Year: 1886

page_text: We, JAMES GILCHRIST, Binnacle Maker, and DOUGALD BALLARDIE, Merchant,
both of 104 Dale Street in the City of Glasgow, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in lamps for burning solid or viscous
hydro-carbons and whilst applicable to the class of lamps in which such hydro-
carbons have heretofore been used a special object of the improvements is to make
provision for burning such solid or viscous hydro-carbons in lamps of any form and
for general use.,
In one modification in which the lamp resembles in outward form an ordinary
oil lamp provided with a glass globe or funnel, an air supply tube of cylindrical
or other shape is carried vertically from top to bottom of the lamp body or vessel
containing the hydro-carbon, and surrounding said tube is fitted a wick holder of
corresponding form containing a tubular wick of cotton or other material. In the
centre of the air supply tube is fixed a metallic rod or pin over the upper end of
which is fitted an inverted cone or cap of metal whose upper end extends over or
close to the flame of the wick when the lamp burns. This cone or cap becomes
heated and communicates heat to the central rod or pin on which it is carried and
thence the heat is conveyed by means of short tubes surrounding and holding the
rod or pin within the air supply tube, or by radial arms or the like, to the air
supply pipe itself whereby a portion of the solid or viscous hydro-carbon in the
vicinity of the wick holder is melted and is drawn up by capillary attraction. By
this means while an ample supply of liquid hydro-carbon is maintained in
proximity to the wick of the lamp the main portion of the hydrocarbon remains
in the solid or viscous state and risk of fire by accidental upsetting of the lamp is
avoided..
Instead of employing a tubular wick we in some cases use a series of small wicks
fitted at short distances apart in a circle or in a cylindrical tube or wick holder.
The conducting metal cap which serves to transmit the heat of the lamp' flame to
the lower part of the lamp case to melt the hydrocarbon may in such case be
formed with radial fingers projecting into or near to the flames emitted from the:
several wicks.

page_text: Hydro-carbons.
We, JAMES GILCHRIST, Binnacle Maker and DOUGALD BALLARDIE, Merchant,
both of 104 Dale Street in the City of Glasgow, 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 :-
Our invention relates to improvements in lamps for burning solid or viscous
hydro-carbons and whilst applicable to the class of lamps in which such hydro-
carbons have heretofore been used a special object of the improvements is to make
provision for burning such solid or viscous hydro-carbons in lamps of any form and
for general use.
As represented under one modification in elevation and vertical section in
figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings the improved lamp resembles in outward
form an ordinary oil lamp consisting of a reservoir or vessel A, containing the
hydro-carbon and provided with a holder B, for a glass globe or funnel. An air
supply tube C, of cylindrical or other shape is carried vertically from top to bottom
of the lamp body at whose base is a perforated or open flange or rim A¹, to admit
nir, and surrounding, the tube C, is fitted a tubular wick holder D, having orifices
for the passage of the hydro-carbon and a tubular wick of cotton or other material
fitted therein, a vertically adjustable gripping tube D¹ for raising or lowering the
wick being fitted within the wick holder and being raised or lowered by means of
projecting fingers d, or by any ordinary form of wick raiser. A metallic rod or
pin E, is fitted in a support F, in the air supply tube and on the upper end of said
pin is fitted an inverted cone or conoidal cap G, also of metal or other conductor of
heat the periphery of the cap extending over or close to the flame of the wick.
When the lamp burns the cone or cap becomes heated by the flame and communi-
cates heat to the central rod or pin E, on which it is carried and thence the heat is
conveyed to the air supply pipe C, by means of the radial arms of the support F,
or by short tubes surrounding and bolding the rod or pin E, within the tube D,
and which while permitting the passage of air may serve to conduct the necessary
heat to the tube C, whereby the solid or viscous hydro-carbon or such portion of it
as is in the vicinity of the wick holder is melted or liquified and drawn up the
wick by capillary attraction. The conical or conoidal formation of the cap G, has
also the effect of directing and deflecting the ascending air current towards the
flame whereby complete combustion of the hydro-carbon is ensured and a strong
and steady light is produced. An open cup or dome H is or may be fitted around
the wick with the object of directing the current of air around the flame.
As represented under another modification of the invention in elevation and
vertical section in figs. 3 and 4, the tubular form of. wick is replaced by a series of
small wicks fitted in slit tubes d', at short intervals apart in a circle, or the wicks
may be fitted at intervals in a cylindrical tube. or wick holder.
The conductor which serves to transmit the heat of the lamp flame to the air
supply tube C, to melt the hydrocarbon in the lamp case or reservoir consists of a
cap G, formed with radial and vertical fingers g, g' projecting into or close to the

page_text: flames emitted from the several wicks, said cap being carried by pins from a disc G¹
fitted in contact with, but so that it may turn on, the closing cover a, of the lamp
body to bring the fingers g, g¹ to a greater or less extent in proximity to the flame.
By so fitting the cap G the fingers g, g¹ which may be in contact with the flame at
the time of lighting the lamp may be shifted to some distance from the flame in
order to prevent over-heating of the hydro-carbon after it has been liquified.
The same object may be attained in the lamp first above described by making
provision for disconnecting the rod or pin E, from the cap G, or from the support F,
or for interposing a non conductor between it and the cap or support. To prevent
direct conduction of heat from the cover to the lamp body a layer of cork or other
non-conductor is or may be fitted between them as represented in fig. 4, the heat
of the flame being carried by the fingers g, g', to the disc G and cover a, and
therefrom to the air supply tube C, to liquify the hydro-carbon around the wicks.
To facilitate lighting of this form of lamp a small quantity of the hydro-carbon is
placed on the cap G, and by dripping off on to the wicks from the fingers g, which
are channeled for this purpose the flame is maintained until sufficient heat is
imparted through the conductor to liquify the hydrocarbon in proximity to the
wick tubes within the lamp case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination of parts constituting the improved lamp for burning solid or
viscous hydro-carbons under the different modifications herein described with
reference to the annexed drawings.
2. In a lamp for burning solid or viscous hydro-carbons the combination with an
air inlet or supply tube in the lamp body of a metallic rod or pin carried by a beat
conducting support and provided at its upper end with a cap in proximity to
the lamp flame substantially as herein described with reference to the annexed
drawings
3. In a lamp for burning solid or viscous hydro-carbons a cap of the conical or
conoidal formation described adapted to direct or deflect the current of air supplied
to the flame in combination with a conductor serving to conduct the heat of the
lamp flame to the hydro-carbon in the lamp body substantially as herein described
with reference to figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings.
4. In a lamp for burning solid or viscous hydro-carbons a movable conductor.
formed with radial fingers adapted to convey more or less of the heat of the flame
to the hydrocarbon in the lamp body substantially as herein described with
reference to figures 3 and 4 of the annexed drawings.
1
1000
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Agents.