Improvements in Apparatus for Producing and Carburetting Hydrogen.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 22nd Oct.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing and Carburetting
Hydrogen.
I, JOHN FIELDING, of Belmont, Upton St. Leonards, in the County of
Gloucester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to a simple and convenient apparatus for producing and
carburetting hydrogen, which is preferably so arranged that the production can
be continuously maintained as I shall describe referring to the accompanying
drawings.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 is an end elevation and Figure 3 is a
plan of apparatus according to my invention. Figure 4 is a modification.
A A are two cylindrical producer vessels placed side by side at a little distance
apart, and B is a carburetting vessel shaped to fit closely between the lower parts
of the vessels A A. Within each of the vessels A there is a partition consisting
of a part C nearly horizontal, and a tapering tubular part D extending up to
and above the top of the vessel A. In the lower compartment of each vessel A
is a perforated plate E of material which is not affected by the acid employed; on
this perforated plate are laid fragments of zinc or of iron or steel, these being
introduced through a manhole at the top of tube D which can be tightly
closed. Each of the vessels A has at the top a funnel G by which dilute acid,
preferably sulphuric acid, can be introduced, and the carburetting vessel B has
a hole with a screw plug or cover H for introducing benzoline or such like some-
what volatile oil.
From the top of each vessel A branch pipes provided with cocks I lead to a
pipe J which extends down into the carburetting vessel B, while a pipe K ascends
from that vessel to the service pipe L by which the carburetted gas is led away
for use.
A pipe M, provided with cock, leads from the upper compartment of each
vessel A to the lower.
Another pipe P leads from the bottom of the lower compartment to the top
of the upper compartment of each vessel A. Manholes R are provided for re-
moving the residue of metal and cocks S are provided for drawing off liquid.
The apparatus operates as follows:-
Either vessel A has its upper compartment charged with dilute acid and its
lower compartment with the fragments of metal laid on the perforated plate.
Also the carburetting vessel B is charged with the volatile oil.
The dilute acid flowing in regulated quantity from the upper into the lower
compartment through the pipe M, and acting on the metal therein, causes de-
composition of the water, generating hydrogen which ascends through D to the
top of the vessel and passes down to the carburetting vessel taking up vapour
and passing thence to the service pipe L. By more or less opening a cock Q,
more or less of the gas may be allowed to pass direct to the service pipe without
Price 877

page_text: passing through the carburetting vessel. While one of the generators is being
charged or discharged the other can go on generating without interrupting the
supply of gas. Should at any time the gas pressure exceed a certain amount,
the dilute acid is forced up into the upper compartment through pipe P clear
of the metal, so that the generation of gas ceases until the pressure becomes
reduced. During the action of the acid on the metal heat is evolved which
aids in the vaporisation of the oil in the carburetting vessel.
It will be obvious that when a continuous production of gas is not required, a
single producer A may be employed in combination with the carburetting
apparatus B in the manner described.
When generators of large capacity are required I prefer to make the acid cham-
ber separate from those which contain the charges of iron.
By this means I am able to employ vessels of much simpler form, such as
wooden tanks lined with lead or other material not liable to be attacked by
the acid. 1
Figure 4 shews such an arrangement where A. A are two vessels in which the
charges of iron are decomposed, these vessels may be fitted with perforated bottom
plate E, and openings are provided as before for the introduction of the charge
and withdrawal of the residue, the necessary pipes and cocks also for connection
with the acid chamber, which in this case is a simple vessel B placed preferably
between and above vessels A A.
The latter are also provided with the necessary pipes and cocks for carrying off
the gas and drawing off liquid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. Apparatus for producing and carburetting hydrogen, consisting of a circular
producer A with central filling tube D such apparatus being constructed and
operating in combination with a carburetting apparatus B substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. Apparatus for the continuous production and carburetting of hydrogen
consisting of two producers A and a carburetting apparatus B, constructed and
operating substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of August 1898.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.