IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND BURNING THE VAPOUR OF HYDROCARBON LIQUIDE
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the
International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lanc, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND BURNING THE VAPOUR
OF HYDROCARBON LIQUIDE."-A communication from abroad by David
Lowe, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Sealed the 12th January 1869, and dated the 14th October 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th October 1868.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
FOR
IN APPARATUS
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
GENERATING AND
BURNING THE VAPOUR OF HYDROCARBON LIQUIDS," a communication, to be
as follows:-
The first part of my Invention particularly relates to that class of stoves
ordinarily denominated "petroleum stoves," in which naptha, gasoline

page_text: or other like substance is employed as fuel for heating and cooking,
and this portion of my Invention consists in combining with a petroleum
stove an apparatus for generating gas for illuminating purposes, the
said apparatus being provided with a receptacle or meter for receiving
the gas as it is produced from the naptha, gasoline, or other fuel; and
my Invention also consists in attaching a lamp burner to the reservoir
containing the said fuel. Near the bottom of the stove, which may be
circular, is placed a burner secured to one end of a pipe whose other
end enters the bottom of a vessel for containing the naptha, gasoline,
or other similar light grade of hydrocarbon oil to be used as fuel in
heating the stove. The pipe is bent around and extends over the flame
of the burner, a flat circular disc being interposed in order to diffuse
the rays of heat uniformly upon the lower surface of the kettle or other
utensil placed on the top of the stove. This pipe is called the generating
pipe, and is provided with a wire gauze packing to regulate the flow
of the fluid down the pipe to the point where it is converted by the heat
into gas, a cock also being provided for regulating the supply to the
packing. A short nipple proceeds from one side of the burner, over
this nipple is screwed the lower end of a tube whose upper end is
provided with a cock which is connected with the lower end of the
reservoir or meter which holds the gas as it is produced by the heat
of the flame of the burner, the said lower end being funnel shaped.
Another tube which forms a continuation of the last-mentioned tube is
screwed into the top of the cock, and passes up within the lower or
funnel-shaped portion of the meter and also up into the funnel-shaped
bottom of an inner receptacle, the office of the said tube being to convey
the gases into the meter, the dry or pure portion passing through a
perforated partition while the liquid or vapour contained in the gas is
deposited and condensed on the under side of a circular plate placed
directly over and at some distance from the said tube. The condensed
portion then runs down to the edge of the plate and falls into the funnel-
shaped bottom of the inner receptacle, and thence through holes down
the inside of the bottom of the outer receptacle. From this point it
flows down into a tube, one end of which is connected with the bottom
of the receptacle, and surrounds an inner tube, one end of which projects
up from the bottom of the said receptacle into the space between the
funnel-shaped portions of the two receptacles. The lower end of the
outer tube passes down inside the stove above' and near to the burner, and
is bent to a point where it is closed, the lower portion of the inner tube

page_text: passes through the outside tube to a point where it terminates, the lower
end of this inner tube being left open so as to allow the dry pure gas
generated from the heated condensed vapours to pass up therein and
into the circular chamber surrounding the inner receptacle, and thence
through holes into the space below the perforated partition.
The dry
pure gas thus produced in the pipes or tubes passes through the
perforated partition to the pipe to which is screwed the gas cock
and burner. A flexible or rigid tube may be conducted from the
stove to any point where light is desired. Instead of a double tube a
continuous single tube may be employed for collecting the condensed
vapours and generating therefrom a pure quality of gas, in which case
this tube would be provided with a wire gauze coil to regulate the flow
of the condensed vapours to the point where they become heated and are
converted into dry gas, and when such tube is used one of its ends must
connect with the bottom of the inside of the meter, while the other end
of the tube should extend up some distance above its bottom. The
interior of the reservoir containing the naptha or gasoline is provided
with a perforated funnel-shaped plate to prevent explosion, and by
making the said plate extend to near the bottom of the reservoir and
providing the top of the reservoir with a cap, an ordinary lamp burner
may be secured thereto and be used to light the apartment in which the
stove is placed.
The second part of my Invention relates to certain improvements
in apparatus for generating and burning gas from naptha chiefly fo:
illuminating purposes and also for heating a nurse lamp.
In carrying this part of my Invention into practice I use a reservoir of
the form of a segment of a globe, the side of which is flat and projects
up slightly above the rounded surface. The projecting portion is
provided with a hole to allow the reservoir to be suspended from the
side or wall of a room, or to an upright or horizontal beam or post
therein. The upper end of a tube or pipe enters the lower end of the
reservoir; the lower end of the said pipe after branching off horizontally
has a burner and a receptacle containing a non-conducting substance.
A semicircular cup is placed at the base of the burner in order to catch
the liquid naptha which overflows on first applying a match to the
burner. The flow of the naptha to the burner is regulated as required
by means of a stop-cock. On first turning the cock and applying the
match to the burner the liquid naptha is ignited, a small portion

