Improvements in Appliances for Burning Oils, in which the Reservoirs are Placed at a Higher Level than that of the Liquid in the Burners, and Maintaining Level of Fluid for other purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 7th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 18th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Burning Oils, in which the
Reservoirs are Placed at a Higher Level than that of the
Liquid in the Burners, and Maintaining Level of Fluid for
other purposes.
We LOUIS WILLIAM WAECHTER, of 72 Erskine Street, Hulme, Manchester,
Oil Refiner, and FRANCIS MONTAGUE SIMS of 2 Smedley Lane, Cheetham Hill,
Manchester, Manufacturer, both in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:―
This invention relates to modifications, alterations, and improvements in
appliances designed for burning heavy hydrocarbon and other heavy oils as
described in Patent Specification No. 10724 A.D. 1889, to remove deficiencies
and defects existing therein and specially to adapt the system to burn the more
inflammable oils of less specific gravity, and lower flashing and firing points, and to
ensure absolute conditions of safety and efficiency for lamps with the reservoirs
placed above the burners, that under no circumstances, either by design or
accident, can the liquid level in the wick holders be made to exceed the limits
set to it, which conditions are not absolutely ensured in previous patent
specification.
In this pneumatic system of supply owing to the change of volume & pressure
of air, when it expands under a pressure less than atmospheric pressure, before
there is equilibrium between the external and internal pressures, i.e. before the
flow from the reservoir ceases, the quantity of liquid issuing from the reservoir is
greater than the volume of air at atmospheric pressure which was in, or had through
the supply pipe entered the reservoir, whereby the flow of liquid does not cease
when the end of the supply pipe is covered by liquid, and entry of air to the
reservoir prevented, but continues until the air in the reservoir bas expanded to
such a degree that the elastic pressure of the air plus the weight of liquid column
in the reservoir and supply pipe, equilibrate with the external atmospheric pressure,
and this excess flow varies with the volume and pressure of the air and weight of
the fluid column, according to the mathematical working out of Boyle's law, as
regards air and gases, and such excess flow unless provided for, will unduly raise
the level of the oil in the wick holder, causing fluctuations of light and danger
of firing, explosion, & overflow according to the varying amount of such excess
flow.
..
We propose to deal with said excess flow, by provision of an overflow chamber,
which receives and retains it, and which is so placed and fitted round the supply
pipes to the burners that the said excess must all flow back into the oil holder, and
be consumed, before air can re-gain access to the end of the supply pipe, and fresh
oil descend from the reservoir.
In order to ensure absolutely the required conditions of safety for a lamp with
the reservoir above the burner
That (a) the reservoir remaining airtight or (b) in the event of leak in the
reservoir by fracture, or otherwise the oil shall not exceed the limits set to it, and
Bood the wickholder, it is necessary as to (a) that the volume of the overflow

page_text: chamber, or a section of it, shall be sufficient to receive and retain the greatest
amount of excess flow attainable, according to the volume of the reservoir, and
the weight of the liquid column supported by atmospheric pressure, and this must
be determined by calculation of the change of volume and pressure of air, when it
expands at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.
Let P equal atmospheric pressure taken as 15 lbs..to the square inch.
Let the pressure of a column of water 30 feet in height be taken also as 15 lbs.
per square inch;
Let V equal the volume of air in the reservoir at atmospheric pressure.
Let P¹ equal P - W (W being the weight of the fluid column supported
by P).
Let V₁ equal the volume of V, when subject to the reduced pressure P¹.
Then as will readily be understood by any competent person
This formula will work out as follows for the various heights of liquid column
stated below, (the liquid taken being water).
(It is to be noted that the weight of said liquid columns would vary according
to the specific gravity of various liquids.
'
Let H equal the height of the liquid column (water) in feet, and for example
let H5 of a foot.
TI
D1 D
T7
T71
pi V

