IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS BURNERS AND REGULATORS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Siemens of Dresden in the German Empire,
but at present of Royal Hotel Blackfriars in the County of Middlesex for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS BURNERS AND REGULATORS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Siemens at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th January 1882.
FREDERICK SIEMENS of Dresden in the German Empire but at present of Royal
Hotel Blackfriars in the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS BURNERS
AND REGULATORS”
This Invention relates to a construction of gas burners so as to obtain very
complete combustion and great brilliancy of light, and of regulators for governing
the flow of gas to such burners, these regulators being applicable also to burners
of other kinds. The improved burner is of the following construction. From a
circular cavity or chamber supplied with gas rise two three or more sets of small
metal tubes which may be vertical or slightly inclined
Each set of these tubes is arranged in a circle, and the circles are concentric with
one another.
The tubes of the innermost circle are highest and smallest in diameter, those of
the next circle outwards are somewhat lower and larger in diameter, and so on,
the outermost tubes being lowest in height and largest in diameter.
Outside the outer tubes is fixed a metal casing perforated at its lower end and
having its upper end terminating in a lip or flange projecting inwards level with
the mouths of the outer tubes, and this lip is by preference notched or indented so
as to present a star like appearance, in a similar manner to that described in my
former Specification to Patent No. 3555 of 1879. Secured to the upper part of
this casing above its perforations is another casing of larger diameter so as to leave
an annular air passage between it and the inner casing.
This second casing is coned inwards and star lipped reaching nearly to the
mouths of the second set of tubes. And in like manner other successive casings are
arranged according to the number of circles of tubes. Generally however three
ר'ד

page_text: circles of tubes with two casings as described are sufficient there being a central
star notched button or deflector above the middle circle, Outside of all is a
gallery or ring presenting a socket to hold the glass, an annular air passage being
formed between this gallery and the outer casing. The gas issuing from the
several sets of tubes has air supplied for its combustion partly through the per-
forations of the lower casing and partly through the annular spaces between the
successive concentric casings, and as these as well as the tubes are of metal in
intimate connection the heat is very perfectly diffused throughout the burner, and
the air is considerably heated during its passage to the flames increasing their
brilliancy, while the cooling effects of the air on the tubes saves them from injury.
Although the above mentioned air deflectors are by preference notched, or of star
shape, yet they may also be used without notches.
In order to regulate the gas supply to the burner notwithstanding variations of
pressure, a regulator of the following kind is employed. Within a cylindrical
casing is fixed a collapsible vessel somewhat like a concertina bellows, consisting
of a number of thin rings of elastic sheet metal attached to one another at their
inner and outer edges alternately. The lowest ring is attached to the bottom of
the casing, and the highest ring is attached to a disc through which there is a small
hole, or several small holes. The disc also carries at its centre a cone projecting
upwards and entering the mouth of the pipe leading to the burner. The gas
enters the bottom of the collapsible vessel from which it can issue into the casing
through the hole or holes in the disc, and from the casing it passes to the burners.
According as the pressure of the gas is greater or less the collapsible vessel becomes
more or less distended so that the cone ou its disc throttles more or less the passage
leading to the burners.
The supply may be adjusted within certain limits by screwing in or out the pipe
leading to the burners so as to bring its mouth towards or away from the cone on
the disc. This regulator may obviously be employed for burners other than those
of the kind described above,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Siemens in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th July
1882.
