TM- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "TM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING." -A communication
from abroad by Bernard Subra, Professor of Mathematics, of 29, Boulevart
St. Martin, Paris.
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING." -A communication
from abroad by Bernard Subra, Professor of Mathematics, of 29, Boulevart
St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 23rd May 1864, and dated the 1st December 1863.
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, .on the
1st December 1863.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING," to be as
follows:-
This improved system of lighting, in which the flame is projected in a down-
ward direction, or syphon light, is based on the principles of the hydraulic
syphon, the arms of which are turned upwards.
If the longer arm of the
syphon be heated, the interior air becoming rarefied, rises and produces a
partial vacuum, which the denser air of the atmosphere fills by entering the
shorter arm, and forms a descending current, and if at this moment a flame be
Price l

page_text: lighted in the short arm it will follow the current of air and descend, while the
products of combustion again rising in the long arm will continue to supply
the air without intermission. The short arm is enlarged in the form of a
globe or lamp, while the long arm is divided into several smaller parts,
forming the standards of the lamp or support for the globe, and which unite
and form a chimney furnished with a suitable burner.
The advantages of this system of lamp, in which the flame is inverted as
described, are of great importance.
1st, the flame being emitted in a downward direction the burner and
support of the globe are placed above, and therefore do not throw any
shadow.
2ndly, reflectors are also adapted to the flame in such manner as to prevent
their becoming soiled, while they deflect one half of the luminous rays, which
are otherwise wasted.
3rdly, the light is much more intense when projected in the direction in
which it is required than when projected in a reverse direction, while the
centre of the flame' is much clearer.
4thly, the gas burns at a higher temperature by the reacting and con-
centrated heat of the syphon, while its hydrogen expands much more, and the
carbon is more incandescent, consequently the flame is more developed and
brighter.
5thly, and lastly, the combustion of the gas is effected in a closed chamber,
and the products of combustion are conveyed away by suitable pipes. The
gas will not give out any emanation, while it consumes the fowl air, and
draws fresh air into close rooms, purifying at same time that it illuminates
them.
This improved method of lighting also permits of the introduction of gas
into rooms and apartments where it is usually excluded, and so greatly extend
its use. The application of an inverted flame on this principle is entirely new,
and I apply it to all sorts of lighting purposes, such as to gas lamps, candles,
and all other lighting agents. I not only project the flame in a vertical
downward direction, but at any suitable angle of inclination.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the annexed Drawings represent front and side elevations
of this improved syphon light.
A is the short arm formed by an ordinary glass chimney, which is secured
to the syphon by means of a socket; B, B, is the bent part of the syphon,
which may be extended so as to carry as many chimnies as may be desired.
The bent or horizontal part of the syphon conveys away the products of
combustion from the point at which the light is applied. C is the long arm

page_text: for producing the draught; D, gas burner placed at the top end of the chimney;
E, supply pipe for the gas; F, part for raising the burner out of the chimney
for lighting or cleaning it, also forming a tap, which should the glass break is
closed by the weight of the burner in falling; I, burner for heating the long
arm, which is extinguished when the syphon is lighted; G, service tap of
burner I, seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, having a hollow stem and two circular
grooves extending three-fourths of a circle, the one corresponding to
aperture E, and the other to I and I¹. The tap on being turned a quarter
circle uncovers the three apertures E2, I, and 11, the gas being lighted at the
exterior aperture I', the flame communicates with the gas at the inner
aperture I, while a second movement of the tap simply closes aperture 1', and
the flame from I remains alight and produces a draught in the chimney.
When the chimney is of sufficient height a draught will necessarily exis
without the aid of an auxiliary burner. The burner D is next lighted, ani
cock G closed, which arrests the gas at aperture E" and the exterior air at
aperture I.. H is a valve for regulating the draught. The syphon with
inverted flame, represented in the two first Figures, is chiefly of advantage for
application to stages of theatres, the flame and heated air neither rising nor
escaping at the tops of the chiminies, but, on the contrary, the cold air flows in
at the upper part of the chimnies, which in descending is introduced into a
pipe, which conveys it away after having supplied the burner. By this
arrangement the light dresses of actresses will be no longer in danger of
catching fire.
Fig. 3 represents a gas globe forming an inverted syphon. The shorter
arm is formed by the glass A, which carries a collar at its base, and is secured
to the cover J of the globe by means of a screw K and flexible ring of
copper L, L, inserted in the cover. The globe forms the bend B of the
syphon, being adjusted by means of six nuts M, M, between two rings, the
outer one N of which is formed in two parts, while the inner one O is
furnished with an opening for cleaning the globe. This opening is closed by
cover J, and secured by two screws. The cover is also furnished with a screw
socket P, P. The globe being thus arranged is applied to a plate Q, Q, by
means of a ferrule R, R, screwing on socket P, P. This plate effects the
hermetical closure of the globe, being soldered to the four tubes C, C, forming
the long arm of the syphon, and uniting at the chimney C, which tubes are
also fitted loosely to cover J, J. The burner D is raised out of the chimney
by means of part F. The service cock of burner D is not seen in the Drawing,
being placed behind said part F. I is the auxiliary burner of the chimney,

