IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING, AND IN MEANS FOR FILLING AND LIGHTING THE SAME
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Alexander Rippingille, of Holborn, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LAMPS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING, AND IN MEANS FOR FILLING AND
LIGHTING THE SAME."
"
Sealed the 8th May 1874, and dated the 13th March 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Alexander
Rippingille at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 13th March 1874.
I, EDWARD ALEXANDER RIPPINGILLE, of Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR LIGHTING AND HEATING, AND IN MEANS FOR
FILLING AND LIGHTING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
The Invention relates, firstly, to improvements in burners for lamps in
order to prevent such burners from becoming unduly heated. For this
purpose I enclose the wick tube in a closed outer tube, and I perforate
such wick tube so as to admit air to the wick. On the wick tube above
such perforations is fixed a perforated plate, and below such perforations

page_text: is fixed a plate without any perforations therein. These two plates
closely fit the interior of the outer tube. The air to support combustion
is admitted into the outer tube at a point below the perforated plate on
the wick tube, by which means the air is caused to circulate around the
wick tube, and then to pass upwards through the perforated plate to the
flame. The lower or solid plate serves to prevent the possibility of any
sparks falling into the oil. Or the same effect may be obtained by
causing currents of air to pass up between the wick and wick tube. This
I effect by corrugating the wick tube, or by fixing on the inside thereof
narrow strips of metal so as to form small air spaces on each side of the
wick. The wick tube in this case is also perforated, but at a point a
short distance below the top thereof, and above such perforations the
wick tube is contracted to fit the wick, and prevent the passage of air
from the air spaces direct into the flame. A small flange is also fixed
above the perforations to divert the air from passing direct to the flame.
The inlet for such air may pass through the oil receiver.
In cases where a larger volume of flame is required than can be
obtained conveniently from one flat wick burner I arrange a number of
burners of the character before described, radiating from a common
centre, and preferably an even number thereof, whereby I am enabled
to mount two sets of pinions on one spindle, and thereby regulate two
wicks simultaneously. In the centre of the cone plate I form a hole to
admit air to the inner edges of the flames.
In order to be enabled always to regulate the height of the wick after
trimming I mount on the spindle of the ordinary pinion an extra toothed
pinion or wheel having a check pawl or lever acting therewith, so that
when regulating the wick the exact amount required shall be given, and
it shall be prevented from being accidentally altered by the action of
such check pawl.
The Invention also relates to that class of lamp in which the air is
sealed off from the burner at the upper part of the lamp, and air to
support combustion is supplied by a tube, and consists in the application
of a drip supply thereto. For this purpose I employ a detached reservoir,
which is connected to the air supply tube by a branch tube, and is
provided with a regulating cock, as also with a shut-off cock, or a single
cock may be employed provided with an indicator. The hydrocarbon
oil or spirit is fed from such reservoir in drops to the air supply, tube, by
4

page_text: which means only one tube is required for the supply of both air and oil
to the burner.
The detached reservoir I preferably form of a flattened tube which I
fill with sawdust, sand, or other absorbent material, or I divide it into a
number of cells or compartments communicating with cach other.
When the reservoir is filled with absorbent material I supply the
hydrocarbon fluid thereto so as to saturate the lower half thereof, and I
employ in connection therewith a syphon to supply oil to the air and oil
tube. Each end of the syphon tube is trapped, and the trap on the
longer end thereof is capable of adjustment up and down to regulate the
flow of fluid to the burner. From the pipe enclosing this last-mentioned
trap a branch pipe is conducted so as to deliver the fluid into the air tube,
and this branch tube is provided with a shut-off cock, which is acted
upon to open it by the cover carrying the chimney, and is closed by
means of a spring or weight when such cover is removed.
In cases where it is not convenient to employ the before-mentioned
arrangement for supplying oil to lamps, as, for instance, in street lamps,
I employ the following arrangement of drip supply:-The oil vessel,
which is slidden into the lamp and rests on a plate dividing the upper
from the lower part thereof, is provided with a tubular bent floating arm
fixed to and communicating with a hollow plug, which is closed at onc
end, and at the other or open end closely fits a tube connected to the air
supply tube. The oil flows into the upper end of this hollow bent arm,
and finds its way therefrom down the air supply tube when the level of
oil in the reservoir is above the level of the end of the hollow bent arm.
This hollow arm is bent to enable the upper end thereof to pass under a
cup or air trap at the upper end of a tube connected with another trap
in connection with the wick tube. Thus as the oil in the wick tube
accumulates it acts upon the column of air in the tube connecting it
with the upper trap, and depressed the surface of the oil under the upper
trap, and thereby regulates the flow to a drip.
In order to facilitate the lighting of street or outside lamps I employ a
slide or cover to act in combination with a hole in the outer portion of
the burner, such slide or cover being acted upon by a knob, button, or
handle at the outside of the lamp, and I employ a small slide or door to
admit a lighter to the lamp. The lighter for this purpose is enclosed in
a perforated tube to protect it from the outer air, but when inserted into

