping at their lower end into the water
so as to raise the same by capillary attraction. Through this absorbent material
the air charged with hydrocarbon vapour is caused to pass so that it will take up
the vapour of water.
Now I have found in practice that, without the application of heat, the said
process cannot be effectively carried on in cold weather, and that only the very
light or volatile hydrocarbons can be used with effect in such process, by reason
of the slow evaporation of the heavier grades of liquid hydrocarbons at the
ordinary atmospheric temperatures, and also of the lighter grades thereof at low
temperatures.
Therefore, according to my present invention, I provide in a convenient and
advantageous manner for imparting the requisite degree of heat to the air, hydro-
carbon and water used in producing the said gas. For this purpose I apply to the
liquid hydrocarbon, preferably before introducing it into the tank from which it
flows on to the screens of absorbent material, sufficient heat, having regard to the
specific gravity of the hydrocarbon employed and to the atmospheric temperature,
to ensure the requisite rate of evaporation of the hydrocarbon and consequently
the proper charging of the air with the hydrocarbon vapour.
I also apply
sufficient heat to the air, preferably in the air-receiver, to obviate any liability to
condensation of the hydrocarbon vapour by the contact therewith of air at a much
lower temperature. If desired I also apply heat to the water from which the
screens of absorbent materials in the water-chamber draw their supplies. It is
desirable to have the air, the hydrocarbon and the water all at about the same
temperature.
In constructing an apparatus for carrying on my improved process, I find it
advantageous to provide a separate supply tank or reservoir for the liquid hydro-
carbon, which tank or reservoir is suitably connected with the tank abovo the

page_text: hydrocarbon chamber of the apparatus, and to arrange, in combination with the
said supply tank or reservoir, a heating coil or its equivalent, through which is
circulated steam, hot water, hot air or any other suitable heating medium, convenient
devices being provided for regulating the temperature as required.
I also arrange a heating coil or its equivalent having convenient regulating
devices, in combination with the air-receiver, which I make separately from the
other parts of the apparatus, connecting it therewith and also, if desired, with a
fan or blower by suitable pipes. In some instances, instead of using a blower to
force air into the apparatus, I provide for drawing the air through the said
apparatus by means of a pump, and forcing the gas thus produced, by means of
such pump or by means of a suitable compressor, into the furnaces, burners or the
like in which it is to be used. In this manner I am enabled to use the gas more
effectually in furnaces for various purposes.
For heating the water, I provide a coil of pipe within the lower part of the
water-chamber; or I provide other suitable means, such, for example, as a casing
or jacket through which a heating medium is circulated, for maintaining the water
at the desired temperature.
By the means above mentioned I am enabled to very accurately regulate the
temperature of the air, and liquid hydrocarbon supplied to the apparatus, and
also the temperature of the water, according to the degree of volatility of the
hydrocarbon employed and according to the atmospheric temperature, as may be
required.
To ensure the proper flow of the liquid hydrocarbon into the tank above the
screens in the hydrocarbon chamber, I connect the aforesaid supply tank or
reservoir at its upper end with the air-receiver by means of a pipe so that the
pressure above the liquid hydrocarbon in the supply tank or reservoir will correspond
to that in the said hydrocarbon chamber.
I provide for increasing the efficiency of the apparatus by arranging one above
another within the said hydrocarbon chamber, screens of absorbent material which
fill the space between the air-pipe and the walls of the said chamber and which are
so inclined that the liquid hydrocarbon falling on the top screen will flow down the
same to the next screen, and so on; and the liquid from the lowermost of these
screens will descend upon the screens which surround the lower end of the air-pipe
substantially as described in the said former Specification.
I find it advantageous to make the tank above the screens in the hydrocarbon
chamber with short pipes extending downward therefrom and closed at their lower
end, and provided with small tubes extending laterally from them and then down-
ward and terminating in nozzles with very fine discharge-orifices. In combination
with each of such short pipes, I arrange a suitable valve, operated from the
exterior of the apparatus, for controlling the flow of the liquid through them.
