US1834087A - Apparatus for gasifying liquid fuel - Google Patents

Description

1, 1931. v p CABELL 1,834,087

APPARATUS FOR GASIFYING LIQUID FUEL Original Filed y 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ENVENTOR' A, ,BY

m; ATTORNEY Dec. 1, 1931. CABELL 1,834,087

APPARATUS FOR GASIFYING LIQUID FUEL Original Filed y 1 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 2 '1 I I I w EL ig G v I as! M ATTORNEY Dec. 1 1931. M CABELL 1,834,087

APPARATUS FOR GASIFYING L IQUID FUEL- Original Filed y 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 3 %BY INVE TO I Patented Dec. 1 1931 PHILIP-MAsoN-oABnLL, 'OFNEW YORK'F'N. Y.; 1

ArPAnATus so; oAsIFsr-mq. mum F EL.

i Application-filedduly-17,1923, Serial no This invention relates to apparatus for I converting liquid fuel into fixed combustible gas. A In apparatus made inaccordance withthe sinvention a liquid fuel, suchas kerosene, gas

oil, fuel oil, or other heavy oil, or other relatively'non-volatile liquid fuel; is converted into fixed combustible gas by vaporizing it H and heating it in the presence of steam to ma temperature sufficient 'to c aclrthe oil and to dissociate the'steam. This operation takes place in a convertenwhich ismaintained at the required temperature'by partial comnustion of the fuel; therein. ;A suction 'de vice is used to drawgas from the converter and to maintain a sub-atmospheric pressure in the converter which is utilized to draw] fuel into the'converterfand to draw air into ..the converter to support partial combustion therein. Steam is supplied to the converter.

A. feature of the invention consists in lim-.' iting the combustion to a desired part of the converter and in extending the zoneof comhustioni by introducing steam into the con- 'verter a rate which maybe regulated;

Other features and advantagesofthe invention are hereinafter set forth in connection. with a detailed description of practical apparatus embodying the'invention. Such apparatus may be used as part of a complete apparatus for producing mechanicalpower from liquid fuel 'and'is so shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the complete apparatus; h

Fig. 2 is a vertical'section of the converter sectioned on the line-2+2 of Fig. 8

Fig.3 isan enlarged vertical section of vthe upper part of theconverter with'parts d'emoved. taken on the line 22 of'Fig. 8,'

and showing the oil and air inlets;

4 is a-similar view showing the valve through Which-the steam is admitted to the converter; V 1 p Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section of the converter. taken on the line 5-.5 of Fig-'8," and showing the pyrometen and the gas out-. let from the converter y Fig. 6. is a top view of the converter, omitting the steam supply pipe and needle valve;

. of a coil 'of pipe, is placed in a casing23-l 352,011; jnjengweare'b ar 19, 1931, I

' Fig: 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 7".7 of Fig. 3, showing the air inlet;

ig. 8 is a horizontal section of the ca verter on the line. 8 8 of Figs.2 and 51; and .55

' Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the cutoff valve between the starting lamp and the converter.

The general arrangement of the apparatus isshown in Fig. 1. The system'as shown in; cludes an internal" combustion engine, indicated diagrammaticallyat E, and a con verter C, The engine may be of any; ordinarygas or gasoline type.v The intake manir0151 El of the engine is connected by'piping 1O to 'thefgajs outlet the converter C. The

suction of the engine produces a partialkvac;

with a heater 14 which surrounds afpjortion J0 of theexhaust pipeE2 of the engine. The liquid fuel is fed bygravityfrom a tank 15 toafioat chamber 16 through a fuel supply pipe 1?. Fromthe float chamber 16ftlie fuel is drawn. into the converter by the partial vacuum in the converter aided and modified after 5 described;

bv air flow through the Venturi inlet herein The supply of oil in the tank 15 may bei maintained by pumping -oilinto the tank it frorn a storage tank (not shown in the drawings) by means of aLpump QO driven by the engine E An ov'ei'flow pipe 21 leads from thekupper part of thetank 15- to the storage f'Waste heat is utilized to furnish steam to the converter. Such waste heat may be taken from the exhaust gases of the engine. In order to utilize it; a flash boiler B, formed.

through. which the exhaust gases from the engine E pass after they leave theheaterldl Water issupplied to the flash boiler'froma water tank 24 through a pipe 25. The steam formed in the flash boiler B-passes through a pipe '26 to an. expansion chamber, 27 and thence through a pipe 28 into the converter C. A part of the steam may be passed through a pipe 29 branching from the pipe 28 into a heater 3O surrounding part of the fuel uid fuel into a fixed gas and utilizing this.

fuel to' produce mechanical power. The

. method and apparatus for producing mechanical power herein illustrated and described are not claimed in this application. So far as the present invention is concerned the internal combustion 'engine operates merely as a suction devlce serving to drawgas from the converter at I h the rate at which is desired to use the gas.

