HOW AH OIL STOVE WORKS

Evening Star, Issue 22572, 13 February 1937, Page 8

HOW AH OIL STOVE WORKS

An oil stove saves us the trouble of making a fire every time we want something hot. It takes up very little room in our camping outfit, and is comparatively easily managed. Should it, however, refuse to work, much trouble and annoyance will be avoided if we have already made _ ourselves familiar with the manner in which such an apparatus operates. The tank (I.) is fuelled through the filling aperture (II,), which can be made quite airtight by using the little side-screw. Air is then pumped into the tank by means of the pump (III.). The consequent air pressure will press the fuel up the pipe (IV.) leading to the burner (V.); notice how the pipe divides and twists at the top. The

arrow indicates a very fine hold through which the fuel is forced out in a vapourised state, whereupon it mixes with the air. The pressure is so high that this gas will bum in long thin flames when you apply a match to the burner. ■ Now to obtain this oil-gas the fuel must be made to evaporate, but evaporation cannot take place without heat. That is why we have to fill the little cup (IV.) with methylated spirit before we begin to pump, and then light the spirit by means of the device projecting from one side of the cup. It is this heat which first makes the fuel at the top of the pipe evaporate and stream out of the nozzle in the shape of gas. ■ The above should enable you to use your oil stove as easy as winking, but remember that it is essential to clean the pump and the burner very frequently.