IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR BURNING PYROTECHNIC COMPOSITIONS OR PREPARATIONS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL LIGHTS OF VARIOUS COLOURS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Moule, of Seabright Place, Hackney Road..
in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturing Chemist, for the Invention
of "IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR BURNING PYROTECHNIC COMPOSITIONS
OR PREPARATIONS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL LIGHTS OF VARIOUS COLOURS."
Sealed the 12th May 1857, and dated the 18th February 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Moule at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th February
1857.
I, JOHN MODLE, of Seabright Place, Hackney Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR BURNING PYROTECHNIC
COMPOSITIONS OR PREPARATIONS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL LIGHTS OF VARIOUS
COLOURS," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improved apparatus to be used for burning pyrotechnic
compositions or preparations relates to a means of burning any of the chemical
compounds that are usually employed for producing various colored lights, such
as are required for theatrical performances; some of which chemical compounds
will, however, produce lights of such a quality as will admit of their being
used for photographic purposes. The ordinary mode of burning these com-
pounds for theatrical or other purposes is to place them in an open vessel,.
in which when ignited they are allowed to burn until consumed. While

page_text: burning the composition will give out a brilliant light, the colour thereof
depending upon the particular composition that is employed. During this com-
bustion a pungent and suffocating vapour or gas is evolved, which when the
composition is burned in close buildings is very annoying and disagreeable.
The object of my Invention is to burn these compositions and obtain the
light therefrom in such a manner as to prevent the various vapours or gases
from annoying persons in the immediate neighbourhood of the apparatus.
To effect this object, I place the composition in a vessel, which I surround
with a square, hexagonal; cylindrical, or other suitably-shaped glass, care
being taken to admit a sufficient quantity of air at bottom, so as to causo
the vapours to rise from the vessel containing the composition. The draught
and admission of air to the interior of the apparatus is so arranged as to
surround the vapours and prevent them from condensing on the inner side
of the glass, and thereby obstructing the rays of light emanating from the
burning composition. The vapours or gases pass from the top of the apparatus
into a tube or pipe provided for the purpose, whereby they are conducted
either into any convenient flue or chimney or direct into the open air. If
thought desirable an artificial draught may be established at some convenient
part of the apparatus, for the purpose of acting more energetically on the
gases or vapours, and to carry them off more quickly than they would other-
wise be discharged. For some purposes I also propose to make use of
colored glass in the construction of the apparatus, so that when a chemically
white light is produced any particular and desired tinge of color may be
imparted to the light. Colored glasses will be found exceedingly useful for
photographic purposes, as the colour of the light is of the greatest importance
for the success of the process. Reflectors also may be adapted to tho
apparatus, for the purpose of collecting and throwing the rays of light in any
particular direction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Moule in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3
18th August 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MOULE, of Seabright Place, Hackney Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturing Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3.
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, tho
said John Moule, Her special license that I, the said John Moule, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Moule, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE
USED FOR BURNING PYROTECHNIC COMPOSITIONS OR PREPARATIONS FOR PRODUCING
ARTIFICIAL LIGHTS OF VARIOUS COLOURS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Moule, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and causo
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Moule, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is. to say) :-
:-
• :
My Invention of improved apparatus to be used for burning pyrotechnic
compositions or preparations relates to a means of burning any of the chemical
compounds that are usually employed for producing various colored lights,
such as are required for theatrical performances; some of which chemical
compounds will, however, produce lights of such a quality as will admit, of
their being used for photographic purposes. The ordinary mode of burning
these compounds for theatrical or other purposes is to place them in an open
vessel, in which when ignited they are allowed to burn until consumed.
While burning, the composition will give out a brilliant light, the color
thereof depending upon the particular composition that is employed. During
this combustion a pungent and suffocating vapor or gas is evolved, which
when the composition is burned in close buildings is very annoying. and
disagreeable.
The object of my Invention is to burn these compositions, and obtain the
light therefrom in such a manner as to prevent the noxious vapors or gases
from annoying persons in the immediate neighbourhood of the apparatus.
To effect this object, I place the composition in a vessel, which I surround
with a square, hexagonal, cylindrical, or other suitable-shaped glass, care

