Improvements in and Apparatus for Producing Light from Hydrocarbon Oils, Particularly Applicable for Lighting Wharves, Docks, and Open Spaces Generally.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in and Apparatus for Producing Light from Hydrocarbon
Oils, Particularly Applicable for Lighting Wharves, Docks, and
Open Spaces Generally.
I, EDOUARD EMMANUEL DE FACIEU of Elephant Point, near Rangoon, Burmah,
Clerk Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company Limited, 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 refers to improvements in, and apparatus for producing light from
hydrocarbon oils, and essentially consists in forcing a jet of any volatile hydrocarbon,
through a nozzle constructed according to this invention, in such a manner as to
reduce the oil to the form of a fine spray or vapour, in which state it may be easily
ignited and will continue so to be formed and will burn so long as the apparatus is
kept working, all as here after described.
The said invention will be fully understood and may be readily carried into effect
by the aid of the following description having reference to the accompanying draw-
ings, similar letters referring to like parts on all the figures.
Figure 1 shews in side elevation the upper or nozzle portion of the hydrocarbon
light apparatus constructed according to my invention, Figure 2 being a central
longitudinal section of the same part, and Figure 3 a back elevation.
Figure 4 shews in elevation, and Figure 5 in vertical section, the nozzle of the
apparatus detached; Figure 6 is a vertical section of a portion of the body into which
the nozzle is serewed.
Figure 7 shews the mode I prefer to employ for attaching the pipes to the oil
reservoir, and Figure 8 is a vertical sectional elevation of apparatus constructed
according to my said invention and shewing an example of the manner in which the
various parts of the said apparatus may be arranged for the production of the light;
this figure is drawn to a smaller scale than those previously shewn.
The oil is brought to the nozzle part A of the apparatus shewn at Figs. 1, 2, 3
and 6, by an oil tube B consisting of a short length of stout copper or brass tubing
threaded and shouldered a its lower extremity, see Fig. 6, so as to be jointed to any

page_text: convenient length of similar tubing; this oil tube B is fixed to the outer jacket A by
wings B and is provided at its upper extremity with a nipple B2 which is screwed
onto it, and I have found that it is advisable to have the oil tube B of considerably
larger diameter than the nipple B³ in order to reduce the frictional resistance. The
aperture of the said nipple B is arranged to be in a straight line axially with the
tube B both the nipple and the oil tube are preferably made removable and
may be exchanged for others of different internal gauge when so desired or
required.
The nozzle in which the oil is sprayed is shewn clearly at Figs. 2, 4 and 5, and
is provided with a central tubular outlet Cinto the larger and lower part of which
the nipple B enters. This is surrounded by an outer jacket C and the annular
space C thus formed
in communication with the atmosphere at its upper part
and communicates by means of holes C3 at its lower part with the central outlet C.
The body A has a lower extension A' united thereto by, for example, a union as
shewn, and to this extension is attached a tube D through which air is forced under
pressure while at the same time the oil to be consumed is being forced up the central
tube B. The oil leaving the nipple 132 traverses the small free air space and reaches
and passes through the contracted part of the central aperture C through which it is
carried by its own impetus as well as by the out issuing stream of air; the air at the
same time passes through the holes C³ into and issues from the annular space C2, and
this annular jet of air issues concentrically with the spray jet and it greatly aids in
the combustion of the latter whilst preventing any of the oil from running over the
edge of the central aperture which would otherwise be the case, the said oil being
thus finally discharged in the form of a fine spray or vapour which being ignited will
burn, even in a fresh breeze.
The air to supply the burner is pumped, by means of a steam or other engine into
a suitable reservoir and is thence led to an oil reservoir such as is shown at E Fig. 8,
by a pipe E which opens into the air space above the level of the oil.
The oil tube B hereinbefore described opens under the level of the oil, whilst the
outer or air tube D opens above that level see Fig. 7 therefore the air pressure will at
the same time force a stream of oil through the tube B and a current of air through
the pipe D, and the two (oil and air) will mix throughout the entire length of
the central aperture C of the nozzle, and form the vapour or spray, as before
explained.
It will be seen from Figs. 1, 3 and 8, that the nozzle is provided with a hollow
cáp F for protection when not in use; the rod G is raised or lowered by. means of
the fixed nut G, Fig. 8, which works on the squared end of the rod and thus caps or
uncaps, the nozzle and the action of this part will be perfectly clear by a reference to
Figs. 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
.
Figure 8 shows the apparatus in working order. The oil reservoir E may be raised
from the ground by means of a substantial stand, and may be boxed in, as shewn ; it
is provided with a gauge glass E to shew the level of the oil, and should be able to
withstand a pressure of 15 lbs. to the square inch, and may be made of any convenient
shape or material. By raising the oil reservoir from the ground less pressure
will be required to raise the oil from it while the total height of the flame from
the ground may remain constant. A wooden mast or upright running parallel to the
uptake pipe and nearly its whole height may be employed as a support.
An air pressure reservoir is employed to contain and regulate the air supply, but
is not shewn on the drawings, as it contains no novelty. It may be made of any
convenient material, should be able to bear safely a pressure of 20 lbs. to the square
inch, and should be provided with a pressure gauge and a safety valve. One im-
-portant detail however must not be omitted. The reservoir should empty itself into
the pipe E (Fig. 8) not directly, but through a certain and variable length of tubing
of considerably smaller diameter, for as the air will meet with considerable frictional
resistance in its passage through this fine.tube, the pulsations of the air pump which
fills the reservoir will, by this means, be effectually prevented from affecting the
steadiness of the flame, to which they would otherwise communicate an objectionable

page_text: vibration. This fine tube may be coiled inside the reservoir itself in which case
having no pressure to bear it may be made of lead. Its length may vary according
to requirements, and if the light should be placed at any considerable distance
from the air reservoir, the pipe E¹ (Fig. 8) would itself answer the purpose to a
certain degree.
Figure 7 shews the mode of attachment of pipes B and D to the oil reservoir..
The pipe B may be made, to open below the level of the oil by means of, for
example, a short length of flexible tubing of suitable material with spiral wire inside
as shewn.
All the figures, except Fig. 8, are about full size, but the proportions of the parts.
may.be modified if necessary. The tubes B and D hereinbefore referred to may be
of considerably smaller diameter without in my opinion affecting the free action of
the apparatus.
The air reservoir should preferably have an internal capacity of at
least 3 cubic feet and the oil reservoir, one of at least 1 cubic foot. One air reservoir
of dimensions above mentioned, fed by an engine of considerably less than one horse--
power, should keep two or more lights going.
A nozzle of the size shewn in Fig. 2 should give under an air pressure of 15 lbs., a.
light equal to, at least 1,000 candles, and will burn steadily in the open air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
First In apparatus for producing light from hydrocarbon oils, the surrounding
of the vapour or spray jet by an annular air jet substantially as described.
:
Second In apparatus for producing light from hydrocarbon oils, the nozzle having.
central aperture C, jacket, annular space (F, holes C³ with the oil tube B and
nipple B body. A A and outer air tube D, together with cap F. substantially as and
for the purposes herein set forth.
:
Third The general construction, combination and arrangement of parts comprising
the apparatus herein described for producing light from volatile hydrocarbon and
consisting of the nozzle portion as claimed in claim 2, together with the oil reservoir E
having gauge glass E and supplied by air pipe E connected to air pressure reservoir
and acting as and for the purposes substantially as herein described, with reference.
to the accompanying drawings.
LA 1900