IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF GAS AND AIR TO GAS BURNERS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Lewis of 153 Brockley Road Brockley in the
County of Surrey Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF GAS AND AIR TO GAS BURNERS
FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Lewis at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th January 1883.
JAMES LEWIS of 153 Brockley Road Brockley in the County of Surrey Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF GAS AND AIR
TO GAS BURNERS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES ">
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for regulating the supply of
mixed gas and air to platinum wire gauze gas burners of the character described in
the specifications of Letters Patent granted to me dated the 14th April 1881
N° 1665 and the 23rd March 1882 N° 1403.
According to my present improvements the gas is supplied from a gas holder the
pressure on which may vary considerably and in its passage to the burners the gas
under pressure is injected into the supply pipe so as to induce a current or currents
of atmospheric air into it (through suitable inlets) which is thus mixed or combined
with the gas in suitable relative proportions for effecting the required combustion
in the burners
In order to reduce and regulate the pressure of the gas (as it comes from the
gas holder under pressure) the mixing chamber or passage into which it idmitted
from the holder (to mix with the induced current or currents of air) is capable of
being either enlarged or contracted. From this chamber or passage the gas and
air thus mixed may pass through another jet pipe or nozzle into another chamber
or passage supplied by an induced current or currents of air and this second
mixing chamber or passage may also be capable of being either enlarged or con-
tracted so as to further regulate the pressure and relative proportions of the mixed

page_text: gas and air. If required the mixed gas and air may pass through a series of
successive mixing chambers or passages of like character until it reaches the burner
or burners at a suitable pressure and in the relative proportions required for
combustion either for lighting or heating purposes
The number of the successive mixing chambers will depend upon the pressure of
the gas in the gas holder. The size of the orifices for admitting the gas and the
induced currents of air to the mixing chamber or chambers may be enlarged or
contracted to regulate the admixture of the gas and air as required
The position of the jet nozzles may also be capable of adjustment within the
supply pipe.
In place of subjecting the gas to pressure in a gas holder it may be forced
through the supply pipe or pipes by means of rotary apparatus similar to a roller
rotary pump without valves or other suitable mechanism which may be applied at
or near to the burner or burners.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Lowis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th July
1883.
JAMES LEWIS of 153 Brockley Road Brockley in the County of Surrey Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF GAS AND AIR
TO GAS BURNERS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING PURPOSES "
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for regulating the supply of
mixed gas and air to platinum wire gauze gas burners of the character described
in the specifications of Letters Patent granted to me dated the 14th April 1881
No 1665 and the 23rd March 1882 N° 1403.
According to my present improvements the gas is supplied from a gas holder the
pressure on which may vary considerably and in its passage to the burners the gas
under pressure is injected into the supply pipe so as to induce a current or currents
of atmospheric air into it (through suitable inlets) which is thus mixed or combined
with the gas in suitable relative proportions for effecting the required combustion
in the burners.
In order to reduce and regulate the pressure of the gas (as it comes from the gas
holder under pressure) the mixing chamber or passage into which it is admitted
from the holder (to mix with the induced current or currents of air) is capable of
being either enlarged or contracted. From this chamber or passage the gas and
air thus mixed may pass through another jet pipe or nozzle into another chamber
or passage supplied by an induced current or currents of air and this second
mixing chamber or passage may also be capable of being either enlarged or con-
tracted so as to further regulate the pressure and relative proportions of the mixed
gas and air.
If required the mixed gas and air may pass through a series of successive mixing
chambers or passages of like character until it reaches the burner or burners at a
suitable pressure and in the relative proportions required for combustion either for
lighting or heating purposes.
The number of the successive mixing chambers will depend upon the pressure of
the gas in the gas holder. The size of the orifices for admitting the gas and the
induced currents of air to the mixing chamber or chambers may be enlarged or
contracted to regulate the admixture of the gas and air as required.
The position of the jet nozzles may also be capable of adjustment within the
supply pipe.
In place of subjecting the gas to pressure in a gas holder it may be forced
through the supply pipe or pipes by means of rotary apparatus similar to a roller
rotary pump without valves or other suitable mechanism which may be applied at
or near to the burner or burners.
And in order that my improvements may be clearly understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to describe the drawings hereto annexed which
show several combined air and gas burners arranged and constructed in accordance
with my invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

