CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS. APPLICABLE TO THE BURNING OF OIL AND OTHER INFLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES
Year: 1826

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
MACHELL, of Berners Street, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eighth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and
twenty-six, in the seventh year of His reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Machell, His especial
licence that, I, the said Thomas Machell, my exors, adñors, and assigns,.
or such others
as I, the said Thomas Machell, my exors, adññors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all.
times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales; and the Town of,
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS.
APPLICABLE TO THE BURNING OF OIL AND OTHER INFLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a provisoe obliging me, the said
Thomas Machell, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, parti-
cularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled.
in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as
in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Machell, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereunto annexed, and the following
description thereof (that is to say) :-
In Fig. 1, A is a strong metallic vessel made air-tight, and capable of
containing compressed air without yielding thereto or sustaining any injury
thereby. B, the barrel or cylinder of an injecting or compressing pump,
which is firmly secured into the vessel A at C by soldering or otherwise. D,
the piston of the pump fitted with leathers in the usual manner. E, the
piston rod guided in a hole made in the centre of the cap F, which is screwed
into the outer end of the pump barrel. G, a hole in the centre of the piston,
over the end of which is securely tied a slip of oiled silk or bladder, forming
a valve which opens to admit air into the barrel on drawing back the piston,
but prevents its return. The hole G opens at D into the pump barrel to
receive air. Conical or flat metallic valves may, however, be substituted in
place of the oiled silk or bladder if preferred. H is another valve acting
similarly to that already described, screwed into a ring I, firmly affixed near
the inner end of the pump barrel, and which said barrel is closed at that end
by a metal plate. J is the bandle of the pump. K, K, a bent metallic
air tube affixed into the cavity of the pump barrel beyond the valve H,
and rising to near the top of the vessel A, from whence it descends nearly
to its bottom, and has an opening at L. I introduce into the vessel A, in
the manner to be described hereafter, either oil, spirits, or any other fit and
proper inflammable substances intended to be burned in the apparatus, and
which said oil, spirits, or other inflammable substances I elevate or raise
to a proper height for burning in the following manner :-M, M, is a metallic
tube firmly affixed into the centre of the top of the vessel A, and reaching
down to its bottom, having an opening at N on one side of it, and secured
to the bottom at the other side. The tube M, M, also ascends to a proper
height to communicate with the burner as will be described hereafter. The
conical plug O of an inverted stopcock is firmly affixed upon the tube M, M,
and the conical socket P of it has a metallic tube Q, Q, connected with it
by two or more caps or slits R made in its lower end, which fit upon two or
more studs or pins affixed in the sockets as shewn in Figs. 2 and 17. This
tube Q, Q, serves the office of a key to turn the stopcock with, as will be
described hereafter. The upper part of the vessel A is formed into a recep-
tacle S for the oil, spirits, or other inflammable substances to be poured into
previous to their being let into the reservoir or vessel A, and has a hollow

page_text: conical metallic tube T screwed firmly into the centre of its top, having a collar
of leather previously introduced to make the joint tight. Upon the top of the
tube T a funnel U is soldered, and within which funnel another funnel V
is fitted loosely. W, W, are two of a ring of holes made around the bottom
of the funnel V to permit the oil, spirits, &c., to pass into the receptacle S, T.
Upon the top of the inner and moveable funnel V a cleft cap X is affixed
by means of screws, one of which screws is shewn at Y in Fig. 1, and all
three of them at Y, Y, Y, in Figs. 3 and 4. Z, in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, is the
hinge on which the one half of the cleft cap X turns so as to open and
close. The bottom of the moveable funnel V is united by four screws a, a, a, a,
shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, to a connecting ring b shewn separately in Fig. 5
and in Figs. 1, 6, and 7: This ring b is also united with the tube Q, Q, or
the key of the stopcock O, P, by four side screws, two of which are shewn at
c, c, in Fig. 1.
