Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 15th Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 18th Oct., 1887
I FRANCIS ROBERT BAKER of Snow Hill, Birmingham in the county of Warwick
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :―
This invention relates to the construction of Hydrocarbon and other oil lamps, and
has for its object the storing of the oil to be consumed, at the foot of such lamp stand,
instead of being immediately near underneath the burner as at prosent in use.
Very much danger arises in the use of the lamps as now constructed, by reason of
the close proximity of the oil vessel to the flame. The oil chamber becomes more or
less heated, and as the oil sinks in the said chamber, explosive gases are given off, and
collect in the increasing space in such chamber which often proves mischievous.
I therefore in my invention dispense with the ordinary oil vessel being placed on
the top of the stand, or otherwiso near the burner, and provide the oil reservoir, in the
foot or base of the said lamp stand.
The oil thus stored for use, is forced in a measured or limited quantity up the stand
into contact with the wick and near to the burner by means of compressed air.
I provide the upright pillar of the lamp stand of a tubular form. At or near the
junction of the pillar with the base, the inside of the pillar is shut off from the base
into separate airtight compartments, the compartment in the base being as before
intimated reserved for the oil. This pillar compartment is further sub-divided off and
disposed of as follows:-Central within the said pillar, and extending from the base
upwards to about say 4ths of the height of the pillar I form an inner airtight chamber
for the purpose of receiving compressed air, and of a capacity necessary for the
storage of a sufficient quantity of air to discharge the contents of the oil reservoir in
the base. From this compressed air chamber carry a supply pipe to the exterior,
FD

page_text: and preferably through and to the underside of the oil reservoir, and near to the sido
of such reservoir, terminating there in a back pressure valve, whereto I may readily
attach or detach an air hand feed pump.
From the inside of the compressed air chamber, and from near the top, 1 carry
another air pipe down to and through the bottom into the base, and thence near to the
bottom of such base, and connect thereto a tap or cock, which may be readily opened
or closed from the exterior of the base, the said air pipe passing on thence upwards
and terminating and discharging itself near the top of the oil reservoir.
Again, at the upper end of the compressed air chamber I form a block, after the
manner of a screw down valve seat. Through this block a central tapped hole is
formed, and connected thereto and forming a continuation of the said hole, I fix an oil
supply pipe, which runs down through the air chamber into the oil reservoir,
terminating near to the bottom of such reservoir, and preferably of a bell mouthed
shape.
From the block or soat at the upper part of the air chamber to the top of the stand,
is formed a receptacle to receive a float indicator, and the wicks of the lamp. This
float indicator may be constructed in several ways, but one way in which 1 may make
it, would be to form a somewhat rectangular shaped box, having a stem attached
thereto. This float may however, he made of cork, wood, or metal &c. The vessel
containing the float &c., would be cylindrical in external shape, having at one end a
screw to fit into the screwed hole in the block, (at the top of air chamber). This
vessel (for a duplex burner) would be divided into three compartments, the central
one being for the float, and the two, outsides for the wicks, the divisions however, being
only for the purpose of keeping the wicks from the float, need only be made of open
gauze or similar material.
The stem of the float passes through the part forming the screw upon the end of the
vessel, and being a tolerable good fit therein, but free to move up and down.
For a certain distance in the stem a flat would be formed, that is a portion of the
round wire forming the stem would be removed, so that when the vessel was empty of
or lacked oil, the float would descend, and the stem would pass through the hole in
the screw until the flat part thereon would extend beyond or below such screw hole,
and allow the oil to pass by and charge the vessel, when the float would again ascend
and cut off a further supply.
When the vessel is screwed down into its place, provision above it is made in the
upper part of the said vessel to receive the burner &c. of the lamp.
"Again, in order to charge the reservoir with oil, the burner &c. is removed out of the
way, the float vessel is unscrewed out and the oil poured down the central small tube.
In doing this however there would be some difficulty in case the air in the reservoir
could not escape to give place to the oil; to obviate this however I place a small air
escapo pipe from the upper part of the reservoir up through the air chamber to the
block or seat, and from the seat of the block I make a small hole communicating with
the pipe, so that when the vessel is removed in order to charge the reservoir with oil,
an open air passage is formed to the said reservoir, but when the vessel is in its place
and screwed down the said air passage is stopped.
The action of, & the mode of using the lamp thus far, would be somewhat as
follows: The burner &c. being removed, the float vessel being also removed, oil
would be supplied down the central tube into the reservoir, when the float vessel and
the burner &c. would be replaced. I then close the air tap or cock, at the bottom of the
base, and by means of the air pump charge the compressed air chamber through
the back pressure valve, then the lamp is charged both with oil and air, but the air is
prevented from acting upon and forcing the oil upwards, by reason of the air tap or
cock being closed. When therefore the lamp is about to be used, the tap. is opened
and the compressed air is admitted to the upper part of the reservoir, thus forcing the
up the central tube into the float vessel, and to the wicks &c.
oil
There is a possibility of the forced supply, being too, rapid for the consumption by
the burner &c., which would occasion an overflow of oil In order to obviate this I

