A Method and Means for Maintaining the Catalytic Property of Igniting-Bodies Glowing in a Current of Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1898-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE
DITIFICATION.
A Method and Means for Maintaining the Catalytic Property of
Igniting-Bodies Glowing in a Current of Gas.
I, KURT SCHULTZE, of 4, Neue Promenade, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia,
German Empire, Manufacturer, 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:-
The cause for the early ceasing of the catalytic property of igniting-bodies (for
instance in the shape of pills, threads, wire, also self-igniting incandescent bodies
for gas-incandescent-lamps) that commence glowing in a current of gas, especially
carburetted hydrogen gas, lies either in the precipitation of non-catalytic bodies,
such as cerium, soda, thorium, carbon, and the like, upon that respective igniting-
body, or in the evaporation of the platinum-atoms (if this element is employed as
the igniting-body) under the heat of the glowing incandescent-body, where such
is made use of.
In order to do away with these drawbacks, i.e., to prevent the igniting-body
from being covered with a non-catalytic precipitate, and if that body consists
of platinum, to prevent the latter against evaporation, I now propose to maintain
in the interior of the flame, or in the case of an incandescent lamp, in the interior
of the incandescent-body, a space that contains besides the igniting-body nothing
but atmospheric air; in other words, I propose to form in the interior of the
flame or of the incandescent-body a core or cone of air, preferably in a very
short distance over the burner-head, and to arrange the igniting-body in that
core or cone of air. The latter being continually fed with fresh air from
below, and from the mantle-surface of that core or cone air flows continually to
or against the inner side of the (cylindrical or conical) flame, or the incan-
descent-body respectively. There is maintained by this means in the interior of
the flame, or of the incandescent-body, a comparatively cool space, in the interior
of which the igniting-body is located; the latter is consequently being constantly
cooled, whereby the constant glowing of that body is prevented and the duration
of the catalytic property of it greatly prolonged. In fact, however, the catalytic
property of the igniting-body is completely maintained for any length of time,
because the air in the core or cone in question is incessantly renewed, so that
there is a constant current of air by which the noxious vapours (especially these
given off from the glowing incandescent-body) are constantly blown away from
the igniting body, and by which also the heat of the flame, or of the incandescent-
body, is constantly removed.
The core of air exists as such, of course, only during the burning
of the lamp because prior thereto the whole interior of the incan-
descent body is filled with air and on opening the cock, the igniting-body
is first exposed to the gas issuing from the burner. In the moment of contact
between the gas and the igniting-body the latter commences glowing, and the
gas or the mixture of gas and air respectively is ignited, and there now forms
instantly thereafter the core of air that envelopes the igniting-body and protects

page_text: it against the injurious influences that tend to impair or even destroy the catalytic
property of that body.
In order to cause the air to form that core in the interior of the flame, or
incandescent-body, or shortly over the head of the burner, the air need not be
subjected to the action of any mechanical impelling-device, but a slight modifica-
tion of the burner, or, burner-head, is sufficient to attain the desired result. In
general it is sufficient to lead through the burner-head a piece of tube that
establishes a communication between the outer air and the space above the
burner or the interior of the flame or incandescent-body respectively; in particular,
however, I prefer to provide the burner-head with a thimble-like cavity which
opens to the top of the burner and communicates at its bottom by one or more
pieces of tube with the outer air. This piece or these pieces of tube together
with that cavity form a substitute for the piece of tube at-first mentioned, and
in every case the core of air forms immediately over the upper end of that air-
supply, and the igniting-body is arranged directly in that core of air or cover
or at or even in that air-supply, or piece of tube or thimble-like cavity respectively.
In the case of the thimble-like cavity I may lead into the latter a small tube that
communicates with the gas and air-supply, and leads a very small part of the
mixture directly into that cavity and to or against the igniting-body; in this
form of construction the small flame arising at the end of the small tube remains
burning as long as the main-flame, and the igniting-body is therefore preferably
arranged laterally from that small tube, so that it does not come in contact
even with that small flame.
In order to make my invention more clear, I refer to the accompanying three
sheets of drawings, in which similar letters denote similar parts through out the
different views, and in which :
Figure Sheet 1 is a vertical section through a burner or lamp constructed
according to my invention,
Figure 2 is a similar view, the burner proper represented in side-view,
Figure 3 Sheet 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 or 2, but showing a modified
form of construction,
Figure 4 is an upper view of the burner-head,
Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the lower part of the burner-head,
Figure 5 shows the same parts in another relative position,
Figure 6 is a side-view of the parts shown in Figures 5 & 5^.
Figure 7 Sheet 3 is a vertical section through a modified burner-head drawn on
a larger scale.
Figure 8 is an upper view of the igniting device proper of said burner-head.
Referring to Figures 1 & 2 i is the outer supporting tube for the burner-
head b, over which is placed a perforated cap a through which the mixture of
gas and air issues. The burner-head contains a small vessel a, the open upper
end of which extends through the perforated cap, while the lower part of same
is connected with the outer air by one or more short pieces of tubes or channels b
These channels serve for leading air into the vessel a, from which it passes upwards
against and around the igniting-body e, that is arranged at some distance over
the vessel a and supported by a pin d. The air forms a sort of cone, the pit
of which does not extend up to the upper end of the incandescent-body, so that
the latter is not cooled and its illuminating power impaired by that air. There
is, however a constant flow of air from the mantle of that cone of air to the inner
side of the flame, so that the gas is completely burned, and the heat thus pro
duced attains a maximum degree, and the intensity of the incandescent-body is
greatly increased.
The igniting body e may be arranged, if desired, also directly at the upper
end of the vessel a or even in the interior of the same, and instead of exposing
it in the first moment to the whole quantity of the mixture of gas and air it may
be exposed only to a part thereof, as is the case in the form of construction
represented in Figs. 3--6. The vessel a is in this case provided with a smal

