IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AIR FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBON GAS, AND IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES THEREFOR
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Gardner, of 18, Clifton Road, Holloway,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AIR FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBON
GAS, AND IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES THEREFOR."-A communication
from abroad by M. Anton Franz, residing at Düren, in the Empire
of Germany.
Sealed the 2nd April 1874, and dated the 8th October 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Gardner at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 8th October 1873.
I, HENRY GARDNER, of 18, Clifton Road, Holloway, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AIR FOR THE PRODUCTION OF
HYDROCARBON GAS, AND IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES THEREFOR,"
" to be as
follows:-
This Tontion firstl» nolates to imunawamants in Lunatio

page_text: And, Secondly. To apparatus or appliances therefor, and consists in
forcing air by means of a pump or blower into receptacles under
pressure, so that it can be withdrawn and be passed over the surface of
petroleum or other gascous oil or spirit for it to become impregnated
with the vapour, to produce light and heat. The air during the pump-
ing or blowing operation is preferably reduced in temperature by a
refrigerator, so that it enters the receptacles in as compressed and the
least bulky condition possible, it being essential for the purposes of this
Invention to be reduced in every sense to fit it to imbibe the largest
amount of vapour while the expansion is taking place within the oil
vessel or vessels into which it is afterwards passed, the expansion from
the difference in the temperature of the oil preparing a highly
carbonized gas which burns with a brilliant powerful light without
flickering.
"
In some cases the liquid is heated slightly so that as the cooled com-
pressed air comes into contact with it the vapour very sensitively affects
it and impregnates it. The expanded impregnated air can then be
again compressed and stored for use in vessels surrounded with a
cooling medium, so that it expands on issuing from the nipple or jet in
contact with the oxygen of the atmosphere at the lighting point. It is
preferable however to cause the expansion to take place just in advance
of or previous to the ignition point, by causing it to pass through a
tube arranged above the burner, the issue being regulated by suitable
taps.
The apparatus or appliances consist of shallow vessels for holding the
liquid, the entries being elongated and tapered, so that the nozzles
which are of flat form cause the air to enter as a curtain or screen over
the surface of the oil, the air by this means being very thin and
disseminated takes up and holds the vapour in a more complete manner
than by any other method. This spreading of a curtain of air within
the oil vessel is an essential feature of this Invention.
The nozzles can be of a rigid, a flexible, or an elastic body, so that
the mouths close themselves automatically against the back pressure
and thus form taps in themselves, these may also be arranged in the
pipes, their length being such that they act as expansion draphragms.
Instead of passing the disseminated curtain of air across the surface of
the liquid oil or spirit, it may be passed above a floating or buoyant

page_text: body, portions of which can be perforated or openworked for the vapour
to escape through for impregnating the air flowing across its surface ;
thus the air is not brought into direct contact with the liquid, an
advantage of importance if the liquid be first heated.
The perforated or openworked screen of the float may be lined with
horschair or other body to break up the rising vapour into fine streams
which combine with the disseminated curtain of air, and cause a
complete intermingling of the two elements."
The impregnated air may be sent through several vessels if desired,
and be caused to strike against the edges of plates fitted in the interior
to disseminate the air into more minute divisions.
•
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Gardner in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th April 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
GARDNER, of 18, Olifton Road, Holloway, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engincer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the.
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Gardner, Her special
licence that I, the said Henry Gardner, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Gardner, my 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
TREATING AIR FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBON GAS, AND IN APPARATUS.
OR APPLIANCES THEREFOR," communicated to me from abroad by M..
Anton Franz, residing at Düren, in the Empire of Germany,) upon
the condition amongst others) that I, the said Henry Gardner, my
cxccutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or

