MANUFACTURE OF ILLUMINATING OR HEATING GAS AND APPARATUS THERE
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention for "MANUFACTURE
OF ILLUMINATING OR HEATING GAS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR a communication
from John Hanlon of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in-and by the following statement :——
This invention relates to the manufacture of illuminating and heating gas; and
more particularly concerns that process and apparatus in which steam is decomposed
and bituminous or soft coal is distilled in the same cupola generating furnace; in
which hydrocarbon oil is vaporized either in the generator or in a connected fixing
chamber which is heated by the waste gaseous products of combustion of the fuol
in the generating chamber; and in which the resulting gases and vapors are
combined and converted into a fixed gas in the heated fixing chamber.
The object of the invention is to improve the manufacture of illuminating gas by
so conducting the oporation as to effect a great economy in the use of hydrocarbon
liquid by which the gas is carburetted, that is, to prevent destructive decomposition
or reduction to lamp black or solid carbon and consequent waste of the hydrocarbons
which impart the illuminating quality to gas.
Another object is to improve the apparatus in such manner as to better preserve
the grate bars from the destructive action of steam and hot gases; to simplify and
improve the coal charging apparatus;-and to provide a superheater so constructed
and provided with discharge pipes and valves that the carburetted gas may be
discharged immediately upon being fixed whereby injuriously long exposure of the
hydrocarbons to a large body of heated refractory material is avoided and gas of
more uniform quality and candle power is produced.
This invention will now bo described in connection with the accompanying
drawings in which Figure 1 represents a vertical cross section through the two
generating and steam superheating chambers on the line a-, Fig. 5.
[Price AdJI

page_text: Fig, 2. represents a vertical longitudinal section through one of the gonerating and
steam superheating chambers, the fixing chamber, the coal charger, the hydraulic
seal box, and the connecting pipes, on the line y. y. Fig 5.
Fig. 3. represents a front elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 4. represents a rear elevation with the seal box and a dip pipe in section.
Fig. 5 represents a plan view with the top of one steam superheating chamber
and of the coal charger removed.
Fig. 6. represents a vertical transverse section of a valve and its connections, and
means for maintaining a practically constant temperature constructed according to
this invention.
Fig 7. represents an elevation partly in section showing the valve and its casing
without the surrounding reservoir.
Fig. 8 reprosents a section on line × ×.
The subject matter covered by these last three figures is not claimed herein but
is described and claimed in a separate application.
The same letters of reference designate similar parts in the differont figures of
drawing.
The generating apparatus G, is composed of two furnaces or chambers A. A¹
connected by a common base and freely communicating with each other above the
grate C. which is common to both; and thoy are surmounted by steam superheating
and decomposing chambers B. B₁ connected by the necks b. b'.
'
%
The generators and superheators are constructed of fire brick; covered by jackets
of plate iron and mounted on a brick or stone foundation. The docomposing
chambers A. A¹ are represented as independent structuros, slightly separated from
cach other down to near their bases, a short distance above the grate each having a
distinct enclosing wall and jacket down to the arch c above tho grate chamber, but
it is obvious that they might both be built in one structure, enclosed in a common
wall and covered by a single jacket, and separated by a division wall resting upon
the arch c: this division wall might bo strengthened and made tight by a central
iron plate.
This modification falls within the limits of this invention though tho construction
shown is preferred. The chambers A. A' have their bottoms curved and sloping
from their outer sides down to the bottom of the ash pit in order to reduce the grato
surface and so that the chambers may be more readilly cleaned. The ash pit is
divided into three separate compartments by the partition walls d, extending
from front to rear thereof so that the gases from one generating chamber are not
allowed to pass down through the grate and thereby corrode and burn it out, but
are compelled to pass above the grate to the adjoining generating chamber. Tight
fitting doors a close passages into each compartment of the ash pit. The steam
superheating and decomposing chambors B. B¹ are connected with the generating
chambers by contracted necks b. and have near their bases the arches c. e' of
masonry supporting the cellular brick work E. E and iron scrap they are also
provided with short smoke stacks or passages I. I' having tight fitting lids or caps
ii' these passages also servo as man-holes to give access to the chambers for the