page_text: tube for the requisite small quantity of gas and air, and the igniting-body e
(which is supported by a wire g secured to that tube f) is located in the upper
part of the vessel a and laterally from the tube f. When opening the cock (not
shown) there arises first a small flame at the upper end of the tube f by reason
of the counter-action between the gas and the igniting-body, and the main flame
is then ignited by that small or auxiliary flame, which latter remains burning
during the whole time of the burning of the lamp. There forms also in this
burner the cone of air in the interior of the flame, but as that cone needs be but
low in consequence of the low position of the igniting-body I prefer to provide
regulating-means for the entrance of the air into the vessel a, or into the
channels 6 respectively. In the form of construction shown these means consist
of a ring (Figures 5 & 6) having apertures c¹. The latter may be made to
coincide with the channels (Figure 5) or these latter may be more or less
closed by turning the ring c in one or the other direction. The said ring is,
of course, supported by any suitable means, such for instance as by two or three
pins rivetted into the tube i.
Instead of employing only one igniting-body two or more of such may be made
use of, as shown as an example in Figures 7 & 8. In this case the igniting
bodies el are supported by wires e², preferably of platinum, and these wires as
well as the igniting-bodies are arranged in a regular manner around the small
auxiliary pipe f. The wires e are fixed not directly to the vessel a but to a
ring m having projections m¹ that form the supports for said wires. The igniting-
bodies need not be in every case of ball-like shape, but other forms, for instance
small cylinders, may be used as well. This refers to Figures 7 & 8, as well
as to Figures 1 & 2 and 3-6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The method of maintaining the catalytic property of igniting-bodies glowing
in a current of gas, consisting in forming and maintaining in the interior of the
flame an air-filled space (core or cone of air) adapted to contain the igniting-
body, and in constantly leading fresh air into and through that space, substantially
as and for the purpose as described.
2. In a gas-burner, the combination with the burner-head, of means for leading
fresh air through the burner-head into the interior of the flame so as to form a
core or cone of air in the latter, of an igniting-body located in said core or cone
of air, substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In a gas-burner, the combination with the burner-head, of a vessel inserted
into the latter and opening towards the interior of the flame, and means for leading
fresh air into the lower part of said vessel, of an igniting-body located at or near
the upper end of the said vessel, substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. In a gas-burner, the combination with the burner-head, of a vessel inserted
into the latter and opening towards the interior of the flame, and means for
leading fresh air into the lower part of said vessel, of an auxiliary igniting-tube
extending from the gas- and air-supply-pipe into the said vessel, and an igniting-
body located near to the upper end of said auxiliary igniting-tube, substantially
as described.
5. In a gas-burner, the combination with the burner-head, of a vessel inserted
into the latter and opening towards the interior of the flame, and means for lead-
ing fresh air into the lower part of said vessel, of metal-wires spanned over the
upper end of the said vessel, and igniting-bodies supported by said wires, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
6. In a gas-burner, the combination with the burner-head, of a vessel inserted
into the latter and opening towards the interior of the flame, channels connecting
the lower part of said vessel with the outer air, an auxiliary igniting-tube extend-
ing from the gas and air-supply-pipe into the said vessel, metal-wires spanned

page_text: over the upper end of the vessel without crossing the space over the upper end of
said tube, and igniting-bodies supported by said wires, and arranged in regular
order around the said tube, all substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 21st day of December 1898.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.