Year: 1897

page_text: We, CAROLINE SPILSBURY POCOCK, Gentlewoman, of 66, St. Ann's Hill, Wandsworth,
London, and ALFRED WILLMER POCOCK, of 66, St. Ann's Hill, Wandsworth,
London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct a lamp having the oil reservoir below
the range of the wick and provided with means whereby the oil is automatically
raised to within reach of the wick and the supply thereof continued to the wick
as the oil is consumed.
To effect our purpose we provide a reservoir for the oil by preference in the
base of the lamp. The lower portion of this reservoir is closed with a moveable
diaphragm which is constructed partly of metal and partly of a flexible material
preferably of india rubber.
To prevent the oil coming into immediate contact with the india rubber a
quantity of water or other suitable fluid is poured into the reservoir and upon
this fluid the oil floats.
The reservoir may be divided into two compartments by a rigid diaphragm or
division plate having an orifice through which the water passes to & fro under
the action of the lamp. This orifice may be protected by a valve which shuts upon
the tilting of the lamp, or by a syphon tube or other suitable device. Instead of
or in addition to this rigid diaphragm or division plate a second moveable diaphragm
may be provided, the space between the two diaphragms being filled with water
or other suitable fluid. These two diaphragms need not necessarily be distinct
but may have parts in common with one another. If the flexible part of the
lower diaphragm be made of india rubber the water & oil will be securely con-
fined in the reservoir as india rubber is perfectly water proof. If the oil however
got into contact with the india rubber the latter would be destroyed or injured
by the action of the oil upon it, this contact however is prevented by the water
which fills the space between the india rubber and the upper or second flexible
diaphragm.
This second diaphragm may be made of thin leather which though slightly
permeable by water is not prejudicially influenced by the oil.
Immediately under the burner of the lamp we provide a suitable receptacle
for the wick to dip into and which acts as a receiver for the oil into which the
oil is constantly forced as it is consumed by the action of the mechanism of
the lamp. This receiver is joined to the reservoir by a tube of suitable capacity.
To raise the oil into the receiver we attach to some part of the lamp a bell crank
or other suitably shaped lever, the extremity of one arm of which presses against
the centre of the lower or outer diaphragm whilst the extremity of the other arm
is pulled or pushed by a spiral or other spring whose resilience is so adjusted to
the height of the lamp and the diameter of the the diaphragm that it shall balance
the oil at the desired height in the receiver.
:
As the power of the spring gradually diminishes as the diaphragm moves the

page_text: lever is so constructed that it can be adjusted to compensate for this diminution
of the power of the spring.
This may be done by making the lever in two parts which are hinged together
at the fulcrum and whose angular distance can be altered by a set screw or the
lever being in one piece, the virtual angular distance between the two arms may
be varied by the extremity of the arms being shiftable.
The compensation may be effected by means of a second spring so arranged as
to counteract the force of the main spring when it is at its strongest whilst having
no effect upon it at its weakest. To avoid friction as much as possible we mount
the lever, springs and diaphragm on points or knife edge bearings.
The springs are attached to the lamp by or are provided with a regulating screw
whereby their power can be readily adjusted. It is in some cases preferable to use
the springs in pairs.
To ensure the diaphragm's parallel movement we provide a suitable guide or
parallel motion.
We provide a suitable valve which closes the main tube when the lamp is in
use leaving only a small connection between it and the receiver so that the oil
does not oscillate too much if the lamp be carried about.
In some cases we strengthen or support the flexible parts of the diaphragms by
hinged metal plates or wires or canvas or other suitable means or material.
Two or more burners may be fed by one diaphragm.
A weight or weights may be used instead of springs in some instances.
We do not confine ourselves to the exact disposition of the various parts as their
positions may be varied as convenient.
Dated this 16th day of June 1897.
CAROLINE S. POCOCK.
ALFD. WILLMER POCOCK.
We, CAROLINE SPILSBURY POCOCK, Gentlewoman, and ALFRED WILLMER POCOCK,
Engineer, both of 66, St. Ann's Hill, Wandsworth, in the County of London, 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:—
The object of this invention is to construct a lamp having the oil reservoir below
the range of the wick and provided with means whereby the oil is automatically
raised to within reach of the wick and the supply thereof continued to the wick
as the oil is consumed.
The accompanying drawing illustrates the way in which we carry out our
invention, like letters of reference applying to like parts.
Fig. 1, is a section of a lamp constructed with a single diaphragm the flexible
portion of which is protected from the oil by a stratum of water or other fluid. In
this case sufficient protecting fluid is put into the lamp to fill, the reservoir to about
the line y, z.
Fig. 2, is a section of the reservoir of a lamp having two movable diaphragins
distinct from one another, the space between them being filled with water or other
suitable fluid. The upper part of the lamp and also the lever and spring are not
shown in this figure.
Fig. 3, is a section of part of a lamp with two movable diaphragms but having
the rigid parts thereof in common thus leaving an annular space between the
.

