Improvements in and connected with Burners for Incandescent Gas Lighting.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 11th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 11th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1896
Improvements in and connected with Burners for Incandescent Gas
Lighting.
.
I, GEORGES JEAN JULES CATON, of Chateau du Cormier, Corme Ecluse,
Charent Inférieure, France, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to means of supplying, proportioning and intimately :
mixing the air and gas which produce the flame of an incandescent gas burner.
According to one arrangement for this purpose, where the service gas is at
moderate pressure, a partitioned drum like that of a gas meter is caused by
external power to revolve partly immersed in glycerine so as to draw in air,
discharging it into a conical chamber into which the gas enters by numerous small
pipes.
From this chamber the air and gas, more or less mixed, flow in numerous divided
streams along helicoidal passages to another chamber, whence they flow by a
number of small bent tubes into a globe, these tubes being bent in different
directions so that the fluid streams issuing from them have to meet and break each
other up and intermingle forming an intimate mixture in tlie globe. From the
globe the mixture passes through wire gauze to the outlet where it burns heating.
to incandescence aby known mantle suspended above it. The air and gas are so
proportioned, as determined by the speed of the drum, that the flame is a reducing
one, and the areas of passage are so regulated that the air and gas travel at the
eame speed as they mix, this equality of speed of travel being essential to their
thorough admixture..
When the gas is supplied at considerable pressure this pressure may be utilised
in effecting supply of the air. For this purpose the meter drum partly immersed
in glycerine consists of two separate parte, the one part having spirally curved
partitions separating compartments through which the gas passes causing the other
part of the drum to revolve, and this draws air in and discharges it mixed with gas
into diffusing and mixing passages such as are described above. The air thus drawn
into the apparatus has to enter by a light check valve which closes in case of
gas charging the chamber. The drum for utilising the gas pressure to supply air,
may be worked by external power for causing air to pass through combustible
vapours so as to become carburetted as a substitute for gas..
The drum apparatus for supplying air, instead of being arranged in connection
with the diffusing and mixing chambers and the burner, may be arranged in any
convenient place, the drum being driven by a weight, spring or other power, and
the air being conducted by pipes, separate from, but adjacent to the gas pipes, to
the several burners throughout an establishment. In order to avoid the use of
'

page_text: large air pipes, the air may be sent at some pressure through small pipes, but when
it reaches each burner it has to enter a chamber large enough to allow it to
expand and have itė velocity of travel reduced to that of the gas.
Dated this 11th day of November 1895.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for Applicant.
Improvements in and connected with Burners for Incandescent Gas
Lighting.
I, GEORGES JEAN JULES CATON, of Chateau du Cormier, Corme Ecluse,
Charent Inferieure, France, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described.
and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to means for supplying proportioning and intimately
mixing the air and gas which produce the flame of an incandescent gas burner.
According to my invention the air for admixture with the gas is supplied to the
burner by a separate conduit leading from a suitable air-supply apparatus which
may be adjacent to the burner or form part thereof, or may be situated at some
distant point so as to supply any desired number of burners with the air.
I have found by experiments that in order to obtain the greatest brilliancy from
au incandescent mantle with the least expenditure of gas per unit of candle power:
produced, the gaseous mixture (say of gas and air) employed must be in as
homogeneous a condition as possible and a maximum amount thereof be burned in
. a given time.
I have also found that the gas and air when in motion as in an ordinary burner
of an incandescent lamp do not become efficiently diffused, that is to say they do
not intimately mingle with each other, unless they travel at the same speed.
Furthermore, a reducing flame should be employed in which there does not occur
any dissociation of the water vapour resulting from the combustion of the gas,
such a reducing flame giving the greatest quantity of heat and consequently
evolving the greatest quantity of light from an incandescent mantle. The rate of
combustion of such a flame is from 4.50 metres to 5 metres per second and at this
speed the air and gas remain but a very short time in contact and consequently it
is necessary to employ some means whereby the diffusion of the gas and air can be
assisted.
It is the chief object of my invention to provide a burner or lamp wherein such
diffusion can be effectually obtained and in such a manner that the gaseous mixture
will escape from the burner at an exceedingly low pressure.
For this purpose I provide the lamp with helicoidal or circuitous conduits or
passages through which the streams of gaseous fluids flow as they pass from a
mixing chamber; the said streams as they escape from such conduits or passages
energetically intermingling with each other in the lamp and finally escaping, from
the mouth of the burner in a homogeneous condition ready to be burned.
My improved lamp.enables the ordinary chimney employed with incandescent
burners to be entirely dispensed with.
In order that my said invention may be clearly, understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is:a vertical section shewing one form of my lamp and burner with a
device combined therewith for supplying the air, the device in this instance being
driven by a suitable motor.
