IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND PURIFICATION OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATION, AND CERTAIN PRODUCTS PRODUCTS THEREFROM, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THAT PURPOSE
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Marie Souchon, of Paris, in France,
Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
AND PURIFICATION OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATION, AND CERTAIN PRODUCTS
Sealed the 6th October 1853, and dated the 16th April 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Marie Souchon
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 16th April 1853.
I, JEAN MARIE SOUCHON, of Paris, in France, Chemist, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE AND PURIFICATION OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATION, AND CERTAIN
PRODUCTS THEREFROM, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THAT PURPOSE," to be as
follows:-
The gas obtained by the destructive distillation of coal, or other bitu-
minous, carbonaceous, or nitrogenous matter, is passed, together with
the tar and ammonia which accompany it, through a heated retort con-
taining potash or soda in a caustic state, or combined with carbonic
acid or other acid, and either alone or mixed with carbonaceous or

page_text: other substances. The potash or other alkali is agitated by an agitator
with a perforated disc at each end inclosed in the retort, so as con-
tinually to expose a fresh surface; or it is mixed with charcoal or other
solid matter, so as to form a porous mass. In lieu of passing the gas
with the tar and ammonia through this retort, the tar and ammonia
may be passed through it without the gas.
The effect of this operation is to decompose a portion or the whole of
the tar, and convert it into gas, and also to produce a quantity of cyanide
or ferrocyanide of potassium or sodium, which is afterwards extracted
and crystallized, or used in the production of other compounds of
cyanogen.
The gas on leaving this retort passes through a stuffing box or
other joint into a series of revolving purifiers. These consist of
cylindrical or other vessels filled with small branches of wood or other
solid matters, having a multitude of interstices between them for the
passage of the gas. These vessels are partially filled with purifying
liquid, so that as they revolve the pieces of wood become wetted by
the liquid, and are then exposed to the gas. A portion of the liquid is
also raised by a gutter or scoop, and poured upon the wood by the
motion of the vessel. Four vessels, or a greater or less number, may
be employed. The first contains sulphate of lime in suspension in
water, and serves to decompose and fix the carbonate of ammonia
contained in the gas. The second contains a solution of sulphate of
iron or other metallic salt, and serves to absorb some or all of the sul-
phuretted hydrogen and ammonia. The third contains a solution or
cream of lime, to absorb the. carbonic acid and any remaining sul-
phuretted hydrogen. The fourth purifier contains dilute sulphuric.or
muriatic acid, to absorb ammonia. The gas then passes through a
hydraulic valve to the gasometer.
Other purifying liquids, or the same liquids in different order, may.
be employed in the same apparatus. A hydraulic valve is connected to
the pipes from the gas retorts, by means of which the gas may be shut
off from the purifiers while they are being charged. It is then directed
into another similar apparatus, or into the ordinary hydraulic main and
purifying apparatus, when the improved apparatus is applied to a gas-

page_text: work already in operation with such ordinary apparatus. By these
arrangements the pressure on the gas in the retorts may be reduced to
that of the gasometer, while the advantages of wet purifiers are obtained
without increasing the pressure in the retorts...
The retort which contains the alkali is closed by means of a door
hung upon hinges with elliptical or elongated holes, so that it-may be
pressed up against the face by means of four latches or catches, which
act upon inclined planes on the door, and force it against the mouth. of;
the retort. This construction of door is applicable to other retorts.as,
well as to that which contains the alkali
In lieu of, conveying the gas into the alkali retort, the retort may be
supplied with the vapour of tar and ammonia by dropping or injecting,
the same into a heated retort of a cresent form, in section, with a fire
within or under it, or in a retort of any other suitable form. . Ammonia,
or nitrogenous substances may be mixed with the tar so employed, and.
in some cases a fixed alkali may also be added.
Compounds of cyanogen sometimes pass into., one, or more of the
purifying vessels, and may be separated by precipitation with iron, or
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,"
filed by the said Jean Marie Souchon, in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 14th October 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JEAN MARIE SOUCHON, of Paris, in France, Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-.
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Jean Marie Souchon, Her special
licence that I, the said Jean Marie Souchon, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jean Marie.
Souchon, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should 'at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times'

