IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING BY MEANS OF HYDROCARBON VAPOUR, PART OF WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR STORING INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS GENERALLY "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nicolas Loukitsch Pouschkareff Nobleman of Moscow in
the Russian Empire for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND
APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING BY MEANS OF HYDROCARBON VAPOUR, PART OF
WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR STORING INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS
GENERALLY
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nicolas Loukitsch Pouschkareff
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st December 1883.
NICOLAS LOUKITSCH POUSCHKAREFF Nobleman of Moscow in the Russian
Empire " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING BY
MEANS OF HYDROCARBON VAPOUR, PART OF WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE
FOR STORING INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS GENERALLY
"
According to one part of the present invention a metal tube closed at its upper
end, where it is provided with small perforations for the issue of hydro carbon
vapour, is filled to within a certain distance of its closed top by a wick of cotton
or other capillary or absorbent material, and is fitted with its lower open end into
a. reservoir filled with. hydrocarbon liquid, so that this liquid being drawn upward
by the capillary wick, is vaporised by the heat of the flame in the space at the
upper end of the tube, and issuing through the perforations, is burnt.
effectually conducting the heat of the flame to the upper end of the tube, wire
projections by preference of silver, that come in close contiguity to the flame are
either fixed to the tube or on an adjustable ring sliding thereon, so that the amount
of heat conveyed thereby can be regulated.
For
The size and form of the flame can also be varied, by constructing the upper
end of the tube open and providing a series of caps, having each a different number
and arrangement of perforations and the before mentioned heat conductors, for
closing the open end. The apparatus may either be arranged as an ordinary
pedestal lamp, in which case the said tube is fixed in a nozzle which is screwed or
otherwise fixed in the reservoir, being if necessary locked in position by a setting
screw, and having a small perforation for the entrance of air. Or the reservoir
containing the hydrocarbon may be suspended from or let into the wall and the

page_text: before described burner be fixed in a tubular holder connected to the reservoir by
hollow rigid or articulated brackets, similar to gas brackets, through which the
hydrocarbon is conducted from the reservoir to the burner.
Such reservoirs may be constructed without any special opening for filling, this
being effected through the said tubular holder, on removal of the burner, a small
perforation being provided in the top of the reservoir for the ingress and egress of
air.
Several of the said burners may be supplied from one and the same reservoir.
For filling the reservoirs, storage receptacles or tanks are employed having two
cocks, one near the top of the one side and one at bottom thereof. The upper
cock has its nozzle turned upwards and projecting slightly above the top surface of
the vessel so that the latter can be entirely filled through the said cock without
danger of running over. The lower cock which serves to fill the lamp reservoirs
has an enlargement at the end of its nozzle provided with a screw thread by which
the reservoir can be screwed on to it when filling, or the nozzle may simply have a
projecting flange against which the orifice of the reservoir is pressed so as to
prevent spilling of the liquid.
In order to provide means for regulating the height to which the reservoir is to
be filled with liquid and for indicating when such filling has been completed, a
small vertical tube open at both ends passes through the enlargement of the nozzle,
so as to be vertically adjustable therein, the lower end of the tube being made to
enter the reservoir to be filled and to have its orifice at a height corresponding to
the level to which is to be filled. On the liquid entering the reservoir, the air
contained therein, more or less charged with hydrocarbon vapour, issues from the
upper end of the small tube and being ignited by a match, will burn with a small
flame so long as the liquid has not reached the inner end of the tube. As soon,
however, as this is sealed by the liquid, the air will no longer escape and the flame
being thus extinguished, an indication is given of the reservoir being filled to the
required height, whereupon the cock of the storage vessel is closed.
Storage tanks of large capacity may be arranged with several charging cocks so
as to enable several lamp reservoirs to be filled at the same time,
In this case
means are provided for automatically stopping the flow of liquid from the tank
into the reservoir when the latter has been filled to the desired level, although the
cock may still remain open. For this purpose, the before mentioned small tube is
extended upwards into the storage vessel and opens above the highest level of the
liquid therein.
Thus on the liquid flowing into the lamp reservoir, the air from the latter passes
up into the storage vessel, which has no other ingress for air, so that when the
lower orifice of the tube is sealed by the liquid in the reservoir, no more air can
enter the storage vessel and consequently no more liquid can flow out of it, though
the cock be left open. With this arrangement the regulation of the depth to. which
the said tube enters the reservoir to be filled is effected by fitting upon the nozzle
a sliding sleeve with a flange, which can be moved higher or lower relatively to the
lower end of the tube, and against which the mouth of the reservoir is held.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Nicolas Loukitsch Pouschkareff in the Patent Office on the 20th June
1884.
