An Improved Apparatus for the Production or Generation of Gas of High Illuminating Power.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for the Production or Generation of Gas
of High Illuminating Power.
We, GEORGE WANDERPEPEN and ALEXANDRE VAN BERCKELAER, both of 73, Rue
de l'Etune, Brussels, Belgium, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
-
The subject of the present invention is an apparatus for the production or manu-
facture of gas of a high candle power, this gas being obtained by the reaction
of the acidulated water of sulphuric acid upon iron or upon the ores of that metal,
giving hydrogen, which latter is then passed through or over substances rich in
carbon, such as naphtha, benzine, by which it is carburetted.
The apparatus comprises a reservoir into which is run water and sulphuric acid
in predetermined proportions, this reservoir is fitted with a tube which conducts
the acidulated water to the lower part of a hermetically closed reservoir near the
bottom of which is arranged a perforated plate of red copper which supports the
iron or the ore, the cover of this latter reservoir carrying a little container mounted
upon gudgeons or trunnions, which holds the iron or ore for the charging of the
reservoir, which charging operation is performed by turning round the little
container.
The hydrogen gas produced escapes at a tube communicating with the upper
part of the reservoir and is conducted to a washer containing water, and fitted
with baffle plates, or partitions which cause the gas to pursue a tortuous course
in order to traverse the water of the washer. The tube by which the gas is brought
is perforated with holes towards its extremity and is covered over with fine wire
gauze.
From the washer the hydrogen gas is delivered into the carburettor which latter
is arranged in a manner practically similar to the washer, and from thence the
gas is delivered either direct for consumption or into a gasometer.
Dated thie 27th der of March 1899.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for the Production or Generation of Gas
of High Illuminating Power.
We, GEORGE WANDER PEPEN and ALEXANDRE VAN BERCKELAER, both of 73, Rue
de l'Etune, Brussels, Belgium, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this
D
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page_text: invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
The subject of the present invention is an apparatus for the production of gas
of a high illuminating or candle-power, the said gas being obtained by the
reaction of water acidulated with sulphuric acid, upon iron or upon ores of that
metal, generating hydrogen, which is next passed through or over substances rich
in carbon such as naphtha, benzine by which it is carburetted.
The accompanying drawing, which is given by way of example, represents a
vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus. In this drawing, A, indicates
a reservoir for the acidulated water, B, the gas generator, and C, and G, a washer
and a carburetter which are constructed in a like manner. The reservoir for the
acidulated water A, is connected by means of a tube c with the generator B, which
latter communicates by means of a tube h with the washer C, and this washer is
connected by means of a tube i, with the carburetter G. The generator; the
washer, and the carburetter are each provided with gauges for indicating the
level of the contents, fitted with cocks m. The reservoir A, is provided with two
tubes a and b, the first tube a serving for the introduction into it of the water, the
other being for the purpose of pouring in the acid.
In the generator B, at a certain distance from the bottom, is arranged a
formed of red copper perforated with a number of holes, intended to receive iron
plate
or iron ores which will be immersed in the acidulated water, the holes in the
plate, whilst permitting the passage of the acidulated water, facilitating the
chemical reaction.
The generator is hermetically closed by means of a cover or lid, and in the centre
of this cover or lid is perforated an opening covered or closed by a holder or
receiver so as to form a tight joint, and which holder or receiver serves to contain
the charge of metal or the ore, and is so arranged that it can be swung or turned
round so as to upset this charge of metal or this charge of ore into the generator.
For this purpose the said receiver or holder f mounted upon two trunnions or
gudgeons one of which is prolonged so as to form a stem and to project or extend
inrough to the exterior of the lid or cover, and is fitted with an operating handle
or wheel at its free extremity.
The washer C, is provided interiorly with baffles or partitions 1, l, arranged
alternately and inclined or obliquely; the carburetter being likewise fitted with
partitions arranged in a similar manner as those of the washer, and being filled
or charged with benzine or with naphtha. Upon the cover of the carburetter is
provided a tube k, by which the gas escapes to be delivered to the burners or to
the gasometer or gas-holder.
The receivers B, C, and G, are provided with emptying or purging cocks; the
washer and the carburetter are each provided with a tube n closed by means of a
screw plug.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The reservoir is filled with water and with acid through the tubes a and b.
The proportion of water and of acid admitted through the above mentioned tubes
being regulated or adjusted by the opening to a greater or lesser extent of each
of the two cocks. The acidulated water formed in the reservoir A, runs out under
a certain charge or at a given rate through the tube c and is delivered to the lower
part of the generator B, where it immerses the metal placed in the perforated
plate g.
The hydrogen produced or generated by the decomposition of the water escapes
through the tube h which communicates with the bottom of the washer C, into
which it extends. The portion of this tube which is located in the washer is per-
forated with numerous holes and is covered with a wire gauze shield or guard
which serves the purpose of retaining any impurities which the gas may have
carried over and of spreading the gas into the mass of water. The gas passing
up takes a zig-zag course along the baffles or partitions through the entire height
of the washer, escaping through the tube i in order to be conducted to the lower

page_text: part of the carburetter G; it then passes through this latter from bottom to top
following the partitions or baffles which are arranged in that receptacle, bubbling
up or percolating through the carburetting liquid, and being finally delivered
through the tube k, to the point of consumption or to a gasometer or gas-holder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:--
1. An apparatus for the generation of gas of high illuminating power, consisting
mainly in the generation of hydrogen gas by the decomposition of water under
the action of sulphuric acid and of iron, and in the subsequent carburetting of
this gas, characterized, by a reservoir in which are mixed water and sulphuric
acid, by an arrangement for the generation of hydrogen gas, by a washer, and by a
carburetter.
2. In the apparatus claimed in the first claim, a receiver for the water and the
acid, provided with two tubes governed by stop cocks or valves for the delivery
into the said tank or receptacle at or near its lower extremity, and provided with
mixture being regulated at will by the opening to a greater or lesser extent of the
above mentioned cocks or valves.
3. In the apparatus claimed in the First Claim the provision of arrangement
for the production of hydrogen, characterized by a receptacle or tank hermetically
closed, near the bottom of which is mounted a perforated plate of red copper sup-
porting iron or iron ores, by a charging arrangement comprising a holder or
receiver operated by a stem piece and a handle or hand-wheel, and which can be
turned round or rotated to throw the metal or the ores into the receptacle or tank,
this latter being supplied at its lower end with acidulated water delivered from the
reservoir A, and being provided at its upper end with a tube h for the delivery of
the hydrogen gas generated therein.,
4. In the apparatus claimed in the First Claim, an arrangement for the washing
of the gas generated in the receiver B, characterized by a closed tank or receptacle,
by a tube torming a prolongation of the hereinbefore mentioned tube h, extending
into the said tank or receptacle at or near its lower extremity, and provided with
numerous holes, by a wire gauze shield or guard surrounding that part of the
tube which is located on the interior of the tank cr receptacle by inclined parti-
tions or baffles placed alternately so as to break joint and forcing the gas to traverse
a long path through the water in the washer, and lastly by a delivery pipe or tube
for the escape of the hydrogen.
5. In the apparatus claimed in the First Claim, an arrangement of carburetter
formed in the same manner as the washer claimed in the Fourth Claim, this washer
being filled with a carburetting liquid such as naphtha or benzine, and possessing
an escape or delivery pipe for the carburetted gas communicating with the point
of consumption, or with a gasometer or gas-holder, the carburetter as well as the
washer, and the generating receivers of the gas, being provided with emptying
or purging cocks or valves and with gauges for indicating the level of the contents
thereof, substantially as hereinabove described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing