IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF GASES FROM AQUEOUS VAPOUR, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO HEATING PURPOSES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Harrison Blair, of Kearsley, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturing Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PRODUCTION OF GASES FROM AQUEOUS VAPOUR, AND IN THE APPLICATION
THEREOF TO HEATING PURPOSES."
Sealed the 9th January 1866, and dated the 12th July 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Harrison Blair at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
July 1865.
I, HARRISON BLAIR, of Kearsley, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturing
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF GASES FROM AQUEOUS VAPOUR, AND IN THE APPLICATION
THEREOF TO HEATING PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object the production of combustible gases from
aqueous vapour, which gases may be used for providing domestic fires or for
other purposes where heat is required.
In carrying out my Invention steam mixed with atmospheric air is forced
by means of a steam jet or other means through ignited coke or coal in an air-
tight furnace. The steam in its passage is decomposed into combustible gases
by the ignited carbon, whilst the air causes the ignition to be maintained, and
the pressure provided by the steam jet or other means as aforesaid enables
the gases so produced to be distributed through mains or into any desired
receptacle. When coal is used for the decomposition of the aqueous vapour,

page_text: a small jet of steam or steam mingled with. air is forced into the upper part
of the furnace, and proceeds along with the hot gases produced as above
described through a passage in contact with brick or other surfaces, which
being kept at a red heat, the steam or steam mingled with air is acted upon
by the sublimed carbon evolved from the coal, being thereby decomposed into
combustible gases, whilst smoke is partially or entirely prevented.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Harrison Blair in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th January 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HARRISON
BLAIR, of Kearsley, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturing Chemist, send
greeting.
.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Harrison Blair, Her special license that I, the said Harrison
Blair, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Harrison Blair, my 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 PRODUCTION OF GASES FROM AQUEOUS VAPOUR, AND IN
THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO HEATING PURPOSES," upon the condition, amongst
others, that I, the said Harrison Blair, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, 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. Harrison Blair, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawing (that is to say):-
.
My Invention has for its object the economical production of combustible

page_text: gas from aqueous vapour, and which 'may be used for the heating of dwelling
houses, or for manufacturing' or other purposes' where heat is required;' and
consists in producing such gas by forcing a mixture of aqueous vapour and
atmospheric air through a fire of coke or coal, whereby the said vapour
becomes' decomposed.
The apparatus to be' employed in carrying out my Invention may be
varied in form; but I will for the purpose of illustration describe an arrange-
ment' suitable for the purpose. The Drawing represents the furnace in vertical
section. The brickwork' is shewn'at a, and the fire-bars at 6 the ashpit c is
provided on one side with a door d, which may be closed at pleasure, and on
the other side is a pipe e'extending through the brickwork. This pipe is closed
at its outward end; and the cover carries a smaller pipè f, leading from'a steam
boiler and which extends into the larger pipe e, and terminates in a jet; at g
is a damper or valve,, which may be opened or closed so as to admit more or
less air into the pipe e; at h is an opening through which the charge of fuel is
introduced, and which is provided with a lid i capable of being tightly closed;
at k is a door, which may be opened for the introduction of an instrument to
rake up the fire, and at 2 is the passage. for the escape of the evolved gas. This
passage is provided with intersecting fire-bricks leaving "pigeon hole" spaces
for the gas to pass through, and the whole furnace is inclosed in an air-tight
casing. The method of operating is as follows:-The fire-place m must first
be filled with ignited coke, the air damper 9 and other apertures being open
until thorough ignition of the whole mass of coke is effected, then the feed
pipe h may be filled up with small coal, and subsequently closed air-tight; all
the other lids or doors excepting the damper 9 are also to be secured; steam
is now turned on to the pipe f, and issuing as a jet into the larger pipe e,
carries with it the atmospheric air, which passes through the damper g, and
passes onward into the ashpit c, from whence the mixed steam and air are
forced through the fire-bars 6 and iguited coke. The admission of air must
be regulated by the damper g, so as only to provide for the maintainance of
ignition. In its passage through the furnace the steam is decomposed by the
ignited carbon, and as the resulting gases pass out of the furnace through the
passage, the intersecting bricks having become highly heated cause the
evolved carbon from the small coal to reduce any steam or carbonic acid
which may have escaped through the furnace, the products being hydrogen,
carburetted bydrogen, carbonic oxide, and nitrogen, with perhaps a small
quantity of evolved carbon. If found requisite a jet of steam may be introduced
at the upper part of the furnace to assist the combustion of smoke. The
passage may lead direct to a smelting furnace or other apparatus in which
2

page_text: heat is required, or be in connection with mains leading to, any desired situa
tions. For heating by means of stoves, or, open fires for domestic, or other
purposes, the gas. may be conducted to holders, of ordinary construction, and
be supplied as is usual with ordinary gas.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire, it to be understood
that I claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters. Patent,
the production of combustible gases by forcing a mixture of vapour of water
and atmospheric air through a fire of coke or coal, and the use of such gases
for heating purposes...
In witness, whereof, I,. the said. Harrison Blair, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.::
HARRISON BLAIR: (L.B.)