IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CARBURETTING ATMOSPHERIC AIR
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George William Weatherhogg, Mechanical Engineer, of
Grummont Road, Camberwell, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CARBURETTING ATMOSPHERIC AIR."
Sealed the 20th October 1877, and dated the 26th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George William Weatherhogg
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th April 1877.
GEORGE WILLIAM WEATHERHOGG, Mechanical Engineer, of Grummont Road,
Camberwell, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CAR-
BURETTING ATMOSPHERIC AIR."
My Invention relates to improvements in the construction of those types of
carburetting machines in which atmospheric air is forced through a light hydro-
carbon liquid, preferably gasoline, by means of volute drums or other analagous
mixers, whereby the air becomes impregnated and mixed with the vapour arising
from the hydrocarbon by the combination of which is obtained an illuminating
gaseous body capable of producing a flame of great brilliancy for lighting and
heating purposes.
My objects are,―
1st. To produce uniformity of quality in the gas produced.
2nd. To obviate the difficulties hitherto experienced in air gas machines resulting
from condensation in the service pipes.
3rd. To maintain a uniform and constant pressure at the burners, both when the
machine is working to its full capacity and with one light only.
And, 4th. To obtain an illuminating power in the light produced by the com-
bustion of carburetted air, that hitherto has not been equalled except by the calcium
or electric light.
The apparatus consists in part of a cylindrical vessel made of metal or other
suitable material with closed ends, divided by an air-tight partition into two seperate
chambers; also a third vessel which forms a reservoir for the hydrocarbon liquid;
one of these cylindrical chambers is the mixing and the other the carburetting
chamber. In the partition dividing these two chambers is fitted a stationary
perforated tube communicating with each chamber,

page_text: A second communication is also made between the two chambers by means of a
small bent tube leading through the bottom of each chamber. Through this latter
opening the liquid flows from the mixing into the carburetting chamber.
I also fix a third pipe and stop-cock, communicating with the central stationary
tube and carburetting chamber, through which passes uncarburetted air amongst
the hydrocarbon vapour previous to its entering the regulator for the purpose of
diluting the vapour when too rich in hydrocarbon. Upon the perforated tube are
placed revolving drums of the volute form, which are set so as to work with their
openings opposite to each other, and are connected together by a driving shaft
revolving within the stationary tube. The drums are open on their peripheries
and centres, and are fitted with cotton or other capillary substance through which
the air passes; the one in the mixing chamber is the air forcing drum, and the one
in the carburetting chamber is the air-distributing drum. To the outer end of the
forcing drum is secured a small spur pinion gearing into a larger wheel which is
keyed upon the driving shaft, the latter working through a stuffing box in one end
cover of the machine.
The spur gearing is preferably placed within the machine, but the internal
driving shaft may pass direct through the outer end cover and be connected direct
to the motive power.
In either arrangement upon the outer end of the driving shaft is placed a winding
drum, operated by cords and weights of the usual construction for driving such
machines; or where water power is available I prefer to connect the driving shaft
to a small overshot or turbinate water wheel; in the latter arrangement I regulate
the water supply by the gas regulator herein-after more fully explained. The
cylindrical vessel forming the mixing and carburetting chamber is placed over the
reservoir, the upper part of which surrounds the cylinder and forms an air-tight
casing, the whole standing upon a metal base or other suitable framing. From the
lower part of the reservoir are two tubes which pass through into the mixing
chamber, the height of which determines and maintains the liquid at one constant
level in the mixing and carburetting chambers. The liquid is first poured into the
reservoir through a suitable opening in the casing, and flows up the tubes into the
two chambers until the tops of the tubes are reached, after which the machine may
be said to be charged and the openings closed ready for work.
In order to maintain the liquid at the same uniform level when the machine is
in motion, so as to obtain a constant uniformity of quality in the gas produced, I
raise the liquid from the reservoir through one of the tubes by means of a small
elevator, pump, or other equivalent device, which may be driven from the mixing
and forcing drum or other internal gearing of the machine; any excess of liquid
which may be raised, more than what the machine consumes, will fall back through
one of the tubes into the reservoir. By this method of constantly elevating and
mixing the liquid I am enabled to use up all the heavier portions of the material,
and so render the machine more economical than could be otherwise attained.
