IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO AP- PARATUS FOR Utilizing Heat for Lighting, HEATING, AND VENTILATING
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Ritchie, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO AP-
PARATUS FOR Utilizing Heat for Lighting, HEATING, AND VENTILATING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION loft by the said Charles Ritchie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th December 1876.
CHARLES RITCHIE, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman. "IMPROVE
MENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING HEAT FOR LIGHTING,
HEATING, AND VENTILATING."
My present Invention consists of modifications or improvements in lighting,
heating, and ventilating, which modifications or improvements are more or less
based upon arrangements described in Letters Patent granted to me (viz., No. 3227,
A.D. 1873, and No. 1940, A.D. 1876).
Some of the present improvements are or may be made applicable for use along
with the various apparatus, appliances, and methods of lighting, heating, and ven-
tilating now generally in use, and some otherwise.
As an example of my present improvements for increasing light, or bringing out
the latent luminosity of, say, a flame of gas from an argand burner (and this with-
out any further turning on the gas supply tap) I proceed as follows:-Over or
upon (sometimes one and sometimes the other) the glass chimney of the said burner
I place an arrangement of metal or suitable material, by which means the current
of heated products, ascending from the flame, becomes more or less inverted, or
brought down, or depressed, or modified, or checked in its course upwards, which
effect is necessarily followed by the modifying or checking of the current of air
which passes through the said glass chimney, the outcome of this checking or
modifying of the current of the products and of the air being increase of light from
the aforesaid flame, which outcome displays itself so soon as my arrangements are
set upon or placed over the said glass chimney and flame, the causation and effect
being somewhat similar to those operating in Figure 11 and other Figures in
Patent No. 1940, A.D. 1876.

page_text: Among my arrangements designed to effect the same purpose I may name one;
that consists of a piece of metal or material proportioned and formed to receive
therein or thereupon the said products as they arise, and which is so perforated or
channelled as to allow the products to pass through, but at the same time so to
hinder them in their course upwards as to enable them to become sufficiently
oxidized and burned to produce the increase of light desired, which increase of light
is in fact the paramount object of my arrangements (not merely the protection of the
ceiling of the room from smoke, as is commonly the purpose of tale coronas, or other
arrangements generally in use over fish-tail or bat's-wing burners).
Adjusting arrangements are sometimes adapted to the tube, or channel, or
receiver, or proportioned piece of metal before named, that it or they may be raised
or lowered, or moved backwards, or forwards, or sideways for lighting the flaine, or
other purposes.
Another example I may name for producing the same effect, where the principles
of causation operate in the same way, is as follows:-—A piece or plate of metal or
inaterial, not channelled or perforated, may be placed or brought down over the
said glass chimney, so brought down however as to leave a passage way for the
said products, and yet a passage way so contracted as to detain them sufficiently
to become thoroughly oxidized and burnt for the desired increase of light.
Sometimes a tube bent downwards receives the said products as they arise from
the glass chimney, which operates to invert inore or less the course of the said
products, and produces the same result, viz., increase of light; and sometimes a
small pipe is made to pass through the aforesaid tube or channel to convey air to
the burner for the support of combustion, which air becomes heated as it passes
through the said pipe. Thus, in each illustration above named, there is the same
causation operating, and the same effect or result.
In my present improvements for heating I invert the course of the smoke, or the
products of combustion, in manner similar to that shewn in some of the Figures of
the Patent No. 3227, A.D. 1873, and bring up a return or exit pipe which conveys
the products through or partly through the fire, or through or partly through the
gas flame. By these means the smoke is greatly consumed, and heat is increased.
By the position of the said return or upward pipe, or channel, or shaft in relation
to the source of heat the current of air which passes through the apparatus is
increased, and arrangements are sometimes employed for regulating same.
Some-
times an air-circulating pipe is passed through the said return pipe, and sometimes
through the other pipes, according to requirements, or for air circulation, or for
ventilating purposes.
The above-described arrangements have reference to apparatus where the pipes or
tubes are vertically disposed, but my present improvements can be readily applied
where the pipes or tubes are disposed horizontally.
