Improvements in Lamps or Lanterns Applicable for Burning Petroleum, Mineral, Sperm, or other like Mineral Oils.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th July, 1890-Accepted, 6th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lamps or Lanterns Applicable for Burning
Petroleum, Mineral, Sperm, or other like Mineral Oils.
I, CHARLES FOULGER of 57 Wapping Liverpool in the County of Lancaster,
Nautical Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object a lamp or lantern for burning petroleum or other
mineral oils without the use of the ordinary tubular chimney.
The lamp is designed more especially for use on board ship, for signalling
purposes on railways, and in positions where it is exposed to strong currents of air
or wind, which would extinguish the flame of an ordinary mineral oil lamp, or
where it is subjected to motion, such as the rolling or pitching motion of a vessel on a
rough sea.
I will describe my invention as applied to signal lanterns adapted to be displayed
on board ship for the purpose of indicating her position or preventing collisions.
The construction of lamps for other purposes will be sufficiently understood without
further description.
In applying my invention to ships' lamps, I provide a chamber adapted to surround
the flame, through which a current of air ascends to support combustion, and in fact
forms a substitute for the chimney which has hitherto been an essential part of the
ordinary mineral oil burning lamp. The said chamber which I will call for the
purpose of distinction the combustion chamber, is of convenient size and shape, and
bas at the top inside the outside casing an opening covered by a canopy or shield,
which does not prevent the escape of the hot gases, but acts as a barrier against
currents of air from above, preventing them entering the combustion chamber afore-
said in a downward direction, which would be liable to extinguish the flame.
Beneath the combustion chamber is a smaller chamber adapted to receive the oil
container of the lamp, the partition beneath the two chambers consisting preferably of
a hinged partition, through which the burner rises into the combustion chamber.
The said partition is adapted to be held firmly down by a catch or fastening, but can,
when desired, be raised on its hinge to enable the lainp container and burner to he
removed. On one side of the combustion chamber is a sliding door which can be
raised to admit of the withdrawal or the lighting of the lamp.
The air for supporting combustion is preferably admitted through perforations in
the outside casing of the lantern (said perforations being protected by a shield) and
passes into the bottom chamber from whence it rises through perforations into the
combustion chamber, and from thence through the herein before mentioned canopied
orifice therein, and is discharged through the chimney in the outside casing which is
also provided with preferably a hinged canopy or cowl. Any air which may possibly
enter through the said cowled chimney is prevented from passing into the combustion
chamber in a downward direction by the inner canopy aforesaid, but is conveyed
downwards along a passage between the combustion chamber and the outside casing,
to the chamber at the bottom of the lantern where it mixes with the incoming air
through the sides, and rises through the perforations and is utilised for supporting
combustion. The currents of air which pass uninterruptedly through the lower
chamber on their way to the combustion chamber have a tendency to keep the oil
container cool and at a uniform temperature.
Between the dioptric lenses-in the focus of which the flame is placed--and the
coloured glass at the back thereof, adapted to display a light of the colour required,
I leave sufficient space for a film or current of air. Perforations are provided at the
base and at the top of the lens communicating with this space, and air is consequently

page_text: admitted and freely circulates between the lens and the glass, thus keeping them cool
and at a uniform temperature.
A semi-globular reflector is supported inside the lantern at the back of the flame
adapted to reflect the light in such a way that a solid beam of light shall proceed
from each lens throughout their entire length.
Dated this 24th day of October 1889.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lamps or Lanterns Applicable for Burning
Petroleum, Mineral, Sperm, or other like Mineral Oils.
I, CHARLES FOULGER of 57 Wapping, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster,
Nautical Ironmonger 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 invention has for its object a lamp or lantern for burning petroleum or other
mineral oils without the use of the ordinary glass tubular chimney.
The lantern is designed more especially for use on board ship, for signalling
purposes on railways, and in other positions where it is exposed to strong currents
of air or wind, which would extinguish the flame of an ordinary mineral oil lamp,
or where it is subjected to motion, such as the rolling or pitching motion of a vessel
on a rough sea.
I will describe my invention as applied to signal lanterns adapted to be displayed
on board ship. The construction of the lantern for other purposes will be sufficiently
understood without further description.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the construction of one of my improved
ship lanterns or side lights:
Figure 1 being a vertical section through the centre of the lamp,
Figure 2 a section on line -a, Figure 1, and
Figure 3 a section on line y-y, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a plan of a detached portion of the lantern hereinafter fully described.
A is the outer casing of the lantern, within which is placed a mineral oil lamp B C
of any suitable construction, having a burner B and oil container C.
The flame from the burner B is enclosed in a chamber D through which a current
of air ascends to support combustion, and which forms, in fact, a substitute for the
glass chimney that has hitherto been considered an essential part of the ordinary
mineral oil lamp. The said chamber, hereinafter called the "combustion chamber,"
may be of any suitable size and shape, and it has at its upper end an exit opening d
communicating with the chimney E. At the top of, or above, the chamber, but
preferably below the opening d, there is placed a canopy or shield F which covers
or protects the opening in such a manner that, while not preventing the escape of
the hot gases from the lantern, it acts as a barrier against any currents of air
entering the top of the chimney, and prevents them passing into the combustion
chamber in a downward direction, such downward currents being liable to extinguish
the flame of the lamp.
Beneath this chamber D is a smaller chamber G adapted to receive the oil con-
tainer of the lamp, the burner B passing wholly or partly through the partition
or floor H which separates the two chambers. The whole or a portion of the
partition His hinged or otherwise made movable, to permit of the insertion or
removal of the lamp, such partition, or movable portion thereof, being held securely
in position, when the lamp is in place, by means of any suitable device. It is
preferable, however, to make only the portion of the partition movable, and to
this end it may be mounted in slides within which it may be securely held by
any suitable device, and from which it may be easily withdrawn when the lamp is

