IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS BIOwnG AND IN REGULATING THE COMBUSTION OF GAS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North
Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GAS BIOwnG AND IN REGULATING THE COMBUSTION OF GAS."-A com-
Sealed the 3rd August 1853, and dated the 3rd February 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry
Johnson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 3rd February 1853.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincolns Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
BURNERS AND IN REGULATING THE COMBUSTION OF GAS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in additions to and modifications of the
gas burners in ordinary use, whereby great regularity and eco-
nomy of combustion are obtained. Instead of employing two ori-
fices bored so as to converge as in the ordinary burner, four are

page_text: employed at nearly equal distances from each other. The aper-
tures converging by this arrangement, the gas is perfectly divided,
and absorbs the quantity of air necessary for its perfect com-
bustion, by which the same amount of gas will give a light of
much greater power than ordinarily. In order to prevent irre-
gularities in the combustion arising from the too sudden increase
of pressure or other cause, a regulator is employed consisting
of a small piece of hollow metal, screwed on the outside, to fit
into the thread of the screw in the interior of the gas pipe, furnished
with a dome in which is a horizontal groove for the purpose of hold
ing a washer of india-rubber or similar material. The lower part of
the piece of hollow metal is pierced with a number of holes so as to
permit the free passage of the gas. When the gas has arrived at the
proper degree of pressure, a very slight vibration of the washer takes
place; but should the pressure become suddenly stronger, the washer
will press against and close or partially close the lower portion of
the tube, of the burner, and by this means the stronger is the
pressure of the gas, the more effectually will the washer regulate
its passage.
It is obvious that various forms of apparatus may be employed for
the purposes of this regulator, the main feature being the elastic
washer, which in some cases may be formed of very thin metal.
These regulators are equally applicable to all descriptions of burners
by appropriate modifications. To all burners a cap is proposed to
be applied when the light is not required, so as to keep the burners
and tubes, &c. free from all dust, &c.
:

page_text: of Middlesex, and of Glasgow,. North Britain, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of February, in the
year of our Lord One. thousand eight hundred and fifty-three,
in the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson,
Her special license that I; the said John Henry Johnson, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said.
John Henry Johnson, my.executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to timė
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should.
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within thn United
Kingdom of Great. Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS BURNERS AND
IN REGULATING THE COMBUSTION OF GAS," being a communication to me.
from a foreigner residing abroad, upon the condition (amongst.
others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, by an instrument in
writing under. my hand and seal, 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 John Henry Johnson, do
hereby declare.the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner.
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked.
thercon, that is to say.:
The said. Invention relates, first, to an improved construction
or arrangement of gas burner; and second, to the regulation of the
supply of gas to the burner, by means of a diaphragm valve placed
either within the tube which conveys the gas to the burner, or
within the body of the burner itself. The improvements comprised
in this Invention consist in the regulation and economising of the

page_text: combustion of the gas; and in order to obtain this double advantage,
a simple modification of the ordinary burner, ordinarily known on
the Continent as the "Manchester burner," is employed, the lower
portion of the same, or the pipe to which it is attached, being fitted
with a small regulating diaphragm or valve.
The various modifications of this arrangement are fully detailed in
the annexed Sheet of Drawings. Figures 1, and 2, on the Sheet of
Drawings, represent a vertical section, and corresponding plan of the
improved "Manchester burner," drawn to a scale of three times the
natural size. The ordinary Manchester burner is composed, as is well
known, of a short cast iron tube, closed at one end, and having two
converging cylindrical perforations formed in it for the egress of the
gas. The improved burner, shewn in Figures 1, and 2, differs slightly
from the ordinary burner; but this difference is especially important,
since it effects a great saving in the consumption of gas. It consists
simply in the employinent of four perforations A, A, in place of only
two as commonly used. By this arrangement, the gas is thoroughly
distributed through the four apertures, thereby taking up a suffi-
ciently large quantity of air for effecting its perfect and total com-
bustion, and consequently giving a much more powerful and brilliant
light for a certain quantity of gas.
Figure 3, represents a vertical section of this improved burner,
with the tube and regulator attached, and drawn full size; Figure
4, is an enlarged vertical section of the regenerator detached;
and Figure 5, is a plan of the same, with the diaphragm removed.
The burner A, is fitted in the ordinary manner to the upper end of
the tube B, which is screwed internally at its lower extremity to
receive the regulator C. This regulator consists of a small metal
plug D, fitted with a disc E, of caoutchouc or other suitable flexible
inaterial. This disc overhangs the four apertures F, F, in the
upper portion of the plug through which the gas passes on its
way to the burner. The action of this regulator is as follows: -
Supposing the gas to be at its ordinary pressure, the diaphragm
will not be sensibly acted upon; but should the pressure in-
crease to an undue extent, the impinging of the gas against

