Improvements in Vapour Lamps and other Vapour Burning Apparatus, and in Burners for such Lamps and Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: UUMI DEID DI MULTICATION.
Improvements in Vapour Lamps and other Vapour Burning
Apparatus, and in Burners for such Lamps and Apparatus.
I SAMUEL HOLMES of No. 17 Great Marlborough Street in the County of
Middlesex Optician 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 :-
My invention consists in part of the improvements hereinafter described in those
kinds of vapour lamps and vapour burning apparatus in which the fluid receptacle.
is below the burner and the lower part of the vaporizing tube which is within the
fluid receptacle has a chamber formed around it for the purpose of decreasing
conduction of heat from the said tube to the said receptacle and to the fluid
contained in it. The said chamber as heretofore constructed is open at its upper
end and closed at its lower end and the vaporizing tube is supported only at its
lower end which is connected to the lower end of the said chamber. The use of
such lamps is attended by objections which my said improvements are designed to
obviate the said objections being that the chamber formed around the burner
occupies considerable space within the fluid receptacle and the connection between
the lower part of the vaporizing tube and the said chamber is very liable to be
accidentally broken.
According to my said improvements I form the chamber around the vaporizing
tube by placing around and connecting to the lowermost part of it another tube of
but slightly larger diameter and I support or steady the vaporizing tube at the upper
part of the tube surrounding it by means of a ring or collar secured to the said part
of the said tube which ring or collar is so formed that portions only of its inner
edge are in contact with the vaporizing tube.
Figure of the accompanying drawings is a plan and Figure 2 is a central vertical
section of a vapour lamp of the kind herein before referred to illustrating my said
improvements. Referring to the said figures-a is the fluid receptacle of the lamp.
b'is the vaporizing tube and c is the tube surrounding it which tubes b, c are connected
together at their lower parts in such a manner that the fluid contained in the
reservoir a cannot enter the space between them. c is a screwed collar affixed to
the outer tube c by means of which it is connected to the receptacle a. c' is the
ring or collar secured within the upper part of the outer tube c for supporting or
steadying the vaporizing tube 6 the form of the inner edge of which ring or collar
is such that it is in contact with the vaporizing tube only at four points as clearly
shown in Figure 1. I would observe that I do not limit myself to the precise
form of the ring shown in the drawings as it may be so formed as to be in contact
with the vaporizing tube at three points only. By my arrangement the vapour
tube is virtually isolated from the body of the lamp and from the fluid contained
in it without material decrease of the space available in the receptacle a for the
fluid to be vaporized and risk of accidental rupture of the connection between the
vaporizing tube and the tube surrounding it is obviated. Where a glass is to be
used with the lamp I secure the support of the glass to the outer tube as shown ir
the drawings in which the said support is marked d. Or I otherwise connect the
said support to the lamp so that it is not in contact with the vapour tube.
My invention consists further of the means hereinafter described for increasing
the pressure at which vapour issues from the burners of vapour burning apparatus
used for heating purposes and supplied with vaporizable liquid under pressure due

page_text: to gravity. According to this part of my invention I provide for compression of
air in or supply of compressed air to the parts of such apparatus in which the fluid
to be vaporized is contained.
.
A convenient method of carrying this part of my invention into effect is illustrated
in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings in connection with the fluid reservoir of
a vapour burning apparatus of the kind in which the reservoir is at a higher level
than the burner. Referring to the said figure-e is the reservoir and e¹ is a
portion of the tube by which the fluid is conducted from the said reservoir to the
burner (not shown in the drawing) which parts e and el are represented in vertical
section. is an air pump mounted in the upper part of the reservoir by means of
which air may be forced into it. The outlet of the pump is closed by a valve
consisting of a plate g carrying a slice of cork g¹ which is normally kept in contact
with the said outlet by means of a spring g² placed around a rod g³ affixed to the
underside of the plate g. When air is issuing from the pump the valve is forced
downwards and is guided in its motion by rods f¹f projecting from the pump
barrel and passing through holes in the plate g and also by engagement of the rod g³
with a hole in a plate f affixed to the said rods ff. The internal parts of the
pump may be of any ordinary construction and the outlet valve may be of any
form I however prefer the form illustrated. The pump is connected to the
reservoir by screwing as illustrated a washer h of leather or other suitable com-
pressible material being interposed between a flange on the head of the pump
barrel and the face of the part of the reservoir into which it is screwed for the
purpose of making the connection air tight.. fis à lever formed on the pump
barrel to facilitate the tightening up and loosening of the connection when the
pump is being put in place and removed or loosened to allow of escape of the
compressed air when desirable. The broken line indicates about the height to
which the reservoir may be charged with fluid.