The converter, or gasgeneratonC, which. of itself embodies important features of the invention, has in the apparatus shown the .1. a V insulated wall, or casing, Ol and an insu- 'form of a vertical cylinder. Y It'has anouter lated lbottom C2. Within the wall Cl and spaced therefrom is an innercasing, or cylindrical pot, O3 whichis open atthe bottom refractory .material, The. pot C3 is suspended in the converter by an outwardly extending flangeC7 formed at thetop of the a recess at'the top inner edge of the outer wall G1. 1 I

the p ot C3 are .a: series of horizontal fo'raminous trays orscreens C10. C12, C13..

On these trays are permeable and absorbent beds or layers C14, O16, O17, of refractory material. The beds are most desirably formedof small pieces of porouslandabsorb ent refractory material, such asbrokencrucible material, known commercially as pot, and. composed principally of clay and graphite. Broken pieces of such absorbent porous refractory material are better for the purpose than balls or other molded or natural pieces. The refractorymaterial O14 on the upper tray, OlOis arranged in a circular mass in the central portionof the tray so as to leave an unobstructed annular space surrounding its periphery. The refractory ma- 1 terial C16on the next tray C12 is arranged on the outer portion of the tray so as to leave an unobstructed relatively. "small central" openingj On the remainingtraysOB the layers 017- of refractory material are arranged alternately the central portion of.

the tray, and mthe outer portion of the tray.

It isappa-rent thatlthe arrangement of the refractory material which has-been described provides afse'riesof'permeable baffles each of which has an extendedsurface of absorb ent porous material and which leave a free but tortuous: flow passage of non-uniform cross-section from the top of the pot to the bottom thereof. l V

On the layer iof refractor'y material on anduhas a met'al cylindrical wall Cipro- 'tec'ted by inner and outer facings O5, O6,'of

the uppertray C10 is placed a deflector or spreader C18 formed of a molded mass of refractory material having an upper deflecting surface O19-which is convex and spherically curved. The -deflector is best provided with a plurality of small vertical holes 018a for permitting some of the liquid fuel to pass 'cover plate C30 which contains a central opening C31 through whichair, liquid fuel and steam are introduced into the pot C3. A cylindrical flange C32 extends upwardly around this opening C31 and a higher cylincl rical. flange C33 extends upwardly outside the flange O82. 'A cover C34 is secured to the upper end of the outer flange C33. The cover plateC30- and the cover O34 arecovered with insulating material O35 which is confined by an outercasing O36. I

. The air. pipe 13 communicates with an inlet opening C37 in the flange C33, so that air is.

. drawn into the annular spacebetween the flanges C32 and C33, over the inner flange O32 cylindrical wall C4 of the'pot and resting in and down into the pot. C3 through the central opening C31 in the cover plate C30. The

flow of air intothe pot is regulated by a tube C50 through which. the air passes in entering the potC3.-' The reductionin the pressure of the airat the throat of this Venturi' cating therewith through transverse holes O53. The holes O53 are located slightly above the liquid level maintained in the float chamber 16 so that no fuel flows into the pot ex'cept 'when there is a subatmospheric pres-' sure in the throatof the Venturi tube;

A valve O54 in'the pipe'C51 provides an adjustable restriction for controlling the amount of liquid fuel drawn into the converter. The amount drawn in depends on the pressure reduction in the Venturi throat. and

onthe adjustment of the valve, and in the operation of the converter the fuel supply varies automaticallyaccording to the suction applied to the converter, thatis,-the" near the lower end of the Venturi tube and.

directed toward the center of the deflecting surface C19 of the mass C18. The'nozzlc pipe C61 is threaded at its upper end and screwed into the lowerend of the hollow stem. C43, so that it may easily be detached. -By

substituting for the nozzle pipe C61 asimilar nozzle pipe having a different external (ll-- ameter. the ctfectivearea of the throat of the Venturi tuhe C50 may be varied to adapt the converter for most efficient use in connection j with internalcombustion en ines of different sizes, or to adapt the Venturi tube for use in converters of dilferent capacity within limits. Y

The fuel gas which isdrawn outof the bottom of the pot C3 through the central opening in the refractory material on the lowest tray is directed upwardly by a horizontal partition] C65 extending across the converting chamber-v below the pot. The gas passesup through the cylindrical. space between the pot C3. or inner casing. and the outer casing. or wall. Cl. and

thence into the pipe '10 which communicates with said cylindrical space through the wall 'Cl near the top thereof- For convenienceinoperation, the convertor may be provided-with a pvrometer C having a rod C71 extending into the cylind ical out-er casing. space between the outer wall Cl. and the inner casino, or pot, C3.

and with a peep hole C72 extending through the casing C38. the insulation C35 and the coverplate C30. and having. a glass C73 through which theupper portion of the pot chamberis visible.

During the operation of the converter a high temperature is maintained in the not'Cf-l hy partial combustion of thefuel and other reactions taking place therein. .In order to start the operation of the converter it necessary to heat a. portion of it to a temperature above the vaporization temperature of the liquid fuel. The invention comprises means for such initial heating: by the supp y of heat directly to the interior of. the convert-in chamber. As shown. suol'imeans in cludes a conduit C'Tfileadine to an openin C76 in the wall of the not C3 between the; most widely spaced trays C10 and C12 and o tendin upward through the co er plate C30 and then horizontally outward. Near outer end is a slide valve C77. The slide valve C2 7 is provided with a. frame C7700 to prevent it from warping. This frame is wider at the top than at the bottom, and the valve fits in a downwardly tapering slot, or slideway,-'C77b formed at the outer end of the conduit C75. By this construction, I provide a slide valve which may be operated quickly and which always fits tightly. In the conduit'CTS beyond the valve C77 is a wick C78 of refractory material to which liquid fuel is supplied from a cup C79. Fuel maybe supplied to this cup through a pipe 33 branchin 51 from the fuel pipe 17 and provided with a. valve 34. In the outer end of the conduit C is a lamp, or small fuel receptacle, C80. The lamp C80 rests on a tray CSOa provided with drain pipe CS0]; to lead off any oil which may be spilled from the lamp. An upwardly directed chimney C81, forming a continuation ofthe conduit, is provided above the lamp, and a shutter C82 normally closes a lighting opening adjacent the lamp.

The parts of the converter which have been described are sufiicient for its successful op-' eration. In order, however, torender the converter more nearly fool-proof, it-is provided with certain features which are of use in case of careless or incorrect operation of it.

If too much air is admitted to the converter. an explosivemixture may be formed in the upper part of the pot, and this mixture, igniting suddenly, may momentarily raise the pressure in thepot above atmospheric pressure.. In .order to prevent aback flow of gases, should this occur, check valves C83, CS-l, C85, are provided in the annular air passage between the flanges C32 and C33, in the conduit C75, and in the oil pipe C51 re spectively. The check valve CS l in the conduitC'l'S is of peculiarconstruction and constitutes a part of my invention. This check valve comprises two plates C8 la, C846, which extend at a fixed anirle to each other. The valve is hinged in. theconduit C7 5 in such manner that the plate C8401 normally extends across the conduit, resting against a. stop as shown. while the plate C84]; is inclined in wardly from the plate C840,. The plate C8411 containsan opening C840 through which the fie-me from the starting; lamp C80 may be drawn into the pot. In case of an accide Zal rise'in pressure in the potithe gas starting: to flow out through the conduit C75 swings the va-lveso as to hring the plate C84?) across v the conduit and against. the stop. The valve is. therefore, closed with great rapidity.

If the converter is operated at toolow a temperature. or withthe zone of combus .on n t e cndin far enoupgh'down in it. a liquid residue may flow from. the hottom of the pot C3 and collect on the artition C65. To permit the removal of suca. a residue from the converter. a. valve C86 is provided. in the partition C65 and a drain pipe C87 provided with a valve C88 is'connectcd to the bottom of the converter; ,An air inlet C89 controlled by a i I valve C90 permits the admission of air tot-he trapped in the lower part of the converter mit a slow flow of 7 may flow out through the drain pipe C87.

The steam which is supplied to the converter through the pipe 28 has several important functions which are hereinafter explained. In order to perform these funotions efficiently, it is desirable that the steam be supplied at. a rate which may regulated and 7 under a uniform pressure. The drawings illustrate a means for supplying under a uniform pressure, which forms the subject'matter of my Patent No. 1,737,826, dated December 3, 1929. Accord ing to the invention. claimed in that patent, the supply of steam under uniform pressure is obtained byyproviding a flash boiler and maintaining the water supplied to the boiler under a pressure equal tothe steam pressure desired and admitting the water to the boiler through apassage so and water cannot pass through it in opposite direct-ions. I p 1 The water in the tank 24 is maintained under a. uniform pressure bypumping air into the top of this tank throughapipe 35. A hand pump 36 may be provided for this purpose. As the tank may be lar e compared to tne amount of water consum-edjtlie hand pump need be operated only occasionally in order to maintain the desired pressure in the tank 24. In passing from the tank 24-t0 the boiler B through the pipe 25, the water goes through a U-shaped pipe B1 and a constricted passage in aneedle valve B2, both inserted in the pipe 25 near the boiler. I h

In operation, the flash boiler B is maintained heated to a temperature well above the boiling point of water by the heat of the exhaust gases which pass through the easing 23. needle valve B2 is opened suiiiciently to per- Water under the pressure maintained in the tank 24. As soon as any water enters the boiler B through'the needle valve B2, this water is converted into steam, creating a pressure in the boiler. pressure is equal to or greater than that main tained in the tank 24, it prevents a further flow of water through the needle valve B2. The U-shaped pipe B1 prevents steam from the boiler B from passing back through the pipe 25. lVhen the steam consumption is small, itis possible to omit the U-shaped pipe B1, and to rely on the needle valve B2 to prevent back flow of the steam. passage through the needle valve B2, the more completeiywill it prevent the passage of the steam through it past the water. I

W hen by condensatiomor consumption, of boiler, the pressure the'steam formed in the in the boiler falls somewhat below that maintained in the tank, additional'water enters the be nicely I steam required.

