IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS BUDWEDS BURNERS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Porter, junior, of Cullum Street, in the
City of London, Gas and Hot Water Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS BUDWEDS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Porter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th February 1875.
I, GEORGE PORTER, junior, of Cullum Street, in the City of London,
Gas and Hot Water Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS BURNERS," to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to the novel construction of argand and
other gas burners, and are designed to increase the brilliancy of the light,
to economize gas, and prevent accidents.
By the means herein-after described I am enabled to obtain a brilliant
light, determine the quantity of gas that shall be consumed, and prevent
waste by the passing of more gas through the burner than is necessary.

page_text: Various devices have been adopted for supplying the flame of a gas
burner with atmospheric air and regulating the quantity that should be
admitted to it, but while it is necessary that the air chambers should be
arranged to admit a certain quantity to mix with the gas, it is equally
necessary that the gas chambers should only allow gas to pass in a cor-
responding ratio, and although great care has been taken to fix the size of
the air passages (which do not admit more at one time than another) I
know of no burner of the argand description so constructed as to prevent
the admission by the consumer of too much gas for the proper com-
bustion of the same.
I have discovered that unless the gas as well as the air is controlled
within certain limits (which cannot easily be altered by the consumer)
the mixture of both in the proper proportions is not effected, and the
best light that any quantity of gas is capable of affording is not obtained,
and waste, excessive heat, and smoke will ensue.
The said Invention may be applied to circular, oval, flat, or other
shaped burners.
According to my Invention I provide an argand or other burner with
a valve for regulating the flow of gas to the flame. The said valve is
fitted to a conical seat in a chamber which is connected to the upper
portion of the burner by screwing in the ordinary manner.
The spindle
of the said valve extends down to a short piece which is connected to the
chamber in which the valve seat is formed by a screw neck, the said
short piece being formed with an internal screw for attachment to a
bracket or other fitting and forming a support for the burner. The said
spindle may be fixed in the said short piece or may rest in contact with
In the latter case
the said piece without being attached to the same.
the said valve is provided with a stop to prevent its coming off acci-
dentally. By turning the said valve chamber, and thereby screwing or
unscrewing it upon the said short piece, the said valve is opened or closed
and the supply of gas to the burner can be thereby regulated with the
utmost exactitude; and a very important feature of my Invention is that
the opening of the said valve is effected by screwing the said valve
chamber upon the said short connecting or supporting piece, and by
unscrewing the said chamber from its supporting piece the valve is closed
and the light, is diminished, and if the said chamber is unscrewed to its
full extent it will completely close the valve and extinguish the light,

page_text: and will then be stopped, whereas on the other hand the more the valve
is opened the more firmly will the burner be supported, and therefore
there will be no danger of the falling off of the burner, and consequent
escape of gas which are liable to happen with the adjustable or regulating
burners heretofore used, and the said valve or regulator prevents the
admission of more gas than is required for the burner.
I use a vulcanized india-rubber or other elastic packing ring or washer
between the said valve chamber and short connecting piece, which ring
will expand and contract as the valve is opened and closed, and so prevent
the possibility of any escape of gas from the joint.
The screw threads and other working portions of the said valve
chamber and short piece are of brass, and therefore the threads will not
strip, and so render the burner useless, as frequently happens with
burners constructed of soft metal.
To form an air conductor for my improved argand burners I construct
an external shell of stamped brass or other suitable metal, which encloses
the burner proper, and forms an annular space around the same for the
passage of the air, and I form at its lower edge a turned-up flange or
rim, which serves as a chimney holder. By this contrivance I am enabled
to dispense with the rim or flange of cast metal usually employed on
these burners, and thereby reduce the cost of the burner and diminish
the obstruction to the light of the same.
Another part of my Invention relates to a provision whereby a burner
may be adapted to receive either a shade or globe. For this purpose I
provide the arms whereon the globe or shade is supported with set screws,
and also with screw rods fitted to the same screw holes, and I form in
the said arms a recess to receive the rim of the globe. When the latter
is to be used I place it in the said recess and insert the set screws to
secure it thereon.
When the shade is to be used the said globe and set screws are removed
and the screw rods are inserted in the place of the said screws, the said
rods being provided with proper means for supporting the shade; or I
may attach the rods for supporting the shade to a metal ring which is
placed in the said recess, and secured therein by a screw or screws passed
through the said ring.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Porter in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th August 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
PORTER, junior, of Cullum Street, in the City of London, Gas and Hot
Water Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Porter, junior, Her special
licence that I, the said George Porter, junior, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Porter, junior,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN GAS BURNERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said George Porter, junior, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause-the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Porter, junior, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
These improvements relate to the novel construction of argand and
other gas burners, and are designed to increase the brilliancy of the
light, to economize gas, and prevent accidents.
The manner in which I carry my said Invention into practice is clearly

