US1540015A - Gas-flame protector for flashers - Google Patents

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June 21 192 1,540,015

G. V. KARLSON GAS FLAME PROTECTOR FOR FLASHERS Filed March 6, 1923 IN V ENTOR A TTORNE YA Patented .lune 2, 1925.

GUSTAV V. KARLSON, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO vCHILLIIZFGWOR'IH ENGINEERING CORPORATION, OF NEW YO BK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GAS-FLAME rno'rno'ron ron/ rnasnnns.

I Application filed. lvIarclrG, 1923. Serial No. 623,100;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUsTAv V. KAnLsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Elizabeth, in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Flame Protectors for Flashers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, foranmg a part hereof.

This invention relates to a protector or chimney-like enclosure for a flame and is designed with particular reference to the conditions surrounding the operation of a gas flame flasher in which the flame is in termittently ignited and extinguished as for signaling purposes. Under such conditions, it will be understood that the flame must be protected when burning from drafts of air which might accidentally extinguish it, and secondly, the gas issuing from the burner must be supplied at all times with an adequate supply of oxygen to insure the ready ignition of the flame. These conditions might readily be satisfied in a protec tive device or chimney-like structure designed for use with a flame which burns constantly inasmuch as the heat generated by the flame would be suflicient to insure a steady outflow of heated air or products of combustion from the top of the device and a consequent inflow of fresh air to support combustion. In the case of a flashing flame which is burning only for intervals each second or minute, however, the heat generated is found to be insufficient to insure a constant change of gas within any protector now known with a result that monoxides are apt to eventually envelop the flame and combustion is arrested. The present invention, accordingly, is concerned with the very peculiar conditions which surround the operation of a flashing gas flame and must be considered with particular reference to such conditions in determining the importance of the results secured.

In accordance with the invention it is proposed to provide a transparentflame protector which shall prevent the flame from being subjected to gusts or drafts which might extinguish it and, at the same time, insure the constant replenishing of the air or gas within the protective device with adequate oxygen to support combustion. The invention rests, in principle, on the provision of parts in such relation as to effect a thermo-siphon action to the end that air within the device of somewhat rare density is constantly displaced by fresh cool air of greater density so that constant, circulation in and about the burner is brought about.

For an understanding of one practical embodiment which illustrates the principle, reference is to, be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view device.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section in plan of the improved but showing the burner in elevation.

While the invention is not tobe closely limited to its uses it has been designed primarily with reference to the conditions encountered in the art of gas flame flashers as now in use for signaling purposes, not only in light-houses but for highway tr'afiic. In such flashers alternative periods of light and darkness are effected constantly and automatically to the end that a signal effect is produced. However, it is, of course, necessary to protect the pilot flame when burning from gusts or drafts which might accidentally extinguish it. Further, it is equally necessary to provide the flame at all times with an adequate supply of oxygen to support combustion. The heat generated by such a flame is comparatively slight inas much as the period of light is small even as compared with the period'of darkness. In accordancewith the present invention the burner a is enclosed by a tubular transparent casing 79 of glass or the like which 7 may be carriedon a metal bottom 0 sup ported by the base a of the burner. It has been found impractical in a protector of this sort to admit air from the bottom or from any point in proximity to the burner as gusts are apt to extinguish the flame accidentally when the air is so admitted. On the other hand, it has been found that the amount of heat generated by the flame is ordinarily insuflicient to insure a constant circulation of air within an enclosed protective device by a truly thermo-siphon action in the absence of a construction which will bring this about. The principal object of the present invention is to provide such a construction. On the upper edge of the tubular casing b is supported a top cl with which is carried centrally a vertical chim ney e the lower portion of which may be flared to spread over the top of the burner a and collect products of combustion there from. Openings 6 at the outer end ofthe chimney 6 permit such gases to escape freely into the atmosphere although weather devices including an annular guide 7 and cap f may be supported over and around the exposed end of the chimney e to exclude rain, snow and the like in the manner which will be apparent. In'the top. d are formed anannular series 01": holes; (23 for the admis sion of fresh air into the casing b. The air thus admitted is required to pass a labyrinth in reaching the interior of thecasing b proper and an annular labyrinth is constructed so that the air will course downwardly along the inner wall of the casing b in an annular streanr for traveling to the burner a. To secure this anan-uular baflie g of generally conical form is supported within the top (Z so that air entering the holes will be deflected upwardly in an an nular stream. In spaced relationship to the conical bafiie g. shaped baflie h which extends downwardly and outwardly from the chimney e and terminates at a point below the u per edgeof the. first named bat-He gbut in spaced relationshipthereto so that the stream of air deflected upwardly by the baifie 9 upon coursing towards the chamber Z) will be deflected downwardly and outwardly by the baflle h in an annularstream and follow the innewall of the casing h before traveling to the burner an. The, annular stream. of cold air tlrus: introduced into the protector a is of relatively great density and will travel. to the bottom. plate 0 before altering its directioni. to any substantial extent. Having reached the imperi oratev bottom 0 it will naturally course inwardly towards the burner 64 which is disposed axially of the casing 72. The flame given by the burner a will be oi comparatively short duration and so will not generate an appreciable amount of heat. However, since the Chllllr is disposed a second bell-' ney a is disposed dircetly above the burner (a the products of combustion therefrom will naturally be trapped by the chimney for discharge in the atmosphere through the openings 6 and as these products move upwardly they will be continually displaced by the stream of fresh air introduced in the manner hereinbefore described. The important result obtained is that monoxides are not trapped within the casing Z) but a. con tinuous circulation therein is brought, about to the end that. combustionmay be efi'ee tivelysupported at all times without danger.- of the flame being extinguished accidentally by direct gusts ordrafts. I

Modifications inform, dimensions and arrangement or" parts. within limits maybe made without departing from thespirit of the invention provided the described conditions. are. realized.

\Vhat I claim is p In, a lantern, a. gas flame protector cf'or flashers. including i'mp-erforate' bottom and side walls, a top supported above said, side walls and extending upwardly and inwardly and having a plurality of openings adjacent the lower edge thereof, a burner disposed centrally of the protector, a duct conanmunicating with the atmosphere, sup ported centrally of the top over the burner, an upwardly-inelilned, baffle mounted in j uX- taposition, to. the openings in the top against which all the air entering througl i the openings impinges and is deflected upwardly against the top, av bznll'e supportedcentrally o l said topv extending downwardly and outwardly to a point below the upper edge oi said first i-ia-n-ied bafile app-instv which the air flowing along the top. in'npinges and is deflecteddownwardly along the side walls-,aud an annular guide and cap. enclosing the openings of they duct. 7

This specification signed this 5th day of March. A. 13- 1923.

eusrrav v. unmistm.

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