NICOLAS LOUKITSCH POUSCHKAREFF, Nobleman of Moscow in the Russian
Empire-" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING BY MEANS
OF HYDROCARBON VAPOUR, PART OF WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR
STORING INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS GENERALLY
"
All illuminating apparatus heretofore employed for burning light hydrocarbon
vapors (Lamps, Candles) are subject to numerous defects, which have prevented the
general use of these illuminants. The present invention relates to improved means
or apparatus for the above purpose which afford perfect freedom from danger,
combined with simplicity of construction.
These apparatus, to which I have given the form of a candle, consist (as shewn
in the side view fig. 1 and the vertical section fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings)
essentially of a metal tube a, the upper end of which is closed, and is provided with
two or more fine openings or perforations for the escape of the hydrocarbon vapors.
In the tube a is placed a cotton wick, that does not reach up to the closed end of
the tube, so that above the wick a free space is left in the tube, in which the
vapors of benzine or other light hydrocarbons rising in the wick, are generated.
The wick only serves to conduct the bydro-carbon, and does not assist in the
combustion. It will be obvious that this wick can be replaced by any other
capillary or absorbent material. For facilitating the introduction of the wick into
the tube a it is placed over a hook b, fig. 3, which, together with the wick, is placed
in the tube. The length of the stem of the hook b is such that the wick is thereby
introduced to the exact distance required into the tube. The upper end of the
tube a is surrounded by a ring c, preferably made of silver on account of its greater
conductivity, and having two projections d d (fig. 4) which come in contact with
the flame when the lamp is burning, and in transmitting the heat to the upper end
of the tube, effect thereby the evaporization of the benzine. The ring c is provided
with a rod e which terminates at bottom, near the reservoir, in a hook (fig. 2) by
means of which the position of the ring c and its projections d d on the tube a can
be readily adjusted, the size of the flame being thereby regulated. Instead of the
described flame regulator can be used simply a silver wire, the lower end of which
is fixed into the cover of the tube a, while the upper end is so situated that the
fame issuing from the holes is not touched thereby, but passes close by the same.
As by means of such regulators the illuminating power of the flame can be raised
from that of a nightlight to that of two stearine candles of which 5 go to the lb.,
I have designed another regulator which not only enables the intensity of the flame
to be increased within wide limits, but also enables its form to be altered. For this
purpose, the upper end of the tube a is made opened and slightly narrowed. A cotton
wick or other capillary or absorbant charge having been introduced into the tube
and cut off on a level with each end thereof, there is placed over the upper end an
accurately ground cap Q (figs. 9, 10 and 11) with a regulator of either of the above
described forms attached thereto. These caps are provided with a number of
perforations for the exit of the vapor, varying according to the size and form of
flame required. Several of such caps, the length of which does not exceed inch,
can be provided for each lamp, so that they may be changed at pleasure, according
to the light required, which may thus be varied from that of a nightlight to that of
from 10 to 15 stearine candles, the form of the flame being at the same time varied
according to the position of the perforations, so as to be either round, fan shaped or

page_text: of a sheaflike shape &c. These caps may have several rows of the perforations.
The lower part of the tube a is fitted into the nozzle g of the reservoir which nozzle
is screwed into the reservoir so that the end of the tube a and consequently of the
wick will be immersed in the benzine with which the reservoir is charged.
The tube a is enclosed in a tube f of glass or porcelain, thus imparting to the
burner the appearance of a candle. This cylindrical tube, open at both ends, is
fitted into the nozzle g and serves, in addition to its ornamental purpose, to protect
the tube a from loss of heat by radiation, and to provide a regular air supply to
the flame. The small perforations at the upper end of the tube a may be arranged
in various directions, according to which a single or divided flame may be obtained,
or one consisting of several jets. The perforations may also be connected by
a slit.
In order to provide for the admission of air into the reservoir and yet prevent
the possibility of the benzine escaping in the event of the lamp being overturned,
the connection m between the nozzle g and the reservoir h may be made in the
form of a tube as shewn at Fig. 5, air holes being formed in the side of the tube
and in the partition n as shewn. In order to fix the burner in the reservoir so
that it can only be removed by means of a special key, which is essential when
the lamps are to be used by workmen, a side passage may be bored in the upper
annular projection of the reservoir into which is screwed a setting screw with flat
or other shaped head which does not project beyond the bore as shewn at fig. 5,
which screw prevents the tube m from being turned.
