An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Burning Hydrocarbons for Lighting and Heating Purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 30th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Burning Hydrocarbons
for Lighting and Heating Purposes.
We, FREDERICK BARKER HILL, Engineer, of 30 Glengall Road, Old Kent
Road, and ROBERT DANIEL BRETT, Engineer, of 4 Trafalgar Road, Old Kent
Road, both in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to the burning of hydrocarbons for lighting and heating
purposes, and is chiefly designed to provide in a simple, economical and efficient
manner for the utilization of heavy hydrocarbons, such as crude petroleum or
tar, in the production of a flame of very high illuminating power.
Various methods have heretofore been devised for utilizing heavy oils or tar
for lighting purposes, but, as far as we are aware, the only successful method
devised for accomplishing this result, consists in evaporating the heavy oil or tar
in a suitable chamber by the burning of a portion of the said oil or tar, which is
contained in a receptacle in the lower part of the said chamber, and then projecting
vertically upward through the centre of the said chamber a jet of atmospheric air;
this jet carries upward with it some of the gas or vapour produced by the heating
of the heavy hydrocarbon, which gas or vapour on mixing with the air burns with
a bright flame. In some instances, moreover, it has been proposed to use a combined
jet of steam and air instead of a jet of air alone.
Now we have discovered that a much better result can be obtained by using a
jet of vapour of a lighter or more volatile hydrocarbon, such as paraffin, instead
of a jet of atmospheric air, or of steam and air combined. Our present invention,
therefore, comprises an improved method of and apparatus for producing light or
heat, in which we first ignite a heavy hydrocarbon in a chamber to which air is
supplied in such quantity that an imperfect combustion of the said hydrocarbon
takes place, with the production of gas or vapour, and we then project through
the said chamber a jet of vapour of a lighter or more volatile hydrocarbon, with
or without an induced current of air, in such a manner that this jet carries a portion
of the gas or vapour from the said chamber through a suitable orifice, the flame
caused by the burning of the combined gases or vapours on issuing from the said
orifice, produces a light of great volume and intensity, the mixture of the vapour
of the volatile oil with the gas or vapour generated from the heavy hydrocarbon,
ensuring perfect combustion of the latter.
In carrying our said invention into practice, we find it advantageous to employ
an annular tray or receptacle arranged at the lower end of a casing of conical or
other suitable shape, which casing is provided with apertures around its circum-
ference for the admission of air to support the imperfect combustion of the heavy
hydrocarbon necessary for the generation of the gas or vapour. We combine,
with the said receptacle and casing, a vaporizing coil for the lighter or more
volatile oil; this coil is connected with a nozzle so arranged that the jet therefrom
will be directed, with or without an induced current of air, through a central
orifice or passage through the said receptacle. We sometimes combine, with the
said casing, another casing or jacket surrounding the same in such a manner that
air will flow through the space between the said casings to the exterior of the
flame, and will be heated on its passage through the said space. The aforesaid
vaporizing coil is preferably so arranged that the oil flowing into and through the
same will be volatilized by the heat of the flame.
We provide for regulating the supply of the heavy hydrocarbon to the said
receptacle in such a manner as to maintain the same at a constant or approximately

page_text: constant level therein without at any time allowing it to rise above the top of the
central orifice or passage. For this purpose we prefer to use an automatic device,
such as a ball or float valve arranged in a suitable box or chamber interposed
between the said receptacle and the source of supply.
Both the heavy and the lighter or more volatile hydrocarbons are supplied under
a suitable head or pressure by any convenient means. We sometimes employ two
closed reservoirs arranged one within the other or otherwise suitably arranged and
provided with means for compressing air therein, and we connect these reservoirs
by suitable pipes provided with the requisite cocks or valves, with the said
receptacle and the vaporizing coil respectively.
:
If desired, we provide for projecting more than one jet of the volatilized lighter
hydrocarbon through the chamber in which the gas or vapour is generated from
the heavy hydrocarbon.
It will be seen that we do not produce a spray of the hydrocarbon as in some
of the industrial lamps heretofore devised. In our improved lamp, the heavy
hydrocarbon is first converted into gas or vapour and the said gas or vapour is
then mixed with the volatilized lighter hydrocarbon and with air before it issues
from the chamber in which it is generated.
Our improved lamp has the advantage, amongst others, that it can be used for
burning heavy hydrocarbons with a very high flashing point, such for instance, as
the residue obtained in the manufacture of illuminating gas by the distillation of
shale-oil, or similar residues.
Dated the 25th day of February 1893.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Burning Hydrocarbons
for Lighting and Heating Purposes.
We, FREDERICK BARKER HILL, Engineer, of 30 Glengall Road, Old Kent
Road, and ROBERT DANIEL BRETT, Engineer, of 4 Trafalgar Road, Old Kent
Road, both in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to the burning of hydrocarbons for lighting and heating
purposes, and is chiefly designed to provide in a simple, economical and efficient
manner for the utilization of heavy hydrocarbons, such, for instance, as crude
petroleum or tar, in the production of a flame of very high illuminating power.
