Improvements relating to Apparatus and Fittings for Enriching and Burning Illuminating Gas.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 15th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 28th Sept., 1888
RESERVE
Improvements relating to Apparatus and Fittings for Enriching and
Burning Illuminating Gas.
I, GEORGE PORTER, of No. 23, Cullum Street, in the city of London, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to that class of gas fittings furnished with apparatus or means
for enriching the gas in its passage to the burner, and has for its main object to so
construct and arrange the enriching or carburetting apparatus that it can be easily
taken to pieces for the removal of the interior for the purpose of cleaning or removing
the accumulation or deposit which always takes place in carburetting apparatus and
the difficulty of removing which has hitherto been a source of considerable inconve-
nience and difficulty in carburetting apparatus applied to gas fittings.
In carrying out my invention I arrange the tube conveying the gas from the
supply pipe to the vessel or receiver containing the carburetting material and also
the tube conveying the enriched or carburetted gas from the said receiver to the
burner within a tube the said tubes being all fitted or mounted in a body which is
screwed into or about the centre of the carburetting vessel. By this arrangement it
will be obvious that by unscrewing this body the whole of the tubes are removed for
cleaning or otherwise.
The conductor which I employ is formed with perforations a second or twin con-
ductor being placed over the perforated conductor whereby a greater amount of heat
from the burner is conducted or directed to the material in the carburetting vessel in
a better manner than hitherto.
In the case of pendant lights I sometimes find it advantageous to employ one tube
only for conveying the gas into the carburetting vessel, the carburetted gas passing
to the burner or burners through the space between the said supply tube and the
outer tube forming the fitting.
In this arrangement legs or rods are employed which extend from the fitting into
the carburetting vessel to serve as conductors for the more equal distribution of the
heat through the carburetting material.

page_text: In the case of regenerative gas lamps I arrange the receiver or carburetting vessel
around or above the chimney which forms the conductor for heating the carburetting
material. A pipe conveys from the supply cock the gas into the carburetting vessel,
the enriched gas passing from the vessel through a pipe opening into the central
gas supply pipe.
For gas clusters burning under a cone the arrangement is substantially the same as
that above described for regenerative gas lamps.
In all cases suitable provision is made for allowing the gas to pass into the burners
without being enriched.
Dated the 15th day of November 1887.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements relating to Apparatus and Fittings for Enriching and
Burning Illuminating Gas.
I, GEORGE PORTER, of No. 23, Cullum Street, in the City of London, 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 relates to that class of gas fittings furnished with apparatus or means
for enriching the gas in its passage to the burner, and has for its main object to so
construct and arrange the enriching or carburetting apparatus that it can be easily
taken to pieces for the removal of the interior, for the purpose of cleaning or removing
the accumulation or deposit which always takes place in carburetting apparatus, and
the difficulty of removing which has hitherto been a source of considerable inconve-
nience, in carburetting apparatus applied to gas fittings.
In carrying out my invention I arrange the tube conveying the gas from the
supply pipe to the vessel or receiver containing the carburetting material, and also
the tube conveying the enriched or carburetted gas from the said receiver to the
burner, within a tube, all or some of the said tubes being fitted or mounted. in a body
or bodies screwed into or about the centre of the carburetting vessel. In some cases
however I dispense with the said outer tube. By this arrangement it will be obvious
that by unscrewing this body or bodies the whole or some of the tubes are removed
for cleaning or for other purposes.
The conductor which I employ is formed with perforations, a second or twin con-
ductor being placed over the perforated conductor, whereby a greater amount of heat
from the burner is conducted or directed to the material in the carburetting vessel,
and in a better manner than hitherto.
In the case of pendent lights I sometimes find it advantageous to employ only the
tube or tubes for conveying the gas into the carburetting vessel, the carburetted gas
passing to the burner or burners through the space between the said supply tube or
tubes and the outer tube forming the fitting.
In this arrangement legs or rods are employed which extend from the fitting into
the carburetting vessel, to serve as conductors for the more equal distribution of the
heat through the carburetting material.
In the case of regenerative gas lamps, I arrange the receiver or carburetting vessel
around or above the chimney which forms the conductor for heating the carburetting
material. A pipe conveys the gas from the supply cock, into the carburetting vessel,
the enriched gas passing from the vessel through a pipe opening into the central gas
supply pipe.
For gas clusters burning under a cone the arrangement is substantially the same as
that above described for regenerative gas lamps.
In all cases suitable provision is made for allowing the gas to pass into the burners
without being enriched.

page_text: In order to enable my invention to be fully understood, I will describe how it can
be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings in the several
figures of which similar letters are used to indicate similar or corresponding parts.
I will first describe the arrangement shown in figures 1 and 2 which represent a
vertical section and a plan respectively of an apparatus and fittings constructed
according to my invention for enriching and burning illuminating gas, the said
apparatus being provided with a single burner.
a is the tube conveying the gas to the vessel or receiver b (containing the carbu-
retting material) from the supply pipe (not shown in the drawing) which is in
communication with the tube a through the cock c. d is the tube carrying the
enriched or carburetted gas from the receiver b to the burner e.
fis the tube within which the tubes a and d are arranged, and g is the body (formed
integral with the cock c) in which all the said tubes are fitted or mounted as shown
in figure 1, the body g being screwed into the centre of the carburetting vessel b.
i is the screw cover of the filling hole of the carburetting vessel b.
jis the perforated conductor attached to the vessel b for conducting heat to the
material therein; kis the second or twin conductor which is placed over the perforated
conductor and is advantageously provided with a central pin passing loosely
through a hole in the conductor j; it is also provided with pins m, m, m, m which
can be caused to enter the perforations in the conductor j in which case the twin
conductor would rest upon and close the perforations in the conductor j, but, if the
twin conductor be raised and partly turned, the pins m will rest upon the con-
ductor as shown in figure 1, and the heat will pass through the perforations in the
conductor and come into contact with the twin conductor by which it will be
deflected upon the upper surface of the conductor j, the said conductor by this means
becoming more highly heated than without the twin conductor, the space between
the conductors forming a kind of heating chamber. f2 is a conductor for conveying
the heat from the twin conductors k, j, to the central gas tubes and it also serves as a
stay or support for the outer tube f.
ft is a conductor which, being fixed to the burner tube in close proximity to the
flame of the burner e, will conduct heat to the said tube and consequently heat the
gas as it passes to the burner.
By this arrangement it will be obvious that if the plug of the cock & be in
the position shown in figure 1, a small quantity of the gas will pass direct to the
burner e, and the remainder will pass up through the tube a into the vessel band will
become enriched by the carburetting material therein. It will then pass down the
tube and through the passage h to the burner e, the material in the vessel b
receiving the required degree of heat from the conductors j and k situated above the
burner e. If it is desired to burn gas which has not been enriched, the plug of the
cock c is turned so as to cut off the passage to the tube a, the burner e being still left
in direct communication with the supply pipe.
From the preceding description it will be seen that when it is required to remove
the tubes a, d and f for cleaning or other purposes it is only necessary to unscrew the
body 9, of which they form a part, from the vessel 6 and they can then be easily
cleaned and replaced.
Figure 3 is a similar view to figure 1 but illustrating a slightly modified arrange-
ment in which provision is male for the removal of the inner tubes a and d only.
In this case the body g has only the tubes a and d fitted or mounted therein the
outer tube being mounted in a screw-threaded boss a¹ formed integral with the
carburetting vessel over which boss the body g is screwed.
The tube a is shorter than the corresponding tube shown in figure 1, so that the gas
coming from the supply pipe, in order to reach the carburetting vessel b, has to pass
through the outer tube whence it is directed onto the carburetting material by
nozzles, on a cap el fitted over the top of the said tube f. The tubed conducting
the enriched gas from the vessel b to the burner e extends through the cap e¹.. The
top of the vessel is provided with a cover c¹ by means of which easy access is
attorded to its interior.

page_text: Figure 4 is a vertical section, and
Figure 5 a horizontal section on line A B of figure 4, showing the body g formed.
with an annular passage communicating with the passage h to allow of more than
one burner being employed, it being in other respects the same as that hereinbefore.
described with reference to figure 3.
Figure 6 is a similar view to figure 1 but showing the apparatus adapted to be
supplied with gas at its upper part: For this purpose the tube a is advantageously
made of short length and is fitted to the body g screwed into the upper part of the
carburetting vessel b. The tube d is fitted in a body gl screwed into the bottom of
the vessel. The direct passage of the gas to the burner when it is not required to
be enriched is through a short tube d¹ fitted to the body c and entering the upper
end of the tube d. A space is however left between the two tubes so that the gas
when required to be enriched can pass from the interior of the vessel 6 into the tube d.
The outer tube f, shewn in Figures 1 and 3, is in this case dispensed with. To
remove the tube d for cleaning or other purposes it is simply necessary to unscrew the
body g¹.
In the apparatus shown in vertical section at Figure 7 access is obtained to the"
interior of the vessel b and to the tubes a and d through the top only of the apparatus
which is for that purpose provided with a screw cover c¹ the tops of the tubes a and d
being removeable as shewn and having their lower ends fitted in the body g
permanently fixed to the vessel b.
Figure 8 shews the upper part of a similar view to Figure 7 the only difference
being that the screw cover c¹ is larger thereby giving freer access to the vessel and
tubes.
In Figures 3, 6, 7 and 8 the heat conductors are only partly shown, it being
understood that they are similar to those shewn in figures 1, 2 and 3.
Figure 9 is a vertical section showing an apparatus similar to that shown in
Figure 1 but in which the projecting heat cnoductors are dispensed with, the heat
from the burner being in this arrangement directed as indicated by the arrows onto
the sides of the vessel b by means of a globe m¹. The central screw threaded body g
to which the tubes a, d and fare fitted is supported by tubes n and o forming con-
tinuations of the tubes a and d respectively and leading to the cock c having a plug
and passages like those in the body g, Figure 1.
Figure 10 is a vertical section of a pendent light illustrating an arrangement which
allows of employing only the tubes a, a for conveying the gas into the carburetting
vessel (which arrangement I sometimes find advantageous) the carburetted gas
passing to the burners e, e arranged at the upper part of the apparatus, through the
space d between the said tubes a and the outer tube n¹ forming the fitting which is
screwed into the vessel b.
The tubes a, a are mounted in the fitting n¹ and the gas to supply them comes from
the cock e through a fitting n² screwed onto the fitting n¹; d³ is a tube for conducting
the gas direct to the burners e, e without coming into contact with the carburetting
material in the vessel b.
o', o are the legs or rods extending downwards from the upper end of the carburetting
vessel into the carburetting material which legs I find it advantageous to employ for
effecting the more equal distribution of the heat through the carburetting material, it
will however be obvious that these legs can in some cases be dispensed with.
The upper or twin conductor k is here shown made so that its adjustment is effected
by rotating it in one direction or the other over a screw-thread on the fitting n² instead
of in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, but it is
evident that a conductor supported upon pins substantially as hereinbefore described
and shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be employed.
The passage of the gas direct from the supply to the burners without passing into
the carburetting vessel b is effected by rotating the plug of the cock e so as to close
the passage d¹ from the supply pipe to the fitting ², the communication between the
supply pipe and the tube d being left, fully open.
Figure 11 is a similar view to Figure 10 but shewing the apparatus without the

page_text: conducting legs or rods and with the tubes of the burners e, e passing through the
middle of the vessel b to the tube d fitted to a body g screwing into a boss a¹ at
the bottom of the vessel b; the tube d is enclosed within a tube d fitted to the boss a¹
and which serves to steady the tube d¹ and support the burner tubes.
The burner tubes thus act as conductors, the conductors k, k placed above the
burners e, e serving to collect the heat and transmit it to the interior of the
vessel b.
The gas to be enriched passes from the cock c through the passage d¹, fitting n²
and tubes a, a onto the carburetting material and then, mingling with the unenriched
gas coming from the central tube d³, enters the tube d whence it passes through the
burner tubes to the burners e, e.
If the gas is required to be burned without being enriched, the cock c is turned so
as to cause the gas to pass through the central tube d³ and into the tube d without
entering the vessel b.
In Figure 12 I have shown in vertical section how the burners e, e can be arranged
on the body g at the bottom of the vessel b instead of above or at the sides of the said
vessel. In this case I place the conductors k, k on the outside of the vessel b so as
to catch the heat from the burners (or I place the burners so that the heat therefrom
shall play over the outside of the vessel) and I make use of conducting rods or plates k²
which act in a similar way to the burner tubes of the lamp shewn in Figure 11.
Figure 13 is a vertical section of a regenerative gas lamp with my improvements
applied thereto, the receiver or carburetting vessel being arranged around the
chimney p which forms the conductor for heating the carburetting material.
a is the pipe for conveying the gas from the supply cock into the carburetting
vessel b, and d, d indicate the pipe for the passage of the enriched gas from the vessel b
to the burner e.
The interior of the chimney or passage p through which the products of combustion
pass off is provided with a lining p' in cases where the heat given off would be greater
than is required to vaporize the material contained in the carburetting vessel b.
Figures 14 and 15 are similar views to figure 13 and show two forms of gas lamps
in which the carburetting vessel b is arranged above the chimney p.
The arrangement of the tubes conveying the gas from the supply pipe into the
carburetting vessel and thence to the burner and also those for conveying the gas
direct to the burner without passing into the vessel b is the same as that hereinbefore
described with reference to figure 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus and fittings for enriching and burning illuminating gas, fitting the
tube supplying gas to the carburetter and the tube leading from the carburetter to
the burner into a central body screwed into or onto the carburetting vessel so as to
allow the easy removal of the tubes for cleaning or other purposes as hereinbefore
described.
2. Providing apparatus for enriching and burning illuminating gas with twin
conductors, as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1
and 2 and 10, 11 and 12 respectively.
3. Providing the carburetting vessel of gas enriching apparatus with a central
removeable cover in combination with the centrally arranged tubes in the said vessel
so as to allow the tubes to be cleaned without removing them as herein before described
and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings.
4. In apparatus and fittings for enriching and burning illuminating gas, the
combination with a central tube d fitted in a body screwing into the carburetting
vessel, of short tubes such as a ani d' in the upper part of the vessel arranged and
operating substantially as, and for the purposes, described and illustrated in figure 6
of the drawings.
5. The arrangement of apparatus represented in Figures 11 and 12 in which the

page_text: conductors are connected with the burner tubes or rods or plates passing through
the carburetting vessel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. A regenerative gas lamp provided with carburetting apparatus arranged and
operating substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 13 and 14
of the drawings.
7. The manufacture and use of the improved apparatus and fittings for enriching
and burning illuminating gas hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated me to day of August 1000.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.