13. Mixers
The latest improvement in Gas Machines is an attachment for equalizing the quality of the Gas. It is a very desirable and valuable improvement, but is not essential to the lighting of a building, as is evidenced by the thousands of buildings satisfactorily lighted by Machines without such attachment. In all such cases, however, the varying quality of the Gas (being richer or poorer in proportion to the quantity and quality of Gasolene in the Generator) has necessitated the use of what is known as adjustable burners, such as the " Argand," " Ring," " Clough," " Cross," and other like burners which can be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the differing qualities of Gas made by the Machine.
Many people are perfectly satisfied with such lighting and do not mind the attention required for adjusting the burners, but it is almost impossible to secure such attention from servants and their negligence is quite sure to result finally in the smoking of ceilings in such rooms as are left to their care. The use of the " Mixer" provides against this contingency. Its office is to intercept the Gas as it comes from the Generator and by mixing more or less air with it reduce it to the quality best adapted for perfect combustion. It can then be used through non-adjustable burners the same as Coal Gas from city mains and with as little liability to " smoke." Another advantage gained by using a " Mixer" is that the quality of the Gas is maintained at the point which will produce the whitest light and most perfect combustion, thus minimizing the cost of the Gas.
Many attempts have been made during the past few years by manufacturers of the various Gas Machines, to make an attachment for securing a uniform light. Some have failed utterly and others have been partially successful. Nearly all these attempts have been in one direction, viz.: "The " opening of two adjustable valves by means of a diaphragm arranged to operate in proportion to the quantity of gas consumed; such valves admitting " gas and air to a mixing chamber in proportion to the movements of the " diaphragm."
Such an attachment, if well made and nicely adjusted, may be successfully operated so long as the Gas Pressure and Air Pressure are perfectly equal and a sufficient quantity of gas is being consumed to give a considerable motion to the diaphragm, but these necessary conditions are not normal in the operation of a Gas Machine and cannot be maintained. Such apparatus are unreliable, causing the pipes at one time to be filled with rich, smoky gas, and at another with pure air, either of which must be let out at the burners, greatly to the annoyance of the consumer.
Our " Mixer " is made on an entirely different principle from anything of the kind heretofore offered to the public. No conditions to which a Gas Machine is subject can in any way affect its continuous and perfect operation. Its motion is positive and the mixture of the required proportions of Gas and Air is effected by a mechanical operation, governed and controlled by the quantity of gas consumed.
Denny's Gas And Air Mixer