page_text: and G, service cock. The pipe E', E', conducts the gas to burner I, through
opening E, and to burner D by opening E³.
Fig. 4 represents the Invention as applied to a gas lantern, A, A, forming
the short arm, and B the bend of the syphon; four pipes C, C, placed behind
the side frames forming the long arm, which pipes unite at the cap in chimney
C¹, C¹, being soldered to a reflector S, which is screwed to the ring T, T. The
cap is independent of the four pipes C, C, and chimney C¹, so that it may be
removed therefrom, it being fitted to ring T by screws U, U. The glass is
secured, as in ordinary lanterns, by means of cement and exterior grooves,
and tightened by nuts V, taking on to screws rivetted to the uprights. The
door is placed at the bottom of the lantern, and turns on two pivots mounted
on the lower ends of two opposite uprights; it is formed of two semicircles X,
X, soldered to the hinges at opposite sides, and carrying the glasses, the one
above and the other below the hinges. Two other half circles Z, Z, furnished
with a vulcanized india-rubber tube, are pressed against the glass on either
side, by means of screws passing through holes in semicircles X, X. The
semicircles, which are furnished with the india-rubber, fit on the bottom of the
lantern, which is likewise formed of two semicircles Y, Y, the one placed above
and the other below the hinges. The door is closed by means of an ordinary
button knob, and serves to afford access for lighting and cleaning the lantern.
In order to light it the service tap G is turned, and a light applied to burner D,
the flame from which first rises and occupies the position of the triangle,
dotted below the chimney C¹, C, which is thereby heated. A draught is thus
established, and the flame returns and descends, as shown.
I may also
produce a draught and light the lantern in the manner described for the globe,
Fig. 3. The chimney is furnished outside the cap with a cover filled with
refractory clay.
I reserve the right of applying this improved syphon light with an inverted
flame for heating with gas or other lamps, or otherwise. In the bent part of
syphon, Figs. 1 and 2, any kind of furnace may be applied, which would
possess the advantage of being placed below the burner or burners, and be
thereby heated and lighted at same time. In heating stoves the burners are
placed above in the chimnies in order light them, the products of com-
bustion circulating in the tubes in order to heat them, being conveyed away
by a suitable pipe, and serve to purify the rooms in which the stoves are
used.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance, of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
1st June 1864.
the
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IM
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING," a communication to
him from abroad by Bernard Subra, Professor of Mathematics, of 29,
Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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 William Clark, my do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This improved system of lighting, or syphon light, in which the flame is
projected in a downward direction, is based on the principles of the hydraulic
syphon, the arms of which are turned upwards. If the longer arm of the
syphon be heated the interior air becoming rarefied rises and produces a
partial vacuum, which the denser air of the atmosphere fills by entering the
shorter arm and forms a descending current, and if at this moment a flame
be lighted in the short arm it will follow the current of air and descend, while

page_text: the products of combustion again rising in the long arm will continue to
supply air without intermission. The short arm is enlarged in the form of a
globe or lamp while the long arm is divided into several smaller parts forming
the standard of the lamp or support for the globe, and which unite and form
a chimney furnished with a suitable burner.
The advantages of this system of lamp, in which the flame is inverted as
described, are of great importance, as,-
First, the flame being emitted in a downward direction the burner and
support of the globe are placed above, and therefore do not throw any
shadow.
Secondly, reflectors are also adapted to the lamp in such manner as to
prevent their becoming soiled, while they deflect. one half of the luminous
rays, which are otherwise wasted.
Thirdly, the light is much more intense when projected in the direction in
which it is required than when projected in an upward direction, while the
centre of the flame is much clearer.
Fourthly, the gas burns at a higher temperature by the reacting and con-
centrated heat of the syphon, while its hydrogen expands much more, and the
carbon is more incandescent, consequently the flame is more developed and
brighter.
Fifthly, and lastly, the combination of the gas is effected in a closed
chamber, and the products of combustion may be conveyed away by suitable
pipes. The gas will not give out any emanation, while it consumes the foul
air, and draws fresh air into close rooms, purifying at same time that it
illuminates them.
This improved method of lighting also permits of the introduction of gas
into rooms and apartments where it is usually excluded, and so greatly extend
its use. The application of an inverted flame on this principle is entirely
new, and I apply it to all sorts of lighting purposes, such as to gas lamps
and other lighting agents. I not only protect the flame in a vertical down-
ward direction, but at any suitable angle of inclination.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the annexed Drawings represent front and side elevations
of this improved syphon light.
A is the short arm formed by an ordinary glass chimney, which is secured
to the syphon by means of a socket; B, B, is the bent part of the syphon,
which may be extended so as to carry as many chimnies as may be desired.
The bent or horizontal part of the syphon conveys away the products of com-
bustion from the part at which the light is applied; C is the long arm for
producing the draught; D, gas burner placed at the top end of the chimney;

