Improvements in Self Generating Gas Burners and Apparatus.ed, the same are Rendered More Conveniently Applicable to the Inflation of Balloons and for Tantino and other Purnages
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1887
Complete Left, 9th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 6th July, 1888
Improvements in Self Generating Gas
Burners and Apparatus.
Connected therewith, whereby the same are Rendered More
Conveniently Applicable to the Inflation of Balloons and for
Tantino and other Purnages
I, JOHN JAMES NORMAN, of 10 Southwark Bridge Road, in the County of Surrey,
experimental chemist and balloonist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows
This invention has for its object, improvements on the Patent No. 1828 of 1884,
granted to me in that year for "Self generating gas or vapour burners for heating
purposes" whereby I am enabled to increase the utility and convenience of the
apparatus described therein, and render it more easily applicable to a variety of uses,
where the generation and ready control of a great volume of heat and a high degree'
of temperature, as well as perfect combustion and absence of smoke, are desired, thus
rendering it peculiarly suitable for use in inflating balloons for war and other purposes,
whereby greater convenience and economy in aerial navigation are obtained, and at the
same time greater facility of, and safety in, their employment.
In carrying my invention of "Improvements in self generating gas burners and
apparatus connected therewith whereby the same are rendered more conveniently applic-
able to the inflation of balloons and for aerial navigation, heating and other purposes
into effect, I cause the liquid or fluid, by preference petroleum or its products
employed for generating the heat by being gasified in the burner or burners, to flow
to the burner or burners from a considerable head or by pressure, atmospheric or
otherwise, which may be contained in a closed vessel, or the desired force may be
given by a weight acting on the liquid or fluid, so as to press or force it out to the burner
or burners, where it is gasifiod and mixed with the air and burnt. A convenient.

page_text: method in some cases, especially for ballooning or aerial navigation, is that of placing
the liquid or fluid to be gasified, in a closed air tight vessel, into which air is pumped
or forced to the desired or required pressure, or the air already therein compressed by
forcing in the liquid or fluid employed to generate the beat up to the desired
point so that by its action on the contents of the closed vessel it will cause it or them
to flow out at a rate proportioned to the pressure and area of the passage through
which it or they has or have to pass; and this arrangement may also be adapted for
heating, welding or smelting metals, smelting or roasting ores, heating bakers or
other ovens or furnaces, baths, dwellings and other buildings; generating steam in
engine and other boilers, and most other cases where an arrangement of this kind will
be desirable, and a gauge or other suitable means for ascertaining the quantity of
liquid or fluid in the closed vessel may be applied if desired.
I form my improved burners, by preference for heating and sinelting, in two parts in
place of one, so that one part surrounds the nipple or outlet through which the gasified
liquid or fluid issues and has the perforations through which the air enters to mix with
the issuing gas formed into it, and over this the front portion from which the flame
and beated air issue, is slipped, in order to admit of this part being readily renewed
when worn by the action of the flame and heat by which means the employment of a
new burner is avoided. This removeable front portion may be formed in any suitable
shape of sheet iron, malleable cast iron, moulded asbestos, or any other suitablo
material capable of resisting the action of the heat, and I thereby increase the dura-
bility of the burners and any repairs or changes can be easily readily and cheaply
effected.
I may also in some cases provide adjustable ring dampers to cover the air holes
through which the air to mix with the issuing gasified liquid isadmitted to be burnt, in order
that may readily regulate and adjust the quantity admitted to mix with the jet of gas
and be burnt, or shut it off altogether by either turning them round, or sliding them
more or less over the apertures. In arranging my burners I provide when necessary means
for shutting off of a single burner, or a portion, as well as the whole, which may be done
by a suitable cock, tap, or valve, or by several, as most suitable or convenient. They
may also be arranged to project the heat and flame in a vertical, inclined, or horizontal
direction, or all in combination so as to meet the requirements of each particular case.
In place of causing the gasified liquid or fluid to issue from the nipple through a single
small aperture, I may in some cases employ two or more, which arrangement will in
many instances be found more convenient and suitable, than the employment of a
larger aperture and conduce more readily to the easy gasification of a large quantity of
the liquid or fluid and the amount of air required to be used.
When my improvements are applied to the inflation of balloons, or for aerial naviga-
tion, for inflating the balloon or other receptacle, I employ a metal or other suitable
hood or casing which surrounds the burners, and is provided with a flue passage or
conductor of suitable material and dimensions to lead the heated air into the balloon
or receptacle which I cover, coat or protect with asbestos or other suitable and con-
venient non-conducting material and in order that the inflation may be readily carried
out whilst it is laid on the ground, I join this flue passage or conductor to the hood
by means of a ball and socket joint, a "lobster tail or other equivalent and suitable
arrangement to admit of its being inclined at an angle or put in a vertical position
according as the inflation proceeds, and a change of position is required.
When the inflation is completed, or nearly so, the closed vessel or receptacle
containing the liquid or fluid to be gasified is placed in the car or attached portion in
which the persons are to be contained and the burner or heating part is suspended to
the mouth of the balloon and the outlet for the heated air from the burners, being
adjusted to admit or conduct the heat into the interior of the balloon or receptacle,
the burners are set going and the balloon will rise at a rate proportioned to the
quantity of heat sent into it, and the descent is caused by diminishing it or shutting
it off altogether.
By this arrangement I am enabled to dispense with the use of coal or other gases,
and become independent of any other apparatus than that taken with the balloon, and