page_text: connected to a gas holder in which tho gas is under pressure is the jet nozzle
pierced with one or more fine holes which act to produce induced currents of air
which mix and combine with the gas from the gas jet in its passage to the platinum
wire gauze burner b. The number of holes in the jet nozzle a' will depend upon
the pressure of the gas and also on the size of the platinum wire gauze burner b
this being regulated again by the number of air inlets c.c to make the mixture, of
gas and air of the right proportions for combustion at the burner or burners b.
The proportions of gas and air must be regulated to produce the intensity of the
light required
"
In the arrangement shewn by Figure 1 the air inlets c c are formed by a series
of funnel shaped caps of metal or other suitable material c' c' mounted on three or
more guide rods or supports c c upon which they can be adjusted and retained in
any desired position. d is a cap or cover forming a chamber pround the air
inlets c c to protect them from external draughts.
The caps c c can be so adjusted as. to cut off all the air inlets except to the
lowest the upper ends of the caps when placed close together forming a continuous
pipe from the jet nozzle a¹ to the wire gauze cap or burner b. Or each inlet e can
be contracted or enlarged as may be required by adjusting the positions of the
caps cupon the guide rods c c to regulate the supply of air to the mixing
chamber b' before it reaches the burner b
The position of the jet nozzle a' can also be adjusted in relation to the lowest air
inlet c by adjusting the collar c (which carries the series of caps c' cover d and
burner b as shown) on the screwed stem of the jet nozzle a¹. 2 is a connection
consisting of steatite or other non conducting material to prevent the transmission
of heat from the burner 6 to the supply pipe.
Figure 2 shows a vertical section of another arrangement of burner arranged and
constructed in accordance with my invention for consuming a mixture of gas and
air combined the induced current or currents of nir being produced by a jet or jets
of gas under pressure issuing from the jet nozzle al corresponding parts to those
shown in Figure 1 are marked with similar letters of reference.
In this arrangement each conical or funnel shaped cap c¹ is mounted on three or
more arms c³ carried by a collar or screw nut c³ capable of adjustment separately
upon the screwed stem of the gas jet nozzle a.
The
By this arrangement the two outer air inlets can bo enlarged contracted or closed
so as to regulate the supply of air to the burner b by adjusting the position of the
collars or screw nuts upon the screwed stem of the gas jet nozzle a.
position of the gas jet nozzle a¹ can also bo adjusted with respect to the inner air
inlet cap or cone c'.
"
Figure 3 shows a more simple form of burner for consuming a mixture of air and
gas combined in nccordance with my invention the induced current or currents of
air being regulated as follows; corresponding parts are marked with similar letters
of reference to those previously described.
c' clare two funnel shaped caps fixed or connected together by three or more
bars or tie-pieces c* the outer cap and burner 6 being supported on three or more
arins o² fixed to the screw nut or collar c³. By screwing the collar downwards
on the stem of the gas jet nozzle a the upper narrow neck of the inner cap c¹ is
brought down over the gas jet nozzle a' thus regulating closing or cutting off the
central air inlet c.
Figures 4 and 5 show another arrangement of burner for consuming a mixture
of air and gas combined the gas supply being under pressure so as to induco a
regulated current or currents of air into the mixing chamber as previously described
in accordance with my invention corresponding parts are marked with similar
letters of reference to those previously described.
c² care conical funnel shaped caps supported by arms connected to the screw
nut or collar c³, upon the screwed stem of the jet nozzlo a. The inner and central
cones are formed with outer annular rims or flanges c c the central upper cones
being formed with inner rims or Danges cc which rest upon the rims or

page_text: flanges cc. These rims or flanges cc.have openings c c for the admission of
induced currents of air when placed over each other but by turning the upper and
central cones the air passages or openings ce can be partially or wholly closed so
as to regulate or cut off the supply of air through. them. The upper ends of the
central and lower cones have sliding collars e with a pin c passed through them
and through slots in the necks of the cones so that by raising the two inner conos
the necks of the outer and central cones are closed by the sliding collars of thus
causing the induced current of air to pass up through the lower cone only into the
mixing chamber above: The position of the gas jet nozzle a' can also be adjusted
in relation to the neck of the lower inner cone e' as may be required. are spring
catches fixed on the upper and central cones cl which enter notches on the annular
rims to retain them in any desired position when adjusted..
The jet nozzles a' can be removed and others substituted to vary the supply of
gas to the burners a' the jet nozzle being pierced with a suitable number of holes
for this purposo.
Having thus described the nature of my invention and the manner of carrying
the same into practice I would remark that I do not limit myself to the exact
details herein described as the apparatus for regulating the admission of air to the
mixing chamber and burner b may be considerably varied without departing from
the essential character of my invention I am aware that it is not now to use a
mixture of gas and air combined for heating purposes by consuming the same in
what is now well known as the Bunsen burner but such burners and apparatus are
not applicable for lighting purposes and I make no claim thereto neither do I claim
any of the parts separately which are well known and in common use, But what
I claim is;
The improved arrangement and construction of apparatus for mixing and
regulating a supply of mixed air and gas to incandescent platinum wire gas burners
by means of a jet or jets of gas under pressure so as to induce a current or currents
of atmospheric air the pressure and proportions of which mixture are regulated in
their passage to the burner or burners substantially in the manner and for the
purposes herein before described and represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the
drawings hereto annexed.
Second, I claim the use and application of gas under pressure to produce an
induced current or currents of atmospheric air to mix automatically with the gas
in its passage to an incandescent gas burner or burners for lighting and heating
purposes substantially as hereinbefore described and represented in the drawings
hereto annexed.
In witness whereof I the said James Lewis have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Fourth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty threa