Improvements in or connected with Extinguishing Mechanism for Lamps.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1893-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Extinguishing Mechanism
for Lamps.
I AUGUST KIESOW of 25 Fore Street Avenue in the City of London Lamp
Manufacturer 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in or connected with extinguishing
mechanism for lamps and is more especially applicable to hydro-carbon burners.
In the use of hydro-carbon lamps it sometimes unfortunately happens that the
lamp is overturned and this commonly results in serious loss of property, and
sometimes of life, from fire.
Many devices have been suggested for automatically extinguishing the flame of
the lamp upon the overturning thereof but in most cases they have been of such a
character that they did not come into operation until the lamp had assumed a
horizontal or approximately horizontal position by falling or otherwise and they
were consequently not sufficiently sensitive to afford a perfect security against
accidents such as that above referred to.
Now the object of my present invention is to obtain a simple and inexpensive
device free from springs or trigger arrangements which will automatically extinguish
the flame of the lamp upon the latter assuming a dangerous inclination in the event
of the overturning thereof and before any harm can result from the spilling of the
oil and from a consequent fire or explosion; and a further object of my invention
is to render the extinguisher inoperative at will so that the lamp can be transported
from one place to another without danger of the extinguishing appliance coming
into action.
My invention is more especially intended for use in connection with round wick
burners of a certain class and I will therefore describe it in that connection but it
is also applicable to flat wick burners.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ a round wick burner of that class
in which a button or flame spreader, located above the wick tube, is employed and
I provide outside the wick case a telescopic tube adapted to be brought against
the underside of the flame spreader or button in order to extinguish the flame.
I connect this extinguishing tube by means of a link with the inner end of a
horizontal lever mounted upon a centre of motion carried by the body of the
burner and which lever is at its outer end provided with an eye or loop for the
purpose hereinafter described so that by depressing the outer end of the lever
the extinguishing tube will be raised in the manner before described and the flame
of the lamp extinguished and these parts are normally so balanced that the weight
of the extinguishing tube will more than counterbalance the extinguishing lever
and will normally retain the same in a horizontal position.
Within the eye or loop at the outer end of the extinguishing lever is loosely
mounted a weight which is formed below the body thereof with a foot connected
with the body by a stem and this foot is of such area that it will not pass through
the eye or loop of the lever and thus whilst the accidental detachment of the weight
from the lever is prevented the weight has perfect freedom of motion within certain
limits independently of the lever.
The body of the weight is formed conical or rounded with a flat underside, and
rising from the body is a narrow neck which supports a head of a similar shape to
the body and the office of this head is to suspend the weight from a rest which I
will now proceed to describe, the bottom of the weight when thus suspended being

page_text: held above the eye of the extinguishing lever and with the stem of the foot
centrally thereof.
Above the extinguishing lever and projecting from the body of the burner is a
bracket which rises vertically to a suitable height where it is provided with a
horizontal frame which overhangs the eye or loop of the extinguishing lever and
forms a rest for the head of the weight hereinbefore described.
This frame which may be of horse-shoe shape is bent or curved downward
towards its flat side and the latter is centrally divided or formed with a narrow
opening therethrough and the parts of the frame adjacent to this opening are
enlarged to form platforms and pointed or rounded whilst upon their upper
they are formed flat or approximately in order to constitute a rest for the head of
the weight herein before described.
surface
The object of constructing the rest for the head of the weight in the peculiar
manner hereinbefore described is to enable the same, upon the inclination of the
lamp and consequently of the rest, to become dislodged from its seat, whatever may
be the direction of such inclination, and also to fall clear of any obstruction and
the body and head of the weight are formed of a conical or rounded shape as
hereinbefore described so that in their fall they may glance off from any object
with which they may come in contact.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the weight is suspended
from its rest, the extinguishing tube and lever will occupy their normal positions
whilst upon the lamp receiving a blow or being held at or otherwise assuming a
dangerous inclination, the head of the weight will slip off the rest, no matter what
may be the direction of such inclination, and the body thereof will fall upon the
outer end of the extinguishing lever thereby suddenly raising the extinguishing
tube against the button or flame spreader and instantaneously extinguishing the
flame of the lamp, the impact of the falling weight upon the extinguishing lever
contributing to the suddenness of this operation.
In order to enable the lamp to be transported from place to place whilst alight
and without risk of the extinguishing device accidentally coming into operation,
I employ a locking device consisting of a cap or hood adapted to fit the head of
the weight and which is fixed to the outer end of an arm the inner end of which
is hinged to the frame so that when desired the cap may be caused to embrace
the head of the weight and thus hold it securely suspended upon its rest.
In some cases I surround the weight with a guard ring or cage carried by the
extinguishing lever in order to keep it better under control.
