IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO APPARATUS FOR HEATING BY MEANS OF GAS OR HYDRO- CARBON FLAMES."
Year: 1879

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson, of the Firm of W. P.
Thompson and Co., British and International Patent Agents, of 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
APPERTAINING TO APPARATUS FOR HEATING BY MEANS OF GAS OR HYDRO-
CARBON FLAMES." A communication from abroad by Monsieur Adolph
Teissonnière, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
Sealed the 2nd March 1880, and dated the 8th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th September 1879.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Firm of W. P. Thompson and Co., British
and International Patent Agents, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO APPARATUS FOR HEATING BY MEANS
OF GAS OR HYDROCARBON FLAMES." A communication' from abroad by Monsieur
Adolphe Teissonnière, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
The following. is a literal translation of the Specification supplied me by my
French correspondent with instructions to file; it forms my Provisional Speci-
fication:-
My Invention has for its object a new arrangement of diverse organs constituting
by their combination an apparatus for heating by gas. My Invention consists in
heating the gas with a white flame, or mixed with air at the lower orifice of the
vertical tubes.
The ascensional force of the flames acting directly in the tubes provokes a draught
of air which is heated in contact with the flame and the tube walls. My Invention
rests then on the principle of steam jets or aspirators. The jet of steam making a
draught of air is replaced by the ascensional force of a flame of gas acting at the
base of a tube and driving into the said tube the air aspirated.
From this application results,

page_text: 1st, a beating surface which is in direct proportion to the number, diameter, and
height of the tubes.
2nd, the incessant displacement of the surrounding air. The general disposition
of this apparatus can be varied to an indefinite extent, as well as the individual
constituent parts, and I propose to reserve to myself all forms that I please to give
them, as well as the mode of arranging the different parts constituting this appa-
ratus, of which the principal parts are,-
a, two tube plates superposed.
b, aspirating tubes of variable number...
c, a gas fire, of which the number of burners is equal to the number of tubes.
d, a stand or base.
'
e, a central column or support in two parts distancing or separating the tube plates
and the base upon which rests the furnace or range of gas lights.
f, a dome surmounting the tubes.
g, an exhaust chimney.
i, an annular series of low igniting flames, having for their object to instanta-
neously light the aspirating or heating flames and prevent their accidental extinction.
In some of the examples that I am about to describe further on, and which are
represented in the Drawings, I have suppressed for greater simplicity these two
last parts, which make my apparatus more complete without being always indis-
pensible to its working.
The apparatus is bolted or locked together by means of a vertical stem traversing
centrally the superimposed pieces above indicated, the locking being obtained by
means of a nut screwed down upon the stem.
Such is the arrangement (among others) represented by Figure 1. A; plate
pierced with a ring of tubes destined to receive by frictional contact the vertical
tubes D; B, plate pierced with a ring of holes, armed above with sockets C
destined to receive tubes D. resting upon the rabetting or inner flanges of
the orifices; E, plate carrying the burners. The plates A, B, E, are superposed
and maintained at the right distance apart by means of two central columns
F, G, and the whole is maintained in rigidity by a rod or stem H traversing
all the pieces, preferably a screwed bolt holding all locked together by means
of nuts I, J, screwed onto its extremities; the plate A, forming a cornice, is
surrounded by a semi-cylindrical cap or cone K pierced with a hole L of variable
diameter. The lower plate or stand E (the burner carrier) receives the gas burning
apparatus M, M, of which the flames are placed immediately under the openings of
plate B; this burning apparatus can be compared to a crown of candle flames,
buruing the gas with a white or blue flame, and of which each flame acts below or
in the interior of each tube in such manner as to provoke in said tube a draught of
air which will be drawn into the tube by the ordinary ascensional force of the flame.
A cylinder or column N placed upon the base plate E surrounds and protects the
burning apparatus. A circular gallery O placed under the tube plate B surrounds
and protects the base of the tubes D. The number of aspirating tubes is immaterial.
The height is variable. These tubes are disposed annularly upon the tube plate, as
indicated in Figure 2. A, plate; b, orifices with sockets and rabbets or interior
flanges; c, central hole; d, projecting boss to receive as a socket over it the column
or support F. It results from the arrangement of this apparatus that the heat
emitted by the flames acting in the aspirator tubes, as well as the air drawn in and
and heated by contact with the flames and with the walls of the tubes is drawn
from the bottom to the top of the tubes, and escapes under pressure by their upper
orifices. It results equally that the hot air expelled by the tubes encounters at the
top of the apparatus a semi-spherical cap or cover, which then lets the air escape.
under pressure by an orifice cut in the centre of the cap.
At the centre of the upper platform or plate A is placed a vase P, containing
water or other liquid, or even solid substance capable of and having for its object
the absorption of the carbonic acid gas, and if necessary other deleterious gases, phenic

