Improvements in Apparatus for Applying Acetylene Gas to the Purpose of Incandescent Lighting, or of Heating.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Applying Acetylene Gas to the
Purpose of Incandescent Lighting, or of Heating.
A communication to me from RAOUL TÜRR, of 3, Rue Meissonnier, Paris, in the
Republic of France, Engineer.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., l'atent Agents and
Egineers, of 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the use of a material in the form of a hood of
any of the well-known kinds, rendered incandescent by means of acetylene gas.
In order to put the invention in operation, a vertical brass or other tube is used
of suitable diameter and length, screwed externally at its upper end and internally
at its lower end. This tube is provided, at a convenient part of its height, with
one or more lateral openings, the effective size of which can be varied and regulated
by means of two rings or short tubes screwed upon the exterior of the main tube
so that they can be raised up and down as desired for the purpose described.
This principal tube, which forms a combining tube, has screwed into its lower
end a second short tube the upper end of which ends in a cone having an opening
at its centre for the passage of the gas. The principal tube also has screwed upon
its upper end a short cylinder ending above in a cone at the upper end of which is
an opening of sufficient size for the passage of the mixed air and gas which are to
De burned.
When the principal tube has been fitted with the lower coned tube and with
the upper coned cap, the. lower end of the former is screwed upon
the upper end of a regulating cock through which the acetylene gas is admitted,
and after passing up through the principal tube escapes through the upper buruer.
By means of the regulating rings already described, air is admitted to mix with
the gas, and after igniting the mixture the principal tube is screwed up or down
upon the lower coned tube until the flame at the upper end burns in the proper
way, with a small greenish-blue flame internally, and a reddish external one.
Round the upper cone is fixed a gallery, upon which the mantle, which is to be
rendered incandescent, is fixed and adjusted.
B the burner described, all or nearly all of the carbon composing the flame of
the acetylene gas is burned. It differs from the ordinary Bunsen burner in that
the upper orifice of the combining chamber does not itsolf serve as a burner, but
that it has fitted to it either a conical or other-shaped piece, the section of which is
less than that of the combining chamber itself. Also;-in the combining chamber
being made adjustable upon the lower tube, through the conical or other shaped
upper end of which the gas is admitted as described.

page_text: The improved burner may be applied to heating purposes as well as to
incandescent lighting.
Dated this 18th day of November 1896.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Applying Acetylene Gas to the
Purpose of Incandescent Lighting, or of Heating.
A communication to me from RAOUL TERR, of 3, Rue Meissonnier, Paris, in the
Republic of France, Engineer.
1, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, 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, and accompanying drawing, that is to say:-
This invention has for its object the use of a material in the form of a hood (of
the kind known as Auer's, or of any of the other well-known kinds), rendered
incandescent by means of the combustion acetylene gas and air.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention.
In order to put the invention in operation, I use a "Bunsen" burner of the
kind hereinafter described, arranged vertically, and provided with means for
regulating the admission of gas, and with openings through which air is
admitted to mix with the gas, in such proportion that the flame obtained consumes
all the carbon, and forms a small greenish-blue central cone, surrounded by a
reddish external one; and outside this flame I arrange a mantle in the usual
way, obtaining a perfect incandescence giving a dazzling light.
The following is a description of the Bunsen burner as illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
In Figure 1A is a tube screwed externally at its upper end, and internally at
its lower end. This tube has one or more lateral openings A', and round these
openings the tube is screwed for a sufficient distance to receive two corresponding
rings B, 1, which can be screwed up or down sufficiently to completely close or
open the openings.
This tube A is called the combining chamber, and into its lower end is screwed
the tube C, provided at its upper end with a cone D, having a central aperture for
the passage of the gus.
Upon the upper end of the combining chamber is screwed a cylinder or cap E,
having an upper truncated cone G.
The chamber A being fitted with the tube C and the cap E, the whole are screwed
upon a cock II, and the latter being opened admits the acetylene which enters the
chamber, from which it escapes by the opening ().
By means of the regulating rings B, B', air is introduced, and by unscrewing
or screwing the chamber A upon the tube c, after having lighted the gas, the
admission of air and the distance of the cone D are adjusted until the flame is
properl composed of a greenish-blue cone K and an outer reddish flame L.
Round the cone O, is fixed a gallery to which is adapted the mantle which is to
be renderea incandescent.
It should be understood that, instead of the hollow truncated cone, a nozzle of