In some instances, where it is necessary to store a large quantity of the liquid,
instead of combining the reservoir and cylinder together, as described, I place them
seperate. The cylinder standing on its own supports, the reservoir being formed
of stone or other materials, underneath the ground, communicating with the mixing
chamber by the pipes and elevating apparatus, as before described.
The apparatus further consists of an improved gas regulator and drying apparatus,
by the combination of which the gas passes over or through a tray of drying
materials, such as lime, or sawdust steeped in sulpheric acid, or their equivalents,
by which the moisture is extracted from the gas previous to its entering the service.
pipes, drip cocks being provided for letting out the condensed water and other
residue.
This apparatus may either be placed upon the cylinder or be placed seperate,,
having a pipe leading from the carburetting chamber into the drying chamber, but
preferably the former arrangement, and consists of a cylindrical water-tight vessel
with an open top, having a double side or wall, within which is placed an inverted

page_text: cylinder with the top end closed; this cylinder floats in the wall space which is
filled with oil, glycerine, or other non-corrosive liquid. To the floating cylinder
is secured by a small rod a light rubber valve, which works in a tube upon a
seating in the centre of the cylinder, through which the gas passes when first leaving
the carburetter. By these means the gas is both purified and dried, and conden-
sation prevented. Upon the mixing chamber is placed a light vacuum valve, which
admits the air as required when the machine is in operation. When I use water as
a propelling power I connect the cock of the service pipe to the top of the gas
regulator by a lever, which so governs the admission of water upon the wheel as to
regulate the speed of the apparatus in accordance with the quantity of gas required
to be generated.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-When the lights are turned on, the
motive power is set in motion, which creates a vacuum in the mixing chamber, and
which raises the air admission valve sufficient to admit atmospheric air in the pro-
portions, as required. The volute drum in the mixing chamber then forces the air
through the central stationary tube into the volute distributing drum in the car-
buretting chamber, and which distributes the air equally amongst the hydrocarbon
liquid, after which it rises in the form of gaseous vapour and is thence conveyed
over the drying materials, and filling the gas regulating chamber, is thence conveyed
into the service pipe, as required; any excess of pressure will cause the regulator
to rise and close the admission pipe by the action of the rubber valve. Thus, under
all variations of pressure, which would increase or decrease, according to the number
of lights, the proper quantity of air would enter the mixing chamber and the gas be
generated and regulated with unerring certainty in accordance with the variation
of the number of lights in use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George William Weatherhogg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th October 1877.
GEORGE WILLIAM WEATHERHOGG, Mechanical Engineer, of Grummont Road,
Camberwell, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CAR-
BURETTING ATMOSPHERIC AIR."
My Invention relates to insprovements in the construction of those types of car-
buretting machines in which atmospheric air is forced through a light hydrocarbon
liquid, preferably gasoline, by means of volute drums or other analagous mixers,
whereby the air becomes impregnated and mixed with the vapour arising from
the hydrocarbon, by the combination of which is obtained an illuminating gaseous
body capable of producing a flame of great brilliancy for lighting and heating
purposes.
My objects are,―
1st. To produce uniformity of quality in the gas produced.
2nd. To obviate the difficulties hitherto experienced in air gas machines resulting
from condensation in the service pipes.
3rd. To maintain a uniform and constant pressure at the burners, both when the
machine is working to its full capacity and with one light only.
And, 4th. To obtain an illuminating power in the light produced by the com-
bustion of carburetted air that hitherto has not been equalled except by the calcium
or electric light.
Referring to the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 shows a section of the apparatus,
Fig. 2, cross section on line A, B, of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a section of the two
drums, the air-forcing and mixing drum being in full lines, and the air-distributing
drum in dotted lines; and Fig. 4, a modification of the Invention, as hereafter
described.

