Improvements in Gas-burners.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Lelt, 22nd Oct., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas-burners.
I, WILLIAM HEMINGWAY of 9 Cawood Terrace Dawes Road Walham Green S.W.
London, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of improvements on my former Patent No. 3717 Mar. 23rd
1885 in the modes or methods of arranging the various parts or pieces forming the
burners and in the means of regulating the air supply thereto.
My new burners are constructed of two or more parts attached to each other in any
convenient manner; to enable this Specification to be better understood, these two
parts are hereafter called respectively "the body" and "the base." "The body" is
the part or parts constituting the main trunk or burner proper ; "the base" is the
outer shield for breaking up the air supply, and generally also acting as support for
the gallery carrying the chimney.
"The body" of the burner for the sake of clearness I also divide into two main
parts "the trunk" and "the nipple." "The trunk" explains itself, constituting the
main portion of "the body"; "the nipple" is the part or parts through which the gas
finally exudes before combustion and in direct contact with the flame.
The longitudinal section of "the body" may be rectangular, curvilinear, or conical,
either converging or diverging or both, with a passage passing longitudinally near or
through the centre forming the internal air conduits. The plan of "the body" is
generally circular.
"The trunk" of the burner can be made of any suitable material refractory or
otherwise, but is preferably of metal, and may be of any shape generally that of a
concentric annular ring, forming the gas chamber, enclosing a passage forming the
air conduit. This annular ring or gas chamber is connected by one or more tubes or
ducts to the stem, which forms the main gas supply and is used to connect the burner
to the bracket or chandelier. The annular gas chamber may be formed in the casting
itself, I prefer however to build it up making the inner wall enclosing the air conduit
together with the gas-ducts and stem of a single casting, the outer wall or shell is
then made of one or more pieces of metal screwed or otherwise fixed to the inner
casting, the upper part of this shell may be flanged, thereby serving to hold and fix
the nipple in its place, and the lower part extended down far enough to carry the
base, the lower edge being screwed, flanged, or otherwise treated for that purpose;
this lower extension also serving the purpose of partially or wholly separating the
inner and outer air currents.
The longitudinal section of the air conduit may be considerably varied but in
general, it is widened out at the base and more or less contracted towards the upper
part, this is to allow a full and free passage to the air on entering the conduit, the
area of the passage contracting as the velocity of the air increases under the influence
of the draught caused by the combustion of the gas above. By this means a maximum
supply of air is obtained with a minimum section of burner, the flame produced being
intensely white.
"The nipple" or parts constituting the nipple when separate from the trunk may be
made of metal or some refractory material or mineral, enamel, clay, kaolin, steatite etc.
and held in position or attached to the trunk in any suitable manner such as by
screwing direct, or by one or more subsidiary screws, nuts, clamps, etc. or a flange on
the inner or outer shells. The cross section of "the nipple" may be a solid, or an
annular ring, enclosing a passage forming the air conduit, the half-cross section being
flat, or shaped, more or less varied, the air conduit in the trunk being

page_text: continued through the nipple. The part or parts through which the gas finally
exudes before combustion may be so arranged as to form one or more slits or orifices,
or slits or orifices may be cut, drilled or pierced through them. These orifices or slits
may be of any length width or diameter according to the thickness, nature, and shape,
of the material used to form the nipple, or through which such orifice or slit passes,
and in plan so arranged as to form a ring or curve, or series of rings or curves. Each
orifice or slit may be parallel or inclined, to the axis of the burner, or any other orifice
or slit as desired.
At, or near the outlet of the air conduit or passage, is placed what I call a main
disc or deflector. This disc or deflector is for the purpose of guiding or directing
the inner air current, on emerging from the conduit, and more or less retarding its
passage through the burner, and impinging it on the flame, at any desired place. It
may be made of metal, terra cotta, porcelain, opal, glass, or combination of these or
any other suitable material, either transparent or opaque; it is circular, and may
be any diameter according to the shape of the flame desired; in section it may be
flat, conical, or curved, generally it is nearly flat slightly dished near the edge.
The shape and diameter of this deflector and also the distance it is placed from the
nipple will more or less modify the shape of the flame.
In addition to the main disc or deflector, I also use a subsidiary deflector or diffuser
except in small burners when it can be dispensed with. This "diffuser may be of
any
diameter but is generally, about the same or a little less than the diameter of the air
conduit and is more or less perforated. The purpose it serves is to break up divert,
and impinge a portion of the inner air supply on to the flame, at a desired point
below the main deflector, giving a better distribution, and diffusion of the air than
when one deflector only is used. The main deflector, and also the subsidiary one
may be held in position by any suitable means a simple way being by a small rod or
tube passing through the centre of the burner or air conduit, and screwed or otherwise
fixed to the stem or other convenient part of the burner. The outer air supply is
regulated by limiting the perforations or air spaces in the base, and by the perforations
and diameter of the outlet of the air cone carrying the chimney. This base may form
part of, or be fixed to the burner in any suitable manner, generally screwed, or resting
on a flange on the outer shell of the trunk, or it may itself form part of the outer
shell. It may be of any design preferably ornamental, and can be made of metal,
ceramic ware, opal, glass, or other material, the perforations being plain or decorative
according to taste. One or more perforated baffle plates may also be placed in the
base or air cone, to assist in breaking up and distributing the air, although in small
burners I generally dispense with them.
Above and resting on the base is the air cone which collects all the streams of air
after passing through the perforations in the base, and baffle plates when used-and
directs them in a continuous sheet on to the lower part of the flame, or preferably
on to the upper part of the nipple, as this tends to further break up any local eddies
or whirls, and distribute the air more evenly to the flame, besides more or less keeping
the body of the burner cool. At or near the lower edge of the air cone, a series of
perforations are made to allow a current of air to flow between the cone and the
chimney.
