Improvements in Bunsen Burners, Incandescent Burners, and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 7th July, 1896-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bunsen Burners, Incandescent Burners, and
the like.
A communication by A. BANDSEPT, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham in
the County of Warwick and 31 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
Researches into the combustion of mixtures of combustible gases and air have
shown that the maximum temperature is only realized when the theoretical mixture
is conveyed in a nascent condition into the flame. The latter then becomes
chemically homogeneous giving rise to calorific effects still more powerful than
those obtained from blowpipes.
It is not sufficient to first make the mixture, as however well it may be prepared,
it tends to separate, and the union must be renewed at the moment of its utilization.
It is the absence of this precaution which causes the Bunsen flame to show in its
interior a hollow and cold cone, which can only be caused to disappear by atomising
the mixture at the extremity of the burner itself.
The means for fulfilling this condition, which is a sine qua non may be borrowed
from statics or dynamics, or from both simultaneously. The automatic mixers and
atomisers always have for their object to produce, at the actual moment of the
passage of the gases into the burner properly so called, a movement of their
molecules, which results generally from the convergence of multiple jets giving
birth to eddies into which the gas and the air are drawn in order to become
intimately united.
The static atomisers consist of zigzags of various inclinations and positions such
as wire gauze partitions placed one above the other at short distances apart and
presenting their meshes at different angles so as to pulverize the mixture; perforated
crowns inclined in contrary directions directing the fluid streams one into the
other;
hollow plugs, through the winding passages of which the mixture is obliged
to force a passage, and where it is vigorously agitated. All these parts are
intended to increase the internal activity of the gases, the mixture of which then
becomes much more intimate, than that which results from a superficial friction
like that produced by the ordinary Bunsen burners.
Even when of only a small size these improved burners furnish a sufficiently
energetic molecular action to replace a preliminary preparation, with this advantage
that the atomiser forms a laboratory indifferent to external perturbations, and that
this part operates on an invariable system, being only dependent on the pressure
of the gases and the rate of combustion, two factors which are constant in a well
designed burner.
The flame is therefore maintained by means of gas which is undergoing chemical
transformation; it is developed to a certain extent independently of the causes
which give rise to hollow flames. Its temperature is a maximum one, and its
intensity is equal in all its parts.
The dynamic atomisers consist of very light fan wheels, mounted in the end of
the burner, and covered with wire gauze when it is desired to diffuse the mixture
produced by the beating of the vanes, but which may be left free when it is desired

page_text: to obtain a great length of flame. Instead of these wheels pivotting on a spindle
in a chamber, these parts as a whole may be made of light vanes and counter vanes
between which the mixture is beaten and distributed. Whatever the kind of
atomiser adopted, it is placed above an injector with a double or triple action,
arranged so as to expel the mixture, formed by progressive induction, with sufficient
force to cause it to pass through the zigzags or wire gauze sheets or to set in
'movement the vanes just mentioned. In both cases the pressure at the commence-
ment of the flame is sufficiently reduced to lower the consumption to a minimum,
and to allow the flame to act on a fine and light incandescent mantle or net-work.
The mixture passing into the burner with the special activity derived from its
forced passage through the atomiser produces an extremely rapid combustion.
The rate of combustion becoming equal or evenly slightly superior to the speed of
the flow of the mixture, causes a draught in the gaseous column, and neutralises to
-a certain extent the resistance of the atomiser.
Where high pressures are employed the action of the fixed or movable parts
intended to produce the mixing is relatively increased. The flames are then
accompanied by a vibratory movement which tends to transform them into explosive
waves, and the highest point is attained. It is needless to state that these extreme
temperatures are not required for private incandescent lighting, but they may be
found useful in large burners and even for public lighting.
In the case of ordinary mantles with burners acting under the ordinary pressure
of town mains, it is unnecessary to force the combustion beyond a certain degree,
seeing that it has to be carried out by means of a supply of external air in order
to complete in the incandescent web the final reactions which have been started.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure shows in vertical section the arrangement of an automatic mixer
terminated by a static atomizer A. This latter comprises three pieces of wire
gauze, or fine wire gratings placed one above the other, the first resting on the
spreading tube of the injector B. The gas flows into the burner o, the free section
of which constantly narrows so as to compress the fluid, which thus acquires the
greatest possible speed. The first air supply is obtained round the injector B
through 1 (Figure 1); the mixture is forced through the tuyere C and carries
with it a fresh quantity of air from the point 2. The current thus formed forces a
passage through the atomiser A, in which its elements are intimately and uniformly
mixed. Above the third netting, is formed a gaseous layer of a clear blue which
constitutes the base of the body of the violet flame, that is to say homogeneous at
the maximum temperature. A platinum wire passed through this body of the flame
is rendered brilliantly incandescent over its whole extent.
The burner may be regulated so as to absorb the bluish pellicle entirely, the
flame is then shortened and assumes a paler colour. On the other hand by reducing
the admission of air, the bluish layer rises to a point, and the zone of formation
appears more and more visible to the detriment of the useful z ne. Thus with
this burner the whole cycle of combustion may be traversed from the slowest and
most imperfect up to the most complete and instantaneous combustion.
Figure 2 shows a burner in its actual size, intended to be employed with a mantle
of Auer's pattern, and which effects a considerable economy whilst appreciably
increasing the illuminating power. Instead of two tuyeres, several of increasing
section, as shown in Figure 3, may be arranged. The gas always emerges from
the injecting nozzle B, and carries air with it in proportion as the current
progresses into the series of tuyeres c, c¹, c, each of which causes a fresh influx of
the surrounding air supposing that the initial pressure be sufficiently elevated.
With town gas it is better to keep the openings o almost closed. They are opened
when the pressure increases and the quantity of gas is augmented.
The other figures relate to burners with movable atomisers. In Figure 4 the
vanes of a small wheel S are inclined in an inverse sense to the counter vanes a
which are fixed. The first mixture of air and gas forced towards A strikes the
wings which revolve on their axis p. In consequence of the rotation and re-action

