Improvements in Vapor Lamps.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
COME DEID DI DIFICATION.
Improvements in Vapor Lamps.
We, WILLIAM STONE, of No. 30 Mary Street, St. Kilda, near Melbourne in
the Colony of Victoria, Electrical Engineer, CHARLES RALSTON, of No. 14
Armadale Street, Armadale, near Melbourne aforesaid, Electrical Engineer,
JAMES GREGG, of North Road, Elsternwick, near Melbourne aforesaid, Iron-
monger, and WILLIAM ALFRED HOLMES, of Storey Street, Parkville, near
Melbourne aforesaid, Electrical Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to that class of lamps which generate and consume the
vapour of petroleum or other liquid hydro-carbons.
According to this invention the vapour of petroleum or other liquid hydro-
carbon is produced in a generating device which is so constructed as to cause in a
novel manner a current of air to pass over the surface of the liquid hydro-carbon
in the generator. This said generating device.is at first heated by the process of
ignition hereafter described, or by the application of heat from any suitable exterior
source, the liquid being admitted to the generating device at the required rate in
any convenient manner. The air in its passage over the interior surface of the
generating device, on which surface the illuminating material is spread, ensures
the evaporation of the illuminating material at a uniform rate, the evaporation
taking place under these conditions at a part of the generating device when its
temperature is less than the boiling point of the illuminating material used.
By these means the illuminating material.is vaporised without ebullition or boiling,
and the mixture of vapour and air is supplied to the burner in a perfectly regular
manner.
In order to cause this current of air to pass over the surface of the liquid hydro-
carbon, we apply heat to the generating device (preferably by arranging a portion
of said device either within or else close to the chimney of the lamp as hereinafter
described), so as to heat and thereby rarefy the air, and thus induce a current
within the generating device, which current is directed or caused to flow over the
surface of the liquid hydro-carbon to be evaporised and from thence to the burner
where it is consumed.
An important feature in this invention consists in so arranging the igniting
burner relatively with the vapour burner and the other parts of the lamp, that the
natural draught of the chimney produces a current of air on each side of the wick
and ensures efficient combustion of the illuminating materiál. The supply pipe and
burner are so arranged that the illuminating material will pass to the incom-
bustible wick whilst in the liquid state, but on being vaporised it will issue from
the main or vapour burner and be ignited by the flame at the wick.
Our invention inay be adapted to many of the existing forms of lamps or lamps
of similar type, and therefore may be used for any of the purposes for which lamps
are specially designed. We purpose using it mainly for what are known as
regenerative lamps.
Two ways of adapting, our invention to regenerative vapour lamps will be
clearly understood from the following description, reference being made to the
accompanying drawings, wherein
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sketch, illustrating one way in which our invention

page_text: may be adapted to inwardly burning lamps; and Figure 2 is a similar view
illustrating the application of this invention to outwardly burning lamps. The
chimney which produces the requisite draught and carries off the products of com-
bustion is shewn at A. The vapour and ignition burners are shewn at B and C
respectively. The deflectors which cause the incoming air to impinge on the flame
are shewn at D and E. The generating device is shewn at F and G, and the pipe
through which the illuminating material is supplied is shewn at H. K indicates
the position of the glass dome."
The generating device is here shown in the form of a bent tube, both ends of
which are in open communication with the vapour burner. One branch F of the
bent tube is run in close proximity to the chimney, and may if desired be attached
to it. The other branch G of the bent tube is situated at a greater distance from
the chimney and has the tube H communicating with it near the upper end. An
aperture for the admission of air is made in the pipe For burner B, at or near
their point of junction, as shewn at P. In the figure the vapour and ignition
burners are shewn combined. C is a wick of asbestos or other suitable material,
which is placed as shewn, so that its lower edge protrudes from the burner and
forms a narrow annular band at which the illuminating material may be ignited in
the usual manner by means of a match or other suitable source of heat. The
apertures which form the vapour burner are shown at O.
The operation of the lamp is as follows:-
The valve S is opened to the desired extent and allows the illuminating material
to flow down the pipes H G to the burner B, and on to the ignition wick C by
means of the inclined plate R, which is attached to the lower end of the tube G.
