Improvements in Apparatus for the Generation of Oxygen Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 22nd Apr.,
1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Generation of Oxygen Gas.
I, WILLIAM BLACKIE, of 1, Denman Street, London Bridge, in the County of
London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improved portable apparatus for the generation of
oxygen gas for use with the oxy-hydrogen lime light, and for other purposes.
In carrying out my invention I employ a case fitted with a gas bag the top of
which forms a platform made hollow to hold water, the weight of which gives the
necessary pressure to the oxygen in the bag. Guides are provided to keep the
platform level as it rises and falls when the oxygen is admitted to or drawn from
the bag. Upon this platform is mounted a hollow central pillar fitted with a
swivel head to which are fixed a number of radial tubes or retorts capable of
revolving gas tight around the central pillar and at a sufficient height to allow
of a heating lamp being placed under them. By this rotary movement the
retorts are brought successively over the heating lamp.
The retorts are constructed of a thin cylindrical outer casing, enclosing a
small tube arranged axially thereon. The ends of the casing are closed by
discs, one of which is fixed on the central tube, and the other loose, the whole
being tightened up by means of a cap screwed on the end of the tube adjacent to
the loose disc. Asbestos rings may be employed to make the joints. The usual
oxygen mixture of chlorate of potash and manganese is used for generating the
gas, but this mixture is pressed into annular cakes which fit around the internal
tubes of the retorts. By unscrewing the single screw cap at the end of the retort,
the spent cakes can be removed, and the retort charged afresh by the introduction
of another cake, after which the retort sealed by the screw cap. The whole
operation of discharging and re-charging the retorts can be performed very
quickly. The gas generated in the retorts escapes through perforations in the
central tube, and passes into the hollow vertical pillar about which the retorts
turn, and thence through the hollow platform where the gas is cooled by contact
with the water. Some of the gas passes direct to the jet, and the surplus finds
its way into the gas bag. In case more oxygen is formed than the bag will hold,
the platform rises until a relief valve therein is brought against an abutment
which opens the valve and allows the excess of gas to escape. When a further
supply of gas is required a fresh retort is brought into position over the heating
lamp, and so on until the contents of all the retorts are spent. A hood guards
the flame of the heating lamp and also fixes the retort under operation, in posi-
tion, by dropping between flanges of the plate fixed on the heating lamp, the
hood having to be taken off and replaced each time the retorts are moved. The
central pillar unscrews at the base for convenience of packing and to allow of
filling the hollow platform with water.
The construction of the retorts and their rotary movement about the central
Dillar form the chief features of my invention. In some instances I provide for

page_text: moving the lamp along the retort to effectually heat the whole of the surface
of the latter. The construction of the oxygen yielding cakes in the form of
annular rings is also very important as it facilitates the decomposition of the
cakes.
In a modification of my invention, I use one retort only constructed as above
described, but of a larger pattern, and I arrange it with a capability of sliding
horizontally through a holder, to bring the various parts of it successively over
the heating lamp. I charge this retort with a number of short annular cakes of
oxygen yielding material, separated by cupped or other suitable washers form-
ing an air space to prevent the transmission of heat from one to the other, and
the consequent firing of the cakes prematurely. As soon as each cake is spent, the
retort is moved by hand to bring another cake over the lamp.
GEORGE HARRISON,
35, Therapia Road, Honor Oak, London,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Appзratus for the Generation of Uxygen Gas.
WILLIAM BLACKIE, of 1, Denman Street, London Bridge, in the County of
London, Engineer, 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 statement; -
This invention relates to improved portable apparatus for the generation of
oxygen gas for use with the oxy-hydrogen lime light and for other purposes.
In carrying out my invention I employ a case fitted with a gas bag the top of
which forms a platform made hollow to hold water, the weight of which gives the
necessary pressure to the oxygen in the bag. Guides are provided to keep the
platform level as it rises and falls when the oxygen is admitted to or drawn from
the bag. Upon this platform is mounted a hollow central pillar fitted with a
swivel head to which are fixed a number of radial tubes or retorts capable of
revolving gas tight around the central pillar and at a sufficient height to allow
of a heating lamp being placed under them. By this rotary movement the
retorts are brought successively over the heating lamp.
The retorts are constructed of a thin cylindrical outer casing, enclosing a
small tube arranged axially thereon. The ends of the casing are closed by
discs, one of which is fixed on the central tube, and the other is loose, the whole
being tightened up by means of a cap screwed on the end of the tube adjacent to
the loose disc. Asbestos rings may be employed to make the joints. The usual
oxygen mixture of chlorate of potash and manganese is used for generating the
gas, but this mixture is pressed into annular cakes which fit around the internal
tubes of the retorts. By unscrewing the single screw cap at the end of the retort,
the spent cake can be removed and the retort charged afresh by the introduction
of another cake, after which the retort is sealed by the screw cap. The whole
operation of discharging and recharging the retorts can be performed very
quickly. The gas generated in the retorts escapes through perforations in the
central tube and passes into the hollow vertical pillar about which the retorts
turn, and thence through the hollow platform where the gas is cooled by contact
with the water. Some of the gas passes direct to the jet, and the surplus finds
its way into the gas bag. In case more oxygen is formed than the bag will hold,
the platform rises until a relief valve therein is brought against an abutment

