IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS BURNERS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George John Parfitt, of the City of Bath, in the
County of Somerset, City Surveyor, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAS BURNERS."
Sealed the 15th November 1859, and dated the 20th May 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George John Parfitt
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 20th May 1859.
I, GEORGE JOHN PARFITT, of the City of Bath, in the County of Somerset.
City Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS BURNERS," to be as follows:-
My Invention for improvements in gas burners consists of a perforated cone
or tube of any shape placed in the centre of the burner. The gas when
passing surrounds the cone or tube in a chamber of its own, a perforated or
porous plate or plates placed upon or under, or otherwise, forming the bottom
of the glass holder, gallery, or triangle of the burner. Also, applying side
holes near the top of the burner, to produce a flat light, known as the fish
tail. A tap or cock, the plug of which is hollow, pierced on one side with a
hole, & on the other is fixed a perforated plate. The interior is filled with
horsehair or other material, & a perforated plate to regulate the supply &
pressure of gas. The shape of the glasses is adapted to the shape of the
burner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George John Parfitt in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th November 1859.
1
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
JOHN PARFITT, of the City of Bath, in the County of Somerset, City Surveyor,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George John Parfitt, Her special licence that I, the said George
John Parfitt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said George John Parfitt, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS BURNERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said George John Parfitt, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George John Parfitt, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what inanner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings, here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say):-
All argand burners hitherto made and used for the consumption of gas
have been drilled or perforated vertically or at any angle from the top of the
burner, the effect of which is, that the gas is forced out through holes drilled
or perforated at the top of the burner, and consequently the flame rises
perpendicularly.
Now, my Invention consists in drilling or perforating a hole or holes in
the argand or other burners from the inside of the inner tube or gas chamber
of the burner in a direction horizontal or at any other angle that will allow

page_text: the gas to pass and meet at a point or points at any direction, or at any given
point, as herein-after described, to produce a flat light known as the fish tail.
Also, in a perforated or porous cone or tube, of any shape or size, to regulate
the supply of oxygen from the air, so as to render combustion perfect and
complete, with the consumption of a smaller or less quantity of gas. Also, in
ani tap or cock, of any shape, form, or size, the plug of which shall have a hole
or holes drilled or constructed through its centre for the purpose of admitting
and allowing a certain quantity of gas, or any given quantity of gas, to pass
to the aforesaid burner or burners for consumption, thereby admitting only
such a quantity of gas that can be consumed to give the greatest amount of
illuminating power. Also, of various perforated or porous plate or plates,
herein-after described, to be placed in the inside of the plug, or within any
portion of the tap or cock, according to its size and form, and to be so packed
with horsehair or any other material whatsoever, so as to allow the aforesaid
quantity of gas to pass through the said tap or cock free of noise at any
pressure; the said tap or cock to be constructed either. with flange or flanges,
male or female screws, as the case may be. Also, in a perforated or porous
plate or plates, or wire gauze of any description that shall be herein-after
described, for the purpose of regulating the quantity of oxygen from the air
that may be brought to bear upon the side of the light or round the light,
so that the oxygen shall surround the flame or light, to render combustion
perfect. The glass or glasses and reflectors to be used shall be of various
sizes, as herein-after described, that I may find most convenient and proper
to render combustion perfect and complete, and to give the greatest amount
of illuminating power. The reflector to be of glass, or any metal electro-
plated or silvered, as herein-after described, or round the glass, to render
reflection perfect. Also, a burner to be used with or without a glass or
glasses, upon the same principle above stated, with a hole or slit or open
space, as herein-after described, in its centre, with one, two, or more holes,
as the case may be.
I will now describe that portion or part of the Invention which can be
applied to safety and other lamps, having, as before stated, that I produce a
greater amount of illuminating power from bringing together currents of gas
and oxygen from the air by means of the perforated plates, cones, and tubes.
1 produce two or more wicks to burn in juxtaposition with each other at an
horizontal angle, or at any angle that I may think proper, the same being to
produce a greater degree of light with a less consumption of oil, camphene,
photogene, or any inflammable matter or other substance or compound, or any
fat, blubber, or grease of any description whatsoever; the aforesaid cones or

page_text: or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had
occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom
without deviating from the principles or main features of the said Inven-
tion; but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim
as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent, is,
First, the peculiar modifications and arrangement of construction of gas
burners herein-before described.
of
Second, the peculiar formation of tap or cock to supply the exact quantity
gas that is required to produce perfect combustion in conjunction with the
aforesaid burner.
Third, the application of the perforated coue or tube, and the perforated
or porous plate or plates or wire gauze for directing, allowing, and admitting
the exact quantity of oxygen from the air to cause perfect combustion.
Fourth, the glass or glasses and reflector or reflectors to be adapted to the
aforesaid burner or burners.
In witness whereof, I, the said George John Parfitt, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-third day of September, One thou.
sand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
•
Witness,
M. F. RUSSELL, Librarian,
6, Terrace Walk, Bath.
GEO. PARFITT. (L.S.)
City Surveyor, Bath.