Various methods have heretofore been devised for utilizing heavy oils or tar for
lighting purposes, but, as far as we are aware, the only successful method devised
for accomplishing this result consists in causing an incomplete or partial combustion
of the heavy oil or tar in a suitable chamber by igniting the said oil or tar, which
is contained in a receptacle in the lower part of the said chamber, and which burns
with a lambent flame, and then projecting vertically upward through the centre of
the said chamber a jet of atmospheric air; this jet carries upward with it some of
the gas or vapour produced by the heating of the heavy hydrocarbon, which gas
or vapour, on mixing with the air thus supplied, burns with a bright flame. The
use of a combined jet of steam and air, instead of a jet of air alone, for this purpose
has also been proposed.
Now we have discovered that a much better result can be obtained by using a jet
of vapour of a lighter or more volatile hydrocarbon, such as paraffin, instead of a
jet of atmospheric air or of steam and air combined. Our present invention,
therefore, comprises an improved method of and apparatus for producing light or
heat, in which we first ignite a heavy hydrocarbon in a chamber to which air is

page_text: supplied in such quantity that an imperfect combustion of the said hydrocarbon
takes place with the production of gas or vapour, and we then project through the
said chamber a jet of vapour of a lighter or more volatile hydrocarbon, with or
without an induced current of air, in such a manner that this jet carries the gas or
vapour of the heavy hydrocarbon from the said chamber through a suitable orifice,
and the flame caused by the burning of the combined gases or vapours on issuing
from the said orifice, produces a light of great volume and intensity, the mixture
of the vapour of the volatile oil with the gas or vapour generated from the heavy
hydrocarbon ensuring perfect combustion of the latter.
In carrying our said invention into practice, we find it advantageous to employ a
vessel or receptacle of circular or annular form arranged at the lower end of a
casing of conical or other suitable shape, which casing is provided with apertures
around its circumference for the admission of air to support the imperfect com-
bustion of the heavy hydrocarbon necessary for the generation of the gas or
vapour. We combine with the said receptacle and casing, a vaporising-coil for the
lighter or more volatile oil; this coil is connected with a nozzle so arranged that
the jet therefrom will be directed through an orifice at the top of the said chamber
or casing, either with or without an induced current of air entering through a
central orifice or passage in the said vessel or receptacle. We sometimes combine
with the said chamber or casing, another casing or jacket surrounding the same in
such a manner that air will flow through the space between the said casings to the
exterior of the flame, and will be heated in its passage through the said space.
The aforesaid vaporizing-coil is so arranged that the oil flowing into and through
the same will be volatilized by the heat of the flame.
We provide for regulating the supply of the heavy hydrocarbon to the said
receptacle in such a manner as to maintain the same at a constant or approximately
constant level therein, without at any time allowing it to rise above the top of the
said nozzle or of the said central orifice or passage. For this purpose we prefer
to use an automatic device such as a ball or float valve arranged in a suitable
box or chamber interposed between the said receptacle and the source of supply.
Both the heavy and the lighter or more volatile hydrocarbons are supplied under
a suitable head or pressure by any convenient means. We sometimes employ, for
this purpose, two tanks or reservoirs arranged one within the other, or otherwise
suitably arranged, and provided with means for compressing air therein, and we
connect these tanks or reservoirs, by suitable pipes provided with the requisite
cocks or valves, with the said receptacle and with the vaporizing-coil respectively.
If desired, we provide for projecting more than one jet of the volatilized lighter
bydrocarbon through the chamber in which the gas or vapour is generated from the
heavy hydrocarbon.
In the accompanying drawing we have shown a convenient and advantageous
form or arrangement of our improved apparatus.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the said apparatus, partly in vertical central
section.
Figure 2 is a vertical central section, drawn to an enlarged scale, of our improved
lamp.
Figures 3 and 4 are vertical central sections illustrating modifications of our
invention hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
a is the vessel or receptacle for the heavy oil or tar, which is to be connected by
a pipe a with means for supplying the heavy oil or tar, as required, so as to
maintain the same at an approximately constant level in the said receptacle. b is a
nozzle extending upward through the centre of the said vessel or receptacle. c is
a chamber or casing having the form of an inverted hollow cone and having a
suitable orifice at its upper end. This chamber or casing is mounted on the
receptacle a and is provided with air-admission apertures c¹ near its lower edge.
d is a vaporizing-coil arranged above the chamber or casing c and connected by a
pipe d' with the nozzle b. This coil is also to be connected by a pipe d³ with a

page_text: tank or reservoir for the supply of light or volatile oil, such for instance as paraffin,
under a suitable head or pressure. e is another casing or jacket having the form
of an inverted hollow cone and having a suitable orifice at its upper end. This
casing is supported upon brackets or lugs a on the receptacle a in such a manner
as to leave a suitable air-space between the two casings and e.
The outer
casing e is made in halves so formed that they can be placed close together on the
said brackets or lugs with the pipes d', d' between thein.
