IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING HEAVY Ons
Year: 1873

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
** IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING HEAVY Ons."-A com-
munication from abroad by Robert Hitchcock, John Morton
Sigourney, and William Van Vranken Rosa, all of Watertown,
County of Jefferson, State of New York, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson-
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 3rd Octher 1873.
"
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING HEAVY OILS,”¸a
communication to me from abroad by Robert Hitchcock, John Morton
Sigourney, and William Van Vranken Rosa, all of Watertown, County
'

page_text: follows:-
This Invention relates to lamps intended more especially for the
burning of what are known as "heavy oils," and consists essentially of
the arrangements or combinations of parts herein-after described.
First. The combination with the oil tank or reservoir in a lamp for
burning heavy oils of a pump operated by spring-power mechanism
contained in the lamp and "arranged to take up oil from the tank and
supply it to the wick at or immediately below the point of combustion,
said oil supply being in addition to and independent of that drawn from 1
the tank by the capillary action of the wick itself.
Second. The combination in a lamp for burning heavy oils of the
following elements, namely, an oil reservoir, a fan or blower driven by
spring power to produce a blast, air ducts or passages for conducting
the said blast to interior and exterior of the flame, and a pump driven 1
by the same spring power and arranged to take oil from the tank and
deliver it to the wick at or near the point of combustion.
Third. The combination with the oil reservoir and pump, cylinder and
piston therein contained, of a piston rod, lifter rod, and pusher bar,
operated by the blast producing mechanism...
Fourth. The combination with a pump contained within the inner
reservoir or tank of an annular reservoir, formed on the neck or top of
the outer shell or jacket of the lamp at the point where the slotted
deflector rests on said shell or jacket, and connected with and receiving
its supply of oil from said pump.
Fifth. The combination with an annular auxiliary reservoir connected
to and supplied with oil from the pump of an oil receiver encircling
the top or upper end of the wick tube or jacket, and supplying the wick
at or immediately below the point of combustion with oil received from
the said reservoir.
Sixth. The combination with the oil receiver encircling the top of the
wick tube and supplied with oil from the pump of an overflow box
situate below the said receiver to catch any surplus oil or drippings aud
convey the same back into the oil reservoir.
2
2
3
Seventh. The combination with the air-forcing mechanism, the 3
central air duct, and the air passages between the oil reservoir and

page_text: outer shell or case in a lamp for burning heavy oils, without a
chimney of a third air flue and passage intermediate between the
central and exterior air passages and passing up through the oil
reservoir or tank.
Eighth. A peculiar combination or arrangement of spring clock work
mechanism or movement contained within the base of the lamp for
actuating the piston of the pump cylinder (which may however be
worked by hand if preferred) and for driving the fan or blower herein-
before referred to. This peculiar movement comprises a main spring
barrel and about ten intermediate pinions and gears, by which motion
is transmitted to the worm shaft which carries the fan or blower located
in an open cylinder, which when the movement is in place in the base,
fits within the space inclosed by the inner wall of a receptacle for the
purpose. The pinions are skeleton pinions, and one or more of them
are set in holes in the side plates, this being for the purpose of
economising space as far as possible. A wide thin mainspring is
employed in order to get the maximum of power and number of turns
in the spring in the minimum of space. The mainspring barrel is
supported at both ends, its shaft taking a bearing in each of the
side plates.
To insure a sufficiency of strength in the clicks and ratchet of the
winding arbor, and to protect them from injury from rough usage and
from droppings that may find their way from the upper part of the
lamp to the base, the ratchet is covered with a cap or plate which fits on.
the stud that carrics the clicks and is held there by pins which pass
through holes in the ends of the pins projecting beyond the cap
plate.
The clicks are arranged at the sides of the ratchet, and the click
springs are attached to the cap and arranged at top and bottom of the
same so as to cover the exposed parts of the ratchet. The cap and
spring thus form a box which incloses the clicks and ratchet and can
be removed together by taking out the holding pins in the click
studs. The clicks as indicated are provided with projecting tails, so
that they may be moved to unlock and let the spring run downward
when necessary.
To reduce the friction of the pivots and to avoid the expense of
turning small pivots on the shaft of the pinions and gear wheels fine.

