Appliance for Indicating the Height of Oil or other Liquid in Lamp or Stove Reservoirs and other Vessels.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 30th Dec., 1893
VOM LEIE SIDULTIVATION.
Appliance for Indicating the Height of Oil or other Liquid in Lamp
or Stove Reservoirs and other Vessels.
I, CARL QUITMANN, of 17 Jewin Crescent, London, E.C., Merchant in Lamp
and Glass Ware 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:-
"
My invention relates to a simple appliance to the reservoirs of oil or spirit
lamps and stoves for lighting or heating, as also to other more or less closed vessels,
for indicating whether the said vessels are empty or partially or wholly full of
liquid. It consists in providing within the reservoir or vessel, a light metal rod,
one end of which is provided with a float of cork or other light material or a
hollow metal ball while the other end of the rod is fixed to a small horizontal
spindle which is carried in a.hollow semi-circular projection on the top or cover of
the reservoir or vessel. The exterior of the semi circular projection is marked as
a dial with the words "empty and "full" at the opposite ends, and on the one
end of the spindle projecting through the side of the projection is fixed a small
pointer, so arranged that when the reservoir, or vessel, is empty the float or ball
sinks to the bottom and so turns the spindle as to cause the pointer to point to the
word "empty
on the dial; whereas, when the reservoir or vessel is full, the float
or ball in rising causes the pointer to point to the word "full" and in like manner
the pointer will be made to stand at any corresponding intermediate division of the
dial when the reservoir is partly full. So likewise, as the oil or other liquid is
gradually consumed, or withdrawn by evaporation or any other means, the float
or ball gradually sinks and correspondingly deflects the pointer towards the word
empty" on the dial.
66
"
Fig. 1. of the accompanying drawing shows the reservoir of an oil lamp with my
above described invention applied thereto, and Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of
the hood A, and Fig. 3. shews a section through the same.
"
On the top of the said reservoir is formed or fixed the projecting semi-circular
hood A, in which is mounted a spindle B carrying at one end the pointer C and at
the centre the rod D carrying a float or hollow ball E at its end. On the hood A
are marked in two opposite positions the words "empty and full." When the
vessel is empty the float or hollow ball E drops into such a position as to cause
the pointer to stand at the word "empty"; while when the vessel is filled the float
or hollow ball E rises and in so doing, causes the pointer to move over to the word
66 full."
This invention is applicable with particular advantage on account of its
simplicity and efficacy to all lamp or stove reservoirs made of opaque material as
it gives a reliable indication of the quantity of liquid contained in the reservoir,
thus effectually preventing the overfilling of the said reservoirs which so frequently
occurs, causing danger of fire damage to carpets dresses etc. and if even the least
drop is over-run on to the outer surface of the vessel or reservoir it gives off a
disagreeable smell when the lamp or stove becomes heated.
This invention also effectually indicates when the said reservoir of lamp or stove
requires replenishing, for, as the oil is gradually withdrawn from the reservoir, the
ball or float likewise sinks, thus causing the pointer to duly register the gradual
diminution of the liquid in the said reservoir.

page_text: 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:
The use in combination with a lamp or stove reservoir or other similar closed
vessel, of a hood A on which are marked the words full and empty, or other
suitable indications, and within which is mounted a spindle B carrying at one end
a pointer C and at the centre a rod D with a float or hollow ball E these parts
being so arranged that according as the vessel is full or empty the float in rising
or falling causes the pointer to point either to the word "full" or to the word
empty," as above set forth.
"
Dated this Sixteenth day of November 1893.
CARL QUITMANN.