IMPROVEMENTS IN BURNING PETROLEUM AND OTHER HYDROCARBON LIQUIDS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HEAT AND LIGHT, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Franklin Stevens, of Henrietta Street,
Covent Garden, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BURNING PETROLEUM AND OTHER HYDROCARBON LIQUIDS
FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HEAT AND LIGHT, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS
EMPLOYED THEREIN."-A communication from abroad by Simon Stevens,
of the City and State of New York, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 21st January 1868, and dated the 29th July 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Franklin Stevens
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 29th July 1867.
I, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STEVENS, of Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BURNING PETROLEUM AND OTHER HYDROCARBON
LIQUIDS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HEAT AND LIGHT, AND IN THE APPARATUS
OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication to me from abroad by Simon
Stevens, of the City and State of New York, in the United States of America,
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, firstly, in so placing the apparatus relatively to the
heat produced that the apparatus itself will not be subjected to the action of
the heat, and will consequently not be liable to be clogged or rendered
unserviceable by the deposition of solid carbon or of tar, which depositions I
have discovered by extensive experiments always follow when the apparatus is

page_text: itself subjected to heat; secondly, in the employment of a jet of steam for
delivering the liquid hydrocarbon in the form of spray for combustion, the use
of the steam being to atomise or separate the liquid hydrocarbon into extremely
small particles and to thoroughly mingle them with atmospheric air, the
air being introduced in the case of a steam boiler partly through grate bars or
perforated plates and partly by means of a current induced by the action of
the steam jet itself; thirdly, in the adaptation of means of adjusting the
relative quantities of steam and liquid hydrocarbon employed so as to obtain
the best economic result from the two materials as a whole; and, fourthly, in
effecting a thorough mixture of hydrocarbon liquids with air to be used as
illuminating gas.
I employ the steam in this operation not as a combustible itself or supporter
of combustion, but for the purpose of performing two important mechanical
functions, namely, 1, the breaking up the liquid bydrocarbon into minute
particles or spray; and, 2, the inducing a current of atmospheric air into the
same place of combustion with the said minute particles of liquid hydro-
carbon.
In carrying out the said Invention 1 employ a nozzle, the upper part of
which receives the steam, such steam being discharged through a hollow conic
frustum into an air tube in the direction of the axis of the nozzle and air
tube. Within the hollow conic frustum is another hollow conic frustum,
and the axis of both frustums are in the same straight line. The inner
frustum can be screwed forward or backward by means of a screw thread at
the part where it passes through the back or closed end of the outer frustum.
Some of the exterior surface of the inner frustum when screwed as far forward
as possible touches a portion of the inner surface of the outer frustum, thereby
preventing any discharge of steam into the air tube. By screwing the
aljustable part backwards from this position an annular jet of steam may be
discharged of any thickness of annulus desired. The expenditure of steam of
given pressure is thus regulated, whilst the velocity of its efflux remains
undiminished. Through the centre of the whole length of the inner frustums
is the channel for the passage of the petroleum or hydrocarbon liquid used, the
expediture of this liquid is regulated by a cock or valve of ordinary construction
in the pipe communicating with the reservoir containing the liquid. A similar
cock is also placed for convenience in the steam pipe, but when the expen-
diture of steam is thus regulated instead of by screwing the inner frustum
backwards or forwards the velocity of its efflux from the outer frustum is
diminished and a less economic result obtained. To obtain a more thorough
mixture of the liquid hydrocarbon with the atmospheric air, whereby a more

