Method and Means of Burning Liquid Hydrocarbons in Conjunction with an Incandescent Hood or Mantle to Produce an Incandescent Oil Burner.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6 h pt., 1355
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1896-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Method and Means of Burning Liquid Hydrocarbons in Conjunction
with an Incandescent Hood or Mantle to Produce an Incandescent
Oil Burner.
We, WALTER DARBY, JON DARBY and JOHN HENRY PUNCHARD all of
Weston Works, Weston Street and 249 Pentonville Road, London Manufacturers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
―
"
This invention is designed with the object of utilising incandescent gas burners
or mantles hoods or the like (such as the now well-known "Welsbach incan-
descent burner or the like) for the purpose of burning liquid hydrocarbons as the
illuminant or source of heat in connection therewith in place of gas as heretofore
and the present invention consists of a method and means of converting or bringing
the liquid hydrocarbons at the moment of burning same in an oil lamp into such a
state or condition as to render same suitable or adapted for burning in or in
conjunction with an incandescent mantle or hood and thus produce an incandescent
oil burner.
In arriving at the present invention we have found that it is very essential to
vaporise the liquid hydrocarbons and mix a large proportion of air therewith
before the full combustion takes place in the hood or mantle and for the sake of
example we will describe our present invention more particularly with reference to
a hood or mantle of the now well-known Welsbach" type or system (though of
course we do not wish to limit ourselves to any particular character of hood or
mantle provided same are suitable for our purposes i.e. adapted to be rendered
incandescent by an oil flame) on a circular wick oil burner although other suitable
forms of oil burner (i.e. other than circular) may be used if desired.
The "body" and "basket" may be of any suitable character for instance as in
existing oil burners-a central air shaft or air tube being arranged as usual either
with this central air supply coming from the basket or body or right through from
the bottom of the oil reservoir.
On the inside of the circular wick we arrange and mount a reticulated (ie. a very
finely perforated) cylinder-advantageously fixed to the inner of the wick tubes and
then set back a little above the latter so as thus to just clear the wick or anyway
so as not to interfere with the raising and lowering of the wick which latter may
be effected as heretofore or in any other suitable manner.
This reticulated cylinder may be formed from any suitable material but advan-
tageously finely perforated sheet metal and same extends for a considerable height
above the top of the wick tubes and is plugged or stopped or partially stopped (or
same may be perforated) near the top and carries a step or other suitable bearing
or means to hold the "fork" or support which carries the mantle or hood—which
latter is of a larger size than said cylinder over which it passes like a loosely
fitting cap thus leaving a clear annular space between the outside of the upper
part of said reticulated cylinder and the inside of said hood or mantle which latter
however does not extend to the bottom of said cylinder.
Around the outer wick tube and concentric therewith and at a suitable distance
therefrom we arrange and mount a second and separate but shorter reticulated
cylinder (similarly formed as before) the lower edge of same resting on a suitable
gallery or support adapted to be raised and lowered in any suitable manner such
for instance as the well known "gallery raisers" or devices to be found on existing
oil lamps.

page_text: This outer cylinder is supported as above or in any suitable manner at its lower
edge just below the top of the wick tubes and extends upwards for say about half
the length of the aforesaid inner perforated cylinder and just above the point
where the bottom edge of the incandescent hood or mantle is supported within said
outer cylinder the upper edge of said outer cylinder being advantageously turned
over and inwards to form a sort of lock or sufficiently close joint with a corre-
sponding flange or ring which may be formed to receive samne (carried on the
aforesaid inner cylinder) this latter having also thereon a circular raised rim or
wall straight or conical adapted to hold the bottom edge of the hood or mantle or
other suitable means or ways of making a fairly close fit at this point may be used
as desired.
Around this said perforated outer cylinder an enclosing wall or casing is
mounted (advantageously a solid opaque material to hide said outer cylinder)
and between these two a plentiful supply of air is admitted in any suitable manner
from below.
On the upper part of the aforesaid outer perforated cylinder or on the outermost
casing (except when the latter is formed by a prolongation of the lower part of the
glass chimney) a gallery or other suitable support for the chimney is provided
advantageously so that the latter fits closely and does not admit air under its
bottom edge this chimney being advantageously of the contracted character
i.e. having a narrowed part near the bottom thereof.
Air from the body or basket (after passing through any restrictor or other
means of regulating same or not as desired) can freely pass upwards between the
aforesaid outer perforated cylinder and the said outside casing while the air supply
passing up the central air shaft is "restricted" or regulated by one or more
restrictors or regulators such as wire gauze or perforated discs controlling said
central passage while at or near the top the latter is plugged or partially stopped
or otherwise as desired as aforesaid.
The operation is as follows:-
The hood or mantle being mounted in position as aforesaid-to light the burner
the aforesaid outer perforated cylinder and outermost casing together with the
glass chimney carried on same are all simultaneously raised (or same may be
separately raised or removed as desired) to thus afford access to the wick which
can thus be lighted and the parts replaced.
