IMPROVE MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT FROM GAS, AIR, AND LIQUIDS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adolphe Gilbert Chalus, of 2, Rue Sainte Appoline,
Paris, (Empire of France) Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT FROM GAS, AIR, AND
LIQUIDS"
Sealed the 27th August 1867, and dated the 28th February 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adolphe Gilbert Chalus
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 28th February 1867.
I, ADOLPHE GILBERT CHALUS, of 2, Rue Sainte Appoline, Paris, (Empire
of France) Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT FROM GAS,
AIR, AND LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
In apparatus at present in use for burning gas an essential feature has
always been omitted, and it is this, that gas escapes, and at times in consi-
derable quantity, from the burner without being consumed; independently of
the loss occasioned thereby the gas when inhaled is very injurious to health.
Now the object of my Invention is to remedy these defects, and I accomplish
the same by the use or employment of apparatus, all as hereafter described.
According to one arrangement I place a sort of cap or obturator on the top
of the glass; it is made conical, and where its diameter is smallest it is

page_text: provided with a surface to moderate the current of air and gas; the upper rim
is pierced with holes to allow any excess of heat to escape and to prevent the
glass breaking; by this means all the gas passing through the burner is con-
sumed, the light is white and much increased in intensity, and a great economy
in consumption is the result. To an obturator of a similar construction I
sometimes apply ribs or grooves to the upper edge or rim, and they enable
me to dispense with the holes in the first arrangement, for the obturator rests
on the glass by the ribs, and allows a sufficient space between the glass and
the obturator for the escape of any excess of heat. I do not limit myself
to the conical form above described, for I have discovered that other forms
are applicable to the purposes of my Invention, such as a dome, triangle,
double cone.
According to another arrangment I construct the obturators with slits or
circular apertures at the side, so that air may enter horizontally; by this
means there is a current of air which itself burns and stops the evaporation
of the gas which escapes from the glass; these obturators may have slits,
holes, or other shaped apertures made in them as found most desirable, and
their number varied as required.
In an obturator made according to my Invention in porcelain I form it in
three apertures; it is in shape somewhat concave in the centre in order to
penetrate or dip somewhat into the glass, and the edges are fitted so that the
obturator may be kept in the centre of the glass; this shaped obturator can
bemanufactured very inexpensively, possessing qualities similar to those before
described. I also manufacture obturators in mica. In this case the obturator
is composed of a disc held to the chimney, which is also made of mica, by
three parts rivetted to the side between two pieces of copper, whereby strength
is obtained by the use of mica, the breaking of the chimney is prevented,
which so often occurs when it is made of glass. These obturators may be
mounted on a metal ring by means of projecting pieces and placed on the top
of the chimney. Besides the obturators already described, I make them with
apertures, not limiting myself to the number in the bottom, and I also make
them capable of being used as reflectors by connecting pieces of material
ordinarily used for such purposes to the obturators, or making the reflectors
themselves in a piece with the obturators; they are capable of being con-
structed of any desirable form or size; and their reflecting surface may be not
only smooth or plane butcurved or undulating in one or several parts in order
to multiply the effects of the light produced by the said surfaces, Among
the numerous arrangements of these obturator reflectors I may particularly

page_text: note the following one, composed of a hollow cylinder closed at its upper part,
and having inside two small bars set perpendicularly the one to the other, and
which rest on the top of the chimney; the lower edges of this cylinder may
be bent outwards to form a reflecting surface.
It must be understood that I reserve to myself the right of modifying
the shapes and dimensions of the obturators herein-before described, and
that I may use for making thein any kind of material applicable to the
purpose in order to economize the cost of gas, and at the same time obtain-
ing an increased lighting intensity.
I may here remark that when it is very hot the light of the gas is much
more brilliant than when it is cold; it is to avoid these differences of ten-
perature that I adopt the following arrangements: -I heat the gas in a
vase; the gas arrives in the bottom of the box by a tube, and it issues at a
high temperature by the upper part of the burner. A reservoir (preferably
of a pear-like form) may be added, about three-fourths filled with petroleum,
oil, benzine, or the like; the reservoir is provided with a tube in the centre
for conveying air to the surface of the liquid; the air issues from the tube
by lateral openings, a small sort of grating is placed at the top of the tube
forming a canopy covered with swanskin, flannel, cotton, or other material,
which descends to the bottom of the reservoir, and thereby becomes or forms
a wick; the grating prevents the fabric from touching the apertures by
which the air filtered in passing through the fabric issues charged with
carburetted vapors before passing to the buruer. To procure good and
economical combustion of gas by previously heating it, as I have just
described, I have also devised certain burners to aid in accomplishing my
object. One is a burner with the flame reversed. and coming against the
centre of a porcelain surface having a spherical cap-like shape, which while
reflecting the light acquires at the same time a high temperature, so that
all the gas which reaches the burner is entirely consumed.
According to another arrangement the burner is composed of two con-
centric cylindrical portions having an annular space between them, to the
upper part of which the gas is conducted by pipes, the gas issues through
apertures formed midway or nearly so between the top and bottom of the
external cylinder, so that the burner acquires a high temperature, and con-
sequently perfectly consumes the gas as it escapes.
In another arrangement the upper part of the burner is made of two
rounded parts, between which the flame issues; the gas fills the two parts and
becomes heated by the action of the flame outside to a very high temperature,