page_text: can make an ascent where such are not available, besides being able to transport the
whole with a good supply of material for gasifying in an ordinary light one or two
horse vehicle.
When desired or preferred a set of burners to be used for inflating on the ground
may be employed in order to save disturbing those to be used when the balloon is
inflated and during its ascent, and these may be placed in the car and go with the
balloon, ready for use on the next occasion of making an ascent.
I may in some cases place at or form the mouth of the balloon of, a ring or
diaphragm of asbestos cloth or other non-inflammable material so as to admit of the
moveable outlet or conductor for the heat being inserted without the material forming the
balloon being injured by contact with the heated metal during the process of inflation,
and I may also employ a curtain or shield round the mouth of the balloon to increase
its depth and better enclose the heating apparatus and so prevent the escape of the
heat otherwise than into the balloon.

page_text: Improvements in Self-generating Gas
Burners and Apparatus
Connected therewith, whereby the same are Rendered More
Conveniently Applicable to the Inflation of Balloons and for
Aërial Navigation, Heating, and other Purposes.
I, JOHN JAMES NORMAN of 6 Cancell Road North Brixton in the County of Surrey,
Experimental chemist, 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, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of
diagrams and to the letters and figures marked thereon that is to say:-
This invention has for its object improvements on the Patent No. 1828 of 1884,
granted to me in that year for "Self generating gas or vapour burners for heating
purposes," whereby I am enabled to increase the utility and convenience of the
apparatus described therein, and render it more easily applicable to a variety of uses
where the generation and ready control of a great volume of heat and a high degree
of temperature are desired, thus rendering it peculiarly suitable for use in inflating
balloons for war and other purposes, whereby greater convenience and economy in
aerial navigation are obtained and at the same time greater facility of, and safety in,
their employment.
5
In carrying my invention into effect, I cause the liquid or fluid employed for
generating the heat by being gasified in the burner to flow to the burner from a
considerable head or by pressure, atmospheric or otherwise, which may be contained
in a closed vessel, or the desired force may be given by a weight acting on the liquid
or fluid so as to press or force it out to the burners where it is gasified and mixed
with the air and burned. A convenient method is that of placing the liquid or fluid
to be gasified in a closed vessel, into which air is pumped or forced to the desired or
required pressure, or the air already therein, compressed by forcing in the liquid or
fluid employed to generate the heat, up to the desired point, so that by its action
on the contents of the closed vessel it will cause it or them to flow out at a rate
proportional to the pressure, and area of the passage through which it or they has or
have to pass; and this arrangement may also be adapted for heating, welding,
brazing, soldering, or rivetting metals, smelting or roasting ores, heating bakers',
crenating, or other ovens, baths, dwellings and other buildings, generating steam in
engine and other boilers, and most other cases where an arrangement of this kind will
be desirable and a gauge or other suitable means for ascertaining the quantity of a
liquid or fluid, in the closed vessel, in addition to that for recording the pressure, may
be applied if desired.
I form my improved burners by preference for heating and smelting in two parts
in place of one, so that one part surrounds the nipple or outlet through which the
air enters to mix with the issuing gas formed in it, and over this, the front portion
from which the flame and heated air issue is slipped, in order to admit of this part

page_text: being readily renewed when worn by the action of the flame and heat, by which
means the employment of a new burner is avoided. This removeable front portion
may be formed of any suitable shape, of malleable cast iron, sheet iron, moulded
asbestos, or a mixture of asbestos, fire clay, ground ganister or any other suitable
material or materials capable of resisting the action of the heat, and I thereby
increase the durability of the burners and any repairs or changes can be easily, readily
and cheaply effected."
I may also provide adjustable ring dampers to cover the air holes through which
the air to mix with the issuing gasified liquid is admitted to be burnt, in order that
I may readily regulate and adjust the quantity admitted to mix with the jet of gas,
or shut it off altogether, by either turning them round, or sliding them more or less
over the apertures. In arranging my burners I provide when necessary means for
shutting off a single burner, or a portion, as well as for shutting off the whole, which
may be done by a suitable cock, tap. or valve, or by several as most suitable or con-
venient. They may also be arranged to project the heat and flame in a vertical
inclined or horizontal direction or all in combination, or so as to concentrate the
heat on any given or desired point, so as to meet the requirements of each particular
case. In place of causing the gasified liquid or fluid to issue from the nipple through
a single small aperture, I may in some cases employ two or more, which arrangement
will in many instances be found more convenient and suitable than the employment
of a larger single aperture, and conduce more readily to the easy gasification of a
large quantity of liquid or fluid, and the amount of air required to be used.
When my improvements are applied to the inflation of balloons for war or other
purposes or for aerial navigation, for inflating of the balloon or other receptacle
I employ a metal hood or casing which may form part of or be attached to the casing
surrounding the burners, and is provided with a flue, passage or conductor of suitable
dimensions to lead the heated air into the balloon or receptacle, and in order that
the inflation may be readily carried out whilst it is laid on the ground I join this flue
passage or conductor to the hood by means of a ball and socket joint a "lobster's
tail or other equivalent and suitable arrangement to admit of its being inclined at
an angle or put in a vertical position according as the inflation proceeds and a change
of position if required.
When the inflation is completed or nearly so, the vessel or receptacle containing
the liquid or fluid to be gasified, and the burner or heating part are placed in the
proper position over the car or attached portion, and the outlet of the heated air from
the burners being adjusted to admit or conduct the heat into the balloon or receptacle
the burners are set going and the balloon will rise at a rate proportioned to tho
quantity of heat sent into it, and the descent is caused by diminishing it or shutting
it off altogether.
By this arrangement I am enabled to dispense with the use of coal or other gases,
and become independent of any other apparatus than that taken with the balloon, and
can make an ascent where such are not available, besides being able to transport the
whole with a good supply of material for gasifying in an ordinary light two horse
waggon.
The vessels or receptacles containing the liquid or fluid under pressure may be so
arranged and connected to the burners that when one is at work the other may be
recharging and they may be used in conjunction or separately as desired or preferred.
For ballooning and aerial navigation I arrange my burners in one or more concentric
tubular rings of a D or other suitable section, on which I screw or attach the number
of burners that are to be employed, and I arrange suitable valves or cocks for regu-
lating and controlling each, or all the rings or circles of burners.
Figure 1 shows a method of applying one form of my improved arrangement of
burners and apparatus to inflating balloons for war and other purposes and for aërial
navigation as hereinbefore described. A is the hood which surrounds the burners.
B the pipe leading the liquid or fluid to be burned from the closed vessel F to the
burners in the hood A, the top of the hood A which is removable, is shown at C. The
conductor or flue for leading the heat into the balloon G, is shown by D, and the

page_text: flexible joint or "lobster's tail" is shown at E. Figure 2 shows the burner suspended
to the mouth of the balloon, the same parts being denoted by like letters of reference
to those in Figure 1. H shows a suspended curtain round the mouth of the balloon
to confine the ascending heat. II the slings or suspenders for the burners. KK
the portions of the net which attach to the car. Figure 3 shows a longitudinal eleva-
tion of my improved burner formed in two parts as hereinbefore described A is the
body of the burner, B the moveable part and C the screwed end for attaching to the
tube or part supplying the liquid or fluid to be gasified. Figure 4 shows a portion
of the same to which the adjustable ring damper hereinbefore described is applied, D
being the damper. Figure 5 shows a sectional elevation of a furnace for melting or
reducing metals which may be done in a crucible or otherwise, A being the furnace
and B B the burners as herein before described. Figure 6 shows an arrangement for
a forge heated by one or more of any improved burners which are shown at B B,
A being the reservoir or closed vessel, B B the burners, CC the framing of the forge,
D the pipe leading the liquid or fluid to the burners, D' the cock or tap for controlling
the same and E the flexible tube and burner for brazing or soldering. In conclusion
it must be fully understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details
described and shown in the accompanying diagrams as the same may be modified
without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularly described, and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the saine is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First The construction and arrangement of the self generating gas burners herein-
before described, in the manner and for the purposes specified, or any mere modification
thereof.
Second-The "lobster tail" or other suitable equivalent arrangement for producing
the required results in inflating balloons and for aërial navigation as hereinbefore
described and shown, in Fig. 1, and for the purposes specified.
Third The screw arrangement for attaching the self generating gas burners, by
means of which they can be readily attached and detached from the supply tube or
tubes or part which conducts the liquid to be gasified or the gas, to the burner,
whereby I can readily remove and replace them rendering their cleansing and keeping
in order more easy and convenient.
Fourth-The use of petroleum or mineral oil or their products in a gaseous form
for the inflation of balloons and aërial navigation as hereinbefore described or any
mere modification thereof.
Dated this 9th day of Nov 1800
CHAS. F. T. YOUNG, C.E.,
Consulting Engineer for Patents,
For the Applicant.