Improvements in Means for Obtaining Light.
Year: 1896

page_text: .Date of Application, 24th June, 1896
Complete Specification Lelt, 3rd Sept., 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Obtaining Light.
I, EDWIN TATHAM of Colfe Lodge, Lewisham Hill in the County of Kent, Gas
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to provide means whereby hydrocarbons either
in a liquid or in a gaseous form are utilized in a very efficient and economical
manner for the production of light. This I effect by supplying oxygen gas at the
point where the hydrocarbon is ignited and burned, the said oxygen gas being
conveniently supplied from a receptacle containing it under pressure such as a
cylinder or gasometer. The hydrocarbon used if a liquid suitable to be elevated
by capillary attraction may be burned by means of a wick or wicks the oxygen
gas being led by a suitable pipe or passage so that it emerges at a point in close
proximity to the point of exit of the hydrocarbon. If the hydrocarbon be in the
form of a heavy oil it may be sprayed by the oxygen issuing from a jet crossing
the exit of a pipe leading from the container of the heavy oil. If the hydrocarbon
be in a gaseous form it is caused to emerge through an orifice or orifices in
proximity to the outlet for oxygen. I support in proximity to the point of com-
bustion of the hydrocarbon and the oxygen a refractory material which is rendered
incandescent by the heat of the said combustion. I may employ for the purposes
of my invention any suitable hydrocarbon. For example where wicks are used
ordinary paraffin lamp oil is suitable. Where the oxygen is caused to draw out
and spray the hydrocarbon employed, the hydrocarbon may be one of high specific
gravity such as creosote, coal tar, naphtha, furnace oils and the like heavy liquid
hydrocarbons. If the hydrocarbon be in gaseous form it may be coal gas or
carburetted air or mixtures thereof.
The lamp for carrying my invention into practical effect may be of various
constructions, for example I may employ wicks which are inclined towards each other
the jet for the exit of the oxygen being situated between the tops of the wicks and
preferably slightly above their level. The jet for the oxygen preferably takes the
form of a chamber wider at bottom than at top the said top being a long slit parallel
with the wicks and the bottom being closed and the oxygen being supplied into the
said chamber through a pipe with orifices directed downwards so that the oxygen is
impinged upon the bottom of the chamber and so it issues from the slit above in a
proper condition for giving the best effect. The tubes which carry the wicks should
be cooled by means of water passing around them and preferably circulating from a
suitable storage so that it passes through the water passages from a suitable water
receptacle and is caused to circulate by the action of the heat of the lamp. In the
zone heated by the combustion I support a pencil or pencils or other form of
refractory material placed in a suitable carrier or support mounted so that the said
pencils or the like are in the zone of greatest heat caused by the combustion of the oil
with the oxygen as aforesaid.
I may also employ a lamp wherein two nozzles are arranged after the manner of a
sprayer, the one leading into a reservoir containing the liquid hydrocarbon and
the other leading to a container of oxygen under pressure so that as the stream of
oxygen passes across the orifice of the nozzle from the hydrocarbon reservoir a
current of the bydrocarbon is induced and as it issues from the nozzle it is very
efficiently broken up into spray and is consumed with the oxygen producing an
intense light. Such an arrangement is more especially suitable for use for signalling

page_text: purposes on board ship as it not only gives an intense light but also makes a roaring
sound which can be increased or decreased by suitable means. When I employ the
hydrocarbon in a gaseous form I supply it to the point of combustion at which I
also supply oxygen under pressure. The gas is preferably fed into a chamber
provided with orifices surrounding the outlet for oxygen and above this the aforesaid
pencil or other forms of refractory material may be supported as bereinbefore
described.
Dated this 24th day of June 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
I, EDWIN TATHAM, of Colfe Lodge, Lewisham Hill, in the County of Kent, Gas
Engineer, 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 :-
My invention has for its object to provide means whereby hydrocarbons, either in
a liquid, or in a gaseous form, are utilized in a very efficient and economical manner
for the production of light. This I effect by supplying oxygen gas at the point
where the hydrocarbon is ignited and burned the said oxygen gas being conveniently
supplied from a receptacle containing it under pressure such as a gasometer or a
cylinder such as compressed gases are sold in. If the hydrocarbon used be a liquid
suitable to be elevated by capillary attraction it may be elevated by means of a
wick or wicks the oxygen gas being led by a suitable pipe or passage so that it
emerges at a point in close proximity to the top or tops of the wick or wicks. If
the hydrocarbon be in the form of a heavy oil it may be sprayed by the oxygen
issuing from a jet crossing the exit of a pipe leading from the container of the
heavy oil. If the hydrocarbon be in a gaseous form it is caused to emerge through
an orifice or orifices in proximity to the outlet for oxygen. I may employ for the
purposes of my invention any suitable hydrocarbon. For example where wicks
are used ordinary paraffin lamp oil is suitable. Where the oxygen is caused to
draw out and spray the hydrocarbon employed the hydrocarbon may be one of high
specific gravity such as creosote, coal tar naphtha, furnace oils and the like heavy
liquid hydrocarbons. If the hydrocarbon be in gaseous form it may be coal gas or
carburetted air or mixtures thereof as hereinafter more particularly described. I
support in the zone of combustion of the hydrocarbon and the oxygen a refractory
material which is rendered incandescent by the heat of the said combustion.
The lamp for carrying my invention into practical effect may be of various
constructions.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated various forms of lamps or burners
that I consider best suited to carrying my invention into effect.
Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections at right angles to each other of a lamp (for
burning liquid hydrocarbons) made in accordance with my invention.
Upon the pedestal A is supported the reservoir B in which the liquid hydrocarbon
is contained. In the upper side of this reservoir are wick tubes inclined towards
each other and furnished with the usual or any suitable device for raising and
lowering the wicks.
The jet c for the exit of the oxygen is situated between the tops of the wicks
carried in the said tubes and preferably slightly above the level of the said tops.
The jet for the oxygen preferably takes the form of a chamber d wider at bottom than
at top the said top being a long slit or series of perforations parallel with the wicks.
and the bottom being closed and the oxygen being supplied into the said chamber d