page_text: the lamp the lighter burner is pushed forward out of the tubé to enable
the flame to be applied to the wick.
In order to facilitate the supplying of the reservoirs of lamps to one
uniform level I employ a can or vessel having a two-way cock fixed in
the neck thereof. In connection with each passage through the plug I
employ a tube; one of such tubes extends in one direction to a short
distance from the bottom of the can or vessel, and in the other to the
level desired for the oil in the lamp reservoir. The other tube extends
from the two-way cock outwards to a little greater distance than the
other tube, and does not pass into the body of the supply can or vessel.
The can is inverted when supplying oil to a lamp, and the two tubes are
passed into the lamp reservoir, the two-way cock is turned on, the oil
flows through the short tube until it rises in the lamp reservoir to a
height to seal the end of the other tube when the supply ceases. The
cock is then turned off, and the supply can or vessel removed.
The Invention also relates to signal or other outside lamps where the
lamp proper is placed within an outer casing or lantern. In this case I
use a burner of the character before described as also the means for
regulating the height of the wick. The lamp is provided with an inner
and an outer metal chimney, the outer chimney commencing at the top
of the lamp, whilst the inner chimney passes through a division plate,
dividing the upper portion from the lower portion of the lamp, such
division plate being about an inch below the top plate of the lamp on
which the outer chimney is fixed. The space between the division plate
and the top of the lamp is connected with that underneath the cone
plate by tubular connections, and the body of the lamp has two glazed
slides at the back and front thereof, which when carrying the lamp
apart from the lantern are allowed to fall and rest on the top of the oil
reservoir, or on the bottom of the lamp casing, at which time the air to
support combustion passes to the space under the cone plate through the
tubes connected with the upper part of the lamp, but when the lamp is
placed within the lantern the glazed slidės are raised automatically or by
hand, so as to allow air to support combustion to pass freely to the under
side of the cone plate from the space within the latern. The cone
plate fits the inside of the lamp, so as to seal the space below such cone
plate from that above, and the cone plate is hinged to a piece of non-
conducting material carried by the oil reservoir. Instead however of
moving the glazed slides they may be fixed, and the air tubes may be.

page_text: moveable, and be raised by hand or automatically on placing the lamp
in the lantern and in raising the glazed slides or the air tubes. I also
cause the lid of the outer chimney to be automatically raised by such
slides or tubes so as to give a freer vent to the air through the lamp.
The oil reservoir may be connected to the lower part of the lamp casing
by any suitable catches, or it may be slidden into it in a similar manner
to that described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me,
dated September 2nd 1872, Number 2604, in which case side air tubes
may be used, as before described, or a short glass cylinder may be carried
by the cone plate, which glass cylinder would fit closely, the division
plate carrying the inner chimney. Openings in the division plate allow
air to pass from the upper part of the lamp to the interior of the lamp,
and under the cone plate to support combustion, but is prevented passing
directly to the flame by the glass cylinder.
A modification of this arrangement of lamp may be used for heating
purposes, in which case the outer chimney is dispensed with, and placed
at one side or corner of the lamp so as to allow a kettle or other article
to be placed over the flame.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Alexander Rippingille in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 12th September 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
ALEXANDER RIPPINGILLE, of Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Edward Alexander Rippingille,
Her special license, that I, the said Edward Alexander Rippingille, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such. others as I, the said
Edward Alexander Rippingille, my executors, administrators, and 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