The following action then takes place
The flame (which just at the top of the wick tubes does not appear to burn very
brightly) receives on both sides thereof an abundant supply of well regulated and
finely divided air which is thus thoroughly mingled with said flame or vapour
formed thereby or unconsumed hydrocarbons and same pass up in the annular
space formed between the two said perforated cylinders (which thus form as it
were a prolongation of the wick tubes-only perforated or reticulated) the distance
apart of these two said cylinders being a very important factor in the success of
this invention and depending to a certain extent on the size and number of the
holes or perforations in the said cylinders.
Finally the complete combustion (of the highly combustible mixture thus formed
or produced) takes place in the mantle whereby is produced a most brilliant and
steady light for any purposes to which same is applicable.
This novel construction and drawing up the flame or method of burning at a
point much above the wick tubes besides enabling an oil flame to be used in an
incandescent mantle has the additional advantage that owing to the increased
distance of the burner from the oil reservoir thereby the latter is kept very cool as
well as the other adjacent parts of the burner.
Doted this at
1
1005
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Method and Means of Burning Liquid Hydrocarbons in Conjunction
with an Incandescent Hood or Mantle to Produce an Incandescent
Oil Burner.
We, WALTER DARBY, LON DARBY and JOHN HENRY PUNCHard, all of
Weston Works, Weston Street, and 249 Pentonville Road, London, Manufacturers,
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 is designed with the object of utilising incandescent mantles hoods
or the like (such as the now well-known Welsbach incandescent mantle or the
like) for the purpose of burning liquid hydro-carbons as the source of heat in
connection therewith in place of gas as heretofore and the present invention
consists of an apparatus for converting the liquid hydro-carbons at the moment of
burning in an oil lamp into such a state or condition as to render the same suitable
for burning in conjunction with an incandescent mantle and thus producing an
incandescent oil burner.
In arriving at the present invention we have found that it is very essential to
vapourise the liquid hydro-carbons and mix a large proportion of air therewith
before the full combustion takes place in the hood or mantle and for the sake of
example we will describe our present invention more particularly with reference to
a hood or mantle of the now well-known "Welsbach " system (though of course
we do not wish to limit ourselves to any particular character of hood or mantle
provided same is suitable for our purposes i.e. adapted to be rendered incandescent
by an oil flame) on a circular wick oil burner although other suitable forms of oil
burner (ie. other than circular) may be used if desired.
The body" and "basket" may be of any suitable character for instance as in
existing oil burners-a central air shaft or air tube being arranged as usual either
with this central air supply coming from the basket or body or right through from
the bottom of the oil reservoir.
Inside the circular wick we arrange and mount a reticulated cylinder--advan-
tageously fixed to the inner of the wick tubes and then set back a little above the
latter so as thus to just clear the wick or anyway so as not to interfere with the
raising and lowering of the wick which latter may be effected as heretofore or in
any other suitable manner.
This reticulated cylinder may be formed from any suitable material but
advantageously finely perforated sheet metal and same extends for a considerable
height above the top of the wick tubes and is plugged or stopped or partially
stopped (or same may be perforated) near the top and carries a step or other
suitable bearing to hold the "fork" which carries the mantle or hood-which
latter is of a larger size than the said cylinder over which it passes like a loosely
fitting cap thus leaving a clear annular space between the outside of the upper part
of the reticulated cylinder and the inside of the hood or mantle which latter
however does not extend to the bottom of the cylinder.
Around the outer wick tube and concentric therewith and at a suitable distance
therefrom we mount a second and separate but shorter reticulated cylinder
(similarly formed as before) the lower edge of which rests on a suitable
gallery adapted to be raised and lowered in any suitable manner such for
instance as the well-known "gallery raisers or devices to be found on existing
oil lamps.
This outer cylinder is supported as above or in any suitable manner with its
lower edge just at the top of the wick tubes and extends upwards (for say about

page_text: half the length of the aforesaid inner perforated cylinder) to just about the point
of the bottom edge of the incandescent hood or mantle the upper edge of said
outer cylinder being advantageously turned over and inwards to form a sort of
lock or sufficiently close joint with a corresponding flange or ring which may be
formed to receive the same (carried on the aforesaid inner cylinder) this latter
having also thereon a circular raised rim or wall straight or conical adapted to
hold the bottom edge of the mantle, or other suitable means of making a fairly
close fit at this point may be used as desired.
Around this said perforated outer cylinder an enclosing wall or casing is
mounted (advantageously a solid opaque material extending upwards as far as
desired so as to either hide the outer cylinder or not) and between these two a
plentiful supply of air is admitted in any suitable manner from below.
On the upper part of the outer perforated cylinder or on the outermost casing
(except when the latter is formed by a prolongation of the lower part of the glass
chimney) a gallery or other suitable support for the chimney is provided
advantageously so that the latter fits closely and does not admit air under its
bottom edge.
Air from the body or basket (after passing through any restrictor or other
means of regulating same or not as desired) can freely pass upwards between the
aforesaid outer perforated cylinder and the said outside casing while the air supply
passing up the central air shaft is regulated by one or more regulators such as wire
gauze or perforated dises controlling the said central passage while at or near the
top the latter is plugged or partially stopped or otherwise as desired as aforesaid.
