IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS FOR THE COMBUSTION OF NAPTHA, TURPENTINE, AND OTHER RESINOUS OILS
Year: 1844

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
JOHNSTONE, of Baker Street, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-seventh day of January, in the seventh year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Robert Johnstone, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Robert Johnstone, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Robert Johnstone, my exors, adññors, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS
FOR THE COMBUSTION OF NAPTHA, TURPENTINE, AND OTHER RESINOUS OILS;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said Robert
Johnstone, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in
Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.

page_text: thereon (that is to say) :-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, Drawing A, is a section of a lamp, having several of my improve-
ments applied thereto. A is the box, into which the liquid naptha, turpentine,
or other resinous oil flows; B is the inner cone, with a small rim C at the top,
and which rim comes down immediately over the argand tube D; the rim C
is of the same thickness and diameter as the argand tube D; E is a tubular
piece of wire gauze or perforated metal, which fits close over the argand tube
D, and descends to the bottom of the box A; round this piece of wire gauze
or perforated copper or other metal wire is placed perpendicularly (coming up
to within about one-tenth of an inch of the top of the argand tube); by the
capillary attraction of these metal wires the liquid is raised in the box A, and
resinous, tarry, or other deposits, thereby prevented. The little rim C fits
upon the top of the portion of the tubular piece of wire gauze or perforated
metal E, which comes above the argand tube D, the wire gauze or perforated
metal coming on the inside of the inner cone; round the rim or shoulder F in
the lower part of the inner cone B, is a number of holes, pierced almost
perpendicularly, but slightly inclined inwards; through these holes air is
admitted, and may be assisted in being thrown down towards the surface of the
liquid in the box A, by the rim G. The air, which becomes mixed with the
vapour in the box, is drawn by the chimney H through the wire gauze or
perforated metal E, where ignition takes place; I is the outer cone; J is an
inner tube, for the purpose of assisting to produce a breadth of flame; K is
the regulator, by means of which the flame is heightened or lowered at the
pleasure of the consumer, and by which the supply of air is regulated to the
interior of the flame. The external air, when shut off from the argand tube,
allows a corresponding portion to pass between the outer cone and the glass
or chimney by the holes x, also through the holes in the outer cone, and
through the holes of the inner cone at the rim or shoulder F, and the height
of the flame is consequently encreased; L is a small dish, for the
assisting in lighting the lamp; M, M, are screws (there are three of them), by
which the inner tube J is fixed to the argand tube D; N is a second little dish,
to assist in lighting the lamp. A very small portion of spirit of wine (about
purpose
of

page_text: the six hundredth part of a pint) is taken up in a tube similar to a wine taster,
and put into the dish N, and a like quantity into the dish L; the spirit in
both dishes is then lighted, and the chimney put on, and the heat occasioned
by the flame in the dish N, generates vapour in the box A. This vapour is
ignited by the flame from the spirit in the dish L; and in a minute or two, the
lamp gives a good flame; O is a rim, on which the chimney rests; this rim
has, round the portion of it immediately next the outer cone I, to which it is
attached, a number of holes x, x, for the admission of air between the outer
cone and the chimney. The lamp may be extinguished by two modes; the one
is by a thin circular piece of metal P placed over the rim or shoulder F of the
inner cone; this circular piece of metal is pierced with holes, corresponding
with those in the rim F, and has a horizontal movement given to it by a
handle of wire z; the rim or shoulder F, and the circular piece of metal P,
are ground so as to fit close to each other; by the movement of the wire
handle, the air is shut off from the holes in the rim or shoulder F by the cir-
cular piece of metal P, and the lamp goes out. The other mode of extin-
guishing this lamp, is simply blowing with the breath down the chimney, by
means of a pipe properly bent for the mouth, and so as to curve over the top
of the chimney. The material to be burnt may be applied either by the
common atmospheric supply, or by the one hereafter described; or the supply
may be forced up from the pedestal of the lamp, and made to flow at any height
in the box, as in a pressure oil supply; or it may be made to flow into a little
cup into which the gauze or perforated metal dips; or it may be made to flow
upon the gauze or perforated metal by various methods. But, in obtaining a
pressure supply, means somewhat different from those used in the oil pressure
supply are employed, as shewn in Figure 10, as hereafter described; the air
may be drawn through the holes upon the shoulder of the inner cone B, or
through holes in any other part of the same, or through holes in the box A, or
through holes in the argand tube. And when coal-tar naptha is used, cotton,
or sponge, or other similar substances may be placed round the wire gauze or
perforated tube to generate vapour, and act as a capillary attractor, instead
of the perpendicular copper wire; when these cotton, sponge, or similar
generators are thus placed over the wire gauze or perforated tube, the air
passing through the holes in the argand tube becomes highly napthalized;
and the draught of the chimney of the lamp may be produced by mechanical
means.
Another modification of this lamp is shewn at Figure 2, and is similar in
principle to the lamp No. 1, but it has a chamber A, on the argand tube side
of the wire gauze burner, into which the liquid flows to the same level with

