SELF GENERATING GAS OR VAPOUR BURNERS FOR HEATING PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN JAMES NORMAN of 37 Walbrook in the City of London Manufacturing
Chemist do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "SELF GENERATING
GAS OR VAPOUR BURNERS FOR HEATING PURPOSES" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to that class of Burners where the Gas used is generated.
by the vapourisation through heat of liquid hydro-carbons, or volatile spirit; which
said gas may be burnt with or without the previous admixture of air.
The form of Burner I employ for the purpose of my Invention may be varied to
suit the different requirements to which it may be applied, and may consist of a
single tube suitably perforated, or a series of tubes suitably perforated and placed.
horizontally side by side with intervening spaces for the admission of air to support
combustion, as in an ordinary fire grate: such series of tubes being connected to a'
central tube of larger diameter placed at right angles to the same, from which the
supply of gas is derived; or, the Burner may consist in a ring or in two or more
concentric rings suitably. perforated, such rings being connected together by a
main or central tube to supply them with gas or the Burner may consist of a
number of tubes radiating from a central Boss or Stem. The Burners may also
be constructed of a round, square, triangular, or other configuration. Instead of
the tubes being perforated, suitable gas burner nibs may be introduced, or the
Gas may issue from the open ends of the said tubes whether arranged vertically,
horizontally, or diagonally. The Burners may also be arranged one above another,
in tiers, or side by side, or my Invention may be used in combination with what
are known as "solid flame" Burners, or other Burners adapted to existing
requirements.
My Invention may be applied with suitable modifications to any of these forms
of Burners without essentially departing from the arrangement herein described,
which consists in dispensing with the auxiliary burners usually employed for
vapourising the hydro-carbon liquid or volatile spirit by placing above the flames
of the Burner itself a peculiarly constructed vapourising tube, which said tube with
its accessories and the manner of its application, forms the first part of my
Invention. It will be evident however that the vapourising tube aforesaid may
be placed below the Burner in case of necessity.
On the main or central tube of the Burner already described I fix a T shaped
socket, into one of the horizontal ends of which the vapourising tube already
mentioned is screwed, the other end of the said tube being connected by means of
7)
19

page_text: an extension tube which is carried in a vertical direction outside the stove or
furnace box in which the Burner is placed to a fount or reservoir at a somewhat
higher elevation, so as to admit of a fluid pressure. The opposite end of the
Tshaped socket is provided with a needle pointed regulating screw the opposite
end of which is carried to the outside of the stove casing, or furnace box where it
is furnished with a suitable handle. The point of the said screw takes into a
small perforation communicating with the vapourising tube, which it opens or
closes at will, thus regulating the admission of gas, which passes through another
fine perforation effected in the vertical branch, of the T piece to the Burner. At
the opposite or far end of the fine perforation to that which leads to the Burner
is formed a chamber into which is introduced a check consisting of two pieces
of wire twisted into a double ended fork (after the fashion of a netting needle)
around which is wound a sufficiency of cotton, worsted, or other suitable material
the object being to prevent the introduction of too great a quantity of the hydro-
carbon liquid or volatile spirit. At that end of the chamber nearest to the supply
pipe that is to say the farthest from the fine perforation leading to the Burner
is another sinall perforation leading to the supply" pipe." The object of this
arrangement is to confine the check so that a sudden shock or severe shaking will
not extinguish the Burner.
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"
'
J
The second part of my Invention consists in a novel arrangement for supplying
the Burner with the necessary hydro-carbon liquid or volatile spirit so as to avoid
exposure of the liquid when filling the fount or reservoir; which is objectionable.
Instead of filling the fount or reservoir with the bydro-carbon liquid or volatile
spirit in the usual manner I employ a separate flask, of the same shape as the
fount or reservoir but a little smaller so as to be readily dropped into the interior.
The said flask may be composed of metal or other suitable material and is closed
at both ends but provided with a removable screw plug at each end which her-
metically seals it. The method of applying the same is as follows: When the
Burner is required to be used, one of the plugs is removed and the flask dropped.
into the fount or reservoir with the open end downwards. The upper plug is then
removed when the pressure of the atmosphere causes the liquid to flow to the
Burner. A tap may be used to regulate the supply if needed.
