Improvements in Apparatus for Manufacturing Gas.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov.. 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Manufacturing Gas.
I, ARTHUR KITSON, of Fourth and Chestnut Streets, in the City and County of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Gas 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:-
This invention relates to an improved gas generating furnace adapted more
particularly for generating fuel gas for domestic heating and cooking and for
manufacturing purposes.
The object of the invention is to provide for more certainly passing steam and air
down through the body of heated fuel and conducting the resulting gases away
centrally through the movable grate or hearth.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and
arrangement of the mechanism for imparting to the grate or hearth which supports
the coal, a rotary and a vertical up and down motion for removing ash and cinder
at the peripheral opening and for causing the coal to properly feed downwardly and
prevent it from caking in case bituminous or soft coal is used; also to provide in
connection with such movable hearth or grate a circle of dependent vertical bars
suitably spaced for permitting the escape of dust and ashes when the hearth is
lowered below the fuel chamber, but serving to retain the fuel on the hearth so
that the fire may be properly cleaned without loss and waste of the incandescent
fuel; also to provide for dumping ash and cinder from the ash-pit into the water
seal chamber thereby preventing the escape of gaseous products during such
operation and also preventing dust and ashes from flying about in the generator
room also to provide for cooling the iron division plate between the fuel
chamber and ash-pit and utilizing the heat radiated from the grate and ash-pit for
heating air which is supplied to the fuel chamber through the steam injector.
Another object is to provide an effective arrangement of air heating flues in the
wall of the generator and connecting injectors for forcing hot air either up or down
and into the top or bottom of the generator.
Another object is to obtain a uniform volume of steam at a perfectly steady
pressure for forcing air by means of an injector, into the fuel chamber or for other
purposes.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will now particularly
describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,―
Figure represents a vertical section of the generator;
Figure 2 represents a horizontal section above the hearth;
Figure 3 represents a vertical section of the base of generator taken at right
angles to the view shown in Fig. 1.
The walls of the furnace, F, are constructed of fire brick and enclosed in an iron
jacket in the usual manner. The fuel chamber is provided at the bottom with an
annular iron plate, P, which is supported upon the iron columns, Y₁. The iron ash
chamber, A, and circle of vertical grate bars, G, g', are also bolted to the annular
plate, P, and suspended therefrom. The ash chamber is provided at the bottom
with a downwardly extending passage or opening, a', provided with a valve, a,
having a handle for removal of ashes; it is also provided with a door or lid, a", for
giving access to the interior for cleaning or inspecting the gearing and other
mechanism connected with the grate or hearth. Below the valved passage, a',
place a water vessel, Y, containing water into which vessel said passage dips
forming a gas tight seal. The ash is dumped into vessel, Y, preventing its escape
into the room containing the generator.
I
The grate or hearth, B, is provided with means for giving it both a rotary and a

page_text: vertical up and down motion, and has a central passage way through it connected
by pipes passing through the ash-pit-with the gas escape pipe and with a supply
pipe for air and steam. I also provide an opening between the periphery of the
hearth and wall of the furnace for the removal of ash and cinder, thus permitting
them to be shaken out while gas is being passed off through the central opening
and the pipe leading therefrom through the ash-pit. The hearth, B, is preferably
made of iron having a turned up circumferential flange and filled in or covered
over with fire brick as shown; it is provided centrally with an opening, 6, and
above such opening with ports, 6. The grate or hearth is connected to or
supported centrally by the short hollow screw shaft, E, having a central opening, e,
which is mounted in the collar or hub, H, which is internally screw-threaded and
supported by the legs, h. The screw-threads upon shaft, E, are made large and
strong so as to withstand the pressure of the body of coal resting upon the
hearth, B. To the under side of the hearth, B, there is riveted or bolted the large
annular hub, b, carrying at its lower end the large toothed gear wheel, B', arranged
to mesh with the long pinion, T, mounted on shaft, t, by means of which the hearth
is rotated and raised or lowered. The shaft, t, is journalled at top and bottom and
has secured to it the beveled gear wheel, ¹, meshing with the beveled gear, 5,
secured to the inner end of horizontal shaft, Z, which is provided at its outer end
with gear wheel, Y", with which there meshes a pinion, Y. By means of this
mechanism the hearth is readily rotated and raised or lowered according to the
direction in which the gearing is turned. The object of these two motions is to
thoroughly shake up the fuel and to provide for more effectively using bituminous
or soft coal in the generator.
