Improvements in and in connection with Magnesium Lamps.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Magnesium Lamps.
I ROBERT JOSEPH HOOPER RASTRICK of Southsea in the County of Southampton,
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a type of lamps employed in the ignition of metallic
magnesium, and has for its object to provide means whereby a more perfect com-
bustion of the metal, whether in the form of powder or ribbon, is ensured than is
possible with the means hitherto usually adopted.
A further object of my invention is to obtain such full control over the delivery of
the magnesium to the flame, as to allow of the prolongation of an intense light
especially applicable for use in photographing darkened interiors of edifices, and the
like, as also for producing a momentary flash of short duration, such as might be
employed in theatres, to represent lightning; for distant night signalling, and for
other purposes.
Under one head or feature of my invention relative to the employment of
magnesium in a pulverised form, I employ a chamber for containing the powdered
magnesium, which is preferably made airtight, and within which is arranged a fan
or equivalent device for keeping the powder in a constant state of agitation. This
chamber is connected by any convenient means with a tubo, the nozzle of which
passes upwards through the centre of a suitable spirit, gas or other lamp or stove
or equivalent, said nozzle occupying a position preferably exactly central with the
base of the hollow cone of a flame. The object of having the nozzle of the tube
disposed in the manner above described is, that air passing upwards through the
centre of a flame, tends to cause the flame to assume the form of an elongated
cone, and any powder of a combustible nature which passes up with the air would
become instantly ignited before any particles could escape beyond the influence of
the flame.
To effect complete combustion of the magnesium powder, 1 force'air, by any suitable
means, into the chamber containing the powder, which latter upon opening a tap,
cock, or valve, with which the chamber is provided, is forced therefrom through the
hollow cone of flame, thereby producing a light of intense brilliancy, the prolongation
of which is determined by the quantity of powder contained in the agitating chamber.
The agitator which may be actuated by hand, spring and train of wheels, electricity or
other source of power, may have any desired motion imparted to it, such for instance
as rotary, or oscillatory.
Instead of one tube passing upwards through the lamp or equivalent, I may under
some circumstances employ two or more tubes in one lamp, which may be connected
with one chamber, or with independent chambers, and may be used simultaneously in
conjunction with each other, or independently of each other as may be desired.
Ünder the second head or feature of my invention relative to the employment of
magnesium ribbon, I employ a nozzle having an aperture just sufficiently large to
allow of the passage therethrough of the band or ribbon of the metal, said band or
ribbon being impelled from a continuous roll or coil through said nozzle by clockwork
or other suitable means, the duration of said roll or coil being determined by the
length or size thereof.
With auth dow
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EDGAR GEORGE,
172, Fleet Street, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Magnesium Lamps.
%
I, ROBERT JOSEPH HOOPER RASTRICK of Southsea in the County of Southampton
Chemist, 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 relates to a type of lamps employed in the ignition of metallic
Magnesium, and has for its object to. provide means whereby a more perfect com-
bustion of the metal is ensured-whether in the form of powder or ribbon-than is
possible with the means hitherto usually adopted. A further object of my invention
is to obtain such control of the delivery of the magnesium to the flame as to allow of
the prolongation of an intense light specially applicable for use in Photography, as
also for producing a momentary flash of short duration, such as might be employed in
theatres to represent lightning for distant night signalling and for other purposes.
Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a spirit lamp
having a single jet or nozzle passing through the centre. Figure 2 is a plan and
Figure 3 a sectional elevational view of a gas lamp or stove to which is adapted five
jets or nozzles, and Figure 4 shows, a method of agitating the powder and ejecting it
from the containing receptacle by means of a blower.
the employment of
for containing the
This receptacle A,
Under one head or feature of my invention relative to
magnesium in a pulverulent form, I employ a chamber A
powdered metal, as shown in its simplest form in Figure 1.
which has a bellows body, serves also as a means for ejecting the powder through
the connecting tube a and nozzle b; thus, by pressing upon the knob
within the receptacle is compressed, and, escaping by way of the tube a and
nozzle b, conveys with it the powder into the interior of the flame produced by
the combustion of the spirit or gas employed.
the air
Instead of the bellows body A above described, I may employ a chamber formed of
a suitable elastic material, such for instance as caoutchouc, of any suitable shape, and
protected or otherwise as may be desired by a woven material or netting.
The receptacles above described are only suitable for the production of an
instantaneous flash, or light of short duration, such duration being determined by
the amount of compression which may be exerted upon the receptacle; and with
a view to ensuring a continuous light for a lengthened period, I prefer to employ a
containing chamber B of any suitable shape and design, within which is disposed
a fan C consisting of a number of wings or vanes attached to a boss & mounted
upon a spindle e extending through the upper surface of the containing case B,
and upon the end of which is mounted a pulley.
The containing case or chamber B is connected by any suitable means with a
tube terminating in a nozzle or nozzles Figures 1 and 3 which passes or pass
upwards through the centre of a suitable spirit, gas or other lamp or stove or
equivalent, said nozzle or nozzles occupying a position preferably exactly central
with the base of the hollow cone of flame. The object of having the nozzle.or
nozzles disposed in the manner above described is, that air passing upwards
through the centre of a flame, tends to cause the flame, to assume the form of an
elongated cone, and any powder of a combustible nature, which passes up with
the air, would become instantly ignited before any particles could escape beyond
the influence of the flame.
a
To effect complete combustion of the magnesium powder, 1 force air; by a blower D,
or other suitable means, into the chamber-B containing the powder, which latter, by
opening a tap, cock or valve with which said chamber is provided, is forced therefrom
with the air by said blower D through the hollow cone of flame, thereby producing
light of intense brilliancy, the prolongation of which is determined by the quantity of
powder contained in the agitating chamber B. The fan or agitator C, which, with
the blower D, may be actuated by hand, by a spring and train of wheels, by electricity

page_text: or other source of power, may have any desired motion imparted thereto, such for
instance as rotary or oscillatory.
When adapting more than one tube to a lamp or stove as shown in Figures 2 and 3
the several tubes a may be connected with one agitating chamber or with independent
chambers, and may be used simultaneously in conjunction with each other, or inde-
pendently of each other as may be desired.
Under the second head or feature of my invention relative to the employment
of magnesium, I use a nozzle or jet having an aperture just sufficiently large to
allow of the passage therethrough of the band or ribbon of metal; said band or
ribbon being impelled from a continuous roll or coil by means of two small rollers,
which may be rotated by hand at a speed depending upon the rate of consumption
of the metal, by clockwork, by electricity or other motive power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First The improved lamp for the combustion of magnesium either in a pulverised
state or in the forin of a continuous band or ribbon substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Second-In a magnesium lamp the injecting of a stream of magnesium in a
pulverulent form into the interior of a flame substantially as described.
Third-The combination with a magnesium lamp of a chamber containing a fan
substantially as and for the purposes set forth and shown.
Fourth In combination with a magnesium lamp the employment of a blower for
forcing a continuous stream of pulverised magnesium through a nozzle or jet sub-
stantially as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1889.
EDGAR GEORGE,
27, Bow Lane, Cannon Street, E.C., Agent for Applicant.