page_text: 4, and 5. This I effect by corrugating the wick tube a, as shown at
Figures 2, 3, and 4, or by fixing on the inside thereof, as shown at
Figure 5, narrow strips of metal or pieces of wire a³ so as to form small
air spaces on each side of the wick. The wick tube a in these cases is
also perforated at a¹, but these perforations are at a point a short distance
below the top of the wick tube a, and above such perforations the wick
tube a is contracted, as shown at Figure 3, to fit the wick and prevent
the passage of air from the air spaces on cach side of the wick direct
into the flame. A small flange as is also fixed above such perforations
to divert the air from passing direct to the flame. The air to pass to the
spaces between the wick tube a and the wick passes through the perfora-
tions 62, 63, into the oil receiver, and thence up the spaces between the
wick tube a and the wick, whilst the air to support combustion passes
through the perforations in the plate 61 to the space under the cone 6*,
which is carried by a plate 65, as shewn at Figure 13, such plate being
hinged to a piece of wood or other non-conducting material * fixed to
the top of the oil receiver / in a somewhat similar manner to that shown
at Figures 17 and 18.
In cases where a larger volume of flame is required than can be
obtained conveniently from one flat wick burner I arrange a number of
burners of the character before described radiating from a common
centre, as indicated at Figure 6, which represents a plan of a cone plate
6 having cones 6' fixed thereon to act in combination with four burners,
and I prefer to employ an even number of such burners, whereby I am
enabled to mount two sets of pinions on one spindle, and thereby regulate
two wicks simultaneously. In the centre of the cone plate 66 I form a.
hole to admit air to the inner edges of the flames.
In order to be enabled always to regulate the height of the wick after
trimming I mount on the spindle e of the ordinary pinions e¹an extra
toothed pinion or wheel e³ having a check pawl or lever e³ acting there-
with, as shewn at Figures 1 and 2, so that when regulating the wick the
exact amount required shall be given, and it shall be prevented from
being accidentally altered by the action of such check pawl e³. Thus
after the wick has been cut off level with the top of the wick tube it
can be raised to a given height by turning the spindle e, the toothed
wheel e³, and pawl e³, serving to regulate the height to which it is
raised.

page_text: '
The Invention also. relates to that class of lamp in which the air at
the upper part of the lamp is sealed off from the burner, and air to
support combustion is supplied to the burner by a tube or tubes, and
this part of my Invention which is represented in section at Figure 7
consists in the application of a drip supply to such description of lamps.
For this purpose I employ a detached reservoir f, which is connected to
the air supply. tube c by a branch tube c¹, and may be provided with a
regulating cock and a shut-off cock, or a single cock provided with an
indicator may be employed. The hydrocarbon fluid is fed from such
reservoir f in drops to the air-supply tube c, by which means only one 1
tube is required for the supply of both air and oil to the burner.
The detached reservoir f I preferably form of a flattened tube, which
I fill with sawdust, sand, or other absorbent material, or I divide it into
a number of cells or compartments communicating with each other.
When the reservoir is filled with absorbent material I supply the 1
hydrocarbon fluid thereto so as to saturate the lower half thereof, and I
employ in connection therewith a syphon f¹ to supply oil to the air and
oil tube c. The syphon tube f¹ is made of a flattened tube filled with
fine wire, and the end thereof in the reservoir f is covered with fine
wire gauze to prevent the passage of any dirt therein, and such end is 2
trapped by passing into the well f* in the reservoir f. The outer or
longer end of the syphon f¹ is trapped by a pipe f², from whichı, a
branch pipe f is conducted so as to deliver the hydrocarbon fluid into
the branch tube c¹, and thence to the oil and air tube c. The branch tube
fs is provided with a shut-off cock f* having a projection or lever ƒ³, 2
which is acted upon in one direction to open it by the cover g of the
lamp carrying the chimney g¹ and guard g³, as such cover is placed in
position and is closed by means of a spring f* when such cover is
removed.
:
The branch tube f³ is provided with a sliding portion f", which is 3
capable of being raised when it is required to remove the cover g from
the lamp, and when such sliding tube f' is so raised the cover g can be
turned round to free the branch tube c¹ from the sliding tube f" and the
cover g removed as desired. If desired, instead of acting upon the shut-
off cock f* automatically as above described, the parts f³ and fº may 3

