IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF LAMPS AND BURNERS, ALSO APPLICABLE for HEATING
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Siomens, of Dresden, in the German Empire,
for the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING
THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF LAMPS AND BURNERS, ALSO APPLICABLE for
HEATING."
Sealed the 19th August 1879, and dated the 5th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Siemens at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th June 1879.
FREDERICK SIEMENS, of Dresden, in the German Empire. "IMPROVED MEANS
AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF LAMPS AND
BURNERS, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR HEATING."
This Invention relates principally to means of increasing the illuminating and
heating effect of the gas or oil consumed in lamps or proportionally economising the
oil or the gas and the coal used in its manufacture, in order to produce a certain
amount of light or heat, by previously heating the air, or in some cases the gas
that supplies the flame, and thereby elevating the temperature and enhancing the
brilliancy of the flame. The heat for this purpose may be obtained from an in.le-
pendent flame, but it is preferred to employ the heat of the products of combustion
escaping from the illuminating flame itself, as thus heat that would otherwise be
wasted is utilised, and these products themselves are cooled. According to this
Invention there are two methods of heating the supply fluid, the one is by conduc-
tion, the other by regeneration, as will now be explained. For heating by conduction
the flame is enclosed within a glass globe and the products of combustion are caused
to pass in one direction to the chimney or outlet, while the air or the air and the gas
pass to the flame in the opposite direction along passages adjacent to those appro-
priated to the products of combustion. These several passages may be of any
convenient forin, but they are most conveniently arranged as tubes within tubes,
affording tubular and annular channels, which are charged with wire gauze or pieces
of metal or conducting material giving passage through their interstices, and
exposing extended surfaces. As the products of combustion flow along one of these
channels, they give out a great part of their heat to the walls of the channel and

page_text: the adjacent conducting material becoming gradually cooled in their course, and the
air or the gas and air flowing in the opposite direction along the adjacent passages
take up a large portion of this heat, becoming gradually heated in their course to
the flame. For heating by regeneration the flame is enclosed within a glass globe
from which the products of combustion issue through a regenerative chamber charged
with porous conducting material, while the air on its way to the globe passes through
a similar chamber that has been previously heated by the passage of the products
of combustion through it. These regenerative chambers are conveniently formed as
segments of a hollow disc which can be turned round on a horizontal tubular axis
through which the gas passes to the burner within the globe. For a time the wheel
remaining at rest the products of combustion pass from the globe by central apertures
through the upper segments, heating them and the materials contained in them, and
escaping at the periphery, while the air enters the lower segments at the periphery
and passes through them to central apertures opening into the globe, abstracting in
its course the heat previously imparted to the lower segments and their contents.
When the upper segments have become sufficiently heated, and the lower segments
sufficiently cooled, the wheel is turned half or partly round either by clockwork or
other means, so that the segments which were formerly the uppermost receiving
heat are turned down and impart heat to the entering air, whilst the segments that
were formerly the lowest, giving out heat, are turned up to receive heat from the
issuing products of combustion. The hollow disc may also receive a slow continuous
rotary motion for the above purposo.
According to another modification the regenerative chambers are heated by one
or more small gas jets branching from the pipe which supplies the burner, the bot
products of combustion of which are either allowed to escape entirely or are wholly
or partially conducted away through a tube or passage, in order to utilise their hent
elsewhere, and the air supply after taking up heat on its passage through the heated
regenerative chambers may partly pass to the burner and partly be conducted
through pipes to one or more other burners; the said regenerative chambers, heated
by special gas jets, may also be arranged separate from the gas burners, and serve
to supply the heated air to a number of the latter.
In applying such before described lamps with their regenerators to heating
purposes, either the heat of the burner itself may be so employed, or a portion of
the air supply, after being heated by its passage through the regenerators, may be
led away to be used for that purpose.
