IMPROVEMENTS IN FISH-TAIL GAS BURNERS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew West, of Stevenage, in the County of
Hertford, Tailor, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FISH-TAIL GAS
BURNERS."
Sealed the 2nd April 1867, and dated the 3rd October 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew West at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
October 1866.
I, MATTHEW WEST, of Stevenage, in the County of Hertford, Tailor, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FISH-
TAIL GAS BURNERS," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object the production of a greater amount of light
from coal gas when fish-tail burners are used, and it is especially applicable
to the smaller sized burners. To prevent the rushing noise made by the gas
in escaping from the vent, and which denotes that much of the gas escapes
unconsumed, a check must be put on the gas before it reaches the vent.
This I effect by making the hole throughout the whole length of the burner
no larger than the orifices where the gas is ignited, instead of nearly as large
as the pipe, which is usually the case. By this means I mitigate or check the
flow of gas so that though the flow is the same in quantity a greater amount
is actually consumed. To obtain more light from the gas that escapes and is
ignited I have a small wire stretched across the burner
at right angles to the orifices and about one-eighth of an
inch above it. This piece of wire is in size and shape
like this sketch. The upright portions A, A, inay be
made open and double, and unite at the curves B, B,
into a single wire; this allows a free passage for the
T
BURNER

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Matthew West in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
April 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MATTHEW
WEST, of Stevenage, in the County of Hertford, Tailor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did. for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Matthew West, Her special licence that I, the said Matthew West, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Matthew
West, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others; from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FISH-
TAIL GAS BURNERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Matthew West, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Matthew West, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement-
My Invention relates to gas burners, and consists of aif improved nipple
änd flame augmenter, which latter may be added to the ordinary burners.
In carrying out my said Invention I prefer to make the said nipple and
flame augmenter together, so that they may take the place of ordinary burners
by simply unscrewing the latter and screwing in the improved nipples and
flame augmenters in the place of the former. The flame augmenters, how-
ever, can be so formed that they may be added to the ordinary burners
The improved nipple is formed with a hollow enlargement near the top and

page_text: the flame augmenter, which consists of a small arch, arc, or crown of wire or.
metal of a circular form in transverse section fixed to the enlarged chamber
on the outside thereof, and passes over and at a short distance above the
orifice or orifices from which the gas or inflammable vapour issues; the wire is
so placed that the flame impinges against it, and the light is thereby increased
very considerably without increasing the consumption of gas. When it is
desired to apply the light augmenter to an ordinary nipple it may be made
with a clip ring or claws, both being sufficiently elastic to cause them to hold
the arc or crown securely in position, and at the same time to admit of its
being accurately adjusted as required.
The accompanying Drawing is intended to illustrate the forin of the nipple
and flame augmenter which constitute my said improved burner or burners.
Fig. 1 is a side view of the said burner. a is the nipple; bis the enlarged
chamber, and c the wire arc or crown. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same
through the centre, and shews the mode of fixing the crown of wire by the
screw limb d (see also Fig. 3). The crown may also be fixed by perforating
the enlarged chamber on both sides, and pressing the limbs and d' in;
Figs. 4 and 5 shew the mode of forming the crown with a spring ring, and
Figs. 6, 7, and 8, with spring clips, so that the said crown may be thereby
attached to an ordinary burner.
Figs. 9 and 10 shew the form of the flame augmenter and mode of attaching
the same to an Argand burner.
I claim the crown flame augmenter made of wire or metal of a circular
form in transverse section in or applied to gas burners, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew West, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
MATTHEW WEST.
(L.S.)