An Improved Magnesium Lamp.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st Apr., 1892-Accepted, 4th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Magnesium Lamp.
I, EMIL WENIG of Dresdenerstrasse 90, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to a construction of magnesium lamp whereby
light or illuminating effects can be produced suitable for various purposes such as
taking photographs, for signalling purposes on ships or other places, and for
theatrical purposes. The lamp can be used to produce lightning like illumination
or flashes or a constant light, the light obtained producing a more powerful effect
than the electric light; and can advantageously be used for the purpose of giving
signals, instead of other means heretofore used for this purpose such for example
as the fog horn which is often deceptive as a signal. Magnesium, without
admixture of explosive substances, is employed as the illuminating or flashing
agent.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shows partly in elevation and partly in section a magnesium flash lamp,
according to this invention.
Fig. 2 shows the whole of the lamp in side elevation.
G is a blast or blowing device such as a hollow india rubber ball provided with
a non return air inlet valve and by means of which air can be forced through a
flexible pipe S and cover D into a chamber R containing finely divided magnesium.
The cover D which closes the lower end of the chamber, is provided with a
valve v to prevent the magnesium falling into the blowing device. h is a tube that
connects the magnesium chamber R with a second or ignition chamber T. When
the lamp is to be used an igniting flame is placed in the top of the chamber T,
this flame being conveniently obtained by igniting cotton wool saturated with
benzine. A piston K serves to close the pipe h by means of a conical or circular
stopper above said piston, and to prevent benzine from flowing into the magnesium
chamber. Furthermore the tube h can also be cleaned by means of the said
piston.
The regulation of the flame produced by the combustion of the magnesium, is
effected by the use in conjunction with the tube h of a second tube H arranged
around the lower part of the said tube h, and provided with a circular or funnel-
shaped extension n which enlarges or reduces the capacity of the magnesium
chamber according as the tube his moved up or down, and thereby allows more
or less magnesium to be forced through the tube h to the igniting flame. If the
tube / be led to any suitable kind of round burner, then by constantly operating a
suitable blowing device so as to deliver a constant current of air, a constant stream
of magnesium will be produced so that the flame generated thereby will be a
constant one instead of being intermittent. A lead plate p may be placed around
the tube H and above the mass of magnesium in the chamber R for the purpose of
pressing the magnesium down more quickly and into the tube h.
A revolver magnesium flash lamp constructed as described, is always ready for
use without the necessity of opening any cock or other supply device and on
account of its small weight can be easily carried in a person's pocket. It is
necessary to charge it with magnesium to a greater or less extent according to the
size of the chamber R, and it can then be used for a longer or shorter period
without recharging according to the quantity of magnesium it contains.
Dated this 14th day of March 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Magnesium Lamp.
I, EMIL WENIG of Dresdenerstrasse 90, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, 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 has reference to a construction of magnesium lamp whereby !
light or illuminating effects can be produced suitable for various purposes such as
taking photographs, for signalling purposes on ships or other places, for
theatrical purposes. The lamp can be used to produce lightning-like illumination
or flashes or a constant light, the light obtained producing a more powerful
effect than the electric light and can advantageously be used for the purpose of:
giving signals; instead of other means heretofore used for this purpose such for
example as the fog horn which is often deceptive as a
without admixture of explosive substances, is employed as the illuminating.'or
signal. Magnesium,
flashing agent.
In the drawings left with my Provisional Specification,
Fig. 1 shows partly in elevation and partly in section'a magnesium flash lämp
according to this invention.
Fig. 2 shows the whole of the lamp in side elevation.
Gis a blast or blowing device such as a hollow india' rubber ball provided with
a non-return air inlet valve and by means of which 'air can be forced through a 2
flexible pipe S and cover D into a chamber R containing finely divided magnesium.
The cover D which closes the lower end of the chamber, is provided with a
valve to prevent the magnesium falling into the blowing device. h is a pipe
that connects the magnesium chamber R with a second or ignition chamber T.
The two chambers Rand T are formed within a. glass tube provided with a '2
diaphragm or partition as shewn. When the lamp is to be used an igniting flame
is placed in the top of the chamber T, this flame being conveniently obtained by
igniting cotton 'wool saturated with benzine. K is a piston provided with a conical
or circular stopper S. that serves to 'normally close the top of the pipe and
prevent benzine from flowing into the magnesium chamber. Furthermore the 3
tubo h can also be cleaned by means of the said piston.
The regulation of the flame produced by the combustion of 'the magnesium, is
effected by the use' in conjunction with the tubé h of a second tube H arranged
around the lower part of the said tube h and provided with a circular or
funnel-shaped extension n the arrangement being such that 'the capacity of the 3
magnesium chamber can be enlarged or reduced according as the tube His moved
up or down, and thereby varying the quantity of magnesium forced through the
tube to the igniting Hames at each operation of the blowing device. If the
tube h be led to any suitable kind of round annular burner, then by constantly
operating a suitable blowing device so as to deliver a constant current of air, a4
constant stream of magnesium will be produced so that the flame generated thereby
will be a constant one instead of being intermittent. A lead plate p₁ may be
placed around the tube H and above the mass of magnesium in the chamber R
for the purpose of pressing the magnesium down and facilitating its passage into
the tube h.
A magnesium-flash-lamp constructed as described, is always ready for use
without the necessity of opening any cock or other supply device and on account
of its small weight it can be easily carried' in a person's pocket. It is necessary to
charge it with magnesium to a greater or less extent according to the size of the
chamber R, and it can then be used for a longer or shorter period without 50
recharging according to the quantity of magnesium it contains.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A magnesium lamp constructed with two chambers such as R and T
connected by a tube such as h, one of the said chambers (R) which serves to hold
magnesium, being provided with a non-return air inlet valve and connected with a
blowing device and the other of the said chambers (T) serving as a combustion
chamber to contain an igniting flame, the arrangement being such that by operating
the blowing device, magnesium will be caused to pass from the chamber Ⓡ
through the tube h to the chamber T wherein it will be burnt and produce an
illuminating flame substantially as herein described.
2. In a magnesium lamp of the kind referred to in the preceding claim a tube H
mounted to slide vertically on the tube h and provided with a cylindrical or
funnel shaped extension n whereby the quantity of magnesium fed to the igniting
flame can be regulated substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 1st day of April 1892.
EMIL WENIG,
By L. W., per F. B.