page_text: that in the vapour chamber D; the material in the two chambers commu-
nicates by the holes C, at the bottom of the chamber formed by the tube A;
the liquid in the chamber B is lighted, and the napthalized air from the vapour
chamber D is drawn into it by the draft and mixed with the flame from the
burning material.
Figure 3, Drawing B, is a side view; Figure 4 is a side section; and
Figure 5 is a cross section, of an apparatus which may be employed to supply
naptha, turpentine, or other resinous oils to one or more lamps which are
required to burn upon the same level. A is the upper chamber into which the
supply B falls; C is the cock into which the material is poured; D is a small
piece of circular metal, in the centre of the bottom of which is a small hole for
the spirit to escape into the lower portion of the upper chamber A; E is a float
attached by a piece of wire to a flat valve F, working upon a piece of wire in
the two uprights G, G; H is an air pipe, which, when the cock C is closed,
admits air into the supply, and thus allows the escape of the material at the
hole in the circular piece of metal D. The bottom of this air pipe, which
ascends to nearly the top of the supply B, is about one-sixteenth of an inch
below the hole in the piece of metal D, but above one-twelfth of an inch below
the opening I into the waste chamber J. If the float do not act the material
rises and closing the air pipe H, the supply becomes (the cock C being closed)
one similar in principle to the common atmospheric supply; should the cock C
be left open or not act the material escapes into the waste chamber J by the
opening I, the material is thus prevented overflowing in the box or boxes of
the lamps. The cock K at the bottom of the small chamber should always be
opened before the lamp or lamps are lighted, and any spirit that may have run
over drawn off; the spirit thus drawn off is to be poured into the cock C.
Figure 6, Drawing C, shews a table lamp with part of my improvements
applied thereto. A is a tube, over which the wick slides into the material to be
burnt, the wick being embraced by a tubular spring holder which is raised or
lowered by a rack and pinion, as clearly shewn in the Drawing. B is a conical
piece of tube about one quarter of an inch deep, and allowing just enough room
for the wick to pass between it and the tube A; this conical tube is supported
by pieces of wire attached to the tube C, which is also conical at the top, and
having the space of about one-sixteenth of an inch between it and the conical
portion of the tube B, for the purpose of allowing the air entering at the
holes G (and which becomes napthalized by passing over the wick) to escape
at the point of combustion and be burnt, thereby keeping the wick in a
sufficiently cool state. The tube C slides upon and fixes closely to the
tube H; the tube J forms part of the reservoir or vase, keeping the latter

page_text: distinct and separate from the burner, except by the communication pipes L, L,
and allowing air to pass between the supply vase and the tubes immediately
in connection with the heated burner. D is a cone for deflecting air on the
wick at the point of the combustion; F is the holder or rest for the cone D
and glass E; L, L, are supply pipes through which the material to be
consumed flows to the wick. The distance from N to I is a continuation of
the tubes between which the wick slides, and is for the purpose of obtaining
a proper length of wick; K is the orifice where the material to be burnt is
poured into the vase; M is a breaker or button, for deflecting on the flame,
the air passing up the central tube.
Figure 7, Drawing D, shews a vapour lamp which maintains its illuminating
power by means of one series of jets of vapour, issuing at a considerable pressure,
being forced past or through a series of jets of flame arising from vapour
issuing at a gentle pressure, and which jets of flame are supplied from the
liquid from which the jets of vapour are produced. A is a tube of copper
hemispherical at both ends, and its width is proportioned to the volume of
light required; into this tube A the turpentine, naptha, or other material to
be consumed is admitted to the level I. B is a small dish for the purpose of
lighting the lamp; into this dish B a small quantity of spirits of wine is
poured, and this being ignited raises vapour in the tube A; this vapour is forced
down a piece of copper or any other metal pipe C, and out at the holes of the
ring D with considerable force. These jets of vapour, which would soon create
so much pressure within the tube A as to cause it to low out the flame pro-
duced when ignited by the spirit of wine in the dish B, are caught by jets of
flame issuing horizontally from the ring E towards the tube A; these jets or
beads of flame are regulated by the cock F. The burner E should never have
more than a mere bead of flame issuing from its orifices, as its use is only to
light the vapour issuing from the lower ring D. G is a pipe which dips down
to the lower part of the supply and prevents the pressure in the tube A forcing
its vapour into the reservoir H; the upper part of the tube A screws off at J
for the purpose of allowing the burner to be cleaned, and also for inserting a
capillary attractor of perforated copper tube or other material.
Figure 8 is a section, and Figure 9 a plan, of another lamp constructed
according to part of my improvements. The principle of this lamp is the
forcing steam through the axis of or across a flame for the purpose of pro-
ducing proper combustion of naptha, turpentine, or other resinous oils. A
small quantity of naptha, spirits of wine, or rectified spirits of turpentine, for
the purpose of lighting the lamp, is poured on the material to be burnt in the
metal box A, over which a metal cone having holes J to admit air for com-