The chimney may be varied in shape to an almost unlimited degree, and is generally
a cylinder of glass, with a more or less bulbous portion towards the lower end, so as
to allow the flame to expand to a saucer, globular, or bulbous form.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas-burners.
I, WILLIAM HEMINGWAY of 9 Cawood Terrace Dawes Road Walham Green S.W.
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention consists of improvements on my former Patent No. 3717 Mar. 23rd
1885 in the shapes of, and in the modes or methods of arranging the various parts or
pieces forming the burners and of regulating the air supply thereto.
The shapes of, and modes or methods of arranging the various parts or pieces are
described in the Provisional Specification, but that this description may be better
understood, reference may be made to the accompanying drawing, the arrows denoting
the direction of flow of the currents of air feeding the flame. These burners may
be either pendant or pedestal as shown in the drawings.
The "body" of the burner is built up of the trunk T the nipple N and the outer
shell W. The "base" constitutes the outer portion M and the air cone A. The
trunk of the burner T consists of a ring shaped casting, which forms the wall of the
central or internal air conduit P as well as the interior wall of the gas-chamber G ; it
is connected by the gas ducts D to the stem S. The stem S forming the service
main to connect the burner with the gas pendant or bracket.
In longitudinal section, the internal air conduit P is much wider at the base than
the upper part, thus increasing the velocity of the air, and furnishing a much larger
supply than would be the case if the passage were nearly or wholly parallel, pro-
ducing an intensely white light. The outer shell or wall W of the annular gas-
chamber G is made of a piece of tube or a spinning, preferably of brass though other
metals will answer the same purpose, the top edge is flanged and holds the nipple N
in position, the lower part may be turned over so as to form the base M, or the
bottom edge may also be flanged, turned over, screwed or otherwise treated, so that
it may serve to carry the base M. The middle portion has a groove or thread rolled
or pressed into it, to correspond to a groove or thread in the trunk T thus fixing it
thereto. The nipple N being in direct contact with the flame is preferably made of
some refractory material, such as enamel, kaolin, steatite, etc. and is generally held in
position by a flange on the outer shell or wall W, the bottom edge being supported
by lugs on the casting T. The half cross-section of the nipple in the drawing is
shown as shaped, though it may be flat (7 or shaped, more or less varied, the
air conduit P in the trunk being continued through the nipple. The orifices or slits
through which the gas finally exudes before combustion are shown inclined to the
axis of the burner they may also be parallel thereto if desired.
e,
Near the outlet of the central air conduit, and carried by the small rod is placed
the main disc or deflector R, for the purpose of directing the air current on emerging
from the conduit, it is generally made of metal, although other materials may be used,
its shape, and diameter, and also the distance it is placed from the nipple, will more
or less modify the shape of the flame. The subsidiary disc or diffuser r is for the
purpose of better regulating the diffusion of air, than when one deflector only is used,
and is more or less perforated (though not necessary) in many cases this diffuser may
be dispensed with.
The outer air supply is regulated, by limiting the perforations or air spaces
through the base M, by the baffle plates B, and by the diameter of the outlet of
the air cone A.
The "base" M is generally made of metal, sometimes it forms part of the shell W
and in others it is entirely separate and rests on a flange, or is otherwise fixed to the
shell W, it may also be made of ceramic ware, opal, or other material, and the
perforations either plain or decorative. One or more baffle plates B, more or less
perforated are placed in a convenient part of the base, and assist in breaking up and
more evenly distributing the air—but in small burners are generally dispensed with―

page_text: while the air cone A resting on the base collects together the numerous small currents
and directs them in the form of an annular sheet on to the flame or preferably on to
the upper part of the nipple N thereby keeping the body of the burner comparatively
cool. At or near the lower edge of the air cone a series of perforations fare made,
to allow a current of air to flow between the flame and the chimney materially
reducing the temperature of the chimney and thereby saving breakages. The lower
ledge of the air cone forms a seat or gallery to carry the chimney C which is held
thereto by the springs k. The chimney may be varied in shape to an almost unlimited
degree, but is generally a cylinder of glass with a more or less bulbous portion
towards the lower end, so as to allow the flame to expand to a saucer, globular or
bulbous form. The size and intensity of the flame may be varied by the closing or
reduction of area of the outlet of the chimney, or by a coronet or other means,
thereby enlarging the flame, but at the same time materially reducing its intensity
owing to the diminution of the draught and consequent less perfect combustion
of the gas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what I claim is :-
1. An upright gas-burner, the inside air conduit of which, for the lower and middle
portion of its length, is more or less conical or converging, and the upper portion,
parallel or slightly divergent, so as to furnish a maximum supply of air to the interior
of the flame with a minimum sectional area of conduit substantially as herein described
and ascertained.
2. An upright gas-burner, having an interior conoidal air tube, and an outer air
cone, of such shape and so arranged that the current of air on the outside, will balance
or be in equilibrium with the current on the inside of the flame; so that the
gas
is
more or less retarded and made to float between the two layers of air for a period
of time sufficient to ensure its complete combustion, the whole of the air supply being
from below all substantially as herein described and ascertained.
3. An upright gas-burner, having an interior conoidal air tube, and outer air cone,
with a main disc or deflector, arranged to diffuse, direct, and impinge the air supply
on the inner side of the flame, at any place, according to the shape of the flame desired
substantially as herein described and ascertained.
4. An upright gas-burner, having an interior conoidal air tube, and outer air cone
with a main disc or deflector, and a subsidiary deflector more or less perforated,
arranged to give a better distribution of air than when one deflector only is used
substantially as herein described and ascertained.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1890.
WILLIAM HEMINGWAY.