US872625A - Gas-producer. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907.

E. D. HOPGROFT.

GAS PRODUCER.

APPLICIATION FILED 00129. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 872,625. PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907. E. D. HOPGROFT.

GAS PRODUCER. APPLICATION FILED 00T.9.1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFroE.

ERhESIv DIGBY HOPCROFT, OF BRIDGEPOR'I, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOPCROFT GAS PRODUCER 00., OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

GAS-PRODUCER.

naeraezs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3,1907.

Application filed October 9. 1906. Serial No. 338.133;

To all 2071 am it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST DIGBY HoP- CROFT, a subject of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and Stateof Connecticut, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Gas- Producers, of which the 'lollowing is a speci amount being consumed and drawn from the apparatus at any given time.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus with means whereby the exhaust from the engine or other means consuming the gas generated, will be discharged into the retort through a' channel in communication with a source of vapor supply, and'the velocity of the flow of said exhaust will so regulate and control the volume of such vapor entering said channel as to preserve the proper proportion of said vapor and said products of combustion irrespective of the variance in the quantity of gas being produced.

A still further object is to provide a producer'which-by reason of the introduction of heated va ore and the products of combustion, will e capable of producing powergas in such quantities and of such quality as to resultin an economical maintenance and opration of the producer. J

' A still further object is to provide a producer, the constructionand arrangement of whichwill be such as t'o be reasonably safeguarded against fire risks and other risks incidental to the maintenance of an isolated gas producer plant.

A still further objectis to. provide a producer wherein liquid from-which the vapors are generated maybe furnished from time to time with chemicals in a solution in a manner to impart to the vapors thosechemical properties which will tend to increase the quantity and improve the quality of the gases released from the incandescent coal. And a still further object is to provide a producer of this character which will be simple in design and in its mode of operation and auton-iatic in all respects exce t the removal of the coal supply and the c eansing of the washers, scrubbers and driers.

The invention consists in the novel' fea tures of construction" hereinafter set forth and described and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings 2 Figure 1 is a vertical section. of the retort of a producer and of one of the auxiliary tanks, embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof on a smaller scale, and Fig. 3 1s a plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 2.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout .the several vie'ws.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, I have-shown at a a retort having a hopper b for a reserve, coal supply at the-top thereof. This hopper has a cover I) for the top thereof and an inverted bowl shaped gate 0 closing the bottom thereof and opening into the retort a. A weighted lever c is pivoted to or adjacent to the hopper I) and is connected to the gate 0 by a link 0", a construction and arrangement which permits the contents'of the hopp er to be dumped into and distributed in, the retort while the hopper is closed, thus avoiding the escape of noxious gases when the retort is being recharged. A fire grate d is arranged adja cent to the bottom of said retort;

VVit-hin the upper part of the retort ct is a water-tight tank 0 which is so positioned as to be subjected to the heat generated within the retort, thus-vaporizing the water contained therein. A small air-pipe, as 9 communioates with this so that the vapor may, if desired be, mixed with air in said tank. In practice, however, I find that enough air enters through the cracks'tabout the covers of the various openings inthe retort a, and that Iseldom have to rely upon the pipe. 'Adjacent to the said vapor tank is a smaller tank e adapted 'to contain chemicals in solution which are discharged into the tank 6 as required, the vWater for said tank passing through said chemical tank and beingitutomatically fed, thereto by the actuation of a float valve 6 1 The retort a is surrounded by an outer metallic casing a between which and the outer wall of the retort is a space for air, which prevents the excessive heating of the outer casing. The retort as is customary with producers of this character, is hned with fire clay. The lower part of the space between the walls of the retort is in communication with the interiorof the retort below the grate (1 through a plurality of small passages as a through which the mixture of vapor from thetanke and hydrogen gases'and other products of combustion from 'the source of consumption of the gases generated pass to the base of the coal pile within the retort, from the said'space; f

'The casing a and retort a are rovided with openings, not shown, for ra g the coal in starting and removing the ash; and a pipe f having any desired form of protected discharge nozzle f within said retort and above the grate d is in communication with a blower f 3 preferably hand operated, whereby the atmoelpheric air may be forced through the co pile in starting.

Within the tank 2 is a perforated drumig. This drum is in communication. with the lower space about said retort through a pipe g, the outlet of which is controlled by an ordinary damper plate 9 having a stem g projecting through the casing a. i p

Communicating with the space below the damper g is a blower casing it within which is mounted awheel h having a plurality .of vanes h each presenting rearwardly a dished surface. Actuatedfrom the shaft of said wheel is an ordinary centrifugal governor 'i so connected to the damper stem 9 by the leversystem '2" as to open said damper proportionately to the increased speed of rotation of the wheel h".

