provements in and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas, suitable for Use in Gas Engines or for Heating Purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1894-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SIMULTIATION
Improvements in and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas, suitable
for Use in Gas Engines or for Heating Purposes.
1, CHARLES WILLIAM PINKNEY, of 77 Raglan Road, Smethwick, in the
County of Stafford, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide apparatus whereby gas suitable for use
in gas engines or for heating purposes can be produced economically and with
facility and of even quality.
My said invention relates to the class of apparatus wherein superheated. steam
and air are forced through heated carbonaceous matter so that the steam is decom-
posed and takes up carbon from the said fuel.
Hitherto considerable difficulty has been experienced in obtaining an even quality
of gas owing to considerable variation in the proportion of the component gases
constituting the gas produced and it is the principal object of my invention to
obviate this difficulty.
I have found that in order to obtain a good result it is necessary to provide a
practically constant depth of fuel in the furnace and also to ensure the proper
heating of the fuel before the gases come in contact therewith inside the generator
and to uniformly heat the steam and air as they pass to the generator containing
the said fuel.
According to my invention I provide the generator for containing the fuel with
a hopper or supply opening for the supply of the fuel at the side of the upper part
of the generator and with an outlet for the produced gases at the opposite side of
the upper part of the generator with a deflecting block or deflecting blocks between
the said hopper or supply opening and the outlet for the produced gases or equiva-
lent means for separating the inlet for fuel from the outlet for the produced gases.
I can then keep the hopper and passage into the generator and the generator itself
filled with fuel without detriment to the production of gas in the generator and the
attendant can readily ascertain and control the depth of the fire in the generator as
the hopper valve (which may be of the ordinary kind and be operated in the
ordinary way) will when opened depress or touch the fuel underneath and so indicate
the depth of fire; the hopper being kept charged with fuel. The deflecting block
or blocks or its or their equivalent wil cause the green fuel to pass down into the
generator gradually or in proper proportion to the consumption of fuel the said
green fuel being raised in temperature on its way down to the lower part of the
said block or blocks or the like it afterwards and when in an incandescent or nearly
incandescent state, occupying the portion of the generator across the outlet for
produced gases the depth of fuel between the fire grate below and the outlet above
through which depth of fuel the steam and air pass being thus kept constant and
the carbon is thereby prevented from being carried off in an imperfect condition or
as an imperfect gas. The hopper and the passage therefrom into the generator are
of such a length that the green fuel is dried and heated before it comes in contact
with the incandescent fuel and the steam which results from this drying of damp
green fuel may escape through an opening at the top of the hopper. It is necessary
to ensure good results, to maintain a constant or practically constant pressure of
steam from the boiler as if the pressure and consequently the temperature
diminishes, it will take a proportionately longer time for the heated fuel in the

page_text: generator to decompose the steam and consequently leave too little time for the
resultant gases to properly mix with the carbon inside the generator and the conse
quence is imperfectly made gas. I have also found that when the steam comes in
contact with the air which is supplied therewith to support combustion in the
generator even although the said air be somewhat heated the steam is reduced in
temperature which is likewise an objection. To obviate these objections, I cause
the steam to pass on its way from the boiler to the steam jet in the blower box
through an automatic regulating or reducing valve box fitted with a piston having
a conical projection which acts as a valve controlling an opening through which the
steam passes to the blower box. The piston slides in a portion of the valve box
which acts as a cylinder therefor the said piston having a stem which passes
through an adjusting nut or cover screwed into the said part which constitutes the
cylinder a spring being placed between the said nut and the piston. When steam
enters the valve box between the piston and the opening to the blower box con-
trolled by the aforesaid conical valve the said steam moves the piston compressing
the spring and causing the conical valve to contract the area of opening for steam to
pass to the blower box. Thus when the pressure of the steam from the boiler rises,
the conical valve will effect the requisite reduction of pressure and if the pressure
of the steam from the boiler falls the spring will act on the piston to cause the
conical valve to increase the area of the opening for steam to the blower box and so
the pressure of steam passing to the blower box is kept practically constant. The
adjusting nut or cover by compressing the spring will permit the valve to be set to
the working pressure desired. The steam before it reaches the blowing jet passes
through a U-pipe or coil inside the outlet pipe for the gases from the generator and