page_text: running over into the cup, but soon the heat of the flame converts the
naptha (between the non-conducting substance and the top of the
burner) into gas, which burns with a steady clear white flame. Were it
not for the presence of the non-conducting substance the heat of the
flame would impart heat to the horizontal branch of the tube, and the
naptha would then be converted into gas, which would have the effect of
causing the flame to flicker and frequently be blown out. A cylindrical
cap piece or cover provided with two horizontal rows of small perforations
may be screwed upon the top of a bat-wing or fish-tail burner when
the number of jets is to be increased or their form varied.
The construction of my apparatus may be varied to apply it to a table
or counter, the standard being bored out to allow of the passage of the
tube. A double tip or burner is connected with the lower end of the
tube, one of which burners may be used to light the room while the tube
of a nurse lamp may be fitted over the other burner. A small tube
screwed into the top of the tube conducts the gas up into a small
chamber formed between the top of the said small tube and the
enlargement at the top of a tube surrounding it, the gas thence
descending between the two tubes to a chamber formed within a
block into which the burners are screwed.
A semicircular cup is
screwed to the top of the outer tube at the junction of the small tube
therewith. The lower end of the tube of the nurse lamp passes up
through the centre of the lamp, and has screwed thereto a hollow
cylindrical tube provided with perforations to supply sufficient oxygen
for producing a blue flame. The double burner or tip may be removed
and an argand burner applied to the tube, or my perforated cap may
be used with the double tip or any other ordinary form of burner.
The third part of my Invention relates to a burner fitted to the bottom
of the gas pipe, so that when the gas is lighted the jet of flame will
proceed downward or from below, instead of from the top or side of the
burner, and in connection with this burner pointing downward, the
said Invention relates to a fire-pot from the bottom of which the flame is
deflected under and around the bottom of the kettle or utensil in a
nurse lamp or stove. The said part of my Invention also relates to a
chamber formed in the gas pipe beyond the burner for heating the nurse
lamp or stove, the end of the said chamber being provided with a remov-
able cap, in order that a branch bearing one or more burners for illu-

page_text: minating purposes may be attached thereto, the quantity of gas being
sufficient to supply heat from the burner of the nurse lamp or stove,
and also light from the burner or burners attached to the said branch
pipe to light the apartment. This part of the said Invention further.
more relates to a lamp for illuminating purposes attached to and supplied
with naptha from the reservoir when it is not desired to use the gas-
therefrom, for lighting, and still further in certain details which will
be explained hereafter.
In this modification of my Invention the reservoir is provided with
a small cylindrical tube which is perforated to prevent liability of
explosion when a wick of an ordinary lamp burner is employed for
burning the naptha to light the apartment. The upper end of a
short tube enters the bottom of the reservoir, while the lower end
of this pipe is screwed into the top of a square block, from the
opposite sides of which proceed liorizontal branch pipes. Into the
bottom of the block is screwed a vertical pipe, into whose under side
is screwed a horizontal branch, which together with the short pipe
is supported by a standard or pedestal. The naptha flows down
the pipes into a horizontal branch, the size of whose interior is
contracted at one point by means of a check or plate and provided
with a small orilice to graduate the flow of the naptha. A cock
opens or closes the passage for tlie naptha into the portion of
the branch, the interior of which is provided with a roll of wire gauze
to still further regulate the flow of the naptha to the burner. The
top of the burner extends into the intérior as far as the centre of
the pipe to prevent scale or other impurities from passing
into and clogging the said burner, the jets of lighted gas
passing vertically down through its bottom. A chamber is
formed in the end of the horizontal branch beyond the burner, the
end of the chamber being open and communicating with the interior
of a branch pipe provided with ordinary burners. I am thus enabled
to obtain suflicient gas for lighting the apartment after the burner
for heating a nurse lamp has been supplied. Should the branch
pipe not be needed the end of the chamber may be closed by
screwing on the cap. A fire-pot provided with a series of perforations
near its top may be hung upon the pipe under the burner. Jets
of flame from the burner pass down through a perforated tube
resting on the bottom of the said fire-pot, and thence through

