IMPROVEMENTS IN BURNERS FOR BURNING VAPOUR OF PETROLEUM AND THE LIKE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth & Company,
Patent Solicitors, at Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BURNERS FOR BURNING VAPOUR OF
PETROLEUM AND THE LIKE." A communication from Carl Ruprecht, of
Göttingen, in the Empire of Germany.
Sealed the 5th August 1879, and dated the 11th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th February 1879.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BURNERS
FOR BURNING VAPOUR OF PETROLEUM AND THE LIKE." A communication from
Carl Ruprecht, of Göttingen, in the Empire of Germany.
The object of this Invention is to derive the greatest possible caloric effect in
burning petroleum or similar substances without producing smell or soot, and
without regard to the illuminating power, and the nature of the Invention is as
follows: The petroleum which is to serve for combustion is first transformed into
vapour by an iron grating heated by means of a small auxiliary flame, above which
the grating is placed, while the wick which produces the auxiliary flame raises the
oil from a reservoir, which forms the base of the lamp. The atmospheric air neces-
sary for the combustion of the oil vapours enters through a perforated ring placed
at the top of the oil reservoir, and rises together with the oil vapours to the cylin-
drical or conical top part of the lamp, where vapours and air are thoroughly mixed
by means of several deflecting plates or projecting bars. The mixture escapes
through narrow openings in the top plate of the said mixing cylinder into the
combustion chamber, and in order to prevent overheating of the bars, by which the
openings are formed, air is introduced through openings in the sides of the combus-
[Prinn 21

page_text: tion chamber. When the apparatus operates, a large flame is produced which
ascends far above the combustion chamber. In order to regulate the auxiliary or
generating flame, a second moveable wick case is provided with bent upper edge
and horizontal projections, so-that-by-raising the case the flame will be gradually
reduced in size. The openings-of-the-perforated ring can be reduced or increased
by means of a cylindrical slide, which is moved simultaneously with the second
wick case. The auxiliary-flame-may-be lighted through an opening in the side of
the lamp after having turned aside a plate which-covers-the-said-opening,-and-
thereby-also-thrown back-the-grating which is attached to the axle of the plate.
The whole apparatus may be constructed of thin sheet metal.

page_text: :
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th August
1879.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth & Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BURNERS
FOR BURNING VAPOUR OF PETROLEUM." A communication from Carl Ruprecht, of
Göttingen, in the Empire of Germany.
The object of this Invention is to derive the greatest possible caloric effect in
burning petroleum or similar substances without producing smell or soot, and
without regard to the illuminating power. The nature of the said Invention is as
follows, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, which show an
example of the apparatus :-Fig. 1 representing a vertical section, Fig. 2 a horizontal
section, Fig. 3 a plan, Fig. 4 an elevation, and Figs. 6-9 detail views. The
burner produces a heating flame from a mixture of vapour and atmospheric air, the
vapour being produced by a small generating flame fed from the wick which raises
the whole of the burning material.
On a petroleum-holder P is situated a perforated ring u, in the centre of which
is an ordinary flat burner b carrying a wick (4/m thick). Above this wick
(about 6 m/) is placed a metal grating formed of bars, which are by preference
made 10 high, 20 m/m wide, and 0.3 m/m thick, leaving a space of 2 m/
between two adjoining bars. The first and last plates extend below the ends of
the burner, thus shutting in the wick flame. If the wick is now ignited and screwed
up to the metal grating a light blue flame is formed, which even in a strong
draught neither draws up between the bars nor deposits black, but by means of
the hot bars evaporates large quantities of petroleum.
The cold air ascending on each side between the ends of the grate bars prevents
a too great heating of the same. In order to mix the petroleum vapours produced
as described with a sufficient quantity of atmospheric air to produce a flame with
little or no light, a casing a is used, having the shape of a truncated cone, and
enclosing a space M, into which the air enters through the bottom ring (r) and
radial slits (s), ascending with the petroleum vapours to the top openings (g), and
being on its way deflected and mixed with the vapours by movable slides or
deflecting plates, 21, 21. The mixture on coming to the top passes through
barred openings g into a combustion chamber V, the space between the bars being
about 2 m/, and in order to prevent an excessive heating of the said bars air openings
are provided in the sides of the combustion chamber, which introduce air between
the flames, serving at the same time to ensure a steady burning of the latter.
When the apparatus is in full operation a large flame is produced extending far
above the combustion chamber. For regulating the size of the flame it is first
necessary to regulate the generator flame so as to maintain a suitable proportion
between the quantity of petroleum vapour and air. This is effected by a second
movable wick case h having bent upper edges (Figs. 1 and 6), and in or near the
center two projections placed at right angles to the wick case. By raising this case
the flame will be gradually reduced in size, while this arrangement also prevents
the unintentional extinction of the heating flame when the generator flame remains
burning. The admission of air is regulated by a slide d covering the perforated
ring (U). The slide (d) and second wick case (h) are moved by the same key (w)
and eccentrics in order to ensure a corresponding motion.
When the wick case (h)
is in its highest position the slide is completely shut, the only air admitted entering
at the edge of the bottom ring (U) through an opening which cannot be shut. The
whole apparatus is constructed of sheet metal having a suitable thickness; tin and
tin solder are not applicable for the upper part of R in consequence of the great
heat. For setting the apparatus in action the small plate (v, Fig. 4) covering the

page_text: hole through which the wick is lit is thrown over to the left, thereby turning also
back the grating attached to the axle of said plate; the wick is then lit through
the hole, and when it has sufficiently warmed the apparatus the hole is shut, the
grating-closed.down, the wick turned up to its full height, and the flame lit at the
top of the apparatus. _ Any slight condensation of petroleum in the apparatus-soon-
disappears, and the entire regulation of the flame is effected by means of a handle
or key w. The apparatus.can-be-modified in order to suit certain ends, for example,
by providing-large-apparatus-with-several wicks. Figs. 7 to 9 show a modification
of the wick, which gives a greater effect than an ordinary wick, as described, the
construction providing the support-of-the-wick-up-to-20/m-thick free over the
burner and spreading out the generator flame; the cooling of the flame is produced
by plates attached to every second bar of the grating and coming down to the
burner