IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING LIGHT AND HEAT BY THE COMBUSTION OF HYDRO-CARBON OILS OR OTHER INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS AND GASES OR Vapours
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Wilkins, of 40, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR PRODUCING LIGHT AND HEAT BY THE COMBUSTION OF HYDRO-CARBON
OILS OR OTHER INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS AND GASES OR Vapours."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Wilkins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th December 1880.
FREDERIC WILKINS, of 40, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING LIGHT AND HEAT BY THE
COMBUSTION OF HYDRO-CARBON OLLS OR OTHER INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS AND
GASES OR VAPOURS."
The object of my Invention is to obtain more perfect combustion of the vapours
of inflammable hydrocarbon oils, coal or other gas, and the vapours of other
substances, such as animal or vegetable oils, paraffine, or spirits, than is obtained by
the methods ordinarily heretofore used for the purpose of producing light or heat.
The first part of my Invention consists of novel methods of constructing and
arranging apparatus for impregnating ordinary air with the vapour of suitable
volatile inflammable liquid, such as light hydrocarbon oil.
I take a long, narrow, shallow vessel of metal or other suitable material closed
above and partially filled with the liquid to be treated. I provide one or more
openings at one end of this vessel, and through which air can enter, and after
passing over the liquid and becoming impregnated with its vapour escapes through
an opening at the other end of the vessel. The vessel may be of suitable form and
size to suit the position in which it is to be placed, and the purpose to which it is
to be applied, and it is preferably provided with divisions or with trays arranged
above each other for holding the liquid or other devices or appliances, such as
sponge or other porous material, for the purpose of exposing the air to as large a
surface of the liquid as possible.

page_text: I fix the vessel arranged as described in a position at a level sufficiently above
the point where the light is to be produced, and the mixture of air and inflammable
vapour is sufficiently heavy to descend a pipe which communicates between the
opening through which they escape from the vessel and the burner where they are
to be burned.
Where it is desired that light shall also be produced at the same level as the
vessel I arrange one or more additional pipes communicating at one end with the
bottom of the vessel containing the liquid, and at the other end with burners, pre-
ferably of the kind hereinafter described, to which the liquid itself flows from the
vessel without having been first vaporized and mixed with air as first described.
Both methods of producing light may be used with the same vessel, the burners
below the level of the vessel being supplied with the mixture of air and vapour
whilst those at the same level as the vessel are supplied directly with the
inflammable liquid.
In order to keep the vessel properly supplied with the inflammable liquid I use
a modification of the apparatus well known as a "bird-fountain." This consists of
an airtight reservoir of metal, glass, or other suitable material filled with a supply
of the inflammable liquid, and having a small opening or neck at its lower end
dipping just below the surface of the liquid in the vessel, so that when the latter
requires replenishing a bubble of air enters the reservoir whilst a corresponding
quantity of the liquid descends into the vessel. I sometimes modify this method of
restoring the inflammable liquid to its proper level by supplying the vessel from a
separate reservoir at any convenient distance through a pipe, one end of which
enters the vessel at the level at which the liquid is to be retained whilst the other
end enters the reservoir at precisely the same level.
The reservoir is closed airtight, and is provided with a water vessel or fountain,
as already described, the lower end or neck of which descends just below the surface
of the liquid in the reservoir, exactly at the same level as the pipe. When therefore
the level of the liquid in the vessel falls it also falls in the pipe and in the reservoir,
and a bubble of air enters the water vessel, a corresponding quantity of water
passing into the reservoir, to the bottom of which it sinks, thus raising the level of
the liquid in the reservoir, the pipe, and the generating vessel.
The vessel or generator may be provided with an inner inlet valve and a pipe,
the outer end of which is conducted to any safe place, so that in the event of fire
the expansion of the inflammable vapour by heat would close the inlet valve and
force the whole of the inflammable liquid out of the vessel through the pipe, from
which it would be safely discharged without danger of combustion.
