IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EVOLVING OR GENERATING, STORING, AND DISTRIBUTING HYDROGEN AND HYDRO-CARBON GASES FROM CARBONACEOUS FLUIDS AND SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SAID GASES AND FLUIDS TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Atkins, of 14, Almeric Road, Clapham Common
Gardens, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR EVOLVING OR GENERATING, STORING, AND DISTRIBUTING
HYDROGEN AND HYDRO-CARBON GASES FROM CARBONACEOUS FLUIDS AND
SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SAID GASES AND FLUIDS TO
VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 30th March 1880, and dated the 1st October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Atkins at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st October 1879.
THOMAS ATKINS, of 14, Almeric Road, Clapham Common Gardens, in the County
of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EVOLVING OR GENERATING, STORING,
AND DISTRIBUTING HYDROGEN AND HYDRO-CARBON GASES FROM CARBONACEOUS
FLUIDS AND SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SAID GASES and FLUIDS
TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for evolving, generating,
storing, and distributing hydrogen and hydro-carbon gases and fluids, by which
pressure may be brought to bear and be regulated for injecting the said fluids com-
bined with suitable acids into retorts, ovens, or heated chambers for various useful
purposes.
For storing the oily or carbonaceous fluids, coal tar, and ammoniacal liquor I
employ iron or other cylinders of suitable strength and construction to stand con-
siderable pressure, say from 150 to 500 pounds on the square inch; and for carrying
off the said fluids I employ pipes or tubes with cocks, valves, and suitable air
chambers for conveying the said fluid to the retorts, ovens, or heated chambers. I
connect pipes or tubes to the covers or lids of the said retorts or ovens with self
acting valves or injectors for the purpose of regulating the introduction of the said
fluids into the retorts or ovens, by which the supply and the internal and external
pressure may be regulated very accurately.
I find it advantageous to work the pressure on the store chambers at 150 pounds
per square inch, which pressure may be varied more or less to suit the character of
the fluids or substances employed.

page_text: The interior of the retorts or ovens is advantageously maintained at a pressure
equal to a one inch column of water, or the three hundred and sixtieth part of an
atmosphere, or thereabouts.
For saturating and regulating the necessary equivalents of hydro-carbon gas I
store in glass or other vessels nitric acid at a sustaining pressure of 150 pounds per
square inch or thereabouts, with adjusting and regulating apparatus as before
referred to, and for furnishing the exact equivalents necessary for producing the
greatest illuminating compound in such hydro-carbon gases.
Further, I employ the introduction of a compound of carbonic acid and nitrogen,
and inject the necessary equivalents combined with water for improving and
utilizing the ammoniacal liquor combined with coal tar and other oily substances.
For evolving hydrogen from carbonaceous matters either solid or fluid I employ
a store chamber, and distribute the equivalents of hydro-chloric acid in such pro-
portions and under such pressure that may be found most suitable, say 150 pounds
per square inch or thereabouts.
In order to guard against the too rapid evolution of hydrogen gas from the
application of hydro-chloric acid I employ suitable safety valves attached to the
mouth pieces or ascension pipes of the retorts. The hydrogen gas may be con-
ducted away by suitable pipes, valves, and other requisite apparatus to gas holders
or store chambers, or to furnaces, or for use where required.
I employ hydro-chloric acid for the removal of carbonaceous substances from the
internal surface of gas retorts when red hot by injecting it at a suitable pressure and
adjusting its exact equivalents.
To enable the workman to examine the interior of a red hot retort during the
process of generating the said gases I employ telescopic sight pieces with white or
colored glass, so as to ascertain the quality of the gases being evolved or generated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Atkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st April
1880.
THOMAS ATKINS, of 14, Almeric Road, Clapham Cominon Gardens, in the County
of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EVOLVING OR GENERATING, STORING,
AND DISTRIBUTING HYDROGEN AND HYDRO-CARBON GASES FROM CARBONACEOUS
FLUIDS AND SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SAID GASES AND FLUIDS
TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for evolving, generating,
storing, and distributing hydrogen and hydro-carbon gases, and fluids, by which
pressure may be brought to bear and be regulated for injecting the said fluids com-
bined with suitable acids into retorts, ovens, or heated chambers for various useful
purposes.
For storing the oily or carbonaceous fluids, coal tar, and ammoniacal liquor I
employ iron or other cylinders of suitable strength and construction to stand con-
siderable pressure, say froin 150 to 500 pounds on the square inch; and for carrying
off the said fluids I employ pipes or tubes with cocks, valves, and suitable air
chambers for conveying the said fluids to the retorts, ovens, or heated chambers.
