IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET AND OTHER LAMPS AND BURNERS, ALSO IN MEANS EMPLOYED FOR INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER, BRILLIANCY, AND STEADINESS OF GAS FLAMES."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Bray, of Leeds, in the County of York, for the
"
Invention of 'IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET AND OTHER LAMPS AND BURNERS,
ALSO IN MEANS EMPLOYED FOR INCREASING THE ILLUMINATING POWER,
BRILLIANCY, AND STEADINESS OF GAS FLAMES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Bray at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th April 1879.
GEORGE BRAY, of Leeds, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET
AND OTHER LAMPS AND BURNERS, ALSO IN MEANS EMPLOYED FOR INCREASING THE
ILLUMINATING POWER, BRILLIANCY, AND STEADINESS OF GAS FLAMES."
The first part of my Invention refers to the causing of a column of air (other
than what is required for combustion and ventilating purposes) to flow vertically
through the centre of street and other lamps. The air is made to pass up in such
volume and at such a rate of speed as will steady, increase the brilliancy, and givo
control over the lighting power of the flame or flames submitted to its influence,
whether they be placed singly or in close contact with each other, and however
much the aggregate volume of flame be increased. For what are known in the
trade as flat flame burners the column of air is made to move at a less rapid rate,
and is more extended in area than for flames of the argand type. For flames of
the latter type the column of air is gathered in at the bottom of the lamp by a
conical conductor, terminating at the top with a cylindrical form suited to the size
of the flame to be operated upon, the conductor (the top portion of which is of
glass where required for light passing purposes) terminates about the base of the
Hame, leaving the column of air to pass upward without the aid of a chimney as
hitherto used, by which means I dispense with the first cost, frequent breakages,
and much cleaning and light destroying power accompanying the use of a chimney.
In my construction of lamps the inlet and outlet for the air and spent gases are
intended not only for regulating the supply, but also to prevent draughts getting
inside which would interfere, and does interfere in ordinary lamps with the

page_text: working of the flame and makes it smoke; also interferes with the illuminating
power of the flame.
The air inlet at the bottom of the lamp is a cylinder of suitable diameter for the
burners it is intended to be used for, having a cover on the top composed of finely
perforated sheet metal, or when preferred wire gauze, which gives steadiness to the
incoming air. The bottom is a bed of small tubes set vertically one against the
other, which gives a vertical direction to the incoming air. The bed may be
divided into square spaces or other forms, so that the sides give a vertical direction
to the incoming air. The holes may be made through solid metal plates or other
material, but the space taken up by the remaining metal retards the incoming air
and makes this plan unadvisable. Immediately under this arrangement and
connected therewith is a part of the ventilator next to be described.
The outlet at the top of lamp (and it may be used as the inlet also when
required in ordinary lamps) is composed of two cylinders or chimneys of different
diameters placed one within the other, the inner one being closed at the top and
opening at the bottom into the lamp. At a suitable distance from the top and
bottom this cylinder or chimney is perforated with any required number of holes
all round; and surrounding this is the outer cylinder, the larger diameter of which
is sufficient to allow of the outcoming air and products of combustion to pass freely
through the annular space between the two and out at the top and bottom, which
is left entirely open, or perforated a suitable distance from top and bottom for that
purpose. At the top and bottom of this annular space I place one or more rings
of suitable depth made of sheet metal.
These rings help the outer and inner cylinders or chimneys to give a vertical
direction to the atmospheric currents which strike the ventilator, and prevent the
currents getting through the perforations in the inner cylinder into the lamp.
When this ventilator is used for an inlet and outlet combined, a small conductor
chimney (such as is already in use with other lamp ventilators) is used, extending
towards top of interior cylinder or chimney, and having a funnel shaped bottom
projecting into the lamp. This conducts the products of combustion to the top of
the interior cylinder or chimney, from whence through the upper perforations they
escape into the air, whilst the fresh air is admitted at the bottom, passes over the
funnel, and enters the lamp down its sides.
My Invention further consists in producing a column of air of the kind before
described for steadying, increasing the brilliancy, and controlling the illuminating
power of flat flames when not used inside lamps.
For the production of this column of air I make use of glass cylinders or
chimneys much larger in diameter and less in length than an argand chimney for
the same power of flame, but used in a similar way. By this means I gain the
same control over flat flames either with or without lamps.
