NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS OF OR PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING, STORING, AND UTILIZING GAS FOR LIGHTING OR ILLUMINATING, HEATING, MOTIVE POWER, AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Alfred Barlow; of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, in
the City of London, Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "NEW OR IMPROVED
MEANS OF OR PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING, STORING, AND
UTILIZING GAS FOR LIGHTING OR ILLUMINATING, HEATING, MOTIVE POWER,
AND OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Alfred Barlow at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd May 1881.
WALTER ALFRED BARLOW, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, in the City of London,
Civil Engineer. "NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS OF OR PROCESS AND APPARATUS
FOR OBTAINING, STORING, AND UTILIZING GAS FOR LIGHTING OR ILLUMINATING,
HEATING, MOTIVE POWER, AND OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to new or improved means or process and apparatus for
obtaining, storing, and utilizing gas for lighting or illuminating, heating, motive
power, and other purposes, and in apparatus to be used therewith, the whole being
dependant upon the practicably effecting of the electroylitic decomposition of
water (hitherto effected as a laboratory process) by means of the powerful currents
available as generated by the dynamo-electric machine when employed as herein-
after set forth, whereby the gases oxygen and hydrogen may be involved, stored,
and utilized at a cost which will allow of their being used with advantage for
commercial purposes and as a new manufacture.
In carrying out the Invention I proceed as follows:
:
and
The dynamo machine to be employed is wound with fine and coarse wire from
the same bobbin in order to obtain a current of combined " " intensity
"quantity," or the machine is connected up to obtain this result, or two machines,
one intensity and the other quantity, may be used; the opposite poles of the
machine are connected'alternately to metal rods arranged within or over a tank or
L
'
-

page_text: reservoir. These metal rods carry plates (platinum) to serve as anodes, and the
tank will be provided with a water supply apparatus for supplying and maintaining
the water in the tank at a level; this is the water which is to be decomposed to
evolve the gases. Over the rods there are placed hoods or covers, which dip down
into the water of the tank, and to the upper part of said hoods are connected pipes
leading to gas receivers provided with flap valves opening inward to admit and
retain the gas.
The alternate rods of the tank are connected to one pole of the dynamo machine
and the other rods to the other pole; upon the current being passed the decom-
position of the water takes place, the oxygen gas being evolved to one pole and
the hydrogen to the other pole in an unmixed' state. These gases, therefore, rising
within the hoods are carried off by the pipes to their respective and separate
reservoirs, -and-as the hoods dip deeply into the water a certain pressure will
be obtained without fear, of the gases escaping under the lower edges of the
hoods.
1
The first receiver is formed as a cylinder and will be provided with inlet and
outlet flap valves and provided with a piston forcing the gas into the gasometers to
attain pressure.
The platinum plates may be made very thin as a foil and be arranged in frames
(to stiffen the sheets) in the tank, the extent of surface of the plates exposed to the
water giving greater or less result.
The water in the tank will be slightly acidulated by addition of an acid
(sulphuric acid, for example) to conduct the electricity.
The dynamo-electric-machine which I prefer to emyloy is that made according to
the Specifications of Letters Patent granted to one William Elmore, dated
4th day of September 1879, No. 3565, and dated 22nd day of September 1879,
No. 3832; when prepared or used as hereinbefore directed, whereby the immense
volumes of electricity obtained are of the voltaic character which is requisite to
secure the proper results, but other machines prepared or used as aforesaid. may be
employed.
In supplying the gases from the storing gasometers the "main" will be provided
with a succession of gauze covers or diaphragms, as also will the supply pipes at
the supply end to prevent back pressure or danger of extended explosion in case of
an initial explosion at any point.
For using the gas for lighting purposes the whole system of pipes at present
existing can be utilized with the addition of the necessary diaphragms as before
described and burners for the purpose, but if the two gases be used together a
separate system of pipes will be requisite in addition to the ordinary system, and
the burners for the gas will be of duplex construction and be burned against
cylindrical pieces of lime, as in the lime light. Again, the oxygen can be employed
as auxiliary to the combustion of ordinary combustible matters, such as coal gas,
hydrocarbons, and so forth.
For using the gases for heating and metallurgical purposes, and for other
purposes in chemical operations, the gases will be employed either alone or in
combination from nozzles or pipes capable of regulating the supply of one or other
of the gases, or the two in mixture at the outlet, but always with the successive
diaphragms if employed together; thus the oxygen will be used as a necessary or
powerful auxiliary in some processes of smelting in addition to the ordinary
carbonaceous fuel for oxidizing flames and intensifying the heat and the hydrogen
be employed as reducing agent, or the two gases be employed for simultaneous
combustion in a gas furnace.
