Improvements in Lamps for Burning Paraffin Oil or the like.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 3rd Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 30th Dec., 1887
Improvements in Lamps for Burning Paraffin Oil or the like.
We, EDWARD PATTERSON, of 125 Northumberland Terrace, Everton, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Machinist, and WILLIAM HENRY STRYPE, of 41 Norwood
Grove, Liverpool, aforesaid, Accountant, do hereby declaro the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a construction of safety automatic self extinguishing
amps for burning paraffin, or similar oils. The invention comprises an oil or wick
well of annular forin with internal and external air spaces; a central carrying cone
and extinguisher, and an arrangement of spring and pendulum such that on the
pendulum being moved aside the extinguisher is made to descend. The apparatus
can be constructed in modified forms for use with flat wicks, and for street lighting
the spindle with extinguisher can be arranged to be pulled down and retained by a
catch. According to one arrangement the base is a metal one made hollow there
being a central cavity or space through it into which extends a central extinguishing
spindle with attachment placed within the said cavity.
This base has secured to it a suitable central oil well, into which a wick (which
may be cylindrical) depends. The well is annular there being through it a concentric
air passage through which extends the central spindle this air passage is a tube the
upper end of which projects sufficiently to form the inner wall of the inch tube;
A spring is provided which may be in the said air space or may conveniently be placed
at the lower end of the annular well. Surrounding the annular well is an annular
air space formed by the inner wall of an oil reservoir of annular form. It may be
made of any convenient shape (say for example spherical) according to the purpose
the lamp is intended for. Oil tubes establish communication for the supply of oil from
the main reservoir to the annular well as consumption occurs. A supply nozzle is
also provided to the main reservoir for charging the lamp with oil, and may have an
internal pipe bent to any convenient form for preventing oil running out should the
lamp be overturned whilst the screw cap is off.
The outer tube or wall of the wick well projects upward sufficiently to receive an
outer tube forming a burner, which has attached to it ordinary or suitable means for
raising and lowering the wick. The base of the said outer tube or burner is perforated

page_text: to correspond with the annular air space between the well and inner wall of the main
reservoir. Surrounding this outer tube or burner is a dome or cone for directing
the air and there is a part forming a gallery for carrying the chimney.
For extinguishing the flame the before mentioned central spindle is provided with a
cone shaped piece made of any suitable material that will resist heat, it is of such a
diameter as to be able to close the central air space, it may be loose on the spindle,
that is have a certain range of vertical play for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.
Above this cone is a flanged extinguisher, secured to the central spindle, it is of
sufficient diameter to entirely encircle the outside of the wick and can pass through
the hole formed in the before mentioned dome or cone, it is made of suitable material
to resist heat.
In connection with the central or extinguishing spindle a spiral or other suitable
spring is provided, so arranged that it shall be inoperative whilst the spindle is so
secured that the extinguisher and coned plug are kept up to allow the lamp to burn.
The spindle and attachments are so held in one arrangement by a weighted rod or
pendulum mounted upon a cranked spindle or lever with a kind of universal joint, the
arrangement being such that the rod is kept vertical and if the lamp be inclined the
spindle will be set free and by the action of the spring the extinguisher will be
brought down and the flame will be extinguished. The same arrangement is also
capable of extinguishing the light when not required by simply turning the before.
mentioned spindle or lever by a handle.
The cone shaped plug also forms a deflector for directing the air in the centre of
the wick.
With apparatus such as above referred to the chances of explosion arising from
formation of explosive gas through the oil becoming heated are much reduced, as an
air space as before described surrounds the annular well and it contains very little
oil which may thus be kept cool': moreover in the ovent of the lamp becoming over-
turned the flame will be automatically extinguished.
As is obvious lamps for burning paraffin or similar oils may be constructed in
various forms to suit different requirements without departure from the essential
features of our invention.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1887.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants."

