An Electric Lighting Device for Oil Lamps.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JULIUS ECKEL and ALBERT GLINICKE, of
Berlin, Germany, Manufacturers.]
An Electric Lighting Device for Oil Lamps.
1, HUGH DONALD FITZPATRICK, of 70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Registered
Patent Agent, 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 oil lamps and has for its object to provide them with
an electric device fitted in connection with the lamp whereby the wick can be
ignited without removing either the globe or funnel.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended a drawing showing the invention in section.
In the foot or pedestal B of the lamp, which is shown broken away, there is
fitted a galvanic cell 6 the wires c, c', of which convey the current to the wick at
the top of the burner. A spring contact piece or switch G is fitted in the circuit
and when this switch is pressed the current flows to the wick. In its normal
position the switch G breaks the circuit. The wires c, o¹ convey the electric
current to tubular conductors C, C, which extend up through the central draught
tube a of the lamp to the mouth of the burner. The draught tube a, which
extends, in the usual manner, through the oil reservoir, protects the conductors
from injury when the lamp is being carried about.
As the wick of the lamp, when burning, becomes charred or carbonized it is
necessary that the igniting device must be located at the top of the wick, but, in
this position, it is liable to be damaged, when the lamp is cleaned. In order to
avoid this risk the igniting device which consists of a small spiral s, is arranged so
as to be removable. The arrangement consists in attaching it to the upper ends
of small tubular pieces D, D, which are connected together by the insulated cross
piece d and fit telescopically within the tubes C, C¹. A small handle E, provided
with a knob e, is screwed into the cross piece d for the purpose of facilitating the
insertion and removal of the pieces D, D.
When the lamp is ready to be lighted the knob G is depressed and the electric
circuit closed, thereupon the current passes through the wires c, c', tubes C, C,
and tubular pieces D, D, and renders the spiral S connecting the pieces D D
incandescent. As the ends of the spiral are close to the inside of the wick the
latter is lighted.
Any suitable form of switch may be used for turning on and off the electric
current.
When it is desired to trim the wick of the lamp the handle e is grasped and the
spiral along with the pieces D, D, removed. The burner presents now the
appearance of an ordinary burner and the wick can be cleaned and trimmed with
the scissors or can be subjected to any other desired operation without risk of
damaging the igniting device.
After the wick has been trimmed the pieces D, D, are again inserted in the
tubes C, C', when the lamp is ready to be relighted.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. An oil lamp capable of being lighted electrically having in its foot or pedestal
an electric battery the wires of which lead to an igniting device arranged close to
the wick, a making and breaking device being provided for turning on and off the
electric current, substantially as set forth.
2. The removable igniting device consisting of the spiral secured to tubular
pieces D, D, which are insulated from one another, substantially as herein before
described with reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 5th day of October 1896.
H. D.. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow.