Process and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Imflammable Gas, and Composition to be used therein.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Imflammable Gas, and
Composition to be used therein.
We, GEORGE WASHINGTON LEE, of Royal Hotel, George Street, Sydney, in the
Colony of New South Wales, Agent, FRANK ELLIOTT, of 201, Kent Street, Sydney,
aforesaid, Plumber, and GEORGE TATHAM, of 50, Clarence Street, Sydney, afore-
said, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for Process and
Apparatus for the Manufacture of Inflammable Gas and Composition to be used
therein" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement: —
This invention relates to the manufacture of inflammable gas for illuminating
and heating purposes as well as for use as a source of motive power for driving
gas engines and the like.
The apparatus comprises two essential features, viz.; a peculiarly constructed
air supplier and moistener, or pump, and a generator, so arranged as to auto-
matically manufacture the gas only as it is required for consumption or storage.
The process consists in impregnating atmospheric air with as much aqueous
moisture as it will hold and passing same through fine shavings saturated with a
specially prepared liquid composition, contained in a small chamber or small chambers
in the generator.
The special composition consists of the three following ingredients, viz.,
(C, H), (commercial sulphuric ether), citronella oil and water, in, the approxi-
mate relative proportions of one part by weight of each of the first and second
ingredients, to four parts by weight of water.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
Figure represents a vertical longitudinal section and Figure 2 an end view of
the apparatus constructed according to this invention Figure 3 is a transverse
section on the line 3 3 Figure 1 looking towards the air outlet and Figure 4 is
a transverse section taken on the line 44 Figure 1 looking towards the air inlet
end Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 5 Figure 1.
The air supplier and moistener, or pump, consists essentially of a receiver A,
preferably cylindrical as shewn, and mounted upon a rotatable spindle a working
in bearings in a receptacle, or trough, B, containing water up to a short distance,
say a few inches, above the level of the spindle a. Within the receiver A, are
two, or more, vanes, A1, A2, extending from the periphery to near the spindle and
in one end of the said receiver are two, or more, air inlet holes, or orifices, a¹ a³,
and in the other end are two, or more, air outlet holes, or orifices, a³, a, each of the
said pairs or sets of holes or orifices being arranged diametrically opposite to each
other on opposite sides of the vanes as shewn in the drawings.
It will be obvious that as the receiver A rotates air will be continuously admitted
through the holes, or orifices, a¹, a², and discharged through the holes, or
orifices, a, a, by the resistance of the water, whilst at the same time the said air
will be rendered moist by its contact with the water and consequently prevent
loss by evaporation of the special composition in the chambers hereinafter

page_text: to automatically manufacture the gas only as required substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In apparatus for the manufacture of inflammable gas a receiver such
as A with vanes such as A' A2 and adapted to rotate in a water trough such as B
and having air inlet holes such as a¹ and air outlet holes such as a³ a sub-
stantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In apparatus for the manufacture of inflammable gas a receiver such as A
with vanes such as A¹ A2 and adapted to rotate in a water trough such as B and
having air inlet holes such as a a and air outlet holes such as a³a in com-
bination with an air chamber such as C partitioned off from the said receiver and
provided with a discharge pipe extending above the level of the water substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
.
Dated this Fifteenth day of November One thousand eight hundred and
ninety-seven
GEORGE WASHINGTON LEE.
FRANK ELLIOTT.
GEORGE TATHAM.