IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTUR OF GAS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Weightman Harrison and Alfred Horatio
Harrison, both of High Holborn, in the County of Middesex,
Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTUR
OF GAS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN
"
Sealed the 23rd August 1872, and dated the 3rd June 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Weightman
Harrison and Alfred Horatio Harrison at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 3rd June 1872.
We, CHARLES WEIGHTMAN HARRISON and ALFRED HORATIO HAR-
RISON, both of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Engineers,
"IMPROVEMENTS
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES, AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
--
Our Invention consists in forcing or drawing atmospheric air into
suitable hydrocarbon liquid, and in causing it to pass through such
liquid in minute streams or jets, so as to bring a large amount of air
[Price 8d.]

page_text: surface into absolute contact with the liquid. By this means we are
able to transmute atmospheric air into an inflammable gas adapted for
lighting and heating purposes. The air may be used in a cold or in a
heated state, and either alone or mixed with gas or vapour. The hydro-
carbon liquid may also be used in a cold or heated state, and either
alone or mixed with other suitable liquid, or with solutions of oxidised
essences.
The liquid hydrocarbon that we prefer to use in a general way is
petroleum, about sp. gr. 0.670, which we place in a suitable vessel
provided with an air-tight cover or opening, and having an outlet pipe
for gas near the top, and an inlet pipe for air near the bottom. Between
the openings of these pipes, and near the bottom of the vessel, we fix
one or more perforated false bottoms or divisions of wire gauze, which
are covered by the liquid. By any convenient means air is forced through
the inlet pipe into the liquid in the lower part of the vessel, whence it
passes upwards through the small apertures in the division in separate
streams, and collects together as gas in the top of the vessel, from where it
is led away by the gas pipe either to a gas holder for storage or direct to
suitable burners for combustion.
The above mode of carrying our Invention into effect may be varied by
bringing closely together minute streams of hydrocarbon liquid and of air.
This may conveniently be done by means of a spray diffuser or injector,
the construction of which apparatus is well known.
By the foregoing means we are able to manufacture a gas capable of
producing a light of great brilliancy, and under suitable conditions a heat
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Weightman Harrison and Alfred Horatio
Harrison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd December
1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CHARLES
WEIGHTMAN HARRISON and ALFRED HORATIO HARRISON, both of High
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Engineers, send greeting.

page_text: executors,
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said Charles Weightman Harrison aud Alfred
Horatio Harrison, Her special license that we, the said Charles
our executors,
Weightman Harrison and Alfred Horatio Harrison,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Charles
Weightman Harrison and Alfred Horatio Harrison, our
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
THE MANU.
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FACTURE OF GAS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES AND IN THE APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Charles Weightman Harrison and Alfred Horatio Harrison, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or
their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us
them, 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.
or
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Charles Weightman Harrison
and Alfred Horatio Harrison, 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 Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters
and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
Our Invention relates to or consists in charging atmospheric air with the
vapour of certain hydrocarbon liquids (treated or prepared for the purpose
as herein-after described), by which meaus the air is converted into in-
flammable gas or vapour remarkable for its richness in carbon, and well
adapted for lighting and heating purposes.
Our Invention also relates to or consists of improvements in apparatus
for charging or impregnating atmospheric air with the vapour of the said
hydrocarbon liquids.