For motive power the highly explosive character of the two gases in admixture
will be employed in the discharge cylinder of gas engines, which cylinder will have
_to_ be fitted, with successive gauze diaphragms at the inlet to prevent the explosion
and consequent generation of heat firing the next free amount of gas, which,
however, if it did occur in the case of the provision I have specified, would be
lessened immediately and decreasingly in intensity as the successive diaphragms

page_text: were reached; at most three such diaphragms would suffice for all ordinary
purposes.
As an instance of the advance in the arts and sciences which would be effected
by the successful carrying out of this Invention I give the following:-
Given the apparatus as specified, the dynamo machine has to be driven from a
motive power engine, a gas engine being selected. Upon the engine being started
running the dynamo machine will be driven, the current passes into the tank of
water under treatment, and the gases are evolved in large volumes and pass over
to their receivers, a portion of which gases are then employed in the driving of the
engine. If now the gases obtained are in excess of the quantity requisite for
driving the engine there will be set up what I may call a "perpetual motive cycle,"
affording, however, an available power over and above that employed. Perpetual
motion is, however, out of the question; the whole depends upon (1) the generation
of electricity as described; (2) the electricity as directed and operating to liberate
from the element water the gaseous forces for utilization, the equation being
completed by (3) the quantity of water supplied.
The oxygen thus obtained will be available amongst other purposes as ณ
disinfectant, than which no other is more powerful, as is well known.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Walter Alfred Barlow in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd November 1881.
WALTER ALFRED BARLOW, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, in the City of London,
Civil Engineer. "NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS OF OR PROCESS AND APPARATUS
FOR OBTAINING, STORING, AND UTILIZING GAS FOR LIGHTING OR ILLUMINATING,
HEATING, MOTIVE-POWER, AND OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to new or improved means of or process and apparatus for
obtaining, storing, and utilizing gas for lighting or illuminating, heating, motive
power, and other purposes, and in apparatus to be used therewith, the whole being
dependant upon the practically effecting of the electrolytic decomposition of water
(hitherto effected as a laboratory process) by means of the powerful currents
available as generated by the dynamo-electric machine when employed as herein-
after set forth, whereby the gases oxygen and hydrogen inay be evolved, stored,
and utilized at a cost which will allow of their being used with advantage for
commercial purposes and as a new manufacture.
In carrying out this Invention I proceed as follows:-The dynamo machine to
be employed is wound with fine and coarse wire upon the same core or bobbin
in order to obtain a current of "intensity" and "quantity" that is of large volume
and of sufficient electro motive force to decompose the acidulated water with a
minimum consumption of power used in driving the dynamo-electric-machine, or
the machine is connected up to obtain this result, or two machines, one "intensity"
and the other "quantity may be used, the opposite poles of the machine being
connected alternately to metal rods arranged within or over a tank or reservoir
called for convenience the "decomposing tank" and represented in the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings at Figs. 1, 2, and 3, wherein A is the wooden shell of the tank
with a sheet laid lining a "burnt "by the blow-pipe, together at the joints, the
lead sheet being turned over at the top edge at a¹ and a wooden edge b being
secured upon the top upon which the conducting electrode rods P, N, will rest,
which are connected by the rods P¹, N', similarly to the connection of a plating
tank.
These metal rods carry plates e of platinum 001 of an inch gauge will be well
(but carbon platinized will effect results less perfect) to serve as anode and cathode
electrodes, and the tank will be provided with a water supply apparatus for
supplying and maintaining the water in the tank at a level and circulating through
a refrigerating or cooling system of pipes; this is the water (acidulated to the
degree as is theoretically well known) which has to be decomposed to evolve the
gases. The level of the water is kept constant by the overflow pipe B, and
the supply and return after cooling may be brought in at C, both coming into the
tank below the water level. Over the rods P, N, and electrodes e there are placed
hoods or covers D and E; I make these of lead formed up in halves and burnt
together longitudinally, and provided with T pieces for connection, which hoods
dip down in the water in the tank to provide a water-seal, and to the upper part
of said hoods by the T pieces are connected pipes D1 and E¹ leading to gas
receivers (not shown) provided with flap valves opening inward to admit and
retain the gas. The electrode rods P, N, are passed through holes in the hoods at
each side, and are insulated, and a tight closing of the holes is affected by short
lengths of india-rubber or gutta-percha introduced into the holes and encircling
the rods at that point, leakage being prevented further by caoutchouc cement.