page_text: whereby it is entirely consumed and giving a very fine light. This burner is
capable of being fitted with a consumer or reflector, supported by a rod to
raise or lower the said reflector. In a burner where the slot or aperture for
the gas is formed in a sphere, the tube is fitted internally with a sheet of bent
metal, the gas penetrates between two sides of this metallic piece by means
of apertures formed in the said sides and burns at the upper part, the opening
of which can be increased or reduced in size by contracting or expanding the
sides of the sheet of metal, or a wire is placed below the exit of the flame to
divide it and to assure for it a combustion as perfect as may be.
It is known that bad lighting often proceeds from the variations in the
pressure of the gas; I propose to remedy these defects in the following
manner: I make a regulator composed of an internal tube with a seat at top
and bottom and carrying two valves, the inside surfaces of which are sorrated
to allow at each joint a passage for the gas, but the lower is straiter than the
upper in order that should the pressure become too strong the lower valve
rises and diminishes the passage for the gas until the desired quantity arrives.
A regulator of a somewhat different construction intended to be placed
immediately below the burners is constructed as follows:-In a hollowcylinder
there is a ball, made of some light material free to move, which closes the
interior of the tube; conical grooves are formed in the tube to give the
necessary space for the gas to flow. When the ball is at the lower part,
without however being at rest, the gas passes easily by the grooves, but if
from an excess of pressure the ball rises in the tube, the grooves being conical
and the gas being only able to pass by the grooves, it will diminish the passage
for the gas, and consequently regulate the pressure.
To prevent theinconvenience arising from the frequent breakage of ordinary
chimney glasses I make the glasses in several parts and in the following
manuer: The several parts are united at the upper and lower part by two
metal wires which surround it in a groove formed for this purpose; these wires
have each a buckle on one side and on the other a long end, which is attached
to the buckle of the other wire; this glass is made with internal swellings to
equalise the temperature in all the parts of the glass.
According to another arrangement I insert glasses made in several parts
in metallic frames at top and bottom united by rods; by making the glasses in
several pieces their expansion under the action of heat is prevented, and
consequently they are not so liable to break as when made of one piece.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditious of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Adolphe Gilbert Chalus in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 28th August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ADOLPHE
GILBERT CHALUS, of 2, Rue Sainte Appoline, Paris, Empire of France,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year ofour Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Adolphe Gilbert Chalus, Her special licence that I, the said Adolphe
Gilbert Chalus, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Adolphe Gilbert Chalus, 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 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT FROM GAS, AIR
AND LIQUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Adolphe
Gilbert Chalus, my executors or administrators, by an instrument 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 Adolphe Gilbert Chalus, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures inarked thereon, that is to say:-
In apparatus at present in use for burning gas an essential feature has
always been omitted, and it is this, that gas escapes, and at times in consider-
able quantity, from the burner without being consumed; independently of the
loss occasioned thereby, the gas when inhaled is very injurious to health.
Now the object of my Invention is to remedy these defects, and I accomplish
the same by the use or employment of apparatus, all as hereafter described.