page_text: acid, tar, and the like generated by combustion. It results equally that the column of
hot air carrying with it the carbonic acid gas dashes itself against the interior
surface of the cap, and encounters before escaping at the orifice of the cover the
surface of water, to which it gives up the carbonic acid gas, also the residues of the
combustion. This is the arrangement represented by Figure 3. A, tube plate; B,
flames of gas; C, C, column or support; D, the_cornice; E, semi-cylindrical cap;
G, vase for liquid; F, upper orifice of the cap; H, exit of hot air.
The expulsion of the products of combustion to the outside of the atmosphere to
be heated could be obtained by divers means, and among other dispositions I reserve
to myself the following, independently of all those which offer themselves to me :-
Fig. 4. A, chimney pipe, of which the base B is attached to the opening of the cap E;
and the upper part C branches from it to the outside. Fig. 5. A, chimney pipe, of
which the horizontal base C.is fixed to one of the vertical tubes B of the apparatus;
this tube is closed at its base. The upper part D of this tube B communicates
with the interior of the hot air chamber F that is covered by the cap E. In this
case the orifice G of the cap is closed by a movable cover H in such manner that
the hot air and the gas resulting from combustion being concentrated in the
chamber Fare obliged to take the direction of the tube B, which is jointed to the
exit chimney.which communicates with the outside (of the building). In these two
cases the heat spread into the atmosphere results from the radiation of the tubes as
well as of the other parts of the apparatus.
.
Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 describe an apparatus of my system based upon the same principle
as the specimens already described. The modifications which characterise these
new variations of my system, modifications which add to the effect of the apparatus
without changing anything of the principles upon which my Invention rests, consist
in the following points:-
1st. The addition of a draught chimney jointed to the top of the apparatus, per-
initting the expulsion (beyond the immediate surroundings) of the products of
combustion. This adjunct has for its object to make to radiate from the apparatus
the heat transmitted to its parts by the air surcharged at the contact of the flames
acting in the aspirator tubes.
2nd. The augmentation of the heating surface by substituting for the semi-
cylindrical cap forming the air chamber a cylinder or drum of variable height and
of greater capacity for holding the surcharged air.
3rd. The employment of a new part, namely, a draught chimney curved in an
S form, of which the upper branch is joined on to the air chamber cap or cylinder,
and the lower branch can be lodged in the furnace of a chimney or in any opening
placed downwards from the air-chamber surmounting the apparatus.
The lower part of this recurved S tube is furnished with a vertical pipe lodged in the
body of the chimney, and of which the height surpasses the level of the curved line of
arched elbow which joins on to the air chamber. This disposition has for its object the
formation of a syphon which stimulates the aspiration and the reversing of the
column of hot air in the vertical pipe lodged in the body of the chimney, and which
without this draught, by reason of its density, would resist the pressure of the
current of air caused by the ascensional force of the flames in the aspirator tubes.
purpose then to claim the application of this principle to all apparatus in which
gas is burnt for the purpose under discussion to turn downward the current of hot
air and the products of combustion.
4th. The employment of a safety fire of low flames brought together forming
a disc of flames supporting each other, the burners of which are independent of the
burners of the aspirating flames. These burners or range of gas lights are placed
above the flames of aspiration. These flames, which cannot be extinguished by
reason of their being brought under any other influence other than the loss of gas,
have for their object to instantly light, and without waste of gas, the aspirating
flames, and not to permit by any cause whatever a burner to allow the gas to
escape without being immediately lighted. These two sets of burners, by being

page_text: independent, become of mutual assistance in their work, and no flame consequently,
can be extinguished without its being immediately relighted by the neighbouring
flame. From this arrangement it results that the gas can not accumulate in the
parts of the apparatus, and for that reason no explosion can be feared.
The following description applies to Figures 6, 7, 8, 9:-Fig. 6. A, aspirator tubes;
B, aspirating flames; C, crown of gas or safety flame. Fig. 7. A, semi-spherical
cap or chamber of air; B, exit chimney, carrying off to the outside the products of
combustion. Fig. 8. A, semi-spherical cap or air-chamber; B, expulsion chimney
curved in S form, or syphon of aspiration for the hot vapours; the branch C exceeds
in height the level of the curve of the tube joined on to the air chamber. Fig. 9.
A, cylinder or air-chamber; B, expulsion chimney.
I sometimes apply to the aspirator tubes, and also to the opening in the cap E,
cones, pipes, diaphragms, or other articles capable of provoking under the direct
action of the flames a more energetic aspiration.
I also reserve the right to employ two or more flames acting in or at the base of
one tube instead of one flame, as well as a compound flame formed of several flames
joined.
One very important feature of my Invention is that all the pieces are strung or
threaded together by the screwed central bolt, so that they can be quickly taken
to pieces.

