Improvements in or connected with Vapour or Spray Lamps.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 18th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Vapour or Spray Lamps.
I, ROBERT FULTON CRAIG, of the Caledonia Engine Works, Paisley, in the County
of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention
to be as follows, that is to say:
My said Invention relates to certain kinds of vapor and spray lamps which have
recently come into use, which may be distinguished as being self contained and which
operate without the aid of steam or compressed air from external sources. In such
self-contained lamps the heat of the flame is used to generate vapor from oil or to
generate steam to throw oil into spray; and considerable trouble is often caused by
the difficulty of starting them. The object of the present Invention is to provido a
simple and convenient appliance for starting such lamps.
In carrying out my Invention in the case of a vapor lamp, small pipes fitted with
stop cocks are extended from a low part of the oil reservoir and from the reservoir or
space into which air is compressed by means of a hand pump or in any convenient
way. These oil and air pipes terminate with small orifices situated within or below
the burner and vapor generator, but so as not to interfere with the main flame; and the
oil orifice is placed so that the jet of compressed air from the air orifice may blow across
it in an upward direction and throw the issuing oil into fine spray. This comparatively
small jet of spray is easily ignited and in a short time proluces sufficient heat to
generate vapor for the main flame; and when the main flame is fairly started the small
jets may be shut off. The oil for the small jet may be supplied from a source apart
from the main oil reservoir, and if desirable may be of a more volatile kind than the
oil for the main flame.
In the case of a spray lamp worked with self-generated steam the small starting jets
of oil and air are placed so that their flame will act on the coil of piping in which
steam is generated. The air for the starting jet may be compressed into the oil
reservoir or other vessel by means of a small hand pump.
Dated this Eighteenth day of January 1889.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Vapour or Spray Lamps.
I, ROBERT FULTON CRAIG, of the Caledonia Engine Works, Paisley, Renfrew N.B.
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:-
My invention relates to self generating gas or vapour burners or Lamps, and to
Spray burners or lamps, which latter are operated by means of steam that acts upon
the oil or combustible liquid used and throws it into fine spray, which is easily ignited,
and burns freely, the steam for this purpose being self generated or superheated by
the heat of the flame, from the burner, when properly started to work.
Each of the above named self generating gas or vapour burners or lamps, and steam
spray burners or lamps, (hereinafter referred to as lamps) require to be first heated up,
before they become selfacting, that is to say, the pipes or passages through which the
combustible liquid or oil passes (hereinafter termed oil) to be converted into gas or
vapour (hereinafter termed vapour) or through which water or steam passes to be
converted into steam or superheated steam, require to be heated up to a certain extent
until sufficient vapour or steam is generated to supply the lamp, after which the heat
produced by the heat of the flame from the lamp is sufficient to make it self acting.
:

page_text: The object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient appliance, for
starting or heating up such lamps until they can supply all the heat they require to
make them automatic when properly set to work.
In some cases I supply the oil to the beater or starter (which I will hereinafter term
the starter) from the cistern which is to supply the lamp, in other cases I supply the
oil from a small cistern or vessel separate and independent from the cistern for
supplying the oil to the lamp, and the air under pressure required by the starter I take
from that which is in the oil cistern for the lamp and which forces the oil to the lamp
and in other cases from a small air cistern, or air and oil cistern separate from that
supplying the lamp.
It will be understood that when the lamp has been properly started to work the
starter may be put out of action and when so arranged may be removed.
In carrying out my invention the apparatus may be arranged in a variety of ways
which will be most readily described by reference to the acompanying drawings.
Fig. 1, is an elevation of a self contained vapour lamp with the oil supply cistern
according to the system known as "The Wells Light Lamp" described in the specifi-
cations of Letters Patent granted to Roughsedge Wallwork and Arthur Collings
Wells.
One part of the oil supply cistern and the stand pipe and filter plug and regulating
cock is shown in section.
Fig. 2 is an elevation showing a separate cistern for air connected by a flexible pipe
with a portable starter appliance, having a small oil supply cistern separate from the
lamp cistern, and shown as when temporarily attached to the burner connected with
the stand pipe and oil supply cistern shown by fig. 1.