It will be understood that as the hearth, B, and
toothed wheel, B', are turned in one direction the screw shaft, E, will be traversed
upward through the hub, H, and if turned in the other direction will be traversed
downward through such hub so as to raise and lower the hearth. The hollow
screw-shaft, E, fitting in the hub is simple in construction and positive in action, so
that the hearth cannot stick when it is desired to move it either up or down. The
large hollow hub, b, serves as a hook to protect the screw-shaft and its hub from
ash and cinder. A short vertical pipe, N, having two elbows or branches at its
lower end, projects up into the passage, e, of the screw shaft, E, fitting loosely
therein, so that the shaft may be readily turned around it. This pipe, N, connects
by one elbow with the gas take-off pipe having valve 10 and leading outward and
connecting in practice with the main gas take-off pipe. Pipe, N, also connects by
the other elbow with the inlet pipe, D, for air and steam. By mounting the
movable solid hearth upon a central support as above described I provide an
annular opening, g, between its periphery and the wall of the furnace for the
removal of ash and cinder.
Guide
At the base of fuel chamber, F, there is bolted or otherwise secured to the under
side of annular plate, P, the circular grate, G, surrounding the vertically movable
hearth, B, and having dependent bars, g', suitably spaced apart to permit the
escape of ashes when the hearth is lowered, but serving to retain the incandescent
fuel.
A section or segment, G', of the grate is made movable and has loosely
connected with it the end of screw-shaft, gl, so as to form a swivel joint, m.
ways, m', properly flanged or grooved are secured to the under side of plate, P, for
supporting segment, G', and permitting it to be slid out and in by means of
screw, g. For the purpose of removing clinker, etc., from the hearth and fuel
chamber the segment, G₁, is drawn out by screw, gl, leaving an opening through
which the clinker may be raked or shaken out by the movable hearth. After the
fire has been cleaned the segment is again secured in place adjacent to the hearth.
The water circulating and steam generating coils, J, are preferably arranged in
a channel formed in the brick lining at or near the base of the fuel chamber, F and
are enclosed in such channel by suitable tile.
I also arrange in the furnace walls a coil, Q, for superheating steam and I
connect both sets of coils, J and Q, by means of an intermediate reservoir, I,
located in a convenient position at the side of the generator and adapted to contain

page_text: the feed water supplied to the coil, J, and the steam generated in such coil and
supplied to the superheating coil, Q. A water supply pipe, i, connects near the
bottom of reservoir, I, and a pipe, j, connects the latter near the bottom with
circulating coil, J, from which a return pipe leads to reservoir, I, above its middle
and below the water line maintained therein. A steam pipe, i, connects the top of
reservoir, I, with superheating coil, Q. The outlet end of coil, Q, is connected by
pipe, Q, and a branch pipe, g with the upper injector, R, and by a branch pipe, g
with the lower injector, R'. The air supply box, K, provided with a removable or
adjustable lid or slide, k, connects with the upper injector, R, and also with a hot
air flue, C, at the top of the furnace. The lower injector, R', connects with an air
supply box, L, having a removable lid or slide, l, and connecting with the lower
end of the hot air flue, C, or annular box, C¹. The lower injector, R', having a
valve, r, opens into the supply pipe, D, connecting with the interior of the fuel
chamber through the central opening in the hearth B. The hot air flue, C, is
formed spirally or in other suitable manner in the brick lining of the furnace and
may be lined with metal or formed of metallic tubing, if desired.
An annular air box, C', is preferably placed adjacent to plate, P, above the ash-
pit for the circulation of air which keeps the plate and hearth sufficiently cool
while the excess of heat is utilized for heating the air which is supplied to the
injectors. Box, C¹, connects with the air heating flues, C, as shown in Figure 1.
The upper injector, R, having a valve, r, connects with the top of the furnace
by inlet passage, V. When the furnace is in operation and steam is supplied to
the injectors under suitable pressure, valve, r, may be closed while valve, 1, is
opened and lid, k, of air box, K, may be removed, thus admitting air into the top
of flue, C, in which case the air will flow downward and be heated in its passage
through the flue, and will then flow through box, L, to the injector, R¹, for
supplying air to the base of the fuel chamber. In case it is desired to supply air
to the top of the furnace, the injector, R, is put in operation, the valve,, being
closed and valve r, opened, and the lid, 1, of box, L, is removed, thus admitting air
into box, C and the lower end of the flue C, so that it is heated by passage up
through such flue and finally escapes through box K, injector, R, and supply
passage V, into the top of the furnace. The gas take-off pipe, W, leads from the
top of the furnace to a chimney not here shown, and a pipe provided with a valve
may lead from pipe W, to the holder or to a place where the gas is burned.