page_text: Wo EDWARD PATTERSON late of 125 Northumberland Terrace, but now of
69, Dorset Road, Tue Brook, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster Machinist, and
WILLIAM HENRY STRYPE, of 41 Norwood Grove; Liverpool, aforesaid, Accountant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a construction of safety automatic self extinguishing lamps
for burning paraffin or similar oils.
The invention comprises an oil or wick well of annular form, with internal and
external air spaces; a central cone and extinguisher, and an arrangement of spring
and pendulum, such that on the pendulum being moved aside the extinguisher is
made to descend.
The apparatus can be constructed in modified forms for use with flat wicks.
According to one arrangement the base is a metal one made hollow, there being a
central cavity or space through it into which extends a central spindle with
extinguishing arrangement attached to it.
The base has secured to it a suitable central oil well into which a wick (which may
be cylindrical) depends.
The well is annular, there being through it a concentric air passage, through which
extends the central spindle, this air passage is a tube the upper end of which projects
sufficiently to form the inner wall of the wick tube. A spring is provided which may
be in the said air space, or may conveniently be placed at the lower end of the
annular well.
Surrounding the annular well is an annular air space formed by the inner wall of
an oil reservoir of annular form.
It may be made of any convenient shape, (say for example spherical) according to
the purpose the lamp is intended for.
Oil tubes establish communications for the supply of oil from the main reservoir to
the annular well as consumption occurs. A supply nozzle is also provided to the
main reservoir for charging the lamp with oil, and it may have an interal pipe bent
to any convenient form for preventing oil running out should the lamp be overturned
whilst the screw cap is off.
The outer tube or wall of the wick well projects upward sufficiently to receive an
outer tube forming the burner, which has attached to it ordinary or suitable means
for raising and lowering the wick.
The base of the said outer tube or burner is perforated to correspond with the
annular air space between the woll and inner wall of the main reservoir.
Surrounding this outer tube or burner is a dome or cone for directing the air,
and there is a part forming a gallery for carrying the chimney.
For extinguishing the flame the before mentioned central spindle is provided with.
a cone shaped piece made of any suitable material that will resist heat, it is of such a
diameter as to be able to close the central air space, it may be loose on the spindle,
that is it may have a certain range of vertical play for the purpose hereinafter
mentioned.
Above this cone is a flanged extinguisher secured to the central spindle, it is of
sufficient diameter to entirely encircle the outside of the wick and can pass through
the hole formed in the before mentioned dome or cone, it is made of suitable material
to resist heat.
In connection with the central or extinguishing spindle a spiral or other suitable

page_text: spring is provided so arranged that it shall be inoperative whilst the spindle is so
secured that the extinguisher and coned plug are kept up to allow the lamp to burn.
The spindle and attachments are so held in one arrangement by a weighted rod or
pendulum mounted upon a cranked spindle or, lover with a kind of universal joint,
the arrangement being such that the rod is kept vertical and if the lamp be inclined
the spindle will be set free and by the action of the spring the extinguisher will be
brought down and the flame will be extinguished. The same arrangement is also
capable of extinguishing the light when not required by simply turning the before
mentioned spindle or lever by a handle. The cone shaped plug also forms a deflector
for directing the air in the centre of the wick.
With apparatus such as above referred to the chances of explosion arrising from
formation of explosive gas through the oil becoming heated aro much reduced, as an
air space as before described surrounds the annular well and it contains very little oil
which may thus be kept cool; moreover in the event of the lamp becoming overturned
the flame will be automatically extinguished.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings Fig. 1. is a sectional elevation of
one form of lamp according to this invention (in which a cylindrical wick is
employed) as it would appear when ready for lighting. Fig. 2. is a view of the same
lamp seen at right angles to Fig. 1. but in which the lamp is represented as being
extinguished. Fig. 3. is a sectional plan shewing the arrangement of universal joint
and lifting bar. Fig. 4. is an elovation partially in section shewing a modification of
the apparatus applicable for automatically extinguishing the flame of a paraffin oil
lamp having a flat wick. Fig. 5. is a similar view of the lamp showing another view
of the arrangement. Fig. 6. is a plan or top view of the burner and extinguisher
drawn to a larger scale. Fig. 7. is a side elevation of the burner &c partially in
section drawn so as to clearly illustrate the arrangement of the extinguishing levers,
sliding hood and hinged cap. Fig. 8. is a detached view shewing the sliding hood
and hinged cap in position whilst the lamp is burning. Fig. 9. is a similar view with
the sliding hood and hinged cap moved into such a position as to extinguish
the flame.
