What Makes Lamps Explode.
The Scientific American says: “All explosion of petroleum lamps are caused by the vapor or gas that collects in the space above the oil. When full of oil, of course a lamp contains no gas; but immediately on lighting the lamp consumption of oil begins, soon leaving a space for gas, which commences to form as the lamp warms up, and after burning a short time, sufficient gas will accumulate to form an explosion. The gas in a lamp will explode only when ignited. In this respect it is like gunpowder. Cheap or inferior oil is always most dangerous. The flame is communicated to the gas in the following manner: The wick tube in all lamp burners is made larger than the wick which is to pass through it. It would not do to have the wick work tightly in the burner; on the contrary, it is essential that it move up and down with perfect ease. In this way it is unavoidable that space in the tube is left along the sides of the wick sufficient for the flame from the burner to pass down into the lamp and explode the lamp. 1. A lamp may be standing on a table or mantle and a slight puff of air from the open window or door, may cause an explosion. 2. A lamp may be taken up quickly from a table or mantle and instantly exploded. 3. A lamp may be taken into an entry where there is a draught, or out of doors, and an explosion ensues. 4. A lighted lamp is taken up a flight of stairs, or is raised quickly to place it on the mantle, resulting in an explosion. In these cases the mischief is done by the air movement—either by suddenly checking the draught, or forcing air down the chimney against the flame. 5. Blowing down the chimney to extinguish the light, is a frequent cause of explosion. 6. Lamp explosions have been caused by using a chimney broken off at the top, or one that has a piece broken out, whereby the draught is variable and the flame unsteady. 7. Sometimes a thoughtless person puts a small sized wick in a large burner, thus leaving considerable space along the edges of the wick. 8. An old burner with its air draughts all clogged up, which rightfully should be thrown away, is sometimes continued in use, and the final result is an explosion.”