as the said U-pipe or coil is kept at a high temperature by the said gases the steam
is thus heated to an extent to compensate for the cooling effect of the air at the
blower box. The air can also be heated by causing it to pass over any of the
heated surfaces of the apparatus on its way to the blower box. After the steam and
air meet at the steam jet in the blower box they pass through a pipe and along a
passage which may be formed in or against the outlet passage for the gases from the
generator so that the said steam and air are considerably raised in temperature
thereby and they then pass preferably around the said outlet passage and into a pipe
or passage which is kept at a high temperature by the incandescent fuel in the
generator and which pipe or passage leads the mixture of steam and air so super-
heated beneath the grate of the generator where it diffuses and passes into the
incandescent fuel and becomes decomposed and passes with the carbon taken up
from the fuel out from the generator through suitable coolers and scrubbers or the
like and thence to the place of storage or utilization.
The outlet pipe or passage from the generator may be provided with a pipe or
chimney controlled by a valve which is opened when the said pipe or chimney is to
be used as a blow off or in getting up heat initially in the generator.
Dated this 27th day of February 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas, suitable
for Use in Gas Engines or for Heating Purposes.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM PINKNEY of 77 Raglan Road, Smethwick in the
County of Stafford, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to provide apparatus whereby gas suitable for use

page_text: in gas engines or for heating purposes can be produced economically and with
facility, and of even quality.
My said invention relates to the class of apparatus wherein superheated steam
and air are forced through heated carbonaceous matter so that the steam is
decomposed and takes up carbon from the said fuel.
Hitherto considerable difficulty has been experienced in obtaining an even quality
of gas owing to considerable variation in the proportions of the component gases
constituting the gas produced and it is the principal object of my invention to
obviate this difficulty.
I have found that in order to obtain a good result it is necessary to provide a
practically constant depth of fuel in the furnace and also to ensure the proper
heating of the fuel before the gases come in contact therewith inside the generator
and to uniformly heat the steam and air as they pass to the generator containing
the said fuel.
In an apparatus arranged according to my invention I provide the generator for
containing the fuel with a hopper or supply opening for the supply of the fuel at
the side of the upper part of the generator and with an outlet for the produced
gases at the opposite side of the upper part of the generator with a deflecting block
or deflecting blocks between the said hopper or supply opening and the outlet for
the produced gases or equivalent means for separating the inlet for fuel from the
outlet for the produced gases. I can then keep the hopper and passage into the
generator and the generator itself filled with fuel without detriment to the produc-
tion of gas in the generator and the attendant can readily ascertain and control the
depth of the fire in the generator as the hopper valve (which may be of the ordinary
kind and be operated in the ordinary way) will when opened depress or touch the
fuel underueath and so indicate the depth of fire, the hopper being kept charged
with fuel. The deflecting block or blocks or its or their equivalent will cause the
green fuel to pass down into the generator gradually or in proper proportion to the
consumption of fuel the said green fuel being raised in temperature on its way down
to the lower part of the said block or blocks or the like, it (afterwards and when in
an incandescent or nearly incandescent state) occupying the portion of the generator
across the outlet for produced gases, the depth of fuel between the fire grate below
and the outlet above, through which depth of fuel the steam and air pass being thus
kept constant and the carbon is thereby prevented from being carried off in an
imperfect condition or as an imperfect gas. The hopper and the passage there-
from into the generator are of such a length that the green fuel is dried and
heated before it comes in contact with the incandescent fuel and the steam
which results from this drying of damp green fuel may escape through an
opening at the top of the hopper. It is necessary, to ensure good results,
to maintain 8 constant
the boiler as if the pressure and consequently the temperature diminishes, it will
take a proportionately longer time for the heated fuel in the generator to decompose
the steam and consequently leave too little time for the resultant gases to properly
mix with the carbon inside the generator and the consequence is imperfectly made
I have also found that when the steam comes in contact with the air which is
supplied therewith to support combustion in the generator even although the said
air be somewhat heated the steam is reduced in temperature which is likewise an
objection. To obviate these objections I cause the steam to pass on its way from
the boiler to the steam jet in the blower box through an automatic regulating or
reducing valve box fitted with a piston having a conical projection which acts as a
valve controlling an opening through which the steam passes to the blower box.