page_text: 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 THE MANUFACTURE AND PURIFI
CATION OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATION, AND CERTAIN PRODUCTS THEREFROM, AND
IN APPARATUS FOR THAT PURPOSE," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Jean Marie Souchon, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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 Jean Marie Souchon, 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, reference being had to the
accompanying drawing, and to the figures and letters marked thereon
(that is to say):
The Invention relates to the manufacture and purification of gas for
illumination from coal and other suitable substances, and the obtaining
of cyanides from the same, and also to apparatus for such purposes.
Figure 1, is a vertical section of an apparatus for manufacturing
cyanides from gas obtained from coal, together with a side view, partly
in section, of one of the purifying vessels which I employ. A³, is a
cylindrical cast or wrought iron retort, fixed in a furnace in a similar
manner to that in which iron retorts for the manufacture of coal gas
are fixed. A', is a square shaft, turning at one end in a bearing, sup-
ported by a cross P, in the end P', of the retort. This cross is shewn
in Figure 8, which is a section on the line 3, 4, in Figure 1. C,
and Q, are two circular perforated plates or discs, mounted on the
shaft A', which also carries two agitators a, a. The shaft A', has a
square socket H, at the end next the mouth
of the retort, into
which enters a short spindle mounted on the door G, of the retort.
This spindle is caused to revolve by means of a wheel and pinion
driven by the handle O. The spindle passes through a stuffing box or

page_text: close fitting joint J, and is pressed up by a screw M, passing through
the bar L, which is supported by the pillars 7, 1. By turning the
handle O, the shaft A', is made to revolve, and to carry with it the
agitators a, a, and the discs C, Q, one of which is shewn separately in
Figure 7, which is a section of the retort at the line 1, 2, in Figure 1.
The disc Q, is keyed on the shaft, but the disc C, is merely slipped
upon it, and it is connected by four rods h, h, to the socket H; so that
it may be drawn out at the mouth of the retort, and again replaced
when required, for the purpose of charging and discharging the retort.
The door G, of the retort is mounted on the mouth piece V2, which
is shewn partly in section, and partly in elevation, in Figure 1.
Figure 2, is a front view of the door, and Figure 11, is a plan of the
same, on a larger scale. The mouth-piece V2, has a square flange A,
on which is a circular ridge or beading B, which enters a corresponding
groove or hollow I, in the door G. i, i, i, i, are four inclined planes or
wedges cast upon the outer side of the door; and D, D, D, D, are four
catches, which turn in sockets R, R, in the flange A. The door G,
is supported by two hinges F, F, the joints of which are formed of
elongated holes or loops, as shewn at E, in Figure 11. The door is
secured in the following manner-The groove I, is fitted with fire
clay, or other suitable lute, and the door is swung round on its hinges,
so as to bring it against the flange A, while the ridge B, .enters the
groove I. The catches D, are then turned round by a few blows of a
hammer, or by a lever attached to each. The pressure of the catches D,
on the inclined planes i, forces the door up to its place, and compresses
the lute in the groove. The elongated holes of the hinges allow the
door to be forced up in this mauner.
This construction of door is applicable to retorts generally, as well
as to the apparatus shewn in Figure 1. The retort A, is supported
on the bearers S, S, and brickwork T, and heated by the fire on the
bars X, which is supplied with fuel at T. Y, is the ash-pit. Figure 9,
is a section, shewing the fire bars X, and one of their bearers a. The
flames or products of combustion pass through the openings t, t, and
damper T, to the chimney. The mouth-piece V2, carries a pipe E',
5 connected to another pipe A2.

