IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS AND BURNERS, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR GENERATING GAS FOR THE SAME FROM BENZOLINE FOR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Frederick Schnell, of Castleford, in the County of
York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS AND BURNERS, AND IN
THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR GENERATING GAS FOR THE SAME
FROM BENZOLINE FOR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Frederick Schnell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th June 1876.
JOHN FREDERICK SCHNELL, of Castleford, in the County of York. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LAMPS AND BURNERS, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR
GENERATING GAS FOR THE SAME FROM BENZOLINE FOR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES."
The object of my Invention is to provide a perfectly safe and useful lamp for
dwelling-houses and other places, also to render benzoline safe for use in these
lamps, and to provide a simple means for extracting gas from the same for
illuminating purposes.
Firstly. I provide a cylinder which I fill with chloride of lime and a quantity of
copper wire. On the top of the battery I mount one or more tubes, the upper
part of which may be perforated with any required number of holes. I pass by
preference a piece of copper wire up each of the tubes to where the perforations
are; on heat or a light being applied to the top of the tubes it is conveyed through
copper wires to the battery. The heated copper wire in conjunction with the
chloride of lime causes the gas to rise or generate from the benzoline. Previous
to using the benzoline I mix saltpetre with it, which assists in purifying the gas
generated and renders the light much clearer and free from smoke. The upper
portion of the tubes may be varied in form, and in some cases I provide with
Hanges above and below the perforations for the purpose of spreading and pro-
tecting the light or flame. I also in some cases employ an ordinary fan-tail or other
burner. The fount or body of the lamp may be of any suitable form or substance.
When only one tube is employed in connection with the battery, it being of a
larger size than when more than one is used, I provide in the top of the burner or
tube a small magnet, which is composed of steel, copper, and carbon, this is con-
nected by means of a copper wire or coil to the battery, and has the effect of
increasing the pressure of the gas generated from the benzoline.
Secondly. My Invention further consists in the means or apparatus employed
in the manufacture of gas from benzoline, and is as hereafter described. I
Drine G71

page_text: provide a retort, a portion of the interior of which is filled with chloride of lime
and cotton, or its equivalent. Into the other part of the retort is allowed to flow
at a suitable velocity benzoline prepared (as herein-before mentioned) from a tank
placed in a suitable position. Under the retort a fire is provided, which heats the
benzoline as it passes thereinto so as to cause it to evaporate and to fly off in the
form of gas through the chloride of lime and cotton wool, thence through suitable
tubes to a filter containing water; it is then passed through a succession of cooling
pipes or tubes, from which it can be conveyed through any suitable gas piping to
any required point and used in the manner of ordinary gas.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said John Frederick Schnell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
December 1876.
JOHN FREDERICK SCHNELL, of Castleford, in the County of York. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LAMPS AND BURNERS, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR
GENERATING GAS FOR THE SAME FROM BENZOLINE FOR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES."
The object of my Invention is to provide a perfectly safe and useful lamp for
dwelling-houses and other places, also to render benzoline safe for use in these
lamps, and to provide a simple means for extracting gas from the same for illu-
minating purposes.
Firstly. I provide a cylinder which I fill with chlorido of lime and a quantity of
copper wire. On the top of the battery I mount one or more tubes, the upper part
of which may be perforated with any required number of holes. I pass by pre-
ference a piece of copper wire up each of the tubes to where the perforations are;
on heat or a light being applied to the top of the tubes it is conveyed through
copper wires to the battery. The heated copper wire, in conjunction with the
chloride of lime, causes the gas to rise or generate from the benzoline. Previous to
using the benzoline I mix saltpetre with it, which assists in purifying the gas
generated, and renders the light much clearer and free from_smoke. The upper
portion of the tubes may be varied in form, and in some cases I provide them with
flanges above and below the perforations for the purpose of spreading and pro-
tecting the light or flaine. I also in some cases employ an ordinary fan-tail or other
burner.
Secondly. My Invention further consists in the means or apparatus employed in
the manufacture of gas from benzoline, and is as hereafter described. I provide a
retort, a portion of the interior of which is filled with chloride of lime and cotton
wool or its equivalent. Into the other part of the retort is allowed to flow at a
suitable velocity benzoline prepared (as herein-before mentioned) from a tank
placed in a suitable position. Under the retort a fire is provided, which heats the
benzoline as it passes thereinto so as to cause it to evaporate and to fly off' in the
form of gas through the chloride of lime and cotton wool, thence through suitable
tubes to a filter containing water; it is then passed through a succession of cooling
pipes or tubes, from which it can be conveyed through any suitable gas piping to
any required point and used in the manner of ordinary gas.
And in order that my Invention may be more completely understood reference
is given to the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters and marks
thereon.