In the air columns I set the flat flames singly, doubly, or in clusters, to suit
circumstances and the power of flame required; all the burners are fixed either
vertically or at a slight inclination from that position. Ordinary flat flame burners
may be used with great advantage with the herein before mentioned improvements.
In all these burners, more particularly in the large sizes, there is a tendency of the
edges to thicken, shoot into points, and smoke, this tendency being increased when
the flames are subject to an air current, and more so when two or more flames are
placed near each other. To avoid this tendency and turn it to advantage I incline
the burners slightly, and then the air current causes the edges of the flame to curl
round the reverse way of the inclination, which brings them within the influence
of more air and the heat of the adjacent flame, the result being the edges are made
intensely white and luminous instead of being smoky, as when the burners are
used in the old style.
I also use pairs of burners thus set and in such near contact without touching
that the heat of one flame adds to the brilliancy and lighting power of the other;
each division of flame may consist or be composed of two or more flames. I also

page_text: use circles of small burners set with flames flat sides to each other sufficiently near
to communicate great heat each to the other, thereby increasing the brilliancy and
lighting.power of the whole mass, and forming a flame not unlike that produced by
the argand burner.
To resist the tendency in flat flames to produce thick smoky edges I place a
wing or projection immediately under each edge of the flame, which protects
them from the direct action of the upward atmospheric currents, and greatly
modifies the objection stated.
The gas burners are also made out of sheet metal with a burner case or socket
having a raised part round the body on which I place a screw for the globe holder
to fit onto.
In
I also make the inlet into the burner for the gas of a conical form, the small end
of the cone being downwards, that is to say, the hole at the bottom end of the
burner is made of a conical shape and of the smallest diameter at the mouth.
going through this conical formation the gas may enter under considerable pressure,
but will pass to the other end in a diffused and quiet stream, thereby allowing a
steady flame to prevail, with a much higher initial pressure of gas than with other
modes of supplying through an ordinary round hole.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Bray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
October 1879.
GEORGE BRAY, of Leeds, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET
AND OTHER LAMPS AND BURNERS, ALSO IN MEANS EMPLOYED FOR INCREASING THE
ILLUMINATING POWER, BRILLIANCY, AND STEADINESS OF GAS FLAMES."
The first part of my Invention refers to the causing of a column of air (other than
what is required for combustion and ventilating purposes) to flow vertically
through the centre of street and other lamps (or lanterns). The air is made to
pass up in such volume and at such a rate of speed as will steady, increase the
brilliancy, and give control over the lighting power of the flame or flames sub-
mitted to its influence, whether they be placed singly or in close contact with each
other (as in my double flame burner), and however much the aggregate volume of
flame be increased. For what are known in the trade as flat flame burners the
column of air is made to move at a less rapid rate and is more extended in area
than for flames of the argand type. For flames of the latter type the column of
air is gathered in at the bottom of the lamp by a conical conductor terminating
at the top with a cylindrical form suited to the size of the flame to be operated
upon, the conductor (the top portion of which is of glass where required for light
passing purposes) terminates about the base of the flame, leaving the column of air
to pass upward without the aid of a chimney as hitherto used, by which means I
dispense with the first cost, frequent breakages, and much cleaning and light
destroying power accompanying the use of a chimney.
In my construction of lamps (or lanterns) the inlet and outlet for the air and
spent gases are intended not only for regulating the supply, but also to prevent
draughts getting inside which would interfere and do interfere in ordinary lamps
(or lanterns) with the working of the flame and make it smoke; also interfere with
the illuminating power of the flame.
The air inlet at the bottom of the lamp (or lantern) is a cylinder of suitable
diameter for the burners it is intended to be used for, having a cover on the top
composed of finely perforated sheet metal, or when preferred wire gauze, which
give steadiness to the incoming air. The bottom is a bed of small tubes set ver-
tically one against the other, which gives a vertical direction to the incoming air.
The bed may be divided into square spaces or other forms, so that the sides give
a vertical direction to the incoming air. The holes may be made through solid
metal plates or other material, but the space taken up by the remaining metal
retards the incoming air and makes this plan unadvisable. Immediately under
this arrangement and connected therewith is a part of the ventilator next to be
described.