page_text: being taken to admit a sufficient quantity of air at bottom, so as to cause
the vapors to rise from the vessel containing the composition. The draught
and admission of air to the interior of the apparatus is so arranged as to
surround the vapors and prevent them from condensing on the inner side
of the glass, and thereby obstructing the rays of light emanating from the
burning composition. The vapors or gases pass from the top of the apparatus
into a tube or pipe provided for the purpose, whereby they are conducted
either into any convenient flue or chimney or direct into the open air. If
thought desirable an artificial draught may be established at some convenient
part of the apparatus, for the purpose of acting more energetically on the
gases or vapors, and to carry them off more quickly than they would otherwise
be discharged.
For some purposes I also propose to make use of colored glass in the
construction of the apparatus, so that when a chemically white light is pro-
duced any particular and desired tinge of color may be imparted to the light.
Colored glasses will be found exceedingly useful for photographic purposes,
as the color of the light is of the greatest importance for the success of the
process. Reflectors also may be adapted to the apparatus, for the purpose
of collecting and throwing the rays of light in any particular direction.
In order, however, that my Invention may be clearly understood, I have
shewn in the accompanying Drawing views of two forms of apparatus which
will be found to answer the intended purpose. I do not, however, intend
to limit myself to the precise arrangement or construction of parts therein
shewn, as they may, doubtless, be varied in some particulars without departing
from the nature and object of my Invention.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of one form of apparatus which will be found
convenient for the purpose, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same.
The composition or preparation to be burned is shewn at a, and is placed on
a bed of sand b, in a wide shallow vessel c of suitable dimensions, and either
placed at the bottom of the apparatus, or it may form a fixed part thereof. This
vessel or chamber is surrounded by a narrow perforated band or ring d, secured
to the bottom plate e of the apparatus, and which is also perforated to admit
air in vertical columns all round the burning composition in the vessel c,
as indicated by the arrows. The upper edge of the perforated ring d is
provided with an annular groove (as shewn in the Drawing) to receive the
lower edge of a glass cylinder f, f, which may be made either in one piece
in the form of a perfect cylinder, or of any convenient number of pieces which
when assembled together and secured in a frame will form a cylinder, as
shewn in the sectional plan view, Fig. 2. On the top of the glass cylinder

page_text: f. f, is placed the conical cap or cover g, g, which may be made of metal,
and is connected to the perforated ring d below by the vertical metal framing
or straps h, h. The conical cap or cover g is terminated by a short cylindrical
flue or chimney i, provided with an annular cup or groove j, which is intended
to receive the open end of a moveable flue or chimney k, a moderate gas-
tight joint being produced by filling the annular space with sand. Access
is obtained to the interior of the glass chamber or cylinder f by means of
a door 1, 1, (Fig. 2), which is hinged to one of the vertical bars h, and is
provided with a suitable latch or fastening to secure the same when closed. :
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a modification of the apparatus abovo
described, the principal difference between the two apparatus being, that the
composition or preparation a to be burned is in Fig. 3 contained in a tube
m, up which it is pressed or forced by means of a coiled spring n, somewhat
in the same manner in which candles are pressed up in candle lamps. This
tube m is removeable from the apparatus for the convenience of filling with
the composition, and when charged it is passed up a tubular socket o, fixed
to the bottom of the apparatus, and is secured therein by a pin, which fits
in a bayonet joint p, as shewn by dots in the Figure. The spring n is pre-
vented from too suddenly pressing the composition a out of the tube or socket
by means of a cross wire q at the top of the socket, and which retains the
charge while it is burning, and only allows it to rise as it is consumed. The
whole charge contained in the tube m may be divided into several parts as
may be required by means of the horizontal knife r, which works in guides
8, 8, as shown in the detached cross section, (Fig. 4.) The knife r is jointed
to the upper end of a forked lever t, which is mounted in brackets attached
to the tubular socket o. By drawing down the lower end of the levert the
knife is pressed through the charge of composition and severs a portion
therefrom, as shewn in the Drawing.
Having now described my Invention of improved apparatus to be used for
burning pyrotechnic compositions or preparations for producing artificial lights
of various colours, and having explained the means of carrying the same into
effect, I would observe that the glass cylinder f. f, or the sides of the lantern
may be made of any desired colour of glass, or the glass sides may be adapted
in such a manner as to be capable of being changed for glass of a different
colour, or sheets of various colored glass may be adapted to the apparatus
in front of the common or colorless glass, as will be well understood; it
will therefore be seen that either various colored fires may be employed in
the apparatus when colorless glass is used, or a perfectly white and chemically
pure light may be used in combination with colored glass, care being taken

page_text: to keep the apparatus well supplied with air from the circular arrangement
of holes at the lower part, so that the gases evolved during' the combustion
of the composition may. be entirely surrounded with an ascending current of
air, which will provent any of the vapours from condensing on the inside of the
glass.
In conclusion, I claim, as the Invention' secured to me by Letters Patent
as aforesaid, the application to the purposes above mentioned of apparatus
such as that herein-before described, and shewn in the Drawing, or any mero
modification thereof, in which pyrotechnic compositions may be burned to
produce various colored lights, and the gases or vapours evolved therefrom
carried off, so as not to annoy bystanders.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Moule, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Seventeenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.