I provide suitable valves or cocks, where required for regulating the flow of the
air into the hydrocarbon chamber, the flow of the carburetted air from such
chamber to the water-chamber, and the flow of the gas from the last named
chamber. And I find it advantageous to connect the space above the screens in
the water-chamber with the air-receiver by a pipe provided with a cock or valve,
so that air may, when desired, be mixed with the gas to dilute the same.
The gas produced by my improved process is useful for a great variety of
industrial purposes, more especially those in which great heat is required. It is
also useful for lighting purposes in conjunction with mantles or other bodies which
can be rendered incandescent by the heat without destroying them.
Dated the 27th day of May 1805
JOHN H. LADD.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Gas, and to Apparatus
therefor.
I, JOHN HASKINS LADD, of 116 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London,
Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to the manufacture of gas and to apparatus therefor, and
comprises improvements in the method or process and apparatus described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent granted to J. H. W. Stringfellow and dated
29th April 1890, No. 6575.
The method or process of making gas described in the said former Specification
consists in causing atmospheric air, at the normal temperature or without the
application of heat, to come into intimate contact with liquid hydrocarbon so that
it will become more or less charged with hydrocarbon vapour, and then causing the
gaseous fluid thus formed to come into intimate contact with water at the normal
temperature, so that it will become charged with vapour of water; a gas is thereby
produced which has great heating power and which is useful for a great variety of
purposes.
car-
The apparatus described in the said former Specification comprises a
buretting chamber provided with a set of screens or frames covered with absorbent
material upon which liquid hydrocarbon is permitted to fall from a tank above,
and through which air is forced; and a water-chamber in which are placed similar
screens or frames covered with absorbent material and dipping at their lower end
into the water so as to raise the same by capillary attraction. Through this
absorbent material the air charged with hydrocaibon vapour is caused to pass 80
that it will take up the vapour of water.
Now I have found in practice that, without the application of heat, the said
process cannot be effectually carried on in cold weather, and only the very light or
volatile hydrocarbons can be used effectively, by reason of the slow evaporation of
the heavier grades of liquid hydrocarbons at the ordinary atmospheric temperatures,
and also of the lighter grades thereof at low atmospheric teinperatures.
Therefore, according to my present invention, I provide in a convenient and
advantageous manner, as hereinafter described, for imparting the requisite degree
of heat to the air, hydrocarbon and water used in producing the said gas.
My said invention also comprises other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In making the gas according to my improved process, I apply to the liquid
hydrocarbon, before allowing it to fall upon the screens or frames covered with
the absorbent material, sufficient heat, having regard to the specific gravity of the
hydrocarbon employed and to the atmospheric temperature, to ensure the requisite
rate of evaporation of the hydrocarbon and consequently the proper charging of
the air with the hydrocarbon vapour; and I allow the liquid hydrocarbon thus
heated to flow continuously and in suitably regulated quantities upon the said
screens of absorbent material. I also apply sufficient heat to the air, before its
admission to the carburetting chamber, to obviate any liability to condensation of
the hydrocarbon vapour by contact therewith of air at a much lower temperature.
If necessary or desirable, I also apply heat to the water from which the screens of
absorbent material in the water-chamber draw their supplies. The water, however,
should in no case be converted into steam, but should only be warmed so as to
facilitate to some extent its evaporation when absorbed by the absorbent material
on the said screens.
It will be found most advantageous to heat the air, the liquid hydrocarbon and
the water to such temperatures that the liquid hydrocarbon on the screens of

page_text: absorbent material in the carburetting chamber will be at about the same degree of
temperature as the air passing through such screens, and the water on the screens
of absorbent material in the water-chamber will be at about the same degree of
temperature as the carburetted air passing through these screens. The effect of
applying the heat to the air, liquid hydrocarbon and water in this manner is, that
ro condensation of the hydrocarbon vapour taken up by the air will be caused by
reduction of the temperature of the carburetted air while the same is taking up the
vapour of water. Subsequent cooling of the gas cannot cause condensation of the
hydrocarbon vapour for the reason that the mixture of the water vapour with
the carburetted air produces a fixed gas.
