IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF BURNERS AND BLOW PIPES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Webster, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF BURNERS AND BLOW PIPES."
Sealed the 12th May 1863, and dated the 22nd November 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Webster at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
November 1862.
I, JAMES WEBSTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF BURNERS AND BLOW PIPES," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in the construction of burners and blow
pipes relates, in the first place, to a novel mode of arranging the several
parts of a burner, whereby oxygen gas may be supplied to the flame of a lamp
or burner for the purpose of more effectually consuming the carbon. This
part of the Invention is applicable to burners in which carburretted hydrogen
gas is consumed for illuminating or heating purposes, and also to burners in
which fixed oils or hydrocarbons are burnt for lighting purposes. In adapting
my Invention to this latter kind of lamp, in which cotton or other wicks are
employed, the burner should be made of a circular or annular form, such as
the ordinary argand burners of wick lamps. The oxygen gas is supplied to

page_text: the flame by a tube which passes up the centre of the argand burner, leaving
an annular passage round it for the admission of a current of atmospheric air,
which I have found to be necessary to ensure the proper action of the burner,
the current of oxygen gas not being alone sufficient to effect this object.. In
adapting the Invention to a gas burner the circular form of burner is also
employed, but instead of causing the hydrogen gas to issue from a circular
series of holes, as in ordinary argand gas burners, I prefer to construct the
burner, as in argand wick lamps, with an annular space for the passage of the
gas; and in order to modify its exit from the burner this annular space is
filled with vertical wires, between which the hydrogen will pass to the exit
aperture. The oxygen gas tube is placed in the centre of the burner as before,
and as this gas issues from its tube it impinges against a horizontal disc placed
at the top of a spindle, and is thereby deflected or directed into the flame of
ignited hydrogen. An oxy-hydrogen blow pipe is constructed somewhat upon
the same principle, that is, the hydrogen gas passes along an annular channel
filled with wire, while the oxygen passes along a central tube which, at its
outer extremity, is notched or indented. A nozzle is screwed on to the outer
or hydrogen tube, and is made to bear against the notched or indented end of
the oxygen tube. By this arrangement the two gases are made to commingle
just at the orifice of both and at the point of ignition.
Another improvement relates to a novel form of adjustable stop-cock for
regulating the supply of both gases. It will of course be understood that in
order to produce the maximum effect the gases must be supplied in given and
determinate proportions. The two gases are made to pass through separate
openings or passages made in the same cock, and these passages are properly
proportioned to each other, so that on turning the cock the two gases are
turned on in the required proportions.. Various modes of constructing these
passages may be devised, but I have found a convenient way of forming the
oxygen gas passage tube to form partly round the cock a groove of gradually
increasing width and depth, so as to enlarge the aperture for the passage of
the oxygen as the passage for the hydrogen is more or less, opened. An
adjusting screw for more or less closing the hydrogen passage is also adapted
to the burner. It will of course be obvious that this adjustable stop-cock is
applicable to the burner and blow pipe.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Webster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd May 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WEBSTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Webster, Her special license that I, the said James Webster,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Webster, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF BURNERS AND BLOW PIPES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said James Webster, 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 James Webster, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
My Invention of improvements in the construction of burners and blow
pipes relates, in the first place, to a novel mode of arranging the several parts
of a burner, whereby oxygen gas may be supplied to the flame of a lamp or
burner for the purpose of more effectually consuming the carbon. This part
of the Invention is applicable to burners in which carburetted hydrogen gas
is consumed for illuminating or heating purposes, and also to burners in which
fixed oils or hydrocarbons are burnt for lighting purposes.
In adapting my
Invention to this latter kind of lamp, in which cotton or other wicks are
employed, the burner should be made of a circular or annular form, such as