page_text: 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 Henry Gardner, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
This Invention firstly relates to improvements in treating atmospheric
air for the production of hydrocarbon gas.
.
I
And, secondly. To apparatus or appliances therefor, and consists in
forcing air by means of a pump or blower into receptacles under
pressure, so that it can be withdrawn and be passed over the surface of
petroleum or other gaseous oil or spirit for it to become impregnated
with the vapour to produce light and heat. The air during the pump-
ing or blowing operation is preferably reduced in temperature by a
refrigerator, so that it enters the receptacles in as compressed, and the
least bulky condition possible, it being essential for the purposes of this
Invention to be reduced in every sense, to fit it to imbibe the largest
amount of vapour while the expansion is taking place within the oil
vessel or vessels into which it is afterwards passed, the expansion from
the difference in the temperature of the oil preparing a highly
carbonized gas which burns with a brilliant powerful light without
flickering.
In some cases the liquid is beated slightly, so that as the cooled
compressed air comes into contact with it the vapour very sensitively
affects and impregnates it. The expanded impregnated air can then
be again compressed and stored for use in vessels surrounded with a
cooling medium, so that it expands on issuing from the nipple or jet
in contact with the oxygen of the atmosphere at the lighting point.
It is preferable however, to cause the expansion to take place just in
advance of or previous to the ignition point, by causing it to pass
through a tube arranged above the burner, the issue being regulated by
suitable taps.

page_text: The apparatus or appliances consist of shallow vessels for holding
the liquid, the entries being elongated and tapered so that the nozzles
which are of flat form cause the air to enter as a curtain or screen over
the surface of the oil, the air by this means being very thin and
disseminated takes up and holds the vapour in a more complete
manner than by any other method. This spreading of a curtain of air
within the oil vessel is an essential feature of this Invention.
The nozzles can be of a rigid, a flexible, or an elastic body, so that
the mouths close themselves automatically against the back pressure,
and thus form taps in themselves, these may also be arranged in the
pipes, their length being such that they act as expansion diaphragms.}
Instead of passing the disseminated curtain of air across the surfaco
of the liquid oil or spirit, it may be passed above a floating or buoyant
body, portions of which can be perforated or openworked for the
vapour to escape through for impregnating the air flowing across its
surface, thus the air is not brought into direct contact with the liquid,
an advantage of importance if the liquid be first heated.
The perforated or openworked screen of the float may be lined with
horschair or other body to break up the rising vapour into fine streams
which combine with the disseminated curtain of air and cause a
complete intermingling of the two elements.
The impregnated air may be sent through several vessels if desired,
and be caused to strike against the edges of plates fitted in the interior
to disseminate the air into more minute divisions.
The Invention will be fully understood by reference to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, and to the following detailed description
thereof.
Figure 1 is a view of a complete apparatus arranged according to
this Invention for the manufacture of hydrocarbon gas.
A is a pump barrel in which a piston B is caused to draw in common.
air at both the up and down strokes through valves C and D, and to
force it out by the valves E, F, in regular order into and through an
outlet tube G in a receiver H where it is stored for use in a compressed
form, the heat derived from the compression being reduced by a flow
of water through the lower casing I. By this means the compressed
air is again reduced in bulk, and is maintained in that condition until a

page_text: certain pressure or force is contained within it for lifting the weighted
valve J arranged in a pipe K between the receiver and the impregnating
vessel L, in the several chambers of which the air still compressed is
caused to impinge upon the surface of the oil or spirit in the form of
curtains or veils. The openings by which it passes into the chambers are
mere slits in metallic or other valves M, so that it is disseminated in the
act of expansion in the chambers and fully charged with hydrocarbon
matters suitable for giving a brilliant and powerful light, the steadiness
of the flame being governed by the constant and invariable flow of air
from the receiver in the manner shown..
The several chambers of the oil vessel may be furnished with oils of
different densities or of different kinds, so that each curtain or veil is
charged to a different strength or degree before they mingle in the
outlet N to pass on to the burners. Thus supposing one chamber to
contain a heavy oil in which the lighting properties are poor, another
chamber to contain a light oil full of lighting properties, and another
chamber to contain an oil or spirit capable of causing an amalgamation
or neutralization of the two first and at the same time produce or give
off a purifying agent to render the flame of as white a character as
possible, then the intensity of the light or the intensity of the heat can
be under control to the greatest nicety to fit the gas for illuminating,
and by varying the inflow or quantity of air into the several chambers,
both the lighting and the heating capabilities of the hydrocarbon gas
can be determined upon for manufacturing purposes with facility.
The outlet tube N is preferably in direct communication with the
burners, and in order that a final expansion of the charged air can take
place at or near the burner the bracket or branch P, Figures 2 and 3,
at the nozzle end Q is of larger area than the branch itself, so that just
prior to the issue of the gas at the burner proper, the bulk of the
gaseous air has sensibly increased. This is what might be termed
"cold expansion," but by carrying a pipe R up to a short distance
above, say the chimney of an argand burner, as in Figure 4, and coiling
it before it descends to the burner proper, what might be termed "hot
expansion" can be produced, the expansion taking place through the
heat of the coil between the tap S with the plug passage only half open
and the tap T near the burner full open.
In the case of fitting a coil in this manner, the unsightliness of it can
he hidden by a tube U on the reflector as shown.