Two of the holes made to receive them are shewn at'd, d,
in Fig. 6, and the four holes by dotted lines at d, d, d, d, in Fig. 5.
e, e, in
Figs. 1, 5, 6, and 7, are two projecting parts formed 'upon the under side of
the ring b, and which are made occasionally to act against two other projec-
tions ff, which are formed upon the upper side of another ring g, which is
shewn separately in Fig. 8, and is received into a cylindrical hole made in
the ring 6 to fit it. The ring g has a screwed hole in its centre, which is fitted
upon a screwed formed near the top of the tube M, M, as shewn in Figs. 1,
6, and 17. h is another ring fitted into a recess formed for it on the under
side of the ring g, and retained therein by closing the edge of the recess
over it by burnishing or otherwise, and yet leaving it sufficiently loose to turn
5 freely in the recess. The under side of this ring his covered with a ring of
leather as shewn in Fig. 9 at i. j.j, are two steady pins affixed into the
under side of the ring h, which fit into holes made in another ring k, which
is soldered upon the tube M, M, so as to prevent the ring h from turning by
the motion to be given to the ring 9. The upper side of the ring k is shewn
in Fig. 10, and its surface is removed in two, three, or more places by filing
or otherwise, so as to leave only a part of it projecting, and thus to encrease
the pressure on that part. 7, in Figs. 1, 6, 10, and 17, is a hole made through
the ring k, for a purpose to be described hereafter. In Fig. 1, m, m, is an
air pipe passing through the tube M, M, and opening into the reservoir A
5 below the stopcock, and also above it, and into an air tube n, n, which
surrounds the tube M; the upper end of the air tube n, n, is closely solderel
to the ring k, and the hole in that ring serves to permit the air to escape
through when the ring his raised, as will be described hereafter. The space
contained in the receptacle S, T, must a little exceed the capacity of the

page_text: reservoir A below the undermost orifice of the air tube m, m. The receptacle
S, T, being filled with oil, spirits, &c. through the inner funnel V and the
socket P of the stopcock brought into the position shewn in Figs. 1 and 17,
which exhibits an orifice o in the fixed plug 0 as communicating with
another orifice p in the moveable socket of the cock P, and as also shewn
in the plan and section of those parts at Fig. 11, the oil, spirits, &c. will
flow through the stopcock into the reservoir A, the air at the same
time escaping through the air pipe m, m, and the hole above 7 until the
oil, &c. reaches up to the lower orifice of the air pipe m, which it closes, thus
preventing the further escape of the air from, and the consequent flow of the
oil, &c., into, the reservoir A. The air pipe must next be closed by turning
the inner funnel V by means of the cleft cap X, X, with which it is connected
by the screws Y, Y, Y, as above described, until the screwed ring g has bound
the ring h with its collar of leather down upon the hole 7 at the top of the air
pipe n, n, and effectually closed it. This turning of the cap has likewise,
through the agency of the tube Q, Q, or key of the stopcock O, P, brought the
socket of the cock round into the position shewn in plan and section at Fig. 12,
which exhibits the inlet O in the socket as being closed. The injecting or
condensing pump B is now to be worked by its handle J, which will force in
air through the bent tube K, and cause the oil, spirits, &c. to rise up the tube
M, M, to supply the burner q. As, however, that supply would be too
abundant even for a stopcock to regulate properly, so I have provided a com-
pressible fibrous medium to be interposed between the upper end of the tube
M, M, and the burner q, and which I can construct or compress more or less,
as requisite, by causing it to pass through a hole made in the plug of a hori-
zontal stopcock r, and by turning the lever or handle of the said cock 'shewn
in Fig. 13 at s, the said fibrous medium which is shewn at t, t, in Fig. 1,
becomes squeezed, constricted, or compressed more or less accordingly. This
said fibrous medium t, t, I can make of a mixture of cotton threads and
horsehair of woollen yarn or worsted, or of any other fit and proper material
or materials; and I prefer to introduce amongst them a slender metallic wire
shewn at u, u, with a loop at each end of it, for the purpose of introducing or
extracting the said regulating medium so formed when necessary. The lever
or handles of the stopcock r is moved by being lodged in a groove made
around the inside of a drip cup v, which is screwed upon the top of the stop-
cock, and by turning which drip cup round more or less, it rises and falls upon
the screw, and consequently moves the handle of the cock accordingly.
