IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Godfrey Anthony Ermen and Edwin Ermen, both of
Eccles, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS."
Sealed the 23rd March 1877, and dated the 27th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Godfrey Anthony Ermen and
Edwin Ermen at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th
November 1876.
GODFREY ANTHONY ERMEN and EDWIN ERMEN, both of Eccles, in the County
of Lancaster. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS."
Our Invention is particularly applicable to lamps for burning volatile oils, and it
consists in applying to such lamps a self-acting apparatus for extinguishing the flame
when the lamp is upset, or when it assumes an inclination of or approaching to an
angle of 45°.
One mode of performing our Invention is as follows:-For flat wicks we sur-
round the burner by a casing, above the wick is a stationary cap with a bridge;
and an opening on each side of the bridge; the casing is made to move upwards
close to the bridge of the cap; by this means the flame is extinguished. We also
can use a cap of the ordinary make with an opening for the flame right over the
wick, but in this case we use an elastic or mechanically contracting casing, as
described hereafter. We can also use this ordinary cap by placing the wick
sideways of the opening so much that the left side of the wick coincides with the
left edge of the opening, or vice versa.
For circular wicks we use an inner and an outer casing with a circular cap open at
the top; the upper end of the inner casing is made of the size of the opening in the
cap; the two casings are connected, and when moved upwards against the cap
closely, the air is excluded sideways and from above, and the flame extinguished as
before. Or for circular wicks we also use one inner casing only, the opening
of which coincides with the opening of the cap; by moving this inner casing
against the cap as before, the draught of air is again stopped.
The caps above referred to can be dispensed with by making the tops of the
casings to close either by elasticity of the parts or by hinging the parts to a sliding
case, which hinged parts are closed in by a ring which is moved up and down, as
I Price Gd1

page_text: hereafter described, the closing of the casing extinguishing the flame, as before
described. In this case the casings must be made of several parts, vertically and
circumferentially. We also can use for circular wicks one casing to be elastic or
mechanically composed, as above described, and a second of the simple tube kind.
The mode of moving the casings and the ring above mentioned is as follows:-
The bottom of the vessel containing the oil is in the form of an inverted cone, in
which is a ball of the proper diameter; on the ball rests a flat disc with sides to
guide it.
:-
The casing or casings or ring above referred to are connected to a strong wire
passing downwards and resting on the disc; when the lamp is upset or assumes an
inclined position the ball runs down the incline of the inverted cone, and the dise
with the casings or rings are pushed upwards.
Another mode of raising the casings is by making a flange on the bottom of the
outer casing, underneath which flange are applied two axles standing at right
angles to each other; one end of the axle towards the flange is supplied with a
cross bar, and from the outer end is suspended a weighted lever.
When the lamp assumes a diagonal position the weighted levers remain perpen-
dicular, whilst the cross bars remain horizontal, thereby raising the flange with the
casings, and so extinguishing the flame..
Our Invention may be modified by pulling down or causing to drop on the flame
to extinguish it a cap or cover which is in communication with the apparatus above
described for actuating the casings or ring.
The details of the self-acting mechanical arrangements for extinguishing the
flames of lamps when upset or inclined may be varied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Godfrey Anthony Ermen and Edwin Ermen in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th May 1877.
GODFREY ANTHONY ERMEN and EDWIN ERMEN, both of Eccles, in the County
of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS."
Our Invention is particularly applicable to lamps for burning volatile oils, and it
consists in applying to such lanips a self-acting apparatus for extinguishing the
flame when the lamp is upset or when it assumes an inclination of or approaching
to an angle of 45°.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into, operation we will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in
which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a lamp for burning volatile oil, constructed
according to our improvements, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
a is the stand forming also the receptacle for the volatile oil; b is the circular
wick, the level of which is regulated by the milled knob c and by a pinion in the
usual manner. At the top of the stand a is the rim d, on which fits the crown e
for supporting the chimney, which is made, by preference, in two or more parts
to facilitate the cleaning and to reduce the breaking by unequal expansion. To the
crown e is fixed the cap e', which is open at the top; this opening should be of a
smaller diameter than the inside of the wick. The wick is placed between the tube
g, which is secured to the top of the stand a, and the inner casing h, and at the out-
side of the tube g is the outer casing i, shewn attached in Fig. 3. The inner casing
his provided with an air tube . To the inner casing is attached the upper end
of a strong wire, which passes through a guide in the top of the casing, and the
lower end of the wire rests upon the disc , which has sides to guide it in the
stand a; these sides are perforated as shewn, or in any other convenient manner, to
reduce the weight; the disc rests upon the metal or other ball, which fits in the
inverted cone m, forming the inner bottom of the stand a. The inverted cone may

page_text: be made of any angle. The upper end of the wire jis bent at right angles and
flattened, and at the bottom of the outer casing i is a slot, fitting upon the
flattened end of the wire j.
The Drawing, Fig. 1, represents the parts in the positions they occupy when the
lamp is supposed to be lit, the air for supporting combustion being supplied to the
burner through the perforations in the crown e, part of the air passing outside and
part inside as usual.
The action of the parts for extinguishing the flame of the burner is as follows:-
When the lamp is upset, or when it is canted over to an angle greater than that of
the inverted cone m, as shewn in Fig. 4, the ball rolls down the incline m and
acts upon the disc ; the wire with the inner and outer casings h and i are then
moved towards the cap e¹, while the top of the wick remains at the same level.
As soon as the upper ends of the casings touch the inside of the cap they shut off
the passage of the air, thereby instantly extinguishing the flame of the burner.
The above lamp may be modified by dispensing with the outer casing i, and
retaining the inner casing h, the opening of which coincides with the opening in the
cap e. By moving the inner casing against the cap in the manner described the
draught of air is stopped.
Fig. 5 is a section, and Fig. 6 a plan of part of a lamp to which a modification
of our Invention is applied; this arrangement is suitable for flat wicks. To the
top of the stand a is screwed the bush a², to which is fixed the tube g, which is
surrounded by the casing i fixed to the strong wire j, the lower end of which rests
upon a disc similar to k in Fig. 1. To the bush a is hinged the cap e¹, to which is
fixed the bridge e², at each side of which is an opening for the passage of air.
When this lamp is upset or canted to one side the wire j moves the casing i until it
comes against the bridge e, thereby shutting off the air and extinguishing the flame.
of the burner; or the bridge e may be dispensed with, and the opening in the cap e¹
contracted until it corresponds in size with the opening in the casing i. In this
arrangement the air would be shut off, and the flame extinguished when the casing
comes in contact with the cap.
We also use a lamp with a cap of the ordinary make with an opening for the
flame right over the wick, but in this case we use an clastic or mechanically
contracting casing composed of several parts, placed vertically and circumferentially.
We can also use this ordinary cap by placing the wick sideways of the opening so
much that the left side of the wick coincides with the left side of the opening, or
vice versa.
The caps above described can be dispensed with by making the tops of the
casings to close either by the elasticity of the parts or by hinging the parts to a
sliding case, which hinged parts are closed in by a ring, which is moved up and
down in the same manner as the wire j above described.
Fig. 7 is an elevation, and Fig. 8, a plan of another apparatus for moving the
casings to shut off the air. At the bottom of the outer casing i is a flange, beneath
which are two axles m and n, standing at right angles to each other; the inner
casing is fixed to the outer casing i. Each axle is provided with a cross bar, and
to each axle is fixed a weighted lever. When the lamp assumes a diagonal position
the weighted levers remain perpendicular, and either one or both of the cross bars
acting on the flange of the outer casing cause the upper end of the casings to close
against the cap e', thereby extinguishing the flame as before described.
Our Invention may be modified by pulling down or causing to drop on to the
flame to extinguish it a cap or cover which is in communication with the apparatus
above described for actuating the casings or ring.
Fig. 9 represents a self-extinguishing lamp constructed according to another
modification of our Invention; in this arrangement the burner is of the ordinary
construction, the receptacle for the volatile oil forms the upper part of the stand a,
and the chimney fits loosely on the ring a³. When the lamp is burning the air
passes through the apertures in the bush a to the burner, the requisite draught
being produced by the chimney. As soon as the lamp is upset or canted over

page_text: sufficiently the chimney falls off by its own gravity, and the draught being thus cut
off instantly extinguishes the flame. Or the chimney f may be raised by an
apparatus similar to that shewn in Figs. 7 and 8.
Fig. 9 also represents an elevation of an oil receptacle by which it is intended to
prevent the oil from running through the wick tube when the lamp is upset or
lying down. This receptacle is as follows:-We place the tube a in the receptacle a,
making it air-tight at its upper end with the receptacle, and this tube is of such a
length that only a certain quantity of oil can be poured into the receptacle, leaving
the upper part of the receptacle air-tight and full of air. When the lamp is upset
the oil leaves the position under the mouth of the tube and settles in the space
below the inclined tube, thus preventing the exit of the oil through the tube and
its being ignited through the continued burning of the wick. The receptacle with
tube a may be applied to oil lamps of every description.
Figs. 10 and 11 represent another modification of our self-extinguishing lamp; in
this case an ordinary burner is fixed to the top of the receptacle a containing
volatile oil, and on each side of the burner is a conical tube o containing heavy oil
or other suitable liquid; these tubes o are united by horizontal tubes, in one of
which is an opening for supplying the heavy oil or other liquid. When the lamp
is upset the heavy oil or other liquid from the conical tubes o is discharged on to
the wick, and extinguishes the flaine.
The details of the mechanical and other arrangements above described for
extinguishing the flames of lamps when upset or inclined may be varied.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, and described several modes of
carrying the same into practical operation, we declare that we claim,―
First. The loose casings h and i when used separately or combined, and the
mechanism shewn and described in reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, for pressing
them against the cap e¹ to extinguish the flame when the lamp is upset or inclined.
Secondly. The loose casing i, and the bridge e against which it is pressed, as
shewn in Figs. 5 and 6, to extinguish the flame, as above described.
Thirdly. The loose casing i acting in combination with the sides of the slot in a
stationary cap, as described in reference to Fig. 5.
Fourthly. The elastic or mechanically contracting casing acting in combination
with a cap of the ordinary construction, as described.
Fifthly. Closing the tops of the casings by the elasticity of the parts or by a
sliding ring, as described.
Sixthly. The improved combination of machinery for moving the casings or the
rings above referred to, as shewn and described in reference to Figs. 7 and 8.
Seventhly. Causing the cap or cover c¹, above referred to, to descend on to the
flaine of the burner, or on to the casing, for the purpose described.
Eighthly. The improved lamp shewn and described in reference to Fig. 9, in
which the flame is extinguished on the upper part of the chimney falling off.
Ninthly. The oil receptacle shewn in Fig. 9 with the tube a, and the application
thereof for the purpose described.
And, Tenthly. Extinguishing the flame of a lamp in which volatile oil is
consumed by discharging heavy oil or other liquid on the wick, as shewn and
described in reference to Figs. 11 and 12.
In witness whereof, we, the said Godfrey Anthony Ermen and Edwin Ermen,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-third day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
GODFREY ANTHONY ERMEN. (L.S.)
EDWIN ERMEN.
(L.S.)