The casing h is in cominunication with the exhaust of an internal combustion engine not shown through a pipe 71 thus causing the engine exhaust to'pass through'the casing-h actuating the wheel h therein through the vanes ]L2, and the dam er 9 to the space about the lower part 0' the retort adjacent to the discharge end of the pipe 9 Where it mixes with the vapor discharged from said pipe and becomes diffused about the said re-' with one chamber of w 'ch the tanks 1' and 7a communicate, and a pipe n between the upper partof the tanks 7c and L The tank Z discharges into a second chamber in the box m.

The tank 7' is in connection with the upper box m, the openin s in saidbottomfor the gas,-

part of the retort a through a pipe 0 and the second chamber in the box 'm is in communication with an internal combustion engine through. a pipe 0 thus providing a continuous circulation channel from the engine cylinder through the exhaust thereof, the pipe b the casing h, the chamber about the lower. part of the-retort a, the retort' itself, the several tanks 3', 1c, 1 and the pipe 0 to the inlet port of the engine.

The tank 7' has a water distributor y" at the top thereof and an outlet pipe 3' passing from the bottom thereof'and discharging into a tank p havingan outlet above the discharge end of said pipe j thus forming a water seal preventing the escape. of the gases through said pipe. f

The bottom of the tank 3' is dished as shown to prevent the water passing to the being above the -liioll. t l '0 Each; ofthe tanks 4', k and Z is provided with a'plurality of grates 1'2 dividing it into three communicating compartmeiits' each of ottom of said dished porwhich has a hand hole as 3 closed by a face plate indicated at 4 whereby the ifilling therein may berenioved and replaced.

The two upper compartmentsof the tank jare filled with coke or 'some othersimilar porous substance and the lowermost compartment'with a granulated non-porous substance, as cork, through all of which water percola'tes serving to condense and wash and scrub the gas passing therethrough. The compartments of the tank k are fille with an 3 absorbent substance loosely packed therein, thus serving to dry scrub and dry the as. The compartments of the tank 1 are led with a dry and highly absorbent substance capable of acting as a final filter and dry scrubber and drier for the gases.

The operation of the herein'described producer is substantially as follows: In starting, a.fire is built upon the grate d and cdal-introduced to the retort in such quantities as may be required to secure an incandescent body of coal sufiicient to maintain a slow combustion within the retort. Thereafter the retort is closed and the fire permitted to Smolder until the Water in the tank 6 is partly vaporized. Atmospheric air is then forced through this body of coal by means of the-hand blower f pi e f and the discharge nozzlej thereof, to re ease the carbonic acid gases in the. coal and mix with them the constituent gases of the air to produce a combustible mixture forthe initial charge for the engine or other source of power utilizing this gas. These producers have their highest efiiciency in connectionwith internal combustion engines and the continuous operation of the producer will be described in connection therewith. The producer, however, may be used in various connections with economy, and it is not my intention to in temperature within the retort a thus inany way limit the uses of the invention to such engines. A quantity of free gas having' been thus liberated within the retort d, the

engine is started and the suction of the piston draws this gas or a portion thereof through the pipe 0 and the tanksj 7c and l and pipe 0. 1n the first of these tanks, j,

it is thoroughly washed, condensed and scrubbed. In the tank 7c to which the gas passes through the box m, it is dry scrubbed andedried to a great extent, andin the tank lit receives a further dry scrubbing and drying and a final filtration preparatory to passing to the engine. The water constantly percolating through the filler of the tank not only serves to wash the gas, but to carry away through the pipe and tank 2) some of the tar' and other by-products deposited on the said filler. The exhaust of the engine is forced through the pipe k to the casing h where it rotates the wheel it through the vanes 71 thereon, passing from said casing to the space about the retort. The speed of rotation of the wheel is governed by the velocity of the, exhaust, and as the centrifugalv governor is actuated thereby, the damper plate 9 is openedto an extentto allow vapors formed-in the tank e to pass from the pipe 9 and mix with the incoming products of combustion. This mixture becomes diffused about the lower part of the retort'and with each successive cycle of the engine, is drawn through the openings a and the entire body of incandescent coal, serving to disrupt the carbon elements and form a mixture of the carbonic acid gases, carbon monoxi'd, hydrogen and nitrogen, which produces a highly combustible mixture and one having such power as to insure high efficiency, and economy. The water in the tank e isreplenislied from the chemical tank e from time to time, such chemicals being employed as will .give to said water .and the s'team' generated therefrom, those properties best calculated to give the best results 1n operating the apparatus.

