IMPROVEMENTS IN GENERATING ILLUMINATING GAS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GENERATING ILLUMINATING GAS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN."-A communication from abroad by Erasmus Alling-
ton Pond, Mark Staples Richardson, and Edmund Alonzo Morse,
all of Rutland in the State of Vermont United States of America.
C
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd September 1865.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
5 Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GENERATING ILLUMINATING GAS, AND IN THE MACHINERY
OB APPARATUS. EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication to me from abroad by
Erasmus Allington Pond, Mark Staples Richardson, and Edmund Alonzo
Morse, all of Rutland, in the State of Vermont, United States of America, to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates principally to the construction and arrangement of
apparatus or machines for making illuminating gas by forcing atmospheric air
or hydrogen or carburetted hydrogen gas, or air mixed with one or other of

page_text: such gases, through the light and volatile hydrocarbon fluids which form the se-
condary products of the distillation of coal, or the oils emanating from coal or
petroleum; and consists in so combining and arranging a gas apparatus with a
view to compactness and portability that the same may be used for illuminating
purposes as a fixture in railway carriages and other vehicles, or as a lamp
or moveable and portable apparatus in houses, on board ships, and in other
situations. In carrying out this Invention two conditions are requisite :-First,
that the air or other gases shall be forced or drawn through the volatile
hydrocarbon liquid by a mechanism, the operation of which shall not be
sensibly affected by the movement to which the apparatus may be subjected;
second, that the air or other gases shall be so forced or drawn through a
column of volatile hydrocarbon liquid of such a length (equivalent to height)
as will insure the perfect saturation or charging of the air or other gases with
hydrocarbon vapor. For this purpose it is proposed to combine with an air
pump a vaporizer, consisting of a hydrocarbon fluid reservoir provided with a
funnel-shaped bottom, which terminates in a pipe. This pipe may or may not
be coiled, but its extremity is turned upwards, and is connected with an air
chamber provided with a double-acting diaphragm air pump operated by any
convenient arrangement of spring power clockwork mechanism. Valves for
the admission and expulsion of air or other gas to and from the air chamber
are arranged so that at each stroke of. the pump air or other gas is admitted
into the air chamber and forced out through the pipe or coil into, the, fluid
reservoir, whence it escapes through another pipe or pipes leading to one or
more burners. In cases where the hydrocarbon fluid reservoir is subjected to
violent motion or shaking, the flow of gas is liable to be occasionally either
wholly or partially interrupted. To obviate this it is proposed to provide in
the fluid reservoir, and at a point below the outlet of the gas, a spherical
shield or cover having an aperture in the centre through which the gas
escapes. It is also proposed to regulate and divide the current or flow of air
or other gas into as fine streams as possible as it passes through the pipe or
coil in connection with the hydrocarbon reservoir by means of finely perforated
diaphragms or wicks drawn through such pipe or coil, or by other equivalent
means. Perforated diaphragms may be used for this purpose, placed either
across the pipe or coil, or across the reservoir, or both. A supply reservoir
is employed in combination with the tubular vaporizer for the purpose of
maintaining such vaporizer constantly supplied with fluid.
:

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd March 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, 'Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
at any
WHEREAS Her. most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the 23rd day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the 29th year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors; administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should
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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GENERATING ILLUMINATING GAS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication to me from abroad by Erasmus Allington
Pond, Mark Staples Richardson, and Edmund Alonzo. Morse, all of Rutland,
in the State of Vermont, United States of America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, 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 Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
:
The said Invention relates principally to the construction and arrangement
of apparatus or machines for making illuminating gas by forcing atmospheric
air or hydrogen or carburetted hydrogen gas, or air mixed with one or other
of such gases, through the light and volatile hydrocarbon fluids which form
the secondary products of the distillation of coal, or the oils emanating.
from coal or petroleum. Apparatus of this kind are generally composed of

