Improvements in Gas or Vapour Burners.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
Improvements in Gas or Vapour Burners.
We, HENRY ALONZO HOUSE, Senior, HENRY ALONZO HOUSE, Junior, both
of the Columbine Ship Yard, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, Engineers, and ROBERT
RINTOUL SYMON, of 20 Abchurch Lane, in the City of London, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
In the Specification of a Patent granted to us dated the 7th September 1893,
No. 16864, is shown and described a gas or vapour burner for heating purposes
such as the generation of steam and the like, in which is employed a weighted valve
seated in or over the orifice from which the gas issues and normally closing the
same but adapted to be raised by and in proportion to the pressure of gas within the
chamber from which it issues, so as to give a constant pressure to the gas whatever
quantity may be passing through the said orifice.
Our present invention relates to improvements in burners of this character. The
main object of our improvements is to so increase the capacity of a single burner
that it may have a much greater range of heating effect and be available,
without waste of fuel or the necessity of adjustment or attention, for producing
any desired amount of heat within very wide limits.
To this end our invention consists in the combination in the same burner of a
plurality of valves of different degrees of sensitiveness, in the sense that they are
differently weighted or restrained against movement by any suitable means, such as-
by springs, so that the pressure of the escaping gas may be controlled not only by
each valve acting independently, but by the number of valves affected by the
pressure of gas acting upon them.
A burner of this description is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a central sectional view of our improved vapour generator and
burner.
Figure 2 is a central horizontal section of the generator.
Figure 3 a broken section of the burner on line a-x of Figure 1, and
Figure 4 a horizontal section on line y-y of Figure 1.
A is the generator which may be of any desired construction, but which is
preferably composed of a hollow reservoir into which a hydrocarbon liquid in
regulated quantity is introduced through the pipe B.
:
The interior space of the generator is divided by transverse webs or partitions C
that extend partially across the same and form a serpentine passage with an outlet
at pipe D through which the vaporized hydrocarbon is conducted to the burner.
At one or more points in the sides of the generator openings are formed which are
provided with screw plugs w which may be removed to afford access to the interior
of the generator, should it become necessary to clear the same of any deposit which
may form therein.
The general plan of construction of the burner may be greatly modified, but the
most practicable and efficient form which I have devised is constructed in the
following manner :-
E is an annular chamber into which the gas or vapour is conducted. F is a
closed chamber below the same generally provided with a detachable screw cap or
cover G.
Above and partially surrounding the annular chamber E is a mixing chamber H,
which is provided with a series of openings I around its base, and which extends up
into another chamber J also provided with openings K round its base. This latter

page_text: chamber constitutes a nozzle or chimney at the orifice of which the combustion
of the mixture of gas or vapour and air takes place.
A further provision for the admixture of atmospheric air with the vapour or gas
is made by holes L at the bottom of the central space or bore of the annular
chamber E.
. יד
In the top of the chamber E are orifices M which are normally closed by
valves N N. The Isaid.valves have attached to them "stems O which extend
vertically down through, guide, webs P and perforations in, the, bottom of the
chamber E, into the chamber F. To the ends of the stems Oare attached
suitable devices that oppose the lifting of the valves, such as weights, Rr of
different and predetermined sizes.
:
It is desirable to provide a pilot burner S for the device, which is in the form of
a tube T extending up from the chamber F to a point slightly above the valves N.N.
Sufficient gas finds its way around the valve stems into the chamber to maintain
a flame at the end of this tube, the amount of gas.being regulated by a screw plug T
provided with a slot. In the use of the burner a small quantity of aqueous vapour
sometimes passes through the valve openings and by its sudden expansion under the
intense heat extinguishes the main flame. The pilot flame, however, from its
position is not affected and serves to relight the gas as soon as the disturbance has
ceased.
The operation of the device is as follows:-
Liquid hydrocarbon in an amount proportioned to the steam power to be
generated is admitted to the generator A, and being vaporised therein, by heat
applied thereto when necessary, passes to the burner. The pressure of this vapor
will raise to a greater or less extent say, the lightest valve and the escaping jet
draws up through the holes in the mixing chamber H and in the nozzle J sufficient
atmospheric air to maintain a perfect combustion of the vapour. One valve may
regulate the pressure necessary for producing, say, from one to five horse power.
If a higher power is required the quantity of oil is increased and the pressure of
vapour in the burner proportionately raised. If a single valve were relied upon to
regulate for this increased pressure, it would be found that the jet of escaping
vapour would be too thin to draw up enough air for perfect combustion, but the
increased pressure raises the two or more lightest valves so that the air is now
drawn in by the combined effects of two or more jets. In this way by the use of a
plurality of valves and the proper adjustment of the same, one burner may be
used and perfect combustion' maintained for any number of horse power.
special advantage is secured by making, in this kind of burner, the chamber E
in annular form with a central air passage through it, as it prevents eddying
of the gases, and affords a means of supplying air to both sides of the jets.
"It will be understood that such of the heat as is not absorbed by the generator is
utilized for generating steam or any other purpose.
A.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner, the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. In a gas or vapour burner the combination with a chamber, into which the
gas or vapour is introduced, of a plurality of weighted valves normally closing orifices
for the escape of gas from said chamber and adapted to be raised by the pressure
of gas or vapour within the chamber, as described.
Second. In a gas or vapour burner, the combination with a chamber, into which
gas or vapour is introduced, of a plurality of independent and differently weighted
valves, normally closing orifices for the escape of gas from the said chamber, and
adapted to be raised by the pressure of gas or vapour within said chamber, as
described.
Third. In a gas or vapour burner, the combination with a chamber into which
gas or vapour is introduced, of a second chamber beneath the same, one or more
valves normally closing orifices for the escape of gas from the first chamber, and

page_text: weights contained in the lower chamber and connected with the said valves, as-
described.
gas
Fourth. In a gas or vapour burner the combination with an annular chamber,.
having a central air passage through the same, of a plurality of weighted valves
normally closing orifices in the top of the said chamber, as described.
Fifth. The combination with the gas chamber, having orifices for the escape of
gas, and a second chamber in communication with the gas chamber, of a pilot
burner located in proximity to the orifices and supplied with gas from the said.
second chamber, as described.
Sixth. The combination with the gas chamber E and the lower chamber F of
one or more valves controlling orifices in the top of the gas chamber, the said valves.
having stems O extending down into the chamber F, and provided with weights of
different sizes, as described, and illustrated in Figures 1, 3 & 4 of the drawings.
Seventh. The combination with the annular gas chamber E having a central air
passage, and the lower chamber F of valves controlling orifices in the top of the-
annular chamber, and weights contained in the lower chamber F and suspended
from the valves by stems passing through the gas chamber into the said chamber F,
as described, and illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings.
Eighth. The combination with the annular gas chamber E having a central air
passage and the lower chamber F of valves controlling orifices in the top of the
annular chamber, weights contained in the lower chamber F and suspended from
the valves by stems passing through the gas chamber into the chamber F, and a.
pilot burner supplied with gas from the lower chamber F, as described, and
illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings.
Dated this 1st day of June 1894.