IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF LIGHT AND HEAT AND IN THE APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Richard Smyth, C.E.F.G.S.
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th July 1882.
SAMUEL RICHARD SMYTH, C.E.F.G.S. of Palace Chambers, Westminster
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF LIGHT AND HEAT AND IN THE APPARATUS
THEREFOR
"
This invention has for its object improvements in the production of light and
heat and in the apparatus therefor and relates to the production of oxygen
hydrogen and carbon from such elements and compounds as to render it practicable
to obtain them in a cheap commercial form suitable for universal application to the
production of light and heat The basis from which I produce oxygen are calcium
of any kind or manganese oxide-These I treat with sulphuric acid and silica in
suitable proportions I place the resulting compounds vidilicit sulphate of lime and
I then pass superheated
silica in a stack of retorts and bring them to a red heat.
steam and sulphuric acid into the retorts when decomposition takes place the
silica combining with the lime and forming silica of lime while a mixture of oxygen
and sulphurous acid is disengaged therefrom I then discharge these gases from
the retorts into condensers fitted with worms-from whence I pass them into tanks
or vessels containing a solution of caustic soda which absorbs the sulphurous acid
and becomes sulphite of soda
By this process the oxygen is set free and is passed into an upright vessel fitted
with scrubbers washers or beaters and containing milk of lime which retains any
of the sulphurous acid carried over with the oxygen after which the oxygen is
conveyed into an ordinary gas holder ready for distribution and use
The bye products are recovered and used over again by any of the known
processes of distillation
To manufacture hydrogen I pass superheated steam into retorts over sulphate of
lime at a dull red heat, whereby carbonic acid and carbonic oxide is formed.
B
The carbonic oxide reduces the sulphate of lime and transforms it into sulphide
of calcium and is itself converted into carbonic acid by taking up its one atom
of oxygen.
I then pass the mixture of carbonic acid and hydrogen into the apparatus in a
similar way as already described for the manufacture of oxygen after which it is
passed into suitable holders ready for distribution and use

page_text: One of the most important features of my invention is the application of oxygen
to the ordinary or any other carburetted hydrogen whether obtained from liquid or
solid hydrocarbons, brought into direct contact with the oxygen either in a liquid
or solid form or in the form of gas for the proper combustion of the hydrocarbon,
either as a compound gas,-
-or in combination with any carbon base; or with any
carbon with hydrogen or not; or with oxygen brought in contact with hydrogen;
-so that they may consume either together or separately on any carbon base to
produce light and heat
To effect this I construct a cone or burner provided with small orifices or tubes
through which the hydrocarbons pass, while a separate pipe is brought up near the
point of ignition and is fitted with a cock in order to regulate the supply of oxygen
or hydrogen required for the combustion of the hydrocarbon;-or of the solid
carbons of any base, thus producing therefrom an oxyhydrogen light or heat :—
or an oxyhydrogen carbon light or heat.
The cones I employ are composed either of carbon mixed with silica; or of
calcium in the natural state, or not,- -or mixed with an alumina base for the oxygen
or hydrogen to act on, or each of them separately, or in combination. with any
hydrocarbon in a gaseous form :-or from solid hydrocarbon in the form of fat, wax,
or other similar compounds