Improvements in and connected with the Manufacture of Gas.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1899-Accepted, 25th Mar., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by HENRY HARRISON HARDY, of 13, Covington
Avenue, in the City of Covington, County of Kenton, State of Kentucky,
United States of America, Real Estate Broker.]
Improvements in and connected with the Manufacture of Gas.
I, WILLIAM HUMPHREY WHEATLEY, of the Firm of Wheatley and Mackenzie,
Engineers and Patent Agents, of 40, Chancery Lane, in the County of London,
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 follow-
ing statement:-
The object of my invention is a portable machine for producing gas for illumin-
ating or heating purposes from gasoline, to be used principally for illuminating
dwellings and commercial buildings, and also for heating same.
The invention will be first fully described in connection with the accompanying
drawings and then particularly referred to and pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are indicated by similar reference
letters wherever they occur throughout the various views:
Figure 1 is a view, partly in front elevation and partly in section, of a machine
embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is a detail view in vertical transverse section through line of
Figure 1, of the commingling chamber.
Figure 3 is an elevation taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure 1,
with part of the tank broken away, and other parts shown in axial section.
Figure 4 is a detail plan view, upon an enlarged scale, of the supply tube for
the tank and its connections, including the tube and its valves for supplying
vapor to the sub-flame or initial vaporizer.
Figure 5 is a detail plan view of the sub-flame box or chamber.
Figure 6 is a detail view of the injector for supplying air mixed with vapor
to the initial burner.
Figure 7 is a detail plan view of the initial vaporizing ring or chamber.
Referring to the parts: A represents the gasoline tank or reservoir, B an air
pump of ordinary construction connected to the side of the tank and having its
discharge pipe b passing through the tank near the bottom and projecting up
above the liquid line into what I term the air or compression chamber of the
tank, the liquid line being indicated by dotted lines, as shown in Fig. 1. Into
one side of the tank top is secured a filling pipe C which projects down a short
distance into the tank and is closed by a screw cap c. In the bottom of this pipe
is an upwardly projecting pin or stud c¹ supported by spider arms connected to
the walls of the tube. The purpose of the stud or pin c¹ is to open a valve in
the filler can or tube when inserted in the filler tube C and hold it open until the
gasoline covers the lower end of the filler and shuts off the further supply of
gasoline to the tank. The length of the tube C thus determines the liquid line.
Formed integral with the filler tube C is the needle valve case C", which comi-

page_text: municates with the filler tube and tank back of the needle valve seat. To the
forward end of this valve case is secured the tube which communicates with the
burner d, which surrounds the standpipe D above the subflame box .
The tube which forms the continuation of the valve case C is longitudinally
slotted at its end which connects to the valve case C, and over the slotted portion
is sleeved a tube which is also longitudinally slotted to register with the slots
in the tube when turned in the proper position to admit air to the tube c² and,
when turned to cover the slots in tube c², cut off communication of the air. The
tube has a case or hood surrounding it, forming an air chamber, and from
the periphery of this case are notched segments which are connected by a bar c
with a cog segment c secured upon the stem of the needle valve. The purpose
of this arrangement is to admit air into the tube 2, which is sucked through it
by the pressure of the gas passing through the needle valve when opened, and to
cut off the supply of air simultaneously with the closing of the needle valve.
Thus when the stem e of the needle valve is rotated by the wing nut c8 to open
communication between the tank and pipe c³, the bar also rotates the sleeve ³
and its hood and, when the wing nut is turned in the opposite direction to close
the valve, the sleeve is rotated simultaneously with it to cut off air from the
pipe ².
