Incandescence of Refractory Substances.
Year: 1885

page_text: Incandescence of Refractory Substances.
I, OTTO FAHNEHJELM Engineer of Stockholm Sweden do hereby declare the
nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF ILLUMI-
NATING BY MEANS OF THE INCANDESCENCE OF REFRACTORY SUBSTANCES" to be as
follows:-
The present invention consists of improvements on the system of incandescent
lighting by means of refractory bodies for which Letters Patent were granted
No 5646 of 1883 and refers especially to the details of construction and arrange-
ment of composite incandescence pieces for water gas burners. These incandescence
pieces are composed of a greater or less number of fine needles or discs (preferably
cylindrical or prismatic) and which may be grouped so as to present a round
cubical polygonal or star shaped figure. For the construction of these needles or
discs besides the oxides of magnesium, calcium, zirconium, or silicium, there are
also cyanit, kaolin, quartz, and other similar refractory bodies available. In order
to obtain an intense incandescent light from these bodies by means of a gas flame
it is essential to arrange the single needles or discs in groups in such a manner
that the whole group is as much as possible adapted to the shape of the flame:
these thin pieces being thus immersed in the flame, it follows that they become as
hot as the flame, consequently white hot very rapidly, and moreover the shape of
the body offers no obstacle to combustion.
The present application for Letters Patent relates to improvements in the
details of the invention affecting chiefly the production of the incandescence-
pieces and the method of attaching the same also the shape of the burner as
hereafter set forth.
For fixing the composite incandescence-piece in its place it is preferable to use
two wires or rods, firmly fixed to the bearers of the incandescent piece and which
fit into holes or niches of suitable size and depth. These supporting niches are
constructed in metal wings preferably affixed to the burner in such a manner that
they admit of adjustment.
Instead of inserting the incandescence-pieces in the plastic mass of the holder so
that they are held fast in this as soon as the mass dries and hardens and cannot
be taken out again, it is preferable with several sorts of burners especially with
those giving a round polygonal or star shaped flame, to have these pieces loose in

page_text: their bearings and not cemented fast-For this object I employ needles or discs
which have thickenings or projections at one end similar to the head of a pin,
which heads or projections prevent them from falling through the holes pierced in
the holder for the purpose of retaining them. This method of attachment enables
the holder to be made either of metal or of some more refractory substance such as
porcelain, china clay, mica or the like.
Referring to the accompanying drawings.
Figures 1 to 10 shew the modifications in the incandescence pieces their method
of attachment, and the burner with supporting mechanism. For the two holed
burner shewn in section and plan at Figure 1 there is inserted between the burner
head proper a and the tube 6 a piece of tube c provided with two arms d which
have vertical 'sockets e into which both the wire rods h supporting the piece g with
the lamellæ fit in such a manner that the incandescence piece, preferably curved
in the shape of the flame is accurately adjusted thereto.
The arrangement shewn at figure 2 in two side views partly also in section
differs from that above described in that the rods h carry a special bent support,
to whose side walls m they are attached in the middle of the curve-Into this
holder, which is sufficiently wide apart below, the piece g with the discs / is inserted
from above-This construction has the further advantage that the arms d bearing
sockets & may be made very short.
In the burner shewn at Figure 3 in vertical section and plan; the arms d are
placed on a special tube c¹ sliding on tube c: One arm possesses a female screw o
into which a screw support engages which is connected to p and is fixed loosely
in an arm projecting from the tube c¹ in such a manner, that by turning the same
to the right or to the left by means of the stud 8.the sockets e with the rods h and
discs may be raised or lowered.
The discs in this modification hang loosely in the holder g and are accordingly
provided with heads or projections. In the same manner is arranged the holder g
of the burner shewn in Figure 4 in vertical section and plan-The holder itself
rests in a ring t suitably attached to the upper edge of the bell u or the lamp
cylinder. The bell-supports v rest on the adjustable tube o¹ so that thereby the
discs may be adjusted higher or lower in the flame Figures 5 6 and 7. shew the
arrangement of the incandescence pieces for circular burners, these are in this case
arranged in a circle g having one or more rows of hanging discs and is secured
by means of a piece g¹ to a rod h which is fastened in the middle of the burner to
a suitable portion of the base. The outlet holes for the water gas are preferably
composed of a number of very fine holes as shewn in figure 5a (section at line E F
figure 5) On the other hand, by having the annular outlet shown in figure 56
only a weak light is produced.
The fine outlet-holes can in circular burners be arranged in one or more concentric
rings figure 66 (section through CD figure 6) corresponding to the row or rows
of gas jets, one or more rows of incandescence pieces may be suspended as shewn
in figure 6a (section through A B figure 6) The use of the glass cylinder shewn
in figures 5 and 6 is unnecessary.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of an adjustable arrangement of the incandescence
pieces for circular burners, In the central space of the burner which possesses
two supports at its lower end are fixed cross rods g and g¹ with guiding tubes for
the holding rod h to the lower rod a female screw is attached by turning which in
one direction or the other the rod h with the incandescent body will be raised
or lowered. The burner may be made-oval if preferred.
With the four cornered burner shewn in vertical section at figure 8 the four
sets of incandescence pieces are affixed to a polygonal frame carried by a rod h
fixed in the middle of the burner, the pieces being each. turned with their widest
part to the outside. In the same way polygonal incandescence-pieces with 3, 5, 6,
or more sides can be put together.
Figure 9 shews in section and top view an incandescence piece for a four-flame
or cruciform burner which may serve as a type of all similar arrangements. With

