IMPROVEMENTS IN AN APPARATUS FOR A GAS ECONOMISER, AN APPARATUS FOR. INCREASING. THE ILLUMINATING AND.-HEATING POWERS OF COAL GAS WITH REDUCED CONSUMPTION
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Ludolph Seegers at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st July 1878.
I, LUDOLPH SEEGERS, of 24, Cecil Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AN APPARATUS FOR A GAS ECONOMISER, AN APPARATUS
FOR. INCREASING. THE ILLUMINATING AND.-HEATING POWERS OF COAL GAS WITH
REDUCED CONSUMPTION," to be as follows:.-
This Invention consists of constructing an improved: apparatus
containing a certain portion of fluid obtained and distilled from
petroleum, known in the trade under various names and denominations,
such as benzolin, &c.,, &c., for the purpose of combining the ordinary
coal gas with such fluid in its right proportions according to its require-
ments, and being self-regulated by a floater or ball-cook and ball system;
which gas when so combined 'is productive of considerable additional
illuminating.power. One light of the prepared gas is equal in brilliancy
to the extent of about two and a half times that of one ordinary coal gas
light, the same burners being used in both cases.

page_text: The requisite quantity, quality, and strength of the fluid already
referred to will be herein-after detailed.
The said apparatus has at the top of it a reservoir containing a
quantity of the said fluid, which continuously supplies the apparatus
with the requisite amount required for combination with the ordinary
coal gas, such continuous supply being self-regulated by a "floater" or
ball-cock and ball in a cylinder in the said apparatus when at work.
The said apparatus is generally placed at the side of the ordinary gas
meter and receives the coal gas from it. It has then to go through
different chambers in the said apparatus partly filled as required with
the said "fluid," and after making the necessary circulations in the
apparatus which combine the coal gas with the said fluid, then such
petro-benzolinized gas finds an outlet by a tube from the said apparatus,
-leading the same into the supply pipes for use; such apparatus can be
placed next to the gasometer at the gasworks themselves, so that the
main pipes can be charged with such "petro-benzolinized" gas both
for public and private use. But such apparatus can also be placed
next to the ordinary gas meters used in houses, theatres, shops, and

page_text: the purposes for which the petro-benzolinized gas is required and used
for. No heat whatever is applied or used in the use of the apparatus as
the vapour from the said fluid is obtained without such application. The
specific gravity of the said fluid used in the said apparatus for increasing
the illuminating power of ordinary coal gas will be generally between
six hundred and eighty-five and seven hundred (more or less), and
measured by an hydrometer temperature 62° Fahrenheit.
Note. The fluid referred to is inflammable but not explosive. For
instance, a tube of any length of about one inch internal diameter when
filled with it and placed vertically, and a light put to the top opening it
will only burn as a candle giving a flame in proportion to the size of the
internal diameter of the tube. And when a small quantity is
consumed it goes out voluntarily leaving most of the fluid unconsumed.
Therefore it only burns according to its superficial area and irrespective
of its depth, and hence it is not so dangerous as the ordinary coal gas
which would under the same circumstances explode. And further, for
instance a tube filled with the said fluid and both ends hermetically
sealed, and a small hole drilled for the purpose of allowing it to escape
when placed horizontally, it will when a light is put to it burn away
gradually as coal gas but will not explode. And further, in testing the
said fluid to ascertain the temperature at which it gives off inflammable
vapour, it is proved that when a quantity is put into a small vessel
made of thin sheet iron which is placed in another vessel partly filled
with water and a gas or other flame underneath is applied, the said
fluid will when the heat has reached the required boiling point boil
without exploding, and if a light is brought to the surface of such
boiling fluid it will burn only according to the internal diameter of the
vessel used irrespective of the depth of the quantity of fluid contained
therein. Therefore it burns away gradually and does not explode.
DESCRIPTION OF RESERVOIR.
On the top of the apparatus is a reservoir which is to be filled with
the fluid referred to, and on the top plate of such reservoir are two
apertures with screw caps each with a wire strainer inside.
the purpose of taking in the fluid and the other for the
One is for
purpose of