page_text: Then if V" equals the amount of excess flow in cubic inches, and a in inches the
limit set to the rise of oil in the oilholder, i.e. the height of the overflow chamber or
a section of it.
VII
To avoid undue rise or overflow in the event of fracture or leak of the reservoir
or supply pipe the overflow chamber is provided, with one or more overflow pipes,
leading from the level of the height set to the rise in the wickholder through the
bottom of the overflow chamber, and if desired in large systems to a waste tank or
in lamps to a drip cup, when any drip would be a sign of want of airtightness in the
reservoir.
In such a pneumatic system taps or their equivalent intercepted between the
reservoirs and the burners and exposed to atmospheric pressure, and the penetrating
properties of petroleum are inadmissible owing to liability to leakage, admission of
air and destruction of the partial vacuum, and therefore in the event of using such
devices, we place them below the fluid level in the lower reservoir or cistern whereby
entry of air to the reservoir is effectually. prevented.
Moreover it is an essential requirement in a pneumatic system that the act of
opening the oil inlet to the reservoir shall automatically close any outlets to the
burners previous to atmospheric pressure gaining access to the liquid in the
reservoir, and for such purpose we prefer to use a double plug or vent peg acting
in inverted order, the raising of which opens the upper, and closes the lower
orifice and vice-versa.
The overflow chamber also serves as a safeguard against excess flow caused by
increase of temperature in the reservoir such change causing the internal air to
increase in volume and pressure (according to the laws applicable to dilatation of
air & gases,) which increase in volume and pressure may be taken generally as
148th increase in bulk for one degree Fab. rise in temperature so that if from any
cause the reservoir became heated above the lower part of the system, the air
increasing in pressure would upset the equilibrium between the internal and
external pressures and force liquid through the supply pipe tending, to both undue
rise in the wickholder and overflow.
In our arrangement such excess flow is as before simply received, and retained.
in the overflow chamber, until consumed in the ordinary way, or should for any
reason the upper temperature fall, i.e. the excess heat in the reservoir diminish the
liquid would re-ascend the supply pipe.
In the smaller cistern, or reservoir. below the overflow chamber from which the
branch pipes radiate to the burners, such pipes may start from the side of said
reservoir opposite to the side through which they pass, and when the size of.the
branch pipes. admits of it a smaller supply pipe from the oilholder may be inserted
in such larger pipes for such distance, as may be desirable, according to the
diameter and length of the larger pipes, the object of both devices being in case of
deviation from the perpendicular to throw the liquid into the overflow chamber,
and space between the two pipes instead of into the oilholder thus tending to

page_text: prevent undue rise of liquid in the oilholder, and consequent fluctuations of light..
On the system regaining the perpendicular the liquid will revert to it's proper level
position.
In large systems, where a considerable quantity of liquid may be required to fill
the oil holders in the first instance, it may be supplied through the overflow
chamber, or the reservoir re-filled after drawing off any considerable quantity
thereby reducing the volume of air in the reservoir.
If desired a smaller overflow chamber may be placed round the oil & wickholder
at any required level.
This pneumatic system will it is evident be equally applicable to purposes other
than lamps and lighting wherein it is desirable to maintain a liquid at a constant
level.
In all cases provision is made by a dome or otherwise for leaving a sufficient
quantity of air in the reservoir when it is filled.
Dated this Thirty-first day of July 1895.
LOUIS WILLIAM WAECHTER.
FRANCIS MONTAGUE SIMS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Burning Oils, in which the
Reservoirs are Placed at a Higher Level than that of the
Liquid in the Burners, and Maintaining Level of Fluid for
other purposes.
We LOUIS WILLIAM WAECHTER of 72 Erskine Street, Hulme, Manchester,
Oil Refiner, and FRANCIS MONTAGUE SIMS of 2 Smedley Lane Cheetham Hill,
Manufacturer, both in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to modifications, alterations and improvements in
appliances designed for burning heavy hydrocarbon, and other heavy oils as
described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 10724 A.D. 1889, the objects
of such improvements being to remove deficiencies and defects existing therein, and
especially to adapt the system to burn the more inflammable oils of less specific
gravity, and lower firing and flashing points, and to ensure absolute conditions of
safety and efficiency for lamps with the oil reservoirs placed above the burners, so
that under no circumstances, either by design or accident can the liquid level in the
wick holders of such lamps be made to exceed the limits set to it, which conditions'
are not absolutely ensured by the arrangements described in the patent specification
above referred to.
In this pneumatic system of supply, owing to the change of volume, and pressure
of air which takes place when it expands under a pressure less than that of the
atmosphere, before there is equilibrium established between the external and
internal pressures, that is to say before the flow from the reservoir ceases, the
quantity of liquid issuing from the reservoir is greater than the volume of air at
atmospheric pressure which was in, or had entered the reservoir through the supply
pipe, whereby the flow of liquid does not cease when the end of the supply pipe is
covered by liquid, and entry of air to the reservoir prevented but continues until
the air in the reservoir has expanded to such a degree that the elastic pressure of
the air (plus the weight of the liquid column in the reservoir and supply pipe)
equilibrate with the external atmospheric pressure; and this excess flow varies
with the volume and pressure of the air, and weight of the liquid column,
according to the mathematical working out of "Boyle's law
"
as regards air