The piston slides in a portion of the valve box which acts as a cylinder therefor,
the said piston having a stem which passes through an adjusting nut or cover
screwed into the said part which constitutes the cylinder a spring being placed
between the said nut and the piston.. When steam enters the valve box between
the piston and the opening to the blower box controlled by the aforesaid conical
valve the said steam moves the piston compressing the spring and causing the
gaɛ.
or practically constant pressure of
steam from

page_text: conical valve to contract the area of opening for steam to pass to the blower box.
Thus when the pressure of the steam from the boiler rises, the conical valve will
effect the requisite reduction of pressure and if the pressure of the steam from the
boiler falls the spring will act on the piston to cause the conical valve to increase
the area of the opening for steam to the blower box and so the pressure of steam
passing to the blower box is kept practically constant. The adjusting nut or cover
by compressing the spring will permit the valve to be set to the working pressure
desired. The steam before it reaches the blowing jet passes through a U pipe or
coil inside the outlet pipe for the gases from the generator and as the said U pipe.
or coil is kept at a high temperature by the said gases the steam is thus heated to
an extent to compensate for the cooling effect of the air at the blower box. The
air can also be heated by causing it to pass over any of the heated surfaces of the
apparatus on its way to the blower box. After the steam and air meet at the steam
jet in the blower box they pass through a pipe and along a passage which may be
formed in or against the outlet passage for the gases from the generator so that the
said steam and air are considerably raised in temperature thereby and they then
pass preferably around the said outlet passage and into a pipe or passage which is
kept at a high temperature by the incandescent fuel in the generator and which pipe
or passage leads the mixture of steam and air so superheated beneath the grate of
the generator where it diffuses and passes into the incandescent fuel and becomes
decomposed and passes with the carbon taken up from the fuel out from the
generator through suitable coolers and scrubbers or the like and thence to the
place of storage or utilization.
The outlet pipe or passage from the generator may be provided with a pipe or
chimney controlled by a valve which is opened when the said pipe or chimney is to
be used as a blow-off or in getting up heat initially in the generator.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the
several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the drawings represents in longitudinal vertical section apparatus
constructed according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 1-2 and Figure 3 is a transverse
section on the line 3-4 through the passages for gas from, and steam and air to,
the generator.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation drawn to a larger scale of an automatic
regulating or reducing valve for controlling the admission of steam to the generator.
The generator consists of an outer casing A containing or lined with fire brick or the
like B and provided at the lower end with a grating or fire bars C upon which the
fuel D is supported. A hopper E is provided at the upper end of the generator
by which the fuel is fed thereinto, the said hopper being arranged near one side of
the top of the generator whilst the outlet F for the generated gas is arranged near
the opposite side of the top of the said generator. A depending block or partition G
is provided between the inlet for the fuel and the outlet for the gas, the said
depending block forming between it and one side of the interior of the generator an
elongated passage H through which the fresh or green fuel pásses into the generator
the said fresh or green fuel thus becoming heated and dried or brought to a suitable
condition to enter the generator without detriment to the production of gas in the
said generator. The hopper E is provided with a valve I operated by a weighted
lever J which valve when opened will depress or touch the fuel beneath and so
indicate the depth of fuel in the generator and when the generator requires to be
fed. In order that the fuel may be thoroughly dried and heated to the desired
temperature before coming into contact with the incandescent fuel and gas in the
generator, the hopper should not be allowed to be entirely emptied before being
recharged. The vapours due to moisture in the green fuel may be allowed to
escape through an opening in the hopper or in the lid or cover thereof.
