IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Lake English, of Epping, in the County of Essex,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS."
1
101 M
070
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Lake English at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th May 1879.
JAMES LAKE ENGLISH, of Epping, in the County of Essex.
LAMPS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates to lamps for burning hydrocarbon oils applicable as railway
signal head, tail, or side lamps, and for other purposes, and it consists of improve-
ments whereby such lamps are rendered less liable to be affected by wind or rain
or by sudden shocks, or by the oscillation or vibration to which they are subjected
in travelling or in being carried about from place to place, and also whereby
increased illuminating power, facility in trimming, and other advantages are
obtained.
In carrying out my Invention I construct the lamp of two principal parts, viz.,
an upper and a lower, the lower one of which constitutes the oil reservoir and
carries the burner, whilst the upper part contains an air chamber as hereinafter
described, and the passage for the escape of the products of combustion. These
two parts are hinged together in such a manner as to admit of the upper part
being opened or turned down in order to obtain access to the oil reservoir for filling,
or to the burner for the purposes of trimming, whilst facility is afforded for
cleaning the lamp by the complete detachment of the two parts, for which purpose
the hinges are rendered capable of being readily disconnected at will. When the
lamp is closed a tight joint is maintained between the two parts by the inter-
position of cork or other similar material fitted in suitable grooves or recesses, and
by the aid of a bevelled catch securing them firmly together. The cork or similar
material has also the effect of preventing the transmission of heat from the upper
part of the lamp to the oil reservoir, and the latter is surrounded with a perforated
jacket so as to secure a circulation of cold air for a like purpose.
The oil reservoir is constructed internally with vertical partitions of a circular
or other convenient shape perforated with small holes, so as to prevent the

page_text: undulatory motion of the oil by dividing the main body of the oil into eddies,
whereby the concussion of the oil and air in the reservoir and jerking of the flame
when in motion are prevented.
"
The burner is made of a crescent shape in cross section, and immediately above
the wick holder is the cone " which forms a hood with an opening also of a
crescent shape. The cone "is made of the form of a truncated cone, and is carried
by a plate upon which the upper part of the lamp closes down tightly, so as to
cause the air for supporting combustion to pass beneath the plate to the burner,
the shape and arrangement of the cone being such as to cause the concentration of
the flame and obtain increased illuminating power.
The wick is raised and lowered by the act of operating an endless screw or
worm, which engages with a worm wheel carried on a spindle which acts upon the
wick in the usual manner. This arrangement prevents the falling of the wick
under the action of any sudden jar or vibration. The spindle is made in two parts
fitting the one in the other, so as to admit of the wick holder carrying one portion
of the spindle being removed from the other portion which is connected to the
worm wheel, and the operation of cleaning and retrimming thus facilitated.
In order to guard against the undue elevation or lowering of the wick the
elevating gear may be provided with a wheel having teeth or projections at
intervals in one of the spaces, between which engages a suitable spring screw pin
or detent, in such a manner that the apparatus may be turned to the extent of the
distance between two teeth in order to raise or lower the wick; but that the detent
will prevent any further motion, means are provided for moving the detent out of
the range of the teeth for the purpose of trimming.
At the upper part of the lamp above the glass is a hot air chamber, into which
air from the atmosphere is introduced through a wire. gauze screen in the chimney,
and through double inverted frustums of cones situate in the chimney, and
perforated for the passage of the air. The air thus introduced and heated in the
chamber by the escaping products of combustion is conducted by a baffled or
circuitous course into vertical passages surmounted by wire gauze hoods, and
terminating at their lower part in proximity to the plate for directing the air to
the burner. The upper part of the chimney is provided with an inverted frustum
of a cone so as to check down draughts, whilst at the top of the chimney is a
perforated plate convex on its under side and having a hood or canopy at a short
distance above it, so as to promote the discharge of the escaping products of
combustion by utilizing the action of the wind for that purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Lake English in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
November 1879.
JAMES LAKE ENGLISH, of Epping, in the County of Essex.
LAMPS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My said Invention relates to lamps for burning hydrocarbon oils, applicable as
ships' lamps for the starboard, larboard, and mast head, and as railway signal head,
tail, or side lamps, and for other purposes, and it consists of improvements whereby
such lamps are rendered less liable to be effected by wind or rain or by sudden
shocks, or by the oscillation or vibration to which they are subjected in travelling
or in being carried about from place to place, and also whereby increased illumi-
nating power, facility in trimming, and other advantages are obtained.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a longitudinal vertical section
of a lamp constructed according to my said Invention; Figure 2 is an elevation of
he back end of the same; Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken, the upper half
along the line 1-2, and the lower half along the line 3-4 (Figure 1); and
Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 5-6, Figure 1; Figures 5
and 6 are details of modifications in the wick elevating and regulating devices to
be hereinafter referred to.
I construct the lamp of two principal parts, videlicit, an upper part A and a
lower part B; the latter constitutes the oil reservoir, and carries the burner C,
whilst the upper part A contains an air chamber D, the passage E for the escape
of the products of combustion, and other appurtenances, all as hereinafter described.
These two parts are hinged together at a in such a manner as to admit of the
upper part being opened or turned down, as shewn by dotted lines in Figure 1, in
order to obtain access to the oil reservoir B for filling or to the burner C for the
purpose of trimming, whilst facility is afforded for cleaning the lamp by the
complete detachment of the two parts, for which purpose the hinges are rendered
capable of being readily disconnected at will, as will be clearly understood from an
inspection of the Drawing. When the lamp is closed a tight joint is maintained
between the two parts A, B, by the interposition of cork or other similar material
fitted in suitable grooves or recesses at b, and by the aid of a bevelled catch c
securing them firmly together. The cork or similar material has also the effect of
preventing the transmission of heat from the upper part A of the lamp to the oil
reservoir B, and the latter is surrounded with a jacket F having perforations d, so
as to secure a circulation of cold air in a space F' for a like purpose.
The oil reservoir is constructed internally with vertical partitions e, either of a
circular shape or of any other convenient form or combinations of forms adapted to
the shape of the lamp; these partitions are perforated with small holes, their
object being whilst leaving the several divisions of the reservoir in intercommuni-
cation to prevent the undulatory motion of the oil by dividing the main body of
the oil into eddies, whereby the concussion of the oil and air in the reservoir, and
jerking of the flame when in motion are prevented.
The wick holder e¹ is made of a crescent shape in cross section, and immediately
above it is the "cone", which forms a hood with an opening g, also of a crescent
shape. The "cone" is made of the form of a truncated cone, and is carried by a
plate h upon which the upper part A of the lamp closes down tightly, so as to
cause the air for supporting combustion to pass beneath the plate to the burner,
the shape and arrangement of the cone being such as to promote the concentration
of the fame and obtain increased illuminating power.