I sometimes use one or more pipes passing through the vessel or generator, and
arranged so that warm or cold air or water may be passed through them so as to
raise or lower the temperature of the vessel as may be desired. Or the inlet pipe
through which the air is admitted may be heated or cooled in any convenient way.
Or the generator may be surrounded with a casing through which warm or cold
air may be passed for the same purpose, and it may be covered with felt or other
nonconducting material.
Where the level of the burner below the generating vessel is not sufficiently
great to produce by gravitation the necessary pressure of the mixed air and gas,
sometimes use a syphon, the shorter or ascending leg of which is warmed and
conducts the air to the generator, whence it descends to the burners by the longer
leg after having been cooled in any convenient way; or the air may be forced
through the vessel from an ordinary or collapsible gas holder, or by pumps, or other
suitable blowing machinery.
Instead of air ordinary coal gas may be passed through the vessel so as to
impregnate it with inflammable vapour, its illuminating power being thus greatly
increased. Where the mixture of air and inflammable vapour is to be burned as
described, I prefer to use the kind of burner well known as the "Argand" burner,
the openings through which the inflammable mixture escapes being large, and a
cock or valve being preferably arranged for the purpose of regulating and adjusting

page_text: a supply of air to the burner, and cotton wool, wiregauze, or other porous materials
may be used through which the inflammable mixture passes so as to equalize its
pressure. A chimney of metal, glass, or other suitable material may be arranged
above the burner having preferably a lower flange, which may be utilized to serve
as a reflector.
Where the pipe leading to the burner is of considerable length, and having any
bends in it, I arrange at the lowest point of such bends a condensing vessel or
receiver filled with sponge or other absorbent material which collects any con-
densed vapour, which can be revaporized and passed to the burners by the
application of moderate heat.
Where inflammable liquid is to be itself supplied to burners upon the same level,
as already described, I prefer to use tubular or "star" burners having a ring of
very small horizontal holes at their upper part. In order to ignite such burners
a few drops of spirit or other easily inflammable liquid are placed in a cup
arranged under the burner, and preferably containing a piece of asbestos or other
inflammable porous substance, and being lighted the latter is heated and the liquid
in the burner is vaporized and ignites as it issues from the holes, giving a brilliant
light. Any number of such burners may be arranged at the same height, and
supplied by pipes from the same vessel, which is similar in shape to that first
described, and is kept supplied with the inflammable liquid by a fountain arrange-
ment, as already described; or a ball cock or other device of any of the well known
kinds may be used to maintain the liquid at a uniform level.
The burners last described have an internal wick of cotton, metal, or other
suitable material rising nearly to the level of the holes, and dipping below into the
liquid, which is sucked up and vaporized by the heat of the burner.
A cap of platinum or other wire gauze may enclose the wick to prevent it from
becoming charred.
Lights of the kind described may also be arranged in chandeliers, the vessel and
fountain or apparatus for supplying it being placed in the centre of the chandelier,
and a burner connected to the vessel by a pipe being fixed at the end of each
branch. Colza oil or other vegetable, animal, or other oils or liquids may be used
if suitable burners be employed to consume them.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederic Wilkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th June
1881.
FREDERIC WILKINS, of 40, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING LIGHT AND HEAT BY THE
COMBUSTION OF HYDRO-CARBON OILS OR OTHER INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS AND
GASES OR VAPOURS."
My Invention has for its object novel methods of constructing and arranging
apparatus for burning the vapours of inflammable hydro-carbon oils, coal or other
gas, and the vapours of other substances, such as animal or vegetable oils, paraffine,
or spirits, so that more perfect combustion is obtained and with greater uniformity
and steadiness than in apparatus and methods ordinarily heretofore used.
My Invention consists, first, of novel methods of constructing and arranging
apparatus for the purpose of producing light by impregnating ordinary air with
the vapour of a suitable volatile inflammable liquid, such as light hydro-carbon oil.
