Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Currents of Inflammable Gases and Air.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1892.
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 1893-Accepted, 24th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Currents of Inflammable
Gases and Air.
I, THOMAS BLETCHER, of 71 Hackford Road, Brixton, London, S. W.,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
:-
Engineer,
The object of my invention is to manufacture improved apparatus and appliances
for impelling and inducing currents of inflammable gases and air, for lighting
fires, brazing, soldering and melting metals, scorching paint, and other useful
operations.
My invention consists of a rotary fan blower and a burner suitably formed for
producing a flame, by means of a current of air, mixed with the vapour of oil or
spirit, or with any suitable gas, as in the Bunsen burner.
In using oil or spirit fuel, I fix a small reservoir or receptacle at one end of a
tube, the end of the tube next to the reservoir being provided with a pin hole for
the passage of the oil. The reservoir for oil is sometimes formed partly of glass,
to render the consumption of oil visible, and a tap at each end of the reservoir may
be fitted to regulate the flow; and a fine meshed screen is also fitted to cleanse the
oil from impurities. The other end of this tube is fitted with an asbestos or other
vaporiser which becomes saturated with the oil or spirit. This end of the tube
with the burner is inserted in the delivery tube of the blower and covered with a
hinged lid after lighting.
At the back of the vaporiser an annular flange is provided, which slightly baffles
the air current, and causes an eddy, for the purpose of effectually mixing the
currents of air and vapour on their passage to the nozzle.
In some cases I provide a valve in the delivery tube of the blower, whereby the
air may be admitted to the vaporiser, or shut off from the same, as required for
firing or blowing.
In using gas fuel, the gas nozzle is inserted in the delivery tube of the blower,
the currents mixing as usual in atmospheric burners.
The fan may be driven by hand or by a spring. When driven by hand large
and small pulleys are fitted for driving by a belt or by frictional contact or by
toothed wheel gearing. When driven by a spring and multiplying toothed wheel
gear, I prefer to fit five toothed wheels and pinions, so arranged that some one or
more wheel or wheels is or are mounted on a sleeve or sleeves so as reduce the
number of separate axes to a minimum, and thereby simplify and reduce the cost of
manufacture. I fit a toothed pinion to the winding gear, engaging with an
annular set of teeth upon a disc attached to the spring. The axle of the pinion
has a groove formed therein, into which a spring attached to the winding key drops,
and secures the key while winding.
Two pawls are fitted to the teeth on the spring disc, to prevent the uncoiling of
the spring while winding.
A graduated brake and lever are fitted to the axle of the fan, whereby the
speed may be regulated, or the motion arrested.
The apparatus is preferably enclosed in a case, and is used in combination with
suitable appliances for attaching the same to stoves or other articles with which it
is intended to be used.
Dated 19th August 1892.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Currents of Inflammable
Gases and Air.
I, THOMAS BLETCHER, of 71 Hackford Road, Brixton, London S. W. Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:—
The object of my invention is to manufacture improved apparatus and appliances
for impelling and inducing currents of inflammable gases and air, for lighting
fires, brazing, soldering and melting metals, scorching paint, and other useful
operations.
My invention consists of a rotary fan blower and a burner suitably formed for
producing a flame, by means of a current of air mixed with the vapour of oil or
spirit, or with any suitable gas, as in the Bunsen burner.
In using oil or spirit fuel, I fix a small reservoir or receptacle at one end of a
tube, the end of the tube next to the reservoir being provided with a pin hole for
the passage of the oil. The reservoir for the oil is sometimes formed partly of
glass, to render the consumption of oil visible, and a tap at each end of the
reservoir may be fitted to regulate the flow; and a fine meshed screen is also fitted
to cleanse the oil from impurities. The other end of this tube is fitted with an
asbestos or other vaporiser which becomes saturated with the oil or spirit. This
end of the tube with the burner is inserted in the delivery tube of the blower and
covered with a hinged lid after lighting.
At one or both ends of the vaporiser an annular flange is provided, which
slightly baffles the air current, and causes an eddy, for the purpose of effectually
mixing the currents of air and vapour on their passage to the nozzle.
In some cases I provide a valve in the delivery tube of the blower, whereby the
air may be admitted to the vaporiser, or shut off from the same, as required for
firing or blowing.
In using gas fuel, the gas nozzle is inserted in the delivery tube of the blower,
the currents mixing, as usual in atmospheric burners.
1
The fan may be driven by hand or by a spring. When driven by hand large
and small pulleys are fitted for driving by a belt or by frictional contact or by
toothed wheel gearing. When driven by a spring and multiplying toothed wheel
gear, I prefer to fit five toothed wheels and pinions, so arranged that some one or
more wheel or wheels is or are mounted on a sleeve or sleeves so as to reduce the
number of separate axes to a minimum, and thereby simplify and reduce the cost of
manufacture. I fit a toothed pinion to the winding gear, engaging with an annular
set of teeth upon a disc attached to the spring. The axle of the pinion has a
groove formed therein, into which a spring attached to the winding key drops, and
secures the key while winding, or a bayonet joint may be used for the same
purpose.
