Improvements in and applicable to Paraffin and other Oil Lamps.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 27th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and applicable to Paraffin and other Oil Lamps.
I JAMES LANE of 45 St. George's Road Preston in the County of Lancaster Joiner
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The objects of this invention are:-Firstly, the prevention of explosion and danger
in case of the lamp being upset. Secondly, the prevention of the oil, on overflowing
the reservoir, or vertical tube, when supplying the same, from having access to the
space 6, as set forth in a Specification of an invention for which I obtained Letters
Patent, dated 13th January, 1887, No. 542, and to which reference may be had, being
an essential part in conjunction with this part of my invention. Thirdly, the
economization and facility of application of wicks for lamps having circular burners,
and likewise the economization and prevention of flat wicks from twisting in the lamp
by the means and arrangement hereinafter set forth. Fourthly the adaption of plain
or ornamental casings of glass, china, or the like, to be adjusted and employed in the
manner hereinafter described. The essential parts of this invention are as follows:-
The reservoir is by preference composed of strong glass, and consists of two parts:
the bottom part is adapted to contain the oil for the supply of the wick; the top
part is a lid or cap affixable thereto, and which is likewise affixable to a vertical tube
which enters through the same, and which said vertical tube extends from the bottom
of the reservoir to a quarter of an inch or so above the burner-receiver and carries
a flange thereon affixable thereto in any suitable way, and which said flange projects
slightly over a portion of the top edge of the burner-receiver which is splayed
outwardly, and downwardly, the object of which is, should the oil overflow the vertical
tube or reservoir, on supplying the same, the flange prevents its access to the space 6,
herein before referred to; unless, and until the burner is applied, and the lamp is
tilted, and which is so arranged as to allow free access between the said space 6, and
the vertical tube or reservoir, whose external circumference, with the exception of the
said flange is slightly less than the internal circumference, or the burner-receiver,
and in which case the external circumference of the burner-receiver and the internal
circumference of the burner are screw threaded respectively, instead of the ordinary
arrangement, or they may be otherwise connected. In lieu of the said flange I may
employ a funnel adapted to fit in or on the top of the vertical tube, or reservoir, by
screw thread or other suitable arrangement; or I may employ a supply tube in con-
nection with the outer vessel and reservoir entering through the space 6, set forth in
the Specification herein before referred to, or I may adopt any equivalent arrangement.
At the bottom end of the said vertical tube, or at that point in lamps having circular
wicks where the reservoir is diminished in circumference, as hereinafter set forth, a
horizontal tube is connected thereto which first takes a transverse, or curved, and then
a coiled direction therefrom, the extreme circumference of which is that of the internal
circumference of the reservoir, and whose free end has an inlet, and outlet, to and
from the same in connection with the said vertical tube. The essential object of the
coiled tube is in addition to its function as a supply tube for the reservoir from the
vertical tube and likewise for the wick therefrom, a means of cutting off the supply of
oil on the lamp being upset, and by which means the light becomes extinguished after
the small supply contained in the vertical tube has drained into the space 6, hereinbefore
referred to. It is evident that a central metallic wick tube is a powerful conductor of
heat from the burner to the oil, and by which the same has a tendency to explosion,
to obviate which I enclose the said central wick tube by one of glass to the full depth
of the reservoir, or that part of the vertical tube to which the oil has access; packing
of a non-conductive nature of heat may be used in connection therewith if necessary.
This invention also relates to means whereby wicks of a considerable greater length

page_text: may be employed and thereby the economization of the same is effected. To facilitate
the employment of wicks in lamps having circular burners, the reservoir is adapted to
receive the same into a diminished continuation thereof, as the neck of a bottle, in
the nature of a well formed on the bottom of the saine to the depth of three inches,
more or less, below the body of the reservoir, or that part intended to contain the
volume of oil for the supply of the wick. The internal circumference of the said well
is such as to allow the wick to be raised or lowered with facility upon the central or
glass tube aforesaid, the bottom 'part of which is slightly tapered or diminished in
diameter so that the wick may freely slide thereon.
·
To facilitate the application of new wicks in lamps having circular burners, I provide
an instrument consisting of two or more pieces of steel wire whose extreme length
extends from the top of the burner to the bottom of the said well, which are connected
at the top.thereof, and whose extreme ends are formed into prongs which take into the
wick, and which upon the. downward pressure of, the same is drawn 'down into.its
desired position, and which said prongs release themselves from the wick on the
withdrawal of the said instrument.
...To facilitate the use of flat wicks of a greater length than usually employed, and to
prevent the twisting of the saine in the interior of the lamp, I employ a frame of wire,
perforated..tube, or other suitable equivalent adapted to contain the wick in two or
three.thicknesses as may be necessary and which said frame or equivalent is arranged
to open.and close to facilitate the insertion of the same, and which is connected to: the
burner in ordinary lamps, or to the plate 8, as shown and described in my Specification
hereinbefore referred to. This invention furthermore relates.to the adaption and
thereby the facility of applying and securing ornamental or, plain casings of glass,
china, or..other such like material in conjunction with, and for the purpose of enclosing
the reservoir, or vessel of tin, or other uncostly and unbreakable material situated
between the pedestal and burner, the object of which is, whilst adapting the same in
the manner hereinafter described in substitution of brass or other ornamental material
of a metallic nature. The lamp may have similar advantages of safety in case of
accident except one or more of the sections hereinafter referred to may be broken,
which may be replaced by others of a corresponding nature and design'; the said casing
consists of two or more sections, which, when applied from the extreme casing of the
reservoir, or vessel, the said sections may be joined vertical-horizontally, or otherwise,
and packings if necessary may be used therewith. The sections may have formed on
their extreme ends a neck or vertical projection which may fit into a groove or collar
formed or affixed to the pedestal and burner-receiver respectively, one of which said
collars may be internally screw-threaded to engage on the neck of the burner-receiver,
or pedestal, to facilitate the removal or application of the said sections; set screws or
equivalent arrangements for securing the same may be employed in substitution
thereof, or I may adapt the said casing to enclose the reservoir, or vessel, and pedestal
respectively, which may be secured thereto in any suitable manner.
Dated this 30th day of December 1889
411"
47 ***** 417 1
"COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
17
Improvements in and applicable to Parafin and
and other Oil Lamps.
AMES LANE of 45, St. George's Road Preston, County of Lancaster, Joiner, 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 :-
3..
The objects of this invention are the prevention of explosion, and danger arising from
the fall of the lamp. The prevention of the oil from having access to the receptacle
space on supplying the reservoir therewith, economization in the use of wicks employed
in lamps and the prevention of flat ones, from twisting in the vertical tube or reservoir
referred to, and the adaption of plain or ornamental casings of glass, china, or the

page_text: like as shewn in the annexed drawings, or in a modified and equivalent manner as
herein set forth.
เ
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the Specifi-
cation in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
figures. All figures half full size.
422
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a lamp having a circular wick shewing the con-
struction of the reservoir and its connection with the outer vessel by the supply tube,
and likewise the appendages of the same, relative to the arrangements for supplying
the reservoir by means of the funnel as shewn in operative position, together with the
horizontal and other tubés employed therewith.
J
Figure 2 is a sectional plan of Figure 1, showing essentially the connection and
position of the outer wick tube and horizontal tube.
.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan of supply tube relative to the spindle and the sectional
parts:
+
# 1
Figure 4 is an elevation of an instrument employed for the adjustment of the wick.
Figure 6 is a vertical section of a lamp having a flat wick shewing the relative
positions of the vertical tube and the collars connected thereto, forming a channel
between the same and the receptacle space, and likewise one of the apertures forined
therein, together with the supply tube when closed by the screw cap and stopper plate
respectively.
"Figure 7 is a plan of Figure 6 shewing the connection of the horizontal and vertical
tubes.
I
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H
Figure 8 is a front, side views, and plan of frames for the adjustment and economi-
zation of wicks relative to lainps as shewn in Figure 6.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of an outer or ornamental casing of glass, or the like,
shewing the relative position of the sectional parts when joined horizontally."
1*'
This invention refers essentially to improved arrangements relative to an invention
for improvements for the safety of paraffin and other oil lamps dated the 13th' of
January 1887 No. 542, for which I obtained Letters Patent. I find 'on' supplying the
reservoir with oil it is possible without care to overfill the same, the overflow having
access to the receptacle space referred to and to accumulate therein, to' obviate which,
I employ the means and arrangements hereinafter described' and' shewn in the annexed
drawings. By preference I employ a supply tube 2 as shewn in Figs. 1 and 6
connected to the reservoir 4, and the vessel I, respectively, after entering through'the
space 6, and which said tube is closed by an ordinary screw cap in the usual way.
