AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR GENERATING HYDROGEN GAS AND FOR CARBURETTING HYDROGEN GAS OR ATMOSPHERIC AIR FOR. ILLUMINATING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cleaveland Forbes Dunderdale, of New York
City, in the State of New York, in the United States of America,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR GENERATING
HYDROGEN GAS AND FOR CARBURETTING HYDROGEN GAS OR ATMOSPHERIC AIR
FOR. ILLUMINATING AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 24th August 1869, and dated the 12th July 1869.

page_text: and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that I am the first and true Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE that I, the said Cleaveland Forbes Dunderdale, do
hereby declare that the following Complete Specification, under my
hand and seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by
the following statement:--
The nature of my Invention consists in the arrangement and con-
struction of an apparatus wherein hydrogen gas can be generated and be
carburetted by passing it through any suitable hydrocarbon liquid so
arranged that the diluted acid by or from which the hydrogen is
generated and the hydrocarbon liquid are either arranged in separate
chambers, or that the same are in different compartments separated from
cach other but within and under the same gasometer.
And further my Invention consists in arranging a carburetter
attached to chandeliers, pendants, brackets, or other gas fixtures, and
which shall be so constructed and arranged that the air to be carburetted
is made to pass through a hydrocarbon liquid contained in the vessel
attached to the fixture, and may be heated by the flame which it is
intended to feed.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood, 1 shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I
shall refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, forming a part of this Specification, and to the letters of
reference marked thereon.
Figure 1. represents an apparatus for generating and carburetting
hydrogen gas when the carbon is contained in a separate and distinct
chamber; Figure II. represents a vertical section of an apparatus where
the hydrogen gas is generated and carburetted under and within one
and the same gasometer, but separated and in different compartments;
Figure III. is a side view, partly in section, of my improved carburetter
attached to a chandelier.
In Figure I., A is a tank constructed of suitable material to contain
the diluted acid, arranged with a cover B similar to a gasometer which
floats therein provided with an opening C capable of being closed tight
for introducing the scraps of iron or zinc, which rest on the perforated
division plate D, and which is arranged or placed about one-third the

page_text: distance from the bottom for the purpose of acting as an automatic
regulator of the generation of the hydrogen gas by rising out of and
descending into the acid and water accordingly as the gas is used or
drawn from it through the saturating apparatus, into which it escapes
through the flexible pipe E. The carburetting vessel is constructed of
two perfectly tight cylinders F and G. The inner one is to contain the
hydrocarbon liquid, which is kept in a state of volatility by being
surrounded by steam or warm water furnished by the heating appa-
ratus J, which may be heated from the gas generated in the apparatus
or by any other means. The flexible pipe E connects with a pipe Ex
which coils around the inner tank G in the space between said tank and
the outer tank F, and is of itself surrounded with the steam or warm
water, thereby keeping the hydrogen warm in its passage to the car-
buretting chamber G, into which the coil Ex ends in a goose-neck bend w,
the end of which is perforated and which may be furnished with a valve
to prevent any back flow.
The gas after passing through the volatile
hydrocarbon liquid and thereby becoming carburetted passes off through
the pipe H which connects with the pipes of the building. The hydro-
carbon liquid is supplied into the cylinder G through an opening K at
the top, and is drawn off through the pipe or faucet L.
In Figure 11., M represents the tank for containing the diluted acid,
to which a tank or reservoir O is attached surrounding the same and
filled with water, and into which the bottom of the cover or gasometer. N
is inserted, forming a seat for the same in the usual manner.
To the top
of this cover or gasometer N a perfectly tight and funnel-shaped vessel P
is securely fastened, to the bottom of which the perforated, basket or
chamber Q is attached, which latter contains the iron borings or other
suitable metal. The funnel-shaped vessel or compartment P is provided
with pipes R, in which suitable valves may be arranged to check the back
flow, and through which the generated hydrogen gas is conveyed from
the chamber Q under the surface of the hydrocarbon liquid contained
in the compartment P. This chamber I is filled through the opening S
closed by a suitable stopper or cock, and is provided with several holes m
through its external walls near the top, arranged with suitable valves,
through which the gases escape into the gasometer or cover N after they
have passed through the hydrocarbon liquid, and thereby have become
carburetted and ready for use. T is an opening secured by a screw
cover or its equivalent, through which the iron turnings, borings, or other

