AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF COAL GAS, OR OF COAL GAS MIXED WITH AIR, HYDRO-CARBON, OR OTHER LIGHT PRODUCING VAPOURS
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Arthur Dillon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th May 1879.
THOMAS ARTHUR DILLON, of 55, Rutland Square West, in the City of Dublin,
Ireland, Gentleman. "AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING
THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF COAL GAS, OR OF COAL GAS MIXED WITH AIR,
HYDRO-CARBON, OR OTHER LIGHT PRODUCING VAPOURS."
First. A means of lessening the consumption of gas in argand and other burners
by causing a more efficient junction of air with the flame, whereby the light is
increased and gas consumption economised.
Whereas there have been various attempts made and patented to overcome a
draw back which hinders the full value of the gas consumed by argand and other
burners being obtained, and which difficulty consists in the imperfect junction of
the atmospheric air with the gas because of the rapidity of the induced air current
being too great for suitable amalgamation with the gas, and whereas a greater
quantity of gas is used, and much greater heat generated in consequence.
And whereas all mechanical appliances which have been used to check the air
rush are open to the objection that either they are opaque substances which lessen
the light and without lessening proportionally the heat, or they are fragile trans-
parent substances which are unable to sustain the action of high temperature.
Now I propose in the following manner to reduce the expenditure of gas and the
generation of heat:-Method number 1. To the side of the chimney of an argand
burner I attach in any convenient manner a slip of glass quill tube of finest bore,
and having a fine drawn point like in a mouth blow pipe at its upper end. This
upper end is to be bent at right angles so as to turn on towards or into the top of
the chimney, but so slightly as not to offer any surface to the flame.
A current of air is either forced through or induced to pass through the fine
opening in the glass quill tube; this current crosses the upper part of the flame,
and checks the draught, cools the lamp, lessens the heat, and increases the light.
The effect may be produced by other vapours other than by atmospheric air, but
preferably by air.
The quantity of air is so small that it is only requisite to place a reservoir filled
in any convenient way within easy reach, and continue very narrow tubes, flexible

page_text: or otherwise, from same to each argand or similar burner, so as to allow the air
current to impinge as described.
A fine flexible tube from an air reservoir in a sitting or other room will enable a
portable argand reading lamp to have the advantage of the air adjunct above
described, by winding round or attaching to the gas flexible tube the 'fine air
flexible tube alluded to, or introducing an air pipe inside the gas pipe.
Second. I adopt the following method and apparatus for causing the atmospheric
air to impinge on the rush of air and gas, and induce same to commingle in a more
economical and satisfactory manner in ordinary burners :-A small bent tube of
metal or glass is fastened to the gas burner; the open stem of this tube is lower
than the gas jet, the tube above, and recurves down over the burner. On the down
hook or recurve is a hollow chamber, pierced with small holes. As soon as the
heated flame strikes this latter the air inside expands, and a vacuum is created;
this vacuum is supplied from lower stem of tube, automatically or otherwise,
through an inlet valve, which admits air but prevents its outgoing below; but the
air on being expanded issues down on the flame, checks the gas waste, and increases
the light.
I also utilise the passing of the gas itself to draw in and discharge the requisite
amount of air in the following manner :-
The amount of air required not being very great I put on a hollow drum between
the burner and supply tube, so that the passing of the gas current will act on vanes
which are contained in the drum, and attached to a spindle which protrudes through
the side of the drum, and carries a set of air vanes, which latter induce and discharge
the air in the manner required in the flame.
The width and diameter of the gas drum and air drum will be in accordance with
the quantity of gas and number of lights at their maximum. It is obvious that so
soon as the lights are lowered the velocity of the gas current decreases, and thus
the supply of air required is lessened proportionally.
In cases of fish tail burners I sometimes use a flat chimney of glass, and send the
air over, or across, or against the flame in the manner already described.
For the more convenient production of the air current needed I sometimes adopt
the following plan:-An inverted vessel of sufficient size, that is, in area equal to
the requirements of the gas used on the premises, is weighted in another vessel
containing water, so that the combination forms an air pressure chamber capable of
sending the required supply of air to the lights. It is only requisite in such a case
to either lift the upper vessel (which through a hollow valve will automatically
draw in sufficient air), and let it again drop as a gasometer does into the water vessel
to produce sufficient air supply.
A sufficiently large elastic or other bag, with inlet opening valves, will answer
the same purpose, since the raising of the weights off the latter, or the natural
expansion of the former when released of pressure will instantly cause sufficient air
to be inhaled, the restoration of the weights again producing the current. The air
supply contained in such holders can be produced automatically by the water supply
pipes in houses. A water pipe being let into a reservoir the raising of the pressure
air vessel can be easily accomplished on the tilting bucket principle, viz., that the
moment the air vessel descends it opens the water cock, which immediately fills a
bucket, and which latter is fastened to the lifting lever of the air vessel. So soon
as the bucket fills it pulls down the lever on one side, and causes the air chamber
to lift and inhale air at the other end.
I sometimes adopt the following method of improving the illuminating power of
that and such like gas lamps by directing a stream of air and gas upon lime rods,
which are automatically supplied and regulated as to position in the following
manner-Assuming the case to be that of a street lamp, one, two, three, or more
cylindrical rods of lime, say of three feet long each, are inserted in upright socket
tubes, like candles and carriage lamps; these rods are about an inch in diameter,
and fit very closely in the tubes. The air and gas are directed upon the top of the

