An Improved Lamp for Burning Gasoline and other Light Liquid Hydro-carbons.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June. 1891-Accepted, 11th July, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Lamp for Burning Gasoline and other Light Liquid
Hydro-carbons.
We ROBERT REID of Union Lane, Little Collins Street, Melbourne in the
Colony of Victoria Engineer, ROBERT HANNA of 18 Market Street Melbourne
aforesaid, Importer, THOMAS HOLROYD of Barkly Street, Brunswick near
Melbourne aforesaid, Draughtsman, and HENRY ARTHUR WHEAT of Union
Lane, Little Collins Street, Melbourne aforesaid Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to that class of lamp which is used for burning gasoline
and other light liquid hydro-carbons.
Its object is to provide a lamp wherein these comparatively volatile and
inflammable materials can be more satisfactorily burnt than with the lamps
heretofore constructed; and, moreover, without necessitating the heating of such
lamp either by lighting a small quantity of gasoline placed in a cup for the purpose,
or by any other equivalent means, prior to the lamp being lighted.
Our invention consists in a lamp wherein the natural draught caused by it is
utilized (when once the lamp is alight) to cause a current of air to pass through or
over the surface of a small quantity of the gasoline or other light liquid hydro-
carbons in such a manner as to carry off and mix with the vapour given off by such
gasoline, thereby forming a gascous mixture which, when ignited on issuing from a
suitable burner, will give a steady and a brilliant light.
We will describe our invention as it would be embodied in a railway carriage
lamp but would wish it understood that we do not intend to limit its use to any
particular class or classes of lamps, because, as will be obvious from a perusal of
this Specification, it can be embodied in practically all classes, whether stationary
or portable, whether for use indoors or out, and quite irrespective of the amount of
light required.
In constructing a lamp according to our invention, we provide a reservoir for
the gasoline or other light liquid hydro-carbon, and support it in such a position
as that the fuel contained therein can readily be conveyed to a chamber, which
we call a "converter," wherein such liquid gasoline or other hydro-carbon is con-
verted into vapour and is mixed with the current of air induced by the natural
draught of the lamp, and is then conveyed, together with such air, to the burner,
which latter must, of course, be so constructed and arranged as to ensure a supply
of sufficient air to support combustion.
Although this burner may be of any construction found suitable for the purpose,
we prefer to employ a circular burner constructed as herein described, because we
have found that such a burner gives a bright and steady light, and does not
necessitate any supports which would be liable to cast shadows.
A valve is provided in the pipe connecting the gasoline reservoir with the
converter in order that the supply of fuel to the latter may be regulated to just the
amount required, and said converter is made comparatively long, and is divided
into two compartments or passages by means of a partition which is cut away so
as to leave a free passage from one compartment to the other. The end of one of
these compartments is left open to allow air to enter freely, whilst the end of the
other one is in open communication with a passage leading to the centre of the
burner. Inside this second compartment is arranged a sheet, piece, or pieces of
some material which will spread the liquid over a large surface and will allow the
air to pass through freely.
By preference we employ a sheet of wire gauze for this purpose because the

page_text: gasoline spreads over that material in the form of a fine film, through which the air
freely passes, the effect, of course, being to carry off any vapour evolved.
The, gaseous, mixture thus formed passes down to the burner, where, on being
ignited, it burns with a steady luminous flame. The air employed for mixing with
the gasoline vapour is by preference drawn from a chamber formed within the body
of the lamp and around the chimney, thus ensuring that such air will be
sufficiently hot to facilitate the vapourization of such gasoline and thereby
expedite the operation.
The air fed to the lamp, or some of it, is preferably passed through a chamber
situated above the burner and extending from side to side of the lamp, whilst the
products of combustion from said burner pass up through openings or passages on
either side of said chamber, and are carried away by a centrally arranged flue or
chimney, fitted or provided with the ordinary or some other efficient means for
preventing down draught, as will be well understood from the following description,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein
Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of a railway carriage lamp for burning
gasoline and other light liquid hydro-carbons, constructed according to our
invention.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same lamp, but taken at right angles to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3, Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4-4, Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a vertical central section (shown approximately full size) of the valve
we prefer to employ for regulating the supply of gasoline or other light liquid
hydro-carbons to the converter.
Similar letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all the
figures.
55
A represents the reservoir in which the gasoline or other light liquid hydro-
carbon to be burnt in our lamp is stored, whilst B represents what we term the
converter "that is, the chamber wherein the gasoline is subjected to the action
of, and mixed with, a current of air passing up the passage or compartment b, over
the upper end of the central partition, and down the second passage or com-
partment 2. Inside this latter is arranged a small sheet, preferably of wire
gauze 3, on to which the gasoline or other liquid hydro-carbon is fed by the small
supply pipe whose upper end is fitted with a needle regulating valve C, con-
structed, as illustrated in Fig. 5, with a screw-threaded spindle c¹ and a milled
head or thumb piece ², so that the amount of gasoline passing into the converter B
can be regulated to a rivety. We prefer to provide a small stop valve c³, in the
pipe between the needle regulating valve C and the converter, because we can
then leave said regulating valve in its fixed position when once it is adjusted to
feed the required amount of gasoline.
We have found in practice that it is advisable to reduce the size of this pipe c to
the smallest possible diameter consistent with the supply of enough gasoline to
provide sufficient vapour for maintaining the flame.
Instead of using a sheet of wire gauze, ³, some other material which will
distribute the gasoline over a large area and so allow the air to act upon it readily
might be employed, though we have found wire gauze give very satisfactory results,
because the gasoline spreads over its entire surface in the form of a film, through
which the air is free to pass.
The supply of air for the converter B is preferably drawn through the upper
and lower row of holes b✶ ✶ as illustrated from inside the body of the lamp and
above the burner, so that after it is lit it is heated, and thereby accelerates the
vapourization of the gasoline, and moreover facilitates the combustion of the gaseous
mixture.
This air is admitted into the lamp body through holes 6, which we prefer to
cover with a strip of wire gauze **, arranged around the inside of the said lamp
body as shown, in order to, as it were, split up the air supply and at the same time
regulate it.

