IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LAMPS." A communication from abroad by Anson Henry Platt,
of the City of Philadelphia, United States of America, Physician.
Sealed the 20th April 1866, and dated the 18th January 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th January 1866.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS," a communication, to be as follows:-
The said improvements render lamps adaptable to the use of any oils for
producing light, and especially of petroleum and other bydrocarbon oils.
The lamps are arranged either for using a single flat wick or two curved
wicks situated laterally opposite to each other. The said improvements also
have a special relation to the employment of a chimney of minimum size, in
order to make the lamps practically portable.
First, the draught air is admitted beneath the lower edge of a broad
bell-shaped or flaring burner base over and around the upper part of the
lamp body at a sufficient distance therefrom to afford the requisite annulan
space for admitting into the burner all the air required to perfectly support
the combustion of the oil: This open base thence diminishes rapidly upward

page_text: to the ordinary diameter of the burner, and thus, while a large supply of of air
is admitted, it is quickly concentrated for the most effective use.
Second, from the summit of this open base a finely perforated basilar
partition extends convexly downwards and terminates in the screw collar by
which the burner is secured to the lamp body. The form and position of
this perforated partition in relation to the open base are such that in a great
measure they change the direction of the ascending currents of air, and turn
them inward toward the common centre in a direction more nearly horizontal
than otherwise. The effect of this is not only to break up the said currents
coming in on different sides, but to commingle them and equalize their force
within.
Third, the top of this commingling chamber surrounded by this basilar
partition is covered by a perforated cap or partition, which is also convex down-
ward, but in a much less degree than the basilar partition below; but this
downward convexity or upward concavity is sufficient to direct the air not
only upward but inward toward the flame of the burner; thereby both
changing the direction of and dividing the currents of air again, and causing
them to impinge more directly upon the sides of the flame.
Fourth, in addition to this arrangement of the perforated partitions below
the flame, in order to perfectly accomplish the result aimed at, the burner cap
is varied in construction in relation to the wick tube. This improvement
consists in having the flame opening of the cap deeper than usual at the lower
ends or terminations thereof, which are nearly or exactly on a level with the top
of the wick tube. This arrangement allows the flame to spread edgewise much
more than usual, therefore furnishing more surface whereby to supply oxygen
to the combustible gases as fast as they are generated, and presenting a
broader whiter flame.
Fifth, the result of these improvements is such an assistance to the
combustion of the oil at the burner that the chimney required for the purpose
of completing the combustion need not exceed three inches in heighth. This
is so small it scarcely encumbers the lamp, even for portable use; and should
a chimney be broken, its cost is so slight that little loss is experienced thereby.
Sixth, an improved arrangement of the wick regulator is employed
adapted either to a single wick tube or to two tubes; it, consists of an ordinary
notched wheel on a shaft which has a milled head on the projecting. end as
usual. The other end of the shaft turns in a stationary bearing after the
nsual manner, but the projecting end of the shaft turns in a long or slot-
shaped horizontal bearing formed in the burner case, so that it may be moved
sidewise therein to any extent required. If a single wick tube is used, this