The illuminating material spreads over the ignition wick C, and may be lit at
the lower edge of the wick which protrudes from the burner. On lighting the
illuminating material at the wick C, the flame rises up round and heats the
chimney A, thus causing an upward current of air in the chimney. The flame is
by this means drawn downwards into the glass, and the products of combustion
then pass up the chimney and maintain the requisite draught to effect the complete
combustion of the illuminating material. A part of the heat given out by the
flame at the ignition burner C rapidly finds its way by conduction and radiation
from the flame and chimney to the burner and tubes F and G. The tube F,
owing to its closer proximity to the chimney, will be more intensely heated than
the tube G. The air, or mixture of air and vapour in the tube F, will be
expanded and rendered less dense than that in the cooler tube G, hence a circula-
tion will result, the direction of which is indicated by the arrows. The air in its
passage over the heated interior surface of the tube G, down which the illuminating
material is flowing, will accelerate its vaporisation and cause it to be effected at a
part of the tube G where the temperature is below the boiling point of the illumi-
nating material used.
By reference to the drawing it will be readily seen that the generating device,
which also serves to effect the thorough mixing of the air and vapour, compels the
whole of the material which is in circulation to pass through the vapour burner,
and thus maintains a constant supply. As soon as this mixture of air and vapour
starts to form it will issue from the vapour burner, and be ignited by the flame
which still exists at the igniting wick C. As the temperature of the lamp
continues to rise, the complete vaporisation of the illuminating material will be
effected, thereby causing the flame at the wick C to die out, and the lamp is then
in full operation.
The circulation, which is effected in the generating device F G, is assisted by
the vaporisation of the illuminating material, which by its evaporation tends to
keep the tube G at a lower temperature than the tube F, and also adds to the
density of the mixture in the tube G.
'
As the heated products of combustion ascend. in the chimney A, a strong

page_text: draught is produced, which causes fresh air to flow in through the spaces X and Z
on each side of the igniting burner C and vapour burner B. These currents of
air are made to impinge on each side of the flame by means of the deflectors D
and E. The incoming air produces a slight sucking action at the vapour burner B,
which is sufficient to draw the vapour through the holes O and maintain a steady
supply of vapour for combustion.
As the vapour is thus drawn from the burner B a small quantity of air enters
at the aperture P, and would, if this circulation did not exist, enter the burner B
directly. As, however, the generating device is capable of putting a greater
volume of gaseous material into circulation than the quantity of air which enters
at P, it is evident that the whole of the air will be carried by means of the
circulation up the tube F, and will not reach the burner B till it has passed through
the vapour generating tube G and become thoroughly mixed with the vapour of the
illuminating material.
It is evident that, as both ends of the bent tube F G, which here constitutes the
generating device, open into the burner B, no alteration of the absolute pressure in
the burner can in any way influence the circulation.
Referring to Figure 2-
A is the chimney which carries off the products of combustion and produces the
requisite draught.
B is the vapour burner in the form of an inverted argand.
C is the igniting burner, which is here shown not directly combined with the
vapour burner B, but it may, if desired, be combined directly with the vapour
burner B as shewn in Figure 1.
The deflectors D and E direct the incoming air so that it will impinge on the
flame and produce efficient combustion.
The deflector K determines the direction of the current of out-flowing air in its
passage from the burner B to the chimney A.
The generating device is shewn at F G H and P, indicating the inlets through
which the illuminating material and air are respectively admitted.
The plate T is perforated when the ignition burner C is arranged as shewn in
Figure 2, the object being to admit the necessary quantity of air to the inner side
of the igniting flame as it rises from the burner C. But if the ignition burner C
is placed in conjunction with the vapour burner B between the deflectors D and E,
the plate T would not be perforated.
If the igniting burner be combined with the vapour burner B, whether it be
situated either outside B or inside B, the operation of the lamp will be the same as
previously described with reference to the lamp shown in Figure 1, the only
differences being that the cross tubes U in the burner will slope downwards and
inwards, instead of as shewn in Figure 2, so as to carry the illuminating material to
that position of the igniting burner, and the flame will turn outwards.
