An Improved Bunsen Burner for Liquid Combustibles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Bunsen Burner for Liquid Combustibles.
I, RICHARD ADAM, of 26, Kaiserstrasse, Koenigsberg, in the Kingdom of Prussia,
Works Manager, 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 present invention relates to a Bunsen-burner for liquid fuel, the wicks of
which lie partially bare at their tops. The gases, developed in this place, are
mixed by a special device with the proper amount of atmospheric air and super-
heated in a degree not yet reached by any existent device.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing shews the arrangement adapted for
heating and cooking purposes, provided with two flat wicks.
Figure 2 shews another modification of the new burner, adapted to incandescent
light.
In Figure 2, the inner wall a¹ of the wick-tube is lower than the outer one.
Part of the wick therefore lies bare on its inside. A hollow cylinder M is inserted;
its surface lying against the inside of the wick. This cylinder has perforated walls
and at its upper end a flange protruding over the upper part of the wick. The
cylindrical part is covered by a cap K. The proper form of this cap depends on
the employment for which the burner is destined.
This cap K has the following purpose: —
If the liquid fuel is ignited on the upper surface of the wick, the flame quickly
heats the cylindrical body M. The heat is transferred to the bare surfaces of the
wick and the fuel is raised from the liquid to the gaseous state. The gases thus
produced, are forced into the hollow cylinder M which is perforated on its inside,
and here they are mixed with the current of fresh air I, entering centrally through
the bottom. They are also strongly superheated, so that a complete vaporisation
is effected and no partial distillation can take place.
Under the aspirating influence of the lamp chimney S this carburetted mixture
is forced to pass to the outside of the wick in the direction indicated by the
arrows PP.
A zone is formed immediately above the wick, where the vapours of
petroleum in the mixture preponderate over the air, and no flame is formed at
the upper end of the wick.
Only at a height equal to that of the lowest point of cap K is the supply of fresh
air sufficient to enable the carburetted mixture to be burned. Necessarily com-
bustion will take place with a blue non-luminous flame, if the dimensions of the
burner are so proportioned as to provide a proper quantity of air for the complete
combustion of the vapour fuel.
The outside air necessary for complete combustion may be supplied in only one
direction by means of the cap b as shewn in Fig. 1 or by parting the current of
air indicated by the arrow III. by means of caps and in the way indicated in
Ti 2

page_text: The principle of the invention is not altered whether one or two exterior currents
of air be employed.
In this point, the new burner differs essentially from all Bunsen-burners, based
on the principle of a lamp with artificial draught.
In all Bunsen-burners known up to date, the non-luminous flame is produced
by a central current of air which meets at the height of the wick one or several
currents of outside air. Thereby the flame is broken up and the petroleum gases
are mixed in such a way with the air in the eddies produced by the different
currents of air as to allow entire combustion. The present construction departs
from this principle completely. The mixture is produced in a special mixing
chamber and previous to the admission of the outer air.
The mixing chamber of the present construction differs from the mixing tube
of an ordinary Bunsen-burner; in its acting at the same time as a gasifier, which
leads the heat of the non-luminous flame to the inner surface of the wick. The
outer currents of air serve only to conduct sufficient air for the combustion.
Therefore, it is immaterial, whether one or two outer currents of air be used; the
choice depends only on the best form for incandescent light.
The burners shewn in Figures 1 and 2 are so far nearly alike. Figure 1 shews
flat wicks and only one outside air current and is destined for cooking or heating
purposes. The cylindrical part is formed in one single piece with a¹. The short
spaces between the two wicks are closed by solid walls. A flame spreader ce¹ may
be added to the burner, when used for heating or cooking purposes. The con-
struction shewn in Figure 2 has an annular wick and two outer air currents and
is intended for lighting purposes.
In order to change the said burner into an incandescence burner an incandes-
cence mantle G is suspended from a suitably shaped support, and hangs down to
the hottest part of the flame. In order to maintain the mantle in its proper
position, a special ring is arranged which also may be replaced by the outer air-
conduct b¹.
The precise shape of cap K is of no importance for the principle of this system
but from its form depends the more or less favourable action.
The combustion of the carburetted mixture takes place in the zone of the mantle.
For that reason it is necessary that it escapes at right angles to the upper surface
of the wick. Under the influence of the outside air current the flame receives a
tulip-shaped form, most suitable for the heating of the incandescence mantle.
If a thin cylindrical mantle, as ordinarily employed in small lamps, is used, a
flat cap is sufficient for this purpose; but if the mantle be of large conical form,
the cap receives advantageously a central cone, as shewn in the drawing.
It already has been pointed out, that the burner is adapted equally well to heating
and lighting purposes. The same principle is employed for each case, whether
the wicks be flat or round; or the mixing chamber formed in one piece with the
wick tube or by a special cylindrical part inserted into the latter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
-
1. In a Bunsen-burner for liquid fuel with simple or multiple outer air supply
the employment of a central cylinder the perforated walls of which press against
the inside of the wick, which cylinder, when heated gasifies the liquid fuel con-
tained in the wick and carburets the central current of air, which after passing
through the upper part of the perforated cylinder and over the wick forms under
the influence of the outer current of fresh air a blue burning Bunsen flame equally
adapted to incandescent light and heating purposes.
2. In Bunsen burners with simple or multiple outer air conductor the arrange-
ment of the central cylinder characterized by Claim 1, in such a way, that the
carburetted mixture by means of a massive cap and a flange protruding, hori-
zontally over the wick, is forced to the outside, thereby producing in the zone of

page_text: said wick and under the influence of the outside air-current a blue burning Bunsen
flame, which receives under the influence of one of two outside currents of air a
form especially adapted to the form of the incandescence mantle.
Dated the 14th day of July 1897.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.