IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS-LIGHTING, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO LIGHT HOUSES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN RICHARDSON WIGHAM of Albany House, Monkstown, Co. Dublin, Gas
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GAS-LIGHTING, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO LIGHT HOUSES "to be as follows:-
One of my improvements consists in the application by mechanical means of a
current or currents of atmospheric air to the interior and exterior of concentrio
ring-gas burners such as are applicable for lighthouse illumination in connection
with dioptric apparatus or reflectors, which currents of air are more or less heated
before they reach the point of combustion and are employed in connection with an
overhanging flue of talc or other material similar to that now used with my light-
house gas burners as described in patent No 945, 4th April 1865, so as to promote
the best combustion of the gas by the burner and dispense with the necessity for
the use of glass chimneys. I obtain such currents of air from any known means,
such as blowers or fans but I prefer to produce them by the air motor which I uso
with my atmospheric gas machine described in patent No 382, 30 January 1878.
Another of my improvements consists in the application of spiral or slanting
divisions in the air spaces of the concentric ring burners by which the air is better
heated and more of the flame exposed to the action of the air admitted to it, and
in order to keep the light from the action of external draughts such as are incident
to. lighthouse lamps I may surround the flame with a glass casing, globular- or
otherwise, of such form and so arranged as not to melt or break in consequence
of the heat of the flame, to which melting or breakage all glass chimneys which
have heretofore been used with argand or concentric ring gas burners are liable.
Another of my improvements consists in applying to the flame of concentric
ring burners in connection with the currents of air above described finely powdered
strontium or other substance, by which the color of the light may be affected, or
vapor of strontium or other substance or vapors holding strontium or other
substance-in suspension so as to dispense with the obstruction caused to the light
by the use of colored glass as at present used for giving color to lighthouse lights.
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•

page_text: I, JOHN RICHARDSON WIGHAM, of Albany House, Monkstown, Co. Dublin, Gas
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GAS-LIGHTING ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO LIGHT-HOUSES" and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
: One of my improvements consists in the application, by mechanical means; of a
current or currents of atmospheric air to the interior and exterior of concentric
ring-gas burners such as are applicable for lighthouse illuminating in connection
with dioptric apparatus or reflectors, which currents of air are more or less heated
before they reach the points of combustion, to which they are admitted after
having passed through suitable baffle plates, perforated or otherwise, so as to reduce
the force of the air to that which is necessary to ensure the proper combustion of
the gas. The flames thus produced are employed in connection with an overhanging
flue of talc or other material similar to that now used with my lighthouse gas-
burners as described in patent No 945 4th April 1865, into which the current of
(air passes from below and also, if required, in the form of a jet or jets, or a rose or
roses with one or more holes in same into the upper part of the flue so as to
promote the best combustion of the gas by the burner and dispense with the
necessity for the use of glass chimneys. I obtain such currents of air from any
known means, such as blowers or fans but I prefer to produce them by the nir
motor which I use with my atmospheric gas machine described in patent No 382,
30 January 1878.
'
In order to keep the light from the action of external draughts, such as are
incident to lighthouse lamps, I may surround the flame with a glass casing, globular
or otherwise, of such form and so arranged as not to melt or break in consequence
of the heat of the flamo, to which melting or breaking all glass chimneys which
have heretofore been used with argand or concentric ring gas burners are liable.
Another of my improvements consists in applying to the flame of concentric
. ring burners, in connection with the currents of air above described, finely powdered
strontium or other substance, by which the color of the light may be affected or
vapour of strontium or other substance or vapours holding strontium or other
substance in suspension so as to dispense with the obstruction caused to the light
by the use of colored glass as at present used for giving color to lighthouse lights.
The said substances, either powdered or in a state of vapor, are introduced in
regulated quantities from a receptacle into the air passages at any convenient
point so as to become diffused in the air before entering into combustion with
the gas.
'
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shews an elevation of an annular gas burner
provided with a forced air supply according to my above described invention;
Fig. 2 shows a vertical section and Fig. 3 shews a plan. A is a chamber supplied
with illuminating gas from the inlet B, and from which the gas passes through

page_text: tubes C C to the annular burners D D. Surrounding the chamber. A at a certain
distance therefrom is an annular passage E into which the air supply under
pressure enters through the pipe F opening E gradually increasing in size in the
direction away from F being formed in the side of the passage E, whereby the air
is made to issue more or less uniformly all round the chamber A into the space G
surrounding the same. From this space the air rises into the cap H, whence it
passes through the cage I of finely perforated metal or wire gauze into the inner
space so as to rise through the annular spaces between the burners and enter into
combustion with the gas. By these means the air pressure is uniformly distributed
in a sufficiently reduced condition, and is also heated to a certain extent by contact
with the casings and burners before arriving at the flames. A narrow space L is
provided between the cap H and the outer cap K through which the outer air
passes into the space Z in the outer cap, by which it is directed against the outer
circumference of the flame. M is the overhanging flue for carrying off the products
of combustion. If desired, a certain portion of the air supply may be led from the
pipe F through a branch FL to a perforated rose F' within the lower part of the
flue, so that the small jets of issuing air in impinging upon the top of the flames
may insure the perfect combustion of the gas before passing off through the
flue M.
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
1. The application to concentric ring gas burners of currents of air produced by
mechanical means.
2. The use, in combination with a forced air supply to concentric ring gas burners,
of baffle plates or equivalent means whereby the air supply is made, to pass in a
uniformly distributed manner and at a sufficiently moderate pressure to the
various parts of the burner substantially as herein described.
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3. The use, in combination with the forced air supply to gas burners referred to
in the preceding claim, of a substance such as strontium; either in a powdered or
vaporous condition, which is caused to mix with the air supply so as to impart to
the flame any desired color, substantially as herein described.
Dated this 5th day of Aucnet 100%