IMPROVEMENTS IN LIGHTING, HEATING, AND VENTILATING
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Syson Nibbs, of the Manor of Aston, in the
County of Warwick, Lamp and Chandelier Manufacturer, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIGHTING, HEATING, AND VENTILATING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Syson Nibbs at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Potition, on the
24th November 1858.
I, JAMES SYSON NIBBS, of the Manor of Aston, in the County of Warwick,
Lamp and Chandelier Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIGHTING, HEATING, AND VENTILATING," to be
as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates in the first place to a new and improved mode of
admitting or conducting air to the flame of oil or spirit lamps by means of
perforated plates or screens, wholly or in part inclined from the perpendicular,
and in connection with other perforated plates or screens, whereby the
atmospheric air is broken up into small streams, and its force upon the flame
considerably checked, at the same time preventing the atmospheric air from
coming in immediate contact with the wick of the lamp whilst burning.
The Invention relates in the second place to an improved ventilating top,
applicable to ship, railway, and other lamps or lanterns, and gas stoves, by
which the forcible ingress of atmospheric air is checked, at the same time
[Price 8d.1

page_text: allowing a free egress to the vitiated air and other products of combustion.
This ventilating top is composed of a metallic cylinder, near the top of which
is fixed, on the inside and in a horizontal position, a plate of metal, wholly or
in part perforated, and so constructed as to allow the ascending air to pass
freely, at the same time preventing a downward current towards the light.
Exterior to this metal cylinder, and near the top, is perinanently or temporarily
fixed a metallic plate or screen, wholly or in part perforated, and wholly or in
part inclined from the perpendicular, and surmounted by a metallic plate or
dome, in which-no perforations are made.
The third head of the Invention relates to the construction of the domes or
tops of gas stoves, similar to the foregoing plans, but having the inner surface
coated with black paint, varnish, or other material to encourage an accumula-
tion of heat, and having the outer surface highly polished.
The system of ventilation herein-before described is also applicable to all
kinds of lamps and lanterns, as well as to apartments and buildings, roofs of
omnibuses and carriages both for common roads and railways.
In the arrangements for lighting and heating there is also employed a
peculiar kind or arrangement of reflector, having a number of perpendicular
parallel plane surfaces for reflecting light and heat. In fixing the glasses in
ship and other lamps, to prevent their fracture by expansion, a packing of
cork, paper, linen, or other non-conducting material, is fitted round the edge
of the glass.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Syson Nibbs in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th May 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
SYSON NIBBS, of the Manor of Aston, in the County of Warwick, Lamp and
Chandelier Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Syson Nibbs, Her special license that I, the said James
Syson Nibbs, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said James Syson Nibbs, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all

page_text: times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
Invention for
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LIGHTING, HEATING, AND VENTILATING," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Syson Nibbs, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Syson Nibbs, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates in the first place to a new and improved mode of
admitting or conducting air to the flame of oil or spirit lamps by means of
perforated plates or screens, wholly or in part inclined from the perpendicular,
and in connection with other perforated plates or screens, whereby the
atmospheric air is broken up into small streams, and its force upon the flame
considerably checked, at the same time preventing the atmospheric air from
coming in immediate contact with the wick.of the lamp whilst burning.
My Invention relates in the second place to an improved ventilating top,
applicable to ship, railway, and other lamps or lanterns, and gas stoves, by
which the forcible ingress of atmospheric air is checked, at the same time
allowing a freec egress to the vitiated air and other products of combustion.
This ventilating top is composed of a metallic cylinder, near the top of which
is fixed on the inside, and in a horizontal position, a "plate of metal wholly or
in part perforated, and so constructed as to allow the ascending air to pass
freely, at the same time preventing a downward current towards the light.
Exterior to this metal cylinder, and near the top, is permanently or temporarily
fixed a metallic plate or screen wholly or in part perforated, and wholly or in
part inclined from the perpendicular, and surmounted by a metallic plate or
dome, in which no perforations are made.
The third head of my Invention relates to the construction of the domes or
tops of gas stoves similar to the foregoing plans.
The system of ventilation herein-before described is also applicable to all
kinds of lamps and lanterns, as well as to apartments and buildings, roofs of
omnibuses and carriages both for common roads and railways.

