Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1877 — Cause of Lamp Explosions. [ARTICLE]

Cause of Lamp Explosions.

There are m»uy causes for the explosion of kerosene lamps, and a Knowledge of them may in some instances, prevent aocidetrts. It is not the oil that explodes, but the vapor of gas that is generated from the oil. The vapor when confined, or under pressure, is as expldsiv* atid dangerous »s gun powder. The ignition of this gas may occur as follows: 1. A Tamp may bd "standing on a table, of mantle, and a sight puff of air from an open window gr door may cause an explosion. 2. A lamp may be taken up quickly from a table or inautle and instantly explode. t < 8. A lamp is taken out into the entry where there is &; draft, or out of doors, and an explosion eii<o«s. 4. A lighted lamp is taken up a flight of stairs, or i« raised quickly to place it on the mantle, -eeaultimr hi an explosion. In xhewe caste tt e mischief movement —either by suddenly clieckii%: the draft or fordiifl air down the chimney against the flame. 5. Blowing down the chimney to extinguish a light is a frequent cause of explosion. fi. Lamp explosions have been biased by using ft chimney broken off at the top, or one that has a pieee broken out, whereby the draft xs variable, and theflaiuesjinsteady. ?. Sometimes a thoughtless person puts a small wick into a large burner, thus leaving considerable space along the edge of the wick. An oW bbrner with its air draft clogged up, whioh rightfully should be thrown away, is sometimes continued in use, and the final result is an explosion.