According to another part of my Invention I combine directly with lamps the
air supply of which is heated as before described apparatus for generating the com-
bustible gas required. For this purpose a long vertical cylinder closed at its upper
end and open at its lower and, is charged through a slide branch with coal or other
carbonaceous material suitable for producing combustible gas. The upper end of
the cylinder communicates by one or more branch pipes with one or more gas
burners above, and the lower end thereof opens into a fire box provided with a
grate or side holus for the admission of air for maintaining combustion. Sur-
rounding the said cylinder is a second cylinder of such a diameter as to leave an
annular space between the two, such second cylinder being also open to the fire box
at bottom and closed at top, where it has a branch pipe leading to the open air.
Through the annular space the flames and hot gaseous products of combustion
from the fire box pass, so that the central cylinder or retort is heated both by the
fire below and by the hot gases escaping therefrom, whereby the combustible gitses
are distilled from the carbonaceous material therein, such gases being led directly
to the burners. The air supply for such burners passes up through a second outer
annular space formed by a third cylinder surrounding the second one, made by
preference of a bad conducior of heat, so as to prevent loss of heat from radiation.
The second annular space does not communicate with the fire box but with the
outer air by means of lateral holes at the bottom of the outer cylinder, and oue or
more passages lead from the top of the said annular space to the burner or burners

page_text: through which the air after becoming heated by its passage through the annular
space is conducted to the gas jet or jets so as to effect the combustion thereof. The
outer annular space, and. if desired, also the inner one, may be filled with wire
gauze or refractory material having intersticos through which the air or gases pass,
and which offers extended surfaces for absorbing the heal from the products of
combustion, and imparting the same by conduction to the gas retort and to the air
supply. The whole of the before described cylinders can be readily removed from
the fire box so as to gain access to their interiors for cleansing purposes. The above
described combined gas generator and lamp is more particularly applicable for
illumination in the open air. When not required for use the several pipes and
openings may be closed by valves or slides, whereby the fuel may be maintained in
a sufficient state of ignition for a considerable length of time to be at once available
when the apparatus is again required for use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Siemens in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th Decem-
ber 1879.
FREDERICK SIEMENS, of Dresden, in the German Empire. * IMPROVED MEANS
AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF LAMPS AND
BURNERS, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR HEATING."
This Invention relates principally to means of increasing the illuminating and
beating effect of the gas or oil consumed in lamps or proportionally economising
the oil or the gas and the coal used in its manufacture, in order to produce a certain
amount of light or heat, by previously heating the air, or, in some cases, the gas that
supplies the flame, and thereby elevating the temperature and enhancing the
brilliancy of the flame. The heat for this purpose may be obtained from an indepen-
dent flame, but it is preferred to employ the heat of the products of combustion
escaping from the illuminating flame itself, as thus heat that would otherwiso
be wasted is utilised and these products themselves are cooled. According to
this Invention there are two methods of heating the supply fluid, the one is
by conduction the other by regeneration, as will now he explained. For heating
by conduction the flame is enclosed within a glass globe, and the products of
combustion are caused to pass in one direction to the chimney or outlet, while
the air or the air and the gas pass to the flame in the opposite direction along
passages adjacent to those appropriated to the products of combustion. These
several passages may be of any convenient form, but they are most conveniently
arranged as tubes within tubes, affording tubular and annular channels which are
charged with wire gauze or pieces of metal or conducting material giving passage
through their interstices and exposing extended surfaces. As the products of
combustion flow along one of these channels, they give out a great part of their
beat to the walls of the channel and the adjacent conducting material, becoming
gradually cooled in their course, and the air or the gas and air flowing in the
opposite direction along the adjacent passages take up a large portion of this
heat, becoming gradually heated in their course to the flame. For heating by
regeneration the flame is inclosed within a glass globe from which the products
of combustion issue through a regenerative chamber charged with porous con-
dusting material, while the air on its way to the glohe passes through a similar
chamber that has been previously heated by the passage of the products of com-
bustion through it. These regenerative chambers are conveniently formed as sog-
ments of a hollow disc or wheel which can be turned round on a horizontal tubular
axis through which the gas passes to the burner within the globe. For a time the
wheel remaining at rest the products of combustion pass from the globo by central
apertures through the upper segments, heating them and the materials contained
in them, and escaping at the periphery, while the air enters the lower segments at
the periphery and passes through them to central apertures opening into the globe,
abstracting in its course the heat previously imparted to the lower segments and
their contents. When the upper segments have become sufficiently heated and the
lower segments sufficiently cooled, the wheel is turned half or partly round either
by clockwork or other means, so that the segments which were formerly the upper-
most, receiving heat, are turned down and impart heat to the entering air; whilst tho
segments that were formerly the lowest, giving out heat, are turned up to receive
beat from the issuing products of combustion. The hollow dise may also receive a
slow continuous rotary motion for the above purpose.
