US707146A - Gas-producer. - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

L. L. MERBIFIELD.

3A3 PRODUCER.

(Applicat ion filed. June 24, 1901.)

Patehted Au [9, I902.

a Shfs--Sheet TN: NORRIS PErERs c0. PNUIouTHQ, WASHINGTON, u, c.

No. 707,146. I PatentedAug. l9, I902.

' L. L. MERBIFIELD.

GAS PRODUCER.

(Applieatian filed June 24; 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheeis-Sheet 2.

N0. 70.7,l46. Patented Aug. I9, I902.

. L. L. MERRIFIELD.

GAS PRODUCER.

(Application filed June 24, 1901. (No Model.) 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 3-.

' UNITED, ST T -s PATENT OFFICE- 1 LEONARD LANcAsTER MERRIFI'ELD, OF TORONTO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR To EDWIN JAMES oHEcKLEY, TRUSTEE, ANDEOONOMIOAL GAS APPARATUS coNsTRUoTIoN ooMPANY, LIMITED, OF ToRoNT0,cANADA.

GAS-PRODUCER. Y f

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,146, dated August 19, 1902. Application filed June 24, 1901. Serial 1V0. 66,825. (No model.)

the object of the invention is to provide? a:

' machine of this class particularly adaptable for the production of gas from peat, in which the carbonic-acid gas, which is non-combustible, may be reduced into carbon monoxid,

which is a-combustible gas, and thereby ma terially increase the amount of burning. power in the resultant gas; and it consists, essenzo tially, of a shell lined with fire-brick and provided with twochambers having grates with central perforated upwardly-extending portions, feeding-retorts preferably conical" in form and surrounded by gaslines, which form a means of communication between-the chambers through the medium of aconnecting passage-way, gas-outlets at the bottom of.

each chamber above the grates, suitable conduits being provided'at the back of thegcaso ing for cooling the gas as it passes from the retort and at the sametime beating the air as it passes to a point beneath the grates, as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure 1 is a perspective View, partially from the rear, showingthe general form of mygas-machine, portion of the casing being broken away to exhibit portion of the mech;

anism. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionlooking from the front. Fig. 3 is a detail of the mechanism for controlling the valves. Fig.

4 is a detail of the upper shaft and arms controlling the valves. Fig. 5 is a detail of the lower shaft and arms. Fig.6 is a detail perspective view taken from the rear of Fig. 3. In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in each figure.

A is the shell of the machine, and B a central partition.

. c is thelining, of fire-brick, which is LS0,

formed as to form two chambers D D of equal.

ticed that the lower portions of the chambers D are tapered, as shown. It will be noticed also that the ash-pit G has a substantially "conical bottom G, provided with a suitable. valve 9, the chute g of which extends into a water seal 9 The shell is supported on suit- 6o able hollow standards A.- The grates E are revolving gratesand are provided with the f central perforated dome 6, covered withfire. clay or bricks e, also provided with perfora tions. The blastpassing'through these perforations servesto keep the bed of peat at the bottom of the grate incandescent, as will hereinafter appear.

, Surrounding the chambers D D at the bot-' tom are a series of passage-ways 2 extend- 7o.

ing radially outwardly into an annular cham-' ber, e These passage-ways are designed to convey the gas from the bottom of the chamber to the conduit leading to the main, as will hereinafter appear. v ing or taperedupper portion of the chambers D, I provide a series'of openings or passageways d, which extend vertically upwardly into annular chambers D which are connected ,together at the top by a cross passageway D into which "extends the gas -'outlet flue I.. The outlet-flue I is provided with a suitable valve '6, which is manipulated through the valve-stem i and'handle 11 V J represents suitable charging-hoppers at 8 5 the top, which aremadein any suitable manner, such as may be found most convenient and suitable. 1

It will benoticed on referenceto Fig. 1 that the outlet-flue I is connected at the top byv 9o the branch I with the conduit J, -which is located and supported inthe main rectangular chamber K. It will alsobe noticed that I provide a passage-way e at the-back of each chamberD D, which communicates with the outlet-pipes e which'in turn communicate with the conduit J, being provided, however, at the top'or end with a cap 2, which Attheinwardlyrextend- 75 may be opened or closed, as the occasion may require, the cap shown in the drawings, however, being open.

The conduit J connects, by means of a pipe j, with a conduit J at the bottom of which is an opening J, to which is connected a pipe for conducting gas to any desired point.

