Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1886.
Specification Accepted, 28th Jan., 1887.
I JOHN MELVILLE FOSTER of No. 1 Broadway New York City in the State of New
York in the United States of America Mechanical 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:-
My Invention consists of certain improvements in that class of regenerative gas
lamps in which the gas flame is projected downward and the products of combustion
are caused to ascend so as to heat the incoming volumes of air and gas the objects of
my improvements being to produce an intensely luminous flame of large area to
provide durable and economical flame deflectors and reflectors and to prevent the
fracture of the globe by uneven expansion and contraction and to cause the proper
direction of the products of combustion when lighting the lamp.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a transverse section of a gas lamp constructed in accordance with my
Invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan on the line 1-2.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan on the line 3-4.
Figure 4 is a sectional plan on the line 5-6.
Figure 5 is a view partly in section and on a reduced scale showing the application
of any improved lamp to the lighting and ventilation of railway carriages.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of parts of the burner detached from each other and
Figure 7 is a view showing a modification of one feature of my Invention.
A is the annular burning body which is shown more fully in Figure 6 and consists
of an inner shell a having projecting perforated flanges 6 three of which are shown
in the present instance an external shell being screwed on to the flanged top of the
shell a and fitting snugly to the outer edges of the flanges b so as to form in the burner
body a series of annular chambers e communicating with each other through the
perforations in the flanges, the gas issuing from the perforations in the lowest flange
in a number of fine jets, and the perforations being so close together that the ignited
gas forms a practically continuous annular body of flaine.
The perforations in the flanges b are staggered or arranged out of line with each
other, so as to cause the volume of gas to take a circuitous course and be thoroughly
broken up in its passage through the burner body, the volume of gas as it issues from
the perforations of the lowest flange being hence of uniform temperature throughout.
Paine Rd 1

page_text: The air and gas heating structure of the lamp consists of a box having three casings
or shells B, D, and F, enclosing central chambers G, H, outer annular chamber I, and
intermediate vertical passages J, the latter communicating at the upper end with the
chimney K, and the annular chamber I communicating with the central chamber G
through radial passages between the passages J.
The burner body is screwed onto the lower end of a pipe N, and is contained in
the lower portion of the chamber G, which is bounded by a cylinder g secured to the
lower end of the shell B, and projecting somewhat below the lower edge of the burner
body, the flame of ignited gas issuing from the burner being caused to pass around
the lower edge of the cylinder g-so that the products of combustion ascend the
passages J and
The upper centcape finally from the chimney K.
chamber H of the lamp is separated from the lower chamber by a
partition h, into which is screwed the upper end of the burner pipe M, and said upper
chamber H forms a gas heating chamber, the gas entering the same from the supply
pipe N and passing to the pipe M through openings i in a hood or box A which is
screwed onto the projecting upper end of said pipe Mand acts as a lock nut for the
latter, and also as a dust collector. The lower end of the burner pipe M communicates
with the annular burner body through radial arms m.
The upper portion or dome of the casing or shell B surrounding the chamber H is
in contact with the heated products of combustion, which rise through the passage J
and the pipe N-is surrounded by the products of combustion ascending the chimney K
hence the gas must receive a high degree of heat before it can escape through the
pipe M to the burner. Surrounding the air and gas heating structure of the lamp is a
casing or hood P, through which pass the transverse bolts P¹ whereby the lamp is
secured to the suspension rods, these bolts P₁ screwing into lugs on the shell F. The
hood P has at the lower end a ring n to which is hung the annular frame Q carrying
the glass globe S of the lamp, the latter tightly closing the combustion or flame
chamber of the lamp and having its upper flanged edge confined between a flange p
on the frame and a flange s' on the two-part clamp rings vertically confined to said
flange p-by transverse pins,-a packing strip of asbestos or like material being
preferably introduced between the flanges and the flange at the top of the globe, to
insure a tight joint.
Air to support combustion enters the annular space between the shell F and the
hood P, and after ascending in this space, passes over the top of the shell F descends
the passages I flows through the radial passages f, and descends the chamber Ga
portion of the air flowing down between the outside of the burner and the cylinder g―
and another volume passing down through the centre of the burner.
The air becomes very highly heated in its passage to the burner, and thus in
connection with the high degree of heat imparted to the gas, insures the production of
a very luminous and alinost white flame.
The air receives its initial heating by radiation from the globe S, as it rises past the
globe prior to entering the mouth of the hood P, which is above and projects beyond
Baid globe. The air is then heated successively by contact with the shell F, the upper
portion or dome of the shell D, the walls of the passages f, the shell B, and cylinder -
all of these parts being intensely hot, by reason of the direct contact of the escaping
products of combustion therewith.
The air which passes down through the centre of the burner is deflected outward by
a button t, having a central stem T, the upper end of which is screwed into a threaded
opening at the upper end of the burner body.
With the deflector button cooperates an internal flange a¹ at the lower end of the
burner shell a this flange serving to contract the area of the escape opening and to
direct the air against the button and prevent any lateral escape of the air directly
beneath the lower or discharge end of the burner body.
No attempt is made to deflect the flame as it first issues from the burner body, the
flame being permitted to follow a substantially vertical course until it is below the
lower edge of the cylinder g,-the latter being somewhat below the lower or discharge
end of the burner body. At this point the flame is intensely luminous, and is therefore