page_text: E, supply pipe for the gas; F, part for raising the burner out of the chimney,
for lighting or cleaning it, also forming a tap, which should the glass break is
closed by the weight of the burner in falling; I, burner for heating the long
arm, which is extinguished when the. syphon is lighted; G, service tap of
burner I, seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, having a hollow stem, and two circular
grooves extending three-fourths of a circle; the one corresponding to aperture
E, and the other to I and I¹. The tap on being turned a quarter circle
uncovers the apertures E' and I, and the gas being lighted at the exterior
aperture I, the flame communicates with the gas at the inner aperture I; a
second movement of the tap simply closes aperture I¹, and the flame from I
remains alight and produces a draught in the chimney. When the chimney
is of sufficient height a draught will necessarily exist without the aid of an
auxiliary burner. The burner D is now lighted, and cock G closed, which
arrests the gas at aperture E³, and the exterior air at aperture I; H is a
valve for regulating the draught. The syphon with inverted flame, represented
in the two first Figures is chiefly of advantage for application to stages of
theatres, the flame and heated air neither rising nor escaping' at the tops of
the chimnics, but on the contrary the cold air flows in at the upper part of
the chimnies, which in descending introduces itself into a pipe, and is con-
veyed away after having supplied the burner. By this arrangement
light dresses of actresses will be no longer in danger of catching fire.
the
Fig. 3 represents a gas globe, forming an inverted syphon. The shorter
arm is formed by the glass A, which carries a collar at its base, and screws to
a cover J, J, of the globe, by means of a screw K and flexible ring of copper
L, L, inserted in the cover. The globe forms the bend B of the syphon,
being adjusted by means of six nuts M, M, between two rings, the outer one
N of which is formed in two parts, while the inner one O is furnished with an
opening for cleaning the globe. This opening is closed by cover J, and
secured by two screws. The cover is also furnished with a screw socket P, P.
The globe being thus arranged, is applied to a plate Q, Q, by means of a
ferrule R, R, screwing on socket P, P. The plate effects the hermetic closure
of the globe, being soldered to the four tubes C, C, forming the long arm of
the syphon, and uniting at the chimney C, which tubes are also fitted loosely
to cover J, J. The burner D is raised out of the chimney by means of
part F. The service cock of burner D is not seen in the Drawing, being
placed behind said part F. I is the auxiliary burner of the chimney, and G
service cock. The pipe E¹, E', conducts the gas to burner I, through
opening E, and to burner D by opening E³.
Fig. 4 represents the Invention as applied to a gas lantern, A, A, forming

page_text: the short arm, and B the bend of the syphon; four pipes C, C, placed behind
the side frames forming the long arm, which pipes unite at the cap in chimney
C,C, being soldered to a reflector S, which is screwed to the ring T, T. The
cap is independent of the four pipes C, C, and chimney C', so that it may be
removed therefrom, it being fixed to ring T by screws U, V. The glass is
secured, as in ordinary lanterns, by means of cement and exterior grooves,
and tightened by nuts V taking onto screws rivetted to the uprights. The door
is placed at the bottom of the lantern, and turns on two pivots, mounted on
the lower ends of two opposite uprights. It is formed of two semicircles
X, X, soldered to the hinges at opposite sides, and carrying the glass, the one
above and the other below the hinges. The other half circles Z, Z, furnished
with a vulcanized india-rubber tube, are pressed against the glass on either
side by means of screws passing through holes in semicircles X, X. The
semicircles, which are furnished with the india-rubber, fit on the bottom of the
lantern, which is likewise formed of two semicircles Y, Y, the one placed
above and the other below the hinges. The door is closed by means of an
ordinary button knob, and serves to afford access for lighting and cleaning the
lantern. In order to light it the service tap G is turned, and a light applied
to burner D, the flame from which first rises and occupies the position of the
triangle below the chimney C¹, C', which is thereby heated.
A draught is
thus established, and the flame returns and descends, as shown. I may also
produce a draught and light the lantern in the manner described for the globe,
Fig. 3. The chimney is furnished outside the cap with a cover fitted with
refractory clay.
I reserve the right of applying this improved syphon light with inverted
flame for heating with gas lamps or otherwise. In the bent part of syphon,
Figs. 1 and 2, any kind of furnace may be appled which would possess the
advantage of being placed below the burner or burners, and thereby heated
and lighted at same time. For heating stoves the burners are placed above in
the chimnies, in order to afford light, the products of combustion circulating in
tubes for heating purpose, being conveyed away by any suitable pipe, and
serving to purify the rooms in which the stoves are used.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the method of producing an inverted flame in lamps by means of a
descending current which is projected downwards or at any angle desired.
Secondly, I claim the application of this improvement to all kinds of lighting
purposes, whether gas or other lighting agents are used.

page_text: Thirdly, I claim its application for heating purposes.
Fourthly, I claim the improved apparatus herein described and represented
in the Drawings annexed, without limiting myself to their form or dimensions,
as such may be varied without departing from the principle of the Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Laal
AA
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.