IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND BURNING GASES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING COMBUSTIBLE GASES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Seddon Sutherland, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND BURNING GASES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR
GENERATING COMBUSTIBLE GASES."
Sealed the 1st November 1878, and dated the 20th August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Seddon Sutherland
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th August 1878.
WILLIAM SEDDON SUTHERLAND, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND BURNING
GASES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING COMBUSTIBLE GASES."
This Invention relates,-
First. To a novel method of purifying combustible gases, whether for heating or
illuminating purposes, generated in any well-known or desired manner, and to
apparatus employed in the said purification..
Second. To a novel method of burning gases for heating purposes, and apparatus.
therefor.
And, Third. To apparatus or appliances to be used in the generation of combustible
gases for heating purposes.
Under the first part, I purify heating or illuminating gases from tar, water, and
like impurities by allowing or causing the said gases to pass through pipes, tubes,
ways, passages, or the like, the walls or enclosing envelopes of which are perforated,
porous, or otherwise so constructed as to allow of the tar, water, or like impurities
passing, percolating, or oozing therethrough, whilst the gases pass onwards to any
desired place or places; a lower pressure is maintained outside the pipes, tubes,
ways, passages, or the like, than is exerted by the gases inside thereof, so that the
passage of the tar, water, or other impurities through the walls or envelopes of the

page_text: pipes,, tubes, ways, passages, or the like may be assisted by the difference of
pressure.
Apparatus or appliances for carrying the above first part of my Invention into
effect are to be constructed as follows:-A series of boxes or chambers placed one
above another have a number of wire gauze tubes passing therethrough from top to
bottom. The gases to be purified enter the wire gauze tubes at the bottom, and
pass away at the top. As the gases pass through the wire gauze tubes, the tar,
water, and other impurities collect on the wire gauze and fill up the meshes, so as to
close up the openings. As soon as this effect is produced, a cock or valve, or cocks
or valves, is or are opened, so as to allow of a reduction of pressure taking place in
the chambers surrounding the wire gauze tubes. The tar, water, and other impuri-
ties then commence to flow through the meshes, and the action is continued as long
as the gases pass through the wire gauze tubes. Care should be taken that the
difference in pressure is not so great as to cause the tar and impurities to be forced
through the meshes; so as to leave them open and allow the gases to pass through ;
a difference of about inch water pressure is usually sufficient.
The tubes through which the gases pass may be made of perforated sheet iron,
canvas, or other material which will allow the impurities to pass through. The
containing chambers may be the full length of the tubes, or may be divided by
diaphragms. The tubes may be placed in an inclined or horizontal position, and if
the pressure of the gases in the tubes is less than atmospheric pressure, the interior
of the chambers may be connected with apparatus for producing a partial
vacuum.
Under the second part of my Invention,-
(a.) I cause mixed combustible gases and air, or air and combustible gases, in thin
streams side by side to enter, and the products of combustion to leave a furnace in
such manner that the heated gases and products of combustion shall pass away in
:contact with the entering mixed combustible gases and air, or air and combustible
gases, in thin streams side by side, so as to heat such gases previous to eombustion.
(b.) I cause the mixed combustible gases and air, or air and combustible gases, in
thin streams side by side, to enter a furnace at the side in such manner that they
shall have an involute course, and pass off at the centre of the furnace. In this way
the entering gases take up heat being radiated from the centre of the furnace, and
carry it back to the centre.
(c.) I cause the mixed combustible gases and air, or combustible gases and air in
thin streams or layers side by side, to enter a furnace at the bottom in such manner
that they shall pass upwards through the molten metal or other matter to be heated.
In this way the gases burn inside the metal or other matter to be heated, and give
'out heat to the same in a most advantageous manner.
In carrying the above part of my Invention into effect,-
(a.) I make a furnace elliptical in cross section, and cause the mixed combustible
gases and air, or air and combustible gases in layers, to enter such furnace by a way
or passage at one side, travel along the top of the furnace, curve round the other
end, travel backwards over the hearth, and finally pass off at the same side of the
furnace as the entering gases, through a way or passage situated directly beneath
the inlet way or passage, and only separated therefrom by a thin diaphragm.
(b.) I construct a furnace of a circular form, and cause the mixed gases and air to
enter through a way or passage opening into the furnace circumferentially, so that
the gases and air shall travel round the furnace until they reach the centre, whence
they are led to a chimney or flue.
(c.) I construct a furnace working on trunnions like an ordinary converter, and
adapt to the bottom of such furnace an opening or openings, passage or passages,
surrounded by water boxes, or cooled by jets of cold water or air, or by other means.
The opening or openings, passage or passages, are lined with fire-clay. The com-
bustible gases and air are conveyed to the said furnace through a flexible pipe or
flexible pipes, or other means may be used. The forward inotion of, the gases must