constructed that steam gas pipe 10 When the boiler has been heated, the

'The smaller the boiler'slowly through the needle valve and flashes into steam, again raising the pressure in the boiler. I have found that while the pressure of the steam in the boiler oscillates somewhat, it remains always approximately equal to the pressure maintained in the tank 24. The oscillations of steam pressure are damped out in the expansion chamber 27 so that the steam is supplied under approximately constant pressure to the needle valve C60. As this pressure remains constant, the rate'of flow of the steam into the converter remains constant for any given setting of the needle valve C60. The rate may, however, be varied by adjustment of this needle valve, and the boiler will supply the amount of described is as follows e In placing the apparatus in operation, the engine E is first operated in the usual manner bymeans of'volatile fuel, such as gasoline, supplied through a pipe 38 to a carburetor E3 connected with the intake manifold E1 of the engine. Sufficient air to form a proper The use of the apparatus which has been mixture is admitted by adjustment of the carburetor air valve E4. The starting lamp C80 is lighted, oil'is supplied to the wick C78 from the cup C7 9, and the slide valve C77 is opened, the shutter C82 having first been closed in orderto avoid possible harnr to the operator if there should be an explosion when the valve C77 is opened. A valve39 in the is then partly opened and the carburetor air valve E4 is closed a little. This causes the suction of the engine to be applied to the pipe 10 so that it draws air from the converter. As a result, the air valve C40 being closed or only partly open, air is drawn into the pot C3 through the chimney C81 and conduit C75. This current of air sucks the flame from the lamp C80 into the conduit and ignites the oil in the wick C78, and the flame from the wick is drawn into the space C20 in the pot C3 between the trays, C10 and C12. The air valve C40 is partly opened to admit some air to the converting chamber to burn fuel needle valve C slightly. The liquid fuel drawn in through the Venturi tube C50 is vaporized and ignited by the flame in the space C20 between the two upper beds. lVhen the combustion thus produced has heated the pot 'sufliciently to maintain combustion with-. out further use ofthe wick C7 8, a condition which occurs when the pyrometer C'ZO ind'icates about 300 F the oil supplied to the wick from the cup C44 is cut off, the slide valvCF? is closed, and the lamp C80 is extinguished. More liquid fuel is then admitvapor passing into the converting chamber with'the'fiame from the nants, giving it a high B t. u 'vnueenan a smaller content of uncombined hydrogen assess fini -the. al

C5 d he air a ve- .0 i new rea and the temperature of thepot rises with a ted to the-pot by further op COIIQSPOIldiIlg rise in the temperature indi .c atedby the pyrometer C7 0 lThe lva-lveiC5L I is gradually opened duringithis .riseiin teinperature and may be opened sufiicie ntly to supply oil at arate suflicientffor,thenormal operation oftheconverter when the temperadicati on by the pyro neter' of the temperature of the OiItfiOWiHs s si thespa b tw en the innerand outer casings of the converter. It has been found best to .niaii tain this temperature at aboutSOjO F but tlie most desirable temperature 3 to be maintained will vary with conditions and according to the design of the converter, andmay vary within quite wlde llmlt-s for aglven converter. I

As the pot is heating up, the valve 391s I opened more and more. ,YWhen the pot has been heated up to the temperature required, for full operat on, or before th s time, the operation of the eng ne ndicates that a combustible gas is'being drawninto the in- ,;n0n 1'1iorm cross-section, so that the gaseous stream is continually either speedingiup or slowing down as it passes through. different parts of the converter. The speed ofithe take manifold from the pipelO, the supply of gasolene to thecarbureter E2 may be shut off by closing a valve 41 in the pipe .38, and tne valves 39 and E4 are adjusted sothat sufficient air is drawn in through the valve E4 to form an explosive mixture with the' gas drawn intothe intake l manifold .Ironi the pipe 10. I The fuel gas passing from the converter has a large content of methane 'and illumiand uncombined oxygen. The gas is; aclean gas requiring no scrubbing .heforefus'ein the engine. V

lVhile I do not wishto limit myselfntoany theory as to the oper'ation'off the converter in producing this gas, I will state tentatively the nature ofthe operation which I. believe takes placewithin the converter so tha't my invention may be understood as clearlyas possible.

The liquid fuel which is d rawninto thepot through the Venturi tube drips upon the distributor C18 and is spread out by the dis tributor so that it permeates evenly into the upper bed C14 and spreads o've'r its extended surface, some of theliquid beingabsorbed in the refractory materialofthe bed; Part of the liquid fuel is vaporiZedinthe bed cl lflvhilea considerable portion oftheliquid drips down f smtll bsdCl-t5 nd 1 ,er rie d rer e l the beds G16 and C17 of refractory m'aterial and of the gaseous products of the reactions Ivide' central openings. the stream through each central openlng "of refractory material below the openinghs'o that .such liquid fuel ,is'h'eld in one of. the beds until it is vaporized, Thishprvents any liquid fuelfro'mbeing carried over into It, therefore, effectively ,of thefuel liquid thus pass .downwardfrom but in; bed, sp eadin 0m the extended {surface of successive 1 beds L and being ab- .sorbed to someext'ent in'the refractory material of the beds. The fuelvaporflows downward through the tortuous passage, with the air and steam and combustion takes? lace )4 H 7 below the tray C10 and, most desirablyjbe "loiv the space C20. Theheat of. this coup bustion vaporizesthe liquid fuel spread over and absorbed inv the refractory material of thebedsl .Although the air supplied is cient con' plete oxidization of only apart of the carbon contained in the fuehthepartial combustionraises"the lower part of.thepot toJflame'temperature. The temperature {,issu'chthat the fuelis cracked, that is, ,jthej heavy hydrocarbons. it are split up into lighter, hydrocarbons .1 At the same ,tiiiie the, steam is decomposed into oxy en and hydrogen. "Both these elements combine with arb on fronrth'e fuel. I v 7 v'llhe' fac't that these operations take place in atortu'ous passage formed in the potlby fuel, the zig-zag flow thus produced causes a thorough mixing of the fuel, air and steam whichtake place. Such -mixing is greatly increased by the fact that the passage is of stream is greatest when it passes through the central openingsn the masses which pro- The rapid flow of 2 tends to throwaway drops or minuteiparticlesflof liquid fuel which are carried along in the stream downwardly against the the engine.

Tle steam which is introduced into the pot has'several important functions:

,,- l n dissociating,it furnishes nascent oxygen and hydrogen which combinewithfree carbonpresent in the pot, .includingany QSQOt which might otherwise be depositedfin J p 41m several important advantages. In par lticular, and aside from the effect of .thebds on the vaporization and gasification of the the refractorymaterialon thetrays in start.

ing theoperation ofthe; pot. The steainIis supplied in amount sufficient not only to insure oxidation of all free carbon-formed in the pot, but also to leave some free oxygen in the gas which is'withdrawn from the'pot.

i prevents deposition of carbon within thejpot. The steam prevents combustion in the vuppe part ofthe fpot,. and especially in tl 'ie space above the upper bed C14. This I believe to be due, principally at least, to the fact that thesteam dilutes the mixture of' fuel of an inflammable mixture at and near the top of the pot. ;The extent to which the zone ofcombustiOn is depressed depends upon the relative amount of steam introduced. I have found it desirable to introduce such a relativeamount of steam that combustion does not take place for some distance below the upperbed. In a converter such as shown,

' supplying; gas toan internal combustion'eng ne 'developlng approximately 40 horsef fpower, the best results have been obtained when an amount of steam produced by the I evaporation of'from '1 to 1 gallons of water 'perf'hour is supplied to the converter while gas oil isbeing supplied at the rate of about 1 gallonsper hour.

the upper bed inthe construction shown is due-in part to the fact that the steam introduced asa. jetinto' thepot and striking the deflector at a high velocity spreads in a layer over the surface of the deflector and of they upper bed C14 and tends to prevent the alr from mixing with the fuel vapor formed at thedeflector and bedCl l. The fact that no cornbustion occurs in the upperpart of the potis of advantage in that it affords abetter opportunity for complete vaporizationand gasification of the fuel by preventing the oxygen or the air from being used up by combustion in the upper part of the pot and combustion thus limited to an upper zone through which'a considerable portion of the liquid fuel would passwithout being vaporized, so that, even if such portion of the fuel were vaporized in a lower part of the pot, the

vapor would not be subjected to the intense gasifiying heat of the combustionzone and a considerable'part of the fuel would reach the bottom of thepot in liquid formor as unfixed 'or'condensable' vapor; The depression ofthe combustion zonealso prevents sudden 'ionitions of. fuel vapor in the upper part o'f the pot, which would cause undesirable fluc-v producing capacity of the pot. By admitting suflicient steam, the combustion may be made to begin at any desired distance below the upper bed C14, and the zone of combustionmay be made to extend well down toward or to the bottom of the pot.

Because of the vaporization of the liquid fuel in the upper porous and permeable beds fand'the prevention of combustion in the up-- w per part of'the converting chamber, the

I believe also that the. prevention of combustion in the space above upper beds areimaintainedata comparatively lowj temperature and trouble from-the formation 'of carbonlis ithus' avoided. vapor and air so as to prevent the formation'l V 7 I e e v I I e sure "the pothas important advantages. Itm'akes' it possible to draw in the airand the fuelr'by a suction which varies with Themaintenance of sub atmospheric presthe rate atwhich the gas'is used, so that the rate of supply" both 'of'the air and of the liquid fuelvaries automatically with changes inthe rate at which the gas is used. F urthermore, since -'t-he""sup'ply of fuel depends on thefmaintenance of a sub-atmospheric presof this fuel decreases the degree of sub-atmospheric pressure in the pot and in consequence checks the supply 'o f l iquid fuel to the pot.

I 1;" Apparatus for producing fixed fuel gas,

comprising a'means providing a converting chamber having an air inlet at thetop thereofjmeans jfor applying'suction to the bottom of the chamber to draw the gas from the {chamber and to maintain a sub-atmospheric pressure therein, means for supplyin liquid fuelto bedrawn into the top of sai chamber with air in proportions such that the air will bepsufficient for-burning only a small part of the fuel, a plurality of spaced superposed permeable 1 baffles arranged in said chamber to leave a'free tortuous passage extending from the top of the chamber generally downward past and between the baflles, and means for'introducing steaminto the top of the'chamber in quantity sufiicient to prevent' combustion in said passage'near the entrance end thereof and to extend the zone of combustion.

""2. Apparatus for the continuous production of fixed fuel gas, comprising means forminga"conVeitingchamber having means for admittingfliquid fuel at its top and for admitt'ing'air in quantity sufiicient for combustion of .asmall part of the fuel, and having agas 'outle't atits bottom; and a plurality of permeable baflies of refractory material positioned in spaced superposed relation in said chamber so that liquid fuel may drip through the upper'baflle and downward from baflle to baffle, said baflies being arranged to leave a free tortuous passage extending generally downward through the converting chamber past and between the baffles.

Apparatusfor the continuous production offixed fuel gas, comprising means forming a converting chamber having means for admitting liquid fuel at its top and for admittingair at its top in quantity suflicient for combustion of a small part of the fuel, and

having agasoutlet at its bottom; a plurality of permeable bafiles of refractory material positioned in spaced superposed relation said converting chamber so that liquid ,fuel may drip through the upper baflie and down ward from baffle to battle, said baflies being arranged to leave a free passage extending I downward through the converting chamber;

means for applying suction to the gas out let to draw gas fromthe converting chamberand to maintain a sub-atmospheric pressure therein; and means for supplying steam -to the to p of the converting chamber in quantity sufficient to prevent combustion near thetop of the chamber and to extendthe zone of combustion withinthe chamber. H

4. Apparatus for the continuous production of fixed fuel gas, comprising means forming a converting chamber having a vaporizing portion anda gasifying portion, and having a gas outlet fromthe gasifying portion, a plurality of absorbent masses of rciractory material arranged in tlie'vaporizing portion of the chamber so as to leave a free tortuous passage therein extending past;-

said absorbent masses and to,-the gasifying portion of the chamber, meansjfor introduc-g,

ing liquid fuel into the chamber for distribution on said absorbent masses, means for ad-. mitting air to the chamber in quantity sufli cient for burning only asmall part of the fuel vapor, means for, applying suction to the gas outlet for withdrawing gas from the chamber and for causing the air and' fuel. vapor to flow through thechamber, and

means for supplying steam to the chamber in quantity suflicient to prevent combustion in the vaporizing portion of the chamber and to be decomposed and cause the consumption of free carbon in the .gasifyingportion'of the chamber.

Apparatus for the continuousproduc t on of l1XGdf1lel gas, comprising means forming a converting chamber having. an air inlet'opening and-a gas outlet opening, a plurality of baliies of"absorbent'refractory material arrangedin thechamber so as to leave a free tortuous passage from, the air inlet opening to the gas outlet openmg, means introducing liquid fuel into thechamber for distribution on the'baflles near. the inlet end of the chamber, means formaiiitaining a now producing pressure difference between the nlet opening and the outlet opening,

means. for limitin the amount of a1r'admitted to the chamber, and-means for supply? ing steam at the inletend of the'chamber in quantity sufficient to prevent combustion at and near the inlet end of the chamber.

(3. Apparatus for the continuous production of fixed fuel gas, comprising means forming a vertically elongated converting chamber having a gas outlet at the bottom thereof, a plurality ofspaced superposed permeable bundles of absorbent'refractory material arranged in said chamber to leave a jfree tortuous passageof non-uniformcross section extending from the top of said chamber'generally downward past and between the bafiles, means for supplying'liquid fuel to saidchamber and distributing it on the uppermost baffle, means for supplying air at the top of said chamber in quantity sufficient for combustion of only a small part of the fuel vapor, and means for supplying steam. at the top of said chamber in quantity sufficient to depress and extend the zone :of combustion within the chamber, whereby combustion will be caused to take place and c a gasifying temperature maintained in a portion of said passage below the upper por-v tion-thereof, and a lower temperature will be maintained in the upper'portion of the succeeding baffle, such opening having a cross-sectional area less than the average cross-sectional area of the passage, means for supplying liquid fuel to said chamber and distributing it on the uppermost bafiie, and means for supplying steam to the top of said chamber.

8.. Apparatus for the continuous production of fixed fuel gas, comprising a casingforming a converting chamber having an air inlet opening at the top and a gas outlet opening at the bottom, a .pluralityofspaced superposed permeable baffles arranged in said chamber to leavea .freetortuous passage extending from the top of said chamber generally downward past and between thebaflies,

alternate bafiies having their peripheries spaced inwardly from-the walls of the chamber and the other alternate baffles contain ing central openings whose cross-sectional areas are less than the cross-sectional area of other parts of thepassage, and means for ,supplyingliquid fuel to said chamber and distributing it onsthe uppermost bafiie, and

means for supplying steam to the top of said' chamber. r

9. Apparatus for the continuous production of fixed fuel gas, comprising means pro viding a vertically elongated converting chamber having a gas outlet at the bottom thereof, a plurality of spaced superposed permeable beds of refractory material ar ranged within the chamber so as to leave a free tortuous passage extending generally downward past and between the beds,-means for supplying liquid fuel to said'chamber and distributing it on v the upper bed, and

' arrangec a free tortuou passage extending generally I the top of said above the upper bed, I suction tothe gas outlet for drawing the :gas

' irom means for supplying to the top of said chamber above the upper bed air in quantlty'suflicient for combustion of a small part of the fuel and steam in quantities sufficient to depress and extend the zone of combustion.

10. Apparatus for thecontinuous production-of fixed fuel gas, comprising means prov .ing vertically, elongated converting chamber hav ng a'gas outlet at the bottom thereof, a pli lity'of spaced superposed permeable b ds of absorbent refractory material thin the chamber soas to leave downward past and-between the beds, moans for-supplyingliquid fuel to said chamber anddi, butingit'tonthe" upper bed, and means for supplying to the top ofsaid chain: her above the upper bed air in quantity sufficient for combustion of a smallfpart of the fuel and steam in quantity sufficient to de- 7 press andjextend the zone of combustion.

11. f1 device for the continuous production of fixed fuel comprising means providing a vertically elongated "converting chamber having a gas'outlet at the bottom thereof, a plural y of spaced'superposed permeaie beds of small pieces of absorbent refractory material arranged within the chaaber so as to leave a free tortuous passage extending generally downward past; and

, i net visit I ticnof fincdfuei gas, compiisingmeans pr 0- viding a converting chamber-having a'gas outlet at the bottointhereof, a plurality of spaced superposed permeable beds of refractorymaterialarranged within tnechamber so as to leave free tortuous passage extend ing s orally downward past" and between the beds, the fchamber having an opening at' the top foryadmitting air and" liquid fuel chain" er.v and for maintaining subatmospheric 7 pr ssuro ther in, a steam inlet opening at thetop ofthechamber above the upp r bed, means for supplying steam under 7 pressure to said'i'nlet, and means for regulating the rate of admission of the steam.

i3; Apparatus for the continuous prodnc tion of fir-red fuel gas, comprising means proling a converting chamber, havin an inlet r liquid fuelaud air tits top and augas outlet atits bottom, aplurality of spaced superposed permeable beds of refractory mate ial arran ed within the chamber so'as to l leave afreetortuous passage extending generallydownward past and between the beds,

means for applying viding a converting chamber having a gas outlet at the bottomthereof, means for applying suction to the gas outlet, a plurality otspaced superposed permeable beds of refractory material arranged within the chamher so asto leave a free tortuous passage extending generally downward past and-between the beds, means providing an air inlet opening in the top wall 'of the chamber having the} form of a Venturi tube having its discharge end directed toward the upper bed, a liquid fuel supply conduit communicating with saidVfenturi tube at its throat, and a steam nozzle pipe extending axially through said Venturi tube for supplying steam directed toward the upper bed.

15. 'Apparatus for the continuous production of fixed fuel gas, comprising means providing a converting chamber having a gas outlet, means for applying suction to the gas outlet, a permeable bed of refractory materialset' horizontally within the chamber near thetop thereof and spaced from the side ,walls thereof, means providing an air inlet opening'in the top. of the chamber having the form of a Venturi tube having its discharge end directed toward the upper surface of said bed, a liquidfuel supply conduit communicating with said Venturi tubeiat its throat, a steam conduit,and a steam nozzle detachably securedatthe endof saidsteam conduit and extending axially through thethroat of the Venturi tube for supplying steam to the chamber. 7

16. Apparatus for the continuous production of. fixed fuel gas, comprising means providing a converting chamber having a gas outlet a plurality of spaced superposed permeable baflies of refractory material arranged withm the chamber so as to leave a free tortuousipassage extending generally downward past and between the baffles, means providing an air inlet opening in the top Wall of the chamberihavingthe form ofa' Venturi tube-having its discharge end directed'toward theupper bafile, aliquid fuel supply conduitl communicatingwith said Venturi tube atits throat, a distributor arranged to distribute over the upper bafile liquid fuel introduced into the chamber through the Venturi tube, and means for supplying steam to the top of said chamber.

o 17. Apparatus for the continuous production of fixed fuel as, comprising means providing a converting chamber having a gas outlet, a permeable bafile of refractory material set horizontally within the chamber near the top thereof and spacedfrom the side walls thereof, a distributor on said baffle having a'convex upper surface, means provid ing an air inlet opening in the top Wall of the chamber having the form of a Venturi tube having its discharge end directed toward the upper surface of said distributor, a liquid fuel supply conduit communicating with said Venturi tube at its throat, and a steam nozzle pipe extending axially through the Venturi tube and directed toward the upper surface of said distributor.