If the size of the flame does not require to be regulated, the before mentioned
projections d, (fig. 4) or the silver wire, (figs 9, 10 and 11) may be fixed directly on
to the upper end of the tube a as shewn at fig. 6 which represents a vertical
section of a bracket candle lamp, Several such candle lamps can be connected to
one and the same reservoir h by means of pipes i i as shewn at figs. 6 and 7. The
reservoir h may be let partly or wholly into the wall and, it is arranged at such a
height that the benzine (the reservoir being full) will stand at a level slightly
below the upper end of the tube k (fig. 6), into which the tube a is inserted The
tube k is provided at its upper end with a screw thread, over which is screwed the
nut soldered to the tube a. For filling the reservoir with benzine, it is not
provided with any opening, the benzine being poured in through the tube k. The
upper part of the reservoir h has a small opening for the escape of air in filling.
The construction of these reservoirs is of particular importance with reference to
danger from fire, because the liquid, once introduced, can neither become ignited
nor spilt, and will not even ignite if a flame is held to the open tube in which the
burner is fixed.
In dwelling houses, warehouses, and generally in all moderate sized localities,
the supply reservoirs (i.e. those into which the liquid illuminant is introduced) may
be let entirely into the walls or window-frames, and be covered with plaster and
papered over. They may be either provided separately for each apparatus, or
there may be one common reservoir for all the apparatus. In the latter case, it is
most suitable to arrange the reservoir in a closet or store-room. In large factories
and other industrial works, it is preferable, in order to save time and labor, to
provide one common reservoir for each storey. In places where it is not possible
to fit them into the walls or to provide special places for them, the reservoirs may
be fixed to the walls or window frames, and if desired they may be hidden by
ornamental coverings of bronze, glass &c.
The number of burners or candles for chandeliers and lamps as also the number
of rows and their distance from the reservoir is optional. The connecting pipes i
(fig. 7) between the reservoir and the burners may, when desired, be made with
pivot joints as shewn at fig. 8 in a similar manner to the pivot jointed gas
brackets.
Although benzine has been mentioned as the illuminant used, it is to be
understood that other liquids such as Legroin, Gasoline and other hydrocarbons
can be nood

page_text: In order to attain perfect safety in introducing the benzine into the reservoirs h
of the candle lamps, I employ for the storing and pouring in of the liquid, a
sheet metal vessel of special construction as shown in front view at fig. 12 and in
vertical cross section at fig. 13.
This vessel consists of a perfectly closed box A of parallelo-piped, cylindrical, or
other suitable form. This box has two openings, into one of which is soldered the
cock C while the second, is either simply closed with a cork, or a cock B is screwed
into it. For filling the box with benzine, the cork or cock B is removed and the
liquid is poured in either through an ordinary funnel, or through a cock similar in
construction to the cock C, in case the filling is effected from a similar but larger
receptacle. In the latter case the opening through which the filling is effected is
connected hermetically to the said cock C of the larger vessel. It will be
understood that in filling the vessel, this is turned up so that the opening from
which the cork or cock B has been removed is situated at top; after fixing in the
cork or cock again it is turned down into its original position. For pouring the
benzine from the vessel A into the reservoir h of the candle or lamp (fig. 2)
the reservoir h is screwed on to the enlarged threaded nozzle of the cock C, and
this, as also the cock B, are then opened. The cock B is opened in order to admit
air freely to the vessel A while the benzine is running out. In order that the air,
may escape from the reservoir has the benzine flows in, the enlarged nozzle of the
cock C has a small tube D open at both ends, which can be slid up or down in an
accurately ground guide ring in the top plate of the nozzle. This tube D also
serves to enable the reservoir h to be filled to the desired height and constitutes an
indicator that shews when it is necessary to close the cock C. The first named
object, namely the determination of the height to which the reservoir is to be
filled, is effected by adjusting the tube to a position with its lower end at the
height at which the liquid is to stand, and the second named object, namely the
indication when the cock has to be closed, is fulfilled by the cessation of the escape
of air from the upper end of the tube D. For obtaining this indication, a lighted
match or taper is held over the tube when the cock C is opened, whereupon the
escaping air, charged more or less with benzine, or other hydrocarbon vapour, will
ignite and will burn with a white steady flame equal to that of a candle, as long as
the reservoir h is being filled, but which flame will expire the moment the lower
end of the tube D is sealed by the rising liquid, so as to prevent further escape
of air.
The cock C must then be at once closed, and the reservoir h will then be filled to
the required degree. As the tube D is moveable vertically, it will be seen that the
height of the liquid can be regulated at will.