For increasing light and heat, especially in cases where an argand burner is
used, or for increase of light, I bring up air through a channel or channels, tube or
tubes, to support and improve combustion. The tube or tubes becoming more or
less warmed by contiguity with the flame or jots, and the air passing through the
tube or tubes is impelled thereby over the flaine.
Adjusting arrangements may sometimes be employed for regulating the supply
of air to the burner by means which practically increase or diminish the lower
opening of the glass chimney.
Another modification or improvement, which may be adapted to ordinary gas
lighting arrangements, consists of a tube or tubes suspended or brought from a
ceiling, wall, or other part of a room, which tube or tubes convey or conveys fresh
air to the burner or burners to support combustion. The said fresh air is brought
up, or down and up, under the gas flame, and the products of combustion may pass
off into the room or apartment, or otherwise. This arrangement is capable of being
applied for portable lighting or heating apparatus, or both. By these means the air
of the room does not become devitalized or exhausted for the purposes of supporting
combustion of the gas.

page_text: When desired the pressure of the outer air, in passing through my apparatus,
may be governed or regulated by suitable means.
For obtaining a powerful effect of light and heat, in some of my arrangements,
I employ a ring for leading up the supply of gas to a series of argand ring burners,
or other suitable shaped burners, which are set upon said ring, and receive their
supply of gas therefrom, the series being enclosed by a glass chimney or other
suitable lamp arrangements.
Condensation, more or less, of the deleterious vapours arising from combustion,
in order to prevent their entrance into a room or chamber, and also to obtain the
latent heat from the condensed steam, is the natural result of some of my above
modifications and improvements described for illustration, as it also is of some of
my arrangements in my former Patents above referred to.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Ritchie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th June
1877.
CHARLES RITCHIE, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman. "IMPROVE
MENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING HEAT FOR LIGHTING,
HEATING, AND VENTILATING."
My present Invention consists of modifications or improvements in lighting,
heating, and ventilating, which modifications or improvements are more or less based
upon arrangements described in Letters Patent granted to me (viz., No. 3227,
A.D. 1873, and No. 1940, A.D. 1876.
Some of the present improvements are or may be made applicable for use along
with the various apparatus, appliances, and methods of lighting, heating, and
ventilating now generally in use, and some otherwise.
As an example of my present improvements for increasing light or bringing out the
latent luminosity of, say, a flame of gas from an argand burner (and this without any
further turning on the gas supply), I proceed as follows:-Over or upon (sometimes
one and sometimes the other) the glass chimney (preferably a long one) of the said
burner, I place an arrangement of metal or suitable material, by which means the
current of heated products ascending from the flame becomes more or less inverted,
or brought down, or depressed, or inodified, or checked in its course upwards, which
effect is necessarily followed by the modifying or checking of the current of air
which passes through the said glass chimney, the outcome of this checking or
modifying of the current of the products and of the air being increase of light from
the aforesaid flame, which outcome displays itself as soon as my arrangements are
set upon or placed over the said glass chinney and flame, the causation and effect
being somewhat similar to those operating in Fig. 11, and other Figures in Patent
No. 1940, A.D. 1876.
Among my arrangements designed to effect the same purpose I may name one,
that consists of a piece of metal or material proportioned and formed to receive
therein or thereupon the said products as they arise, and which is so perforated or
channelled as to allow the products to pass through, but at the same time so to
hinder them in their course upwards as to enable them to become sufficiently
oxidized and burned to produce the increase of light desired, which increase of light
is in fact the paramount object of some of my arrangements (not merely the
protection of the ceiling of the room from smoke, as is commonly the purpose of
tale coronas, or other arrangements generally in use over fish-tail or bat's-wing
burners).
Adjusting arrangements are sometimes adapted to the tube, or channel, or
receiver, or proportioned piece of metal before named, that it or they inay be raised
or lowered, or moved backwards or forwards, or sideways, for lighting the flame, or
other purposes..

page_text: Another example I may name for producing the same effect, where the principles
of causation operate in the same way, is as follows:-A piece or plate of metal or
material, not channelled or perforated, may be placed or brought down over the said
glass chimney, so brought down however as to leave a passage way for the said
products, and yet a passage way so contracted as to detain them sufficiently to
become thoroughly oxidized and burnt for the required increase of light.