page_text: and gases, and such excess flow unless provided for, will unduly raise the level
of the oil in the wick-holder, causing fluctuations of light, and danger of firing,
explosion, and overflow according to the varying amount of such excess overflow.
In order that our said invention may be clearly understood we have annexed
hereunto a sheet of drawings illustrating the application thereof first to a ceiling
chandelier, secondly to a wall or pillar bracket and thirdly to an inkstand.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section and Fig. 2 a horizontal section of a chandelier
constructed according to the principles of our invention.
a is an airtight oil reservoir placed at some distance above the burners b, c is the
lower reservoir or cistern in connection with the overflow chamber d, e is the supply
pipe leading from the reservoir a into the cistern c from which the branch pipes f
convey the same to the burners b. g escape pipes from the overflow chamber, the
height of which limits the capacity of the said chamber, h, i is a double plug or
valve the raising of which opens the orifice k for charging the reservoir a with
a fresh supply of oil and at the same time closes the orifices in that part of the
reservoir communicating with the supply pipe e.
The branch pipes f(see horizontal section Fig. 2) start from extreme opposite
sides of the interior of the cistern c passing out through the opposite sides, in order
that accidental or other tilting of the chandelier shall not cause flooding of the
lower burner, as the tilting will raise the open end of its branch pipe / above the
level of the oil.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a wall or pillar bracket which having the same
letters on corresponding parts requires no further description. Fig. 3 is a
horizontal section through the reservoir c on Fig. 3.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section and Fig. 5 a horizontal section of an inkstand
constructed upon the same principle, and has the same letters also placed upon
corresponding parts (where used) the dipping cup b taking the place of the burner b
in the lamp.
According to the present invention we propose to deal with the excess flow above
referred to by the provision of an overflow chamber d which receives and retains
it, and which is so placed and fitted round the branch pipes leading to the
burners b that the said excess must all flow back into the cistern c and be consumed
before any air can regain access to the end of the supply pipe e and a fresh supply,
of oil descend from the reservoir a.
In order to ensure absolutely the required conditions of safety for a lamp with
the oil reservoir placed at a higher level than the burner, that (a) the reservoir
remaining air-tight or (b) in the event of leakage in the reservoir by fracture or
otherwise, the oil shall not exceed the limit set to it and flood the wick-holder it is
necessary as to (a) that the capacity of the overflow chamber d shall be sufficient
to receive and retain the greatest amount of excess flow which can at any time
take place, according to the volume of the reservoir a and the weight of the liquid
column supported by atmospheric pressure in the supply pipe e and this must be
determined by calculation of the change in volume and pressure of air when it
expands at a pressure less than that of the atmosphere.
Let P =
atmospheric pressure taken as 15 lbs. to the square inch.
Let the pressure of a column of water 30 feet high be taken as 15 lbs. per square
inch.
Let V
Let Pl
Let Vi
Let H
=
=
=
=
the volume of air in the reservoir at atmospheric pressure.
PW (W being the weight of the fluid column supported by P).
the volume of V when subject to the reduced pressure P¹.
the height of the liquid column (water) in feet and for example let H
equal 5 of a foot.

page_text: 78.54
and 7954
=
10 inches the diameter required.
It must be borne in mind that the above calculations are made on the basis of
the weight of a liquid column of water but would necessarily vary according to the
specific gravity of the oil to be consumed.
To avoid undue rise or overflow in the event of a fracture or leakage of the
reservoir a or of the supply pipe e, the overflow chamber d is provided with one or
more overflow pipes 9 leading from the level of the height set to the rise in the
It must be borne in mind that the above calculations are made on the basis of
the weight of a liquid column of water but would necessarily vary according to the
specific gravity of the oil to be consumed.
To avoid undue rise or overflow in the event of a fracture or leakage of the
reservoir a or of the supply pipe e, the overflow chamber d is provided with one or
more overflow pipes 9 leading from the level of the height set to the rise in the

