Improvements in the Construction of Ventilators for Lanterns and other Purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Ventilators for Lanterns and
other Purposes.
I, WILLARD ALGER BOURNE, of No. 235 West 139th Street, in the City of
New York, County and State of New York, United States of America, Sales
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 :-
My invention relates in the main to ventilators which are intended to promote
combustion at a source of heat or heat and light below the ventilator and to assist
in carrying off the products of combustion, and although my improvements have
been designed and are illustrated herein with especial reference to their adaptation
to lanterns, it will be readily understood, as the details of construction are
explained, that my improvements are no less applicable to other special purposes,
Buch, for example, as the ventilation of a room or a car which is lighted
artificially by a centrally disposed chandelier. In part, also, my invention
relates to devices employed in connection with the ventilating devices in
lanterns and lamps to regulate the shape of the flame. One cause of the low
efficiency of a lamp or gas flame as compared with the theoretical results which
should be obtained from the use of a given quantity of an illuminant of standard
quality is the failure to remove immediately and completely the products of
combustion, which, especially in lanterns, are returned sometimes and to some
extent to the point of combustion, thereby interfering with the proper supply of
oxygen and occasioning imperfect combustion. Another cause, not only of low
efficiency, but also of the frequent extinguishment of the flame altogether, in any
structure, whether it be a lamp, or a lantern or a room, in which there is a
ventilating opening above the flame, is the back draught which is sometimes
established, especially in the case of lanterns which are exposed to currents of air.
It is the object of my invention primarily to remove both of these causes of
trouble by effecting the immediate removal of the products of combustion and by
preventing the possibility of back draughts. Incidentally to the attainment of
these main objects I promote the supply of oxygen to the flame so that the com-
bustion shall be of the proper character and a maximum of light obtained, prevent
the accumulation of the products of combustion in the globe of a lantern or lamp
and consequently the deposit of watery and other vapors on the inside of the
globe, which has hitherto been a serious difficulty, especially in the use of railroad,
marine and other signal lamps or lauterus in cold weather, prevent the flame from
being drawn out of that shape which will give the best results and protect the
oil-font from contact with cold air, thereby avoiding the chilling of the oil.
In the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated my improvement as
adapted to an ordinary lantern,
Figure 1 is a vertical, central section of a lantern to which my improvement is
applied, the direction of the currents within the globe being indicated by arrows,
and the font and burner being shown in elevation ;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the font and burner with a
portion of the globe shown in section, to illustrate the deflector attached to the
burner to protect the flame;
. Figure 3 is a side elevation of the font and burner, with deflector, at right angles
to the elevation of the lamp in Figure 2, the position of the deflector when turned
back being indicated by dotted lines;

page_text: Figure 4 is a plan view of the font and burner, with deflector;
Figure 5 is a detail view of the deflector shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4;
Figures 6 and 7 are vertical central sections of the upper part of the lantern,
illustrating different forms of the back draught deflector.
The chamber to be ventilated is represented, in the embodiment which I have
chosen for illustration of my invention, by an ordinary lantern globe A, which is
shown as supported by a base B, preferably without openings for the admission of
air, and protected by a wire frame work B', the latter, as usual, supporting the
hood B, and the dome or cap which is fully described hereinafter. As the source
of light and heat I have represented an ordinary lamp or oil-font C.
The ventilating dome or cap embodies in its construction the principal
features of my invention. As shown in Figure 1 it comprises an outer
shell D which is perforated as at d d and dd, an inner tube or cylinder E
to which is secured an imperforate annular diaphragme which completely closes
the space between the shell D and the cylinder and is located between the
upper perforations d d and the lower perforations dd. The tube or cylinder E
is also provided with a perforated diaphragm el which may rest upon the globe A
but allows free passage of air from the perforations d' d' downward into the globe
in proximity to the inner wall thereof. The cylinder E rises within the shell D
above the highest perforations d d therein, while allowing free passage over its
upper edge, but standing as a solid wall in the path of any direct current inward
through the perforations d d. Centrally within the cylinder E, is supported by
any suitable means, as by arms ff, a deflector F, the same being supported at some
distance below the upper edge of the cylinder E and being far enough therefrom
to permit free passage of the heated air, gases and vapor as they rise from the
globe. A second deflector G is formed with or supported by the top of the cap or
shell D, being disposed in alignment with the deflector F. The function of the
two deflectors F and G is to direct any back draught or currents of air which inay
enter from the outside of the shell D on one side outward over the edge of the
cylinder E on the other side, preventing such back draughts from reaching the
flame of the lamp. The deflector G is substantially conical in shape, with its
apex downward, and the upper surface of the deflector F is adapted to receive
the currents of air as they enter on one side and are deflected downward against it
by the deflector G, and direct them upward on the other side of the deflector G
so that they shall pass out on the other side over the edge of the cylinder E and
through the perforations d d in the shell D. As the deflector F is necessarily
interposed in the path of the heated air, gases or vapor as they rise from the globe,
its under surface should be so shaped as to afford the least possible obstruction to
the free upward movement of such heated air, gases or vapor and be the least
likely to create eddies in the rising currents. For this reason the most desirable
and effective form of the deflector F is that of a hollow cone, supported with its
apex downward and its open mouth upward, such a deflector dividing the rising
currents most easily and offering the least obstruction to their passage, but it will
be understood that the same functions may be performed by deflectors of other
shapes, such, for example, as those referred to hereinafter. The deflector G is
also preferably
a cone with its apex downward, but not necessarily a true cone.
It will be understood, moreover, that the cone G operates as an additional safe-
guard to ensure the depression of such currents as may enter against the deflector F
in a proper manner to be deflected by it and turned upward on the other side, as
otherwise some portions of such currents, as they pass across the top of the
cylinder E, might strike the cylinder at the opposite side from that at which
they entered and so be turned down into the globe sufficiently to interfere with the
normal currents therein.
In the construction shown in Figure 6 the shell D and cylinder E are arranged
substantially as before. The deflector G' is represented as having the shape
substantially of the frustum of a cone with its base upward, while the deflector Fi
is a hollow budy with flaring sides, supported with its small end or apex downward

