Improvements in Spirit Lamps for Boiling Liquids and for similar purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 5th Mar. 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOHANN AUGUST BANNMANN, of 40, Wiener-
strasse, and OSCAR SCHÄCHTINGER, of 30, Wassmannstrasse, both of Berlin,
in the German Empire, Tinsmiths.]
Improvements in Spirit Lamps for Boiling Liquids and for similar
purposes.
1, RIDLEY JAMES URQUHART of 57 Barton Arcade, Manchester in the
County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent 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 spirit lamps for boiling liquids and for similar
purposes, and consists in improved arrangements of the same, the objects of my
improvements being to obtain economy of consumption and prevent waste of
spirit. These objects are attained by effecting the complete combustion of the
spirit by means of suitable improved arrangements for regulating the supply
of spirit to the flame and for shutting off the supply of spirit simultaneously with the
extinction of the flame, thus preventing the waste ordinarily occurring by allowing
the spirit to burn out or evaporate after the boiling has been effected.
On the sheet of drawings appended hereunto the improved spirit lamp is shewn
by Fig. 1 in sectional elevation and by Fig. 2 in plan, Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 showing
more specially the mechanism for simultaneously extinguishing the flame and
shutting off the supply of spirit in two positions.
On a baseplate A the spirit reservoir B and stand C for supporting the kettle or
pan are arranged. The reservoir B is connected to the burner E by means of a
pipe a leading from the former to a stop valve D and a pipe b leading from the
stop valve D to the burner E.
The burner consists of a cup c having a double bottom de with a space between.
The lower bottom d contains an opening for the admission of spirit into the space
while the upper bottom e is formed with a fine nozzle through which the spirit
can issue. Tubes 99 lead from the bottom e to a tubular ring à provided with fine
outlet openings. A cap or hood i formed with slots (Fig. 3) serves to regulate the
air supply and heat the air flowing towards the flame from the outside.
On the valve rod / guided by the rim k of the stand C a hooked lever m is
mounted so that it can be turned sideways and while the lamp is used catch with
its hook n over a projection o on a tongue p hinged to the rim k of the stand C and
extending inwards and over the top of the valve rod l, thus keeping the valve D in
its position after it has been opened by depressing the valve rod 1. The latter
further has a finger q fixed to it upon which the cover of the burner E rests while
the lamp is used.
In order to obtain a uniform flow of spirit to the nozzle whether the reservoir B
is filled more or less, a floats is arranged inside the reservoir carrying a plate or
inverted valve which when the level of the spirit is high is held up against the
outlet orifice of the reservoir by the float and allows only a certain quantity to
percolate, while when the level of the spirit sinks the valvet liberates the orifice to
some extent and thus equalizes the difference of hydrostatic pressure of the filled
and nearly emptied reservoir. In order that in no case more spirit than required
for feeding the flame can issue through the nozzle f the opening or passage leading
to the lower bottom d of the cup c is narrowed by means of a needle u inserted into
the same.
The action of this spirit lamp is as follows: After the reservoir B has been filled
with spirit the kettle or nan F is placed upon the stand C and by its weight the

page_text: After the
tongue p is pressed down. The tongue p acts upon the valve rod and by pressing
it downwards opens the valve D. The spirit enters the cup c through the nozzle
and spreads itself in the same and in the space between the bottoms de.
hinged cover has been turned up against the finger y, as shewn by Figs. 1, 2, 3
and 4, the spirit is ignited. By the flame the bottoms, the tubes y and ring are
heated, so that spirit vapours are quickly produced, which issue from the fine openings
in the ring and in combination with the flame fed through the nozzle f develop
intense heat. In order to allow the kettle or pan F to be removed without
extinguishing the flame so that it may be replaced for further boiling, the hooked
lever m is turned so that its hook catches over the projection o of the tongue p and
the supply of spirit is thus secured even if the kettle is temporarily lifted off.
When the boiling or other operation has. been completed, the hooked lever mis
turned back after the kettle or pan has been lifted off. The projection o and
tongue p and consequently the valve rod are liberated thereby and the rod is
pushed upwards by a spring v bearing against a collar on the same, whereby the
valve D is closed and simultaneously the cover thrown forward over the burner,
the supply of spirit being thus shut off and the flame extinguished at the same time.
As only the quantity of spirit that may be considered necessary for maintaining the
flame is supplied through the nozzle under the action of the floats and needle
and the space between the bottoms and e contains only a very minute quantity of
spirit intended for evaporation, the extinction of the flame is effected without
leaving a remnant of spirit in the burner, which is advantageous with the methylated
spirit generally used for heating as in consequence of these arrangements the
lamp burns almost without any smell and the waste of spirit through evaporation is
effectively prevented.
j
The tongue p may be omitted and instead thereof a plate or button formed on or
attached to the valve rod 1, and the lever m so arranged that it catches under a
projection on the rim or legs of the stand C when turned sideways while the
valve rod is depressed by the weight of the kettle or pan acting on said plate or
button.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
.
Firstly. In a spirit lamp the arrangement of a valve (D) in the passage from the
spirit reservoir (B) to the burner (E) attached to a valve rod () which is held up
by a spring and depressed by placing the kettle or pan upon the stand, a lever (m)
on said valve rod locking the same in its depressed position when turned in one
direction and liberating it when turned in the opposite direction, and a finger (1)
fixed to said valve rod seizing under a hinged cover (") of the burner when said
cover is turned up, substantially us hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
drawings and for the purposes set forth.
Secondly. In combination with the arrangements claimed in the first claim the
arrangement of a tongue (p) hinged to the stand (C) and resting on the top of
the valve rod, a projection (o) on said tongue and a hook (n) formed on the lever (m)
scizing over said projection, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
and for the purpose set forth.
Thirdly. In spirit lamps having a reservoir connected by a passage to the burner,
the arrangement of a float (s) in the reservoir and inverted valve (t) attached to
said float, and a needle (u) inserted into the passage leading to the burner
substantially as described and illustrated and for the purpose set forth.
Fourthly. The general arrangement or combination of parts of a spirit lamp
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated this 25th day of January 1892.
K. J. URQUHAKT.