A SAFETY AND ECONOMICAL LAMP
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Victor Ragosine, one of the Firm of P. F. Ragosine
& Co., of Moscow, Russia, for an Invention of "A SAFETY AND
ECONOMICAL LAMP." A communication from abroad by Caspar von Kordig,
of St. Petersburg, Russia.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said. Victor Ragosine at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th February 1881.
VICTOR RAGOSINE, one of the Firm of P. F. Ragosine & Co., of Moscow,
Russia. "A SAFETY AND ECONOMICAL LAMP." (A communication from abroad
by Caspar von Kordig, of St. Petersburg, Russia.)
This Invention has for its object an economical and safe lamp principally
adapted for burning the luminous or light-producing composition known by the
name of "kordigéne."
This lamp is composed of a cylindrical reservoir widened towards the bottom in
order to form a second reservoir. These reservoirs are surrounded with a casing,
thereby forming a double wall in order to prevent the radiation of heat during the
burning of the lamp. Within the first named reservoir is enclosed a perforated
cylinder, which is widened at its upper part. This cylinder is perforated throughout
its length, and is fixed on the bottom of the second named reservoir. Within this
cylinder is enclosed another cylinder, which is perforated with only a small number
of holes, and which is narrowed at the upper part so as to terminate in a tube of
small diameter. This last named cylinder is filled with asbestos, cotton, wool, or a
similar material. Where this cylinder is fitted or screwed by a cone on the tube of
the burner there is a perforated plate.
The widened upper end of the said first named cylinder is closed by a plug or
stopper of non-conducting material which is enclosed in a cap, the lower part of
which is fitted either on the exterior of the vase or the interior of the wall
thereof.
The cap is cylindrical and has apertures in its side; its upper end is conical as
far as the upper part of the tube of the burner. In the centre of the cap is
fitted a tube which surrounds the said tube of the burner with a space between
hem.

page_text: The light-producing composition is poured into the said first named reservoir
and it penetrates by means of the perforations the said two cylinders, in the
interior of the last named of which it is absorbed by the wick or absorbing
material.
The said reservoir is then closed by the cap carrying the plug or stopper of non-
conducting material. The wick or absorbing material placed in the cylinder as
above stated absorbs the liquid, and at first the flame will be small, but as the
internal tube of the burner gradually becomes warm, gas is more quickly evolved in
the reservoir. When this takes place too rapidly, the excess of gas rises through the
perforations of the cylinders and the space between the said two tubes, and reaches
the flame where it is burned. The apertures in the cap permit the access of air to
the flame in order to give it the required steadiness. The internal tube of the cap
is surrounded by a cylinder, which is furnished on one side with a slide so arranged
that in the event of the lamp falling this slide will pass towards the top and
immediately extinguish the lamp. This slide serves also to regulate the height of
the flame. The working of the lamp does not depend on any particular
construction of burner, but may be used with a great variety of burners as may be
required
The burners may be made with perforated sides serving as fan burners (split or
divided). Also the burner may be adapted for the use of a chimney. A wick of
an ordinary lamp is employed as in petroleum lamps, but with this burner the
access of air must be greatly increased. In the centre of the burner there is a tube
for the admission of air, which causes the air to circulate, and which produces the
spreading of the flame from the centre to the mouth of the burner.
Also the burner may be in the form of a mushroom with a double casing, of
which the internal part is perforated with small holes protected by metal tissue to
prevent the perforations from being stopped up by the asbestos or other material.
The outer casing is also perforated with small holes, which may be variously
arranged. Two or more small tubes are arranged at the base of the burner and
open out in the outer casing thereof. These small pipes are filled with asbestos,
and serve to convey the liquid to their outlet. They are lighted beforehand and
warm the burner which is also filled with asbestos. This warming liberates the
gases which issue through the perforations of the double casing, and become burned
in the lighted flame.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Victor Ragosine in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd August
1881.
VICTOR RACOSINE, one of the Firm of P. F. Ragosine and Company, of Moscow,
Russia. "A SAFETY AND ECONOMICAL LAMP." A communication from abroad
by Caspar von Kordig, of St. Petersburgh, Russia.
This Invention of "a safety and economical lamp " has for its object an
economical and safe lamp principally adapted for burning the luminous or light-
producing composition known by the name of "kordigéno."
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of the lamp;
Fig. 2, a horizontal section of the upper part taken on the line x, y, of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a detached view of the plug or stopper and cap. In Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9 and 10 are represented various forms of burners employed in certain cases.
This lamp is composed of a reservoir A of iron or other suitable material
widened towards the bottom in order to form the reservoir B. These reservoirs
are surrounded with a casing, thereby forming a double wall in order to prevent
the radiation of heat during the burning of the lamp. Within the reservoir A. is
enclosed a perforated cylinder C which is widened at its upper part. This cylinder C
is perforated throughout its whole length. This part of the lamp is always fixed on
the reservoir B.