page_text: The apparatus consists in part of a cylindrical vessel A made of metal or other
suitable material, with closed ends B, B, divided by an air-tight partition C into
two separate chambers D & E; also a third vessel F, which forms a reservoir for
the hydrcarbon liquid. One of these cylindrical chambers D is the mixing, and the
other E the carburetting chamber. In the partition C dividing these two chambers
is fitted a stationary perforated tube G communicating with each chamber. By
this arrangement of a fixed tube I overcome the difficulty hitherto experienced in
having a gas-tight joint to maintain in the said partition.
A second communication is also made between the two chambers by means of a
small bent tube H leading through the bottom of each chamber, or the partition C
may be perforated, as shewn in Fig. 4. Through this tube or opening the liquid
flows from the mixing into the carburetting chamber.
I also fix a third pipe and stop-cock, communicating with the central stationary
tube and carburetting chamber, through which passes uncarburetted air amongst
the hydrocarbon vapour previous to its entering the regulator, for the purpose of
diluting the vapour when too rich in hydrocarbon; or instead of having this third
pipe the partition C may be made double, enclosing an air chamber, or a passage
may be cast or formed in it for the passage of air, with a regulating cock worked
from the outside of the casing, as shewn in Fig. 4. Upon the perforated tube G are
placed revolving drums of the volute form J & K (see Fig. 3), which are set so as
to work with their openings opposite to each other, and are connected together by a
driving shaft revolving within the stationary tube. The drums are open on their
peripheries and centres, and are filled with cotton, or other capillary substance,
through which the air passes. The one in the mixing chamber 1 is the air forcing
drum, and the one in the carburetting chamber E is the air distributing drum. To
the outer end of the forcing drum is secured a small spur pinion gearing into a
larger wheel which is keyed upon the driving shaft, the latter working through a
stuffing box in one of the covers of the machine.
The spur gearing is preferably placed within the machine, but the internal
driving shaft may pass direct through the outer end cover and be connected direct
to the motive power, as shewn in the modification, Fig. 4.
In the modification, shewn in Fig. 4, also, instead of the fixed tube being per-
forated, I make it short and conical at both ends, the drums revolving on the cones
and being kept in place by set screws fitted at the respective ends of the drum axes.
In this Figure is shewn a modified form of casing in two parts, with solid ends and
fixed tube and partition C in one piece.
In either arrangement upon the outer end of the driving shaft is placed a winding
drum or other gearing operated by cords and weights of the usual construction for
driving such machines, or where water power is available I prefer to connect the
driving shaft to a small overshot or turbinate water wheel; in the latter arrange-
ment I regulate the water supply by the gas regulator herein-after more fully
explained. The cylindrical vessel forming the mixing and carburetting chambers
is placed over the reservoir F, the upper part of which is shewn as surrounding the
said cylindrical vessel and forming an air-tight casing, the whole standing upon a
metal base or other suitable framing. From the lower part of the reservoir are two
tubes M & N, which pass through into the mixing chamber, the height of which
determines and maintains the liquid at one constant level in the mixing and
carburetting chambers. The liquid is first poured into the reservoir through a
suitable opening in the casing, and flows up the tubes into the two chambers until
the tops of the tubes are reached, after which the machine may be said to be charged
and the openings closed, ready for work.
In order to maintain the liquid at the same uniform level when the machine is in
motion, so as to obtain a constant uniformity of quality in the gas produced, I raise
the liquid from the reservoir through one of the tubes by means of a small elevator O
or other equivalent device which may be driven from the mixing and forcing drum
axis, or the spindle connecting the two drums, as shewn in Fig. 1, or other internal
gearing of the machine; any excess of liquid which may be raised more than that

page_text: which the machine consumes will fall back through one of the tubes into the
reservoir, the dotted lines shewing the end of the liquid. By this method of
constantly elevating and mixing the liquid I am enabled to use up all the heavier
portions of the material, and so render the machine more economical than could be
otherwise attained.