page_text: an air forcing apparatus and a vaporiser combined for operation so as to
produce a steady flow of air well charged with hydrocarbon vapor. This,
however, can only be effected by apparatus or machinery too voluminous to
admit of portability or of application to railway carriages or other like
vehicles.
This Invention, therefore, consists in so combining and arranging a gas
apparatus, with a view to compactness and portability, that the same may be
used for illuminating purposes as a fixture in railway carriages and other
vehicles, or as a lamp or moveable and portable apparatus in houses, on board
ships, and in other situations. In carrying out this Invention two conditions
are requisite:-First, that the air or other gases shall be forced or drawn
through the volatile hydrocarbon liquid by a mechanism, the operation of
which shall not be sensibly affected by the movement to which the apparatus
may be subjected; second, that the air or other gases shall be so forced or
drawn through a column of volatile hydrocarbon liquid of such a length,
equivalent to height as will insure the perfect saturation or charging of the
air or other gases with hydrocarbon vapor. For this purpose it is proposed to
combine with an air pump a vaporiser, consisting of a hydrocarbon fluid reser-
voir provided with a funnel-shaped bottom, which terminates in a pipe. This
pipe may or may not be coiled, but its extremity is turned upwards, and is
connected with an air chamber provided with a double-acting diaphragm air
pump operated by any convenient arrangement of spring power clockwork
mechanism. Valves for the admission and expulsion of air or other gas to
and from the air chamber are arranged so that at each stroke of the pump.
air or other gas is admitted into the air chamber and forced out through the
pipe or coil into the fluid reservoir, whence it escapes through another pipe or
pipes leading to one or more burners. Ip cases where the hydrocarbon fluid
reservoir is subjected to violent motion on shaking the flow of gas is liable to be
occasionally either wholly or partially interrupted. To obviate this it is proposed
to divide in the fluid reservoir, and at a point below the outlet of the gas, a
spherical shield or cover, having an aperture in the centre through which the
gas escapes. It is also proposed to regulate and divide the current or flow of air
or other gas into as fine streams as possible as it passes through the pipe or
coil in connection with the bydrocarbon reservoir, by means of finely perforated
diaphragms or wicks drawn through such pipe or coil, or by other equivalent
means. Perforated diaphragms may be used for this purpose, placed either
across the pipe or coil, or across the reservoir, or both. A supply reservoir is
employed in combination with the tubular vaporiser for the purpose of main-
taining such vaporiser constantly supplied with fluid.....

page_text: The accompanying Drawing represents a sectional elevation of an apparatus
constructed according to this Invention.
A is the reservoir, consisting of a hermetically closed cylindrical vessel, the
bottom of which is funnel shaped, terminating at the centre in a pipe B,
coiled spirally, helically, or in other: convolute manner. Above the reservoir
there is an air chamber and pump C, composed of two parts, which are united
by means of screws or bolts passing through flanges D, between which is
clamped and securely held the elastic or flexible diaphragm E, made of india-
rubber, leather, or other suitable material. To the diaphragm is imparted a
reciprocating action by means of a clockwork or spring-power mechanism
operating the rod F, which passes through.. the stuffing box G in the top of
the air chamber. No special reference is here needed to the construction and
operation of the said mechanism.. It will suffice to say that it is similar to
that of a clock, being provided with a spring, of requisite power, gear wheels,
regulating mechanism, and the proper means or devices for transmitting rotary
movement and converting the same. into reciprocating movements.
One or
more
air admission valves V, V, are arranged in the air chamber on each
side of the diaphragm, and similar valves. W, W W, but working outwardly,
i.e. for the expulsion of the air from the air chamber, are arranged in the valve
chambers H, H', situate on each side of the diaphragm and communicating
with the pipe B. I is a tube provided with a funnel-shaped top J, through
which the fluid or hydrocarbon liquid is poured into the reservoir, and K is a
pipe which conveys the air charged with vapor to the burner L. M is a
cock to shut off the supply of gas to the burner.
.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-The reservoir A being first
filled with hydrocarbon liquid to a level some distance below the point of
outlet of the gas, the coil of pipe, B will be supplied from the reservoir, and
thus kept constantly filled. The clockwork or spring mechanism is now
wound up and imparts an up-and-down motion to the
..pump,
rod F. The
Drawings exhibit the pump rod at the end of its upward stroke, having
raised the diaphragm whereby the air in the upper portion of the chamber
was compressed. The compression of the air caused the closing of the
internal valve V and the opening of the external valve W, whereby the air
contained in the air chamber above the diaphragm is partly forced down and
through the pipe B and up and through the coil. While the air is thus
forced through the convolutions of the pipe it becomes, more or less
charged. with the vapor of the volatile hydrocarbon .fluid, according to the
length of the coil, which may be increased or decreased as required. On the
downward stroke of the rod F a precisely similar operation and with the same
L