page_text: mulates it acts upon the column of air in the tube i connecting it with
the upper trap f", and depresses the surface of the oil or fluid under
such upper trap, and thereby regulates the flow of fluid to a drip.
In order to facilitate the lighting of street or outside lamps in that
class of lamp which has the reservoir in the bottom thereof, and has a
glass chimney supported by the burner, I employ a slide or cover to
act in combination with a hole in the outer portion of the burner, such
slide or cover being acted upon by a knob, button, or handle, at the
outside of the lamp, connected thereto in any convenient manner, as will
be well understood; and I employ a small slide or door k, see Figure 10,
to admit a lighter to the lamp. The lighter for this purpose, which is
represented by a sectional view at Figure 11, is enclosed in a perforated
tube to protect it from the outer air, but when inserted into the lamp
the lighter burner is pushed forward out of the tube to enable the
flame to be applied to the wick.
In order to protect the lighter more effectually when in the tube/
I employ
a spring door or cover , which will give way when the
lighter is pushed forward out of the tube 1, but automatically closes
when the lighter returns within the tube 7. The lighter
is formed
of a tube, as shown, which extends some distance into the reservoir 7 in
order that when the lighter is held downwards the oil shall not run out
of the lighter tube . A spring connected at one end to the per-
forated tube 7, and at the other to the reservoir l³, acts to return the
lighter within the tube when not pushed out therefrom by the person
using the lighter.
In order to facilitate the supplying of the reservoirs of lamps to one
uniform level I employ a filler of the character represented at Figure 12.
In this view the filler is shown applied to the arrangement of reservoir
described with respect to Figure 7. This filler consists of a can or
vessel m, having a two-way cock m² fixed in the neck thereof:
In connnection with each passsge through the plug or cock m¹ I
employ a tube m³ or m³. The tube m² extends in one direction to a
short distance from the bottom of the can or vessel, and in the other to
the level desired for the oil in the lamp reservoir f. The other tube m³
extends from the two-way cock m¹ outwards to a little greater
distance than the tube m², and does not pass into the body of the supply
can or vessel m. The can m is inverted when supplying oil to a lamp

page_text: through the short tube m³ until it rises in the lamp reservoir to a height
to seal the end of the other tube m², when the supply ceases. The cock
is then turned off, and the supply can or vessel m2 removed from the
lamp reservoir.
The Invention also relates to signal or other outside lamps where the
lamp proper is placed within an outer casing or lantern, and this part
of my Invention is represented at Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17;
Figure 13 is a vertical section of a lamp having the oil reservoir con**
nected thereto by catches; Figure 14 is a sectional plan of the same;
and Figure 15 is an outside view of part thereof; Figure 16 represents
a vertical section of a similar description of lamp, in which the oil
reservoir is slidden into the bottom portion of the lamp; and Figure 17
represents a section of a lamp, in which the air tubes n° are dispensed
with and a glass cylinder p placed around the flame.
In the arrangements shown at Figures 13, 14, and 15, I use burners
of the character herein-before described with respect to Figures 2, 3,
4, and 5, as also the means herein-before described for regulating the
height of the wick. The lamp n is provided with an inner metal
chimney n¹ and an outer metal chimney n². The outer chimney n²
commences at the top n³ of the lamp, whilst the inner chimney n¹ passes
through a división plate n* dividing the upper portion from the lower
portion of the lamp, such division plate * being about an inch below
the top plate n³.
The space between the division plate n' and the top plate n³ is con-
nected with that underneath the cone plate 6º, Figure 16, or underneath
the plate n³, Figure 13, forming the bottom of the lamp by means of
tubular connections nº, and the body of the lamp has two glazed slides n²,
one at the back and the other at the front thereof, which when carrying
the lamp apart from the lantern are allowed to fall and rest, cither on
the top of the oil reservoir h, or, as shown at Figure 13; on the cone
plate 6, or it may be on the bottom of the lamp casing, at which time
the air to support combustion passes to the space under the cone plate U",
Figure 16, or under the plate n³, Figure 13, through the tubes nº; but
5 when the lamp is placed within the lantern, a part of which is shown
at o, Figures 13; 14, 15; the glazed slides n' are raised automatically by

