Specification of the Patent granted to RICHARD LOREntz, late of Great Portland-street, in the County of Middlesex, but now of Brook Green, near Hammersmith, in the said County, Esquire; for certain Inventions (communicated to him by Foreigners residing abroad) of different Machines or Instruments, one of which will produce instantaneous Light, and the other instantaneous Fire. Dated February 5, 1807.

With a Plate.

To all to whom these presents shall come, &c.

Now KNOW YE, that I the said Richard Lorentz, in compliance with the said proviso, do hereby declare that the 'nature of my said inventious, and the manner in which the same are to be performed, are particularly described as followeth; that is to say:

In the drawings hereunto annexed (Plate X.), Figs. 1 and 2 represent front and side views of my said machine or instrument for producing instantaneous light; and Fig. 3 exhibits a vertical section or view of the inside of the said machine; and Fig. 4 exhibits the same internal parts seen from above; and Fig. 5 shews the shaded plan of an electrophore, being part of the said machine; and Fig. 6 shews a tube of communication for inflammable air or hydrogen gas, being also part of the same; and in all the said drawings or figures, the dimensions are laid down from one and the same scale (which may nevertheless be varied, if thought fit), and the same parts are every where denoted by the same letters of the alphabet.

And farther, as to Figures 7 and 8, the said Fig. 7 represents my said machine or instrument for producing instantaneous fire; and Fig. 8 is a section thereof, in which the structure of the interior parts is manifest.

The outline AAAEC D F B, Fig. 3, represents a vessel, box or receptacle of tin or other fit metal or materia

material open at top A B, but having the lower part, amounting to nearly half its capacity, closed by a plate or partition E F, except with regard to a fixed tube or pipe K, communicating from the upper part of the said inclosed space, and with regard to another fixed tube or pipe F D, communicating with lower part of said inclosed space, and used for the purpose of admitting a moveable pipe HII. In the upper or open compartment of the said vessel, box or receptacle, I place a vessel or bottle G, in which hydrogen is to be developed or produced, and conducted from thence through the tube H II, which for that purpose is provided with a perforated stopped piece at H, (see Figures 4 and 6,) into the lower compartment at D, Fig. 3, through a side hole in the fixed tube or pipe F D. L represents a cock turned by the handle or axis V, for conveying the hydrogen through a small nozzle or adjutage M, to a candle or other combustible matter at N. TT is the resinous plate of an electrophore, placed in a drawer or cell well secured from humidity or dust which might come from the external air or otherwise; QQ is the metallic plate thereof (see also Fig. 5) which can be raised or depressed by a wire at P, while its due positions are regulated and governed by the insulating arm R, moveable on the joint or axis S. At O the upper end of the wire PO is hooked upon or fixed to an insulated knob of meta at the extremity of an arm proceeding from the axis of the cock L, so that, when O is sufficiently raised, the knob is stopped by M, to which it previously gives the electric spark.

The operation or effect of my said machine or instrument may be easily understood from the structure and position of the said parts thereof. I pour water into the upper compartment nearly to fullness, or as required, KK 2

the

the cock L being shut, and in these circumstances very little of the water can descend into the lower compart ment through F D, because the elasticity of the common air naturally included in the said last-mentioned compartment opposes its introduction. I then take off the adjutage M, and open the cock L, in consequence of which the included air escapes through K, while the water descends through F D, and fills the lower compartment. In the next place I put zinc and diluted muriatic acid, or such other well known and fit materials as will afford hydrogen, into the vessel G, and after a short time I apply the tube H II in its place, and the hydrogen descends through the said tube, and fills the lower compartment more or less, while a correspondent bulk of water is forced up the interstice of the tube F D into the upper compartment, where, by the action of its gravity, it compresses the hydrogen and gives it a tendency to escape with considerable velocity through K L M, whenever the cock shall or may be opened. In this state, after the electrophore hath been excited, the machine or instrument will be ready for use; and whenever by means of a handle or arm or other communication put on or applied at V the cock is opened, a stream of hydrogen gas rushes forth, and strikes the wick of the candle, but nearly at the same instant the electric spark from O sets fire to the said gas, and converts it into a jet of flame which lights the candle; and the same effect may be repeatedly and for many weeks produced by one charge and excitement of the said machine or instrument, in the manner hereinbefore described.

Fig. 8 shews the construction of my machine or instrument for producing instantaneous fire. a represents the cap or head of a staff or stick, having therein a cavity or space for containing the prepared fungus known by the

name

the cock L being shut, and in these circumstances very little of the water can descend into the lower compart ment through F D, because the elasticity of the common air naturally included in the said last-mentioned compart. ment opposes its introduction. I then take off the adjutage M, and open the cock L, in consequence of which the included air escapes through K, while the water descends through F D, and fills the lower compartment. In the next place I put zinc and diluted muriatic acid, or such other well known and fit materials as will afford hydrogen, into the vessel G, and after a short time I apply the tube H II in its place, and the hydrogen descends through the said tube, and fills the lower compartment more or less, while a correspondent bulk of water is forced up the interstice of the tube F D into the upper compartment, where, by the action of its gravity, it compresses the hydrogen and gives it a tendency to escape with considerable velocity through K L M, whenever the cock shall or may be opened. In this state, after the electrophore hath been excited, the machine or instrument will be ready for use; and whenever by means of a handle or arm or other communication put on or applied at V the cock is opened, a stream of hydrogen gas rushes forth, and strikes the wick of the candle, but nearly at the same instant the electric spark from O sets fire to the said gas, and converts it into a jet of flame which lights the candle; and the same effect may be repeatedly and for many weeks produced by one charge and excitement of the said machine or instrument, in the manner hereinbefore described.

Fig. 8 shews the construction of my machine or instrument for producing instantaneous fire. a represents the cap or head of a staff or stick, having therein a cavity or space for containing the prepared fungus known by the

name