Improvements relating to the Generation of Gas and to Apparatus therefor..
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1893
||Communicated from abroad by Alfred Kimber, of 59, Wall Street, New York
City, State of New York, United States of America, Civil Engineer.]
Improvements relating to the Generation of Gas and to Apparatus
therefor..
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to the generation of gas and to apparatus therefor.
The process and apparatus which form the subjects of the present application,
are the culmination of long protracted experiments and investigations pursued with
varying degrees of success until the present time.
The communicator now claims to have arrived at a point of perfection enabling
the production of a satisfactory and uniform illuminating or fuel gas by a process
continuous in its operation, free from the production of disabling deposits and
economical in labour and material.
The materials employed in this process are oil or liquid hydrocarbon and steam,
with air to aid combustion. The oil, may, I believe, be any of the mineral oils;
but in the following description it should be understood that I refer in particular
to the oil which is at present known in market as gas oil and which is a distillate of
mineral oils.
I will first describe the process, and subsequently the apparatus which I employ
in carrying out the process.
The process consists in superheating the steam which, being done in the same
heating chamber in which the retorts are located, raises the superheated steam to a
temperature corresponding with that of the retorts and consequently to the tempera-
ture under which the chemical transformations productive of gas are performed.
A jet of this steam is used to inject the oil into the retort and for combining
therewith to form the gas. The steam performing this operation may be under
pressure of forty pounds to the square inch and the supply relatively to the
supply of oil may be that passing from a one-eighth inch nozzle to an amount
of oil passing through a one-eighth inch pipe by gravity i.e. without any substantial
pressure.
The mingled superheated steam and oil vapour pass through the retort encoun-
tering, first, an open passage free from obstructions heated substantially to the
same heat at which the chemical transformations productive of the gas are performed.
Next the current is displaced from the centre of the retort and compelled to travel
through a narrow annular space next the walls of the retort, being frequently
deflected outwards against the walls of the retort. Next, the current preferably
traverses a portion of the retort heated to the same temperature, open and com-
paratively free from obstructions. The retort is heated to substantially the orange
red heat of wrought iron, and since this heat must be uniform for the accomplishment
of the results, the means by which it is produced enter into combination with the
other features of the process.
A very high and regular temperature should be produced in the heating chamber
surrounding the retorts, and to that end a portion of the gas produced in the retorts
is conducted to a point adjacent to a mixing chamber below the heating or
combustion chamber into which mixing chamber it is injected by a forced jet of
air which may be previously heated. The mixture of air and gas ascends from

page_text: +
the mixing chamber through a perforated, non-conducting hearth and is ignited in
the heating or combustion chamber above the hearth being so constructed as to
prevent the descent of the combustion into the mixing chamber..
A plurality of regulated openings remote from each other are provided for the
escape of the products of combustion from the heating chamber and devices are
provided for regulating the supply of air and gas respectively to the mixing
chamber, to the end that by regulating the escape openings for the products of
combustion and the supply of air and gas respectively, the operator can command
at all times perfect uniformity in the temperature of the retorts. The current
passing through the retort is therefore subjected to a uniform temperature of
the degree required for the transformation of the mingled superheated steam and
oil vapours into a fixed gas without the disabling deposit of either tarry matter
or carbon.
Having reached the exit of the retort the new fixed gas to be used for
illumination immediately enters an expansion chamber which forms a feature in the
process, not only in lessening the obstruction to the escape of the gas from the
individual retort, but also in the function of equalizing the conditions prevailing
within all the retorts in case more than one are employed in the same heating
chamber emptying into the common expansion chamber. This equalization is
further aided by taking the steam with which the process starts for all the retorts
from a common source of supply.
As the gas leaves the expansion chamber, it is exhausted therefrom aud
forced with a sufficient dilution to the condenser whence it passes to the gas
holder.
The fixed gas to be used for fuel goes from the exit of the retort back
through the heating chamber and is immediately injected at
temperature into the mixing chamber as before alluded to.
a very high
The apparatus employed for carrying out the above described process is shown
in the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 is a front view of the generator furnace and certain connected
mechanisms.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the line a, b, c, d, e, f, of
Figure 3.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken through the line g h i j of
Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the line kl of Figure 3, showing the
delivery apparatus from the expansion drum unsectioned.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the line m n, Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a plan view of four pipes of a retort, two of which are in section.
