COMBINING APPARATUS USED FOR REGULATING, ADJUSTING, AND INDICATING THE SUPPLY AND FLOW OF HYDROCARBON AND OTHER GASES AND, VAPOURS, WITH IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE PERFECT CARBURATION AND PURIFICATION OF SUCH GASES AND VAPORS FOR ILLUMINATING AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE SAME
Year: 1864

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Atkins at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th December
1864.
I, THOMAS ATKINS, of 62, Fleet Street, in the City of London, and Belle
Vue House, Chepstow, in the County of Monmouth, Civil and Gas Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "COMBINING APPARATUS
USED FOR REGULATING, ADJUSTING, AND INDICATING THE SUPPLY AND FLOW OF
HYDROCARBON AND OTHER GASES AND, VAPOURS, WITH IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
EFFECTING THE PERFECT CARBURATION AND PURIFICATION OF SUCH GASES AND
VAPORS FOR ILLUMINATING AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE SAME," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its objects and use:-First, the combining and work-
ing, at one time and in conjunction, of apparatus for regulating, adjusting, and
indicating the supply and flow of gases and vapours, with improved apparatus
for carburetting such gases and vapours for illuminating and other purposes
by means of hydrocarbon oils, or other fluids of a like character, either in
gas mains, or apparatus, or pipes during the progress of such gases or vapours.
from the gas generator to the burner.
Second, the constructing of the apparatus employed consisting of one or
more vessels and cylinders made in metal, wood, or other material in such a

page_text: manner as when placed and secured shall offer abundant surface for evaporative
purposes, and be capable of being multiplied after the same plan to suit
apparatus of any larger capacity.
Third, the arrangement of one or more cones, moveable or otherwise, to
remain either stationary or to rotate, made of metal, glass, or wood, termed a
polarizer, so constructed and placed as to operate in diverting the course of
the gases or vapours, also by an agitating motion to equalize the quality of
the liquid used in the apparatus, and to effect a perfect saturation of the
gases and
vapours coming in contact with the exposed surfaces, which surfaces
may be composed of moulded carbon, perforated metal, wick cotton, wool, or
fibrous material, either separately or in combination.
Fourth, the introduction of ready means for charging, removing, cleansing,
and repairing both the internal and external portions of the apparatus with
safety and economy, also for securing the further efficiency of the apparatus
by means of an hydraulic dip joint lined with india-rubber, or other soft or
fibrous material, to prevent escape of the gases or vapours used therein when
the apparatus is in action or out of action.
Fifth, the adoption of philosophical self-acting and compensating con-
trivances attached either separately or combined to the apparatus for determining
the pressure, density, and specific gravity of the materials connected therc-
with to ensure economy and perfect combustion; also an arrangement for
passing the carburetted air or gas through a purifying medium before leaving
the apparatus.
Lastly, by introducing pneumatic and hydrostatic arrangements to cause a
regular diffusion of hydrocarbon oils or other fluids of a like character into s
and amongst gases or vapours stored or passing through gas mains or vessels
or apparatus connected therewith in any place or position.
The apparatus is constructed as follows, and consists of a tank made of
metal, wood, or glass, having an iron ring or rim of the same material in it,
and leaving a space between the inner rim and the tank filled with. water,
mercury, or other fluid forming a dip or hydraulic joint, in which works a
gasholder, inclosing gas or air, for the purpose of being carburetted, diffused,
and purified before passing to the burner. On the bottom of the gasholder
is constructed an air chamber, to buoy up the gasholder, and to be used if
desired in conjunction with the usual guide rods and rollers applicable to 3
gasholders generally.
The apparatus is intended to be attached to gas pipes and service pipes for
gas or air for illuminating purposes, and its situation. is not restricted, it
being alike applicable to gas works, mains, services, public and private lamps,

page_text: and ordinary gas burners. Before the gas or air to be carburetted can pass
into the apparatus it must pass through a regulating valve, and be subjected
to any desired pressure or speed, such pressure or speed being varied and con-
trolled by means of weights, balance levers, and beams, or compensating chains
and weights. After the gas or air is admitted it issues through one or more
conduits or pipes upwards into a bell-shaped space, and strikes against the metal
sides, which bell-shaped vessel is termed a polarizer. By these polarizers the
gas or air is driven down, and passes up between the polarizers and the dis-
tributing domes which are fixed over the inlet conduits and polarizers. As
these distributing domes are covered with a capillary substance, and are made
of perforated metal, the gas or air must necessarily pass through them, and it
is on passing through and over the surface of these domes the capillary substance
on which dips into and is soaked, or saturated, or charged with the carburetting
liquid that the gas or air becomes carburetted and improved. One leading prin-
ciple of the interior of the apparatus is to afford large surface to the passing gas
or air, and to give no other chance of escape for the gas or air unless through the
medium. The polarizing cones have arms or agitators on the bottom dipping
into the liquid, and by suspending the polarizers or poising them on centres
with obliquely formed channels on their sides to force the gas or air through;
these cones may be driven and made to rotate, by which the liquid is kept
stirred up by the agitators, and the more olefiant and denser particles of the
liquid kept exposed to the passing gas or air; this ensures better carburetting
than if the liquid were left without being stirred or agitated. The gas or air
after escaping from the domes enters the body of the chamber enclosed by the
gasholder, and before it can escape by the outlet pipe must of necessity pass
upwards through a perforated tray filled with a single purifying material for
removing non-illuminating products from gas or air, or through a combination
of such materials having the same object. By this time the gas or air has
been admitted to the apparatus under the controlling arrangement of the self-
acting gasholder and regulator has been carefully carburetted, and finally.
purified, and is then rendered fit for burning and use. The liquid used to
carburet the gas is either naptha, napthaline, benzol, carbolene, or any of
the well-known hydrocarbon oils, or spirits distilled therefrom, having for
their object the improvement of the quality of gas or air by super-charging
the same with illuminating properties, but of these I give the preference to
carefully prepared benzol, both for its richness and safety. The liquid is stored
in a separate vessel or vessels attached to and forming part and parcel of
the apparatus and Invention by means of a coupling joint and duplicate
cocks.