page_text: S, S', is the level to which the oil is kept.
To effect our purpose. we provide a reservoir for the oil by preference in the
base of the lamp. The lower portion of this reservoir is closed with a movable
diaphragm which is constructed partly of metal and partly of a flexible material
preferably india rubber.
To prevent the oil coming into immediate contact with the india rubber a
quantity of water or other suitable fluid is poured into the reservoir and upon
this fluid the oil floats.
The reservoir may be divided into two compartments by a rigid diaphragm or
division plate having an orifice through which the water passes to and fro with
the action of the lamp. This orifice may be protected by a valve which shuts upon
the tilting of the lamp or by a syphon tube or other suitable device. Instead of
or in addition to this rigid diaphragm or division plate a second movable diaphragm
may be provided, the space between the two diaphragms being filled with water
or other suitable fluid. These two diaphragms need not necessarily be distinct
but may have parts in common with one another. If the flexible part of the
lower diaphragm be made of india rubber the water and oil will be securely con-
fined in the reservoir as india rubber is perfectly water proof. If the oil however
got into contact with the india rubber the latter would be destroyed or injured
by the action of the oil upon it, this contact however is prevented by the water
which fills the space between the india rubber and the upper or second flexible
diaphragm. This second diaphragm may be made of thin leather which though
slightly permeable by water is not prejudicially influenced by the oil.
Immediately under the burner of the lamp we provide a suitable receptacle
for the wick to dip into and which acts as a receiver for the oil into which the
oil is constantly forced as it is consumed by the action of the mechanism of
the lamp. This receiver is joined to the reservoir by a tube of suitable capacity.
To raise the oil into the receiver we attach to some part of the lamp a bell crank
or other suitably shaped lever, the extremity of one arm of which presses against
the centre of the lower diaphragm whilst the extremity of the other arm is pulled
or pushed by a spiral or other spring whose resillience is so adjusted. to the height
of the lamp and the diameter of the diaphragm that it shall balance the oil at the
desired height in the receiver.
As the power of the spring gradually diminishes as the diaphragm moves the
lever is so constructed that it can be adjusted to compensate for this dimunition
of the power of the spring. This may be done by making the lever in two parts
which are hinged together at (or about) the fulcrum and whose angular distance
may be altered by a set screw, or the lever being in one piece the virtual angular

page_text: distance between the two arms may be varied by the extremity of the arms (or
one of them) being shiftable. (It is obvious that after the correct angular distance
of the two arms has been ascertained by means of an adjustable lever, any number
of similar lamps may be made having the levers non-adjustable but of similar
angular distance to the first.) The compensation may be effected by means of a
second spring so arranged as to counteract the force of the main spring when it
is at its strongest whilst having no effect upon it at its weakest.
To avoid friction as much as possible, we mount the lever, springs and diaphragm
on points or knife edge bearings. The springs are attached to the lamp by or are
provided with a regulating screw whereby their power can be readily adjusted.
It is in some cases preferable to use the springs in pairs. To ensure the diaphragm's
parallel movement we provide a suitable guide or parallel motion.
We provide a suitable valve which closes the main tube when the lamp is in
use leaving only a small connection or orifice between it and the receiver so that
the oil does not oscillate too much if the lamp be carried about.
In some cases we strengthen or support the flexible parts of the diaphragms by
hinged metal wires or canvas or other suitable means. Two or more burners may
be fed by one diaphragm. A weight or weights may be used instead of springs
in some instances.
We do not confine ourselves to the exact disposition of the various parts as their
positions may be varied as convenient.
Where the weight of the lamp is of no importance a weight or weights may be
used instead of springs for moving the diaphragm.
We do not confine ourselves to the exact details as shown and described as they
may be modified or varied very considerably, but what we claim as our invention
is in lamps for burning paraffin and the like oils.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In oil lamps, the combination of a flexible diaphragm connected with the
oil reservoir with a spring and compensating lever or other device for keeping
the oil automatically balanced at a certain level during the burning of the lamp,
substantially as described.
2. In oil lamps, the protection of the flexible portions of such diaphragm from
the action of the oil by means of water or other suitable fluid, including mercury,
glycerine, treacle and others for the purpose specified.
3. In oil lamps, the construction and use of a double or compound diaphragm
such as described containing a suitable protecting fluid, substantially as described.
4. In oil lamps, the valve for closing the main opening from the reservoir in
combination with a flexible diaphragm connected with the oil reservoir with a
spring and compensating lever or other device for keeping the oil automatically
balanced at a certain level during the burning of the lamp, substantially as
described.
5. In oil lamps, the general arrangements of the various parts substantially as
described and for the purpose specified.
Dah 10th dow of Monch 1000
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W. Agent for the Applicants.