page_text: The hydrocarbon liquid we employ in a general way for the pur-
poses of our Invention is petroleum, although other like or analagous
mineral oil or spirit may be used. We however prefer to use petroleum
of about sp. gr. 0.670. In this petroleum or other suitable oil or spirit
(hereinafter called the hydrocarbon liquid) we mix certain suitable
liquids, or dissolve or mix in solution various oxidized essences and
resins, which possess the property (when so mixed) of carburetting or
increasing the proportion of carbon in the said hydrocarbon liquid,
and thereby rendering it capable of more effectually converting the air
passed through it into inflammable gas or vapour capable of producing
a light of great brilliancy and (under suitable conditions) a heat of great
intensity. Amongst the numerous substances we use for this purpose
may be mentioned the following as being the principal and most pre-
ferable, viz. Gum resins, such as those of the euphorbia, eucalyptus,
and ficus genera, and others approaching them in their chemical com-
position, resins having the composition of oxides of the hydrocarbons
represented (or nearly so) by the formula (C40 H), camphor and other
oxidized essences of the hydrocarbon series, tar derived from any source,
products derived from the distillation of the following substances,
viz. First, resins; second, wood tar, from which are obtained paraffine
(CH3), and cupoine (C H₁); third, coal tar and pitch, from which
are obtained aniline (C₁₂ Hu), benzol (C₁2 H₁), toluol (C₁ Hε), cumol
(Cs H₁), napthaline (C20 H₁), and generally the hourologous hydro-
carbons from coal tar; fourth, bituminous coal, from which are obtained
coal naptha; and, fifth, boghead, asphalte, peat, waste oil, and fatty
matters, from which are obtained paraffine oil, kreosote (C H₁ O₁), &c.
In short any like or analogous product or substance having the neces-
sary properties for carburetting or increasing the proportion of carbon
in the said hydrocarbon liquid, as described, may be used for this
purpose..
Any one or more of the above carburetting ingredients may be so used
for the purpose described, either alone or in combination with any one
or more of the others, the quantity added to the hydrocarbon liquid being
regulated according to the degree of carbonization it is desired to impart.
thereto.
And in order that the hydrocarbon liquid may take up in solution as
much as may be required of the said carburetting ingredients, we some-
times warm
or heat the hydrocarbon liquid after these substances have

page_text: been added thereto, by which means the said carburetting ingredients are
rendered more soluble, and the hydrocarbon liquid is thereby enabled to
take up
and hold in solution a much larger proportion of the said carbu-
retting substances than it otherwise could do, a result which we find it very
desirable to achieve, as the inflammable gas or vapour made from the
hydrocarbon liquid so treated or prepared is remarkable for being highly
carburetted.
For the purpose of facilitating the solution of the said gum resins, or
other analogous substance or substances they are reduced to powder before
being put into hydrocarbon liquid, in which they are then allowed to re-
main until dissolved. Or instead of simply mixing the said carburetting
materials with the hydrocarbon liquid, we incorporate them therewith
before it is distilled, and submit them together to the process of distillation.
We also use for the purpose of dissolving the said gum resins, and other
analogous substance or substances some of the above products, such as
benzol and naptha. After this process, and when the said gum resins, and
other analogous substance or substances have been so dissolved, they are
added in solution to the hydrocarbon liquid for the purpose above described,
viz., for carburetting it. These products can therefore be used for either
carburetting the said hydrocarbon liquid directly by being themselves.
mixed therewith or for effecting the same object indirectly by being first
used for dissolving the said gum resins, and other analogous substance or
substances, after which they are together added in solution to the hydro-
carbon liquid.
The process by which we charge atmospheric air with the vapour of the
hydrocarbon liquid prepared as above described, for the purpose of making
inflammable gas or vapour according to our Invention, consists in forcing
or drawing atmospheric air inio the said hydrocarbon liquid, and causing it
to pass through the same in such manner as to bring a large amount of air
surface into absolute contact with the liquid.
During the passage of the air through the hydrocarbon liquid it vaporizes
and takes up or becomes impregnated with a certain portion thereof,
which it retains, and thus the combined vapours pass on together in the
form of inflammable gas or vapour, either to a suitable holder for storage
and future use, or direct to suitable burners for immediate consumption.
The above method may be varied by bringing together minute streams or
particles of the said hydrocarbon liquid and currents of air, which air will

