IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING GAS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Wilson, of Handsworth, in the County of
Stafford, Engineer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
MAKING GAS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Wilson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd October 1882.
ALFRED WILSON of Handsworth in the County of Stafford, Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING GAS
"
My invention relates to gas producers or apparatus for making gas wherein
a central tuyere is used in conjunction with a solid hearth, and with these I
combine mechanism for automatically removing ashes and other incombustiblo
residue from the apparatus.
One arrangement of mechanism for this purpose is constructed with screws
arranged above the solid hearth which is suitably formed for their reception and
is also provided with an extension having an inclined side, thus a chamber is
formed which is charged with water so that the screws are submerged; into this
water a plate is caused to dip or the chamber is equivalently constructed so as to
form a trap, and thus whilst the ashes and incombustible residue are forced up and
over the inclined side of the chamber, escape of gas or vapour from the producer
is prevented by the water.
To keep the particles of fuel &c., in a state of vibration, I in some cases impart
to the central tuyere rotary motion, thus the air or air and steam projected through
its lateral openings into the apparatus are well diffused amongst the fuel and descent
of the ashes and incombustible residue is prevented.
In some cases in order to break up for removal hard lumps that may be present
in the apparatus, I provide above the hearth a mill so constructed that the ashes
and residue have to pass through it on their way to the hearth and thus the
residue is reduced to a suitable condition for removal from the apparatus by the
automatic apparatus provided for that purpose.
A gas producer according to my invention may be fed by automatic or other
means.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd April
1883.
ALFRED WILSON of Handsworth, in the County of Stafford, Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING GAS."
My invention relates to gas producers or apparatus for making gas wherein
a central tuyere is used in conjunction with a solid hearth, and with these I
combine mechanism for automatically removing ashes and other incombustible
residue from the apparatus.
One arrangement of mechanism for this purpose is constructed with screws
arranged above the solid hearth which is suitably formed for their reception, and
is also provided with an extension having an inclined side; thus a chamber is
formed which is charged with water so that the screws are submerged; into this
water a plate is caused to dip, or the chamber is equivalently constructed so as to
form a trap, and thus whilst the ashes and incombustible residue are forced up and
over the inclined side of the chamber, escape of gas or vapour from the producer is
prevented by the water.
To more effectually diffuse blast of steam and air I in some cases impart rotary
motion to the central tuyere.
In some cases in order to break up for removal hard lumps that may be present
in the apparatus, I provide above the hearth a mill so constructed that the ashes
and residue have to pass through it on their way to the hearth, and thus the
residue is reduced to a suitable condition for removal from the apparatus by the
automatic apparatus provided for that purpose.
A gas producer according to my invention may be fed by automatic or other
means.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings shew a gas producer according to
my invention: Fig. 1 being a central vertical section; Fig. 2 an elevation, and
Fig. 3 a plan partly in section shewing the ash box and cleaning screws.
A is the hopper by which the fuel is fed into the producer, B is the solid hearth
with sides formning a box or chamber suitably shaped to receive screws C C, and
also provided with an extension having an inclined side constituting a spout D.
The box or chamber B' is charged with water so that the screws are subinerged,
into this water a plate is caused to dip, or the box or chamber is (as shewn)
equivalently constructed so as to form a trap; after the coal has been gasified the
ashes collect in the box B' in which the screws C C are revolved at the requisite
speed by means of gearing E as shewn, or by equivalent ineans, and force the ashes
up the inclined spout D whence they fall into a barrow, or other receptacle, the
water in B' forming a seal which prevents the escape of gas. An ordinary steam
blast (not shewn) is connected to the branch F of the blast box G and forces
the steam and air required for combustion up the central tuyere H and through
the ports I.
The tuyere H actuated by the worm K and worm wheel L revolves slowly,
thereby causing an equal distribution of blast through the incandescent fuel in
the chamber M. N is a door for cleaning out any ashes that may fall through the
ports I into the tuyere.