For this purpose I take a long and comparatively narrow shallow vessel of metal
or other suitable material, closed above and partially filled with the volatile liquid
which is to be treated, and at or near one end of the vessel I provide one or more
openings through which air can enter, and after having passed over the surface of
the liquid, and having thus become impregnated with the inflammable vapour
of the latter, escapes through an opening or pipe at or near the other end of the
vessel. The vessel may be of any convenient form and size to suit the position in
which it is to be placed, and the purpose to which it is to be applied, and I
preferably make it with divisions, or with separate trays arranged above each
other for holding the volatile liquid, and I sometimes provide other devices or
appliances, such as sponge or other porous material, in order that the air in its
passage through the vessel may be exposed to as large a surface as possible of the
volatile liquid.
I fix the vessel, constructed and arranged as described, in a horizontal position,
at a level sufficiently above the point where it is desired that light should be
produced, and the inflammable vapour, which has been taken up by the air, adds
so much to the weight of the latter that the mixture is sufficiently heavy to descend
a pipe, which communicates at its upper end with the opening through which the
mixture of air and vapour escapes from the vessel, whilst its lower end is conducted
downward to any point where the burner or burners are placed in which the
inflammable mixture is to be burned.
In order to keep the vessel properly supplied with the volatile inflammable
liquid, I use a modification of the form of apparatus well known as a "bird
fountain." This consists of a moveable airtight vessel or reservoir of metal, glass,
or other suitable material, filled with a supply of the inflammable liquid through
a small opening or neck. The reservoir is then inverted and adjusted so that the
lower end of the neck dips just below the surface of the liquid in the vessel, so that
when the latter requires replenishing a bubble of air enters and rises through the
liquid, whilst a corresponding quantity of the latter descends into the vessel. The
inverted reservoir is supported in any convenient way in an opening in the top
of the vessel. The mouth or neck of the air tight reservoir may be closed from
the inside with a stopper or valve having a projecting stem, which, when the
reservoir is fitted into its place, presses against the bottom of the vessel, and so
opens the valve.
In the accompanying Drawing, which is in illustration of my Invention, Figure 13
is a longitudinal section, Figure 2 a side view, and Figure 3 an end view of an

page_text: apparatus, constructed according to this part of my Invention. a is the long
shallow vessel, as above described, filled to the level b with the volatile inflammable
liquid. At one end of the vessel air is admitted through an opening or pipe at c,
and after passing over the surface of the liquid and becoming impregnated with its
vapour, escapes through an opening at d. The vessel a is fixed in a level position
at a sufficient height above the point where the light is to be produced, and to the
exit opening d is connected a pipe e which descends, and is connected to one or
more burners of any suitable kind and fixed in any desired positions, as shewn at f.
The mixture of air and inflammable vapour is so much heavier than ordinary air
that it readily descends the pipe e by its own weight and passes through the
burners where it is ignited, a continuous supply of the inflammable mixture
descending the pipe as long as any liquid remains in the vessel a. At i is shewn
an inverted, moveable, airtight reservoir filled with the volatile inflammable liquid
adjusted and screwed or otherwise supported in the stand or frame n at the top'
of the vessel a, so that a small opening through the neck m dips just below the
level of the liquid b. Divisions in the vessel a are shewn in dotted lines at lin
Figures 1 and 7. It will be seen that the apparatus described and shewn is very
simple and cheaply made, and entirely self acting, requiring no mechanism nor
attention whatever, so long as the reservoir i is kept supplied with liquid. It
occupies very little space, and gas burners and fittings of any of the ordinary well
known kinds can be used. Instead of the method of arrangement described and
shewn, I sometimes modify the method of restoring the volatile inflammable liquid
to its proper level when necessary by supplying the vessel from a separate reservoir
fixed at any convenient distance, and connected by a pipe one end of which enters
the vessel at the level at which it is desired that the liquid should be retained,
whilst the other end enters the reservoir at precisely the same level. The reservoir
may itself be provided with an inverted vessel filled with the liquid, as in the
arrangement first described. This method of arrangement is shewn in Figure 7
in which a is the vessel as already described; g is a separate reservoir connected
to a by the pipe h, and kept supplied with liquid as required by means of the
inverted airtight reservoir i. Or sometimes in the arrangement last described the
inverted reservoir i may be filled with water as shewn in the Figure, so that when
the level of the inflammable liquid in g falls a bubble of air or vapour enters the
water vessel i, and a corresponding quantity of water passes into the reservoir g to
the bottom of which it sinks, thus raising the level of the inflammable liquid in the
reservoir g, the pipe h, and the generating vessel a.
