US2504211A - Production of colored flames - Google Patents

Description

April '18, 1.950 E.'A. MEANS 2,504,211

PRQDUCTIQN 0F COLORED FLAMES Filed Mach 1:, 1947 FIG-.- 1-

I ELDON MEANS INVENTOR.

Mxm.

Patented Apr. 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRODUCTION OF COLORED FLAMES Eldon A. Means, Wichita, Kans.

Application March 13, 1947, Serial No. 734,316

4 Claims. 1

The invention here disclosedv relates to the duction or creation of colored flame.

It has been known that certain salts will color flames and attempts have been made to utilize this characteristic in candles and other devices using a wick for vaporizing the fuel. In all known cases, however, excessive carbon in the fuel produced a yellow flame, obscuring or overwhelming any introduced color.

The objects of the present invention principally are to accomplish the coloration of flames without loss of coloring to the natural flame of the supporting fuel.

In line with such objects it is a purpose of the invention to provide a flame coloring method and means which will be entirely practical and commercial, safe to use and adaptable to the various fields of illuminating, ornamentation, signalling, warning and the like.

Other desirable objects attained by the invention are set forth or will appear in the course of the following specification. The drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrates one simple, practical embodiment of the invention. Physical structure and modes of use, however, may vary, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a broken part sectional representation of a candle embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view as on substantially the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Basically the invention involves the use of a fuel which will burn with a blue or colorless flame and the feeding of desired color forming salts to that flame.

In the illustration, a candle is represented having a body 3 composed of sugar-like alcohols molded with a wick 4 burning with a blue flame characteristic of complete combustion.

This flame can be colored by the addition of salts such as lithium chloride, copper chloride, potassium chloride, barium chloride, strontium chloride, and the like. I Y

The basic fuel may be any organic compound containing the right amount of oxygen in the molecule to burn with a blue flame. Present studies indicate that such amount should be greater than twenty-five percent to produce the desired characteristic blue flame.

PTO-

The material at present preferred for the candle body is Isosorbide, having the chemical composition- Molecular weight 146 Melting point C 62-64 Boiling point 5 mm. Hg do 158-,160 Boiling point 10 mm. Hg do 176-177 0 mcnoncn HCHOHCH:

This material melts between 62-64 C., feeds readily through a wick and is otherwise satis-' factory for making candles.

In order that such candles do not spill, it may be desirable to coat them with acasing 5 of higher 0 tioned are slightly hygroscopic, it may be desirable to waterproof the candles, as by exposing them to the vapors of trimethylchlorosilane.

The wicks of such candles may be impregnated with lithium chloride for producing a, red flame. This candle will burn smoothly and evenly without sputtering, with a red flame distinctive enough to serve, for example, as a danger signal.

Wicks impregnated with barium chloride or copper chloride in this candle will produce a distinctive green flame.

A potassium impregnated wick will create a violet colored flame.

A strontium chloride wick will provide a red flame, and other shades may be produced from other metallic ions.

The lithium chloride or other volatile salt used should be fed into the outer envelope of the flame in order to be more effectively volatilized and produce the maximum color.

To accomplish this result the wick may be made as shown in the illustration, with projecting specules 6 in the nature'oi strands or roots" extending from the core or the wick out into the body of the candle. These specules may be woven or tied into the core of the wick at the time of manufacture.

There are many uses for the colored flames produced by this invention.

One important use is for decorative candles. These may be made up in large sizes such as two to four inches in diameter, and equipped with Windshields such as are now available on the market, to serve for truck flares. as warning signals on rods. to mark out driving lanes in unlighted places and to illuminate or mark out landing strips for airplanes and the like.

The invention may be utilized in liquid fuel form instead of the solid fuel, candle form disclosed. Thus for lamps and fire burn1ng-devices. the invention may be made up in a liquid fuel form composed of 50% ethyl alcohol, 48% Isosorbide and 2 lithium chloride.

What is claimed is: I

1. A fuel for a wick burning device composed of Isosorbide approximately 48%, ethyl alcohol approximately 50%, water and lithium chloride about 2%.

2. A candle burning with a colored flame and comprising Isosorbide and a wick impregnated with lithium chloride.

3. A candle burning with a colored flame and comprising Isosonbide and a wick embedded therein having projecting specules and impregnated with lithium chloride.

4. A wick burning fuel for producing a colored flame comprising Isosorbide approximately 48%, ethyl alcohol approximately 50% and lithium chloride approximately 2%.

ELDON A. MEANS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,959,164 Jaeger May 15, 1934 2,184,666 Fredericks Dec. 26. 1939

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