page_text: up
spaces between its legs or supports along the bottom of the
pot and
it sides, through the perforations in which currents of oxygen
are allowed to pass in order to insure a steady flame without noise.
and with perfect combustion. The flame after having been thus
deflected and mixed with oxygen comes in contact with the under
side of the kettle or other utensil of the nurse lamp. The horizontal
branch pipes are provided with burners, a portion of each of such
being closed by a screw cap and forming a chamber for the reception of
the naptha, which when the projecting burner is employed is converted
into gas by the heat, and effectually prevents the flickering which
would occur if there were no chamber beyond the burner. These
burners, screw into the pipe as far as its centre, and are not provided
with non-conductors, as I wish the heat to be transmitted to the pipe
to generate gas. Each of these pipes is provided with a check to
contract the size of the pipe and regulate the flow of the naptha to
the cocks. In the bottom of the burner for heating the nurse lamp is
inserted a piece of cork, lava, block meerschaum, or other suitable porous
material, the purpose of which is to supply the gas in quantities just
equal to its rate of consumption, the cork or other porous material also
serving the same office when employed in connection with
a burner for burning the naptha before it is converted into gas. A
tube or cap of conical form provided with perforations is designed
to be used in connection with a fire-pot of a petroleum stove, when
a quantity of naptha has been carelessly allowed to accumulate in the
said pot; the conical tube is placed over the pot after the naptha
is lighted, air being supplied thereto through the perforations to prevent
the oil from smoking. When it is required to extinguish the flame a
conical band or sleeve is slipped over the conical tube so as to close
its perforations, and a cap or cover is put over the top of the said tube
to arrest and collect the smoke, the sleeve and cover thus serving
as an extinguisher. Instead of a cylindrical tube with a perforated
top I may employ a conical tube with its top open.
The fourth portion of my Invention relates to certain apparatus for
generating gas from naptha and other like substances, and applied to
the interior of a sad or other iron for the purpose of heating the same.
The reservoir near its top is provided with a perforated partition of an
inverted conical form to prevent explosion, the space above the
perforated partition being stuffed with cotton or other fibrous material

page_text: to prevent the naptha from washing over when in motion. A vertical
tube is connected with the bottom of the reservoir, the lower end
of the said tube being connected with the iron to be heated. The
pipe is provided with a cock, and branches off horizontally through
an aperture in the end of the iron, and thence centrally through its
hollow interior to the junction of 'two partitions, which thus divide the
interior of the flat iron into three chambers or compartments. To
the under side of the horizontal branch of the pipe is screwed
a burner, whose lower- side is perforated in order that the jets of
flame proceeding downward therefrom may pass through a conical
deflector, and impinge, upon the bottom of the iron. A roll of wire
gauze is placed within the horizontal portion of the tube and extends
nearly to the burner. The naptha flows from the reservoir down and
along the pipe-through the wire gauze roll which checks and graduates
the flow of the naptha to the burner. The cock being opened the
liquid naptha runs for a moment only to the burner, and on being
ignited at this point the heat is suflicient to convert the naptha into
gas, which is deflected so as to spread over and heat the bottom of
the iron. A passage under the end of the pipe is provided so that
the heat
may freely pass through from the inner compartment to the
outer compartments. Should the heat become too great it may pass
outside the iron through tubes which are so formed and placed that
the hand when applied to the handle will not come in contact with
them.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Leiters Patent
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th April 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give

page_text: and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND BURNING THE VAPOUR OF HYDROCARBON
LIQUIDS." upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writ-
ing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particu-
larly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do''"'hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertamed in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
The first part of my Invention particularly relates to that class of
stoves ordinarily denominated "petroleum stoves" in which naptha,
gasoline, or other like substance is employed as fuel for heating and
cooking, and this portion of my Invention consists in combining with a
petroleum stove an apparatus for generating gas for illuminating pur-
poses, the said apparatus being provided with a receptacle or meter for
receiving the gas as it is produced from the naptha, gasoline, or other
fuel; and my Invention also consists in attaching a lamp burner to the
reservoir containing the said fuel.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the interior of a petroleum stove with
my improvements applied thereto; Figure 2 is a plan representing the
interior of a stove and a portion of the interior of the mechanism forming
the subject of my Invention; Figure 3 is a vertical section through the
stove with my improvements in place thereon ready for use; Figures 4
and 5 are perspective views of the interior of a portion of my improved
apparatus.
In the said Drawings A is a stove of a circular interior form, and near

