IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPPLYING AIR TO GAS AND OTHER LAMPS, AND IN CONVEYING THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION THEREFROM" PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Walker Torr, of the Firm of Robert Walter
Winfield and Company, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Merchants
and Manufacturers, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPPLYING AIR TO
GAS AND OTHER LAMPS, AND IN CONVEYING THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION
THEREFROM"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Walker Torr at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th June 1881.
CHARLES WALKER TORR, of the Firm of Robert Walter Winfield and Company,
of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Merchants and Manufacturers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPPLYING AIR TO GAS AND OTHER LAMPS, AND IN
CONVEYING THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION THEREFROM."
My Invention has reference to such gas and other lamps as are contained in a
globe or lantern provided with two concentric tubes, the outer one of which tubes
supplies a descending column of air to the globe or lantern, and the inner one
conducts the products of combustion in an ascending current, and delivers them
outside the room in which the lamp is situated.
The said concentric tubes for supplying air and conveying away the products of
combustion are ordinarily made of metal, and their concentricity is preserved
throughout their whole length after they leave the room in which the lamp is
situated, and until they open into the external atmosphere.
Grave inconveniences arise from this method of construction, which inconveniences
it is the object of my Invention to remedy.
According to my Invention I make both the internal and external tubes which
descend from the coiling to the globe or lantern of terra cotta or other ceramic
material, glazed or unglazed.
The interior one I make preferably in lengths connected together by the
socketed end of one length engaging with the unsocketed end of the next
length. The outer tube I make in lengths connected together by a light metallic
framing, or I make the said outer tube of panels or curved planes fixed in a
rn

page_text: skeleton metallic tube. By this method of construction the internal ascending hot
current is prevented from interfering injuriously with the external descending
current, and not only is the action of the apparatus improved, but the unsightly
discoloration, which is speedily produced when metallic tubes are used, is avoided.
After the concentric tubes have passed through the ceiling of the room I separate
them and cause them to open into the external atmosphere at different places. By
this separation of the tubes the interference of the hot current with the cold one,
which frequently impairs the efficiency of the apparatus as ordinarily constructed,
is avoided. Where the tubes are not concentric they may be made of metal
without inconvenience.
The external tube may be perforated near the ceiling of the room, so that a
portion of the air by which combustion is maintained is drawn from the room, and
the ventilation of the room thereby effected.
By a sliding collar or other equivalent contrivance the amount of air entering
the external tube from the room may be regulated or completely shut off.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Walker Torr in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th December 1881.
CHARLES WALKER TORR, of the Firm of Robert Walter Winfield and Company,
of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Merchants and Manufacturers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPPLYING AIR TO GAS AND OTHER LAMPS, AND IN
CONVEYING THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION THEREFROM."
My Invention has reference to such gas and other lamps as are contained in a
globe or lantern provided. with two concentric tubes, the outer one of which tubes
supplies a descending column of air to the globe or lantern, and the inner one
conducts the products of combustion in an ascending current, and delivers them
outside the room in which the lamp is situated.
The said concentric tubes for supplying air and conveying away the products of
combustion are ordinarily made of metal, and their concentricity is preserved
throughout their whole length after they leave the room in which the lamp is
situated, and until they open into the external atmosphere.
Grave inconveniences arise from this method of construction, which inconveniences -
it is the object of my Invention to remedy.
According to my Invention I make both the internal and external tubes which,
descend from the ceiling to the globe or lantern of terra-cotta or other ceramic
material, glazed or unglazed.
The interior one I make preferably in lengths connected together by the socketed.
end of one length engaging with the unsocketed end of the next length. The
outer tube I make in lengths connected together by a light metallic framing, or.
I make the said outer tube of panels or curved planes fixed in a skeleton metallic
tube. By this method of construction the internal ascending hot current is
prevented from interfering injuriously with the external descending current, and
not only is the action of the apparatus improved, but the unsightly discoloration,
which is speedily produced when metallic tubes are used is avoided.
After the concentric tubes have passed through the ceiling of the room I
separate them and cause them to open into the external atmosphere at different
places. By this separation of the tubes the interference of the hot current with.
the cold one, which frequently impairs the efficiency of the apparatus as ordinarily.
constructed, is avoided. Where the tubes are not concentric they may be made of
metal without inconvenience.
The external tube may be perforated near the ceiling of the room, so that a
portion of the air by which combustion is maintained is drawn from the room.
and the ventilation of the room thereby effected.
By a sliding collar or other equivalent contrivance the amount of air entering
the external tube from the room may be regulated or completely shut off.
I will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawing,
the manner in which my Invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents, in side elevation, a gas lamp containing my improvements,.
and Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same drawn to a larger scale, together'
with those parts of the appliances of the lamp which project through the ceiling
of the room and beyond the roof of the building; Figure 3 represents a portion of
Figure 2 drawn to a larger scale, with the ceiling plate and other parts modified.
for ventilating the room or apartment when required; Figure 4 is a cross section
of Figure 3 taken through the concentric tubes and metallic connecting band or
collar, and Figure 5 represents one of the connecting bands or collars partly in
section and partly in elevation. The same letters of reference indicate the same.
parts in the several Figures of the Drawing.