page_text: and its open base upward, being represented as substantially a hemisphere. It is
represented as supported by arms ff. In the construction shown in Figure 7
the deflector G is substantially conical in shape, as before, while the deflector F
is a hollow body with curved sides, somewhat as shown in Figure 6, but shallower,.
and is supported by being secured directly to the apex of the deflector G³, as by a
rivet f³.
If the fresh air to supply the oxygen necessary to combustion is admitted over
the top of the globe A, as I prefer, although it might be admitted below the globe,.
as in ordinary lanterns, such air descends within the globe, close to the inner wall
thereof, and being cool and descending rapidly, protects the globe from the con-
densation of such vapors as are not carried off completely through the ventilator..
In this manner I have been able to bring about as a result that there is no
appreciable condensation on the globe even when the lantern is exposed to very
low temperatures. Moreover, the cold air in this manner is kept from coming in
contact with the oil-font and therefore is prevented from chilling the oil, which
frequently happens in lanterns in which the air enters at the bottom and is
continually absorbing heat from the oil-font and oil. When the enveloping
current of fresh air has descended nearly to the bottom of the globe it turns.
inwardly toward the flame of the lamp to supply thereto the necessary oxygen.
As the heated air and products of combustion rise above the flame of the lamp
they strike and are divided by the under side of the lower deflector and pass
upward on all sides of the same between it and the imperforate cylinder E, and
then pass over the upper edge of said cylinder and downward and outward through
the perforations in the shell. As the descending portion of this current, outside-
of the cylinder E, is short as compared with the ascending portion thereof within
the cylinder, the outward flow of the products of combustion is very free and
consequently all gases and vapors are quickly and thoroughly removed from within.
the globe, there is practically no accumulation of carbonic acid gas to smother the
flame when the lantern is shaken, and the supply of oxygen to the flame is so well
maintained that the usual encrusting of the wick, which reduces the light-giving
power, proceeds very much more slowly than in ordinary lanterns, as has been
demonstrated hy repeated comparisons with lanterns of standard makes using
standard illuminants.
The supply of fresh air to the flame of the lamp is so copious that the tendency
of the flame is to become narrow and high with the result that the combustion at
the apex of the flame is not so complete as it should be and there is an increase in
the amount of smoke and a reduction in the light-giving power of the flame.
I have therefore provided a deflector or flame-guard, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4
and 5. This comprises essentially two wings hh which project upwardly and
outwardly below the edges of the flame, as clearly represented in Figure 1, and.
prevent the rising currents of fresh air from striking directly against the edges of
the flame. The wings hh are preferably formed as parts of a plate H which is
hinged at one side of the wick tube c, us at ', and is cut out, as at to spring
around the edges of the wick tube when the deflector or guard is turned from
the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, in which position it offers no
obstruction to the trimming of the wick, to the operative position shown in full
lines in said figure.
It will be understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the precise relations
and proportions I have represented in the accompanying drawings, nor to the
particular use I have referred to herein for the ventilator, as it is obvious that
such relations and proportions may be varied and that the ventilator is capable of
use in other structures than that shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
ion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
laim is:
1. In a ventilator, the combination of an outer perforated shell, an inner,

page_text: imperforate tube or cylinder, having its upper edge above the perforations in the
outer shell, and a deflector supported centrally within said cylinder and free
therefrom, said deflector having its upper surface formed to deffect upwardly on
the opposite side such currents of air as may pass over the edge of said tube or
cylinder on the one side and strike the deflector, and having its under surface
formed to divide the rising currents of heated air and gases.
2. In a ventilator, the combination of an outer perforated shell, an inner,
imperforate tube or cylinder having its upper edge above the perforations in the
outer shell, a deflector supported centrally within said tube or cylinder and free
therefrom, said deflector having its upper surface formed to deflect upwardly on
the opposite side such currents of air as may pass over the edge of the tube or
cylinder on the one side and strike the deflector, and having its under surface
formed to divide the rising currents of heated air and gases, and a substantially
conical deflector supported above the first named deflector in line therewith and
with its smaller end downward.
3. In a ventilator, the combination of an outer perforated shell, an inner,
imperforate tube or cylinder having its edge above the perforations in the outer
shell, and a hollow cone supported centrally within said tube or cylinder and free
therefrom, with its apex downward and its open base upward and below the upper
edge of said tube or cylinder.
4. In a ventilator, the combination of an outer perforated shell, an inner,
imperforate tube or cylinder having its edges above the perforations in the outer
shell, a hollow cone supported centrally within said tube or cylinder and free
therefrom, with its apex downward and its open base npward and below the upper
edge of said tube or cylinder, and a second cone supported by said shell above the
first named cone and in line therewith and with its point downward.
5. In a ventilator for a lamp, or lantern, the combination with the wick tube of
the lamp or lantern of a plate hinged to one side of said wick tube and cut out to
fit around the edges of said wick tube, the end portions of said plate being turned
upwardly to protect the edges of the flame from air rising from below.
Dated this 28th day of August 1896.