page_text: which opens the valve and allows the excess of gas to escape. When a further
upply of gas is required a fresh retort is brought into position over the heating
amp and so on until the contents of all the retorts are spent. A hood guards
he flame of the heating lamp and also fixes the retort under operation, in posi-
ion, by dropping between Hanges of the plate fixed on the heating lamp, the
hood having to be taken off and replaced each time the retorts are moved. The
central pillar unscrews at the base for convenience of packing and to allow of
filling the hollow platform with water.
The construction of the retorts and their rotary movement about the central
pillar form the chief features of my invention. In some instances I provide for
moving the lamp along the retort to effectually heat the whole of the surface
of the latter. The construction of the oxygen yielding cakes in the form of
annular rings is also very important as it facilitates the decomposition of the
cakes.
In a modification of my invention, I use one retort only constructed as above
described, but of larger pattern, and I arrange it with a capability of sliding
horizontally through a holder to bring the various parts of it successively over
the heating lamp. I charge this retort with a number of short annular cakes of
oxygen yielding material separated by cupped or other suitable washers form-
ing an air space to prevent the transmission of heat from one to the other and
the consequent firing of the cakes prematurely. As soon as each cake is spent the
retort is moved by hand to bring another cake over the lamp.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I have represented an
apparatus constructed in accordance therewith in the accompanying drawings
of which.
Figure 1 is a view from left hand corner with part removed of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of one of the retorts.
Figure 4 is a view of one of the annular cakes of oxygen yielding substance.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a larger size retort showing one method
of forming air spaces between the cakes of oxygen yielding substance.
Like letters of reference denote similar parts throughout the figures.
C is a case for enclosing the apparatus and serving as a packing box therefor:
part of the box is removed to show the expansible gas bag B for storing the
generated gas. r, r, are retorts connected to the central hexagon socket, which
revolves gastight, forming the swivel head S of the central pillar p, supported
on the hollow platform P, which in its turn is supported by the partly inflated
gas bag B. The weight of this apparatus on the gas bag gives a certain pressure
to the contained gas, but for most purposes a higher pressure is required, this
can be obtained by charging the hollow platform P with water. Attached to the
case C are upright guides g, g, for the purpose of guiding by the friction
wheels w, w, the upper part of the apparatus in its ascent and descent when
is the heating lamp capable of a move-
the gas bag is being filled or emptied.
ment along the slides S¹ over which one of the retorts is placed.
The gas generated in the retort directly over the heating lamp escapes through
a perforation in the swivel head S into the hollow central pillar p onto the
surface of the
contained in the hollow platform P
water
thence up
the valve pillar p¹ by the inlet i to the gas bag and the outlet o, to the limelight
jet. In case of there being more gas generated after the gas bag B is full it
0 is liberated by the relief valve v coming in contact with the abutment a by the
rise of the hollow platform P.
The passage for the gas in the central pillar does not pass down into the
water but ends at its base and the hollow platform P is only charged with water
up to the dotted line Figure 1, so allowing a passage for the gas over its surface,
5 and the surface being large condenses any vapour and absorbs any impurities the
gas may contain, without any fear of the water being forced into the retort by
the back pressure of the gas in the bag, as it is likely to be in the ordinary

page_text: way of washing gas. Suitable partitions may be fixed in the hollow platform,
so making the gas take a sinuous direction and keeping it longer in contact with
the water.
Only the retort directly over the heating lamp is open to the passage in the
central pillar, so allowing any of the other retorts to be opened if necessary for
the insertion of a new cake, when the apparatus is at work, without the gas
escaping. When the cake in the retort directly over the lamp is spent, the next
retort to it is brought to its place over the lamp.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of one of the retorts shewing the method of
closing the ends; one end of the retort tube containing the cake is in contact with
the asbestos ring in the fixed cape the other end being in contact with the
asbestos ring in the loose cap c¹ so that the act of tightening the screw cap cll on
the stay tube t makes a gas tight joint by pressing its cone into the seating Sat
the same time tightening up the joint at each end of retort tube. The holes h, h,
are for the generated gas to pass into the stay tube and so into the central pillar p
Figure 5 shows a larger, size retort containing a number of cakes, ünder each
cake a heating lamp could successively pass, so as to decompose one cake at a
time, the cakes being kept apart by the cupped distance washers d, so forming
an air space, the confined air being a bad conductor of heat, prevents more than
the cake directly over the lamp from being decomposed. In some instances 'in
lieu of the distance washers projections on the central tube might be used; or
the cakes might be placed in a carrier with projections before being placed in the
retort, so keeping them a distance apart.
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. An apparatus for continuously generating oxygen gas by enclosing cakes
of oxygen yielding substance in retorts revolving round a centre and successively
bringing them over a heating lamp, substantially as described.
2. A modification of the said apparatus wherein I employ a heating lamp
moving in the direction of the length of the retort being heated, in conjunction
with the radial motion of the retorts, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
3. In a retort for the generation of oxygen gas containing more than one cake
of oxygen yielding substance, the use of distance pieces forming an air space
between the cakes substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. The use of passing the oxygen gas over the surface of the water for the
purpose specified.
5. In the generation of oxygen gas the employment of cakes of oxygen yielding
substance of annular cross section substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. The combination with the generating retorts of the stay tubes and the
conical screw caps c¹ for the purpose specified.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts forming an apparatus for the
generation of oxygen gas constructed substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of January 1899: