New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-26
A FUEL GAS AND AIR MIXER.

AN ATTEMPT TO PROMOTE ECONOMY AND HEALTH
AND HELP THE GAS TRAFFIC
1t Is well known that the pale blue part OF gas
flame Is much hotter than the more luminous yell
low portion. In the former, owing to the larger
supply of air. combustion is more perfect; in the
latter there countless particles Of carbon. freed
from the carburetted hydrogen. suspended mo-
mentarily in the blaze, glowing intensely. but UNI
consumed Hence If bit OF glass or a white china
plate be held the flame there will be deposit
Of carbon In the form of smoke or SCOT For la
boratory and domestic uses. therefore. a burner
devised by the great chemist Bunsen which
mingled the air copiously and thoroughly with
the greatly to lessen the amount Of free car
bon and light but correspondngly to increase the
heat. This is the principle embodied in all gas
stoves.
1t has been alleged. however. that the mixture
effected by the Bunsen apparatus is not complete
and regular enough TO give the best results. one
often perceives a bit Of yellow fame in each jet
Of a gas heater. This means. OF course. that part
of the stored energy in wasted, and that more or
less smoke Is thrown off into the air. Besides the
atmospheric oxygen for the tiny furnace is drawn
from the room in which the latter is in operation.
thus impairing its lifegving qualities for the
human occupants of the apartment. George p. Cot
trell now of New-York. who has mad consdera bic
experience in making gas in the West has invented
a machine which is designed to overcome all these
difficulties. 1t Is mixer which combines the air
in exactly the right proportion tseVen parts
of the former to of the latter. effects more
thorough union than does the Bunsen burner. and
is intended to be placed down in the cellar of
house where fuel gas is used, whence the mixture
is piped up TO the range and any other heaters in
service
The mechanism consists essentially of two con-
tiguous stationary drums having the hori-
zontal axis and. running through them shaft
with several vanes. twisted like a screwthread and
fitting the interior of the drums certain amount
of water lies in the bottom OF the drums. to act
a seal the valves. Air Is admitted 10 the
larger receptacle and gas to the smaller. BY the
revolution of the shaft and the rotation Of the
spiral vanes. whether the movement be fast or
slow. the two substances are measured out and
forced out through one common supply tube in the
desired proportion. The machine derives the neces-
sary power for its working from the pressure OF the
gas and a suitable register the apparatus makes
a meter Of it. Mr.. Cot,rell claims that one gets
as much heat from any gas stove or range when
burning mixture from his machine as he does
with twice the amount OF gas under the ordinary
system. Hence there is great economy. and the
use Of his mixer Is conducive to health
In time electricity will displace coal and gas for
heating. jus, it is doing for the production Of
light During the intermediate stage. and especially
for summer use gas is vastly more convenient and
cheaper than coal In fact. the fuel uses OF gas
are Just now the great hope of gas companies At
first one might suppose that tho economy effected
by Mr.. COttreUs scheine "ouiu scare the PiouuceIs
by threatening 10 reduce the consumption stu
further On the other hand, 1t would so decidedly
promote the Of gas for heating that 1t is liable
to prove a friend. rather than an enemy, of
lot of distressed and anxious corporations Besides
as II Is possible get more intense heat in a
small flame with Mr.. Cottrells mixture than an
ordinary Bunsen fame affords. 1t is possible that
Jewellers dentists and many other people may find
n quite a handy resource in some OF their work
Thus gas for heating may develop popularity in
many small industries well as in the household.