page_text: .
lime rods; a bright light is generated and thrown upwards against a reflector,
which radiates the light. In this case it is evident that the lime candles or rods
are sure to be always fresh by being scraped by an automatic scraping, or opening
or closing the gas cocks. The air may be treated by passing through a coil, as in
the Fletcher blow pipe.
I do not lay claim to the results created by a mixture of air and gas impinging
on lime, as that has been already shewn by others, but I claim the mode of pre-
senting the lime candles or rods always dry and fresh and for so long a time
without renewal, as also the great safety of such method, and the supply of. air to
such lamps in the manner described, with the addition in some instances of a reservoir
of compressed air to be used either in case of the air generator being injured or
ceasing to act, or for any other reason. The supply of air to street and other lamps
worked on the plan above described will obviously be conveyed in the most conve-
nient manner by tubing laid after the manner of gas tubing.
In all cases a stop valve to air tube and gas tube must be used, opening outwards
and shutting inwards, the object of this being to obviate the admixture of gas and
air in either tube, which would form an explosive mixture.
By preference the lime candles are made with hydraulic pressure by compression
in moulds. When not in use they are hermetically closed in the sockets by spring
shutters, which close over the tops and exclude air and moisture. The act of
opening (or of shutting) this slide or shutter by the lamp lighter scrapes and prepares
the exposed surface of the lime candles or rods, and slightly raises same each time
(or allows it to rise), by means of a screw, spring, or other suitable mechanical appli-
ance pushing from the bottom of the candles upwards, which is caused to act by
the movement of the shutter already mentioned; the pairing of the upper part of
the lime candle, the raising of it, the turning on of the air and gas, & the lighting
of the latter being all accomplished by the introduction of the ordinary gas lighting
pole as it passes into the lamp, such operation being easily understood by practical
and scientific persons. There are certain cases in which the motion of the lime
rods might be reversed, so as to let them work downwards instead of upwards. In
cases of this kind the candles must be compressed very tightly in the tubes or
otherwise prevented from descending too far by gravity, but I prefer the method
first described for its superior convenience and safety. The lime rods or candles
can be also used in the manner of the horizontal carbons of electric lamps. This
plan may usefully be adopted in lighthouses, lightships, or other beacons or
signals.
In this latter instance the lime candles should by preference be inserted in flexible
or elastic tubes, having been introduced into the same in comparatively short lengths,
and being induced to protrude from the said tubes by any convenient form of
pressure, such as pneumatic coil, spring-screw, or hand pressure. In lighthouses a
long coil of such flexible tubes, charged with the short lengths alluded to, might be
loosely rolled on cylinders, or stowed in coils or lengths.
When this light is used in mines the supply of air and gas must be sent in
separate tubes down the shaft, and the lamp hermetically sealed by a glass cover,
products of combustion being either taken up by a separate tube or omitted through
an orifice having an outlet stop valve which, while permitting egress of the said
products of the said combustion, effectually prevents the entering of either choke-
damp or explosive gases generated in the mine. The glass shade which covers the
lamp, by preference, is immersed in water, as in the case of the Clawny and similar
lamps. Sometimes supply cocks of air and gas are so arranged as to be influenced
by fracture of the glass in case of accident, and they then automatically shut off
the supply, and prevent the possibility of any danger. One means by which this
latter object is attained is as follows:-
A pair of spring arms extending from either cock presses against the glass, which
keeps those arins extended and the cocks open. Should the glass be broken it is
obvious that the arms which the glass had kept extended will close together, and
shut off the supply of air and gas. The same effect is produced upon the cocks by

page_text: reason of the decreased pressure under the glass shade, causing a water or mercuria
column to influence a ball valve, as in the case of a cistern ball cock. For instance,
a mercurial cup and barometrical tube placed in connection with the glass cover,
and which would register the maximum height under a given pressure of air, would
immediately fall to the minimum pressure if the glass were broken. A weight
floating in the basin of mercury would close the supply code instantly. Any simple
electro-magnetic arrangement may be substituted for the above, so that the rising
or falling of the mercury would make or break contact, and so open or close the
valves.