page_text: to be removed. On one side of the chamber is a sliding door K which can be with-
drawn to permit of the removal, insertion or lighting of the lamp. The door K
may be made to slide either vertically or horizontally. In the latter case, it is
preferable to attach it to the sliding portion of the floor or partition H (see
Figure 4). The door is provided with a handle k and a glazed sight hole k¹.
The air for combustion may be admitted into the lower chamber G by means of
perforations L in the sides of the casing A, which open into the space between
the exterior door J and the sliding door K aforesaid, and are protected by means
of outer shields 1. It is preferable, however, to admit the air into the chamber G
by means of a large hole 9, or a series of holes g', or both, placed below the oil
container C, the latter being, for this purpose, raised a short distance from the
floor of the chamber as shown. The air has free access below the bottom of the
lamp which is raised from the platform on which it stands by means of short feet a.
From the lower chamber G the air passes into the combustion chamber D by means
of a series of perforations formed in the partition H. From the combustion
chamber D, the products of combustion pass through the shielded orificed into the
chimney E which is also preferably provided with a canopy or cowl E', having a
hinged top. The space M, aforesaid, communicates at its upper end with a
chamber N at the top of the casing, whence access may be had to the exterior
through the cowl E'.
Any air blowing into the top or bottom of the cowl E¹, either passes out at the
opposite end thereof, or passes into the chamber N, as shown by the arrows, the
chimney E being made higher than the upper end of the said chamber to facilitate
the downward movement of such air and prevent it entering the chimney. From
the chamber N, the said air finds its way through the space M into the chamber G
and thence it passes through the perforations, up the sides of the combustion
chamber and out through the chimney without interfering with the flame. Should
the said air not be able to find its way readily through the perforations, the
pressure in the chamber G is relieved by a portion of the air passing out at the
hole g or at the perforations gl or L, in cases where the latter are employed.
If by any means some air should enter the chimney from the outside, it is
prevented from passing into the combustion chamber in a downward direction by the
inner shield F aforesaid. The air striking this shield has its velocity checked, part
of it being dispersed laterally into the combustion chamber, and part of it being forced
up the chimney again. Here it either finds its way out at the cowl or it is conveyed
downwards as aforesaid along the space or passage M between the combustion
chamber and the outer casing, and ultimately finds its way into the combustion
chamber as before described.
A sudden gust of air entering the bottom or sides of the lantern would increase
the pressure in the chamber G and space or passage M. Part of such air would
pass into the combustion chamber through the perforations h, and the surplus
would pass up the space M and out at the cowl E, and also out at the per-
forations L.
Thus, whichever way the air blows into the lantern, it can only enter the
combustion chamber either laterally from the shield For up the sides through the
perforations h', with the result merely that the pressure in the said chamber is
increased, while the flame is not affected by any direct currents. It will also be seen
that the chamber G and space M with their various connecting passages and
openings act as a relief device which permits the discharge of the surplus air
blown into the lantern.
The currents of air which pass uninterruptedly through the lower chamber on
their way to the combustion chamber have a tendency to keep the oil container C
cool and at a uniform temperature. To still farther facilitate the keeping of the oil
container cool, I mount a metallic plate P a short distance above it, which intercepts
the heat from the superimposed burner and flame, and conducts it outwards beyond
the edge of the container into the cold currents passing up the sides of the air
chamber G. This plate may be attached either to the collar of the burner, as shown,

page_text: .
or to the burner itself. The plate P also acts to a certain extent as a shield to
break the force of any sudden puff of air before entering the lower part of the
burner.
Qis the dioptric lens, behind which the lamp is placed in the most advantageous
position for utilising the light, and R is the coloured glass at the back of the lens,
adapted to render the light of the colour required. Between the lens Q and glass R,
I leave a space S for air. Perforations S₁, provided above and below the lens, or
in other suitable position, communicate with this space, so that the outer air is
admitted and circulates freely between the lens and the glass and thus keeps them
cool.
In lamps where coloured glass is not required, I place a simple piece of colour-
less glass at a distance from the lens sufficient to form an air space as described
above.
In actual practice however I have found that the cold air passing up the sides
of the combustion chamber, through the perforations ', keeps said chamber so cool
that I may sometimes be able to dispense with the lens cooling arrangement described
above.
A semi-globular or other suitable curved reflector T may be placed behind the
flame of the lamp to reflect the rays of light in a uniform manner over the lens.
The said reflector may be conveniently mounted upon the door K, being provided
with a socket adapted to slip over a hook shaped slide 2 on the door, so that it
can be removed therefrom for cleaning, etcetera. The reflector also provided with
a bole opposite to the sight hole ', a similar hole j being also provided in the outer
door J.
It will be evident that the invention is applicable to many mineral oil lanterns
other than those intended as ships' signal lights, the details of construction being
varied according to the object for which the lamp is required.
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
claim is:-
1. A lantern applicable for burning mineral oils in which the flame of the lamp,
instead of being surrounded by a glass chimney as usual, is enclosed in a combustion
chamber to which the cool air is admitted in a sufficient quantity through the per-
forated floor thereof, from a separate air chamber enclosing the oil container, and
from which the products of combustion are discharged through a shielded opening
above the lamp, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. The herein described improvements in mineral oil lanterns, whereby it is
impossible for a sudden gust of air blowing into the lantern to enter the combustion
chamber in such a manner as to extinguish or seriously interfere with the proper
burning of the flame.
Dated this 24th day of July 1890.
2
CHARLES FOULGER.
Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, and London, Patent Agents.