Improvements in the Manufacture of Gas.
Year: 1889

page_text: COME DIDIE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Gas.
I, DAVID HARRIS KNAPP, of Norwich, in the County of Chenango and State of
New York, United States of America, Lawyer, 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 stateinent:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of gas for illuminating and heating pur-
poses, from oils or liquid hydro-carbons, with capability of dilution of the gas preferably
with air.
The accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, shows an apparatus
which will carry out my invention, and in which,
A and B designate retorts, one within the other, the inner A being hereinaftor
termed the vaporizing, the outer B, the decomposing retorts. These retorts are
represented as upright cylinders with spheroidal or rounded bottoms. The outer or
decomposing retort B has an external flange at its upper end by which it is
supported upon the top of the furnace C. The said retort is also provided with a
removable cover 61, secured to its flange in which is an opening through which the
inner retort A is inserted, the latter being provided at its upper end with an external
flange a, resting upon the cover & and also having a removable cover a'.
In the lower end of the inner vaporizing retort is an opening in which is secured
an upright pipe D, extending upward into the said retort nearly to the top thereof,
and open at its upper end, the said pipe forming communication between the upper
part of the vaporizing retort A and the lower part of the decomposing retort B.
E is a pipe for supplying oil to the retort A, this pipe entering the retort through
the cover a¹ and projecting downward into the retort nearly to the bottom.
F is a pipe connected with the decomposing retort B, at the top thereof, and forming
an outlet for the gas which may pass directly to a gas-holder or to any suitable puri-
fying apparatus whence a pipe leads to the gas-holder.
In operation, the oil introduced through the pipe E, enters the vaporizing retort A,
which, being surrounded by the decomposing retort B, is protected from the great
heat of the furnace, but bas heat enough imparted to it through the decomposing
retort B for the vaporization of the oil which enters it at the bottom. The oil-vapor
rising to the top of retort A finds its exit through the pipe D, to the lower part of
retort B, wherein it is decomposed by the great heat to which that retort is subjected.
The vapors enter the decomposing retort at the bottom, circulate within the annular
space between the two retorts and pass along the entire heated surface of the decom-
posing retorts before reaching the outlet E, and therefore a perfect decomposition of
the vapor results, and it is converted into permanent gas to be diluted for use, as with
air, as required for illuminating or heating purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
nvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
First. The method of producing a gas for illuminating or heating purposes, which
consists in making a rich gas from liquid hydro-carbons, and then diluting the same
with air to give the required candle-power, substantially as described.
Second. The combination of the upright inner vaporizing retort, the outer upright
ecomposing retort and the furnace outside of the latter, of the oil pipe entering the
nner retort, the upright pipe forming communication between the upper part of
he said vaporizing retort and the lower part of said decomposing retort, and the
utlet pipe at the upper part of the latter retort, substantially as and for the purpose
et forth.

page_text: Third. In an apparatus for manufacturing gas from oils, the combination of two
retorts, one arranged within the other, a furnace outside of the outer retort, a pipe
for the introduction of oil to the inner retort, a communication between the inner
and outer retorts for the passage from the inner one to the outer one, of vapor
generated in the inner one, and a gas outlet pipe from the outer one, substantially
as set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the upright inner vaporizing retort, the outer upright
decomposing retort, and the furnace outside of the latter, the oil-pipe entering the
inner retort and an upright pipe connected with the inner retort at its lower end
and opening into the outer retort, and having its open upper end extending into
the inner retort, and an outlet pipe for gas communicating with the outer retort, sub-
stantially as specified.
Dated the 22nd day of October 1889.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.