page_text: bustion is placed, the air being also admitted at the bottom of such cone at C.
E is the level of the liquor which is to flow as near the top of the steam
pipe F as the nature of the supply will admit of; D is the orifice at which the
steam issues and which may be supplied by any convenient means.
Figure 10, Drawing C, shews another of my improvements, the principal
object of which is to prevent the material to be consumed, which is contained
in the base or lower part of the lamp, from coming in contact with the flexible
bag by which the necessary pressure upon the material is produced to raise it
to the burner. A is a spiral spring exerting its power on the fusee or spiral B
by means of the cord S; this affords an equal pressure at all times upon the
liquid. To the spindle of the fusee B is attached a small toothed wheel C,
which acting on the ratchet D, forces down the flexible bag E, and displaces
the air in the chamber L. The air thus pressed, being allowed to escape
through the hole P, acts upon the surface of the liquid in the supply chamber F,
and forces it up to the burner, the amount of liquid thus forced up being regu-
lated by the cock O. When too much liquid is supplied to the burner it flows
down the pipe H into the overflow chamber K, immediately below the foot of
the pedestal; when using this supply the liquid must be poured in at the
orifice M till the chamber is filled; the ratchet D is then wound up by means
of the handle N attached to the spindle belonging to the fusee B, and the air
following the bag the liquid is drawn from the overflow chamber; when this
chamber is full, and the spring presses down the valve, I closes; the valve Q,
in the small box R, prevents the air coming down the pipe G when the
ratchet and bag are drawn up.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention, and the best means I am
acquainted with for performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise arrangements shewn and described, as variations
may be made without departing from the principle of the various improvements;
and I would remark, that I do not claim the mixing of air with vapour previous
to combustion in lamps for the burning of naptha, turpentine, or other resinous
oils; but I claim,―
First, the mixing of air, by means of a chimney or glass, with vapour raised
in a metal or other box previous to combustion, where an argand flame is
produced, and where the air drawn up the argand tube either does not mix with
the napthalized air until the latter is drawn by the draught of such chimney or
glass from the box or chamber at the point of ignition, or where only a portion
of the air so drawn up the argand tube is admitted into the box or chamber.
Further, I do not claim the use of copper or other wire, or perforated metal
tube, as capillary attractors for the purpose of artificial illumination.

page_text: But, secondly, I claim the use of copper or other wire, or perforated metal
tube or other metallic substances, as capillary attractors, in lamps for the com-
bustion of naptha, turpentine, or other resinous oils, where air is drawn into the
vapour box or chamber by the draft of a glass or chimney, and where they are
used in the manner described in lamp, Fig. 1; and I claim the use of them for
the purpose of preventing resinous or other deposit taking place in such vapour
box or chamber, as unless such capillary attractors are placed round the argand
tube within the vapour box or chamber, and close to or in immediate contact
with the flame, the vapour box or chamber would in a short time become filled
with resinous or other deposit.
Thirdly, I claim the use of regulating the admission of air up the argand
tube, where air is drawn into the vapour box or chamber by the draft of a
chimney or glass. And I claim the use of this, as well for the purpose of supply
ing air to the interior of the argand flame, as for regulating the height of the
flame itself. And I further claim this part of the Invention where air is mixed
with vapour raised from naptha, turpentine, or other resinous oils by means of
the draft of a glass or chimney for artificial illumination, whether the material
to be burnt is placed near or at a distance from the burner.
Fourthly, I claim the use of a cone or cones for deflecting air upon a flame
produced from the combustion of naptha, turpentine, or other resinous oils,
where the air is by means of the draft of a chimney or glass mixed with
vapour raised from a box or chamber previous to combustion.
Fifthly, I claim the mode of applying air to wicks when consuming naptha,
turpentine, and other resinous oils, described in respect to Figure 6, whereby a
considerable length of wick, saturated with the material being consumed, is
subjected to a stream of air before it arrives at the point of combustion.
Sixthly, I claim the forcing of steam through or across the axis of a flame
for the purposes of artificial illumination when consuming naptha, turpentine,
and other resinous oils.
And, lastly, I claim the burning of vapour, issuing at a pressure that would
"blow off" the flame produced from it, when such vapour is ignited by passing
across or through flame produced from the reservoir or burner by which the
former is supplied, and where the flame of such a lamp is maintained by its
own heat when consuming naptha, turpentine, and other resinous oils.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Johnstone, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and forty-four.
ROBERT (L.S.) JOHNSTONE.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-seventh day of July, in
the year of our Lord 1844, the aforesaid Robert Johnstone came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose:
Enrolled the Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One