Improvements in Lamps for Burning Liquids Liable to Produce Explosive Vapours.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application. 1st Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
TRUVIDIUNATI DI MUITIATIVA.
Improvements in Lamps for Burning Liquids Liable to Produce
Explosive Vapours.
I JOHN DAVIS WARREN of 137 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Analytical Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to prevent the mixture of inflammable vapour
and air formed in the reservoir of a lamp burning a volatile oil or spirit, which
mixture is of an explosive character, from coming in contact with the flame of the
lamp thus avoiding the dangerous and fatal explosions that frequently happen with
lamps constructed in the ordinary manner.
This invention consists in attaching a tube of metal or other suitable material
preferably thin in substance to the under side of the burner said tube being formed
sufficiently large to enclose the wick and also any orifice or passage through the
burner communicating with the outside.
The tube should be sufficiently long to reach to the bottoin of the reservoir of
the lamp and in order that the burner and attachment may fit reservoirs having
different depths the varying length of tube so required is obtained by having
another 'tube sliding tightly inside or over the one attached to the burner the length
can this be adjusted within certain limits.
The lower end of the tube is closed by a plate which has a small hole of say
about drilled in its centre.
"
On this plate inside the tube there rests a flat disc of metal or other suitable
material which is of slightly smaller diameter than the tube and which forms a
valve. At a short distance say about one quarter of an inch above this a perforated
false bottom is fixed on which the wick of the lamp rests and which prevents the
level of the oil from being reduced below this point by the capillary action of the
wick. The end of the tube therefore is closed against any passage from the inside
to the outside of the valve over which there is always at least a seal of a quantity
of oil say about a quarter of an inch of oil. At the same time the oil can readily
enter the tubé through the hole drilled in the end by lifting and passing by the
valve.
"
Or the flow of oil into the tube and its retention may be controlled by any
suitable or equivalent device.
When the burner having this attachment is screwed on to the reservoir the space
above the oil is completely isolated from the flame and it is only the very small
space enclosed by the tube and that filled to a great extent by the oil and the wick
that can be ignited and even if this occurs it cannot extend to the body of the
lamp without shattering the tube which will withstand a far greater strain than any
it can be subjected to in this way.
To provide for entrance of air to the reservoir to replace the oil consumed I
provide a small air hole which may pass through the outer metal casing and this
hole inay be closed by a suitable valve or fitted cover to control the direction
of flow.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lamps for Burning Liquids Liable to Produce
Explosive Vapours.
I JOHN DAVIS WARREN formerly of 137 High Holborn but now of 7 Essex
Road, Acton in the County of Middlesex Analytical Chemist, 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:-
The object of this invention is to prevent the mixture of inflammable vapour and
air formed in the reservoir of a lamp burning a volatile oil or spirit, which
mixture is of an explosive character, from coming in contact with the flame of the
lamp thus avoiding the dangerous and fatal explosions that frequently happen with
lamps constructed in the ordinary manner.
Fig. 1 shews a vertical section of a cheap construction of lamp, adapted to burn
any ordinary hydro carbon oil of usual character and provided with my improve-
ments.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section of same on line 1-1 Fig. 1 to a larger scale.
Fig. 3 shews a modification in that the moveable valve d is dispensed with and a
body of asbestos, slag wool, or other suitable fibrous material is substituted.
This invention consists in attaching a tube a of metal, or other suitable material,
preferably thin in substance, to the underside of the burner b, said tube a being
formed sufficiently large to enclose the wick and also any orifice, or passage
through the burner communicating with the outside.
The tube a should be sufficiently long to reach to the bottom of the reservoir c
of the lamp and in order that the burner and attachment may fit reservoirs
having different depths the varying length of tube a so required is obtained by
having another tube a sliding tightly inside or over the one a attached to the
burner the length can thus be adjusted within certain limits.
The lower end a¹ of the tube a is closed by a plate a which has a small hole a*
of say about "drilled in its centre.
On this plate a² inside the tube a¹ there rests a flat disc d of metal or other
suitable material which is of slightly smaller diameter than the tube a' and which
forms a valve d..
At a short distance say about one quarter of an inch above this a perforated
false bottom e is fixed on which the wick of the lamp rests and which prevents
the level of the oil from being reduced below this point by the capillary action of
the wick. The end of the tube a a¹ therefore is closed against any passage from the
inside to the outside by the valve d over which there is always at least a seal of a
quantity of oil, say about a quarter of an inch of oil. At the same time the oil
can readily enter the tube a a through the hole drilled in the end by lifting and
passing by the valve d.
Or the flow of oil into the tube and its retention may be controlled by any
suitable or equivalent device, or by a body of asbestos, slag wool or other suitable
fibrous material as indicated by Fig. 3 dispensing with the disc valve d.
When the burner having this attachment is screwed on to the reservoir the
space above the oil is completely isolated from the flame and it is only the very
small space enclosed by the tube and that filled to a great extent by the oil and the
wick that can be ignited and even if this occurs it cannot extend to the body of
the lamp without shattering the tube which will withstand a far greater strain than
any it can be subjected to in this way.
To provide for entrance of air to the reservoir c to replace the oil consumed
I provide a small air hole y which air hole may pass through the outer metal

page_text: casing c and this hole may be closed by a suitable valve, or fitted as shown at h
with a domed cover, to control the direction of flow of any escaping vapour and
conduce to dilution with air to render such vapour inexplosive and prevent
inflammable contact with the burner, if desired.
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 :-
I claim in a lamp, for burning liquids liable to produce inflammable vapours, the
combination with the burner and reservoir parts, of a wick chamber constructed
and arranged substantially as described, so as to prevent any explosive ignition of
vapour extending beyond said chamber into the reservoir for the purpose set forth.
2. In a lamp for burning volatile oil a burner and parts appertaining thereto in
combination with a chamber so constructed and arranged that whilst serving as a
wick holder, it encloses the entrance to or under portion of the burner and at its
other end it serves as a stop or deterrent to the passage of any flame that may be
generated in said chamber from passing into the reservoir of fuel, as set forth.
Dated the 30th day of November 1892.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.