Figure 7 is a section of one of the retort pipes showing inside thereof an end view
of one of the deflectors drawn to a scale for perfect accuracy.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through the line op of Figure 7 showing to a
scale the deflector and the core piece interposed between it and the next deflector
in the series.
Figure 9 is a detail of the device for injecting the fuel into the mixing
chamber.
Figure 10 is a detail of the injector at the inlet of the retort, and the
connecting pipe for supplying steam thereto.
Figure 11 is a detail of the oil strainer.
Figure 12, is an inverted plan view on the line qr, Figure 3, showing the roof
of the combustion chamber and the outlet flues therefrom.
Figure 13 is a vertical section of an oil receiver hereinafter described.
The furnace within which the generator is located contains the compartments 1
and 2 separated from each other by the arch 3. The compartment 1 is connected with
the chimney 4 supplied with a damper 16. The compartments 1 and 2 communicate
with each other by the four openings or flues 5, 6, 7, 8, one of which is located near
each upper corner of the compartment 2. These flues are each provided with
L'
&

page_text: slide by which each can be partially or wholly closed independently of the others
by rods extending to the outside as 8*, 9.
10 is a manhole leading into the compartment 2 which is closed by the doors 11.
The bottom of compartment 2 is composed of a perforated hearth 12 which will be
more particularly described hereafter and beneath this perforated hearth is the
mixing chamber 13. Within the compartment 2 which constitutes the combustion
chamber, is placed an arch 14 for supporting the retorts at their middle portions.
15 is a bench at the rear of the combustion chamber for supporting the rear ends of
the retorts. The combustion chamber 2 contains the retorts and the superheating
steam pipes. The compartment 1 contains the air pipes through which the air is
led for heating purposes on its way to the mixing chamber.
Each retort consists of several lengths of pipe connected together at their rear
ends by return bends and extending out through the front wall of the furnace
where they are provided with plugs. A number of these retorts are contained in
the combustion chamber.
At
In the drawings, five retorts are shown which I will designate respectively by
the letters way the several parts of each one being designated on the drawings
by its appropriate letter with a numeral. The vapours of oil and superheated
steam enter the retort at the front end of the horizontal pipe and pass
successively through the pipes v1 to 10 inclusive, being carried back and forth
between the front and rear walls in the combustion chamber. At the rear the
connection is made between the pipes by the return bends 1 to 6 inclusive.
the forward ends the pipes extend out through the front wall of the furnace and
are closed by the removable screw plugs 18 to v inclusive. The passages 24 to 27
inclusive serve to connect every other two of the pipes at a point just within the
front wall of the combustion chamber, so as to leave a portion or nipple of each
pipe extending forward of the connecting passages and through the front wall of
the combustion chamber. The pipe empties into the larger pipe 17 which.
conducts the gas produced to the mixing chamber for fuel.
The spray of oil and superheated steam enters the retort w at the front end of
horizontal pipe wl and passes successively through the pipes w to wo inclusive
being carried back and forth between the front and rear walls in the combustion
chamber. At the rear, the connection is made between the pipes by the return
bends w to 1018 inclusive. The arrangement at the forward ends is similar to that
already described for the retort the plugs being designated 16 to 2023 inclusive
and the connecting passages not being visible on the drawing. The pipe wo
empties into the larger pipe 18 which conducts the gas from the retort to the mixing
chamber for fuel. The retorts vw are made with the ten lengths of pipe each;
being used to supply fuel for the combustion chamber. It is desirable that the gas.
should be delivered from them at the front of the furnace. The remaining retorts.
being used for supplying gas to the gas-holder contain only nine lengths of pipe.
each; it being convenient to have them deliver their gas to the expansion chamber
at the rear of the furnace.
The spray of oil and superheated steam enters the retort at the front end of
the pipe and passes thence back and forth from front to rear of the combustion
chamber successively through the pipes ¹ to inclusive, by which latter pipe the
gas is delivered to the pipe 19 leading to the expansion chamber.
The spray of oil and superheated steam enters the retort y at the front end of
the pipe y' and proceeds successively through the pipes y¹ to y' inclusive, and are
thence delivered to the pipe 20 leading to the expansion chamber.
The spray of oil and superheated steam enters the retort z at the front end of
pipe and proceeds successively through the pipes to and are thence delivered
to the pipe 21 leading to the expansion chamber.
The construction of each of the retorts x y z excepting the relative position of
the pipes, is substantially the same as the retort and therefore need not be further
described.

