Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-01-03
Safety Fluid Lamp-Chemica al Cause
Of ExpIosi0n..


amined and which We estimate highly 1t is
scientific lamp, and one which no one not
acquainted with chemistry could have in
vented, because the improvement is founded
upon knowledge..of the gases; it embraces
the principles Of Humphrey Davys inven-
ton Of the Safety Lamp. In the centre of
the lamp, extending to the bottom, is a
fixed cylinder of fine timed wire gauze.
having mesh of 500 to the inch. A tube
OF like gauze screws On to the wick disc,
and confines the wick This tube slips
down inside of the gauze cylinder spoken
or The can for containing the camphine.
or turpentine and alcoholic mixture, which
Is now commonly used for lamps, is made
with disc Of this wire gauze in the spout
and under the lid We have seen the fluid
N the lamp set GA fire by taking out the
wick, and the fluid set On fire at the spout
OF the can, aad no explosion take place.
We have also seen the fluid poured into the
lamp, out of the can, while the fluid in the
spout and that in the lamp were blazing,
and, instead of an explosion, the fame was
extinguished, It may well be asked. how
can this simple application Of wire gauze
prevent explosions in fluid lamps? The
question Is an important one It was dis
covered by Sir Humphrey Davy, that fine
wire gauze surrounding the fame of lamp
would prevent the ignition of an explosive
gas surrounding the lamp-but why it
should do so men differ in opinion-the
fact is known, and 1Ir. Newell has inee-
niously applied his knowledge of the same.
The reason why any gas is explosive, that
is, goes of like gunpowder by sudden ex-
pansion and contraction, when ignited, is
owing to the oombustible materials of its
composition being fully saturated with oxy-
gen, and it is then IN q fit state to ignite
instantaneously by the first spark The
gas we employ for lighting our streets, if it
were saturated with oxygen, would, when
burner was opened and touched with a
match, ignite quick as the lightning fash
all the gas in every pipe and gas-tank in
our city, and would tear up our streets and
blow UP our houses as suddenly and forcibly
as if they had been mined with gunpowder.
This is the chemical cause of gas and other
explosions, viz: the eombustible.. materials
being fully saturated with oxygen and then
ignited. The Goals in our fires do not ex-
pIode, because they are not saturated with
oxygen, tbs supporter of combustion; the
oxygen gradually combines with the carbon
in combustion, but if our Goals were re-
dueed to d state of gas, and the gas mixed
With twice its weight Of oxygen, the mixed
gas would Ignite instantaneously when a
match was applied, and cause what is
termed an explosion-which is but instsn-
taneous combustion; fire is slow cor,bus-
ton, that is all the difference between tbs
two. Those who keep volatile hydro-csr-
bons, such as alcohol, turpentine, or mix.
lures Of these two fluids, in stores, &C..
should os very careful and not suffer them
to be acted upon by heat, so as to cause
evaporation and saturation With the oxygen
Of the atmosphere, which is simply-to use
soleolsm-gunpowder gas Scientific
American.
The above lamp. called Newell's Patent
Safety Lamp and Lamp Feeder, and invent
ed by Or. Newell, Is sold Wholesale and
retail by Newell, Caldwell, & Coffin, No
Winter ST., Boston.