Year: 1885

page_text: I, ADAM WIGHTMAN CLARK, of Victoria Works, Buchan Street, Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Brassfounder, do hereby declare the nature of
this Invention to be as follows, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to gas lamps of the kind in which the air for com-
bustion is heated by the gaseous products of combustion (hereinafter termed the
combustion gases) and its object is to improve the construction of such lamps, to
economise the consumption of gas for the light produced, and to display the flame,
which is annular, in a better manner than has hitherto been effected in such lamps.
In carrying out my Invention according to one modification I have a vertical gas
supply pipe extending downwards from a ceiling or other overhead fixture, and
carrying the lamp at its lower part. A larger pipe or gas tube is fixed to the lower
end of the gas supply pipe and has a smaller tube fixed within it so as to form an
annular space down through which the gas passes to the burner. The burner is
formed by two rings fixed on the outside of the outer gas tube and the gas passing
outwards through numerous perforations in the tube issues from between the rings
in a thin film. An annular air-heating chamber is formed round the upper part of
the outer gas tube, and round this chamber is formed a chamber for the combustion
gases which enter it through an annular slit immediately over the outer edge of
the flame, there being between this slit and the burner a ring of a suitable refrac-
tory material such as plumbago or fireclay or lime which becoming heated by the
flame insures the complete combustion of the gas and intensifies the flame. The
principal part of the air for combustion enters under the lower part of a dome-shaped
cover and passes by radial passages across the combustion-gas space to the annular
air-heating chamber bereinbefore mentioned; and some of it also passes through
small horizontal tubes across the annular gas passage into the inner tube that has
been described as within the outer gas tube. The air from the annular chamber
issues to the flame immediately above the burner, whilst the air from the inner tube
issues through perforations in a part of that tube projecting below the outer gas
tube these perforations being above a diaphragm below which there are other per-
forations for the passage of air which enters the bottom open end of the tube. The
air issuing from the two sets of perforations are together led by a deflecting shell
so as to strike the underside of the flame close to the burner.

page_text: The combustion-gas space herein before referred to is continued above the radial
passages through which the air crosses it, and passes upwards through an annular
space surrounding the gas-supply pipe; and an annular space is formed round it
with inlets for air at its lower end. The air entering this last mentioned space
passes up it and whilst keeping the outer shell of that part of the lamp cool, mixes
with the combustion gases at the top and diminishes their temperature.
A close glass globe is held by a hinged ring so as to enclose a space around and
below the flame; and air is admitted to this space through apertures above the
ring, this air or part of it finding its way into the bottom open end of the inner
tube hereinbefore referred to. An annular reflector having its lower inner edge
just beyond the outer edge of the flame forms the bottom of the combustion-gas
chamber; and it is sometimes found advantageous to admit a little air above this
reflector through suitable perforations.

page_text: I, ADAM WIGHTMAN CLARK, of Victoria Works, Buchan Street, Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Brassfounder, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to gas lamps of the kind in which the air for com-
bustion is heated by the gaseous products of combustion (hereinafter termed the
combustion gases) and its object is to improve the construction of such lamps, to
economise the consumption of gas for the light produced, and to display the flame,
which is annular, in a better manner than has hitherto been effected in such lamps.
A gas lamp as made with my improvements is shown on the accompanying
sheet of explanatory drawings, figure, 1, being an elevation, figure, 2, a vertical
section, and figure, 3, a plan of some internal parts. In these drawings the same
reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are
repeated.
A central vertical pipe, 4, is used for supplying the gas and for sustaining the
lamp, this pipe extending downwards from a ceiling or other overhead fixture.
The lower end of the gas pipe, 4, communicates with an annular space formed
between outer and inner tubes, 5, 6, which may be formed in one piece together
with three or four small inclined pipes, 7, connecting the top of the annular space
with the gas pipe, 4, there being openings, 8, between the inclined pipes, 7, giving
access to the central space, 9, within the inner tube, 6. The inner tube, 6, extends
further down than the outer tube, 5, and the space between the tubes communicates
with the interior of an annular burner, 10, which has horizontal jet perforations
formed around its widest part, and which is screwed upon the inner tube, 6, with
its upper part making a tight joint with the bottom of the outer tube, 5. This
simpler form of burner has been adopted in preference to that described in my
Provisional Specification because of its giving superior results. An annular air
heating space, 11, is formed round the upper part of the outer gas burner tube, 5,
and round this space, 11, there is formed an annular chamber, 12, into which the
combustion gases enter through an annular slit, 13, immediately over the outer
edge of the flame, there being at the inner side of this slit and surrounding the air
space, 11, a ring, 14, of a suitable refractory material such as fireclay or lime which
becoming heated by the flame insures the complete combustion of the gas and
intensifies the flame. This fireclay ring, 14, is supported by a metal ring, 15,
screwed on the bottom end of the tubular part enclosing the air space, 11.
Air for combustion enters through perforations in the lower part of a cover, 16,
which is shown as of a conical form, but which may be dome-shaped or of any
other suitable form; and it passes by radial passages, 17, (figure 3) crossing over
the annular combustion-gas space, 12, to the air-heating space, 11. Some of the
air also passes through the openings, 8, into the central space, 9. The air from the
annular chamber, 11, issues to the flame (indicated by dotted lines) immediately
above the burner, 10, whilst the air from the central space, 9, issues through
perforations, 18, in a part of the tube, 6, projecting below the burner, and is

page_text: deflected by a shell, 19, so as to strike the underside of the flame close to the
burner. I intended to have admitted within the deflecting shell, 18, some air
entering the bottom of the tube, 6, but I find this is not necessary and I close the
bottom of the tube, 6, by a cap, 20.
The combustion-gas space, 12, is continued upwards through spaces or passages, 21,
formed between the radial air passages, 17, to a conical space, 22, above a plate, 23,
fixed to the bottom of the gas pipe, 4; and from this conical space, 22, the com-
bustion gases pass up a chimney tube, 24. There is a larger tube, 25, outside of
the chimney tube, 24, and the space between the two tubes communicates at the
bottom with the upper part of the perforated conical cover, 16. The air entering
through the perforations of the cover, 16, passes up between the tubes, 24, and 25,
and whilst keeping the outer shell of that part of the lamp cool, mixes with the
combustion gases at the top and diminishes their temperature. At the top of the
tubes, 24, 25, there is an ornamental cap, 26, with outlets for the mixed combustion
gas and air as indicated by arrows, a deflecting plate, 27, being fixed above the
outlet to cause the gases to spread horizontally.
A close glass globe, 28, is held by a hinged ring, 29, so as to enclose a space
around and below the flame; and air is admitted to this space through a few
perforations, 30, above the ring, 29. The annular plate, 31, forming the outer and
under shell of the combustion-gas space, 12, is utilised as a reflector its outer
surface being polished or being coated with a white or light-colored enamel.
The part of the gas tube, 4, within the chimney tube, 24, has applied to it a
non-conducting covering, 32, of asbestos or other suitable substance as it is in
practice found disadvantageous to heat the illuminating gas to any great degree.
I designate my improved lamp as the "Radiant Lamp" in order to distinguish
it from other gas lamps.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The improved construction and combination of the parts of a gas lamp substan-
tially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.