proper situation of the plug of the cock r will be known by its effect upon the
regulation of the oil, spirits, &c., which ought to be so managed as to allow of
The

page_text: a slight excess of supply beyond what is required for the aliement of the flame.
The excess escapes by trickling down the outside of the burner 9, and on.
reaching the bottom of it, would fall away all round; this, however, is pre-
vented by surrounding the burner q with an outer tube w, which is screwed
upon the bottom of the burner, leaving a small space between it and the outer.
tube w. To the bottom of the burner a small guiding piece is affixed to
lead the overflowing oil, spirits, &c. underneath the burner, and to regulate its
excess by enabling any one to count the drops as they fall. A cap is made
through the male screw at the bottom of the burner to convey the oil, spirits,
&c. to the guiding piece, and another gap is also made in the outside tube w
to correspond with it, as shown in Fig. 22. This excess of oil, spirits, &c.
passes down through apertures y, y, made in the bottom of the drip cup v
into the receptacle S, T, above described, ready to assist in replenishing the
reservoir A, as will be described hereafter. When the lamp is extinguished in
order to stop the supply of oil, spirits, &c., and its consequent overflow, I have
provided a third stopcock, and upon closing which the supply ceases of course.
In order to replenish the lamp with oil, spirits, &c., at any time, it will first be
requisite to return back all that may have remained in the reservoir A into the.
receptacle S, T, in order to avoid the danger of overfilling that receptacle so
as not to leave, room enough therein to receive the overflow. I effect this by
turning the cleft cap X, X, a quarter round from the position shewn in Fig. 14.
into the position shewn by Fig. 4, where the index 1 in Fig. 14, is indicated by.
dotted lines to have been brought into the situation marked upon the outer.
funnel: U "Open to fill." This operation has brought the socket P of the
vertical stopcock O, P, from the position shewn in the section at Fig. 12 into,
the situation shown in Fig. 15, where another small tube 2, united with tlie
socket P, is shewn as brought into communication with the aperture o in the
plug of the cock. The tube Q is continued nearly to the top of the receptacle
S, T, where it opens under a cap or hood 3, which is affixed upon the tube Q, Q,
or key of the stopcock, and consequently accompanies the socket P in its
movements. The compressed air in the reservoir A then compels the remaining
oil, spirits, &c. in the reservoir A to ascend the tube M, and escape through
the opening o in the plug, of the cock O, P, into the small tube 2, which
delivers it underneath the cap 3, thereby preventing it and the air which
follows it from rushing out with too great violence or passing through the oil,.
