IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN IMPREGNATING AIR AND AERIFORM FLUIDS OR GASES WITH HYDROCARBONS, AND IN BURNERS USED IN BURNING THE INFLAMMABLE AIR OBTAINED, WHICH BURNERS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE WHEN BURNING OTHER GASEOUS FLUIDS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, of 8, Manby Street,
Stratford, in the County of Essex, Gas Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN IMPREGNATING AIR
AND AERIFORM FLUIDS OR GASES WITH HYDROCARBONS, AND IN BURNERS USED
IN BURNING THE INFLAMMABLE AIR OBTAINED, WHICH BURNERS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE WHEN BURNING OTHER GASEOUS FLUIDS."
Sealed the 13th March 1868, and dated the 5th October 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th October 1867.
I, NATHANIEL FORTESQUE TAYLOR, of 8, Manby Street, Stratford, in the
County of Essex, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN IMPREG-
NATING AIR AND AERIFORM FLUIDS OR GASES WITH HYDROCARBONS, AND IN BURNERS
USED IN BURNING THE INFLAMMABLE AIR OBTAINED, WHICH BURNERS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE WHEN BURNING OTHER GASEOUS FLUIDS," to be as follows:-
Endless chains or bands having motion given to them by a pair of rollers,
and supporting at short intervals apart pieces of perforated flannel, felt, or
sponge, or other openwork capable of holding hydrocarbon liquid in suspen-
sion, is caused to traverse a tube or endless and elongated chamber, in which
the pieces of flannel or other open or porous matter act somewhat as a series
of pistons or buckets to prevent as much as possible the passage of the air or
other aeriform fluid to be impregnated except through the porous substance.

page_text: The bydrocarbon liquid is supplied to the lower part of this tube or endless
chamber from a suitable reservoir placed by the side of it through a passage
with a valve acted upon by a float into an attached chamber, which chamber
communicates with the bottom of the tube or endless chamber by a tube or
passage. The air or aeriform fluid to be acted upon is brought in at the
lower part of one side or limb of the endless tube or chamber, up which it is
caused to flow to the top, and then down the opposite side or limb thereof,
and out at the lower part of such side or limb. The upper part of the
endless tube or chamber is in communication with the upper part of the
reservoir of the hydrocarbon fluid, so as to equalize the pressure thereof.
There is also an air passage from the float chamber to the upper part of the
reservoir. The air or aeriform fluid to be impregnated is forced through the
apparatus by means of bellows placed in a chamber, where the moveable head
or beads of the bellows act as a piston or pistons, with sliding valve passages
operated from a shaft worked by spring or weight and suitable gear. By
these means the atmospheric air surrounds all parts of the endless chamber.
When impregnating coal gas so as to increase its illuminating power I supply
the hydrocarbon liquid to a central float chamber by an annular or other
continuous passage, the float acting on a valve to regulate the supply of such
liquid; and I cause the gas to be impregnated to flow through this passage
from the float chamber outwards in the opposite direction to the flow of the
supply of hydrocarbon, such annular or other continuous chamber being
supplied at intervals apart with porous matter to hold and give off the
hydrocarbon.
The burner I employ is formed of two or more concentric rings, through
which the aeriform fluid or gas escapes for ignition, and each of these rings is
formed internally with one or more sets or series of teeth or divisions, between
which the aeriform fluid or gas is controlled to pass to the outlet for the
purpose of uniform distribution to such outlet, which is formed of a narrow
annular groove.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, Her special licence, that I, the said Nathaniel
Fortescue Taylor, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN IMPREG-
NATING AIR AND AERIFORM FLUIDS OR GASES WITH HYDROCARBONS, AND IN BURNERS
USED IN BURNING THE INFLAMMABLE AIR OBTAINED, WHICH BURNERS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE WHEN BURNING OTHER GASEOUS FLUMS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months.
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say: -:
According to my improvements in means or apparatus to be used in impreg
nating air and aeriform fluids or gases with hydrocarbons, endless chains or
bands having motion given to them by a pair of rollers, and supporting at
short intervals apart pieces of perforated flannel, felt, or sponge, or other
openwork capable of holding bydrocarbon liquid in suspension, is caused to
traverse a tube or endless and elongated chamber in which the pieces of
flannel or other open or porous matter act somewhat as a series of pistons or
buckets to prevent as much as possible the passage of the air or other aeriform.
fluid to be impregnated except through the porous substance. The hydro-
carbon liquid is supplied to the lower part of this tube or endless chamber
from a suitable reservoir placed by the side of it through a passage with a
valve acted upon by a float into an attached chamber, which chamber com-
municates with the bottom of the tube or endless chamber by a tube or
passage. The air or aeriform fluid to be acted upon is brought in at the