This portable starter is or may be used with lamps with or without a permanently
connected starter apparatus as shown in fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the said Wells Light Lamp" and oil supply cistern
according to the said Roughsedge Wallwork-and Arthur-Collings Wells Patents, and
illustrating the application thereto and the combination therewith of my portable
starter appliance.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged outside elevation, and fig. 5 a section through the passages
and nozzles illustrating the portable cistern for oil and the connected nozzles and
passages and regulating screw plug for producing the spray in the starter.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged outside elevation detached and fig. 7 a longitudinal section
thereof showing a combined valve for supplying air and a connection for the lower end
of the flexible tube conveying air under pressure to the portable starter as shown in
fig. 3.
Fig. 8 is an elevation of a self generating_vapour_lamp and oil supply cistern,
according to that arrangement known as "The Beacon Lamp."
In this arrangement the starter is permanently attached to the lamp and is supplied
with oil and air from the lamp cistern.
The spray forming nozzle and passages for the starter shown in figs. 1 and 8 are the
same, and are illustrated by an enlarged detached section fig. 9. Fig. 10 is an eleva-
tion showing a steam spray burner.
I will first describe that modification of my invention illustrated by fig. 1.
a, is the oil and air cistern; b, the hand pump for forcing oil or air into the cistern
61, part of the flexible suction pipe for the pump.
c, the pipe within the cistern for oil; c, the stand pipe, which has a stuffing box a
the upper end for the pipe conveying oil to the generating passages of the burner d.
, is the filter plug, and ca, the cock for regulating the supply of oil to the burner.
All the parts in fig. 1 above named by letters of reference are the ordinary and wel
known parts of "The Wells Light Lamp."
In applying my starter, I connect the lower end of a pipe e, with the casting for
the filter plug (c) and regulating cock (c), which is the same as that used in the said
"Wells Light Lamp" except that there is a passage formed in it for oil to pass outside
the filter plug. The pipe e, has a stop and regulating cock el, in it.

page_text: There is another pipe f, also having a stop and regulating cock f¹, the lower end of
which is connected with the upper part of the cistern a.
The upper ends of the two pipes e, and f, are connected with the casting g, shown
by fig. 9.
The air under pressure from the passage g¹, meets the oil from the passage g*, which
oil is thrown into fine spray and passes out at the nozzle g³, and when ignited the
flame is directed to play upon the generating passages of the burner d, until sufficiently
heated.
There is a screw plug g', for cleaning out the passage leading to the nozzle g³.
There is also a dish g', formned on the casting to catch any oil that may
overflow.
The pipes e, and f, supplying the oil and air are secured by clamps h, to the main
stand pipe c.
Fig. 8 illustrates another modification of my invention.
is the air and oil supply cisterns; b, the pump for pumping air into the cistern ;
c, the stand pipe carrying the burner or lamp at its upper end; c', is a pipe passing to
the lower part of the interior of the cistern and it then forms a junction with the stand
pipe c, which is closed at its lower and upper ends; c³, is a stop and regulating cock
in the pipe c; c, is a branch pipe having a stop and regulating cock c.
This branch pipe c', communicates between the upper part of the stand pipe c, and
the upper part of the coil or passage enclosed within the metal casing d¹.
The parts of fig. 8 above referred to by letters, are well known parts of the said.
"Beacon Lamp" and my invention is applied to and combined with such lamps by a
pipe f, for air, provided with a stop and regulating cock f. The lower end of the
pipe f, communicates with the air space in the upper part of the cistern a, and the
upper end with the spray forming part of the starter g, and there is a pipe e, for oil
provided with a stop and regulating cock e', which is connected with the last named
part g, and the stand pipe c.
The flame from the spray jet of the starter is arranged to play upon the vapour
generating channels by passing through a hole for it formed in the casing d.
It is obvious that air and oil may be taken from the oil supply cistern in various
ways and made to form a spray jet and flame to operate upon the generating tubes or
passages.
Fig. 3 shows another of "The Wells Light Lamps” and illustrates another mode of
applying the starter appliance to it.
In this case the starter is combined with a small separate cistern for oil illustrated
on an enlarged scale by figs. 4 and 5.
g*, is the hollow in the casting g, forming the cistern, which can be closed by a
screw plug g, when supplied with oil. There is a small hole in the screw plug (not
shown) or in the upper part of the small cistern g*, to admit air into, as fast as the
oil passes out of it.
9, is an inclined passage in which screws a cone pointed spindle 97, which forms a
valve to close a hole or open it more or less for oil to pass from the cistern g*, through
the hole g³, into the passage g², which meets a passage g¹, in communication with the
air supply pipe f.
