AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Anthony Reckenzaun of Leytonstone in the County of
Essex Engineer and James Henry Redfield, of New York United States of
America, but at present residing at Bedford Place in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, for an invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Anthony Reckenzaun and
James Henry Redfield at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
14th March 1882.
ANTHONY RECKENZAUN of Leytonstone in the County of Essex Engineer, and
JAMES HENRY REDFIELD of New York, United States of America but at present
"AN IMPROVED
residing at Bedford Place in the County of Middlesex Gentleman
METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS FOR, PRODUCING LIGHT AND HEAT
"
This invention relates to the production of light and heat by the employment of
atmospheric air charged or mixed with other gas or vapour in combination with
peculiarly constructed burners or jets.
We carry our said invention into effect as follows that is to say :-
:-Atmospheric
air containing, say, from 5 to 10 per cent of hydrogen or of the vapour of hydro-
carbons, is passed or forced through or over the surface of platinum, iridium, or
similar refractory metal, refractory earths (combined or not combined with
magnesium) asbestos, lime, or similar minerals.
The supply of the said air to the burners may be effected by pressure or by
suction, as may be found preferable.
In either case the air is prepared or charged by passing it through a purifier,
containing liquids giving off hydrogen, or the vapour of hydro-carbons, or the said
gas or vapour may be introduced into the purifier and mixed with the air. The
air, thus charged, is preferably stored in suitable holders or accumulators, and
suitable purifiers may be placed inside or outside of these holders or accumulators.
The purifier consists of a vessel or vessels with inlet and outlet tubes and
containing the materials most suitable for the end it is desired to attain.

page_text: We prefer to place in the said purifiers porous substances, such as animal or
vegetable charcoal, pumice stone, felt, paper, cloth, asbestos, sugar, or the like,
previously soaked or saturated with volatile liquids rich in hydrogen, or they may
he impregnated with hydrogen gas, or a gaseous compound of hydrogen and
carbon.
The air passes over or through these porous substances, and becomes charged
with the vapour of the same; and if necessary it is then passed through oxide of
iron, lime, sulphuric acid, or other purifying or drying materials. From the
purifiers the air is then led to a system or series of pipes whereby it is conducted
to burners or jets for lighting or heating purposes.
These burners or jets are constructed in a peculiar manner. They are capable of
variations or modifications of form and size but consist essentially of a hollow
body or chamber formed of metal or other suitable material provided with tips of
refractory material surmounted or surrounded by wire in the form of coils gauze or
the like. The said burners may be enclosed in metallic vessels for heating, or in
glass globes, lanterns, or the like for illumination. We prefer to make them of
brass, with platinum or other metal tips combined with refractory clay asbestos or
other refractory materials, the wire coils, or gauze, may be of platinum, iridium,
or like metal, being so shaped and arranged as to expose the largest possible
surface to the charged air supplied to them.
These jets or burners are first heated, either by electricity or otherwise and then,
by the passage of the air through or over them they become intensely hot and are
thus rendered incandescent to any desired degree, and will give a brilliant light
and great heat as long as they are supplied with the proper quantity of the
prepared atmospheric air passed through or over the above specified materials.
We employ two air holders or accumulators which are preferably constructed
somewhat like an ordinary gas-holder and are actuated by a drum or drums fixed
on an axis and turned by a mechanical arrangement consisting of the following
parts, that is to say:-The upper or moving part of each of these holders is
attached to a chain or band which passes over a pulley so arranged that the two
moving parts balance each other. At one side of this pulley is arranged a semi-
circular rack geared with a pinion mounted upon a shaft capable of movement in a
slot in the frame carrying it. Upon the same shaft is a pulley which is connected
by a belt, rope, or strap with a set of pulley-blocks provided with adjustable
weights. By this apparatus the pressure in the gas-holders can be regulated
according to the required supply of air to the burners.
But the accumulators may be filled or emptied by other means, and instead of
storing the air we may provide for supplying the same by fans, pumps, bellows, or
other suitable appliances.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Anthony Reckenzaun and James Henry Redfield in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 14th September 1882.
ANTHONY RECKENZAUN, of Leytonstone, in the County of Essex, Engineer, and
JAMES HENRY REDFIELD, of New York, United States of America, but at present
residing at Bedford Place in the County of Middlesex Gentleman
"AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING LIGHT AND HEAT
Our Invention relates to the production of light and heat by the employment of
atmospheric air charged or mixed with other gas or vapour in combination with
peculiarly constructed burners.
We carry our invention into effect in the following manner, A current of
atmospheric air is forced directly from the surrounding atmosphere or from storage
chambers holders or accumulators into a generator previously supplied with any
suitable porous substance such as sponge, pumice-stone, charcoal felt or the like.
