A Practical Treatise on Gas-light / Exhibiting a Summary Description of the Apparatus and Machinery Best Calculated for Illuminating Streets, Houses, and Manufactories, with Carburetted Hydrogen, or Coal-Gas, with Remarks on the Utility, Safety, and General Nature of this new Branch of Civil Economy.

by Friedrich Christian Accum

[Plate III. fig. 1], represents a Rod Lamp. The gas passes through the rod a, to the Argand burner, which is surrounded by a cylindrical chimney, c, swelling out at the lower extremity. The construction of the Argand burner we have mentioned already, [p. 78].

In all the gas-light burners, constructed on Argand’s plan, care should be taken that the flame be in contact with the air on all sides, and that the current of air be directed towards the upper extremity of the flame. This may be effected by causing a current of air to rise up perpendicular from the bottom of the chimney glass, and to pass out again through the contracted part, or upper extremity of the chimney; but no other current of air should ever be permitted to come near the gas-flame, or enter the glass chimney which covers or defends the light; for if more air be permitted to mix with the flame than is sufficient for the compleat combustion of the coal-gas, it necessarily diminishes the heat, and consequently reduces the quantity of light.

[Fig. 2]. A Rod Gas Lamp, with branches. The gas passes through the hollow rod, a, and part of the hollow branch, b, to the burner of the lamp. The cylindrical shaped glass, c, exhibited in this figure, is not so well adapted for the compleat combustion of coal-gas, as the belly-shaped chimney, c, represented in [fig. 1, 3, 5, 6], because the ascending current of fresh air is not turned out of its perpendicular course, and thrown immediately in a concentrated state, into the upper part of the flame where the combustion of the gas is less perfect. The exterior current of air which enters at the bottom into the lamp, rises merely with a velocity proportioned to the length of the cylinder, and to the rarefaction of the air in the same, but without being propelled to the apex of the flame, as it should do, and is made to do, in the bellied glass adapted to the lamp, [fig. 1].

[Fig. 3]. A Bracket Lamp. a, the tube which conveys the gas to the burner; b, the stop-cock of the tube.

[Fig. 4]. A Pendent Rod Lamp; in which the gas is supposed to come from a pipe above, through the ceiling, into the pipe, a, to supply the burners. The tulip-shaped chimney, b, of this lamp, is likewise ill adapted for gas-light burners.

[Fig. 5]. A pendent double-bracket Lamp. The gas passing through the perpendicular tube, a, into the brackets, b b; c shows the Argand burner.

[Fig. 6]. A swing Bracket Lamp. a, the gas-pipe with its stop-cock; b, a brass ball, communicating with the pipe, a; c, the conducting tube, ground air-tight into the ball, b, and communicating with the burner of the lamp, so as to allow it to have an horizontal motion.

[Fig. 7]. Shews the construction of the ball b, and pipe, c, of the lamp, [fig. 6].

[Fig. 8]. A Swing Cockspur Lamp, constructed upon the same plan as [fig. 6]. These two lamps are very convenient for desks in counting-houses, &c.