page_text: the bottom thereof is placed a burner B secured to one end of a pipe C,
whose other end enters the bottom of a receptacle D for containing the
naptha, gasoline, or other similar light grade of hydrocarbon oil to be
used as fuel in heating the stove. The pipe C is bent around, as shown
in Figure 3, and extends over the flame of the burner B, a flat circular
disc a being interposed in order to diffuse the rays of heat uniformly
upon the lower surface of the kettle or other utensil placed in the hole
for its reception in the top of the stove; by this means the utensil is
kept from being injured, as would be the case if the flame was allowed
to concentrate at one point thereon. This pipe C is called the generating
pipe, and is provided with a wire-gauze packing c to regulate the flow of
the fluid down the pipe to the point, where it is converted by the heat
into gas, a cock d also being provided for regulating the supply to the
packing. A short nipple proceeds from one side of the burner B; over
this nipple is screwed the lower end of a tube E, whose upper end is
provided with a cock e which is connected with the lower or funnel-
shaped end of the reservoir or meter F for holding the gas as it rises
when produced by the heat of the flame of the burner. f is another tube
which forms a continuation of the tube E, being screwed into the top of
the cock e, and passing up within the lower or funnel-shaped portions 6
of the meter, and also up into the funnel-shaped bottom g of an inner
receptacle G, the office of the said tube being to convey the gases into
the meter, the dry or pure portion passing through the perforated
partition h, while the liquid or vapour contained in the gas is deposited
and condensed on the under side of a circular plate i placed directly over
and at some distance from the said tube. The condensed portion then
runs down to the edge 7 of the plate i and falls into the funnel-shaped
bottom 9 of the inner receptacle, and thence through holes j down the
inside of the bottom of the outer receptacle F; from this point it flows
down into a tube H, one end of which is connected with the bottom of
the receptacle F and surrounds an inner.tube I, one end of which projects
up from the bottom of the said receptacle F into the space between the
funnel-shaped portions of the two receptacles F and G. The lower end
of the outer tube H passes down inside the stove above and near to the
burner, and bends around, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, to the point k,
where it is closed. The lower portion of the inner tube passes through
the outside tube H to a point where it terminates, the lower end of
this inner tube being left open so as to allow the dry pure gas generated
from the heated condensed vapours to pass up therein and into the

page_text: circular chamber m surrounding the inner receptacle, and thence through.
holes n into the space o below the perforated partition h. The quantities
of dry pure gas thus produced in the pipes or tubes E and I are now
united and pass through the perforated partition h to the pipe p, to
which is screwed the gas cock and burners, by which construction I
am enabled to obtain a constant supply of excellent gas for illuminating
purposes. The above-described apparatus can be compactly placed, and
a flexible or rigid tube may be conducted to any point where light is
desired. Instead of a double tube H, I, a continuous single tube may be
employed for collecting the condensed vapours and generating therefrom
a pure quality of gas, in which case this tube would be provided with a
wire gauze coil to regulate the flow of the condensed vapours to the
point where they become heated and are converted into dry gas; and
when such tube is used one of its ends must connect with the bottom of
the inside of the meter, while the other end of the tube should extend up
some distance above its bottom. The interior of the reservoir containing
the naptha or gasoline is provided with a perforated funnel-shaped plate t
to prevent explosion or accident, and by making the said plate of the
form shown in Figure 5, so as to extend near the bottom of the reservoir,
and providing the top of the reservoir with a cap, an ordinary lamp
burner K may be secured thereto and be used to light the apartment in
which the stove is placed.
The second part of my Invention relates to certain improvements in
apparatus for generating and burning gas from naptha, chiefly for illumi-
nating purposes, and also for heating a nurse lamp.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of my said improved apparatus so
constructed as to be readily attached to the side or wall of the room
to be lighted thereby; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the said
apparatus constructed so as to be used on a table or counter, for giving
light thereto; Figure 8 is a vertical section through a nurse lamp
the tube of which is made to fit over one of the burners shown in
Figure 2; Figure 9 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 7; Figure 10
is a section on the line y, y, Figure 6; Figure 11 is a section through
an argand burner designed to be used in connection with my improved
apparatus.
In Figure 6 of the said Drawings, A' is a reservoir in the form of a
segment of a globe, the side a of which is flat and projects up slightly
above the rounded surface b', the projecting portion being provided with