These porous substances are automatically charged with hydro-carbon. The air
forced through these evaporative substances combines with the hydrogen of the
hydro-carbon and is carried upwards through the generator and through suitable
pipes to lamps or burners constructed as hereinafter described, and produces an
incandescent light of superior power and brilliancy. The heavier portion of the
hydrocarbon is of greater specific gravity than the hydrogen, and is separated in its
passage through the generator, from the lighter gases and deposited in a chamber
prepared for its storage whence it may be taken to be employed for heating cooking
or ventilating, or for working gas engines.
In order to ensure the supply of the exact quantity of hydrocarbon material
required for maintaining the light, the charging chamber of the generator is con-
nected by a tube to a vessel or reservoir, containing the necessary liquids or vapor.
This tube is provided with valves, cocks, or other devices which acting automatically
allow the admission of only the proper quantity required according to the number
of lights supplied by the said apparatus.
Our improved apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of an arrangement of the said apparatus
adapted to the use of comparatively small air chambers or accumulators which are
alternately filled with and emptied of common air.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of a portion of the said apparatus.
Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating various modifications
of the said apparatus.
Figures 4 to 9 are elevations of various forms or modifications of our improved
burners.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawing.
a, a, are the air holders or accumulators; these holders are constructed somewhat
like ordinary gas-holders, that is to say, they have a fixed lower part a¹, and a
movable upper part or bell a³ which rises and descends according to the volume of
air contained in the said holders. There are preferably two of these holders, as
shown, and their movable parts a² are both connected with apparatus as hereinafter
described whereby one of the said parts is caused to rise while the other descends.
b is the generator (which may also be termed the purifier) containing the porous
material. This generator may be of any suitable form and dimensions and be
attached to or separate from the accumulators. It is designed and arranged to
receive common air from the accumulators through any ordinary hose or tube and to
distribute the same evenly through the charcoal, pumice stone, felt or other porous

page_text: substance having an absorbing and evaporative surface. These substances are to
be previously charged with volatile liquid rich in hydrogen or hydro-carbon. c is
the reservoir of hydro-carbon liquid; d is a valve box containing the valves e, e,
and f f g g are tubes for conducting the air from the valve box to the accu-
mulators. The air enters the valve box d by the valve e and passes thence through
the tubes g into either of the accumulators, that is to say-When either of the
movable parts or bells a² of the accumulators is moved upward the valve e thereof
opens to admit a volume of air to supply the generator b, and when the said
movable part a² descends the said valve closes to prevent the escape of the volume
of air, which is supplied to the generator b, through one of the valves f.
The air-holders or accumulators a, as above described, are preferably constructed
somewhat like an ordinary gasometer; they are actuated by the mechanical
arrangement shewn in figures 1 and 2, or that shewn in Figure 3. In the
apparatus illustrated in figures 1 and 2 there are two air-holders a, the bells or
movable parts of which are of equal size and equally weighted. Each bell is
suspended by a cord or chain i fastened to a light wheel j fixed on a shaft k; this
shaft is supported to turn freely in brackets l. The wheel j is connected with a
semi-circular rack m, into which is geared a pinion n capable of adjustment to
gear with the rack inside or outside of the same and thus alternately reverse the
direction of motion of the said rack and that of the said wheel j to which the said
rack is fixed in any suitable manner. The pinion shaft is adjustable in its
bearings.
The pinion n derives its motion from a drum or pulley which may be fixed on
the same axle or on a separate shaft or axle. A rope band or chain p wound upon
the pulley o extends therefrom to a system of pulleys q from which adjustable
weights rare suspended. These weights are raised by winding the cord p on the
pulley or drumo by means of the handles whilst the bells a² are disconnected from
the wheel or the pinion n is thrown out of gear. When the weights are thus
wound up, the accumulators will through the medium of the rack and pinion the
wheel and the suspending cords or chains, be caused to automatically rise and fall
as long as the weights continue to act. They may be arranged to act for many
hours, according to the consumption of air, and to the number of sheaves around
which the said cord or chain passes.
The said accumulators may, however, be filled and emptied by other means, and
instead of storing the air we may provide for supplying the same, by fans, pumps,
bellows, or other suitable appliances, to the generator b.
