Year: 1887

page_text: I, THOMAS GORDON, of the corner of Twenty-first Street and Washington Avenue
Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, United States
of America, Mechanical 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 Burners or Lamps wherein the heat of the
products of combustion from a downwardly burning flame is imparted to the air
supply for the purpose of increasing the illuminating power of the flame.
An annular burner, consisting preferably of a number of small tubes or passages
descending at an angle towards a common centre from an annular gas chamber into
which the combustible gas passes, has within its central space a Regenerative Chamber
which communicates at the top, with a passage of larger diameter, leading to the
chimney. This regenerative chamber serves for the upward passage of the products
of combustion which pass into it from the bottom of the flame at its lower end, and are
drawn upward through it by the draught. On the outside of the central regenerative
chamber, and inside of the burner, is a second chamber, open at its lower end, and
having small openings at its upper end, connecting with the chimney, and openings
through its outer wall, through which air gains entrance to said chamber, which
becomes heated by conduction and radiation from the heat given off from the central
chamber, and passes downward through the chamber on its way to the inner surface
of the flame of the burner. Surrounding this air chamber, and between its outer wall
and the inner wall of the gas chamber, is a chamber which communicates at its upper
end with passages leading to the outer atmosphere and to the inner air chamber, and at
its lower end, communicates with the spaces or openings between the gas tubes through
which the air is allowed to pass downward and is carried to the outer surface of the
flame.
As the flame is drawn inward directly over the bottom of the inner chamber, it is
necessary to carry the latter downward to such a distance as to afford the desired
length of flame; and for this purpose, I fit into the lower end of the central chamber
which terminates at a short distance below the burner, a separate thimble of refractory

page_text: material, and of a certain shape, which will readily withstand the high heat of the
flame at that point, and that can be renewed when it becomes deteriorated.
In order to produce the requisite upward draught in the central chamber, I form in
the passage leading therefrom to the chimney, a number of holes, as described above,
of sufficient capacity to admit a part of the products of combustion which, on the first
lighting of the lamp, flow upward through the middle chamber. By this arrangement,
when the lamp is first lighted, a part of the products of combustion, mixed with air
from the middle chamber, will pass upward through the chimney, and impart heat
thereto, by which means a draught will be induced in the central chamber, and after a
short interval of time, this draught will be sufficiently powerful to draw all the
products of combustion downward around the lower end, and upward through the
_central chamber.
The central flue or passage may consist of two separate pieces, as-described-above,
with the refractory thimble resting on an inward projection of the surface of said
chamber, or,
it may consist of three separate pieces as follows: The chamber may
have upon its outer surface at the lower end, two rims or ledges, of different diameters,
the lower one supporting the refractory thimble, which, in this case should be made
bell mouthed at its lower end, and having a ledge on its inner surface at the
end;
upper
and a deflector should bo provided, which should rest upon the upper ledge and
surround the upper end of the refractory thimble; or, the whole flue or passage may
consist of a single piece of refractory material, its outer surface having the forms of
either of the above described arrangements, and so attached to the lamp as to he
readily removed for repairs, or renewal.
The burner tubes extend into the gas chamber, and take their supply of gas from
-the centre of the chamber, or from that side fartliest removed from the-regenerative
chamber; and this is so arranged as to prevent the fouling of said tubes. The central
regenerative chamber of the lamp may be instantaneously removed, and after having
been thus removed, may be replaced with facility, it being one of the principal objects
of my invention, to construct a lamp having a regenerative chamber and flame
deflector which may be detached and replaced without in any way disturbing or
disarranging the other parts of the lamp. In this form of construction, the gas
chamber is made in two parts,-to the upper one, are attached the gas supply pipes
and the globe holder, while to the lower half, are attached the gas tubes of the burner
and the outside flame deflector. This lower half of the burner, may, however be cast
all in one piece, leaving the spaces for the supply of air to the outer surface of the
flame, open, and drilling through the ribs thus formed, to provide the necessary
passages for the gas. The outer flame deflector is attached to the lower or tubular
section of the gas chamber in such a manner as to be instantly removable; and, after
having been thus removed, may be replaced with facility, and this constitutes an
important feature of my invention.
The outer flame deflector is perforated through its lower face, between its sinallest
circumference, and that portion which is located adjacent to the inner surface of the
globe, the object of which is, to provide a current of air upon the inner surface of
the globe, which serves to prevent it from becoming overheated; it also aids in
controlling the lower ends of the flame.
The course taken by the flame in this lamp, is carefully directed by the arrangement
of the flame deflectors; the inner deflector, which is part of, or may be attached to
the central regenerative chamber, is arranged some distance below the outer deflector,
and this arrangement causes the flame to assume a spheroidal shape, and enables me to
produce a large amount of flame surface within a comparatively small sized globe.
The refractory thimble above described, I prefer to make either bell mouthed at its
lower end when suspended from the outside of the central chamber, or bell shaped at
both ends when suspended from the inside of, the said chamber.
1
For certain applications of the lamp, I shall connect the gas supply pipes to the
crown of the gas chamber and suspend the lamp thereby, while, in other cases, the gas
supply may be introduced at the side of said chamber, and other means provided for
supporting the lamp.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding parts are designated by
similar letters.
Figure 1 is a vertical half section of a lamp showing the relation of all the parts
necessary to produce a working lamp.
Figure 2 is a half section and elevation of a lamp when provided with an
ornamental casing, and also showing the arrangement by which the gas supply may be
introduced.
Figure 3 is a horizontal half section on the line of Figure 2 and
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the methods of supporting the central flue and the outside
flame deflector and globe holder.
Figure 5. is a horizontal cross section on line oo of Figure 4.
In the drawings A represents the central passage of the flue which may be connected
with the lamp in any suitable manner, provided it is so combined therewith as to be
readily detached and removed. One of the methods which I have used for attaching
and detaching the central flue, is best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.
In Figure 4, P designates the ports through which the heated air passes, to start the
draught in flue G. The projecting lugs are made of such size as to be readily
passed through the ports P. A groove is cut into lugs a on their lower faces, leaving
a projection lownward, as at Y, Figure 4.
On the inner surface of cone D, immediately at the base of flue G, ledges D' are
formed, having ports A', into which the downward projections on lugs a may pass,
thus securing the flue A in position, by means of which construction it is obvious that
the latter may be readily detached by lifting it from its bearings.
At the lower end of the chamber A, is the removable thimble of refractory material,
having an annular projection at its top, which rests upon the inwardly projecting lower
edge of the chamber A, (see Figure 4), so that it may be readily detached when the
latter is removed from the lamp; and for certain sizes of lamps, I shall construct this
part as follows. Around the lower edge of the flue A, a ledge is formed to support
the removable thimble of refractory material, and resting upon the upper edge of the
same, may be placed the flame deflector N, both of which may be readily detached
from the flue A when the latter is removed from the lamp.
Around the lower end of the flue A, is arranged the plate J, which has in its face,
perforations L. It may be secured in place, either by a rim I connecting with the
outer wall of the gas chamber, as in Figure 2, or by a bayonet joint, as in Figure 4;
in either case, it is readily removable.
The gas chamber B is located so that all parts thereof may be exposed to air of low
temperature around and above it is placed hood T, which directs the cold air against
its outer surface, thus tending to prevent it from being over-heated; from the base of
the gas chamber B. and descending therefrom at any suitable angle which will cause
them to converge towards the central flue A, are the tubes C, which extend into
the gas chamber B, so that they may receive their supply of gas from the coolest part
of the chamber.
Located between the flue A and the inner wall of the chamber B, is a cylinder H,
perforated at its upper end, to admit the air to the inner surface of the flame; it is
obvious that this may be made of different shapes, and I do not limit myself to a
cylinder. The ultimate objects thereof, are to prevent the escape of heat to the walls
of the gas chamber, as well as to confine said heat, and carry it back as quickly as
possible, to the flame; and for certain gases, its outer surface may be coated with non-
conducting material, below the perforations.
The flue G is secured to the rim cast on cone D, in any suitable manuer, and for
ornamental fixtures, a flue pipe may surround the same, and a column of air pass up
between them, to prevent discoloration of outer flue pipe.