%

page_text: ¡gure 2,18 & Horizontal transverse section taken on the line 1. of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a lamp similar to that illustrated in Figure 1
but combined with an air supply device that is actuated by the pressure of the gas
as the latter enters the apparatus from the gas main.
Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 2. 2 of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a general view illustrating a complete installation wherein the air
supply device is situated at a distance from the lamps, the air and gas being led to
the lamps by two distinct pipes.
Figures 6 and 7 are vertical sections of somewhat modified forms of the burner
illustrated in the preceding figures.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of another slightly modified form of the burner and
Figure 9 is a fragmentary view shewing more clearly the arrangement of the
tortuous passages.
Each of the burners shewn in Figures 6 to 9 is intended to be used with an air
supply apparatus situated at a distance from the burner.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2. The lamp has a cylindrical body A within
which is located the helicoidal passages or circuitous conduits. B. The upper
portion of the said body communicates with a spherical chamber C by means of a
number of tubes D which are carried by a horizontal plate or partition D'. These
tubes have their upper ends bent in such a manner that their outlets are directed
in contrary directions as best seen in Figure 2. From the upper part of the
spherical chamber C extends a tube E at the mouth of which the gaseous mixture
burns and above the mouth of this tube the mantle F of any appropriate
construction is suspended.
G is a cylindrical box or chamber with which the lower end of the cylindrical
body A communicates by the passage A'. Mounted horizontally in this box or
chamber is a spindle g carrying light vanes forming part of a drum g' constructed
and operating in a similar manner to that of a gas meter. The said box or
chamber contains glycerine or other appropriate liquid into which the aforesaid
drum dips. His an air inlet pipe through which when the aforesaid drum revolves
atmospheric air is drawn into the space above the glycerine, and expelled there-
from through the passage A' as is well understood. 9 is a pulley on the spindle g,
by which the latter and the drum are revolved by a suitable clockwork or other
motor, is a boss on the underside of the box or chamber G, the said boss
having a screw threaded opening g for enabling the entire apparatus or lamp to
be connected to a gas bracket. From this operiing g extends a pipe 9 through
which the gas passes to an annular chamber a surrounding the lower part of the
aforesaid cylindrical body A. Short tubes a project from this annular chamber
into the cylindrical body and through them the gas gains admission to the said
cylindrical body in a number of streams.
The dimensions of the passage Al and the short tubes a¹ are such that the air
and the gas enter the cylindrical body at the same speed, which is somewhat
greater than the speed at which they will finally escape from the burner at the
inouth of the tube E. The air and gas then pass upward through the helicoidul
passages B whereby the said air and gas are divided into a number of fine streams
and at the same time have imparted to them a rotatory movement. On issuing
from the helicoidal passages B the gaseous mixture impinges against the partition D¹
thereby producing a certain amount of agitation which is favourable to the more
perfect admixture of the gas and air. The said mixture then passes through the
numerous tubes D in the form of a large number of fine streams which rotate in
different directions owing to the bent outlet ends of these tubes; the gaseous
streams are thus caused to further intermingle within the spherical chamber C.
The perfectly mixed gas and air may then pass through the meshes of a gauze
partition C which is intended to produce a subdued and regular issue of the
gaseous mixture from the burner at the mouth of the tube E so that the velocity
of the outflowing mixture will be only such as is necessary for the production of a
reducing flame of the greatest intensity. It will be advantageous to employ &

page_text: considerable number of the bent tubes D caro being taken that the total of their
internal areas shall be at least equal to the area of the burner at the exit opening
from the tube E. The outlet ends of each row of such tubes should also be such
that a rotatory or helicoidal movement is imparted to the gaseous mixture escaping
from them, such movement being in a different direction from that imparted to the
gaseous mixture escaping from a neighbouring row of the said tubes.
Referring now to the modification shewn at Figures 3 and 4 I have here
illustrated a lamp which is adapted for use when the gas is supplied at considerable-
pressure, this pressure being utilized for supplying the air to the lamp. For this
purpose the box or chamber G and its internal mechanism are constructed in a
somewhat different manner to that described with reference to Figure 1. The
drum is in this case divided into two compartments I I. The compartment I has
a series of vanes and is similar in construction to an ordinary gas meter; the other
compartment I' has a series of spirally curved partitions I which divide it into four
sub-compartments as clearly visible in Figure 4. The said drum is immersed in
glycerine as in the previous construction. The gas passes from the boss g³ through
the pipe go to the compartment I and thence passes successively into the sub-
compartments in the compartment I'. As in an ordinary gas meter the pressure of
the gas.in compartment I drives the drum in the direction of the arrow (Figure 4).