I connect pipes or tubes to the covers or lids of the said retorts or ovens with self
acting valves or injectors for the purpose of regulating the introduction of the said
fluids into the retorts or ovens, by which the supply and the internal and external
pressure may be regulated very accurately.
I find it advantageous to work the pressure on the store chambers at 150 pounds
per square inch, which pressure may be varied more or less to suit the character of
the fluids or substances employed.
The interior of the retorts or ovens is advantageously maintained at a pressure
equal to a one inch column of water, or the three hundred and sixtieth part of an
atmosphere, or thereabouts.
For sustaining and regulating the necessary equivalents of hydro-carbon gas I
store in glass or other vessels nitric acid maintained at a sustained pressure of 150
pounds per square inch or thereabouts, such vessels being arranged with adjusting
and regulating apparatus as before referred to, and for furnishing the exact equiva-
lents necessary for producing the greatest illuminating compound in such hydro-
carbon gases.
Further, I employ the introduction of a compound of carbonic acid and nitrogen,
and inject the necessary equivalents combined with water for improving and utilizing
the ammoniacal liquor combined with coal tar and other oily substances.
For evolving hydrogen from carbonaceous matters either solid or fluid I employ
a store chamber, and distribute the equivalents of hydro-chloric acid in such pro-
portions and under such pressure that may be found most suitable, say 150 pounds
per square inch or thereabouts.
In order to guard against the too rapid evolution of hydrogen gas from the
application of hydro-chloric acid I employ suitable safety valves attached to the
mouth pieces or ascension pipes of the retorts. The hydrogen gas may be con-
ducted away by suitable pipes, valves, and other requisite apparatus to gas holders
or store chambers, or to furnaces, or for use where required.
I employ bydro-chloric acid for the removal of carbonaceous substances from the
internal surface of gas retorts when red hot by injecting it at a suitable pressure and
adjusting its exact equivalents.
To enable the workman to examine the interior of a red hot retort during
the process of generating the said gases I employ telescopic sight pieces with
white or colored glass, so as to ascertain the quality of the gases being evolved or
generated.

page_text: Having thus stated the nature of my Invention I will now proceed to describe the
same more fully, reference being made to the Drawings hereto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, shows an elevation, and Figure 2 a longitudinal section of a
series of retorts for evolving or generating hydrogen and hydro-carbon gases from
carbonaceous fluids and substances in accordance with my improvements.
Figure 1 and 2*, Sheet 2, show some of the parts on a larger scale.
According to the first part of my Invention I prepare a cylinder or vessel marked
A, Sheet I, which may be of glass surrounded by metal for protection, and I
employ a piston or pump for securing the requisite pressure of acids or gases
necessary for regulating and adjusting the exact quantities which may be found
most convenient in practice for securing the necessary equivalents, and at such
pressure as may be required. The said acids may be injected into the retorts or
ovens at 150 pounds pressure or thereabouts, more or less, to avoid continual
pumping. In order to obtain the said pressure a hydraulic accumulator is or may
be connected to the cylinder A, or it may be worked by compressed air, gas, or
vapour. A small nozzle B is attached by a union, or it may be made to fit air tight
into a piece of tubing b attached to the doors of the gas retorts, and may be placed
about two thirds distance from the upper part of the door, as shown, and the
injector for regulating with the attendant pressure gauge must always indicato the
quantity of acids entering the retorts, say from one pint more or less per hour; or
there may be two or three injectors, seeing that the greatest results are produced
when very minute quantities of acids are injected on the coke or other materials
placed in the retort. The heat of the retorts C should be of a bright steady red,
and may be regulated without difficulty by attending to the tap or valve D, which
is connected with another tube d about an inch in diameter, more or less, attached
to the fire door d', which should have an opening about 5 inches long and about ³/
of an inch wide, more or less, special arrangements being made to admit a thin
stream of hydrogen between two fine streams of atmospheric air, as indicated in
elevation and section E, Sheet 1. Coke may be employed or lumps of fire brick, or
any incombustible materials may be heated by this process. About 5 per cent. of the
gases generated would be necessary for keeping up the temperature of the retort,
and 95 per cent. may pass through the ascension pipe or other connection attached
to the retort mouth.
The said gases may be cooled by passing through the spiral condenser F, Sheet 2.
The construction of this condenser admits of a stream of cold water passing in at
the centre and escaping in a spiral form at the circumference, while a stream of gas
passes through another spiral coil, passing from the circumference to the centre as
the gases are evolved rapidly in their passage through the condenser. The quantity
of water may be increased or diminished for regulating or adjusting the temperature
requisite to be maintained before the hydrogen enters the gas holder.