page_text: lateral movement of the regulator shaft enables the regulator wheel to be
pressed against the wick as closely as desired, so that there is never any
failure to move the wick up or down, which is a common defect in lamp
burners having a stationary wick regulator; and an additional advantage is
thereby gained when two wick tubes are used, since a single wick regulator
is thus sufficient for both wicks, for by locating the regulator wheel between
the two wick tubes the said wheel can be brought into contact with and operate
equally well on either wick at pleasure without disturbing the one not to be
moved.
"
Seventh, for greater convenience in trimming the lamp, the chimney
and burner cap holder is made removable from the burner case by fitting
around the upper part of the same, and being secured thereto by a "bayonet"
notch and pin or an equivalent fastening. With this improvement the burner
cap may be attached permanently to the holder.
Eighth, an improved device is employed for fastening the chimney upon the
holder. The said device consists substantially of an elastic sliding bolt having
its bearings on the outer side of the chimney holder in which it slides. One
end of this bolt projects inward through a slot in the said chimney holder, and
by its elasticity springs inward against the chimney over the holding flange
or lip on the lower end thereof. Outside between the bearings the bolt is
provided with a knob or projection by which it is moved. When the chimney
is to be fastened the inner end of the bolt is pushed further in through the
holder, and presses with all the force of its elasticity against the chimney over
the lip thereof, and thereby detains it firmly and securely in place without the
possibility of failure, since the pressure of the chimney against the bolt has no
tendency to push the bolt aside, as is the case with the ordinary spring fastener.
When the chimney is to be removed the spring bolt is moved backwards till
its inner end is drawn outward through the slot in the holder sufficiently to
remove it from the way of the chimney.
O SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office ou
the 9th June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
5 Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting:

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight bundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year:
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence that I, the
said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an.
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS," a communication, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
My improvements render lamps adaptable to the use of any oils for pro-
ducing light, and especially of petroleum and other hydrocarbon oils. The
lamps are arranged either for using a single flat wick or two curved wicks
situated laterally opposite to each other; they also have a special relation to
the employment of a chimney of minimum size, in order to make the
lamps practically portable.
First, the draught air is admitted beneath the lower edge of a broad bell-
shaped or flaring burner base over and around the upper part of the lamp
body at a sufficient distance therefrom to afford the requisite annular space
for admitting into the burner all the air required to perfectly support the
combustion of the oil. This open base thence diminishes rapidly upward
to the ordinary diameter of the burner, and thus, while it admits a large
supply of air thereby, it quickly concentrates it for the most effective use.
Second, from the summit of this open base a finely perforated basilar
partition extends convexly downward and terminates in the screw collar by
which the burner is secured to the lamp body. The form and position of

page_text: this perforated partition in relation to the open base are such that in a
great measure they change the direction of the ascending currents of air,
and turn them inward toward the common center in a direction more nearly
horizontal than otherwise. The effect of this is not only to break up the
currents coming in on different sides, but to commingle them and equalize
their force within.
Third, the top of this commingling chamber surrounded by the basilar
partition is covered by a perforated cap or partition, which is also convex
downward, but in a much less degree than the basilar partition below; but
this downward convexity or upward concavity is sufficient to direct the air
not only upward but inward toward the flame of the burner, thereby both
changing the direction of and dividing the currents again, and causing them
to impinge more directly upon the sides of the flame.
Fourth, in addition to this arrangement of the perforated partitions below
the flame, in order to perfectly accomplish the result aimed at, the burner
cap is varied in construction in relation to the wick tube. This improvement
consists in having the flame opening of the cap deeper than usual at the
lower ends or terminations thereof, which are nearly or exactly on a level
with the top of the wick tube. This arrangement allows the flame to spread
edgewise much more than usual, thereby furnishing more surface whereby
to supply oxygen to the combustible gases as fast as they are generated, and
presenting a broader whiter flame.
Fifth, the result of these improvements is such an assistance to the com-
bustion of the oil at the burner that the chimney required for the purpose
of completing the combustion need not exceed three inches in height.
This is so small that it scarcely encumbers the lamp, even for portable use;
and should a chimney be broken, its cost is so slight that little loss is
experienced thereby.
Sixth, an improved arrangement of the wick regulator is employed adapted
either to a single wick tube or two tubes; it consists of an ordinary notched
wheel on a shaft which has a milled head on the projecting end as usual.
The other end of the shaft turns in a stationary bearing after the usual manner,
but the projecting end of the shaft turns in a long or slot-shaped horizontal
bearing formed in the burner case, so that it may be moved sidewise therein
to any extent required. If a single wick tube is used, this lateral movement.
of the regulator shaft enables the regulator wheel to be pressed against the
wick as closely as desired, so that there is never any failure to move the
wick up
or down, which is so common a defect in lamp burners having a
stationary wick regulator; and au additional advantage is thereby gained
.