page_text: The Drawings hereunto annexed illustrate the manner in which my
Invention is carried into effect.
upper
rim
Figures 1 to 9 representing different kinds of obturators for preventing the
Joss of gas. Figure 1 shows two views of an obturator a, which I place on
the top of the glass, it is made conical, and where its diameter is smallest it is
the
provided with a surface to moderate the current of air and gas;
is pierced with holes to allow any excess of heat to escape, and to prevent the
glass breaking; by this means all the gas passing through the burner is con-
sumed, the light is white and much increased in intensity, and a great economy
in consumption is the result. Figure 2 shows two views of the same obtu-
rator a, provided with ribs or grooves a¹ placed under the upper edge or rim of
the said obturator, and they enable me to dispense with the apertures shownin
Figure 1, for the obturator a only rests on the glass by the ribs a', and allows
a sufficient space between the glass and the obturator for the escape of any
excess of heat. The apertures in Figure 1 may be replaced as in Figure 3
by pieces a; Figures 4, 5, and 6 are views of obturators b, c, d, of different
shapes to that shown at Figure 1, to show that other forms are applicable to
the purposes of my Invention, such as a dome, triangle, double cone. Figure 6bis
and 7, show two oburators e and f, one with slits and the other with circular
apertures at the side, so that air may enter horizontally; by this means there
is a current of air, which itself burns and stops the evaporation of the gas
which escapes from the glass; these obturators may have slits, holes, or other
shaped apertures made in them as found most desirable, and their number
varied as required. Figure 8 shows in vertical section and plan an obturatorg
made according to my Invention in porcelain; I form in it three apertures; it
is in shape somewhat concave in the centre in order to penetrate or dip some-
what into the glass, and the edges are fitted so that the obturator may be kept
in the centre of the glass; this shaped obturator can be manufactured very
inexpensively, possessing qualities similar to that shown at Figure 1. Figure 9
are views in plan and vertical section of an obturator h made of mica; in this
case it is composed of a disc held to the chimney, which is also made of mica
by three parts, rivetted to the side of the glass between two pieces of copper,
whereby strength is obtained by the use of mica, the breaking of the chimney
is prevented, which so often occurs when it is made of glass. This obutrator h
may be mounted on a metal ring by means of projecting pieces h¹, and placed
on the top of the chimney, whereby it may be placed there and removed
therefrom with great facility. Besides the obturators already described I make
them with apertures, not limiting myself to the number in the bottom, and

page_text: I also make them capable of being used as reflectors by connecting pieces of
material ordinarily used for such purposes to the obturators, or making the
reflectors themselves in a piece with the obturators, two examples of which are
given at Figures 10 and 11; they are capable of being constructed of any
desirable form or size, and their reflecting surface may be not only smooth
or plane, but curved or undulating in one or several parts in order to multiply
the effects of the light produced by the said surfaces. Among the numerous
arrangements of these obturator reflectors, I may particularly note that
shown at Figure 12, which is composed of a hollow cylinder i closed at its
upper part, and having inside two small bars i¹ set perpendicularly the one
to the other; and which rest on the top of the chimney; the lower edges of
this cylinder i may be bent outwards as shown at is to form a reflecting
surface. It must be understood that I reserve to myself the right of modi-
fying the shapes and dimensions of the obturators herein-before described,
and that I may use for making them any kind of material applicable to the
purpose in order to economize the cost of gas, and at the same time obtain-
ing an increased lighting intensity.
A
I may here remark that when it is very hot the light of the gäs is much
more brilliant than when it is cold; it is to avoid these differences of tem.
perature that I heat the gas in a vase, Figure 13; the gas arrives in the
bottom of the box by a tube j', and it issues at a high température by the
upper part where there is a tube 2, which conveys it to the burner.
reservoir (preferably of a pear-like form) may be added, about three-fourths
filled with petroleum, oil, benzine; or the like; the reservoir is provided with a
tube in the centre for conveying air to the surface of the liquid; the air issues
from the tube by lateral openings. A small sort of grating is placed at the top
of the tube forming a canopy; covered with swanskin; flannel, cotton, or other
material, which descends to the bottom of the reservoir; and thereby becomes
or forms a wick; the grating prevents the fabric from touching the apertures,
by which the air filtered in passing through the fabric issues charged with
carburetted vapor before passing to the burner. To procure good and
economical combustion of gas by previously heating it,as I have just described,
I have also devised certain burners to aid in accomplishing my object.
Figure 14 shows a burner with the flame reversed, and coming against the
centre of a porcelain surface having a spherical cap-like shape, which, while
reflecting the light, acquires at the same time a high temperature, so that all
the gas which reaches the burner is entirely consumed. Figure 15 shows a
burner composed of two concentric cylindrical portions; liaving an annular

