Improvements in Vapour Lamps and Burners.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vapour Lamps and Burners.
1, GEORGE BELLE JONES, Citizen, of the United States, of 35, East Indiana Street,
Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same 18
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement..
The object of the invention is to provide a combined generator and burner of
simple and officient construction, wherein hydrocarbon oil-such, for instance, as
gasoline may be vaporized and ignited to produce a bright flame, and wherein an
even pressure of the generated gas is maintained, thereby preventing flickering
or unsteadiness of the flame
Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.
The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location
and relative arrangement, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown
in the accompanying drawing, and finally specifically pointed out in the appended
claims
Referring to the accompanying drawing and to the various views and reference
signs appearing thereon,-
Fig 1, is a broken view in side elevation, paits broken out and parts in vertical
section, of a combined generator and buiner embodying the principles of my inven-
tion shown as applied to a lamp
Fig 2, is a detached detail view, partly in perspective and partly in section, of
the combined generator and burner showing the channels through which the hydro-
carbon oil passes and cuculates around the burner
Fig 3, is a bottom plan view of the combined burner and generator showing the
arrangement of damper.
Fig 4, is a top plan view of the combined generator and burner as shown in
Fig 2, the passages or channels traveised by the hydrocarbon oil being indicated
by dotted lines
Fig 5, is a broken detail view in section showing the arrangement of delivery
pipe and the packing therein through which the hydrocarbon oil is delivered to
the generator and burner
Fig. 6, is a detached broken detail view in section of the gasometer showing the
construction for governing the supply of generated or vaporized gas to the burner.
Fig. is a detached detail view, slightly in perspective, of the gauze caps for
the buiner
The same part is designated by the same reference sign wherever it occurs
throughout the several views.
In the construction of lamps wherein the illuminant is a volatile hydrocarbon
oil-such, for instance, as gasoline-it is important to provide against the danger
of explosion, and also to maintain a steady uniform flame, free from flickering.
It is also of importance to provide an arrangement wherein the amount of the
volatilized oil or generated gas supplied to the burner may be easily and readily
רנם.D

page_text: regulated, thus enabling the light to be tuined low or on full, as may be desired.
It is also desuable to provide an arrangement wherein the lamp may be readily
and easily lighted, and it desired, when once lighted may be so maintamed even
when the light is turned low, and with a very small consumption of oil, whereby
it may be turned on full again whenever desired
It is the purpose of the present invention to secure these desirable ends, and I
will now describe the construction and arrangement whereby they are secured.
Refening to the accompanying drawing, reference sign 10, designates the com-
bined generator and burner embodying my invention, and comprising a suitable
casting having a central tubular bore, indicated at 11, and which terminates m
a flanged chamber 12, the rim of which supports the flame when the burne 18
in operation and the gas ignited. The casting 10, may be provided with an
enlarged portion or boss 13, preferably, though not necessarily, rectangular in out-
line, and which surrounds the tubular bore 11, and constitutes the generator portion
of my invention
A supply pipe 14, through which the gasoline, or other
hydrocarbon oil, is supplied to the combined generator and buiner, delivers the oil
to a channel or passage 15, formed in the casting 10 The delivery pipe, shown
bioken oft in Fig 5, may communicate with any suitably or conveniently located
tank or reservoir containing the supply of oil The passage or channel 15, tei-
minates in and delivers into a similar passage or channel 16, arranged to intersect
the same at right angles, as clearly shown in Figs 1, 2 & 4 The channel or
passage 16, communicates with and delivers into a similar channel 01
passage 17, arranged to intersect the same at night angles, which in
tuin delivers into and intersects at night angles a channel or passage 18.