It will be evident that when the contents of one flask is consumed it can be
readily replaced with another one without even extinguishing the Burner, and that
with the greatest safety.
The fount or reservoir aforesaid as well as the flask herein described may if
needed be coated or lined with asbestos, slag wool, or any suitable non conductor
of heat.
I do not confine myself to the application of my Burner to any one particular
purpose. With suitable inodifications it may be applied to heating and cooking
stoves in general, to the working of motive power engines whether stationary or
for road traffic in general; for that description of water heater known as
"Geysers" and for Bath heaters in general and in fact for most purposes where
ordinary coal gas is used for heating purposes.
:

page_text: "
I, JOHN JAMES NORMAN, of 37 Wallbrook, in the City of London Manufacturing
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "SELF GENERATING
GAS OR VAPOUR BURNERS FOR HEATING PURPOSES 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 accompanying sheet of drawings
and to the letters and figures marked thereon that is to say:
This Invention relates to that class of burners in which the gas used is generated
by the vapourisation through heat of liquid hydrocarbons or volatile spirit, which
said gas may be burnt with or without the previous admixture of air.
The form of burner I employ for the purpose of my invention may be varied to
suit the different requirements to which it may be applied, and may consist of a
single tube suitably perforated or a series of tubes suitably perforated and placed
horizontally side by side with intervening spaces for the admission of air to support
combustion as in an ordinary fire-grate; such series of tubes being connected to a
central tube of larger diameter placed more or less at right angles to the same from
which the supply of gas is derived. Or the burner may consist of a ring or of two
or more concentric rings suitably perforated, such rings being connected together
by a main or central tube which supplies one or a series of them with gas. Or the
burner may consist of a number of tubes radiating from a central boss or stem.
The burners may also be constructed of a round, square, triangular or other.
configuration. Instead of the tubes being perforated, suitable gas burner nibs or
jets may be introduced, or the gas may issue from the open ends of the said tubes,
whether arranged vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. The burners may also be
arranged one above another in tiers, or side by side, or my Invention may be used
in combination with what are known as "solid flame" burners, or other burners
adapted to existing requirements.
My Invention may be applied with suitable modifications to any of these forms
of burners without essentially departing from the arrangements herein described
and shewn, which consist in dispensing with the auxiliary burners usually employed
for vaporizing the liquid hydro-carbon, by placing above the burner itself a
peculiarly constructed vaporizing tube which said tube with its accessories and the
manner of its application form the first part of my invention.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents in plan view a burner con-
structed according to this first part of my invention and Figure 2 is a section on
line a a of Figure 1. A is the main or central stem of the burner. B are tubes
each of which is screwed or otherwise attached at one end to the main or central
stem A and stopped in any convenient manner at the other end. These tubes are
provided with perforations as shown at C through which the gas passes and is
consumed thereat, or with gas jets, or nibs as shown at D. On the main or central
stem A is attached a tee-shaped socket into the horizontal end E of which is fitted
what I call the vaporizing tube F, the other end of which is connected by means
of the extension tube G which is carried in a vertical direction to the outside of
the stove or furnace box in which the burner is placed and thence to a "fount or
reservoir at a somewhat higher level so as to obtain a fluid pressure. The
vaporizing tube F is shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawing arranged above the
burner, but if desired it may be placed below the burner as shown in Figures 4
and 5. In the horizontal end E¹ of the tee-shaped socket is fitted a pointed
regulating screw valve the spindle H of which is prolonged to the outside of the
stove or furnace box from whence it can be operated by the handle I so as to close
"

page_text: upon the seating J formed in the branch E as shewn, the point of the valve
going into the small passage J communicating with the vaporizing tube F as
shown which can be opened and closed at will thus regulating the supply of gas
which passes through another small perforation K in the vertical branch L of the
tee-shaped socket, to the burner.
In the chamber F is what I call a check which is shown to a larger scale in
Figure 3, and which consists preferably of two pieces of wire N twisted in such a
manner as to form a doubled ended fork somewhat like a netting needle from end
to end of which is wound cotton, worsted, wire or wire gauze, or other suitable
materials. The object of this check is to prevent too great a quantity of the
liquid hydro-carbon or volatile spirit from passing at one time. At the end of the
chamber which is nearest to the supply pipe G there is another small perforation O.