page_text: This apparatus is employed for the obtaining of cyanides in the fol-
lowing manner :-
The retort A, is charged between the discs C, and Q, with a fixed
alkali, or suitable alkaline salt, such as potash or soda, or the carbo-
nates or sulphates of potash or soda, or with coke or charcoal, or other
porous, carbonaceous, or organic matter, impregnated with such alka-
line substances. The retort is heated to a red heat; and a current of
coal gas, obtained by the distillation of coal in the ordinary manner, is
introduced by the pipes A2, and E'. The alkaline mass is stirred up
by turning the handle O, so as to bring fresh portions of the alkali into
contact with the gas. Alkaline cyanides are produced in the retort A,
by the decomposition of the nitrogenous compounds in the gas, which
passes out of the retort into the first of a range of revolving purifiers U.
Figure 3, is a transverse section of one of these purifiers U; and
Figure 10, shows a range of four of these purifiers, marked respec-
tively, R, S, T, V. Each of these purifiers consists of a cylindrical
vessel with two short necks P2, at the two ends, which serve to support
the cylinder in the bearings S', and also to allow of the entrance and
exit of the gas.
The adjoining necks of the four cylinders in Figure 10, are bolted
together, and the neck of the first cylinder is accurately fitted into a
collar M, in Figure 1, to connect it with a pipe leading from the
retort A³. A similar connection is made at the end of the last purifier
to a pipe P3; leading to the gasometer. The purifiers are caused to
revolve slowly, by means of a band passing round one of the cylinders,
and driven by a steam engine, or in any other convenient manner.
Each purifier is provided with a perforated plate N, N, in Figure 10,
fixed at each end, and leaving a space between it and the end of the
cylinder for the passage of the gas. U₁, is a door on one side of each
cylinder, which is taken off, and the cylinder is then filled with slightly
crooked branches or pieces of wood K, of from half an inch to two
inches diameter, more or less. The door U', is then replaced, and
fixed by bolts and nuts. 'k', is a hole in the door U₁, which is closed
by a plug, and serves for the introduction and discharge of the purify-
ing solutions, with which the cylinders are somewhat less than half

page_text: filled.. As the cylinders revolve the pieces of wood become wetted
with the solutions, and expose a very large surface to the action of the
gas, without the gas being exposed to the pressure which is required
to force it through the solution in wet purifiers, as usually constructed.
Z, is a trough or gutter, open at one edge, and having a small pipe z,
for the escape of the gas contained in it. As this trough descends
into the liquid the gas escapes from it up the pipe, and it becomes
filled with liquid. When it has risen out of the liquid, and reached
its highest position, it pours out the liquid on the wood, so as to wet
those portions which are in the centre of the cylinder, and which,
therefore, are not immersed in the liquid by the rotation of the cylinder.
The first purifier R, in the series shewn in Figure 10, is made of
cast iron; and is charged with a thick cream of sulphate of lime, or
gypsum, finely powdered, and mixed with water. The second puri-
fier S, is made of wood hooped with iron, and is charged with a solu-
tion of metallic salt, such as sulphate of iron of a specific gravity of
about 1.06, water being 1:00. The third purifier T, is made of iron,
and charged with a thin cream of lime and water. The fourth purifier V,
is made of wood hooped with iron, and charged with sulphuric acid
diluted with water, to the specific gravity of about 1.06, water being 1.00.
The solutions are drawn off when exhausted, and fresh solutions in-
troduced. The pieces of wood serve for a great length of time. Frag-
ments of coke, or other substance not acted upon by the solutions, may
be substituted for the pieces of wood. The purifying apparatus shewn
in Figure 10, may be employed without the retort A³, in Figure 1, and
it is then connected to the condenser or cooler, a portion of which is
shewn at F', in Figure 10.
Figure 4, is a vertical section of an arrangement of pipes and
valves for connecting the retort A³, in Figure 1, with the retorts used
for the distillation of the coal. Figure 4 a, is a plan of the same. D,
s the ordinary hydraulic main,, to which the coal-gas retorts are con-
nected by pipes in the usual manner. The hydraulic main communi-
cates in the ordinary manner with a condenser and series of purifiers of
the ordinary construction, or constructed as hereinbefore described, and
ultimately wiith the gasometer. b, b, are other pipes connected to the

