IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC REGULATING GAS-BURNERS, AND IN APPLIANCES RELATING THERETO
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William John Brewer, of 23, Rood Lane, in the City of
London, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC
REGULATING GAS-BURNERS, AND IN APPLIANCES RELATING THERETO."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William John Brewer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd June 1881.
WILLIAM JOHN BREWER, of 23, Rood Lane, in the City of London, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC REGULATING GAS BURNERS, AND IN APPLIANCES
RELATING THERETO."
My Invention relates to an improved construction of burners of illuminating
gas, to the regulation of the gas supply to the same and its automatic maintenance
at a more or less constant pressure, to the purification of the gas before burning,
and to the direction of the air current to ensure steadiness in the flame.
That portion of my improved apparatus which constitutes the burner proper is
in the form of an ordinary jet upon a long stem, but slightly below the nipple I
form one or more smaller jets projecting their flame into the lower portion of the
main flame. This raises the temperature of the main flame, with the result of
brightening & increasing the light by the greater heat given to the ascending
particles of incandescent carbon, and provide for their more complete oxidation, and
therefore freedom from smoke in a more simple and effective manner than has yet
been attained.
Burners constructed as described may be used singly with their subsidiary jet or
jets, or in groups. In the latter caso a single jet may be placed in the centre of
the group to serve as a flash jet, and also to aid in the illumination. The flash jet'
derives its supply through a bye pass or pipe, and I construct the cock so that while
it completely cuts off the supply, when turned, of the remainder of the burners, yet
it allows sufficient gas to flow through the bye pass to keep the flash jet alight
with a small flame.
Below the stem or stems of my burners I insert in the supply pipe my regulator
or governor, in order that the flame may be constant and steady, and that my
burner may be economical as well as brilliant.

page_text: The said regulator or governor consists of a piston valve free to rise and fall in a
slightly coned chamber, the greatest diameter of which is at the base. The diameter
of the valve is somewhat less than that of the chamber at its summit. The valve
is prevented from completely closing the supply at either the upper or lower end of
the coned chainbers by suitable studs fixed on the valve or the chamber ends.
The travel of the valve is kept true by a rod with guide wings which slide in the
pipe above and below, or passing through fixed guides. At the normal pressure
and momentum of the gas supply, the valve remains at the lower end of the
chamber, and the gas is free to pass through the space left between the valve and
the side of the chamber. When the pressure becomes excessive, the momentum of
the gas overcomes the weight of the valve and raises it in the chamber, which, by
reason of its conicity, diminishes the space between the valve and its side. Tho
regulating chamber must be in such upright position as to enable the specific
gravity of the valve to have its due effect, and the weight of the valve determines
the momentum above, which the reduction of the orifice is to take place.
Where a group is used for the further steadying of the flames, and in order to so
direct a current of air as to hinder their curling inwards, and aid in the supply
of air for combustion, I may construct between their lower portions a shield
composed of two horizontal plates of convenient heat resisting material joined
together by columns, and pierced through the centre where a flash jet is used, and
this I find to be an improvement upon the mode now practised of placing upright
plates below the nipples.
For the purifying of the gas I insert at any convenient spot in the supply pipe a
purifying chamber through which the gas is made to pass. In the purifying
chamber I place an admixture of oxide of iron in a spongy form (obtainable by the
treatment by acids in a known manner of metallic iron), solid camphor, sawdust,
or other similar material, and lime, and the proportions I prefer to employ are
more or less,―
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Williain John Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd December 1881.
WILLIAM JOHN BREWER, of 23, Rood Lane, in the City of London, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC REGULATING GAS BURNERS, AND IN APPLIANCES
RELATING THERETO."
My Invention relates to an improved construction of burners of illuminating
gas, to the regulation of the gas supply to the same and its automatic maintenance