As a further modification I sometimes connect the weight with the extinguishing
lever by means of a universal joint or a short length of chain but the loose
connection hereinbefore described is that which I prefer.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully to
describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a round wick or Argand hydro-carbon burner
having my invention applied thereto and showing the extinguishing mechanism set
in readiness to act, and
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the extinguishing mechanism in the position
it would assume in action.
Figure 3 is a separate view of parts.
Figure 4 is a plan thereof.
Figure 5 is an end view thereof.
Figure 6 represents a part of Figure 1 but showing the locking cap embracing
the head of the weight.
Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 5 but with some of the parts removed.
Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Figure 7.

page_text: Figure 10 15
modification.
somewat similar view to Figure representing a sigut
Figure 11 is a plan thereof, and
Figure 12 is a separate view of parts showing the weight fallen from its rest and .
depressing the extinguishing lever.
Figures 13 and 14 are plans of the ring or cage and eye or loop respectively.
Figure 15 represents a modified method of connecting the weight with the
extinguishing lever and
Figure 16 is an end view thereof.
In the several figures, in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference, Figures 3 to 5 and 7 to 16 are drawn to an increased scale with respect
to Figures 1, 2 and 6.
Referring to Figures 1 to 9, a represents the body of a burner of the round wick
or Argand type in which a button or flame spreader a¹ located above the wick tube a
is employed and represents a telescopic tube which loosely fits the outside of the
wick tube a² and is adapted to be brought against the underside of the flame
spreader or button a¹ in order to extinguish the flame of the lamp as hereinafter
more fully described.
The extinguishing tube is connected by means of a hinged or flexible link b¹
with the inner end of a horizontal lever which is mounted upon an axis or centre
of motion 63 carried by the body a of the burner and this lever, at its outer end,
is provided with an eye or loop for the purpose hereinafter described, these parts
being so arranged that by depressing the outer end of the lever the extinguishing
tube b will be raised in the manner herein before described and as indicated at Figure 2
and the flame of the lamp will be extinguished; but these parts are so balanced
that the weight of the wick tube will more than counterbalance the extinguishing
lever and will therefore normally occupy its depressed position, and thus retain
the lever in a horizontal position as indicated at Figure 1.
Within the eye or loop at the outer end of the extinguishing lever ² is loosely
mounted a weight c which is formed below the body thereof with a foot c¹ connected
with the body c by a stem c² and this foot c' is of such dimensions that it will not
pass through the eye or loop 6 of the lever 62, and thus whilst the accidental
detachment of the weight e from the lever is prevented, the weight chas perfect
freedom of motion within certain limits independently of the lever 2.
"
The body of the weight c is formed conical or rounded with a flat underside, and
rising from the body c is a narrow neck et which supports a head of a similar
shape to the body, and the office of this head c³ is to suspend the weight e from a
rest which will now be described, the bottom of the weight when thus suspended
being held above the eye 6 of the extinguishing lever, and with the stem c² of
the foot c¹ centrally thereof.
Above the extinguishing lever 62 and projecting from the body a of the burner
is a bracket d' which rises vertically to a suitable height where it is provided with
a horizontal or approximately horizontal frame d, which overhangs the eye or
loop of the extinguishing lever 6' and forms a rest for the head of the weight c
hereinbefore described.
This framed which is of horse-shoe shape, although it might be of any other
convenient form, is bent or curved downward towards its outer or flat side, and the
latter is centrally divided, or formed with a narrow opening d² therethrough, and
the parts of the frame d adjacent to this opening and which parts constitute
a rest. for the head c³ of the weight e hereinbefore described are enlarged or spread
out horizontally and at their ends are pointed, rounded, or cut away, whilst upon
their upper surface they are formed flat or approximately flat, so as to constitute a
rest for the head of the weight c.
The object of constructing the rest for the head of the weight in the
peculiar manner herein before described, is to enable the head c³ of the weight upon
the dangerous inclination of the lamp and consequently of the rest d³ to become
dislodged from its seat d³ whatever may be the direction of such inclination, and

page_text: also to fall clear of any obstruction, and the body c and head of the weight are
formed of a conical or rounded shape as hereinbefore shown and described, so that
in their fall they may glance off any object with which they may accidentally come
in contact.
It will be evident that the form of the frame d may be varied, provided the
general body thereof is arranged above or out of the course traversed by the
falling weight.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the weight c is by its
head ca suspended from the rest d³, the extinguishing tube 6 and Jever will occupy
their normal positions as indicated at Figure 1, whilst upon the lamp receiving a
blow, or being held at or otherwise assuming a dangerous inclination, the head e of
the weight will slip off the rest ³, no matter what may be the direction of such
inclination or blow, and the body c of the weight will fall upon the outer end of
the extinguishing lever and continuously depress the same, thereby suddenly
raising the extinguishing tube against the button or flame spreader a', as indicated
at Figure 2, and instantaneously extinguishing the flame of the lamp; the impact
of the falling weight c upon the extinguishing lever & contributing to the suddenness
of this operation.
