Improved Gas Making Machine.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Gas Making Machine.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, Patent Agent, of 52 Chancery Lane, London,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, a communication from abroad by
Frank Wiggan Beardsley, Gentleman, of Bayonne, in the County of Hudson and
State of New Jersey, United States of America, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The objects of my invention are to provide means for conveniently recharging
the machine, drawing off the solution, preventing the escape of the hydrocarbon
liquid from over pressure, and freeing the service pipe from condensed liquid,
without permitting the escape of gas.
Figure 1, is a perspective view of such an apparatus, parts of the tank being
broken away to more clearly exhibit the interior.
Figure 2, is also a perspective view showing the tray withdrawn for recharging;
Figure 3, is a cross sectional view of the apparatus ;
Figure 4, is an enlarged sectional view of the escape valve; and,
Figure 5, is an enlarged view of the governor showing the drip and filling pipes
in section.
T, is the tank, usually built of wood, in oblong form, strongly secured together,
which
lined with zinc Z, and divided into two chambers C and C', by a partition P,
extends from the upper wall downward, but not to the bottom.
A portion of the cover c, is removable and a second portion c¹, is hinged to a
fixed portion C². Two bent arms A, are attached to the under side of c', and
support a pivoted tray t, between them, said arms being so bent that the further
ends will pass under the partition P, and upward to, or near the top of chamber C
To cover c', a segmental gear G, is secured and upon a bracket b, fastened to the
A shaft s, extends
tank, a worm gear g, is journaled, which meshes with gear G.
from the worm gear and is provided with a handle h.
At some point a siphon is arranged, the short leg L, extending down into the
tank and the long leg L', to a point below it. This long leg extends up above the
junction with the short leg and is provided with a funnel at the top and a cock o,
above the level of the joint.
E, is the gas eduction pipe leading from C₁, to a governor G₁: any governor
may be used. From it, a service pipe p, extends to the points desired. From this
service pipe, a drip pipe d, leads down into chamber C', and is there preferably
trapped as shown. From a bend in it, another pipe f, for use in introducing the
hydrocarbon, extends upward and is provided with a cock o'.
A safety valve is also connected with the gas chamber, consisting of a pipe V,
extending down through the cover of the tank, its lower end being surrounded
by a tube w, somewhat larger than V, and secured to a float F. In w, a small
quantity of mercury acts as a seal. Above the cover, pipe V, is provided with
an off set portion e, surrounded by a hood H, open at the bottom, from which hood
an escape v¹, leads off to a convenient point of discharge.
The operation is as follows; The tank having been placed in position and the
desired service and discharge connections made, a dilute sulphuric acid solution
is then poured into chamber C, until it is about two thirds filled; a quantity of
hydrocarbon is then fed into the gas chamber through pipes f, and d, and floats
upon the surface of the solution therein and a little water is poured in to force
out the hydrocarbon from the trap, to avoid odours. Handle 1, is then turned till
the tray t, is swung down under P, and up through the opening in the cover, to
the position shown in Figure 2, when it is filled with scrap iron and returned to
Prine 8/1

page_text: position and there held by a stud bolt extending through c¹, and provided with a
nut ng
The solution attacks the iron and generates hydrogen gas which, rising through
the hydrocarbon, becomes carburetted and is held in chamber C¹.
If the eduction pipe is open, the gas passes off and is used. If not, the pressure
increases and forces the solution in C¹, below the level of tray t, and the formation
of gas ceases. The float F, is of such gravity as to float on the solution, but to
sink in the hydrocarbon.
If, now, sufficient solution remains in the pores of the iron to continue the
generation of gas, it would force the solution down, till the hydrocarbon would
escape under P, but for the escape valve, but before that time the float has
descended till the mercury is below the end of V, and the gas escapes up
through V, v, H, and ¹, thus relieving the over pressure and preventing the
escape of the hydrocarbon; the valve closes again as soon as the over pressure
is relieved and the solution rises again carrying the float with it. Condensation
would be very likely to choke this pipe V, but the use of hood H, open at the
bottom, prevents that, as any condensation from v¹, will be blown out through H,
and not enter v. So too, any drip from condensation in the surface pipes, will pass
down through d, into the chamber and thereby the necessity for the ordinary pet
cock to discharge the drip, is avoided.
When it becomes necessary to draw off the solution, cock o, is closed and the
funnel is filled with liquid, then o, is opened and permitted to remain open till
the liquid has nearly passed the junction of the two legs of the siphon, when it
is again closed. Thereupon the siphon is started, and will draw off all solution
above the level of the lower end of leg L, if desired, and this too, without any
cock placed where the solution can reach and destroy it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a tank, bent hinged arms depending
into said tank, a tray pivoted to said arms, a gear secured to said arms and
provided with means for slowly and regularly operating said gear to swing the
tray into and out of its position within said tank, substantially as set forth.
2. In a gas apparatus, a generating chamber, an automatic blow off valve
connected with said chamber and with an escape pipe, said escape pipe being
provided with a hood, open at the bottom and surrounding the outlet pipe of
said valve, all substantially as set forth.
3. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a generating chamber, an eduction
pipe provided with a governor, a drip pipe extending from the service pipe of
said governor into the generating chamber and there provided with a trap, all
substantially as set forth.
4. A siphon consisting of a short leg, a long leg extending above the junction
with the short leg, open at the top, and provided with a cock between the upper
end and the junction with the short leg, all substantially as set forth.
5. In a gas apparatus, the combination with the generating chamber, of a gas
service pipe, a drip pipe extending from the service pipe into the generating
chamber and there provided with a trap and filling pipe leading into the drip
pipe, all substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th der of October 1800
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.