IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR LIGHTING, HEATING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
We, CORNELIUS THOMPSON, Gas-engineer of 15 Ada Rd, Brunswick Square,
Camberwell, in the County of Surrey, and CHARLES HAMMOND, Engineer, of
34 Craven St., Charing Cross, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the
nature of our Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR
LIGHTING, HEATING AND OTHER PURPOSES, to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of gas, and
apparatus for manufacture of same. The gas is made from Standard White
Petroleum Oil, free from any kind of spirit, Dry Steam, and Atmospheric Air,
resulting in the production of a permanent gas, giving a pure and brilliant white
light, of very high illuminating power, and being entirely free from Sulphur and
Carbonic Acid, is considerably increased in value and usefulness. The residuum
from the manufacture of the gas contains Benzol and a thick gum, and is of a
valuable character, as it forms a good stain for wood.
We are aware that gas has been made for purposes similar to our own, by the
use of Petroleum Oil, Air, and Steam being injected into retorts of a special
character, but without the success of producing the same or even similar superior
and important results, as is obtainable by this invention.
-
In order to render our system of manufacturing the said Gas more intelligible
we give below a description of the process.
A bed is built of brickwork or other building materials suitable for the purpose,
and strengthened with perpendicular metal standards and horizontal bars across
the top. In this brickwork bed a furnace is fixed, with an ashpit underneath it,
whilst just above the furnace is fitted a longitudinally shaped retort, in the
interior of which is fitted another similarly shaped retort, running about two-
thirds the length of the outer retort, having the end at the back part open into the
larger retort, it's front end being firmly closed together with that of the outer
retort by means of a sealed flanged mouthpiece or lid. Above the outer retort
is placed a drum ended boiler, having a water feed pipe for supplying it with
water, also a steam pipe by which the steam generated therein may pass therefrom
in the necessary quantities required for the manufacture of the gas. The boiler
bas steam guages and safety valve. This boiler is heated by the peculiar
construction of the flues, which are so built as to cause a circulation of the heat

page_text: from the furnace, round the retort and then to pass beneath the boiler and so be
carried away by the chimney. In an elevated position a little distance off from
the bed is fixed a tank containing the petroleum oil, from which the oil flows
through a pipe into a glass measuring cylinder or funnel attached to a pipe which
conducts it to the retort, the quantity of oil being regulated by means of taps.
The water is pumped into the boiler, and the atmospheric air is forced into the
retort by means of a blower or fan. From the boiler the steam is conducted for
the purpose of drying it, to what is termed a super-heating pipe, which is a
U shaped pipe that passes between the inner and outer retorts, and is rather
longer than the inner or smaller retort. This pipe enters the retort on one side of
the flanged mouthpiece or lid and passing round the inner retort has its exit on
the other side of the lid; at this point the dryness of the steam can be tested by
the experiment of lighting it with a match, The steam thus dried enters by means
of a pipe the inner retort, into which it helps to force the oil, which is conducted
to the same spot. From this inner retort by the pressure of the dry steam the
whole is discharged into the chamber between the inner and outer retorts and is
immediately decomposed becoming a permanent gas. Into this chamber the
atmospheric air is also forced instantly decomposing and the three constituents
amalgamate and the result is the manufacture of the desired gas. The gas is now
led from the retort, by means of a pipe at the top of the outer retort, near the
front end thereof, to a vessel containing water, called a water tank or purifier,
having partitions therein, which divides the tank into a series of chambers, these
partitions are perforated at the bottom, the holes being sealed by the water, and
the gas being forced into the water of the first compartment, is by its own pressure
caused to pass through the holes of the first partition to the next compartment,
and so on through each succeeding compartment; the gas then being perfectly
pure and cool is now conducted to an ordinary gas holder ready for use.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
We CORNELIUS THOMPSON, Gas Engineer of 15 Ada Road, Brunswick Square,
Camberwell, in the County of Surrey, and CHARLES HAMMOND Engineer, of
34 Craven Street, Charing Cross in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS
FOR LIGHTING, HEATING, & OTHER PURPOSES, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
.
This invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of gas, and
apparatus for the manufacture of same. The gas is made from standard white
petroleum oil, shale oil, rock oil, and other hydrocarbons purified from explosives
spirits, dry steam and atmospheric air, resulting in the production of a permanent
gas; giving a pure and brilliant white light of a very high illuminating power;
and being entirely free from Sulphur and Carbonic Acid, is considerably increased
in value and usefulness.
It should be noted in regard to the oils used that the qualification of flashing
that is to say the flashing point should not be less than 120° Fahrenheit.
The residium from the manufacture of the gas contains Benzol and a thick gum,
and is of a valueable character, as it forms a good stain for wood.