When it is desired to employ the extinguishing device in the ordinary manner,
to extinguish the flame of the lamp, it is merely necessary to dislodge the head c³
of the weight c from the seat or rest d³, when the extinguishing mechanism will at
once act in the manner hereinbefore described.
In order to enable the lamp to be transported from place to place whilst alight,
and without risk of the extinguishing mechanism accidentally coming into
operation, I employ a locking device consisting of a cap d adapted to fit the head c
of the weight, and which is fixed to the outer end of an arm d which is hinged at de
to the frame d, so that when desired the cap may be caused to embrace the
head of the weight cas represented at Figure 6, and thus hold it securely
suspended upon its rest.
In the example given at Figures 10 to 14, the weight c is furnished with a foot c¹
of modified shape permitting of a longer stem c² being employed, whilst a guard
ring or cage carried by a bracket or standard 6 from the extinguishing lever
surrounds the weight c and keeps it under more complete control when it falls from
its seat or rest.
As a modification of the loose connection of the weight c with the lever 2,
hereinbefore described, a short chain might be substituted for the foot c¹ and eye or
loop, but in all cases it is essential that the lever 2 be formed with au
enlargement at to receive the falling weight c.
In the example given at Figures 15 and 16 is shown a modified method of
rendering the weight e inseparable from the extinguishing lever 6³.
In this case the ring upon the extinguishing lever 2 and the enlarged foot c¹
to the weight care dispensed with and the stem of the weight is connected with
the lever by means of a universal joint *; but this construction is inferior to
that hereinbefore described, inasmuch as the weight has not any vertical
movement independently of the lever 62 and consequently the impact of the weight,
falling from its seat d³ on to the lever, is lost.
Although I have hereinbefore shown and described my invention in connection
with a round wick burner, it will be evident that it is equally applicable to flat
wick burners, the extinguishing device of which is actuated by a horizontal lever.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In an extinguishing mechanism for lamps the combination of a moveable
extinguishing device, a lever at its inner end flexibly connected therewith and
mounted upon a centre of motion, a weight loosely connected with the outer end of
the lever and adapted to be loosely supported by a seat or rest, and a seat or rest

page_text: for the weight located over the outer end of the lever, the whole of the parts being
so arranged that upon the weight being dislodged from its seat it will fall upon the
lever and impart thereto a continuous downward movement, substantially as herein
shown and described and for the purpose stated.
2. In an extinguishing mechanism of the character referred to in Claim 1, a rest
or seat for a weight consisting of two platforms arranged opposite each other on
the same horizontal plane and shaped to a point or approximately so and forming
part of or carried by a frame or support bent downward or descending from a
higher level so that the weight may fall in any direction without obstruction
substantially as herein shown and described.
3. In an extinguishing mechanism of the character referred to in Claim 1, a
weight loosely connected with an extinguishing lever and formed with a head
connected with the body by a narrow neck in combination with a seat or means of
suspension for the weight head and consisting of two platforms so formed and
arranged that the weight upon being dislodged therefrom will fall clear thereof,
substantially as herein shown and described.
4. In an extinguishing mechanism for lamps the combination of an extinguishing
device adapted to be actuated by a lever, an actuating lever, a seat or rest for a
weight located over the outer end of the lever, and a weight adapted to be loosely
supported by the seat and when dislodged to fall upon and depress the lever
substantially as herein shown and described.
5. In combination with an extinguishing apparatus of the character referred to in
the preceding claim, a cage located at the outer end of the extinguishing lever for
receiving or controlling the movements of the falling weight substantially as herein
shown and described.
6. In an extinguishing mechanism for lamps, the combination of an extinguishing
device adapted to be actuated by a lever, a lever mounted upon a centre of motion
and at its inner end loosely connected with the extinguishing device and at its outer
end formed with a ring or eye, a weight formed with a foot of larger area than the
eye of the lever and connected with its body by a stem passing through the eye,
and with a head connected with the body by a narrow neck, and a seat or means of
suspension for the weight head so formed and arranged that the weight upon being
dislodged therefrom will fall clear thereof substantially as herein shown and
described.
7. In an extinguishing mechanism for lamps, the combination of an extinguishing
device adapted to be actuated by a falling weight, a rest or seat for a weight, a
weight and a device for locking the same with its seat at the times desired
substantially as herein shown and described.
8. In an extinguishing mechanism of the character referred to in Claim 5, a
locking device for the weight consisting of a hood or cap adapted to embrace the
head and carried by an arm hinged to the frame of the weight seat substantially as
herein shown and described.
Dated this 1st day of December 1893.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.