page_text: suitable metal are introduced into the central chamber or basket Q.
Near the top on the outside of this perforated basket Q a flanch or skirt V
surrounding the same and flaring outward is attached to allow the acid
and water to flow freely in and out of this basket, but prevent the hydrogen
gas from escaping downward. The bottom of this skirt V extends a little
below the bottom of the chamber Q. U is a pipe passing through the top
of the gasometer N and extending a little below the bottom of the flanch V.
This pipe is closed by a suitable stopper or cock and is for the purpose of
supplying acid to the tank M. The contents of this tank M are drawn
off through a pipe W provided with a faucet, and arranged a little above
the bottom of said tank to prevent it from being choked up by the
crystals of the sulphate of iron or other metals which form on the
bottom of the tank, the result of the reaction of the acid and the metal
scraps. These crystals or other deposits in the tank, M are cleaned out
through the hand hole X near the bottom of the tank. Y is a pipe for
the exit of the gas from the cover or gasometer N, passing through the
lower part of the tank M, and extending upward within the tank to
about the level of its top. To the lower part of this pipe Y, outside of the
tank, a vessel is attached, furnished with a faucet for drawing off its
contents. This vessel is for the purpose of receiving any condensed
moisture or vapours that may be carried over into the pipe by the gas,
preventing thereby its collecting in the pipe and choking the same.
To the end of the pipe Y the service pipe for supplying the gas to the
burners is connected. The tank M being about half filled with diluted
suitable acid and. the compartment P about two-thirds with hydrocarbon
liquid, while the perforated basket or chamber is filled with the
necessary quantity of scrap iron or other suitable metal the reaction of
the acid upon which produces hydrogen, the operation commences by
the generation of hydrogen from the acid and the material in the
chamber Q. This hydrogen rises into the upper part of the chamber Q
and escapes into the pipes R, and is conveyed through the same under
the surface of the hydrocarbon liquid into the compartment P, and
forcing its way through this liquid combines with the vapors of the
same in its due proportion, assisted by the heat evolved in the chemical
reaction between the acid and the metal, which heat keeps the hydro-
carbon liquid volatile, and facilitates the combination of the hydrogen
gas with the carbon vapors. The illuminating gas thus obtained
escapes through the holes m into the gasometer N, whence it makes its
egress through the pipe Y. When the gas is manufactured faster than it

page_text: is consumed its accumulation within the gasometer N causes the same to
rise, lifting thereby the perforated basket Q containing the metal out of
the acid, and the generation of hydrogen at once ceases, at the same
time stopping the evaporation of the hydrocarbon liquid, and making
thereby the operation of the apparatus self regulating according to its
consumption.
In Figure III., Z represents an ordinary chandelier, to which are
attached tubes a through which pure air is forced by any suitable
means. These pipes a are so arranged that the air in its passage is
brought over the burner into a long winding passage or heater f so as to
detain the air over the flame until it becomes thoroughly heated. From
this heater f the heated air passes through the pipes g into the car-
buretting chamber c, into which it issues in small streams through the
perforated pipe b below the carbon fluid contained in this vessel, and
rises thus finely divided through the liquid and becomes charged with
its vapor.
The thus carburetted air passes into the open mouth of
the pipe or tube n, rising above the level of the fluid in the vessel c,
and so on to the burner, where it is consumed. The compartment
or vessel c may be filled with sponge or other material to hold the
hydrocarbon liquid by absorption to facilitate the free passage of the air
through said liquid. When "argand "burners are used disks of mica
may be used in place of the heater f.
A very great advantage of this apparatus is that the heated and
carburetted air passes through so short a space that it reaches the burner
while still heated, and thus prevents the possibility of the pipes becoming
clogged by the condensation of the hydrocarbon vapors.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may he used, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as my Invention is,--
First. The tank A with its cover B provided with a perforated
division D, and the arrangement of the tanks F and G with their
intervening space filled with steam or warm water in combination with
the coil Ex and goose-neck bend pipe w, the whole being arranged and
constructed in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.
Secondly. I claim the manufacture of carburetted hydrogen gas by
so placing the hydrocarbon liquid and the diluted acid in different
compartments not in contact with each other, but under the same cover

page_text: and near each other, that while gas is generated the hydrocarbon liquid
will be heated by the acid and water, and thereby rendered volatile, and
a more perfect mixture of the vapors be obtained, substantially in the
manner specified.
Thirdly. I claim the combination of the gasometer N containing the
funnel-shaped chamber or vessel P, the perforated chamber with its
flanch or skirt V, the pipes R, and outlet holes m provided with suitable
valves, the feed pipe U and exit pipe Y with its trap or vessel, the
whole being arranged and constructed in the manner and for the purpose
set forth.
Fourthly. I claim the combination of the air pipes a and g, heater f,
carburetting vessel c, and pipe n with each other and with an ordinary
gas fixture, substantially as set forth.
Fifthly. I claim the arrangement of mechanism by means of which
the air to be carburretted is made to pass through a hydrocarbon liquid
contained in a vessel attached to or connected with the gas fixture, and
also in heating said air by the flame which it is designed to feed, sub-
stantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cleaveland Forbes Dunderdale,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of
June One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
CLEAVELAND FORBES DUNDERDALE. (L.s.)