page_text: The relative arrangement of the several retorts and the pipes of each, which I
have shown, is convenient, but not strictly essential.
In passing through the retort from one end of the furnace to the other, the spray
or gas traverses a distance of about five feet in length, and the internal diameter of
the pipe being about 14 inches and the temperature of the retort being maintained
at a heat equivalent to an orange red heat for wrought iron, the vapours will be
converted into a fixed gas providing the current is properly disposed during its
passage. In this connection the greatest difficulty is encountered in preventing the
deposit of either tarry matter or carbon and at the same time producing a properly
fixed gas; and since I believe the proportions of the retort and the disposition of
the current in passing through it to be largely essential to the successful working
of my process, I describe the same with great accuracy.
Immediately after entering the retort, the current should pass through an
unobstructed passage until it is raised to a temperature approaching that of
conversion. Therefore, the first pipe of each retort v w x y₁, and z¹ contains no
obstruction. However, after the current reaches a certain stage of temperature
(about as when it reaches the end of the first pipe) it is essential that it should be
otherwise disposed in its succeeding course, and all parts of it must be crowded
against the red hot sides of the retort but always without abrupt opposition to its
passage such as would be productive of a riffle in the current. I therefore employ
a core piece in the pipes (excepting the first and last) of each retort which core
piece serves to displace the gas from the centre of the pipe and crowd it out in the
form of a cylinder against the walls of the retort. And I further accomplish the
same object by locating at frequent distances along the core pieces, deflectors
which spring with an easy curvature from the surface of the core piece and incline
with the direction of the current and toward the walls of the retort so that while
the current is thereby deflected from the centre its motion is not abruptly
arrested.
In Figures 7 and 8, I have shown one deflector and so much of the core piece as
separates it from the next deflector in the series, drawn to a scale as employed in a
retort pipe of 13 inches internal diameter. The core piece 22 is simply a piece of
pipe which, together with the deflector 27 are strung on to a central rod 23. At
its smallest diameter 24, the deflector 27 coresponds with the core piece from which
point it curves forward in the direction of the current indicated by the arrow and
outward to within about of an inch of the interior of the retort pipe, leaving an
annular opening 25 between its periphery and the interior of the retort pipe.
From this periphery and forming a continuation of the curvature of the deflector
spring the fingers 26 until at their points they touch (allowing for expansion)
against the walls of the retort pipe and thereby act as centering devices for the
deflectors and core piece. Each of these fingers at its base is about tinch wide
and tapers to nearly a point and I have found that as many as six of them may be
employed without inconvenience. I employ six of these deflectors in each pipe of
the retort excepting the first and last; those in the pipes adjacent to each other
being inversely arranged as shown in Figure 6, so that the inclination is always in
the direction in which the current flows. In order that they may be readily
inserted and removed from the pipe, the rod 23 upon which they are strung is
extended forward until accessible by the removal of the plug from the end of the
pipe, as shown in Figure 6. The last pipe of each retort x y z and the last two
pipes of each retort vw I prefer to use without any deflector or core piece so as to
give the gas an unobstructed exit way.
The lower row of pipes of the three lower retorts are supported on the arch 14
at their middle and at the back rest on the bench 15 and on top of this row for the
support of the row of pipes above are placed cross pieces 28, 29, 30, and 31.
Corresponding pieces are placed on top of each successive row of pipes for the
support of the row above. The combustion chamber is built so as to leave a
space 32 between the back ends of all the retorts and the wall of the combustion

page_text: chamber so that all of the retorts may expand and contract without disturbing the
walls of the combustion chamber. Peep holes 33 34 provided with shutters, are let
through the side walls of the combustion chamber to enable the operator to
determine by their color the temperature of the retort pipes at all parts of the
combustion chamber.
I will now describe the structure for supplying the materials to the retort.
35 is a boiler of ordinary construction (but which may be heated, if desired, by
gas) for supplying live steam for all parts of the process. 36 is a pipe conveying
steam to each of the pipes 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 leading to as many different super-
heaters and each provided with a valve as shown in Figure 1. These pipes pass in
through the front wall of the furnace and connect the superheaters 42, 43, 44, 45,
46 (one for each retort) located in the same combustion chamber with the retorts.
