IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR EMPLOYED IN OBTAINING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT. APPARATUS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Mayer of the firm of Mayer and Meltzer of
No. 71 Great Portland Street in the County of Middlesex Surgical Instrument
Makers for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR
EMPLOYED IN OBTAINING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT.
APPARATUS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Mayer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th September 1882.
JOSEPH MAYER of the firm of Mayer and Meltzer of N° 71. Great Portland
Street in the County of Middlesex Surgical Instrument Makers. IMPROVEMENTS
IN MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN OBTAINING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT.
In the employment of the light obtained by the combustion of oxygen and
hydrogen gas ignited in contact with a piece of quick lime various difficulties and
inconveniences have arisen owing to the rapid dissolution or wearing away of the
quick lime under the heat generated and the object of one portion of my invention
is to remedy this defect.
--
For this purpose I employ marble as the body upon which these gases are
directed in effecting their combustion in combination, and I have found the best
results to be obtainable by the use of marble reduced to minute fragments or
powder and this powder is then moulded into cylindrical or other suitable forms
aided by the addition of alum, borax or other suitable agglomerating material-
The description of marble which I have found best adapted to the purpose is that
known as Statuary Marble.
The rod or cylinder or other form of marble employed may be enclosed in a
surrounding sleeve or casing of metal to retain the same during combustion of the
gases in contact therewith.
The burner or jet forming the point of outflow for the two gases is formed of an
inner tube or channel and an outer and surrounding larger annular tube or passage
and this inner tube and the outer surrounding tube are each contracted towards
the point of exit of the gas for which they respectively form the conduit-The
inner tube forms the conduit for the hydrogen gas and the outer surrounding
D31

page_text: channel that for the oxygen gas and each tube communicates with a suitable tube
from a reservoir under pressure of the respective gases supplied by them regulated
by suitable valves.
This tube supplying the hydrogen gas is provided with a valve to prevent back
pressure or flow of atmospheric air to mix with the hydrogen gas therein to
endanger explosion.-This valve consists of a stop piece provided with a stem or
spindle retained by spring pressure to its seating against outflow of the gas through
the tube except at the pressure in excess of that to which the spring is adjusted
and return flow or access of air to mix with the gas is prevented and the valves
may be conveniently applied at the joints of the tubes next the burners or jets
or at each joint of each tube. The form of the stop piece may however be
varied.
The equable flow of the hydrogen gas to its jet or burner through the tube from
its containing reservoir or source of supply where it is contained under pressure is
regulated by means of its passage through a chamber communicating with the gas
supply and with the tube to the burner. This chamber consists of a disc of metal
and a corresponding diaphragm of india rubber connected at the edges thereof to
the metal or rigid disc by a ring and screw nuts or other suitable connections. On
the outer side of this flexible diaphragm is applied a lever having an enlarged end
piece against which the diaphragm when distended acts and the other end of the
lever turns on a centre of motion applied to the supply pipe and actuating a valve
therein capable of controlling the supply of gas whilst the return of the lever on
the return of the diaphragm. to the fixed disc on the decrease of pressure is effected
by suitable adjusted spring pressure acting on that lever:
Similar regulating means may also be applied to control the supply of the
oxygen gas.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Mayer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th March
1883. ¡
JOSEPH MAYER of the firm of Mayer and Meltzer of N° 71 Great Portland
Street in the County of Middlesex Surgical Instrument Makers IMPROVEMENTS
66
IN MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN OBTAINING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT
27
In the employment of the light obtained by the combustion of oxygen and
hydrogen gas ignited in contact with a piece of quick lime various difficulties and
inconveniences have arisen owing to the rapid dissolution or wearing away of the
quick lime under the heat generated and the object of one portion of my invention
is to remedy this defect.
For this purpose I employ marble as the body upon which these gases are
directed in effecting their combustion in combination and I have found the best
results to be obtainable by the use of marble reduced to minute fragments or
powder and this powder is then moulded into cylindrical or other suitable forms
aided in some cases by the addition of alum borax or other suitable agglomerating
material. The description of marble which I have found best adapted to the
purpose is that known as statuary marble.
The rod or cylinder or other form of marble employed may be enclosed in a
surrounding sleeve or casing of metal to retain the same during combustion of the
gases in contact therewith.
The burner or jet forming the point of outflow for the two gases is formed of an
inner tube or channel and an outer and surrounding larger annular tube or passage
and this inner tube and the outer surrounding tube are each contracted towards
the point of exit of the gas for which they respectively form the conduit. The one
tube forms the conduit for the hydrogen gas and the other channel that for the
oxygen gas and each tube communicates with a suitable tube from or otherwise
with a reservoir under pressure of the respective gases supplied by them regulated
by suitable valves.
These tubes supplying the gases are provided with valves to prevent back
pressure or flow of atmospheric air to mix with the hydrogen gas or other mixture
of gases therein to endanger explosion. Each valve consists of a stop piece
provided with a stem or spindle retained by spring pressure to its seating against
outflow of the gas through the tube except at the pressure in excess of that to
which the spring is adjusted and return flow or access of air to mix with the gas
or of one gas with the other beyond such valve is prevented and the valves may
be conveniently applied at the joints of the tubes next the burners or jets or at
each joint of each tube. The form of the stop piece may however be varied.
The equable flow of the gas or gases to the jet or burner through the tube or
tubes from the containing reservoirs or sources of supply where each may be
contained under pressure is regulated by means of their passage through a
chamber or chambers communicating with the gas supply and with the tubes to
the burner. These chambers consist each of a disc of metal and a corresponding
diaphragm of india rubber connected at the edges thereof to the metal or rigid
lise by a ring and screw nuts or other suitable connections. On the outer side of
his flexible diaphragm is applied a lever having an enlarged end piece against
which the diaphragm when distended acts and the other end of the lever turns on
centre of motion applied to the supply pipe and actuating a valve therein capable
f controlling the supply of gas, whilst the return of the lever on the return of the

