AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CAR- BURATING GAS POR GAS LIGHTING
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Clarence Shepard, of Victoria Street,
Westminster, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CAR-
BURATING GAS POR GAS LIGHTING."
Sealed the 8th March 1861, and dated the 9th January 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Clarence Shepard
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th January 1861.
I, EDWARD CLARENCE SHEPARD, of Victoria Street, Westminster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
CARBURATING GAS FOR GAS LIGHTING," to be as follows:-
These improvements consist in the direct application to each gas burner, or
to several burners established in a closed space in which condensation will not
take place of a carburator, in which the gas strikes against the surface of the
carburating liquid by means of a float, or similar contrivance composed of
cork, wood, tin, iron, or other suitable material. This float is placed on the
top of the liquid, whereby the current of gas is made to play on the surface of
the naptha or carburating liquid at whatever level the surface of the naptha or

page_text: carburating liquid may be; evaporation of the carburating liquid being
prevented by having a stop-cock between the burner and the carburating
vessel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Clarence Shepard in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th July 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, EDWARD
CLARENCE SHEPARD, of Victoria Street, Westminster, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Clarence Shepard, Her special licence that I, the said Edward Clarence
Shepard, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Edward Clarence Shepard, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter 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
"AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CARBURATING GAS FOR GAS LIGHTING," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Clarence Shepard,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Edward Clarence Shepard, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
These improvements consist in certain improved apparatus for causing the
gas to come in contact with any proper carburating liquid, such as naptha, or
others, and thereby increasing its lighting power. In my improvements each

page_text: burner, may be provided with its own carburator situated near the burner, or
at some distance, as may be most convenient; or several burners may be
provided with one carburator.
In carrying out my improvements a float composed of cork, wood, tin, or
other suitable material is employed; this float is placed on the surface of the
liquid, and it supports an upright tube which is closed at the top, into this
tube the gas is supplied by the supply pipe passing up the interior of the tube,
whereby the current of gas before passing to the burner is made to play on
the surface of the naptha or carburating liquid, and the coming in contact
with carburating fluid is rendered uniform at whatever level the surface of the
carburating liquid may be. Where the carburating liquid is poured into the
vessel a piece of fine wire gauze should be inserted directly under the mouth
or hole where the liquid is poured in, and a piece of wire gauze should also be
placed inside the tube which conducts the gas to the burner, and near to the
burner.
The annexed Drawing shews a vertical sectional view of an ordinary street
gas lamp.
A is a reservoir or vessel for holding the naptha or carburating liquid; B is
the float, and C the tube supported thereby. This tube is closed at its upper
end, the gas is consequently caused to descend down and to strike against the
surface of the naptha or carburating liquid. The gas escapes through wire
gauze attached to the lower end of the tube C. D is the gas supply pipe, by
which the gas is conducted up the tube C; E is the upper gas pipe, through
which the gas and vapour rise to the burner; F is the stop cock between the
burner and the vessel A; G is the burner; H is the hole or mouth for
introducing the carburating liquid into the reservoir A, the same is closed with
a screw plug, and just under the hole H, inside, is put a piece of wire gauze;
I is the junction of the gas supply pipe D with the gas pipe interior of the
post K. In the above description only one gas burner is mentioned as applied
to a street lamp, and the carburating apparatus is placed very near thereto,
but it will be evident that similar apparatus may be employed for carburating
gas for several burners, and the carburating apparatus whether for one or
several burners may, when desired, be placed at a greater distance from the
burner or burners. It is, however, desirable that the carburating apparatus
should be as near as may be to the burner or burners, in order to prevent
any condensation of the carburating vapour.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the mode in
which the same is or may be carried into effect, I would state that I make no

page_text: claim to any of the mechanical parts separately, nor do I confine or restrict
myself to the precise details of the arrangements described, as variations may
be made therein without altering the main features of the said Invention, and
I would state that I am aware that it is not new to apply apparatus to gas
burners in order that the gas may come in contact with naptha or other
carburating liquid; what I claim is, the combined apparatus herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Clarence Shepard, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
EDWARD CLARENCE SHEPARD. (L.S.)