page_text: argand, fish-tail, or other burners.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A is the burner, consisting of the bottom socket a, top socket or neck b,
tubular arms c, metal ring d, top chamber e, and other parts herein
described.
According to the first part of my Invention I provide an argand or
other burner with a valve for regulating the flow of gas to the flame.
In the burner illustrated in Figure 1 the valve fis fitted to a conical seat
in the top of the bottom socket or chamber a, which is connected to the
neck of the burner 6 by screwing in the ordinary manner. The spindle f¹
of the said valve extends up through the seat and through the portion b,
and is screwed or otherwise made fast in the top of the same, as shewn
at b¹.
1
In the burner shewn in Figure 4 the valve seat is in the upper part of
the neck b, and the spindle f¹ of the valve f extends down to and
through the top of the bottom socket a, which is connected to the
chamber 6 in which the valve seat is formed by screw threads. The
bottom socket in this instance is a short piece, as shewn. The valve
spindle may be fixed in the said bottom socket, as in Figure 4, or the
valve spindle may rest in contact with the said piece without being
attached to the same. In the latter case a stop is provided to prevent
the part 6 turning too far and coming off of its support. The valve may
be made solid on its spindle, as shewn, and set or adjusted to its proper
position by screwing the spindle in or out of the neck, or the said valve-
may be screwed upon the end of its spindle and adjusted to its proper
position by turning it upon the same. In Figure 4 the gas passes through
b
small holes f*

page_text: In Figure 5 I have shown the valve f in the form of a circular collar
on the top of a hollow spindle f³. The said collar has radial perfora-
tions f³ extending from its periphery into the bore of the spindle f.. The
valve seat is a flat surface on the top of the chamber of the neck band
surrounding the vertical passage in the same leading from the valve to
the arms c. The spindle f is formed with screw threads, and so fitted
into a corresponding female screw in the bottom socket a as to permit it
to turn or screw around freely in the latter. The said top socket is fitted
to turn on the bottom socket or chamber, and by its turning it effects
the opening and closing of the valve f. To permit it to turn freely on
the said socket while preventing its coming off of the same I form an
annular groove around the periphery of the socket a, and I pass through
the part 6 a screw pin g, whose point projects into the said groove. The
valve is caused to turn and so move up or down in its chamber by the
stud or point h, which projects into a vertical groove in the valve for
its spindle.
'
I may construct my burner with the body or neck piece band the
tubes c and ring d cast in one piece of brass or other hard metal, but in
some instances I form the said body or neck 6 of brass and unite them
with a ring d¹ and arms d² of soft metal, the latter being a better non-
conductor of heat than hard metal.
'
In the above-described various forms of my improved burner the part
is fitted to turn easily upon the part a, and by turning the said part 6 of
the valve chamber, and thereby screwing or unscrewing it upon the
part a, the valve f is opened and closed, and as the slightest movement
of the valve requires a very perceptible movement of the part 6 the
supply of gas to the burner can be regulated with the utmost
exactitude.
A very important feature of my Invention is that the opening of the
valve in all cases is effected by screwing the part 6 of the valve chamber
down upon the connecting or supporting piece a and its closing by
screwing it back or away from the same; and if the said part 6 of the
chamber is unscrewed or screwed back to its full extent it will completely
close the valve and extinguish the light, and will then be stopped and
securely held in that position, whereas on the other hand the more
widely the valve is opened the more firmly will the burner be supported,
therefore there will be no danger of the detachment and falling of
the burner and its appendages from the bracket or chandelier, and the

page_text: ·
consequent escape of gas so liable to happen with the adjustable or
regulating burners heretofore used, wherein the action is the reverse of
that above described, that is to say, in which the valve is opened by the
unscrewing or screwing off of the adjusting part of the burner, and vice
-versa. Moreover, my improved valve or regulator prevents the admission
of more gas to the burner than is necessary or desirable.
I use a vulcanized india-rubber or other elastic packing ring or
washer between the parts a and b of the burner, which ring will
expand and contract as the valve is opened and closed, and so assist in
keeping the part 6 firm on its support, and also prevent the escape of
gas from the joint.
The upper chamber e of my improved burner is made of steatite, por-
celain, or other non-corrosive material. Its annular top surface has a
groove e¹ extending all around the burner, and through this grooved
portion I form oval or other shaped holes for the issue of the gas. The
bottom edge of this part e is made V shaped, as clearly shewn in Figure 6,
to fit similarly shaped seats formed in the metal ring d. This method of
securing the upper. chamber to the metal ring will ensure a perfectly
sound joint.
I consider it important that the screw threads and other working
portions of the parts a and b of my improved burner should be of brass
or other hard metal, so that the threads will not strip and render the
burner useless, as frequently happens with burners constructed entirely
of soft metal, but it is obvious that I do not limit myself to the appli-
cation of the above described improvements to burners whose working
parts are formed of brass or other hard metal.
One part of my Invention relates to the novel construction of an air
conductor for argand burners. The said air conductor k is formed of
stamped brass or other metal, or steatite, or other suitable sub-
stance. Its vertical portion k¹ may be either cylindrical or conical, but
in either case it is made curving inward near its top, as shewn at k², and
has a lip thereon projecting either inward or outward, or its orifice
may be so countersunk on the inner or outer side, or on both the inside
or outside, as to form a bell mouth. This lip or inclined or counter-
sunk portion has a number of air holes k', the conductor being so
arranged in relation to the burner e that these holes will be near the
point of incandesence.

page_text: In some instances I provide the conductor with holes both above and
below the point of ignition, as shown. The bottom part of the said con-
ductor has a flange passing under the chimney either with or without.
holes, and I either form feet or steps on this flange to support the
chimney, or I support the latter upon shoulders d¹ formed on the ring d;
or if desired the conductor may be of such a length that it does not
reach to the bottom of the chimney. In either case I obtain a passage
between the chimney and the conductor for a current of air, which in
conjunction with the current passing up inside the burner insures a
plentiful and steady supply of air to the same.
By means of this particular shape of the air conductor and the peculiar
formation of the upper chamber of the burner, I am enabled to produce
a larger and more powerful flame (with the same quantity of gas) than
has hitherto been practicable, and reduce the cost of manufacture of
the burners and diminish the obstruction offered to the light of the
same.
Another part of my Invention relates to a provision whereby a burner
may be adapted to the use of either a shade or globe. For this purpose
I attach to the arms d² or other portion of the body or adjustable
portion 6 of the burner the rods 7. On the arms d² I form lugs d³, d.
The lugs are formed with holes for the reception of the ends of the
rods, which are inserted into the said holes. The said rods have lugs or
flanges formed to rest against the lugs d', and I pass through the said
lugs screws, which fit female screws in the lugs d', and when screwed
tightly into the same hold the rods securely in place; or I may secure
the said rods by means of a lug formed to enter a recess in the arms and
binding the said lug with the screws or otherwise securing the same; or
I may dispense with the screws and the lugs 1, d', and form screw
threads on the ends of the rods 1, and screw the latter into holes in the
arms or other convenient parts of the body of the burner.
•
I form in the said arms a recess d³ to receive the rim of the globe.
When the latter is to be used I place it in the said recess and insert the
set screws to secure it therein.
It will be seen that the said screws serve the double purpose of securing
the rods on the arms d³ and holding the globe on the latter.
When the shade is to be used the set screws are unscrewed to release
the globe, the rods are inserted, and the screws again made tight; the

page_text: : Seventh. An argand burner provided with rods or arms for supporting
a shade affixed to any portion of the body or neck or adjusting part of
the burner, as herein described.
Eighth. The rods for supporting the shade, secured to the arms which
support the globe by screws, which hold both the rods and globe upon
the said arms, and which are readily adjustable to permit the said rods to
be affixed or removed, as herein set forth.
Ninth. The apparatus shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawing,
consisting of the burner fitted with the aforesaid valve or regulator and
air conductor, and provided with the means for supporting either a globe
or shade, combined and operating as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Porter, junior, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Third day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Witness,
JA³. EDWARDS,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
GEO. PORTER. (L.S.)