The outlet at the top of the lamp or lantern (and it may be used as the inlet also
when required in ordinary lamps or lanterns) is composed of two cylinders or
chimneys of different diameters placed one within the other, the inner one being
closed at the top and opening at the bottom into the lamp (or lantern). At a suitable
distance from the top and bottom this cylinder or chimney is perforated with any
required number of holes all round, and surrounding this is the outer cylinder, the
larger diameter of which is sufficient to allow of the outcoming air and products of
combustion to pass freely through the annular space between the two and out at
the top and bottom, which is left entirely open, or perforated a suitable distance
from top and bottom for that purpose. At the top and bottom of this annular
I place one or more rings of suitable depth made of sheet metal. These
rings help the outer and inner cylinders or chimneys to give a vertical direction to
space

page_text: the atmospheric currents which strike the ventilator and prevent the currents
getting through the perforations in the inner cylinder into the lamp or lantern.
When the ventilator is used for an inlet and outlet combined, a small conductor
chimney (such as is already in use with other lamp or lantern ventilators) is
used, extending towards top of interior cylinder or chimney, and having a funnel
shaped bottom projecting into the lamp or lantern. This conducts the products of
combustion to the top of the interior cylinder or chimney, from whence through the
upper perforations they escape into the air, whilst the fresh air admitted at the
bottom passes over the funnel and enters the lamp or lantern down its sides.
My Invention further consists in producing a column of air of the kind before
described for steadying, increasing the brilliancy, and controlling the illuminating
power of flat flames when not used inside lamps or lanterns.
For the production of this column of air I'make use of glass cylinders or chimneys
much larger in diameter and less in length than an argand chimney for the same
power of flame, but used in a similar way. By this means in a still atmosphere
I gain the same control over flat flames either with or without lamps or lanterns.
In the columns of air I set the flat flames singly, doubly, or in clusters, to suit
circumstances and the power of flame required; all the burners are fixed either
vertically or at a slight inclination from that position. Ordinary flat flame burners
may be used with great advantage with the herein before mentioned improvements.
In all these burners, however, more particularly in the larger sizes, there is a
tendency of the edges to thicken, shoot into points, and smoke, this tendency
being increased when the flames are subject to an air current, and more so when
two or more flames are placed near each other. To avoid this tendency and turn
it to advantage I incline the burners slightly, and then the air current causes the
edges of the flame to curl round the reverse way of the inclination, which brings
them within the influence of more air and the heat of the adjacent flame, the
result being the edges are made intensely white and luminous instead of being
smoky, as when the burners are used in the old style.
I also use pairs of burners thus set and in such near contact without touching
that the heat of one flame adds to the brilliancy and lighting power of the other;
each division of flame may consist or be composed of two or more flames as in my
double flame burners. I also use circles of small burners set with flames flat sides
to each other sufficiently near (without touching) to communicate great heat each to
the other, thereby increasing the brilliancy and lighting power of the whole mass,
and forming a flame not unlike that produced by the argand burner.
To resist the tendency in flat flames to produce thick smoky edges I place a
wing or projection immediately under each edge of the flame, which protects them
from the direct action of the upward atmospheric currents, and greatly modifies the
objection stated.
The gas burner cases for ordinary purposes are made out of sheet metal, having a
raised part round the body on which I place a screw for the globe holder to fit
onto.
I also make the inlet into the burner for the gas (when required for high pressures)
of a conical form, the small end of the cone being downwards, that is to say, the
hole at the bottom end of the burner is made of a conical shape and the smallest
diameter at the mouth. In going through this conical formation the gas may enter
under considerable pressure, but will pass to the other end in a diffused and quiet
stream, thereby allowing a steady flame to prevail, with a much high initial pres-
sure of gas than with other modes of supplying through an ordinary round hole.
And in order that my Invention may be more completely understood, reference is
given to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters and marks thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS..

page_text: of lower portion of lamp; Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively an elevation and plan
of one combination of burners; Figs. 8 and 9 represent a side and front elevation of
another combination of burners; Figs. 10 and 11 shew a plan and cross section of
a combination of burners when not used inside lamps; Figs. 12, 13, and 14 repre-
sent my improvements in the construction of burners.
a is the framework of the lamp; b, a conical conductor for gathering in the
column of air; c is a glass cylinder fitted on the top of the cone b; d is a cylinder
at the bottom end of lamp, and is perforated, as shewn, for admitting air; d is an
external cylinder perforated at d²; e is a metal ring for the purpose of assisting the
inner cylinder d and outer cylinder d¹ in giving a vertical direction to the air as it
passes into the annular space between them, at the same time preventing the outer
currents from passing into the lamp direct; e' is a cover of finely perforated sheet
metal, or, when preferred, gauze ; f is a bed of small tubes set vertically one against
the other; these give a vertical direction to the incoming air, and may be of any
required shape, and made through solid metal plates or other materials.
