Portable and Hygienic Incandescent Lighting, wherein Evaporation of Hydrocarbons is Produced under Pressure.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1896-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Portable and Hygienic Incandescent Lighting, wherein
Evaporation of Hydrocarbons is Produced under Pressure.
the
I, GUISEPPE Musso of 92 Riviera di Chiaia Naples in the Kingdom of Italy'
Student of Mathematics do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 consists of a lamp wherein the evaporation of liquid hydrocarbon
is produced under pressure and I prefer to use some of the lightest hydrocarbons.
such as benzine ligroine alcohol and the like the vapors of which are emitted at
high pressure in the form of a jet owing to a special arrangement of the apparatus.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the lamp.
Figure 2 is a section of the regulating valve.
Figure 3 is a modification of the said valve.
Figures 4 and 5 are outside views of the two valves aforesaid.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the various
figures. Figures, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are drawn at a scale which is double the size of
that of Figure 1, which is a full size view of the lamp; although this construction
may be applied to lamps of any size according to the lighting intensity which it is
intended to produce and the use to which the lamp is destined..
The figures show demonstratively the parts of the lamp and illustrate the working
of each part and independantly of the mechanical and artistic fittings it will be
readily understood that without departing from the characteristic properties of the
invention, the arrangement of the said parts and the lamp altogether may be
constructed in an elegant and graceful manner, while concealing under a general
and artistic envelope all the parts set forth in the annexed figures. It will be likewise
understood, without needing any special mention, that the lamp is provided, besides
the usual fittings, with a small basket carrying the glass tube and if need be with a
shade.
The lamp consists of the evaporating chamber A which by means of two or more
tubular uprights a communicates with the reservoir B containing the hydrocarbon.
In the small tubular uprights are placed the wicks.b (or any other means capable
of causing the liquid to rise) which dip at one of their extremities into the hydro-
carbon while the other project into the evaporating chamber A. The thickness and
number of wicks will have to be in proportion to the extent of the evaporation
required, care being taken that the bulk of the wick shall be too large rather than too
small.
Care should also be taken in the arrangement of the small tubular uprights
carrying the wicks or other apparatus producing the evaporation of the liquid, that
their apices or summits should be as far as possible in contact with the small
evaporating lamp U hereinafter referred to.
As a pressure is exerted inside the chamber A. in the reservoir B in the channels
or ducts band in the other parts of the lamp hereinafter referred to, the apparatus
is made for the sake of safety, or metal having a much greater resistance than the
pressure to which it is normally subjected.
The evaporating chamber A which should have the smallest possible dimensions
is constructed, on grounds of economy, with as little metal as possible, consistent
with the necessary resistance or strain it has to withstand in order to operate with

page_text: safety and so as to absorb a minimum of caloric. A curvilinear shape has been
imparted to its periphery, because it is the strongest, the metal of which it is
constructed should be sufficiently strong and a good conductor of heat.
To produce an easy and prompt evaporation of the hydrocarbon, I utilize the action
of the flame of a small lamp U and in order that the area of the evaporating
chamber upon which the flame acts should be as large as possible it has a
corrugated form and is provided with concentric annular sinuosities and projections.
The small lamp U is a Bunsen lamp whereby the hydrocarbon vapours should they
have a tendency to produce smoke, will be entirely consumed but when the hydro-
carbon used does not produce any smoke such as alcohol for instance, the small lamp U
may be dispensed with and the burner or burners, may be placed directly in contact with
the hottom of the evaporating chamber A. Moreover the use of a small Bunsen lamp
is not absolutely necessary and it may be replaced by any other kind of lamp or by
any other means provided the smoke is suppressed. Instead of the small lamp U any
other means may be used for producing the evaporation of the hydrocarbon, but I
have indicated the aforesaid use in preference; as thereby the hydrocarbon in the
reservoir of the lamp can be used to feed the small lamp U.