With some grades of hydrocarbons, heat must be applied in order to ensure the
taking up of the hydrocarbon vapour by the air, and in such case, if the water
were used at the normal temperature, there would certainly be condensation of
the hydrocarbon vapour in the water-chamber. But by my invention I entirely
obviate this difficulty.
The beat applied to the water for this purpose will vary, according to
circumstances, from about fifty degrees to two hundred degrees Fahrenheit.
My improved process and apparatus will be readily understood from the following
description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, and
Figure 2 a plan, with parts broken away, showing one form or arrangement of
my improved apparatus.
Figure 3 is a section on the line a, Figure 2, illustrating a detail of
construction.
Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, showing another
arrangement or modification of my said apparatus, and
Figure 5 is a plan showing a detail of construction.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the carburetting chamber; B is the chamber in which the carburetted air
is charged with vapour of water; C is a reservoir for the carburetting fluid,
which reservoir is provided with a gauge-glass a, and with a drain-cock b.
To provide for raising and regulating the temperature of the liquid hydro-
carbon as required, I anange in the reservoir C a coil C¹ through which steam,
hot water, hot air or any other suitable heating medium may be circulated. Or I
can, if desired, provide the said reservoir with a casing or jacket through which
the heating medium is caused to circulate. I provide the outlet-pipes (Figure 2)
for the steam or other heating medium, with a cock or valve for controlling
the circulation of the heating medium, so that the temperature of the liquid
hydrocarbon can be easily regulated as desired. The fluid hydrocarbon can thus
be heated more or less according to its specific gravity and according to the
atmospheric temperature, so as to ensure the requisite rate of evaporation of the
said hydrocarbon.
The air to be carburetted, which is previously heated as hereinafter described,
is introduced into the carburetter A through an inlet-pipe D controlled by a cock
o valve D¹. This pipe extends downward in the vessel A and discharges the air
over a conical deflector or distributor c into a space enclosed by screens or
fiames E covered with absorbent porous material F, which is kept saturated with
liquid hydrocarbon.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1, and 3, there are provided above the
domes or screens E, conical or dished frames or screens E¹ also covered with
absorbent focus material, which are arranged one above another and which
extend between the air-pipe D and the wall of the vessel A, every alternate frame
or screen E¹ being inverted.
The Ecated liquid hydrocarbon is supplied continuously and in regulated
quantity from the reservoir C to an annular tank or distributor G in the upper
part of the car Lurettor A, through a pipe d controlled by a cock or valve d'. The
ah Govided with a series of jets or nozzles J formed on pipes radiating

page_text: from tubes or barrels J' which are secured in the underside of the said tank and
are closed at their lower end. The flow of the heated liquid hydrocarbon through
these tubes is controlled by screw-down valves J2, the stems of which extend
through stuffing-boxes in the cover of the carburettor A so that they may be
operated from the exterior thereof. From the nozzles J the heated liquid hydro-
carbon drops onto the surface of the uppermost screen E' and runs down through
and over the same, any liquid which does not percolate through the absorbent
material, flowing towards the periphery of the vessel, whence it runs inward over
and percolates through the second screen and then outward over and through the
third screen, and so on. I provide a float on the liquid in the tank G, having an
index rod or stem f¹ passing up through the cover of the vessel and working in a
glass tube g, so that the depth of liquid in the said tank may be readily ascertained
at any time.