The operation is as follows
The hood or mantle being mounted in position as aforesaid-to light the burner
the aforesaid outer perforated cylinder and outermost casing together with the
glass chimney carried on same are all simultaneously raised (or same may be
separately raised or removed as desired) to afford access to the wick which can
then be lighted and the parts replaced or the wick may be lighted in any other
suitable way.
The following action then takes place :
―
The flame (which just at the top of the wick tubes does not appear to burn
very brightly) receives on both sides thereof an abundant supply of well-regulated
and finely divided air which is thus thoroughly mingled with the flame or vapour
formed thereby or unconsumed hydro-carbons and then pass up in the annular space
formed between the two perforated cylinders (which thus form as it were a
perforated prolongation of the wick tubes)-the distance apart of these two
cylinders must be carefully adjusted in order to obtain the best result and must
depend to a certain extent on the size and number of the holes or perforations in
the said cylinders.
Finally the complete combustion of the highly combustible mixture thus
produced takes place in the mantle which thereby becomes incandescent.
This novel construction and drawing up the flame or method of burning at a
point much above the wick tubes besides enabling an oil flame to be used in an
incandescent mantle has the additional advantage that owing to the increased
distance of the burner from the oil reservoir the latter is kept very cool as well as
the other adjacent parts of the burner.
Referring to the drawings hereunto annexed :—
Fig. 1 is a side view of an incandescent oil lamp according to our present
invention.
Fig. 2 is a central vertical section-on a rather larger scale.
Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 1-1 Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 2-2 Fig. 2.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
A is oil reservoir.
Bis central vertical air supply-passage through said reservoir.
C is inner wick tube, and

page_text: D is exterior wick tube-between which circular tubes C and D the circular
wick E is raised and lowered in any suitable manner such as by the wick
raiser E'.
"[
F is a perforated cylinder open at both ends or the lower end thereof may
"thereon or therein either in the form of a coarse gauze or it
carry a restrictor"
may be a plate F¹ with a single hole therein as shown-this reticulated cylinder F
extending above the top of the wick tubes C and D.
For facility of construction and particularly to enable the upper part of the
apparatus to be raised (mantle and all) to allow the wick E to be lighted we only
continue said reticulated cylinder a little way above the wick tubes C and Ď
and then a separate reticulated cylinder G (advantageously a little less in diameter
than the cylinder F) having a conical lower end piece G thereon is inserted and
fits closely within said cylinder F so that the passage B is continued through the
cylinder F into the cylinder G and thence to the perforated top G* which is
advantageously plugged or stopped at G2 and has a step or bearing H therein to
carry the fork or support H which latter in turn carries the incandescent mantle
or hood I.
"
Thus the mantle 1 is supported over and envelopes the perforated top or
< rose G* to which latter a direct supply of air is furnished from the passage B.
On the outside of the exterior wick tube D-the ring J is screwed and this
ring J by means of the arms J¹ extending therefrom carries the ring or mount K
in such manner as to leave a clear annular space for the admission of air
(vertically) between said mount K and the wick tube D.
L is a cylindrical ring which is slid over the mount K and secured thereto by a
bayonet joint (see Fig. 1) or in any other suitable manner and advantageously has
a ring M of non-conducting or other suitable material inserted therein by which to
grasp said ring L by the hand.
N is the outermost casing or enclosing wall adapted to fit down closely within
the ring L and this casing or body N at the upper part thereof supports the
gallery for the chimney P and also by means of the inwardly extending arms N¹
carries the ring or support N* upon which the aforesaid perforated cylinder R
rests and is supported.
This outer reticulated cylinder R is adapted to receive therein the flat ring or
flange S on the short cylinder S between which latter and the inuer perforated
cylinder G a clear annular space is left for the vapour formed between the
perforated cylinders R and G to pass thence up to the outlet S² to the interior of
the hood or mantle I.
This ring or flange S'is connected by four or other suitable number of connecting
arms or supports T to the ring T screwed on to the flange T formed to receive
same on the conical lower part of the inner perforated cylinder G.
Thus it will be seen that by raising (for instance on a spiral thread of quick
pitch) the body or casing N thereby the outer cylinder R will be raised and with
it the short cylinder S and its connections T the inner perforated cylinder G with
its fork H and the mantle I as well as the gallery O and chimney P-so that
access can thus he obtained to the wick E to light same.
U is a loose flanged ring placed over the mantle I and resting on the top of the
outer reticulated cylinder R with its flange U₁ extending a little beyond the said
cylinder R so as to direct the air against and through the latter near the top
thereof.
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 :-
1. In oil lamps for rendering incandescent mantles or other incandescent media
of similar nature, the combination of the wick E, with the inner wick tube C, and
the exterior wick tube D, and of the three perforated cylinders F G and R, for
producing and regulating, first, the partial combustion of the oil at the wick, and

page_text: secondly, the complete combustion within the mantle of the gases or vapours
produced by such partial combustion all combined and arranged as hereinbefore
described and illustrated.
2. The herein-described apparatus combined and arranged to act substantially
in the manner and for the purposes herein before set forth and illustrated.
Dated this 6th day of July 1896.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.