page_text: necessarily, to prevent explosion, be greater than would be the back travel of the
flame. To prevent any damage resulting from explosion, I fit the pipe conveying
the gases to the furnace with a valve or diaphragm, which will open or be blown
out should an explosion take place.
Under the third part of my Invention, I construct a generator for generating
carbonic oxide gas from the imperfect combustion of carbonaceous matter for
heating purposes in the following inanner :—The generator is built of brick or suit-
able material, and is formed with a cylindrical chamber having a conical bottom.
The top of the chamber is provided with a central tube or opening through which
the combustible gases generated are led away, and around which there is a series of
feed openings for fuel. The conical bottom is fitted with a plug or valve, by
removing or opening which the refuse can be removed from the combustion chamber.
An air or gas inover or compressor is used to cause the gases produced to pass off
through the central opening to the container or desired place.

page_text: ATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters.Patent filed by
the said William Seddon Sutherland in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th February 1879.
WILLIAM SEDDON SUTHERLAND, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND BURNING
GASES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING COMBUSTIBLE GASES."
☐ This Invention relates,―
First. To a novel method of purifying combustible gases, whether for heating or
illuminating purposes, generated in any well-known or desired manner, and to
apparatus employed in the said purification.
Second. To a novel method of burning gases for heating purposes, and apparatus
therefor.
And, Third. To apparatus or appliances to be used in the generation of combustible
gases for heating purposes.
Under the first part, I purify heating or illuminating gases from tar, water, and
like impurities, by allowing or causing the said gases to pass through pipes, tubes,
ways, passages, or the like, the walls or enclosing envelopes of which are perforated,
porous, or otherwise so constructed as to allow of the tar, water, or like impurities
passing, percolating, or oozing therethrough, whilst the gases pass onwards to any
desired place or places; a lower pressure is maintained outside the pipes, tubes,
ways, passages, or the like, than is exerted by the gases inside thereof, so that the
passage of the tar, water, or other impurities through the walls or envelopes of the
pipes, tubes, ways, passages, or the like may be assisted by the difference of
pressure.
In Fig. 1 there is shown in connection with generating apparatus appliances for
purifying heating gases; under the first part of my Invention, the same or like
appliances may be used for purifying illuminating gases. A series of chambers or
boxes 1 are placed one above the other, and have a number of wire gauze tubes 2
passing therethrough; 3, inlet, through which the gases to be purified enter the lowest
box or chamber, and pass thence upwards through the wire gauze tubes 2 into
the top box or chamber, whence they are carried away purified through the
way 4.
Fig. 2 shows in detail part of one of the wire gauze tubes and boxes, or chambers;
5 is the bottom of the box or chamber, provided with ferrules or nipples 6, around
which the wire gauze tubes 2 fit. The tar and water mixed with the gases collect
on the surfaces of the wire gauze tubes, and fill up the meshes, so as to close-the
openings. A cock or valve 7 (Fig. 1) attached to pipes 8, communicating with the
chambers 1, is opened, so as to allow the pressure on the outside of the wire gauze
tubes to be reduced. The tar, water, and other impurities then flow through the
meshes, and are carried away through the pipes 8; this action is continued as long
as the gases pass through the wire gauze tubes. Care should be taken that the
difference of pressure is not so great as to cause the tar and impurities to be forced
through the meshes, so as to leave them open, and allow the gases to pass through;
n difference of about inch of water is usually sufficient to ensure efficient action.
If desired, a rotary or vibrating motion may be given to the gases whilst passing
through the tubes.
The tubes through which the gases pass may be made of perforated sheet iron,
canvas, or other material which will allow the impurities to pass through. The
containing chambers may be the full length of the tubes, or may be divided by
diaphragms. The tubes may be placed in an inclined or horizontal position, and
if the pressure of the gases in the tubes is less than atmospheric pressure, the
interior of the chambers may be connected with apparatus for producing a partial
vacuum,
Under the second part of my Invention,-
(a.) I cause mixed combustible gases and air, or air and combustible gases in thin !

