Improvements in the Construction of Self-igniting and Inex- tinguishable Signal Lights for Marine and other Purposes.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Self-igniting and Inex-
tinguishable Signal Lights for Marine and other Purposes.
I NATHANIEL JOHN HOLMES, Gentleman of Knole Road, in the parish of
Sevenoaks, Kent do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SELF-IGNITING AND INEXTINGUISHABLE SIGNAL LIGHTS
FOR MARINE AND OTHER PURPOSES, to be as follows:-
My first improvement consists in an arrangement of parts whereby a thin and
uniform stream of the Phosphuretted hydrogen gas evolved in the chamber of the
signal is presented to the air, by which means the oxygen is more readily taken
up in its proper proportion for producing spontaneous ignition and perfect com-
bustion from the atmosphere, and a greater steadiness of flame with increased
illuminating power is obtained.
I effect this by employing what I term an Eclipse or annular burner, which
instead of being a round hole through which the gas escapes with very imperfect
combustion under pressure, as in the construction of all my previous forms of
inextinguishable lights, consists of a narrow circular slit or annular ring through
which the gas escapes.
The flame therefore assumes the form of a hollow cylinder,
and every molecule of gas liberated is enabled more freely to combine chemically
with its molecule of oxygen thereby producing greater intensity of light by reason
of more perfect combustion.
The cylindrical form of the flame may be varied by altering the contour of the
slit through which the gas escapes, as it may be sent out as a broad luminous sheet,
the area of which is proportional to the evolution of the phosphuretted hydrogen
gas and the amount of oxygen necessary to be taken up from the atmosphere
to ensure perfect combustion.
The intensity and steadiness of the flame is however best secured by the hollow
cylindrical or truncated cone form, somewhat similar to that of the flame from an
argand burner.
My second improvement consists in the construction of a portable self igniting
and inextinguishable signal in connection with one or other of my improved form
of Eclipse burners, which may be carried on a pole or otherwise displayed as a
signal at night for torpedo signalling and similar services.

page_text: I effect this by constructing each signal in two compartments; the upper one
for containing the necessary amount of water, the other in which to place the
phosphide of calcium. By an arrangement in connection with the Eclipse burner,
communication is made between the water chamber and the chemical chamber
when the signal is required to be used, and the evolved phosphuretted hydrogen is
only permitted to escape by the annular or Eclipse burner. These signals are so
constructed that the water reservoir need only be filled when required for use, by
which arrangement they may be stored and kept any length of time with perfect
safety.
What I claim as the novelty of my invention is the application of the annular
or Eclipse form of burner for the emission of phosphuretted hydrogen gas in con-
Dection with self igniting and inextinguishable signal lights, whereby the gas is
presented to the air in such proportions and with such regularity that it chemically
combines in atomic proportions with the oxygen of the atmosphere to produce
perfect combustion and the maximum chemical luminosity.
I also claim the arrangement of the portable self igniting signal with special
water chamber in connection with the improved form of Eclipse burner, and
igniting arrangement in connection with the same.

page_text: апи цех;
tinguishable Signal Lights for Marine and other Purposes.
2.
I NATHANIEL JOHN HOLMES of 8 Knole Road, Sevenoaks in the County of
Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
My first improvement consists in an arrangement of parts whereby a spread and
uniform stream of the phosphuretted hydrogen gas evolved in the chamber of the
signal is presented to the air, by which means the oxygen is more readily taken
up in its proper proportion for producing spontaneous ignition and perfect com-
bustion from the atmosphere, and a greater steadiness of flame with increased
illuminating power is obtained.
I effect this by employing what I term an eclipse or annular burner, which
instead of being a round hole through which the gas escapes with very imperfect
combustion under pressure, as in the construction of all my previous forms of
inextinguishable lights, this improvement consists of a narrow circular slit or
annular ring A. A through which the gas escapes. The flame therefore assumes
the form of a hollow cylinder B B and every molécule of gas. liberated is enabled
more freely to combine chemically with its molecule of oxygen thereby producing
greater intensity of light by reason of more perfect combustion. The cylindrical
form of the flame may be varied by altering the contour of the slit through which
the gas escapes, as it may be sent out as a broad luminous sheet, the area of which
is proportional to the evolution of the phosphuretted hydrogen gas and the amount
of oxygen necessary to be taken up from the atmosphere to ensure perfect
combustion,
The intensity and steadiness of the flame is however best secured by the hollow
cylindrical or truncated cone form; somewhat similar to that of the flame from an
argand burner.
:
My second improvement consists in the construction of a portable self igniting
and inextinguishable signal in connection with one or other of my improved formi
of Eclipse burners, which may be carried on a pole or otherwise displayed as a
signal at night for torpedo signalling and similar services.
>
I effect this by constructing each signal in two compartments; the upper one C
for containing the necessary amount of water, the other D in which to place the
phosphide of calcium. By an arrangement in connection with the eclipse burner,
the depression of a pin or stud E, communication is made between the water
chamber and the chemical chamber D when the signal is required to be used and
the evolved phosphuretted hydrogen is only permitted to escape by the annular or
Eclipse burner A A. These signals are so constructed that the water reservoir
need only be filled when required for use by which arrangement they may, be
stored and kept any length of time with perfect safety
.44