Sometimes a tube or channel bent downwards to receive the said products as they
arise from the glass chimney operates to invert, more or less, the course of the said
products, and produces the same result, viz., increase of light; and sometimes a small
pipe is made to pass through the aforesaid tube or channel to convey air to the
burner for the support of combustion, which air becomes heated as it passes through
the said pipe. Thus in each illustration above named there is the same causation
operating, and the similar effect or result.
In my present improvements for heating I invert the course of the smoke, or the
products of combustion in manner similar to that shewn in some of the Figures of
the Patent No. 3227, A.D. 1873, and bring up the return or exit pipe (which
conveys the products) through or partly through the fire, or through or partly
through the gas flame; by these means the smoke is greatly consumed and heat is
increased. By the position of the said return or upward pipe, or channel, or shaft,
in relation to the source of heat the current of air which passes through the apparatus
is increased, and arrangements are sometimes employed for regulating same. Some-
times an air-circulating pipe or pipes may be passed through the said return or exit
pipe and sometimes through the other pipes, according to requirements, or for air
circulation, or for ventilating purposes.
The above described arrangements have reference to apparatus where the pipes or
tubes are vertically disposed, but my present improvements can be readily applied
where the pipes or tubes are disposed horizontally.
For increasing light and heat, especially in cases where an argand burner is used,
or for increase of light, I bring up air through a channel or channels, tube or tubes,
to support and improve combustion. The tube or tubes becoming more or less
warmed by contiguity with the flame or jets, and the air passing through the tube
or tubes is impelled thereby over the flame.
Adjusting arrangements may sometimes be employed for regulating the supply of
air to the burner, by means which practically increase or diminish the lower opening
of the glass chimney.
Another modification or improvement which may be adapted to the ordinary gas
or other lighting arrangements consists of a tube or tubes suspended or brought
from a ceiling, wall, or other part of a room, which tube or tubes conveys or convey
from a chamber, room, or apartment above or adjoining, fresh or unexhausted air to
the burner or burners to support combustion. The said fresh air is brought up, or
down and up, under the flame, and the products of combustion may pass off into
the room or apartment (where the gas is burning), or otherwise. This arrangement
is capable of being applied for portable lighting or heating apparatus, or both; for
example, it may be adapted to receive oil lamps placed thereon (readily removable).
By these means the air of the room where the gas is burning does not become
devitalised or exhausted for the purpose of supporting combustion of the gas or flame.
When desired the pressure of the above described outer or unexhausted air
in passing through my apparatus may be governed or regulated by suitable means,
such as a metal gauge.
For ventilating purposes apart from lighting I employ an arrangement similar to
that shown in Figure 10 of the annexed Drawings hereafter described. The
atmosphoric air from the outside of the house descends the shaft to the chamber,
and thence ascends the vases. The air of the room having become attenuated by
heat from the gas lights and other causes, the dense atmospheric air from outside the
house makes its way into the room and ventilates the same.
For obtaining a powerful effect of light and heat in some of my arrangements 1
recommend the use of a ring for leading up the supply of gas to a series of argand ring

page_text: burners, or other suitable shaped burners which are set upon said ring, and receive
their supply of gas therefrom, the series being enclosed by a glass chimney or other
suitable lamp arrangements.
Condensation, more or less, of the deleterious vapours arising from combustion in
order to prevent their entrance into a room or chamber, and also to obtain the latent
heat from the condensed steam, is the natural result of some of any above modi-
fications and improvements described for illustration, as it also is of some of my
arrangements in my former Patents above referred to.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 to 6 shew various forms of arrangements in elevation and vertical
sections.
The same letters, as far as shewn, indicate corresponding parts.
In Figure 1 (elevation) and Figure 2 (vertical section) the air is brought up to
the inside of the burner (a) through the tube or channel by openings in the said
tube or channel b. The supply pipe (d) for the gas is fixed in this tube, as shewn,
and to the upper part thereof the burner (a), which is of ordinary construction
(preferably argand) is screwed or attached to the top of tube b. The support (e)
for the chimney (f) is attached to or forms part of the tube b. Around the tube b
is a tube or slide b' constructed so as to admit of its sliding freely on the tube b,
this tube or slide (6') has arins (6), to which are secured rods or arms (6³). These
rods or arms (63) pass upwards through openings in the support (e), and terminate
at the upper part (above the glass chimney f) in a plate or suitable contrivance y
(Fig. 1). The support (e) at its under side is perforated to admit air to the outer
portion of the flame, as indicated by the arrows.