Where it is inconvenient to mount an air pump in the fluid reservoir I connect
the pump or any suitable air forcing apparatus to the said reservoir by means of
a pipe.
My invention consists further in the construction of vapour burners for lighting
and heating purposes as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 to 24
inclusive of the accompanying drawings which figures illustrate seven forms of
burners constructed according to my invention and designed especially for burning
the vapour of petroleum spirit.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 represent respectively in side elevation plan and section one
of the said burners and Figures 7 and 8 represent respectively in elevation and
plan another of the said burners. The novel feature in both of the said burners
consists in the arrangement of the heater or part by which heat is conveyed to the
vaporizing tube which heater I form of a plate or piece of metal connected to or
formed on the tube of the burner and projecting horizontally or nearly horizontally
below the level of the burner nozzle above a point at which a hole or holes is or are
formed for the issue of a jet or jets of the inflammable mixture of vapour and air
passing through the burner by means of which jet or jets when ignited the said
metal plate is heated.
Referring to the said Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 i is the burner tube. is the
burner nozzle. is the air inlet. j is the cup in which spirit is burned to heat the
vaporizing tube at starting all of which constitute no part of my invention. k is
the horizontally arranged heater hereinbefore referred to which heater is con-
nected at to the burner tube. are the holes from which the heating
jets issue.
I am aware that prior to my invention the tubes of vapour burners have
been heated by small jets issuing from the burner tube below the burner and
in proximity to projections or protuberances formed on the said tubes and I
wish it to be understood that I make no claim to any arrangements for heating the
said tubes by means of such jets nor to any arrangement of heaters formed on
or connected to the said tubes except arrangements embodying the novel feature

page_text: hereinbefore referred to which is the horizontal or approximately horizontal
position of the heater or of the part thereof which is nearest to and is directly
acted on by the heating jet or jets.
Figures 9 and 10 are elevations taken at right angles to one another and
Figure 11 is a plan of a vapour burner for heating purposes constructed according
to my invention. Figures 12, 13 and 14 are sections of the same taken respectively
on the lines A and B Figure 11 and C Figure 10.
1 is the socket for connection to the pipe by which the liquid to be vaporized is
conveyed to the burner. are branch tubes formed on the said socket which
tubes communicate with passages m² m² formed in a plate m in which plate
other passages m² m² are formed communicating between the said passages m' m'
and other tubes n n connected by a cross tube n¹ having an aperture n² formed in it
furnished with a valve n³. jis the usual lighting cup.
When the burner is in action the jet of vapour issuing from the aperture ²
becomes mixed with air and the mixture burns under and around the part m
thereby heating the said part and the parts in connection with it and vaporizing
the liquid in the passages therein.
In constructing the said burner I form the part m of one casting and I
form the passages m' m² therein by drilling holes edgewise in it and plugging their
outer ends and I drill holes communicating with the said passages at the points
where the branch tubes and the tubes n n are required to be connected and
I effect the connection of the said tubes lnn to the part m by brazing.
In some cases I arrange a shield around the tubes and n n as illustrated in
elevation and vertical section in Figures 15 and 16 respectively in which figures
the said shield is marked o. The object of the said shield is to direct the Hame
upward.
Figure 17 is an elevation Figure 18 is a plan and Figure 19 is a central vertical
section of another form of vapour burner constructed according to my invention.
The said burner consists of an annular conical chamber p furnished with a
nozzle p' for connection to the supply of vaporizable liquid with the upper part of
the interior of which chamber a branch pipe 7 communicates at its ends the
intermediate part of the said pipe having formed in it a vapour orifice q' furnished
with a valve . When the said burner is in action the jet of vapour issuing from
the orifice q' draws air into the central hollow of the chamber p and the mixture
burns within the upper part of and above the said hollow heating the said chamber
and vaporizing the liquid supplied to it.