We are aware that gas has been made for purposes similar to our own, by the
use of petroleum oil, air, and steain being injected into retorts of a special character,
but without the success of producing the same or even similar, superior, and
important results as are obtaineable by this invention.
În order to render our system of manufacturing the said gas more intelligible we
give below a description of the process reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings. Fig 1. represents a front elevation of the whole apparatus with all its
connections necessary for the manufacture of the said gas.
Fig 2, represents a vertical cross section of the bed showing the furnace d, the
flues n. n. the fire tiles at at the retort f, the boiler I with a flue underneath it.
Fig 3, represents a sectional elevation of the bed, a, and the furnace, d, a longi-
tudinal view of the boiler I, and retort f.
Fig. 4, represents an isometrical view of purifying tank, together with its interior
divisions or compartments, and the holes in each partition affording a communi-
cation between each compartment for the gas to pass through from one compartment
to the next, and so on to the last or outlet m' of the purifier.
.
Fig. 5. represents a sectional plan of the retorts f. and g. A bed a, a, a, a, Fig 1.
and a, a. Figs 2, and 3. is built of bricks or other building materials suitable for
the purpose and strengthened with perpendicular metal standards, b, b, b, b. in
Fig 1. and b, b, b, b. in Fig 2. and horizontal bar marked b. in Fig 2, across

page_text: In this brickwork bed a furnace d, in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is fixed an ashpit e, in
Figs 1, 2, and 3. underneath it, whilst just above the furnace d, is fitted a longi-
tudinally shaped retort f. in Figs 1, 2, 3, and 5. in the interior of which is fitted
another similarly shaped retort g, in Fig 5. running about two-thirds the length of
the outer retort, having the end at the back part open into the larger retort f, its
front end being firmly closed together with that of the outer retort f. by means of
a sealed flanged mouth-peice or lid H. in Figs 1, 3, and 5. Above the outer
retort f, is placed a drum ended boiler I, in Figs 1, 2, and 3, having a water feed
pipe J, in Figs 1, and 3, for supplying it with water also a steam pipe K, in Figs 1,
and 3. by which the steam generated therein may pass therefrom in the necessary
quantities required for the manufacture of the gas.
The boiler I, has steam guages 1, L. in Fig 1. and safety valve m, in Fig 1._This
boiler is heated by the peculiar construction of the flues n, n, n, n, n, n, in Figs 2
and 3. which are so built as to cause a circulation of the heat from the furnace d,
round the retort f, and then to pass beneath the boiler I, and to be carried away
by the chimney o, in Figs 1 and 3, in an elevated position; a little distance from
the bed a, is fixed a tank P, Fig 1. containing the petroleum oil, having a glass
tube r,
in Fig. 1. fitted to it to show contents thereof, from which the oil flows
through a pipe g. in Fig 1, into a glass measuring cylinder or funnel r, in Fig 1.
attached to a pipe S. in Fig 1. which conducts it to the retort, f. the quantity of
oil being regulated by means of taps I. I. in Fig 1.
The water is pumped into the boiler I. and the atmospheric air, is forced into the
retort f, by means of a blower or fan u. in. Fig 1. from the boiler I. the steam is
conducted for the purpose of drying it, to what is termed a super-heating pipe
marked v. v. v. in Fig 5. which is a U shape pipe that passes between the inner and
outer retorts g and f. and is rather longer than the inner or smaller retort g.
This pipe v. enters the retort f, on one side of the flanged mouth-peice or lid H,
and passing round the inner retort g, has its exit on the other side of the lid H. at
this point the dryness of the steam can be tested by means of lighting a match
with it.
The steam thus dried enters by means of a pipe W. in Fig 5, the inner retort g.
into which it helps to force the oil, which is conducted to the same spot W, from
the oil tank P.
From this inner retort g. by the pressure of the dry steam the whole is dis-
charged into the chamber y. y. in Fig 5, between the inner and outer retorts g.
and f. and is immediately decomposed becoming a permanent gas.
Into this chamber y. y. the atmospheric air is also forced instantly decomposing,
and the three constituents amalgamate and the result is the manufacture of the
desired gas.
The gas is now led from the retort f, by means of a pipe Z, in Fig 1. at the top
of the outer retort f. near the front end thereof to a vessel a', in Fig 1. containing
water, called a water tank or purifier having partitions, pl. pl. p². p². p. in Fig 4.
therein, which divides the tank a'. into a series of chambers, c¹. c c. c. c'. c. in
Fig 4, these partitions marked p¹. p¹. pl. p¹. p². are perforated at the bottom; the
holes h¹, h¹, h, h, h', in Fig 4. being sealed by the water W¹, W. in Fig 4. and the
gas being forced into the water W, W. of the first compartment c¹. is by its own
pressure caused to pass through the holes h'. of the first partition p¹. to the next
compartment c¹ and so on through each succeeding compartment; the gas then
being perfectly pure and cool is now conducted to an ordinary gas holder ready
for use.