page_text: The lower end of the compartment is in communication with the centre of the
burner D through the passage, and downwardly extending tube 6, as shown,
whilst an air chamber E, situated in the body of the lamp, is in open communication
with the outside of the burner D, so that the latter is constantly supplied with
sufficient air to ensure the perfect combustion of the gasoline vapour, as will be well
understood.
If preferred, a slide might be fitted inside the compartment b to enable the air
passing up same to be regulated according to requirements.
The products of combustion from the burner D pass on either side of the air
chamber E up through the chimney F, inside the body of the lamp, to the top,
where they escape into the atmosphere without coming into contact with the gaso-
line reservoir A, and thus said reservoir is kept comparatively cool, a piece of
non-conducting material being, if found necessary, fitted between said reservoir and
cach of its supports, in order to prevent any heat being conducted to said reservoir
from the body of the lamp.
An annular reflector G is arranged around the burner as illustrated in Figs. 1
and 2, whilst an ordinary glass lamp bottom H may be fitted over the burner D in
the usual manner.
This annular reflector G is provided with a series of holes through which a
certain quantity of air is free to pass from the body of the lamp above into the glass
bottom below, thus assisting in supporting the combustion, and moreover serving
to keep the reflector cool.
i
A flat circular plate is fitted inside the lamp around the chimney F, and is
pressed down tightly by a three-legged bridge piece or tripod, through which
passes a screw-threaded rod I, provided with a nut, whereby the pressure of said
plate on said chimney F, and on a bearing or bead provided for it around the
top of the lamp body, as well as the pressure of said chimney on its support, can be
regulated at will so as to form a comparatively air-tight chamber inside the body of
the lamp. Above the chimney F are the usual arrangements for preventing down
draft, comprising a cone J, a battle plate j, and a ring, all constructed as shown
after the manner of an ordinary railway carriage lamp.
In order to prevent the entrance of any small particles of dust or other foreign
substance into the needle valve C, we prefer to enclose it in a small perforated
tube et, and to enclose the latter in a sheet or sheets c³ of wire gauze or other
material, which will serve as a filter to separate any of such particles from the
liquid, or if preferred the valve might be fitted so that it projects slightly above a
depression in the bottom of the reservoir A, said depression serving to receive or
collect the impurities, which would naturally settle to the bottom and leave a com-
paratively clear body of liquid above.
In either case we arrange the valve C so that it is surrounded by gasoline,
because by that means we are enabled to keep said valve perfectly cool, which we
find is a decided advantage.
The operation of our invention is as follows:-
―:
In order to light our improved lamp the valve C is opened sufficiently far to
allow a small quantity of gasoline or other light hydro-carbon to pass on to the
sheet of wire gauze 3, and a lighted match or other flame is held under the
burner D until the mixture of air and gasoline vapour passes into the burner, when
the operation will go on automatically, the gaseous mixture being consumed as it
issues from the burner D, and the draught set up being used for drawing a fresh
supply of air through the converter B, and so on until either the whole of the
gasoline in the reservoir A has been consumed, or the supply to the converter has
been stopped by closing the valve C.
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-
1st. A lamp for burning gasoline and other light liquid hydro-carbons, having a

page_text: reservoir (such as A) for containing the liquid, a converter (such as B) where a
suitable quantity of such liquid has a current of air passed over or through it,
a burner (such as D) in open communication with said converter, and a chimney
(such as F) or other equivalent device for conducting the products of combustion
away from the burner in such a manner as to automatically cause a current of
air to pass through the converter to the burner substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and explained, and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2nd. In a lamp for burning gasoline and other light liquid hydro-carbons, the
combination with a reservoir for containing a supply of such liquid, of a needle
valve (such as C) so arranged within such reservoir as to be surrounded by the
liquid therein, as small a pipe as practicable being employed for conducting the liquid
from said reservoir to the converter in such lamp, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3rd. In a lamp for burning gasoline and other light liquid hydro-carbons the
employment of a converter (such as B) made in two compartments, one commumi-
cating with the atmosphere and the other with the burner-the latter of said two
compartments being moreover fitted with a sheet of wire gauze (such as ³) or
other material, which will serve to spread the gasoline or other liquid fed on to it
over a large area, a pipe or other means of communication being provided between
the converter and the gasoline or other light liquid hydro-carbon reservoir
substantially as and for the purposes specified, and as illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
4th. In a lamp for burning gasoline and other light liquid hydro-carbons, the
combination with a chimney (such as F) arranged above the burner of the lamp of
a circular plate (such as i) fitting tightly around the upper end of said chimney-a
tripod (such as ) and screw-threaded rod (such as 1) being used for the purpose
of keeping said plate and said chimney pressed firmly down upon their supports,
substantially as and for the purposes specified, and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2
of our drawings.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of April One thousand eight hundred and
ninety an
ROBERT REID.
ROBERT HANNA.
THOMAS HOLROYD.
HENRY ARTHUR WHEAT.
m. P. Thompson & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.