From each of these superheaters, the steam is led out through the front wall of the
furnace and to one of the retorts; namely, to the retort v, by the pipe 47; to the
retort w by the pipe 48; to the retort by the pipe 49; to the retort y by
the pipe 50 and to the retort by the pipe 51. This superheated steam being thus
heated to practically the same temperature as the retorts, is discharged into the
end of the first pipe of each retort in a inch jet which forms an injector or
inspirator to act in conjunction with the oil supply for vaporizing the same and
producing a current of mingled oil vapour and superheated steam through the
retort.
The oil may be supplied from a tank 52 into which it may be pumped through
the pipe 53 by the steam pump 54. The oil passes down through the strainer 55
into the pipe 56 in which is located a valve 57. The strainer is shown in detail in
Figure 11 and contains a wire netting basket 58 of suitable size mesh to hold back
any solid matter. From the pipe 56 the current of oil is distributed to the
pipes 59, 60, 61, 62, and 63 containing respectively the valves 64, 65, 66, 67 and 68.
These pipes connect respectively with the transparent oil receivers 69, 70, 71, 72,
73, one of which is shown in sectional detail in Figure 13. It is composed of a
cylindrical portion of glass 74 closed at top and bottom by the caps 75 and 76.
The inlet pipe 59 enters through the cap 75 and this cap is also provided with an
opening 77 closed by a pivoted slide 78 which may be moved by hand. The outlet
consists of holes as shown in pipe 79 which are small enough to cause the oil to
back up slightly and prevent the entrance of air. The oil is conducted away from
these several receptacles by the pipes 79, 80, 81, 82, 83 provided respectively
with the valves 84, 85, 86, 87 and 88 and leading respectively to the ends of
the retort pipes 201¹ y₁ = where the oil is injected into the retort pipe by
the jet of superheated steam. The arrangement for this purpose is shown in
detail in Figure 10, where the pipes 48 and 79 are respectively the superheated
steam and oil pipes, and where the steam is discharged from the nozzle shown
in dotted lines at 89 and the oil is discharged into the pipe 90 surrounding
that nozzle so as to be vaporized and forced into the retort pipe on the
principle of an injector or inspirator. The function of the transparent oil
receptacles 69, 70, 71, 72 and 73 is to enable the operator to know whether the
apparatus is working satisfactorily; because if otherwise, the oil will back up in
the transparent receptacle thereby showing carbon or dirt obstruction in the
retorts and the necessity of cleansing them with a current of live steam as now
described.
By opening the hole 77 the operator can tell whether the injector is working
properly by the sound transmitted through the hole.
Pipes 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95, provided respectively with the valves 96, 97, 98,
99 and 100 respectively, lead from the live steam pipe 36 to the ends of the
retort pipes v', 10', x, y, z¹. The connection between each of these pipes and
its retort pipe is made as shown in Figure 10, so that the live steam may have
free access to the retort pipe independently of the injector. The object of this is
so that in case any stoppage occurs in any one of the retorts, live steam may be
turned on to the same so as to carry off such obstruction.
'

page_text: I will next describe the apparatus for disposing of the fixed gas after leaving the
retorts y and z. This is delivered by the pipes 19, 20 and 21 into the expansion
chamber 101 located near the exit ends of the retorts so that the retorts are imme-
diately relieved from the back pressure of the gas already formed.
For the three retorts already described, I employ a cylindrical expansion
chamber about six feet long and twenty-four inches in diameter and I provide the
same with a drip pipe 102. The gas from the expansion chamber passes to an
ordinary condenser through a pipe 103 of large diameter so as to offer the least
resistance, and from the condenser it passes to the gas holder. Between the
expansion chamber 101 and the condenser and within the pipe 103 is placed an
exhaust, the object of which is not only to overcome the back pressure from the
gas holder, but to create a slight vacuum or suction in the expansion chamber so
as to assist the free flow of gas from the retorts as fast as it is generated. This
exhaust is shown in Figures 3 and 4 and it consists in a nozzle 104 connected with
the boiler by the pipe 105 provided with a valve 106 so as to discharge live steam
into a cylinder 107 through which the gas has to pass. The pipe 103 behind the
steam nozzle is provided with a diluent pipe 108 having the valve 109. The
exhaust produced by the steam jet from the nozzle 104 draws air or any other gas
diluent into this opening which joins the current of gas and is thoroughly mixed
therewith by being injected through the cylinder 107. The power of this exhaust
can be regulated by the valve 106 and the amount of diluent by the valve 109.