The tank or purifier a'. is supplied with an inlet pipe, Z, and an outlet pipe m¹.
in Fig 1, at the front part of the water line of the said tank a', is a row of five
bib taps T, T, T₁, T, T¹. in Fig 1, for the purpose of drawing off from the surface
of the water in each of the compartments or chambers c¹, c¹, c, c', c', c¹ the
residium resulting in each case from the manufacture of the said gas by means
of pipes X, X, X, X, X. in Fig 1. attached to each of the said taps, such pipes

page_text: conducting the residium to a tank or other vessel v₁, in Fig 1, for the storeage, at
the lower part of the tank a', is a round hole X in Figs 1. and 5. for the of cleaning
out the tank when required; on top of the tank or purifier in hand holes marked
03, 03, 03, 08, 03, 0%, in Fig 4. is fixed five taps or cocks, ck, ck, ck, ck, ck. in Fig 1,
called blow off cocks used for the purpose of blowing off any surplus gas in caso
of extraordinary increase of pressure, entering any one or more of the said.com-
partments or chambers.
To render the description of that part of this invention connected with the flues,
more comprehensible we give the following details.
In each side of the furnace d, are built the flues n, n. in Fig 2. continuing up to
and over the retort f, into the fire chamber c, each being open at their base. to
receive the heat from the furnace, which is by them conducted to somo fire tiles
marked at, t, t, 't, t, t. in Figs 2, and 3, fixed up at each side of retort f, the
object of these tiles being to protect the sides of the retort f, from unnecessary heat
and therefore undue wear and tear.
The heat so conducted impinges on the said fire tiles, thence over the top of the
retort f, into an archway, a, h. in Fig 1. running the full length of the same,
thereby forming a fire chamber c. in the roof of this archway is an opening about
4 inches wide and 3 inches deep and commencing about 6 inches from the front
end of the retort f. the sides of this opening being shaped in a slanting direction
inwardly forming a bed or support in which the boiler I, is laid or fixed. The heat
from the fire chamber c. being thus made to act on the whole length of the retort f,
passing thence to the exit flue f, c. and the chimney o.
The screw down valve W, C. is for the purpose of regulating the supply of dry
steam passing from the pipe v. the inner retort g. O, 2. represents holes named
sight holes through which the exterior parts of the retort f, can be seen and the fire
encirculing the said retort.
Although the above is a description of the best means known to us at the
present time it is not our intention to be limited to the construction of the
apparatus and the connections therewith, herein described as it may be found con-
venient to alter some of them to meet the exigencies of certain cases as we are
desirious of reserving the power of adopting any suitable means to enable us to
carry out the objects of our invention in the fullest and most exhaustive manner to
produce the results sought to be obtained by our invention.
Having now described the nature of our invention for the improvements in the
manufacture of gas for lighting, heating, and other purposes and explained the
manner of carrying the same into practical effect, we declare what we claim and
desire to be secured to us by letters patent is
Firstly. The general arrangements and constructions of the parts thereof together
substantially us described in accordance with the objects to be herein obtained.
Secondly. The arrangement of fixing one retort into another retort together
with the arrangements of certain pipes hereinbefore described as steam and
atmospheric air pipes connected with the retorts together with the oil supply
arrangement to the inner retort, substantially as described and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Thirdly. The arrangements of the screw down valve and the general arrange-
ments of the pipes connected therewith regulating the supply of dried steam to the
retorts, substantially as described.
Fourthly. The purifier constructed substantially as shown in the drawings with
its blow off taps on the top thereof and the draw off taps at the water line level to
draw off any residium on the surface of the water, this residium being conducted
to a tank, resevoir, or receiver for the same by means of the pipes marked X.
Fifthly. The combination of oil and super-hoated or dried steam produced and
tested in the manner hereinbefore described in combination with atmospheric air
producing the desired gas, by means of the general parts of the apparatus and

page_text: other connections therewith working in co-operation with each other and therefore
we claim the apparatus consisting of an oil tank, air blower, and low pressure
boiler supplying simultaniously and in combination, oil, dried steam, and atmo-
spheric air, in a double retort the steam being super-heated or dried before contact
with the oil, in the manner and by the means substantially hereinbefore set forth
The dryness of the steam being tested by means of a lucifer match being ignited by
being put in contact with it.
Finally. We claim the different parts and connections with the apparatus
working in combination and co-operation with each other as hereinbefore set forth
and fully described, thereby producing the gas intended to be produced by the
invention.