page_text: extremities. The plate A forming a cornice is surmounted by a semi-cylindrical
cap or cone K pierced with a hole L of variable diameter. The lower plate or
stand E (the burner carrier) receives the gas-burning apparatus M, M, of which the
flames are placed immediately under the openings of plate B. This burning"
apparatus can be compared to a crown of candle Hames burning the gas with a
white or blue flame, and of which each flame acts below or in the interior of each
tube in such manner as to provide in said tube a draught of air which will be
drawn into the tube by the ordinary ascensional force of the flame. A cylinder or
column N placed upon the base plate E surrounds and protects the burning
apparatus. A circular gallery O placed under the tube plate B surrounds and
protects the base of tubes D. The number of aspirating tubes is immaterial, the
height is variable. These tubes are disposed annularly upon the tube plate, as indi-
cated in Fig. 2. A, plate; b, orifices with. sockets and rabbets or interior flanges;
c, central hole; d, projecting boss to receive as a socket over it the column or
support F. It results from the arrangement of this apparatus that the heat emitted
by the flames acting in the aspirator tubes, as well as the air drawn in and heated
by contact with the flames and with the walls of the tubes, is drawn from the
bottom to the top of the tubes, and escapes under pressure by their upper orifices.
It results equally that the hot air expelled by the tubes encounters at the top of
the apparatus a hemi-spherical cap or cover which then lets the air escape under.
pressure by an orifice cut in the centre of the cap.
At the centre of the upper platform or plate A is placed a vase P containing
water or other liquid, or even solid substance capable of and having for its, object:
the absorption of the carbonic acid gas, and if necessary other deleterious gases,
phenic acid, tar, and the like generated by combustion. It results equally that the
column of hot air carrying with it the carbonic acid gas dashes itself against the
interior surface of the cap, and encounters before escaping at the orifice of the cover
the surface of water, to which it gives up the carbonic acid gas, also the residues of
the combustion.
.
This is the arrangement represented by Fig. 3. A, tube plate; B, flames of gas;
C, C, column or support; D, the cornice; E, hemi-cylindrical cap; G, vase for liquid;
F, upper orifice of the cap; H, exit of hot air.
The expulsion of the products of combustion to the outside of the atmosphere to
be heated could be obtained by divers means, and among other dispositions I reserve
to myself the following, independently of all those which offer themselves to me.
Fig. 4. A, chimney pipe, of which the base B is attached to the opening of the cap E,
and the upper part C branches from it to the outside. Fig. 5. A, chimney pipe, of
which the horizontal base C is fixed to one of the vertical tubes B of the apparatus.
This tube is closed at its base: The upper part D of this tube B communicates
with the interior of the hot air chamber F that is covered by. the cap E. In this
case the orifice G of the cap is closed by a movable cover H in such manner that
the hot air and the gas resulting from combustion being concentrated in the chamber
Fare obliged to take the direction of the tube B,, which is jointed to the exit
chimney which communicates with the outside (of the building). In these two
cases the heat spread into the atmosphere results from the radiation of the tubes as
well as of the other parts of the apparatus.
Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 describe an apparatus of my system based upon the same principle
as the specimens already described. The modifications which characterize these
new variations of my system, modifications which add to the effect of the apparatus
without changing anything of the principles upon which my Invention rests, consist
in the following points :-
:
1st. The addition of a draught chimney jointed to the top of the apparatus, per-
mitting the expulsion (beyond the immediate surroundings) of the products of
combustion. This adjunct has for its object to make to radiate from the apparatus
the heat transmitted to its parts by the air surcharged at the contact of the flames.
acting on the aspirator tubes...
!

