IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Wilhelm Lucke, of Muelheim-on-the-Rhine, in
German Empire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS."
Sealed the 12th March 1880 and dated the 27th October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Wilhelm Lucke at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th October 1879.
WILHELM LUCKE, of Muelheim-on-the-Rhine, in the German Empire.
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN LAMPS."
My Invention relates to an improved construction of lamp wherein petroleum
and other heavy oils are burnt by the aid of a combined jet of air and steam,
whereby a more perfect combustion and brighter flame is obtained than with an air
jet alone propelled by a fan or other device as heretofore employed.
For this purpose a closed receptacle containing the oil has at its lower end a pipe
projecting laterally to a flat metal saucer into which the oil consequently flows, the
amount and regularity of such supply being insured, firstly, by means of a stop cap
on the pipe, and, secondly, by causing the air to enter the receptacle through a tube
of small diameter reaching down to near the bottom of the receptacle, and having
at its upper open end a regulating valve or slide.
The saucer into which the oil flows has a central nozzle shaped orifice projecting
up beyond the level of the oil in the saucer, and a short distance below this orifice
is a small nozzle through which a jet of steam led to it by a pipe from any convenient
steam generator is made to issue. By this means a combined jet of steam and air
is made to issue upwards through the central orifice of the saucer. Over the latter
is fitted a conical cap or hood having a central opening at top, a narrow space
being left between its lower edge and the rim of the saucer. When the lamp is to
be used the oil is allowed to flow into the saucer from the receptacle and after
being ignited the hood is placed over it and the steam jet is turned on. The
combined jet of air and steam passing through the central orifice will enter into
intimate contact with the flames of the burning oil and will also draw air through
the narrow annular space between the hood and the saucer, which air will also be
Prinn 23

page_text: brought into intimate contact with the flames, the result being a flame of intense
brightness issuing through the central opening of the hood. The steam, in addition
to its effect in producing the requisite currents of air, will become decomposed by
the heat, and in combining with the carbonaceous gases evolved will aid in effecting
the perfect combustion thereof.
The saucer is provided with a circular channel outside its rim into which any
excess of the oil supply can flow, and from which it is conducted through a spout
into a vessel, which is emptied from time to time into the oil reservoir. A small
branch pipe with stop cock also leads from the supply pipe into the said vessel so
that when the lamp is to be extinguished the supply cock is closed, and after
extinguishing the flame by placing a funnel shaped cover over the saucer the
contents of the saucer and supply pipe are run off into the vessel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Wilhelm Lucke in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th March
1880.
WILHELM LUCKE, of Muelheim-on-the-Rhine, in the German Empire.
PROVEMENTS IN LAMPS."
"IM-
My Invention relates to an improved construction of lamp wherein petroleum.
and other heavy oils are burnt by the aid of a combined jet of air and steam,
whereby a more perfect combustion and brighter flame is obtained than with an air
jet alone propelled by a fan or other device as heretofore employed.
For this purpose a closed receptacle containing the oil has at its lower end a pipe
projecting laterally to a flat metal saucer into which the oil consequently flows, the
amount and regularity of such supply being insured, firstly, by means of a stop cook
on the pipe, and, secondly, by causing the air to enter the receptacle through a tube
of small diameter reaching down to near the bottom of the receptacle, and having
at its upper open end a regulating valve or slide.
The saucer into which the oil flows has a central nozzle shaped orifice projecting
up beyond the level of the oil in the saucer, and a short distance below this orifice
is a small nozzle through which a jet of steam led to it by a pipe from any con-
venient steam generator is made to issue. By this means a combined jet of steam
and air is made to issue upwards through the central orifice of the saucer. Over
the latter is fitted a conical cap or hood having a central opening at top, a narrow
space being left between its lower edge and the rim of the saucer. When the lamp
is to be used the oil is allowed to flow into the saucer from the receptacle, and after
being ignited the hood is placed over it and the steam jet is turned on. The
combined jet of air and steam passing through the central orifice will enter into
intimate contact with the flames of the burning oil and will also draw air through
the narrow annular space between the hood and the saucer, which air will also be
brought into intimate contact with the flames, the result being a flame of intense
brightness issuing through the central opening of the hood. The steam, in addition
to its effect in producing the requisite currents of air will become decomposed by
the heat, and in combining with the carbonaceous gases evolved will aid in effecting
the perfect combustion thereof.
The saucer is provided with a circular channel outside its rim into which any
excess of the oil supply can flow, and from which it is conducted through a spout
into a vessel which is emptied from time to time into the oil reservoir. A small
branch pipe with stop cock also leads from the supply pipe into the said vessel so
that when the lamp is to be extinguished the supply cock is closed, and after.
extinguishing the flame by placing a funnel shaped cover over the saucer the
contents of the saucer and supply pipe are run off into the vessel.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS,
Fig. 1 is a general side view of a steam jet lamp according to this Invention;
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 a plan thereof to an enlarged scale; and
Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of the water trap for the steam supply. A is the oil
reservoir from which a pipe B furnished with a stop cock b conducts the oil to the
saucer c. The reservoir A receives air through a pipe a, the opening to which is
governed by a valve a' by which, as well as by the stop cock b, the flow of oil to
the lamp can be regulated. Round the edge of the saucer C is a groove c which
receives any overflow of oil, and this, by a spout c' flows into a receptacle R. A
branch from B with a stop cock b' opens into the receptacle R. so that the contents
of the saucer C can, when desired, be run off. D is the central nozzle through
which steam from the jet nozzle E along with air induced by the steam jet passes

page_text: into the midst of the flame, as indicated by the arrows. F is the conical cap or
hood mounted so as to leave a space at ƒ for ingress of air to the exterior of the
flame. The steam jet is regulated by a stop valve e and the pipe supplying it is
provided with a trap e¹ for catching suspended particles of water, which can be
drawn off from time to time by opening the stop cock e³. When the lamp is
extinguished it is covered by the hood G.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim,―
The construction of oil lamp wherein the flame is acted on by a combined jet of
air and steam, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Wilhelm Lucke, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One.
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
WILHELM LUCKE. (L.S.)