Improvements in Regenerative Gas Lamps for Lighting Railway and other Carriages.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1890
t
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Regenerative Gas Lamps for Lighting Railway and
other Carriages.
I, Comte HENRI MARIE HUBERT DELAMARRE of 162 Rue Ordener Paris, France,
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of regenerative gas lamps: for lighting
railway and other carriages in such a manner as to secure complete and brilliant
combustion of the gas by supplying the flame with air heated by the products of
combustion and to provide against the effects of external gusts or currents. The
central part of the lamp constitutes a regenerator, a central cylindrical passage up
which the products of combustion ascend to the chimney and around this central
passage two annular passages so arranged that air passes up the outer annular passage
and down the inner one to supply the flame which is under a reflector forming the
base of the regenerator and which is enclosed within an inner glas basin. Outside
this is an outer glass basin projecting down from the ceiling of the carriage. Above
the roof of the carriage is a wind guard the outer casing of which is perforated with a
number of holes at its lower part for admission of air and a number of holes at its
upper part for emission of the hot products. Each of these holes has around it an
outwardly projecting conical lip which gives direction to the entering and issuing
currents by protecting them against lateral currents. Within the outer casing is a
cylindrical partition having guarded holes at its upper part opening into the space
between it and the outer casing and forming outlets for the products of combustion.
Within the cylindrical partition is the central chimney which rises from the centre of
the regenerator below and terminates with an open mouth at about a third of the
height of the cylindrical partition. Around the upper part of the chimney and within
the cylindrical partition is a conical partition open above and below its upper mouth
being a little way above the mouth of the chimney and of the same diameter so that
there is a narrow annular passage between the cone and the upper part of the chimney.
The fresh air entering by the lower holes of the outer casing finds its way by small
apertures through a horizontal partition into the large space surrounding the chimney,
where it is uniformly distributed. Some of the air passes up the cone to join the
products of combustion issuing from the chimney some of it descends through guarded
apertures into the space between the two glass basins, and thence by another set of
apertures to the regenerator where it is highly heated and whence it descends into
the inner basin to supply the flame. The products of combustion ascend the chimney
into the upper part of the cylindrical partition, thence they pass through the guarded
holes near the top of the partition into the space between it and the outer casing, and
they finally issue by the holes near the top of the casing. Thus by providing a
number of guarded apertures for the passage of the air and the gaseons products into
and through internal spaces of considerable size where the pressure becomes equalised,
the flame is effectually guarded against the influence of external gusts or currents.
All the parts of the lamp are connected together in such a way that they can be
readily taken apart to give access for lighting the flame, cleaning or adjusting. The
reflector is provided with several projecting feet so that when it is rested on the
ground it receives no damage, and in like manner the ring flame which holds
the external glass basin has feet projecting beyond the basin so that this can rest on
the ground without damaging the basin. In cases where the lamp is situated at some
distance below the ceiling, the tube which suspends it is made double, the inner tube
serving as chimney, and the annular space around it serving for the descent of the
fresh air.
The regenerator reflector and double glass basin are attached to the lower

page_text: end of the double tube, whilst the wind guard is applied at its upper end outside the
roof, the course for the air and the gaseous products being substantially the same as
in the case of the ceiling lamp.
MA
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Regenerative Gas Lamps for Lighting Railway and
other Carriages.