page_text: at a more or less constant pressure, to the purification of the gas before burning,
and to the direction of the air current to ensure steadiness in the flame.
That portion of my improved apparatus which constitutes the burner proper is
in the form of an ordinary jet upon a long stem, but slightly below the nipple I
form one or more smaller jets projecting their flame into the lower portion of the
main flame. This raises the temperature of the main flame with the result of
brightening and increasing the light by the greater heat given to the ascending
particles of incandescent carbon, and provides for their more complete oxidation,
and therefore freedom from smoke in a more simple and effective manner than has
yet been attained.
Burners constructed as described may be used simply with their subsidiary jet
or jets, or in groups. In the latter case a single jet may be placed in the contro
of the group to serve as a flash jet and also to aid in the illumination. The flash
jet derives its supply through a bye pass or pipe, and I construct the cock so that
while it completely cuts off the supply when turned to the remainder of the
burners, yet it allows sufficient gas to flow through the bye pass to keep the flash
jet alight with a small flame.
Below the stein or stems of my burners I insert in the supply pipe my regulator
or governor in order that the flame may be constant and steady, and that my burner
may be economical as well as brilliant.
The said regulator or governor consists of a piston valve free to rise and fall in
a slightly coned chamber, the greatest diameter of which is at the base. The
diameter of the valve is somewhat less than that of the chamber at its summit.
The valve is prevented from completely closing the supply at either the upper or
lower end of the coned chamber by suitable studs or projections fixed on the valve
or chamber ends. The travel of the valve is kept true by a rod with guide wings
which slide in the pipe above and below, or passing through fixed guides. At the
norinal pressure and momentum of the gas supply the valve remains at the lower
end of the chamber, and the gas is freo to pass through the space left between tho
valve and the side of the chamber. When the pressure becomes excessive, tho
momentum of the gas overcomes the weight of the valve and raises it in the
chamber, which by reason of its conicity, diminishes the space between the valve
and its side. The regulating chamber must be in such upright position as to
enable the specific gravity of the valve to have its due effect, and the weight of
the valve determines the momentum above which the reduction of the orifice is to
take place.
Where a group is used for the further steadying of the flames, and in order to so
direct a current of air as to hinder their curling inwards and aid in the supply of
air for combustion, I may construct between their lower portions a shield, composed
of two horizontal plates of convenient heat resisting material joined together by
columns, and pierced through the centre where a flash jet is used, and this I find to
be an improvement upon the mode now practised of placing upright plates below the
nipples; but this I do not claim as novel.
For the purifying of the gas I insert at any convenient spot in the supply pipo
a purifying chamber through which the gas is made to pass. In the purifying
chamber I place an admixture of oxide of iron in a spongy form (obtainable by
treatment of metallic iron by acids in a known manner), solid camphor, sawdust, or
other similar material, and lime, and the proportions I prefer to employ are more
or less by weight,―
5 -

page_text: embrace all the foregoing appliances, or that I may dispense with portions of them,
or apply them to other constructions of burner than that specified.
And in order that my Invention may be the better understood I now proceed to
describe the Drawings hereunto anuexed and illustrative thereof, reference being
had to the letters and figures marked thereon.
In Figure 1 (a sectional elevation of my complete combination) A, A, are burners
grouped around a flash jet B. a, a, are the smaller jets to project their flames
into the lower part of the large flames from A, A. The flash jet B is fed by a
bye pass having a union joint C to allow of separation. D is a three way cock,
which, when it cuts off from the main jets, still allows enough gas to flow through
the bye pass to keep the flash jet B alight. E is my regulating spindle valve, freo
to rise and fall in its coned chamber, and with projections or studs e on its upper
and lower surfaces to prevent complete cut off. J, f, are guides through which the
valve spindle travels. G is the chamber to contain the purifying composition, with
a piece of gauze g to prevent impurities falling from it.
Figure 2 shows a single main jet A with its smaller jet a and regulating spindle
valvo in coned chamber E, with studs e and guide f. This partial combination is
suitable for an ordinary burner.
Figure 3 shows the same, but with the purifier chamber G below the cock.
Figure 4 shows two smaller jets a, a, projecting their flames into the lower
portion of the flame from the main jet A.
And having now fully described and ascertained the nature and object of my
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, be it understood
that what I claim as novel and useful, and desire to protect by my Letters
Patent is,
1st. The construction of a gas burner in the form of an ordinary jet, with one or
more smaller jets below the level of the nipple projecting their flames into the
lower portion of the main flame, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2nd. The construction of governor for use with any gas burner, consisting of a
slightly coned chamber, spindle, valve, and projections thereon, substantially as and
for the purposes specified.
3rd. The use in any gas burner supply pipo of a chamber containing tho
composition, substantially hereinbefore specified, either above or below the supply
cock.
4th. The complete combination in an automatic self regulating gas burner of
double jets (singly or in groups), governing valve, and purifying composition in
chamber, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William John Brewer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty first day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
In the presence of
JOHN C. FELL,
Patent Agent,
23, Rood Lane, E.C.
WM. JNO. BREWER. (L.S.)