Improvements in Petroleum Lamps.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 21st Oct., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov.,
1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Petroleum Lamps.
A communication by VERBRECK, BRIQUET & CIE., of 13, Rue Manchester,
Molenbeek St. Jean lez Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Manufacturers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Hitherto in petroleum lamps such as are generally used in small workshops and
for domestic purposes, special chimneys have been necessary, owing to the flame of
such lamps taking a spherical form or pear shape, which necessitates a similar form
of glass or chimney, which is not only more costly to manufacture but difficult to
procure, as such glasses vary with each design of lamp and are, therefore, not a
current article of commerce like the ordinary merely cylindrical gas chimney,
which is inexpensive and easily procured.
It has been found, after numerous trials and experiments, that the spheroidal
expansion of the flame in petroleum lamps is in nowise indispensable, but that a
cylindrical or nearly cylindrical flame yields an even more perfect combustion and
an illuminating power at least equal to that of the distended flame.
The difficulty bitherto has been to construct a lamp so as to conform with the
conditions necessary for obtaining a cylindrical or approximately oylindrical flame,
and it is this construction which forms the object of this invention, which consists
in replacing the cap with a narrowing upper edge common to all petroleum lamps
by a cap of a special section (to be hereinafter described), so arranged that the two
currents external and internal balance one another, or nearly so, and thus allow
the flame to assume the cylindrical form.
In order to make the invention better understood, this new arrangement will be
described in comparison with the old one and reference will be made to the
accompanying drawing, on which—
Figure represents a transverse vertical section of the old arrangement of
burner,
Figure 2 is a similar section showing the improved arrangement of burner, and
Figure 3 is a section of the whole lamp.
Referring to Figure 1 :
The direction of the external current of air is shown by the section of the cap C,
which, at its termination, is curved towards the interior, and on the wick, in such a
way that the aforesaid external current encounters and compresses (immediately
above the wick) the internal current of air, which rises through the central tube T,
which afterwards expands, forcing the flame and the external current into the globe
or enlarged part of the glass, in which operation it is further assisted by the
mushroom shaped piece A, which contributes to enlarge the current previously
compressed round the shaft T.
In this improved burner, the movement of the currents is based on an entirely
opposite principle, that is to say, the currents, instead of clashing with each other,
are guided in such a way as to amalgamate and thus to direct the flame in a
cylindrical form instead of expanding into a spherical or pear shape according to
the usual manner. For this purpose, the cap C, instead of curving over the upper

page_text: edge of the wick, forms a regular truncated cone slightly widening at the base in
order to admit, without obstruction, the external current, which, rising round the
central tube T, escapes freely from the straight cap, enveloping the flame simul-
taneously with the action of the internal current rising in the central tube Ţ, aud
deflects it in an annular form. The plate A only slightly enlarges the flame,
because its partially round form allows the current to pass without obstruction.
The straight portion of the cap C has such au inclination, and its upper edge is at
such a distance from the plate A, that the external current of air is directed exactly
to the point where the internal current of air assumes the annular form, that is to
say, at the height of the plate A. Of courɛo it will be understood that the
dimensions of these parts must conform to the dimensions of the burner, which may
vary as may be desired.
The two currents then amalgamate, so to speak, or in other words they form an
equipose on both sides of the flame, which thus preserves its cylindrical, or
approximately cylindrical, form, and thus allows simply ordinary gas glasses to be
employed.
It must further be noted that this arrangement does not at all prevent bulged
glasses being used if desired, whilst it is impossible to use a cylindrical glass with
the old arrangement. Further, this arrangement being essentially intended to
form a real economical household lamp, the regulating of the wick is performed
without a rack by means of a simple flat elbow bar E guided in a slot or
alide Farranged on the reservoir R: also the filling tube, instead of being closed
by a screw stopper, is simply covered by a tightly fitting cap D, as shown in
Figure 3.
Dated this 1st day of February 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Petroleum Lamps.
A communication by VERDEROK, BRIQUET & CIE., of 13, Rue Manchester,
Molenbeek St. Jean lez Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Manufacturers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patont Solicitors, 6 Lord Street Liverpool and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancastor and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to bo partionlarly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Hitherto, in petroleum lamps such as are generally used in small workshops and
for domestic purposes, special chimneys have been necessary, owing to the flame
of such lamps taking a spherical form or pear shape, which necessitates a similar
form of glass or chimney, which is not only more costly to manufacture but
difficult to procure, as such glasses vary with each design of lamp and are,
therefore, not a current article of commerce like the ordinary merely oylindrical
gas chimney, which is inexpensive and easily procured.
It has been found, after numerous trials and experiments, that the spheroidal
expansion of the flame in petroleum lamps is in nowise indispensable, but that a
cylindrical or nearly cylindrical flame yields an even more perfect combustion and
an illuminating power at least equal to that of the distended flame.
The difficulty hitherto has been to construct a lamp so as to conform with the
conditions necessary for obtaining a cylindrical or approximately cylindrical
flame, and it is this construction which forms the object of this invention, which
consists in replacing the cap with a narrowing upper edge common to all petroleum
lamps by a cap of a special section (to be horeinafter described), so arranged that