The vessel or generator a may be provided with a valve opening inward at the
inlet opening c, and with a pipe, the inner open end of which dips very nearly to
the bottom of the vessel a, whilst its other end is conducted to any convenient and
safe position, so that in the event of accidental fire the expansion of the inflam-
mable vapour would close the inlet valve and force the inflammable liquid out of
the vessel a, and through the pipe from which it would be safely discharged
without danger. I sometimes use one or more pipes passing through the vessel or
generator, and arranged so that warm or cold air or water may be passed through
them in order to raise or lower the temperature of the vessel as may be required.
This method of arrangement is illustrated in Figure 4, which is a vertical section,
and Figure 5, which is a horizontal section of the vessel. a is the generating
vessel, through which is passed the pipe g for the purpose described. The position
of the inverted reservoir is shewn at i. Or for the same purpose an inlet pipe.
through which the air is admitted to the vessel may be heated or cooled in any
convenient way, as illustrated in Figure 6, in which c is a pipe through which the
air is admitted to the generating vessel a, the pipe c being shewn heated by a flame
or in other convenient way. e is the descending pipe through which the inflam-.
mable mixture of air and vapour descends to the burners.
Or the generating vessel a may be surrounded with a casing or jacket through.
which warm or cold air or water may be made to pass for the same purpose, and it
may be covered with felt or other non-conducting material.

page_text: The met pipe for air may be provided with a bell or funnel shaped mouth, under
which a flame is kept burning, and the entering air is thus heated.
In cases where the level of the burners is not sufficiently beneath that of the
generating vessel to produce by gravitation the necessary pressure of the mixed air
and inflammable vapour, I sometimes use a syphon arrangement the shorter or
ascending leg of which is warmed and conducts the air to the generating vessel,
whence it descends to the burners by the longer leg after having been cooled in any
convenient way.
Where the apparatus is required to produce lights at a higher level than that of
the generating apparatus, I use pumping or blowing apparatus actuated by any
convenient power by which the mixture of air and inflammable vapour is
withdrawn from the generating vessels and is forced up to the positions required.
Where this method of arrangement is used I prefer to use a regulating apparatus
for equalizing the pressure, in the same way and for the same purpose as similar
regulating apparatus is used for the purpose of equalizing the pressure of ordinary
gas. Instead of air ordinary coal gas may be passed through the different forms
of apparatus described so as to impregnate it with inflammable vapour, its
illuminating power being thus greatly increased. The mixture of air and
inflammable vapour produced in the methods above described may be used in
order to produce heat for cooking or other purposes instead of light, in which
case a less proportion of inflammable vapour is required with the air.