The object of this arrangement is to confine the check so that a sudden shock to or
severe shaking of the apparatus will not extinguish the flame at the burner.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate in plan and elevation another modification of burner
constructed in accordance with my invention in which the tube B is arranged as a
ring with a tube across the centre thereof and provided with screw nipples D
having small perforations C.-D' are burner tubes screwed or otherwise attached-
at their lower ends to the nipples D and preferably flattened at their upper ends as
shewn. These tubes are provided with suitable perforations Ds at their lower ends
in order to admit air for the combustion of the gas after the manner of a Bunsen
burner. The tee shaped piece with its branches E and E¹, the vaporising tube F,
the extension tube, G, the screw valve and check chamber are all more or less
similar to the corresponding parts shewn, and described in reference to Figures 1. 2
and 3. but these parts are shown in these Figures below the burners. P is a
shallow dish into which spirit is poured, and ignited when desired to start the
apparatus. The vaporising tube and the other parts are thereby heated, gas is
then generated and the burners are supplied, the heat radiated from the burners
when once lighted being sufficient to vaporise the gas for continual consumption.
The second part of my invention consists in a novel arrangement for supplying
'the burner with the necessary hydro-carbon liquid or volatile spirit so as to avoid
exposure of the liquid when filling the "fount" or reservoir which is objectionable.
Instead of filling the "fount" or reservoir in the usual manner I employ a separate
flask of the same shape as the "fount or reservoir herein described, but a little
smaller so as to be readily dropped into the interior thereof. This part of my
invention is also illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 in which Q-is the fount or
reservoir and R-the separate flask. This flask is composed of metal or other
suitable material and is provided at each end with a removeable plug S and T either
in the centre or close to the side as may be found suitable, which when attached
hermetically close or seal the flask. The method of applying the same is as
follows: The flask R is filled with hydro-carbon or volatile liquid through the
hole at the top end, and the cover or plug T at the lower or bottom end being of
course removed the liquid is allowed to enter the fount or reservoir ready for use,
the top plug is removed when the burner is required and the atmospheric pressure
causes the liquid to flow slowly down the pipe G-or otherwise to the burner. If
desired a tap U-may be used to regulate the supply to the burner. It will be
evident that when the contents of the flask are consumed it can readily be replaced
by another without stopping the supply to the burner and that with the greatest
safety.
The fount or reservoir Q as well as the flask R may be constructed of any
convenient material and may be coated or lined with asbestos, slag-wool or any
non-conductor of heat without affecting the arrangement herein described.
I do not confine myself to the application of the burner to any one particular
purpose as with suitable modifications it may be applied to heating and cooking
stoves in general, to the working of motive power engines or boilers either for
stationary or for vehicular traffic on roads or railways, also for that description of
water heaters known as "Geysers," for bath heating purposes in general, and in

page_text: fact for most purposes where ordinary coal or gas is used for heating or raising
steam.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention for the manufacture of self generating gas and vapour burners and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I desire to have it understood that save
and except as hereinafter mentioned I do not intend to claim any of the mechanical
parts of the apparatus herein before shewn and described when taken separately
and apart from the combination and application thereof in manner and for the
purposes herein described; but I declare that what I claim is :-
First The manufacture of perforated horizontal or circular grate tubes for
the evaporation of Hydro-Carbon or volatile liquids substantially as herein before
shewn and described.
Secondly The manufacture and application of burners, nibs, jets finished to
the required form as herein before described.
Thirdly The manufacture and application of stop valve or regulator arranged
in cross tube as hereinbefore shewn and described.
Fourthly. The method and application of tube or chamber for evaporising
hydro-carbon or volatile liquids containing cotton, worsted, wire or wire gauze or
other material either fibrous or of metallic substance as hereinbefore described.
Fifthly. The manufacture and application of check in chamber marked F with
perforation in the centre to regulate the supply of liquids to evaporising chamber
as herein before described.
Sixthly. The manufacture of "fount" or reservoir with flask to supply or
contain liquid as hereinbefore shewn and described.