Improvements in the method of and apparatus for
Year: 1889

page_text: I, WILLIAM JOHNSTON TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States of America, residing
at Chester, in the County of Morris, and State of New Jersoy, Motallurgist and Gas
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 :-
-
My invention relates to Improvements in the method of and apparatus for converting
solid fuel into gaseous fuel for hoating and other purposes.
Heretofore it has been practically impossible to run gas producers uninterruptedly
or to any reasonable capacity owing principally to the difficulties experiencod in
removing the accumulating non-combustible material therefrom and especially when
anthracite coal or culin was used as the fuel for generating the gas.
In the processes heretofore practiced for the gasifying of solid fuel it has boon
found difficult to maintain without excessive clinkering a solid fuel bed, that is, one
not porous or honey-combed, which gave an excess of carbonic acid in the gas; and
it has also been found difficult to avoid waste of the carbon through grates or other
similar appliances and excessive labor in the production of the gas.
The principal objects of my invention are first, to utilize anthracite coal, culin or
other fuel for the manufacture of gas and to fire the same upon a supported bed of
uon-combustible material extending into the furnace chamber to, at or above the air
or steam and air discharge; second, to ascertain with certainty the dividing line
between the non-combustible material and fuel being converted into gas; and third,
to discharge accumulating non-combustible material at intervals either uniformly or
more rapidly in one place than another from the said chainber, while the furnace is
in full operation.
My invention consists broadly in placing and maintaining a deep bed of non-
combustible material or ash under a bed of more or less incandescent fuel in a furnace,
and drawing or blasting air or steam or both into the fuel for its economical
conversion into gas.

page_text: My invention further consists of certain apparatus for firing fuel upon the bed of
non-combustible material supported therein on a bottom capable of rotation and to be
hereinafter particularly described.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated apparatus for the conduct of my
method of converting solid fuel into gas, in such forms, as I have found practically
efficient for the purpose; and in which
Figure 1, is a vertical central section through a brick-lined gas producer
embodying the features of my invention with a bottom supported in position therein
and revolved by mechanical means and the said botton supporting a bod of non-
combustible material extending into the combustion chamber of the producer to a point
at or above the air or steam and air discharge; and
Fig. 2, is a similar view of a furnace embodying the features of my invention, and
such as have designated as a water-cooled metallic gas producer and as in the
former view, provided with a bottom, upon which is mounted a bed of non-combustible
material supporting a charge of solid fuel; and showing also a central conduit
suitably supported in position and through which the air or steain and air passes and
is discharged radially into the non-combustible material and the fuel to be con-
verted into gas and said bottom provided with simple mechanical means, whereby
the non-combustible material accumulating may be discharged either continuously
or intermittently over the periphery of the bottom, while the making of gas is
going on.
Referring to the accompanying drawings A, is the brick foundation for supporting
the furnace. B, is a metal casing supported upon said brick foundation and forming
the ash-chamber of the furnace. In this casing is provided a door b, whereby access
may be had to said chamber for removing non-combustible material therefrom. C, is
a ring or plate mounted on the casing B, of the ash-chamber and provided with a
rim or flange c, around the periphery and with a rim or flange el, around the inner
edgo thereof as shown in fig. 1. D, is the main casing supported upon the flanged
ring C. E, is the brick lining or wall of the combustion chamber, which is separated
from the main casing D, by means of a ring e, and between the brick wall E, of the
combustion chambor and the main shell or casing D, is formed a chambor F, into
which is introduced loan or other heat retaining material.
Gand G, aro tubular peep apertures arranged at suitable distances apart and
extending through the main shell or casing D, and the brick lining or casing of the
combustion chamber E, and these tubes are provided with removable stoppers yandy',
whereby when withdrawn the dividing line between the ash or non-combustible
material and the fuel may be readily ascertained. H, represents one or more sleevos
extending through the casing of the ash-chamber B, and through which are inserted
scraping devices, provided with handles h. These scraping devices h, are held in
proper position by means of pins h, introduced through the sleeves H, and engaging
in openings provided in the said agitating or scraping devices h. These agitating or
scraping devices are provided for the purpose of causing the discharge of the non-
combustible material inore rapidly over the periphery of the bottom in one place than
another in case the non-combustible material accumulating siuks faster in ouo place
or part than another, which may be readily ascertained upon examinations made
through the sight apertures G and G₁, upon the withdrawal of the stoppers g and y',
therefrom.
Mounted on the casing or main shell 1), is a flanged plate k, made of cast or
wrought iron and arranged so as to form a receptacle for containing a supply of water
for cooling off the producer. L, is a feed hopper fitting into and held snugly up
against the exterior surface of a rim, formed preferably integral with the top-
platok. This feed hopper is provided with a bell, which is raised and lowered by
means of a chain l, passing over a pulley, and having a weight, attached thereto
or this bell may be operated in any other convenient mannor. In the top-plate k, of
the producor at suitable distances apart and preferably cast therewith are tubular
sight apertures m, provided with removable covers m³, and eyes m², whereby upon
the removal of the covers the upper portion of the producer may be examined for

