Improvements in Night-lights.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 8th May, 1896-Accepted, 13th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Night-lights.
-
I, CONSTANTIN JACOBSOHN, of Sur la Place, Riga, in the Empire of Russia,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a burner or light which produces a soft and uniform
flame of moderate illuminating power, and which is particularly adapted for use as
a night-light, or as a lamp for religious purposes.
Experience has shown that this night-light possesses the following practical
advantages:-Entire absence of all smell; a soft and uniform flame; extremely
small consumption of oil; a relatively long period of burning (about 20 hours)
without any attendance whatever; great durability and strength of construction;
cleanly in use, and absence of danger because there is no risk of the store of
combustible material becoming ignited or exploding.
The burner or light comprises a float in the form of a cup or saucer provided at
its centre with a small capillary tube of glass. This tube is fixed in a fluid-tight
manner in the float. The upper end of the small tube is swelled or beaded in
order to prevent the said flame from issuing in the form of a thin jet.
In use the float is placed in a vessel filled with oil (merely illuminating oil
without the addition of water or other substance) in such a manner that the lower
smooth surface of the float is directed towards or facing the bottom of the said
vessel, whilst the interior of the float remains high and dry above.
The float becomes immersed by its own weight to a certain depth, and the oil is
caused by capillary action to rise close up to the swelled end of the small tube.
The said upper end of the small tube is then heated by means of a match so as to
effect ebullition of the oil contained therein, and a portion of which becomes at
last vapourized. This vapourized oil ignites on contact with the flame and sheds
a soft light. The flame will continue to heat the upper part of the small tube,
will continually vapourize a certain amount of the oil, and will effect the
combustion thereof.
The absence of all smell from this night light when in use may be explained by
the fact that the oil gas which becomes formed is compelled to pass through the
flame, and is burned before reaching the atmosphere, and also by the fact that
only that portion of the oil is heated which is momentarily situated in the upper
part of the small capillary tube. The steady and uniform flame may be ascribed
to the same cause.
As there is no wick in this class of night light no ash is produced, and conse-
quently there is no dirt to be feared. The entire absence of all danger, with the
use of this night light, lies in the fact that the oil is never liable to become ignited
by the dropping off of a particle of wick, and that the ignited part of the match
can never fall into the oil, but in any case only into the saucer-shaped float; whilst
in the case of the vessel being upset, the flame produced in the upper part of the
small tube by the ebullition of the oil, will be extinguished by the cold oil which
is contained in the vessel.
Dated this 8th dow of A vous 1805

page_text: The burner (see Figs. 1 & 2) consists of a float in the shape of a cup (a), having
at its centre a small capillary tube (6) made of glass.
The latter is staunchly fixed in the float. The upper end of the small tube has
a flange or rim forming, as it were, a support for the flame and preventing it from
projecting itself as a fine, thin flame merely..
MANNER OF EMPLOYMENT.
The float is so placed in a recipient, of suitable character, filled with lamp-oil
(there must be no water or other liquid), that the smooth, under-surface will face
the bottom of the recipient, whilst the interior of the float is kept well.dry.
The float sinks by its own weight to a certain depth; the oil flows by capillary
attraction to near, the enlarged end of the small tube.
"By means of a match, the upper part of the small tube is heated causing
the ebullition of the oil it contains and a part of. which eventually, begins to
evaporate.
1
This vaporised oil will take fire on coming in contact with the, burning match
and it will emit a gentle light.
"
1
"As the flame so produced will then continue to heat the tube, it follows that a
certain part of the oil will continue to be vaporised and thus the, combustion,,will
be maintained.
The absence of smell in using this. form of night lamp is thus explained: The
oil-gas passes through the flame and is burnt before reaching the open air..
Moreover, only that part of the oil is heated which happens to be in the upper
part of the little capillary tube. This will also account for the steadiness and
regularity of the flame.
As no wick is used with this kind of lamp, it does not smoke and creates no ash,
consequently it occasions no dirt. The complete absence of danger in using this
burner arises from the fact that the oil cannot be set on fire by a piece of wick
falling into it while it is impossible for any part of the match to fall into the oil;
at most, it could fall into the cup-shaped, Hoat; also, in the event of the recipient
being overturned, the flame, produced in the upper part of the little tube by the
boiling of the oil is extinguished by the cold oil from the recipient.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:-
:-
A night-light without wick, distinguished by a float in the shape of a cup and a
small glass capillary tube staunchly fixed thereto, the whole as described and for
the purpose specified.
L. DUVINAGE,
Agent for Applicant.