page_text: space between them, to the upper part of which the gas is conducted by pipes
and ; the gas issues through apertures formed midway or nearly so
between the top and bottom of the external cylinder, so that the burner
acquires a high temperature, and consequently perfectly consumes the gas
as it escapes. Figure 16 shows a burner, the upper part of which is made of
two rounded parts, between which the flame issues, the gas fills the two
parts, and becomes heated by the action of the flame outside to a very high
temperature, whereby it is entirely consumed, and giving a very fine light;
this burner is capable of being fitted with a consumer or reflector m, sup-
ported by a rod bent at m¹ to raise or lower the said reflector m. Figure 17
shows a burner where the slot or aperture for the gas is formed in a sphere;
the tube is fitted internally with a sheet of bent metal n; the gas penetrates
between the two sides of this metallic piece by means of apertures formed
in the said sides, and burns at the upper part, the opening of which can be
increased or reduced in size by contracting or expanding the sides of the
sheet of metal n, or a wire is placed below the exit of the flame to divide
it, and to assure for it a combustion as perfect as may be.
It is known that bad lighting often proceeds from the variations in the
pression of the gas. I propose to remedy these defects by the employment of
apparatus shown at Figures 18 and 19. Figure 18 shows a regulator to be
placed in a pipe, it is composed of an internal tube p with a seat at top and
bottom, and carrying two valves o and o¹, the inside surfaces of which are
serrated to allow at each joint a passage for the gas, but the lower is straiter
than the upper, in order that should the pressure become too strong the lower
valve rises and diminishes the passage for the gas until the desired quantity
arrives. Figure 19 is a view of a regulator of a somewhat different construc-
tion intended to be placed immediately below the burners, and is constructed
as follows: In a hollow cylinder q there is a ball made of some light
material free to move, which closes the interior of the tube; conical grooves q¹
are formed in the tube to give the necessary space for the gas to flow. When
the ball r is at the lower part, without however being at rest as in the Draw-
ing, the gas passes easily by the grooves q¹, but if from an excess of pressure
the ball r rises in the tube q, the grooves q¹ being conical, and the gas being
only able to pass by the grooves, it will diminish the passage for the p
consequently regulate the pressure.
gas,
and
To prevent inconvenience arising from the frequent breakage of ordinary
chimney glasses I make the glasses in several parts, and of which two
examples are given in the Drawings.

page_text: Figure 20 shows a glass s made of several pieces, and united at the upper
and lower part by two metal wires, which surround it in a groove, formed
for this purpose; these wires have each a buckle on one side, and on the
other a long end, which is attached to the buckle of the other wire. This
glass is made with internal swellings s¹ to equalise the temperature in all
the parts of the glass.
Figure 21 shows another arrangement. I insert glasses made in several
parts in metallic frames t at top and bottom, and united by rods t¹; by
making the glasses in several pieces their expansion under the action of
heat is prevented, and consequently they are not so liable to break as when
made of one piece.
Figures 22 and 23 show two burners with porcelain fittings, which as
nearly as possible perfectly consume the gas. In Figure 22 the cylinder a is
placed in the centre of the burner, allowing a current of air to the interior by
means of the ribs a¹, and to the outside of the flame by the use of a glass or
chimney. Figure 23 shows an arrangement analogous to the preceding, only
the cylinder a is somewhat expanded, whereby the flame is inflected and
burns in as perfect a manner as may be. The cylinders a and a²,
Figures 22 and 23, may be opened or closed at their upper ends, or they
may have one or several apertures or slits for the passage of air.
Figures 24, 25, and 26, show one of my obturators in section, side view,
and plan; this new shape is very graceful, and well adapted to the varying
sizes of the glasses or chimneys.
Figure 27 shows in section a piece b of metal, porcelain, or other material;
it is provided internally with several projections forming spaces for the currents
of air between the piece b and the candle c, around which the air circulates,
and in the direction indicated by the arrows, the top of this piece 6 terminates
in a cone to enclose the soft portion of the candle, and to prevent its guttering
externally; the piece 6 has two parts b¹ forming a tube, in which may be
placed two rods acting as a support for a reflector, which by this means will
descend at the same speed as that with which the caudle is consumed.
Lastly, Figure 28 shows a novel support for the base of the candle formed
by three rods d and a ring d¹, the whole being formed of the same material as
the part e of the candlestick, which may be of metal, porcelain, or other
6 material sufficiently strong for the purpose. The three branches and the ring
may be made apart from the candlestick for holding a candle, so that the last
part may be burned, and it thus acts as a "save-all."
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not limit myself to
the precise forms or shapes of the apparatus herein-before described, or to the
particular materials to be used for mauufacturing them, as the same may be
modified without departing from the essential features of my Invention;
I claim the improvements in apparatus for producing artificial light in and by
the employment of apparatus constructed and acting substantially in manner
herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I; the said Adolphe Gilbert Chalus, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year
of our Lord 1867.
A. G. CHALUS. (L.s.)