In Figure 3 (elevation) and Figure 4 (vertical section) the supply of air to the
inside of the burner (a) is substantially similar to Figures 1 and 2, but in place of
one tube or channel (b), Figures 1 and 2, two tubes or channels (b) are employed, viz.,
for bringing up air to the outside and to the inside of the flame simultaneously.
Further, in place of the adjusting arrangements shown in Figure 1 the tube or
slide (b) which in this case is applied or forms part of the support e is lengthened,
so that by simply sliding the said tube b¹ up or down, the glass chimney (f) is
elevated or lowered, as required, for the purpose of adapting its length to the size of
the flaine. The course of the air to the burner a is indicated by the arrows.
In Figure 5 (elevation) and Figure 6 (vertical section) the arrangements are sub-
stantially similar to Figures 3 and 4, two tubes being employed in bringing up the air
simultaneously to the inside and outside of the flame. In these Figures the support
for the glass is preferably fixable, the outer tube or channel being made to slide,
and same may be fixed by a set screw (s) or suitable arrangement to any position
required, and thus the chimney is clevated or lowered for the purpose of adapting
the length of the chimney to the size of the flame.
In my system (as particularly shewn in Figures 1 and 2), more opportunity of
advantage is obtained by the chimney being long, for which purpose I provide
means of adding to the length thereof. Figure 1 has provided an extra length
which rests on the top of the chimney glass, as shown by dotted lines c¹. In
Figure 2 an extra length is provided to the chimney, same being open at the top
and attached to the portion carrying the sliding rods. In Figure 1 the plate g
operates to check the current of air over the flame, and is intended to draw out the
length of a short flame from a small supply of gas for increasing light. In Figure 2
the extra length operates to supply the needed quantity of air for effecting the com-
bustion of a large supply or strong pressure of gas without smoke.
In Figures 3 to 6 the openings for the air to the outside and inside portions of
the flame are shown at the sides or lower part of the tubes or channels, but it is
evident that in place thereof and also so as to govern the adinission of the air the
openings may be placed, as shown in Figure 7, or otherwise. In Figure 7 the tubes
are provided with openings at the bottom part of the tubes or channels. Around
the supply pipe for gas (which may be threaded) is a disc or plate of metal 6ª, sq

page_text: that all that is required to regulate the passage of the air to the burner is to turn
the disc or plate, so that the passage to the openings is diminished or increased, as
required.
Figure 8 shows (by elevation) arrangements for increasing the light froin a small
flame of gas by means of a cap which may, if desired, rest on the chimney glass. In
this Figure / is the cap, which is generally perforated or channelled; this cap (c) is sus-
pended by a chain (¹) which passes over a runner or pulley (k) attached to a rod l,
which is preferably telescopic or adjustable in length, said rod being usually secured
to the wall of the room or apartment. At the end nearest the wall is another
runner or pulley () over which the chain passes, same terminating in a handle (m)
made of non-heat conducting material.
Figure 9 shows (by elevation) arrangements for adapting a tube or channel n bent
downwards, said tube or channel being in communication sometimes with a system of
tubes or channels arranged horizontally or vertically for the condensation of the
vapours arising from the gas. Sometimes the said horizontal or vertical tubes are
enclosed within a case, perforated or otherwise, through which air or outer air is
passed to or from the room.
Figure 10 shows (in section) a view of arrangements for governance or regulation
of the outer air in passing through my apparatus, consisting of a tube or channel
suspended or brought from the ceiling of a room or apartment, said tube or channel
conveying fresh or comparatively fresh air from a room or apartment above or
adjoining thereto, from which source a steady pressure of air is supplied and
governed. In this Figure n¹ is the tube suspended from the ceiling, terminating at
the bottom in a chamber (o). The supply tube for gas passes down the air tube n¹
and supplies gas to the burner o', the air of the air tube n' or channel being drawn
through to support combustion without devitalizing the air of the room,
In the aforesaid chamber (o) openings are sometimes made at n² to admit the
above described fresh or comparatively fresh air to the room or apartment where
the arrangements are used. The lower part is usually made noveable so as to get
at the interior thereof.