page_text: In the arrangements for lighting and heating there is also employed a
peculiar kind or arrangement of reflector, having a number of perpendicular
parallel plain surfaces for reflecting light and heat.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory
Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing
certain modifications under which my improvements may be judiciously carried
out in practice.
Figure 1 on the said accompanying Drawings is a sectional elevation of one
modification of a lamp arranged according to my present Invention; Figure 2
is an elevation of the upper part of a lamp, showing the improved cone or
deflector in conjunction with the wind guard or screen; Figure 3 is a plan
shewing one half of the perforated stage or screen, and the other half that of
the cone or deflector; Figure 4 is a vertical section of the upper part of a
lamp with a circular or argand wick, and having my improvements applied
thereto; Figure 5 is a half sectional plan taken through the line 1-2, in
Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a transverse section taken through the line 3, 4,
in the same Figure. Figure 7 is a vertical section of my improved ventilating
top or cap for lamps, gas stoves, or ventilators; Figure 8 is an under side view
of the upper portion of the ventilator, and Figure 9 is a transverse section of
the same taken through the dotted line 5-6, in Figure 7; Figure 10 is an
elevation of a ship's lantern, having one of my improved ventilators applied
thereto. Figure 11 is an elevation of an improved reflector adapted for ship's
lanterns and other similar purposes, and Figure 12 is an edge view corre-
sponding to Figure 11..
In the modification as arrangéd in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings,
the ornamental pillar A of the lamp has screwed to its upper part the reservoir
or holder B, composed of glass, porcelain, brass, or other suitable material, in
which the oil or spirit is contained. To this glass or porcelain reservoir a brass
ring C is cemented; this ring is made with an internal screw in it, to which
is fitted the screen or wind guard D. This portion of the lamp consists of a
perforated diaphragm of thin metal, which is made in the form of an inverted
frustum of a cone, the narrower portion having a ring thereon, which is made
to fit the internal screw of the ring C. The wind guard D has fitted within
its upper rim the glass holder or chimney gallery E in this modification of my
improvements. This part of the lamp consists also of the outer gallery F for
carrying the lamp shade or globe of the cone or deflector G, and of the finely
perforated diaphragm H, that is to say, the parts that serve these several offices
are in this arrangement formed in one piece by soldering or otherwise, each

page_text: piece being made separately and then put together; but I reserve to myself
the right of making any two of them, such as the cone and glass holder or
wind guard and glass holder in one piece if necessary; the ring of metal
which fits the wind guard D extends upwards, forming the light perforated
gallery E, in which the chimney I is fitted. To the lower edge of this gallery
E is soldered or otherwise secured the perforated ring F, the upwardly turned
edge of which serves to partially support the lamp shade or globe, which rests
upon the horizontal ring F.
In Figure 2 of the accompanying Drawing, the gallery E is shown, as
arranged for a lamp to be used without a shade or globe. To the lower face
or base of the cone G is fastened a disc H of finely perforated metal; this
diaphragm serves to check and divide into a multiplicity of fine jets or streams
the currents of air that flow in through the apertures in the conical wind
guard D. These minute streams of air flow upwards all round the wick
holder J, which extends through the slot or opening K in the disc H nearly
up to the cone or deflector G, and thus as the streams of air impinge against
the inner surface of the cone the air is deflected and thrown back upon the
flame of the wick L. The wick holder J is in this modification arranged' for
a flat or riband wick, and is formed of a piece of thin metal bent to form a
flattened channel internally; this holder is fitted into a slot at the lower part
of the wind guard D, and is soldered thereto. The wick L is raised by means
of the pinion M, the spindle N of which is carried in bearings that are soldered
to the face of the wick holder J; the spindle extends out beyond the gallery
E, and has fitted to its extremity a milled head O, by means of which the wick
is raised or depressed. The cone or deflector G with the perforated plate.is
fitted within the top of the wind gaard D; it is formed of thin sheet metal
and has a transverse slot P cut in it, through which the flame of the wick
passes. A row of holes Q are made through the cone; these holes extend in
a horizontal line round the circumference of the cone, and serve to facilitate
the combustion. This external draft or supply of air is a portion of that
which flows through the apertures in the wind guard D. By this arrangement
of the upper portion of lamps, I am enabled to obtain a broad flame of superior
illuminating power of a form similar to the ordinary "fish tail" gas flame;. the
improvements also avoid the necessity of cutting the wick of an arched form;
a clean horizontal cut producing the desired form of flame. Nevertheless, the
flame may be altered in shape by different cuttings of the wick. Petroleum;
parafine, and other similar oils or spirits may be burnt in these lamps
without requiring the intervention of wood, cork, or other non-conducting.
substance at the junction of the metal and the oil or spirit reservoir: This

