IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF GAS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smith,. of Salisbury Street, Adelphi, Civil:
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATUS FOR AND
METHOD OF INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF GAS."-A com-
munication from abroad by Hugo Carstanien, of Cologne.
Scaled the 11th April 1862, and dated the 17th October 1861:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Smith at the Office-
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration, on
the 17th October 1861, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law
Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SMITH, of Salisbury Street, Adelphi, Civil Engineer, send greeting:
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF
GAS," (being a communication to me from abroad by Hugo Carstanjen, of
Cologne,) and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors,.
administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and
bave made solemn declaration that it has been communicated to me from
abroad by Hugo Carstanjen, of Cologne :
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Smith, do hereby declare that
the following Complete Specification under my hand and seal fully describes
and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, in and by the following statement and accompanying
Drawing.
This Invention relates to a novel apparatus, and in the method of using and
employing the same for the purpose of increasing the illuminating power
of gas.
The apparatus consists of a chamber or vessel, through which the gas is
caused to pass and circulate previously to its being consumed. The said
apparatus, materials employed in conjunction therewith, and the method of
using or employing the same, as herein-after described, is combined with the
use or employment of benzoine as an agent for increasing the illuminating
power of gas to any required degree.
I prefer to construct the apparatus according to my present Invention in
the following manner:-I form a chamber or vessel of any convenient external
shape or configuration, and of an internal capacity proportionate to the quantity
of gas to be passed therethrough in a given time. 1 divide this chamber by
means of a horizontal diaphragm fitted in the lower portion thereof, and
connect the superior and inferior portions or compartments by means of a
series of tubes; or, instead of tubes, I may in some cases prefer to substitute
sheet spaces therefor, which pass for a certain distance into the lower com-
partment. Through the series of tubes or sheet spaces I draw cotton wicks,
or other suitable twisted or plaited fibrous material, or sheets of such material,
whilst passing through the upper end of the tube or sheet space, the one end
rests upon the diaphragın or division plate, and the other end after passing
through the opening, whether of tubular or sheet space form, passes there-
through into the lower chamber containing the liquid benzoine, and from
which it is caused to ascend by capillary attraction. Attached to a convenient
part of the apparatus just described is a vessel serving as a reservoir for the
benzoine; from this vessel the benzoine passes into the inferior compartment
of the said apparatus, through a suitable opening provided for that purpose.
At one end or side of the vessel, and communicating with the upper portion
thereof, a tube or main pipe is connected, by which the gas to be charged is
admitted, and which, after passing through the apparatus, may be discharged
from the opposite end or side thereof under regulation. By making a junction
piece or circuit pipe between the inlet and outlet pipes, and inserting cocks or
taps in such position as the supply of gas may be shut off from the apparatus,
and be caused to pass direct to the delivery side instead of through the
apparatus, the gas may be consumed without being impregnated or charged
with the benzoine, or subject to regulation, it may be passed in part only
through the apparatus according to my Invention, and any lesser degree of

page_text: illuminating power than that which the apparatus is capable of effecting may
be imparted to the gas on its way to the burners, and thus the advantages
belonging to the use or employment of my said Invention may be demonstrated.
By the insertion of cocks or taps in the upper and lower parts of the apparatus,
facilities are afforded for drawing off the liquid material, and by means of a
moveable top or cover access is given to the interior thereof, for the purpose of
cleansing and removing the capillary arrangements.
In the accompanying Drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a form and
arrangement of apparatus constructed in accordance with my present Inven-
tion; Figure 2 being a sectional plan of Figure 1.
In this apparatus the capillary arrangement is shewn as contained within a
series of round tubes, but tubes of other forms, or sheet spaces alternately
disposed or arranged so as to increase the length of or passage for the travel
of the gas from its entry to its exit, may be substituted for detached or separate
tubes arranged in rows.
But whatever the form of the tubes, sheet spaces, or
passage ways may be, they are attached to and by preference should project
slightly below the diaphragm, division plate, or horizontal partition, by which
the lower part of the chamber containing the supply of liquid carbon or
illuminating fluid is separated from the upper part or portion of the apparatus
through which the gas has to pass on its way to the burners. In every case
fibrous material, either in the form of wick, strand, or other convenient shape,
is employed, whether such be composed of cotton, worsted, or any other
suitable material. For the sheet spaces a series of these wicks or strands may
be employed side by side, or sheets of such materials, or loosely felted materials
may be introduced, one end through the tubes or openings into the lower
chamber, whilst the other end depends freely from the upper end of the tube
or opening, and falls upon or towards the upper side of the horizontal
diaphragm or division plate, and by the action of capillary attraction is
maintained in a moist condition, being charged with the liquid carbon or
illuminating fluid, and being of open structure, the gas is made to pass in
contact with and through amongst the moist surfaces thus opposed to the
direct
passage of the gas from the inlet to the outlet pipe. In Figures 1 and 2,
the same letters of reference, so far as they are used, are employed to represent
corresponding parts.
A is the case of the apparatus; B, the reservoir, which is connected by
means of an opening with the lower part of the case A; C is an inlet pipe,
and D an outlet pipe from the case; E being a connecting or circuit pipe, by
means of which the gas may be passed direct from the supply to the burners
when the connection between the supply pipe and the apparatus is shut off;

page_text: F, F, &c., are the tubes, which in the Drawing are shewn as round; G, the
diaphragm or division plate; H, the opening between the chamber formed by
the diaphragm G and the reservoir B; I, a discharge cock inserted in the
bottom of the case A; K, a cock inserted in the circuit pipe; L, the inlet
cock of the pipe C; M, the outlet cock of the pipe D; N, N, the capillary
wicks, or other form of material.
Having now described the said Invention of " Improvements in the
Apparatus for and Method of Increasing the Illuminating Power of Gas,"
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the shape or
configuration of the case, nor the precise form, arrangement, or disposition of
the tubes, as shewn in the Drawing; but what I claim is, "Improvements
in the Apparatus for and Method of Increasing the Illuminating Power
of Gas," by means of a box containing capillary arrangements. or. apparatus,
as herein described, for producing an atmosphere of benzoine vapour, for
the purpose of charging the gas passed therethrough, as herein set forth.
Second, the use or employment of the capillary arrangement or apparatus,
as herein described, whether benzoine or any other liquid carbon be employed
for the same or similar purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
FREDERIC ROBERTS,
19, Salisbury St., W.C.
WILLIAM SMITH, C.E. (L.B.)