FREDERICK SIEMENS of Dresden in the German Empire but at present of Royal
Hotel Blackfriars in the County of Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS BURNERS
AND REGULATORS "
$1
This Invention relates to a construction of gas burners so as to obtain very
complete combustion and great brilliancy of light, and of regulators for governing
the flow of gas to such burners, these regulators being applicable also to burners of
other kinds. The improved burner is of the following construction. From a
circular cavity or chamber supplied with gas rise two three or more sets of small
metal tubes which may be vertical or slightly inclined Each set of these tubes is
arranged in a circle, and the circles' are concentric with one another. The tubes of
the innermost circle are highest and smallest in diameter, those of the next circle
outwards are somewhat lower and larger in diameter, and so on, the outermost
tubes being lowest in height and largest in diameter. Outside the outer tubes is
fixed a metal casing perforated at its lower end and having its upper end
terminating in a lip or flange projecting inwards level with the mouths of the
outer tubes, and this lip is by preference notched or indented so as to present &
starlike appearance, in a similar manner to that described in my former Speci-
fication to Patent No. 3555 of 1879. Secured to the upper part of this casing
above its perforations is another casing of larger diameter so as to leave an annular
air passage between it and the inner casing. This second casing is coned inwards
and star lipped reaching nearly to the mouths of the second set of tubes. And in
like manner other successive casings are arranged according to the number of
circles of tubes. Generally however three circles of tubes with two casings as
described are sufficient there being a central star notched button or deflector above
the middle circle. Outside of all is a gallery or ring presenting a socket to hold
the glass, an annular air passage being formed between this gallery and the outer
casing. The gas issuing from the several sets of tubes has air supplied for its
combustion partly through the perforations of the lower casing and partly through
the annular spaces between the successive concentric casings, and as these as well
as the tubes are of metal in intimate connection the heat is very perfectly
diffused throughout the burner, and the air is considerably heated during its
passage to the flames increasing their brilliancy, while the cooling effect of the
air on the tubes saves them from injury. Although the above mentioned air
deflectors are by preference notched, or of star shape, yet they may also be used
without notches.
In order to regulate the gas supply to the burner notwithstanding variations of
pressure a regulator of the following kind is employed. Within a cylindrical
casing is fixed a collapsible vessel somewhat like a concertina bellows, consisting
of a number of thin rings of elastic sheet metal attached to one another at their
inner and outer edges alternately. The lowest ring is attached to the bottom of
the casing, and the highest ring is attached to a disc through which there is, a
small hole or several small holes. The disc also carries at its centre a cone pro-
jecting upwards and entering the mouth of the pipe leading to the burner. The
gas enters the bottom of the collapsible vessel from which it can issue into the
casing through the hole or holes in the disc, and from the casing it passes to
the burners. According as the pressure of the gas is greater or less the collapsible
vessel becomes more or less distended so that the cone on its disc throttles more or

page_text: certain limits by screwing in or out the pipe reading
its mouth towards or away from the cone on the disc. This regulator may obviously
be employed for burners other than those of the kind described above.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying Drawings shew a burner constructed according
to the above described improvement, Fig. 1 shewing a vertical section, and Figs. 2
and 3 shewing respectively a plan and a cross section on line X X Fig. 1. The
burner consists of the hollow chamber A connected at bottom to the gas supply
pipe, and carrying on its upper flat surface the three concentric rings of gas
tubes B B¹ B2. Surrounding the outermost ring B2 is a casing C also fixed to the
chamber A and having at its lower part openings or perforations as shewn at
Fig. 3, through which the air enters freely, while its upper end, terminating at the
tops of the tubes B is there provided with a notched air deflector c as shewn at
Figs. 1 and 2, and operating as described in my original Patent. In like manner
the second ring of tubes B₁ is surrounded by an outer short casing C¹ attached
to C and also terminating at top in the notched air deflector c¹ at about the
level of the tops of the gas tubes B¹. A third casing C² attached at C serves both
to support the glass D and to admit a further supply of air for ventilating and
cooling the glass. A third, central notched air deflector E, carried by a rod E¹
from the gas chamber A is situated a short distance above the tops of the central
The central tubes
ring of tubes B², having its notches or teeth directed outwards.
