A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF GAS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, THOMAS THORP of Whitefield in the county of Lancaster, Architect do
bereby declare the nature of my invention for A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR REGISTERING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF GAS to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for registering the illuminating power of Gas
and its object is to obtain a continuous register of the Illuminating power of Gas
by means of a photograph of the height of a flame burning gas supplied under
constant pressure or in constant quantity.
To. effect this I connect with the gas supply, a diaphragm, liquid or other
suitable governor, but by preference I use a diaphragm governor of the type for
maintaining an equable flow under varying pressures, but in which the valve for
closing the outlet is detached from the diaphragm and rests loosely on the central
metal portion of the same. To this governor I fix a steatite or other suitable jet
or argand burner.
On one side & at some distance from the jet or argand burner I place an opaque
screen or one opaque for the chemical rays of light only in which is fixed a lens ;
behind the opaque screen and in a line with the lens and burner is a driven drum
on which sensitised paper is placed, this drum is at such a distance from the lens
that the image of the flame formed by the lens is sharply defined upon the surface
of the sensitised paper.
For the purpose of preventing the access of extraneous light to the sensitised
paper, I preferably enclose the driven drum in a second & larger drum, having a
narrow slit down the side exposed to the lens & through which only the image
formed by the lens can pass to the sensitised paper.
When the apparatus is in action a fresh surface of the sensitised paper is
continually being brought to the point on which the image of the flame is thrown
reversed and on this latent image being developed and fixed in any of the usual
ways suitable for the purpose, the portion that has been brought directly under
the image will be found to be dark, the line of demarcation showing the various
heights to which the flame has attained.

page_text: Now, as the illuminating power of gas for many years has been deduced from the
height of flames burning under conditions similar to those herein mentioned, and
as the driven drum is actuated by clockwork or other suitable means a permanent
and continuous register of the illuminating power is obtained.
"
Instead of the driven drum & sensitised paper what are known as "Dry plates
or other similar and suitable plates may be used, which being carried by clockwork
or other means uniformly past the image, developed and fixed, may be used for the
production of one or more "positive" prints having the same characteristics as the
system herein before mentioned but which gives "negatives" only.

page_text: I, THOMAS THORP of Whitefield in the county of Lancaster, Architect do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR REGISTERING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF GAS 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 apparatus for registering the illuminating power of gas
& its object is to obtain a continuous register of the illuminating power of gas by.
means of a photograph of the height of a flame burning gas supplied under constant
pressure or in constant quantity.
To effect this I connect with the gas supply a diaphragm, liquid or other suitable
governor but by preference I use a diaphragm governor of the type for maintaining
an equable flow under varying pressures but in which the valve for closing the outlet
is detached from the diaphragm & rests loosely on the central portion of the same
To this governor I fix a steatite or other suitable jet burner on one side and at
some distance from the jet burner I place an opaque screen or one opaque for the
chemical rays of light only, in which is a lens. Behind the opaque screen and in a
line with the lens and burner is a driven drum on which sensitised paper is placed;
this drum is at such a distance from the lens that the image of the flame formed by
the lens is sharply defined upon the surface of the sensitised paper. For the
purpose of preventing the access of extraneous light to the sensitised paper I
preferably enclose the driven drum in a second and larger drum, having a narrow
slit down the side exposed to the lens and through which only the image formed by
the lens can pass to the sensitised paper. I preferably place the apparatus in a dark
room but under any circumstances I deprive the light falling upon the apparatus
of its chemical rays by means of ruby or other suitable glass or paper.
When the apparatus is in action a fresh surface of the sensitised paper is
continually being brought to the point on which the image of the flame is thrown
reversed and on the latent image being developed and fixed in any of the usual
ways suitable for the purpose, the portion that has been brought directly under the
image is found to be darkened, the line of demarcation showing the varous heights
to which the flame has attained.
'
Now, as the illuminating power of Gas for a long period has been deduced from
the height of jet flames burning under conditions similar to those herein mentioned
& as the driven drum is actuated by Clockwork or other similar means a permanent
register of the illuminating power of the Gas is obtained.
Instead of the driven drum and sensitised paper, what are known as "Dry plates "
or other similar plates may be used, which being carried uniformly past the image,
developed & fixed, may be used for the production of copies in the usual way and
any number of registers may thus be made.
And in order that my Invention may be understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the accompanying sheet of drawings referance being

page_text: had to the figures and letters thereon marked, similar letters referring to similar
parts throughout the several views.
Fig. 1. is partly an evelation and partly a sectional elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 2. is a sectional plan through A A
Fig. 3. is a sectional elevation of the Governor and gas flame.
In Figs. 1. 2. & 3 a is the body of the governor A, attached to the gas supply
pipe b, c is the flame burning from the orifice d e is the diaphragm of the
Governor, made of leather, skin or other suitable material, secured all round its
edge to the body of the Governor, f is a conical valve resting loosely on the central
portion of the diaphragm e which central-portion is preferably of metal, and pro-
jecting into the tubular hole, g. h. and h¹ are channels through which the Gas flows
from the under to the upper side of the diaphragm e, past the valve f, through
the gauze land so to the burler d, is a screw for regulating the quantity of
Gas passing through the channels h & h¹, k is a gauze chimney for preventing the
uneven rush of air to the flame c, m is a lens of such a kind as will project.the
image of the flame c sharply upon the sensitised paper n on the driven drum o,
pis a screen opaque for the chemical rays of light and in which the lens m'is fixed,
q is a drum larger than the driven drum o, having a narrow slit through which
the image of the flame c is projected on to the sensitised paper. The lid 8 and
driven drum o can be removed from the plate t upon which the drum rests, when it
is desired to renew the sensitised paper n on which the latent image is shown by
shaded lines is the clock for driving the drum o, but it may be driven by any
other suitable means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Baid
Invention and in what manner the same may be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The improved form of Governor A having a loose valve f, for maintaining an
equable flow of Gas under varying pressures as and for the purpose herein shown
and descirbed..
2. The combination of the jet flame c, whether in connection with a governor
supplying gas in constant quantity or with a governor supplying gas under constant
pressure, the lens m, sensitised paper n and driven drum o, as and for the purposes
herein shown and described.
3. The combination of the means substantially as herein shown and described for
obtaining a continuous register of the illuminating power of gas.