The vessel A is provided at the top with an outlet-pipe K, controlled by a cock
or valve K³, for conducting the carburetted air into the water-chamber B; this
pipe extends nearly to the bottom of the said chamber where it opens over a
conical deflector or distributor e' into a space enclosed by dome-shaped frames or
screens E' covered with absorbent porous material F; this absorbent material is
kept saturated with water by capillary attraction from a supply of water which is
maintained in the bottom of the vessel B for this purpose. For raising and
regulating the temperature of this water, when necessary, a heating coil B' is
arranged in the lower part of the said vessel B, and is provided with a cock or
valve B2 for controlling the flow of the heating medium. Or I provide a heating
jacket around the lower part of the vessel B for the purpose of raising the
temperature of the water to the required degree. The water-chamber B is pro-
vided with an outlet pipe L for the gas, controlled by a cock or valve L', also with
a filling funnel and valve h for the introduction of water, and with a drain-cock i
whereby it may be emptied when required.
For the purpose of heating the air entering the carburetter through the pipe D,
I provide an air-receiver N comprising a series of tubes N¹, through which the air
passes, and which are heated externally by steam or any other suitable heating
medium circulated through an outer vessel or casing having inlet and outlet
openings, k, and provided with a pressure gauge m, a cock or valve
provided on the outlet for controlling the circulation of the heating medium and
thus regulating the temperature of the air as required.
being
The space above the screens E in the water-chamber B is preferably connected
by a pipe D³, controlled by a cock or valve D³, with the air-supply pipe D, or with
the air-receiver, so that the uncarburetted air may, when desired, be mixed with
the gas to dilute the same.
My improved process is carried into effect as follows:-
Atmospheric air is either forced into the air-receiver N and thus caused to pass
through the carburetting chamber and the water-chamber, or it is drawn into and
through the apparatus by means of a pump inserted in the outlet or delivery
pipe L, as may be found most desirable, so as to permit of the gas being delivered
to the furnaces, burners or the like under a suitable pressure. The air is heated
on its way through the receiver N and enters the space below the domes or
screens E in the vessel A, and, passing through the absorbent porous material F
on the screens E, E', it takes up a proportion of hydrocarbon vapour from the
Jiquid hydrocarbon with which the said porous material is saturated, this liquid
hydrocarbon having been previously heated to a suitable temperature as above
described by means of the coil C' in the reservoir C. The carburetted air is then
conducted through the pipe K into the space beneath the domes or screens E³ in
the vessel B, and, passing through the absorbent material on the said screens,
which is saturated with water at a suitable temperature, takes up more or less of
the vapour of water. From the vessel B the gas passes out through the pipe L.
By heating the liquid hydrocarbon in a separate reservoir and feeding the heated
liquid hydrocarbon in regulated quantity continuously into the distributor in the

page_text: upper part of the carburetting chamber so as to replace what is discharged there-
from on to the screens of absorbent porous material, I obviate any liability to
over-heating and volatilization of the hydrocarbon in the distributor, and obtain
very uniform results.
In some instances I heat the air to such a degree us to counteract the cooling
effect of the evaporation of the hydrocarbon without the necessity for previously
heating the latter. This modification of my improved process is advantageous
when very volatile hydrocarbons are used.
Should it be found that the gas is too rich in hydrocarbon vapour and vapour of
water, I provide an additional supply of air from the pipe D through the bye-
pass D, this air mixing with the gas in the space above the screens E2 in the
chamber B and diluting it as required.
By the means above described I am enabled to very accurately regulate the
temperature of the supplied air and liquid hydrocarbon and also the temperature of
the water, according to the degree of volatility of the hydrocarbon employed or
according to the atmospheric temperature, as may be necessary.
In heating the air previous to its passing into the carburetting chamber, regard
should be had to the raising of the temperature of the air by compression of the
same when it is forced under pressure into the air-receiver. And the temperature
of the air and of the liquid hydrocarbon should be maintained at such a degree as
to compensate for the cooling effect of the evaporation in the carburetting chamber.
To ensure the proper flow of the liquid hydrocarbon into the tank G, I some-
times connect the supply tank or reservoir C at its upper end with the air-receiver N
(or with the air-inlet pipe D) by means of a pipe d2 so that the pressure above the
liquid hydrocarbon in the supply tank or reservoir C will correspond to that in the
carburetting chamber A.