page_text: in like manner become charged or impregnated with the vapour of the
said hydrocarbon liquid, and thereby be converted into inflammable
gas or vapour.
And in order that our Invention may be clearly understood, and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the process of and apparatus
for manufacturing the said inflammable gas or vapour with the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, reference being had to the letters and figures
marked thereon. Similar letters (wherever they occur) indicate like or
corresponding parts.
Figures 1 to 7 shew an arrangement of apparatus for forcing air through
our hydrocarbon liquid for the purpose of manufacturing inflammable gas
or vapour according to this Invention. The apparatus consists essentially
of an arrangement of compensating bellows or air forcing apparatus (similar
in construction to ordinary harmonium or organ bellows), in combination
with a generating vessel. Figure 1 shews the bellows or air for cing
apparatus in side elevation and the generating chamber in sectional eleva-
tion Figure 2 is an end elevation of the bellows; Figure 3 is a sectional
plan of the bellows taken at the line a, b, Figure 1, and shewing the gene-
rating vessel in complete plan; Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section
taken at the line c, d, Figure 1; and Figures 5, 6, and 7 are views of parts
of the apparatus detached.
The main bellows A, A, are actuated by cranks B, B, the crank shaft
being driven by a weight and suitable gearing as shewn. The air from
these bellows (so actuated) is forced into a rigid air chest C above, which
is surmounted by a collapsible chamber D, which is compressed or
actuated by being weighted as at E. The air is forced by the weight E
up side passages F into an upper rigid air chest or regulating service
compartment G, also surmounted by a collapsible chamber H, and
actuated or compressed in a manner similar to that already described,
viz., by being weighted as at I. This latter compartment H is also
made to communicate with the generating vessel J by means of a suitable
connecting pipe K. Any excess of pressure in the bellows is provided
against by means of valves L formed on the top of the lower collapsible
chamber D, which when the said chamber has risen to a certain height
owing to the pressure of the air within, will come against pins M con-
veniently placed for that purpose, and which open the said valves and
permit the escape of the air. By this means a constant and uniform
pressure of air is maintained in the service compartment G, from which

page_text: the air is forced through the connecting pipe K into the generating
vessel J. This connecting pipe is provided with a cock, so that when
required communication with the bellows may be cut off. The generating
vessel J is filled with our prepared hydrocarbon liquid to about half or
two-thirds of its height. The liquid is introduced through a suitable
inlet N, which is grooved vertically on its inner surface, so that should
the liquid be introduced through a funnel there will be provided an
outlet for the air, which will be forced out by the introduction of the
liquid. When not required to be used the inlet N is closed by a screw
capsule lined on its upper surface with cork or india-rubber, so that when
screwed tightly down it will make an air-tight joint. The air on entering
the generating vessel through the connecting pipe K, passes down a
flexible tube O and through four rigid connecting tubes P into the lower
compartment Q' of a ring-shaped float Q, made buoyant by an upper
air-tight compartment Q2, so that it will float (immersed to any required
depth) in the liquid through which it is desired to force the air for the
purposes of this Invention. The lower compartment Q¹ of this float is
perforated with holes of any required size around its inner periphery, and
through these perforations the air when forced into the compartiment, as
herein-before described, escapes into the hydrocarbon liquid, through
which it bubbles up to the surface thereof, and in thus passing through
the liquid vaporizes and takes up or becomes impregnated or incorporated
with a certain portion thereof, which it retains and collects in the upper
part of the vessel in the form of inflammable gas or vapour. It is then
conducted away by a suitable pipe R, either to a holder for storage and
future use, or direct to suitable burners for immediate combustion. This
pipe R is also provided with a suitable cock, so that communication with
the generating vessel may he cut off when req tired. It is capped on its
inner end with a sheet of carbon or a disc of fine wire gauze, so as to
prevent anything but gas from entering the tubes.
The object of passing the air through the float (as just described) is
to ensure that it shall always enter the liquid at a given distance below
its surface, and thus at all times pass through an equal amount of the
said liquid whatever be its height in the generating vessel. By this
means regularity in the quality of the gas or vapour produced is secured.
The float is shewn detached at Figures 5, 6, and 7; Figure 5 being a
ide elevation, Figure 6 a plau, and Figure 7 a vertical section taken at
he centre line.

