A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF OBTAINING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AND HEAT AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Saunders Muir of Highgate Road in the County
of Middlesex for an Invention of A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF
OBTAINING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AND HEAT AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Saunders Muir at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th May 1883.
'
JOHN SAUNDERS MUIR of Highgate Road in the county of Middlesex A NEW
OR IMPROVED METHOD OF OBTAINING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AND HEAT AND APPARATUS
THEREFOR
The object of my invention is to produce artificial light and heat by the
volatilization of mineral oils or hydrocarbons and I effect this volatilization
immediately at or in close proximity to the burner where 'the resultant gas is
burnt. By this method the gas is burnt as fast as it is made no holders or
receivers are required and the danger of using these oils is reduced to a minimum
while at the same time a brilliant powerful light is produced which emits great
heat.
.
To carry out my invention I construct a receptacle for the mineral oil in any
convenient place and of any suitable dimensions. I prefer so to place this
receptacle in respect of the burner or burners with which it is connected that the
oil will flow to the extremity of the burner by the force of gravitation. But I
can also put the oil in the receptacle under pressure to force it to flow to the
burner. The pipe or pipes leading from the receptacle to the burner may be made
in the usual manner but I prefer to pack the joints thereof to prevent any danger
of leakage. At a convenient distance from the burner I place a regulating or
controlling tap in the pipe to govern the amount of oil allowed to flow through to
the burner or to cut off the passage of the oil altogether. This tap may be made
in any convenient manner but I find that when formed as a screw plug tap it is
very suitable for my purposes. The plug screws into the body of the case and
when the tap is closed to shut off the supply of oil the end of the plug abuts
against or enters a seating in the opposite wall of the passage and the tap is

page_text: provided with a stuffing box to prevent any danger of leakage. Between this
tap and the burner I fill or partly fill the passage or passages for the oil with a
fibrous material such for example as cotton or Berlin wool whereby the stream of
oil is minutely divided and broken up and the volatilization thereof facilitated and
to provide for the retention of this fibrous material in its proper position I may
secure in the pipe on either side thereof a perforated disc if I should deem it
desirable. This passage may either be a single one in which case a small space or
chamber would be left unfilled with the fibrous material immediately below the
burner block hereinafter described or the said passage may be divided into a
number of small parallel or other passages in which case all the passages would
be entirely filled with the fibrous material and would open into a small chamber
immediately below the said burner block. For some purposes I find that this
latter method of construction gives the best results. The burner block may be
formed of any suitable material and of any convenient size and shape.
According to one form of my apparatus I fit round the burner block a curved
plate of metal such for example as brass or bell metal. This curved plate may
either entirely surround the burner in the form of a ring or circle or may only
form one or more segments or parts of a circle as I may deem desirable in each
case. A minute passage is made through the burner block entering the same from
the chamber below and issuing through the side of the said burner block
immediately above the collar of curved plate hereinbefore described. When
this said curved plate entirely surrounds the burner I make this minute passage
issue at several points on the side of the said burner block but when the said
plate consists of one or more segments or parts of a circle I prefer to make one
point of issue opposite each such segment or part. These passages may be made
in any manner either entirely separate from each other or branching off from a
central passage. The action of the apparatus in this form is as follows. When
the oil is turned on and issues from the minute passage it is lighted and the flame
impinging against the curved plate heats the same. This heat is quickly
transmitted through the collar of the said plate to the walls of the passage or
passages filled with fibrous material. The heat is absorbed thereby and the
oil is volatilized and issues, from the passage or passages into the chamber
immediately below the burner block in the form of gas which thence passes
through the minute passage or passages in the said burner block to the point or
points of issue where it maintains a brilliant powerful flame which emits great
heat. The curved plate being also maintained by this flame at a high temperature
superheats the gas as it issues and the brilliancy of the flame and the heat are
increased in intensity. In order to retain with the, passage or passages filled
with fibrous material all the heat that has been transmitted to them I may place
between the said passage or passages and the tap or elsewhere any nonconducting
substance.
Another form of my apparatus dispenses with the curved plate hereinbefore
described and employs in lieu thereof a small disc of metal supported horizontally
close above the burner block. In this case the minute passage through the said
burner block issues at one or more points on the upper surface of the said block
and the flame impinges directly on the metal disc and spreads up round the same.
The heat is transmitted from the disc to the walls of the passage or passages filled
with fibrous material through the metal supports of the said disc. In this form also
the passages through the burner block if there are more than one may be made in
any manner as may be desired.
This form as hereinbefore described can be inverted to form a sun-light
depending from a ceiling or elsewhere. In this case after the flame has impinged
on the metal disc close below the burner block it naturally turns upward and it is
made to spread itself out by an annular disc or ring placed round the pipe above
the burner. This annular disc or ring can also assist in transmitting heat from the
flame to the walls of the passage or passages filled with fibrous material
. Another form of my apparatus consists in dispensing with both the disc and

