IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED AIR AND GAS BURNERS TO INCREASE THE ILLUMINATING AND HEATING POWER OF GAS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Lewis, of Safe Harbour, Arbour Square, Stepney,
in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COMBINED AIR AND GAS BURNERS TO INCREASE THE ILLUMINATING AND
HEATING POWER OF GAS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Lewis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th April 1881.
JAMES LEWIS, of Safe Harbour, Arbour Square, Stepney, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED AIR AND GAS BURNERS TO INCREASE
THE ILLUMINATING AND HEATING POWER OF GAS."
This Invention relates to improvements in combined air and gas burners,
whereby the illuminating and heating power of the gas burnt is greatly increased.
For this purpose, according to one method of carrying out my Invention, I find
it advantageous to use what is known as an argand burner, or a burner which
produces a circular or other shaped hollow flame, in order that a current of
atmospheric air (or it may be any suitable gas) may be injected by a pipe (suitably
arranged in combination with the burner) into the centre of such hollow flame in
a similar manner to that which is generally known as the "Bunsen burner," or in
like manner to a blow pipe.
Upon the end of the burner I mount a cage made of platinum wire gauze, into
which the gas jet or flame projects when the gas is lighted. At first very little
light is afforded, but when the wire gauze becomes highly heated (as it will be in
a short time after the gas is lit), the combined air and gas will be so acted upon
by the intense heat of the wire gauze as to effect its more perfect combustion, a
brilliant light and intense heat being the result.
In place of making the combustion chamber of platinum wire gauze, any other
suitable metallic wire or finely perforated surfaces or plates which will resist an
intense heat may be employed; or the cage or combustion chamber may be made
of any suitable metallic or mineral substance, such as plumbago, asbestos, or of fire
resisting lime, clay, earth, or compound.

page_text: Ordinary carburetted hydrogen gas and common atmospheric air may be used
for illuminating purposes, as above described; at the same time I do not limit
myself thereto, as other descriptions of gases or gases and air may be used in
combination for particular purposes for obtaining light and generating heat.
The air (heated if desired) may be injected into the gas flame and the perforated
combustion chamber (above or around the end of the gas burner) at varying
pressures, according to the size and character of the burner used, but find, that a
pressure of about 2 pounds on the square inch serves for forcing the air into the
flames of ordinary gas burners of the sizes in general use for illuminating
purposes.
The relative proportions of the combined air and gas consumed is about 1 of
gas to 2 of air, but this may be varied according to the size and character of the
burner, the supply of each being regulated as required by a tap or valve, as is well
understood.
The flames from petroleum and other lamps in which gas is generated may be
surrounded by a cage or enclosure of platina or other wire gauze, a current of air
being forced into the flame from a suitable reservoir, bellows, or other mechanical
contrivance to increase the illuminating and heating power of such gas lamps in
accordance with my improvements.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Lewis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th October
1881.
JAMES LEWIS, of Safe Harbour, Arbour Square, Stepney, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED AIR AND GAS BURNERS TO INCREASE
THE ILLUMINATING AND HEATING POWER OF GAS."
This Invention relates to improvements in combined air and gas burners,
whereby the illuminating and heating power of the gas burnt is greatly increased..
For this purpose, according to one method of carrying out my Invention, I find
it advantageous to use what is known as an argand burner, or a burner which
produces a circular or other shaped hollow flame, in order that a current of
atmospheric air (or it may be any suitable gas) may be injected by a pipe (suitably
arranged in combination with the burner) into the centre of such hollow flame in
a similar manner to that which is generally known as the "Bunsen burner," or in
like manner to a blow pipe.
Upon the end of the pipe I mount a cage made of platinum wire gauze, into
which the gas jet or flame projects when the gas is lighted. At first very little
light is afforded, but when the wire gauze becomes highly heated (as it will be in
a short time after the gas is lit), the combined air and gas will be so acted upon
by the intense heat of the wire gauze as to effect its more perfect combustion, a
brilliant light and intense heat being the result.
7.

