IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Fitzjames Russell, of Piccadilly, in the
County of Middlesex, and William Henry Carbines, of Southwark
Street, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS."
Sealed the 24th October 1866, and dated the 24th April 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Fitzjames Russell
and William. Henry Carbines at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 24th April 1866.
We, GEORGE FITZJAMES RUSSELL, of Piccadilly, in the County of
Middlesex, and WILLIAM HENRY CARBINES, of Southwark Street, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of gas
applicable to lighting and heating purposes. We propose to use for the
production of carburetted hydrogen gas cocoa nut shells, fir cones,. beech
nuts, acorns, shells of Brazil nuts, and other shells of nuts, or a combination
of any of them. We place these in a retort of cast iron, and subject the
same to a sufficient degree of heat to cause the gas evolved in their decom-

page_text: position to pass off. From the retort the gas is conducted to a purifier
containing lime water, whence the purified gas is conveyed to a gasometer
in a condition suitable for use for lighting and heating. The retort may be
composed of earthenware if preferred, the materials from which the gas is
evolved being of so low a specific gravity. After the gas is obtained from the
cocoa nut or fir cones the production of ammoniacal liquor commences, con-
sisting chiefly of bydrocarbons and oils, the ultimate result being charcoal of
a very superior quality, suitable for various useful purposes.
The gas produced from the before-mentioned materials will require but
little purification, its passage through the lime water being amply sufficient.
The amount of carbon evolved in the retort will be found ample for the
production of a brilliant light. The whole of the gas will be consumed, and
there will consequently be no escape of deleterious vapours, such as occur in
the use of ordinary coal gas, where sulphuretted hydrogen is given off during
the process of burning.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Fitzjames Russell and William Henry Carbines in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th October 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
FITZJAMES RUSSELL, of Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, and WILLIAM
HENRY CARBINES, of Southwark Street, in the County of Surrey, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said George Fitzjames Russell and William Henry Carbines, Her special
licence that we, the said George Fitzjames Russell and William Henry
Carbines, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we,
the said George Fitzjames Russell and William Henry Carbines, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
or GAS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said George

page_text: Fitzjames Russell and William Henry Carbines, our executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing. under our, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and 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 months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Fitzjames Russell, do hereby
declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of gas
applicable to lighting and heating purposes. We propose to use for the pro-
duction of carburetted bydrogen gas cocoa nut shells, fir cones, beech nuts,
acorns, shells of Brazil nuts, and other shells of nuts, with or without the
contents of such shells, and in any combination desired. We place these in
a retort of cast iron, and subject the same to a sufficient degree of heat to
cause the gas evolved in their decomposition to pass off. From the retort
the gas is conducted to a purifier containing lime water or other purifying
agent, whence the purified gas is conveyed to a gasometer in a condition
suitable for use for lighting and heating. The retort may be composed of
earthenware if preferred, the materials from which the gas is evolved being
of so low a specific gravity. After the gas is obtained from the cocoa nut, fir
cones, or other materials named, the production of ammoniacal liquor
commences, consisting chiefly of hydrocarbons and oils, the ultimate result
being charcoal of a very superior quality, suitable for various useful purposes.
The shells may either be dried before being placed in the retort, or if
containing moisture a condenser must be used in order to withdraw the steam
from the gas.
The gas produced from the before-mentioned materials will require but
little purification, its passage through the lime water or other purifying agent
being amply sufficient. The amount of carbon evolved in the retort will be
found ample for the production of a brilliant light.
The whole of the gas
will be consumed, and there will consequently be no escape of deleterious
vapours, such as occur in the use of ordinary coal gas, where sulphuretted
hydrogen is given off during the process of burning.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be carried into effect, we would remark in con-
clusion that we do not restrict ourselves to any special form of apparatus for

page_text: the manufacture of gas from the materials named, nor to the particular shells
or their contents, or fir "cones, or nuts; but what we claim and desire to be
secured to us by the herein in part recited Letters Patent is, the application
for the purpose of the manufacture of gas of cocoa nut shells, cocoa nuts, or
other nut shells or nuts, such as beech nuts, Brazil nuts, or others, fir cones,
and acorns, substantially as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Fitzjames Russell, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
GEORGE F. RUSSELL. (L.s.)
Witness,
J. C. H. SIEVIER,
Clerk to Messrs. Prince & Co.,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.