US40058A - Improved device for supplying gas-retorts with liquids - Google Patents

Description

E. L. NORFOLK.

Supplying Oil Gas' Retorts.

HW H f Hl Hi v Hx Hl 1 H1 @H m l Mm `l BNN m UNITED STATES y PATENT OFFICES EDWARD L. NORFOLK, 0E SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVED DEVICE FOR SUPPLY-ING GAS-RETORTS WITH LIQUIDS.

Specification formirg part of Letters Patent No. 40,058. dated September 22, i863.

To all vwhom it may concern,.-

Beit known that 1, EDWARD L. NORFOLK, of Salem,Massaehusetts, have invented an Improved Device for Supplying Gas-Retorts with Liquids, of which the following is a specification.

AThe nature of my invention consists in a new method of supplying gasretorts With hydrocarbon used in illuminating-gas manufzcure, by means of a vessel or chamber so constructed and arranged with reference to the retort in which it is to be decomposed that the pressure exerted by the gas shall be equal upon the chamber and retort, by means of suitable connecting-pipes, as described in thedrawing,and thus allow the hydrocarbon to iiow into the retort in a continuous stream. The difliculty which this apparatusis designed to overcome is that of maintaining a regular supply of hydrocarbon under any pressure. In the ordinary way, by the use ot' siphons, any sudden change of pressure throws the hydrocarbon out ofthe Siphon, unsealing the gas and allowingit to escape, and the Siphon being usually near the tire the hydrocarbon is iniiamed, thus making its use dangerous in many places. Besides, the objection ot' the disagreeable smell of most hydrocarbons, when exposed to the atmosphere, is entirely avoided by this apparatus, and it may be applied to all kinds of hydrocarbon-gas manufacture, and is especially adapted to the apparatus used in the manufacture of Watergas,in which it is in successful operation, and by its use gas making can beconducted in the most contined localitywit-h safety and freedom from the annoying odor of 111e hydrocarbons; and in the use of volatile hydrocarbons, or those which require to be heated to make them limpid, it is economical from the fact of its contining and saving these products of evaporation. It also diminishes the labor required from its requiring no Watching orattention aft-er once being adjusted.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I Will proceed to describe, the samereference being had to the drawing, which represents in section this chamber applied to upright retorts.

A is the chamber, which is placed above the retorts B, and is usually supported by the furnace C, though its position may be changed to-meetthe requirementsof any locality. AItis constructed ot' metal, perfectly airtight, and' made' of any required size. It is provided with any suitable means of filling with hydrocarbon,'either at intervals as the supply is exhausted, as at H, or a continuous supply may be kept up by means of a pump connecting with a reservoir ot' the hydrocarbon, and it may be provided with a glass tube, D, to le placed on the side, to serve as an indicator ot' the height of the liquid in the vessel, this gage being connected at the top and bottom of the box in nearly the same manner as the gages in use on steam-boilers.

Frein the top of the chamber above the level of the hydrocarbon, the pipe E is connected with the top of the retort, which opens a communication and ot' course admits the same pressure upon both the chamber and the retort. Communication heilig opened between the lower part -of the chamber and the retort B by the pipe F, a continuous supply' ot hydrocarbon will be maintained, which may be controlled by the stop-cock G.

The pipes connecting the retort an d chamber may be made ot' any size desired, but should be in proportion to the quantity of hydrocarbon required and the size of the apparatus. The cock I is placed in the pipe E, to be closed when iilling through the funnel and cock H.

Having thus fully described the nature ot' my invention, What I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Maintaining a regular supply of h ydrocarbon for gas purposes, by means of the chamber A and connecting-pipes E and F, or their equivalents, the whole operating in the manner and for the purpose set torth.

E. L. NORFOLK.

Attest:

JOHN S. HOLLINGSHEAD, JOHN A. BASSETT.

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