page_text: in proper condition to be deflected outward or horizontally beneath the cylinder g―by
means of the air current thrown outward from the deflecting button t.
To increase the area of this horizontal body of flame, the lower portion of the
cylinder g-has an outwardly projecting flange g-around which the flame passes
before entering the discharge passage J the mouth of which is bounded by the
cylinder gand by the lower edge of an inverted conical deflector W secured to the
lower portion of the shell F.
The cone W contracts the inlet to the passage J, and thus causes such a sharp
draught through the said inlet as will induce the upper edge of the flame to bend
sharply inward and rise through the contracted opening, greater steadiness of the
flame being thus insured than in the absence of this provision.
In lamps of the class to which my invention relates, difficulty has been experienced
in lighting the lamp, owing to the fact that the products of combustion have a tendency
to escape at the nearest outlet, and hence rise through the air chamber instead of
seeking the chimney, through which no draught has yet been established.
In order to overcome this objection, I close the air passage when the globe is
removed to light the lamp, so that there is no outlet for the products of combustion
through said passage, and they are consequently compelled to seek the chimney.
As shown in Figure 1, the damper consists of a ring V, which is adapted to close
the upper end of the chamber I, and is provided with rods e, guided in lugs v' on the
shell F, the lower ends of these rods projecting into the path of the globe-carrying
frame Q, so that when the globe is elevated and in its proper position, said frame,
by contact with the lower ends of the rods, elevates the same and the damper, and
permits free ingress of air to the Chamber I, the damper falling and closing the
chamber however, as soon as the globe is lowered in order to gain access to the
burner.
Other forms of damper may be used without departing from my invention, and so
far as this feature of the invention is concerned, I do not limit myself to any particular
form of damper.
In Figure 7, for instance, I have shown a perforated ring resting on the top of the
air heating structure, which is supposed to be perforated in like manner, this ring
being operated by the globe holder through the medium of rods and bell crank
levers v².
The button t, cylinder g, and cone W besides deflecting the flame, are intended to
serve as reflectors, and it has been the general practice hitherto to make them of
porcelain or other refractory material, so as to present a white surface as a background
for the flame.
This plan is objectionable, however because it is difficult to produce porcelain
deflectors of exactly the right size and proportions, but mainly because of the fragile
character of the material, which frequently breaks when the lamp is in operation and
thus renders the lamp useless until it has cooled sufficiently for the replacing of the
broken part.
In order to overcome this objection, I make the deflectors of metal, preferably of
cast iron, and impart a reflecting surface thereto by coating them with chalk, lime,
white clay, or other refractory material, of a white or whitish tint, the material being
rubbed upon the surface or applied in the form of a solution or wash and when dry,
forming a powdery or flaky deposit upon the shell.
I have found, by experiment, that a surface of this character is not injuriously
affected by the heat of the flame, and will retain its reflecting character unimpaired
for a long time.
I am aware that reflectors for lamps have been made of metal shells with enamelled
coatings and I therefore do not broadly claim as my invention a reflector consisting of
such metal shell with a coating serving to reflect the light, but in a regenerative gas
lamp, such as that forming the subject of my invention enamelled coatings are of little
avail, owing to the intense heat of the flame, whereas a powdery coating such as that
formed by rubbing chalk upon the metal surface of the shell, provides a reflecting
background which is not subject to the same objections as a coating of enamel.

page_text: In inverted lamps, such as that of which my improved lamp is an example, it has
been usual to make the globe S in the form of a section of a sphere, as shewn by
dotted lines in Figure 1, but this form is objectionable, owing to the fact that the
distance of the globe from the flame rapidly increases from the point y, where the
globe is closest to the flame, to a central point at the bottom of the globe.
This causes such inequality of expansion and contraction as to result in frequent
fracture of the globes.
I therefore discard the spherical form of the globe and make the latter with a
rounded body w and contracted top e, and flatten the curve abruptly at the bottom W²,
so that from y toy the globe is substantially equidistant from the flame, a more
equable heating of the globe being thus insured, and the risk of fracture materially
lessened.
In applying my improved gas lamp to the lighting of railway carriages, I am
enabled to render it available as a ventilator, the lamp being suspended by rods P
from the roof of the carriage, and the chimney K, extending through the roof, as
shown in Figure 5.
Surrounding the chimney is a casing Y of greater diameter than the same, this
casing also projecting above the roof and having at the top a hood Y.
An annular space Z is formed between the chimney K and casing Y, and owing to
the heat of the chimney an upward current of air through this space is caused, the air
being drawn from the upper portion of the carriage through openings z in the casing Y,
and escaping into the hood through openings at the upper end of said casing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
First: A regenerative gas burner having air and gas heating chambers, the
casings of which are in contact with the escaping products of combustion and having a
downwardly discharging burner body with an internal flange which throws the air
against a deflecting button and prevents any direct lateral escape of air across the
discharge orifices of the burner, all substantially as specified.
Second-The combination of the air and gas heating chambers, having casings in
contact with the escaping products of combustion, the downwardly discharging burner
body having an internal flange of the character specified, the deflecting button, and
the outer deflector, the lower end of which is below the lower end of the burner body,
as shown and described.
Third: A regenerative gas lamp having flame deflectors consisting of metal shells
with a powdery coating or deposit of chalk or equivalent material upon the surface, as
set forth.
Fourth A regenerative gas lamp having a damper for closing the air passage of
the lamp when lighting the gas at the burner, as set forth.
Fifth A regenerative gas lamp having a globe holder and a damper for closing
the air passage of the lamp, said damper and globe holder being constructed and
connected for joint operation, as set forth.
Sixth: A regenerative gas lamp, having a globe with flattened bottom and rounded
sides, the latter being, throughout, substantially equidistant from the flame body, as
shown and described.
Seventh-The combination of the globe, with the globe holder, and the two-part
clamping ring as shown and described.
Eighth The railway carriage lamp having an air chamber surrounding the
chimney, the casing of said air chamber passing through the roof and having an inlet
within the carriage and an outlet above the roof, as shown in Figure 5.