It will be evident that this apparatus may be provided with self-acting apparatus
for feeding fuel as described below.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are similar views of a gas producer such as just described, but
provided with a self acting feeding arrangement for supplying fuel, and also with

page_text: means for reducing incombustible residue to a suitable condition for removal from
the apparatus, and whereby this producer is made suitable for gasifying coal whose
ash is apt to cake into lumps too large to be carried away by the screws CC
A is the hopper by which the coal is fed into the producer in quantities regulated
automatically by the hollow valve A', to which a slow motion in a rotary sense is
imparted by a worm wheel A² fast on an axial projection A³ of the valve, this
wheel being driven by a worm A* that receives motion from any convenient source
through suitable gear as will be readily understood. P is a male conical crusher
fixed on the revolving tuyere H, and Q is a female crushing surface supported by
the hollow conical casing R secured to the annular base plate S. The action of
these male and female crushing devices is to reduce lumps or cakes to a convenient
size before they reach the cleaning screws C C. This arrangement is suited for
gasifying ashpit refuse collected in towns, as well as ordinary classes of fuel.
Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 shew a modified_arrangement of apparatus according to my
invention, Fig. 7 being an elevation, Fig. 8 a vertical section, Fig. 9 a plan, and
Fig. 10 sectional plan in line a b of Fig. 8 with the cone U removed.
A is the hopper by which coal is fed into the producer, B is the solid hearth
with annular walls B2 B3 forming an annular box or chamber B¹ through the
centre of which passes the tuyere H which is supported and guided at H and H³,
and has fast upon it, below the hearth B, a worm wheel L in gear with a worm K
on a shaft K¹ supported in bearings K2 and operated in any suitable manner, such
as by a hand wheel K³. The tuyere H is provided with a curtain or cap H' that
dips into the annular vessel formed by the hearth and its walls. To this cap or
curtain is secured a curved arm C formed with a blade C¹ and extending outward
and upward till it overlaps the wall B' where the end of the blade C¹ takes at C°
a vertical or approximately vertical shape, so as when in motion to throw over the
wall B any matter carried up by the part C¹.
When the producer requires cleaning the attendant turns the hand wheel K³,
the motion being transmitted to the tuyere H and arm C by means of the worm
and worm wheel, or this motion may be continuous from an engine. The arm C
being curved as shewn, as it revolves pushes the ashes in the annular box B'
outwards into the annular space between the wall B² and the cone U, and lifts
them over the edge of the wall B*
The cone U (which supports the fire brick lining V) and the annular box B' are
bolted to three columns W W W as shown. X is an outlet for the gas generated
within the producer. The lower part of the tuyere H is contracted inside to form
a throat for the steam blast. Y is the steam jet. Z Z are holes into which a bar
is inserted when the fuel in the producer requires stirring up. These holes are
stopped with plugs when not in use.
Having described the nature of my said invention and the manner of carrying
it into practical effect I would have it understood that what I consider to be
novel and original and therefore claim as secured to me under the Letters Patent
first herein before in part recited is :-
1. In a gas producer of the kind hereinabove referred to providing the solid
hearth with walls forming a box or chamber to receive incombustible refuse and
allow of its removal and to contain liquid thus also forming a trap or seal that
will prevent escape of gas substantially as described.
2. In a gas producer having a central tuyere the use in conjunction with a
solid hearth of means for automatically removing incombustible refuse there-from
substantially as described
3. In a gas producer the use in conjunction with apparatus for automatically
removing incombustible refuse of means for reducing residue to a suitable con-
dition for removal by such apparatus substantially as described.
4. In a gas producer the use of self acting apparatus for feeding fuel in
conjunction with means for automatically removing incombustible refuse from
the producer substantially as described.
5. The improved gas producer constructed arranged and operating as herein-

page_text: above described with reference to and illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the
drawings.
5. The improved gas producer constructed arranged and operating as herein-
above described with reference to and illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive of the
drawings.
7. The improved gas producer constructed arranged and operating as herein-
above described with reference to and illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive of the
drawings.
In Witness whereof I the said Alfred Wilson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Thirty first day of March in the year of our Lord, one
thousand, eight hundred and eighty three