IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF COAL GAS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Weston, of No. 10, Chryssell Road, Brixton, in
the County of Surrey, Gas Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF
COAL GAS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Weston at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th September 1880.
FREDERICK WESTON, of No. 10, Chryssell Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey,
Gas Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH INCREASING THE
ILLUMINATING POWER OF COAL GAS."
The object of this Invention is to further improvo certain apparatus for which I
received Her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent, dated the Twenty first day of
September, One thousand eight hundred and seventy five, No. 3301. By means
of this apparatus the gas is carburetted and its illuminating power greatly increased
by its being caused to come in contact with and absorb hydrocarbon fluids or other
liquids possessing similar properties. In such apparatus the liquid is taken and
up
held in suspension by columns of sponge or other fibrous matter, and the gas in its
passage through or in between such fibrous matter takes up or absorbs a certain
quantity of such liquid in the form of vapour, and becomes thereby greatly enriched
in quality and illuminating power.
Such apparatus consists mainly of a reservoir for the bydrocarbon fluid, the
carburetting chamber, an air chamber within the latter, whereby the height of the
liquid within the carburetting chamber may be regulated and be fed automatically
from the upper chamber or reservoir. An inlet tube is also provided for the
gas to enter the chamber, au outlet for the same after it has passed through the
carburetting chamber, and a float to indicate the height of the liquid.
My improvements consist in so constructing the carburetting chamber that its
efficiency in carburetting and improving the gas is greatly increased. This I do

page_text: by dividing the chamber into passages, and these passages I line on either or both
sides with sponge or other fibrous matter, so that the gas in its passing through the
same cannot fail in its course to be cleansed, and the spongy or fibrous matter more
effectually takes up or absorbs and holds suspended the liquid to be taken off in
vapour by the gas.
5
My improvements consist further in the means of replenishing the reservoir.
For this purpose I employ a valve fitted with a self-acting spring, by means of
which valve and spring the supply of fluid is admitted or shut off. The valve and
spring are actuated through a connecting spindle by a screw cap placed at the top
of the reservoir at the opening thereof. The apparatus is by this means put in or 1
out of action as may be desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick Weston in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th March 1881.
FREDERICK WESTON, of No. 10, Chryssell Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey,
Gas Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH INCREASING THE
ILLUMINATING POWER OF COAL GAS."
The object of this Invention is to further improve certain apparatus for which
I received Her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent, dated the Twenty first day of
September, One thousand eight hundred and seventy five, and No. 3301. By
means of this apparatus the gas is carburetted and its illuminating power greatly
increased by its being caused to come into contact with and absorb hydrocarbon
fluids or other liquids possessing the same or similar properties. In such apparatus
the liquid is taken up and held in suspension by columns of sponge or other
fibrous matter, and the gas in its passago through or in between such fibrous
matter takes up or absorbs a certain quantity of such liquid in the form of
vapour, and becomes thereby greatly enriched in quality and illuminating power.
Such apparatus consists mainly of a reservoir for the hydrocarbon fluid, the
carburetting chamber, an air chamber within the latter, whereby the height of
the liquid within the carburetting chamber may be regulated and be fed auto-
inatically from the upper chamber or reservoir. An inlet tube is also provided
for the gas to enter the chamber, an outlet for the same after it has passed through
the carburetting chamber, and in some cases a float to indicate the height of the
liquid.
My improvements consist in so constructing the carburetting chamber that its
efficiency in carburetting and improving the gas is greatly increased. This I do
by dividing the chamber into passages, and these passages I line on either or both
sides with sponge or other fibrous matter, so that the gas in passing through the
same cannot fail in its course to be cleansed, and the spongy or fibrous matter more
effectually takes up or absorbs and holds suspended the liquid to be taken off in
vapour by the gas.
My improvements consist further in the means of replenishing the reservoir.
For this purpose I employ a valve fitted with a self-acting spring, by means of
which valve and spring the supply of fluid to the carburetting chamber is admitted
or shut off. The valve and spring are actuated through a connecting spindle by a
screw cap placed at the top of the reservoir at the opening thereof. The apparatus
is by this means put in or out of action as may be desired.
In order that the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be carried into practical effect, may be particularly described and
ascertained, this Specification is accompanied by a Sheet of Drawings having
Figures and letters of reference marked thereupon, the same letter being used to
denote a similar or corresponding part in each Figure.
Figure 1 is a, sectional clevation, and Figure 2 is a plan at the line A, B, of my
apparatus; A is the reservoir; B, the carburetting chamber; C, the air chamber;
the inlet tube for the gas D; the outlet for the same after it has been enriched by
the hydrocarbon E. The spongy or fibrous matter lining the passages of the
carburetting chamber is marked F, the passages themselves are denoted by
the letter C. The plug of valve for the admission of the hydrocarbon from the
reservoir A to the carburetting chamber B is marked H, the seat H¹ the supply
tube to carburetting chamber H. The valve plug is carried, as shown, at one end
of a lever I, and is provided with a guide spindle J working vertically in the
arm K. To the other end of lover I is secured a vertical spindle L, provided, as
shown, with a spiral spring M. This spindle extends upwards to the screw cap N,

page_text: into a recess of which its upper end enters. The hydrocarbon fluid is supplied to
the reservoir A by the unscrewing of the cap N. When the screw hole in the
cover of apparatus is opened the pressure of the cap is removed from the spindle,
the spring M presses the vertical upwards, and thereby operates the lever I and
closes the valve H, H'. The hydrocarbon fluid is then poured into the reservoir A,
and then, by replacing the cap N, the spindle L is forced down, depressing the
lever I and opening the valve. In some cases I may prefer to dispense with
the lever I and attach the plug of valve directly on to the spindle L. It will be
apparent that the valve is only necessary when the cap is opened, and is not
required in any way for the proper action of the apparatus. The air chamber is
open at the bottom, and its edge is on the same level as the supply tube; thus,
when the liquid passes down into the carburetting chamber to reach the level of
the supply tube from the reservoir, it thereby seals the air chamber; a pressure is
then created sufficient to counteract the weight of the hydrocarbon fluid within
the reservoir A and hold it in check, while a continuous supply is ensured, as the
fluid is consumed until the volume in the upper chamber is exhausted. The gus
which has entered by the tube A passes through the passages C lined with fibrous
inaterial F, and thereby cleansed and purified, and takes up a certain quantity of
the hydrocarbon fluid. Thence, purified and enriched, it passes out through tube E
ready for consumption.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, I wish it to be distinctly understood that what I claim and desire to
secure by the within in part recited Letters Patent is, firstly, the arrangement
of carburetting chamber with its lined passages, as described in the Specification
and illustrated in the Drawings; and, secondly, the arrangement-of-screw-cap
-spindle, spring, and-valve-for-replenishing-the-reservoir-and-putting-the-apparatus.
in or out of action as may be desired; and, lastly, the construction and arrangement
within one vessel or apparatus of those two features also, and of the other parts
therewith.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Weston, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty third day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
above named Frederick Weston in
the presence of
M. A. SOUL,
17, Holborn.
FREDERICK WESTON. (L.S.)