IMPROVEMENTS IN LIME LIGHT LAMPS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Achilles Matveevitch Khotinsky, Lieutenant of the
Russian Imperial Navy, residing in St. Petersburg, Russia, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIME LIGHT LAMPS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Achilles Matveevitch
Khotinsky at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th
January 1881.
ACHILLES MATVEEVITCH KHOTINSKY, Lieutenant of the Russian Imperial Navy;
residing in St. Petersburg, Russia. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIME LIGHT LAMPS."
"
The principle of my Invention consists in obtaining light by heating to incan-
descense some refractory material in the flame of a combustible liquid (finely
divided as spray or otherwise), or gas, as, for instance, liquid or gaseous carburetted
hydrogen or other combustible gas, which flame is excited by a current of oxygen.
Any refractory matter not liable to be altered or to get fissured at a high tem-
perature may be employed in my apparatus. This matter may consist generally of
earths or of alkaline earths, as, for instance, the oxides of calcium, barium, strontium,
magnesium, aluminium, zirconium, and of other similar metals, either of any one
of them, or of a mixture of two or more of them.
The refractory matter can be employed either in pieces or fragments, or in a
pulverized state.. The refractory matter is heated to incandescense in the flame of
any combustible gas or liquid, which latter may be finely divided as spray. The
flame can be a simple jet issuing from one round orifice, or it may consist of
several jets issuing from a number of apertures of rectilinear, curvilinear, or annular
form. Corresponding to the form of the flame, the refractory matter can be of
cylindrical, conical, pyramidal, or prismatical form, with plane or curved sides.
If the flame be annular the refractory matter may have the shape of hollow
cylinders, pyramids, or cones, whose cavity may be cylindrical, pyramidal, or
conical, with its base directed to the summit of the exterior cone.
The refractory matter is always placed in the prolongation of the axis of the
flame and of the jet of oxygen, or at least it should be within an angle to such

page_text: axis not exceeding 10°. In such position the refractory matter is constantly
embraced by the flame, and, so to say, licked from all sides by the same.
The diameter of the lower end of the refractory matter, i.e.; of the end directed
towards the flame, can vary from 1 to 1 of an inch.
In all the aforementioned cases the flame or flames are excited by one or more
jets of oxygen blown into the interior of the flame, and issuing from apertures
which may have the following dimensions and forms:-
(1.) Round apertures; their diameter can vary from 0.01 to 0.03 of an inch.
(2.) Slit-like apertures, which can be rectilinear or curvilinear, or may consist
of a combination of curves and straight lines.
The width of the slits can vary
from 0.01 to 0.03 of an inch.
Round apertures may at pleasure be combined amongst themselves or with slits,
maintaining the dimensions indicated above.
All the aforementioned apertures for the issue of oxygen are surrounded by
corresponding apertures for the issue of the combustible liquid, either as spray
or in a gaseous form.
The intensity of the light from burners provided with apertures of the afore-
mentioned dimensions will vary from one to several thousand normal candles.
In the accompanying Drawings two modifications of my lamp are shewn, one of
which is intended for ordinary and the other for submarine lighting, or for
lighting spaces filled with explosive gases and dusts, or gases not permitting.
combustion.
Figure 1 shows a vertical section of the burner adapted for ordinary or other
gas; Figure 2 is a front view of this burner; Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, transverse
sections of the same on the lines x―y, r—s, t―u, v-w respectively; Figure 7
shews the regulating and stopping tap.
.
The burner is connected by means of the coupling a with two tubes, one of which
conveys the combustible gas and the other the oxygen to the burner. During their
whole way through the burner the combustible gas and the oxygen are kept
separate the one from the other, and they mix only at the upper end 6 of the
burner. The combustible gas enters into the burner by the aperture c, and passing
through the hole o of the tap e into the exterior wider tube f; the oxygen enters
into the burner by the aperture d, passes through the other hole p of the tap e,
and ascends by the interior, narrower tube g. The tube serving for the combus-
tible gas is provided with an end piece h, which can be removed, and thereupon
the end piece i of the oxygen-tube g can be unscrewed and taken off for cleaning
or changing the same. The tube at its outside is embraced by the spring-collar k
whereon is fixed the bent rod l. The end of this rod is provided with an eye or
cavity m for holding the refractory matter n. The collar k, together with the rod l,
can be moved along the tube f in order to regulate the distance between the
refractory stick n and the end b of the burner; 8, 8, are set screws for holding the
globe or the like.
When the tape is opened a mixture of combustible gas and oxygen is formed at
the end b of the burner: This mixture when lighted gives almost a colourless but
very hot flame, into which the refractory matter is placed and heated to incan-
descence, giving a steady and brilliant light.
A burner of this description provided with an aperture for the issue of oxygen
of 0.015 of an inch in diameter will consume in an hour about one half a cubic
foot of oxygen, and a like quantity of lighting gas, furnishing light of an intensity
equal to that of 20 to 25 normal candles.
A burner of the described construction can be placed either in a vertical position
or inclined at any angle with the horizon..
Figure 8 represents a vertical section of a lamp or lantern adapted to light under
water as well as in spaces filled with explosive gases, and dusts or gases not
permitting combustion.
In the apparatus shewn by the Drawing it is supposed that some combustible
liquid as petroleum is employed as burning material. By capillarity it. rises.