page_text: In place of making the combustion chamber of platinum wire gauze any other
suitable metallic wire or finely perforated surfaces or plates which will resist an
intense heat may be employed; or the cage or combustion chamber may be made
of any suitable metallic or mineral substance, such as plumbago, asbestos, or of fire
resisting clay, earth, or compound.
Ordinary carburetted hydrogen gas and common atmospheric air may be used
for illuminating purposes, as above described; at the same time I do not limit
myself thereto, as other descriptions of gases or gases and air may be used in
combination for particular purposes for obtaining light and generating heat.
The air (heated if desired) may be injected into the gas flame and the perforated
combustion chamber (above or around the end of the gas burner) at varying
pressures, according to the size and character of the burner used, but I find that a
pressure of about 2 pounds on the square inch serves for forcing the air into
the flames of ordinary gas burners of the sizes in general use for illuminating
purposes.
The relative proportions of the combined air and gas consumed is about 1 of gas
to 2 of air, but this may be varied according to the size and character of the
burner, the supply of each being regulated as required by a tap or valve, as is well
understood.
The flames from petroleum and other lamps in which gas is generated may be
surrounded by a cage or enclosure of platina or other wire gauze, a current of air
being forced into the flame from a suitable reservoir, bellows, or other mechanical
contrivance to increase the illuminating and heating power of such gas lamps in
accordance with my improvements.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into practice, I will now proceed to describe the Drawing hereto annexed, which
shows a combined air and gas burner arranged and constructed so as to consume
air and gas combined under pressure in accordance with my Invention.
a is a cage or cap (mounted on the end of the pipe a¹) made of fine platina wire
gauze, and forming a combustion chamber for the mixture of air and gas conducted
into it by the pipes a¹ and b. The air or the gas, or both, may be forced at a
suitable pressure into either of the pipes a or b, and if forced into the central
pipe b an induced current of air may be drawn in through the branch pipe a², or
otherwise. The air and gas becomes intimately mixed or combined before it
reaches the cage or combustion chamber a, which becomes highly heated, and
when in an incandescent state transmits a brilliant light, at the same time
developing great heat, which may be allowed to radiate or be conducted away for
heating and ventilating purposes.
I have only considered it necessary to show a simple form of burner for con-
suming air and gas combined in accordance with my Invention, but it will be
evident that the same may be greatly varied without departing from the true
character of my Invention, and I would here remark that when it is desired to
apply my improved air and gas burner to heating purposes alone the combustion
chamber may be composed or constructed either of platina wire or of other metals,
earth, or other materials, as previously stated, which will resist the temperature to
which they may be subjected for heating purposes, without being melted or
destroyed thereby. The pressure of the air or gas in the application of my
improvements to heating, ventilating, and other purposes, except lighting, must be
regulated to suit the particular purpose to which the application is made, the metal
or the materials of which the burner or combustion chamber is composed being
also such as will suit the particular purpose to which it is applied; but in cases
where an intense heat is required to be applied to any particular purpose, then
platina wire gauze or its allied metals or fire resisting earths or minerals must be
employed for the burner or combustion chamber.
The form of burner or combustion chamber which I employ (of whatever.
material it is made) would in all cases correspond in character or construction
with that described and shown in the Drawing annexed; viz., a chamber formed or

page_text: surrounded with porous or very finely perforated surfaces, the air and gas previously
combined being forced under pressure into the burner or combustion chamber,
wherein the combined air and gas is caused to impart an intense heat to the porous
or perforated surfaces of the burner or combustion chamber, whereby very perfect
combustion of the combined air and gas is effected.
In consquence of the combustion being so complete, as is well known, all noxious
and deleterious products are prevented by my combined air and gas burner; its
application to various useful purposes is thus rendered available, whereas the
ordinary well known air and gas burner is not applicable to such purposes, owing
to the noxious vapours and gases resulting therefrom.
For instance, my improved method of burning air and gas, combined under
pressure, combined with my incandescent burner, is very suitable for applying heat
to conservatories, hot houses, cooking apparatus, and other like purposes where the
noxious gases evolved by the ordinary methods of consuming gas precludes its use
for such purposes.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice, I would remark that I am aware that platinum
has before been used in combination with certain gases for producing heat and
light by special arrangements of apparatus, I therefore make no claim to its use
and application for these purposes, except in the manner previously described, nor
do I claim any part of the apparatus (previously described) separately, which is
well known and in common use, but what I claim is,-
The combination of parts forming improved burners supplied with gas and air
under pressure, and constructed and used as and for the purpose as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Lewis, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
EDWARD BLAKE,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
W.C.
JAMES LEWIS. (L.S.)