•
For supplying the hydrocarbons to our improved lamp, we find it advantageous
to use apparatus such as we have shown in Figure 1, in which is an air-tight tank
or reservoir for containing the heavy oil or tar, which reservoir is provided with a
suitable pump g for forcing air into the same. h is a tank or reservoir for the
lighter or more volatile hydrocarbon, which reservoir is enclosed within the
reservoir f. The pipe extends through the top of the reservoir f nearly to
the bottom of the reservoir h and is provided with a controlling valve or cock d³.
A pipe provided with a controlling valve or cock extends through the top and
nearly to the bottom of the reservoir f. The upper end of this pipe is connected
with a ball or float valve k arranged within a tank l, which tank is connected by
the pipe a¹ with the receptacle a, and is so placed relatively thereto that, when the
liquid hydrocarbon in the receptacle a rises to the desired level, the supply of the
liquid thereto will be automatically shut off by the said ball or float valve, which
will again open the supply when the liquid in the said receptacle descends below the
proper level.
The operation of the apparatus above described is as follows, that is to say:-
The reservoirs and being charged with the heavy and light hydrocarbons
respectively, air is forced in the usual manner into the outer reservoir by means
of the pump g. The air thus forced in, however, acts upon the liquid in both of
the said reservoirs. The cock is then opened to permit the supply to the
receptacle a of heavy hydrocarbon, which is then ignited, a small quantity. of
paraffin being poured into the said receptacle, if desired, to facilitate the ignition
of the heavy hydrocarbon. The air admitted to the casing through the
apertures c¹ is sufficient to ensure a partial combustion of the heavy hydrocarbon
so that the latter burns with a lambent flame, at the same time generating
inflammable gas or vapour. The cock being then opened, the more volatile
hydrocarbon is forced from the reservoir through the pipe 2 and coil d, and
is vaporized in passing through the said coil. The vapour thus produced is
forced through the pipe d' and projected from the nozzle b, and becomes mixed
with the gas or vapour of the heavy hydrocarbon, which is carried upward with
it from the chamber or casing c, the mixture becoming ignited and producing a
flame of great volume and of very high illuminating power. The air for supporting
the combustion of the mixed vapours is supplied through the space between the
casings c and e, this air becoming heated by contact with the said casings and
impinging upon the flame all around the same, so as to ensure a very efficient
combustion of the said vapours.
We can, if desired, provide an adjustable valve m, Figure 3, in combination
with the nozzle b, for regulating the flow of hydrocarbon vapour from the said
nozzle.
In some instances, we combine with the said nozzle b, means whereby a current
of air will be drawn or induced by means of the jet of vapour into the chamber or
casing c. For instance, we provide an injector n, Figure 4, having a nozzle b
connected with the pipe d', and having an annular passage p surrounding the
said nozzle, through which air will be drawn by means of the jet of vapour from
the said nozzle, and the area of which may be increased or diminished to regulate
the supply of air as required, by adjusting the part n' of the injector n, which is
screwed upon the body thereof.
It is obvious that we can, if desired, use separate tanks or reservoirs for the
heavy and light hydrocarbons respectively, each provided with a pump for forcing
air into it. Or we can use tanks or reservoirs placed at such an elevation

page_text: above the lamp as to obtain the requisite head or pressure for the purpose above
specified.
It will be seen that, in the use of our improved apparatus, we do not produce
a spray of the hydrocarbon, as in some of the industrial lamps heretofore devised.
In our improved lamp, the heavy hydrocarbon is first converted into gas or vapour,
and the said gas or vapour is then mixed with the volatilized lighter hydrocarbon,
and also if desired with air, before it issues from the chamber in which it is
generated.
Our improved lamp has the advantage, amongst others, that it can be used for
burning heavy hydrocarbons with a very high flashing point, such, for instance, as
the residue obtained in the manufacture of illuminating gas by the distillation of
shale-oil, or similar residues.
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. The herein described method of producing light or heat, by projecting
through a chamber in which a heavy hydrocarbon is burning, a jet or jets of
vapour of a lighter or more volatile hydrocarbon, with or without an induced.
current of air.
Second. A lamp comprising a receptacle for containing a heavy hydrocarbon, a
chamber or casing mounted thereon and having holes for the admission of air, a
vaporizing-coil arranged above the said chamber or casing, and a nozzle connected
with the said coil and extending through the said receptacle, substantially as, and
for the purposes, set forth.
Third. The tanks or reservoirs for the heavy hydrocarbon and for the lighter or
more volatile hydrocarbon, arranged one within another and in combination with a
pump in such a manner that air may be compressed in the outer reservoir and will
act upon the liquid in both of the said reservoirs, substantially as, and for the
purposes, above specified.
Fourth. The combination, with the lamp and with the reservoirs for the hydro-
carbons, of an automatic device for regulating the supply of the heavy bydrocarbon
to the receptacle provided therefor, in such a manner as to maintain the same at an
approximately constant level in the said receptacle, substantially as, and for the
purpose, above specified.
Fifth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawing and operating as, and for the purposes,
above specified.
Dated the 27th day of November 1902
R. D. BRETT.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.