page_text: fixed in the cylinder herein-after described. In front of the said
reservoir is a concave niche from top to bottom in which there is a
gauge fixed to indicate the height of the fluid therein..
The construction of the said gauge is generally in this way:-On the
top is a stop-cock, elbow, and sockets; on the base is a T piece with
required sockets, and two stop-cocks and a cap. Between the T piece
and elbow is the required glass tube with necessary fittings. The
concave niche referred to, in which the gauge is fixed, is enclosed by a
door.
Under the reservoir are fixed two funnels or hoppers, each fitted with
the required stop-cocks, tubes, and fittings, and at the top of each
funnel or hopper inside is a wire strainer. One of the said funnels or
hoppers with necessary pipes and fittings referred to is for the purpose
of conveying the said fluid into the said apparatus, as required, and
regulated by a floater or ball-cock and ball in a cylinder of the said
apparatus, and the other funnel or hopper with necessary tubes and
fittings is for the purpose of drawing off, if required, the entire quantity
of the said fluid contained in the reservoir; or, in place of the second
funnel or hopper referred to, a T piece in lieu of an elbow can be fixed
on the first funnel or hopper referred to, which T piece is fitted with a
cap, which on removal will allow, if required, the entire quantity of the
said fluid to be drawn off. The said reservoir as well as the said
apparatus can be cased where a large one is required, and the inner
space filled with powdered chalk, ash, or any other suitable materials.
The said reservoir is in connexion with the apparatus, but when large a
and incommodious can be placed at any distance from the apparatus,
and if more convenient underground, provided always that the reservoir
is in connexion with the apparatus, and placed either above the said
apparatus, or above the level of the "floater" or ball-cock and ball in
the cylinder of the apparatus:
DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS.
The apparatus is generally of cylindrical shape, in front of which is a
concave niche from top to bottom. Inside and in the centre of this
cylindrical apparatus is a cylinder which is about two feet six inches
(more or less) longer than the said apparatus, according to its size and a
the quantity of gas required to be consumed. The said cylinder is about
one foot out at the top, and one foot six inches (more or less) out at the

page_text: base, and is fixed through the centre of the top and bottom plates of the
said apparatus. Between the centre of the inside of the concave
niche on the apparatus referred to and the said cylinder is a fixed
partition of the same:length as the said apparatus, and from top to base
of the inside of the said apparatus are several constructed chambers fixed
to the said cylinder "partition" and "apparatus," all herein referred to.
The number of the chambers and capacity of each is dependent on the
required size of the apparatus.
Note. An apparatus of four chambers, three of which being partly
filled with the fluid referred to, will increase the illuminating power of
about thirty lights of ordinary coal gas each burners consuming at the
rate of about 5 cubic feet of gas per hour, and to obtain this increased
illuminating power the said three chambers partly filled with the said
fluid have to represent a superficial area of about two feet square each.
The increased strength of the illuminating power is in the following
proportion :--One light of a burner consuming five cubic feet of ordinary
coal gas per hour will be increased in illuminating power to about two
and a half, videlicet, one light consuming five cubic feet per hour of the
petro-benzolinized gas will represent the illuminating power of two and
a half lights from same burners, each consuming five cubic feet of
ordinary coal gas, and, if required, the illuminating power of the petro-
benzolinized gas can be brought up to the strengh of three times that of
the ordinary coal gas.
In using such an apparatus, by which such great advantages are
gained in illuminating and heating power, there is at the same time a
saving in the consumption of the ordinary coal gas of about twenty per
cent., more or less, in accordance with the size of the apparatus in use.
The consumption of the said fluid is very little in proportion to the
great economic advantages imparted by it, and the cost of the same is
only about one shilling per gallon.