page_text: Another form of generating vessel is shewn in sectional elevation at
Figure 8, where the flexible tube in connection with the float is dispensed
with, and what may be termed a piston float substituted.
The guide for the float is formed by a vertical tube S placed in the
centre of the generating vessel, and reaching nearly from the top to the
bottom thereof. The tube turns at right angles at its lower end and
passes out of the side of the generating vessel, and communicates at its
upper end with the interior of a chamber T, which covers it in and is
attached to and communicates with a float (similar to that already
described) by means of four connecting tubes P. The connecting pipe
from the air-forcing apparatus is attached to the lower end of the guide
tube S which passes out of the side of the generating vessel, and the air
is forced through the tube S, and (on ascending it) enters the chamber T
by which the vertical tube is covered, and then passes down the chamber
and through the four connecting tubes P into the lower compartment of
the float, from whence it issues through the perforations in the inner
periphery thereof into the hydrocarbon liquid, and on bubbling up
through the liquid collects in the upper part of the vessel in the form
of inflammable gas or vapour, and is conducted therefrom in the manner
already described. A second chamber U (and in this case attached to
and forming part of the outer vessel) is constructed to receive the
previously described chamber T as it rises and falls with the float. This
chamber U also serves as an inlet for the introduction of the hydro-
carbon liquid to the generating vessel, and (except when thus in use) is
closed by a screw capsule similar to that already described.
A third form of generating vessel is shown at Figures 9, 10, and 11,
Figure 9 being a sectional elevation, Figure 10 a plan, and Figure 11 a
sectional plan thereof taken at the line p, 2, of Figure 9. According to
this plan, one, two, or more perforated diaphragms or partitions V are
fixed near the bottom of the generating vessel, and the air which it is
desired to pass through the liquid contained therein is introduced at the
required pressure below the perforated diaphragms through a suitable.
pipe K, and ascends through the perforations and thus through the
hydrocarbon liquid in fine streams, and so collects in the upper part of
the generating vessel in the form of inflammable gas or vapour, and is
for use as herein-before described.
away
The diaphragms are
perforated only in their centre portions as shewn at Figure 11, and the
led

page_text: object of this is that the cold produced by the necessary absorption of
heat in the vaporization of the liquid by the passage of the air through it
may be communicated first to the surrounding liquid and not directly to
the outside of the generating vessel, as if otherwise arranged it has been
found in practice that condensation from the surrounding atmosphere
will take place on the exterior surface of the generating vessel, and will
there freeze to the detriment of the process of the vaporization of the
liquid, and consequently also to the production of the inflammable gas
or vapour.
This undesirable contingency is obviated by perforating the
diaphragms in their centre positions only, as shewn, as the cold produced
by the vaporization of the liquid is thus confined to the inner portion
thereof, and being communicated directly to the surrounding liquid is
modified in intensity before reaching the generating vessel and the outer
surrounding atmosphere.
Figure 12 is a sectional elevation of another form of apparatus for
charging or impregnating air with the vapour of our prepared liquid
hydrocarbon, and thereby producing inflammable gas or vapour. In
this instance instead of forcing the air into and through the liquid, a
blast of air at considerable pressure and from any suitable and well-
known source is forced through a horizontal tube W, and by rushing
past the open end of a small vertical tube X creates a partial vacuum
therein. The small vertical tube X is screwed or otherwise suitably
fixed to a bracket Y, and to its lower end is attached a flexible tube Z
connected with a float e by means of another tube f, which passes
through the float and dips into the hydrocarbon liquid.
Thus con-
nection is established between the small vertical tube X and the liquid.
It therefore follows that when a partial vacuum, as before described, is
created in the small vertical tube X the hydrocarbon liquid will rise
therein to fill the vacuum, and on reaching the mouth or upper end of
the tube will be met by the blast from the horizontal tube W, and will
be thereby converted into fine spray, which will be taken up or absorbed
by the air forming the said blast, thereby producing inflammable gas
or vapour, which may be led away for use as before described. This
apparatus is shewn in plan at Figure 13.
An arrangement of apparatus for drawing the air through the
prepared liquid hydrocarbon instead of forcing it through is illustrated
at Figures 14 and 15, Figure 14 being a sectional elevation, and Figure 15
a plan as seen from above, but without the cistern.