page_text: lower part of one side or limb of the endless tube or chamber, up which it is
caused to flow to the top and then down the opposite side or limb thereof, and
out at the lower part of such side or limb. The upper part of the endless
tube or chamber is in communication with the upper part of the reservoir of
the hydrocarbon so as to equalize the pressure thereof. There is also an air
passage from the float chamber to the upper part of the reservoir. The air or
aeriform fluid to be impregnated is forced through the apparatus by means of
bellows placed in a chamber, where the moveable head or heads of the bellows
act as a piston or pistons, with sliding valve passages operated from a shaft
worked by a spring or weight and suitable gear. By these means the
atmospheric air surrounds all parts of the endless chamber.
When impregnating coal gas so as to increase its illuminating power I,
according to the second part of the Invention, supply the hydrocarbon liquid
to a central float chamber by an annular or other continuous passage, the
float acting on a valve to regulate the supply of such liquid; and I cause the
gas to be impregnated to flow through this passage from the float chamber
outwards in the opposite direction to the flow of the supply of hydrocarbon,
such annular or other continuous chamber being supplied at intervals apart
with porous matter to hold and give off the hydrocarbon.
The burner I employ is, according to the third part of my improvements,
formed of two or more concentric rings through which the aeriform fluid or
gas escapes for ignition, and each of these rings is formed internally with one
or more sets or series of teeth or divisions, between which the aeriform fluid
or gas is controlled to pass to the outlet for the purpose of uniform distribution
to such outlet, which is formed of a narrow annular groove.
But that the Invention may be fully understood I will, by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, proceed to describe means pursued by me in carrying
the same into effect..

page_text: pressure in both. To the lower portion of the chamber b is connected one
end of a pipe d, the other end of which opens into a well el formed at the
bottom of the tube or endless chamber e. The air or aeriform fluid to be acted
upon by the hydrocarbon fluid is forced up through through the pipe f, thence
down the pipe f¹ to the cross pipe f, from which by numerous holes g, g, it
passes into the tube or endless chamber e, which is formed to admit of such air
or aeriform fluid passing upwards in that tube on the one side, and over at the
upper part thereof to the other side, down which it flows, and thence passes
therefrom by means of a series of outlets h, h, into a cross pipe or channel h¹,
from which it rises by the pipe h' by the side of the tube or endless chamber e
to near the upper part thereof, when it descends by the branch to the
reservoir f³, below where such air or aeriform fluid may be stored, as is well
understood in relation to the storing of ordinary gas. It is preferred that the
liquid bydrocarbon be maintained by means of the float c in the vessel b, and
in the lower part of the bent tube or endless channel e at about the level
indicated by the dotted line i, by which the lower portion of that tube or
endless channel will have sufficient of such hydrocarbon therein to seal the
lower portions of the upright limbs thereof, and prevent the passage of the air or
aeriform fluid from one vertical limb thereof to the other, except over the upper
portion. j,j, are a series of pieces of flannel, felt, sponge, or other open work
capable of holding hydrocarbon liquid in suspension, and of admitting air or
aeriform fluid to pass through it or through openings formed in it. These
pieces are attached to endless chains ", j', by which they are kept at distances
apart, and by which when motion is given to those chains such pieces; will
be caused to traverse the tube or endless channel e, and by being made to fit
tolerably closely to the interior of the tube or endless channel e act as a series
of pistons to prevent the passage of the air or aeriform fluid by their edges,
except through small passages left for that purpose, or by their porous
character it may pass through them. The chains j¹ have motion given to them
by passing over wheels ja, j³, affixed to an axis j³, upon which is applied the
pulley wheel j*, which receives rotary motion by means of a strap or band j³
by that strap or band also passing over a pulley jo affixed to the shaft or
axis k, which is supported so as to rotate freely in stationary bearings, as
shown, and has affixed on it the pinion 7, the teeth of which are taken into by
the teeth of a wheel l', which by the wheelwork shown receives motion from
the band m and weight n, or by other suitable means. The buckets or
surfaces are caused to travel in the direction of the red arrows, or in a direc-
tion opposite to that of the air or gas to be impregnated. The upper part of
the tube e is also connected to the upper portion of the reservoir a by a pipe r,