In the particular apparatus which 1 am describing the steam jet from the
nozzle 104 will be to inch in diameter; the internal diameter of the pipe 103
is from 8 to 10 inches, the internal diameter of the cylinder 107 is from 3 to
4 inches, the internal diameter of the air pipe 108 is from 1 to 2 inches.
I will next describe the mechanism involved in disposing of the gas from the
retorts and and at the same time in the production of the continuous and
uniform temperature within the combustion chamber. The pipes 17 and 18 lead
respectively from the retorts v and w to the chambers 110 and 111 surrounding the
air nozzles 112 and 113. Air (which may be previously heated by passing through
the pipes 114 and 115 in the top compartment 1 of the furnace and conducted
thence to the respective nozzles by the pipes 116 and 117) may be supplied by
the air drum 118 in which a constant pressure of air is maintained by any suitable
air forcing apparatus, such as the fan blower 119 of Figure 4. The arrangement
connected with the gas pipe 18 and that connected with the gas pipe 17 for
supplying air and forcing into the mixing chamber, is shown in detail in Figure 9
and it will be observed that the air from the nozzle 113 injects the gas from the
chamber 111 into the nozzle 120 whence they are discharged into the pipe 121
leading to the mixing chamber 13. The top of the nozzle 113 enters the rear of
the nozzle 120 which is large enough to leave an annular space for the fuel gas to
be drawn through. The nozzle 120 converges at its tip somewhat as shown and is
at the tip of smaller diameter than the pipe 121. The nozzle 120 performs the
function of thoroughly mixing the air and gas before its introduction into the
mixing chamber below the hearth. The pipes 17 and 18 are larger than the retort
pipes and a suction is produced in each by the air jet so as to relieve the retort
from accumulation of gas.
In the apparatus which I am describing, the pipe 18 is two to three inches
internal diameter; the nozzle 113 is one inch internal diameter at its top; the
nozzle 120 is 1 inches diameter at its top and the pipe 121 is three inches
internal diameter; the several parts in Figure 9 being drawn to a scale. A valve,
as 122, should be provided somewhere in the pipe supplying air to the nozzle 113
so that the amount of supply is continually under the control of the operator.
By thus controlling the supply of air and the escape of the products of combustion
from the combustion chamber and the quantity and richness of the gas supplied
from the retorts and w (which last he is enabled to do by the valves 84 and 88
which control the quantity of oil admitted into those retorts) the operator is enabled
to regulate and distribute the heat absolutely, and since this is essential to the

page_text: operation of the retorts, all of these elements combine with the construction of the
retorts and their deflectors etc. in the production of the result sought.
This form of the mixing chamber is shown at 13, Figure 2, it being deepest at
the front end where it is four inches in depth and decreasing gradually to a depth
of only one inch at the rear of the furnace. This form prevents the momentum of
the gas fuel carrying it to the rear of the mixing chamber and compels the fuel to
pass upwards through the hearth in substantially equal quantities at all parts
thereof.
The hearth 12 is four feet square and consists of 16 perforated fire clay tiles
each 12 inches square and from 2 to 2 inches thick. Each tile contains 144 conical
perforations or jets each inch diameter at the upper and of an inch in diameter
at the lower end. The studs 129 resting ou the bottom of the mixing chamber
support the tiles constituting the hearth. Holes are provided at 123 in the doors 11
to admit a limited amount of air only to the combustion chamber nearly on a level
with the upper surface of the hearth. In starting up the apparatus, it is necessary
to take fuel from another source than the retorts themselves and for this purpose
I take a pipe 124 from the gas holder and connect it by the pipes 125 and 126
controlled respectively by the valves 127 and 128 with the chambers 110 and 111
respectively.
The apparatus above described is operated as follows:
By opening the valve 127 and 128 gas from the gas holder is admitted to and
burned in the combustion chamber until the retorts are heated to an orange red
heat which is seen by means of the peep-holes in the side walls of the generator.