page_text: through a wick (not shewn in the Drawing) to the aperture a. The blast of
oxygen serving to excite the flame is led in by the tube b. Into this flame is
inserted a stick of refractory matter c, as in the foregoing burner, the position of
the refractory matter being in this case regulated by means of the screw rod
provided at its upper end with the knob m, and passing through a stuffing-box f.
The whole burner is surrounded by the glass d, d, tightly closed on top by the
metallic lid e and below by the reservoir A, so as to isolate the burner completely
from the water, or in general from the atmosphere surrounding the glass d.
In the lid e near the stuffing-box f are the capillary apertures g, g, to let out the
gaseous products of combustion, i.e., carbonic acid, and partly oxide of carbon. The
liquid product of combustion, i.e., the water condensing on the cooler surface of the
lid and the glass, runs down by the tube h into the double bottom B of the
reservoir A. The air driven by the water out of the said bottom issues by the
tube k. This condensed water can be from time to time let out of the reservoir A
by an opening closed by the screw n. It is evident that the tube b feeding the
lamp with the oxygen must be provided with a tap not shewn in the Drawing.
:
-

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Achilles Matveevitch Khotinsky in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd July 1881.
ACHILLES MATVEEVITCH KHOTINSKY, Lieutenant of the Russian Imperial Navy,
residing in St. Petersburgh, Russia. " IMPROVEMENTS IN LIME LIGHT LAMPS."
The principle of my Invention consists in obtaining light by heating to incan-
descense some refractory material in the flame of a combustible liquid (finely
divided as spray, or otherwise) or gas, as, for instance, liquid or gaseous carburetted
hydrogen, or other combustible gas, which flame is excited by a current of oxygen.
Any refractory matter not liable to be altered or to get fissured at a high temperature
may be employed in my apparatus. This matter may consist generally of earths
or of alkaline earths, as, for instance, the oxides of calcium, barium, strontium,
magnesium, aluminium, zirconium, and of other similar metals, either of any one of
them or of a mixture of two or more of them.
The refractory matter can be employed either in pieces, or fragments, or in a
pulverized state. The refractory matter is heated to incandescense in the flame of
any combustible gas or liquid, which latter may be finely divided as spray. The
flame can be a simple jet issuing from one round orifice, or it may consist of several
jets issuing from a number of apertures of rectilinear, curvilinear, or annular form.
Corresponding to the form of the flame the refractory matter can be of cylindrical,
conical, pyramidal, or prismatical form, with plane or curved sides. If the flame
be annular the refractory matter may have the shape of hollow cylinders, pyramids,
or cones, whose cavity may be cylindrical, pyramidal, or conical, with its base
directed to the summit of the exterior cone.
The refractory matter is always placed in the prolongation of the axis of the
flame, and of the jet of oxygen, or at least it should be within an angle to such axis
not exceeding 10°. In such position the refractory matter is constantly embraced
by the flame, and, so to say, licked from all sides by the same.
The diameter of the lower end of the refractory matter, i.e., of the end directed
towards the flame, can vary from 1/2 to 1/4 of an inch.
In all the aforementioned cases the flame or flames are excited by one or more
jets of oxygen blown into the interior of the flame, and issuing from apertures
which may have the following dimensions and forms :-
(1.) Round apertures. Their diameter can vary from 0.01 to 0.03 of an inch.
(2.) Slit like apertures, which can be rectilinear, or curvilinear, or may consist
of a combination of curves and straight lines. The width of the slits can vary from
0.01 to 0.03 of an inch.
Round apertures may, at pleasure, be combined amongst themselves or with
slits, maintaining the dimensions indicated above.
All the aforementioned apertures for the issue of oxygen are surrounded by
corresponding apertures for the issue of the combustible liquid, either as spray or in
a gaseous form.
The intensity of the light from burners, provided with apertures of the afore-
mentioned dimensions, will vary from one to several thousand normal candles.
In the accompanying Drawings two modifications of my lamp are shown, one of
which is intended for ordinary and the other for submarine lighting, or for lighting
spaces filled with explosive gases and dusts, or gases not permitting combustion.
Figure 1 shows a vertical section of the burner adapted for ordinary or other
gas; Figure 2 is a front view of this burner; Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, transverse
sections of the same on the lines x-y, r-s, t-u, v-w, respectively; Figure 7
shows the regulating and stopping tap.

