A NEW OR IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT FOR FILLING LAMPS AND OTHER VESSELS, AND FOR INDICATING THE HEIGHT OF FLUIDS THEREIN
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Smith, of Muswell Hill Villa, Hornsey, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
ARRANGEMENT FOR FILLING LAMPS AND OTHER VESSELS, AND FOR INDICATING
THE HEIGHT OF FLUIDS THEREIN." A communication from abroad by John
Fletcher Collins, of New York City, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 31st March 1876, and dated the 9tli February 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Charles Smith at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th February 1876.
CHARLES SMITH, of Muswell Hill Villa, Hornsey, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "A NEW OR IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT FOR FILLING LAMPS AND OTHER
VESSELS, AND FOR INDICATING THE HEIGHT OF FLUIDS THEREIN." A communication
from abroad by John Fletcher Collins, of New York City, in the United States of
America.
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the process of filling lamps and
other vessels, and to shew at sight the height of the liquid contents thereof at all
times.
In order that the said Invention inay be more clearly and more fully understood,
and be more readily performed, I will explain the same as applied to table lamps,
with the aid of the accompanying Drawing which forms part of this Specification,
reference being made thereto by the numerals and letters inarked, thereon, and
which reference applies to each Figure of the said Drawing where the same index
numerals and letters appear.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a lamp, and shewing the said improved
arrangement.
Figure 2 is a similar elevation shewing a modification of the said improvements.
Heretofore lamps have usually been filled through the aperture in which the
burner and wick are inserted; or through an aperture formed in the well or reservoir
(herein-after called the "well") of the lamp, causing much danger, considerable
trouble, and often waste and damage from the overflow or spilling of the liquid
used. No means have hitherto been employed to shew the height of the liquid in
lamps having opaque wells when being filled or at other times. To obviate such
objections I attach to the well a of the lamp, at or about its lowest part, the
tube e fitted or united to the socket f. In the said socket f I securely fit the

page_text: transparent tube h, the upper end of which tube is secured to the short hollow
cylinder d, see Figure 1. The said cylinder d and socket f are both recessed or
rebated at g to receive and hold the said tube h, the joints between the end of
which tube and the said recesses are efficiently and securely packed in any suitable
manner, so as to prevent the escape of the liquid used in the lamp. Attached to
the well a, at a point at or above the highest level that the liquid attains therein,
is an air tube c connected and communicating with the said cylinder d. The upper
end of this cylinder d is provided with a proper plug or stopper i, which is readily
removed when desired.
In operating the said improvements the stopper is first removed, and the
required liquid poured into the hollow cylinder d, when it passes through the
tube h, the socket f, and the tube c, into the well a, the air escaping from the well
through the air tube e and cylinder d. At the same time the transparent tube h
indicates the height of the liquid in the well a, so that the risk of overflowing in
filling the well a is with ordinary care avoided. The tubes c, h, and e, with their
connections, also form a convenient handle for the lamp, and may be made of any
suitable shape and either plain or ornamental. Lamps may be fitted with two
such handles opposite each other, or one of them may be solid.
Figure 2 shews a modification of the said arrangement when applied to glass
wells of lamps. The well a and air tube c may be made of opaque, and the tube h
of transparent glass or other suitable material. An aperture is formed in the upper
part of the tube h, fitted with a suitable stopper i. The liquid is poured in through
this aperture, the air escaping from the well through the tube c. The tubes h
and c form the handle of the lamp. By this modification of the said improvements
the socket, tube c, and cylinder d are dispensed with without departing from the
principles of the Invention.
This Invention can be applied to any vessel which ou being filled is liable to
overflow.
In applying the said improvements to what is known as "the Student's Lamp,"
a recess is formed in the periphery or shell of the well thereof, into which recess the
said tube is inserted, and connected at its upper and lower ends with the same,
an aperture being made just above the said recess to receive the valve ordinarily
used with this description of lamp, and to permit the introduction of the liquid.
The advantages obtained by the said improvements are that the annoyance and
risk incident to the usual method of filling lamps are avoided, and certain means
are provided for indicating the height of the liquid in the well of the lamp or vessel
at all times.
The improvements form an unobjectionable addition to lamps, and may be so
arranged as to form a handle or handles, plain or ornamental, thereto.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention,
and the method of performing the same, without confining myself to the precise
form or dimensions of the details now illustrated, as they admit of considerable
variation, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the improved
arrangement for filling lamps and other similar vessels, and for indicating the height
of the liquids contained in such lamps or vessels, substantially as herein described
and shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Smith, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
CHARLES SMITH. (L.S.)