The chamber A is surmounted, at its upper plane part and in the centre thereof
with a small cap D wherewith it communicates by means of the hole M. This cap
is closed at the top by a very thin plate N carrying centrally a single capillary
hole c.
The plate is made of non oxidizible metal such as aluminium, nickel, and
the like. The inflammable gases proceeding from the evaporating chamber A enter
the cap D from which they can only issue from the small hole c and as they are
subjected to a high pressure, they produce a kind of blow pipe jet. The top N
acts as a safety valve, as owing to its thinness and of the lightness or fragility of
its joint with the conical side of the cap wherein it is enchased by pressure while
withstanding the maximum pressure of hydrocarbonic vapors, it offers less resistance
than the rest of the apparatus so that when the internal pressure in the lamp
exceeds the required limit the small plate N is detached and the gases are free to
escape into the atmosphere.
The opening M may be left free but for the sake of accuracy in the working
of the lamp, I apply a plate thereto, which plate P is provided with a hole having
the form of a truncated cone wherein the conical valve V acts being guided in its
motion by a special rod sliding upon a support. When the lamp is burning the
pressure in the chamber A is sufficiently strong to overcome the resistance of the
valve V which is calculated beforehand and the hydrocarbonic vapors enter the cap D,
whereas when on the contrary the lamp is extinguished, this pressure, decreases
gradually until it ceases to exist, when the valve V is closed and the hydrocarbon
gases cannot escape in the air.
If in order to reheat the evaporating chamber A, the gases from the hydrocarbon
contained in the reservoir B are made use of I arrange an apparatus in the lamp
in the following manner :-I fit to an opening formed in the cylindrical wall of
the cap Da tube k which passes through the valve Q and is terminated by a small
nozzle within the small Bunsen lamp U. Before describing the valve Q, I may
remark that the gases passing through the tube k are liable to pass through the
cap D and to be subjected to the same cycle as those passing through the small
capilliary opening c so as to feed the lamp and hence whenever the valve V is
closed the little lamp U is extinguished and in order to light it up again the gases
from the hydrocarbon must be first of all reheated by means of a small spirit flame
or other transient means applied to the corrugated wall of the chamber A in order
to increase the pressure in the said chamber and obtain the opening of the valve V
after which the small lamp U may be lighted, when the lamp proper will hence-
forward continue to work automatically. The. tube k or syphon may also be
directly primed at f' as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. from the evaporating
chamber A when the small lamp U can be readily lighted, this having the slight
defect however that the gases from the hydrocarbon may when the lamp is
extinguished become volatilized in the atmosphere.

page_text: The apparatus Q of Figure 1 is supposed to be connected with the tube close to
the chamber A but it may be likewise fixed to the other extremity of this tube
close to the small lamp U in which case it would appear placed head downwards;
it is completed by a small nozzle for the escape of the gases as shown in
Figures 2 and 3. With reference to Figure 2 of the drawings the hydrocarbon
vapor passing through the tube k enters the valve chest Q where it meets with an
inverted truncated cone a' the upper edge of which is close to the wall of the valve
chest or chamber so as to leave a very small spaces through which passes the
hydrocarbon vapor issuing through the capillary hole c' of the small conical nozzle g
in order to be burned by the small Bunsen lamp U. In the centre of the truncated
cone on the outer side is fixed a needle i which plays in the capillary hole c' and on
the inside is soldered a small tube n sliding upon the rod m as a guide. This small
rod m is screwed in the base of the valve chamber and may be moved forward or
backward by the screw head p. A spiral spring 4 which is thin and very sensitive
is fixed by one of its extremities to the rod m and by the other to the bottom of the
inverted truncated cone so as to regulate the position of the latter and hence that
of the needle i. To prevent the hydrocarbon vapours to escape through the thread
of the rod m I apply a stuffing box p' onto the base of the truncated cone.