Two pawls are fitted to the teeth on the spring disc, to prevent the uncoiling of
the spring while winding.
A graduated brake and lever are fitted to the axle of the fan, whereby the speed-
may be regulated, or the motion arrested.
When used for purposes of heating the apparatus is preferably enclosed in a
case, and is used in combination with suitable appliances for attaching the same to
stoves or other articles with which it is intended to be used.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. is a side view of the apparatus actuated by a spring motor.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a section showing the brake, for regulating and stopping the motion of
the apparatus.
Fig. 4 illustrates the winding appliances.
Fig. 5 illustrates one method of fitting the apparatus to the bars of a stove, for
lighting a fire.
Fig. 6 is a detail view of the winding lever.
Fig. 7 illustrates the invention adapted for working by hand.
Fig. 8 is a section of the vaporiser.
Fig. 9 is a section illustrating the method of admitting to or shutting off from
the burner, the current of air produced by the blower.
Fig. 10 is an end view of the tubes, from which the air & gas, or air only, issues.
11 is a rotary fan enclosed in a case. 12 is the spring motor, also enclosed in a
case, and strongly guarded to prevent accidents arising from the breaking of the
spring. 13 is one form of reservoir for oil or spirit, connected with the tube 14
by a pipe 15 and regulating cock 16.
The spring drives the toothed wheel 17, which drives the toothed pinion of the
wheel 18. This wheel drives the pinion of the wheel 19, this driving the wheel 20
by its pinion, and the wheel 20 drives the wheel 21 by its pinion. The wheel 21
drives the pinion 22, fast on the axle of the fan. The several wheels are fitted
with sleeves and distance pieces to prevent crowding.
Other proportions of gearing than those shown in the drawings may be used, if
preferred.
23 is a spring brake for regulating, starting, and stopping the mechanism, by
means of the lever 24.
Referring to Fig. 4, 25 is a wheel with internal teeth, to which the usual
winding drum of the spring is attached, a spindle running through the drum to
carry the wheel sleeves of 17, 19, and 21. 26 is a pinion gearing into the teeth
of 25. 27 is the winding square for receiving the key 31.
28 and 29 are two
pawls, drawn towards each other by a spring 30. The key 31 may be fitted
with a spring 32 (as shewn in Fig. 6) taking into a notch 33.
Referring to Fig. 5, 34 is a case enclosing the mechanism, the method of
attachment to the bars of the grate 35 being readily understood from the figure.
Fig. 7 shews one method of working the apparatus by hand. 36 is a driving
pulley fitted with a handle and a driving band 37. 11 is the fan and 14 the tube
containing the burner.
Referring to the vaporiser shewn in Fig. 8, the tube 15, carrying the oil or
spirit enters the horizontal tube 38. This tube is perforated and surrounded with
a layer of asbestos fibre 39, the asbestos being enclosed in a perforated tube 40.
41 is a baffle plate. 42 is a lid or lifter for applying a light to the vaporiser. The
oil percolates into the asbestos fibre. This becomes heated vaporising the oil and
the current of air perfects the combustion and propels the flame.
In Figs. 9 and 10 a modification of the tubes forming the nozzle is shewn for
the purpose of shutting off the flame, when required, and propelling air only, or
moderating the respective quantities of each. Two tubes 43 and 44 are united, as
shewn. 45 is a valve controlled by a weighted lever 46* (or by a spring). 42 is a
lid or cover for the insertion of the vaporiser. When the valve 45 is in the
position shewn by solid lines in Fig. 9, air only is driven through the passage 46;
but, when the valve is in the position shewn by dotted lines, air and gas are
together driven through the passage 47.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The combination of a spring motor and multiple gear, a fan driven by such
motor and gear, a spirit reservoir, and a vaporiser, convertible into an ordinary
blower for air or other fluids, substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described and illustrated by the drawings.

page_text: 2. The combination of a spring motor and multiple gear, a fan driven by such
motor, and a gas burner, convertible into an ordinary blower for air or other
fluids, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. The combination with a spring motor for the purposes aforesaid, of the
improved method and means of and for winding a powerful spring, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings.
4. The modification of my invention for hand driving power, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by Fig. 7 of the drawings.
5. The general construction, and the several and respective arrangements and
combinations of parts, forming my invention of Improvements in apparatus for
producing currents of inflaminable gases and air substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the drawings.
1902
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, WC., Agent.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, WC., Agent.