page_text: The burner is connected by means of the coupling a with two tubes, one of
which conveys the combustible gas and the other the oxygen to the burner.
During their whole way through the burner the combustible gas and the oxygen
are kept separate the one from the other, and they mix only at the upper end 6 of
the burner. The combustible gas enters into the burner by the aperture c, and
passing through the hole o of the tape into the exterior wider tube f the oxygen
enters into the burner by the aperture d, passes through the other hole p of the
tap e, and ascends by the interior narrower tube g. The tube f serving for the com-
bustible gas is provided with an end piece h, which can be removed, and thereupon
the end piece of the oxygen tube g can be unscrewed and taken off for cleaning
or changing the same. The tube fat its outside is embraced by the spring collark,
whereon is fixed the bent rod 1. The end of this rod is provided with an eye or
cavity m for holding the refractory matter n. The collar k, together with the
rod l, can be moved along the tube fin order to regulate the distance between the
refractory stick n and the end 6 of the burner. 8, 8, are set screws for holding
the globe or the like.
When the tape is opened a mixture of combustible gas and oxygen is formed at
the end 6 of the burner. This mixture when lighted gives almost a colourless but
very hot flame, into which the refractory matter is placed and heated to incan-
descense, giving a steady and brilliant light.
A burner of this description provided with an aperture for the issue of oxygen
of 0.015 of an inch in diameter will consume in an hour about one half a cubic
foot of oxygen and a like quantity of lighting gas, furnishing light of an intensity
equal to that of 20 to 25 normal candles.
A burner of the described construction can be placed either in a vertical position
or inclined at any angle with the horizon.
Figure 8 represents a verticaljsection of a lamp or lantern adapted to light under
water as well as in spaces filled with explosive gases and dusts or gases not
permitting combustion.
In the apparatus shown by the Drawing it is supposed that some combustible
liquid, as petroleum, is employed as burning material. By capillarity it rises
through a wick (not shown in the Drawing) to the aperture_a. The blast of
oxygen serving to excite the flame is led in by the tube b. Into this flame is
inserted a stick of refractory matter c, as in the foregoing burner, the position of
the refractory matter being in this case regulated by means of the screw rod 7,
provided at its upper end with the knob m, and passing through a stuffing box f
The whole burner is surrounded by the glass d, d, tightly closed on top by the
metallic lid e and below by the reservoir A, so as to isolate the burner completely
from the water or, in general, from the atmosphere surrounding the glass d.
In the lid e near the stuffing box f are the capillary apertures g, g, to let out
the gaseous products of combustion, i.e., carbonic acid and partly oxide of carbon.
The liquid product of combustion, i.e., the water condensing on the cooler surface
of the lid and the glass, runs down by the tube h into the double bottom B of the
reservoir A. The air driven by the water out of the said bottom issues by the
tube k. This condensed water can be from time to time let out of the reservoir A
by an opening closed by the screw n. It is evident that the tube b feeding the
lamp with the oxygen must be provided with a tap, not shown in the Drawings.
It is to be observed that I am aware that the principle of heating to incan-
descense lime or other fireproof matter in a flame produced by the combustion of
carburetted hydrogen excited by oxygen does not present any novelty, but what
I claim as my Invention is,―
First. The position of the fire proof matter in the direction of the axis of
the flame and of the current of oxygen, or at an angle to the said axis not
exceeding 10°.
Second. The lamp for the burning of combustible liquids (as spray, or otherwise),
and gases with an afflux of oxygen, in the flame of which the fire proof matter is
placed in the manner mentioned above.

page_text: Third. In a lamp the burner consisting of the concentrical tubes ƒ and g for
combustible gas and oxygen with removeable end pieces h and i, in combination
with the support 7 for the fire proof matter and the tap e provided with two holes o
and p, substantially as described and shown by Figures 1-7 of the annexed
Drawings, and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. A lamp of the described construction adapted for lighting under water,
or in spaces deprived of oxygen or filled with explosive gases, substantially as
shown by Figure 8 of the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Achilles Matveevitch Khotinsky, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty fifth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
ACHILLES MATVEEVITCH KHOTINSKY. (L.S.)