page_text: retorts, and communicating with the main B, which is the same pipe as
that marked A, in Figure 1. Each of these pipes is closed by a
valve ', which can be raised and lowered by a rack and segment b².
C, is a branch pipe, which connects the main B, with the hydraulic
main D, through the intervention of a valve constructed in the follow-
ing manner:-R, is a short cylinder, open at the lower end, and con-
nected at top with the pipe C. The cylinder R, is inclosed in another
'The
cylinder H, communicating with the hydraulic main D.
cylinder H, is open at bottom, and immersed in a cup G, containing
water or tar. F, is another cup, also containing water or tar, and attached
to a rod K, which passes through a stuffing box I, and terminates in a
rack, which is guided by guides 1, 1, and rollers L. L. M, is a toothed
wheel, driven by an endless chain, and working into the rack for
raising and lowering the cup F. When the cup is lowered, it leaves a
free passage between the branch C, and the hydraulic main D; and
when the cup is raised, the liquid which it contains seals or closes the
cylinder R, and shuts off the communication between D, and C. The
depth of the liquid in this cup F, must be greater than sufficient to
balance the pressure of the gas in the hydraulic main D, so as to pre-
vent its escape when the pipe B, is opened. The lower half of the end
of the hydraulic main which is connected to H, is closed by a partition,
to prevent the tar or water which it contains from flowing into H, and
leaving exposed the ends of the pipes from the retorts. The mode of
using this apparatus is as follows:-The gas retorts are charged with
coal, as dry as possible; and the cyanide retort A³, Figure 1, is charged
with alkali. The valves b', are closed, and the valve F, is also closed.
The first aqueous portions distilled from the coal will then pass into the
hydraulic main, and the gas which accompanies them will pass from the
hydraulic main through the ordinary purifiers, or through a set of re-
volving purifiers, like that shewn in Figure 10, to the gasometer. The
valves, are then opened, and the gas and other products of the dis-
tillation of the coal are thus directed into the cyanide retort, and thence
through the purifiers to the gasometer; or the valve F, may be
opened so as to allow the gas to pass to the cyanide retort, after de-
positing the aqueous portions in the hydraulic main. For this purpose,

page_text: the resistance to the passage of the gas by the line of purifiers, which
lead direct to the gasometer from the hydraulic main, must be some-
what greater than that of the cyanide retort and its series of purifiers;
or the former passage must be closed by a valve. When it is required
to recharge some of the coal-gas retorts, the valves 6', appertaining to
them are closed, and the retorts are then emptied and recharged.
After the first aqueous portions have been distilled off, the valves b¹, are
opened, so as again to direct all the products of the distillation through
the cyanide retort. When it is necessary to recharge the cyanide
retort, the valve F, and all the valves 6, are closed, and the gas from
the retorts passes through the ordinary ascending pipes into the
hydraulic main, and through the purifiers to the gasometer. When
the valves ; are employed, the hydraulic valve F, may be dispensed
with, and the main B, has then no connection with the hydraulic
main D. Each retort may be charged separately when they are pro-
vided with the separate valves b. When, however, the retorts are all
charged simultaneously, or in close succession, the valves 6', and
pipes b, may be dispensed with, and the hydraulic valve F, employed
alone. This valve is then kept closed during the charging of the
retorts, and while the aqueous parts are distilling off, and it is then
opened to allow the gas to pass from the hydraulic main through the
cyanide retort. From six to ten coal-gas retorts are connected to one
cyanide retort.
By this arrangement the gas, together with the tar and ammonia,
produced by the distillation of the coal, are passed through the incan-
descent alkali, or alkaline salt, in the cyanide retort. A considerable
portion of cyanide of potassium or cyanide of sodium is formed in the
retort; and, at the same time, the tar, or a portion of it, is decomposed
and converted into illuminating gas. The gas may be cooled in its
passage from the cyanide retort to the purifiers, by passing it through a
condenser, formed of a series of pipes exposed to the air, or cooled by
water in the ordinary manner. F, F, in Figure 10, show two of
such pipes.
If it be desired to collect a portion of the tar, instead of passing it all
with the gas through the cyanide retort, it may be effected by closing