B² are made somewhat less in diameter than those B¹ of the middle ring and these
are again smaller than those B of the outer ring, in order to insure that the flames
from all the sets of tubes shall terminate at top at about the same level notwith-
standing the difference of level of the tops of the tubes. The air entering through
the openings in the lower part of casing C passes between the tubes of the several
rings and rises up in a more or less uniformly distributed manner as does also that
entering the lower ends of the casing C' and being caused by the several notched
deflectors to impinge in divided streams upon the ignited gas jets issuing from the
tubes, produces an intensely luminous flame.
All the metal parts of the burner are in solid connection with each other, so as
to prevent the injurious overheating of certain parts by causing the heat to be
more or less uniformly distributed by perfect conduction, which heat is then
in great measure taken up by the entering air, thereby also increasing the
luminosity of the flame. In consequence of the good conduction of the heat from
all parts of the burner, the use of porcelain or steatite for the mouths of the
burners can be dispensed with, but the central deflector E is by preference made of
porcelain in order to act as a reflecting surface for the light. The heat conducting
powers of the metal gas tubes B B' B² and the comparatively large issue orifices
effectually prevent the deposit of solid carbon within the tubes, and as the air
becomes heated by contact with the external surfaces of these, an upward draught
is produced whereby a comparatively short glass chimney is rendered applicable.
Instead of three rings of gas tubes a greater or less number may be used.
It is not essential that each ring of tubes should be provided with a notched air
deflector.
Fig. 4 shews a vertical section of the herein before described improved regulator,
Fig. 5 a plan and Fig. 6 a cross section on line Y Y. It consists mainly of an
elastic pressure chamber a constructed of thin sheet metal rings combined with
each other and with a top and bottom disc in such a manner as to form a readily
expandible chamber similar to a bellows. This expandible chamber is enclosed
in a metal casing h, the bottom of which at the same time forms the bottom of the
chamber a, while above the top of the latter is left a free space. The bottom of
the casing is so connected to the gas supply pipe g that the gas passes directly into
the elastic pressure chamber a, from which it issues through small openings e e in

page_text: the top plate thereof into the upper space of the casing h, in order to pass thence
through the orifice o of the adjustable branch pipe t on its way to the gas burners.
The top plate of the pressure chamber a carries a conical point s so arranged that
by the expansion of the chamber a the point s fits accurately into the opening o
so as to decrease its area without actually closing it. When by an increase of
pressure of the gas entering the chamber a the expansion of the latter causes the
points to partially close the opening o, the pressure of gas in the casing & will also
be increased, whereby any further expansion of the chamber a will be prevented,
and consequently the opening o will not be further closed. Thus the higher the
pressure of the gas rises in the supply pipe, the more will the chamber a be
expanded, but also, the greater will be the counter pressure in the casing h, and
this in proportion to the extent to which the point s closes the opening o so as to
restrict the escape of gas. The result of this action is that the gas supply to the
burner is not increased, notwithstanding the increased pressure in the supply pipe.
It is necessary however for obtaining a perfect result, to adjust by experiment
the relative areas of the openings e and o, as also the degree of elasticity of the
chamber a, and to proportion these to the quantity of gas the apparatus is required
to pass in a given time.
By adjusting the branch t so that its opening o is higher or lower, the quantity
of gas passed through at a certain pressure can be regulated.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim :-
First, Constructing gas burners with two or more concentric rings of gas tubes,
combined and operating as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the
Drawings
Second. In gas burners having two or more concentric rings of gas tubes con-
structing the tubes of the several rings of varying height, the tubes of the central
ring being highest while those of the outside ring are shortest substantially as
herein described,
Third. In combination with burners having two or more concetric rings of gas
tubes, the use of two or more casings forming two or more separate air passages for
the supply of air to the burners, whereby the temperature of the several parts
of the burner and of the glass chimney is reduced, substantially as herein.
described,
Fourth. Construoting gas regulators with an expansible chamber a formed of
sheet metal, and operating in combination with the casing b apertures e and o and
conical points, substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6 of
the Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Frederick Siemens have hereunto set my
hand and seal this First day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-two.