The first part of our invention illustrates an arrangement for automatically
extinguishing a paraffin oil lamp having a cylindrical wick, such as illustrated in
Figs. 1. 2. and 3. and consists of a, metal base or pedestal A. which is of sufficient
size to allow a weighted pendulum to swing within a cavity for the purpose hereafter
explained.
The metal base A. has secured to it an oil cistern B. made in this case spherical.
It carries a central oil well C. into which the wick takes.
Around the oil well C. is a concentric air passage D. whilst an opening forming
another air passage C₁ is left in the centre through which extends the central
spindle.
The inner tube forming one of the walls of the wick well C extends above the
oil cistern B. and forms a portion of the burner as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2. whilst
the outer wall of the wick well C. is internally screw threaded for the tube forming
the loose part of the burner to screw into as shown.
On the upper part of the oil cistern B a short concentric tube or ferrule B₁ is fixed
onto which the outer portion of the burner takes and prevents the wick tube from
becoming damaged and encloses the air space or passage D.
Oil tubes Care placed near the lower end of the wick well C and establish
communication thereto for the supply of oil from the main reservoir B. as consumption
occurs.
A supply nozzle or feeding cup E is secured at the highest available point of the
oil cistern B it may be in the form of a bent pipe extending inside but we prefer, as
being safer and more reliable, to screw in a small valve E¹ opening inwards and
provided with a spiral spring E' fine sieve and knob or button E³ for holding the
valve to its seat when released, thus for filling the lamp with oil the knob or
button is depressed to allow the oil to run in, and when released will effectually close
the opening and prevent any escape should the lamp become overturned.

page_text: The tube B² forming the wall of the oil cistern B. may extend at its lower end
sufficiently through the oil cistern B. to be screw threaded to take into the top of the
metal base A. as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2. whilst holes A' A' are provided for the
admission of air which passes to the wick upwards through the air spaces O¹ D. and
a portion of the air to support combustion passes through perforations around the
base of the dome F. which carries an ordinary glass chimney (not shewn) such as is
usually employed in a lamp having a cylindrical wick.
The burner is provided with ordinary toothed wheels and spindle for raising and
lowering the wick.
For extinguishing the flame a cone shaped piece G. made of cast steel or other
suitable material that will resist heat is provided on a central spindle H, Figs. 1 and 2.
It is of such a diameter as to be able to close the central air space C¹ when depressed
as shewn in Fig. 2. and has a projection around its upper end to take onto the end of
the wick when the flame is extinguished.
This projection also acts as a guard or baffle to guide and prevent the flame
impinging against a flanged extinguisher J. secured to the central spindle H.
It is of sufficient diameter to entirely encircle the wick and can pass through the
opening formed in the dome F.
The cone G. is loose to move a little on the central spindle H. and when up as
shewn in Fig. 1. rests on a collar H₁ but as soon as released is pressed down by the
flanged extinguisher J. coming in contact with its upper end. In connection with
the central spindle H. a suitable spiral spring H is inserted between a stop piece, (³
and a washer and pin on the spindle H.
It is arranged that the spring H' shall be compressed and the spindle H. and
attachments raised up into the position shewn in Fig. 1. by a button or knob K.
secured to the upper end of a weighted pendulum L mounted upon an universal joint
the outer ring N. having a rocking shaft M fixed to it.
To one of the outer ends of the rocking shaft M. a suitable handle O. is secured
for raising or lowering the universal joint and weighted pendulum L.
The hand lever O Fig. 2 is provided with a catch or stop formed by cutting a
recess in the base A. into which it takes and is held in the position indicated by
dotted line P. Fig. 2. when the lamp is ready for lighting as shown in Fig. 1.