It will be understood that for indicating the height of the liquid in the
reservoir h (should this not be of transparent material) a float could be used, the
stem of which would pass through the tube D; Also, that the vessel A of
the described construction can be used for storing and safely delivering all kinds
of inflammable and particularly expensive liquids. As shewn at figs. 12 and 13,
the vessel A can be provided with two hinged loops E E for suspending it against
the wall The end of the cock B is turned upwards and terminates at a slightly.
higher level than the upper side of the vessel A, whereby any escape of the liquid
through the cock, when the vessel is quite full, is prevented. The vessel A,
constructed as described, fulfils all conditions for preventing both the spilling
or the accidental ignition of the liquid in filling the lamp reservoirs; it has,
however a disadvantage which may be found inconvenient when using it for filling
large or numerous reservoirs such as may be required in manufactories. This
disadvantage consists in the necessity for closing the cock C as soon as the
flame from the tube D expires, or as soon as the float rises to a certain height, as
otherwise the liquid, continuing to flow into the reservoir h would overfill it. Thus
this vessel would be inconvenient particularly when several cocks C, instead of only
one are provided in it, each having its separate indicator, in order to enable several
lamp reservoirs to be filled simultaneously. In this case, the attendant must not
-

page_text: leave the reservoir while the filling is going on, and must bestow constant attention
to the several cocks in process of filling.
In order to obviate this disadvantage I have provided for vessels of large
dimensions a special automatic cock, by means of which the liquid will be prevented
from flowing in any more when it has reached the required height, even should the
cock remain open for 24 hours.
Figs. 14 and 15 shew this modification of the construction of the vessel A. for
safely filling the reservoirs with benzine. In this case, the tube D is led up into
the interior of the vessel A, being extended to such a height that its upper end is
situated above the highest level of the liquid in the vessel. The lower end of the
tube, through which air enters the vessel A as the liquid flows out of it, determines,
as before, the height to which the reservoir is to be filled. For convenience' sake,
the lower end of the tube D and the end of the nozzle of the filling cock C are
enclosed in a common sleeve F having a flange H against which the orifice of the
reservoir to be filled is held. The sleeve F with its flange H can be adjusted up
or down, according to height to which the reservoir is to be filled. With this
construction of the vessel A the indicator is superfluous, as the overfilling of the
reservoir is impossible. If desired, however, the indicator can be provided in the
same manner as before described. For filling the vessel shewn at figs 14 and 15, it
is turned upside down and the cock C is unscrewed; or the vessel may be provided
with a special filling orifice.
The last described construction of cock may also be applied with advantage to
cistern trucks, or ships reservoirs for transporting inflammable liquids.
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim :-
First: The construction of apparatus or candle for burning vapors of light
hydrocarbon liquids for the purpose of illumination, consisting of a tube closed at
one end and there provided with small holes or perforations, in which tube is
provided a wick or charge of capillary or absorbant material in such manner that
a free space is left at the closed end of the tube, in which space the light hydro-
carbon vapors are generated while the wick or charge of capillary material does
not take part in the combustion substantially as herein described.
Second: The combination of the tube arranged as set forth in the preceding
claim with projections preferably made of silver attached to or sliding upon the
upper closed end thereof, which projections serve to conduct the heat and to
regulate the size of the flame, substantially as herein described.
Third: The means for double regulation consisting of caps provided with
regulators constructed as set forth in the preceding claim, and having any desired
number of holes or perforations or rows of holes or perforations, for the issue of
the combustible vapor whereby not only the intensity of the light but also the
form of the flame of each lamp can be varied, substantially as herein described.
Fourth: The combination of several apparatus or candles referred to in the
preceding claims, with a common reservoir either by rigid pipes or by articulated
pipes or tubes upon which the said candle tubes are screwed, and through which
the reservoirs can be charged with light hydrocarbon liquids.
Fifth The arrangement of reservoirs let into the walls and which are filled
through a burner connected thereto by rigid or articulated pipes or tubes, and from
which the liquid flows back into the burner or burners so as to supply them
uniformly with liquid as this is consumed by combustion.
Sixth: The construction of metal vessel shewn at figs 12 and 13 for safely
filling the reservoirs of the candles or lamps referred to in the preceding claims
with light hydrocarbon oils, which vessel consists of a closed receptacle with two
cocks, one of which is provided with a small tube for regulating and indicating the
height to which the reservoir is to be filled, substantially as berein described.
Seventh: The construction of automatic cock applicable to any receptacle (bottle,
cask, cistern-truck &c) as shewn at figs 14 and 15, in order to effect the filling of
the liquid without danger, such cock having a tube; the lower end of which

page_text: determines the height to which the liquid is to be filled into the reservoir, and
whose upper end reaches up into the charging vessel, whereby outflow of liquid
from the latter is automatically stopped when the inflow of air through the said
tube ceases, even when the cock is left open, the cock being provided, if necessary
with an indicator, such as described with reference to figs. 12 and 13.
In witness whereof, I the said Nicolas Loukitsch Pouschkareff, have hereunto
set my hand and seal this tenth day of June in the year of our Lord, one
thousand, eight hundred and eighty-four.
N. L. POUSCHKARET (L.S.)