USRE4821E - Improvement in the manufacture of illuminating gas - Google Patents

Description

A. w. WILKINSON.

Improvement in Illuminating Gas.

Reissud March 19, 1872.

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- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ASA W. WILKINSON, on NEW Yon-K, n. Y,, ASSIGNOR To HIMSELF Ann PHILIP n. s'rnvnrs.

IMPROVEMENT N THE MANUFACTURE OF ILLUMINATING GAS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,535, dated February G, 1872 reissue No. 4,82 dated March To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, Asa WV. WVILKINSON, ot the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in. Illuminating Gas; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de-' scription thereofiwhieh will enable those skilled in theart to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing formingpart' of this specification, which drawing represents a sectional view of the apparatus which I have used in carrying out the invention. 1 a

lhis in veution consists in passing hydrogen gas first through purifiers, which frees the same from all impurities containing oxygen, such as water (HO) orcarbonic acid, (00;) then through a. carburetor, kept at the required temperature, containing any of the well-known hydrocarbons, such as'naphtha, gasoline, 850., whereby-the purified hydrogen gas becomes mechanically mixed with hydrocarbon vapors; which mixture is finally passed through a red'hotretort, whereby it becomes-a permanent gaseous chemical compound of superior illuminating qualities.

In carrying out my invention I prepare hydrogen gas by any of the well-known methodsthat is to say, either by means 'ef zinc and diluted sulphuric acid, or by means of hydrate of lime and carbonic oxide. The hydrogen gas obtained by any of these methods is not chemically pure. It is generally mixed with vapors of water or carbonic oxide, or with both; and if the gas, in this impure state, is passed through a carburetor containing hydrocarbon and then through a red-hot retort, thev waterbecomes decomposed, and its oxygen combines with a portion of the carbon taken in producing a "cl'icap and superior illuminating gas by the following process:

If the hydrogen gas contains the vapor or" water, I pass it from the receiver H through one or more purifiers, 1, containing chloride of calcium, caustic lime, or other suitable material capable of absorbing the watery vapors. If the hydrogen gas contains carbonic oxide I pass it through purifiers co lining hydrate of lime or its equivalent at aired heat to absorb this impurity. Aftcr the hydrogen gas has been purified I pass it through a carburetor, (J, containingthe hydrocarbon, so constructed that the temperature can be raised to any point that maybe required to generate the vapor of the hydrocarbon insufiicient quantity, forming, howeverfa mere mechanical mixture, which cannot-Ibo passed through pipes and consumed like-a permanent gas, because on being passed-through pipes exposed to a low temperature the hydrocarbon vapors condense and the illuminating power of the mixture is lost or greatly diminished. Themixtnre of by for example: One of the hydrocarbon vapors is composed of G II and if tothis I add six equivalents of hydrogen gas I obtain 0 ,115, and H, (3((J H )+12(OH It I add ten equivalents of hydrogen gas I obtain C I-I and H 4(0,II )+16(UH or even if I add eighteen equivalents I still have the formula of light carbureted hydrogen C IL -l- 11 224: (011 In fact a much larger proportion of hydrogen maybe used and a permanent gas produced, which will have a high illuminating powcrfarexceedin g theordinary coulgas. Thus I have within my power the facility to make a gas of any illuminating standard that may be required 5 and since the illuminating power of a hydrocarbon gas, when pure, is in proportion I to its specific gravity, the sup rior qualities of my gas will be readily conceded, it it is considered that one hundred cubic inchesof C 11 weigh thirty grains, one hundred cubic inches of 0H seventeen grains, and one hundred cubic inches of the ordinary coal-gals, which is a mixture of several gases, which increases its specific gravity, without adding illuminating power, weigh from twelve to fifteen grains. And, furthermore, it is a well-known fact that coal-gas is contaminated by vapors of chloride of sodium, sulphur compounds, and other int purities, which impart to the flame a yellow tint, and contaminate the air of the apartments in which it is burned with deleterious and destructive vapors, while the flame of my gas is white and brilliant, and, being pure hydrocarbon, cannot produce any of these destructive compounds. In passing illuminat= ing gas through lime purifiers some of the most valuableilluminatingcompounds are absorbed. My gas requires no purification; but at the same time it contains a safiicient amount of odorons materials to be recognized in case of leakage.

I do not claim, broadly, as myinvention the manufacture of illuminatin g gas bypassing hypassing this mixture through a red-hot retort,

substantially in the manner set forth.

A. WV. WILKINSON. Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENHUBER.

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