The fuel supply hopper, O, is connected at the top of the furnace and is provided
with a valve o for admitting fuel as required. The bottom of the fuel chamber is
made of greater diameter than its upper portion, so that when the hearth, B, is
lowered, the entire weight of the fuel exerts its full pressure downward, unchecked
by friction, against the side walls of the furnace. This provides for readily
cleaning the fire, and in case bituminous coal is used, any bridge or arch formed in
the upper portion of the fuel is readily broken. After the hearth has been lowered
it is then raised to its normal position, thereby compacting the fuel into a body of
uniform density, thus preventing the formation of blow holes or cavities and
securing more uniform action of the air and steam on the fuel, resulting in a better
production of gas. In order to better mix a fresh charge of coal with the body of
incandescent fuel in the furnace, the hearth, B, may be lowered by turning the
toothed wheel, B', in the right direction (after first having introduced a fresh
charge of coal) and then again rapidly turning and raising such hearth. The .
fresh fuel thus becomes mixed with the incandescent coal and forms a compact body.
The furnace may be operated for the production of gas as follows:-The
chimney valve, not here shown, is opened, valve. 10 is closed, and the ash-pit, door
or valve is opened; a fire is then kindled upon the hearth, being allowed to burn
by natural draft, and is gradually supplied with fuel till a brisk fire is started and
steam is generated in the coils, Q. So soon as a sufficient pressure of steam is
produced for operating the injectors the ash-pit door and valve are closed; the
chimney valve is also closed, a valve in gas take-off pipe at the top is opened and
air and steam are injected through pipe, D, passage, e, and ports, 61, into the

page_text: bottom of the fuel chamber. In this manner the fire is blasted and the fuel soon
heated to incandescence, at the same time generating producer gas. Fresh fuel is
supplied at suitable intervals until a deep body of it is formed in an incandescent
condition. After a deep body of incandescent fuel has been formed the air supply
may be very much reduced, or entirely shut off, for a time, so as to generate almost
pure water gas by continuing the admission of steam, and the steam may be passed
either up or down through the body of fuel and the gas passed off either at top or
bottom of the furnace. Whenever found desirable during the operation of the
furnace, the lower injector, R', may be closed and the upper injector, R, started, in
which case the lid, 1, of the air box, L, will be opened, permitting air to pass
through box, L, into box, C', and up through flue, C, and thence through box, K,
into injector, R. In this case the valve of the upper take-off pipe is closed and
valve 10 opened, permitting gas to be passed off from the bottom of the fuel
chamber through ports, 61, passage e, and pipes, N and X'..
My generator may be operated intermittently, so as to generate pure water gas
at one period and at the next period generate producer gas, and the two kinds of gas
may be stored or used separately. If it is desired to generate rich gas, hydro-
carbon oil may be admitted into the fuel chamber and the resulting carbureted
hydrogen passed off, either alone or with the water gas.
By forming an opening centrally in the hearth and connecting directly therewith
the gas take-off pipe, the air and steam admitted to the top of the furnace will
naturally pass down through the body of fuel and away from the lining or wall of
the chamber, and the resulting gases are also drawn to the central part of the
chamber and away from the side walls in order to pass out at its central opening.
Better gasification of the fuel and decomposition of the steam and air are thereby
effected, resulting in the production of a better quality of gas.
The gas take-off pipe, X', connecting with the central opening in a solid hearth
and passing out through the ash-pit is an important feature of my invention for
by means of such construction, I am enabled to rotate and raise and lower the
hearth while the furnace is in operation for the removal of ash and cinder through
the annular opening between the periphery of the hearth and wall of the furnace,
and deposit them in the ash-pit without filling the out-going gas with such ash
and cinder. A cleaner, purer gas is thus delivered from the generator, while at
the same time the generator may be operated continuously, avoiding the long
stops in the generation of gas usually required in order to properly clean the fire.
Under certain conditions, it is quite important to operate the generator continuously
in order to maintain the required volume of gas, and by my improved construction,
I attain this advantageous result.
When it is desired to enrich the water-gas or fuel-gas and make a gas containing
carburetted hydrogen, I preferably supply a spray of oil to the reservoir, I, and
for such purpose connect with the reservoir a pipe, U, provided with a valve, u.
Pipe, U, may connect with an elevated oil tank or an oil pump for forcing the
oil under pressure into the reservoir, I. The hydrocarbon oil is preferably
supplied in a small spray, and in an atomized condition mixes with the steam in
reservoir, I, and the mixture passes thence through the superheating coil, Q, where
the oil is vaporized and heated. The mixed oil vapor and superheated steam pass
from coil, Q, through one of the injectors, R or R, and thence through the body
of fuel in the furnace where decomposition is effected. The oil vapor is converted
into carburetted hydrogen which greatly enriches the water-gas. The proportion
of hydrocarbon oil admitted may be regulated so as to produce the quality of gas
desired and a gas sufficiently rich in carburreted hydrogen may be made to adapt
it for illuminating purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
ب:
1. A gas generating furnace having a steam and air injector at the top, in

page_text: combination with a movable solid hearth having a central opening, the wall of the
furnace and said hearth having an opening between them, an ash-pit below the
hearth, a pipe leading from the central opening of the hearth through the ash-pit
to the gas take-off pipe and suitable gearing for giving said hearth both a rotary
and an up and down motion, whereby the fuel at suitable intervals may be stirred
and mixed and caking prevented, the ash removed, and the generator operated
continuously for manufacturing gas.