page_text: streams side by side, to enter, and the products of combustion to leave a furnace in
such manner that the heated gases and products of combustion shall pass away in
contact with the entering mixed combustible gases and air, or air and combustible
gases in thin streams side by side, so as to heat such gases previous to combustion.
(b.) I cause the mixed combustible gases and air, or air and combustible gases in
thin streams side by side, to enter a furnace at the side in such manner that they
shall have an involute course and pass off at the centre of the furnace. In this way
the entering gases take up heat, being radiated from the centre of the furnace, and
carry it back to the centre.
(c.) I cause the mixed combustible gases and air, or combustible gases and air in
thin streams or layers, side by side, to enter a furnace at the bottom in such
manner that they shall pass upwards through the molten metal or other matter to
be heated. In this way the gases burn inside the metal or other matter to be
heated, and give out heat to the same in a most advantageous manner.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view, illustrative of a way of carrying part (a) of the above
second head of my Invention into effect; 9 is the furnace, made eliptical in cross
section; 10 is an opening at one side near the top, through which the mixed com-
bustible gases and air enter such furnace, travel along the top, curve round, travel
backwards over the hearth 11, and finally leave the said furnace at the opening 12,
beneath the inlet opening. If desired, a diaphragm may separate the inlet and
outlet oponings.
Fig. 4 is a plan view, illustrative of a way of carrying part (b) of the above
second head of my Invention into effect; 13 is the furnace made circular in shape.
The mixed combustible gases and air enter such furnace circumferentially by the
opening 14, and travel round the furnace until they reach the centre, when they
pass away by the chimney or flue 15.
Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation, illustrative of part (c) of the above second head
of my Invention; here the mixed combustible gases and air enter the furnace at
the bottom, and pass through the molten metal or other matter to be heated. In
this case the openings 16 should be in the form of a long narrow slit or slits, all in
line and parallel to the axis of the furnace, and heated or cooled by water jets or
other means.
Under the third part of my Invention, I construct a generator for generating
carbonic oxide gas from the imperfect combustion of carbonaceous matter for heating
purposes in the following manner:-Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, illustrative of a
generator for carbonic oxide gas, constructed under the above third part of my
Invention; 17, cylindrical chamber, built of brick, and having the conical bottom 18;
19, central opening, through which the gases generated are led to the condenser 20
and purifiers 1; 21, ring of feed openings surrounding the central opening 19; 22,
plug or valve, past which refuse is removed from the combustion chamber; 23,
injector for drawing the gases through the central opening 19, and forcing them
through the condenser and purifier to the container or desired place; 24 are openings
through which air is drawn to mix with the combustible gases.
In connection with apparatus or appliance as above described it is advisable to
use the diaphragm or valve 25, Fig. 1, to prevent the flame passing backwards to
the container or elsewhere, should the forward motion of the gases not be greater
than the back travel of the said flame. Such diaphrams or valves are placed at a
point or points where the ways or passages through which the mixed combustible
gases and air are travelling have a sudden bend. The flame, in travelling backwards,
causes the said diaphragm or valve to be blown out, and does not pass round the
corner past the diaphragm or valve.
It will be obvious that the shapes and details of the various improvements above
described may be varied without departing from my Invention.
Having now described and illustrated the said Invention in such manner that
others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I claim,-
First. Purifying heating or illuminating gases from tar, water, and like impurities,
substantially in the manner set forth under the first head,

page_text: Second. Apparatus or appliances for purifying, heating, and illuminating gases,
constructed and arranged substantially as set forth under the first head, and illus
trated by Figs. 1 and 2.
Third. The improvements, substantially as set forth under the second head.
Fourth. The construction of the furnaces, substantially as described under the
second head, and illustrated by Figs. 3, 4, and 5.
Fifth. The generator for carbonic oxide gas, constructed substantially as set forth
under the third head, and illustrated by Fig. 1.
Sixth. The diaphragm or valve 25, constructed and operating substantially in the
manner and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Seddon Sutherland, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Eighteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
WILLIAM SEDDON SUTHERLAND. (L.S.)