If, on the other hand, the igniting burner is situated as shown at C in Figure 2,
the operation of the lamp will be as follows:-On opening the valve S the
illuminating material will flow down the generating pipe G, reaching the burner by
the branches V. On reaching the cross tubes U it will flow down to the burner C,
where it may be ignited at the edge of the wick, It will be evident from an
inspection of the drawing that whilst the illuminating material is in the liquid state
it will not flow into the burner B. After the illuminating material has been burning
for a few minutes at the ignition burner C the generating device will become
sufficiently heated to partly vaporise the illuminating material, and circulation will
As the vapour
be produced, as previously described in connection with Figure 1.
forms and is carried to the burner by the circulation it will issue from the holes O
in the vapour burner, and as it is carried by the natural air currents over the flame
at the igniting burner C it will be lit and the flame will pass back to the burner B.
As the temperature of the lamp rises the illuminating material will be completely

page_text: vaporised, and the flame at the igniting burner C will die out. The lamp is then in
full operation.
It will be evident to persons skilled in this class of work, that the generating
device which is shewn in the drawings in the form of a bent tube might be con-
`structed in the form of a single broad chamber so situated with reference to the
other portions of the lamp that a difference of temperature will be maintained
between the sides of the chamber, thus causing the requisite circulation, the inlets
for illuminating material and air being made at suitable places. Again, it is evident
that the generating device may be placed in any other direction which may be
convenient or suit the particular form of lamp to which it is adapted. Or, if
desired, two or more generating devices may be used, or the pipes may be branched
so as to enter the burner at any desired number of points, the inlets for the
illuminating material and air being situated in each case so that they may perform
their proper functions.
In the drawings we have shewn the generating device so placed with respect to
the other portions of the lamp that the illuminating material will flow through it in
obedience to the law of gravity. In some forms of lamps, however, it may be
convenient to use some other motive power to effect the necessary transfer of
illuminating material from the reservoir, which may even be situated below the
burner; in such cases, capillarity, the force due to springs, compressed air, or any
other of the well-known mechanical expedients may be adopted.
In the same way we do not confine ourselves to the exact details of the igniting
burner as shown in the drawings, but may, if desired, make it in segments instead
of a complete annulus, and if preferred it can be made movable. The wick may be
serrated or divided in any suitable manner without departing from the spirit of our
invention. In Figure 1, the igniting burner C is shown in close proximity to the
vapour burner B, and the two are really combined; but it is manifest that the
igniting burner might be separated by a suitable space from the vapour burner B,
the necessary connection for the supply of illuminating material being effected by
pipes or channels to any desired part of the generating device or chambers connected
thereto. It may in some cases be convenient to arrange the ignition burner C
outside, and concentric with the vapour burner B, in either inwardly or outwardly
burning lamps. Or again, in outwardly burning lamps, the igniting burner C
might be supported between the deflectors E and K, so that air would have access
to both sides of the flame without perforating the cylinder T. Or it may even be
attached to the deflector K, in which case the deflector K would require perforating
in order to give the requisite supply of air to effect the combustion of the illuminating
material. In special cases the igniting burner might be supplied with any sort of
fuel from a separate reservoir.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is-
First. In a vapour lamp, a burner in open communication with a generating
device, having suitable inlets or apertures through which the illuminating material
and air are admitted, the generating device being attached to such a part of the
lamp that when the lamp is in operation a difference of temperature is maintained
between the parts of the generating device, thereby causing the air and vapour to
circulate in it, a portion of the generating device being at such a temperature that
the illuminating material is completely evaporated by the aid of the said circulation
of air and vapour.
Second. In a vapour lamp, an igniting burner so situated with reference to the
deflectors (D and E or E and K), or their equivalents, in outwardly burning
lamps, and to the deflectors (D and E) or their equivalents in inwardly burning
lamps, that the air is caused to impinge on each side of the flame so as to effect

page_text: complete or efficient combustion of the illuminating material; substantially as and
for the purposes herein described, and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, etc., of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this Fourth day of January One thousand eight hundred and ninety--
three
three
W. STONE.
CHARLES RALSTON.
JAMES GREGG.
WM. A. HOLMES.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,.
Agents for the Applicants.