page_text: rapid and perfect combustion is caused, I employ the air tube which is a
hollow, conic frustum of proper diameters and length; this air tube surrounds.
the jet issuing from the outer hollow frustum, and has its axis in the same.
straight line therewith; its use is to retain and properly direct the current of
atmospheric air induced by the jet of mingled steam and hydrocarbon liquid,.
thereby more effectually mixing the liquid hydrocarbon spray with the atmo-
spheric air, and thus bringing it into the best condition for rapid and perfect
combustion.
The same arrangement of a steam jet may be used to effect a thorough
mixture of benzien and other light hydrocarbons with air so as to produce
carburetted air for use as illuminating gas. The steam jet also makes it
unnecessary to use a bellows, air pump, or other blowing apparatus to charge
the gasometer with air.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed'
by the said Benjamin Franklin Stevens, in the Great Seal Patent Office
⚫ on the 29th January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN,
FRANKLIN STEVENS, of Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her,
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Benjamin Franklin Stevens, Her special license that I, the said
Benjamin Franklin Stevens, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Benjamin Franklin Stevens, my executors, administrators,
or 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 BURNING PETROLEUM AND OTHER HYDROCARBON
LIQUIDS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HEAT AND LIGHT, AND IN APPARATUS OR MEANS
EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication to me from abroad by Simon Stevens, of
the City and State of New York, in the United States of America, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Benjamin Franklin Stevens,,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my

page_text: hand and seal, 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 Benjamin Franklin Stevens, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained-in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
The said Invention consists, firstly, in so placing the apparatus for producing
a mixture of bydrocarbon spray and air relatively to the heat produced by
the combustion of such mixture that the apparatus itself will not be subjected
to the action of the heat, and will consequently not be liable to be clogged or
rendered unserviceable by the deposition of solid carbon or of tar, which
depositions have been discovered by extensive experiments always to follow
when the apparatus is itself subjected to beat; secondly, of a peculiar
adaptation of means of adjusting the relative quantities of steam and liquid
bydrocarbon, employed so as to obtain the best economical result; and, thirdly,
of a mode of effecting a thorough mixture of hydrocarbon liquids with air to
be used as illuminating gas.
r
The steam is employed not as a combustible itself or supporter of combustion,
but for the purpose of breaking up the liquid hydrocarbon into minute particles
or spray, and the inducing a current of atmospheric air into the same place
of combustion with the said minute particles of liquid hydrocarbon.
In carrying out the said Invention I employ a nozzle, the upper part of
which receives the steam, such steam being discharged through a hollow conic
frustum into an air tube in the direction of the axis of the nozzle. Within
the hollow conic frustum is another hollow conic frustum, and the axes of both
frustums are in the same line. The inner frustum is rendered capable of
being screwed forward or backward by means of a screw thread at the part
where it passes through the back or closed end of the outer frustum; a portion
of the exterior surface of the inner frustum when screwed as far forward as
possible comes in contact with a portion of the inner surface of the outer
frustum, thereby preventing any discharge of steam into the air tube. By
screwing the adjustable part backwards from this position an annular jet of
steam may be discharged of any thickness of annulus desired. The expen-
diture of steam of given pressure is thus regulated, whilst the velocity of its
efflux remains undiminished. Through the centre of the whole length of the

page_text: inner frustum is the channel for the passage of the petroleum or hydrocarbon
liquid used; the expenditure of this liquid is regulated by a cock or valve of
ordinary construction in the pipe communicating with the reservoir containing
the liquid. A similar cock is also placed for convenience in the steam pipe,
but when the expenditure of steam is thus regulated instead of by screwing
the inner frustum backwards or forwards the velocity of its efflux from. the
outer frustum is diminished and a less economic result obtained. To obtain a
more thorough mixture of the liquid hydrocarbon with the atmospheric air,
whereby a more rapid and perfect combustion is caused, .I employ an air tube
which is a hollow conic frustum of suitable diameter and length situate just
beyond the extremity of the outer frustum; this air tube surrounds the jet
issuing from the outer hollow frustum, and has its axis in the same straight
line therewith. Its use is to retain and properly direct the current of atmo-
spheric air induced by the jet of mingled steam and hydrocarbon liquid,
thereby more effectually mixing the liquid bydrocarbon spray with the
atmospheric air, and thus bringing it into the best condition for rapid and perfect
combustion.
The same arrangement of a steam jet may be used to effect a thorough
mixture of benzine and other light hydrocarbon with air so as to producé
carburetted air for use as an illuminating agent. The steam jet also.renders
it unnecessary to use a bellows, air pump, or other blowing apparatus for
charging the gasometer with air.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall
refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings represent respectively a front view and
longitudinal vertical section of a common form of boiler having four of my
peculiar jet apparatus applied to each furnace; Figure 8 is a section. taken
through the longitudinal axis of one of my peculiar jet apparatus complete
(full size); Figure 4. is a corresponding end view of the same, and
Figure 5 is a full-sized plan of the apparatus with.the air tube detached.
.
In these various Figures A is a branch pipe, the upper part of which receives
the steam which is discharged at right angles through the hollow conic
frustrum Binto the air tube C in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof.
This air tube C is situate in the same axial line with the frustum B, but 'does
not enclose or surround the same, the smaller end.of the frustum not quite
entering the larger end of the air tube, as shewn clearly.in Figure 3. Within
the hollow conic frustum B there is another hollow conic frustum D, and the