This
Figure 11 shews (by elevation) my stove arrangements for inverting and directing
the course of the smoke or products of combustion into an exit pipe which passes
through the fire. In this Figure-1 is the grate in which the fuel is placed-the
smoke descends 2 into 3 below the grate or plate on which the fuel rests, thence
up through pipe 4, above referred to, and into the chimney flue of the room.
pipe or shaft 4, I enclose so as to form a hot chamber through which by suitable
openings the outer air or air of the room is brought for circulation and warming the
air in the room, and thus utilization of heat is effected. A sliding door (5) is placed
in front of the grate for regulating the admission of air to the fire. This sliding
door is so constructed as to allow the supply of fuel into the grate, or the supply
may be otherwise provided for.
Fig. 11 shows air circulating pipes which I sometimes arrange round the pipe or
shaft 4, Fig. 11.
It should be understood that the ordinary opening of the chimney into the room
is closed, except a portion for the reception of the exit pipe. And further, the air
of the room circulates all round or upon the outer surfaces of the stove, as above
described.
It will be seen by these arrangements that the smoke is made to pass over those
surfaces of the stove which are in contact with the fuel, and thus to become greatly
dissolved or consumed.
As the effect of the fire is very severe around the base of pipe 4, I provide by
suitable constructive arrangements for the easy displacement and renewal of same
when required.
Figure 12 shows a view of arrangements which enable air to be brought up to
the flame. In this Figure the products of combustion ascend from the flame p
into down, and out at 8. The air to support combustion enters at t, through v
in the burner, and becomes heated by passing through the descending product.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in practice, I
hereby declare that I claim the Invention of improvements in or applicable to
apparatus for utilizing heat for lighting, heating, and ventilating, as herein-before
set forth and described, wherein the following are important and particular points
or features:-
(1.) The use of a perforated or channelled piece of metal or material which will
allow the products of combustion to pass through the same when such piece of metal
or material is used in combination, as in arrangement substantially similar to those
shown in Fig. 8.
(2.) The adjusting arrangements adapted to the tube, channel, or receiver, or piece
of metal (for the purposes set forth and described), substantially similar to those
shewn in Figs. 1 to 6; also such like, as in Fig. 7.
(3.) The use of a piece or plate of metal or material not channelled or perforated in
connection with arrangement for enabling the same to be moved up from or down
to the top of a glass or translucent chimney, substantially as herein-before described
and illustrated by Fig. 1.
(4.) The arrangement of a tube or channel bent downwards to receive the products
of combustion as they arise from the glass or translucent chimney (which operates
to invert more or less the course of the said products and produces increase of
light), substantially as herein-before described, with reference to Fig. 9.
(5.) The use of arrangements for inverting or circulating the smoke or products of
combustion, and economizing heat for heating purposes and ventilating, substantially
similar in construction and combination to those described and also shown in
Fig. 11.
(6.) The use of air tube or tubes to support and improve combustion, constructed
and arranged substantially similar to those herein described and illustrated by
Figs. 1 to 6.
(7.) The use of a tube or tubes suspended or brought from a ceiling, wall, or other
part of a room, same conveying from a chamber, room, or apartment above or
adjoining fresh or unexhausted air to the burner or burners to support combustion,
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by Fig. 10, the same being
capable of being governed or regulated, substantially as described; also the use of
the above-mentioned tube or tubes for ventilating without lighting, connected with
the atmospheric air outside the house or building, substantially as herein-before set
forth and described. I would here remark that it is to be understood that although
I have herein-before described and illustrated by the Drawings forms and relative
proportions of the parts of my apparatus and arrangements, yet I do not limit
myself to the same, as varying circumstances may render modifications of same
desirable.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Ritchie, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thou-
sand night hundrad and savanty-seven
45 Witness,
CHARLES RITCHIE. (L.S.)
T. MORGAN,
Secretary,
Inventors' Patent Right Association, Ld.,
21, Cockspur Street, S.W.