2'
Figure 20 is an elevation. Figure 21 is a plan and Figure 22 is a central
vertical section of another form of vapour burner constructed according to, my
invention. The said burner consists of a chamber of the form of a hollow
cylinder closed at the upper end and grooved or fluted on its exterior the grooves
or flutes being marked in the drawing. The said chamber is furnished with
a nozzle for connection to the supply of vaporizable liquid and is surrounded by
a tube s capable of being secured at any desired height on the said chamber and
the lower part of the said chamber is closed by means of a box t having orifices t¹ t
formed in its upper side and the interior of which communicates with a tube t³
furnished at its upper end with a valve u the screwed stem of which valve works in
a boss formed on the underside of the said box. When the said burner is
in action the vaporizable liquid passes into the chamber and the vapour
thereof passes through the tube into the box t and issues therefrom in jets
through the orifices which jets passing upwards within the grooves or flutes
of the chamber r between it and the tubes carry air with them and burn in
admixture therewith around the part of the chamber above the tube s. The
amount of air drawn in between the said chamber and tube by the jets of vapour
may be increased or decreased by raising or lowering the tubes which may
be secured at any desired height on the chamber by means of a set screw s'.
Figure 23 is an end view and Figure 24 is a longitudinal section of another form
of vapour burner constructed according to my invention the said section being

page_text: taken on the line D Figure 23. vis the nozzle for connection to the supply of
inflammable liquid. w 10¹ are concentric tubes communicating with the said nozzle
by means of an opening w furnished with a valve the said tube w¹ being screwed
into the said nozzle. y is a cylindrical casting having formed in it tubular
passages yy and a central tubular hollow in which the tube w is engaged by
screwing. The ends of the tubes w w' which project from one end of the said
hollow are enclosed by a cap w screwed on the tube w the other end of which tube
is screwed into one side of a box . The tube w passes through the said box and
is secured in the other side thereof. In the side of the said box z nearest the
part y are orifices z' z' each of which is in line with the centre of one of the tubular
passages y', y'. When the said burner is in action the liquid supplied to it passes
into the tube w¹ thence into the tube w where it is vaporized the vapour passing
into the box z and issuing from the orifices 2¹ 2¹ in jets which enter the cylindrical
passages y y carrying air with them. In consequence of the large diameter of the
passages y¹y a part of the mixture of vapour and air burns within them causing
the part y and the tube w to be kept at a high temperature whereby the liquid
which enters the burner is vaporized while passing through the tube w.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that
I claim.
First. The improvements herein before described in vapour lamps of the kind
hereinbefore referred to that is to say the arrangement substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings for
supporting or steadying the vaporizing tubes of such lamps.
Secondly. The means hereinbefore described for increasing the pressure at which
vapour issues from the burners of vapour burning apparatus used for heating purposes
and in which vaporizable liquid passes to the burners under pressure due to gravity
that is to say the combination with the fluid receptacles of such apparatus of
means for producing compression of air within the said receptacles.
Thirdly. The combination with a vapour burner of a heater consisting of a
piece of metal connected to or formed on the tube of the burner and projecting
horizontally or nearly horizontally below the level of the burner nozzle and above
a point at which a hole or holes is or are formed for the issue of a jet or jets of
inflammable mixture from the burner tube substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourthly. A vapour burner constructed substantially as herein before described
with reference to and illustrated in Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the
accompanying drawings.
Fifthly. A vapour burner constructed substantially as herein before described
with reference to Figures 17, 18 and 19 of the accompanying drawings that is to
say a vapour burner consisting of an annular chamber provided with means for
connection to the supply of liquid to be vaporized the interior of which chamber is
in communication at the upper part with a tube from which when the burner is in
action a jet of vapour issues and passes into the central hollow of the said chamber
and burns in admixture with air partially within the said hollow the said chamber
being thereby heated and the liquid supplied to it vaporized.
Sixthly. A vapour burner in which provision is made for vaporization of liquid
supplied to it substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 20,
21 and 22 of the accompanying drawings that is to say a vapour burner provided
with a chamber for reception of the liquid to be vaporized which chamber is so
formed and so situated relatively to the vapour outlets as to be surrounded at the
upper part by flame when the burner is in actiou.
Seventhly. The general construction and arrangement of parts constituting the
vapour burner illustrated in Figures 20, 21 and 22 of the accompanying drawings.
Eighthly. A vapour burner constructed substantially as hereinbefore described

page_text: with reference to and illustrated in Figures 23 and 24 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated the 3rd day of July 1894
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.