page_text: the air to support combustion enters through the perforations in the outer casing T,
passes upward between the casing T and the outer wall of the gas chamber B, and
thence principally downward, as indicated by the arrows around the gas chamber B,
and the gas tubes C, to the flame. A small portion, however, will pass upward through
the holes P, to the chimney G, and another small column will pass downward
through the perforations L. in the deflector surrounding the flame, to prevent
overheating of the globe K. When the gas is first lighted at the lips of the burner
tubes C, the globe is closed, and the heat produced by the flame will at first rise, and
pass through the perforations P, into the chimney flue G, which will produce an
upward draught in the latter, greater than the openings P can supply, and a suction
will be produced in the flue A, which will cause the flame to turn down into the globe K,
and envelope the base of the flue A and the refractory flame thimble 0. The
products of combustion will then-pass-upward-through the walls of the flue A, and
impart heat to the walls thereof, which heat being taken up and carried back to the
flame, will add to the temperature thereof, and increase its brilliancy.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I claim is,
1. Constructing a gas burner with a removable regenerative chamber through which
the products-of-combustion pass upward, provided with means for readily attaching and
detaching it from the burner, as and for the purpose described.
2. In lamps wherein the products of combustion pass upward from the flame
through a central removable regenerative chamber, a cylindrical removable extension
of such chamber, constructed of heat resisting material, as and for the purpose
Edescribed.
3. In a regenerative lamp, the combination of a central regenerative chamber
through which the products of combustion pass upward, annular air heating passages
surrounding the central regenerative chamber through which the air to support
combustion passes downward, and an annular gas chamber surrounding the air heating
chambers provided with gas passages which converge towards the central regenerative
chamber.
4. The combination in a gas lamp of a central passage through which the products
of combustion pass upward, an annular air heating chamber surrounding the same, in
which the air is heated to a high temperature, an annular chamber surrounding said
chamber in which the air is heated to a somewhat lower temperature, an annular gas
chamber surrounding the said chamber of lower temperature provided with gas
passages which converge towards the central passage, and an enclosing globe or shade
as and for the purpose described.
5. A regenerative burner having an annular gas chamber provided with converging
gas passages, as and for the purpose described.
6. The arrangement of Gas Burners shown and described with reference to the
drawings annexed.
Dated this Twenty fifth day of March 1887.