page_text: these burners a circular incandescence piece may however be made use of if
preferred, under certain circumstances, as shewn in Figure 10. The pieces are
in this modification distributed in the form of a ring over the disc g the diameter
of the ring corresponds of course to the size of the burner. The ring g contains in
the middle a chimney for the products of combustion, and has its outer-edge bent
up in the form of a flange. The disc g is filled to the height of this flange with
a plastic refractory material by which the incandescent pieces suspended from the
perforations of the disc are held fast. The rod h in the centre of the burner
sustains the whole incandescent portion. The metal disc g can moreover be
replaced by a perforated disc of porcelain or similar material. It is advisable
with all circular burners, and with many angular burners, not to secure the
incandescent pieces fast into the holder, as such a construction is very liable to be
damaged in transit: with simple burners however the incandescent pieces are
preferably made fast and for these a simple and effective method of packing is
shewn in Figure 11: the packing case with double cover shewn in vertical and
horizontal section is suitable for two combs which with their two rods h fit into
corresponding grooves cut in the sides of the box.

page_text: Incandescence of Refractory Substances.
:
I, OTTO FAHNEHJELM of Stockholm in the Kingdom of Sweden, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The present invention consists of improvements on the system of incandescent
lighting by means of refractory bodies for which Letters Patent were granted,
No 5646 of 1883, and refers especially to the details of construction and arrange-
ment of composite incandescence pieces for water gas burners. These incandescence-
pieces are composed of a greater or less number of fine needles or thin strips
(preferably cylindrical or prismatic) and the cross section of which may present a
round, polygonal, or star-shaped figure. For the manufacture of these needles or
thin strips besides the oxides of magnesium, calcium, zirconium, or silicium, there
are also cyanit kaolin, quartz and other similar refractory bodies available. In order
to obtain an intense incandescent light from these bodies or mixtures thereof, by
means of a gas flame, it is essential to arrange the single needles or thin strips in
groups in such a manner that the whole group is as much as possible adapted to
the shape of the flame; these thin pieces being thus immersed in the flame, it
follows that they become as hot as the flame, consequently white hot, very rapidly,
and moreover the shape of the body offers no obstacle to combustion.
The present application for Letters Patent relates to improvements in the details
of the invention affecting chiefly the production of the incandescence pieces, and
the method of attaching the same, also the shape of the burner as hereafter
set forth.
For fixing the composite incandescence-piece in its place, it is preferable to use
two wires or rods, firmly fixed to the bearers of the incandescent piece, and which
fit into holes or niches of suitable size and depth. These supporting niches are
constructed in metal wings, preferably affixed to the burner in such a manner that
they admit of adjustment.
Instead of inserting the incandescence-pieces in the plastic mass of the holder, so
that they are held fast in this, as soon as the mass dries and hardens and cannot be
taken out again, it is preferable with several sorts of burners especially with those
giving a round polygonal or star-shaped flame to have these pieces loose in their
bearings and not cemented fast. For this object I employ needles or thin strips
which have thickenings or projections at one end, similar to the head of a pin,
which heads or projections prevent them from falling through the holes pierced in
the holder for the purpose of retaining them. This method of attachment enables
the holder to be made either of metal, or of some more refractory substance, such
as porcelain, china clay mica, or the like.
Referring to the drawings
Figures 1 to 10 shew the modifications in the incandescence pieces, their method
of attachment and the burner with supporting mechanism. For the two holed

