An Improved Hand Lamp of the kind commonly known as Engineers' Lamps.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1892
An Improved Hand Lamp of the kind commonly known as
Engineers' Lamps.
I, WILLIAM ROWE, of No. 512 Canning Street, North Carlton, near Melbourne,
in the Colony of Victoria, General Agent, 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 :-
This invention relates to those kinds of hand lamps which are commonly known
as "Engineers' Lamps," and consists of certain novel means for keeping the lid or
cover closed, and for assisting to return it to its closed position after it has been.
opened.
Heretofore various means have been suggested for this purpose, but I have
found that in practice they are either complicated, or expensive, or inconvenient.
The object of this invention is to provide a hand lamp of this class, having a
lid or cover closing the mouth of the lamp which can easily be raised when it is
required to empty or replenish the lamp with oil and as easily be replaced after-
wards but being at all times securely held in position so as to make it almost
impossible for the lid or cover to become accidentally displaced or lost.
Hand lamps constructed according to my invention: have the lid or cover
connected by a spiral spring with the bottom of the lanp, the tendency of which is
always to keep the lid closed; but, in addition to this, it has a wire connection.
passing through the centre of the spring of just sufficient length to allow said:
lid or cover to be raised high enough to be slid back so as to uncover the top
or mouth of the lamp. The upper ends of the spiral.spring.are fastened to an eye
formed preferably by bending a piece of wire into the required shape, the ends of
which wire are passed through the lid or cover. The lower ends of the spring are
fastened to an eye formed preferably in the same way, the ends of the wire forming
the eye being passed through the bottom of the lamp.. In each case the ends of the
wire forming the eye are bent over and soldered, a cap piece being fitted over
the ends in order to impart a finish to the article.
The rigid connection above referred to is secured to the lid or cover by one
end of it being passed through the lid or cover, then bent over and soldered, the
other end of the rigid connection being secured in a similar manner to the bottom
of the lamp.
It consists by preference of two pieces of wire looped into engagement with
one another, the upper end of the upper piece being attached, as above described,
to the lid, and the lower end of the lower piece being attached, as above described,
to the bottom of the lamp, so as to permit of only such an amount of movement to
the lid as is necessary for the purposes described. A short piece of tube projects
from the inside of the bottom of the lamp and encircles the lower part of the
spiral spring, in order to act as a shield and so prevent the wick coming into
contact, therewith.
On the inside of the lid or cover is a washer or pad, consisting by preference
of a circular piece of leather, to assist in more perfectly closing the mouth of the
lamp, and thus prevent the contents escaping in the event of the lamp being turned
upside down.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Figures 1 and 2 are vertical central sections of a hand lamp constructed
according to my invention, showing the lid or cover opened in the first case and

page_text: Figure 3 is a front elevation of same, and
Figure 4 is a plan of the top of the lid.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
A represents the lid or cover of the oil receptacle B; A1 is the washer or pad
on the inside of the lid or cover; C the spiral spring which is connected at one
end to said lid or cover, and at the other to the bottom of the lamp as shewn ;
whilst D. D represent the connection consisting of two pieces of wire looped
together, the end of one being secured to the lid or cover and the end of the other
to the bottom of the lamp alongside the ends of the loop C 1 to which the spiral
spring C is attached. E represents the protecting tube or shield which projects
from the bottom of the lamp and encircles the lower part of the spring C, so as to
prevent the wick from coming in contact therewith.
The front part of the lid is preferably cut away (as illustrated at F) to enable
it to be more readily opened and closed and the lips or edges of the mouth of the
lamp are bent inwards (as at G) in order to afford a lead to the lid or cover so as
to facilitate its return to the closed position. The remaining parts of the lamp
being practically the same as those at present in use do not require explanation.
I prefer to make the spouts of my lamps with an inner lining or false mouth
(such as H,) for the purpose of more firmly holding the wick in position.
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
-
A hand lamp of the class usually known as "Engineers Lamps" having its lid
or cover secured by a spiral spring to the bottom of the lamp a connection (such
as D-D 1) being provided for the purpose of preventing the lid or cover from
being raised too high or removed altogether, substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of October 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.