purpose of laying, repairing and cleaning the cellular brick work. Steam pipes
F. having valves f. connected with the top of each superheating chainber.
A coal charging hopper H connects by a chuto g with the upper portion of cach
generator and the hopper has at its bottom a water cooled valve h provided with a
stem and operating lever. The conical portion H' of the hopper is constructed of
suflicient size to hold a single charge of coal and this chamber is separated from the
main fuel chamber H" by a cut-off slide h¹ constructed with separated bars like a
gridiron as shown in figure 5. The fuel chamber H" should be made large enough
to hold a number of charges of coal and it is closed at the top by a tight fitting lid
which may be clamped down by a binged bar, link and screw as shown.
An air blast pipe K connects by branch K' having valve k with the base of each
generating chamber below the grate, and by a branch K" having a valvo k³ with
the base of each steam superheating chamber,

page_text: A sliding oil supply pipe L, having a pivoted operating lever passes through a
stuffing box and sleeve L¹ near the base of each steam superheating and
decomposing chamber (see figure 2) to supply oil for enriching the gases passed from
each generating chamber. When oil is admitted the supply pipe is projected some
distance into the chamber in order that the oil may drop freely through the passage
in the neck bor b' down into the rising and outgoing current of hot gas.-Each
generating chamber is provided with a number of openings a' closed by tight fitting
caps; one set just above the grate bars and another set higher up for the insertion
of bars to break up the coal or coke and break down the clinker. Gas discharge
pipes M. M having water-cooled valves 'm, m¹ connect near the tops of tho
generating chambers A, A', and with the vertical pipes N. N¹. Pipes M. M''are
for the escape of gases resulting from the decomposed steam the coal and the oil on
their way to the fixing chamber and also for the escape of products of combustion.
The superheating and decomposing chambers have connecting near their tops the
outlet pipes 0, 01, having water-cooled valves 0.0' leading to the stand pipes N, N¹,
for the escape of products of combustion.
Stand pipes N. N¹ connect at their lower onds by pipes P, P¹, with the base of
the fixing chamber R. Pipes P. P¹ however may connect the upper ends of the
stand-pipes directly with the top of the fixing chamber R if such arrangement is
preferred. The lower ends of the stand pipes from just above the connecting pipes
M. M¹ downward and where they are exposed to the greatest heat, aro lined with
fire brick-while the upper ends; through which but a small proportion of hot
products pass; are simple iron pipes-The fixing chamber R, is constructed of fire
brick covered with a tight jacket of plate iron, and is mounted on a brick or stone
foundation; it is provided near the base with a perforated arch r for supporting the
cellular brick work filling. This brick work is separated into three sections or
bodies by intermediate spaces and at each space, above each body of brick work
there connects a gas eduction pipe S leading to the hydraulic seal box T. The
pipes S at their lower ends, where they project down into the box, are provided with
valve seat pieces 8. scrowed to them, which pieces have conical valve seats and guide
bars for the stems of the conical valves s¹ which may be operated to close the ends
of the pipes na desired. The stem of each valve is connected to one end of a lover t
pivoted to a fulcrum in the bottom of box T and to the other end of such lever is
connected a rod passing up through the top of the cover of the box and is pivotally
connected to a lever u, the inner end of which is pivoted to a standard u¹ secured
to the top of the box. By means of the levers and rod any valve may be readily
raised or lowered for closing or opening the mouth of any dip pipe desired.
An air blast pipe K having a valve connects with the base of the fixing
chamber below arch for supplying air to produce complete combustion of gaseous
products from the generator while heating up the apparatus. At the top of chamber
R is a smoke stack V having at the top a tight fitting cap v which may be opened
for the escape of products of combustion while the apparatus is being heated, but
which is closed while gas is being fixed in the chamber, and the gas is caused to
pass down one of the dip pipes S into the seal box-The water-cooled valves in
the different pipes have stems extending up through their water boxes to which
are connected operated levers.
