Improvements in Hydrocarbon Vapour Lamps for Incandescent Lighting.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1899-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydrocarbon Vapour Lamps for Incandescent
Lighting.
I, WINFIELD SCOTT PROSKEY, No. 96, Broadway, in the City of New York,
County and State of New York, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement: -
This invention relates to hydrocarbon vapor lamps for incandescent lighting,
the object of the invention being to provide an improved construction of parts
and to produce an improved lamp, and the invention consists in the various
features of construction and arrangement of parts having the general mode
of operation substantially as hereinafter set forth.
Referring to the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical
section of a lamp showing the preferred embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2
is an enlarged section showing more particularly the vaporizer and its attach-
ments; Fig. is a plan view of the preferred form of vaporizer and gas
burner for heating the same; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the nozzle;
Fig. 5 is a side view representing a conventional source of supply for the fuel
or hydrocarbon for the lamp and the gas for the gas burner; and Fig. 6 is a
section of a lamp with a plurality of incandescent mantles.
In the drawing there is shown a single vaporizer in the form of a vaporization
coil, A, adapted to be connected with a source of supply of the fuel or hydrocarbon
shown in the present instance as a tank, T, the vaporizer being connected there-
with by a pipe, T, having preferably suitable cut-off valves, t, t¹, the tank in
the present instance being provided with means, such as a pump, T2, for putting
the fuel under pressure and being shown detached, it being adapted to be located
in any suitable and desirable position. The vaporization coil, A, is shown as
coiled around an air intake tube, B, and as having a portion, A', entering said
tube and extending across the same. In the present instance this portion is
shown as a straight tube connected to the end of the coil proper and secured
in any suitable way in the air intake tube and preferably having an extension, A³,
beyond the coil closed by a suitable plug, A³, by means of which access can be
obtained to this portion for the purpose of cleaning and otherwise.
As is well known some means must be, provided for producing initial vapori-
zation of the hydrocarbon, and much time and ingenuity have been spent in
providing a satisfactory means for heating the vaporizer so that when the fuel
or hydrocarbon is supplied thereto it will immediately become vaporized, and I
provide a construction adapted to use acetylene gas which I have found exceed-
ingly effective and practicable. To accomplish this I provide an acetylene
gas burner, C, which is also shown in the form of a coil surrounding the air
intake tube, B, and arranged in close proximity to the vaporization coil, A, so
that the flame projecting upwardly and outwardly from the openings in the
burner will impinge directly upon the vaporization coil.
This acetylene gas
burner, C, is connected to a pipe, C₁, which communicates directly with an

page_text: acetylene gas reservoir, R, which in turn is shown as connected directly to an
acetylene gas generator, R', which in the present instance is arranged in
juxtaposition with the tank, T. Interposed in this pipe, C' is a jet, c, for the
acetylene gas and on the pipe is an adjustable sleeve, c', having openings
corresponding with similar openings in the pipe to admit air, which in con- 5
nection with the acetylene gas produces a blue or Bunsen flame at the burner, C.
This pipe is provided with suitable valves, &, c, for regulating the flow of the
acetylene gas, and the pipe and burner may be supported in any suitable manner,
as by the hood of the lamp (when it is used) or by loops or brackets, c'.
I have found by actual practice that with the use of acetylene gas in a burner
arranged as above set forth the vaporization coil can be heated in a very few
seconds and at an exceedingly small cost for a great number of times, and that
the lamp may be set in operation in a very short time.
Connected to the air intake tube, B, is a mixing chamber tube, D, and this is
shown as projecting up and through a head, B', of the air intake tube, B,
forming a chamber, 133, between the tubes for the purpose of protecting and
keeping relatively cool the nozzle of the vaporization coil, hereinafter described.
The other hand of the mixing chamber tube, D, projects into the mixing
chamber E which may be of any desired shape or construction and which serves
to thoroughly mix the vapor of the hydrocarbon and the air before they pass to:
the burner. In the present instance the mixing chamber is closed by a screw
plug, E, and connected to this plug, E, is an adjusting ring, E², adapted to
limit the movement of the valve in a manner hereinafter described.
Connected to the mixing chamber is a burner, F', in the present instance pro-
vided with a series of openings, f, through which the gas is projected outwardly
and upwardly. Mounted on this burner is a support, G¹, comprising in the
present instance a series of radially projecting arms supporting a series of
tufts, G, of incandescence material, and these tufts are arranged so that the
flame of the jets from the burner, F, will impinge directly upon them, heating
them and producing the desired incandescence and consequent illumination.
I find that this type of incandescence is peculiarly adapted to a lamp of this
character, especially when arranged substantially in the manner set forth.
It is well known that one fruitful source of trouble in this class of lamps is
the nozzle through which the vapor of the fuel or hydrocarbon is forced, as it is
liable to become clogged and an unpleasant hissing sound is produced, and in
order to avoid these difficulties I provide an improved nozzle, H, attached to the
portion, A', of the vaporizer. In the present instance formed on the portion, A¹,
is a hollow projection, h, into which is screwed a plug, H', having a conical
central portion, h, provided with an opening, 2, through which the vapor
passes, and this opening is controlled by a needle, i, mounted on a valve-stem, I,
which in the present instance extends through the mixing chamber tube, D,
through the plug, E', of the mixing chamber and through the adjusting ring, E³,
where it is provided with set nuts i, 2, and the end is provided with any suit-
able means for operating, as the thumb-piece, I'
It will be seen that with this construction, if there be any tendency to deposit
carbon on the interior of the nozzle it will naturally gravitate into the recessed
portion, H, surrounding the conical portion, h¹, of the plug, and can be removed
by removing the plug, and the needle, i, can be manipulated by the valve-stem
not only to regulate the flow of the vapour through the nozzle but to keep the
opening, 3, free from any deposit. Moreover, I have found that this form
and construction of valve avoids the disagreeable hissing sound so common to
lamps of this character.
It may be remarked that in the drawing I have shown a lamp without a hood
or enclosing globe, and these may or may not be used as desired and may be of
any usual or preferred construction.
The operation of the lamp will be readily understood by those skilled in the
art from the above description and it need simply be stated that in starting