page_text: It will be seen that the generating vessel employed is similar to that
one first described, but that the inlet tube for the air K instead of being
connected with air-forcing apparatus is left open to the atmosphere,
whilst the tube R, by which the inflammable gas or vapour is conducted
away from the generating vessel, is made to communicate with the
upper end of a hollow vertical column h. This column is also in com-
munication at its upper end with a cistern of water i by means of a
suitable pipe j. provided with a cock k so as to stop the communication
when required, and also terminates at its lower end in an enlarged
chamber Z.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The cock k being turned
on a small steam of water will flow down the column h, and in its
descent will carry with it a part of the air contained in the column, and,
this air will be immediately replaced by the air contained in the tube R,
thereby creating a partial vacuum therein, and drawing the air out of
the generating vessel. The air in this latter will be immediately
replaced by air from the exterior atmosphere, which will pass down the
tube K and through the flexible tube O into the lower compartment Q₁
of the float, whence it will pass through the perforations in its inner
periphery into and through the hydrocarbon liquid as before described,
and will collect in the upper part of the generating vessel as inflammable
gas or vapour. By the continued action of the apparatus the vapour
will be drawn up the tube R into the column h, down which it will be
carried by the stream of water into the chamber 1, whence it will be led
away by the pipe m for use as before described. The water which
descends the column will flow away through the pipe n, the gas being
prevented from passing out with the water by means of the partition o
which dips into the water.
For the purposes of this Invention the air to be passed through the
hydrocarbon liquid may be used in either a cold or heated state, and
either alone or mixed, or combined with other inflammable gas or
vapour, as in the case when the gas to be produced is required for
heating purposes, when we find it advantageous to combine with the air
previous to or during its passage through the hydrocarbon liquid the
vapour of methylic alcohol.
When the air is required to be used in a heated state the heating may
be conveniently accomplished by passing the air over or in contact with
a hot water or steam coil, or through a fan encased in a steam jacket, or

page_text: this object may be effected by any well-known and suitable contrivance
for warming or heating air.
The hydrocarbon liquid prepared as above described may also be used
in either a cold or heated state, and may be conveniently heated when
required by means of a steam or hot water jacket made to surround the
vessel containing the hydrocarbon liquid, or the same object may be
accomplished by means of steam or hot water pipes passing into or
through the liquid.
The hot water apparatus may also be used for merely supplying heat
to the hydrocarbon liquid in place of that which has been carried off
by its vaporization. By this means the liquid may be kept at an uniform
temperature.
By the application of heat either directly to the hydrocarbon liquid
or to the atmospheric air passed through it, we are enabled to use a
number of cheap gas-producing materials, which are not available by
the cold process, such for example as most of the crude rock oils.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our
Invention, and having explained the manner in which the same is or may
be performed, we would have it distinctly understood that we do not con-
fine ourselves to the precise details herein set forth, as the same may be
more or less modified without departing fron the principle or the main
features of the Invention; but what we claim as our Invention, and desire
to secure by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. Charging or impregnating atmospheric air with the vapour of
hydrocarbon liquid treated or prepared as and for the purpose or purposes
herein-before set forth and described.
Second. Carburetting or increasing the proportion of carbon in hydro-
carbon liquids, as and for the purpose or purposes herein-before set forth
and described.
Third. Constructing air carburetting or gas generating apparatus, as
shewn and described in reference to Figure 8.
Fourth. The air carburetting or gas generating apparatus shewn and
described in reference to Figures 12 and 13.

page_text: Fifth. The apparatus shewn at Figures 14 and 15 for drawing air
through hydrocarbon liquid, as and for the purpose or purposes herein.
before set forth and described.
Sixth. Constructing the diaphragms or partitions V, V, as shewn and
described in reference to Figures 9 and 11.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Weightman Harrison and
Alfred Horatio Harrison, have hereunto set our hands and seals,
this Twenty-seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
E
CHAS. W. HARRISON.
(L.B.)
Witness,
JOHN W. GRAY, C.E.,
Office for Patents,
A. HORATIO HARRISON. (L.S.)
23, Billiter Street, E.C.