page_text: by which the pressure is rendered equal between the interior of these two
chambers a and e. The air or acriform fluid to be impregnated is forced
forwards through the apparatus by means of bellows o, o, placed in the
chambers p, p, where the moveable heads o¹, o¹, of the bellows act as pistons
alternately to draw in and then force forwards such air or aeriform fluid. The
heads o', o, of these bellows are moved to and fro by being connected to the
piston rods 0, 0, and connecting rods o³, 0%, from the cranks o' of the axis k,
upon which are also applied the eccentrics 9 for working the rods to the valves,
by which the direction of the flow of the air or aeriform fluid to and from the
bellows is controlled.
Figure 9 shows a vertical section of apparatus arranged according to the
second part of the improvements; Figure 10 shows a horizontal section;
Figure 11 is a plan view, and Figure 12 a vertical section, of parts of the same
taken transversely of Figure 9. A is the reservoir for the liquid bydrocarbon,
which is capable of flowing by the passage B into the annular channel C, and
then to the central float chamber D, where the height of the liquid in the
channel C and chamber D is regulated by the float E rising as the liquid
rises in those parts, and acting by the arm E' on the axis E, which turns in
fixed bearings, and also has affixed to it the arm E carrying the valve E.
The gas to be impregnated is caused to flow into the apparatus by the pipe F,
thence through the chamber D and passage D' to the channel C, and after
circulating therein it escapes therefrom by the passage G; this channel is
provided with a series of partitions H formed of porous matter adapted to
take up and hold in suspension the liquid hydrocarbon, so that the gas in
passing through the pores of theso partitions H may become saturated with the
bydrocarbon thereby held in suspension. J is a pipe communicating between
the valve chamber E and the upper part of the chamber A.
Figure 13 shows an external side view, Figure 14 a plan, Figure 15 a
vertical section, and Figure 16 a horizontal sectional view, of a burner
arranged according to the third part of the improvements. As shown there
are four concentric rings I, each of which is supplied by separate branches J
from, the central stem K, and each ring I is formed internally with a set or
series of teeth or divisions 1', between which the aeriform fluid or gas is
controlled to pass to the outlet for the purpose of facilitating uniform dis-
tribution to such outlet, which in each case is formed of a narrow annular
groove 1, but the number of concentric rings may be varied.
Having thus described my Invention, and means which I adopt in carrying
the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the precise details shown and described, so long as the peculiar character

page_text: of the several improvements be retained substantially as described; but what
I do claim is,―
First. The causing the matters holding the hydrocarbon fluid in suspension
for the purpose of impregnating air or aeriform fluid to traverse in an
elongated endless chamber arranged to admit of free action of atmospheric air
on the outer surfaces thereof and between such upright elongated parts,
substantially as explained."
Secondly. I claim the use of endless chains or bands caused to move by
suitable wheelwork for giving motion to the matters holding the hydrocarbon
liquid in suspension in manner substantially as explained.
Thirdly. I claim the adaptation or combination of means for forcing air or
aeriform fluids through the apparatus for effecting the impregnation thereof,
substantially as described.
Fourthly. I claim the adaptation or combination of means whereby the
hydrocarbon liquid is supplied to a central float chamber by an annular or
other continuous passage substantially as explained.
Also, I claim the mode of operating the valve E from the float substantially
as explained.
Fifthly. I claim the arranging gas burners with two or more concentric
rings or chambers, each having divisions therein to facilitate the regular
distribution of the gas to the annular groove or opening forming the outlet for
ignition therefrom in manner substantially as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
NF TAVLOR rel
NE TAYLOR (..)