IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING GAS FOR LIGHTING, HEATING, AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND FOR BURNING IT, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH GAS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City
of Westminster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
MAKING GAS FOR LIGHTING, HEATING, AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND FOR
BURNING IT, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH GAS." A communication
from abroad by Monsieur Nicolas Frédèric Deleau and La Société Hubert
Frères, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lloyd Wise at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th March 1881.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING GAS FOR LIGHTING, HEATING, AND
OTHER PURPOSES, AND FOR BURNING IT, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH
GAS." A communication from abroad by Monsieur Nicolas Frédéric Deleau and
La Société Hubert Frères, of Paris, France.
This Invention comprises a novel construction of generator or apparatus for the
manufacture from hydrocarbons or mineral oils of a gas suitable for lighting and
heating, and for the production of motive power, and also the construction or
arrangement of burners or appliances, whereby such gas may be conveniently
ignited and consumed; also it refers to the manufacture of gas with superheated
steam.
A gas generator constructed according to this Invention will not only carburet
atmospheric air or other gas but also superheated steam, thus permitting by reason
of the high temperature of such steam of the utilisation in the said generator of
heavy oils as the carburetting liquid.
The generating apparatus comprises a casing in which the carburetting of the gas
is effected, and a receiver placed at a suitable height above the casing and containing
the liquid hydrocarbon or hydrocarbons.
The generator is a metallic vessel containing alternate layers of sponge and horse
bair which constitute a porous mass presenting a large evaporating surface. The

page_text: employment of the above mentioned substances prevents settlement that would
occur if sponge, tow, or other analagous substances were employed alone.
The carburetting liquid from the receiver flows into the generator through a pipe
provided with a regulating cock, and is diffused by a second horizontal pipe bent
into a circle and perforated with holes at its upper side. By this arrangement the
liquid becomes uniformly distributed over the upper surface of the spongy mass
contained in the generator.
The liquid which has percolated through the alternate layers in the apparatus
accumulates at the lower part where a water gauge is fixed to allow of its level being
estimated, which lovel should never reach to the mouth of the pipe serving for the
inlet of air or gas or steam to the generator.
This air or gas which is drawn or forced through the apparatus by any suitable
means is discharged by a pipe, which ends at its lower part in an empty space formed
in the lower part of the filling of sponge and horse hair by a cage or box of wire
gauze or by a wire scroll or helix or by other suitable appliance. The entering 1
air or gas is projected on to the liquid accumulated at the bottom of the apparatus
and then distributes itself uniformly, ascending through the spongy mass where it
comes in contact with the carburetting liquid absorbed therein.
A pipe.connects the receiver with the upper part of the generator in order to
establish a uniformity of pressure in these two vessels and to allow of the liquid
flowing freely from one to the other.
To guard against accident the gas leaves the apparatus through a neck arranged
on the cover of the generator and provided with a flap-valve and with wire gauze
diaphragms placed in front of and behind the said flap valve for the purpose of
arresting foreign matters, and, in case of explosion, of preventing the flame from 2
penetrating into the apparatus.
In order to insure the active evaporation of the carburetting liquid and to resist
the cooling of the apparatus by reason of this evaporation the generator is encircled
by a metal casing provided with inlet and outlet pipes, through which casing the
gases arising from combustion either in a motor or in a heating apparatus are caused 3
to pass.
The reservoir for the hydrocarbons is closed by a screwed cover, and the generator
is provided with feet for the purpose of fixing it.
The gases obtained from this and other kinds of carburetting apparatus have the
disadvantage of lighting with difficulty and of being extinguished with facility. 3
In order to obviate this inconvenience the section of the gas passage before it
reaches the burners is, according to this Invention, reduced to a small diameter.
For this purpose there is placed at a certain distance behind the combustion
burner a diaphragm pierced in its centre by a capillary orifice which lessens the
speed at which the gas flows to the burner, thereby allowing of it being easily 4
lighted and also avoiding extinction. This diaphragm may be of any suitable form,
such, for example, as a cone pierced at the apex by a small hole, or a simple
circular diaphragm pierced in the centre by a capillary orifice.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Lloyd Wise in the Great. Seal Patent Office on the
10th September 1881.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING GAS FOR LIGHTING, HEATING, AND
OTHER PURPOSES, AND FOR BURNING IT, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH
GAS." (A communication from abroad by Monsieur Nicolas Frédèric Deleau and
La Société Hubert Frères, of Paris, France.)
This Invention comprises a novel construction of generator or apparatus for the
manufacture from hydrocarbons or mineral oils of a gas suitable for lighting and
heating and for the production of motive power, and also the construction or
arrangement of burners or appliances whereby such gas may be conveniently
ignited and consumed; also it refers to the manufacture of gas with superheated
steam.
A gas generator constructed according to this Invention will not only carburet
atmospheric air or other gas but also superheated steam, thus permitting by reason
of the bigh temperature of such steam of the utilisation in the said generator of
heavy oils (such as the heavy hydrocarbon oils now of little or no commercial value)
as the carburetting liquid.
Referring to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Fig. 1 is a central vertical
section of an apparatus according to the Invention, and Figs. 2 and 3 are horizontal
sections at different heights.
The generating apparatus comprises a casing A, in which the carburetting of the
gas is effected, and a receiver B placed at a suitable height above the casing and
containing the liquid hydrocarbon or hydrocarbons.
The generator is a metallic vessel A containing alternate layers of sponge and
horse hair, which constitute a porous mass presenting a large evaporating surface.
The employment of the above mentioned substances prevents settlement that would
occur if sponge, tow, or other analagous substances were employed alone.
The carburetting liquid from the receiver B flows into the generator A through
a pipe D provided with a regulating cock E, and is diffused by a second horizontal
pipe F bent into a circle and perforated with holes at its upper side. By this
arrangement the liquid becomes uniformly distributed over the upper surface of the
spongy mass C contained in the generator, this being a very important feature for
securing uniformity in the composition of the gas produced.
The liquid which has percolated through the alternate layers in the apparatus
accumulates at the lower part where a water gauge G is fixed to allow of its level
being estimated, which level should never reach to the height 2, z, below the
mouth of the pipe H serving for the inlet of air or gas or steam to the generator.
This air or gas which is drawn or forced through the apparatus by any suitable
means connected to the union screw J is discharged by the pipe H, which ends at
its lower part in an empty space formed in the lower part of the filling of sponge
and horse hair by a cage or box of wire gauze, or as shewn in the Drawings by a
wire scroll or helix K or by other suitable appliance. The entering air or gas is
projected on to the liquid accumulated at the bottom of the apparatus, and then
distributes itself uniformly, ascending through the spongy mass, where it comes in
contact with the carburetting liquid absorbed therein.
A pipe L connects the receiver with the upper part of the generator in order to