18. Apparatus for the continuous produc tion of fixc-ilfuel gas, comprisin ca sin form,- ing a chamber having an inlet for liquid fuel and air at its top and a gas outlet at its bottom, a plurality of spa ced superposed fOl'ZED-ll nous horizontal supports in said chamber, a permeable bed of small pieces of refractory material on the central portion of each alternate support leaving the peripheral portion of the support unobstructed, and a permeable bed of small pieces of refractory material on the peripheral portion of each of the other alternate supports leavinga central portion of the support unobstructed. f

19. Apparatus for the continuous production of fixed fuel gas, comprising an inner casing, an outer casing surrounding the inner casing, refractory material in the space within the inner casing, meansforintroducingliquid fuel and air intothe space within the inner casing and causing a partial combustion of the fuel therein, and means for circulating the hot fuel gas formed in the inner casing in the space betweenthe inner,

and outer casings so as to check dissipation of heat from the inner casing.

20. Apparatus for the continuous production of fixed fuel gas, comprising an inner casing forming a converting chamber, an

outer casing surrounding the inner casing, a

wall of said chamber having an'opening to the bottom portion of the space between the inner and outer casings, fuel gas outlet from the top of said space, and means for applying suction to said outlet, whereby a draft will be created downward through said chamber and the hot fuel gasformed in said chamber will be drawn upward through the space between the inner and outer casings so as to check dissipation of heat from the inner cas ing and to heat the upper portion of the inner casing.

21. Apparatus for the continuous produc tion of fixed fuel gas, comprising means providing a converting chamber having a gas outlet, a plurality of permeable baflies of refractory material arranged within the chamber in superposed relation and so as to leave a free passage from the top of the chamber downward including an enlarged space beztween bafiies in the upper part of the chamber, meansfifor introducing liquid fuel and air into the top of said chamber for partial combustion of the fuel in the chamber, and

preliminary heating means comprising a source fofcombustion outside said chamber and means for introducing flame from said source of combustion into said enlarged space. l

' 22 Apparatus for the continuous productionof fixed fuel gas, comprising means pro-' cvidmg, a converting chamber having a gas outlet, a plurality of permeable baflles of refractory material arranged within the said chamber so as tovleave a free tortuous passage extending generally downward past and between the baflies, means for applying suction in the chamber, and preliminary heating and i niting means comprising a source of combustion outside the chamber and a conduit leading from said source of combustion into ,an intermediate part of said passage.

Apparatus for the continuous production-of fixed fuel gas, comprising means providing a converting chamber having an unobstructed tortuous passage extending therethrough, means for applying suction to the outlet end of the passage to-draw gas therefrom and to maintain a sub-atmospheric pressure therein, means for admitting liquid fuel and air to the entrance end of said'passage in proportions for partial combustion of the fuel, and preliminary heating and igniting means comprising a conduit communicating with said passage, an absorbent wick in said wick.

24. Apparatus forthe continuous production of fixed fuel gas, comprising means prothe fuel, means for applyin suction to the chamber to draw gas therefrom and to maintam a sub-atmospheric pressure therein, and

H conduit, and means for supplying fuel to said preliminary heating means comprising a con-' duit opening into said chamber, an absorbent Wick in said conduit, means for supplying liquid fuel to sa1d wlck, a valve for closing the conduit outside said wick, an igniting.

lamp in the conduit outside said Valve, the conduit having a lighting opening adjacent said lamp, a shutter normally closing said i lighting opening, and a chimney directed upward from said lamp and forming a continuation of the conduit.

25. Apparatus for the continuous production of fixed fuel gas, comprising means providin a converting chamber, means for introducing liquid fuel and air into said chamber inproportions for partial combustion of the fuel, means for applying suction to the chamber to draw gas therefrom and to maintain' a sub-atmospheric pressure therein, and 5 preliminary heating and igniting means comprisinga conduit opening into said chamber, means for supplying'fuel to burn in said conduit, and a check valve in said conduit comprising two plates extending at an angle to each other, one of said plates containing an opening and said valve'being hingedso that the plate containing the opening normally extends across the conduit and the other plate isnormally inclined inwardly in the conduit.

26. Apparatus for the c ontinuous producs j tion offixed fuel gas, comprising means providing a converting chamberfmeans for introducing liquid fuel and air into said chamher in proportions for partial combustion of i the fuel, means for applying'suction to the chamber to draw gas therefrom and to main- ,tain a sub-atmospheric pressure therein, and preliminary heating and igniting means comprising a conduit opening into said chamber,

means for supplying fuel to burn in said conduit, and means for closing said conduitcomprising a tapered slideway and a slide valve having a frame whose upper portion is Wider than-its lower portion to fit said tapered o slideway. 7

' In testimony'whereof, I have hereunto set inyhand;

PHILIP MASON CABELL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,834,087. Granted December 1, 1931, to

PHILIP MASON GABELL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 116, strike out the word "and"; page 9, line 48, claim 20, before the word "fuel" insert the article a; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the 7 Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of February, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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