Improvements in Hydro-carbon Burners.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydro-carbon Burners.
We, EDWIN ELLSWORTH CROOK, of the City of Indianapolis, in the State of
Indiana, one of the United States of America, at present residing at the Royal
Hotel, in the City of Hamilton, Canada, Gentleman, and MILES AUGUSTUS HUNT-
ING, of 75, Main Street East, in the City of Hamilton, in the County of Went-
worth, Province of Ontario, Canada, Contractor, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in hydro-carbon burners and we will
proceed to describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:--
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved burner showing the pipe con-
nections for the supply of oil and the transfer of the vapours.
Fig. 2 is a detail in side elevation partially in section of the upper half of the
generator.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the generator on the dotted lines 3-3 looking
in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 4 is horizontal section on the dotted line 4-4, Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a local vertical sectional view on a larger scale of the oil pan and
initial heating apparatus.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the hood which covers the lamp under the
generator.
Fig. 7 is a section of the same on the dotted line 7-7 of Fig. G looking in the
direction of the arrows.
The common practice in starting hydro-carbon burners has been to heat the
generator by burning oil in an open pan under it, and while this is a quick
method of getting the fire started it is objectionable on account of the disagreeable
odour of the oil which unavoidably escapes and because of the excessive produc-
tion of soot which collects on the burner and inside of the stove making them
smutty and dirty.
The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the initial heating of
the generator can be accomplished without odour and smoke in perhaps a little
longer time than by the open pan method but also in which the open pan method
can be quickly employed whenever quicker results are essential.
Another object is to distribute the oil uniformly over a larger area of the pan
than heretofore and the object also is to facilitate the transmission of heat from
the walls to the oil on the inside of the generator.
The object of the invention is also to provide means whereby the flame and heat
from the burning vapours can be controlled and directed at will against the stove
top or down towards the oven as the circumstances may require.
A is the tank which contains the oil to be used and which oil may advan-
tageously be one of the residuals of petroleum after the gummy properties and
the most valuable commercial ingredients of the crude oil have been removed.
B is the retort or generator which is oval or circular in outline and is flattened
at the sides and is in many respects similar to other generators heretofore used

page_text: for the same purpose. It has the central walled opening B' and is supplied from
the tank A through the pipe A¹. The latter has the cock a by means of which
the oil is turned on or off. The oil is vapourized in the generator B and the
vapours are carried down through the pipe B2 and are discharged at the lower
end of the opening B₁ where they mix with air and pass up through the opening
into the spreader C. The spreader C is a removable conical cap with a vertical
downwardly projected annular flange C which is provided with the slots or kerfs c,
through which the mixed vapour and air, introduced into the concavity of the
spreader, issues.
21
The ignition of the gases takes place outside of the kerfs and the heat generated
raises the temperature of the generator walls, thereby causing the oil contained
in the generator to become heated to volatilization. This is encouraged by the
formation of the concentric walls b which conduct the heat down into the oil and
by the radial flanges integral with the top bottom and sides of the generating
chamber. The latter by being located under the flame of the ignited gas assist
very materially in conducting the heat into the oil. Radial flanges be around the
walls of the central opening B are especially advantageous in the initial heating
of the generator as will hereinafter more clearly appear.
In cooking on top of the stove it is desirable that the gas flame and heat be
directed against the lids of the stove and for that reason the annular flange D'
a suitable distance from the kerfed cap-is provided. For baking roasting and
such operations as require the use of the oven it is desirable that the heat and
flame be directed downward in the direction of the oven and to provide for this
a depression is made in the outer margin of the generator top to receive the
annular plate D and suitable means are provided for elevating this place until its
underside is above the kerf terminals of the spreader, thereby permitting and
forcing the flame to pass between the plate and the top of the generator. The
contour of the underside of the plate D is such as to direct the flame in a downward
direction. In the drawing, cams or eccentrics are shown for giving the proper
elevation to the plate I but other means can be adopted without departing from
the spirit of this invention; the essential feature of which is the adjustable plate
itself and not the means of securing that adjustment.
We will now describe the means by which the initial volitilization of the oil
is accomplished in starting the action of the burner. E is the oil pan which
has a central opening surrounded by an upwardly projected wall or flue E' at the
base of which is an outside annular concavity or depression e of considerable depth
to receive and hold a supply of oil which is conveyed to it through the pipe A³
which is a branch from the pipe A' as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing; it is pro-
vided with a cock 2 by which it is opened or closed at the will of the operator.
Surrounding the flue and resting on and bolted to the bottom of the pan is
a plate having a central opening of course and surrounding this opening is a
vertical wall or flue F¹ the diameter of which is greater than the outside diameter of
the flue E to a degree sufficient to provide space for a wick G which is placed
between the two flues. This wick will be of non-combustible material advan-
tageously such as asbestos and its lower end will rest in the oil depression from
which by capillary action the oil will be diffused throughout the wick and will
be ignited at the top of the latter. The wick will be fastened to a metal band G.
The two ends of an adjusting rod will be fastened to diametrically opposite sides
of the band and the middle portion of the rod will be bent over the flue E' and
carried down inside the flue to an accessible point below it, where it can be
manipulated to raise and lower the wick. The plate F will have underside radial
grooves forming a channel through which an excess of oil discharged into the
depression e will overflow into the pan. The plate also has outside marginal lugs
projected upwardly or a continuous marginal flange as shown at f in the drawing
to which the base of a truncated conical hood H is secured by bolts rivets or other-
wise. This hood is bolted in like manner to lugs depending from the underside
of the generator. The front of the hood will be cut away to permit access to the