page_text: a hole c' to allow of hanging the reservoir to the side or wall of a room.
or to an upright or horizontal beam or post therein; d' is a screw-cap
which controls the opening to the reservoir. The upper end of a tube
or pipe B' enters the lower end of the reservoir A'; the lower end of the
said pipe B', after branching off horizontally has a burner C and a
receptacle D' containing a non-conducting substance fitted thereto. E' is
a semicircular cup placed at the bottom of the burner to catch the liquid
naptha which overflows on first applying a match to the burner C¹;
F is a stop-cock by which the flow of the naptha to the burner is
regulated as required. On first turning the cock and applying the
match to the burner C' the liquid naptha is ignited, a small portion
running over into the cup E', but soon the heat of the flame converts the
naptha (between the non-conducting substance and the top of the burner)
into gas, which burns with a steady clear white flame. Were it not
for the presence of the non-conducting substance, the heat of the flame
would impart heat to the horizontal branch of the tube, and the naptha
would then be converted into gas, which would have the effect of
causing the flame to flicker and frequently be blown out. C' is a
cylindrical cap piece or cover provided with two horizontal rows of small
perforations e'. This perforated cap is readily screwed upon the top of
a bat-wing or fish-tail burner when the number of jets is to bo
increased or their form varied.
In Figure 7 the construction of my apparatus is changed in order to
apply it to a table or counter, the standard H' being bored out to allow
of the passage of the tube f. A double tip or burner l' is connected
with the lower end of the tube in order that one may be used to light
the room while the tube g' of a nurse lamp J', Figure 8, may be fitted
over the other burner j' in case of sickness or otherwise to heat or boil
any article.
A small tube screwed into the top of the tube / con-
ducts the gas up into a small chamber formed between the top of
the small tube and the enlargement 30 at the top of a tube m'
surrounding it, the gas thence descending between the two tubes k', m',
to a chamber formed within the block n' into which the burners i, j, are
screwed, see Figure 9. The semicircular cup K' is screwed to the top
of the tube at the junction of the small tube therewith. The lower
end of the tube g passes up through the centre of the lamp J, and has
screwed thereto a hollow cylindrical tube L' provided with perforations 31
to supply sufficient oxygen for producing a blue flame. The receptacle

page_text: for containing the non-conducting material may be closed instead of
open, as shown, and may be of a globular or other form. The double
burner or tip shown in Figure 7 may be removed and an argand burner,
Figure 11, applied to the tube f', or my perforated cap may be used
with the double tip or any other ordinary form of burner which may be
connected with the tube /'. It will be seen that my improved apparatus
may be placed in various positions, viz., it may be hung from the centre
of the ceiling of a room, or to its side or wall, and the burner or burners
may be raised and lowered above the surface of a table or work bench by
making a horizontal branch in the tube, and causing it to slide up and
down upon a vertical rod, proceeding from a pedestal, a thumb screw
being provided to clamp it when adjusted to its proper height. Again
a reservoir may be placed at the top of a house and suitable tubes he led
to any desired point in one or all of the apartments.
The third part of my Invention relates to a burner fitted to the bottom
of the gas pipe, so that when the gas is lighted the jet of flame will
proceed downward or from below, instead of from the top or side of the
burner, and in connection with this burner pointing downward the said
Invention relates to a fire-pot, from the bottom of which the flame is
deflected (by a perforated or conical cap or otherwise) under and around
the bottom of the kettle or utensil in a nurse lamp or stove.
This part of my Invention also relates to a chamber formed in the gas
pipe beyond the burner for heating the nurse lamp or stove, the end of
the said chamber being provided with a removable cap in order that a
branch bearing one or more burners for illuminating purposes may be
attached thereto, the quantity of gas being sufficient to supply heat
from the burner of the nurse lamp or stove, and also light from the
burner or burners attached to the said branch pipe to light the
apartment.
This part of the said Invention furthermore relates to a lamp for
illuminating purposes attached to and supplied with naptha from the
reservoir when it is not desired to use the gas therefrom for lighting,
and still further in certain details, which will be explained hereafter.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of an apparatus for generating and
burning gas from naptha, herein previously described, together with
some of my present improvements as applied thereto; Figure 13 is
a vertical longitudinal section through the centre of the same, repre-
senting certain modifications of my improvements; Figure 14 is a