page_text: The wick is raised and lowered by the act of operating an endless screw or
worm 2, which engages with a worm wheel k carried on a spindle G, which acts
upon the wick in the usual manner. This arrangement prevents the falling of
the wick under the action of any sudden jar or vibration. The spindle G is made
in two parts m, m³, fitting the one in the other, so as to admit of the wick
holder e carrying the portion m¹ of the spindle being removed from the other
portion m, which is connected to the worm wheel k, and the operation of cleaning
and retrimming is thus facilitated.
At the upper part of the lamp above the glass H is the hot air chamber D, into
which air from the atmosphere is introduced through a screen n, and through an
inverted frustum of a cone o perforated for the passage of the air; the air thus
introduced and heated in the chamber by the escaping products of combustion
along the chimney E is conducted by a baffled or circuitous course, as indicated by
arrows in Figure 1, into vertical passages I surmounted by perforated extremities
P and terminating at their lower part in proximity to the plate h for directing the
air to the burner. An additional inlet for air may be provided at I', the air
introduced thereat being also conducted into the air passages I leading to the
burner. The upper part of the external chimney E' of the lamp is provided with
an inverted frustum of a cone q so as to check down draughts, whilst at the top of
the said chimney is a perforated plate r, convex on its under side, and having a
hood or canopy & at a short distance above it so as to promote the discharge of the
escaping products of combustion by utilizing the action of the wind for that
purpose.
The oil reservoir may be supplied through an orifice closed by a screw plug t.
A reflector K is provided of any suitable description.
In order to guard against the undue elevation or lowering of the wick, the
elevating gear may be provided with a wheel L (see detail Figure 5) having teeth
or projections u at intervals in one of the spaces between which engages a suitable
screw-pin v, spring, or other detent, in such a manner that the apparatus may be
turned to the extent of the distance between two teeth in order to raise or lower
the wick, but that the detent will prevent any further motion. When it is
required to trim the wick the pin vor equivalent detent is unscrewed or moved
out of the range of the teeth u.
As an equivalent for the arrangement lastly hereinbefore described, I may
employ the device illustrated in Figure 6, by means of which a guarantee is
provided against the wick being raised beyond a definite regulated height. This
device consists of an arm w, which is adjustable radially upon the wick actuating
spindle G, and is arranged in relation to a fixed stop x, in such a manner that the
latter will arrest the motion of the arm w, and consequently of the spindle G when
the wick has been raised to the requisite height. In setting the apparatus the
upper part of the wick is made flush or level with the top of the wick tube, the
arm wis then fixed on the spindle by means of a screw a¹ in such a position that
its outer extremity rests upon the fixed base y; the wick is next turned up until
the stop arrests the motion of the arm; and as the arc thus described is so
calculated that it will give the required elevation of the wick, it follows that the
necessary height is obtained, whilst at the same time all liability is obviated of
that height being exceeded.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The peculiar construction of oil reservoir having perforated internal
partitions, and an external air jacket, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described.
Secondly. The combination of the burner C, cone f, and cone carrier plate h, the

page_text: latter forming a tight closure with the upper part of the lamp, substantially as and
for the purposes herein before described.
Thirdly. The hot air chamber with its perforated divisions and baffle plates for
breaking and heating the current of entering air, and causing it to follow a
circuitous course in combination with a vertical channel or channels I leading to an
enclosed burner, substantially as herein before described.
Fourthly. The combination of the inverted truncated cone q, the perforated
plate having its convex side downwards and the hood or canopy 8, substantially
as and for the purposes herein before described.
Fifthly. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting a lamp,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Lake English, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, the Thirteenth day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
JAMES LAKE ENGLISH. (L.S.)