According to another modification the regenerative chambers are heated by one
or mo.e small gas jets branching from the pipe which supplies the burner, the hot
products of combustion of which are either allowed to escape entirely, or are wholly
or partially conducted away through a tube or passage in order to utilise their heat

page_text: elsewhere, and the air supply after taking up heat in its passage through the heated
regenerative chambers may partly pass to the burner and partly be conducted
through pipes to one or more other burners. The said regonerative chambers heated
by special gas jets may also be arranged separate from the gas burners and sorve to
supply the heated air to a number of the latter.
In applying such before describe.! lamps with their regenerators to heating
purposes, either the heat of the burner itself may be so employed, or a portion of
the air supply after being hosted by its passage through the regenerators may be
led away to be used for that purpose.
According to another part of my Invention I combine directly with lamps, the air
supply of which is heated as before described, apparatus for generating the com-
bustible gas required. For this purpose a long vertical cylinder closed at its upper
end and open at its lower end is charged through a side branch with coal or other
carbonaceous material suitable for producing combustible gas. The upper end of
the cylinder communicates hy one or more branch pipes with one or more gas
burners above, and the lower end thereof opens into a fire box provided with a grato
or side holes for the admission of air for maintaining combustion. Surrounding
the said cylinder is a second cylinder of such a diameter as to leave an annular
space between the two, such second cylinder being also open to the fire box at
bottom and closed at top where it has a branch pipe leading to the open air.
Through the annular space the flames and hot gaseous products of combustion from
the fire box pass, so that the central cylinder or retort is heated both by the fire
below and by the hot gases escaping therefrom, whereby the combustible gases are
distilled from the carbonaceous material therein, such gases being led directly to
the burners. The air supply for such burners passes up through a second onter
annular space formed by a third cylinder surrounding the second one, made by
preference of a bad conductor of heat so as to prevent loss of heat from radiation.
The second annular space does not communicate with the fire box, but with the
outer air by means of lateral holes at the bottom of the outer cylinder, and one or
more passages lead from the top of the said annular space to the burner or burners
through which the air after becoming heated by its passage through the annular
space is conducted to the gas jet or jets so as to effect the combustion thereof. The
outer annular space, and if desired also the inner one, may be filled with wire gauze
or refractory material having interstices through which the air or gases pass and
which offers extended surfaces for absorbing the heat from the products of com-
bustion and imparting the same by conduction to the gas retort and to the air
supply. The whole of the before described cylinders can he readily removed from
the fire box so as to gain access to their interiors for cleansing purposes. The above
described combined gas generator and lamp is more particularly applicable for
illumination in the open air. When not required for use the several pipes and
openings may be closed by valves or slides, whereby the fuel may be maintained in
a sufficient state of ignition for a considerable length of time to be at once available
when the apparatus is again required for use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side view, Fig. 2 a vertical section, and Fig. 3 a sectional plan of a
pendant gas lamp in which the air and gas are heated by conduction. The burners
b, b, are enclosed within a glass globe attached air tight to a hollow column which
projects down from the ceiling. This column has within it a central tube g through
which the gas supplied by the piper passes on its way to the burners. Around the
tube
is an annular passages through which the hot products of combustion from
the burners pass on their way to an outlet flue e, and outside the passages is another
annular passage t by which air entering by apertures near the upper end of the
column descends to the globe. The outer shell of the column is lined with non-
conducting material, and the central tube y and passages & and contain metal wires,
or pieces of wire gauze, or other loose or porous material, giving passage through

page_text: their interstices and exposing extended surface. It will be seen that gas and air
descending to the burners by the passages g and t become heated more and more as
they descend by the heat which the products of combustion, ascending by the
passages, impart to the materials in the passages, these products becoming more
and more cooled as they ascend. The flame within the closed glass & burns with a
steady light intensified by the heating of its supply, and moreover the comparative
coolness of the globe itself causes descent of the air along its circumference to the
lower part, whence it rises to supply the flame as indicated by the arrows, so that
the incoming and outgoing currents do not interfere with each other. The tuhes or
passages may either be vertical as shewn, or they may be inclined or even horizontal,
if sufficient draft is otherwise supplied by a chimney. The arrangement may also
be inverted, as shewn at Figs. 4, 5, and 6, which represent respectively a side view,
a vertical section, and a sectional plan of a gas lamp on a column projecting upwards
from the floor. In this case the central gas passage g is surrounded by the annular
passage t for air, supplied by apertures o near the base of the column, and the pro-
ducts of combustion descond by the outer passages to the flue e after flowing round
the inner surface of the glass globe, as indicated by the arrows.