L is an opening leading into a fresh-air conduit L, which extends around the conduit J and central partition L around the conduit J, and down to the bottom thereof, whenceit passes through by the pipe Z into the bottom of the ash-pit immediately below the grate. The outer end of each conduit Z is provided with a cap Z, as indicated in Figs. 1, 3, and 6.

It will now be seen that there are practically two pipes for the admission of the fresh air into the bottom of the retorts and two pipes for the outlet of gas from the bottom portions of the retorts, and the first two pipes are provided with caps Z and the latter with caps e. (See Fig. 3.) The caps Z are provided with stems Z which have pivotally connected to them the cross-beam Z which is secured on the cross-shaft 2. The cross-shaft 2 is supported in suitable bearings 2*, as indicated, and has secured onto it an arm 3.

4 is a counter cross-shaft situated above the shaft 2 and having located thereon the sleeve 5. The shaft 4 is journaled in suitable bearings. The sleeve 5 has secured on it the arms 6 6, and the shaft 4, journaled in bearings 4, has secured on it the arms 7 7. The end of the arm 6 is pivotally connected to the stem 6 at the upper end of the cap a and the end of the arm 7 is pivotally connected to the end of the stem (2 of the duplicate cap a. The end of the arm 6 has pivotally attached to itthe connecting-rod 8, and the end of the arm 7 has pivotally connected to it the connecting-rod 9. The connectingrods 8 and 9 are made in two parts, the socket portions 8' and 9 being pivotally connected to the ends of the cross-beam Z The socket portions 8 and 9' have bosses 8 and 9 which are provided with slots.

11 and 12 are pins which normally extend through the bosses, socket portions, and stems of the connecting-rods 8 and 9, respectively. The pins 11 and 12 are provided with laterally-extending pins 11 and 12, which extend through slots in the bosses, so as to limit the movement of the pins. The ends of the pins 11 and 12 have connected to them the adjusting- rods 11 and 12 which extend to the outside of the casing. The arm 3 has connected to it an adjusting-rod 3, which also extends through to the outside of the casing.

In the position shown in Fig. 3 the connecting-rods 8 and 9 are each shown connected together, and it will therefore be seen that by manipulating the adj usting-rod 3 the cap 6 is thrown up and down simultaneously with the diagonally-situated cap Z in both cases, so that when the cap Z is open for admission of air through the pipe Z beneath one chamber D the gas-outlet pipe e is open at the bottom of the opposite chamber for a purpose as will hereinafter appear. By pulling upon the adjusting- rods 11 and 12 the upper portions of the connecting-rods 8 and 9 are thrown out of connection with the lower portion-that is to say, the caps e are thrown out of working in unison with the caps Z. In doing this of course it is preferable first to pull upon the rod 3, so as to throw the cross-beams Z and 10 horizontal, and 1ikewise the arms 6 and 7 and 6 and 7. It will thus be seen that as soon as the two portions of the rods 8 and 9 are disconnected the caps 6 will drop down, so as to cover the pipes e and necessarily the rods 8 and 9 will drop farther down into the sockets 8 and 9'. The caps Z, however, will be raised and the pipes Z opened for a direct draft through the pipe Z underneath the chambers D and D, the gas in this instance passing up through the opening (Z, cross passage-way (Z into the pipe I, the valve t', of course, of which is open.

I shall now briefly describe the operation of my invention. The chambers D and D are filled with peat fuel or sawdust or other organic substances up to about a point slightly above the gas-outlets cZ. Fire is then kindled in both chambers, and the caps Z are adj usted so asto be raised and open, while the caps e close the pipes 6 as hereinbefore described. When the fuel in the chambers D and D is brought to a proper degree of temperatureviz., that of incandescence-the rods 8 and 9 are connected to their socket portions and are arranged to act in unison. (See Fig. 3.) It will thus be seen that when the cap 6 is open, so as to uncover the pipe 6 the diagonally-situated cap Z is also open, so as to uncover the pipe Z. The forced draft, by any suitable means created, is preferably used and forced through the pipe Z into the bottom of one chamber D, the gas from the incandescent peat being thereby forced through the passage-ways d and cross passage-way D and annular passage -ways d through the passage-way d at the opposite side, whence the gas passes down through the second bed of incandescent peat and out through the gas-openings 6 into the pipe e thenceout through the conduits J and J to the main gassupply pipe. In order to keep the bed of peat in each chamber incandescent, it is necessary to frequently change the valves or caps, closing the draft and gas-outlet pipes,which work in unison, and this is accomplished by the means I have hereinbefore described, so as to throw the caps, which are closed in Fig. 3, open and the caps which are open closed. The main draft thus would be directed through the adjacent chamber in identically the same manner and down through the opposite chamher by the passage-ways hereinbefore referred to, thence through the outlet-pipe. Not only may the air be admitted through the pipe L, but also steam may be admitted .n fee'd, as may be preferred.

