IMPROVEMENTS IN INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF GASES, AND IN BURNERS AND REGULATING APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firm of A. M and
W. Clark of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents.
for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING
POWER OF GASES, AND IN BURNERS AND REGULATING APPARATUS FOR USE
IN CONNECTION THEREWITH Communicated to him from abroad by Victor
Popp of Paris, France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th September 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents IMPROVEMENTS IN INCREASING
THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF GASES, AND IN BURNERS AND REGULATING APPARATUS
FOR USE IN CONNECTION THEREWITH [Communicated to him from abroad by
Victor Popp of Paris, France].
This Invention relates to an improved system of lighting by mixing air or other
gaseous supporter of combustion with illuminating gas or other hydrocarbon gas or
vapor in suitable proportions and burning the mixture at a suitable pressure in a
burner of special construction hereinafter described, whereby an intense and steady
light resembling the electric light in whiteness and brilliancy is obtained.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I will proceed to
describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings which give several
examples of the arrangements of the apparatus
Figure 1 represents an elevation and Figure 2 a central vertical section of the
burner which I employ. Figures 3 and 4 are horizontal sections taken on lines 1,
2, 3 and 4 Figure 3 respectively. Figure 5 is a vertical section of a modified
arrangement of burner, and Figure 6 a horizontal section of the same on line 5, 6,
Figure 5. Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the junction of the air and gas
pipes. Figure 8 represents the arrangement for controlling the supply of air and
gas. Figure 9 represents a vertical section of a pressure regulator for the air
supply..
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all these Figures.

page_text: According to this Invention the supporter of combustion is mixed with the
combustible gas before its arrival at the burner, the mixture being effected by
leading the tube b by which air is supplied at suitable pressure into the gas supply
pipe a Figure 7, whereby the air current carries the gas along and becomes mixed
with it before arriving at the burner. The air and gas supply may be regulated by
means of two cocks on pipes a and b having two toothed wheels c, d, upon their
plugs geared with the same pinion e furnished with a handle f and index g moving
over a graduated scale h denoting the number of burners which can be supplied
in the different positions of the handle f.
The burner which may be readily adapted to existing gas fittings is constructed
as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4. It consists of a central tube screwing upon the
pipe by which the gaseous mixture is supplied. Upon the tube i is adjustably
screwed a hollow cup K of metal. or refractory material which supports a cap of
fireclay of suitable form .according to the intended use of the burner the flanged
base of this thimble shaped cap is perforated with a ring of holes m as small
and numerous as possible and the sides of the cap are pierced with oblique
perforations n.
The top of the tube i is provided with four small knobs or projections upon
which rests a copper or other cone o soldered to said tube at a point below the
vertical perforations m in the base of the refractory thimble Z.
The cone o is perforated with small holes p at its lower end, the sum of whose
areas is at least equal to the area of the tube.
l
The refractory thimble is surrounded by an envelope 9 of platinum, wire
netting, or fabric, or other refractory material of the same form. The gaseous
mixture arriving by pipe i escapes at the upper orifices r and passes down against
the interior surface of the copper cone o, out at orifices p and escapes through the
orifices in the cap at which it is burned. The cap is thereby raised to a high
temperature and the platinum wire sheath becoming incandescent, radiates the
light, the gaseous mixture coming first in contact with the copper cone and then
with the refractory cap becoming raised to an exceedingly high temperature before
it is consumed. The form and dimensions of the several parts of the burner may
be varied and the cone o be dispensed with, according to the desired intensity of
the light.
In the modified burner represented in Figures 5 and 6, the metal cone and the
fire clay cap are truncated. The tube is provided with a number of small
perforations at its upper end, the sum of whose areas is at least equal to the area
of the tube and by which the gaseous mixture is distributed within the chamber k.
Upon the upper closed end of the tube is fixed a hollow cylinder o of fireclay closed
at the lower and open at its upper end. A refractory cap / surrounds the cylinder o
and rests by its base upon cup k. This flanged base is perforated with small
vertical holes m and upon it is fixed a platinum wire cage or envelope q. An
annular space t is left between land o for the passage of the gaseous mixture
which on escaping from the orifices r in tube i, passes over the exterior surface of o
whose interior is already heated by the flame which has not passed through the
wire gauze and has been forced by the pressure of the mixture into the interior
of o. The gaseous mixture before passing through the annular space t thus reaches
such a temperature that on escaping from this orifice, its combustion is greatly
promoted.
The compressed air supplied to the gas supply pipe as above described, may be
made to pass through any suitable pressure regulator, but it is preferred to employ
the arrangement represented in Figure 9. This apparatus consists mainly of a
receiver 1 divided into two compartments 2. 3, and of a meter.
The compart-
ment 2 contains air compressed by any known means. This I term the high
pressure receiver. The compartment 3 contains air at the necessary pressure for
mixing with the inflammable gas and also the meter; this I term the low pressure
receiver and meter. The regulated pressure of air for the mixture which is
constant whatever be the rate of consumption, is obtained by means of an

page_text: apparatus intermediate of the high and low pressure receivers. This is the regu-
lator proper; it may be fixed either upon the receiver or at any other point. It
consists of a lower receiver 4 containing a hollow float 5 dipping into mercury.