spirits, &c. The cleft cap X, X, must then be opened, as shown in Fig. 3,
and the additional supply of oil, spirits, &c. must be poured into the funnel V
until it reaches up to the bottom of the funnel. The cleft cap X, X, must
then be closed and be brought round another quarter of a turn into the position

page_text: raised, did not how-
shewn by the dotted index 1, corresponding with the words, "Let into the
cistern," which are to be engraved upon the outside of the funnel U, and
which again brings the socket of the stopcock O, P, into the position shewn at
Fig. 11 above described, and which is also shewn in Fig. 1. The oil, spirits
&c. could not, however, descend into the reservoir A until the air contained
in it had previously escaped; and I have, therefore, made the following pro-
visions to open an air vent at the time of turning the socket of the stop-
cock O, P, to let the oil flow in during the first quarter turn of the cleft
cap X and funnel V. The projecting pieces e, e, affixed to it, shewn in Figs. 5
and 6, did not engage or come into contact with the other projections f, f, upon
the upper face of the screwed ring 9 so as to turn it, and therefore that
quarter turn merely allowed the oil, spirits, &c. to be blown up into the recep-
tacle S, T, from the reservoir A, but on continuing the motion of the cleft
cap X for another quarter of a turn the projections e, e, were engaged with
the projections f, f, and carried the screwed ring g along with them. This
movement of the screwed ring g upon the screw formed near the top of the
tube M has also caused it to rise up and lift the plate h, with its leather i, from
off the air vent or aperture 7 formed in the ring k, which thus opens a passage
for the air to escape from the reservoir A, through the tubes m, m, and n, n,
and through the aperture 1. This plate h, althoug thus
ever turn round with the screwed ring 9 which raised it,
the steady pins j, j, affixed in it acting in corresponding holes made in the
ring k, the plate h being, as before mentioned, connected with the screwed
ring g by closing or burnishing the edge of the recess formed to receive it in
the ring 9, and which allows it to remain still whilst the ring 9, which lifts it,
is turned. This combination is shewn in section at Fig. 7. Having thus let
the air out, and the aperture 7 remaining open, the oil in the receptacle S, T,
will flow down through the apertures o, p, in the stopcock O, P, into the
reservoir A, the air being at the same time expelled until the oil arrives at the
bottom of the air tube m, m, and closes it, as shewn in Fig. 1, a proper time
being allowed for that purpose, which may vary from fifteen or twenty seconds
to a minute, depending upon circumstances. The oil, spirits, &c. being thus
descended, the, cleft cap X, X, is to be turned the reverse way for half a turn
at once, or until the index 1 upon it stops near the directing words, "Shut for
burning," which are engraved, as above mentioned, upon the outside of the
funnel U. This operation will have again screwed down the leather i under-
neath the plate or ring h, h, upon the aperture l, and closed it, and at
the same time have brought the socket of the stopcock O, P, into the
position. shewn in Figs. 2 and 12, and have shut the cock.
being prevented by
In this

page_text: space the injecting pump B must be again worked, as before described, in
order to introduce a fresh supply of condensed air, and cause the oil to rise
again to supply the burner. To assist in determining the proper quantity of
motion to be given to the cleft cap X, X, in turning it a quarter round, as
above mentioned, I can affix a spring catch 4 upon the rim of the outer
funnel U, as shewn in Figs. 2, 3, and 14, which catches into a gap or notch 5,
inade in the opening of the cleft cap X, X, when brought round to it. This
cap 5 is shewn in Figs. 2 and 14. To release it, previous to making the second
quarter of a turn, the catch 4 must be depressed by its hook or handle 6 until
it quits the cap 5; and to prevent the turning of the cleft cap X, X, too far
in making the half turn above mentioned, I have affixed a stud 7 on the
outer edge of the outer funnel U, as shewn in Fig. 2, and by dotted lines in
Figs. 3 and 4, and another stud 8, shewn by dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4,
affixed underneath the cleft cap X, X, and which said studs 7 and 8 meet
each other at the extent of the movement and limit it. As it is possible to
overcharge the reservoir A, by working the piston of the injecting pump too
many times, so I have contrived various methods of preventing that effect, as
follows:-
In Fig. 16, A represents part of the reservoir as being empty of oil, spirits,
&c. B, the barrel of the injecting pump. D, the piston. The piston rod E
is here shewn as being formed of a tube, and in place of an oiled silk or
bladder valve being tied upon the front end of the piston, as shewn in Fig. 1, it
is secured to the end of a perforated conical valve 9, acting in a conical hole
formed within the piston, and the valve is pressed home to its seat with a
power equal to that required in the compressed air in the reservoir A, by
means of a helical spring 10, the power of which can be regulated at pleasure
by another piece of tube 11 pressing against it, which is screwed into a female
screw formed in the outer end of the piston rod E to receive it; the perforated
handle of the piston J being also screwed into the same female screw. By
this arrangement the excess of air escapes through the conical valve 9, the
action of which can be encreased or lessening by screwing or unscrewing the
internal tube of the piston more or less as required.