Instead of arranging the several passages for the gas, air, and products of combus-
tion concentrically, as described, they may be arranged in any other convenient form,
so long as they are situated in close contiguity to each other and offer extended
surfaces for the transmission of heat. In large apparatus the metal forming the
sides of the passages might with advantage be corrugated, so as to offer increased
surface, and consequently conducting power.
Figs. 7 to 9 shews an arrangement of gas lamp wherein the heat is applied on the
regenerative system. Fig. 7 is a front view, Fig. 8 a section through the regenera-
tive chambers, and Fig. 9 a vertical section of the lamp. The burner b is enclosed
in a glass globe which is attached to the front of a wheel shaped vessel divided
by radial partitions into a number of segmental compartments & open at the peri-
phery. This vessel is mounted so that it can be turned on the gas tube gas on a
horizontal axis, a handle or knob a being provided for the purpose of turning it.
In front of the gas tubo g is a conical shell which operates as a reflector, and also
guides the currents in the following manner :--The hot products of combustion issue
from the globe by the upper set of apertures 1, and pass through the the upper com-
partments s, heating the metallic gauge or wires with which they are charged, and
escaping through the open periphery whilst the air rises through the lower compart-
ments s, which had been previously heated, and enters the globe by the lower
apertures . When the lower compartments s have become cooled by the passago
of air through them, and the upper compartments have become heated by the
passage of products of combustion, the wheel is turned partly round, so as to bring
the compartiments that were previously uppermost down, and to elevate those that
were previously lowest. The air then rises through the heated compartments,
receiving heat, and the products of combustion pass through the cool compartments,
heating them. The wheel may be turned by hand, or if desired by clockwork, at
suitable intervals, or it may have a continuous slow rotary motion. A small
aperture closed by a cover may be provided, either in the globe or in the passage 1,
for introducing a light for lighting the burner. The globe may be removeable from
the part in order to be cleaned from time to time.
Figs. 10, 11, and 12 shew respectively a front view, a section through the regene-
rative chambers, and a cross section of a modification of the previous arrangement
adapted for an oil lamp. The lamp is supplied from the oil reservoir p, the glass
globe and part and reflector being in this case stationary and separate from the
regenerators, which revolves on the support g to which the other parts are fixed.
This arrangement might also be employed for the gas lamp, Figs. 7 to 9. The globe
k has in this case an opening at top for lighting and cleaning, closed by a cover as
shewn.
Figs. 13, 14, and 15, shew views similar to Figs. 10 to 12 of a lamp in which
the regenerative chambers are heated by small gas jets c branching from the pipe

page_text: the heat from the illuminating flame being either allowed to oscape through the
open globe, as shewn, or the hot gases might be conducted away through a pipe
to be utilized elsewhere. The air passing into the lower heated regenerative
chambers is conducted partly through the fixed passage to the burner and partly
passes up through the upper regenerative compartments to be led away through a
pipe to supply other burners. It will be seen that this arrangement of regenerative
chamber heated by special gas jets might be employed entirely separato from the
burners used for illumination or heating, the heated air being supplied from the
former to the latter by pipes.