I, Comte HENRI MARIE HUBERT DELAMARRE of 162 Rue Ordener, Paris, France
Gentleman, 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:
This Invention relates to the construction of regenerative gas lamps for lighting
railway and other carriages in such a manner as to secure complete and brilliant
combustion of the gas by supplying the flame with air heated by the products of
combustion and to provide against the effect of external gusts or currents. The
central part of the lamp constitutes a regenerator a central cylindrical passage up
which the products of combustion ascend to the chimney and around this central
passage two annular passages so arranged that air passes up the outer annular
passage and down the inner one to supply the flame which is under a reflector
forming the base of the regenerator and which is enclosed within an inner glass
basin. Outside this is an outer glass basin projecting down from the ceiling of
the carriage. Above the roof of the carriage is a wind guard the outer casing of
which is perforated with a number of holes at its lower part for admission of air
and a number of holes at its upper part for emission of the hot products. Each
of these holes has around it an outwardly projecting conical lip which gives
direction to the entering and issuing currents by protecting them against lateral
currents. Within the outer casing is a cylindrical partition having guarded holes
at its upper part opening into the space between it and the outer casing and forming
outlets for the products of combustion. Within the cylindrical partition is the
central chimney which rises from the centre of the regenerator, below and terminates
with an open mouth at about a third of the height of the cylindrical partition. Around
the upper part of the chimney and within the cylindrical partition is a conical
partition open above and below, its upper mouth being a little way above the mouth
of the chimney and of the same diameter so that there is a narrow annular passage
between the cone and the upper part of the chimney. The fresh air entering by the
lower holes of the outer casing finds its way by small apertures through a horizontal
partition into the large space surrounding the chimney where it is uniformly dis-
tributed. Some of the air passes up the cone to join the products of combustion
issuing from the chimney some of it descends through guarded apertures into the
space between the two glass basins and thence by another set of apertures to the
regenerator where it is highly heated and whence it descends into the inner basin to
supply the flame. The products of combustion ascend the chimney into the upper
part of the cylindrical partition, thence they pass through the guarded holes near
the top of the partition into the space between it and the outer casing, and they finally
issue by the holes near the top of the casing. Thus by providing a number of
guarded apertures for the passage of the air and the gaseous products into and
through internal spaces of considerable size where the pressure becomes equalised,
the flame is effectually guarded against the influence of external gusts or currents.
All the parts of the lamp are connected together in such a way that they can be
readily taken apart to give access for lighting the flame, cleansing or adjusting. The
reflector is provided with several projecting feet so that when it is rested on the
ground it receives no damage and in like manner the ring frame which holds

page_text: the external glass basin has feet projecting beyond the basin so that this can rest on
the ground without damaging the basin. In cases where the lamp is situated at
some distance below the ceiling, the tube which suspends it is made double, the inner
tube serving as chimney, and the annular space around it serving for the descent of
the fresh air. The regenerator, reflector and double glass basin are attached to the
lower end of the double tube, whilst the wind guard is applied at its upper end outside
the roof, the course for the air and the gaseous products being substantially the same
as in the case of the ceiling lamp.
Fig. 1. of the accompanying drawings shows a vertical section of a lamp constructed
according to my above described invention. Fig. 2 shews a sectional plan on line A-B
Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shews a side view of the burner employed the construction of which is
such as to insure that the flame shall always be horizontal. Fig. 4 shews a cross
section of the burner on line C. D. Fig. 5 shows a sectional elevation of a modified
form of the lamp for cases in which the burner is situated at some distance from the
roof of the carriage.
As shewn more particularly in Fig. 1 in order to render the apparatus more
easily manipulated it is divided into three separable parts; first, the regenerator R,
second, the burner support S, and third, the globe T of the burner. The reflector is
so arranged as to support and secure in position the several parts.
The regenerator consists of a cast iron box composed of three concentric cases a, b, c ;
the first constitutes a central tube a' in which the hot combustion gases rise in order
to pass into the chimney a², and thence into the upper chimney d of the lamp from
which they escape as will be described later on. The two annular spaces b¹ c¹
surrounding the central tube serve for the circulation of the air supply to the lamp,
which thereby becomes heated before passing to the flame. The space b¹ is divided by
vertical partitions as shewn at Fig. 2 into separate passages.
The regenerator fits into a cylindrical socket e cast in one with the reflector f
its base rests upon a rim g on the reflector, the lower part of which acts as a support
to the globe T.
The regenerator can therefore be withdrawn at will, and the gas burner will then be
entirely uncovered, so that the lighting thereof can be very easily effected.
The burner support S is attached to the hinge jointed pipe h, and, as shewn on the
drawing, it is situated in a channel i formed on the outer surface of the regenerator;
the burner is therefore automatically adjusted to its correct position by simply fitting
in the regenerator.
The globe T is held on the ring 9 by means of a brass ring j and three catches
which hold the latter; it can consequently be readily fitted in place.
If it be desired to light the lamp from within the carriage, the globe would be held
in position by means of a hinged ring; in this case however the two globes namely
the burner globe T and the lamp globe are both arranged to open on hinges, the
smaller one remaining within the outer one.
h
In this case the hinged pipe can be dispensed with.