The valves 130, 131, 132, 133, and 134 in pipes 37 and 38 are then opened and
steam passes through the superheaters and by the time it reaches the nozzles at the
inlets to the retorts has been raised to about the temperature of the retorts them-
selves. The valves 64, 65, 66 67 and 68 are now opened and the oil flowing by
gravity from the tank is seen in the glass receptacles 69, 70 71 72 and 73. This
oil at the entrance to the several retorts is grasped by the superheated steam and
injected in the form of a vapor or finely divided spray into the first pipe of
each retort. The pressure of the superheated steam continues to urge the vapors
of oil through the whole nest, and the current absorbs the heat from the retorts
which causes such chemical combinations that by the time they reach the outlet to
the expansion chamber, they have become a fixed gas of from 70 to 80 candle
power, if the proper supply of oil and superheated steam is given. Whilst the
flow of vapors is urged at the inlet of each retort by the steam jet, it is assisted at
the outlet by the exhaust between the expansion chamber and the condenser. Tests
show a two inch pressure in the pipe next the inlet and a zero pressure in the pipe
next the outlet with a one inch vacuum in the expansion chamber.
The fixed gas in its hot condition carries with it any surplus of steam, by which
it is meant, steam which has not entered into any combination with oil vapor.
This surplus is precipitated by the condenser thus rendering the gas cool and dry
before it passes to the gas holder. If the exhaust is closed and the hot gas is
allowed to escape through a jet inserted in the expansion drum, it will be found to
look like a light brown smoke, which is due to the excess of steam, the earthy
substances found in the oil and unfixed vapor of oil. The application of a piece of
clean white paper which is coloured brown is a good practical test by the operator
as to the good working of the generator.
The condenser condenses the steam and at the same time precipitates the earthy
substances which collect in the bottom chamber of the condenser and are called
residuals. These should consist only of water from the condensed steam and the
earthy and non-volatile substances in the oil itself. They are found to be very
small in quantity.. The residuals flow from the condenser into a drip as a precipitate,
so us to prevent any accumulation, and in this way the gas passing to the gas
holder has no opportunity of absorbing any portion thereof.
It is a matter of great importance that there should be no interruption to the

page_text: steady flow of oil and steam vapors through the retorts, for where ever any direct
stoppage is created, the gas begins to deposit carbon or tarry matter rapidly,
forming an obstruction to the flow of gas. This should not occur in the apparatus.
described, but if by inattention it should occur, the plugs and core pieces may be
removed from any one of the retorts without interrupting the operation of the others.
Or by cutting off the supply of oil and superheated steam, live steam may he
admitted through the retort from the pipe 95 for cleansing purposes.
As soon as the retorts are working properly so that the gas has been generated in
the retorte v and w, the valves 127 and 128 will be closed and the supply of gas be
taken from those retorts, and not from the gas-holder. Also it will be found that
the damper in the main chimney may be kept almost closed.
I believe that the results I accomplish with the above process and apparatus
attest the radical character of the inventions embodied therein and I therefore desire
my claims to be understood as covering all modifications which do not depart from
the principle of my inventions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, 1 declare that what I claim is :-
1. The process of manufacturing a fixed illuminating or fuel gas which consists
in passing a current of oil vapor and superheated steam, first through an open retort
pipe and subsequently through a retort pipe containing a core piece and deflectors
whereby said current is compelled to impinge against the inner surface of the pipe,
the whole of said retort being maintained at substantially the combining temperature
of the mixture, substantially as described.
2. The improvement in the art of gas generating which consists in passing a
current of superheated steam and oil vapour through a retort heated to the com-
bining temperature of the mixture and producing such temperature by a portion of
the generated gas injected into the combustion chamber adjacent to the retort with
a jet of air, substantially as described.
3. The improvement in the art of generating gas which consists in heating the
retort by the combustion of fuel gas injected into the combustion chamber adjacent
to the retort by a jet of air, substantially as described.
4. The improvement in the art of generating gas which consists in heating the
generating retort by the combustion above a perforated grate, of gas injected into
the chamber below said grate by a jet of air, substantially as described.
5. In a gas generating apparatus in combination a retort, an injector provided
with a superheated steam nozzle and oil supply pipe, and an opening in the oil pipe
provided with a cover; whereby by the removal of said cover the action of the
injector may be determined, substantially as described.
6. In a gas generating apparatus in combination with a retort consisting of a
series of pipes, a furnace having an opening leading from the furnace chamber at
opposite ends of the pipes to the flue and dampers whereby said openings may be
regulated, substantially as described.
7. In a gas generating apparatus in combination a retort consisting of a series
of pipes, a heating chamber enclosing the same provided with a plurality of flue
openings regulated by dampers and also provided with a peep hole through which
the color of the retorts may be observed for the purpose of equalizing heat through
the instrumentality of the dampers, substantially as described.
8. In a gas generating apparatus in combination a furnace, a retort, a super
heater and an air heater, the retort and superheater being located in one
compartment and the air heater being located in another, substantially as described.
