IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION AND MANUFACTURE of GAS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to the Reverend Henry Moule, of Fordington
Vicarage, in the County of Dorset, Clerk in Holy Orders, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION AND MANUFACTURE of
GAS."
Sealed the 11th September 1874, and dated the 11th April 1874.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the Reverend Henry Moule at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th April 1874.
I, the Reverend HENRY MOULE, of Fordington Vicarage, in the
County of Dorset, Clerk in Holy Orders, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION AND MANU-
FACTURE OF GAS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a novel method of producing and manu-
facturing gas from shale, coal, boghead, peat, and other gas yielding
substances in combination with chalk or limestone,

page_text: According to the first part of my Invention, which part has reference
to the production and manufacture of gas suitable for illuminating
purposes, I employ a retort of suitable construction, in which I place
a certain portion of the lignite known as Kimmeridge shale or clay, or
of any other kind of oil bearing shale or clay, each and all herein-after
referred to as "shale," or else either mixed with or in place of the shale.
I place in the retort a certain portion of peat, the mixture of shale and
peat, and the peat itself being each likewise herein-after referred to as
"shale;" or else either mixed with or in place of the shale I place in the
retort a certain portion of either ordinary coal or cannel coal, or of a
mixture of ordinary coal and cannel coal, the ordinary coal and the
cannel coal and the mixture thereof being each and all herein-after
referred to as "coal." I also place in the retort a certain portion of
chalk or limestone, or of a mixture of chalk and limestone, each and all
herein-after referred to as "chalk." I usually pulverize or break up the
chalk. In some cases I place the shale or the coal or the mixture
thereof towards the end of the retort, farthest from the orifice through
which the gas when generated makes its exit and the chalk at the other
end of the retort. In other cases I place the shale or the coal, or the
mixture thereof, towards the end of the retort nearest to the orifice
through which the gas when generated makes its exit, and the chalk at
the other end of the retort. In other cases I mix more or less intimately
with the chalk the shale or the coal, or the mixture thereof. I employ
by preference one part of shale or of coal or of the mixture thereof
with from one to two parts of chalk. The retort may be heated, and the
gas generated on distillation may after its escape from the retort, so far
as is requisite, be purified on any approved system.
According to the second part of my Invention, which part has
reference to the production and manufacture of gas suitable for heating
purposes, I employ a retort of suitable construction, in which I place
certain portions of shale or of coal or of the mixture thereof, and of
chalk, as herein-before specified. I also place in the retort a certain
portion of anthracite, coke, charcoal, wood, or other carbonaceous sub-
stances, each and all herein-after referred to as "carbon." I usually
pulverize or break up the carbon which I place in the retort at the end
thereof nearest to the orifice, through which the gas when generated
makes its exit. I usually employ one part of carbon with about four
parts of shale, or of coal, or of the mixture thereof, and with from four to

page_text: eight parts of chalk. The retort may be heated, and the gas generated
on distillation may, after its escape from the retort, so far as is requisite,
be purified on any approved system.
The oil generated on distillation may be mixed with the residuum of
the shale, coal, chalk, and carbon, either with or without the addition of
a certain portion of dry pulverized clay, and the product may be utilized
with advantage either as manure or as fuel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the Reverend Henry Moule in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, The
Reverend HENRY MOULE, of Fordington Vicarage, in the County of
Dorset, Clerk in Holy Orders, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,.
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Moule, Her special licence that
I, the said Henry Moule, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Henry Moule, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times 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 PRODUCTION
AND MANUFACTURE OF GAS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Henry Moule, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing, under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals,
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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Moule, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement
This Invention relates to a novel method of producing and manu-
facturing gas from shale, coal, boghead, peat, and other gas yielding
substances in combination with chalk or limestone in large relative
proportions.
$6
According to my Invention, which has reference to the production
and manufacture of gas suitable for illuminating purposes, I employ a
retort of suitable construction, in which I place a certain portion of the
lignite known as Kimmeridge shale or clay, or of any other kind of oil
bearing shale or clay, each and all herein-after referred to as shale," or
else either mixed with or in place of the shale I place in the retort a
certain portion of peat, the mixture of shale and peat, and the peat itself
being each likewise herein-after referred to as shale; or else either mixed
with or in place of the shale I place in the retort a certain portion of
either ordinary coal or cannel coal, or of a mixture of ordinary coal and
cannel coal, the ordinary coal and the cannel coal and the mixture
thereof being each and all herein-after referred to as "coal." I also
place in the retort a certain portion of chalk or limestone, or of a
mixture of chalk and limestone, each and all herein-after referred to as
"chalk." I usually pulverize or break up the chalk. In some cases I
place the shale, or the coal, or the mixture thereof, towards the end of the
retort furthest from the orifice, through which the gas when generated
makes its exit, and the chalk at the other end of the retort. In other
cases I place the shale, or the coal, or the mixture thereof towards the
end of the retort nearest to the orifice, through which the gas when
generated makes its exit, and the chalk at the other end of the retort.
In other cases I mix more or less intimately with the chalk the shale,
or the coal, or the mixture thereof.
The usual methods of heating the retorts and purifying the gas may
be employed.
t
The proportions which I employ are as follows:-4 parts of shale, or
of coal, or of the mixture thereof, with 6 parts of chalk; or 6 parts of
shale, or of coal, or of the mixture thereof, with 6 parts of chalk; or
9 parts of shale, or of coal, or of the mixture thereof, with 6 parts of
chalk.

page_text: I am aware that attempts have been made to use coke, charcoal, or
anthracite coal with from 13 to 25 per cent. of chalk for making a
heating gas, and I make no claim to the use of those materials in those
proportions for the purpose mentioned, but I claim, the manufacture of
illuminating gas as above described from shale, or coal, or from a
mixture thereof when combined with chalk, substantially in the pro-
portions above mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Moule, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of October, in the year of our
Witness,
HANDLEY CARR GLYN MOULE, M.A.,
Fellow of Trinity College,
Cambridge.
HENRY MOULE. (L.S.)