page_text: steel wire of suitable size is used, brought to a spring temper and
inserted in the ends of the shafts for pivots. Pivots thus constructed
have also the advantage of greater strength and durability over those
constructed in the usual way, since as the latter are made solid with
their shafts a uniform temper is impossible. The movement is fitted
readily in place, it occupies but little room, so that the base need not
be large and unsightly in appearance and by reason of its construction
and arrangement it will give a continuous steady and powerful blaze
for a very considerable length of time. When fitted in the base it is
held in position by screws passing through the base plate into lugs or 1
flanges secured to the inside and above the bottom of the base.
The above improvement enables a lamp to be produced for burning
heavy oils, which on being wound up, filled, trimmed, and lighted, will
without the use of a chimney give an effective light for twelve hours
without requiring further attention during that time, and a diminishing 1
light several hours longer also without attention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd April 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
37th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special licenso
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS

page_text: And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that
purpose shall refer to the several Figures on tho annexed Sheet of
Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
in all the corresponding Figures.
Figuro 1 is a vertical central section of a lamp mado in accordanco
with the Invention, turned so as to present to view the face of one of
tho supporting plates of the clockwork or movement.
:
Figure 2 is an elevation of the lamp turned so as to present the side
edges of said supporting plates, the lower part or base of the lamp 1
being in section.
A is the slotted deflector fitting on top of the shell or caso B which
is supported by the base C. The base is provided with a central ash
box and drip-cup D suspended above an exterior receptacle E. The
case of the blower or fan is located within the annular inner wall or 1
receptacle E, and the current of air created by the fan passes up
through the space intervening between the box D and the top of tho
inner wall of receptacle E. So also the shell B is corrected in the
same manner by pins or studs within the inner vessel or oil reservoir,
a continuous annular space being left between them for the passage of 2
the exterior blast.
The open central air tubo and wick holder are shewn at F, extending
up through the oil tank and surrounded by the perforated jackot F³,
between which and the central tubes is hold the wick G.
Within and near the bottom of the oil reservoir is an upright pump 2
cylinder a provided at or near its bottom with an aperture a¹ to permit
the oil in the tank to enter the cylinder. The pump shown is a single
acting one, the cylinder being provided with a puppet valve 6 inter-
mediate between opening a¹ and the piston c, which latter has also a
puppet valve b' in it opening upward. From the top of the cylinder 3
extends upward through the top of the oil tank an open tube c'
through which passes tho piston rod d. From the top of the cylinder
leads another tube e designed to conduct to the wick the oil from the
cylinder.
By reciprocating the piston by means of its rod, the oil is first 3
taken into the cylinder and then forced up through the supply tubo c
from which it may be conducted in any suitable way to discharge upon

page_text: the wick at or near the point of combustion. A convenient arrange-
ment for this purpose is shewn in the Drawing.
The supply pipe discharges into an annular reservoir formed on the
neck of the shell or case B, and preferably, just beneath the point where
the base of the deflector A rosts, so that the heat of the deflector may
be availed of to heat the oil and better prepare it for use at the wick.
From the annular reservoir extends a delivery pipe or tube 9 opening
into a closed receiver g' formed around the top of the wick jacket just
below the point of combustion. Oil from the annular auxiliary roservoir
passes through the delivery pipe into this receiver, whence it passes
through perforations in the jacket of the wick.
The advantage of thus supplying oil to the wick at the point of com-
bustion is considerable. The supply of oil is not dependent upon
capillary action, and the lamp will continue to burn even with a short
wick with but little oil in the tank. This supply of oil however, is
principally intended to be auxiliary to that derived from the capillary
action of the wick which extends into the reservoir as above described,
and absorbs and carries up to the point of combustion a very
considerable quantity of oil, enough to give a good flame. But the
capillary action in the burning of heavy oils, such as sperm or lard oils,
in no chimney lamps of this character is somewhat slow, and the wick
is liable to char.
By affording an independent and additional supply of oil not
dependent upon the capillary action of the wick, and by delivering the
same at or immediately below the point of combustion no capillary
action is needed to carry this oil to the flame, and the wick at this
point is kept moist and well fed, consequently the lamp will burn
for a much longer time without requiring the wick to be trimmed.
On the top plate of the oil tank is an overflow box g² to receive such
surplus oil as is not consumed or flows down the wick over the receiver.
In the bottom of the box are holes through which the surplus oil
returns to the tank.
Movement can be imparted to the piston rod by various means. The
arrangement which is preferred and has been found most practicable iş
shewn in the Drawing.
To the top of the piston rod is rigidly attached a horizontal arm /
fastened at the other ond to the top of a lifter rod h³, which extends