page_text: with the said fluid, in order to promote an easier working of the floater
or ball is only so high that the base chamber will be two-thirds filled
with the said fluid which is arranged by two apertures in the cylinder
level with the bottom of the base chamber referred to, and regulated by
the said "floater' or ball-cock and ball, and the same can be made
to act either vertically or horizontally, according to the size of the
apparatus.
"
In the case of a "horizontal floater" or ball-cock and ball system
being applied in the cylinder of the said apparatus, it may be constructed
as follows:―The "floater" or ball is fixed by a lever to a ball-cock, to
regulate the amount of fluid required. On the inlet of the said ball-
cock is a vertical tube connected with the funnel or hopper referred to,
fixed under the reservoir. On the outlet of the said ball-cock is a tube
connected vertically with the chamber, immediately under the top
chamber, for the purpose of bringing up the required portions of the
said fluid into the said chambers. The chamber underneath the top one
referred to must be three-fourths filled with the said fluid, which will be
done by the said tube, which is vertically connected with the outlet of
the said ball cock and ball arrangement referred to. When that height of
three-fourths of the said chamber is exceeded by the said fluid, the surplus
of such fluid will overflow through a tube from the said height of three-
fourths of the chamber afore-mentioned right to the bottom of the
chamber immediately underneath, which when filled by such overflowing
to the height of two-thirds of the size of such chamber will likewise
overflow by such contrived tube as above mentioned right to the bottom
of the chamber underneath that, and so on to any number of chambers
in succession, according to the size of the said apparatus, until the base
chamber is reached, and filled level with the height of the said fluid
contained in the cylinder. As and so soon as the required height of the
said fluid in the cylinder is obtained, the said "floater' or ball will shut
off the ball-cock and prevent further inflowing of the fluid into the said
apparatus. Each and all of the said overflowing tubes are fixed outside
the said apparatus in the "concave niche." On the outside of the
concave niche of each chamber of the said apparatus which is partly
filled with the said fluid is fixed a gauge from top to bottom, similar in
arrangement to the one which is fixed on the outside of the concave
niche of the reservoir referred to. The gauges will indicate the height
of the said fluid in each chamber.

page_text: On each of the said chambers partly filled with the fluid is a
connecting tube with a stop-cock, in order to draw off from chamber
through chamber the entire quantity of the said fluid contained therein
till it comes to the base chamber of the apparatus, and is conveyed
through the aforesaid apertures into the cylinder, on the base of which
outside about four inches from the bottom a bib-cock is fixed with a cap,
through which the entire quantity of the said fluid contained in the
whole apparatus and cylinder can be drawn off. Underneath in con-
tinuance of the cylinder is a cylindrically-shaped block of the same size
as the cylinder itself, as in support thereof. The said connecting tube
with stop-cock in the centre is fixed between chamber and chamber on
the outside in the concave niche of the apparatus.
Around the outside of the cylinder, at the top and bottom as well
as outside the different chambers of the apparatus, are bands fastened
thereon for the purpose of strengthening the same. Between the
outside of base chamber and the outside of the base of cylinder are
requisite supports or brackets fixed thereon for the purpose of supporting
the apparatus.
If a "vertical" floating or ball-cock and ball arrangement is adopted
in the inside of the cylinder of the apparatus, the outlet of the ball-cock
is fixed on the chamber immediately under the top one for letting in the
said fluid up to the level of the said three-fourths of chamber; and the
said ball-cock is fixed on to the tube communicating with the reservoir.
On to the ball-cook is fixed a vertical hollow rod or lever, at the end
of which the said floater or ball is fixed and is placed in the inside of
the cylinder aforesaid. When the fluid to the level of two-thirds of the
base chamber has passed in the floater or ball will have risen and shut
off the said ball cock by the vertical hollow rod or lever referred to.
Each chamber from the one under the top chamber is filled to the
level required, and the overflowing conveyed through a tube into the
chamber under that, and so on till the base chamber is reached; such
arrangement is nearly the same as that where a "horizontal floating
or ball-cock and ball system is adopted.
"
If only one chamber in the apparatus is filled with the said fluid, the
horizontal system is adopted and the floater or ball-cock and ball are
both fixed in the cylinder, and the outlet of the said ball-cock will

