IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING GAS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Brook, Engineer, and Alfred Wilson, Engineer,
both of Middlesbrough-on-Tees, in the County of York, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING GAS."
Sealed the 23rd February 1877, and dated the 12th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Brook and Alfred
Wilson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th October
1876.
EDWARD BROOK, Engineer, and ALFRED WILSON, Engineer, both of Middles-
brough-on-Tees, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
MAKING GAS."
According to our Invention the apparatus consists of a cupola-shaped furnace,
which may be either square or round in cross section. Vertically it may be
described as consisting of two sections or parts, viz., an upper retort and a lower
combustion chamber, and it is an essential feature of the Invention that the gas is
taken off at the point where the two meet.
The upper retort we prefer to be of the form of an inverted cone or frustum of a
pyramid, and it is furnished with a hopper at the top, through which the fuel is fed.
The lower combustion chamber has a solid hearth, on which the ashes are allowed
to accumulate, and a little above the hearth are a series of tuyeres or openings
through which the air required for combustion is forced by means of a steam jet or
a blower of any description, and it is furnished with a door at the bottom for the
removal of the ashes from time to time.
At the point where the retort and the combustion chamber meet there are a series
of lateral openings slanting upwards, and leading to a space or channel which sur-
rounds or partly surrounds the retort; through these openings the generated gas
passes, and it is taken off for use at any part of the aforesaid channel.
Instead of a series of openings there may be one continuous opening all round, in
which case the retort is simply suspended by its top, and projects downwards with
its lower edge free.
By the above arrangements it will be seen that the gas finds its exit as soon as
formed in the hot part of the furnace, and without coming in contact with the fresh

page_text: and damp fuel, while at the same time a partial distillation takes place in the retort,
and the nascent steam and hydrocarbons therefrom find their way downwards also
to the hot part, whereby the steam becomes decomposed by heat, and the tarry
matters rectified before they pass away mingled with the ascending current.
For ordinary purposes we construct the cupola or furnace of brickwork, which
may be cased outside with iron or not; and the retort, instead of being made of
brickwork, may be formed in one piece of baked fire-clay or of cast or wrought iron.
There are many cases however, such as for steam-boat purposes, where brickwork
may be in a great measure if not entirely dispensed with. In such cases we con-
struct the furnace in the form of a double shell of cast or wrought iron, thus
enclosing an annular space in which water is allowed to circulate, constituting a
steam generator or water heater.
The tuyeres or openings may be arranged so as to perforate the outer walls and
point inwards, but we also sometimes make a channel crossing the middle of the
hearth, which channel is perforated on each side so as to form two sets of currents
pointing outwards in opposite directions.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Brook and Alfred Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th April 1877.
EDWARD BROOK, Engineer, and ALFRED WILSON, Engineer, both of Middles-
brough-on-Tees, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
MAKING GAS."
According to our Invention the apparatus consists of a cupola-shaped furnace,
which may be either square or round in cross section. Vertically it may be
described as consisting of two sections or parts, viz., an upper retort and a lower
combustion chamber, and it is an essential feature of the Invention that the gas is
taken off at the point where the two meet.
The upper retort we prefer to be of the form of an internal cone or frustum of a
pyramid, and it is furnished with a hopper at the top, through which the fuel is fed.
The lower combustion chamber has a solid hearth, on which the ashes are allowed
to accumulate, and a little above the hearth are a series of tuyeres or openings
through which the air required for combustion is forced by means of a steam jet or
a blower of any description, and it is furnished with a door at the bottom for the
removal of the ashes from time to time.
At the point where the retort and the combustion chamber meet there are a series
of lateral openings slanting upwards, and leading to a space or channel which sur-
rounds or partly surrounds the retort; through these openings the generated gas
passes, and it is taken off for use at any part of the aforesaid channel.
Instead of a series of openings there may be one continuous opening all round, in
which case the retort is simply suspended by its top, and projects downwards with
its lower edge free.
By the above arrangements it will be seen that the gas finds its exit as soon as
formed in the hot part of the furnace, and without coming in contact with the fresh
and damp fuel, while at the same time a partial distillation takes place in the retort,
and the nascent steam and hydrocarbons therefrom find their way downwards also
to the hot part, whereby the steam becomes decomposed by heat, and the tarry
matters rectified before they pass away mingled with the ascending current.
For ordinary purposes we construct the cupola or furnace of brickwork, which
may be cased outside with iron or not; and the retort, instead of being made of
brick work, may be formed in one piece of baked fire-clay or of cast or wrought iron.
There are many cases however, such as for steam-boat purposes, where brickwork
may be in a great measure if not entirely dispensed with. In such cases we con-
struct the furnace in the form of a double shell of cast or wrought iron, thus