page_text: means of the ring or cylinder o¹ fixed in the bottom of the lantern acting.
on the bottom edges of the slides n³, or such slides n may be raised by
hand, so as to allow air to support combustion to pass frecly to the
under side of the plate 2, Figure 13, or the cone plate 63, Figure 16,
from the space within the lantern. The cone plate b³, Figure 16, fits
the inside of the lamp, so as to seal the space below such cone plate
from that above, or the plate n*, Figure 13, shuts down close on to the
flange of the cone 6' to seal the space below such plate n³ from that
above, and the conc plate 3 is hinged to a piece of non-conducting
material carried by the reservoir h.
Instead however of moving the glazed slides n³ they may be fixed and
the tubes may be moveable and be raised by hand or automatically on
placing the lamp in the lantern, as will be well understood, and at the
moment of raising the slides n' or the air tubes n I also cause the
lid 10 of the outer chimney 2 to be automatically raised by a projection
from one of the slides n' or tubes 2º so as to give a freer vent to the air
through the lamp. The oil reservoir / may be connected to the lower
part of the lamp casing by means of spring catches 12", as shown at
Figures 13, 14, and 15, or it may be slidden into it in a similar manner
to that described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me
dated September 2nd, 1872, No 2604, as shown at Figures 16 and 17, in
which case side air tubes may be used as hercin-before described, or a
short glass cylinder p may be carried by the cone plate 65 which glass
cylinder would fit closely the division plate n' carrying the inner
chimney n'. Openings formed in the division plate n' and cone plate 2
allow air to pass from the upper part of the lamp to the interior of the
lamp and under the cone plate * to support combustion when the
slides n' are down but the air is prevented passing directly to the flame
by the glass cylinder p.
A modification of the arrangement of lamp shown at Figure 17 may a
be used for heating purposes, as represented by sectional view at
Figure 18 in which case the inner chimney n¹ is dispensed with and the
outer chimney n² placed at one side or corner of the lamp so as to allow
a kettle q or other article to be placed centrally over the flame. In this
modification as it is not necessary to guard against drafts the air is
permitted to enter freely under the cone plate, and the holes in the
plate n are dispensed with, and it will be seen that only one slide n³ is.

page_text: used which rests upon the cone plate 65 and if desired it may be slidden
into position in a horizontal direction.. When using a glass cylinder p
the slide is dispensed with, but if desired the cylinder p may be
dispensed with in which case the slide n² would be used and a short
metal chimney 2¹ would be fixed to the division plate n³, as shown by
the dotted lines in Figure 18.
into position in a horizontal direction.. When using a glass cylinder p
the slide is dispensed with, but if desired the cylinder p may be
dispensed with in which case the slide n would be used and a short
metal chimney n¹ would be fixed to the division plate n³, as shown by
the dotted lines in Figure 18.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the mode
in which I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,―
First. The modes of constructing burners for lamps in order to
prevent such burners from becoming unduly heated, in manner sub-
stantially as herein shown and described with respect to Figures 1, 2, 3,
4, and 5.
Secondly. I claim the mode of facilitating the adjustment of the
wick after trimming by means of a toothed pinion fixed on the axis of
the ordinary pinion, in manner substantially as herein shown and
described with respect to Figures 1 and 2.
Thirdly. I claim the mode of supplying hydrocarbon fluid to roof and
other lamps by means of a detached reservoir placed at a distance from
the lamp and supplying the burner with fluid by means of a drip
supply, in manner substantially as herein shown and described with
respect to Figure 7.
Fourthly. I claim the arrangement of drip supply to supply oil to
the burner in that description of lamp in which the oil vessel is.
supported at the upper part of the lamp, in manner substantially as
herein shown and described with respect to Figures 8 and 9.
C
Fifthly. I claim the use of a common tube c for supplying both air
and fluid to the burners of lamps, in manner substantially as herein.
shown and described with respect to Figures 1, 7, and 8.
Sixthly. I claim the novel construction and arrangement of lighter
for lighting lamps, substantially as herein shown and described with
respect to Figure 11.
Seventhly. I claim the mode substantially as herein described of
operating by means of a knob, button, or handle at the outside of the

page_text: lamp upon a slide or cover to cover or uncover an opening formed in
the lower part of a burner used with a glass chimney and thereby enable
the wick to be lighted by passing a lighter through such opening.
Eighthly. I claim the novel construction of can or vessel to facilitate
the supplying of the reservoirs of lamps to one uniform level, in
manner substantially as herein shown and described with respect to
Figure 12.

page_text: Fifteenthly. I claim the novel construction and arrangement of lamp
for heating purposes, substantially as hercin shown and described with
respect to Figure 18.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Alexander Rippingille,
have hereunto set my hand and scal, this Twelfth day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-four.
EP. ALEX. RIPPINGILLE. (L.S.)