The history of oil lamp

Flammable oil properties were known since ancient times. Back in Mesopotamia "stinking ointment", extracted from the ground, was used to maintain the sacred fire in the temples. Ancient Egyptians used oil in the construction of the pyramids and for embalming. Oil also served as offensive - defensive weapons in combat: the defenders poured burning oil on the heads of enemies. With oil tried to treat many diseases. However, for light oil was not suitable: burning, it gave more soot and smoke than light. It did not help, and the mixing of plant oils.

One of the scientists who were trying to apply the oil for the light, was a Polish inventor Ignacy Lukasiewicz. That he managed to construct in 1853, a special lamp - a kerosene.

The first kerosene lamp, designed to demonstrate to the public, was extremely cumbersome, "armored" design, and it was due to concern about safety. But when they saw that the new combustible material, placed in a tube, nothing to fear, began to use the lamp, similar to the already existing oil.

Table oil lamp with a domed shade with a device, the device is almost the same oil lamp, appeared in the years 1809-1819, first in France and then in Germany and North America. Interestingly, the oil reservoir was placed under the shade above the burner. This ensured a good flow of oil to the burner. After all, oil, and mixtures thereof, used for lighting before the introduction of kerosene, were tough and bad soaked wick. Therefore, the designers had to make various tricks: for example, an oil lamp was popular with the clockwork, which pumps oil in a burner.

The second problem was solved in this lamp, the direct provision of lighting: direct light illuminated part of the surface around the lamp, the rest of the room is illuminated by reflected from the lampshade and hurts the eyes. This lamp has been called "astral "or" shadow-free ".

The lamp had a wick, screwed into the burner, its shape to a burner kerosene lamps. Burners of this type introduced in the late eighteenth century, and with a few changes, they began to be used kerosene lamps.

From a technical point of view, just described oil "Astral" lamp and a kerosene lamp differing only by one thing: the placement tank for fuel. Kerosene - fuel light in comparison with oils and is easily absorbed by the wick. Therefore in his lamp, unable to move under the tank gun, refused to various improvements in the oil lamp, (for example, from the above-mentioned clock mechanism), and thus simplify the design.

The figure shows a lamp, converted from conventional oil. The central part of it - it's oil reservoir, located, as seen above the burners. Oil burners were replaced tanks with kerosene burners.