In order to protect the globe T and prevent it from becoming broken when the
reflector to which it is attached, is removed, the latter is provided with three small
feet m which support it when placed on a surface. The base of the regenerator is in
like manner protected by three feet n.
I will now describe the mode in which the air supply and the products of combustion
circulate through the lamp, as indicated by the arrows.
The air in entering the lamp through the lower hood o first passes through an
annular opening at the bottom of the upper hood E and then penetrates into the lamp
through the holes p formed in the partition r.
The outlet for the combustion gases is protected by the upper hood E on the
chinney d which is provided with holes.
The upper hood stops short at the height of the lower hood o, which closes its lower
end. It has a number of holes E' for the escape of the products of combustion, such
holes being in the centre of outward bossed portions, the inclined outer surfaces of
which prevent the wind from entering the holes and preventing the outward current

page_text: of gases. The hood E constitutes an intermediate reservoir between the lamp and the
outer atmosphere, in which reservoir is consequently contained a body of quiescent
air, in which any entering air currents are brought to rest.
The hot gases on the other hand issuing from the chimney d all enter this reservoir
and issue through those of the openings E which are situated on the site of the hood
that is protected from the wind so that there is no obstruction to such issue, and
consequently no risk of the flame being blown out or made unsteady.
When the air enters the upper space of the lamp it receives a preliminary heating
by the heat radiated from the chimney a² and the external surface of the regenerator;
but it cannot pass directly to the flame as the bottom e¹ of the reflector intercepts any
such direct communication with the interior of the regenerator.
The air can only pass into the outer globe 7 of the lamp through openings u formed
in the side f¹ of the reflector above its bottom; it then rises through passages v
formed below such bottom and passes into the globe T through openings w formed in
the inner sides of the reflector, also below the bottom; the openings w correspond
to similar openings formed in the regenerator. The air then rises in the outer
annular space c¹ of the regenerator and descends again in the compartments b¹
arranged between the central tube a¹ and intermediate casing b, and eventually issues in
the inner globe after having become effectually beated by the above described means.
It will be seen that in order the better to insure the delivery of the air to the
burner, the passages through which the air passes from the globe into the
regenerator R are at a lower level than that of the outlet openings.
"
With the arrangement for supplying the heated air above described, the air passing
into the regenerator from the outer globe is in a perfectly quiescent state, and by
causing it first to descend into the outer globe before rising into the regenerator the
advantage is gained of preventing particles of dust &c. which may be carried in
from the outer air, from entering the inner globe and choking up the openings of the
burner or obstructing the reduced passages for the hot air in the regenerator.
In order that the flame may be always maintained horizontal, parallel to the base of
the regenerator I employ a burner of the construction shewn at Figs. 3 and 4, which
terminates in a cylindrical part which has a flattened bottom resting upon a tongue S¹
fixed to the burner support.
In order that the flat horizontal flame may always be well spread, even when the
pressure is low, I form in the central space a' of the regenerator a chamber y Fig. 1
into which the air supply passes by an upper side opening y' and from which it issues
through oblique openings f2 formed in the reflector and which direct it down upon
the upper surface of the flame.
In order to allow of the direct escape of the products of combustion when the flame
consumes very little gas, I form in the reflector above the burner an orifice y2
communicating by a passage y3 with the central space a¹ at the bottom of the
chimney.
The improved lamp for vehicles has another important feature namely the
application of a conical cap at which operates in conjunction with the chimney a² as an
ejector apparatus producing an energetic draught above the flame, and consequently
insuring a perfect combustion.
As shewn at Fig. 1 the cap at is connected at its lower end to the chimney d of the
hood, so that there is no other exit upwards for the body of air situated below it than
through the annular passage between the cap a' and the chimney a².
The large volume of air which, after becoming heated in contact with the chimney a³,
issues through the cone a* together with the products of combustion, prevents the
cooling of the ascending column on its passage between the chimney a² and the escape
openings, and on the other hand increases its momentum in increasing the mass of
fluid in motion; this column is consequently better maintained in compact form and
loses less of its velocity in the enlarged space offered by the chimney d.
The draught being thus made more energetic, the outer air passes in increased
quantity to the flame and produces a more perfect combustion.