page_text: diaphragm to the fixed disc on the decrease of pressure is effected by suitable
adjusted spring pressure acting on that lever.
Similar regulating means may also be applied to control the supply of either or
both gas or gases.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shews a sectional view of the burner for the gases and parts in con-
nection therewith. Figures 2. 3 and 4 shew parts thereof separately. Figure 5
shews by a side and two opposite end views a valve for preventing back pressure
in the hydrogen or oxygen or both supply tubes if required. Figures 6. 7. 8. 9 and 10
shew respectively a section, a front view, a back view and two opposite edge views
of a pressure regulator adapted to be used for the hydrogen or oxygen gas or both
according to circumstances-In the present arrangement it is adapted say to
regulate the oxygen gas supply under pressure. Figure 11 shews a sectional view
of a portion of Figure 6 but with the parts in a position such as would be assumed
by them under extreme excess of pressure. Figure 12 shews a sectional view of
the spring box and spring influencing the valve lever hereafter described.
In Figure 1 a. is the piece of marble held between the spring clips b carried by
the bent arm b', attached to the tubular part 62. This tubular part b² slides upon the
burner tube c. carrying a contracting piece d. and this tube c. is connected to the
elbow piece c¹, by screwing and the elbow piece c¹. is connected at e². by a pipe to
the source of the hydrogen gas or gas of mixed nature suited to afford illumination
'with oxygen gas. e. is a smaller pipe which passes through the elbow piece c¹ and up
within the tube c. to and partly through the opening d. of the contracting piece d.
This smaller tube e. is connected at e¹. to a tap e². and junction piece e³ for connection
to the pipe from a source of supply of oxygen gas under pressure. The pipe
supplying the hydrogen or illuminating gas is provided as may be found desirable
with a valve or valves such as is shewn by Figure 5 in which Figure g is a coned
plug or stop piece taking its seating in the correspondingly shaped part gl. of the
passage for the gas g². and this plug g is provided with a stem g³. which serves to
keep the plug g in correct relation to its seating by that stem sliding in a small
hole in another perforated part g¹ of the valve. g. is a spring pressing the plug
'constantly towards its seat with a pressure regulated to the requirements of the
case but sufficient to bring the plug home on outward gas pressure ceasing so as to
'prevent back flow of air or mixture of the gases.
In Figures 6 to 12 (so far as the parts respectively appear) h is a small tube
for supplying gas under pressure, which gas so supplied passes into 'a chamber i.
formed between the plate j and an india rubber diaphragm k and out thence by a
pipe to the illuminating apparatus by a suitable channel of supply. Upon the
flow of gas causing a pressure in excess of that to which the regulator is adjusted
the diaphragm k. is distended carrying with it the disc or plate m. connected or
hinged to the lever arm n. at n¹. This lever arm n is at its other end m2, affixed 'to
and capable of operating the spindle ³, of a valve h' applied in a seating or
chamber h2, to the pipe h, and by the movement of this lever arm the valve
diminishes the supply of gas and checks the pressure thereof in the chamber i and
thereby the 'consumption, is an annular piece and k³. screws serving to retain
the elastic diaphragm k correctly in relation to the rigid plate j.
Figure 11 'shews the 'extreme movement of these parts with the supply of gas
cut off. The return of the diaphragm k. upon the relaxation of pressure permits of
the return of the lever arm and its plate and the consequent reopening of the
valve ¹. for the renewed flow of gas and the return movement of the lever arm,
plate and valve are aided by a spring o, applied at its one end to the spindle h³, and
other end to the containing box o. p is a stop or abutment piece having a bearing
or abutment against the back plate and this piece p, is adjustable by screw p¹ or
otherwise to the spring box or case o¹. to enable the spring to be wound up on
unwound by means of the milled edge o². of that box o¹. being grasped by the
operator and turned on the spindle ½³.

page_text: The parts d. and the end of e. may be formed of steel to enable them better to
withstand wear.
Suitable valves may be applied to the gas supply pipes additional of those
described as may be required as usual.
The form of the parts and their arrangement may be considerably varied
without departing from the novel character of the invention for instance for the
tap h' and its corresponding parts, a valve of other suitable form may be substituted
to be operated by the expansion of the elastic diaphragm through suitable operating
connections.
Having thus described the nature of my invention and means employed by me
in carrying the same into effect I would have it understood that what I claim is
the improvements in means or apparatus employed in obtaining artificial light
substantially as described and shewn.
In witness whereof I the said Joseph Mayer have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty seventh day of March One thousand eight hundred
and eighty three.
Witness.
ALFRED G. BROOKES of
59 Chancery Lane
London
JOSEPH MAYER (L.S.)