At the outer end of the passage g¹, there is a small orifice gº, for the air and oil
spray to pass out, and when required and in order to spread and make the oil spray
flame more effective, there is a cone nozzle 910, screwed into the casting, the orifice of
which is larger than the orifice g³.
There is a space formed between the two nozzles g, and g10, into which air can be
drawn through the passage g¹¹, by the inducing action of the jet escaping from the first
nozzle gº.
The portable oil spray forming apparatus in the casting g, above described and shown
by figs. 4 and 5 is shown applied in fig. 3 and in fig. 1 in connection with fig. 2.
In fig. 3 the hollow g, (see figs.. 4 and 5) may he passed upon the handle or stud
from the back part of the cover of the "Wells Light, Lamp" and the flame from the

page_text: spray jet is arranged to pass through a hole formed in the back of the cover as
illustrated in fig. 3, so as to act upon and heat the generating rings or passages.
In figs. 1 and 2 a bar g, is passed through the hole g, in the casting and is secured
therein and the bar g¹³, has a hook formed upon it by which it can be hooked upon.
the burner as shown, so that the spray flame will play upon the generating rings or
passages; the hook bar being shown in dotted line in fig. 1.
The pipe, figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 is connected with one end of a flexible tube f³,
the other end of which is attached to another pipe, which is constructed to form
arrangements for readily connecting or disconnecting it with a nozzle or stem,
secured in the top of the oil supply cistern a.
In figs. 2 and 3 the lower metal pipe, is attached to a nozzle formed in the screw
plug to which the upper end of the rod is attached which is used for ascertaining the
depth of oil in the cistern in one modification of the Wells Light Lamp supply cistern.
i, (see figs. 6 and 7) forms the plug which screws into a part a', (see fig. 3) secured
fluid tight into the top of the oil supply cistern.
To a hole in this screw plug i, one end of the sounding rod i, is secured.
But so that it may perform a double function and save the necessity for a separate
hole in the cistern the screw plug i, is made hollow and has a seating formed in it for
a cone valve ', (see fig. 7) which when screwed fully inwards against its seating,
closes the hole in the axis of the screw plug i, which communicates with the air space
inside of the cistern by means of a groove, in the side of the upper end of the
rod ¹.
The stem h, upon which the cone end of the valve ', is formed is tubular, the bore
at one end terminating on one side of the cone forming the valve (see fig. 7).
There is a cylindrical part on the stem , near the cone ', which is screw threaded
to fit the screw thread in the hollow plug i, in which a packing gland is formed
"round the stem h, the packing-material being kept tight in the space it, by a screw
gland.
The exterior of the stem h, above the screw gland go, has flats formed upon it for a
screw wrench by which the stem can be screwed down to close the valve or up to allow
air to pass from the cistern into its bore.
The upper end of the stem h, is cylindrical:
==
To the metal part, a diaphragm or washer f³, of india rubber leather or other
suitable elastic material of the form shown in fig. 7, is secured to the motal part f*,
by a screw cap fe, screwing upon the part and securing the margin of the
diaphragm f, against the end of the tube.
'
When the hole in the diaphragm is passed upon the stem h, and air is admitted, its
pressure acting inside presses the inclined sides of the diaphragm against the sides of
the stem, and thus makes an air tight joint.
The metal end of the tube f*, can thus be readily applied or removed from the tubular
stem h.
Another modification for a "Starter" applicable to the Wells Light Lamp and
similar vapour lamps consists in connecting one end of a short pipe with the top of the
air cistern (a) figs. 1 and 2, and the other end with the stand pipe c, above the cocks c³,
and c, this pipe having a stop and regulating cock in it. Or a passage may be made
in the casing for the cocks c, and c³, to communicate with the air in the cisterna,
and the stand pipe c, this passage having a stop and regulating cock in it.
means when the cock c³, is closed, and the cock in the pipe or passage for air is open
air will pass from the cistern a, and out at the nozzle of the burner for vapour.
By this
With this arrangement a small separate portable cistern for oil is used having a pipe
in it extending at its lower end nearly to the bottom of the small cistern. The upper
end of the tube outside the small cistern has a nozzle formed upon it, which I will
hereinafter term the "starter nozzle" which is or may be cylindrical at one end and
conical and with a small hole at the other or cone end.
The cylindrical part of the starter is passed over the nozzle of the burner, (and thus
the small cistern is suspended thereon) so that the air escaping from it will pass

page_text: directly through the nozzle of the starter and through the air cylinder and cone and
the generating rings of the burner.