page_text: effect will take place through the valves V₁ and W₁; the former, owing to the
compression of the air within the lower compartment of the air chamber, is closed,
while the latter is opened, and the air is forced in the manner before described
through the pipe and coil B, and becomes charged to a sufficient degree with
bydrocarbon vapor. The gas thus formed by the charging of air with vapor
is collected in the upper part of the fluid reservoir, whence it is allowed to
escape through the pipe K to the burner L, where it may be ignited and
burned for illuminating or heating purposes.
From the foregoing it will be understood that the important feature of this
Invention is the circuitous arrangement of the pipe B, whereby air in a more
or less continuous stream or column is kept moving through or in contact
with bydrocarbon liquid for a length of time requisite to sufficiently charge it
with vapor, without, however, involving voluminous and expensive con-
trivances such as have heretofore been used. An advantage which renders
this machine peculiarly adapted to railway carriages and other vehicles, or
for portable lamps, is that the motion to which the fluid reservoir may be
subjected will not sensibly affect the operation of the machine. The motion
of the liquid in the vessel is by the arrangement shown confined to the
supply reservoir, and does not take place in the coil, so that the column of liquid
through which the air is forced (that is to say, the longitudinal developement
of the coil) is constantly the same or nearly so. If the motion of the fluid
vessel be violent there is danger of the flow of gas being occasionally wholly
or partially interrupted, causing the extinguishing or flickering of the flame
of the burner. To obviate this it is proposed to provide in the fluid vessel,
and below the outlet of the gas, a spherical shield or cover, with a hole in
the centre through which the gas escapes.
Another important feature of this Invention is the application of a spring
power mechanism to work the air pump, which may be of any known or
suitable construction. By this means gas may be generated on the principle
set forth in a small and portable apparatus. The application of the diaphragm
pump to lamp or gas machines as described offer the important advantage
of doing away with friction, more or less attending the operation of all other
pumps.
Although I have described the improved apparatus with reference to its
use as a vaporizer of atmospheric air, I wish it to be understood that it may
be used with superior advantages as a carbonizer of hydrogen or other gases.
Experiments made with the improved machine developed the important fact
that if hydrogen or carburetted bydrogen gas be forced through the coil in
lieu of or together with air a more intense heat and a brighter illuminating

page_text: flame will be produced. Gas of great illuminating power may be produced
by mixing in varying proportions carburetted bydrogen gas, such as that
obtained from ordinary gas works, with the gas consisting of atmospheric air
charged with hydrocarbon vapours.
It has also been found advantageous to regulate and divide the current or
flow of air into as fine streams as possible as it passes through the coil by
means of finely perforated diaphragms or wicking drawn through the coil or
other equivalent means. Perforated diaphragms may be used for this purpose
either across the coil, or across the reservoir, or across both.
In lieu of a spring power mechanism for operating the air pump any other
available power and method of transmitting the same may be used. Instead
of a diaphragm pump & piston pump, or the rotary pump ordinarily used in
connection with gas machines may be employed. Instead of the coil, one or
more tubes contracted at their lower or submerged ends, or provided with
contracted branch tubes, may be used with good effect. The object of the
contraction is to condense the air in the tube, and expand the same when
entering the hydrocarbon fluid, whereby it becomes well charged with its
vapor. Instead of atmospheric air being passed through the machine
described, carburetted hydrogen gas, that is to say, the ordinary illuminating
gas may be passed through, thereby greatly increasing its illuminating power.
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 application and use to and in machinery for generating
illuminating gas by charging atmospheric air or other gases with the
vapor of hydrocarbon fluids of a vaporizer composed of a pipe or tube coiled
spirally or otherwise, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before
described.
Second, the combination in machines for generating illuminating gas by
charging atmospheric air or other gases with the vapors of hydrocarbon
fluids by a tubular vaporizer as described with a supply reservoir to
maintain the said vaporizer constantly filled, substantially as herein-before
set forth.
Third, the application and use to and in machines for generating
illuminating gas by charging atmospheric air or other gases with the vapors.
of hydrocarbon fluids of an elastic or flexible diaphragm, air or gas pump,

page_text: 'constructed and arranged for operation substantially as herein-before
described.
Fourth, the combination in machines for generating illuminating gas by
charging atmospheric air or other gases with the vapours of hydrocarbon
fluids of an air pump and clockwork or other spring power mechanism
arranged to operate the said pump substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described. :
Fifth, the combination in a machine for generating illuminating gas by
charging atmospheric air or other gases with the vapor of hydrocarbon
fluids of a flexible or elastic diaphragm pump or other pump operating
without the use of water or other liquid, a tubular vaporizer and a spring
power mechanism to operate the pump substantially as herein-before
'described.
Sixth, the use in connection with a machine constructed substantially as
herein-before described of hydrogen gas or carburetted hydrogen gas in lieu
of atmospheric air.
Seventh, the combination or admixture of carburetted hydrogen gas with
air charged with hydrocarbon vapour as and for the purpose herein-before
set forth. "
Eighth, the employment in a tubular vaporizer, whether coiled 'or straight;
of perforated diaphragms, or the equivalent thereof, for the purpose herein-
before set forth."
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Twenty-third day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.) ;
.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S
(L.S.)