page_text: through a pipe e with orifices e directed downwards so that the oxygen is impinged
upon the bottom of the chamber d and so it issues from the slit or series of perfora-
tions above in a gentle stream and in proper condition for giving the best effect.
The tubes b which carry the wicks should be cooled by means of water passing around
them and preferably circulating so that it passes to and from a suitable water chamber
above and to and from a receptacle beneath and is caused to circulate from one to the
other and through the vessels surrounding the wick tube by the action of the heat of
the lamp.
In the drawing I have shewn two water vessels F connected by the pipes . G is a
vessel surrounding the upper parts of the wick tubes b. The base of the lamp forms.
another water vessel H. One of the vessels F communicates with the vessel G by
the pipe g and the other of the vessels F communicates with the vessel H by the
pipe the vessels G and H are connected by the pipe i. By this means a circulation
of cooling water is maintained around the wick tubes. In the zone heated by the-
combustion of the oxygen and hydrocarbon I support a pencil or pencils j or other
form of refractory material such for example as lime, magnesium or the rare earths
or the pencils may be the well known water gas pencils such as are used for being
brought to incandescence by the combustion of water gas. The said pencils or the-
like are held in a bridge piece j2 supported by the standards 3.
I have shewn two straight wicks on each side of the oxygen outlet but I do not.
limit myself to this arrangement as one wick or any suitable number of wicks can be
used. I may for example use a circular wick surrounding the oxygen outlet which
may then be of circular form. The wicks may be of cotton asbestos or any other
suitable material.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a lamp wherein two nozzles are arranged after the
manner of a sprayer the pipe of the nozzle 6 leading into a reservoir B containing.
the liquid hydrocarbon and the pipe of the other nozzle e leading to a container
of oxygen under pressure so that as the stream of oxygen passes across the orifice
of the nozzle from the hydrocarbon reservoir a current of the hydrocarbon is.
induced and as it issues from the nozzle it is very efficiently broken up into spray
and is consumed with the oxygen and produces an intense light owing to the
excess of carbon in the dense or heavy oil used. If the supply of oxygen be
increased the illuminating power of the flame may be diminished but the heating
power of the flame is greatly increased and is then very suitable for raising any
refractory material to incandescence. k is a guard which guards the flame of the
lamp from being extinguished by wind. Such an arrangement is more especially
suitable for use for signalling purposes on board-ship as it not only gives.
an intense light, but also makes a roaring sound which may be increased and
diminished by any suitable means such as by a tap regulating the force with which
the oxygen issues from the jets. When I employ the hydrocarbon in a gaseous.
form I supply it to the point of combustion at which I also supply oxygen under
pressure to meet it.
Figure 4 is a vertical section and Figure 5 is a plan of a lamp made according to.
my invention for burning coal gas carburetted air or other like gaseous hydrocarbon
in conjunction with oxygen. The gaseous hydrocarbon fed into a chamber B.
provided with orifices surrounding the outlet for oxygen c and above this the
aforesaid pencils or other forms of refractory material are supported as hereinbefore.
described.
Figures 6 and 7 are a vertical section and a side view of a burner of another form..
The gaseous hydrocarbon passes by a pipe B through two branches B, and out by
long narrow slits b, situated one on either side of, and preferably a little below, the
long narrow oxygen gas outlet e which is, at the upper part of the chamber, c², to
which oxygen is supplied by means of a pipe c³, with perforations directed down-
wards so as to obtain a gentle flow of oxygen from the outlet orifice as explained with
regard to Figures 1. and 2.
The material to be rendered incandescent consists of a thin plate a, (or pencils.
or teeth) supported by a bridge-piece a², held by the supports a³, from the burner.

page_text: The lamps may of course be arranged as pedestal lamps or as bracket or suspended
lamps and with one, two or other number of burners. When several burners are used
in an arrangement such as that in Figures 1 and 2 the water circulation may be
common to all the burners the water vessel around the wick tubes of each of the
burners being connected to a receptacle for water above and below the level of the
burners.
If desired I may introduce the gaseous hydrocarbon in a downward direction in a
chamber with an outlet at top so as to distribute the said gas in a gentle manner as
described with regard to the oxygen.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed .I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The production of light by the combustion of liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons
and oxygen supplied at the point where the hydrocarbon is ignited and burned, pencils
or the like of refractory material being supported in the zone of combustion substan-
tially as herein before described.
2. In lamps for the combustion of liquid hydrocarbons a jet for the emission of
oxygen gas under pressure in proximity to a wick or wicks to and by which the
liquid hydrocarbon is supplied and refractory pencils or their equivalents situated in
the zone of combustion of the hydrocarbon and the oxygen, substantially as herein-
before described.
3. In lamps for burning liquid hydrocarbons a nozzle and means for passing
oxygen gas under pressure therethrough and in proximity to the outlet of a nozzle
from a pipe inserted into a reservoir of the hydrocarbon and pencils or the like of
refractory material supported in the zone of combustion of the oxygen and hydro-
carbon substantially as herein before described.
4. In lamps for burning gaseous hydrocarbons a nozzle for the supply of oxygen
gas under pressure in proximity to orifices through which gaseous hydrocarbon is
emitted and pencils or other forms of refractory material in the zone of combustion
of the gaseous hydrocarbon and oxygen substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The several constructions of lamps for burning hydrocarbons by means of
oxygen substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2,
Figure 3, and Figures 4 and 5, and Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.