page_text: the curved plate herein before described and forming the burner block itself of
metal so that the heat required for the volatilization of the oil can be obtained
from the said burner block.
The heat generated in and by the flame or flames from my burners..as
herein before described can be utilized in any convenient manner or through or
by any suitable apparatus as may be desired.
-
--
Having thus particularly described my invention in order to clearly-explain the
same I refer to the accompanying.drawing..
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a bracket-constructed as for my
invention. Figures 2 and 5 are longitudinal sections on an enlarged scale of
different forms of my apparatus. Figures 3 and 6 are cross sections of Figures 2
and 5 on a still larger scale.. Figure 4 is an elevation of the back of one of the
curved plates herein before described shewing one shape of the same and the
manner in which the flame spreads out above the said plate. Figure 7 is an
elevation partly in section of my apparatus as inverted to form a sun-light
depending from a ceiling or otherwise. The letters refer to the same or corre-
sponding parts.in all the Figures.
..
A is the receptacle for the oil from which the same passes to the burner by the
pipe B. C is the regulating tap and in Figure 2 the same is formed as hereinbefore
described. The plug C screws into the body D of the case and when closed to shut
off the supply of oil as shewn the end of the plug C abuts against the opposite
wall E of the passage F and the stuffing box G is fitted to prevent any danger of
leakage. In Figures 5 and 6 there is a single passage I between the tap C and the
burner H which is partly filled with fibrous material leaving the space or chamber K
below the burner as hereinbefore described. In Figures 2 and 3 there are a
number of small parallel passages L L each of which is filled with fibrous material
and the whole of which open into the chamber K below the burner as hereinbefore
described. In Figure 1 I shew one segment or part of the curved plate M herein-
before described fitted round the burner block H by the collar N and the flame O
issues at one point on the side of the said block H and impinges against the plate M
as herein before described. In Figure 2 I shew two segments or parts M' and M²
of the curved plate M fitted on opposite sides of the burner block H on the same
collar N and the minute passage P entering the burner block H from the chamber K
issues through the side of the said block H at two points P1 and P' opposite the
two segments or parts M¹ and M³ immediately above the collar N as herein before
described. The heat is transmitted from the plate M through the collar N to the
walls of the passage I or of the passages L L and the oil issues into the chamber K
in the form of gas which thence passes through the passage or passages P to be
burnt as herein before described.
In Figure 5 R is the disc of metal supported horizontally close above the burner
block H by the metal supports S S hereinbefore described. The passage P in this
case issues through the upper surface of the block H so that the flame may impinge
directly on the disc R the heat of which is transmitted by the supports S S to the
walls of the passage I or of the passages L L as hereinbetore described
In Figure 7 this form is inverted and the flame O after it has impinged on the
disc R close below the burner block turns upward and is made to spread itself out
by the annular disc or ring T which is placed round the pipe B above the said
burner block. This ring T may also be utilized to assist in transmitting heat from
the flame O to the passage or passages inside the pipe B as hereinbefore described.
It is obvious that this apparatus can be arranged as may be most convenient in
each case either with one receptacle for oil to each burner or the one receptacle
may be connected with several burners. I can also combine the different forms as
described or any of them in one lamp or burner so as to obtain very powerful
illumination or very great heat as may be desired. It is obvious also that I do not
limit myself to the precise details of construction or to the exact shapes of the
various parts of my apparatus as shown in the drawing though I consider the same
as shewn to be very suitable for my purposes but that I may make all or any of the

page_text: 'said parts thereof in such a manner or of such shapes as may be most convenient
or desirable for each and every apparatus.
Having thus particularly described and clearly ascertained my invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed I claim as my invention
1. The method of obtaining artificial light and heat the said method consisting
of the volatilization of mineral oils or hydrocarbons immediately at or in close
proximity to the burner and the burning of the resultant gas in the said burner
substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth.
2.
2. The apparatus for obtaining artificial light and heat in accordance with the
method as hereinbefore claimed the said apparatus consisting of the combination of
the passage or passages for the oil filled or partly filled with a fibrous material the
gas chamber the burner and the curved plate surrounding or partly surrounding
the said burner substantially as herein before described and set forth.
3. The apparatus for obtaining artificial light and heat in accordance with the
method as hereinbefore claimed the said apparatus consisting of the combination of
the passage or passages for the oil filled or partly filled with a fibrous material the
gas chamber the burner and the disc above or below the said burner substantially
as hereinbefore described and set forth.
4. The apparatus for obtaining artificial light and heat in accordance with the
method as hereinbefore claimed the said apparatus consisting of.the combination of
the passage or passages for the oil filled or partly filled with a fibrous material the
gas chamber and the metal burner substantially as hereinbefore described and set
forth.
In witness whereof I the said John Saunders Muir have hereunto, set my hand
and seal this twenty fourth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
JOHN SAUNDERS MUIR (L.S.)