It will be observed that the greater the power developed by the engine, the larger wlll be the quantity of gas withdrawn from the producer, and the greater the volume of the exhaust gases discharged through the casingh, the velocity of the flow also bein increased. As the governor is actuate through the velocity of theflow of the exhaust gases, with the increase of said velocity and consequent increase of the volume of such gases passed through thecasing h, the damper gtwill be opened so as to insure the feeding of a proportionately increased volume of steam through the pipe 9- to secure a uniform mixture of the gases passed through the openings a to the retort. The passage of an increased volume of this mixture through the pile of coal will raise the creasing the volume of steam generated.

to that demanded, and the quality of the mixture, and of the gases produced willremain substantially the same.

When it is required to renew the supply of" coal, or recharge the retort, the cover I) is opened and the hopper b filled with coal, the

said cover then being replaced and secured in place. Thehandle c is then raised dropping the gate 0 from the mouth of the hopper and permitting the coal to enter the retort. It will be observed that the gate 0 will normally seal the hopper mouth thus preventing the escape of the gases when the lid If-is raised.

It is-not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction heretofore described, it being apparent that such details may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is '1. In a gas producer, the combination of a retort, means in communication therewith whereby gas generated therein is washed, scrubbed and dried, ,a distributing chamber in communication with the lower part of said retort, a vapor tank, means whereby said tank is placed in communication with said chamber, means whereby gases are introduced to said chamber in volume proportionate to the quantity of gas drawn from said retort including a blower casing, a wheel mounted therein having vanes whereby said gases will rotate said wheel, a governor actuated by said wheel, a damper plate or valve, and connections between said governor and said plate or valve whereby the volume of steam admitted to said chamber is automatically controlled to preserve the proportions of said vapor and said gases in the mixture in said chamber.

2. In a gas producer,,the combination of a retort, means in communication therewith whereby gas generated therein is washed, scrubbed and dried, a distributing chamber in communication with the lower .part of said retort, a vapor tank, a tank adapted to contain chemicals in communication with said vapor tank, means whereby said tank is placed in communication with said chamber,

means whereby gases are introduced to said chamber in volume proportionate to the ql-uantity of gas drawn from said retort inc uding a blower casing, a wheel mounted therein having vanes whereby said gases will rotate said 'wheel, a centrifugal governor actuated by said Wheel, a damper plate or valve, and connections between said gov" ernor and said plate or valve whereby the volume of steam admitted to said chamber is automatically controlled to preserve the pro' portions of said vapor and said gases in the mixture in said chamber.

' 3. In a gas producer-,the combinationof a retort, means in communication therewith scrubbed and dried, a distributing chamber in communication withdhe'lower part of said retort, a 'vapor tank, means whereby ases are introduced to said chamber-in vo ume proportionate to the quantity .ofgas. drawn om said retort including a perforated drum, a2" pipe leading therefrom, and openi into said chamber, a damper plate or'va ve in said pipe, a blower casing communicating with saidchamber, a wheel therein having vanes whereby isaid gases will rotate said a wheel/1a centrifugal governor actuated by 2.0

soid, wheel and connectionsbetween said governor andsaid damper'plate' 01 valve whereby -,the volume-of steam admitted to said chamber is automatically controlled to 4; a gas producer, the combination of a preserve" the proportions of said vapor and said asesin the mixture in said chamber.

' retort, means in communication therewith whereby the as generated therein is washed, scrubbed an dried, a pipe leading theree from to the inlet port of'an internal combustion engine, a distributing chamber in communication with the lower part of said retort, a vapor tank, meanswherebyases ;;are introduced to said-chamber in v0 ume I roportionate to the quantity of gas drawn whereby gas generated therein is washed,

om said retort including a perforated drum in-said vapor tank," a and opening into sai the exhaust port of a gas engine, a wheel mounted in said casing having vanes whererotate said wheel, a centrifugal governor actuated by said wheel, and connections between said governor and said damper plate '01' valve whereby the volume ofsteam ad mitted to said ,.chamber is automatically controlled to preserve theproportions of said vapor and said gases in the mixture in said chamber.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed -my signature, 8th day of October, 1906,

gipe leading therefronr chamber, a damper plate or valve in said pipe, a blower casing, communicating with said chamber and with .by the exhaust gases from said engine will

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