The said tube 2 has a sectional extension of a reduced 'thickness, and has a shoulder 13
formed therein, against which the stopper plate 7 obtains an abutment when forced
upwards, and maintained thereat by the coiled spring 5, surrounding the 'spindle 11',
which is "connected to the stopper plate 7' and enters through 'and engages in the
plate 10, which said plate is formed with, or connected to the sectional parts' 9, 9, 9, 19,
of the supply tube as shewn in Fig. 3. The said sectional parts of the supply tube,
serve as guides for the stopper plate, which has an upward and downward sliding
movement between the same, the object of which, is to close the mouth' of the supply
tube in the interior of the reservoir on releasing the funnel' 12, 'and thereby to prevent
accident in case the application of the screw cap is overlooked after supplying the
reservoir, should the lamp in the meantime be upset and to prevent the oit igniting' by
any casual light or fire that may coine' in contact therewith under the circumstances
referred to.
-
* 1
(
For supplying the reservoir I provide a funnel as shewn in operative position in
Fig. 1, having apertures 13, situated opposite those provided in 'the' extension of the
supply tube, and between the sectional parts, through which said' apertures the
reservoir is supplied, after pressing down the stopper plate by aid of the funnel and by
causing the same to retain its pressure thereon until necessary for its 'removal.
• 1.
In all cases it is necessary that the top of the supply tube should be below the top
of the outer wick tube of lamps having circular wicks and the top of the collar 14 in
those having flat ones, or of any channel that may be employed in substitution thereof,
16 4
04

page_text: to prevent the access of the oil to the receptacle space 6, on supplying the reservoir as
herein before set forth.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the means and arrange-
ments herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing for
supplying the reservoir, while preventing its overflow into the receptacle space referred
to, as modifications may be adopted capable of effecting the said purpose, for instance,
may substitute the same by a collar internally screw-threaded, and fixed below the
aperatures 15, in the vertical tube 16, in lamps having flat wicks into which said collar
the funnel may fit and engage by which to supply the reservoir, by way of the coiled
horizontal tube, otherwise I may employ a coiled or other spring to engage between
the bottom of the reservoir and that of the vessel, by which, on the removal of the
burner, and thereby the withdrawal of its pressure from the collar 24 by means of the
plate connected thereto, the reservoir is forced upward by the said spring until the top
edge of the collar 14 is pressed against the top of the vessel adapted to fit or receive
the same, and by which the channel between the vertical tube and the recepticle space
referred to, is closed whilst the reservoir is supplied, and until the application of the
burner, when the reservoir and its appendages retain their original position in said
vessel as shewn in Fig. 6 of the annexed drawings. Or I may employ the arrange-
ments as fully described in my Provisional Specification, but by preference I employ
the arrangements as hereinbefore described and shewn in Figs. I and 6, by which the
reservoir may be supplied without the removal of the burner with all the advantages
of safety.
The reservoir 4 as shewn in vertical section in Figs. 1 and 6 and sectional plans in
Figs. 2 and 7 is by preference composed of strong coarse glass with the exception of
the top or lid, in substitution of tin or other more or less porous and heat conductive
material. I may however employ that of any suitable nature. In some cases, although
removably supported in a metallic vase, and having a top of similar material, it gives
little or no protection to reservoirs of glass, or of which glass forms a part thereof,
which in case of a fall may come in contact with any hard substance by which it may
be broken. To maintain the safety of which I encase the same in a vessel of tin,
brass, or the like, connected to the burner and pedestal respectively or to any substitute
thereof.
Furthermore in lamps having circular wicks, in which the air tube enters through
the reservoir, it is evident there is a difficulty in connecting the bottom end of the
same when of glass thereto, without having a tendency to leakage, to obviate which
the reservoir has formed therewith a tube 18 which encloses the air tube to the full
extent to which the oil has access under ordinary circumstances as shewn in Fig. 1, by
which arrangement a glass reservoir of a lamp having a circular wick is equally as oil-
proof as that of a lamp having a flat one.
The top or lid 19 of the reservoir consists of any metallic substitute and may be
secured thereon in any well known and suitable manner, and is connected to the supply
tube 2, the outer wick tube 20, or the collar 14, as the case may be.