The latter intersects at light angles and delivers into a channel
or passage 19, which delivers into રી sunilarly arranged channel or
passage 20, and this delivers finally through a similarly arranged channel or
passage 21, into the gasometer presently to be more fully described The several
channels or passages 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 & 21, may be formed in any suitable
manner, but preferably, bored through the body of the boss 13, and may be
arranged in any suitable manner around the tubular bore 11. It is also obviou
that they may be increased or diminished in number as may be desired, the object
being to secure a desuable passage around the burner portion of the structure, and
the essential feature being that the several passages or channels intersect each
other squarely or at right angles, whereby sharp corners for the oil or vaporized
gas generated are presented at various points in the passage thereof from the
delivery pipe 14, to the gasometer. The purpose and function of this arrangement
will be more fully explained hereinafter
If desired, and in order to impede and prevent any back flow of the generated
o volatilized gas through the delivery pipe 14, said pipe may be packed in the
delivery end thereof with waste, cotton, asbestos, fibre or the like, as indicated
at 22, Fig. 5, and if desned, a gauze cap 23, may be placed over the delivery end
of said pipe 14, to retain the packing in the pipe By this construction and
arrangement, coupled with other features to which reference will be made herein-
after, all danger of explosion of the generator and burner is absolutely guarded
against, thus seculing safety and protection against accident or damage
As above explained, the passage 21, delivers into the gasometer This com-
puses a casting 24, having passages 25, 26, intersecting each other at right angles,
as clearly shown in Fig 6 The passage 25, is formed in a stem 27, screw-threaded
at the end to be screwed into a seat in communication with passage 21, as clearly
shown in Fig 2 Passage 26, is enlarged into a chamber 28, on one side of the
delivery end of passage 25, and this chamber terminates in a tip 29, having a very
fine orifice 30, which, when the casting 24. is properly adjusted in place, 18 pro-
jected into cential alignment with the tubular bore of casting 10 The tip 29.
may, if desired, be in the form of a threaded plug screwed into a threaded seat
in the end of the casting 24, on the orifice 30, may be formed through a solid end-
cap of said casting The plug tip 18 advantageous, however, in that it may be

page_text: measure
removed when desired, or it may be made of hardened steel, and thus 18 the
better able to withstand the heat to which it is subjected when the combined
generator and burner is in use. A suitable set-screw 31, may be tapped in the end
of casting 24, opposite the tip 29, or orifice 30, whereby and through which the
gasometer may be cleaned out in case it becomes clogged with accumulated deposit
from the gas or volatilized oil. It also serves to regulate to some extent the area
of the space immediately adjacent to the orifice 30, and hence in a
regulates the pressure of the gas collected in chamber 28 In the opposite end of
the casting 24, is arranged a plug 32, having a needle point arranged to contiol
the area of passage 25, at the junction thereof with passage 26. By suitably
adjusting this needle, the amount of generated gas supplied from the generating
part of the apparatus to the chamber 28, may be regulated, thus regulating the
amount of flame at the burner
The operation of the apparatus will be readily understood from the foregoing
description. When the burner and generator are in operation, the metal of the
boss 13, is heated up by conduction of heat from the flame. The gasoline, or
other hydrocarbon oil, is supplied to the generator and circulates around the heated
boss through the several passages therein and is volatilized into a highly inflammable
gas, which is delivered through passage 21, into the gasometer, where it collects in
chamber 28, and 18 delivered by the pressure of the collected gas through the fine
orifice 30, into and through the bore 11, collecting oxygen from the air as it passes
through said boie, and 18 finally delivered to the flame at the rim of chamber 12,
thus maintaining an intensely brilliant light or flame By reason of the collection
or accumulation of generated gas in the gasometer, the supply of gas issuing
through orifice 30, 18 maintained constant and uniform, and therefore the light
is perfectly steady and free from objectionable flickering. Should the generation
of gas unduly increase beyond the requirements of the burner, the generated gas
will fust collect on accumulate in chamber 28, and passage 26, the delivery end of
passage 25, presenting a sharp angle to said passage 26, offering a resistance to the
backward flow of the collected gas through passage 25 If, however, the back
pressure is sufficient to overcome this retardation, the gas will again encounter
à resistance to backward flow at the angular junction of passages 25, or 21, and
passage 20, and again at the angular junction of passages 20, and 19, and so on
throughout the entire system of passages through the boss 13, of the generator,
the opposition of each Junction serving to retard and prevent back pressure, and to
the same end, the packing 22, in the end of delivery pipe 14, affords an additional
opposition to backward pressure of the generated gas, all of which agencies contribute
in rendering the combined generator and burner safe and free from danger of
explosion, foi eventually the back pressure merely arrests the flow of oil to the
generator until the pressure is reduced by a sufficient amount of the generated gas
being exhausted from the gasometer through orifice 30, to the buinei, to again
permit the supply of fresh oil Thus the apparatus. to a certain extent, is self-
regulating, and hence 1s economical in consumption of oil, as well as free from
danger of explosion.