As the drum revolves the gas is drawn into the compartment I' through the pipes
and at the same time air is drawn into the apparatus through the valve ** and is
caused to pass with the gas through the openings in the central tubular sleeve it.
The gas and air escape from the open end of this sleeve, after passing through the
glycerine, in a multitude of small bubbles, whereby an excellent, admixture of the
gas and air is produced. The gaseous mixture then passes into the conduit A¹ and
thus reaches the cylindrical body A of the lamp whence it passes through the
helicoidal passages B and becomes more intimately mixed in a manner analogous
to that already described with reference to Figure 1. The aforesaid valve also
acts to prevent the escape of gas from the box or chamber G if for any reason gas
should enter the air space above the drum.
If the pressure of gas be insufficient for working the drum, or if it be desired to
employ, instead of ordinary coal gas, air charged with vapour of hydrocarbons, the
said spindle g may be provided with an external pulley g2 (shewn in dotted lines in
Figure 3) which can be driven by any suitable motor. The glycerine in the box
or chamber G would be replaced by a suitable liquid hydrocarbon. The apparatus
then serves as a carburetter.
In the general view, Figure 5, I have shewn an air supply apparatus J arranged
at a distance from the lamps K K and operated by a weight J, the air then being
conveyed to the lamps by means of separate pipes J' adjacent to the gas supply
pipes J. In order to avoid the use of large air pipes I may employ au air forcing
apparatus for supplying the air under slight pressure, and in this case the
conduit A should be enlarged to allow the air to completely expand before
reaching the burner at the outlet end of the tube E so that its velocity shall be
equal to that of the gas, because as before stated it is essential to my invention
that the air and the gas shall travel through the lamp at the same velocity in
order that they may properly mix together.
Figures 6 to 9 illustrate further modifications of my improved lamp. In
Figures 6 and 7 produco the circuitous passages by means of inclined
partitions m arranged within the chamber C. The partitions are provided
with openings at their peripheries and are closed at their central parts P
whereas the partitions have openings m' at their central parts but are
uuprovided with peripheral openings. The partitions are furnished with vertically
arranged curved partitions 13. n is the screwed boss by which the burner is
attached to the gas bracket and n' is an internal nozzle through which the gas
escapes into the lower part of the chamber C. c is a chamber situated at the
lower part of the chamber C and communicating with the latter through the
passage c. The air for admixture with the gas reaches the said chamber c by

page_text: the pipe leading from a suitable blower. The air and gas ineet together in the
lower portion of the chamber C and by passing along the circuitous course
produced by the aforesaid portions 1, and m, are caused to intimately mix with
each other and escape into the upper part of the chamber by the oponings
finally reaching the burner through the tube E in a thoroughly homogeneous.
condition.
In Figure 8 the upper part of the cylindrical body A of the burner is provided'.
at its upper part with a dome shaped bead L whiol is divided internally into two
compartments L1 L. by a curved partition L' between which compartments.
communication is established by openings L'. The gaseous mixture passes from.
the helicoidal passages B into the compartment L' where it meets with a certain.
amount of retardation by coming into contact with the curved partition L' and is
caused to pass in a downward direction to the passages L. Through these
passages the said gaseous mixture passes into the compartment L' and then in an.
upward direction to the tube E whence it flows to the burner.
In Figure 9 the cylindrical body A of the burner is surrounded at its lower end
by an annular air chamber c which communicates with the said cylindrical body.
by means of holes through. which the air passes into spaces between short..
inclined partitions * and thereby mingles with the gas entering the cylindrical
body though the nozzle n¹. The mingled gas and air then pass through the-
helicoidal tubes B and reach the upper part of the said cylindrical body where.
they meet the deflectors p'p and finally arrive in the space pl whence they escape
to the tube E, in the condition of a homogeneous gaseous mixture.
It will be obvious that although I have shewn various forms that my improved
lamp and burner may assume, it can be constructed in many other forms without
departing from the nature of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what.
I claim is
1. An incandescent gas-burner through which the air and gas flow at equal.
velocities and in which they are caused to be intimately mixed before ignition.
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
2. An incandescent gas-burner in which air and gas are intimately mixed by
means of a series of fixed helicoidal or circuitous conduits or passages arranged
within the burner substantially as described.
3. The combination with an incandescent gas-burner provided with the helicoidal
or circuitous conduits or passages of an apparatus for supplying the gas and air to
the burner at approximately equal velocities substantially as and for the purpose.
specified.
4. An incandescent gas-lamp constructed substantially as described with reference
to one or other of the figures of the accompanying drawings and adapted to.
operate in the manner and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 11th dow of Sentember 1896:
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.