page_text: establish a uniformity of pressure in these two vessels and to allow of the liquid
flowing freely from one to the other.
To guard against accident the gas leaves the apparatus through a neck M
arranged on the cover of the generator and provided with a flap valve N, and with
wire gauze diaphragms O and P placed in front of and behind the said flap valve
for the purpose of arresting foreign matters, and, in case of explosion, of preventing
the flame from penetrating into the apparatus.
In order to insure the active evaporation of the carburetting liquid and to resist
the cooling of the apparatus by reason of this evaporation, the generator is encircled
by a metal casing provided with inlet and outlet pipes R and S, through which
casing the gases arising from combustion either in a motor or in a heating apparatus
are caused to pass.
The reservoir B for the hydro-carbons is closed by a screwed cover T, and the
generator is provided with feet U for the purpose of fixing it.
The gases obtained from this and other kinds of carburetting apparatus have the
disadvantage of lighting with difficulty and of being extinguished with facility. In
order to obviate this inconvenience the section of the gas passage before it reaches
the burners is according to this Invention reduced to a small diameter. For this
purpose there is placed at a certain distance behind the combustion burner V a
diaphragm X pierced in its centre by a capillary orifice which lessens the speed at
which the gas flows to the burner, thereby allowing of it being easily lighted and
also avoiding extinction. This diaphragm may be of any suitable form, such, for
example, as a cone pierced at the apex by a small hole, or a simple circular diaphragm
pierced in the centre by a capillary orifice.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the way in
which it is to be or may be carried into practical effect, as communicated to me as
aforesaid, I would have it understood that what is considered to be novel and
original and is therefore claimed as secured to me under the Letters Patent
herein before in part recited is,-
1. In an apparatus of the kind hereinabove referred to for making gas, causing
the air or gas or gases to be carburetted to circulate through the apparatus in the
opposite direction to carburetting fluid emitted in the form of a shower from a
horizontal conduit perforated with holes at its upper part, substantially as described
and illustrated.
2. The use in an apparatus of the kind hereinabove referred to for making gas of
a permeable mass consisting of horse hair and sponge, substantially as and for the
purposes hereinabove described.
3. In an apparatus of the kind hereinabove referred to for making gas, forming
the termination of the air or gas inlet pipe by a receiver of iron wires wound in the
form of a spiral or of wire gauze, substantially as described.
4. The use in an apparatus of the kind hereinabove referred to of a flap valve (N)
in combination with diaphragms (O, P) of wire gauze, substantially as and for the
purposes hereinabove described.
5. In an apparatus of the kind hereinabove referred to for the manufacture of
gas the use of a double metallic case suitably arranged for the passage of hot
products proceeding from the combustion of the gas produced and whereby the
generator is heated, substantially as described.
6. The combination of parts constituting the improved apparatus for making gas
for lighting, heating, and other purposes, constructed, arranged, and operating as
shewn in and described with reference to the Drawings.
7. The method of utilising heavy hydro-carbon oils in the manufacture of gas for
lighting, heating, and other purposes by the use in conjunction therewith of super-
heated steam as a gas, vapour, or substance to be thereby carburetted, substantially
as above described.
8. The use in combination with the burner for the combustion of the gas of a

page_text: diaphragm pierced with a small hole and arranged behind the burner, substantially
as and for the purposes hereinabove described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lloyd Wise, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
W. LLOYD WISE. (L.S.)