The air passing through the starter nozzle will form a partial vacuum, and draw oil
from the small cistern up the short tube into the starter nozzle from which it will
be discharged in fine spray which when ignited will heat the vapour generating
rings.
is turned on,
and the air is turned off, then the portable cistern and starter which as before
stated is suspended from the nozzle of the burner is removed, and the lamp will start
to work.
When the rings are sufficiently heated the oil from the lamp cistern
Fig. 2 illustrates my invention when a separate air cistern is used to supply the
starter with air.
k, is the cistern, which is or may be made portable and so as to be easily carried
about, it is provided with a force pump k, for charging it with air under pressure and
may be provided with an arrangement similar to i and, and h, and h¹, herein-
before described in reference to figs. 6 and 7 and fig. 3.
The flexible tube 3, conveys the air to the starter from the cistern k, as hereinbefore
described in reference to fig. 3.
The portable cistern k, and starter can be carried about and may be readily applied
for starting lamps to work, and may then be removed, one appliance being thus
employed for starting a number of lamps when in use in the same neighbourhood.
I prefer to use a little oil in the cistern k, fig. 2 to seal the inlet valve of the
pump.
If desired sufficient oil may be pumped into the cistern k, to supply the starter
with both air and oil, which starter may then be arranged as illustrated by fig. 9, and
provided with a hook or other device for attaching it temporarily to the burner, so that
the flame from it may be directed upon the vapour or steam generating passages to
start the lamps to work.
In this case two flexible tubes will be required, one for oil being arranged same as
that described in reference to fig. 3, and figs. 6 and 7, the other flexible tube for
air would be connected with the top of the cistern k, which would be provided
with a stop and regulating cock as described in reference to figs. 1 and 8.
In using my invention sufficient air is pumped into the cistern (a) to supply
what is required by the starter, and give pressure to force the oil from the
cistern a, to the lamp but should the pressure in the cistern not be sufficient more
is added by working the pump. When the starter has operated for a short time
the oil to the lamp is gradually turned on, and when vapour is formed or steam
sufficiently generated or super-heated, the discharged jet from the burner is ignited,
then the starter, if portable, may then be removed or (when the appliance is
permanently connected with the lamp) the oil and air is turned off from it when
the lamp is fully started.
Fig. 10 illustrates the application of my invention to a steam spray lamp.
In some steam spray lamps the steam from a boiler is brought by a pipe 1,
provided with a stop and regulating cock to a coil of pipe l, in which it is
superheated by the heat of the flame of the lamp.
In other cases, water is brought from a cistern connected with the lamp which
water is forced by air pressure in the cistern to the said coil, and the heat of
the flame from the lamp not only converts the water into steam but superheats
the steam thus produced.
Before these steam spray lamps can be started to work properly, the coil pipe ",
must be heated up sufficiently to superheat or to both generate and superheat the
steam required, and to start such lamps, I use my portable appliance illustrated
by fig 2, to heat up the steam producing or superheating coil, the flame from
the starter passing through a hole in the casing m, enclosing the coil, the starter
being hooked on the casing m, as illustrated in fig. 10.
n, is the pipe provided with a cock n', for supplying oil from a cistern to the
steam spray lamp.

page_text: 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.
1. Apparatus by which oil or other suitable combustible liquid can be thrown into
spray, by air under pressure, and by which the heat of the flame of the combined
spray and air thus produced when ignited, is directed to play upon, the vapour or
steam generating or super-heating passages of vapour and steam spray Lamps for the
purpose of starting them to work, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. Starters for vapour lamps arranged so that the oil and air for the starter is
supplied from the oil supplying cistern of the lamp substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. Starters for vapour lamps arranged so that the oil for the starter is supplied from
a separate cistern from the lamp oil supply cistern, and the air from the latter substan-
tially as herein before described.
4. Starters for vapour or steam spray lamps where the oil for the starter is supplied
from a separa to portable cistern, and the air from a separate cistern substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by fig. 2 of the drawings.
5. Starters for vapour or steam spray lamps where both the oil and air are supplied
to the starter from a cistern separated from the oil supply cistern for the lamp, substan-
tially as herein before described in reference to fig. 2.
6. The combination of portable starter, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated by figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings.
7. The combination of a separate cistern (k) for air and the starting appliance sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by fig. 2.
Dated this Sixteenth day of November 1889.
PETER J. LIVSEY,
-Agent: