IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS, WICKS, AND COVERS FOR VESSELS FOR HOLDING OIL AND OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
BRIGHT, of Bruton Street, Middlesex, Lamp Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Second day of Novem-
ber, One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, in the twelfth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Richard Bright, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Richard Bright, my exors,
admiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard Bright, my exors,
adiiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LAMPS, WICKS, AND COVERS FOR VESSELS FOR HOLDING OIL AND OTHER FLUIDS;"
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said Richard
Bright, should cause a particular description of the nature of my said In-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High

page_text: Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by-the-same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Richard Bright, hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascer-
tained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
Firstly, my Invention consists of an improved mode or means of raising the
wick in lamps, represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings, and farther
illustrated by Figures 4, 4ª and 4. Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a
lamp; Figure 2, a cross section on the line a, b, of Figure 1; and Figure 3,
another sectional elevation on the line c, d, of Figure 2. A is the outer case
of the burner; B, the internal or air tube; C, C, the pipes by which oil is con:
veyed from the reservoir to the interior of the burner; D is the wickholder,
which is nearly similar to the wickholders of common lamps. It consists of
a tube which closely encircles the air tube, and has at bottom a projecting
flange which exactly fills up the space between the wickholder and the inner
circumference of the outer case A. The wick is slipped over the tube, and
held fast by two (or more) springs e, e, which rise up outside of the wick from
the bottom flange of the wickholder. F, F, is an endless chain by which the
wickholder is raised and lowered, and which with its immediate appendages
is enclosed in a box or case G formed on one side of the outer tube A. The
chain is attached by a pin to the bottom flange of the wickholder, and passes
at top over a grooved pulley K. His a toothed pinion, the teeth of which
gear into the links of the chain. G is the spindle or axis of the pinion H,
which spindle is provided with a stuffing box L, and terminates in a thumb-
piece T. The stuffing box L is formed in two pieces, 1 and 2, the outermost
of which (1) screws upon the other (2). The spindle has a spigot formed on
its inner end (next the pinion H), which fits closely into the interior of the
piece (2), and is backed by an iron or steel washer a. At the opposite end
the spindle works through another iron or steel washer w, and in the space
between the two washers there is a spiral spring s coiled round the spindle which
assists to keep the parts in a state of exact adjustment. As the spindle G³ is
turned by the thumb-piece T one way or other, the wickholder with the wick
is either raised or lowered accordingly. The spindle G2, together with its
stuffing box L, with the rest of the apparatus, is given (partly in section) in
Figure 3. The endless chain may be of either of the forms represented in
Figures 4, 43, and 4, or of any other suitable form.

page_text: Secondly, my Invention consists of an improved mode or means of steadying
the glass chimneys of lamps. In lamps where common oil is used it is found
preferrable to employ much taller chimneys than when the finer kinds of oil are
burnt, but such tall chimneys are open to the objection of being commonly very
liable to lose their perpendicularity and to shake in their bearings. The im-
proved means which I employ to steady the glass are represented in Figures 1
and 2, and partly before described. M is the gallery, glass holder, an external
elevation and plan of which are given separately in Figures 6 and 7. M' is the
outer ring of the gallery; and M an inner ring, which however extends only
three-quarters round (one-quarter being cut away to make room for the case G
before described, and closely encircles the three-quarter piece of solid tubing,
which extends about half as high as the middle of the outer case A of the
burner; N, N, N, N, are four vertical springs (the number may be more or less
according to the size of the lamp), which are inserted and held fast between the
inner ring M of the gallery and the three-quartor tubular piece M³. At top
these springs are bent over and downwards in the manner shewn; N', N', N', N¹,
are four caps which project from the top rim of the three-quarter tubular
piece M³ (being cast in one with it) over the tops of the springs N, N, N, N,
and serve to guide the glass chimney when it is dropped down over the springs
so as to exclude any possibility of its slipping between the springs and the piece
M. The tops or free ends of the springs occupy points in a circle just a slight
degree larger than the internal diameter of the chimney, and therefore by
their outward pressure they keep the glass very securely in its place to what-
ever vibratory influence it may be exposed.
Thirdly, my Invention consists of an improvement in the class of lamps
known as fountain lamps. Figure 8 is a side elevation of a night lamp of
this description embodying the said improvement; Figure 9 is a
plan, and
Figure 10 a front elevation of the same. A is a pillar or stand, upon the top
of which there is fixed the two upright standards B, B; C is a cistern for con-
taining the oil, which is gimballed or suspended between the upright standards
B, B, so that it has freedom to swing to and fro within them; E is a pipe
which conveys the oil from the cistern to a cup F at its outer extremity
which forms the burner; G is the wickholder, which is of a saucer form
indented or serrated at the edge. The wick C' is circular and rests in a socket
or recess formed for it in the bottom of the wickholder; C² is a supplementary
wick of a single strand or thread, which is gummed to the inside of the principal
wick and rises a little way above it; this wick is intended for occasional use
only, as for example, during the night when a greater light is required than
that produced by the smaller wick C. When the larger wick C¹ is to be

page_text: lighted it is raised up to the proper height by the following contrivance :-
D' is a wire, which is affixed to the wick holder G, passes a short way along
the pipe E, and is then bent upwards, passing through a tube H, which is
fixed upon the
upper part of the pipe E. The top end of the tube H is slit in
two, and the sides being then pressed-together grip the bent wire D¹. If,
therefore, the wire D¹ be drawn upward it raises the wick C¹ to any degree
desired above the surface of the oil in the burner. The level of the oil in
the burner is regulated by the weight J, which, as it is drawn further out
towards the burner or brought nearer to the reservoir for the oil, causes the
level of the oil to stand higher or lower in the burner. K is a cup which is
supported by an arm projecting from the pillar of the lamp, and catches any
drippings from the burner; L is a flange or dish, to receive any oil which may
flow over in trimming the lamp; M is the air pipe inside the cistern, which is
curved in the manner shewn in order that it may the more readily be made of
sufficient capacity to hold the whole, or nearly so, of the oil in the burner and
pipe E when the lamp is turned over on its back in order to be trimmed; N
is the aperture by which oil is supplied to the reservoir.
Figure 11 is a
section of the burner and pipe; and Figure 12, a plan of the wickholder.
When it is desirable to make the cistern a fixture (instead of leaving it free to
oscillate) a bolt q, which is enclosed in a tube attached to the back of the
cistern, is drawn down, which takes into a hole or socket in the top of the
pillar A, and thereby makes fast the cistern.
Fourthly, my Invention consists in the combination in one lamp of the
advantage of burning two or more fluids, as, for example, oil of turpentine
and spirits of wine, or oil of turpentine and naptha, or common oil and any
suitable spirituous liquid. I make use of two or more reservoirs, one for each
fluid. I appropriate to each reservoir a separate wick, but lead the wicks to
one common burner, where they may either burn side by side or be inter-
mingled with one another. The size of the wicks and of the reservoirs should
vary in relation to each other according to the quality of the respective
fluids.
Fifthly, my Invention consists in manufacturing hollow cylindrical wicks in
a stiffened state ready for use. At present all such wicks, though originally
woven circularly, are afterwards flattened for sale, and when required to be
used, the change of shape they have undergone and the softness of their
texture make it difficult and troublesome to fix them to their places in lamps.
To remedy this defect I proceed as follows:-
I first form a string or strand of cotton by placing side by side a number of
threads of twisted cotton, say, twenty (which number may be increased or

page_text: diminished according to the size of wick to be made), and pass these threads
or strands without being twisted together through gimping machine, by
which a single thread is wound spirally round them in order to hold them
together. A straud so formed is represented in Figure 13. Short cylindrical
cases of paper are next formed by rolling strips of thin paper twice or thrice
round a cylinder, and cementing the folds together by gum or paste. A
number of these paper cases D, D, D, are then slipped upon a roller or
mandril, of the description represented in Figure 14, vacant grooved spaces t, t,
of about a quarter of an inch, being left between every two cases.
I next
gum the cases all over on the outside, after which I cover the entire series
(without regard to the vacant spaces between them) with strands of the
gimped cotton of the full length of the roller, and laid side by side, pressing
them against the gummed paper, so that they may adhere thereto. I now
wind a gummed thread several times round the cotton strands at the parts
corresponding with the vacant spaces t¹, t¹, between each pair of paper cases.
As soon as the gummed parts have become dry, I put the roller with the
paper cases and threads upon it into a lathe, and by applying a knife or knives
at the points corresponding with the centres of the grooved spaces t and t¹, I
sever it into twice as many pieces as there are paper cases, each piece forming
a perfect wick with small portions of the threads projecting beyond the ends
of the paper.
A view of one of these wicks in its perfect state is given in
Figure 15. It will be found stiff enough to be handled freely without risk
of being injured in shape, and is fitted with great readiness to lamps when
required for use. Sometimes I stiffen the woven wicks of the ordinary manu-
facture by inserting into them paper cases, formed as aforesaid and gummed
on the outside, or by dipping them (not partially but wholly) in wax, or in any
other suitable stiffening matter. I am aware that flat and solid round wicks
have been before stiffened throughout, but hollow cylindrical wicks, such as
those required for argand lamps, have never to the best of my knowledge
been before manufactured in a stiffened state ready for usc.
Flat wicks may'
be made of the same materials and much in the same manner as the hollow
cylindrical wicks before described, that is to say, by attaching strands of the
gimped cotton on to both sides of a flat strip of gummed paper. Round solid
wicks may also be formed by attaching strands of gimped cotton side by side
to a solid core of paper, or a strong thread of any fibrous or other suitable
material.
Sixthly, my Invention consists in making hollow cylindrical wicks, solid
round wicks, and flat wicks of two altitudes, that is to say, with the body part
of one altitude and a small portion rising above it to a greater altitudo, so that

page_text: one or both parts may be lighted according as a weak or strong light is
wanted. The higher portion may be made either in one piece with the body
of the wick, or in a separate piece and then gummed to the body, as repre-
sented in the side elevation and plan of a flat wick given in Figures 16
and 17; being the body part, and y the part of greater altitude, and also as
represented in the fountain lamp, Figure 8, before described. Or the two
parts may be quite detached, but used in combination together, for the purpose
of giving a weak or a strong light as required.
Seventhly, my Invention consists in tipping wicks of any of the forms before.
described or referred to, or of any other form, with some easily inflamed sub-
stance, so that the first lighting of the lamp may be more readily effected than
at present. A compound which I have found very suitable for this purpose,
consists of nearly equal parts of white resin, sulphur, and bees'-wax. The
mixture is put upon a hot plate into which the ends of the wicks are dipped.
Another compound, which may be applied with a brush or by dipping, consists
of 1lb. resin, 4 oz. lac sulphur dissolved in one gallon of naptha.
Eighthly, my Invention consists of an improved form of cistern or vessel for
containing oils and such other fluids as are liable to suffer in quality from exposure
to the atmosphere. A sectional elevation of a cistern of this improved form is
given in Figure 18; A, A, is the cistern; B, the tap, by which the oil or other
fluid is withdrawn; C, a diaphragm or float, which is as nearly as may be of
the size of the interior of the cistern consistently with its being at liberty to
slide freely up and down within it; the float may either be made of wood or of
metal, but I prefer making it of thin metal plates, and of about one inch and
half in depth. The atmospheric air is not entirely excluded from the oil or
other fluid by this float, but the area on which it can act is thereby so much
reduced as to lessen materially the risk of injury from oxidation or acidification.
For the rigid metallic float an air bag composed of any suitable elastic
substance, such as gutta percha, may be substituted, or two plates joined at the
edges by an elastic band.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that the improvements which I
claim as constituting the same are as follows:-
First, I claim the improved mode or means of raising the wickholder in
lamps as before described, that is to say, in so far as regards the combination of
the endless chain with the other parts, all or any of them, connected therewith.
Second, I claim the improved mode or means of steadying the glass
chimneys of lamps herein-before described, in so far as regards the employ-
ment of the broad ring Me and the three-quarter piece M³ as solid bearings

page_text: for the springs N, N,N,N; and the employment also of the caps N', N',N',N',
to cover the tops of the springs.
Third, I claim the construction of fountain lamps in the manner before
described, that is to say, in so far as regards the employment of means to
raise occasionally the wick more or less out of the oil, or to raise more or less
the level of the oil in the burner.
Fourth, I claim the combined use of two or more fluids in one lamp by
means of two or more wicks leading from two or more reservoirs to one
burner common to both or to the whole.
Fifth, I claim the manufacture of hollow cylindrical wicks in a stiffened
state ready for use, as before described.
Sixth, I claim the manufacture of flat wicks and of solid round wicks,
stiffened throughout in the course of manufacture by any of the modes or
means before described.
Seventh, I claim the making wicks of two altitudes, as before exemplified
and described.
Eighth, I claim the tipping of wicks with some easily inflamed substance, as
before described.
Ninth, I claim the improved cistern or vessel for holding oils and other
fluids, as before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Bright, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Second day of May in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.