page_text: axes of both frustums are in the same line. The inner frustum D can be
screwed forward or backward in the frustum B by means of the screw thread a ;
at the part where D passes through the back or closed end of B some of the
exterior surface of D when screwed as far forward as possible comes in contact
with the inner surface of B, thereby preventing any discharge of steam into
the air tube C. By screwing D backwards from this position an annular jet
of steam may be discharged of any thickness of annulus desired into the air
tube C. The expenditure of steam of given pressure is thus regulated, whilst
the velocity of its efflux remains undiminished. Through the centre of the
whole length of D there is the channel 6 for the passage of the petroleum or
hydrocarbon liquid used, the expenditure of this liquid is regulated by a cock
or valve c of ordinary construction in the pipe d which connects the outer end
of D with the reservoir containing the liquid. A similar cock e is also placed
for convenience in the steam pipe fattached to A, but when the expenditure
of steam is thus regulated instead of by screwing D backwards or forwards
the velocity of its efflux from the end of B is diminished and a less economical
result obtained. In order to obtain a more thorough mixture of the liquid hydro-
carbon with the atmospheric air, whereby a more rapid-and perfect combustion
is produced, I employ the air tube C which is a hollow conic frustum of proper
diameter and length, as shewn in the Drawing; this air tube surrounds the
jet issuing from B, and has its axis in the same line with that of B. Its use
is to retain and properly direct the current of atmospheric air induced by the
jet of mingled steam and hydrocarbon liquid rushing from B, thereby more
effectually mixing the liquid hydrocarbon spray with the atmospheric air,
thus putting it in the best condition for rapid and perfect combustion.
The modus operandi of this Invention is that steam being admitted through
A and B surrounds as an annulus the frustum D, and induces through Da
current of liquid hydrocarbon, which liquid the steam atomizes or breaks up
into the form of very fine spray and projects the same forward direct into the
furnace or place where the combustion is effected. The mixed current of
steam and liquid hydrocarbon induces a current of atmospheric air which is
projected with them through the tube C into the combustion chamber
rendering such combustion more rapid and perfect; additional air can also be
supplied from independent sources, as through the grate bars and holes in the
furnace door and front of a steam boiler. The entire apparatus as will be
seen is exterior to the chamber or place where the combustion is effected, and
not being subjected to heat is not rendered unserviceable by the deposition in
it of tar or of solid carbon.
I am aware that mixtures of hydrocarbon spray or vapour and steam, and

page_text: of hydrocarbon spray or vapour steam and air, have been used before; but
with the apparatus for producing such mixtures so situate as to be subjected
to the heat of the combustion, and consequently soon rendered unserviceable
by the deposition of tar and solid carbon in it.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the 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 be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the peculiar construction and arrangement of apparatus for mixing
petroleum and other hydrocarbon liquids with air, as and for the purpose
herein-before described and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
Second, the placing the entire of the said apparatus outside the chamber
where the combustion is effected, so that it may not be subjected to the heat
of the same, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings annexed.
Third, the method of regulating the supply of steam by the longitudinal
adjustment of the frustum D within the frustum B, substantially as herein-
before described.
Fourth, the combination of the outer and inner hollow frustums B and D,
with the conical or tapered air tube C situate beyond the extremity of such
frustums, and placing the said combined apparatus outside the furnace or
chamber wherein combustion is to be effected, as and for the purpose herein-
before described and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Franklin Stevens, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of
January, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.