The plantinum plates are thin as a foil, and arranged in frames to stiffen the
sheets and expose the greatest extent of surface of the plates for the electrolytic
effect, said frames being made of wood (strips used as printers' furniture are

page_text: convenient); Fig. 4 represents the frames in side view with connections to the
rods P or N by the supporting wires ƒ passed through flattened parts g, and
screwed close with nuts to give good contact; e is the platinum sheet in close
contact with the supporting wire at f¹, which lies in a groove in the top bar of the
frame, and both the sheet e and wire f¹ are clamped in the frame and in contact
by the strip of the frame, and the plate e is further held at the bottom by the
strip ', the bars forming the frame being pegged together by wooden pegs as
indicated. The screwed ends of the rods P or N render the fitting of the electrodes
in the hoods convenient by passing the rod ends through the holes in the hoods
from each side; Fig. 5 shows top view of the rods. If hooks or eyes only are used
at ends of supporting wire f platinum contacts must be used; k are bars arranged
at bottom of tank with cross bars thereon fixed at a slight distance apart, between
which are placed porous plates m of material like that used for battery cells with
holes perforated therethrough at lower edge to allow of the passage of water, and
the hoods are made with a bend or bead at the sides which rest on the top edge
of the plates m. The alternate rods P are connected to the positive pole of the
dynamo-machine, and the other rods N to the negative pole, and upon the current
being passed the decomposition of the water takes place with evolution of oxygen
gas to one pole and hydrogen to the other pole in an unmixed state. These gases
therefor rising within the hoods are carried off by the pipes to their respective and
separate reservoirs, and as the hoods dip deeply into the water a certain pressure will
be obtained without fear of the gases escaping under the edges of the hoods. The
first receiver is formed as a cylinder, and will be provided with a piston for
forcing the gas into the gasometer to obtain pressure. If the decomposing tank
be provided with only one hood, the resultant gases will be in a mixed state, but
of the well known dangerous character not fit for storage purposes in quantity, but
useful for gas engines or furnace use where the consumption immediately follows
the production. The dynamo-electric machine which I prefer to employ is that
made according to the Specifications of Letters Patent granted to one William
Elmore, dated 4th day of September 1879, No. 3565, and dated 22nd day of
September 1880, No. 3832, when prepared or used, as hereinafter directed, whereby
the immense volumes of electricity obtained are such as are requisite to secure the
proper results. To particularize for the direction as to making the structural parts.
or design of the "Elmore" machine employed will be the same as are set out in the
Specifications of the Patents before referred to, and which therefor require no
further description, but for the winding and connections I find that upon a machine
having field magnets with cores of five-eighths of an inch thickness of metal and
three inches long, that is, computing the length from the face plate or pole piece of
the magnet to the back plate which is bolted against the upright standards, and
radially speaking four inches deep, and covered with a primary insulation of mill
or straw board glued on; there is to be wound No. 10 Birmingham guage wire
with double cotton insulation laid side by side, and overlaying (the more tightly
and evenly wound the better) until there is a thickness of coil of three quarters of
an inch upon each side of the core and all around, so forming the magnets. The
wires of these magnets are all connected together for intensity and for alternate
poles. The magnet cores on the armature are of the same thickness of metal and
the same radial depth, but are one and a quarter inches long, and are insulated and
wound in the same way, and are to be connected for quantity and for alternate
poles. The machine is put together and set up with the connections to commutator
brush holders and terminals as described in the Specification of the Elmore Patents
befere referred to. This is found to be the best means for obtaining the current of
the desired character, but instead of winding the field magnets with No. 10 wire,
No. 12 wire can be used, and the armature magnets are wound with No. 10 wire,
and connected up as before described. Again, when the magnet cores are wound
with fine and coarse No. 10 and No. 12 wire at the same time that is laid on side
by side, both the field and armature magnets are so wound, and both are connected
for intensity with alternate poles, but the lengths of wire forming such duplicate

page_text: coils have the ends thereof brought out side by side, and are connected together,
that is, are merged into one at the connecting pieces of the magnet coils.
From these directions any practical electrician will be able to effect the object,
and apply the same to the mechanical structure of dynamo electric machines of
other design for obtaining the required result.
When two machines are used, one "quantity" and the other "intensity," the
quantity machine should be wound with No. 10 wire, and the intensity machine
with No. 12 wire, but the current from the intensity machine is to be directed
through the field magnets of the quantity machine, and the current to be used in
the decomposition of the water is to be taken from the arinature of the quantity
machine by the terminals of the quantity machine being connected direct to the
brushes thereof..
The dynamo machine so prepared, and the double hooded decomposing tank for
the effecting of the electrolysis, is equally applicable for carrying out commercially
the laboratory processes effected by battery, as, for instance, the obtaining unmixed
equal volumes of hydrogen and chlorine gases by the use of carbon electrodes in a
chlorine solution containing about 30 p. e. H.Cl.
..:
When obtaining unmixed gases the circuit from the inachine is to have provided
therein an automatically operating cut off (introduced between the negative
terminal and the decomposing tank), consisting of a pivoted polarized arinature in
contact with an electro-magnet, similarly to that described in the Elmore Patent,
35657,.so that the polarized armature will, in the event of a reversal of current,
be repelled and break the circuit, and the, electrolytic action will be immediately
arrested to prevent a mixture of gases which would otherwise take place upon the
change of polarity.
The gases will be passed through a wash tank and drying apparatus as required.
In supplying the gases from the storing gasometer, the "main" will be provided
with a succession of gauze covers or diaphragms as will the supply pipes at the
supply end, to prevent back pressure or danger of extended explosion, in case of an
initial explosion at any point. In Fig. 6 is shown the construction of. safety
diaphragms that I employ. The pipes are flanged at their. adjacent ends n, a
double Hanged piece o, and two ring pieces p, said ring pieces having grooves q
turned in their faces for the reception of packing, and the guaze wire diaphragms
are laid between, and mass of fine crushed wire is introduced into the piece o
between the diaphragms; crushed wire may be also laid between the diaphragms
themselves.
+
For using the gas for lighting purposes the whole system of pipes at present
existing can be utilized with the addition or the necessary diaphragins, as before
described, and burners for the purpose; but if the two gases be used together a
separate system of pipes will be requisite in addition to the ordinary system of
pipes, and the burners for the gas will be of duplex construction and be burned
against cylindrical pieces of lime, as for the "lime light." Again, the oxygen.can
be employed as auxiliary to the combustion of ordinary combustible .matters' such
as coal gas, hydro carbons, and so forth, and for the making of so called water gas;
the hydrogen produced according to this Invention is employed directly to be
enriched by the dydro-carbons and oxygen.
:
For using the gases for heating and metallurgical purposes and for other
purposes in chemical operations, the gases will be employed either alone or in
combination from nozzles or pipes, capable of regulating the supply of one or other
of the gases, or the two in mixture at the outlet, but always with the successive
diaphragms if employed together, thus the oxygen will be used as a powerful
auxiliary in some processes of smelting in addition to the ordinary carbonaceous
fuel for oxidising flames and intensifying the heat, and the hydrogen be employed
as reducing agent or the two gases be employed for simultaneous combustion in a
gas or oxyhydrogen furnace.
For motive power the highly explosive character-of-the two- gases in admixture
will be employed in the discharge cylinder of gas engines, which cylinder will have

page_text: to be fitted with successive gauze diaphragms at the inlet to prevent the explosions
and consequent generation of heat firing the next free amount of gas, which
however, if it did occur in the case of the provision I have specified, would be.
lessened immediately and decreasingly in intensity as the successive diaphragms
were reached; in the union shown in Fig. 6, there are shown four diaphragms, but
in many cases two would be sufficient.
The oxygen thus obtained is in an oxonized state, and will be available amongst
other purposes as a disinfectant, than which no other is more powerful, as is well
known, and for bleaching purpose and generally for oxidizing purposes, and ozone
is produced by the use of the oxygen obtained being subjected to a succession of
electrical discharges therethrough in a receiver.
For obtaining pure nitrogen gas, the hydrogen produced is employed as follows:
A tank is furnished for containing water and fitted with a gas pipe leading in
from below, and connected to a rose or set of jets. Above the tank is hung a
counterbalanced hood or gasometer cover capable of being raised or lowered, and
having a stop cock for admission of air and a second stop cock with tube
connection for leading off the nitrogen to its gas holler when liberated.
In using
the apparatus the air tap is opened and the weights draw up the hood, the
bottom edge whereof, however, is to dip in the water and the tap is closed.
The hydrogen supply is then turned on and immediately ignited by an electric
spark and the consumption of the oxygen commences, the hood meanwhile
gradually lowering down until when the oxygen is exhausted, the hydrogen flame
goes out and the residue is pure nitrogen. This is now allowed to discharge by its
conduit into its receiver until the hood has fully sunk into the water, when the
nitrogen tap is closed the air tap opened, and the hood rises, and so on.
Without pointing out further the many uses to which the gases obtained
as described are applicable, I would mention that these primary chemical bodies
will be employed for the purpose of synthesis, chemical combinations, and pro-
duction of chemical compounds by heat together or with other bodies, gaseous and
solid.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention I claim,―
First. The preparation and use of dynamo electric machines, as herein set forth,
for obtaining the quality of current for use, as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Second. The construction and fitting of the decomposing tank with the hoods,
electrodes, rods, and connections, operating as and for the purpose herein specified.
Third. The use of the gases obtained in the manner herein described, as and for
the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Alfred Barlow, have hereunto set my
hand seal, this Twenty fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WALTER A. BARLOW. (L.S.)