This valve apparatus operates as follows:-When the vapors abound excessively
in the tube k and as they cannot all pass through the circular passages their
motion is retarded and the pressure will be consequently increased in the tube and
in the valve chamber and act upon the truncated cone a which overcoming the
tension of the spring will move forward with the needle thus narrowing the
capillary opening c. The flame will thus remain lowered and its action upon
the evaporating chamber will be slight whence the development of the hydrocarbon
vapors will be subdued. Should the pressure however become too small, the spiral
spring would come into play and cause the inverted truncated cone to descend, thus
promoting the escape of the hydrocarbon vapors. This valve should be regulated for
each lamp so that by means of a predetermined normal pressure in the hydrocarbon
receiver, for instance a pressure equal to a column of water of 30 centimeters a
determined quantity of vapors would pass through the small hole e. The screw rod
should also be properly regulated, the equilibrium between the egress of the hydro-
carbon vapors and the size of the flame required for the general and proper working
of the lamp being determined in a constant and automatic manner.
The rod m should be such that the spiral spring & be always in tension in order to
be ready to act in either sense. Should the pressure in the tube become owing
to some untoward circumstance exceptionally high the needle i would completely
close the capillary tube c¹ the small lamp U would be extinguished and the large
lamp would also be extinguished soon after. The apparatus Q therefore does not.
merely serve to regulate the development of hydrocarbon vapors, but it acts likewise
as a safety valve. Figure 3 shows the apparatus Q wherein a small modification has
been introduced which does not exist in the apparatus Q. To prevent the escape
of vapors, instead of using the stuffing box pi Thave devised another arrangement
that is to say I place near the bottom of the valve chamber a very thin diaphragm
soldered around the rod m and by means of which the above chamber remains
hermetically closed with the exception of the small hole d'. The rod ma is terminated
by a screw at its lower end and is actuated by a nut t¹ being moved by reason of
the elasticity of the diaphragm t and the movements of the needle i are so sensitive
that the small vibrations of the said diaphragm are sufficient to regulate the general
working of the lamp. In Figure 1 the apparatus Q has been used although the
apparatus Q may obviously replace it. As the tube k extends beyond this apparatus
since it is twice bent at right angles and terminates below the small Bunsen lamp
instead of the capilliary hole c2 of the said apparatus being formed at the extremity
of the small nozzle which is far away it is formed in a small plato ; the remaining
parts operate in the manner above described.
Upon the upper part of the reservoir B or upon its outer periphery as shown in the
drawings, or even concealed in the central part between the small tubular uprights

page_text: is formed an opening through which the hydrocarbon is poured into the reservoir;
this opening being provided with a nut, terminated by a conical hole, and closed by a
conical screw plug Y, the base of which is cut down to form a truncated cone and
effect a hermetical closure. To prevent however the risk resulting from an imperfect
closure due to some untoward circumstance, I arrange under the hole a piece of
metallic gauze having very close meshes r so that in consequence of the well known
properties of the said gauze, should any gases become ignited outside the reservoir, the
flame could not be communicated to the hydrocarbon inside the said reservoir B.
The burner of my improved lamp is a Bunsen burner and consists of a tube D'
placed upon the cylindrical part of the cap or hood D and provided at its lower part
with a number of holes d for allowing free access to the air and at its upper part with
a perforated cap projecting above the tube and with a flat perforated disc inside
the tube and at a distance of about one centimeter below its upper edge. The object
of this disc is twofold i.e. it serves firstly to slightly retard on their way the hydro-
carbon vapors as well as the atmospheric air so as to obtain a perfect mixture of the
two and secondly it renders the lamp still. Instead of one I may use two or more
dises which would be placed inside the tube at a convenient distance one from the
other in order to moderate the action of the jet; their number will be determined by
the power or intensity of the lamp and by the intensity of the pressure in the
chamber A. This pression which may be assimilated to a column of water may be
determined proportionately to the size of the lamp, to the intensity of its light and to
the use to which it is destined: very good results are obtained by means of a
pressure of from 1-50m. to 2 m. of water but it may be considerably reduced for smaller
lamps..
