A NEW OR IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR CONDENSING AND ABSORBING THE SMOKE AND PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION ARISING FROM GAS AND OTHER FLAMES, AND INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF THE SAID FLAMES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Simons, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR CONDENSING AND ABSORBING THE
SMOKE AND PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION ARISING FROM GAS AND OTHER FLAMES,
AND INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF THE SAID FLAMES."
Sealed the 9th November 1855, and dated the 12th July 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Simons at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
July 1855.
I, EDWARD SIMONS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "A NEW OR
IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR CONDENSING AND ABSORBING
THE SMOKE AND PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION ARISING FROM GAS AND OTHER FLAMES,
AND INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF THE SAID FLAMES," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists of an instrument or apparatus to be suspended over
gas or other flames in place of the ordinary bell glass usually supported over the
said flames from the ceiling of the room.
My said Invention consists of a bell or other shaped vessel suspended mouth
downwards over the flame. The lower edge of the said vessel is turned inwards

page_text: and upwards, so as to constitute an annular vessel at the bottom of the said
bell-shaped vessel. In the said annular vessel, water or a solution of potash
or soda, or of carbonate of potash or soda, is put. When this instrument is
placed over a gas or other flame, the current of heated air and products of
combustion after entering the bell mouth descend more or less into the annular
vessel, where the carbonic acid gas arising from the combustion is absorbed or
partly absorbed. The smoke, if any arise from the flame, is also more or less
condensed on the inner surface of the bell and in the liquid, the evaporation of
the water tending to cool the bell and favour the condensation of the smoke.
The turned-up part of the bell-shaped vessel may be made a reflecting surface,
and the illuminating power of the flame thereby increased. I prefer to make
my Invention of glass, but other materials may be employed. Although I
prefer to make the annular vessel by turning up the bottom edge of the bell-
shaped vessel, yet the said annular vessel may be made separately from the
bell-shaped vessel, and afterwards attached thereto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Simons in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
January 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
SIMONS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Simons, Her special licence, that I, the said Edward Simons, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward
Simons, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agrec
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR CONDENSING AND ABSORBING THE SMOKE
AND PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION ARISING FROM GAS AND OTHER FLAMES, AND IN-

page_text: CREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF THE SAID FLAMES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Edward Simons, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Simons, do hereby declare tho
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists of an instrument or apparatus to be suspended or
fixed over gas or other flames in place of the ordinary bell glass usually sup-
ported over the said flames from the ceiling of the room.
Figure 1 represents my Invention in elevation, and Figure 2 represents a
vertical section of the same. It consists of a bell-shaped vessel a suspended
over the flame with its mouth downwards. The lower edge c of the vessel a
is turned inwards and upwards (see Figure 2), so as to constitute an annular
vessel d at the bottom of the bell-shaped vessel a. In the said annular vessel
I place water, as represented at e, Figure 2, or potash or soda, or carbonate
of potash or carbonate of soda, or solutions of potash or soda, or carbonate of
potash or soda; or I place in the said annular vessel d quick lime or slaked
quick lime, or any other absorbent of carbonic acid gas. I sometimes make a
series of holes f, f, f, near the bottom of the vessel a, and in the positions
represented. When the instrument or apparatus, Figures 1 and 2, is placed
over a gas or other flame, the current of heated air and products of combustion
rising from the said flame enter the bell mouth, and after rising up the middle
of the vessel a, descend into the annular vessel d, and pass out at the holes f, f, f,
as indicated by the arrows, Figure 2. As the current of air from the flame
passes over the absorbent of carbonic acid contained in the annular vessel d
the carbonic acid gas arising from the combustion is absorbed or partially
absorbed. Any smoke arising from the flame is also more or less condensed
on the inner surface of the vessel a, and on the matter contained in the vessel d.
The turned-up part of the bell-shaped vessel may be made a reflecting surface,
and the illuminating power of the flame thereby increased.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 represent another form of my Invention, to which a
reflecting surface is added; Figure 3 representing an elevation, and Figure 4
a vertical section; Figure 5 represents a vertical section of the same with a

page_text: reflector attached, the said reflector constituting an external lining to the
turned-up portion h of the bell glass. Instead of making the reflector
concave, as represented in Figure 5, I sometimes make the said reflector
convex.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 represent my Invention with a convex reflector ;
Figure 6 being an elevation, Figure 7 a vertical section, and Figure 8 a plan
of the upper side. i is the reflector, which has a convex figure, and projects
below the lower edge of the bell glass, as represented. The concave reflector,
Figure 5, concentrates, and the convex reflector, Figures 6 and 7, diffuses the
light from the flame. Although I prefer to use the holes f, f, f, Figures 1
and 2, yet I sometimes dispense with the said holes, as in the bell glasses,
represented in the other Figures. I ordinarily make my Invention of glass, but
I do not limit myself thereto, as china, earthenware, or other material not
injuriously affected by heat may be employed. I sometimes construct the
lower part of the bell glass constituting the annular vessel d, Figure 2, separate
from the upper part of the vessel or bell glass, and attach the said annular
vessel to the bell glass by any convenient means of attachment. The method
of attaching the reflector g, in Figure 5, may be employed for attaching the
said annular vessel. When the annular vessel is made separate from the bell
glass there is no need to make the holes f, ff, Figure 2, as sufficient passage
for the air may be left at the junction of the said annular vessel with the bell
glass.
When solid absorbents of carbonic acid gas are employed I sometimes make
my Invention of the form represented in vertical section in Figure 9, the
turned-in portion of the mouth of the bell glass being situated in a horizontal
plane. I sometimes also inake my Invention of the form represented in ver-
tical section in Figure 10.
In applying my Invention to chandeliers, I prefer to make it of the shape
represented in Figure 11, or it may be made of the shape represented in
Figure 12, and supported in any convenient way over the globe or shade. I
do not confine myself to any particular shapes in carrying my Invention
into effect.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the precise details herein described, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my said Invention; but I claim as my
Invention, the new or improved instrument or apparatus herein described, and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, for condensing and absorbing the

page_text: smoke and products of combustion arising from gas and other flames, and
increasing the illuminating power of the said flames; that is to say, a bell glass
or other shaped vessel, having at its lower end or open mouth an annular
vessel containing any solid or liquid absorbent of carbonic acid gas, and
provided where it is deemed necessary with a concave or convex reflector.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Simons, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
EDWARD SIMONS. (L.S.)