The standpipe D, which is open at both ends, extends down to near the bottom
of the tank, projects through its top and terminates at its upper end in a vapor-
izing chamber which consists of a hollow arm D¹, which is closed at both ends and
has upon its under side a circular interiorly screw threaded flange to screw said
chamber on to the upper end of said standpipe and to afford communication
between said pipe and said chamber. This pipe within the tank is provided with
a cone shaped valve seat and a valve d, the stem of which, at its upper end,
is provided with a float d. Below the valve seat is a cone shaped spider d to
stop the valve d³ before the float strikes the upper face of the seat.
the vapor-
izing chamber D¹ is secured a valve case E and on top of it is the seat e of the
needle valve, the stem e¹ of which projects through the valve case and controls the
flow of gas through the nipple e³, which projects through the hot air chamber F
and into the commingling tube or chamber G. To the opposite end of the vapor-
izing chamber D₁ is secured a pipe H, which extends down into the tank to near
the bottom and is coiled around the standpipe and communicates with it within
the tank and between the valve seat and float d, for the purpose hereinafter
described. The hot air cylinder F which is secured upon top of the vaporizing
chamber D, has its perimeter slotted above the vaporizing chamber and one end
left open to admit air and afford access to the cap closing one end of the com-
mingling tube G, which is concentric with the air chamber F. From the top
of the air chamber F extends a branch f and surrounding it, an annular flange
or branch f. The pipes leading through the building for supplying the gas are
secured to the branch f¹, thus leaving a space between the pipes and branch f.
which extends but a short distance above the ring f¹ to equalize the pressure of
the gas passing to the pipes of the building.
Within the commingling chamber G is an inverted funnel 9 located axially
above the nipple e². The gas passing under high pressure through the nipple.
sucks the hot air which passes through the open end of the tube G and is heated
by the air in the jacket surrounding the tube, commingled with the gas in the
funnel and thoroughly mixed in the pipe connected to the branch f¹ before it
reaches the burners. The amount of gas supplied to the pipes through the
branch is regulated by the needle valve e', which has a handle e secured to the
needle valve stem, the horizontal arm of which projects over a graduated sector E',
which is secured to the standpipe D and has numbered detents projecting up
from it, the numbers corresponding with the number of lights it is desired to use,
so that when the handle is turned over the graduator E¹ and stopped above either
one of its numbered detents, the requisite quantity of gas will be furnished for

page_text: the number of burners indicated on the sectors below the horizontal arm of the
handle.
The subflame box, which is sleeved over the standpipe D, is connected to the
vaporizing chamber D' by a pipe d, the connection being by the same means as
described for connecting the pipe c to the initial burner d. The valve chamber d
is the same as the valve chamber C, and the end of the pipe de connecting it
with the subflame box is of the same form as shown in Figure 6, so that when
the valve stem is turned to open the needle valve to any extent, the sleeved
injector is also turned to admit the requisite amount of air to commingle with the
gas from the vaporizing chamber to the subflame box, which passes through the
perforations in the top of the subflame box, as shown in Figure 5, and heats the
vaporizing chamber to the degree desired. The branch has an upwardly pro-
which
jecting lug at its outer end, corresponding to the lugs or supports do
pro-
ject out from the sides of the subflame box d. The purpose of this is to support
a chimney if it is desired to use one to concentrate the heat under the vaporizing
chamber D. The pipe H communicating with the vaporizing chamber, is also
open, so that any excess of pressure in the chamber is carried down through the
pipe, passes through the liquid in the tank A, assists in heating it and, being
cooled in its passage, is reconveyed into the standpipe as shown.
Ordinarily the liquid in the standpine D is below the top of the tank but should
the pressure, from any cause in the air or pressure chamber above the liquid, be
so great as to carry the liquid up through the standpipe above the top of the tank,
the liquid would carry the float up, close the valve upon its seat, and
stop the further passage of vapor to the vaporizer until the pressure was reduced
sufficiently to allow the valve to open.