page_text: The mechanical and philosophical contrivances by means of which the
liquid flows into the apparatus in desired quantities, and at a specific speed,
embrace the well-known principle of the ordinary bird fountain which depends
upon a natural law in hydrostatics and pneumatics, for its action, namely, the
escape of a bubble of gas or air through the orifice of a pipe or conduit, leading
from a comparatively empty chamber, or a chamber filled with gas or air,
into a vessel containing fluid, to the exclusion of all air when filled, and the
rising of such bubble of gas or air through the fluid into the vacuum space
left between the surface of the fluid and the under side of the covering to the
vessel caused by the consumption of liquid used by the apparatus at work in
the chamber. The bubble of gas or air having arrived at the vacuum space,
acting with pneumatic pressure upon the whole surface of liquid, and forcing
just sufficient liquid out at the bottom pipe or conduit as to replenish that
which is consumed by the apparatus, and to seal the orifice until such times
as the level of the liquid again falls, and the rising of another bubble of gas
or air takes place to set free à second quantity of liquid, and so on ad
infinitum.
The contrivances alluded to also embrace the adoption of a self-acting ball-
cock and lever, or valve and lever, for shutting off and re-opening the supply
pipe to maintain the constant level, and regulating the quatity of liquid
supplied, which ball-cock or valve is fixed in the body of the apparatus, and
forms part and parcel thereof, and is kept in action by the continual rise and
fall of the level of the liquid in the apparatus itself to be used in conjunction
with the bird fountain arrangement or in lieu thereof.
I also have foreseen and invented an arrangement where one or more
floats or air chambers may be used to serve the same end, namely, main-
taining a constant level and supply of the carburetting liquid. The use of
the separate storage vessel or vessels with duplicate cocks enables an empty
vessel to be re-filled or re-placed by a full one without obstructing the working
of the apparatus or prejudicing the supply of gas or air, which are undoubted
advantages as regards convenience and safety. Where necessary, I fit a by-
pass pipe and cocks to admit of the whole of the apparatus being removed for
cleansing or repair still maintaining the supply of gas or air but in an
uncarburetted condition.
The second application of my Invention comprises and consists of an
apparatus for improving the quality of and carburetting gas proceeding
from a gas generating apparatus, either at gas works, or in street mains, or
service pipes. I take a cast or wrought iron closed cylinder, into which by a
force pump
for gas or air I force gas or air to any desired pressure, which is

page_text: indicated by guages and regulated by a safety valve. Through this cylinder I
insert a wrought-iron pipe perforated at top and bottom, the upper perfora-
tions serving as the inlet for compressed gas or air, the lower for the exit of the
carburetting liquid. I fill a portion of the cylinder with liquid by pouring it
in at the top with a funnel and stop-cock. This cylinder is attached at bottom
to a wrought or cast-iron taper pipe and box with flanches and bolts, screws,
or sockets to make the necessary connection to gas pipes or apparatus.
Leading directly from the bottom of the cylinder is a small pipe to carry the
liquid down; on the end of the pipe is a ball-cock and lever or valve, also
covering the orifice of the cock is a cone cap or jet perforated and placed
opposite the centre of the pipe conveying the uncarburetted gas.
To put the apparatus in action I pump the cylinder full of gas or air under
pressure, and turn on the liquid which descends and is forced out of the jet
in attenuated streams, and meets the gas flowing towards it, and so charges
or saturates the gas with the carburetting liquid. The superabundant quantity
of liquid which may at times be introduced or injected flowing down the taper
ends and sides of the junction piece into the box, and in so doing increases
and heightens the level of the liquid therein so as to raise the ball and lever
and shut off the supply from the cylinder. A governor and purifying apparatus
can be used herewith, also distributors.
I hold it to be essential in the carburetting of gas or air that the gas or
air be admitted only in specific quantities and at a regulated speed and
pressure, and that ample provision and facilities be given for storing and
replenishing the liquid used, all of which conditions are fulfilled and ensured
by the combined apparatus herein-mentioned and described.
I therefore claim more especially as my Invention,--
1st, the construction and use of combined apparatus in which gas or air
to be carburetted is first admitted by a regulator or governor.
Secondly, is increased in illuminating power by a process of carburetting.
Thirdly, is freed from non-illuminating products by purification.
And, lastly, the use of storage vessels as part of the apparatus for
replenishing the liquid without stopping the apparatus, together with all
appurtenant improvements and arrangements I employ for effecting the objects
described.