page_text: the lamp the valve, e, is opened and the mixed acetylene gas and air ignited
at the gas burner, C, and this, as before stated, owing to its arrangement and
the extreme heat produced by this mixture of acetylene gas and air quickly
heats the vaporizer so that almost immediately the valve, can be opened to
admit the hydrocarbon to the vaporization coil, A, where it is vaporized and
passing through the portion, A¹, is projected through the nozzle, H, and the
mixing chamber tube, D), into the mixing chamber, E, where the mixing of the
vapor and air coming through the intake tube, B, is completed, and thence it
passes to the burner, F, and being ignited the flame impinges upon the tufts, G,
quickly rendering them incandescent and producing the desired illumination.
The needle controlling the nozzle can be conveniently adjusted by the thumb-
piece, 1', in connection with the adjusting nuts, i; t2, and the adjusting ring, E2.
The construction and arrangement of parts are relatively simple and provide
a practically right line passage-way for the vapor and air through the mixing
chamber tube, tending to avoid the hissing sound, and this combined with the
improved nozzle practically overcomes this difficulty. Moreover, the arrange-
ment of the acetylene gas burner in close juxtaposition with the vaporizer above
the incandescence material not only enables me to take advantage of the great
heating power of acetylene gas and air, but further provides a satisfactory and
practical arrangement of the parts so that the initial heat is applied directly to
the part desired and in no way interferes with the illuminating qualities of the
lamp.
Moreover, it will be seen that the mixing chamber tube is centrally arranged
with relation to the cylindrical burner and the series of incondescent tufts
and the vaporization coil, avoiding the arrangement of any parts outside of the
incandescent material and thereby preventing shadows, which is an important
feature in a single burner lamp, and the whole forms a compact and symmetrical
mechanical construction.
In Fig. 6 is shown a lamp of the same general construction using mantles, G³,
and having an enclosing hood K and case, K¹, and provided with a cup for a
starting fluid.
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
1st. In a vapor lamp for incandescent lighting, the combination with a vapor
burner, of a vaporizer connected to a source of fuel supply, a mixed acetylene
gas and air burner for preliminary heating the vaporizer arranged adjacent the
latter, and a source of acetylene gas supply therefor, substantially as described.
2nd. In a vapor lamp for incandescent lighting, the combination with the
mixing chamber, of an air intake tube directly open to the atmosphere and con-
nected in a right line to said chamber, and a vaporization coil surrounding and
closely conforming to the external contour of the air intake tube and having an
extension projecting into said tube, substantially as described.
3rd. In a vapor lamp for incandescent lighting, the combination with a vapor
burner, of a mixing chamber connected thereto, incandescence tufts arranged
adjacent the burner, and a vaporizer located in the heating zone of the tufts,
substantially as described.
4th. In a vapor lamp for incandescent lighting, the combination with a
cylindrical vapor burner, of a mixing chamber connected thereto, a series of
incandescence tufts arranged in juxtaposition to the cylindrical vapor burner, a
vaporizer, a mixed acetylene gas and air burner for initially heating the vaporizer
arranged in juxtaposition thereto, and a mixing chamber tube centrally arranged
with relation to the burner, the tufts and the vaporizer, substantially as described.
5th. In a vapor lamp for incandescent lighting, the combination with a vapor
burner, of a mixing chamber connected thereto, incandescence tufts arranged in
juxtaposition to the burner, a mixing chamber tube, an air intake tube connected

page_text: therewith, a vaporization coil surrounding the air intake tube and having a
portion entering the same and provided with a nozzle projecting into the mixing
chamber tube, a valve for said nozzle extending through the mixing chamber
tube, a plug in the mixing chamber, an adjusting ring connected to the plug,
and means for operating the valve, substantially as described.
6th. In a vapor lamp for incandescent lighting, the combination with the
mixing chamber, of an air intake tube having a head, a mixing chamber tube
connecting the mixing chamber and air intake tube and extending into the
latter forming a chamber between the two, and a nozzle extending into the
mixing chamber tube and surrounded by said chamber, substantially as described.
7th. In a vapor lamp for incandescent lighting, the combination with a
vaporizer, of a nozzle, said nozzle comprising a cylinder, a conical plug for said
cylinder, and a needle valve for said plug, substantially as described.
8th. In a vapor lamp for incandescent lighting, the combination with the
mixing chamber, of an air intake tube, a mixing chamber tube connecting the
chamber with the air intake tube, a vaporization coil having an extension pro-
jecting into the air intake tube, a nozzle extending into the mixing chamber
tube, a valve extending through the mixing chamber and mixing chamber tube
and co-operating with the nozzle, and lock nuts arranged to limit the movements
of the valve, substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1899.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent, London,
For the Applicant.