The float has a small central orifice b in the bottom for equalizing the level within
and without of the float, and upon the top of the float is fixed a cup 7 to hold
mercury whose weight maintains the float at a height determined according to the
desired pressure of air. A second receiver 8 or valve box is fixed on the top of
receiver 4 and is connected by a pipe 9 with the high pressure receiver 2 and by
another pipe 10 with the low pressure receiver 3. The rod 12 of float 5 passes up
into the valve box through a stuffing box at bottom thereof, and carries a valve
whose seat is placed above the orifice of pipe 9: The float rod 12 has a longitudinal
perforation of small diameter to allow of the pressure passing into the interior of
float 5.
The action of the pressure regulator is as follows:-Supposing the chamber 2 to
be filled with compressed air, and the chamber 3 with air at atmospheric pressure;
the quantity of mercury in the receiver 4 is such that the float will keep the valve
closed against its seat, but if the float is loaded by pouring a small quantity of
mercury into the cup 7, the float will sink and open the valve: The air at high
pressure will then pass into chamber 3 and also into the interior of the float
wherein the level of the mercury is depressed by the excess of pressure, the mercury
being forced out into receiver 4. The float is thereby caused to rise, close the
valve, and cut off the communication between the high and low pressures. If the
low pressure diminishes, it will also diminish in the interior of the float which
descends as the mercury rises therein and opens the valve to allow air at high
pressure to pass.
Any other kind of regulator may however be employed in lieu of that described
without departing from the principle of the Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 16th March 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the Firm of A, M, and W, Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Patent Agents IMPROVEMENTS IN INCREASING
<<
THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF GASES AND IN BURNERS AND REGULATING APPARATUS
FOR USE IN CONNECTION THEREWITH."
Victor Popp of Paris, France.
A communication to me from abroad by
This Invention relates to an improved system of lighting by mixing air or other
gaseous supporter of combustion with illuminating gas or other hydrocarbon gas or
vapor in suitable proportions and burning the mixture at a suitable pressure in a
burner of special construction hereinafter described, whereby an intense and steady
light resembling the electric light in whiteness and brilliancy is obtained.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I will proceed to
describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings which give examples of
arrangements of the apparatus. Figure 1 represents an elevation, and Figure 2 a
central vertical section of the burner which I employ. Figures 3 and 4 are
horizontal sections taken on lines 1-2, 3-4, Figure 3 respectively. Figure 5 is a
vertical section of a modified arrangement of burner, and Figure 6 a horizontal
section of the same on line 5-6 Figure 5. Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the
junction of the air and gas pipes. Figure 8 represents the arrangement for
controlling the supply of air and gas. Figure 9 represents a vertical section of a
pressure regulator for the air supply. The same letters of reference indicate the
same parts in all these figures.
According to this Invention the supporter of combustion is mixed with the
combustible gas before its arrival at the burner, the mixture being effected by
leading the tube b by which air is supplied at suitable pressure into the gas supply
pipe a, as shown in Figure 7, whereby the air current carries the gas along and
becomes mixed with it before arriving at the burner. The air and gas supply may
be regulated in various ways, for example by two cocks on pipes a and b having
two toothed wheels cd upon their plugs geared with the same pinion e furnished
with a handle and index g moving over a graduated scale h denoting the number
of burners which can be supplied in the different positions of the handle f.
The burner which may be readily adapted to existing gas fittings is constructed
as shown in Figures 1. 2. 3. 4. It consists of a central tube i screwing upon the
pipe by which the gaseous mixture is supplied. Upon the tube i is adjustably
screwed a cup k of metal or refractory material which supports a cap of fireclay
in the shape of a thimble or of other suitable form, according to the intended use of
the burner. The flanged base of this thimble shaped cap is perforated with a
ring of suitable holes m as small and numerous as possible and the sides of the cap
are pierced with oblique perforations n. The top of the inlet tube i for the gaseous
mixture is provided with four small knobs or projections upon which rests a copper
or other cone o soldered to said tube at a point below the vertical perforations m in
the base of the refractory thimble 1. The cone o is perforated at its lower end
with small holes p, the sum of whose areas is at least equal to the area of the tube.
The refractory thimble is surrounded by an envelope g of platinum wire netting
or fabric, or other refractory material of the same form. The gaseous-mixture
arriving by pipe i escapes at the upper orifices r and passes down against the
interior surface of the copper cone o, out at orifices p, and escapes through the

page_text: orifices in the cap at which it is burned. The cap is thereby raised to a high
temperature and the platinum wire sheath becoming incandescent radiates the
light, the gaseous mixture by coming first in contact with the copper cone and
then with the refractory cap, becoming raised to an exceedingly high temperature
before it is consumed. The form and dimensions of the several parts of the burner
may be varied and the cone o be dispensed with, according to the desired intensity
of the light.