As above explained, the gas issues from orifice 30, and is projected through
bore 11, collecting or drawing with it air during such passage In order to effect
a thorough intermingling of the gas and air before reaching the point where the
flame is maintained, and also to break up and evenly spread and distribute the
particles of gas, I arrange the wire gauze caps 33, 34, over the end of bore 11.
These caps are preferably of inverted bell shape, the cap 33, being of large size
and of larger area of mesh than cap 34, and being supported upon the flanged
im of chamber 12. while cap 34, of smaller size and of finer mesh, is supported
by cap 33, and is in close proximity to the mouth of bore 11. By this construc-
tion the gas is thoroughly broken up and intermingled with the oxygen of the
an, and the inflammable mixture is evenly spread and distributed, thus producing
when lighted a brilliant white flame Of course, if desired, a mantle of incan-
descent material, such as is usually employed in apparatus of this kind, may be

page_text: arranged over and in connection with the burner, for the purpose of increasing the
brilliancy of the light
It may be sometimes desuable to extinguish the flame at the 11m of chamber 12,
but so that it may be instantly re-lighted without preliminarily heating up the
generator, thus rendering the apparatus similar in this respect to an incandescent
electric lamp, always ready to be re-lighted without matches or other igniting
devices In order to accomplish this result at the expense of only a very small
consumption of oil, I provide a damper 35, in the form of a pivoted level, having
one end arranged to project into convenient position to enable said lever to be
readily 10ched The other end of said lever caries a disk or plate 36, aanged,
when said level is suitably 1ocked, to cover and close the end of bore 11, said disk
or plate operating between said bore and the orifice 30 Thus by suitably swinging
said disk or plate into position to close said bore the passage of gas through said
bore to the burner is cut off. The gas, however, which issues from the orifice 30,
is sufficiently inflammable at a point below the damper to sustain a dum flame,
the heat from which will be sufficient to maintain a sufficient generation of gas in
the generator to keep the flame going. Now, by suitably regulating the supply
of such generated gas to the orifice by suitably manipulating and adjusting
needle 32, the apparatus may be maintained indefinitely with very small con-
sumption of oil, and will always be ready for re-lighting when desired
An apparatus embodying the principles of my invention as above descubed may
be utilized in the form of a house or student's lamp, carriage lamp, bicycle lamp,
or the like. In Fig 1, I have shown the apparatus assembled as a house lamp,
wherein the combined burner and generator is enclosed in a suitable casing 37,
which may
be suitably finished, polished, or ornamented, to present a neal appear-
ance, and a chimney holder 38, of any suitable or desirable construction, may be
provided to enclose the burner portion, in the usual and well known manner
The burner and generator may be started up initially by preliminarily heating
the same sufficiently to generate gas enough to start the flame This preliminary
heating may be effected in any suitable or convenient manner, as by holding a
lighted match, candle, or the like, in proximity to the generator and burner Ι
have shown a simple and convenient arrangement wherein I provide a cup o
cap 39, aanged to be received over the end of casing 37, and
adapted to receive in 8 tiay 40, therein, a small quantity of cotton,
waste, or the like, saturated with oil, and which may be readily and easily ignited
The heat from this source heats up the generator to a point sufficient to generate
enough gas to start the apparatus, and when once started it 18 maintained in
operation from its own heat. The cap 39, also serves the purpose of an ornamental
finish to the lamp.