Fig. 17 is another method of regulating the supply of the oil, spirits, &c. to
the burners. Let the air in the reservoir A be compressed more or less. Here
the same letters and figures of reference indicate the similar parts as in former
Figures. The horizontal stopcock r, shewn in Figure 1, is in this Figure
removed lower down in the tube M, M, near to the vertical stopcock P.
The handles of the stopcock r is also elongated and connected with the top of
a piston rod 12, which acts in a cylinder 13, 13, affixed to the top of the

page_text: reservoir A, and reaching to the bottom of it, and having gaps or notches made
around it to admit the oil into the lower end of that cylinder. The piston
rod 12 is guided in a hole made in the centre of a screwed cap 14, affixed ta
the top of the cylinder 13, and between it and the piston, a helical spring 15
surrounding the piston rod is placed, which acts so as to tend to keep the
piston 16 depressed. When no compressed air is injected into the reservoir A,
the piston 16 and the levers of the stopcock are depressed by the action of
the helical spring, and as shewn in the Figure; when, however, air is forced
into the reservoir by the action of the injecting pump B, the piston 16 is
raised by the pressure of the oil underneath it, and consequently the lever s of
the, stopcock likewise, which compresses the fibrous substances inserted
through the aperture in the plug of the cock, as before described, and regulates,
the supply of the oil to the burner accordingly. A cap 17, 17, is made in the
side of the tube Q, Q, or key of the vertical stopcock P, to permit the lever sto
pass through. The dotted lines 18 shew the position of the lever s when raised
up. The air pipe m, m, and n, n, in this Figure, is formed of one small tube
reaching up to the aperture 1, instead of two tubes, as in Fig. 1.
Fig. 18 represents the upper part of a conducting tube with two branches
intended to supply oil, spirits, &c. to a lamp with two burners. z, the
stopcock.
I now proceed to describe means by which the force pump can be placed
vertically within the receptacle S, T, and also further means of regulating or
restricting the flow of oil, spirits, &c. to the burners.
In Fig. 22, A, the reservoir, and S, T, the receptacle, are as before described.
M, the lower part of the supplying tube, fixed into the horizontal three-wayed
cock P, which I screw into the top of the reservoir. Upon the top of this
cock is screwed the collar 37, which forms the bottom of the pump. 38 is
the barrel of the pump. 39, a long tube acting as a piston rod, through
which tube, the oil passes up to supply the burner, as will be hereafter
described. 40, the piston attached to its lower end, and works up and down
within the barrel 38; upon the top of this tube is fixed the drip cup v, and
upon which is also screwed with a shoulder piece (54) the cock z, which
carries the burner q. Having filled the receptacle S, T, as before described,
with oil or other inflammable matter, I then work the tube and piston 39
and 40 up and down by raising the drip cup, &c., as shewn in the Drawing
by dotted lines. The drip cup v fits into a smaller cup 41 when down; this
smaller cup 41 is secured to the fixed part of the cleft cap X, when the piston
has been depressed to its full extent. The projecting piece 42 comes in contact
with a shoulder 43 on the connecting rod 44, and presses it down, which.

page_text: brings the plug o of the cock P into the position shewn in this Figure, thereby
forming a passage from the receptacle S, T, to the barrel of the force pump,
and by raising the piston the oil will flow into the pump barrel 38 from the
receptacle S, T, and when the piston arrives at the top of the stroke the
projecting piece 42 will carry the shoulder 45 up to the dotted lines 45, which
will pull the lever of the plug up to the place 46, where it is shown by dotted
lines. This will have brought the horizontal hole of the plug o into a vertical
position, to allow of the oil being forced into the reservoir A, by the descent of
the piston. By continuing pumping, as above described, the whole of the oil,
spirits, &c. will be forced into the reservoir A from the receptacle S, T, and
the air contained in the reservoir A will become compressed, and will cause
the oil, spirits, &c. to flow up to supply the burner, but should the air con-
tained in the reservoir A be insufficient for that purpose, it is evident that by
continuing to pump, air will be forced into the reservoir. I will here observe,
that the valved piston above described is equally applicable to this construction.