page_text: wick when it is desired to light the oil on the latter and this opening is closed
by the sliding door H. An air space h between the hood and the generator will be
provided and the sliding door may be made to form a closure for this opening also
if desired.
When the oil of the wick is ignited the flame will have centre draft as well as
outside air supply and the hood and the walled opening through the generator
will act as a flue to insure complete combustion of the carbon in the oil and
prevent the formation of soot. The escape into the room of the disagreeable oily
smell will also be prevented.
Experience will indicate the amount of oil to be admitted into the cavity e and
when the oil is all consumed the fire on the wick will go out. Should it be
desired to secure quick action in starting the generation of gas in the generator
a supply of oil may be admitted through the pipe A2 to flood the bottom of the
pan E and the oil will then be ignited in the pan in the usual way.
To ensure a more even diffusion of the oil in the pan the bottom of the latter
is sloped upwardly toward the centre and provided with a series of annular ribs E³
which will retain a portion of the oil and allow only the overflow
to pass down to the next rib and so on. The walls and flanges carry
the heat up into the oil from the bottom of the generator in the same manner as
the heat is carried down from the top after the burner is working normally and
the flanges around the centre opening conduct the heat into the oil from the
centre tube. Transverse openings permit free circulation of oil around the
base of the vapour tube.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The combination with a retort or generator having a central vapour tube
of a kerfed spreader or cap resting on the retort over the tube and a vertically
adjustable plate to throw the flame from the spreader up or down substantially
as described and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination with a retort or generator having a central vapour tube of
a spreader resting on the retort over the tube and adjustable means connected with
the burner throwing the flame up or down for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with a retort or generator having a central vapour tube
of a kerfed spreader or cap resting on the retort over the tube and a vertically
adjusted plate resting on the retort outside of the spreader below the kerfs and
having a flange to direct the heat and flame in an upward direction said plate
having an outwardly and downwardly shaped under side and means for elevating
the plate to a position above the kerfs of the spreader and sustaining it in its
elevated position substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
4. The combination with a retort or generator having a central vapour tube
with flanges on the inside of the retort radiating from the tube and other radial
flanges around the inside margin of the retort integral with its marginal wall
but not connected with the central tube or its flanges of a kerfed spreader resting
on the retort over the central tube.
5. The combination with the retort or generator having a central vapour tube
with flanges on the inside of the retort radiating from the tube with transverse
openings through the lower inner corners of the flanges substantially as shown of
a kerfed spreader resting on the retort over said tube.
6. In a hydro-carbon burner a retort or generator having a central vapour
tube in combination with a spreader resting on the retort over the tube and a
centre draft burner located under the retort under the tube and adapted to sup-
port a wick saturated with oil substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.
7. In a hydro-carbon burner a retort or generator having a vapour tube pass-
ing vertically through it in combination with a spreader resting on the retort

page_text: over the tube and a double tube centre draft burner below the generator under
the vapour tube having an absorbent oil saturated wick between the two tubes
of the burner and means for adjusting the height of the wick substantially as
specified.
8. In a hydro-carbon burner a retort or generator having a vertical tube in
combination with a spreader resting on the retort over the tube an auxiliary
burner below the generator under the vapour tube having an absorbent wick
saturated with oil and a hood surrounding the auxiliary burner substantially as
described and for the purpose specified.
9. In a hydro-carbon retort or generator having a vertical vapour tube a
spreader resting on the generator over the vapour tube an auxiliary burner below
the generator under the tube having an oil receptacle at its base and having
overflows means for supplying oil to the receptacle a pan surrounding the auxiliary
burner into which the overflow from the receptacle is deposited and a hood sur-
rounding the auxiliary burner.
10. The combination with a generator having inside lugs to conduct heat to the
interior of the generator and having a vertical vapour tube spreader resting on
the generator over the vapour tube of a hood secured to the under side of the
generator surrounding the tube and having doors to permit access to the interior
of the hood a plate secured to the lower end of the hood closing same and having
a central opening with an upwardly projected tubular wall; said plate having
underside grooves or channels; an oil pan larger in diameter than the hood and
approximately the same diameter as the generator said pan having a central open-
ing with a tubular wall adapted to fit into the tubular wall around the central
opening through the plate and said pan having a concavity in the base of the
centre tube an absorbent wick, means for supplying oil to the generator and to
the cavity around the centre of the oil pan and for conveying the vapour from
the generator to a point under the vapour tube substantially as described and for
the purposes specified.
11. The combination with a hydro-carbon burner of an oil pan having an
inwardly dished bottom and a series of concentric ribs substantially as and for
the purposes described and as illustrated.
D
0512 1
T
1
1000
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.