IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Knapton, of Albion Foundry, Monkbar, in
the City of York, and Adam Aitchison, of Knottingley, in the County of
York. for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Knapton and Adam
Aitchison at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 5th July 1859.
We, WILLIAM KNAPTON, of Albion Foundry, Monkbar, in the City of York,
and ADAM AITCHISON, of Knottingley, in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
GAS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in manufacturing gas from materials comparatively
valueless with more speed than heretofore, and at a nominal cost. We pro-
pose effecting our object in the following manner :-Into suitable retorts we
place bark knots or the refuse bark of the tan pits, or the bark of other
trees, or the produce of oak and other trees, shipwrights' wood chips, turners'
chips, or other such like chippings of timber, the same being previously
thoroughly dried (either in the sun or in a suitably constructed. kiln) before
entering the retorts. The chips or bark knots are then treated in a similar
manner to the coal in the manufacture of coal gas, but producing a pure
hydrogen gas without the unpleasant smell arising from the coal.

page_text: In order to give the gas so produced the greatest amount of illuminating
power, we propose passing it through spirit of naptha, camphine, or other
suitable spirit that will give it the required brilliancy.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Knapton and Adam Aitchison in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 5th January 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
KNAPTON, of Albion Foundry, in the City of York, and ADAM AITCHISON, of
Knottingley, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
William Knapton and Adam Aitchison Her special licence that we, the said
William Knapton and Adam Aitchison, our executors, adininistrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said William Knapton and Adam Aitchison,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
PACTURE OF GAS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
William Knapton and Adam Aitchison, our executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the
hand and seal of one of us or them, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Adam Aitchison, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
Our Invention consists in manufacturing gas from materials comparatively
valueless with more speed than heretofore and at a nominal cost, a small
apparatus only being required to manufacture large quantities.

page_text: In order to explain our said Invention as completely as possible, we now
proceed to describe the best means we are acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect as follows:-
Into suitable retorts we place bark knots, or the refuse bark of the tan pits,
or the bark of other trees, or the produce of oak and other trees, shipwright's
wood chips, turners' chips, or other such like chippings of timber waste from
saw pits, such as sawdust and other refuse, the refuse of timber felled and
sawn on gentlemen's estates, the saine being previously thoroughly dried (either
in the sun or in a suitably constructed kiln) before entering the retorts.
The chips, dust, or bark knots are then treated in a similar manner to the
coal in the manufacture of coal gas, but producing a pure hydrogen gas with
nearly the same illuminating power as coal, without the unpleasant smell
arising from the coal, there being no dirt, &c.; it is very easily manufactured.
In order to give the gas so produced the greatest amount of illuminating
power, we pass it over or through spirit of naptha, camphine, or other suitable
spirit, that will give it the required illuminating power, and which gives out a
much more brilliant light than coal gas.
Having now fully described the nature and object of our said Invention of
Improvements in the Manufacture of Gas," together with the manner in
which the same is to be performed, we would remark in conclusion that we do
not confine or restrict ourselves to the precise description of timber waste
before mentioned, as almost any timber or the produce thereof would give
the same results; but what we claim as our Invention is the manufacture of
gas from the refuse of timber chips or dust, bark knots, and the like, the
same being previously dried in the manner and for the purpose herein fully
described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adam Aitchison, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Twentieth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
0
Witness,
HENRY WARD,
Aldwark, York.
ADAM AITCHISON. (L.S.)