In the construction of the outlet at the top of lamp g is the outer cylinder and
h the inner cylinder; the inner cylinder h is closed by the cover i at the top and
open at the bottom; j shews the perforations in the inner cylinder h; k, k, are the
perforations at the top and bottom of the outer cylinder, of sufficient size to allow
the outcoming air and products of combustion to pass freely away, having pre-
viously entered the annular space l; m, m, are metal rings for the purpose of
assisting the outer cylinder g and inner cylinder h to give a vertical direction to the
atmospheric currents, thereby preventing them passing through the inner cylinder
and into the lamp.
When the upper ventilator is used for an inlet and outlet combined a small
conductor chimney n is used, extending towards the top of the interior cylinder h,
having a funnel shaped bottom o extending into the lamp; this conducts the
products of combustion to the top of the interior cylinder h, from whence they
pass through the upper perforations, and escape into the air in the direction shewn
by arrows, whilst the outer air is admitted at the bottom, passes over the funnel o,
and down the sides of the lamp.
My improvements shewn at Figs. 10 and 11 are applicable for still atmospheres,
in which p is a glass cylinder or chimney, much larger in diameter and less in
length than an argand chimney for the same power of flame; this may be supported
on any bracket or pendant p². By this means I gain the same control over flat
flames in a still atmosphere without the assistance of a lamp as when using the
herein before mentioned lamp for outside purposes. shews one arrangement of
double burners applied within the glass cylinder or chimney p, but these may be
arranged singly, doubly, or in clusters, to suit circumstances. All the burners are
fixed either vertically or at a slight inclination from that position, and ordinary 4
flat flame burners may be used with great advantage with the herein before
mentioned improvements.
Similar arrangements of burners are also applicable to my arrangement of lamp
or lantern shewn at Figs. 1 and 2.
Burners applied to the lamps or lanterns shewn at Figs. 1 and 2 may be applied 4
in clusters, as shewn at 8, Figs. 2 and 3, or as at Figs. 6 and 7, 8 and 9.
At Figs. 8 and 9 t, t, are the burners, and u, u, projecting wings; these are,
placed immediately under each edge of the flame, and protect it from the direct
action of the upward atmospheric currents, preventing thereby thick smoky edges
of the flame.
The length of the stem u¹ in all cases may be varied as required.
5
I make the burner cases for ordinary use out of sheet metal, having a raised part
round the body, as shewn at v, Figs. 12, 13, and 14, on which I place a screw for
the globe holder to fit onto. I further make the hole w at the bottom end of the
burner of a conical shape, and of the smaller diameter at the mouth x.
In going
through the conical formation w the gas, after entering at considerable pressure, 5
will pass to the other end in a quiet and diffused stream, thereby allowing a steady

page_text: flame with a much higher initial pressure of gas than when other modes of sup-
plying with an ordinary round hole are employed. This arrangement is particularly
applicable for high pressures.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and described by the aid
of Drawings how the same may be carried into practice, I would have it understood
that I do not limit myself to the precise details or configuration of the parts I have
described and illustrated on the annexed Drawings, as the same may be varied or
modified without departing from the nature or principle of my Invention, but what
I do claim and desire to be secured to me by Letters Patent is,—
First. The means employed for causing a column of air (other than what is
required for combustion and ventilation purposes) to flow vertically through the
centre of street and other lamps, substantially as and for purposes herein set
forth.
Second. The subjecting of flat flames to the influence of the column of air of the
nature and produced by the means and for the purposes before described.
Third. The application of cylinders d and d¹ and rings e for directing and admitting
air, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Fourth. The arrangement and combination of outer cylinder g and inner cylinder
h, and rings m, for the purpose of forming an outlet for the products of combustion,*
substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Fifth. The arrangement and combination of tube n and cone o with the outer
cylinder g, inner cylinder h, and rings m, for the purposes of forming thereby an
outlet for the products of combustion, and an inlet for the outer air, substantially
as herein set forth.
Sixth. The application of cylinder p in combination with the various arrange-
ments of burners, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Seventh. The arrangement and combination of burners shewn at Figs. 2, 3, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, and 11 for street and other lamps, substantially as and purposes herein set
forth.
Eighth. The arrangement and construction of the projecting wings u, shewn at
Figs. 8 and 9, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Ninth. The construction of burners shewn at Figs. 12, 13, and 14, substantially
as and for purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Bray, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy nine.
GEO. BRAY. (L.S.)