When necessary to replenish the lamp the oil that may remain in the
reservoir A is returned up into the receptacle S, T, as follows:-Bring the
plug of the cock into the position shewn in Fig. 23, by raising the top of the
connecting rod 44 to coincide with the stud 48, as shewn by dotted lines,
and the compressed air acting on the surface of the oil forces it up through
the cock P into the receptacle S, T. In the tube 39, below the cock 2, I
introduce a constrictor 49, 49, made of fibrous materials, tied at each end,
and kept extended by the helical spring 50, 50. Upon opening the cock,
to supply the burner the oil, which would have flowed too copiously, having
to pass through the bundle of fibrous materials, presses it up and makes it fill
the tube more close, according to the pressure which compacts it, and lessens
the flow of oil more or less; the helical spring being made of a proper
strength to release the fibres as the pressure of the compressed air is dimi-
nished within.
Fig. 24 shews the bundle of fibres kept distended by an helical spring
51. 52, 52, the two screws against which the end of the spring acts. These
screws are introduced after lowering the tube 53 and the flexible material 49.
These screws are to be withdrawn when the fibres require to be taken out.
53, a tube to which the lower end of the fibres are secured by wires or any
other means.
The upper end of the fibres are secured in a similar manner
by wires to the shoulder piece 54. 55 is a cap on the outside of the tube,
into which a piece 56, affixed to the under side of the moveable part of the
cap, Figure 22, enters when the cap is shut, and secures the burner in

page_text: its place, and totally prevents the rising of the piston, while the cap remains
shut.
Figure 25 shews another method of governing the constrictor 49 by turning
round the drip cup v. This cup is squared on and secured by a screw
nut 57 to the top of the perforated conical plug 58. This plug is secured
below by a collar and screwed ring into the socket 59.
The bottom of the
attached to it the
plug is perforated with small holes around it, and has
wire 60, the lower end of which is screwed, and fits the moveable nut 61.
This nut is prevented from turning round by its ends fitting in the gaps 62.
62, of an inner tube. Fig. 27 shews shews the nut separate, and Fig. 28 the
caps in the inner tube in which it can slide up and down. A ring, with cars,
shewn separate in Fig. 26, lays in similar gaps at the top of the tube 39. The
constricting fibers 49 are secured at top to the ring Fig. 26, and at bottom to
the nut 61, Fig. 27, and the wire 60. passes through them. On turning the
drip cap v, Fig. 25, the screwed wire 60 raises or depresses the nuts 61, and
compresses or stretches the constrictor, and thus governs the supply of oil,
&c. To prevent the piston tube turning round, a wire 63 is fixed to it, and
passes through a notch 64 in the cap of the pump, as shewn in Figs. 22
and 24.
Figure 19 is a representation of a suspension lamp intended to burn oil,
spirits, &c., and in which the natural tendency of those fluids to descend is
farther promoted by the introduction of compressed air, and regulated by.
proper contrivances. This lamp has two burners fitted up in the usual and
well-known manner. A, the reservoir for oil, spirits, &c., and also for com-
pressed air, but instead of being placed below, as in the lamps already
described, it is here shewn as being posited above the burners. The oil,
spirits, &c., instead of being poured in at the top through a funnel as before
described, is in this arrangement to be injected or forced into the reservoir
from below.
In Fig. 20, 19 is a strong vessel, capable of enduring pressure. J, the
handle of an injecting pump, which may be similar to either of those described
in the references to Figs. 1 and 16. 20, a screwed plug closing the aperture
through which the vessel 19 is supplied with oil, spirits, &c. 21, a con-
ducting tube, which may be either of metal or made of flexible materials.