page_text: any other form may be used, provided that its orifice is of less section than that
of the combining chamber; a metal gauze may even be used the area of all the
openings through it being considerably less than that above described.
It is also to be understood that, for the adjustment of the position of the parts,
instead of their being screwed they may be fitted in any other convenient
equivalent manner.
The main object is to obtain at each orifice a flame of the kind already
described. That is to say, at the orifice of the burner, a flame should be obtained,
having a clearly defined blue-green cone, surrounded by a reddish outer flame.
The presence of these two very distinctive colours is the characteristic of the
heating flame for acetylene gas; and they are indispensable in order to obtain the
desired effect for incandescence and heating.
In the drawing are shewn, by way of example only, a number of different forms
which may be given to the burner, either of which may be used, according to
different circumstances and conditions, at the upper part of the mixing chamber.
As will be seen in the different figures in the drawing, the mixing or combining
chamber is always the same. Only the conical part fitted to the burner varies
in form, the total section of the orifices through it being always less than that of
the mixing chamber.
In ordinary construction, the differont shaped pieces forming the burner may
be made in one piece with the mixing chamber itself; as for instance in Figures 3
and 3, in which a hemispherical cap pierced with holes is shown forming the
upper end of the mixing chamber. Or, instead of this hemispherical shape, any,
other shape may be used.
In Figure 2 a solid cone is shown fitted upon the mixing chamber and pierced
with 4 holes through which the mixture of air and gas passes, producing 4 flames
each with a small blue-green cone, and an external reddish flame. The latter
cross each other and form a single reddish cluster, the hottest part of the heating
flame not being the blue flame, but the reddish one, which it is essential to obtain.
Upon the cylindrical part of the coue just described as shown in Figure 2, and
which serves to attach it to the mixing chamber, or upon the side of the latter
itself, may be mounted, if desired, a support of the usual kind as shewn in
Figures 2 and 21, or a "gallery," upon which a glass shade of any desired shape
and colour is supported, and the holder for the mantle is fixed either upon the
gallery, or upon the support shown, or upon the side of the mixing chamber.
Figures 4 and 4' shew the conical piece at the top of the mixing chamber
replaced by a cover closed above by a cap pierced with 5 holes. This cap may be
convex or concave instead of flat, and it may be made, if preferred, in one piece
with the cover.
Figures 5 and 51 shew a kind of mushroom-shaped hollow cap, pierced with
eight diverging holes. Openings are made between the holes, so that the air drawn
in may keep the burner cool.
Figures 6 and 6 show a cone surmounted by an inverted conical top the sides
of which are pierced with 6 holes communicating with the interior of the lower
cone.
Figures 7 and 7' shew a cone closed at the top, and pierced laterally with 6 holes.
Figures 8, 8', and 8", shew a hollow cover traversed laterally by a horizontal
tube through which air can enter and rise through a central vertical tube. Upon
the top of the vertical tube is screwed a disc, in the shape of a truncated cone which
closes the top, with the exception of a narrow annular space round the edge of the
disc, through which the mixture of air and gas escapes in the form of a thin sheet.
Figure 9 shows a solid cap pierced with any desired number of holes, and
Figure 10 also shews cap pierced with any number of holes, in the form
of tubes rising from the upper part of the cap. These holes may be parallel,
converging, or diverging.
All or most of the parts shown in the figures may be made of metal, steatite, or
any other suitable material.

page_text: Only the simpler forms have been shown, omitting those which, in practice,
present difficulties of manufacture which would render them less economical.
In Figure 11 is shewn a cylindrical piece A, sliding stiffly in the cylindrical
mixing chamber. This piece is pierced with a hole which allows the mixture of
gas and air to be drawn in more quickly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A burner for the mixture of air, differing from an ordinary Bunsen burner,
in the following particulars:-
a. The upper orifice of the combining chamber does not serve as a burner,
but is fitted either with a cone, or a burner of any other shape, the sectional
area of which is less than that of the combining chamber, such section or
sections serving as a burner. Under this condition metal gauze may be used.
b. The piece D (Figure 1) by which the acetylene gas is admitted, which
piece is conical or of other suitable form at its upper end, is moveable in the
combining chamber, so that the latter can be lengthened or shortened.
c. A cylindrical piece A (Figure 11) fitted in the combining chamber in
which it slides stiffly, so that its position can be altered as desired.
2. The application of incandescent material in the form of a mantle, or other
suitable form, to acetyleno gas to produce incandescence by the combustion of such
ga: in the burners claimed in Claim 1.
3. The application of incandescence obtained by the combustion of acetylene
gas to purposes and in situations where powerful centres of light are required.
Dated this 18th day of August 1897.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.