seenthat in starting-the-furnace the charges are obliged to pass through the incandescent. mass of the companion producer.

is then fed into the producerfrom which the gases pass, and theai'r-blast is turned on in this producer, and thus the 'ga'ses produced, which are mainly carbon .dioxidand steam,j are passed through the incandescent fuelih the companion producer. This converts the carbon'dioxid and steam into carbon monoxid This process is continued," -unti1- the incandescence in the second prof" ducer is reduced to toodow a'temperature to break up the gases from the; firstiproducer. T When this-point is arrived at, the valves are" shifted'and the processreversed. '-The pro-* through this pipe, and the air and steam passing throughlthe. grate-EQand perforated cone into the fuel, Where partial combustion takes place, the resultant gases with the excess moisture in the peat passing up through the the pipes-e? and-L frequently to produce the best effects.

properly, to convert them into carbonic oxid and hydrogen, which pass outthrough the fiueinto the preheating device hereinbefore described, where the sensible heat of the gas is taken. up by the air which surrounds the fiues and travels in the opposite direction,

the gas passing through the outlet J 3 to wash ers,"scrubbers, condensers, or gas-holders or where required. As soonasthe peat is raised to a state of combustion in the chambers D and D by direct draft, as hereinbefore de-' scribedflfeed' thel peatinto the conical-retorts F and F. Themoisture of the peat will now be eliminated to a great extent for the :reason of the radiation of heat from'the lines and passage-ways dand'D aroundthe'conical retorts F and F; The'charging is accomplished ,with sealedcone avalve hoppers, as hereinbefore referred .to, or by suitable'screwof peat in both retorts are raised up to incandescence. The valves are then so set that the gasesfrom one of the retorts or producers and hydrogen.

ducers are so designed as to insure the com the bottom of one chamber, andthe gasisthrown up at thebott'om of the other. When thedriers areworking; acharge of-peat and.

wood sawdust or other. carbonaceous material islet down, say, into the left-hand charm-- "ber, and the steam and air'are blown into the 'bottomof the said" chamber. The prodnets of distillation pass" through the incandescent cokeand then'through' the flue and top pipe'to the righthand-chamber, down After a greatdeal of eXperi ment I have found that I am enabled to prac-. tically eliminate the carbonic-acidornon-Z t combustible gas and water vapors or, more It will thus be Fresh peat each 'annular chamber as andfor the pin-p throughthe hot coke which it contains, and out through the" bottom hues and away 3: to

the gas-main. When the fuel isijpartlycarbonized, a charge is let down into therighthand chamber and the valves are reversed; The direction of the current-is reversed every .fewminutes eitheriautomaticallyortbyhand.a Y

The reversingzof: the apparatus :is governed by the amount of carbon dioxid in the'resultant gases at such period, so that -the;tem'--.

'perature of the coke in the second chamber is always kept sufficiently high todecompose the tarry matter andthe carbon .d ioxid into 86 carbon monoxid and the-watervapor con'- itained in the peat or carbonaceous material into carbon monoxid and hydrogen. The re- :sultant product is therefore carbon monoxid: and hydrogen(water-gas) and traces of mars'h-,

gas. The coke is used up-in the further converting of the oxygen into carbonimonoxid.