page_text: On Sheet 2, Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent respectively a side elevation, an end
elevation, and plan of my Invention.
way.
I provide a cylinder a, which I in some cases fill with chloride of lime and copper
wire, but when preferred cotton wool may be employed, with or without the
admixture of chloride of line. On the top of this tube a I mount one or more
tubes b, which are perforated with any required number of holes c. I by preference
pass a piece of copper wire up each of these tubes b to where the perforations care;
but in some cases I fill each of these tubes b to where the perforations c are with
cotton wool, with or without the admixture of chloride of lime. The fount or body
of the lamp d is of ordinary construction, which is filled with oil in the ordinary
On heat being applied to the top of the tubes b it is conveyed to the copper
wire or cotton wool, and causes the gas to rise or generate from the benzoline. The
upper portion of the tubes b may be varied in form, each of which may be of a
similar construction to that shewn at Figure 2, which is provided with flanges c
above and below the perforations for the purpose of spreading and protecting the
light or the flaine; this burner may be also perforated, as shewn at g. When only
one tube bis employed in connection with the tube or battery a it is of course
made of a larger shape, as shewn at h, Figure 2. I in some cases employ an
ordinary fan-tail burner, which is fixed to the top of the tube b. Previous to using
the benzoline I mix saltpetro with it, say about half an ounce to a gallon of benzo-
line, which assists in purifying the gas generated and renders the light much
clearer and free from smoke.
Secondly. My Invention further consists in the manufacture of gas from
benzoline.
I will first proceed to describe the apparatus shown on Sheet 2.
I provide a retort a, a portion of which is filled with chloride of lime and cotton
wool, or its equivalent, say to the extent of about one-half; into the other part of
the retort a that is not filled with cotton wool at a benzoline is allowed to flow at
a suitable velocity from a tank b through tube c, the flow may be regulated by the
stop-cock . I find that it is preferable after experimenting to put the wool and
chloride of lime in the tank b, through which the benzoline is passed as required
previous to entering the retort a. Under the retort a a fire is provided at e, which
heats the benzoline therein contained so as to cause it to evaporate and fly off in
the form of gas. When the retort a is partially filled with chloride of lime and
cotton wool, the gas after being generated passes through it for purifying purposes,
but when the benzoline is previously purified in the tank b by the application
therein of chloride of lime and cotton wool this purifying is unnecessary. The gas
after being generated passes from the retort a through tube f to a filter g containing
a quantity of water, through which it is passed to a succession of cooling tubes / to
a gasometer of ordinary construction, or direct to the mains. In order to assist
the gas to pass through the water either an exhausted or blowing apparatus may
be employed.
A modification of the above-described gas apparatus is shewn on Sheet 1.
provide a retort a, which I fill to a suitable extent with benzoline which has
been previously mixed with chloride of lime and saltpetre. The benzoline may
pass into the retort a through a pipe or tube b, or through any other convenient
passage. In connection with this retort a I provide a receiver c, which I fill with
water to a suitable extent; on heat or flame being applied under the retort a gas is
generated and passes through tube into water e, thence into chamber f, from
which it passes into chamber g through circulating tubes h, and from thence
through suitable tubes i to a gasometer or direct to the mains. In order to keep
the gas agitated and prevent it condensing I provide a cylinder j in the interior of
the chamber f, which is caused to revolve by means of a chain wound round the
shaft of the cylinder j; the chain is passed over a pulley mounted on a bracket m
attached to the ceiling of the place. At the other end of the chain & is attached a
weight o of suitable size. Other known means may be employed for causing the
cylinder to revolve. One or more gauges may be employed on this apparatus

page_text: whereby the heat of the gas generated and the pressure of the same may be
obtained.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and shewn by Drawings
how the same may be carried into practice, I would have it understood that I do
not limit myself to the exact details or configuration of the various parts I have
explained and shown, as the same may of course be varied or modified without in
any way departing from the nature or principle of my Invention; but what I do
claim and desire to be secured to me by Letters Patent is―
First. The construction of lamp and burner for burning gas of benzoline and
similar fluids, substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination of a retort a and water filter appliances for the pro-
duction of benzoline gas in combination or not with a benzoline supply tank and
cooling appliances, all substantially as set forth.
Third. The construction of water filter here shown and described.
Fourth. The mode of purifying the benzoline, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Frederick Schnell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.