US556910A

US556910A - wilkinson

Info

Publication number: US556910A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 1913-03-24

Description

(No Model.) 7 A. W. WILKINSON.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING GAS.

No. 556,910. Patented Mar. 24, 1896 UNTTED STATES ASA V. YVILKINSON,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF NEYV YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,910, dated March 24, 1896. Application filed January 10, 1896. erial No. 574,950. (No Specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ASA W. WILKINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Process of Manufacturing Illuminating ater-Gas; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new and improved process of manufacturing illuminating water'gas from hard or anthracite coal and carbide of calcium by the aid of steam.

The object of my invention is to provide for manufacturing illuminating water-gas containing a large percentage of olefiant gas directly in a cupola gas-generator.

In carrying out my invention I use a cupola gas-generator such as is used in the manufacture of water-gas, a suitable form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which represents a cupola in vertical sect-ion and suitable connecting-pipes in elevation.

The cupola A is preferably constructed with an iron jacket and a lining of fire-brick, and has an inclined bottom a, a grate a,a11dasl1- door of, and is constructed at the top with a fuel-opening g and a gas-escape opening g. A suitable mouthpiece, having a lid G connecting to a pivoted lever f, is secured to the top of the cupola at the opening 9. A chamber D and blast-port (Z are formed in the brickwork at the base, said port leading into the ash-pit below the grate. An air-pipe 0, lead ing fromv the air-blast box B, connects with the chamber D. An air-blast pipe B admits air from a blower (not shown) to box B. Pipe 0 is provided at its lower end with a conical valve 0, which may be controlled in any suitable manner. A gas take-oft pipe E leads from chamber D into the hydraulic main I, where its lower end is provided withaconical valve 2'. A gas take-off pipe F connects with the top of the cupola at passage g and extends down into the main I.

The main steam-supply S connects by the branchnz with. the gas takeoff pipe F for conducting steam into the top of the cupola. The branch pipe it connects with the superheatiug and discharge pipe 0' in the brickwork just above the grate, and the branch pipe 0 connects with the gas takeoff pipe E. These pipes are provided with valves for controlling the flow of steam into the base or top of the cupola. The pipe P leads from the hydraulic main for conducting gas to a holder or other place of use.

The apparatus is operated at follows A fire is kindled on the grate in the usual manner and the cupola is filled to the desired height with a mixture of hard coal and from one to ten per cent. of carbide of calcium, the percentage depending upon the candle-power of gas required. An air-blast is admitted until the body of coal is heated to incandescence, when the air-blast is shut off and the lid G at the top of the cupola is tightly closed and gas take-off pipe F is opened. Steam is now admitted into the base of the cupola and is decomposed as it passes up through the in candescent coal, producing carbonic oxide and hydrogen, and at the same time another portion of the steam united with the carbide of calcium, liberating acetylene. This acetylene gas as liberated under favorable conditions will unite with the nascent hydrogen, forming olefiant gas. The decomposition of steam and formation of olefiant gas are continued for about ten minutes, or until the temperature of the coal is reduced too low for effectively decomposing steam, when the steam is shut off and the air-blast is again admitted for heating the coal to incandes cence. By the addition of coal and carbide of calcium from time to time the process may be conducted as long as desired. I

The result of the operation is the production of a mixture of gases which possesses great illuminating power and burns with great brilliancy. W'ith care in the manufacture little or no purification of the gas is required, just simply cooling, when it is ready for storage in the holder.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The within-described process of making illuminating-gas from the decomposition of steam by red hot coal and the liberation of acetylene by steam from the carbide of calcium in a cupola.

2. The process of manufacturing illumt netting Water-gas which consists in heating a body of coal and carbide of calcium to incandescence by an air-blast, then shutting off the air and passing steam, in contact With'the incandescent coal and carbide of calcium, thereby liberating acetylene and nascent hydrogen to form olefiant gas.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ASA W. WILKINSON.

Witnesses WILLIAM C. EARLE, CHARLES PLATNER.