page_text: section on the line a, a, of Figure 12; Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,
20, 21, 22, and 23 illustrate details of my Invention, to be hereafter
referred to.
In the said Drawings A" is a reservoir containing naptha, the said
reservoir being provided with a small cylindrical tube a", which is
perforated to prevent liability of explosion when a wick 6" of an
ordinary lamp burner B", see Figures 12 and 13, is employed for burning
the naptha to light the apartment. The upper end of a short tube or
pipe C enters the bottom of the reservoir, while the lower end of this.
pipe C is screwed into the top of a square block c", from the opposite
sides of which proceed horizontal branch pipes D", D, while into the
bottom of the block c" is screwed a vertical pipe C, into the under side
of which is screwed a horizontal branch E", which together with the
pipe C" is supported by a standard or pedestal F". The naptha flows
down the pipes C", C, into the branch E", the size of whose interior
at is contracted by means of a check or plate 32, Figure 13, pro-
vided with a small orifice, this construction being desirable to graduate
the flow of the naptha. G" is a cock, which opens or closes the passage
for the naptha into the portion e" of the branch E", the interior of
which is provided with a roll of wire gauze " extending from about the
point 33 to about the point 34 to still further regulate the flow of the
naptha to the burner H" screwed into the under side of the portion e"
of the branch E". The top of the burner extends into the interior as
far as the centre of the pipe to prevent scale or other impurities from
passing into and clogging the burner H", the jets of lighted gas passing
vertically down through its bottom; I", Figure 15, is a chamber formed
in the end of the horizontal branch E" beyond the burner H", the end
of the chamber being open and communicating with the interior of a
branch pipe J provided with ordinary burners 35, 36, Figure 12, by
which construction I am enabled to obtain sufficient gas for lighting the
apartment after the burner H" for heating the nurse lamp K" has been
supplied, see Figures 13 and 16. Should the branch pipe Ju not be needed
the end of the chamber I" may be closed by screwing on the cap g",
Figure 15. L" is a fire-pot provided with a series of perforations "
near its top Figures 12 and 13; this pot is hung upon the pipe E"
under the burner H" by means of hooked projections " Jets of flame
from the burner pass down through a perforated tube j", Figure 18,
resting on the bottom of the fire-pot, and thence through spaces "

page_text: between its legs or supports along the bottom of the pot L" and
up its sides through the perforations " in which currents of oxygen
are allowed to pass in order to ensure a steady flame without noise
and with perfect combustion. The flame after having been thus
deflected and mixed with oxygen strikes the under side of the kettle
or other utensil belonging to the nurse lamp K". Should it happen
at any time that the naptha is carelessely allowed to collect in the fire-
pot it may be burnt and used to heat the nurse lamp (instead of
employing the gas from the burner), or be emptied by removing the
.pot, but such event need nor occur. The horizontal branch pipes D", D"",
are provided with burners M", see Figure 14, one near each end of the
said pipes, a portion of each of which extend a short distance beyond,
and is closed by a screw cap m", thus forming a chamber " for the
reception of the naptha, which when the burner M" projecting upward
or downward is employed is converted into gas by the heat and
effectually prevents the flickering which would occur if there were
no chamber beyond the burner. These burners screw into the pipe
as far as its centre, and are not provided with non-conductors, as I
wish the heat to be transmitted to the pipe to generaté gas. Each
of these pipes D", D, is provided with a check o² to contract the size
of the pipe and regulate the flow of the naptha to the cocks N", N".
In the bottom of the burner H", Figure 23, is inserted a piece of cork,
lava, block meerschaum or other suitable porous material, the office
of which is to retard the flow of the gas through the burner to supply
it thereto in quantities equal to its rate of consumption, the cork or
other porous material also serving the same office when employed in
connection with a burner for burning the naptha before it is converted
into gas.
O" is a tube or cap of conical form provided with per-
forations, Figures 19, 20; this tube is designed to be used in con-
nection with a fire-pot of a petroleum stove when a quantity of naptha
has been carelessly allowed to accumulate in the said pot. The conical
tube is placed over the pot after the naptha is lighted, air being supplied
thereto through the perforations 2" to prevent the oil from smoking.
When it is required to extinguish the flame a conical band or sleeve P"
is slipped over the tube O" so as to close its perforations, and a cap
or cover Q (Figures 21 and 22) is put over the top of the tube O" to
arrest and collect the smoke, the sleeve and cover thus serving as an
extinguisher. Instead of a cylindrical tube j" with a perforated top,
I may employ a conical tube with its top open as shown in

