A New and Improved Device for Trimming the Wicks of Lamps.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 21st Mar., 1894-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1814
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Device for Trimming the Wicks of Lamps.
I, WILLIAM THOMSON, of 163 Leith Walk, Leith, Drysalter, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new and improved device for trimming the wicks of
lamps and has for its object to effectually trim the wick or wicks of the lamp and
to provide means to prevent the charred wick when cut off from falling into the
burner as now generally happens when trimming a lamp.
The device in accordance with this invention consists essentially of an inverted
cup of any suitable metal or material which when in position fits over the burner to
be trimmed. An opening is formed in the cup aforesaid corresponding in size and
shape to the wick of the lamp to which it is to be applied. Around the opening I
have an extending tube through which the lamp wick is passed when being trimmed.
Around the inverted cup I have a flange or gallery for the purpose of catching and
containing the charred remains taken off the wick. On the outer sides of the wick
guide tube I arrange or dispose grooved or slotted guides or rails. A horizontal
carrier travels in these latter and is provided with a knife which is passed over the
wick to trim same.
In a modification of this device, adapted for trimming a duplex lamp, I have two
slots cut or formed in the inverted cup, each being provided with the extending
guide tube for the wicks. This arrangement lends itself to the adoption of a means
for securely holding the wicks in a firm manner whilst being trimmed. To
accomplish this I insert in each tube (and connect them at their lower edges to the
inside of the tubes) a strip of metal having an extending piece or flange which
passes through a slot formed in the inner side of each tube. A taper key or wedge
piece is provided which for security may be attached by a chain to the inverted cup
aforesaid or the flange thereof. This when it is desired to prepare the lamp for
trimming and after the wicks have been turned up to their desired position is
inserted between the two wick guide tubes and acting upon the flanges through
the sides of the tubes forces the metal strips aforesaid inside the tubes against the
wicks which latter are then held firmly whilst the knife is passed across their
upper edge.
Doted this 60th day of T... 1002
JAMES
STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Device for Trimming the Wicks of Lamps.
I, WILLIAM THOMSON of 163 Leith Walk, Leith, Drysalter, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to a new or improved device for trimming the wicks of
lamps, and has for its object to effectually trim the wick or wicks of the lamp, and
to provide means to prevent the charred wick, when cut off, from falling into the
burner as now generally happens when trimming a lamp.

page_text: The device in accordance with this invention consists essentially of a dome or
inverted cup of any suitable metal or material, which when in position, fits over the
burner to be trimmed. An opening or openings are formed in the cup aforesaid
corresponding in size and shape to the wick or wicks of the lamp to which it is to
be applied. Continued above the openings in the dome, I have tubes through
which the wicks are passed while being trimmed.
Below the level of the knife or trimmer, I have a flange or gallery for the
purpose of catching and containing the charred remains taken off the wicks. On a
level with the top of the wick tube or tubes I arrange a knife or trimmer, working
in slots or other suitable arrangements, preferably at, or nearly at right angles to
the wicks, for the purpose of removing the charred portion of same.
For the purpose of securely holding the wick or wicks whilst being trimmed
I
arrange a grip or vice acting upon the wick or wicks, within the guide tube or
tubes. To accomplish this, various methods may be employed, such as a strip of
metal having an extending piece or flange which passes through a slot formed in
the inner side of each tube. A taper key or wedge piece is provided to insert
between the flanges aforesaid in order to press the strips of metal or vice, thereby
holding the wick or wicks firmly in position for trimming; and which wedge or
kéy may be, for security, attached by suitable means to the apparatus.
A screw, lever, or eccentric arrangement can be adopted, or an arrangement
working from the outside of the guide tube or tubes, through the slots and against
the wicks instead of the taper key or lever aforesaid.
And in order that this my invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will now proceed to describe same with reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings, upon which is illustrated a trimming device as applicable for use
upon a duplex burner. From the same its adaptation to a single wick lamp will
be at once understood. Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, Figure 2 a
plan, and Figure 3 a sectional elevation through line A, B, Figure 2.
a is the horizontal trimming knife carried by the frame b. This latter is
attached or connected to the sliding blocks c working in the grooved or slotted
guides d attached to the outer sides of the wick guide tubes e. f is the inverted
cup or dome, which fits over the lamp burner when trimming the wicks. g is a
flange or gallery made upon or attached to the inverted cup or dome f aforesaid,
for the purpose of receiving the charred remains of the wick as cut off by the
knife a which, to trim the wicks, is simply worked backwards and forwards, as may
be required upon the top of same.
The means above referred to, employed for holding the wicks firmly in position
whilst being trimmed consist of the arrangement of parts, now to be described, and
illustrated particularly in Figures 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings, or such other
anethods as are referred to may be employed.
kk are the slips of metal or springs before alluded to as being connected at their
lower edges to the interior of the guide tubes e. When the wicks are turned up
from the burner through the tubes e the taper key or wedge h is inserted between
the extending flanges k¹k thereby forcing the spring pieces k against the wick and
holding the latter securely, whilst being operated upon. Figure 4 consists of a
thumb nut having a right and left hand screw 1 respectively working in small
tubes m connected to the plates n. i is a chain connecting the key or wedge
piece to the flange g of the apparatus to guard against loss.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner, the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The new combination forming a device for trimming the wicks of lamps
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In devices for trimming wicks of lamps the employment of a knife or cutter
working in suitable guides secured to the wick guide tubes substantially as herein
set forth and shewn in the accompanying sheet of drawings.
F

page_text: 3. In devices for trimming the wicks of lamps the employment of a flange or
gallery for catching the charred remains of the wick when cut off substantially as
hereinbefore described.
4. In devices for trimming the wicks of lamps the means employed for holding
the wicks in position when being operated upon substantially as herein described
and shewn in the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 20th day of March 1894.
JAMES
STEVENSON,
1, Furnival Street, E.C., Agent for Applicant.