Having described this apparatus I will now describe its operation and the process
carried out therein of manufacturing gas.
The two generating chambers are operated reciprocally, the superheated steam
being passed alternately down into one and the resulting gases up through the
other, while the fresh charge of bituminous coal is also distilled alternately first in
one and then in the other chamber, but always being freshly charged into that
chamber least highly heated and up through which the gases are passed on their
way to the outlet pipe and fixing chamber.
A fire is first kindled on the grate and it is urged by air-blasts admitted 'through
pipes K¹ by opening valves on each side of the grate, while fuel preferably

page_text: anthracite coal, or coke, is gradually fed in till a bed of highly heated or
incandescent fuel several feet thick is formed in each chamber.
During the admission of the air blasts below the grate, the cap of smoke stack
V is open and at first the valves m, m³ on outlet pipes M. M² are opened for the
escape of products of combustion into fixing chamber R then, as the beds of fuel
increase in the generators, and carbonic oxide is given off, air is admitted through
.pipe K by opening its valve k to the base of fixing chamber R, for causing
complete combustion of the hot carbonic oxide and thereby heating the refractory
brick work in the fixing chamber.
Near the end of the operation of heating up, valves m, m³ are closed and valves
o, o¹, are opened, then valves k' are opened and air blasts are admitted by branch
pipes K into the bases of chambers B. B' for burning hot products therein and
heating the contained brick work and iron scrap.
The order of heating the chambers may be reversed;-that is chambers B. B¹
may be heated first and chamber R heated second or they may be heated at the
'same time by properly adjusting the valves but it is preferred to heat the different
chambers at separate periods-One of the generating chambers and one steam super-
heating chamber, as chambers A and B are at first most highly heated by maintaining
the air blasts admitted to them and keeping their outlet pipes open for the longer
time; for in these chambers steam is first superheated and decomposed. The beds
of fuel in the generators being raised to incandescence and all the chambers being
properly heated the valves of the air blast pipes are closed; cap vis closed, both
valves o, o' are closed; valve m on pipe M leading from generator A is closed and
the valves 8¹ of the two upper and outer gas outlets pipes S, are also closed while
valve m' in outlet pipe M is left open.
Steam is now admitted by pipes F into the top of superheating chamber B. where
it is superheated and partially decomposed by passage down through the highly
heated brick work and iron scrap contained therein, and the resulting hydrogen and
superheated steam are passed down into the incandescent fuel in chamber A where
decomposition is completed; the resulting gases passing below arch c and above the
grate up through the hot fuel in chamber A¹ where any carbonic acid present is
converted into carbonic oxide. The partitions d, d in the ash pit prevent the
current of gases from passing through and below the grate whereby it is preserved
from corrosion. About the time that steam is admitted to superheater B, a charge
of bituminous coal is dropped upon the bed of hot fuel in chamber A' so that the
gases resulting from the steam are passed up through the distilling charge of coal
and thereby combine with the rich hydrocarbon vapors and gas; being evolved,
and carry them into the fixing chamber.
If a rich gas is desired for illuminating purposes; hydrocarbon oil is admitted
by pipe L into chamber A' where it is vaporized and the vapors mingled with the
outgoing gas passing through pipo M¹ to the fixing chamber.
If the heat in chamber A is so great as to be destructive of the oil, it may be
admitted at any desired point in stand pipe N. or even into the fixing chamber R
for carbureting the gas. It is intended however that the generating chamber in
which coal is last fed and up through and out of which the gas is passed, shall not
be at such high temperature as to change the hydrocarbons of the coal or the liquid
into lamp black or hard carbon. The large volume of hydrogen entering from the
adjacent chamber assists materially in carrying the hydrocarbons forward and
preventing them from burning.
The fixing chamber is constructed and provided with eduction gas pipes with
special reference to the accomplishment of the same object, that is, so that the
gases and vapors are at first conducted through a small portion only of the heated
brick work, and exposed only sufficiently long to combine and fix the gas.