Many variations and changes in the details of construction and arrangement
would readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art and still fall within
the spirit and scope of my invention While, therefore, I have shown and
described a specific construction and arrangement embodying the principles of my
invention, I do not desire to be limited or restricted thereto
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 A combined generator and burner for hydrocarbon oil, having a central boie,
and passages or channels arranged around said bore, with a delivery pipe for
delivering the oil to said passages, and means for delivering the generated gases
from such channels or passages to said bore, as and for the purpose set forth.
2 A combined generator and burner for hydrocarbon oil, having a central bore,
and passages or channels aanged around said bore, said channels or passages
intersecting each other at right angles, a delivery pipe for delivering the oil to
said passages, and means for delivering the generated gases from said passages
to said bore, as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 3 A combined generator and burner, having a cential bore, and passages or
channels aanged around the saine, a delivery pipe for delivering the oil to said
passages or channels, and a gasometer adapted to receive the generated gas from
Bald passages or channels and deliver the same through said bore, as and for the
purpose set forth
A combined generator and buinei, comprising a casting having a cential
bore and an enlarged boss, said boss provided therein with channels or passages
surrounding said bore, a delivery pipe for supplying oil to said passages, and
means for delivering the generated gas from said passages to said bore for ignition,
as and to the purpose set forth
5 A combined generator and burner, comprising a casting having a central
bote, passages on channels formed in said casting around said bore, a delivery pipe
communicating with said passages, said pipe having its end filled on packed with
waste, cotton, 01 the like, and incans for receiving the generated gas fiom said
passages and delivering the same to said bore, as and for the purpose set forth
6. A combined generator and burner, comprising a casting having a cential
boie, passages or channels formed in said casting around said bore, a delivery pipe
communicating with one end of said passages, a gasometer communicating with
the other end of said passages and comprising a casting having intersecting
channels, a discharge orifice arranged in alignment with said hore, and means for
controlling the area of junction of said intersecting channels, as and for the pur-
pose set for th
7 In a combined generator and burner, means for generating a gas, a gasometer
ai ranged to receive the generated gas and deliver the same to the burner, and
including a plug tip having a fine onfice, and a needle valve for controlling the
supply of generated gas, as and for the purpose set forth.
8 In a combined generator and buiner, means for generating a gas, a gasometer
for receiving the generated gas and delivering the same to the burner, and com-
prising a chamber having an orifice in the end thereof, and a screw plug for
regulating the area of said chamber, as and for the purpose set forth
9 A combined-generator and buinei, comprising a casting having a central bore,
and passages arranged around said bore, a gasometer arranged to receive the
generated gas, and having an orifice arranged in central alignment with said boie,
and means for disintegrating and spreading the gas, said means being arranged
over the mouth of said boie, as and for the purpose set forth.
10 A combined generator and burner, comprising a casting having a central
bore, and passages arranged around said bore, a gasometer arranged to receive the
generated gas and deliver the same through said bore, and gauze caps arranged over
the mouth of said bore, as and for the purpose set forth
11 A combined generator and burner, comprising a casting having a cential
bore, and passages arranged around said bore, a gasometer arranged to receive
the gas and deliver the same into said bore, and a damper for closing said bore,
as and for the purpose set forth.
12 A combined generator and burner, comprising a casting having a cential
bore, and passages arranged around said bore, a gasometer arranged to receive
the generated gas and deliver the same into said bore, a lever carrying a disk or
plate and operating between the delivery orifice of said gasometer and said bore
to close the latter, as and for the purpose set forth
13 A combined generator and burner, comprising a casting having a bore, and
passages arranged around said bore, a gasometer arranged to receive the generated
gas and deliver the same into said boie, and a preliminary heater comprising a
cup adapted to receive combustible material which when lighted will preliminarily
heat the generator to start the apparatus, as and for the purpose set forth
14. In a combined generator and burner, a casing, a casting having a bore, and
passages arranged around said bore, said casting arranged in said casing, a gaso-

page_text: metei airanged to receive the generated gases and deliver the same into said bore,
a cap for the end of said casing and serving for a preliminary heater, and a chimney
support carried by said casing, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 14th day of December 1898.
GEORGE BELLE JONES