CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF GAS, AND FOR IMPROVING ITS ILLUMINATING POWER
Year: 1858

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Francis Matley at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th August
1858. A communication.
I, FRANCIS MATLEY, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Artist, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention (which has been communicated to
me by a foreigner residing abroad) of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF GAS, AND FOR IMPROVING ITS ILLUMINATING POWER,"
to be as follows:-
The pressure under which the current of gas reaches the consumer varies
from different causes, dependant either upon the manufacture or the difference
of the consumption. There result from this irregularity in the pressure,
perpetual variations or movements in the light, which would oblige a person
continually to be on the watch, so that no injury should result from the
deleterious gas thrown out by an imperfect consumption. The only remedy
that can be employed is putting into use the action of the principal screw or
tap (if there be one) or of those placed under each jet, which would be very
troublesome.
On the other hand the action of the principal tap not being always
instantaneous, there results that in case of an augmentation of pressure, the
quantity of the gas consumed increases in a considerable degree, to the prejudice
of the consumer's interests, not only by gas being burned uselessly, but by
having things spoiled in consequence.
Besides the irregularity of pressure, the current of gas, on account either of

page_text: hereto annexed.
the distillation, the quality of the material employed, or even the variations of the
temperature, is subject to differences in illuminating power which often obliges
the consumer to have a greater quantity of gas burning than he should have
if the gas retained the proper degree of intensity. There are then two causes
of loss, one from irregularity of pressure, the other from irregularity of, or
variations in, its intensity. The apparatus for which a Patent is sought is
intended to regulate the current of gas to the quality of the light produced.
The Inventor has constructed what he calls "the rich gas regulating apparatus,"
and which is arranged in the following manner :-Connected to the meter at a
greater or less distance therefrom, but always beyond the main tap which
follows the meter, he places a metallic regulator," a Drawing of which is
F is the tube through which the gas arrives, the pressure of
which acts under the receiver E, which is plunged into a bath of mercury,
supplied through the opening O. The receiver E has at its side longitudinal
openings graduated in their height, and increasing gradually in their dimensions,
so as to allow the gas to run through in constant proportions according to the
pressure under which it arrives through the pipes. This receiver, whose form
is optional, is kept in a vertical position by an interior guide pin L, which plays
in a ring placed at the mouth of the pipe (through which the gas arrives),
where it is held by one or more metallic fastenings. Above the receiver E is
a vibrating lever C, supported in the centre by a bracket D fixed in the bottom
of the chamber M. The gas spreading itself in the said chamber, raises, by
the force of its pressure, the receiver A, which moves in a hydraulic tank B.
The perpendicularity of this receiver is maintained by the guide N, which passes
thro' an opening made in the outer covering of the apparatus. In the centre,
in the interior of this bell, is fixed a metallic rod K, fastened by a moveable
joint to one arm of the lever C. The lower part of the guide N is enveloped
by a small cup R, which contains grains of lead or other material intended to
weigh down the receiver A, so as to regulate the degree of pressure necessary
for the supply or feeding of the burners, and allowing also the action of the gas
to operate with the greatest sensibility and precision under the play of the two
receivers. There results from these arrangements of the apparatus, that when
the gas comes with too great force or pressure under the receiver A, this receiver
ascending and drawing with it the arm of the lever C, to which it is fastened
by the rod K, the receiver E is plunged into the mercury by the vibration o
the lever C, so that the openings at its base become smaller and smaller from
immersion in the mercury; the hydraulic tank B, into which the receiver A dips
can either be filled with water, or with any liquid that will not freeze, or ever
with mercury. In this last case, its height would differ; when, on the contrary

page_text: the pressure of gas is not sufficient, the receiver A sinks into the hydraulic
tank, weighs down the point of the lever with which it communicates, and forces
the receiver E out of the mercury which uncloses the holes at the base of this
receiver, and thus facilitates the constant stream of gas under a uniform pressure
which can be secured by means of a tube or pressure gauge P, placed above
the receiver E. The action of the gas being thus regulated, it is necessary to
give it a constant degree of lighting power; in consequence of which, before
allowing the gas to flow in the tube which communicates with the burners, the
Inventor combines with his regulator an apparatus which is thus disposed or
arranged:
At the lower part of the regulator a circular opening is formed, to which a
metallic tube G is fastened, either by a screw or otherwise; which communi-
cates from the regulator to the chamber S, which is a fixture, and attached to
the regulator by means of a screw fastening T. The tube G extends to near
the bottom of the chamber S. The lower part of the tube for a certain length
is perforated. V is a horizontal plate of a light metal entirely pierced with
holes, whose diameter increases gradually as they leave the centre, and furnished
at the edge with a hollow metallic rim, which allows it to float on the surface
of the liquid contained in the chamber S. This plate has in the centre a hole
large enough to allow the tube G to come through, and which is provided with
a socket of light metal which covers the said tube up to a certain height.
Round the tube G there is an open space communicating with the tube H to
which is fastened by a screw the pipe for the eduction of the gas. The man-
ner in which this portion of the apparatus acts is as follows:-The chamber
S being filled with a carburet of hydrogen produced by the distillation of oil of
coal tar (that which the Inventor prefers to use is benzine). The chamber S
is fixed under the regulator by the screw socket T. The gas on coming out
of the regulator flows into the chamber S by means of the tube G, and spreads
between the floating plate V and the level of the liquid, by means of the unim-
mersed holes at the base of the tube G. In passing thus between the plate V
and the level of the liquid, it naturally becomes charged with all the vapours
of carbon which all hydrocarburets disengage, and escapes through the large
holes in the plate V, which forces it to a quicker passage, and consequently
augments its points of contact with the said vapours. It spreads itself in the
space around the tube G, and passes by the pipe H to the burners. The
vertical socket which surmounts the plate V and encloses the tube G is intended
to keep the holes which surround the tube enclosed in such a way that it
always forces the gas to traverse the space between the liquid and the plate V.
Whatever be the degree of richness of the gas, as it cannot arrive at an excess

page_text: of intensity without becoming smoky, it must be understood that it will never
carry or bring out a greater quantity of vapours than is necessary to the
constant equality of its intensity. The arrangements of the apparatus are such
as to prevent the escape of the vapours of carbon. By means of the union
joint (when the carbon is exhausted) the chamber S is removed, and a fresh
one, previously filled, is put in its place. This Invention thus effects both
regulating the current of gas and keeping it in a constant degree of power, and
the Inventor claims,-
1st, the mercurial regulator, which is described as above.
Second, the carbonizing apparatus described, which allows the use of
carburetted hydrogen gas, anywhere, without deleterious effects.
Third, the reunion or combination and arrangement of the two apparatus
above named, and of all others having the same end, whatever be the interior
arrangements, and arriving by a simultaneous and efficacious manner at the
double result which he purposes attaining.