page_text: burner shewn in section and plan at Figure 1 there is inserted between the burner
head proper a, and the tube b, a piece of tube c provided with two arms d which
have vertical sockets e into which both the wire rods h supporting the piece g with
the thin strips l fit, in such a manner that the incandescence piece preferably curved
in the shape of the flame is accurately adjusted thereto.
The arrangement shewn at Figure 2 in two side views partly also in section,
differs from that above described in that the rods h carry a special bent support to
whose side walls m, they are attached in the middle of the curve. Into this holder
which is sufficiently wide apart below, the piece g with the thin strips is inserted
from above. This construction has the further advantage that the arms d bearing
Bockets e may be made very short.
In the burner shewn at Figure 3; in vertical section and plan, the arms dare
placed on a special tube o sliding on tube c: one arm possesses a female screw o into
which a screw support r engages which is connected to p, and is fixed loosely in an
arm projecting from the tube c¹ in such a manner that by turning the same to the
right or to the left by means of the stud a the sockets e with the rods h and thin
strips may be raised or lowered. .
The thin strips in this modification hang loosely in the holder g, and are
accordingly provided with heads or projections. In the same manner is arranged
the holder g of the burner shewn in Figure 4 in vertical section and plan. The
holder itself rests in a ring t suitably attached to the upper edge of the bell u or
the lamp cylinder. The bell supports v are fixed to the adjustable tube c' so that
thereby the thin strips may be adjusted higher or lower in the flame. Figures 5, 6
and 7 shew the arrangement of the incandescence pieces for circular burners, these
are in this case arranged in a circle g having one or more rows of hanging thin
strips, and is secured by means of a piece g to a rod h, which is fastened in the
middle of the burner to a suitable portion of the base. The outlet holes for
the water gas are preferably composed of a number of very fine holes as shewn in
Figure 5a (section at line E F Figure 5). On the other hand, by having the
annular outlet shown in Figure 56 only a weak light is produced.
The fine outlet-holes can in circular burners be arranged in one or more con-
centric rings, Figure 6b (section through C D Figure 6) corresponding to the row
or rows of gas jets, one or more rows of incandescence pieces may be suspended as
shewn in Figure 6a (section through A B, Figure 6). The use of the glass cylinder
shewn in Figures 5 and 6 is unnecessary.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of an adjustable arrangement of the incandescence
pieces for circular burners. In the central space of the burner the lower part of
which consists of two branch-pipes are fixed cross rods g and g¹ with guiding tubes
for the holding rod h, to the lower rod a female screw is attached by turning which
in one direction or the other, the rod h with the incandescent body will be raised
or lowered The burner may be made oval if preferred.
With the four cornered burner shewn in vertical section at Figure 8, the four
sets of incandescence pièces are affixed to a polygonal frame carried by a rod h
fixed in the middle of the burner, the pieces being each turned with their widest
part to the outside. In the same way polygonal incandescence pieces with 3, 5, 6,
or more sides can be put together.
Figure 9 shews in section and top view an incandescence piece for a four-flame
or cruciform burner, which may serve as a type of all similar arrangements. With
these burners a circular incandescence piece may however be made use of if
preferred under certain circumstances as shown in Figure 10 in vertical section and
plan view. The pieces are in this modification distributed in the form of a ring
over the disc g; the diameter of the ring corresponds of course, to the size of the
burner. The ring g contains in the middle a chimney for the products of com-
bustion, and has its outer edge bent up in form of a flange. The disc g is fitted to
the height of this flange with a plastic refractory material, by which the incan-
descent pieces suspended from the perforations of the disc are held fast. The rod h
in the centre of the burner sustains the whole incandescent portion. The metal

page_text: disc g can moreover be replaced by a perforated disc of porcelain or similar
material. It is advisable with all circular burners, and with many angular
burners, not to secure the incandescent pieces fast into the holder, as such a
construction is very liable to be damaged in transit; with simple burners however
the incandescent pieces are preferably made fast, and for these a simple and
effective method of packing is shown in Figure 11; the packing case with double
corner shewn in vertical and horizontal section, is suitable for two combs which
with their two rods h fit into corresponding grooves cut in the sides of the box. It
is moreover obvious that with any of the burners described, either fixed or loose
needles, or thin strips may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The above described method of constructing the incandescence bodies, con-
sisting in the insertion of needle shaped pieces with projecting heads of round
polygonal, or other suitable section, loosely into a correspondingly perforated
holder, consisting of a plate of metal, porcelain, clay, or other refractory material.
* 2. The combination of parts consisting of the rods h with the holder g of the
incandescence piece and the sockets e on the fixed or movable arms d for the
object of easy detachment and adjustment substantially as described and shewn in
Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The method of suspending the incandescent pieces from a ring t carried either
by the lamp globe or lamp glass substantially as described and shewn at Figure 4
of the accompanying drawings.
4. In circular burners, or burners with two or more flames the use of annular,
disc shaped, star shaped, or otherwise formed plates for holding the incandescent
pieces or the use of polygonal, annular or star-shaped frames for connecting several
simple incandescent pieces into a composite one of the requisite form substantially
as described.
5. The method of supporting the composite incandescent body by means of a
central rod, which when used with round or star shaped burners, is fixed in the
middle of the burner, substantially as described.
6. The construction of the incandescent bodies with thickened ends, which fit
into the supporting discs or bearers through suitable perforations.
7. The method of securing the incandescent bodies in a refractory mass, borne
by a metal piece, substantially as described.
8. The method of packing the incandescence-pieces for transport, substantially as
described and shewn at Figure 11 of the annexed drawings.
Dated this 10th day of March 1886