page_text: "
a is the airtight globe, case, or lantern in which the argand (or other) burner b is
supported; c is the internal terra-cotta or other ceramic tube; and d is the external
terra-cotta or other ceramic tube, the said tubes c and d descending from the ceiling.
of the room or apartment to the globe or lantern a, as represented by means of
the annular space e between the said tubes c, d, a descending column or current
of fresh air is supplied to the interior of the airtight globe or lantern a for
supporting the combustion of the lamp; and by means of the internal tubo c the
products of combustion are conducted in an ascending current to the roof, and
delivered into the external air, as indicated by the arrows.
The two concentric tubes c, d, situated below the ceiling of the room or apart-
ment are built up and supported in the following manner:-
The internal tube c is composed of lengths of terra cotta tubing, the socketed
end of one length engaging with the unsocketed end of the next length, as seen in
Figure 2. The joints of the lengths are not cemented together, but are simply
fitted together so as to permit of the expansion and contraction of the said joints
by changes of temperature. The base of the internal tube a has an expanded
terra-cotta mouth-piece c³ for collecting the products of combustion given off by
the burner b. The internal tube c, c, is supported upon the metallic ring or
galleryf, and the latter is secured to the metallic framing of the airtight globe,
case, or lantern a by the screw bolts g, g.
The external torra-cotta tube d is built up of lengths of tubing connected together
by a light metallic framing. This framing is composed of a series of metallic bands
or collars h, h, and lengths of vertical tubes i, i, in combination with contral tubes.
The said metallic bands or collars h are furnished with equi-distant sockets k on
their outer edges for receiving the ends of the lengths of metallic tubing i, and
with annular shoulders or sockets on their inner edges for receiving and
supporting the ends of the lengths of terra-cotta tubing d, the said lengths of
terra-cotta tubing & and metallic tubing i being supported and bound together in
the manner seen in Figure 2.
Through each set of the lengths of metallic tubing i supported in the sockets k,
and also through the sockets a central metallic tube is passed (see Figure 4), which
central tubes are screwed at top and are connected by screw-nuts to the ceiling
plate m, and similarly at bottom to the metallic framing of the globe, case, or
lantern a. One of the central tubes of the framing is used for conveying the gas
to the pipe in connection with the burner b. By building up and supporting the
outer or external terra cotta tube d in the manner described and represented, the
parts are capable of readily expanding and contracting by changes of temperature.
The internal tube c may be made of unglazed terracotta or other ceramic material,
but I prefer to make the external tube d of glazed terra cotta or other ceramic
material, and to ornament the surface of the said external tube d.
Instead of making the external tube d of lengths of tubing as represented, the
said tube may be made of terra cotta panels or curved planes fixed in a skeleton
metallic frame.
The hot air and products of combustion are conveyed to the external air by the
tube n forming a prolongation of the lower tube c, and the cold fresh air is drawn
into the space a between the internal and external lower tubes c, d, through the
outer tube p opening into the external air. In order to prevent the interference of
the hot current delivered by the internal tube n with the cold current passing
between the two tubes n, p, the said tubes n, p, open into the external air at
different levels, as seen in Figure 2. The space between the two tubes n, p, is
blocked at q, and the cold air enters the said space at the perforations at r, while
the heated air and products of combustion escape into the external air above the
blocked part q by the perforations & in the two tubes n, p. The two tubes n, p, are
closed at top, as shown at u; t is a wind guard or cap over the air entering
perforations 7.
8
For the purpose of ventilating the room in which the gas lamp is used, tho
hollow ceiling plate m may be provided with a series of balanced or weighted

page_text: valves a, ; and passages y, y, are made between the hollow ceiling plate m, and
the annular space by which air is supplied to the lamp, as represented in Figure 3.
Each of the said valves x is provided with a stem having a weight at its upper end.
When the weight on the stem is on one side of the centre on which the valve turns,
the valve is maintained in its open position; and when the weight is on the opposite
side of the centre of the valve, the valve is maintained in its closed position, as
shown on the opposite sides of the ceiling plate, Figure 3. By means of a rod
applied to one or other end of the valve x, the said valve may either be opened
or closed, the valve being maintained in its open or closed position by the weighted
stem. Valves of other construction may however be employed for opening or
closing the ceiling plate.
When the valves are open the vitiated air at the upper part of the room is
drawn by the action of the descending current of cold air passing down the space e
into the ceiling plate m, and through the passages y, y, into the said space e,
where it mixes with the descending current in the said space on its way to the
burner. The vitiated air at the upper part of the room is thus forcibly conveyed
therefrom by the descending current of air supplied to the burner.
The air for supporting combustion may be supplied from the upper part of the
room alone. In this case the outer tube is not continued through the ceiling
and roof of the apartment or building, but I prefer to use the arrangement
represented in the Drawing, where the air for combustion is taken from the
external air, and the room ventilated when required by opening the valves or
other appliances in the ceiling plate of the lamp.
Although I have represented my Invention in connection with a gas-lamp, yet
my said Invention is equally applicable to lamps burning oil or other combustibles.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
I claim as my Invention "Improvements in Supplying Air to Ġas and other
Lamps, and in Conveying the Products of Combustion therefrom."
First. The construction and combination of the parts of the concentric tubes
for supplying the air for combustion, and for carrying away the products of
combustion hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing,
that is to say, making the internal tube of the said concentric tubes situated
below the ceiling of the room or apartment of terra cotta or other ceramic
material, and the external tube of the said concentric tubes of terra cotta or
other ceramic material, and of a light metallic framing, the said concentric tubes
being built up and connected together and supported, substantially as described
and illustrated.
Secondly. The arrangement or combination of parts herein before described and
illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying Drawing, for ventilating the room
or apartment in which the lamp is burned, and for supplying the air by which
the combustion is supported wholly or in part from the said room or apartment,
substantially as described and illustrated.
"
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Walker Torr, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth. day of December, in the year of our Lord One
Witness,
WILLIAM HENRY TAYLOR,
Cambridge Street Works,
Birmingham.
CHARLES WALKER TORR. (L.S.)