IM- PROVEMENTS IN LAMPS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Croome, of Kilmersdon Radstock, near
Bath, in the County of Somerset, Surgeon, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN LAMPS."
Sealed the 11th April 1862, and dated the 18th October 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Croome at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th October 1861.
I, WILLIAM CROOME, of Kilmersdon Radstock, near Bath, in the County
of Somerset, Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in lamps are intended chiefly for railway carriage and
other over-head lamps, in which oil or other liquid is used.
My Invention consists in having the orifice of the wick-holder level with
or slightly above the top of the reservoir which contains the oil or other
liquid used, and in surrounding the wick-holder wholly or in part with the
reservoir, the reservoir being formed of metal with a reflecting exterior,
and shaped so that it reflects light directly from the flame of the lamp, and
indirectly by means of a reflector placed above it. The orifice of the wick-
holder being level with or a little higher than the top of the reservoir, the oil
or other liquid used does not flow over, and the upper reflector, being so placed

page_text: as aforesaid, diffuses the light so as to counteract the shadow which otherwise
would be thrown by the reservoir.
My Invention will be better understood by reference to the annexed Draw-
ings, of which Figure A represents a lamp with my improvements, that is to
say, the orifice of the wick-holder, slightly above the reservoir, which in the
Drawing surrounds the wick-holder, such reservoir being shaped in conformity
with the above description of it, and a reflector as before described placed
above it. Figure B is a section of Figure A.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Croome in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 15th April 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CROOME, of Kilnursdon Radstock, near Bath, in the County of Somerset,
Surgeon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Croome, Her special licence that I, the said William
Croome, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Croome, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Croome, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Croome, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: Statement, reference being bad to the Drawings hereunto annexed (that is
to say):-
My Invention consists of improvements in lamps in which oil or other
liquid is used, by which improvements the overflow at the wick of the oil or
other liquid used is prevented, and the shadows of the parts of the lamp are
lessened or overcome.
My Invention is most suited for railway carriage roof lamps and other:
overhead lamps, but it may be applied to lamps to hang against walls, and to
paddle-box lamps and to other lamps. I prevent the overflow by having the
orifice of the wick-holder level with or slightly above the top of the reservoir
which contains the oil or other liquid used. I surround the wick-holder
wholly or in part with the reservoir, as shewn on the Drawings, Figures 1
and 2, leaving a space between the reservoir and the wick-holder, as shewn in
the Drawing, Nos. 5 and 6. The reservoir is formed of metal with a reflect-
ing exterior. For railway carriage roof lamps and other overhead lamps, the
reservoir and wick holder, shaped as in Figure 1, of which Figure 3 is a
section, are the most suitable. Lamps shaped as in Figure 2, of which
Figure 4 is a section, are suitable for hanging against a wall. The aperture
at the top of the reservoir should be sufficiently large to allow of the rays from
the flame passing through and dispersing themselves underneath. The upper
side of the reservoir on the exterior is convex, the under side may be
either convex or flat, but it is better that it should be convex, except in lamps
to hang against walls. It should be so constructed that the rays of light
should impinge on the upper and under surface. The reservoir and wick
holder are surmounted by a reflector, having an aperture in it for the flame to
pass through or to admit the chimney of the lamp. In railway roof lamps, the
chimney is better fixed to the reflector, having the bottom of the chimney
fixed to and flush with the top of the upper reflector, as shewn in the Drawing,
Figure 1. The upper reflector is to be fixed over the reservoir, so high that
the upper edge of the reflector shall be about the height of or a little higher
than the top of the flame from the wick. The inclination of the upper reflector
to the flame may be varied according to the requirements of the lamp. In
railway roof lamps, it will be found better to have the upper reflector flatter or
more approaching to right angles with the line of flame. In lamps by which
it is desired to concentrate more light beneath the lamp, it will be found better
to make the upper reflector slope more downwards. The reservoir and upper
reflector may be fitted to the frame of the lamp in any suitable way. In
railway roof lamps it is convenient to support the reservoir in the glass
by two upright pieces of metal fitted to the lower edge of the reservoir,

page_text: and having a cross piece at the top that rests on a shelf in the frame of the
lamp.
I claim as my Invention the combination of the reflecting reservoir with
the wick-holder level with or raised slightly above the top of the reservoir,
with the reflecting reservoir wholly or in part surrounding the wick-holder, with
the reflector placed above, the reservoir being shaped as herein-before and in
the said Drawings described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Croome, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
S. HANSFORD CROOME,
Iron Acton, Gloucestershire,
No occupation.
WILLIAM CROOME. (L.s.)