page_text: enclosing an annular space in which water is allowed to circulate, constituting a
steam generator or water heater.
The tuyeres or openings may be arranged so as to perforate the outer walls and
point inwards, but we also sometimes make a channel crossing the middle of the
hearth, which channel is perforated on each side so as to form two sets of currents
pointing outwards in opposite directions.
In order to render the Invention more clearly understood, we hereto annex a
Sheet of Drawings, which we will now proceed to describe.
Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a cross section and an outside elevation of a gas
producing apparatus arranged according to our improved mode of construction.
A is the upper retort; B, the lower combustion chamber; and C, the solid hearth.
The ashes are allowed to accumulate, as before described, on the solid hearth, and a
little above the hearth are a series of tuyeres or openings D, which project inwards,
and through which the air required for combustion is forced; these tuyeres or
openings are in communication, through the side channels E, with one or more bell-
mouthed pipes F, into each of which a jet of steam is blown for the purpose of
forcing in the air. The steam accompanying the air is an advantage, as it tends to
prevent the formation of clinkers, but we do not confine ourselves to the use of a
steam jet, as any effective blower may be employed, either with or without the
introduction of steam.
In order to provide for the removal of the ashes and clinkers, the apparatus is
furnished with one or more doors G, situated immediately above the hearth.
The gas is taken off, as above described, at the point where the retort and com-
bustion chamber meet, as shewn by the direction of the arrows; this is effected
through a series of lateral openings, which lead to a space or channel surrounding or
partly surrounding the retort, the gas eventually issuing by the pipe I to be con-
ducted to the point where it has to be burnt.
The fresh fuel is fed into the apparatus by means of the hopper K, provided with
a bell opening downwards, as commonly practised in the feeding of blast furnaces,
but we do not confine ourselves to this particular mode of feeding.
Figs. 3 and 4 represent a cross section and elevation respectively of a modification
of the above-described apparatus in so far that the lateral openings which conduct
the gas from the combustion chamber are made into a single continuous one. In
this case the retort is formed in one piece of either cast iron or fire-brick, and is
suspended by its top so as to leave its lower end free.
Figs. 5 and 6 shew also a modification of the above arrangement in which the
lower part of the retort terminates with the roof of the combustion chamber, the
channel for the escape of the gases being formed by the fuel itself in its descent.
The tuyeres or openings D have been described as perforating the outer walls
and projecting inwards into the combustion chamber, but Figs. 7 and 8 shew a
modification by which the channel E for conveying the steam and air is arranged
centrally, the tuyeres or openings D pointing in opposite directions; and it may be
here observed that the principal object aimed at in both arrangements is to direct
the current of blast into the centre of the fuel, and prevent it from creeping up the
side walls.
Figs. 9 and 10 also shew another modification in which two sets of central tuyeres
are employed combined with two feeding hoppers; this arrangement will be readily
understood as simply consisting of two producers made into one.
In like manner
three or more may be put together in one continuous line.
We have, with reference to Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, described the gas producing
apparatus as constructed of brickwork, such brickwork being strengthened outside
with iron stays or entirely cased in iron, according to option. There are however
many cases where it is desirable to dispense with brickwork either wholly or par-
tially, and, as above explained, we in such cases construct the apparatus somewhat
in form of a vertical boiler. Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate this arrangement, where A
is the retort, as before; B, the combustion chamber; and C, the hearth, similar
letters referring to similar parts as in all the Figures already described. It will be

page_text: observed that the apparatus thus takes the form of a double shell, between which
water is allowed to circulate, constituting either a steam boiler or a water heater.
In this case the door G for removing the ashes is shewn as opening downwards,
with the tuyeres pointing inwards, but Figs. 13 and 14 exhibit a similar arrange-
ment combined with a central tuyere and doors opening at the sides.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and explained the
manner of performing it, we hereby declare that what we consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
The combination of parts constituting the improved apparatus for making gas,
constructed, arranged, and operating as shewn in and described with reference to
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
We also claim the several modifications of the same apparatus shewn in and
described with reference respectively to Figs. 3 & 4, to Figs. 5 & 6, to Figs. 7 & 8,
to Figs. 9 & 10, to Figs. 11 & 12, and to Figs. 13 & 14 of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Wilson, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
ALFRED WILSON. (L.S.)