page_text: wick holder or burner 6 through the bottom of the chamber a and, it desired, in
large systems to a waste tank, or in lamps to a drip-cup, when any drip would be
a sign of a want of air-tightness in the reservoir.
It will be evident that in such a pneumatic system the ordinary use of taps (or
their equivalent) interposed between the reservoirs and the burners, and exposed to.
atmospheric pressure, and to the penetrating properties of hydrocarbon oils, is,
inadmissible, owing to the liability to leakage, admission of air, and destruction of
partial vacuum, and therefore in the event of using such devices we place them
below the fluid level in the overflow chamber whereby entry of air to the main
reservoir is effectually prevented.
Moreover it is an essential requirement in such a pneumatic system that the act.
of opening the oil inlet to the reservoir shall automatically close any outlet to the
burners previously to atmospheric pressure gaining access to the oil reservoir
and for such purpose we prefer to use a double plug or valve h, i acting in inverted
order, the raising of which opens the upper orifice and closes the lower one, or
vice versa.
The overflow chamber d also serves as a safeguard against excess flow caused by
increase of temperature in the oil reservoir a such change causing the air confined
in the upper part thereof to increase in volume and pressure (according to the laws.
applicable to the dilation of air and gases) which increase in volume and pressure.
may be taken generally as one 273rd increase in bulk for one degree rise in
temperature (Centigrade), so that, if from any cause the oil reservoir a should
become heated, the air increasing in pressure would upset the equilibrium between
the internal and external pressures, and force the oil downwards through the
supply pipe e tending to both undue rise in the wick-holders b and also to
overflow.
In our improved arrangement such excess-flow is simply received and retained.
in the overflow chamber d until consumed in the ordinary way, or if for any
reason the temperature in the upper or main reservoir a should fall (that is, the
excess heat in the reservoir diminish) the oil would re-ascend the supply-pipe e.
In the cisterne from which the branch pipes radiate to the burners b such.
pipes may (as shown at Fig. 2) start from the inside of the said cistern opposite to
the side through which they pass out for the reason hereinbefore stated and when
the size of the branch pipes admits of it a suitable pipe from the cistern c may be
inserted in such larger pipes for such distance as may be desirable according to
the diameter and length of the larger pipes; the object of both devices being in.
case of deviation from the perpendicular to throw the oil into the overflow
chamber d and into the space between the two pipes instead of into the wick
holder thus tending to prevent undue rise and consequent fluctuations of the light.
On the system regaining the perpendicular position the liquid will revert to its.
proper level.
In large systems where a considerable quantity of liquid may be required to fill
the oil holders in the first instance it may be supplied through the overflow
chamber d or the reservoir a may be refilled after drawing off any considerable
quantity thereby reducing the volume of air in the reservoir.
If desired a smaller overflow chamber may be placed round the oil and wick
holder at any required level.
It will be evident that this pneumatic system is equally applicable to purposes.
other than lamps, and lighting, wherein it is desirable to maintain a liquid at
a constant level, as in the case of the pneumatic ink bottle shown at Figs. 4 and 5
where a is the main air-tight reservoir, b the dipping trough (equivalent to the
burners) c the cistern, d the overflow chamber.
e the supply pipe leading from a to c, and fa channel leading from c to b, being
equivalent to the branch pipes in the lamp.
This is also the channel for admission of air to the upper part of the reservoir
whenever the level of the ink in the dipping trough & falls below the lower edge of
the supply pipe e. Here again an overflow chamber may be fitted to the iuk holder

page_text: and a small air pipe taken from the top of the reservoir to the bottom of the supply
pipe if desired.
In all cases provision is made by a dome or otherwise for leaving a sufficient
quantity of air above the liquid in the reservoir.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :
First. In appliances for burning hydro-carbon or other oils the combination
with an airtight reservoir placed at a higher level than the burner or burners, of
a lower reservoir or oil holder provided with an overflow chamber, such overflow
chamber level or nearly so with the burner or burners and being of a sufficient
capacity to receive the greatest possible amount of excess flow, according to the
volume of the main reservoir and the weight of the column of liquid supported by:
atmospheric pressure, as calculated by the formula hereinbefore given.
Secondly. The provision in such overflow chamber of a waste pipe or pipes to
come into operation only in case of leakage or fracture of the reservoir or the
supply pipe.
Thirdly. The placing of any stop tap or its equivalent which may be interposed
between the main reservoir and the burners, below the fluid level in the lower
reservoir or overflow chamber.
Fourthly. The employment of a double plug (or its equivalent) acting in
inverted order, in combination with a lower reservoir and overflow chamber, for
automatically shutting off the supply of oil to the burner or burners whenever the
feed orifice of the main or upper reservoir is opened, and vice versa.
Fifthly. The use for the purpose herein before described of a smaller supply pipe
from the reservoir to the wick-holder placed inside a larger one, where, the larger
pipe being closed at either end, the space between the two would act as an addition
to the overflow chamber, and
Sixthly. The carrying of the open ends of the branch pipes for conveying
oil to the burner or burners to the side of the lower reservoir or oil holder
opposite to that through which they pass out for the purposes hereinbefore set
forth.
Seventhly. We claim the use of the said improvements for maintaining the
level of fluid for other analogous purposes.
Dated this 6th day of January 1896.
GEO. DAVIES & SON.