page_text: freedom from heating is obtained in a great measure by the peculiar arrange-
ment of the wind guard D, and by the small quantity of metal that is brought
within the influence of the flame, and in contact with the reservoir. .The
whole being cooled by the continuous upward flow of air as it passes rapidly
through the apertures of the wind guard, and is then diffused around the wick
holder J by means of the perforated plate H. This arrangement also prevents
the escape of the liquid at the junction of the burner with the reservoir.
In modifying the construction of these lamps for the use of circular or
argand wicks, in place of the flat or riband wick shewn in Figure 1 of the
accompanying Drawing, I prefer the arrangement delineated in Figures 4, 5,
and 6. The upper or mechanical portion of the lamp is secured to the oil or
spirit reservoir by the screwed ring A; this part serves as a disc which encloses
the opening to the body or reservoir, except at the segmentally-shaped
aperture left to receive the lower end of the duplex tubes B and C; the outer
tube B does not extend upwards so high as the inner tube C; a short move-
able piece D is fitted within the tube B which brings it up to the same height
of the inner tube; when the picce D is removed, it facilitates the access to the
wick holder E, which works up and down between the tubes B and C; the wick
holder consists of a double segmentally-shaped tube F, which is curved to slide
within the segmental portion of the tubes B and C, the upper portion of the
The wick
inner part at G forms a tubular part that encircles the tube C.
holder is raised in the ordinary way by means of a rack H, which is soldered
to the back of the segmental outer tube, and traverses between a vertical guide
that is attached to the tube B, and the actuating pinion I; the pinion is
carried on the inner end of the laterally projecting spindle J, which termi-
nates in a milled head, the spindle J working through a stuffing box or
collar K that is screwed into the projecting boss at the lower part of the
tube B. In the centre of the disc which forms the upper part of the
ring A is fixed a vertical spindle L, which carries on its upper extremity
the button M; this button serves to deflect the flame of the wick, and causes
The air for the
it to take a cup-shaped form, which increases its brilliancy.
support of the combustion is admitted to the exterior and interior of the wick
through the wind guards N and -O, which are soldered in one piece with the
The
chimney gallery P, the lamp shade or globe gallery Q, and. the cone R.
upper part of the tubular wind guard O has a ring soldered inside, which is
Imade to fit the tube B, and a slot is cut out of the lower part to allow of its
passing over the laterally projecting boss, through which the spindle J works.
The upper wind guard N is arranged in the conical form, similar to that herein-
before described, and shown in Figures 1 and 2; this wind guard admits the