page_text: down through a tube extending from top to bottom of the oil tank,
and projects some distanco below the bottom of the tank, as indicated
in Figure 1. By pushing up this projecting lower end of the lifter rod
the piston rod and consequently the piston will be raised, then by
relcasing the said lower end the rods and consequently the piston will
fall by their own weight. This lower end of the lifter rod may bo
positively attached with the mechanism for actuating it, so that it will
have a positive movement down as well as up, but when, as in the
present instanco, the rod is actuated by the clockwork in the base of the
lamp the arrangement first above suggested is preferred, as it will allow 1
the top of the lamp, comprising all the parts above the base, to be made
detachable and casily removable from the base. To actuate the lifter
rod under this arrangement a vertical pusher bar is employed, the
upper end of which is directly under the lower end of the lifter rod.
The pusher is supported in proper bearings in the clockwork or move. 1
ment frame, and is provided at its lower end with a shoe i, which lies in
the path of lateral teeth formed on a wheel & attached to and revolving
with one of the shafts of the spring movement. As these teeth rise
during their rotary movement they successively come in contact with
and raise the bar ", and then pass beyond the end of the bar so as to 2
allow it to suddenly drop, there being sufficient space between the teeth
to permit the pusher bar to be raised by one tooth and then dropped to
its lowest position before the succeeding tooth will come into play. The
pusher bar thus alternately rises and pushes up the lifter rod, and then
suddenly falls to permit the said rod to drop. The pump is thus 2
automatically worked by the same clockwork which operates the fan or
blower. At the same time, as there is no positive connection, but only
occasional contact between the rod in the lamp reservoir and the bar in
the base, the upper part of the lamp can be made removable. For this
purpose the lower end of the shell B fits in a socket in the top of the 8
base, where it is held by lugs and spring catch in the usual way.
In the practical use of this lamp it has been ascertained that a third
air flue adds to the quality, uniformity, and tenacity of the flamo;
interposed thereforo between the central air passage and the exterior or
outermost air passage is an intermediate duct or passage, through which g
air from the blower is conveyed upward to the exterior of the flame.
This intermediato flue can be formed in various ways. It is conveniently
and expeditiously made by forming the oil tank of two concentric parts,

page_text: an inner cylindrical vessel H carrying the central wick tube, wick-raising
mechanism, &c., and an exterior concentric annular vessel I of sufficiently
greater internal diameter than the vessel H to allow an annular space or
flue K to be formed between them. The oil is poured into the outer
vessel through a suitable nozzlej; and in order to establish communi-.
cation between the two vessels to allow the inner one to be filled with
oil equally with the outer one the two vessels are connected by one or
more tubes k at or near their bottom. With a tank thus constructed
the pump cylinder is arranged in the inner vessel, as indicated in the
Drawing.
The lower end of the pump cylinder preferably projects a little from
the bottom of the tank, and is closed by a packed screw cap, which can
be removed whenever it is desired to have access to the interior of the
cylinder.
The clockwork or movement is supported between two side plates L
secured to a base L³, and suitably braced by cross rods. The general
arrangement of the movement is indicated fully in the Drawings. Mis
the mainspring barrel, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, the intermediate
pinions and gears by which motion is transmitted to the worm shaft,
which carries the fan or blower, indicated in dotted lines, located in an
open cylinder on top of the plate L, which when the movement is in
place in the base fits within the space enclosed by the inner wall of
receptacle E. The pinions are skeleton pinions, and one or more of them
are set in holes in the side plates L, as indicated by dotted lines in
Figure 1, in the case of pinion 3; this being for the purpose of
economizing space as far as possible. A wide, thin, mainspring is.
employed in order to get the maximum of power and number of turns
in the spring in the minimum of space. The mainspring barrel is
supported at both ends, its shaft taking a bearing in each plate L, as
indicated in Figure 2.
To insure a sufficiency of strength in the clicks and ratchet of tho
winding arbor and to protect them from injury from rough usage, and
from droppings that may find their way from the upper part of the lamp
to the base, the ratchet is covered with a cap or plate 7, shown in dotted
3 lines in Figure 1, and in full lines in Figure 2, which fits on the stud
that carries the clicks, and is held there by pins which pass through
holes in the ends of the pins projecting beyond the cap plate. The