In the modification of our apparatus illustrated in figure 3, instead of the
circular rack and pinion we employ two cranks t, t, fixed on the shaft t¹. These
cranks are connected with the bells or movable parts a² of the holders a by the
rods or by other suitable means. The said shaft is also provided with a drum u
whereon a rope, chain, or band is wound as above described. This rope, chain or
band is provided with a weight connected with a system of pulleys q as above
described. The weight is wound up, when required, by means of the wheel v and
an endless rope or chain v¹ passing over the same, and will then cause the action
of the accumulators as above described. The generator b shewn in this figure is
constructed with a chamber b' in which we place the absorbent material, and into
which the end of the pipe w extends. The pipe c¹ from the hydro carbon reservoir c
also enters this chamber b' its end being perforated to ensure an even distribution
of the liquid over the absorbent material. The valve c in the pipe c' is, in some
instances, connected with a cam c on a shaft c* connected by pulleys and cords
with a pulley on the shaft carrying the drum, as shewn in Figure 1, and is thereby
opened and closed, say once in every revolution of the said shaft, the supply of
liquid being thus regulated according to the speed at which the apparatus is
working. is the outlet by which the mixed air and gas pass to the burners,
and of is the outlet or discharge cock for the heavy carbon gas.
To prevent inequality in the supply of air to the generator, we introduce a third
air-holder as shewn at a*. At the moment when the cranks pass their "dead"
5

page_text: points this third holder (which is suitably weighted) maintains the current of air
independently of the other vessels a. These holders communicate with each other
by the tubes w¹. A double valve x is arranged to open and close either tube
alternately and automatically, this valve will be caused to assume its proper
position by the current of air coming from either air-holder during the downward
movement of the movable part or bell a³ of the same the movements of the
said valve being assisted by the weight a attached by a cord or chain to the
top of the part a³. The tube w conducts the air from this vessel a* to the
generator b.
The admission of air to the holder may be effected by inverted and balanced
flap valves placed as shewn at a³ on the top of the bells a². A ratchet wheel and
pawl in the said drum permits the winding up of the apparatus without extin-
guishing or otherwise disturbing any of the lights in use at the time this operation
is performed.
Our improved burners are constructed in a peculiar manner and are adaptable
to any ordinary gas fixtures. They are capable of numerous variations of form
and dimensions but consist essentially of a hollow body y of any metal capable of
resisting ordinary reflective heat, through which body the current of mixed air
and gas passes to the light; these burners are provided with non-conducting tips
of mineral or other refractory substance, into or onto which is fitted a coil or
other form of wire gauze, or a piece of platinum or iridium, or other material
capable of resisting a high temperature. For heating cooking or motive power
purposes we enclose one or more of these burners in any chamber or receptacle
capable of holding and radiating the heat, or into explosive chambers such as are
used for ordinary gas engines.
Figures 4 to 9 represent some of the most approved forms of these burners.
These lamps or burners are lighted by turning a device such as an ordinary gas-tap
and applying a match or other igniting instrument to the metallic tip.
In the use of our invention, the current of air which passes through the porous
materials in the generator becomes lightly or delicately charged with gas of
similar chemical qualities to the materials with which the said porous materials
are saturated, the hydrogen which is carried off by the oxygen of the air rises and
passes through the pipes to the incandescent lamps or burners while the carbon or
heavier portion of the hydro-carbon, being of the greater specific gravity, has a
tendency to deposit in the chamber as above described.
Having thus fully described our said invention and shewn how the same may
be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice we wish it understood
that we do not claim generally the employment of a mixture of atmospheric air
and hydrocarbon gas or vapor for lighting or heating purposes as we are aware
that air richly or heavily impregnated or saturated with hydro carbon has been
already used for such purposes though not for the production of light by incan-
descence. We are also aware that platinum and other metal in the form of wire
gauze or otherwise has been used in gas burners to increase the illuminating effect
thereof. We therefore do not claim broadly or generally the use of any metal or
other material used in connection with a gas burner nor do we limit ourselves
to, or claim otherwise than for the purpose of our invention, the construction
of the gas-holders or generators or mechanism for operating the same, but we
Claim -
First-The method of producing light, consisting in the use of atmospheric
air lightly or delicately impregnated or mixed with hydrogen or hydrocarbon, in
combination with burners constructed of materials which become incandescent by
heat, as above specified.
Second-The apparatus consisting of the holders or accumulators operated to
supply air to the generator by mechanism substantially as described with reference
to Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3 of the drawings.
Third. The generator arranged in combination with means for supplying the
same with air and hydrogen or hydrocarbon liquid in the required quantities and

page_text: separating the light from the heavy portions of the gas, substantially as, and for
the purpose, specified.
Fourth-The burners for giving incandescent light constructed in or according
to either of the forms or modifications illustrated in the drawings or in substan-
tially similar forms as above set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Anthony Reckenzaun for myself and on
behalf of the said James Henry Redfield have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Fourteenth day of September in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ANTHONY RECKENZAUN. (L.S.)