The outer wick tube 20, terminates a little below the bottom of the reservoir as
shewn in Fig. 1, or at that part thereof intended to contain the volume of the oil for
the supply of the wick when glass ones are employed, the said tube is provided with
a flange 21, which is pressed tightly thereon, whilst its extreme end enters the mouth
of the extension of the reservoir by which its connection thereto is partially oil-
proof, otherwise the said tube is continued to the terminus of the extension, and
secured to the central metallic air tube 22 and likewise to the vessel at the bottom
extension thereof.
A coiled horizontal tube 17 is connected to the outer wick tube 20 in lamps having
circnlar wicks and to the vertical tube 16 in those having flat ones, and extends to
the circumference of the interior of the reservoir as shewn for the purpose of
supplying the wick therefrom, and likewise for cutting off an outlet for the oil con-
tained therein; in case the lamp should be upset. Of course it is immaterial whether
"I employ one coiled horizontal tube as shewn, or a series of smaller ones, and at

page_text: various points vertically in the reservoir, or whether I substitute the same by an
equivalent channel or channels to effect the object herein set forth.
To economize the use of wicks in lamps having circular burners I extend the
reservoir to the depth as shewn more or less as desirable and in the manner thereof,
that is to say, I provide in the extension a sufficient wick space to admit the wick
freely by which longer lengths of wick may be employed when applying new ones.
When wicks of any considerable length are employed, I provide a weight corresponding
with the wick space, and having facility of action therein which said weight is attached
to the wick, and slides upward and downward therewith and by which the same is
kept in uniform in reference to the burner, otherwise the lower part of the central
glass tube is diminished in circumference to facilitate the upward and downward
movement of the same.
In the application of new wicks, I provide an instrument 23 as shewn in Fig. 4
consisting of two or more suitable pieces of steel wire, or the equivalent connected at
the top thereof, or formed out of one piece as shewn, and having prongs or books on
their extreme ends capable of taking into the bottom end of the wick, for the purpose
of adjusting the same as required, and which said prongs release their hold on the
withdrawal of the said instrument.
In case tin or other metallic reservoirs are employed, 1 substitute the central glass
tube 18, formed with the reservoir by one of similar material to the extreme depth to
which the oil has access to prevent the transmission of heat from the burner as
conducive to explosion. The top of the outer wick tube, enclosed by the reservoir,
terminates as shewn in Fig. 1, leaving a clear space or aperture between the receptacle
space 6, and the wick space, for the purpose herein before set forth, whilst in lamps
having flat wicks under similar circumstances, the oil has an outlet from the vertical
tube 16, by the apertures 15, and thence by the channel between the collars 14,
and 24, terminating in the receptacle space as shewn. To prevent waste caused by the
use of short wicks in lamps in which flat ones are employed, and the twisting of the
same in the interior thereof, I employ frames 25 and 26, of suitable wire as shewn in
Fig. 8 or the equivalent by which arrangement three, or more thicknesses of wick to
the extreme depth of the reservoir or vertical tube, may be inserted therein, and
kept uniform with the wick tube, and furthermore, by which it is prevented from
being turned down by the pinion in a burning state into the oil, which is frequently
the cause of explosion.
The frame 25 is connected to the plate 8 as shewn or to the burner in ordinary
lamps, and carries pulleys 27 and 28, which may however be dispensed with in smaller
lamps, and substituted by the cross pieces on which they rotate."
The frame 26, is looped at the four corners thereof which loops 29, take upon the
vertical wires of the frame 25, upon which it has an upward and downward sliding
movement. The said loops are caused to have a slight spring-like grasp thereon by
which the frame 26, maintains its position at any point except by the rotation of the
pinion upon the wick, by which it is actuated. In the employment of the said
arrangement, and the application of the wick thereto, after its insertion through the
wick tube or tubes, it is first placed upon the pulley 27, and afterwards upon the
pulley 28, when the frame 26, is down at its lower terminus, the wick has a suitable
hook connected to its extreme end which is caused to take upon the cross piece 30,
of the frame 26, on the motion of the pinion, and as the wick becomes diminished the
said frame is drawn to its upper terminus at which point the said hook is removed
to the cross piece 31, of the frame 26, and the said frame is caused to slide down to
its lower terminus by the action of the pinion, it is eventually, again drawn to its
upper terminus after which the wick is released from the pulley 28, and re-arranged
to the cross piece 31, when by the action of the pinion the frame 26, will have a
downward sliding movement, instead of an upward one, and as the wick is further
diminished to the extent of the frame 26, the said hook is removed from the cross
piece 31, to the cross piece 30, and the frame is again caused to slide to its upper terminus,
after which when drawn down by the pinion as aforesaid it is released from the

page_text: pulley 27 and re-arranged to the cross piece 30, thus the wick will be kept in uniform
position until no longer of a suitable length for the purpose required.