page_text: the ordinary argand burners of wick lamps. The oxygen gas is supplied to
the flame by a tube which passes up the centre of the argand burner, leaving
an annular passage round it for the admission of a current of atmospheric air,
which I have found to be necessary to ensure the proper action of the burner,
the current of oxygen gas not being alone sufficient to effect this object. In
adapting the Invention to a gas burner the circular form of burner is also
employed, but instead of causing the hydrogen gas to issue from a circular
'series of holes, as in ordinary argand gas burners, I prefer to construct the
burner, as in argand wick lamps, with an annular space for the passage of the
gas; and in order to modify its exit from the burner this annular space is
filled with vertical wires, between which the hydrogen will pass to the exit
aperture. The oxygen gas tube is placed in the centre of the burners before,
and as this gas issues from its tube it impinges against a horizontal disc placed
at the top of a spindle, and is thereby deflected or directed into the flame of
ignited hydrogen. An oxy-hydrogen blow pipe is constructed somewhat upon
the same principle, that is, the hydrogen gas passes along an annular channel
filled with wire, while the oxygen passes along a central tube which at its
outer extremity is notched or indented. A nozzle is screwed on to the outer
or hydrogen tube, and is made to bear against the notch or indented end of
the oxygen tube. By this arrangement the two gases are made to commingle
first at the orifice of both and at the point of ignition.
Another improvement relates to a novel form of adjustable, stop-cock for
regulating the supply of both gases. It will of course be understood that in
order to produce the maximum effect the gases must be supplied in given and
determinate proportions. The two gases are made to pass through separate
openings or passages made in the same cock, and these passages are properly
proportioned to each other, so that on turning the cock the two gases are
turned on in the required proportions. Various modes of constructing these
passages may be devised, but I have found a convenient way of forming the
oxygen gas passage to be to form partly round the cock a groove of gradually
increasing width and depth, so as to enlarge the aperture for the passage of
the oxygen as the passage for the hydrogen is more or less opened. An
adjusting screw for more or less closing the hydrogen passage is also adapted
to the burner. It will of course be obvious that this adjustable stop-cock is
applicable to the burner and blow pipe.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

page_text: passages for the two gases, namely, the carburetted hydrogen and oxygen..
(a, a,) is the passage for the oxygen gas, which is conducted to the burner
through the tube marked (b, b,) at which part the two gases are made to com-
mingle just at the orifice of both tubes and at the point of ignition. Figure 3.
is a plan shewing the oxygen tube before referred to, marked (6), and the
annular perforated disc, marked (c), through which the hydrogen gas issues.
Figure 4 is the burner which screws on to the outer or hydrogen tube,,
marked (d), which burner is shewn detached. Figures (5, 6, and 7) shew a
plan, elevation, and section of a burner which is formed in two parts, as will
be readily seen by referring to Figure (7), and which also shews an annular
passage or air way, as indicated by the arrow. The atmospheric air enters
this annular passage or air way through the holes seen in plan, Figure 5; this
air is admitted to ensure the proper action of the burner..
a
Figure 8 is a front elevation of a gas burner fitted for supplying oxygen and
hydrogen gas.in the same manner as described in the blow pipe, the 'hydrogen
pipe marked (e), and the oxygen pipe (f), the supply of the gases being
regulated by the stop-cock (9). (Figure 9) is merely plan of that part of
the burner marked (h, h,) the bottom of which is perforated, as shewn.
Figure 10 is a front view of an ordinary cotton or wick lamp; (i) is the
tube for conducting the oxygen gas up through the lamp to the burner,
and which pipe or tube is shewn in detached view at (Figures 11 and 12),
Figure (12) being a plan of (Figure 11). On the tube (i) is formed an annular
perforated ring (j) for the admission of fresh air, which ring is seen also in
plan. At the top of the oxygen tube (i) holes are formed at a certain angle,
about forty-five degrees, for the purpose of ensuring proper combustion.
Figure 13 is a top plan of that part of the burner marked (k, k,) shewing
the tube (i) and annular perforated ring (j,j); Figure 14) is a bottom plan of
the same. Figure 15) is a front view of an adjustable stop-cock for regulating
the supply of both the gases before referred to. Figure 16 is a section taken
through the dotted lines (a, b,) of Figure 15). Figure 17 is a section taken
through the dotted lines (c, d,) and Figure 18) is also a section taken through
the dotted lines (e, f) of the same Figure. At Figure 19 is exhibited an
adjusting screw for closing or partially closing the hydrogen passage, and
which screw is partly exhibited at (1), Figure 1.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I claim, without limiting myself to these precise
details,-
Firstly, the improvements in the construction and arrangement of the
several parts of burners whereby oxygen gas may be supplied to the flame

page_text: produced by carburetted hydrogen gas, and the means by which the supply of
both gases is regulated.
Secondly, I claim the improvements in the construction of wick lamps, by
which a current of oxygen gas is supplied to the flame produced by the com-
bustion of fixed oils or hydrocarbons.
And, thirdly, I claim the improved construction of oxy-hydrogen blow pipe,
as herein more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Webster, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of May, 'in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
JAMES (L.S.) WEBSTER.