In cases where the pipe leading to the burner is of much length and having
many bends in it, I arrange at the lowest point of such bends a condensing vessel
or receiver filled with sponge or other absorbent material which collects any
condensed vapour which can be re-vapourized and passed to the burners by the
application of moderate heat. In order to produce light by means of the mixture
of air and inflammable vapour obtained as above described, any suitable form of
burner may be used, but I prefer to use that kind of burner well known as the
"Argand" burner, the openings or holes through which the inflammable mixture
escapes, and is burned being large, and a valve or adjustable regulator being
preferably arranged below the glass chimney for the purpose of admitting more
or less air to the flame so as to produce the best effect, and sometimes I place
adjustable dampers in the upper part of the chimney, and I prefer to make the
chimney (where it is arranged above the flame) of metal preferably enamelled
white. If lamps are used I prefer to suspend the chimney above the flame upon
a metal wire or stem passing up through the centre of the flame, and the lower
edge of the chimney may be provided with a flat or curved flange also preferably
enamelled white. Each burner may be provided below with a chamber filled with
wiregauze, asbestos, or other porous or fibrous material, to equalize and render
more steady the supply of air and vapour which passes through it. Where the
liquid from the generating vessel is to be conveyed through a pipe or pipes to
one or more burners at or about the same level as the liquid in the vessel, as
already hereinbefore described, I prefer to use burners of a different description
in which the liquid is itself brought to the foot of the burner and is vapourized
by the temporary action of heat applied to it, the vapour issuing through a
series of very small holes in the burner and being there ignited, the heat
produced being sufficient to keep up the subsequent vapourization. Figure 8 is
in illustration of such a burner, a being a metal tube closed at the top by a cap b,
and having a row of very small holes at c. A small cup is shewn round the
tube at d. The inflammable liquid is admitted to the lower end of the tube a
which is filled with a wick of cotton, asbestos, or other suitable material which
may be provided with a wiregauze cap to preserve it from injury, and above
the flame is arranged a chimney having a broad flange at e, preferably enamelled
white.
When light is required a few drops of inflammable liquid are placed in the cup d
and are ignited.
By the heat produced the liquid in the burner is vaporized and ignited at the

page_text: holes c, and by its combustion it keeps up sufficient subsequent heat to continue
the vaporization.
A reservoir kept filled to the proper level with inflammable liquid by means of
the automatically acting reservoir or bird fountain, as already described, may be
suspended in the form of a chandelier, and supply the liquid any desired number
of burners of the kind just described arranged round it. The cup described round
each burner may be provided with a small piece of asbestos to facilitate the
ignition of the spirit or other inflammable liquid used in the way and for the
purpose already described, and the bottom of the tube containing the wick may be
closed by a cover having a small central hole, in order to prevent any sudden
change of level of the inflammable liquid. Paraffine, colza, or other oils may be
used in the methods of arrangement last described, any number of suitable wicks
and burners being provided and being fed from the vessel placed centrally or in
other convenient position, and having the level of the oil in it automatically kept
uniform in the manner and by the apparatus before described, or by an ordinary
ball-cock. In the methods of arrangement first described the air which is to be
impregnated with inflammable vapour may be first dried in any convenient way,
or it may be filtered through leather or other suitable material, and the pipes
through which the inflammable mixture passes may be covered with cork, felt, or
non-conducting material.
I do not confine myself to the precise form and arrangements of the several parts
of the apparatus constructed according to my Invention as herein before described
and shewn, which may be varied to suit varying circumstances, but having
described my Invention and the manner in which it is to be performed, I claim,-
First. The combination of the shallow generating vessel containing inflammable
volatile liquid, the automatically operating reservoir for supplying the same, the
inlet opening or pipe for air, and the descending pipe for mixed air and inflammable
vapour, substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn.
Second. The combination of the generating vessel containing inflammable liquid,
the automatically operating reservoir for supplying the same, and the horizontal
pipe or pipes and burners, substantially as and for the purpose described and
shewn,
Third. In combination with the reservoir containing inflammable liquid, the
air valve opening inward, and the pipe through which the inflammable liquid is
discharged in the case of accidental fire, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Fourth. In combination with the generating vessel and the pipes connected
with it, the methods of heating or cooling the said generating vessel and pipes,
substantially as described and shewn.
Fifth. In the different arrrangements of apparatus described and shewn, the
method of keeping the inflammable liquid at the same level by means of an
airtight inverted reservoir containing water, and dipping just below the level of
the inflammable liquid, substantially as described and shewn in the Drawing.
Sixth. The general arrangement of apparatus, substantially as and for the
purposes described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic Wilkins, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 7th day of June, A.D. 1881.