page_text: the valves b', and opening the valve F, in Figure 4. The gas will
then pass through the hydraulic main, depositing a portion of the tar,
and it will then pass through the pipe C, into B, and through the
cyanide retort, as before.
Although I have mentioned coal as the source of the gas, it is
obvious that other substances capable of yielding illuminating gas may
be employed in lieu of coal. Thus, bituminous shale or peat may be,
employed, and the products of their distillation passed through the
cyanide retort and revolving purifiers, as herein-before described.
To obtain gas and cyanides from tar and ammoniacal liquor, I
employ the apparatus herein-before described, in connection with a
retort constructed as shown in section in Figure 5, and in plan in
Figure 6. Figure 6 a, is an elevation of a vessel H, which is filled
at the aperture I, with a mixture of tar, with about five or seven per
cent., more or less, of ammoniacal liquor, as obtained in the manufac-
ture of coal gas. This vessel is raised above the retort, so that the
tarry mixture which descends through a pipe J, may be thrown as a
jet into the retort. A, B, in Figures 5, and 6,
consists of portions of two cylinders A, and B.
B, is placed excentrically with regard to A, and
with it, or bolted, or otherwise connected to it. The retort is heated by
a fire acting upon the interior of the cylinder B. The tarry mixture
is thrown in a jet from the pipe J, upon the cylinder B, and, being
converted into vapour, is conveyed by the pipes E, and G, to the pipes
A, and E, in Figure 1, and thence passes through the retort A³, and
purifiers U.
is the retort, which
The smaller cylinder.
is cast in one piece
Having now described the nature of my nvention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I
do not claim generally the decomposing of tar by passing it, either with
or without the gas, through a heated retort; nor do I claim generally
the application of revolving purifiers for purifying gas; but what I
claim as the Invention intended to be secured by the aforesaid Letters
Patent is,
Firstly, the node or modes herein-before described of increasing
the quantity of gas and obtaining cyanides, by passing the products of

page_text: the distillation of coal or other suitable substance through a heated
retort containing alkali or alkaline salts, in manner herein-before
described.
Secondly, the mode or modes herein-before described of obtaining
illuminating gas and cyanides, by injecting a mixture of tar and ammo.
niacal liquor into a heated retort, and conveying the vapours or gases so
produced through a heated retort containing alkali or alkaline salts, in
manner herein-before described.
Thirdly, the mode or modes herein-before described of purifying
gas for illumination, by passing it through a series of revolving purifiers
containing purifying liquids and pieces of wood or other solid matters, "
which are continually becoming wetted with the solutions and exposed
to the gas, in manner herein-before described. And I claim the con-
structing such revolving purifiers, as herein-before described, and adapted
for exposing a great extent of wet surface to the action of the gas, in
manner herein-before described.
Fourthly, the constructing the doors of retorts, with catches for fixing
them, and hinges, with elongated holes or joints for supporting them, in
manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Marie Souchon, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JEAN MARI
OUCHON (L.S.)
Rue Montmartre, No. 103,
Witness, BERNARDIN VICTOR-HENRI CROTTET,
Rue Ste Thérèse, No. 15,
à Batignolles-Monceaux,
à Paris (France).
Départem de la Seine (France).