A
This invention furthermore relates to the adaption and employment of plain or
ornamental cases of glass, china, or the like, which may have any ornamentation or
design, but which is shewn in Fig. 5 as suitable for cheap lamps and by which the
object of this part of my invention may be clearly understood.
;
I am aware that metallic oil containers have been removably supported in vases of
the aforesaid material, that is to say glass, china, or the like, but such is not the
purpose of my invention, my object is to apply and secure in the manner shewn or
described, or by equivalent means the outer case in sections 32 joined at 33, or any
suitable point, horizontally or vertically, so that the sections may be applied to a tin
or metallic reservoir of any form, the top and bottom ends of which are secured by
lips, or collars, formed with, or connected to the burner and pedestal respectively.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
...
Claim 1. In paraffin and other oil lamps the use of the supply tube 2 as shewn in
Fig. 1, in reference to its connection with the vessel 1, and reservoir "4, entering
through the receptacle space 6, and having an outlet below the top of the outer wick
tube 20, or the collar 14, as the case may be, with or without the stopper plate 7, and
its necessary appendages or in lieu of the supply tube one or either of the modified
arrangements as herein before described to be employed, substantially as, and for the
purpose set forth."
1.;
AP
Claim 2. In paraffin and other oil lamps, the improved constructive arrangement of
the reservoir, when composed partially of glass as shewn, in Fig. 1, having a central
tube 18 formed therewith or in lieu thereof, in case metallic reservoirs are employed,
a glass tube arranged to enclose the air tube to the extreme depth of the reservoir to
be employed, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
1
Claim 3. In reservoirs of paraffin and other oil lamps as shewn in Figs. 1 and 6, the
extension of the same substantially as and for the purpose set forth."
Claim 4. In connection with paraffin and other oil lamps the use of an instrument 23,
as shewn in Fig. 4, to be employed as, and for the purposes set forth."
****
F
Claim 5. In paraffin and other oil lamps the use of the frames 25 and 26, as shewn
in Fig. 8, or an equivalent modification thereof, to be employed as, and for the purposes
set forth.
Claim 6. In paraffin and other oil lamps the use of the horizontal tube 17, as shewn
in Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7 in connection with the outer wick tube 20, or vertical tube 16,
as the case may be, or any substitute thereof, to be employed substantially "as, and
for the purposes set forth.
Claim 7. In paraffin and other oil lamps, the use of the stopper plate 7 as shewn
in Figs. 1 and 6 with the means of actuating the same as shewn and described to
operate substantially as, and for the purposes set forth."
Claim 8. In connection with paraffin and other oil lamps, having circular wicks,
the use of a weight for the adjustment of the same, employed as, and for the purpose
specified.
Claim 9. The use of a sectional casing of glass, china, or the like as shewn in Fig. 5
or an equivalent modification thereof as herein described, to be employed substantially
in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Claim 10. In paraffin and other oil lamps, having circular wicks the use in com-
bination with the receptacle space 6, a supply tube 2, having an outlet below the upper
terminus of the lower part of the outer wick tube 20, as referred to in claim 1, with
or without the stopper plate 7, and the means by which it is actuated and likewise the
horizontal tube 17 substantially for the purposes set forth.
...
Claim 11. In paraffin and other oil lamps having circular wicks, the use in com-
bination with a reservoir 4, whose oil-containing part is of glass, with or without the
****
'

page_text: extension arrangement, a metallic vessel permanently adapted to enclose the same with
or without the receptacle space 6, substantially for the purpose set forth.
Claim 12. In paraffin and other oil lamps having flat wicks the use in combination
with the receptacle space 6, a supply tube 2 or in lieu thereof, one or either of the
modified arrangements herein before described. Vertical tube 16, with or without
collars 14 and 24, apertures 15, horizontal tube 17, substantially for the purpose
set forth.
Claim 13. In paraffin and other oil lamps having flat wicks the use in combination
with a reservoir 4 whose oil containing part is of glass, a receptacle space 6, and
metallic vessel 1, permenantly adapted to enclose the same as shewn substantially for
the purpose set forth.
JAMES LANE.