page_text: the two currents, external and internal, balance one another, or nearly so, and thus
allow the flaine to assume the cylindrical form.
In order to make the invention better understood, this new arrangement will be
described in comparison with the old one, and reference will be made to the drawing
accompanying the Provisional Specification: on which―
Figure 1 represents a transverse vertical section of the old arrangement of
burner.
Figure 2 is a similar section showing the improved arrangement of burner:
and
Figure 3 is a section of the whole of the improved lamp.
Referring to Figure 1, which shows the old arrangement:
The direction of the external current of air is shown by the section of the
cap C, which, at its termination, is curved towards the interior, and on the wick, in
such a way that the aforesaid external current encounters and compresses
(immediately above the wick) the internal curront of air, which rises through the
central tube T, which afterwards expands, forcing the flame and the external
current into the globe or enlarged part of the glass, in which operation it is
further assisted by the mushroom shaped piece A, which contributes to enlarge
the current previously compressed round the shaft T.
In this improved burner, the movement of the currents is based on an entirely
opposite principle, that is to say, the currents, instead of clashing with each othor,
are guided in such a way as to amalgamate and thus to direct the flame in a
cylindrical form instead of expanding into a spherical or pear shape according to
the usual manner. For this purpose, the cap C, instead of curving over the upper
edge of the wick, forms a regular truncated cone slightly widening at the base in
order to adinit, without obstruction, the external current, which, rising round the
central tube T, escapes freely from the straight cap, enveloping the fame simul-
taneously with the action of the internal current rising in the central tube T, and
deflects it in an annular form. The plate A only slightly enlarges the flame,
because its partially round form allows the current to pass without obstruction.
The straight portion of the cap C has such an inclination, and its upper edge is at
such a distance from the plate A, that the external current of air is directed
exactly to the point where the internal current of air assumes the annular form,
that is to say, at the height of the plate A. Of course it will be understood that
the dimensions of these parts must conform to the dimensions of the burner, which
may vary as may be desired.
The two currents then amalgamate, so to speak, or in other words they form an
equipoise on both sides of the flame, which thus preserves its cylindrical, or
approximately cylindrical, form, and thus allows simply ordinary gas glasses to bo
employed.
It must further be noted that this arrangement does not at all prevent bulged
glasses being used if desired, whilst it is impossible to use a cylindrical glass with
the old arrangement. Further, this arrangement being essentially intended to
form a real economical household lamp, the regulating of the wick is performed
without a rack by means of a siniple flat elbow bar E guided in a slot or slide F
arranged on the reservoir R; also the filling tube, instead of being closed by a
screw stopper, is simply covered by a tightly fitting cap D, as shown in Figure 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inveu-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a petroleum lamp, in order to allow of an ordinary cylindrical glass
chimney being used, the arrangement of the capsule as a regular truncated cone
with straight edges iuclined in such a way as to direct the external current so. that
it balances the annular central current at the height of the plate, substantially as
bereinbefore described and shown on the accompanying drawing.

page_text: 2. The improved petroleum lamp such as described in Claim 1, taken as a whole,
substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 00th day of October 1902.
W.M. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.