US113702A - Joseph w - Google Patents

Description

JOSEPH W.- STOW, OF SAN FRANClSCO, CALIFORNlA.

Letters Patent No. 113,702, dated April 1-1, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFA-CTURE OF PNEUMATIC GAS FOR ILLUWHNATING, gcc.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and makingvpart of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known tirati, JOSEPH W. S'row, of San lranf cisco, in the county of San Francisco and`iu the State of California, have4 invented an Improvement in the Manufacture of Pneumatic Gas, oi' which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

ln the manufacture of illuminating-gas from gasoline or similarhydrocarbons lgreat diiiiculty has been experienced in obtaining gas of a uniform quality in consequence of, iirst, the difierence in the specific gravity of the gasolihe,as the rapidity with which it (gasoline) vaporizes at'agiven temperature depends verymuch upon its density ,'and, second, even though a gasoline of uniform standard be employed, and the carbureter be maintained at an unchanged temperature, it is always found that the more Volatile portions are given off first, making a very richgas; but, as the process of carburetiug goes on, the evaporation becomes less frc'e, so that, as the bulk of gasoline is reduced, the gas gradually becomes poorer.

The method usually adopted to attain a uniformity. in the quality has been to control the vapor-ization of the gasoline by regulating the temperature of either v the gasoline itself or of the air which was being passed .through it.

Another method has been to add atmospheric air to the gas after it has been `produced in such quantities as should reduce it (the gas) to the desired photometric standard. But these moans, as they have been heretofore employed, have failed to accomplish the desired end.

It has been found entirely impracticable to regulate the temperature satisfactorily, and the manner in which air has been introduced is objectionable for two reasons:

First, it permittedcondensation to take place in the pipes, which is very objectionable; and

Secondly, it failed to produce a uniform quality of gas at all points, this latter "defect arising from the imperfect diffusion or mixing of the air with the gas.

The invention relates to that class of machines or works io which air is forced through or over the gasoline at such a temperature as .shall insure a gas richer in carbon than is required for illuminating purposes, and is designed to overcome the above-recited diihculties, and to accomplish the manufacture of a gas which shall not be subject to condensation under such changes of temperature as it shall ordinarily be subjected to, and shall be of uniform density and photometric quality ,itc this end f The invention consists in introducing or adding to and combining with the carbureted air such portion of atmospheric air asv may be desired,andintimately mixing or diiusing the same throughout the gas by means of certain devices, as wilt be hereinafter fully explained.

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectionrof a pneumatic gas apparatus embodying myinvention.

Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 .represent various devices by the aid of which my invention may be carried into effect.

Each part is distinguished by the same letter wheuv ever it appears in the drawing.

A is a tank closed at top and bottom.

Through the center of the tank A passes a verticaltube, B, communicating at its upper end with the pi pc 0and at its lower end with the space at'the under side of the perforated false bottom D. The tanks E and ll represent an ordinary gas-holder.

The tank` A communicates with the interior ofthe gas-holder by means of the pipe G.

It' the gas-holder be supplied with water and the tank A with some suitable liquid hydrocarbon, and atmospheric air be forced down through the tube B, under the perforated plate, up through the liquid hydrocarbon, and, through the pipe G, to the interior of the gas-holder, the ordinary mixture of'air and vapor, known and used as pneumatic gas, will collect above the surface of the water in theinterior of the tank E. yThe constantly varying/'proportions of th'e ingredients and lack of permanency of this mixture have been' hereinbefore set forth, as well as the inconvenience .and waste attending its use if too highly charged with vapor.

When my invention is employed the mixture may be supplied from the tank A, with as large aproportion. of Vapor as possible, and an additional quantity of lair is regularly supplied to and incorporated with it in the tank E, just sniiicient in quantity to secure and constantly maintain the proper uniform proportions oi' the ingredients, in order that no condensation may take place in the distributing-pipes, no waste of carbonoccur, andthe most economicalv production of light or heat is obtained, constant in quantity and quality for a given bulk. rl'lhis additional supply of air is introduced from the pipe C through the pipe H.

The pipe H is divided into two branches H1 HZ, terminating in a perforated horizontal pipe, H, by which the air entering through the pipe H is discharged in every direction, and becomes intimately incorporated with the mixture.

When hot air is to be admitted through the pipe H the branches Hl H2 should be protected from contact with the water. The sleeves or outer pipes I are pro vided for that purpose.

Instead of the branches H and Hzaudthe straight pipe H3, the pipe H may terminate in the center of the gas-holder and in arms H, and discharge the air -thioliglfthe perforations of the endless pipe H5, figs. 42 and 3, or may terminate in the rose H6, iig. 4.

, Heat may bejapplied to the pipe H at J, or the pipe H may be divided-and connected with each end of la coil of pipe passing through a furnace; or the air passing through the pipe H may be heated in any convenient manner.

Although the addition and incorporation of coldI air will accomplish, to a certain extent, the various objects of my invention, the addition and incorporation of hot air, in the manner herein described, will produce pneumatic gas that at any'given temperature will retain a much larger proportion of carbon than would be retained at that-temperature by any pneumatic gas produced by the ordinary process or system without my invention, or by any pneumatic gas produced by my improved process without heating the air.

The pipe C may receive its supply of air from a fan driven by asteam-engine, or from any suitable blowv satisfactorily, because .the addition has been made'dur.-

ing'thepassage of the gasthrough the mains or Aserrvice-pipes7 and the proportions could .not be properly regulated,.nor lcould a thorough diffusion be effected, for which reason aninferior quality of gas was produced, and more or less condensation wouldtake place in the pipes; but I have found, by repeated and thorough trials,othat, by mixing the air with the gas in a large gasometer, into which the air is introduced through a rose or perforated coil` of pipe, audin which a thorough and intimate difg'usion and assimilation takes place, I am enabled to manufacture a gas of uniform density, and which is not subject to condensa.- tion under any pressure or change of temperature to which it is ever subjected inY ordinary practice.

assimilation by means of these devices, whereby the mixing can take place while thel gas is in astate-of comparative rest, and when the required length of time can be allowed, I can largely increase the quantity of gas produced-from a given amount of gasoline, as I can add from two hundred to four hundred per cent. of atmospheric air to the carbureted air without reducing the standard of-its photometric value.

I am also aware that attempts have been made to improve ordinary coal-gaslb'y combining with it carbureted air; therefore I do not claim, broadly, either the 4combination of two or more illuminating-gases, nor the addition of atmospheric air to air which has .been previously carbureted; but f The herein-described method ofzcombining atmospheric air and carbureted air by means of the devices described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this25th day of October, A. D. 1870.'

' J. W. S'IOW.

Witnesses W. H. DIMonD, WM. B. Isaacs.

I have found that, by effecting this diffusion and

Images