page_text: whatever purpose may be desired. N, is the horizontal brick-lined gas off-take
located in the upper part of the furnace through which the gas is discharged for
utilization.
In the brick foundation A, is provided a chanuel J, through which the air or steam
and air under blast enters the producer. In the brick foundation A, is mounted a
base-plate j, with a central opening therein and on this plato is mounted a cap-
plato 3, which is secured thereto by means of bolts jt. The cap-plate ³, is preferably
provided with a threaded opening in which a vertical blast pipe J', is secured. This
blast pipe J, bas mounted thereon a collar 1, and which is held to place by means of
a set-screw. On the blast pipo J', is mounted a sleeve J2, having a flange or
ring 77. The sleeve J', extending into the combustion chamber of the furnace is held
in proper position on said pipe by means of the collar 7. Above the sleeve J, is a
deflecting-hood j³, which is supported in position by means of angle-bars 7º, secured
to the interior surfaces respectively of said hood and sleeve. This deflecting hood ja,
has an opening in the top thereof and above the same is a cap jo, which is held to
place by means of angle-bars ". On the flange or ring 77, of the sleeve J³, is
mounted a circular solid bottom I, which is rigidly secured to said ring or flange,
by means of bolts i and nuts i¹. This circular solid bottom made of suitable motul
may be provided with a narrow rim 12, around the periphery thereof, if desired, as
shown in fig. 1. On the under surface of the bottom I, is provided a rack, which
meshes with a cog-wheel , mounted on a horizontal shaft p. This shaft p, is held in
bearings in the transverse supporting bar p',secured to the casing of the ash chamber B.
The outer extremity of this shaft p, has attached to it a crank p², for actuating the
same and thereby causing the revolution of the bottom I, around and around for
breaking upeliukerand carrying the same with the other non-combustible materialover
the periphery of the bottom into the ash-chamber beneath, either continuously or
interimittently while the making of gas is going on.
In figure 2, is shown a modified form of apparatus for gasifying fuel in accordance
with any invention and which in this instanco I have designated as a water-cooled
producer, but the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof are substantially
the same as the apparatus airondy fully described and the same will be understood by
reference to the aunexed drawings.
It is important that the bottom I, of the producer should be so proportioned
diametrically to the throat of the combustion chamber of the producer and located at
such distance therefrom, as that the superimposed mass in said chamber may be
supported thereby, so that in the rotation of the bottom by means of the crank the
non-combustible material may be readily and quickly discharged over its periphory
into the ash-chamber beneath, while the producer is making gas and without inter-
ference therawith.
The mode of operation of the furnaco or producer of either types hereinabove
described, is as follows:-
-
The fuel is charged into the producer through the hopper L, and fired upon tho
bed of non-combustible material supported upon the bottom and when revolved, the
bed of non-combustible material divides into two separate bodies, that is, into a
revolving body being that body resting upon and maintained by the bottom 1, but
assuining the form of a cone with its own slope of descent and the other body being
a stationary one and extending from the surface of the combustion chamber to the
cone and assuming somewhat the form of a hood or dome, which is ground downward
by the direct or frictional contact of the revolving conical body therewith in such
manner as that the slope of descent is either uniform throughout or more rapidly in
one place thau another, over the periphery of the bottom into the ash-chamber beneath
under a back pressure. By this regularity in the discharge of the non-combustible
material the upper strata or column of solid fuel or that in a more or less state of
incandescence will sink downward and assume the position in said chamber previously
occupied by the accumulating non-combustible material.
According to my invention from the first firing of the producer the conversion of

page_text: the fuel into gas is practically continuous, because during the operation the attendant-
in-charge may by removing the stoppers from the peep holes G and G, readily
ascertain when to grind down the accumulating non-combustible material over the
bottom into the ash-chamber beneath.
The particular advantages of my invention are first, that the fuel which may consist
of anthracite buckwheat coal, culin or other material is thoroughly consumed and its
carbon utilized to the smallest fraction of a per cent., while in the making of gas by
the heretofore practised methods from ten to fifteen per cent.of the carbon has usually
been wasted in the ashes; and second, the quality of the gas is materially improved,
that is, its carbonic acid and nitrogen are kept more uniformly low.
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. The method of making gas, which consists in placing and maintaining a deep
bed of ash under a bed of incandescent fuel and blasting through the ash and fuel
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The method of making gas, which consists in placing and maintaining a deep
bed of non-combustible material under a bed of fuel and drawing or blasting air or
steam or both into the fuel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The method of making gas, which consists in placing and maintaining a deep
bed of non-combustible material under a bed of incandescent fuel and blasting through
the same and then discharging the accumulating non-combustible material,substan-
tially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. The method of making gas, which consists in placing and maintaining a body
of non-combustible material under a bed of fuel and blasting through the same and
then discharging the accumulating non-combustible material more rapidly in one place
than another, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. The herein described gas generator or producer provided with a bottom capable
of rotation, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6. A gas generator or producer constructed and arranged as hereinbefore described
with a solid bottom and means for revolving said bottom, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
Datad this Sixtounth day of Wahmury AD 1880
Witnesses:
LOUIS HERMANN BORMANN,
THOMAS MILLER SMITH.
WILLIAM JOHNSTON TAYLOR.