page_text: provide an annular compartment lengthwise and exterior to the compressed air
chamber, into which I place an overflow tank.
Near the top of the float vessel, I perforate holes, which communicate with the
overflow tank, and by which the overflow oil may pass off into the said tank. A handle
or other convenient device is attached to the top of this tank, by which it may bo
readily removed, & emptied and then replaced.
Instead of having a separate air feed pump to charge the compressed air, I may fix
such pump underneath the base, and arrange to work such pump through the side of
the said base.
The exterior of the pillar or base, may be covered or ornamented to suit taste or
design as may be desired.
101L
Show 1986

page_text: I FRANCIS ROBERT BAKER of Snow Hill, Birmingham in the county of Warwick
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:-
This invention relates to the construction of Hydro-carbon and other oil lamps, and
bas for its object the storing of the oil to be consumed, at the foot of such lamp stand,
instead of being immediately near underneath the burner as at present in use.
Very much danger arises in the use of the lamps as now constructed, by reason of
the close proximity of the oil vessel to the flame. The oil chamber becomes more.or
less heated, and as the oil sinks in the said chamber explosive gases are given off, and
collect in the increasing space in such chamber which often proves mischievous.
I therefore in my invention dispense with the ordinary oil vessel being placed on
the top of the stand, or otherwise near the burner, and provide the oil reservoir,
in the foot or base of the said lamp stand.
The oil thus stored for use, is forced in a measured or limited quantity up the
stand into contact with the wick and near to the burner by means of compressed
air after the manner herein further described and illustrated.
The precise details of construction of this my improved form of lamp may be
modified without departing from the nature of my invention, but in order to more
clearly set forth the nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same
inay be performed, I have appended hereunto an illustrative sheet of drawings
upon which are figures and letters of reference, liko letters throughout the several
views referring to the same thing or part.
'Fig. 1, is a sectional elevation shewing one arrangement in which this my invention
may be applied.
Fig. 2, is a sectional elevation showing a modified arrangement in which this my
invention may be applied.
Fig. 3, is a detail of Fig. 1. upon line A-—B.

page_text: reserved for the oil &c. This pillar compartment is further subdivided off and disposed
of as follows :-
Central within the said pillar and extending from the base upwards to about
three fourths (more or less) of the height of the pillar I form an inner airtight chamber c,
for the purpose of receiving compressed air, and of a capacity necessary for the storage
of a sufficient quantity of air to discharge the contents of the oil reservoir in the
base.
From this compressed air chamber I carry a supply pipe d, to the outside of
such air chamber and thence to the air pump e-From the inside of the com-
pressed air chamber C₁ I carry a pipe f, into the base at g, and in such pipe at h,
may provide a tap or cock, which would be readily opened or closed from the
exterior of such base.
Again, at the upper end of the compressed air chamber I form a block i some-
what similar to a valve seat. Through this block a central tapped hole is formed
and connected thereto, and forming a continuation of the said hole, I fix an oil
supply pipe, which passes through the air chamber c, into the oil reservoir k,
terminating near the bottom of such reservoir at 2. The end of this pipe at 1, would
be preferably of a bell mouthed form and provided with a gauze front for the purpose
of straining the oil passing thereinto.
From the block i upwards to the top of the pillar is formed a receptacle or con-
tainer m, to receive a regulating float n, and also the wick or wicks o, of the lamp.
This float n, may be constructed in several forms, but one way in which I may make
it would be to form a somewhat rectangular shaped box having a stem p, attached
thereto. This float may however be made of cork, wood or metal &c. The container m
would be generally of a cylindrical shape, and connected by soldering or otherwise to
the upper part of the air chamber c, and block i. This container m (for a duplex
burner) would be divided into three compartments, as seen in sectional plan in detail
Fig. 3, the central compartment being for the float n, and the two outsides for the
wicks. These divisions however, being only for the purpose of keeping the wicks o,
apart from the float n, need only be made of open metallic gauze or similar material.
The stem of the float passes through the part r, forming the screw at the lower and
of the container m, and made free to move up and down therein. For a part of its
length a flat would be formed at s, see Fig. 4, in order that when the container
became empty of, or lacked oil, the buoyant float n, would necessarily descend, and
the stem pass through the hole in the screw until the flat part thereon would extend
beyond or below such screw hole and allow the supply of oil from the pipe j, to pass
by and charge the container, when the float would again ascend and cut off a further
supply as seen in Fig. 4.
Provision is made in the upper part of the container to receive the burner t, of tho
lamp.
In order to charge the reservoir k, with oil, I may remove the burner, and also the
container and screw r, and pour the oil down the pipe j, but I find this troublesome
and inconvenient and prefer the following arrangement :-At u, or in other convenient
part near thereto, I provide a screw down inlet plug, having a taper face. By
removing this plug I may charge the reservoir with oil and then screw the plug
air-tight on to its face
As before intimated e, is the air pump. This pump may be made separate from the
lamp, and a nozzle formed upon the said lamp in connection with the pipe d, to which
the separate pump may be screwed for the purpose of charging the chamber
c, with
air under pressure, but generally I should prefer to encase or enclose the pump within.
the base of the lamp similarly as shewn in Figs. 1 & 2; v, is the piston, wo, the piston
rod, a, the handle, y the back pressure valve &c. I have not shewn in precise detail
the construction of the air pump, as it may be constructed in various ordinary forms,
for the purpose by means of a receprocating piston, to charge a supply of compressed
air into the chamber c.
For the purpose of the better preventing of the escape of air or oil, I may make