The issue of the products of combustion and heated air from the hood E is also

page_text: protected against disturbance from wind or external air currents, by the peculiar
curved shape of the guard or wind puzzle Z in conjunction with the baffle
plate d¹.
In the modified construction of the lamp shewn at Fig. 5, as the burner is too far
away from the roof to allow of its being lit from the latter, the globes and T are
arranged to open, the rings which hold them being for this purpose provided with
hinges el fand secured by catches g¹ h¹.
The regenerative apparatus is, as in the preceding case, fitted in a socket forming
part of the reflector, the arrangement of air inlets of which are the same as previously
described. The burner support, instead of being provided with a hinge joint, is fixed
by means of a flange ¹ to the reflector, where it is connected to the gas pipe .
A screw for regulating the gas supply, is accessible from the inside of the
carriage.
The products of combustion and the hot air mixed therewith are discharged through
a chimney a² a³ which passes right through the casing ', and then issue through the
chimney d of the hood E.
The necessary air supply on the other hand descends through the annular space
between the chimney and the casing, into which it penetrates through the annular
orifice round the lower hood o closing the bottom of the upper hood E as previously
described.
The cone a before described may also be applied to this construction of lamp.
A diaphragm m¹ prevents the return of the air and its admixture with the
products of combustion. The chimney a² a³ is provided with a protective jacket n'
for preventing the overheating of the air on its long passage in contact therewith.
The flame of the burner is regulated or extinguished by means of a cock o'; a
folding shade may also be provided as indicated for covering up the light.
If preferred, the air supply for the lamp can be taken from the interior of the
carriage; for this purpose the chimney which forms the lower part of the lamp
casing is dispensed with, as is also the upper entrance for the air at o.
The above described constructions of regenerative lamps may be equally well
employed in combination with burners of other kinds than the flat flame burner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a regenerative lamp for railway carriages, tramway and other vehicles, the
construction of the reflector f substantially as described and shewn at Figs. 1 and 2 of
the drawings, so arranged as to cause the air supply to come to a quiescent
condition in the outer globe before entering the regenerator, whereby the steadiness
of the flame is insured.
2. In a regenerative lamp for vehicles, the combination of the regenerator R with
the reflector and chimney a² substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1
and 2 of the drawings, whereby the regenerator is rendered separable from the other
parts for facilitating the lighting of the lamp, and the automatic adjustment in position
of the burner.
3. In a regenerative lamp for vehicles, the arrangement herein described with
reference to Fig. 5 for fixing the inner and outer globes T and 1, whereby they may be
readily removed and replaced.
4. In a regenerative lamp for vehicles, the use of feet or supports n on the
regenerator for protecting the bottom thereof when it is placed on the ground or
other surface.
5. In a regenerative lamp for vehicles, the use of feet or supports m on the reflector
for protecting the inner globe T when the reflector is placed on the ground or other
surface.
6. In a regenerative lamp for vehicles, the construction of the reflector with
passages in its lower part through which the air from the outer globe / enters the
regenerator R at a lower level than the lower end of the passage b' of the regenerator,

page_text: for the purpose of insuring a better supply of air to the flame, as described with
reference to Fig. 1.
7. In a regenerative lamp for vehicles, the use of a conical cap surrounding the
chimney, constituting therewith an ejector for increasing the draught, substantially as
described with reference to Fig. 1.
8. In a regenerative lamp for vehicles, the use of a hood enclosing the upper
chimney and provided with escape apertures, the said hood serving to protect the
outlet openings of the upper chimney against the action of external atmospheric
currents, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 5.
9. In a regenerative lamp for vehicles, the construction of burner and support,
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, whereby
the correct position of the burner for obtaining a horizontal flame is automatically
obtained.
10. In a regenerative lamp for vehicles, forming openings in the bottom of the
reflector through which an air current passes down to the upper surface of the flame,
so that this may be well spread when the gas supply is not fully turned on, substan-,
tially as described.
11. In a regenerative lamp for vehicles, the use of an opening formed in the bottom
of the reflector above the burner, connected by a small tube with the chimney for
conducting the products of combustion into the chimney and preventing the reflector
from being blackened by the smoke, substantially as described.
12. The general arrangement of regenerative lamp for vehicles herein described
with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.
13. The modified construction of the regenerative lamp for vehicles herein described
with reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings.
Dated this 20th day of January 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.