In some instances where it is necessary to store a large quantity of the liquid
instead of combining the reservoir and cylinder together as described, I place them
seperately, as shewn in modification, Fig. 4. The cylinder standing on its own
supports (the reservoir being formed of stone), or other materials, underneath the
ground, communicating with the mixing chamber by the pipes and elevating
apparatus, as before described.
°
The apparatus further consists of an improved gas regulator and drying apparatus P,
in which the gas passes over or through a tray of drying materials Q, such as lime
or sawdust steeped in sulphuric acid, or their equivalents, by which the moisture
is extracted from the gas previous to its entering the service pipes, drips cocks
being provided for letting out the condenced water and other residue.
This apparatus may either be placed upon the cylinder, or be placed separately,
having a pipe leading from the carburetting chamber into the drying chamber,
but preferably the former arrangement, and consists of a cylindrical water-tight
vessel R, with an open top, having a double side or wall, within which is placed
an inverted cylinder S with the top end closed, as in an ordinary gas regulator;
this cylinder floats in the wall space, which is filled with oil, glycerine, or other
non-corrosive liquid. To the floating cylinder is secured by a small rod a light
valve which works in a tubė, upon a seating in the centre of the cylinder,
through which the gas passes when first leaving the carburetter. By these
means the gas is both purified and dried, and condensation prevented. Upon
the mixing chamber is placed a light vacuum valve; which admits the air as
required when the machine is in operation, and completely stops its passage,
and thus prevents evaporation of the material, when the machine is standing.
In connection with this valve I sometimes place a small pair of double-action
bellows worked from the drum spindle for the purpose of compressing the air
supplied to the forcing drum to any required extent, but not directly for
driving the said air through the liquid, this having already been done in other
forms of apparatus. When I use water as a propelling power I connect the cock of
the service pipe to the top of the gas regulator by a lever, which so governs the
admission of water upon the motor wheel as to regulate the speed of the apparatus
in accordance with the quantity of gas required to be generated.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-When the lights are turned on, the
motive power is set in motion by opening the burner taps, which creates a vacuum
in the mixing chamber, and which raises the air admission valve sufficient to admit
atmospheric air in the proportions required. The volute drum in the mixing
chamber then forces the air through the central stationary tube into the volute
distributing drum in the carburetting chamber, and which distributes the air
equally amongst the hydrocarbon liquid, after which it rises in the form of gaseous
vapour, and is thence conveyed over the drying materials, and, filling the gas
regulating chamber, and is thence conveyed into the service pipes, as required; any
excess of pressure will cause the regulator to rise and close the admission pipe by the
action of the valve attached to it. Thus, under all variations of pressure which
would increase or decrease according to the number of lights, the proper quantity
of air would enter the mixing chamber, and the gas be generated and regulated
with unerring certainty in accordance with the variations of the number of lights
in use.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
operating the same, it will be evident that the precise forms herein illustrated may
be somewhat modified without departing from the merits of the Invention, but I
would have it understood that what I claim is,―
(1.) Two volute drums, the volutes of which are set in opposite directions, one

page_text: being the air forcing, and the other the carburetting drum, as and for the purpose
set forth.
(2.) A fixed tube made either perforated or conical, in combination with an air
forcing drum, as and for the purpose set forth.
(3.) Combination of the air vacuum valve and bellows for the compression of the
air supplied to the air-forcing drum in the mixing chamber, as herein described.
(4.) Separation of reservoir for the fluid from the machine, and connected together
by tubes and apparatus for elevating the liquid, as herein described and illustrated
in the Drawings.
(5.) The combination of a regulator with internal tray, containing drying materials, 1
when used in combination with a carburetting machine, for the objects described
and set forth.
(6.) The special form of cylindrical vessel or outer casing and partition plate with
centre tube, as shewn in Fig. 4, when used for the purpose described.
(7.) The combination of elevating apparatus with a cylindrical vessel containing 1
air forcing and distributing drums having a liquid reservoir, as shewn and for the
purpose set forth.
(8.) Combination of the central stationary tube with an air chamber or diluting
pipe, as herein illustrated and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George William Weatherhogg, have hereuntos
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our
Lord 1877.
G. W. WEATHERHOGG. (L.S.)