Improvements in Lamp Burners.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in Lamp Burners.
A communication from abroad by FRITZ DEIMEL and EMIL VON BÜHLER, both of
Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer and Tradesman respectively.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, (ivil
Engineer 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 :-
The hereinafter described invention relates to Improvements in lamps, and more
especially in Petroleum lamps. The object of the improvements is to insure an absolute
combustion of the illuminant, that is to say the production of a white flame similar
to that of a lime light, the arrangement whereby this end is attained being at the
same time almost free from smell, and quite safe.
In order to attain the said object it was necessary to construct a burner, which
could be heated considerably, and could thereby volatilize to a certain extent the
illuminant conducted thereto. But at the same time in order to avert the danger of
an explosion, which might arise from the highly heated state of the burner, a new
device has been provided for the purpose of feeding the burner with the illuminant.
The use of this device necessitates the petroleum reservoir being placed at a safe
distance from the burner.
The novelty of the burner as represented on the annexed drawing consists
therefore,
1, of the arrangement of a feeding wick which completely fills a narrow annular
vessel and is independent of the guiding device of the wick burner. The wick burner
can be moved past the feeding wick so that any danger of explosion is avoided, as the
two wicks fill up the whole vessel.
2 of the combination of a plain burner cap, one or more perforated burner caps,
the perforations of which stand higher than the burning surface of the wick, and a

page_text: perforated plate below the said caps. By means of this combination the burner gets
highly heated whilst the lamp is being used, the petroleum is transformed into a gas,
the flame is also regulated, and a straight cylindrical lamp glass can be used instead
of a bulged one.
3 of the arrangement of a peculiar wick mechanism, which prevents the parts of
the burner, even when the latter is heated to its greatest temperature, from becoming
unserviceable through the melting of the solder, which unites them.
On the annexed drawings,
Figure 1 is an elevation of a lamp provided with the above mentioned improve-
ments.
Figure 2 is a vertical section through the centre of the entire burner showing the
double guiding device of the same.
Figure 3 is an elevation of a double burner cap.
Figure 4 is a vertical section through the centre of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section along line I, I, of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is an outside view of the feeding wick.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of the same.
Figure 8 is a horizontal section along line I I-II of Figure 7,
As shown in the drawings (Figure 2) the petroleum is conducted by means of the
small pipe A (which can also be filled with wick) to the outer wick vessel B. where it
is absorbed by the wick C placed therein. The petroleum taken up by the latter
wick C passes through the openings f of the middle wick tube E, over the outside of
which the wick C is drawn, and comes in contact with the burner wick D, which is
fixed round the tube E¹. This burner wick can be raised and lowered by means of
the toothed wheels F. The feeding wick being saturated with petroleum, gives the
latter, by capillary attraction, to the burner wick D, into which it is absorbed and
rises therein, so that on lighting the wick, a flame is produced. The admission of air
to the inside of the flame takes place through the drip pan H, which is provided with
apertures H. The air ascending through the central part of the burner strikes
against the underside of the distributor or deflecting disc i, which is fixed above the
said central part E¹, and is capable of being adjusted. Besides the outside plain cap O,
the burner alse carries an inner cap K, the base K', and sides K' of which are
perforated. The inner cap (one only being shown on the drawings) rests on an
inclined perforated metallic plate L surrounding the outer tube of the burner wick,
and extending to the outer cap. The air is led, by means of the openings M of the
perforated part M¹, to the openings in the plate L and cap K, which supply the said
air to the outer surface of the flame. Another object of this arrangement is to heat
the inflowing air, previous to its reaching the flame, and it also permits the use of a
plain straight cylindrical chimney for the lamp (such as those used for gas and Argand
burners) because the flame is circumscribed by the caps. All the wick guiding
devices hitherto known, have the disadvantage that they do not embrace and guide
the wick upwards uniformly.
When the wick end is not protruding uniformly all round and above the burner
end of the wick tubes, the well known flaming tongues are produced. These flaming
tongues blacken the glass chimney, and produce unhealthy smells. Besides this, the
burners hitherto known do not fulfil the conditions laid down in the foregoing, because
the melting of the solder, by which the parts are connected together, can not be
avoided when the burner becomes highly heated.
In the arrangement hereinafter described, the wick is embraced by two pairs of
toothed wheels diametrically opposite to each other, in consequence of which the said
wick can be screwed up or down in an absolutely uniform manner.
On the accompanying drawings :
Figure 9 is a side view of the part of the lamp which carries the new wick guiding
device.
Figure 10 a vertical section of Figure 9.
Figure 11 a top view of the burner.

page_text: Figure 13 is a top view, showing specially the revolving disc, which is provided
with spiral thread.
Figure 14 is a graphic representation of the spiral thread.
N is a disc revolving on the body P, and provided with projecting pins P¹, which
enter into corresponding slots in the lamp, and form, with said slots, a bayonet joint.
To the disc N are attached the spiral ribs N1, N2, N3, N*, over which the teeth of the
driving wheels F of the wick raising device slide, in such a manner that the said
wheels are set slowly in motion. The four small wheels F turn on a ring Q¹ which is
soldered to and sprung over the outer tube Q of the burner wick. The said wheels
pass through slots F₁ and press against the wick D. It is therefore obvious from the
description of this arrangement that when the spirally ribbed disc N is turned to the
right or to the left, the wicks moving wheels F will also turn to the right or to
the left, and, carrying the wick with them, will screw it upwards or downwards.
The solidity of the above described system of wick guiding device is mainly
distinguished from those hitherto known by the manner in which the axes of the
toothed wheels are supported, the ring Q¹ being sprung for a short distance into the
(outer) wick tube so that it can never get loose.
Furthermore, the teeth of the moving wheels cannot get worn on their points,
because the spiral ribs bear against their sides, and even when they become worn,
they grip the spiral threads all the more securely.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, 1 declare that what I claim is :-
1st. In a lamp burner the arrangement of a feeding wick (C) completely filling a
wick vessel (B), and independent of the burner wick raising gear; the said feeding
wick being slipped over the outside surface of an intermediate tube (E) provided at
its upper part with apertures (f), the said intermediate tube (E), and feeding wick (C)
being slipped over the burner wick (D) so as to completely fill the wick vessel, and
avoid danger of explosion, the whole substantially as described.
2nd. In a lamp burner, the combination of a plain burner cap (0), of one or more
inner perforated burner caps (K), the openings (K2) of which project a little beyond
the burning end of the wick, and of a perforated plate (L) placed under the said
burner caps for the purpose of highly heating the burner, and thereby volatilizing the
illuminant, and rendering it possible to use straight glass chimneys.
3rd. In a lamp burner, a wick guiding device in which several moving wheels F
turning on a ring Q₁ fixed on the outside of the burner wick tube (Q), gear with
spiral ribs (N Netcetera) attached to a revolving disc (N) in such a manner that by
turning the said disc to right or left, the wheels (F) turn accordingly to right or left,
and so screw the wick of the burner up and down uniformly, this arrangement
ensuring the advantages that even with the highest temperatures, or greatest amount
of wear, the burner does not become unserviceable.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1887.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.