Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd-July, 1886.
Complete Left, 2nd Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 3rd May, 1887.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the invention is to design a burner for circular wicks so that a
constant flow of fresh air shall be admitted through the centre of the wick-tube into
the centre of the flame, the said burner being so constructed that the major portion of
the wick-tube shall be kept cool; and it consists, essentially, in encasing the lower
portion of the wick-tube within an air-chamber designed to fit into the oil-bowl,
perforations being made in the wall of the air-chamber immediately above the point
where it enters the oil-bowl. The top or burning end of the wick-tube is remote from
the top of the air-chamber, and the wick-tube between the points mentioned is exposed
to the air and is thereby kept cool; consequently the air in proximity to the
perforations in the air-chamber is cool, and will therefore enter freely through the
said perforations into the air-chamber within which a downward draft towards
the bottom end of the wick-tube is produced by the upward draught within the wick-
tube caused by the heat of the flame at the upper end of the wick tube. The top of
the air-chamber is curved from its wall to its junction with the wick-tube, no collar
being required or anything which would obstruct the free downward passage into the
air-chamber, of the air which is drawn into the space between the top of the air-
chamber and the perforated disc, which supports the shade or chimney; consequently
as the upward draft through the perforations in the disc, draws a supply of fresh air
from the same point as supplies the downward draft into the chamber, a quick current
or draft will be produced at that point, and a constant supply of fresh air is furnished
to the flame both through the perforated disc and through the chamber.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1886

page_text: A communication from WILLIAM HENRY HARVEY, of the City of Toronto, Canada,
Manufacturer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
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 :-
The object of the invention is to design a burner for circular wicks so that a
constant flow of fresh air shall be admitted through the centre of the wick-tube into
the centre of the flame, the said burner being so constructed that the major portion of
the wick tube shall be keep cool; and it consists essentially in encasing the lower
portion of the wick tube within an air chamber designed to fit into the oil bowl,
perforations being made in the wall of the air chamber immediately above the point
where it enters the oil bowl. The top or burning end of the wick tube is remote from
the top of the air chamber and the wick tube between the points mentioned is exposed
to the air and is thereby kept cool consequently the air in proximity to the perforations
in the air chamber is cool and will therefore enter freely through the said perforations
into the air chamber within which a downward draft towards the bottom end of the
wick tube is produced by the upward draft within the wick tube caused by the heat
of the flame at the upper end of the wick tube substantially as hereinafter more
particularly explained.
The drawing represents a sectional perspective elevation of the improved burner.
A is the wick tube and B the disc for supporting the glass C. This disc is attached
to the tube A and is perforated so that the air is admitted into the glass which is
shaped as indicated so as to cause the air thus admitted to impinge against the flame
immediately above the burning end of the wick tube A.
D is an air chamber preferably cylindrical in form and made to receive the wick
tube A being attached to the latter at a point below the perforated disc B and the
wick tube A is bare above the said chamber D and is therefore always surrounded by
the cool air of the atmosphere thereby preventing the heat of the flame at its upper
end from being transmitted to the air chamber D and the air surrounding the
perforations a in the said air chamber is always cool and will naturally flow into the
chamber through the perforations a whenever any downward draft is produced in
the said chamber.
A screwed collar E is attached to the oil bowl F with which screwed collar a
correspondingly screwed ring attached to the chamber D engages as indicated so as
to secure the said air chamber containing the wick tube within the oil bowl.
When the wick at the top of the burner is lighted an upward current will be
naturally produced through the centre of the wick tube A and as a consequence the
bottom of the wick tube being open a downward draft is produced within the
chamber D which is supplied with fresh air through the perforations a and consequently

page_text: the flame at the upper end of the wick tube is thus furnished with a constant supply
of fresh air.
Owing to the construction described, the flame in the burner is supplied with a
full volume of fresh air both in its centre and surrounding it which supply of fresh air
ensures practically perfect combustion producing a brilliant and steady flame.
An important element in the construction of the burner is the fact that the wick
tube A above the perforations a is exposed to the air and being thus kept cool the
stratum of air surrounding the perforations is always cool both inside and outside of
the chamber D; consequently a downward draft as described within the said chamber
is easily produced.
If the wick tube above the chamber was encased so that the heating effect of the
flame at its upper end would not be counteracted by the cooler atmosphere the stratum
around the perforations a would be warm and consequently only an imperfect down-
ward draft in the chamber D would be produced and the result secured by this
construction of the burner would not be obtained.
Another important feature is the form of the top of the air chamber D. On
reference to the drawing it will be noticed that the top of the air chamber is curved
from its wall to its junction with the wick tube A no collar being required or any-
thing which would obstruct the free downward passage into the air chamber D of the
air which is drawn into the space between the top of the air chamber and the per-
forated disc B which supports the shade or chimney consequently as the upward
draft through the perforations in the dise B draws a supply of fresh air from the
same point as supplies the downward draft into the chamber D a quick current of
draft will be produced at that point and a constant supply of fresh air is furnished to
the flame both through the perforated disc and through the chamber D.
Owing to the position of the perforated disc B with relation to the flame and that a
constant current of air flowing through the perforations in the disc keeps the
atmosphere within the glass below the flame at about the same temperature as the
outside atmosphere, the glass which is supported by the perforated disc remains cool
enough to handle so that the glass may be removed at any time while the lamp is
burning.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the same
is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improvements in the burner described whereby the stratum of air surrounding
the perforations a is always kept cool substantially-as and for the purpose specified.
2. The improvements in the burner described consisting of the peculiar form of
perforated air-chamber in relation to the perforated disc substantially as and for the
purpose specified.