page_text: provision to screw cover caps over such parts as the handle or knob of the pump, or
the inlet plug u, or other necessary parts.
The action and mode of using the lamp thus far, would be somewhat thus:-
Having charged the lamp with oil through the plug u, and again replaced the said
plug, I close the air tap 1, and then by means of the air pump e, charge the chamber c
with air until a considerable pressure is attained. By reason however, of the air tap h
being closed the compressed air is prevented from acting upon and forcing the oil
upwards into the container m, to be consumed, when therefore the lamp is about
to be used, the tap h, is opened and the compressed air is admitted to the upper
part of the oil reservoir which forces the oil up the central tube j, into the container m
to the wicks o. At any time it should be desired that the oil supply should be
stopped, by closing the tap h, the air pressure would be cut off and consequently
the oil supply would also cease.
There is a possibility of the forced supply of oil being two rapid for the consumption
by the burner, which would occasion an overflow of oil.
In order to obviate this I provide an annular compartment, which of itself forms
an overflow tank or, if desired, by arranging that the container m, could be readily
removed, then a loose tank could be mado to fit into the said compartment z.
I prefer however the method illustrated, and perforate holes a², in order that the
overflow shall pass into the compartment z. At I provide a pipe which, when the
supply plug u, is removed for filling purposes the overflow would escape through
the pipe, into the reservoir.
In order to prevent any foreign matter passing into the container, which would be
likely to impede the action of the float &c., I may provide in addition to the strainer
at l, a double (or single) strainer at c¹; the oil having to pass through the gunze d¹ & e¹
see detail Fig. 6.
Again, Fig. 2 is a modification of Fig. 1 which in some respects carries out
my invention in a somewhat simpler form. As before a, is the tubular pillar which
is shutt off from base at b. The air chamber c, and the oil reservoir k, in this
case however form one and the same compartment. 1, is an air tight casing to
receive the pump c.
This casing admits of the pump being withdrawn, if at any
time so required for repairs &c., and serves also as a substitute for pipe d in Fig. 1,
by providing an air outlet at g. The air being pumped into the casing f', and
delivered through opening g', into the upper part of the base, that is, upon the
surface of the oil.
The oil is charged as before through the screw plug u. j, is again the supply
pipe passing from the base upwards into the container m.
In order to regulate the supply into the said container I have illustrated a
modification of that shewn in Fig. 1, and which generally I find more convenient.
I dispense with the float, and arrange it as follows:-
See Figs. 2 & detail Fig. 5. To the lower part of the block i, I attach a screw
cap h¹, into which the pipe j passes.
The block i is bored out to receive the piston i¹ and rod j¹. At k¹ I form a passage
from the lower part of the block i to its upper part into the piston rod passage. It
will also be seen that the upper part of the rod j¹ is made taper.
At is a weight tending to keep the rod and piston down.against the pressure from
the pipe j
The action of this regulator will be seen to be thus.
Upon the air being pumped into the air chamber c, the oil is as before forced up
the supply pipe j and lifts the piston 2, as shewn in detail Fig. 5, when the oil passes
on up the passage k into the piston rod passage and thence into the container m. By
making the piston rod with only a slight amount of freedom in the hole the oil is
forced along its sides into the container at a sufficient rate for consumption but as
the pressure in the air chamber decreases the piston, rod, and weight falls, and thus
reduces the length of parallel surface between the outlet of the passage k and the
taper part of the piston rod 1, by reason of which the resistance to the outflow of

page_text: the oil into the container is correspondingly diminished, so that the oil then flows in
easier, or which is the same thing with less pressure.
The various parts constituting the lamp may be ornamented or covered with
ornamental shell covering of metal, glass china or other material as may be desired
according to taste and design. In Fig. 1, m' is an ornamental base cover, concealing
reservoir &c., and n', a sliding ornamental cover which conceals the various working
parts, but which may be easily raised to give access to such parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The improvements in hydrocarbon and other oil lamps as hereindescribed and
illustrated upon the drawings that is to say:-The application of compressed air to
and for the purposes of raising or forcing the oil into the container or compartment
contiguous to the burner, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2nd. In an hydro carbon or other oil lamp, the combination of the whole or any of
the parts, constituting the lamp as hereinhefore set forth and illustrated upon the
drawings in Figs. 1, 3, 4, & 6.
of
3rd. In an hydro carbon or other oil lamp the combination of the whole or any
the parts constituting the lamp as hereinbefore set forth and illustrated upon the
drawings in Figs. 2, 5, & 6.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.