IMPROVEMENTS IN COVERING OR SHADING DEVICES CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING EFFECT OF GAS FLAMES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frank Wirth at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 17th September 1881. A communication
from Anna Gruis, of Heilbronn, in the Empire of Germany.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COVERING
OR SHADING DEVICES CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING
EFFECT OF GAS FLAMES." A communication from Anna Gruis, of Heilbronn, in
the Empire of Germany.
This Invention relates to apparatus to be used as a globe or cover for a gas
flame and chiefly designed to increase the illuminating power thereof.
It is a well known fact that the combustion of materials or substances in heated
air is much more intense and consequently is accompanied by a much greater
heating and lighting effect than when the combustion takes place in cold air.
The present Invention is based upon this fact, that is to say, I provide a covering
apparatus to serve as a globe for gas flames which apparatus is so constructed as
to cause the air for supporting the combustion of the gas to be heated before it
reaches the flame, and thereby a more complete combustion and consequently an
increased lighting effect are produced.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a cylindrical glass vessel
which is open at the top and has its rim or edge indented or curved in an
undulating line. In the bottom thereof there is an excentric opening through
which the gas pipe or the upper part of a regulator for the pressure and supply
is inserted at the top of which there is a burner; the regulator or pipe is fixed to
the vessel by means of two metal plates or discs, one of which is upon the inner
and the other upon the outer surface of the bottom of the glass vessel so that the
part of the latter which surrounds the aforesaid opening is between the two plates
or discs. These two discs have apertures similar to that in the bottom of the
vessel. The shape of the apertures is such as to allow a match or similar article to
be inserted by the side of the pipe or regulator so as to enter the vessel for the
purpose of igniting the gas. Upon the lower disc there is a slide, by means of

page_text: which the aperture may be closed after the gas has been ignited. I also provide a
bell or cover made of strong glass, whose lower part is of cylindrical form and
slightly tapered; the said bell or cover is somewhat extended outward at or near
its centre so as to form a projection or flange extending around the said bell, this
flange or projecting part having therein a number of apertures. The upper part of
this bell or cover is cupola-shaped and entirely closed. The lower or cylindrical
part extending from the said projecting portion is about a centimeter shorter than
the depth of the first named vessel, and is moreover from 12 to 14 millimeters.
smaller in diameter than the same, so that when the bell or cover is placed in the
said vessel the projecting part of the former rests on the indented or undulating
edge of the vessel, and the lower edge of the bell or cover is about one centimeter
from the bottom of the former whilst a space of about from 6 to 7 millimeters is
enclosed between the sides or walls of the vessel and the lower cylindrical part of
the bell or cover. When the latter is placed in the vessel and the gas has been
ignited, and the excentric opening closed by the slide, the air required for
combustion must, after having entered through the apertures formed by the
indentations in the edge of the vessel and the bell resting upon the latter, pass into
the space between the wall of the vessel and the cylindrical part of the cover, and
is only admitted to the flame close to the bottom of the apparatus whilst the
products of combustion escape from the bell or cover through the apertures in the
projecting portion thereof; the air in taking this path or course is preliminarily
heated by coming in contact with the sides or walls of the cylindrical part of the
bell or cover, these sides being heated by the flame of the burning gas, and the air
can reach the flame only after it has been thus heated.
According to a modification of my Invention I provide an outer bell or cover;
also a cylinder which is enclosed by the same, and a dish or saucer at the bottom,
all made of glass. The outer cover has a smooth edge at the bottom, and
is provided towards its upper end with a projecting portion or flange, as
hereinbefore described, having a number of apertures. This cover, like the one
first described, is of cupola-shape at the top, but it has at its upper part an opening
through which the neck of the inner cylinder can be passed; the upper part only
of this cylinder is tapered off and its lower edge is not smooth like that of the
outer cover, but is deeply indented. The dish at the bottom has an excentric
opening, and is fixed in the same manner as the vessel first berein described. In
this modification there are two discs, as in the first arrangement, and the lower
disc also has a slide-whereby the aperture can be closed. The edge of the dish is
turned up, forming an annular ridge, so that the outer cover exactly fits into the
same and can be fixed thereto by screws or by globe holders. There is in the dish
a second annular ridge of less diameter than the first one, and the inner cylinder
fits within this ridge or rim, which must however project very slightly so as not to
close up the indentations of the cylinder-edge. In this arrangement the air is
admitted through the apertures in the projecting part of the outer cover, and is
compelled to pass through the space between the walls of this cover and those of
the inner cylinder; it is thus heated and enters the inner cylinder through the
indentations in the edge thereof, and so comes into contact with the flame whilst
the products of combustion escape through the upper part of the inner cylinder.
Whilst the construction first herein described is designed to be used principally
within enclosed spaces. where it is desirable not to blacken the ceilings or the like,
the last described construction will be appropriate for the illumination of streets or
other open spaces.
According to another modification of my Invention I provide an outer bell or
cover which is cylindrical, excepting at the top, and the latter is made cupola-shaped
and is there provided with an aperture; it is also provided in its upper half with
another aperture. The inner cylinder also has at the upper part thereof a number
of apertures, and at the bottom is provided with a deeply indented edge, whilst
the lower edge of the outer cover or bell is smooth. At the place where the
apertures are made in the inner cylinder a raised rim is provided on the outside of

page_text: the said cylinder, which rim is pierced by the apertures. The thickness of this
rim is equal to half the difference between the outer diameter of the inner cylinder
and the inner diameter of the outer cover, so that when the latter is placed over
the cylinder the rim will touch the inner side of the outer cover, and when the
apertures of the two parts are exactly in line they will form a kind of channel
through the rim which connects the interior of the cylinder with the outer air.
Through the open interstices between the raised parts which extend only around
the apertures, connection is established between the upper and the lower spaces
which lie between the cover and the inner cylinder. A dish is provided at the
bottom, as in the last described arrangement. The air is admitted into the cover
or bell from the top, passes through the space between the cover and the inner
cylinder, and having been thus heated, enters the latter through the indentations
in the lower edge of the cylinder, and after having been in contact with the flame
leaves the cylinder through the channels, incisions, or apertures.
In another modification of my Invention the construction of the glass covering
parts is the same as above described. Instead however of providing the dish, which is
at the bottom with the excentric opening, it has a foot or extension open below. This
foot is not cylindrical, but its lower edge flares outward. In this modification the
discs whereby the inner vessel and dish are fixed to the pipe or pressure regulator
are dispensed with, but upon the pipe or regulator I screw a cap which has a
raised rim which is about two centimeters in height. This rim is tapped for the
reception of screws by means of which the dish is fixed upon the cap. Upon the
bottom of the cap and at about two inches from the rim a ring of almost the same
height as the former is soldered. In the centre of the bottom there is an aperture
for the gas-pipe, and between this and the ring an aperture, through which a match
for lighting the gas can be introduced. This aperture can be closed by a slide.
When the inner vessel or the dish is fixed upon the cap by means of the screws
the space between the rim and the ring is filled with sand, thus preventing the
entrance of air from this side. When the glass covers have been placed in position
in the usual manner and the gas has been ignited, the opening is closed by the
slide and the air is admitted to the flame through the proper channel.