It will be understood that should the lamp be moved sufficiently out of a vertical
position to cause the weighted pendulum L. to swing into the position indicated by
the dotted lines the button K. will have slid off the end of the central spindle H the
compressed spiral spring released and the extinguishing cone and flanged cap forced
down and the flame extinguished.
Before relighting the lamp the hand lever O. is released from the catch and the
weighted pendulum lowered into the position shewn in Fig. 2. then by again moving
the land lever into its former position the central spindle and extinguisher. will be
raised up to allow the flame to burn.
Thus the arrangement may be used for extinguishing the lamp when required.
In a modification according to our invention when the automatic extinguishing
apparatus is employed to a lamp having a flat wick there is no necessity for a
deflector to guide the air to support combustion as with a circular wick.
In this case a separate wick well arranged similar to the one before described may
be employed, but for a cheap and safe household lamp the wick well may be dispensed
with and the wick dip directly into the oil in the reservoir as shewn in Figs. 4. & 5.
For extinguishing a flat flame according to the general arrangement of our inven-
tion we first provide an encirling flat tube or ferrule Q. slipped tightly over the
ordinary wick tube or burner. To the ends of this ferrule short projections are
formed onto which a hinged hood or cover R. swings as clearly shewn in detached
views Figs. 8. and 9.
Encircling this fixed ferrule Q. another sliding ferrule or extinguishing tube R
takes, it is provided with two pivots S. S. onto which takes the forked lever T. Figs. 6
and 7. the fulcrum of which is secured to the joint fixed to the perforated portion of
the lamp burner U. as shown.

page_text: At about an equal distance between the two extremities of the forked lever T. a
projection on another short lever V. takes, the fulcrum of this lever is about the
middle and is pivotted to a joint V as shewn in Figs. 6. and 7. The free end of the
lever V. is attached to a spindle H. passing through a small guide tube, to prevent
any escape of oil.
The spindle end is provided with a spherical shaped knob K. and a spiral spring H2,
a weighted pendulum L. and universal joint similar to the one before described is
provided, but in this case the arrangement is such that so little motion is required to
he communicated to the spindle H. that we do not find it necessary to cause the
universal joint and weighted pendulum to move upwards, it being sufficient to give
the amount of lift required by rounding the knob K therefore when the lamp is
moved out of a vertical position the weighted pendulum 4. moves sufficient to allow
the compressed spiral spring H to draw the spindle downwards and by so doing
the levers V. and T. raise the outer sliding ferrule R' upwards, it also carries before
it the hinged cover R. into a vertical position as shewn in Fig. 9. thus the flame is
entirely enveloped and extinguished.
The arrangement is such that when the lamp is moved out of the vertical position
the extinguishers R. and R' envelope the flame as shewn in Fig. 9. and as soon as it
is again placed vertical the spindle is forced upwards and the extinguishers withdrawn,
and the wick exposed as shewn in Fig. 8.
A similar feeding valve may be employed with this form of lamp as before
described.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed what we claim is :--
1. In the construction of safety paraffin lamps, a cone shaped deflector and
extinguisher mounted on a vertical spindle controlled by a pendulum capable of a
swinging movement and suspended" in an universal joint substantially as described.
2. A wick well having a central air space and surrounded by an air space between
it and the oil reservoir in combination with a spindle carrying an extinguishing
apparatus substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
3. A feeding cup comprising a self closing valve for preventing the escapo of oil
in case the lamp be overturned substantially as described with reference to Fig. 1.
of the drawings.
4. An extinguishing arrangement for use in a flat wick lamp comprising a vortical
sliding ferrule or extinguisher a hinged. extinguishing hood and levers for operating
the saine substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
5. The general arrangement of a swinging weighted pendulum capable of
having a vertical movement communicated to it by a side lever in combination
with extinguishing appliances substantially as described.
6. We also claim the safety paraffin lamps constructed arranged and operating
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. and with reference to
Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.
Dated this 1st day of October One thousand Eight hundred and Eighty seven.