Therefore the two upper and outer gas escape pipes are at first closed by
valves 8', 81, in the seal box the first one only being left open, and the gases and
vapors are combined and converted into a fixed gas for the first period by passage

page_text: simply through the first body of heated brick work till the temperature thereof is
so far reduced as to make this body inoperative to fully fix the gas; then the first
pipe S is closed and the second one opened and the gases caused to pass up and
through the second body of hot brick till it is cooled when the second pipe is
closed and the third one opened and the gases to the end of the run are conducted
through the third body of hot brick-By means of the improved construction of
apparatus and by the improved manner of conducting the operation just described,
destructive decomposition is prevented and waste of the hydrocarbons and also
obtain the important advantage of producing a uniform quality of gas throughout
the whole operation.
The manufacture of gas by decomposing steam, distilling coal etc. as above
described is continued till the temperature of the decomposing and distilling
chambers and the fixing chamber are reduced so low as to render them inoperative
when the steam and oil are shut off; then the apparatus is reheated by admission
of the air blasts and by proper arrangement of the valves and cap of the smoke
stack as at first described, only at this time the steam superheater B¹ and
generating chamber A¹ are the most highly heated at the time of heating up the
fuel chambers; the carbonic oxide which, in company with the other waste
products of combustion, is passed up through the superheating and decomposing
chambers, serves to reduce the conting of oxides which the steam has forined on
the iron scrap, and to bring the iron back to its metallic state, so that it will again
be in condition for decomposing steam.
The iron which has become oxidized and inoperative by the passage of steam
through it, is thus repeatedly revivified or changed back to the metallic state by
the action of the nascent carbonic oxide, so that the same body of metal may be
used over and over again for decomposing steam. After the apparatus is properly
heated the manufacture of gas by the operations above described is resumed,
though steam and gases are now conducted in the reverse direction through the
two generating chambers-that is steam is superheated and decomposed in
chamber BI and fully decomposed in chamber A² and the resulting gases passed up
through chamber A₁ where the fresh charge of coal is now being distilled, and out
of such chamber to the fixing chamber. The charges of soft coal periodically
dropped into the generating chambers yield sufficient coke to maintain the beds of
fuel at the required height for decomposing the steam.
Both chambers of the charging hopper may be first filled with coal, the valve h
being closed, then slide h' is run in to separate the main body of coal from the
charge in the conical chamber, and then cover his closed and clamped down to
the top of the large storage chamber so as to prevent the escape of gas up through
the coal. When it is desired to drop a charge into the generating chamber, valve /
is drawn out and the charge contained in the conical chamber slid down the chute
into the generator; valve his then closed and slide is drawn out to permit
another charge to pass into the conical chamber after which the slide is closed.
Instead of three dip pipes S extending down into the seal box with valves at
their lower ends, a single stand and dip pipe S might be provided extending from
near the top of the fixing chamber and connected with such fixing chamber by
three horizontal pipes one connecting just above each body of brick work and each
having a controlling valve so that gas could be passed from any desired section of
the fixing chamber as with the construction and arrangement shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The process of manufacturing gas which consists in heating up the generating
and fixing chambers by the combustion of fuel in the former and of products from
such fuel in the latter thereby heating a large body of refractory material in the
fixing chamber, then docomposing steam in the fuel, enriching the resulting gases
with hydrocarbons, then, cmhining and fixing the carburetted gas by passing it
through a small portion of the heated refractory material, and to the seal box, then

page_text: as the first portion is cooled, passing the succeeding volume of gas through another
heated portion of refractory material and out of the seal box or main and thus
passing successive volumes of gas as produced through succeeding bodies of heated
refractory material, whereby destructive decomposition of the hydrocarbons is
prevented and a uniform quality of gas as to candle power is produced.
2. The closed generating chambers having a single grate common to both and
communicating with each other at their bases above the grate in combination with
a gas discharge pipe connecting with the top of one of the chambers.
3. In combination with a gas generator the sleeve and the sliding oil supply pipe
fitting in such sleeve so that the oil pipe may be projected-beyond the furnace wall
internally when oil is supplied and withdrawn when the supply of oil is shut off.