Instead of constructing the regenerators shewn in Figure 7 to 15 as revolving
wheels they may consist of two opposite chambers or sets of chambers, the position
of which is reversed at intervals by turning the regenerator half round, the upper
chamber receiving heat from the issuing products of combustion while the lower
one is imparting heat to the entering air.
In applying the above described improved lamps or burners to heating instead
of lighting purposes, either the flame of the lamp itself or the hot gases there-
from may be so applied, or a portion of the heated air supply may be led away to
be used for that purpose.
Figs. 16 and 17 shew respectively a vertical section and a sectional plan of a
gas lamp with heated air supply, having combined therewith an apparatus for
generating the combustible gas required, which is directly supplied to the burner,
such apparatus being more particularly applicable for illumination in the open air.
The apparatus is composed of three concentric tubes r, v, and l, of such diameters
as to have annular spaces between the two outer ones. The central tube r, which
constitutes a gas retort, is closed at top and opened at bottom, where it communi-
cates with a fire box, with door y, and grate z. It is filled with coal or other
carbonaceous material suitable for producing gas through a side branchs at the
upper end, closed by a cover d with water lute . At its upper end the tube has
a pipe 9, through which the gas is led directly to the burner or burners. The
annular space between the tubes and is also closed at the top, where it is pro-
vided with a pipe leading to the open air, and it is open to the fire box at
bottom, so that the gaseous products of combustion from the fire pass up such
annular space and escape into the air. The contents of the retort are thus heated
both by the fire below and by the heat of the gases passing through the annular
space, whereby combustible gas is generated, which is led directly to the burner.
The second annular space between the tubes and is not open to the fire box, but
communicates at botton through side apertures o, o, with the atmosphere, so that
air passes up through such space, and after becoming heated therein by conduction
from the gases in the inner annular space passes through passages h, h, to enter
into combustion with the gas issuing from the burner. The outer annular space,
as also the inner one if desired, may be filled with refractory material as indicated,
having interstices through which the air or gas passes, and which offer extended
surfaces for absorbing heat from the products of combustion and imparting the
same to the gas retort and to the air supply. The tubes r, v, and I, which are
connected together can be readily removed from the fire box, so as to gain access
to the interior spaces for cleansing purposes. The outer tube or cylinder 7 is by
preference formed of or provided with an outer coating consisting of a bad con-
ductor of heat, in order to prevent loss of heat by radiation.
The fuel in the fire box may be made of such a depth between the grate and the
lower end of the gas retort that by the beat of the fire on the grate carbonic oxide
is produced at the top of the fuel, and is there burnt by the admission of air
through side holes in the top of the fire box or in the lower part of the inner
annular passage. By this means the annular passages and regenerators would be
kept freer from carbonaceous deposits than when an ordinary fire is used; the
heating would also be effected more uniformly, and the lower ends of the tubes would
not be burnt away so rapidly.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim,-
First. Utilising the heat of the products of combustion from a lamp or burner
by heating the air or gas which supplies the flame, so as to increase the luminosity
thereof by causing the products of combustion and the gas or air to pass in opposite
directions through adjacent passages, so as to effect interchange of heat by con-
duction, substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of
the accompanying Drawings.
Second. Heating the air on its way to a lamp or burner flame by causing it to
pass through a regenerative chamber previously heated by the passage through it
of the products of combustion of the illuminating or of an independent flame, sub-
stantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 7 to 15 inclusive of the accom-
panying Drawings.
Third. The construction of pendant light and its concentric passages herein
described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The construction of column light and its concentric passages herein
described with reference to Figs. 4, 5, and 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The construction of bracket gas light and its regenerative chambers herein
described with reference to Figs. 7, 8, and 9 of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. The construction of bracket lamp and its regenerative chambers herein
described with reference to Figs. 10, 11, and 12 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. The modified construction of bracket light and its regenerative chambers
heated by independent flame, herein described with reference to Figs. 13, 14, and 15
of the accompanying Drawings.
Eighth. Arranging a burner in combination with a retort and fire, so as to pro-
duce the gas and heat the air for the flame, substantially as herein described with
reference to Figs. 16 and 17 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Siemens, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of December in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.