IMPROVEMENTS IN INCANDESCENT BURNERS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT Herbert John Haddan, of Kensington, Middlesex, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INCANDESCENT BURNERS." A communication
from abroad by Walter Marsh Jackson, of Providence, United States.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd November 1881.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
INCANDESCENT BURNERS." A communication from abroad by Walter Marsh
Jackson, of Providence, United States.
This Invention relates to an improvement in devices or system of devices for
producing illumination by the incandescense of a suitable substance or substances
heated to a proper temperaturo by means of burning gases or vapors, and it is
specially designed to utilize for illuminating purposes the non-luminous gases, such
as hydrogen, carbonic oxide, or a mixture of such gases, the latter being known
technically as water gas, which either possess no carbon whatever, or do not
contain it in such condition as to be rendered luminous when burning.
My Invention however may be employed with equal advantage in connection
with the ordinary carburetted bydrogen gases or hydro carbon vapors when com-
mingled with a proper equivalent of atmospheric air or oxygen sufficient to effect
the thorough consumption of the carbon, the burning carbon in such instances
being utilized in conjunction with the hydrogen contained in such gases or vapors
to form a heating agent, to render the substance incandescent.
These objects I attain by the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings, in which
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved apparatus or device.
Figure 2 represents a detached view of the device supporting the substance to be
rendered incandescent.
Figure 3 represents a top view of the device with the substance to be rendered
incandescent removed.
Figure 4 represents a transverse vertical sectional view of the device.

page_text: Figure 5 represents a modification of my Invention, showing a number of
burners grouped together, and
Figure 6 represents a modification of my Invention applied to an ordinary gas
burner.
The letter A indicates an angular hollow shell which is provided with a narrow
slot or opening B at its top, and at its botton with a tubular extension C screw
threaded internally for tho reception of an externally screw threaded jet tube D
which may be secured on a suitable pipe through which gas or vapor from a
generator or reservoir may be admitted to the hollow shell.
The tubular extension C at diametrically opposite sides, is provided with
openings E for the admission of air, which will be carried in by the draft caused
by the current of gas passing upward through the jet tube D.
The said extension on its outside is provided with a loose perforated sleeve, the
perforations corresponding with the apertures in the extension, so that by turning
the sleeve the quantity of air admitted to the device may be regulated with
accuracy.
At each side at the top of the device the slot B is contracted, forming a seat for
the rectangular cross bar or tic E¹, to the ends of which are secured the vertical
standards which support the material to be rendered incandescent.
This cross bar serves the doublo purpose of supporting the standards F, and of
dividing the opening or slot B so as to permit the gas or vapor to issue at each
side.
The standards taper upwardly, and are grooved at intervals for the reception of
the substance to be rendered incandescent.
This substance I have found by practical experience to consist preferably of fine
platinum, iridium, silver or gold wire, or other material that will not oxidize at
high temperatures.
The wire is wrapped successively in the grooves in the standards, one turn being
given at each groove, in order to prevent the wire from loosening at its supports,
and sagging or dropping under the influence of the intense heat necessary to render
it incandescent.
The wire is so arranged upon the standards as to form two vertical series, one
extending over each of the openings in the divided slot at the top of the shell A.
Owing to the tapering form of the said standards, it will be evident that the
wires of the two series will successively approach towards the top of said standards,
and thus be subjected to the proper action of the flame without interfering with
each other.
I have so disposed the wires as above mentioned, for the reason that it is a well
known fact that all flames are hollow, and if the wire were placed directly in the
center of the flame, it would only become partially incandescent.
For this reason the device is constructed so as to only produce a very thin flame,
and the wires are arranged, as before mentioned, slightly out of line, vertically, so
as to create a cross cutting of the flame, thereby exposing the wires to the solid
parts of the flame, and not to the hollow spaco.
By experience it has been found that the finer the wire, the more brilliant will
be the light, but when constructed of the fineness necessary to brilliant illumination,
it will be relaxed by the intense heat if unsupported properly, and hence I employ
the standards above mentioned.
A wire about five (5) one thousandths of an inch has been found to answer well
in practice; if materially larger, the proper incandescence cannot be obtained, if
materially smaller it is apt to sag or break, but slight variation from the size may
be made without departing from this Invention.
I have above described this Invention simply as applied to a single device, but
when desired, the gas eductions may be multiplied as well as the standards and
wires, so as to form one line within another, with the proper heating flames, as
indicated in Figure 5 of Drawing.
The incandescence may be increased by means of a chimney applied over the

page_text: device, and when the pressure of gas or vapor is slight, one or more jet tubes may
be employed to increase the draft through the device.
The cross bar or tie supporting the standards carrying the wires being removable
may be detached if the wires become injured, and a new one substituted while the
one removed may be wrapped with wire for future use.
The modification represented in Figure 6 shows my improved device applied to
an ordinary gas burner, the standards in this instance being supported by means of
a suitable collar on the burner, the said standards being curved as shown, and
tapering for the purposes above mentioned.
Having thus described this Invention, what I claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is,―
1st. The method herein described of producing illumination by rendering incan-
descent any suitable substance by heating it to a proper temperature by means of
burning gases or vapors, substantially as specified.
2nd. The device herein described for producing illumination by the incandescence
of a highly heated substance, the said substance being suitably supported in the
flames of burning gases or vapors, substantially as specified.
3rd. In combination with a hollow shell provided with a narrow opening or slot
at the top for the escape of the gas or vapor to be burned, and with a suitable
induction for such gas or vapor, the dividing bar or tie, and the standards for
supporting the substance to be rendered incandescent, substantially as specified.
4th. In combination with the hollow casing and its gas escape opening, tho
tapering grooved standards and the wires wrapped and arranged around the samo
in such manner as to gradually approach each other towards the top, and extend
through the outer portions of the hollow flame, so as to be rendered thoroughly
incandescent, substantially as specified.
5th. In combination with the hollow shell and the standards and wires attached
thereto, the perforated extension and perforated sleeve, and the gas or vapor jet
projecting into said extension, whereby a current of air may be commingled with
the gases or vapors to be burned, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6th. In combination with the hollow casing, having a narrow opening at the top
and suitable seats at each side, the removable cross bar and standards for supporting
the wires to be rendered incandescent, whereby the parts are adapted to be
separated for the purpose of repairs, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have bereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty third day of November, A.D. 1881.
H. J. HADDAN. (LS)