page_text: "
Figure 5 represents an impregnating vessel in which the curtains or
veils of air from the valves are caused to strike against "baffle plates
to be disseminated or broken up before they impinge upon the surface
of the liquids in the several chambers, the inlet tube being also fitted
with a slitted valve. The air in passing is caused to strike against a
knife edge to break the onward rush which it might otherwise have to
feed the two central chambers to a greater degree than the top and
bottom ones, whereby an unequal impregnation might occur. This
vessel is furnished with a waste steam or hot water jacket V for
imparting a warmth to the contained oil or oils within the chambers, it
being necessary in the case of some heavy oils to enliven them up and
take off their sluggishness by heat before they will give off their light-
ing or their heating properties. All the chambers are of elongated
shape and very shallow, so that little more than thin films or sheets of
oil or spirit or both are exposed to the impregnating action of the air,
and this prevents an overcharging of the air, which would if overcharged
cause a deposit of the surcharge in the pipes while passing through to
the burners, especially in cold weather when great condensation is
known to take place in low lying mains and service pipes.
Figure 6 shows an elongated tapered charging vessel with a curtain.
or veil of air traversing the surface of the oil or spirit, the whole of
the surface being acted upon in an equal manner before the air leaves
by the outlet.
Figure 7 represents a charging vessel in which a floating or buoyant
body with a screen prevents the air coming into direct contact with the
oil or spirit, the air being directed downwards upon the screen, which
may be of perforated or openworked gauze, all back rush of gas being
prevented by the valve in a similar manner as by the valve J shown
in Figure 1.
Figure 8 shows a charging vessel in which one film or curtain of air
is caused to become disseminated and to strike or flow across the
surface of wire gauze on a floating or buoyant body, the other curtains
of air being also disseminated and equally spread in the space above,
so that should the lower curtain become overcharged with vapour,
which is sometimes the case when using light and highly volatile oil or
spirit, the upper films or curtains become more or less charged, thereby
neutralizing the effect and rendering the gaseous air more serviceable

page_text: for lighting or heating, as the case may be, according to the distance it
has to be conveyed before being used.
The description hitherto refers only to air in a natural state being
forced through the charging vessels, but another kind of gas, such a s
coal gas, can be used in conjunction with atmospheric air, or atmospheric
air may be first impregnated. or charged with a gas (say coal) prior to
the recharging of it with oil or spirit vapour in the manner heretofore
set forth, whereby its illuminating powers or quality can be considerably
increased, particularly if such coal gas be of poor quality, without
increasing the total cost of manufacture beyond that of the best coal
gas, a point of importance since the best coal for household and for
gas obtaining purposes becomes more and more exhausted in the
mines.
"
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, claim is
made,―
°
Firstly. To the improvements in treating air for the production of
hydrocarbon gas, as set forth.
Secondly. The improved apparatus first described and shown, and the
modifications thereof, in or by which curtains, veils, or screens of air
can be caused to imbibe or become charged with gaseous vapours from 2
oils or spirits, or both, all as herein-before set forth and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Gardner, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of April One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-four.
Witness,
H. J. GARDNER.
H. GARDNER. (L.S.)