IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING BY GAS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David William Sugg of Vincent Street in the City of
Westminster, Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR LIGHTING BY GAS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David William Sugg at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th May 1883.
DAVID WILLIAM SUGG of Vincent Street in the City of Westminster, Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING BY GAS."
It is well known that the whiter parts of a flame possess the highest illuminating
power, and that the degree of whiteness depends upon the more or less perfect
oxidation of the carbon of the gas which takes place.
As gas is usually burned, the illuminating part of the flame is the upper part,
and thus the greater portion of the rays of light are thrown upwards, instead of
downwards, where they are required, the downward rays being more or less
interferred with by the fittings, so that it is often almost impossible to read or
write immediately under a gaselier.
Now the object of the present invention is so to produce a gas flame, that the
portion of highest illuminating power shall be at the bottom.
The apparatus
employed in effecting this object will be above the flame, so that the full benefit of
the illumination will be obtained without hindrance of any kind.
In carrying out my invention, I make the flame to burn downwards in a sealed
globe, which surrounds the burner, and is fitted to a cylindrical pendent holder, and
I carry off the products of combustion by a suitably arranged chimney standing up
through the holder.
The burner that I prefer to use is of the argand form, which I secure in an inverted
position in an annular space in a hollow cylindrical casting. Within the argand
burner, I fit the chimney, which is formed of platinum, porcelain, or other suitable
material.
Above the holder, and between this chimney and the burner, air is allowed to
enter to support combustion, and also to preserve the proper form of flame,

page_text: The pendent holder, which is screwed to the burner casting, is provided with
a number of holes to supply air to the outside of the flame to ensure proper
combustion. To the top of the casting is secured a long tube, which I term an
eduction tube, and which forms a continuation of the platinum or other chimney,
and serves to carry off the products of combustion to a ventilator.or to the upper
part of the room.
As the platinum or other chimney becomes, after a short time, white hot, the
products of combustion, as they pass up, are more or less decomposed, so that little
or none of the deleterious vapors or products pass into the room.
The gas supply pipe is placed outside the chimney, and is connected to a gas
ring, with which the burner casting is connected, by two, three, or more short
tubes. A small governor may be placed at any suitable point in the gas supply.
pipe.
The burner and chimney will by preference be enclosed in a cylindrical
envelope of any ornamental character, and carrying at its lower end a shade or
reflector.
In some cases I may find it desirable to use two or more argand burners, in which
case the burners are placed concentrically, suitable spaces being allowed between
them for the entrance of air to support combustion.
The burners may be applied to hollow brackets attached to the wall, and
communicating with ventilating tubes in the wall, or they may be arranged in
clusters, as in ordinary gaseliers, the chimney of each burner converging to a
central chimney..
The air openings will vary in dimensions according to the size of the burner, and
their positions will be so arranged that the outer and inner currents of air and the
gas shall meet at the point of ignition at about the same temperature, and that as
low as possible.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David William Sugg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th November 1883.
David William SUGG of Vincent Street in the City of Westminster Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING BY GAS'
"
It is well known that the whiter parts of a flame possess the highest illuminating
power and that the degree of whiteness depends upon the more or less perfect
oxidation of the carbon of the gas.
As gas is usually burned the illuminating part of the flame is uppermost, or
towards its upper end.-Thus the rays of light are in great part thrown upwards
instead of downwards where they are required; the downward rays being more or
less interfered with by the fittings so that it is often almost impossible to read or
write immediately under a gaselier.
Now the object of the present Invention is to produce an apparatus having all
the fittings above the flame which will burn downwards in a sealed glass and having
the parts so arranged that the gas and the air to support combustion shall meet at
the point of ignition at a nearly uniform temperature and that as low as possible,
such apparatus being of a simple and economical kind.
.
In Sheet I of the accompanying Drawings Fig: 1 is a side elevation of my
improved apparatus; Fig: 2 is a sectional elevation of the same and Fig: 3 is an
inverted plan view of the glass enclosing the burner and of the means for supporting
the same.
+
a is a hollow cylindrical flanged casting, having in its lower part two annular
concentric spaces bbc is a steatite burner of the Argand type which closes-in
the annular space b of the casting a and converts it into a gas chamber.-In the
upper part of the casting a and extending to the hollow centre thereof horizontal
slits or openings d are formed to admit air to the centre of the burner as will be
hereafter further explained.
Within the Argand burner and screwed or otherwise secured into the upper part
of the casting above the openings & is a pendent chimney e of platinum porcelain
or other suitable material extending below the burner to a distance equal to the
length of flame required to be produced and splayed or bell-mouthed at its lower
end. The casting a is secured to one end of a long tube f which I term an
eduction tube. This tube forms a continuation of the platinum or other chimney e
and serves, not only to carry off the products of combustion to a ventilator or to.
the upper, part of the room, but also to carry the apparatus, for which purpose
it is secured by its upper end to the ceiling of the apartment in any convenient
manner.
The gas is supplied by a pipe g which is connected to a governor g' from which
the gas passes by the short pipe g to a gas ring g³-From this ring the gas is
conducted by two or more small pipes g* inserted into holes 95 in the upper part
of the casting a to the gas chamber 6 whence it escapes through the burner c to be
consumed.
The air to support combustion is admitted to both the inner and outer surfaces
of the flame. To reach the inner surface. it enters by radial openings d and passes.
down between the chimney e and the burner c to the flame.-The amount of air to
be supplied through the openings d is regulated by means of the external ring d
which fits tightly on the casting and is permanently adjusted as required.
A further supply of air enters the annular space b'. through radial openings b' in
the casting, and from this space the air passes down outside the burner c and
7