In order to obtain a good quality of gas by the decomposition of steam it is

page_text: necessary that the steam be admitted to the incandescent fuel in the generator at a
uniform or practically uniform pressure and at a high temperature. The pipe K
by which the steam is conducted from a steam generator passes in the form of a
coil K through the gas outlet F and terminates in a steam jet in a blower box L
between which blower box and the coil K³ the pipe K is provided with an automatic
regulating valve M shewn drawn to a larger scale in Figure 4. This regulating
valve consists of a piston N having a conical or tapered projection or valve
which controls a passage n through which the steam passes to the nozzle and
blower box.
:.
The piston N is fitted to slide in a chamber P in the valve box and is provided
with a stem Q passing through a hole or passage in an adjusting nut or plug R.
screwed into the chamber P behind the piston N a spring S being interposed
between the said piston and the plug R so that by screwing the plug more or less
into the chamber the spring S will be more or less compressed so that the valve O
may be set to the working pressure of steam required.
The steam entering the valve box by the passage T moves the piston so as to
more or less compress the spring S according to the pressure of the steam and so
causes the valve O to close more or less the passage n for the steam to the blower
box L thus the pressure of steam entering the blower box is maintained practically
constant.
The steam passing through the jet in the blower box induces a current of air
which tends to cool the steam but as the steam passes through the coil K* in the
gas outlet before reaching the blower box it is heated to a sufficiently high
temperature to compensate for the cooling effect of the air.
The mixture of steam and air passes from the blower box through a passage U
in the gas outlet F into an annular passage V communicating with a passage W
passing down through the brickwork B of the generator C. The mixture of steam.
and air in passing through the passages U, V and W becomes superheated and.
enters a chamber W' beneath the fire bars C in which chamber the said mixture of
air and steam diffuses and passes thence into and up through the incandescent fuel
in the generator whereby the steam is decomposed into its constituent gases and the
air gives up its oxygen and nitrogen. The gas thus produced passes with the carbon
taken up from the fuel through the outlet F and may be conducted thence through
any suitable cooling apparatus such for example as that shewn at X and therefrom
through a scrubber or through scrubbers such as that shewn at Y and thence to a
gas holder or place of utilization. Z is a pipe in connection with the gas outlet.
passage F and fitted with a valve z which may be opened when it is required to use
this pipe or passage as a blow-off or for getting up heat initially in the generator
the valve being closed when the apparatus is at work producing gas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.―
1. In the manufacture of gas, heating a mixture of air and steam by means of
the heat of the producer substantially as herein described and then passing it up.
through a charge of incandescent fuel in the producer the said mixture of air and
steam so heated being caused to take a path clear of incoming damp or green fuel
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In apparatus for the manufacture of gas as described a producer having a.
supply hopper and inlet for fuel therefrom into the producer arranged for drying
the fuel and an outlet for produced gas at top of the said producer with a separator
between the inlet for fuel and the outlet for gas in combination with passages
arranged as described for heating a mixture of air and steam on its passage there-
through to the producer substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In apparatus for the manufacture of gas as described a steam pipe from
the generator situated, or in part situated in the outlet for the produced gases and
then continued through a regulating valve to a steam jet with an inlet for air and

page_text: a pipe or passage for the mixed steam and air the said pipe or passage passing
through the producer or its lining to the inlet for the mixed steam and air to the
producer substantially as herein before described.
4. The combination of parts constituting apparatus for the manufacture of gas
the said apparatus being constructed or arranged substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of November 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.