The pressure produces the following advantages 1-the inflammable vapors burn
only at a predetermined distance from the capillary outlet hole where the heat is to be
produced, and combustion is prevented in the evaporating chamber; 2-the force of
the jet absolutely prevents the entrance of air in the evaporating chamber and effects
a thorough mixing of the air with the combustible vapors; 3.-hy the use of a
Bunsen burner a forced draught of air takes place which causes a perfect mixture to
be effected and prevents the hydrocarbon vapors from spreading in the atmosphere,
as without a forced draught the vapors would tend to descend by gravity: 4 the
strong friction of the vapors through the small outlet hole provents the stoppage of
this hole by foreign matter; 5 moreover a high pressure jet produces as above stated
an elongated and pointed flame which reaches a very high temperature.
A small tube u supported by two or three arms soldered to the tube D₁ passes
through the disc and the cap being connected thereto by means of small discs,
it is provided outside the cap with a rod v terminated at the top with the small
fork V which supports the incandescent mantle. This mantle is thus supported by
the small fork V with the aid of an asbestos thread e and it is fixed to the said fork
by a plastic substance consisting of chalk mixed with silicate of potash and water or
other plastic materia! which solidifies and withstands the action of heat, so that the
incandescent mantle or casing remains suspended and motionless relatively to the rod V
like a sunshade.
Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 show the shape and outward appearance of the regulating
valves.
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 :-
1st. The lamp with evaporation under the high pressure of' any suitable, liquid hydro-
carbon, the vapors of which are emitted under the form of a jet substantially as herein
described.
2nd. The safety means for such a lamp, whatever may be the degree of inflammability
of the hydrocarbon used by the isolated or combined action on the force of the jet, of
the plate N, of the cap D, of the metallic cap placed upon the feed hole and of the
automatic regulating valve acting as a safety valve substantially as herein described.

page_text: 3rd. The means for producing an inodorous and hygienic lamp by the isolated or
combined action of the hermetical conical closure of the feed hole and of the closure
by means of a conical valve of the vaporizing chamber, by the use of the hydrocarbon
gas as calorific agent in a small Bunsen burner, with the application if desired of the
branch tube k, either to the cap surmounting the vaporizing chamber or to the latter
chamber substantially as herein described.
4th. The means for economizing the hydrocarbon in the above claimed lamp by the
isolated or combined action in the high pressure jet of the size and construction of
the small cap surmounting the vaporizing chamber, of the automatic regulating valve
and of the small Bunsen burner, substantially as herein described.
5th. The means for economizing and utilizing in the above claimed lamp, the
calorific agent destined to be vaporized by the isolated or combined action of the size
and shape of the vaporizing chamber of the metal used in its construction of the
arrangement of the small tubular uprights containing the wicks, of the automatic
regulating valve and of a small Bunsen burner, substantially as above described.
6th. The means for utilizing the hydrocarbon and for producing a still flame by the
isolated or combined action of one or more interposed discs.
7th. The use whether isolated or combined in the lamp above claimed of an
automatic regulating valve characterized by the greater or lesser obstruction of a hole
by means of a needle, of a truncated cone regulated by a screw and a nut and
contracted by a spiral spring. upon which cone acts the pressure of the hydrocarbon
vapors, of the metal used in the construction of the said cone; and the use in the
valve aforesaid of a thin and flexible plate moved by a rod actuated by a nut and
allowing the position and action of the truncated cone to be regulated, the latter
being moved forward or backward with the needle towards or away from the hole
opposite same, substantially as herein described.
8th. The means of preserving from ruptures in the above claimed lamp the
incandescent mantle or casing by means of the special seal of the mantle or casing to
the small suspension fork, substantially as above described.
Dated this 19th day of June 1896.
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.