page_text: serves, not only to support combustion, but also to counteract the force of the
inside current and prevent the flame from spreading and striking on the glass in
which the burner is enclosed. This outer current of air forms a stratum of
comparatively cool air between the flame and the glass and it will also give such
form to the flame as will best ensure the desired results
The size of the openings 62 I regulate by means of a perforated ring b³ fitted to
the casting a-The ring b³ to which an axial motion may be imparted by a
handle 6, or in any convenient manner, will be but seldom used as the openings 62
will be made of a size suitable for admitting such a quantity of air as will be
required to support the combustion of gas of a certain illuminating power, any
further regulation of the air supply being effected by means of the ring d' above
referred to: 65 is a screw for limiting the axial motion of the ring b³.
In order that the outside current of air shall be properly directed I provide
inside the casting a, a ring bª which fits tightly in place, and which I preferably so
adjust that the lower edge of the ring shall be on a level with the bottom of the
burner. The current of air will thus be prevented from spreading before it
reaches the flame and will serve more efficiently to preserve the proper form of
flame.
It may be here remarked that the position of this ring be will depend somewhat
upon the size and form of the glass enclosing the flame; thus for an enclosing glass
of wider proportion than that shown in Sheet I, the ring will be lowered; while
for a globe similar to that shown at Fig: 4 Sheet II the ring will be raised, the use
of the ring being to keep up the velocity of the current of air created by the
draught up the chimney to the required extent.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that the gas and air meet
at the point of ignition comparatively cool and at or about the same temperature
the result being a steady white light of great intensity.
The burner is enclosed in a glass h which it is preferred should be air-tight.
This enclosing glass, should be made of equal thickness throughout as the unequal
expansion to which it is exposed, would if the glass varied much in thickness be
very liable to fracture from the action of the heat.
The glass is carried by a wire support i conveniently secured to a ring j which
at one side is hinged to the flange of the casting a, and on the other side is secured
by a catch of any convenient construction fitted to the flange; or the ring may
be secured by a bayonet joint, or in any other convenient manner.
The support i is formed of two lengths of wire which are bent into the form
shown in the drawing and inserted through holes in the ring.-The wires cross one
another at right angles at the bottom where they are soldered or otherwise con-
nected together (see Fig: 3).-The support thus formed is elastic, and presses the
glass up against the bottom of the casting a.
As however the wire of which the support is made must necessarily be limited
in size so as not to impede the light, and the glasses are not always of the same
size, I find it desirable to provide means for ensuring a practically air-tight glass
To effect this object I recess the under face of the flange of the casting a and fit
therein a ring k, shaped in cross section like an inverted | into which the lip of
the glass enters as shewn in the drawing. It will, thus be seen that the diameter
of the glass may vary to an extent equal to the horizontal part of the L, and that
the support may "give" under the weight of the glass to the extent of the depth
of the recess, as the ring k which rests on the top of the glass and fits the hinged
ring will fill up the space that would otherwise be left for the entrance of air.
i
In Fig: 4, Sheet II, the same or practically the same arrangement of apparatus
is shewn, but it is made mainly of "spun" brass, instead of being cast as in the
former case, and the shape of the enclosing glass is different.
This glass requires a somewhat different holder, viz a spring holder the con-
struction of which will be readily understood without further description, the wire
support will however be used in this case also.
In this Figure the lamp is shown with a shade L attached thereto, and also with

page_text: an external enveloping tube or case M which may be of an ornamental character
and may serve as a ventilating tube for the apartment in which the lamp
is placed.
The products of combustion rise up the chimney e, and are carried off by the
eduction tube f to a ventilator or to the upper part of the room as previously
mentioned, and as the oxidation of the carbon is almost complete, practically
no bad effect results from allowing the products of combustion to pass into the
apartment.
The updraught is regulated by, the length and diameter of the tube f, which are
determined by the height of the apartment in which the lamp is to be placed, but
as an example a tube of three feet in length should have an internal diameter of
one and one-eighth inch.
As the burning of the gas proceeds, the upward draught will increase and the air
to support combustion will be drawn in more rapidly than at first.-The result of
this increased draught will be to draw in a larger quantity of air which will not
only serve to cool the apparatus but oxidation will be more complete, and the
flame will become shorter and whiter no smoke being generated. A great objection
to so-called "regenerative" burners is thus obviated, as in such burners the accu-
mulation of carbon in the air passages and pipes is a source of considerable
annoyance. In my improved apparatus the air and gas passages are kept entirely
clear, and should any carbon deposit in the chimney it can readily be removed by
means of a suitable brush or scraper as there will be a clear way all up the chimney
which can easily be got at by dropping the ring ; on its hinge and thus removing
the glass from under the burner.
Having now described my Invention of " Improvements in apparatus for
lighting by Gas" and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect
I claim
First: The arrangement of apparatus for lighting by gas substantially as herein
shown and described whereby the gas and the air for supporting combustion are
allowed to meet at the point of ignition at a comparatively low and nearly uniform
temperature.
Secondly The combination with an inverted Argand gas burner such as c fitted
with a central pendent chimney and a practically air-tight enclosing glass such as h,
of the means above described for regulating a supply of air to opposite sides of
the flame.
In witness whereof I the said David William Sugg have hereunto set my hand
and seal the eighth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
DAVID W SUGG (L.S.)