2. The fuel chamber of the furnace and the solid hearth provided with an
annular opening between them, and said hearth having a central opening, in com-
bination with an ash-pit below the hearth, a gas take-off pipe leading from said
central opening through the ash-pit and a steam and air injector connecting with
the top of the generator, substantially as described.
3. In combination with the fuel chamber and solid hearth constructed with a
peripheral opening between them and said hearth having a central opening, a cap.
above such opening having circumferential ports, an ash-pit below the hearth, a
gas take-off pipe leading from the base of the generator, a pipe passing through
the ash-pit connecting such pipe with the central opening in the hearth and a
steam and air injector connecting with the top of the generator, substantially as
described.
4. In combination with the fuel chamber and solid movable hearth, constructed'
with a peripheral opening between them, and said hearth having a central opening,
an ash-pit below the hearth, a hollow screw-shaft connecting with the hearth at
the central opening, a screw-threaded hub with which said shaft engages, means
for rotating the hearth, and the gas take-off pipe passing through the ash-pit and
connecting with said hollow screw-shaft, substantially as described.
5. In combination with the fuel chamber and the solid hearth having a central
opening, a hollow screw-shaft connecting with the hearth at such opening, a
screw-threaded hub, supporting said shaft, a pipe connecting with said hollow
shaft, an injector connecting with the fuel chamber, a large gear wheel connecting
with the hearth, and connecting gearing for giving the hearth both a rotary and
an up and down motion, substantially as described.
6. In combination with the fuel chamber and hearth a screw-threaded hub,
supporting said shaft, a hollow hub, b, projecting down from the hearth around
said screw-shaft and hub for protecting them from ash and cinder, a large gear
wheel connecting with said hub, b, and operating gearing connecting with such
gear wheel, substantially as described.
7. The fuel chamber having an air heating flue in its walls extending from the
top to near the bottom thereof in combination with injectors and air boxes, having
ports and removable covers, connecting with the upper and lower ends of the air
Hue for drawing air in either direction through the flue, pipes connecting the
injector with the top and bottom of the generator, and a gas take-off pipe,.
substantially as described.
8. In combination with the fuel chamber having an air flue in its wall provided.
with an inlet port and a connecting injector, the movable solid hearth having a
central opening, said fuel chamber and hearth having a peripheral opening between
them, an ash-pit below the hearth, a pipe connecting the injector with the central
opening of the hearth, gas take-off pipe connecting with the fuel chamber and
mechanism for giving the hearth both a rotary and an up and down motion,
substantially as described.
9. In combination with the hearth having a central opening, an elbow pipe, N,
in the ash-pit, connecting with such opening, an ejector and steam and air supply
pipe and a gas take-off pipe both connecting with pipe, N, said pipes passing
through the ash-pit, substantially as described.
10. In combination with a furnace a water circulating and steam generating
coil a separate steam superheating coil and an intermediate connecting reservoir
adapted to contain water and steam and having a water supply pipe, substantially
as described.

page_text: .11. In combination with the furnace à coil of water circulating and steam
generating pipes, a reservoir with which the inlet and outlet ends of said coil
connect, a steam superheating coil connecting with said reservoir, and with an
injector and supply pipes for oil and water connecting with said reservoir,
substantially as described.
12. In combination with the fuel chamber and ash-pit, the movable hearth,
mechanism for raising and lowering the hearth, and the vertical bars around the
hearth, substantially as described.
13. In combination with the movable hearth and mechanism for raising and
lowering it, the fixed vertical bars around the hearth and an adjustable section or
segment of vertical bars, adapted to be withdrawn for removal of clinker from
the hearth when it is lowered, substantially as described.
14. The ash-pit having at the bottom a downwardly extending ash passage
dipping into a water seal and containing a dumping valve in combination with a
water chamber enclosing the downwardly extending passage of the ash-pit,
substantially as described.
15. In combination with the furnace an annular air heating box adjacent to
the annular plate between the fuel chamber and ash-pit and having an air inlet
opening and a pipe leading from said box to a steam injector connecting with the
fuel chamber whereby said plate may be cooled and the heat utilized for heating
air which is supplied to the fuel, substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of October 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.