In the arrangement or modification of my apparatus shown in Figures 4 and 5,
the steam or other heating medium is passed through the tubes of the air-heater
and the air through the space in the casing outside of the said tubes, the space
beneath the lower tube-plate being divided by a vertical partition in a well-
known manner to ensure the flow of the steam entering by the pipe k first upward
through the tubes in one half and then downward through the tubes in the other
half of the heater, before its egress through the pipe !.
The construction of the carburettor is also modified, the screens or frames E
being in the form of discs and arranged one above another, and the lowermost
of these screens or discs being surrounded by a cylindrical screen E³ covered with
absorbent porous material. Moreover the distributor, instead of being in the
form of a tank, consists of two hollow segments J³ connected with the supply-
pipe d by pipes d³ and having jets or nozzles J extending therefrom horizontally or
at a suitable inclination. The arrangement of the pipes D, K, L and valves D',
K', L' is also somewhat modified.
Instead of passing carburetted air as above described through the water-
vaporizing screens E2 in the vessel B, 1 may, if desired, pass natural or other
suitable gas through the apparatus with or without additional carburetting in the
chamber A.
The gas produced by my improved process is useful for a great variety of
industrial purposes, more especially those in which great heat is required. It is
also useful for lighting purposes in conjunction with mantles or other bodies which
can be rendered incandescent by the heat without destroying them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be
understood that I am aware it is not new to heat air to be carburetted and the
liquid hydrocarbon to be used for carburetting the same; and I therefore do not
claim, broadly or irrespectively of my improvements herein described, the heating
of the air and of the liquid hydrocarbon; but I declare that what. I claim is :-
1st. The improved process of manufacturing gas, consisting in first separately

page_text: heating atmospheric air and liquid hydrocarbon, then saturating absorbent porous
material in separate chambers, respectively, with the heated liquid hydrocarbon
and with water (with or without previously heating the water), and then causing
the heated air to pass through the material saturated with the heated hydrocarbon,
and then through the material saturated with the water, substantially as herein-
before described.
2nd. The improved process of manufacturing gas, consisting in separately
heating atmospheric air and liquid hydrocarbon, feeding the heated liquid hydro-
carbon in regulated quantity continuously into a distributor in the upper part of a
closed chamber and allowing it to fall therefrom upon absorbent porous material
in the said chamber, saturating absorbent porous material in another chamber
with water (with or without the application of heat), and passing the heated air
first through the absorbent material saturated with the heated liquid hydrocarbon
and then through that saturated with the water, substantially as herein before
described.
31d. The modification of the improved process wherein the required rate of
evaporation of the liquid hydrocarbon is ensured and condensation of the
hydrocarbon vapour prevented by heating the air only, as herein before described.
4th. The modification of the process herein before described in which an
increased pressure is obtained in the furnace or other apparatus in which the
gas is consumed, by drawing the atmospheric air through the absorbent porous
material saturated with the hydrocarbon and water and forcing the gas thus
produced into the said furnace or apparatus, as above set forth.
5th. The combination, with the carburetting chamber and the water-chamber, of
an air-heater connected with the air-inlet of the said carburetting chamber, a
distributor in the upper part of the carburetting chamber, and an oil-reservoir
provided with means for heating the oil therein and connected with the said
distributor by a pipe provided with a controlling valve or cock, with or without
the pipe connecting the air-space of the air-heater with the upper part of the
said reservoir, substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
Sixth. The conical or dished screens or frames covered with absorbent porous
material arranged between the domes or screens in the lower part of the carburetting
chamber and the distributor in the upper part thereof, substantially as, and for the
purposes, above specified.
Seventh. The combination, with the carburetting chamber and the water-
chamber, of a pipe provided with a controlling valve or cock connecting the
pipe for the supply of air to the carburetting chamber with the space above the
domes or screens in the water-chamber, substantially as, and for the purposes,
above specified.
Eighth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 or to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying
drawings and operating as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Deted the 25th day of Febr 1906
JOHN H. LADD.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
JOHN H. LADD.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.