The clinkers and incombustiblematter'gradually-fall tothe base of the fuel, where they are removed 'by' the shakingor revolving 9o grate and fall intothe h0pperbottom,wh-ich'1 is provided with a valve, as described, where theygive up-all the sensible heat to the incoming air and steam and from the hopperbottom drop from time'to time through the 5 valve into the water seal and after the valve is closed can be withdrawn without'stopping the production of 'gas. It is of course 'preferable to produce thebest results to herm'et- Y .ically seal thefire-box at thebottom with a roo suitable grates, feeding-retorts located above I re thepeat-bu'rning chambers and designed-to contain peat preparatory to burnin'g,-a series of passage-ways extending upwardlyfrom the upper portion of each fl peat-burningchamber circularlyarranged and surrounding the; re :15

torts, and annular chambers con nectedthere .with,' a cross passageeway connecting theyaninular chambers, a seriesof passage-waysron fiuesleading radially outwardly near the bot tomsof the peat-burning orfire chambers, 120

annular passage-ways surrounding the" bo'ttomof the chambers andconnecting withsaid radially-extending flues'andga's-foutlets from specified; I r2 5 f2. In a peat-gas machine, the combination with a suitable casing an'dlining therefor'and" two peat-burning chambers formed therein 1.

adjacent to each oth'er and provided with suitable grates, feeding retortslooated'above' -1 30' the-peat-burning"chambersand designedto contain. peat preparatory'to"burni'ng, 'aserie's 7 of passage-ways extending upwardly from the :upper portion of each peatburriin'g chamber circularly arranged and surrounding the retorts and annular chambers connected therewith, a cross passage-way connecting the annular chambers, a seriesof passage-ways or flues leading radially outwardly near the bottoms of the peat-burning or fire chambers, annular passage-ways surrounding the bottom of the chambers and gas-outlets from each annular chamber and valves for controlling the same and draft flues or pipes leading to beneath the grates and connected with the central gas-fines of each retort and valves controlling the same as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a peat-gas machine, the combination with a suitable casing and lining therefor and two peat-burning chambers formed therein adjacent to each other and provided with suitable grates, feeding-retorts located above the peat-burning chambers and designed to contain peat preparatory to burning, a series of passage-ways extending upwardly from the upper portion of each peat-burning chamber circularly arranged and surrounding-the retorts and annular chambers connected therewith, a cross passage-way connecting the annular chambers, a series of passage-ways or fiues leading radially outwardly near the hottoms of the peat-burning or fire chambers, annular passage-ways surrounding the bottom of the chambers and gas-outlets from each annular chamber, and valves for controlling the same, and draft fines or pipes leading to beneath the grates and connecting with the central gas-fines of each retort and valves controlling the same and means whereby when the gas-outlet valve at the bottom of one chamber is open the draft-pipe at the bottom beneath the grate of the other chamber is likewise opened and the other two controlling the outlet and draft pipes are closed as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination with two peat-fire chambers and the separate gas-flues surrounding each chamber at the bottom and communicating therewith, of the outlet-pipes leading from such gas-fines, the draft-pipes leading from beneath the grates, two shafts suitably supported one above the other, across-arm on one shaft connected by cross connectingbars to the cross-arm on the lower shaft and arms on each shaft located on the same plane, cross-arms and caps connected to such arms and designed to extend over the ends of the gas-outlet pipes 'or fines and inlet draftflues as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination with two peat-fire chambers and the separate gas-fines surrounding each chamber at the bottom and communicating therewith, of the outlet-pipes leading from such gas-fines, the draft-pipes leading from beneath the grates, two shafts suitably supported one above the other, a sleeve on the upper cross-shaft, two arms connected to the sleeve and extending outwardly to one side of the upper cross-shaft, two arms secured on the shaft, the cross-arms on the bottom shaft, caps pivotally connected to one cross-arm and covering the ends of the draftpipes and caps pivotally connected to one arm on the sleeve of the upper shaft and to an oppositely-extending arm on the shaft itself, crossed connecting-rods pivotally connected at the bottom to the ends of a cross-arm on the lower shaft and to one arm on the sleeve and one on the upper shaft, said connectingrods being formed in two parts with lower socket portions and pins extending therethrough and the solid portion of the connecting-rods, means for manipulating such pins, so as to withdraw them and allow of the crossarm on the lower shaft being operated independently of the arms on the upper sleeve and shaft as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination with the outlet-flue and inner draft-flue, of the casing, a partition extending the major portion of the height of the casing into which such flue extends, a gasconduit flue at one side of the partition, a corresponding flue on the opposite side of the partition, a pipe connecting the same, an outlet-pipe for the gas at the bottom of the outer gas-conduit fiue,andinner air-fines surrounding the gas-conduit lines and forming passageways up around the outer gas-conduit flue and over the partition and down around the inner gas-conduit flue and communicating with the draft-tubes as and for the purpose specified.

LEONARD LA NOASTER MERRIFIE LD.

Witnesses:

L. TRIMBLE, R. SHIELDS.

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