page_text: clicks » arc arranged at the sides of the ratchet, and the click springs m
are attached to the cap and arranged at top and bottom of the same so
as to cover the exposed parts of the ratchet. The cap and spring thus
form a box which incloses tho clicks and ratchet, and can be removed
together by taking out the holding pins in the click studs. The clicks
as indicated are provided with projecting tails so that they may be
moved to unlock and let the spring run downward when necessary.
To reduce the friction of the pivots and to avoid the expense of
turning small pivots on the shaft of the pinions and gear wheels, a fine
steel wire of suitable size is used, brought to a spring temper, and
inserted in the ends of the shafts for pivots. Pivots thus constructed
have also the advantage of greater strength and durability over those
constructed in the usual way, since as the latter are mado solid with
their shafts a uniform temper is impossible; they are hardest at tho
shoulder and continually liable to break at that point. The pivots
employed having a spring temper will return to their proper position on
being bent from it, while the ordinary kind will not.
The movement is fitted readily in place, it occupies but little room, so
that the basc need not be large and unsightly in appearance, and by
reason of its construction and arrangement it will give a continuous,
steady, and powerful blaze for a very considerable length of time.
When fitted in the base it is held in position by screws passing through
the base plate L' into lugs or flanges N secured to the inside and above
the bottom of the base.
The above improvement produces a lamp for burning heavy oils, 2
which on being wound up, filled, trimmed, and lighted will without
the use of a chimney give an effective light for twelve hours without
requiring further attention during that time, and a diminishing light
several hours longer, also without attention.
The lamp shown in the Drawing is specially designed for railroad and a
other cars, vessels, and like uses. It will however be manifest that the
form and proportions of the same may be varied to fit it for any uso to
which a lamp is put.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used 3
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I

page_text: consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention.
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. In a lamp for burning heavy oils, the combination substantially as
herein shown and described with the oil tank or reservoir of a pump
operated by spring power mechanism contained in the lamp, and
arranged to take up oil from the tank and supply it to the wick at or
immediately below the point of combustion, said oil supply being in
addition to, and independent of that drawn from the tank by the.
capillary action of the wick itself, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
2. In a lamp for burning heavy oils, the combination of the following
elements, namely:-An oil reservoir, a fan or blower driven by spring
power to produce a blast, air ducts, or passages for conducting the said
blast to interior and exterior of the flame, and a pump driven by the
same spring power and arranged to take oil from the tank and deliver it
to the wick at or near the point of combustion, the said elements being
arranged and operating together, substantially in the manner shewn and
set forth.
3. The combination with the oil reservoir and pump cylinder, and
piston therein contained of the piston rod, lifter rod, and pusher bar,
operated by the blast producing mechanism under the arrangement and
for operation, substantially as hercin-beforo described..
4. The combination with the pump within the inner reservoir or tank
of the annular reservoir formed on the neck or top of the outer shell or
jacket of the lamp at the point where the slotted deflector rests on said
shell or jacket, and connected with and receiving its supply of oil from
said pump, substantially as herein-before described.
5. In combination with the annular auxiliary reservoir connected to
and supplied with oil from the pump, as described, the oil receiver
encircling the top or upper end of the wick tube or jacket, and supplying
the wick at or immediately below the point of combustion with oil
received from said reservoir, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
6. The combination with the oil receiver encircling the top of the
wick tube and supplied with oil from the pump, as described, of the
overflow box located below said receiver to catch any surplus oil or
:

page_text: drippings, and convey the same back into the oil reservoir, substantially
as set forth.
7. In a lamp for burning heavy oils without a chimney, substantially
as described, the combination with the air forcing mechanism, tho
central air duct, and the air passage between the oil reservoir and outer 5
shell or case, of a third air flue and passage intermediate between the
central and exterior air passages, and passing up through the oil
reservoir or tank, substantially as herein shewn and set forth.
8. A peculiar combination or arrangement of spring clockwork
mechanism or movement contained within the base of the lamp for 10
actuating the piston of the pump cylinder (which may however be
worked by hand (if preferred), and for driving the fan or blower, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, the Thirty-first day of 15
March One thousand cight hundred and seventy-four.