page_text: air that is supplied to the exterior of the circular wick S; the air thus de-
mitted passes through the perforated diaphragm T, in manner herein-before
described, a portion of it reaching the flame directly through the cone, whilst
another part passes outwards through the ring of holes made therein. The
current of air for the supply of the inner portion of the flame passes in through
the wind guard O, and upwards beneath the overhanging segmental part of
the duplex tubes B and C, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 4. The flame
is thus abundantly supplied with air, so as to produce the full intensity of
light without unsteadiness arising from draught.
The surplus portion of the
wick S below the overhanging part of the tubes B, is cut partially through to
admit of its passing downwards through the segmental part of the wick holder
to the oil or spirit contained in the reservoir. Although I have herein-before
described the duplex wind guards N and O, together with the galleries P, Q,
and the cone R as being constructed or united together in one piece, this
arrangement may be departed from, and the parts in some cases may be fitted
together separately.
My improvements in the arrangement and construction of ventilators which
are applicable to either lamps, gas stoves, or ordinary purposes of ventilation,
are delineated in Figures 7 to 10 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
The modification of the ventilator I have therein shewn consists of a thin
metal cylinder a, made to taper gradually towards the upper part, where the
edge is turned outwards, as shewn in Figure 7. A metal diaphragm b is fitted
within the cylinder a towards its upper part; this partition has a series of
radial openings or slots c made in it; these openings extend round the outer
portion of the diaphragm. The current of heated air passing off from the
stove or lamp strikes against the diaphragm b, and escapes through the radial
slots c, and passes upwards into the dome or cap d. This portion of the appa-
ratus is fastened to the angularly disposed perforated plate or windguard e,
which is made to fit the taper cylinder a. The heated air passes downwards,
as indicated by the arrows in Figure 7, and away out by the triangular open-
ings in the wind guard e. The apertures in the wind guard e are made so
that the metal which is cut through on two sides of the triangle forms an
inwardly projecting vane. The metal at each aperture thus bent upwards
serves as a protector to prevent external currents of air from blowing in through
these openings, at the same time ample space is left for the free egress of the
heated air evolved from the lamp flame or burning fuel.
In Figure 10 of the accompanying Drawing, one of my improved ventilators
is shewn as applied to a ship's signal lamp, for which purpose they are
Deculiarly adapted; they may also be applied with advantage to gas and

page_text: other stoves, for diffusing the heated air arising therefrom into the apartment,
or as a means of discharging vitiated or heated air from railway carriages,
rooms, offices, or public buildings.
Figures and 12 on the accompanying Drawing represent a front and
edge views of a polygonal polished metal reflector, adapted for signal lamps,
such as shewn in Figure 10. This reflector is composed of an oblong-shaped
piece of metal, bent or otherwise formed into a segmental figure, made up of a
series of planes or reflecting surfaces g. as shewn in the respective Figures.
The reflector is fitted in the usual way to the back of the interior of the lamp,
and from its peculiar construction, the reflecting planes partially surrounding
the flame or flames, the light is visible through a greater arc than is the case
with the ordinary arrangement; these reflectors may also be advantageously
applied for reflecting or throwing forward the heat arising from gas and other
stoves or fire-grates.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the
principles or main features of my said Invention; but what I 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,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of lamps for illuminating
purposes, as herein-before described and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the use and application of a conical or angularly disposed wind
guard or perforated screen in and to lamps for burning oil or spirit, as herein-
before described and shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Third, the arrangement and construction of a double wind guard or per-
forated screen, for supplying air to the exterior and interior of circular or
argand wicks, and the use and application of such part or parts to lamps of
this kind, for burning oil or spirit, as herein-before described and shewn in
the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth, the system or mode of arranging the duplex wind guards in one piece
with the cone and chimney gallery, and in such manner that the cone may be
raised above or depressed below the wick as required, to increase or modify
the intensity of the flame, as herein-before described and shewn in the
accompanying Drawings.
Fifth, the arrangement and construction of the ventilators herein-before

page_text: described, and their use in connection with signal lamps and application to
stoves, for the purpose of diffusing heat, or carrying off impure vapours, as
herein-before described.
Sixth, the arrangement and construction of the reflectors shewn in Figures
10 and 11 of the accompanying Drawings, when used in combination with
signal lamps, or for reflecting heat from stoves or grates, as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Syson Nibbs, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-nine.
JAMES SYSON NIBBS. (L.S.)