In the modified burner represented in Figures 5 and 6, the metal cone and the
fireclay cap are truncated. The tube i is provided with a number of small perfo-
rations r at its upper end, the sum of whose areas is at least equal to the area of
the tube, and by which the gaseous mixture is distributed within the chamber k.
Upon the upper closed end of the tube is fixed a eup or inverted thimble o of
fireclay. A refractory cone surrounds the cup o and rests by its base. upon
cup k. This flanged base is perforated with small vertical holes m and upon it is
fixed a platinum wire cage or envelope q. An annular space t is left between
cone and cup o for the passage of the gaseous mixture which on escaping from
the orifices in tube i, passes over the exterior surface of o whose interior is
already heated by the flame which has not passed through the wire-gauze and has
been forced by the pressure of the mixture into the interior of o.
The gaseous
mixture before passing through the annular space t thus attains such a temperature
that on escaping from this orifice its combustion is greatly promoted.
The compressed air supplied to the gas supply pipe as above described may be
made to pass through any suitable pressure regulator, but it is preferred to employ
the arrangement represented in Figure 9. This apparatus consists mainly of a
receiver 1 divided into two compartments 2. 3, and of a meter. The compartment 2
contains air compressed by any known means. This I term the high pressure
receiver. The compartment 3 contains air at the necessary pressure for mixing
with the inflammable gas and also the meter; this I term the low pressure receiver
and meter. The regulated pressure of air for the mixture which is constant
whatever be the rate of consumption, is obtained by means of an apparatus inter-
mediate of the high and low pressure receivers. This is the regulator proper; it
may be fixed either upon the receiver or at any other point. It consists of a lower
receiver 4 containing a hollow float 5 dipping into mercury. The float has a small
central orifice 6 in the bottom for equalising the level within and without of the
float, and upon the top of the float is fixed a cup 7 to hold mercury whose weight
maintains the float at a height determined according to the desired pressure of air.
A second receiver 8 or valve box is fixed on the top of receiver 4 and is connected
by a pipe 9 with the high pressure receiver 2, and by another pipe 10 with the low
pressure receiver 3. The rod 12 of float 5 passes up into the valve box through
a stuffing box at bottom thereof and carries a valve whose seat is placed above the
orifice of pipe 9. The float rod 12 has a longitudinal perforation of small diameter
to allow of the pressure passing into the interior of float 5.
The action of the pressure regulator is as follows:-Supposing the chamber 2 to
be filled with compressed air, and the chamber 3 with air at atmospheric pressure,
the quantity of mercury in the receiver 4 is such that the float will keep the valve
closed against its seat, but if the float is loaded by pouring a small quantity of
mercury into the cup 7, the float will sink and open the valve. The air at high
pressure will then pass into chamber 3 and also into the interior of the float
(through the perforation in the rod) wherein the level of the mercury is depressed
by the excess of pressure, the mercury being forced out into receiver 4. The float
is thereby caused to rise, close the valve, and cut off the communication between
the high and low pressures. If the low pressure diminishes, it will also diminish.
in the interior of the float which descends as the mercury rises therein and opens
the valve to allow air at high pressure to pass.
Any other kind of regulator may be employed in lieu of that described without
departing from the principle of the Invention.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing

page_text: +
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is.
1st. The means of effecting the preliminary mixing of the air or other supporter
of combustion, and the combustible gas, and of regulating the proportions of the.
mixture such means consisting in the pipes branched, the one into the other, and
provided with stop cocks geared with and operated by the same handle, and pro-
vided with an index and scale substantially as herein described and represented in
Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings.
2nd. The construction of the burner for burning a mixture of gas and air, and
consisting of a chamber k, a perforated cap 1, an external envelope of platinum
wire g. and an internal copper cone o fixed on the inlet pipe, all combined and
arranged for operation, substantially as shown and described.
: ..
3rd. In a burner for burning gas or a gaseous mixture, the combination with the
inlet tube i provided with a chamber k, of a copper cone enclosing the mouth of
pipe and forcing the gases to descend within it and escape at the orifices at
bottom, of a perforated refractory cap and a reticulated envelope 9 of platinum
which by becoming incandescent adds to the brilliancy of the light.
4th. In a burner for burning gas or a gaseous mixture, the combination with the
inlet tube i pierced with holes rat its upper end, of the chamber k fixed on said
tube and receiving the gas or mixture of air and gas, of a thimble shaped cup o and
of a refractory cone surrounding said cup and leaving an intervening passage t in
passing through which the gas is heated, and of a platinum wire cage or envelope g,
substantially as described and illustrated in Figures. 5 and 6.
5th. In a system of lighting by a gaseous mixture, the construction and employ-
ment of the pressure regulator, consisting of high and low. pressure receivers
combined with a pressure regulator consisting of a mercury chamber, loaded hollow
float, hollow valve rod, valve, and valve chamber communicating with the high and
low pressure receivers, the float and valve being combined and operating to auto-
matically control the passage of air or other gas from the high to the low pressure
receiver, its expansion down to the desired pressure being regulated by the load
upon the float, substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 9.
In Witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark have hereunto set my
hand and seal this sixteenth day of March, A.D. 1883.