4. The two reciprocating generators having a connecting base in combination
with the grate and ono or more vertical partitions in the ash pit for causing the
gases to pass from one chamber into the other above the grate.
5. The two generating chambers connected by a common base in combination
with steam supply pipes connecting with their upper portions, the connecting air
blast pipes and the gas outlet pipes leading from the upper portion of each
chamber.
6. The two generating chambers connected at their bases in combination with
the steam superheating chambers; placed above them, the gas outlet pipes leading
from the generators below the steam superheating and decomposing chambers; and
the air, steam and oil supply pipes connected as described.
7. The two generating chambers having a connecting base in combination with
the steam superheating and decomposing chambers mounted above them, the gas
outlet pipes leading from the upper portions of the generators; the outlet pipes for
products of combustion leading from the superheating and decomposing chambers
and supply pipes for air and steam connected as and for the purposes described.
8. The two closed reciprocating gas generating chambers having a connecting
base and an arch extending from front to rear above the bottom of the chamber so
as to form a passage from one chamber to the other and support the wall or walls
separating the two generating chambers in combination with connecting air blast
pipes and gas discharge pipes as described.
9. The two gas generating chambers connected at their bases in combination
with the steam superheating and decomposing chambers above them the gas outlet
pipes from the upper portions of the generators, the outlet pipes from the super-
heaters and decomposers for products of combustion, a fixing chamber and pipes
connecting the outlet pipes from the generators and superheaters with the fixing
chamber.
10. A gas generator in combination with a fixing chamber having gas outlet
pipes leading from it at different distances from the gas inlet pipe whereby a sinall
portion of the fixing chamber may be used at one period for fixing the gas and
another portion used at a succeeding period and destructive decomposition of
hydrocarbons thereby prevented and gas of a uniform candle power produced.
11. A gas fixing chamber containing a filling of refractory material and having
gas outlet pipes, provided with controlling valves or seals, and connecting there-
with at different distances from the gas inlet pipe for the purpose described.
12. A gas fixing chamber in combination with a hydraulic seal box, pipes
connecting different sections or portions of the fixing chamber with the seal box
and the valves for closing the pipes arranged in the seal box for the purpose
described.
13. The combination of a gas eduction pipe of a gas apparatus; with a hydraulic
main or box said pipe projecting into the box, a valve for closing the end of tho
pipe connected to one end of a pivoted lever in the box and a rod connected to the
other end of the lever and passing up through the top of the box for operating
the valve.
14. A gas generator in combination with a fixing chamber containing refractory
material separated into different sections or bodios by intervening spaces gas outlet

page_text: pipes communicating with the spaces between the bodies of material and a pipe
connecting the generator with one end of the fixing chamber for the purpose
described.
15. In combination with a gas generator a fuel feeding hopper having a valve in
its bottom a charge chamber holding a single charge of coal, a storage chamber
adapted to hold several charges of coal, a slide for separating its charge chamber
from the storage chamber and a tight fitting lid or cover closing the top of the
storage chamber.
16. The charging hopper having a water-cooled valve in its bottom, a grated
slide between the charge chamber and the storage chamber in combination with a
furnace.
17. The charging hopper having a water-cooled valve at its bottom, a grated
slide between its charge chamber and its storage chamber and a tight fitting lid
closing the top in combination with a gas generator.
18. The two reciprocating generators united to a common base freely communi-
cating with each other.
19. The process of manufacturing gas which consists in decomposing and
superheating steam by passing it through a bed of heated iron scrap, and then
through a body of incandescent fuel, substantially as described.
20. The process of manufacturing gas which consists in decomposing and super-
heating steam by passing it through a bed of heated iron scrap, thereby oxidizing
said scrap, and then through a body of incandescent fuel and of alternately
reducing the oxidized scrap to a metallic condition by subjecting it to the action of
nascent carbonic oxide, thereby enabling the continued use of said scrap without
removal from the apparatus, substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of June 1884.