Year: 1887

page_text: -Date-of--Application, 2nd -Apr.,--1887.
Complete Left, 8th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 8th July, 1887.
WILLIAM DEVOLL Cuba Villa Chester Road Erdington in the County of Warwick
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a safer lamp for domestic use or other
purposes in which inflameable oils are used-than those now in use, so that if the
lamp be accidently knocked over, or dropped, it will, of itself effectually prevent
any fire or explosion of the lamp, as is generally the result of such accidents.
The said lamp while combining the above advantages, is of very simple construction
and can always be relied on, having neither, Valves, Gauze, or other appliances liable
to get out of order.
For this purpose I make the container which holds the oil for the lamp, either
round or square, and in depth, of a slightly conical form, so that it is of a smaller
diameter at the top, near the burner, than at the bottom.
I then surround the container with an outer case of the same depth and shape,
allowing a space of about half an inch between the two, for cold water. I also prefer
that the area of the water space should about equal the area of the container so as to
keep down the temperature of the oil.
The water jacket or reservoir thus formed round the container, is open at the top,
all round, and is secured at the bottom, to the plate which also forms the bottom of the
oil container. The container having been filled with oil, the burner is then screwed
into or attached to the container, in the usual manner after which the open space
between the outer case or jacket and the container, may be filled with cold water from
a jug.
If the lamp when lighted be knocked over or upset in any direction, the water will
rush out of the open top of the reservoir, always in the direction of the falling lamp

page_text: and while the water from the lower part,-(i.e. that part which is underneath the
burner while falling) rushes out, and covers the object on which the burner is falling
thereby saturating it with water and so preventing a fire.
At the same instant the water in the upper part-owing to the conical shape of the
container, which is smaller near the burner-dashes into the air holes underneath the
burner, and puts out the light, thereby preventing an explosion of oil and gas, in-
the lamp, which is usually caused by the flame striking backwards towards the lamp
as it lies in a horrizontal position.
The cold water jacket also adds to the safety of the lamp, when no accident
occurs, by keeping down the temperature of the oil, so that very little gas is then
given off.
The water also gives extra weight and stability to the base of the lamp when made
of the shape above described.

page_text: 1, is an elevation or a ramp as nerembefore described.
Fig. 2, is a part plan of same.
Fig. 3, is a section through the centre showing the oil container and the water
reservoir or jacket, cast in one.
Fig. 4, is a part sectional elevation of a lamp containing my said improvements, in
which the body of the lamp is mounted on a pillar.
Fig. 5, is a part sectional elevation through line C, D, of Fig. 6, of a lamp con-
taining my said improvements, in which the body of the water reservoir or jacket, is
formed in the shape of a Vase, with the oil container suspended in the centre as shewn,
by means of the four bars, or distance pieces a 1, which extend downwards to the bottom
of the oil container, and as here shewn, are cast in one with the oil container and
reservoir.or jacket. This arrangement holds much more water, than that shown at
Fig. 1, the weight of the water also adds to the stability of the lamp.
Fig. 6, is a plan of Fig. 5-with the burner removed,-down to the bottom of the
oil container.
For this purpose I make the container A, which holds the oil for the lamp, either
round or square, and in depth of a slightly conical form, so that it is of a smaller
diameter at the top near the burner, than at the bottom. -
I then surround the container with an outer case B, of the same depth and shape,
allowing a space of about half an inch.between the two for cold water.
I also prefer that the area of the water space, should about equal the area of the
container, so as to keep down the temperature of the oil.
The water jacket or reservoir thus formed round the container, is open at the top
all round, and is secured at the bottom to the plate which also forms the bottom of the
oil container.
The container having been filled with oil, the burner is then screwed into, or
attached to the container, in the usual manner, after which the open space, between

page_text: the outer case or jacket, and the container may then be filled with cold water from a
jug.
If the lamp when lighted be knocked over, or upset in any direction, the water will
rush out of the open top of the reservoir, always in the direction of the falling lamp,
and while the water from the lower part, i.e.--that which is underneath the burner
while falling,--rushes out and covers the object on which the burner is falling,―
thereby saturating it with water and so preventing a fire, at the same instant the
water in the upper part, owing to the conical shape of the container which is smaller
near the burner,- dashes into the air holes underneath the burner, and puts out the
light, thereby preventing an explosion of oil and gas in the lamp, which is usually
caused by the flame striking backwards towards the lamp, as it lies in a horizontal
position.
The cold water jacket also adds to the safety of the lamp when no accident occurs,
by keeping down the temperature of the oil, so that
very little gas is given off.
In the construction of lamps, made as hereinbefore described, it is important that
the sides or walls, are conical, or inclined towards the burner, and the burner should
always be fixed at the most favourable height, for this purpose, for if the walls of the
container were straight, the water would shoot over and beyond the burner, and would
have no effect, and if the burner were placed too high, a portion of the water would
not reach it.
The lamps, hereinbefore described, may be made of any suitable material, but 1
prefer to make them in metal either cast in one; as shewn on the Drawings or in parts
soldered together, the manner of which is well understood.
The three examples here shewn in Figs. 1 to 6, will be sufficient to shew how it
can be made, and also its adaptability to the various forms of lamps in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it distinctly understood,
that I am aware that lamps having a water jacket,-communicating by holes or
passages with the oil container, the said water jacket having a cover, or close top, and
in which the water is used for the purpose of floating the oil up to the burner, have
been made before, I therefore do not claim such an arrangement, but what I claim as
my invention is:
1. In domestic lamps, of the kind in which inflammable oils are used, the combina-
tion with the oil container, of a water jacket or reservoir by which it is surrounded,
the said water jacket having an open top, and also having its sides, and also the sides
of the oil container, inclined towards the burner, the said water jacket or reservoir
having no communication with the oil container, substantially as hereinbefore described
and shewn on the accompanying Drawings.
Dated this 6th day of June 1987
WILLIAM DEVOLL.