page_text: My third improvement consists in a novel arrangement of parts whereby I am
able to produce automatically self igniting and inextinguishable flashing signals at
regular intervals of time. For this purpose I employ the force of gravity as the
motor power to regulate the sequence of the flashes, and the principle of the
clepsydras or water clock for the admission of the water into the chamber
containing the chemical compound. The apparatus therefore essentially consists
of three several parts combined together to act in concert with each other, and
form the complete machine.,
- T
The motor consists of a receptacle A A supplied with the necessary amount of
fine sand which is adjusted to escape by a minute orifice B at the lower end of the
chamber in a fine stream. This stream of sand falls into one of a series of
buckets CC on the periphery of a properly balanced wheel D D placed underneath,
and kept in position by the action of a flexible spring E falling into a notch F
on its circumference. When the equipoise is destroyed by the gravity of the
accumulated sand in the bucket, the spring is thrown out of the notch and the
wheel revolves a certain distance by the descent of the charged bucket, which on
arriving at a certain angle of revolution discharges itself, the spring again falling
into another notch, while at the same moment a fresh bucket is presented under
the falling sand which in due time automatically descends by gravity as before
bringing the next bucket into position and so on as long as the sand continues
flowing from the upper reservoir through the hole. The amount of sand may be
such as to maintain this automatic motion for several days. The generator consists
of a closed metallic receptacle G into which the requisite amount of phosphide of
calcium H is placed. The upper portion of this chamber forms a space for the
retention under slight pressure of the accumulated phosphuretted hydrogen gas set
free by chemical action on the admission of water. From the top of this chamber
the confined gas is allowed to escape at intervals through a tube I into contact
with the atmosphere, by means of a valve M or other arrangement the opening of
which is regulated by the motor after the manner hereinafter described.
:
The clepsydras or exciter consists of a closed chamber N N filled with water
which is allowed to escape when the machine is in action, by means of a small
tube P in the bottom of the chamber fitted with a tap R, so that the flow of water
may be adjusted to any required quantity in any given interval of time. The
capacity of the chamber and the quantity of water is regulated by the amount of
chemicals placed in the generator requiring to be decomposed.
The several parts, the motor, the generator, and the exciter are combined
together to form one apparatus in such a manner that the water from the exciter
drops on to the chemicals in the generator thereby effecting a gradual and regular
decomposition, with the liberation of a corresponding volume of gas, which rising
into the accumulator at the top of the chamber remains there having no means of
escape. The action of the motor in its partial revolution by the successive descent
of each loaded bucket is to open momentarily the valve of the exit tube by the
depression of a lever, or other well understood mechanical appliance, thereby
allowing the escape of a certain portion of the accumulated gas which on,contact
with the atmosphere ignites and produces the flashing light. These flashing
signals will therefore automatically recur at regular intervals so long as the motor
is kept in action by the force of gravity, and the decomposition of the chemicals
supplies a sufficiency of gas.
In this my invention I do not confine myself to any particular detail of
arrangement of the several parts, which may be combined together by any of the
usual mechanical methods employed for similar purposes.
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 :-
i
"
First. The application of the annular or Eclipse form of burner for the emission
of phosphuretted bydrogen gas in connection with self igniting and inextinguishable

page_text: signal lights whereby the gas is presented to the air in such proportions and with
such regularity that it chemically combines in atomic proportions with the oxygen
of the atmosphere to produce perfect combustion and the maximum chemical
luminosity.
Second. I claim the arrangement of the portable self igniting signal with special
water chamber in connection with the improved form of Eclipse burner and
igniting arrangement in connection with the same.
Third. I claim in connection with the production of flashing signals the
combination of gravitation for mechanically producing sequential motion to
regulate the emission of the gas in connection with an adjustable discharge of
water from a reservoir into the chamber containing the phosphide of calcium for
the automatic production of flashing signals at regular intervals of time and of
given duration.