Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1887
Specification Accepted, 8th Nov., 1887
I, PETER JENSEN of 77, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents, 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 (a communication to me from abroad by Julius
Leede and Virgil D. Stockbridge, both of Washington, District of Columbia,
Gentleman) :-
My invention relates to apparatus for carbureting air to be used for illuminating
purposes, and has for its object an efficient and economical automatic apparatus for
charging air with the vapors of volatile hydrocarbons, and more particularly the light
products of petroleum, so as to furnish a cheap and brilliant light.
Carbureting apparatus hitherto used, so far as known to me, consists of two general
classes, in one of which the air is forced through a reservoir freely over the surface of
hydrocarbons contained in chambers and cells, or forced between the liquid and a
cover or disk supported upon and near the surface of the liquid, or through a chamber
in which the liquid is held in suspension by absorbent material. In the other class of
cases, which may be termed gravity" carburetors the air has been drawn freely
through a chamber containing hydrocarbon or through the liquid in suspension. In
this class of cases the mouth of the eduction pipe has been fixed while the volume of
the hydrocarbon is constantly changing thus making a variable passage through
the chamber.
My invention is an improvement in the second class of carburetors, and is based
upon the fact that air and hydrocarbon vapors are together of greater specific gravity
than air alone, and will therefore flow by gravity through pipes to burners located
below the carbureting chamber or reservoir. The object of the invention is to utilize
or to take advantage of the superior gravity of the mixture, whereby means for forcing
a current of air through the carbureting chamber may be dispensed with and very
simple and efficient apparatus may be produced, while a uniform density of vapor is
supplied for consumption.
To this end the preferred form of my invention consists in a reservoir of any
suitable shape, having an inlet-pipe leading into the upper part of the chamber
thereof, through which the vessel may be charged with gasoline and for the admission
of air when in use, and having an outlet pipe extending from the upper part of the

page_text: chamber downward through the bottom to connect with and form a part of the service
pipes for the structure to be lighted, in combination with an interior float to ride on
the surface of the contents of the vessel, said float carrying a hood inclosing the
central outlet pipe. The hood constitutes the short leg of a siphon and the outlet and
service pipes the long leg, whereby when in use the superior gravity of carbureted air
will siphon the densest part of the vapor from that part of the chamber in close
proximity to the surface of the liquid upward through the hood and through the
downwardly leading eduction pipe to induce a current of air into the chamber or
vessel.
In the drawing, the figure is a central vertical section showing the relation of the
parts of my improved carburetor incased in a suitable jacket.
A, is the vessel or reservoir, proper for holding the hydrocarbon. It is provided
with a cover having a central dome a¹.
The upper edge of the vessel is flanged, and the cover is tightly secured in place
by rivets or solder or by bolts, according to whether the cover is removable or not.
The
Ordinarily the apparatus need not be opened after it has been prepared for use.
main vessel, by preference is surrounded or jacketed with non-conducting material for
the purpose of protecting the contents of the apparatus from rapid variations of
temperature. The dome, a¹, of the reservoir is likewise protected by a cover, which
passes down over the same, as shown leaving an air space between the dome of the
vessel and the said cover.
As shown in the drawing, the space between the external wall and that next to it
is filled with plaster of paris or other solid non-conducting material. The jacket is
properly secured by studs or braces between it and the vessel, so as to make the whole
structure strong and rigid.
By applying a non-conducting jacket to the apparatus the same will be protected
for a considerable time from the heat arising in case of a conflagration, and no danger
can therefore arise from such source.
A central pipe, B, open at the top, passes up through the bottom of the vessel, the
lower end thereof being screw-threaded for connection with the service pipes leading
to points below the apparatus. Hydrocarbon is introduced to the vessel through feed
tube, a, which is provided with a funnel mouth as shown, and enters the vessel at a point
above the highest level of the liquid. This tube is provided with a cock to close the tank
and prevent the escape of vapor when the apparatus is not in operation. Wire gauze
is arranged across the end of this tube, as well as all other openings leading directly
The air to be
to & from the tank, to prevent the entrance of flame from without.
carburetted also enters by the tube a.
The vessel is tapped near the top and bottom and pet-cocks, a², and, a³, are inserted
therein, the former to avoid over charging the tank and the latter to draw off the
contents for transportation, cleansing, and the like.
C, is a float, consisting of an annular drum, to encircle the central pipe, B. This float,
as shown carries a cap or hood, c, which embraces the top of the pipe, B, the space
between the two constituting the short leg of the siphon. The hood moves up and
down with the float in the dome, a¹, heretofore described. Instead of the embracing
hood, c, as shown a goose neck fitted to telescope with the pipe may be used. The
float sustains a sponge or other absorbent material, e, which fills the space around the
lower end of the hood, c, and the central opening of the float. The Hoat sinks deep
enough in the liquid to submerge a portion of the absorbent material and to keep
it constantly saturated. Instead of the sponge or other absorbent carried on the
float, or in addition thereto, an annular wall of absorbent material a may be adjusted
against the inner vertical walls of the reservoir. A convenient device for holding
the annular absorbent in position is a cylinder of wire gauze of the proper
diameter.
In using my improved carburetor, the tank being filled I arrange the same in the
upper part or on top of the building to be lighted, or in any position above the
burners, open the cock in the funnel, a, and as the hydrocarbon vapor is heavier than
air it descends through the tube or pipe, B, to the burners, siphoning or drawing

page_text: atmospheric air into the vessel and into and through the absorbent material at the
surface of the liquid.
In practice it is best to have separate service pipes leading from the upper part of
the reservoir within the hood to each floor of the structure to be lighted, so that the
draft or current to the lower floor will not affect the pressure on the floors above.
As the evaporation during the carbureting operation largely reduces the temperature
within the reservoir, I provide means to prevent the danger of collapse of the drum.
I therefore provide a vent pipe, c, which leads from the chamber within the drum
to a point above the surface of the liquid, and by preference within the hood, a',
as shown.
As a means of indicating the amount of the contents of the reservoir, I connect
with the top of the hood, c, a rod, z, as shown. A stuffing box, 21, may be used to
prevent the escape of vapors if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A gravity carburetor consisting of the combination of a tank or reservoir, an
inlet pipe or passage leading into the upper part of the tank, through which said tank
is supplied with oil and air is admitted, an outlet pipe leading downward from the
upper part of the tank, forming the upper end of the service pipe and constituting
the long leg of a siphon, a float to ride upon the liquid, and a hood mounted on said
float for inclosing the upper end of the outlet or service pipe, and forming the short
leg of a siphon, whereby a siphonic action from the tank is obtained and the exhaustion
from the tank by said action is automatically supplied with fresh air and a draft
current through the carburetor close to the surface of the liquid is maintained,
substantially as described.
2. In a gravity carburetor, the combination of a tank or reservoir having an air
inlet through its top, an outlet pipe leading downward from the upper part of said
tank, forming the upper section of the main service pipe and constituting the long
leg of a siphon, a float and a tubular hood mounted on said float embracing the upper
end of the outlet pipe and forming the short leg of a siphon for drawing carbureted
air from the vessel to said service pipe, and inducing a current through said vessel,
as specified.
3. The combination with the drum of float for carbureting apparatus, of a vent
opening or tube, as and for the purpose described.