page_text: produced by the arrangement, the mixture is beaten up and rendered perfectly
intimate by its passage between the vanes and the counter vanes.
In Figure 4 the fan wheel is placed horizontally at the end of the burner..
The mixture formed by the nozzle after having passed through gauze or a netting n
causes the wheel S to revolve, and thus sends the mixture normally to the wings in
order to beat it between the wheel and the upper gauze m. Finally, Figure 5-
shows the arrangement of the injector described in Figure 3 which ends in a small
light fan R working under the double action of the rebounding of the air, and the
effect of heat. The gaseous current comes first onto the central part of the
vanes R, these latter commence to revolve, and disseminate the particles of
the mixture which then pass towards the circumference. The gas expands, is
saturated in consequence of the abundant feed supplied by the injector, and the
mixture is forced towards the opening of the burner T which is covered with gauze.
or a network.
Dated this 24th day of September 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bunsen Burners, Incandescent Burners, and
the like.
I WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 322 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,.
6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street Manchester, both in the County
of Lancaster, and Lower Temple Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick,
Civil 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 :-
My improvements in gas burners are based upon the atomisation of a suitably
proportioned mixture of gas and air introduced in the burner.
Among the means already indicated in my Provisional Specification I have
found by numerous experiments that wire gauzes are the most powerful. The
atomising action is already very sensible with two wire gauzes when suitably
chosen and arranged and this action increases with each additional gauze.
But as
the resistance which these wire gauzes would oppose to the passage of the gas
current is rather considerable, I combine the atomiser with a special injector in
which the velocity of the issuing jet is increased by gradually narrowing the inner
section of the injecting nozzle and then by progressively dilating the fluid, and in
which the quantity of air theoretically necessary for producing perfect combustion
is introduced by a succeeding draught by means of a series of conical tuyeres,
I thus obtain a burner capable of working automatically at the gas pressure usual
in towns.
In my Provisional Specification I have already demonstrated that the atomising
action, which in an ordinary Bunsen burner takes place in the preparatory zone of
the flame, is performed in my burner by the wire gauzes which exert a certain.
attractive power upon that part of the flame. Consequently a single wire gauze
or wire gauzes which are not placed immediately under the flame or which are not
placed at the proper distance from each other, would be without any atomising
effect.
The heat produced by my burners is so great that the usual incandescent bodies.
would not resist for a long time. I overcome this difficulty by diminishing the
intensity of the flame without losing the advantage of a rapid and perfect com-
bustion. To this end, I reduce the consumption of gas and proportion the tuyeres
so as to increase the angle of expansion of the gas mixture. I thus obtain a section.

page_text: of flame similar to that produced by a burner having a double combustion, whilst
still obtaining a specially luminous effect and the full preservation of the
incandescent mantles in use.
The accompanying drawing shows the shape and proportions of my burners
which I prefer, as determined by numerous experiments.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the smaller type of burner.
Figures 2 and 3 are separate parts of the same.
Figure 4 is an external view of said burner and
Figure 5 represents a larger type of the same burner.
The same letters are used for indicating similar parts in all the figures.
The divergent tube e contains the atomiser which consists of a dense wire
A screw thread & cut
gauze and a second wire gauzef having larger meshes.
in the divergent tube e is intended for the purpose of fixing the gallery. The
conical tuyeres cl cc may be fixed between supports Figure 2, or in a cylindrical
perforated body b' Figure 3. A regulating ring g Figure 1, provided with openings
surrounds the cylindrical body or ', and permits the regulation of the exact
quantity of air drawn into the burner.
The saving of gas realised by these burners is always very perceptible and often
considerable. Whereas in incandescent lighting by means of the Auer burner,
the carcel-hour requires 19 litres of gas, the same gas nozzle provided with my
burner requires only 9 litres at a pressure of 52 mm. water and consumes
104 litres.
This result is obtained when the burner is constructed as indicated in the
annexed drawings and it applies more specially to the smaller type.
At 35 mm. this burner consumes 87.5 litres for 9 carcels 25 that is to say the
carcel for 9-45 litres.
At 25 mm. the consumption is 83.5 litres for 8 carcels 77--the carcel
=9:52 litres.
Finally at a pressure of 16 min., and after having slightly opened the point of
the injector, the burner consumes 93 litres producing 7.4 carcels which corresponds
to 12.16 litres per carcel.
In general the saving of gas increases with the pressure on the condition that
the volume burned remains between certain limits, from 85 to 103 litres, in order
to obtain the full intensity with burners having an effective height of about 7 cm. ;
the pressure varying from 25 to 52 mm. of water.
I may observe that the divergent tube e instead of being cylindrical may be
pressed together at the top so as to produce a flat flame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. An auto-mixing and atomising gas burner in which the gas issuing from an
injecting nozzle of convergent section a first passes through a series of conical
tuyeres carranged in a perforated envelope b and having their truncated part
increased from one to the other so as to permit the gas current to expand in the
shape of a cone and to draw in the required air successively through each tuyere.
The mixture thus obtained then passes through an atomiser arranged at the top of
the burner and consisting of two or more wire gauzes f¹ f' superposed at a short
distance from each other.
2. The special construction of my burners all substantially as described and
illustrated in the annexed drawing.
11004
1004
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.