When the tank is filled for use up to the bottom of the filler tube, the air pump
is operated until the gauge J shows a pressure of about ten pounds. The valve
in case C¹, being open, the pressure will be sufficient to force the gasoline mixed
with air into the initial burner d, which is ignited and kept burning until the
heat raises the vapor in the standpipe and the vaporizing chamber to a pressure
sufficient to force it through the pipe d into the subflame box d, whence issuing
through perforations in the top thereof, it is ignited by the flame of the initial
burner, when the valve to the initial burner is closed and the supply of gas will
be continuous until all the gasoline in the tank is exhausted. I have found, by
experience that when the machine is once started after a pressure of ten pounds
has been forced above the gasoline, that the heated vapor passing. down through
pipe H and heating up the liquid in the tank will keep up the pressure in the tank
until the whole of the gasoline is exhausted, without the aid of the pump to keep
up pressure sufficient to force the gas through the pipes in the building.
I have indicated at ha connection similar to the one shown for supplying gas
to the initial burner and to the subflame box, which may be employed for con-
veying the heated vapor to a stove or other heating apparatus, if desired, instead
of permitting the whole of it to flow down through the pipe H to heat the liquid
in the tank.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
1. In a gas machine such as described the combination of the tank, the air pump
connected thereto and having its discharge near the top thereof, the standpipe
having its receiving end near the bottom of the tank and its upper end terminat-
ing in a vaporizing chamber, the hot air chamber secured upon the vaporizing
chamber and having branches to connect to the main supply pipe and pass the
gas to said pipe, the commingling tube or chamber within said air chamber, the
tube or funnel to receive air and gas, commingle them and pass them to the
supply pipe, the initial burner below the vaporizing chamber, and suitable valves

page_text: such as shown to control the flow of gas to the initial burner and from the vapor-
izing chamber.
2. In a gas machine the combination of the gasoline tank, the standpipe
centrally secured therein, having its receiving end near the bottom of the tank,
its upper end terminating in a vaporizing chamber, said vaporizing chamber,
a float controlled valve within said standpipe, the initial and subflame box sleeved
over said standpipe below the vaporizing chamber, the filler tube passing through
the top of the tank near the side wall thereof and extending down into the tank,
the air pump connected to the side of the tank and having its discharge near the
top thereof, the supply valve for the initial burner connected to the filler tube and
having at the forward end of its case a slotted tube communicating with the initial
burner, the air inlet sleeved over the slotted end of said gas supply tube slotted
to register with the slots in the tube and connected to the stem of the needle valve
to admit air simultaneously with the opening of said valve to the initial burner,
a similar valve, air inlet and tube between the subflame box and vaporizing
chamber, a hot air chamber secured upon said chamber and having upwardly
projecting branches to connect with supply pipes for the building and convey the
commingled gases from the air supply tube and vaporizing chamber to said pipes,
the air supply tube within said chamber, leaving a jacketed space between it and
the walls of the hot air chamber, and a valve to control the supply of gases from
the vaporizing chamber to the commingling tube, substantially as shown and
described.
3. In a gas machine the combination of the tank, the standpipe secured therein
having its supply end near the bottom of the tank, a vaporizing chamber on the
upper end of said standpipe, a float controlled valve within the standpipe, a sub-
flame box and initial burner above it having their tops perforated, said box and
burner being sleeved over the standpipe below the vaporizing chamber, the hot
air tube and commingling tube secured upon the vaporizer, the branches for con-
necting the commingling tube and hot air tube with the gas supply pipes for the
building, a needle valve and case communicating with the filler tube and the
initial burner, a similar tube having a controlling valve communicating with the
vaporizer and subflame burner, an air pump connected to the tank and having its
discharge above the lower end of the filler tube to force the gasoline over to the
initial burner or the vaporizer, a pipe from the vaporizer passing down into the
tank coiled around the standpipe and communicating with it above the float con-
trolled valve, a needle valve to control the supply of gas from the vaporizer to'
the commingling chamber, said valve stem having an angle arm for opening or
closing the valve, and an indicator below the angle arm of the valve stem to deter-
mine the amount of gas supply from the vaporizing chamber to the commingling
chamber, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1899
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE.
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents