IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Brocl, of South Kensington, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING."
Sealed the 4th April 1873, and dated the 31st January 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Brocl at the -
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st January 1873.
I, JOSEPH BROEL, of South Kensington, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar arrangement of apparatus for
producing an inflammable mixture of air and the vapour of volatile
hydrocarbons to be used as a gas for lighting and heating purposes, in
combination with which I employ an automatic regulator for regulating
the production of such inflammable mixture in accordance with the rate
of consumption for the time being.

page_text: According to one mode of carrying out my Invention I combine in
one apparatus a rotatory generator, a fan, or other air-forcing apparatus,
a self-acting supply reservoir and an automatic regulator, the rotatory
gas generator and the fan being driven or caused to rotate by spring
clockwork, also enclosed within the apparatus, or by a weighted cord and
barrel, or by any other suitable and convenient mode of obtaining
motive power. The rotating generator is contained in a separate com-
partment, which I call the generating chamber, and consists of a drum
of double wirework, or other reticulated material, having sponge, cotton
wick, or other suitable absorbent material packed in between the wire-
work of the drum. This drum revolves slowly in a volatile liquid
hydrocarbon contained within the generating chamber, the level of the
liquid being always maintained at such a height as to reach to about the
axis of the drum. This is effected by the self-acting feed reservoir, which
is situate above the generating chamber, and is furnished with a valvo
or other suitable supply apparatus, which is opened by a float or other-
wise when the level of the liquid in the generating chamber is lowered,
and thus allows a fresh supply to pass from the feed reservoir to the
generating chamber. When the level has attained its proper height the
consequent rising of the float closes the supply valve and shuts off the
supply till it is again required. This supply reservoir is to be filled by
hand at suitable intervals, it being made of such a capacity as to contain,
say one month's consumption. An indicator or glass tube should be
fitted to the reservoir to show the level of the liquid therein.
In a chamber by the side of the generating chamber there is provided
a fan blower or other air-forcing apparatus, which like the drum is
driven from the clockwork, but at a higher speed. This fan draws in
fresh air through the side of the fan chamber, and forces such air
through a tube or passage into the upper part of the generating chamber,
so that it may impinge upon the upper part of the drum, and become
mixed with the vapour given off from the hydrocarbon contained in the
porous or absorbent material on the drum. The air inlet to the fan
chamber is fitted with a valve opening inwards, so that no escape of
inflammable air can take place through such aperture. The mixture of
nir and vapour thus obtained in the generating chamber is expelled
through a pipe or passage into the regulating chamber, which is made
to expand and collapse according to the amount of inflammable air
forced therein. This expansion and collapsing of the regulating chamber

page_text: may be accomplished in various ways, for example, it may be con-
structed somewhat like a weighted bellows, or the upper part of the
chamber may consist of an open mouthed inverted vessel, similar to the
upper part of a gasometer, such vessel being sealed by working in any
well-known liquid which is not readily affected by frost; or a weighted
flexible india-rubber diaphragm may be used, the object being to insure
the elevation of the upper part of the regulator, as the supply of
inflammable air increases. To the top of the regulator there is con-
nected a lever, which through the intervention of a connecting rod and
other levers serves to stop or set in motion as required the before-
mentioned clockwork or other motive power, so that the generation of
the inflammable mixture of air and vapour may cease, or be diminished
or increased according to the rate of consumption; the supply pipe or
pipes being lead off directly from the interior of the regulator itself.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Broel in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 31st July 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPII
BROEL, of South Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the 36th
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Joseph Brocl, Her special license that I, the
said Joseph Broel, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Joseph Broel, my executors, administrators, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from timo to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, usc, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING
AND HEATING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Joseph Broel, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and

page_text: ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar montlis next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Broel, do hereby declare |
the nature of my said Inventiou, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
-
My said Invention relates to a peculiar combination and arrangement
of apparatus for producing a mixture of air with the vapour of volatilo
hydrocarbons to be used as a gas for lighting and heating purposes, in
connection with which apparatus I employ an automatic regulator for
regulating the production of such inflammable mixture in accordance
with the rate of consumption.
In carrying out my Invention I combine in one apparatus a rotating
generator, a set of bellows, or other air-forcing apparatus, a self-acting
supply reservoir, and an automatic gas holder and regulator; the rotatory
gas generator and the air-forcing apparatus being. driven or caused to
rotate by spring clockwork also combined with the apparatus, or by a 2
weighted cord and barrel, or by any other suitable and convenient mode
of obtaining rotatory motion. The rotating generator is contained in a
separate compartment which I call the generating chamber, and consists
of a drum of double wirework or other reticulated material, having
sponge, cotton wick, or other suitable absorbent material packed in?
between the wirework of the drum. This drum revolves slowly in a
volatile liquid hydrocarbon contained within the generating chamber,
the level of the liquid being always maintained at such a height as to
reach to about the axis of the drum. I prefer to make this drum
buoyant, so that it shall float upon the liquid.
The level of the liquid is maintained constant or nearly so by the
self-acting feed reservoir, which is situate above the generating chamber,
and is furnished with a supply pipe which dips into the liquid in the
generating chamber. When the level of the liquld in the generating
chamber becomes too low, it unscals a vent pipe which dips into the a
liquid and opens into the upper part of the supply reservoir, whereupon
a fresh supply passes from the feed reservoir into the generating

page_text: chamber. When the level has attained its proper height the consequent
closing or scaling of the vent pipe prevents any further supply till it
is again required. This supply reservoir is to be filled by hand at
suitable intervals, it being made of such a capacity as to contain say one
month's consumption. An indicator or glass tube should be fitted to
the reservoir to shew the level of the liquid therein.
In a chamber by the side of the generating chamber there is provided
a set of bellows or other air-forcing apparatus, which like the drum arc
driven from the clockwork, but at a higher speed; these bellows force
air through a tube or passage into the interior of the drain in the
generating chamber, so that it may permeate the absorbent material on
the upper surface of the revolving drum, and become mixed with the
vapour given off from the hydro-carbon contained in the said porous or
absorbent material. If a fan be used as the air-forcing apparatus, the
air inlet to the fan chamber should be fitted with a valve opening
inwards, so that no escape of inflammablo air can take place through
such aperture. The mixture of air and vapour thus obtained in the
generating chamber is expelled through a pipe or passage into the holder
or regulating chamber, which is made to expand and collapse according
to the amount of inflammable air forced therein. This expansion and
collapsing of the regulating chamber may be accomplished in various
ways; for example, it may be constructed somewhat similar to a
weighted bellows, or the upper part of the chamber may consist of an
open mouthed inverted vessel, similar to the upper part of a gasometer,
such vessel being scaled by working in any liquid which is not readily
affected by frost. Or a weighted flexible india-rubber diaphragm may
be used, the object being to ensure the elevation of the upper part of the
regulator as the supply of inflammable air increases. To the top of
the regulator there is connected a lever, which through the inter-
vention of a connecting rod and other levers serves to stop or set in
motion as required the before-mentioned clockwork or other motive
power, so that the generation of the inflammable mixture of air and
vapour may cease, or be diminished or increased according to the rate of
consumption, the supply pipe or pipes being led off directly from the
interior of the regulator itself.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose

page_text: the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in both the
Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a side elevation of the improved
combined apparatus herein-before referred to, and Figure 2 is a vertical
section of the same taken along the line 1-2 in Figure 1.
a is a short metal box or casing of any suitable size, according to the
number of lights to be supplied. In the lower part of this casing I
provide, say three bellows, b, b', 6", all opening into an air chest c, which
communicates by the bent pipes d, d, with the interior of the revolving
drum e of the generator, the pipes d entering the opposite end of the
drum, which are each made with a central opening for that purpose.
This drum is mounted on a spindle working through stuffing boxes in
each end of the generating chamber g, which is separated from the air
chest and bellows by the partition h.
I prefer to make the drum buoyant so as to reduce the friction on its
bearings, for which purpose a closed air chamber is made in the centre
of the drum, so that it may float on the liquid hydrocarbon contained
in the generating chamber g. The circumference of the drum is com-
posed of double wirework containing between them a layer of cotton
wick, sponge, or other absorbing material. A drain pipe and cock /
may be fitted to the bend of each of the air pipes d, d, to draw off any
liquid hydro-carbon which may collect therein; m is the self-acting
feed reservoir for supplying the generating chamber with liquid hydro-
carbon, and maintaining the level of such liquid uniform or nearly so in
the generating chamber. This reservoir is constructed on the top of the
box or casing a immediately over the generating chamber, and com-
municates with that chamber by the supply pipe 1, which descends
nearly to the bottom thereof; o is a vent or iron pipe fitted inside the
feed reservoir, and descending to the level of the liquid in the generating
chamber, so as to be scaled when the liquid is at the proper level. The
upper end of this vent pipe opens into the upper part of the feed
reservoir; p is a funnel and feed pipe for supplying the feed reservoir
when necessary; y is a glass guage tube for shewing the level of the
liquid in the feed reservoir. So soon as the bottom of the vent pipe
becomes unscaled by the undue falling of the level of the liquid in tho
generating chamber, a sufficient quantity of liquid immediately enters
the generating chamber by the pipe to restore the proper fluid level.

page_text: A horizontal partition or diaphragm is placed in the upper part of the
generating chamber above the drum, such partition extending not quite
across the said chamber, so as to afford a passage for the mixture of air
and vapour out of the generating chamber into the holder or self-acting
regulators, the mixture entering therein at the bottom by the pipe or
passage t, which is closed by a valve opening into the regulator. The
outlet or supply pipe and cock leading from the holder or regulator to
the burners is shown at u. The lower part of the regulator may consist
of a metal chamber 8, whilst its upper part is composed of leather or
other flexible material s', which is made perfectly close and air-tight,
and is allowed to rise and fall as it expands and collapses by the
increased or reduced supply of inflammable air thereto, the rising and
falling part of tho regulator being guided by the vertical guide rods v, v.
On a framing situate over the centre of the top of the regulator there is
fitted a moveable stud w, which is connected to a horizontal lever a
working on a centre a', the other end of which lever is connected by a
rod y to a catch lever attached to the side of the regulator. This catch
lever is engaged with or released from the teeth of a spur wheel 1
mounted or formed on the barrel of a coiled clockwork spring, so that
when the holder or regulator is full, it will, by bringing its top against
thic stud wo cause the catch lever to cugage with the teeth of the clock-
work, and arrest its motion as the inflammable air is consumed, the top
of the regulator will descend, and by removing the pressure from the
stud to will allow the catch lever z by its own gravity to turn and relcasc
the clockwork, which again starts the bellows and generator drum, as
herein-after described. This clockwork actuates through a train of
wheels 2 the crank shaft 3 which actuates one of the bellows 6", and
transmits motion to the two other crank shafts 4 and 5 by the coupling
rod 6, which is connected to discs 7 on these shafts, and to the actuating
spur wheel S on the first crank shaft 3.
2
The cranks should be so arranged that each bellows will follow the
other in regular order, the last bellows & being fully expanded when the
first 6 is collapsed, and vice versa, whilst the centre bellows &' will at
the same time be at half stroke; consequently there will always be a
continuous supply of air forced into the air chest c.
The drum e may
be driven from the crank shaft 5 by a strap and pulley 9, as shewn in
my Drawings, or it may be driven by toothed gearing inside the box or
casing, or if preferred it may be caused to rotate in the liquid hydro-

page_text: carbon by the action alone of the air forced therein, somewhat after the
manner of the measuring drum of a wet gas meter.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to b
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by tho hercin-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The peculiar combination and arrangement of apparatus for
producing an inflammable mixture of air and hydrocarbon vapour, the
said apparatus being rendered self-regulating so as to control the supply 10
of inflammable mixture according to the rate of consumption, and the
whole being arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for
the purpose herein-before described and illustrated by the Drawings
annexed.
Second. The application and use of the self-acting regulator for 1
arresting the driving mechanism which works the air-forcing apparatus,
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Third. Passing the air from an air-forcing apparatus into the interior
of a revolving drum partly immersed in liquid hydrocarbon, and causing
such air to pass through absorbing material in the surface of such drum, 2
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, tho said Joseph Brocl, have to this my
Specification set my hand and scal, the Twenty-fourth day of
July One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.