page_text: Figure 17, and I may apply my improvements to the heating and lighting
of railway carriages without departing from the spirit of my Invention. .
The fourth part of the said Invention relates to certain apparatus
for generating gas from naptha and other like substances and applied
to the interior of a sad or other iron for the purpose of heating the
same; Figure 24 is a perspective view of a flat iron of my improved
construction with the apparatus for generating the gas which I employ
in heating the same; Figure 25 is a vertical longitudinal section through
the centre of the same; Figure 26 is a transverse section on the
line ;, of Figure 25.
In the said Drawings A is a reservoir containing naptha which
is poured into the top by removing the screw cap a. Across the
interior of the reservoir and near its top extends a perforated par-
tition 6 of an inverted conical form, the object of which is to prevent
any possibility of explosion, the space C above the perforated partition
being stuffed with cotton or other fibrous material "" to keep
the naptha from washing over when in motion; B" is a tube connected
with the bottom of the reservoir A", and supported in a vertical position
by a brace C, the lower end of which is bent at right angles and
secured to the upper surface of a flat iron D. At e the pipe is
provided with a cock E and branches off horizontally, passing through
an aperture in the end of the flat iron, and thence centrally through
its hollow interior to the junction g of two partitions F, G, which
thus divide the interior of the flat iron into three chambers or com-
partments 37, 38, 39. To the under side of the horizontal branch of the
pipe B is screwed a burner H, whose lower side is perforated in
order that the jets of flame may proceed downward therefrom and pass
through a conical deflector I and impinge upon the bottom of the iron
the surface of which requires to be heated; h is a roll of wire gauze
placed within the horizontal portion of the tube B and extending from
a point to a point near the burner H, the naptha flowing from the
reservoir down and along the pipe B through the wire gauze roll "",
the office of which is to check and graduate the flow of the naptha to
the burner H. The cock E¹ being opened the liquid naptha runs for a
moment only to the burner H, and on being ignited at this point the
heat is sufficient to convert the naptha into gas, which is deflected so
as to spread over and heat the bottom of the iron, a passage " under
the end of the pipe B being provided so that the heat may freely

page_text: pass through from the inner compartment 38 to the outer compartments
37 and 39. Should the heat become too great it may pass outside of the
iron through tubes ",, which are so formed and placed that the
hand when applied to the handle 40 will not come in contact with
them. It is evident that I may employ apparatus similar to that above
described for heating any iron used by tailors and others in ironing
and pressing garments or for heating branding tools, soldering irons,
and other implements without departing from the spirit of my Invention.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice I claim,―The
within described apparatus for producing gas from naptha for illuminat-
ing purposes either combined or not with a petroleum stove, substantially
as set forth.
Also in combination with the above a non-conducting material placed
at or near the base of the burner, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Also a perforated cap G' in combination with an ordinary gas burner
as and for the purpose specified.
Also a gas burner H" for burning the gas of naptha so constructed
and connected with its gas pipe that the jet of flame will proceed from
the bottom of the burner, substantially as described.
Also in combination with the burner H" a fire-pot L", substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Also a tube or deflector j" which is either of a conical form and open
at the top or of other form and provided with a perforated top in com-
bination with a fire-pot L", substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Also a chamber " formed in the gas pipe beyond the burner, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
Also the burner H" for heating the nurse lamp in combination
with one or more burners 35 and 36 for illuminating the apartment,
substantially as set forth.
Also a perforated tube j" or a conical tube without perforations
as a deflector in combination with the fire-pot L", substantially as
described,

page_text: Also a conical tube. O" provided with a series of perforations at its
bottom in combination with a fire-pot L", substantially as and for the
purpose described:
Also the conical sleeve P" and cap or cover Q" in combination with
a conical tube O" provided with perforations for extinguishing the
flame of the .naptha contained in the fire-pot L", substantially as
described.
Also a sad iron heated, substantially in the manner described, by gas
produced from naptha.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here.
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)