22, a. stopcock. 23, part of the union screw joint, by which the tube is
connected with the reservoir A, Fig. 19, at the part marked 24, the cap
which is represented as screwed on it being first removed, and the stop-
cock 25 opened; the stopcock 22 of the tube 21, Fig. 20, being also opened,

page_text: =
the oil, spirits, &c. may be forced into the vessel A by working the pump J.
(Fig. 19) is a stopcock, to be shut, in order to prevent the flow of the oil,
spirits, &c. to the burners when not in use. 26, 26, are two cups intended
to catch any oil, &c., which may overflow and run down the branches from
the burners. r, r, are two constricting cocks regulated by turning the
drip funnels v, v, in the same manner as described in the references to
Fig. 1.
:
Fig. 21 is another vessel A, which may be substituted in place of that
shewn in Fig. 19. In this vessel there is provided an internal self-acting
constrictor r, with its lever s, which is connected with the rod of a piston 27,
acting in an air-tight barrel 28, which is screwed into the top of the vessel A.
The oil, spirits, .&c., as also compressed air, are injected into this vessel
through a conical valve 29, opening inwardly, which is screwed into the side
of the vessel by means of the apparatus Fig. 20 already described, the
opening leading to the valve 29 being closed afterwards by means of a screwed
cap 30. The air in the barrel 28 above the piston, being compressed by the
action of the oil underneath the piston forcing the piston upwards, raises the
lever s of the constrictor r, and compresses the fibrous materials t, t, in it so
as to regulate the flow of the oil, spirits, &c. through it exactly in proportion
to the pressure within the vessel A. This main constrictor forms a proper
compensation for any changes of temperature, and greatly relieves the action
of the smaller constrictors r, r, shewn in Fig. 19, which are placed under-
neath each burner, and it is particularly useful when the vessel A is large and
supplies many burners. The tube containing the constrictor shewn in Fig. 21
is incurved, and reaches near to the bottom of the reservoir. 31, in Fig. 21,
is a screw upon which the combined burners are to be screwed. In Fig. 19,
32 shews the place of a similar screw to that in Fig. 21. 33, in Fig. 21, is a
conical safety valve opening outwards, and kept closed
belical spring 34. The tube 35, which communicates with the bottom of
the valve, reaches near to the lower part of the vessel A so as to prevent
the escape of air from the vessel, but allows the oil, spirits, or other fluids to
pass through the valve in preference to the air, it being easier to keep the
valve tight when a fluid is used than when the air is in contact with it;
otherwise an aperture may be made at 36 in the tube 34, which will allow
the air only to escape through the valve. A similar safety valve may also, if
required, be affixed in the partition between the reservoir A, Fig. 1, and the
receptacle S, T.
by the action of a
I do not mean or intend hereby to limit myself to the particular forms
here shown, but to vary them occasionally as circumstances may require.

page_text: Neither do I mean to limit myself to the employment of any particular
material or materials in the construction of the several parts, but to avail
myself of the use of any which are fit and proper for the purpose. Neither
do I mean or intend hereby to claim as my Invention any of the various parts
described, which may or may not have by possibility been already known or
in use. But I do hereby claim as my Invention, and the objects of this.my
said Patent, the manner or method of adapting the several parts to these
particular objects, and especially the means of preventing the overcharging of
the oil and air reservoir A, with compressed air by the yielding of the conical
valve in the piston of the injection pump. The manner of regulating the
compression or constriction of the fibrous materials, first, as described in
Fig. 17, and, secondly, by a spring acting in opposition to the elastic pressure
of the compressed air contained in the reservoir A, by which means the fibrous
material becomes more open, and offers less resistance to the upward flow of
the oil as the pressure of the air contained in the reservoir A decreases, two
methods of performing which are shewn in Figs. 22 and 24; and, thirdly, the
contrivance shewn in Fig. 25.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Machell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven.