IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS. FOR ILLUMINATING AND OTHER PURPOSES AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur William Lovell Reddie of the Office for Patents
66 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Patent Agent for an
invention of "
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS. FOR
ILLUMINATING AND OTHER PURPOSES AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN
SUCH MANUFACTURE" A communication from abroad by Edouard Bouilliez
of Paris in the Republic of France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur William Lovell Reddie
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th March 1882.
ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE of the Office for Patents, 66 Chancery Lane
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATING AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE
USED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE" [A communication from abroad by Edouard
Bouilliez of Paris in the Republic of France.]
In the manufacture of gas from the distillation of coal, oils and resins, as now
practised, the gas is condensed by certain means on issuing from the retort. This
immediate condensation in cold vessels has for its object the elimination of the
tarry and ammoniacal matters which impair the illuminating power of the gas, but
it also results in a considerable loss of gas which, not yet liberated, is carried off
with the matters above named.
This loss has been estimated at about one half of the yield, which should be
obtained.
To obviate this drawback it is now proposed to submit the hydrocarburets
which escape from the retorts to frictional contact with surfaces of sufficient
temperature, and one higher than that at which the distillation proper is effected,
so that they may be completely gasefied, and in this gaseous state may be no longer
capable of being condensed.
The means by which this end is attained are of extreme simplicity and of easy
application to all existing gas furnaces.
Between the conducting pipes and the condensing tubes, or other condensing

page_text: apparatus, the gas and the hydrocarburets are caused to enter one or more chambers
or retorts heated by a separate furnace and filled with balls of burnt clay pierced
with holes, or with a series of discs, similarly pierced with holes, or with a similar
porous fireproof mass for augmenting the heating and frictional surfaces to which
the gas is exposed.
The conducting pipes. leading to these superheating retorts are provided with
suitably placed cocks for preventing the return of gas, when it is desired to open
the principal retorts for charging or discharging them.
The superheaters may be of cast iron or fire brick, and are provided at front and
rear with means for respectively admitting the gas and hydrocarburets, and carrying
off the gasefied products which result from the superheating.
A preliminary heating chamber may also, if desired, be interposed between o e
end of each of the superheaters and that part of it which contains the frictional
heating surfaces.
The superheating retorts should be so filled with the perforated balls or
discs, or their equivalent, as to present a heating and frictional surface
proportionate to the degree of gasefication required. The invention it will be
understood is applicable to the manufacture of illuminating gas derived from oils
and resins as well as that derived from coal. The superbeaters may be grouped in
a special furnace connected or unconnected with the furnaces ordinarily used, and
heated to the necessary temperature by suitable means the gas being introduced and
carried off by means of suitably arranged pipes, cocks, and valves.
The invention may be applied to the production of gas suitable for heating and
cooking, as well as for illuminating purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Arthur William Lovell Reddie in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 13th September 1882.
ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE of the Office for Patents 66 Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
"
GAS FOR ILLUMINATING AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN
SUCH MANUFACTURE a communication from Abroad by Monsr. Edouard Bouilliez
of Paris in the Republic of France
In the manufacture of gas from the distillation of coal, oils and resins as now
practised the gas is condensed by suitable means on issuing from the retort. This
immediate condensation in cold vessels effects the elimination of the tarry and
ammoniacal matters, which impair the illuminating power of the gas; but it also
results in the loss of a considerable quantity of gas which, not yet liberated, is
carried off with the matters above named.
This loss has been estimated at about one-half of the yield which should be
obtained.
To obviate this drawback it is now proposed to submit the hydrocarburets which
escape from the retorts, to frictional contact with surfaces of a temperature higher
than that at which the distillation proper is effected, so that by such superheating
they may be completely gasified, and in this gaseous state may be no longer
capable of being condensed.
The means by which this end is attained are of extreme simplicity and of easy
application to all existing gas furnaces.
Between the conducting pipes and the condensing tubes or other condensing
apparatus, the gas and the hydrocarburets are caused to enter one or more chambers
or retorts heated by a separate furnace, and filled with balls of burnt clay
pierced with holes or with a series of discs similarly pierced with holes, or with a
similar porous fireproof mass for augmenting the heating and frictional surfaces
to which the gas is exposed.
The invention will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying
drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing two gas retorts of the ordinary
kind, between which is situated the special superheating retort or chamber.
On looking at this Figure it will be seen that the products of distillation from
the ordinary retorts A A of any convenient form, pass off by the conducting pipes
EE, which converge towards the central "frictional" superheating retort B
The conducting pipes are provided with suitable cocks g. g. which are shut to
prevent the return of the gas from the superheating retort B, when the retorts A A
are opened to charge or draw them, or when the retorts A A are not in action.
The superheating retort B represented in longitudinal and cross section at
Figures 2 and 3 respectively, is of any convenient form, and of cast iron or
fire brick.
The two chambers a and c. one at either end of the said retort B serve respectively
for the induction and eduction of the gas, and of the hydrocarburets coming from
the distillatory retorts.
Throughout its entire length, between the inlet and outlet chambers a. and c,
the interior of this retort B is filled with fireclay balls, b, pierced with numerous
holes, or with slabs or discs of fireclay such as are shewn at, d, also pierced with
holes.
This filling up of the retort, on which particular stress is laid, has for its object to
increase the extent of heating and frictional surface against which the hydrocarburets

page_text: have to pass.
The walls and perforated fireclay filling of the retort are heated to
such a degree that the hydrocarburets as they pass through the retort will be
gasified.
Pyrometers placed within the distillatory and superheating retorts serve to show
whether their respective temperatures are maintained at the proper relative points
for most efficiently carrying out the operation.
Between the end chamber or head a. of the retort B, and the perforated wall or
its equivalent d'. which supports the balls of fireclay, or their equivalent, there may
be arranged a chamber of any desirable depth, in which to subject the hydrocarburets
to a preliminary superheating before they are submitted to the friction of the discs
or balls, or other porous fireproof filling.
The gas and the gasified hydrocarburets pass off by the tube or pipe D fixed to
the end chamber c, and are then condensed and purified in the ordinary manner to
serve for lighting, heating, or other purposes.
I would remark that these superheating "frictional" retorts may be arranged in
a separate furnace, either in combination with or independent of the ordinary
retorts, the said superheating retorts being brought to the requisite temperature in
any convenient manner, and fitted with such pipes and valves as may be necessary
for the objects above set forth.
Having now set forth the nature of the said Invention of "Improvements in the
manufacture of gas for illuminating and other purposes, and the apparatus to be
used in such manufacture" as communicated to me by ny Foreign Correspondent,
and having explained in what manner the same may be carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim
First. The superheating and gasification of the hydrocarburets derived from the
distillation of coal, oils resins and similar products, substantially in the manner
and for the purpose above set forth.
Secondly The means described for gasifying the hydrocarburets obtained in the
distillation of coal, oil, and similar products and consisting substantially of a
superheating retort or retorts filled with perforated balls, or discs of fireclay, or
with an equivalent porous fire-resisting filling, and heated to the requisite
temperature, as set forth.
Thirdly: The combined arrangement of apparatus described with reference to
Figures 1. 2 and 3 of the drawings, or any mere modification thereof, for the
purpose set forth..
In witness whereof I the said Arthur William Lovell Reddie have hereunto
set my hand and seal the twelfth day of September in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.