Another part of my Invention relates to the evolution of hydrogen from hydro
carbonaceous fluids, such as tar, ammoniacal liquor, oil or oily vapours, such as is
given off in carbonization of coals and other gas generating matter or materials.
It will be seen by reference to the Drawings, Sheet 1, that there are three passages
1, 2, 3, on the upper part of each retort door; these passages are to admit acids in
combination with any proportion of the above mentioned fluids, and a tube is
attached when required containing a glass to retort lid, which may be used by the
superintendent for inspecting the quality of the gases generated in the interior part
of the retort.
The acids injected into the furnace fire may be hydrogen or a combination of
acids or gases connected therewith.
Hydro-carbon gas generated by this process possesses great illuminating power,
and where the light is in excess of the parliamentary standard pure hydrogen
evolved from coke by this process may be mixed with ten per cent. of oxygen and

page_text: fifty per cent. of hydrogen combined with forty per cent. of hydro-carbon gas, which
mixture should produce an average light of about twenty standard candles, and is
rendered combustible for illuminating purposes by mixing one volume of this gas to
six of atmospheric air, and may be stored in gas holders for distribution for giving
light for domestic and other purposes.
According to the second part of my improvements for using the above gases for
heating purposes and smelting metals I subject the said gases to a temperature of
300 degrees Fahrenheit or thereabouts, either by passing the same through tubes
heated in any convenient manner, or through a sand bath or otherwise.
The said gases exposed to this process become rapidly expansive, and produce
a pressure of 150 pounds upon the square inch or thereabouts, losing all their
power for illumination but possesing great power for producing intense heat, and
inay be employed for smelting and manufacturing all descriptions of metals.
The said gases become explosive when combined with about two per cent. of
atmospheric air, ignition being produced either by a current of electricity or light.
When the said gases produced by this process are condensed to from 300 pounds
to 600 pounds on the square inch they may with ease be used in various mining
operations, in blasting rocks, burning lime, or in any other manner where great
force is required, and with due attention and care in their manufacture will be
from 5 to 6 times as powerful for blasting purposes as dynamite, the gas being
stored in suitable tubes and applied for blasting where required, the said gases
exploding at about 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit.
The said gases are much lighter than bydrogen, and being easily and cheaply
manufactured may be readily stored, and may be used for the inflation of balloons
or for working machinery to any extent, only requiring very great care in their
production and application.
It may be further noted that the gases thus produced do not expand or contract
by the application of heat up to a temperature of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, thus
giving ample latitude for employment in the various arts and inanufactures, and
may be extensively employed for working engines and machinery by expansion, as
above described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice, I would have it clearly understood that I do not
intend to claim any of the processes or apparatus separately which is well known
and in common use, nor do I limit my claim to the exact details hereinbefore
described so long as the novel features of my Invention are retained, but what I
claim is,
First. The improved process for the combination of nitric and hydr-chloric acids
and oily carbonaceous substances and fluids delivered at great pressure through
nozzles (made of glass or other materials most suitable for resisting the wear and
tear caused by heat and friction during its exposure to great pressure) into red hot
retorts, chambers, or fire places, substantially as and for the purposes and in the
manner hereinbefore described and represented in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second. The improved process for the combination of the gases, herein before
described, generated in the retorts by or under internal and external pressure, sub-
stantially in the manner herein before described and represented in the Drawings
hereto annexed.
Third. The improved process, hereinbefore described, for the evolution or generation
of hydrogen gas from coke and carbonaceous materials, such as anthracite, coal, and
coaly substances, which after giving off their equivalents of hydro-carbon are con-
verted by or under pressure into hydrogen, such hydrogen so evolved having great
chemical affinity for rich hydro-carbon gases, and admitting of the mixture of ten
per cent. of oxygen gas, which readily mixes with its equivalents of common car-
burretted hydrogen gas so as to be adjusted and regulated for producing the
quantity of parliamentary or other standard light, substantially in the manner
herein before described.
Fourth. The improved application of hydrogen gas evolved, as hereinbefore

page_text: described, from retorts or ovens for heating retorts, boilers, or other heating
appliances, by which intense heat may be obtained and regulated at will by hydro-
chloric acid, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before
described.
Fifth. The improved process for the combination of hydrogen, hydro-carbon, and
oxygen gases, heated to about 300 degrees Fahrenheit, more or less, by which
pressure is applied to actuate machinery, and after actuating such machinery the
Baid gases may be stored in gas holders, and may be employed for smelting metals,
burning lime, and be applied to numerous other useful purposes, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Sixth. The use and application of the gases, herein before described, by condensing
the same either by pumping or other means to ten or twenty atmospheres, more or
less, and the application thereof to various useful purposes, substantially as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Atkins, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirty first day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.