Within the cylinder C is enclosed another cylinder D which is perforated with
only a small number of holes, and which is narrowed at the upper part so as to
terminate in a burner tube E of small diameter: The cylinder D is filled with
asbestos, cotton, wool, or similar material. Where the inner cylinder D is fixed or
screwed with a cone to the burner tube E there is fitted a perforated plate p.
The widened upper end of the cylinder C is closed by a plug or stopper F of non-
conducting material, which is enclosed in a cap H, the lower part of which is fitted
cither onto the interior of the vase or in the interior of the wall thereof. The
cap H is cylindrical and has apertures in its sides; its upper end is conical as far
as the upper part of the burner tube E.
In the centre of the cap H is arranged a pipe F which surrounds the burner
tube E, a small space being left between it and the tube E.
The light-producing composition is poured into the outer reservoir A, and it
penetrates through the perforations of the cylinders C and D into the interior of
the latter where it is absorbed by the wick or absorbing material. The reservoir A
is then closed by the cap H carrying the plug or stopper of nonconducting material.
The wick or absorbing material placed in the cylinder D draws in the liquid, and at
first the flame will be small, but as the burner tube E becomes gradually warmed
gas is more quickly evolved in the reservoir. When this issue of gas takes place
too rapidly the excess of gas rises through the perforations of the cylinders, and
by the space between the tubes F and E reaches the flame where it is burnt.
The apertures or slits a of the cap H permit the access of air to the flame in
order to give it the required steadiness. The internal tube F of the cap H is
surrounded by a cylinder K which is furnished on one side with a slide M, which
is guided in such a manner that in the event of the lamp falling, the slide with
the cylinder K will pass towards the top and immediately extinguish the lamp.
This slide M serves also to regulate the height of the flame.
The working of the lamp does not depend on any particular construction of
burner, but may be used with a great variety of burners, as may be required.
In Figures 4 and 5 are represented burners with perforated sides which serve
as fan burners (split or divided).
In Fig. 6 is represented a burner adapted for the use of a chimney. An

page_text: ordinary lamp wick is employed, as in petroleum lamps, but with this burner the
access of air must be greatly increased. In the centre of the burner there is an
air tube L which causes the air to circulate, and which produces the spreading of
the flame from the centre of the mouth of the burner. Fig. 7 represents a
burner in the form of a mushroom with a double casing. The inner casing is
perforated with small holes protected by metal tissue in order to prevent the
perforations from being stopped up by the asbestos or other material contained
in the burner. The outer casing is also perforated with small holes which may
be variously arranged, as shewn in Figures 8, 9, and 10.
Two or more small tubes are arranged at the base of the burner and open out
into the outer casing thereof. These small tubes are filled with asbestos and serve
to convey the light producing liquid to their outlet. They are lighted beforehand,
and they warm the burner which is also filled with asbestos. This warming
causes the liberation of the gases which issue through the perforations and become
burned in the lighted flame.
With the light carburets of hydrogen even a slight increase of temperature will
cause a brisk development of the gas, whereby the combustion or flame in the
lamp will become irregular instead of steady as required; it is therefore preferred
to adapt to the reservoir in which such carburets of hydrogen are contained a
lining or coat of suitably cleaned or prepared loose felt, and to surround the
said coat of felt with a second coat of a suitable material, such as wood, glass, or
metal,
In order to prevent the oil from flowing out of the reservoir or lamp, especially
in the case of an accident, the said reservoir is filled up with cleaned wad, cotton,
slag, wool, or a similar material, which absorbs the whole of the fluid oil, and
thereby avoiding the liability of the whole of the store of oil contained in the
lamp to be set on fire at a time, an explosion therefore is effectually prevented.
The feed pipe of such lamps may be arranged below near the bottom of the
reservoir, and it may be closed by a screw cap; this said arrangement of the feed
pipe is considered necessary in those lamps with mushroom (gas) burner, as shewn
in Figs. 4, 5, and 7, in which lamps the atmospheric air must be carefully shut
out of the oil reservoir, except as to the small channels through which the gas is
caused to pour forth for combustion. The said mushroom burners are provided
with either single or double walls; the inside wall is pierced by a great number of
fine holes, and a wire gauze prevents the perforations from being choked by the
wool, cotton, asbestos, or similar material contained within.
The outside wall of the mushroom burner is equally provided with little holes, as
shewn in Figures 8, 9, and 10, which holes may be arranged in regular lines or
across each other. At the foot of the burner two or more small pipes are led along
terminating in the outside wall of the burner head; the said small pipes are filled
with asbestos and serve to conduct the oil up to the opening. On being lighted
the said pipes increase the temperature of the whole burner head, which is equally
filled with asbestos or slag wool and help to accelerate the development of
the gas.