page_text: the under side of the diaphragm E, will elevate it, and cause
it to come in contact either with the sides of the sinall chamber in
which it is enclosed, or with the mouth of the tube B, thereby re-
ducing the supply until the pressure diminishes, when the elasticity
of the diaphragm will cause it to assume its normal position as
shewn in the Drawing. This diaphragm may be made either slightly
bent downwards, as shewn in the Drawing, Figure 3, or perfectly hori-
zontal, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 4.
Figure 6, is a vertical section of a burner and tube with the re-
gulator attached, drawn full size; Figure 7, is a corresponding ho-
rizontal section of the same through the junction of the burner
and tube; Figure 8, is an enlarged vertical section of the regulator
detached; and Figure 9, is a plan of the same, with the diaphragm
removed. In this arrangement the junction of the burner A, with
the tube B, is effected by means of an intermediate short tube C,
which is screwed into the interior of the burner A, and tube
B, conjointly. By this means a larger bore may be obtained in
the burner and tube B, thereby greatly facilitating the making
of the same, by allowing more room for the tools to be brought
into action. Two small pins D, D, are screwed into the upper
portion of the regulator E, for the purpose of adjusting its height
inside the tube B, by bearing against the sides of the short conical
portion F.
Figures 10, and 11, represent in vertical section and plan of the
full size, an arrangement whereby the regulator may be placed in the
body of the burner itself, instead of in a supplimentary tube as before
described; and Figures 12, and 13, represent a detached vertical
section and plan of the lower or regulating portion of the burner
on an enlarged scale, with the diaphragm removed. The burner
is made in two pieces A, and B, united by a conical joint.
The lower portion B, of the burner is closed at its upper ex-
tremity, which is perforated by four holes C, C, for the passage
of the gas into the upper portion thereof.. The diaphragm D, is
retained by a small screw E, which is screwed into the centre
of the lower portion of the burner. As. this diaphragın overhangs

page_text: or protrudes beyond the holes C, C, the action of the gas
upon it will be precisely the same as in the regulator herein-
before described.
"
.
Figure 14, represents the application of a guard or cap A, to a
burner, to prevent the entrance of dust or other foreign matter
into the perforations of the burner when not in use. The regula-
tor B, in this Figure is also shewn in section and plan at Figures
15, and 16. The diaphragm C consists of a disc of very thin and
pliable metal, known as tinsel. It is perforated in the centre, and is
passed over the top of the plug of the regulator. A small screw D,
with an overhanging head, is then inserted into the top of the
plug, thereby preventing the displacement of the disc.
:
Figure 17, is a vertical section of another arrangement of burner,
somewhat similar to the burner first described; Figure 18,
is a plan of the upper surface of the burner; and Figure 19, is a
transverse section of the same through the screwed portion thereof,
shewing the internal arrangement. The upper portion of the
burner is divided into two smaller burners A, A, the faces of each
being inclined slightly towards each other, in order that the two
jets of gas may converge and form one large flame. The interior
of the burner has two small chambers B, B, drilled obliquely within
it, such chambers forming the bores of the two small burners A, A,
and thus constituting one large combined burner A¹. In order to
facilitate the drilling of these chambers, the screwed portion of the
burner is grooved at C, C, to admit of the entrance of the drill at
the required angle. The central angular portion of the burner
between the two chambers B, B, serves to diverge the current of gas
evenly into each, without materially destroying its velocity or pres-
sure...
Figures 20, and 21, represent in section and plan a burner of a
similar construction, with the exception of the application of a
third jet D, of the ordinary "bat wing" construction, which is
interposed between the burners A, A, making in all three converg-
ing jets of gas.
Figures 22 and 23, represent in vertical section and plan a

page_text: modification of the last-described burner; the centre burner being
simply replaced by an air tube A, soldered, brazed, or otherwise
attached to or formed in the body of the burner itself.
This tube is fitted into the upper portion B, of the burner, and
is made conical at its lower extremity, to fit air-tight into a corre-
sponding conical aperture in the lower cap piece C, which is screwed
on to the body of the burner. To this cap piece is soldered, brazed,
or otherwise connected, the diverging tube D, which conducts the
gas to the burner. By this construction of burner a more perfect
combustion will be obtained, and consequently a saving of gas
effected, since a greater amount of light may be obtained from a
certain given quantity of gas turned on. It will be obvious to the
practical man, that any of the herein-before described regulators may
be applied with facility to any existing burner, a very slight altera.
tion being required.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of
the said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be
used or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that I
do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrange-
ments which I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many
variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the prin-
ciples or main features of the said Invention. But what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of gas burners
gas regulators as herein-before described.
and
Second, the application and use of gas burners. with double jets, as
detailed and described in reference to Figures 1, and 2, of the
Drawings.
Third, the application and use of gas burners with two or more
converging jets, as herein-before described in reference to Figures
17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, of the Drawings.
Fourth, the application and use of gas burners with converging
jets in conjunction with a central aperture for the admission of a
current of air, in the manner and for the purpose herein-before
described in reference to Figures 22, and 23, of the Drawings

page_text: And fifth, the application and use of regulators fitted either in the
interior of the burners themselves, or in the pipes leading thereto,
in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Third day of August,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)