page_text: when two wick tubos are used, since a single wick regulator is thus sufficient
for both wicks, for by locating the regulator wheel between the two wick
tubes it can be brought into contact with either wick at pleasure, and operate
equally well on both without disturbing the one not to be moved.
.. Seventh, for greater convenience in trimming the lamp, the chimney and
burner cap holder is made removable from the burner case by fitting around
the upper part of the same, and being secured thereto by a "bayonet" notch
and pin or an equivalent fastening. With this improvement the burner cap
may be attached permanently to the holder.
Eighth, an improved device is employed for fastening the chimney upon
the holder; it consists substantially of an elastic sliding bolt having its
bearings on the outer side of the chimney holder in which it slides. One
end of the bolt projects inward through a slot in the chimney holder, and by
its elasticity springs inward against the chimney over the bolding flange or
lip on the lower end thereof. Outside between the bearings the bolt has a
knob or simple projection to move it by. When the chimney is to be
fastened the inner end of the bolt is pushed further in through the holder,
and presses with all the force of its elasticity against the chimney over the
lip thereof, and thereby detains it firmly and securely in place without the
possibility of failure, since the pressure of the chimney against the bolt has
no tendency to push the bolt aside, as is the case with ordinary spring
fastenings. When the chimney is to be removed the spring bolt is slid
backward till its inner end is drawn outward through the slot in the holder
sufficiently to remove it from the way of the chimney. This fastener is cheap,
compact, convenient, and secure.
In the Drawings Fig. 1 represents a side view of the lamp burner and its
chimney, representing the arrangement for a single wick tube; Fig. 2 is a
central vertical section of the same in a plane at right angles to the plane of
the view in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the burner and its chimney
arranged for two wick tubes; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the same in a
plane just above the wick regulator showing the arrangement thereof for
moving both wicks; Fig. 5 is a top view of the chimney holder showing the
construction and arrangement of the spring sliding bolt for fastening the
chimney in place. Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in
all of the Figures.
A represents the flaring base of the burner; B, the perforated basilar
partition; C, the perforated cap over the basilar partition; D, the burner
cap; F, the wick regulator; G, the removable holder for the chimney and
buruer cap; H, the spring sliding bolt for holding on the chimney. The upper

page_text: part of the burner case is indicated by a; the screw collar for attaching the
burner to the lamp body by b; the wick tube by c; the flame opening by d; the
projecting lip or flange on the lower end of the chimney by e; the slot in which
one end of the wick regulator shaft is moved by f; the "bayonet" fastening for
the removable holder by g; and the slot in which the spring sliding bolt
moves by h. The bearings of the bolts are marked i, i, and the hub or
projection for moving it is marked 1, 1. The bolt is situated and slides
horizontally, and its elasticity is laterally in a horizontal direction, while
the tendency of the chimney to become detached is upward, so that it has no
effect to slide the bolt away nor to overcome its elasticity.
I claim, first, the broad bell-shaped or flaring burner base closely over
and partially around the lamp body, whereby the air is admitted to supply
the burner.
Second, I claim the perforated downwardly convex basilar partition in the
burner.
Third, I claim the perforated downwardly less convex cap over the basilar
partition.
Fourth, I claim the deep flame opening in the burner cap, its lower
extremities being nearly or exactly on a level with the top of the wick tube.
Fifth, I claim the employment of a short chimney, as specified, in com-
bination with the improved flaring base, perforated basilar partition, perforated
cap, and the burner cap with its deep flame opening.
Sixth, I claim the movable arrangement of the wick regulator.
Seventh, I claim the removable chimney and burner cap holder..
Eighth, I claim the spring sliding bolt for fastening the chimney upon the
holder.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Ninth
day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-six.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)