This burner is in the form of a cylinder made of a composition in which
magnesium predominates, and gives a light of 210 candle power with a
consumption of three and one-half cubic feet of gas per hour.
[Illustration]
The cylinder to be heated to incandescence is firmly held in place on a
metal spindle, which is slowly revolved by means of an ingenious
clock-work in the base of the fixture. The arrangement is such that by
turning off the gas the clock-work is stopped, and by the turning on of
the gas, it is again set in motion. The movement of the spindle is so
slow that a casual observer would not notice it, there being only one
revolution made in twenty-four hours. The object of this movement is to
continually present new surface to be heated, as that which is exposed
to the high temperature wears away, similarly to the carbons used in
electric lighting, though much more slowly.
These burners can be made of 2,000 candle power, down to fifty candle
power.
Pure oxygen can now be obtained from the atmosphere at a cost of about
twenty-five cents per 1,000 cubic feet, and the small amount required to
supplement the fuel water gas in producing this light can be supplied
under proper pressure from a very small pipe, which can be laid in the
same trench with the fuel gas pipe, at much less cost than is required
to carry an electric wire to produce an equal amount of light.
The oxygen pipe necessary to carry the gas under pressure need not
exceed an inch and a half in diameter to supply 5,000 lamps of 2,000
candle power each. The only reason why this burner has not been further
perfected and placed upon the market is because of the continual
preoccupation of Prof. Lowe in other lines of invention, and the amount
of attention required by his large business interests. Besides, the
field for its usefulness has been limited, as cheap fuel gas has only
just begun to be generally introduced. Now, however, that extensive
preparations are being made for the rapid introduction of the Lowe fuel
gas system into various cities, this burner will receive sufficient
attention to shortly complete it for general use in large quantities. It
is a more powerful and at the same time a softer light than is the
electric incandescent or the arc light. The light-giving property of a
burner of 1,000 candle power would not cost more than one cent for ten
hours' lighting, and the cylinder would only require to be changed once
a week; whereas the carbons of arc lights are changed daily. The cost of
the gas required to maintain such a lamp ten hours would be six cents,
allowing the same profit on the gas as when it is sold for other heating
purposes. The lamps complete will cost much less than the present
electric lamps, and after allowing a large profit to companies supplying
them, will not cost consumers more than one-fourth as much as arc lamps,
and will give a much clearer and steadier light.
Since Prof. Lowe perfected his first incandescent burner great progress
has been made in this line of invention, and it is no wonder that the
attention of the whole gas fraternity of the country has been drawn to
the subject of cheap fuel water gas, which is so admirably adapted to
all purposes of heat, light, and power.
While there is no doubt that light can be more cheaply produced by
incandescence obtained by the use of fuel water gas than by any other
means, still a large amount of electric lighting will continue to hold
its position, and the electric system will gain ground for many uses.
But the electric light also can be more economically produced when fuel
water gas is used as power to revolve the dynamos. Therefore, we believe
it to be for the best interests of every gas company that would move in
the line of progress to commence without delay to make preparations for
the introduction of fuel water gas, if, at first, only as supplementary
to their present illuminating gas business.-_Progressive Age._
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