IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS BURNERS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Coleman Defries, of the Firm of J. Defries and Sons,
of No. 147, Houndsditch, in the City of London, Lamp Manufacturer, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS BURNERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Coleman Defries at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th December 1880.
COLEMAN DEFRIES, of the Firm of J. Defries and Sons, of No. 147, Houndsditch,
in the City of London, Lamp Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS BURNERS."
My Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of gas burners,
whereby I propose to obtain a more perfect combustion of gas by means of a double
current of air produced in a burner of novel shape and construction, giving a
brilliant and steady light adapted for outside as well as inside lamps, and requiring
no chimney.
I propose to construct the lower part of my improved gas burner with two
separate chambers, namely, a gas regulating and a draught chamber, the horizontal
division carrying one, two, or more nipples or burners, receiving gas from the lower
chamber which will be screw tapped or have any suitable union for fitting on to
the supply pipe. Perforations above the division will supply air to the draught
chamber which I cover with a perforated plate or piece of wire gauze cut out for
the passage of a batswing, fishtail, or other suitable burner or burners (I now
give preference to the use of two batswing burners screwed or otherwise fixed to
the plate dividing the draught from the gas chamber, and converging towards each
other to the top). Around this burner or burners I place a casing supported by
the perforated plate or wire gauze, or otherwise, and receiving air direct from the
draught chamber, also if desirable through notches, serrations, or perforations at
its lower part air which has passed through the perforated plate or wire gauze.
The distance between the upper part of this burner casing and the flame, as also
the shape of this upper part, will vary with the description of burner used.
Immediately upon the draught chamber I propose to fit a cone rising to within a
short distance of the flame. I may give to this cone a more or less round or oval
form, and shape the exterior of the draught and gas chambers to correspond
therewith, whereby I obtain a gas burner of a very elegant eggshaped, oval, or
D

page_text: circular form, and I propose to electroplate or polish my cone so that it will form
a reflector giving increased brilliancy to the light.
The gas being lit the heat generated by its combustion will draw air into the
draught chamber, from whence it will pass to the burner or burners in two currents,
the one being drawn through the space between the burner or burners and their
casing, and the other through the space between the casing and the cone, at the top
of which it will meet the warmer current of air drawn up in actual contact with
the burner or burners, and the flame will thus be enclosed at its birth between
currents of oxygen which will cause the consumption of the excess of carbon usually
fatal to the brilliancy of the light.
I may introduce into the gas chamber any purifying substance, securing it
therein by a perforated plate, wire gauze, or otherwise, and I may in the same
way introduce therein any suitable means of checking the flow of gas to the burner
or burners.
I propose to make the nipples or actual burners of steatite or other anti corrosive
material, and to use a non-corrosive metal or material for the other parts of my
improved burner.

page_text: the two burners and the casing I, and the other through the space between the
casing I and the cone G, at the top of which it will meet the warmer current of air
drawn up in actual contact with the burners K, K, and the flame will thus be
inclosed at its birth between two currents of oxygen, which will cause the
consumption of the excess of carbon usually fatal to the brilliancy of the light.
I may introduce into the gas chamber any desired purifying substance,
securing it therein by a perforated plate, wire gauze, or otherwise, and I may in a
similar way introduce therein any suitable means of checking the flow of gas to the
burners K, K.
In the modification shown, Figures 6, 7, and 8, the perforated plate L and
draught chamber N are slightly raised and a regulating valve P is inserted beneath
and within the lower part H of the burner.
I may also fix my burner upon an independent regulator or purifier.
I prefer to make the burners K, K, of steatite or some anti-corrosive metal or
material, and to use such material for the other parts of my burner.
In clustering three, four, five, or more of my improved burners around a pilot
light, the burners are, as shown, Figure 9, inclined at such an angle towards a
common centre that when the gas is turned into these burners the pilot light will
cause them to burst into flame instantaneously and simultaneously, so that a railway
station, for example, with any number of lamps may be illuminated as rapidly as
by the electric light, and at a trifling expense, the position of the burners in my
combination being such that the smallest possible permanent or pilot light will
secure the rapid lighting of the whole cluster of burners.
Having now fully described the nature of my Invention and in what manner it
is or may be performed,
What I claim as secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
Firstly. The construction of the lower part of the burner (H) with its plate M,
perforations h, h, and plate or wire gauze L, and in combination therewith the
cone G and casing I, substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
Secondly. The modification thereof, substantially as herein before described and
shown on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing, Figures 5 to 8 inclusive.
Thirdly. The oval or eggshape of the burner as shown on the Drawing, Figures 1
and 5.
In witness whereof, I, the said Coleman Defries, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
sight hundred and eighty one
COLEMAN DEFRIES. (L.S.)