page_text: 2nd. The augmentation of the heating surface by substituting for the semi-
cylindrical cap forming the air chamber a cylinder or drum of variable height and
of greater capacity, for holding the surcharged air.
3rd. The employment of a new part, namely, a draught chimney curved in an
S form, of which the upper branch is joined on to the air chamber cap or cylinder;
and the lower branch can be lodged in the furnace (foyer) of a chimney, or in
any opening placed downwards from the air chamber surmounting the apparatus.
The lower part of this recurved S tube is furnished with a vertical pipe lodged
in the body of the chimney, and of which the height surpasses the level of the
curved line of arched elbow which joins on to the air chamber. This disposition
has for its object the formation of a siphon which stimulates the aspiration and the
reversing of the column of hot air in the vertical pipe lodged in the body of the
chimney, and which without this draught by reason of its density would resist
the pressure of the current of air caused by the ascensional force of the flames in the
aspirator tubes. I propose then to claim the application of this principle to all
apparatus in which gas is burnt for the purpose under discussion to turn downward
the current of hot air and the products of combustion..
4th. The employment of a safety fire of low flames brought together, forming a
disc of flames supporting each other, the burners of which are independent of the
burners of the aspirating flames. These burners or range of gas lights are placed
above the flames of aspiration; these flames, which cannot be extinguished by
reason of their being, brought under any other influence than the loss of gas, have:
for their object to instantly light and without waste of gas the aspirating flames,>
and not to permit by any cause whatever a burner to allow the gas to escape without
being immediately lighted. These two sets of burners by being independent become
of mutual assistance in their work, and no flame consequently can be extinguished
without its being immediately relighted by the neighbouring flame.
From this arrangement it results that the gas can not accumulate in the parts of
the apparatus, and for that reason no explosion can be feared.
The following description applies to Figures 6, 7, 8, 9-Fig. 6. A, aspirator
tubes; B, aspirating flames; C, crown of gas or safety flame. Fig. 7. semi-
spherical cap or chamber of air; B, exit chimney carrying off to the outside the
products of combustion. Fig. 8. A, semi-spherical cap or air chamber; B, expulsion
chimney curved in S form, or siphon of aspiration for the hot vapours; the branch C
exceeds in height the level of the curve of the tube joined on to the air chamber.
Fig. 9. A, cylinder or air chamber; B, expulsion chimney.
I frequently construct these furnaces with elastic pipe connections with wheels or
rollers so as to make them more portable and enable the owner to move them at
will about the room.
Having now described the Invention as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and desire
to claim under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. The arrangement of burners or "candle-flames" resting upon a common
pedestal, and surmounted at the base of the flame by as many tubes as there are
Hames, into which the exterior air is drawn and heated.
2. The arrangement of a dome of any suitable form, into which open the tubes
which serve at the same time for ventilation to the mechanism. This casing can
be provided with a receptacle containing a liquid or even any solid substance
capable of absorbing the products of combustion, or else be furnished with a
draught chimney capable of carrying away these products to the outside of the
building.
3. The disposition of an intermediate safety fire constituted of burners disposed
annularly around the candle-flames, and at the height of the very base of the flame
for the purposes herein before described.
4. The arrangement of apparatus with flames acting directly in the tubes in such
manner as to provoke an aspiration in the tubes, and an expulsion of air heated by
contact with the flames as well as with the sides of the tubes.

page_text: 5. The application to these tubes of cones, reeds, diaphragms, or other devices
able to provoke under the direct action of the flames a more energetic aspiration.
6. The employment of several flames acting in the tube or at the very base of
the tube, as well as the employment of an uncovered fire formed by an indefinite
number of flames which are placed below the orifice of the tube, provoking in them
an aspiration of air.
7. The arrangement of the aspirating tubes maintained vertically above the fire
or divided flames, and the mode of mounting or putting together the parts consti-
tuting my apparatus by threading or stringing the superposed pieces by one or
more rods furnished with screwed nuts binding together the plates, the column,
and the pedestal.
8. The means of compelling the current of air to lick the surface of some liquid
contained in a vase placed in the body of the apparatus and the application,
which consists in causing medical substances incorporated in the liquid, such as
phenic acid, tar, et cetera, to become disengaged from the water contained in this.
vase.
•
9. The employment in my apparatus of some materials or substances, having
for object the absorption or neutralization of the gas resulting from the combustion,
or in fine to absorb, retain, or prevent the production of the water resulting from the
combustion of illuminating gas.
10. The application of my herein before described heating apparatus, not only for
stationary purposes, but also for portable furnaces supplied with wheels or rollers
or other means for facilitating locomotion....
In witness whereof, I; the said William Phillips Thompson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W. P. THOMPSON. (L.S.)