9. In a gas generating apparatus, a retort containing a core piece which gradually
widens into a deflector composed of a casting approaching at its widest diameter
the interior of the retort and an injector adapted to produce a current of super-
heated steam and, oil through the retort in such direction as to impinge upon the

page_text: gradually expanding side of the deflector, all surfaces of the deflector opposed to
the flow of the current being inclined with the flow whereby the current is deflected
without abruptly arresting the flow, substantially as described.
10. In combination with a retort pipe, an internal deflector enlarging gradually
with the direction of the current from the centre toward the interior walls of the
pipe and terminating in a line at a distance within the walls of the retort from
which line project occasional centreing fingers, substantially as described.
11. In a gas generating apparatus in combination a heating chamber, a series of
independent retorts located therein, a fuel chamber underlying substantially the
whole heating chamber, a pipe leading from one of said retorts to the fuel chamber
and a passage leading from the other of said retorts to the gas holder whereby the
gas produced in one of said retorts may be employed for illuminating purposes and
that produced in the other of said retorts may be employed for fuel purposes,
substantially as described.
12. In a gas generating apparatus, in combination a retort chamber, a perforated
hearth, a nozzle through which the fuel consisting of gas and air is introduced into
the fuel chamber, an injector whereby the gas 18 injected to said nozzle with a jet of
air and an air forcing apparatus whereby said jet of air is produced substantially as
described.
13. In a gas generating apparatus in combination a retort chamber, a perforated
hearth, a fuel chamber beneath the hearth, an injector adapted to inject gas into
said fuel chamber with a jet of air and an air forcing apparatus adapted to produce
such jet of air, substantially as described.
14. In a gas generating apparatus in combination a retort chamber, a perforated
hearth covering the whole bottom of the retort chamber, a fuel chamber decreasing
in depth from the side at which the fuel is introduced to the opposite side, an
injector adapted to inject gas with a jet of air and an air forcing apparatus whereby
said jet is supplied, substantially as described.
15. In a gas generator in combination, a retort chamber a perforated hearth, an
air opening at or near the upper level of the hearth, a fuel chamber beneath the
hearth, an injector adapted to inject gas into said fuel chamber with a jet of air
and an air forcing apparatus to supply said jet, substantially as described.
16. In a gas generating apparatus in combination a retort, a furnace enclosing
the same, an injector adapted to inject oil into said retort with a jet of steam, a
perforated hearth a fuel chamber beneath said hearth, a pipe for conducting fuel gas
to said fuel chamber and an air forcing apparatus connected with said chamber
whereby air is introduced thereinto under pressure, substantially as described.
17. In a gas generating apparatus in combination a furnace, a plurality of retorts
located therein, a perforated hearth, a fuel chamber beneath the hearth, an injector
and passage connecting an air forcing apparatus and one of said retorts with said
injector whereby the gas produced in said retort is injected into said fuel chamber
with a jet of air, substantially as described.
18. In a gas generating apparatus, a retort chamber, a perforated hearth, a fuel
chamber, an injector adapted for injecting gas into said fuel chamber with a jet of
air, an air forcing apparatus adapted to supply said jet and a heater whereby the
air is heated on its way to said jet, substantially as described.
19. In a gas generating apparatus, in combination a retort chamber, a fuel
chamber, an injector adapted for injecting gas into said fuel chamber with a jet of
air, an air forcing apparatus adapted to supply said jet of air and a hearth inter-
posed between the fuel chamber and the retort chamber, said hearth being provided
with perforations the length of which perforations exceeds their smallest diameter
whereby under the pressure produced in the fuel chamber by the injector the
combustion is prevented from extending thereinto, substantially as described.
20. In a gas generating apparatus, a heating chamber provided with a flue for
the escape of products of combustion, a perforated hearth, a pipe adapted to
convey fuel gas, an injector whereby the fuel gas is injected under the perforated
hearth by a jet of air means for regulating respectively the supply of gas, the
B

page_text: supply of air and the flue opening; whereby the regulation of the temperature
within the heating chamber is controllable by the operator, substantially as
described.
21. The combination of nests of retorts in one chamber whereby fuel as gas is
generated and used to manufacture itself and a surplus for a gas holder and a
passage returning from the gas holder to the furnace whereby fuel may be supplied
for starting.
Dated this 12th day of December 1805
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
1
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.