Improvements in Safety Lamps.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 16th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety Lamps.
I, WALTER STAVELEY of 2, Private Street, New Town, Newark, Notts, Brick
Burner, 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:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of safety oil lamps, and has
for its object to provide an arrangement by means of which the lamp can be
instantly extinguished on being overturned.
In carrying out my invention I provide an extinguisher on the burner consisting
of a sleeve which can be slidden up or down and two spring flaps one at each side
adapted to meet and extinguish the flame when the sleeve is raised. This sleeve is
connected to the end of a rod or sliding piece at the side of the burner moving in a
suitable guide and furnished with a slotted foot. To this foot or extension, one
end of a small lever is pivoted, this lever being furnished with a spring which tends
to raise the sliding piece and sleeve.
This action is prevented by means of a long rod extending through a central or
other tube to the bottom of the lamp, and so arranged that when the lamp is placed
upon the table or other article this rod is raised and holds the sleeve in operative
position, the end of the rod bearing against the lever.
Should the lamp be overturned however, this rod is immediately released and
falls allowing the lever to come into operation so as to raise the extinguisher and
put out the flame.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 shows a lamp in vertical section provided with my extinguishing device,
and Fig. 2 is a detail view.
On the outside of the burner A the sliding sleeve B is fitted carrying the pivoted
flap bone on each side of the burner. These flaps are provided with the spring b¹
which causes them when raised above the top of the burner to close over it, meeting
at the middle and extinguishing the light in the manner well known. To the
sleeve B at one side is fitted the sliding piece or rod C moving in the guide or
socket c and furnished with the slotted foot c'. One end of the lever D is connected
to this foot, the lever being pivoted to the small standard d at the bottom of the
burner. A small cover plate E is furnished above this lever so as to protect the
action from any material dropping from the wick which might otherwise prevent
free movement.
The spring d is employed to operate the lever tending to raise the sliding piece
and sleeve when released. The rod F bears against the other end of the lever at
its upper extremity and extends to the bottom of the lamp being furnished with a
head or button f which rests upon the table or other article on which the lamp is
placed.
A tube or sheath G is furnished extending through the reservoir H, the rod
passing through this tube. A small bracket or support g is fitted on the bottom of
the tube or is secured to a convenient portion of the lamp, the rod F passing
through the lower end of this support. Collars f prevent the rod moving too far
in either direction as they abut against the support so that the rod is held in
position and is prevented from dropping. The lower collar also prevents any
accident to the mechanism which might otherwise occur if the rod abuts against
any projection on the surface of the table.
On the lamp being tilted in any direction the rod is allowed to drop a short

page_text: distance, permitting the lever and sliding piece to come into operation. When a
certain angle has been reached the wings or flaps bare allowed to project
sufficiently beyond the top of the burner to close over it extinguishing the flame
instantly.
In order to allow the lamp to be raised without extinguishing the light, a device
is employed to temporarily hold the rod in its ordinary position consisting of a
small forked spindle J engaging with the rod and furnished with a spring which
turns it into operative position when released To actuate this device a small
thumb or finger piece is provided at the outside of the lamp, which on being
pressed to one side will cause the forked end to grip the rod and prevent it dropping
when the lamp is raised. For greater safety this finger piece may be arranged so
that it cannot be held by the same hand as the lamp when the latter is being
carried. This ensures it being instantly released on the person stumbling, bringing
the extinguisher into operation at once.
When it is required to put out the lamp, instead of blowing down the chimney
as is frequently done, the lamp can be simply raised when it will at once extinguish
with safety.
In the case of lamp having a central draught the mechanism for operating the
sliding piece could be fitted at the outside of the burner instead of the inside the
general arrangement being similar.
The invention is mainly applicable to table and like lamps, but may also be
employed for hand and other lamps.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
(i.) In safety lamps, the combination with a sliding piece having extinguishing
wings or flaps, of a rod extending to the bottom of the lamp, and adapted to bear
upon the surface of the table or other article, and a lever with spring connecting
the rod and sliding piece causing the extinguisher to come into operation when
released by the rod, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(2.) In an improved safety lamp, the combination with a sliding sleeve on the
burner, extinguishing flaps or wings on the sleeve, and a sliding piece connected to
the latter, of a lever and spring connected to the sliding piece and a rod extending
to the bottom of the lamp and adapted to bear on the surface of the table or other
article, on which the lamp is placed, constructed and operating substantially as
described and for the purposes specified.
(3.) In an improved safety lamp, the combination of a sliding sleeve on the
burner, extinguishing wings or flaps on the sleeve, and a sliding piece fitted to the
latter, of a lever connected to the sliding piece, a vertical rod extending to
the bottom of the lamp and furnished with a head, and a tube or sheath passing
through the reservoir and encircling the rod, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
(4.) In an improved safety lamp, the combination of a sliding sleeve on the
burner, hinged extinguishing flaps on the sleeve, a sliding piece attached to the
latter, lever with spring connected to the sliding piece, and a vertical rod extending
to the bottom of the lamp, a forked spindle fitted to the bottom of the lamp and
adapted to engage with the rod, and a spring and finger piece to operate the same,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(5.) The improved safety lamp having an extinguishing device operated on
tilting or overturning the lamp, substantially as described and shown in the
accompanying drawings and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 15th day of March 1896.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.