page_text: "
convey the fluid into the cylinder instead of the chamber, and as soon
as the said chamber is filled by the said apertures to the level of three-
fourths, the "floater" or "ball," will have risen and shut off the said.ball-
cock:fixed on the inside of the cylinder. In this case the said chamber
may be constructed in a spiral or volute form; the number of volutions
of such spiral or volute chamber will depend on the size of the apparatus
required. But any apparatus can be made if required without any
floating or ball-cock and ball system whatever. In this case :the
connecting tube fixed on the said hopper or funnel under the reservoir
will.convey the said fluid on opening by hand a stop-cock fixed on the
said funnel or hopper into the chamber immediately under the top one,
and as soon as this is filled to the required level of it will overflow
and be conveyed into the next chamber immediately underneath, and so
on as described for the "horizontal" and vertical floating or ball-cock
and ball systems, and as soon as the cylinder is filled to the level of of
the base chamber; then the said stop-cock fixed on the said hopperor
funnel under the reservoir must be shut off by hand, and this will apply'
also to any apparatus containing a spiral or volute chamber referred to.
On this principle any required quantity of the said fluid can be let in
without using the floating or ball-cock and ball system.
The principle by which the ordinary coal gas attains the greatly
increased illuminating and heating power is described as follows:-The
ordinary coal gas passes through the gas meter or gasometer, and is
conveyed into the base chamber of the apparatus by a tube fixed on the
outside of the concave niche of the said apparatus. The 'said base
chamber which is filled as aforesaid with the "fluid," leaving of space
for the coal gas. The coal gas finds its way round the inside of the
apparatus, which is divided by a partition fixed between the inside of
the concave niche of the said apparatus and the cylinder herein referred
to. It enters the left side of the concave niche by a tube and comes
out on the right side. A tube is fixed on the outside of the concave
niche of the apparatus between the top of the said base chamber and
the top of the chamber immediately over that, and through this tube
the gas
finds its way from the said base chamber to the one over it, in
which chamber the said gas makes the same circulation as in the first
instance, and so repeats itself in the same manner as many times as
there are chambers in accordance with the size of the apparatus being

page_text: Each chamber is proportionately filled with the said fluid except the
top one of the apparatus, which is generally used for the accumulation
of such prepared petro-benzolinized gas. A. tube fixed on the top
chamber of the apparatus conveys the prepared aforesaid gas to the
supply pipes. On the "inlet" and on the "outlet"" gas tube a stop-
cook is fixed.
a
Several inches from the inside of the top of the cylinder is an hori-
zontal hermetical cover which can be taken off when required. A door
on the outside of the cylinder which stands above the level of the said
hermetical cover is fixed for the purpose of removing the cover from the
cylinder when required, in order to give access to the "floating" or ball-
cook and ball arrangement without removing the reservoir.
The whole apparatus and reservoir are protected by a cylindrical iron
or other metal casing with top and bottom plates. In front of the said
casing are some doors with locks (the number depending on the size of
the apparatus used) for the purpose of inspecting the concave niches of
the said apparatus and reservoir with their respective 'appendages. At
the side of the said casing are two holes for the said "inlet” and
"outlet" gas tubes.

page_text: In the event of the burners being either smaller or larger than as
specified above the apparatus will be efficient to supply either a larger
or smaller number of burners as the case may be.
In reference to the constructions of the aforesaid improved apparatus
5 and the fluid used therein, with the advantages derived therefrom, more
and fuller descriptions will be given in my complete Specification.