The lamp shewn in Fig. 2 is of the same system, but this construction allows of
a direct combustion of the oil instead of the gas only developed from the same.
For this purpose the reservoir in which the oil and wad or similar material is
contained carries a burner tube E, filled up with cotton, wad, or suitable material
twisted to form a wick. To prevent the said wick from being converted into coal
a stopper made of asbestos, slag, wool, or similar material is inserted into the top of
the tube E; the pipes C and D, of Fig. 1, may be omitted.
To regulate the flame the tube J, Fig. 3, is arranged to be put upon the tube E,
as shewn in Fig. 2, and it is made adjustable upon the same. According to the
position of the tube J upon the tube E the flame may be conveniently increased or
diminished. The tube J is so loosely set upon the tube E that if the lamp should
tumble the whole combination, shewn in Fig. 3, will. fall asunder and the flame will
be extinguished.

page_text: With those lamps in which the feed pipe is arranged at the top the oil reservoir
is provided with an excavation or funnel, as shewn in Fig. 2, into which the oil is
fod.
The bottom of the said excavation is pierced with holes to admit the oil to the
wad in the reservoir below, and the tube J, shewn in Fig. 3, is put upon the funnel
of the reservoir. The perforated bottom of the funnel in these lamps serves to
close the oil reservoir.
In those lamps in which the feed pipes is arranged below the lower part of the
arrangement, shewn in Fig. 3, is omitted. It is useless in lamps of the latter
description to employ a lining or coat of nonconducting material, and the latter
therefore may be omitted.
In Fig. 6, wherein a common petroleum lamp without any particular device is
shewn, the pipe C should be omitted.
With the usual lamp for thick carburets of hydrogen, such as petroleum, solar
oil, and the like, it was necessary that the quantity of oil used up by combustion
was replaced in the reservoir by the like quantity of air, in order to avoid a vacuum
which would render difficult the rising of the oil.
But with the light carburets the admission of air is of no use; on the contrary,
the developed gas is destined to cause a tension which facilitates the feeding of the
oil to the wick.
For this purpose it will be necessary while using the usual construction of a
lamp for the light carburets to do away with the airholes and all openings that
may admit the air to the reservoir.
In all the lamps used for light carburets of hydrogen the said tension in the oil
reservoir, caused by the airtightness of the latter, is an essential feature which
greatly adds to the success.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, communicated to me
as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is to be perforined, I would remark
that some of the parts may be varied in detail without departing from the spirit
or peculiar character of the Invention, but I hereby declare that what I claim as of
the said Invention is,―
First. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of the parts
composing the lamp represented and described, that is to say:-A double wall or
casing for preventing the radiation of heat, the perforated cylinders C and D, the
latter terminating in the burner tube E and filled with asbestos or other suitable
absorbing material or a wick, the cap H with a plug or stopper of nonconducting
material for closing the lamp, combined with a slide M for extinguishing and
regulating the flame, an annular space between the tubes E and F for conveying
all excess of gas to the flame and burning it at once.
Secondly. A circular burner with a sinall tube L in the interior for circulating
air and preventing the flame from reuniting above the burner.
Thirdly. The several forms of burners, shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10,
and described.
Fourthly. The insulation of the oil reservoir containing the light carburets of
bydrogen by a coat of suitable felt, and a second coat of wood, glass, or metal, to
guard the reservoir from the influence of the external air.
Fifthly. The filling of wad, slag, wool, or similar material employed in the
oil reservoir for the purpose of preventing the oil from flowing out if the lamp
should fall, and to avoid the liability of the whole store of oil to take fire at a
time.
Sixthly. The arrangement of the feed pipe at the bottom of the oil reservoir or
lamp.
Seventhly. The application of a mushroom burner shut off from the air, as
shewn in Figures 4, 5, and 7, for the combustion of the gas of light carburets of
aydrogen.
Eighthly. The construction of the burner made to regulate the flame in lamps

page_text: without a wick, the said construction serving at the same time to extinguish the
flame, as shewn in Fig. 3.
Ninthly. The application of a stopper made of slag, wool, or asbestos, inserted
in the suction tube for the purpose of preventing the wick from being converted
into coal.
And, Lastly. The arrangement of making lamps hitherto serving only for thick
carburets of hydrogen (petroleum) useful also for the light carburets by completely
shutting all air holes, as described; all substantially as and for the purpose or
purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Victor Ragosine, have hereunto set my band
and seal, the Fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
VICTOR RAGOSINE. (L.S.)