IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING OR IGNITING LAMPS, AND FOD LICUTING OR TAXITING NATUR FAD VADIOUS PUD DOSE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Stokes, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Manufacturing Jeweller and Silversmith, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING OR IGNITING LAMPS, AND
FOD LICUTING OR TAXITING NATUR FAD VADIOUS
PUD DOSE"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Stokes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd July 1881.
$8
WILLIAM HENRY STOKES, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-.
facturing Jeweller and Silversmith. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING
OR IGNITING LAMPS, AND FOR LIGHTING OR IGNITING MATCHES FOR VARIOUS
PURPOSES."
My Invention has for its object principally to effect the lighting or igniting of
lamps burning volatile oils, but may also be applied to the lighting or igniting
of other lamps, as well as to the lighting or igniting of matches for various
purposes.
I will describe my Invention as applied to the lighting of an ordinary paraffin
lamp having two parallel wicks. Underneath the gallery supporting the globe or
shade of the lamp I fix a short tubular collar so situated and inclined that any-
thing passed up it takes a position midway between the two wick cases. Through
this tubular collar the apparatus carrying the match is passed, as hereinafter
explained. The match, by the striking and igniting of which the lamp is to be
lighted, is placed in a slender tube open at top and closed at bottom, the closed
bottom being of greater diameter than the other part of the tube. This tube has
a pusher travelling in a slot by which the match can be raised out of the tube.
This tube, which I will call the match tube, fits in another tube of somewhat
larger diameter, which I will call the striker tube. This striker tube has a base
which fits the tubular collar in the lamp. To this base the striker tube of smaller
diameter than the base is attached by soldering or otherwise. The striker tube
consists of a tube of thin sheet steel slit or divided throughout the greater part of

page_text: its length by slits parallel to its axis into four or other number of spring arms.
These arms are pointed at top, and their extreme ends are turned inwards. The
body of the tube is hardened and tempered so as to be highly elastic, while the
ends are hardened but not tempered.
The apparatus is used as follows:-A match is inserted in the match tube, and
the match tube passed into the striker tube until the tip of the match bears against
the turned in extreme ends of the arms of the striker tube. The striker tube thus
furnished is introduced into the tubular collar in the lamp, and the base of the
striker tube seats itself steadily in the tubular collar. By now pressing upon the
bottom of the match tube and forcing it upwards, the tip of the match forces
outwards the turned in points terminating the match tube, and by the friction of
the points on the tip of the match it is ignited, and its flame lights or ignites the
two wicks of the lamp.
On drawing down from the lamp the striker tube, the match may be blown out,
and by pressing upon the pusher the match may be ejected. The apparatus is now
ready for use a second time.
The match tube and striker tube may be employed for striking or igniting
matches for various purposes, the lengths and other proportions of the parts
being varied to suit the particular purpose to which the apparatus is to be
applied.
On the pusher described may be dispensed with, and a rod or wire working
freely in the match tube substituted. The match is struck by pushing the rod or
wire up the match tube. The match is thereby raised, forced between the
points of the striker, and the ignited end of the match raised to any required
height.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Williain, Henry Stokes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th January 1882.
WILLIAM HENRY STOKES, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturing Jeweller and Silversmith. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING
OR IGNITING LAMPS, AND FOR LIGHTING OR IGNITING MATCHES FOR VARIOUS
PURPOSES."
My Invention has for its object to effect the lighting or igniting of lamps burning
volatile oils, and the lighting or igniting of other lamps, as well as the lighting or
igniting of matches for various purposes.
In lighting an ordinary paraffin lamp having two parallel wicks by the use of
apparatus constructed according to my Invention, I make a hole in or fix a short
tubular collar to the gallery of the globe or shade, the said hole or collar being so
situated and inclined that anything passed up it takes a position midway between
the two wick cases. Through this tubular collar or hole the apparatus carrying
the match is passed, as hereinafter explained. The match, by the striking and
igniting of which the lamp is to be lighted, is placed in a slender tube open at top
and closed at bottom, the closed bottom being of greater diameter than the other
part of the tube. This tube has a pusher travelling in a slot, by which the match
can be raised out of the tube. This tube, which I will call the inatch tube, fits in
another tube of somewhat larger diameter, which I will call the striker tube. This
striker tube has a base which fits the tubular collar in the lamp. To this base the
striker tube of smaller diameter than the base is attached by soldering or otherwise.
The striker tube consists of a tube of thin sheet steel slit or divided throughout
the greater part of its length by slits parallel to its axis into four or other number
of spring arms. These arms are pointed at top, and their extreme ends are turned
inwards. The body of the tube is hardened and tempered so as to be highly
elastic, while the ends are hardened but not tempered.
The apparatus is used as follows:-A match is inserted in the match tube, and
the match tube passed into the striker tube until the tip of the match bears against
the turned in extreme ends of the arms of the striker tube. The striker tube thus
furnished is introduced into the hole or tubular collar in the lamp, and the base of
the striker tube seats itself steadily in the said hole or tubular collar. By now
pressing upon the bottom of the match tube and forcing it upwards, the tip of the
inatch forces outwards the turned in points terminating the match tube, and by
the friction of the points on the tip of the match it is ignited, and its flame lights
or ignites the two wicks of the lamp.
On drawing down from the lamp the striker tube, the match may be blown out,
and by pressing upon the pusher the match may be ejected. The apparatus is now
ready for use a second time.
The apparatus is used for lighting or igniting matches for various purposes in
the manner already described.
Or the pusher described may be dispensed with, and a rod or wire working
freely in the match tube substituted. The match is struck by pushing the rod
or wire up the match tube. The match is thereby raised, forced between the
points of the striker tube, and the ignited end of the match raised to any required
beight.
I will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawing,
the manner in which my Invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section,
and Figure 2 in side elevation, apparatus constructed according to my Invention

page_text: "
for igniting matches for lighting lamps and for other purposes, the said apparatus
being drawn to a large scale. In Figure 1 the apparatus is represented charged.
with a match ready to be ignited, and in Figure 2 the match is represented
ignited.
.
Figure 3 represents the match tube and its pusher withdrawn from the striker
tube, which striker tube is shown separately in side elevation and end elevations
in Figure 4; Figure 5 represents in side elevation and plan the match tube and
its pusher with the spent match in the act of being ejected from the said match
tube.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of
the Drawing.
a is the match tube, in the front end of which the match b to be ignited is
placed the tip or prepared end of the match projecting from the said tube. In
the said match tube a is a pusher c by which the spent match may be ejected from
the tube. The end of the pusher is furnished with a finger plate c² which works
in the longitudinal slot c³ in the match tube a, as shown in Figure 5; d, d², is the
striker tube open at both ends, in which striker tube the match tube a fits and slides.
The base part d of the striker tuhe is made angular to prevent it turning during
use, and the said part d is of greater diameter than the other part d². The part d³
of the striker tube consists of four (or other number of) spring arms made by
slitting or dividing the tube longitudinally and parallel to its axis. The spring
arms d², d, are pointed at top, and their extreme ends are turned inwards, as best
seen in Figures 1, 2, and 4.
In order to arrange the igniting apparatus for use, the match tube a is with-
drawn from the striker tube d, d, and a match bis introduced into the match
tube, the pusher c, c³, being forced back to the bottom of the match tube. The
charged match tube, Figure 3, is now introduced into the striker tube d, d², as
illustrated in Figure 1, and the apparatus is ready for use. When it is wished to
ignite the match the striker tube is held by its angular base d, and the bottom of
the match tube a is pressed upon and forced into the striker tube d, d². The tip
or prepared end of the match is thereby forced against the turned in points
terminating the spring arms d², d, of the striker tube, and the said turned in
points are forced outwards, as illustrated in Figure 2, and by the pressure and
consequent friction of the said points on the tip of the match it is ignited and may
be used for lighting a lamp or for other lighting purposes..
In order to remove the spent match from the match tube a, the latter is removed
from the striker tube d, d, and tho pusher c pressed forward by its thumb-
plate c², so as to force out the spent match b, as illustrated in Figure 5.
Instead of advancing the match tube by a sliding motion in the striker tube for
igniting the match, the said match tube may have a rotary motion given to it
for advancing it in the striker tube.
This modification of my Invention is illustrated in Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9;
Figure 6 represents the match tube in side elevation; and Figure 7 represents a
plan of the same; Figure 8 represents a side elevation partly in section of the
striker tube; and Figure 9 represents an end elevation of the base of the same.
In this modification I make on the exterior of the match tube a a coiled thread
or a quick threaded screw e, and I make in the flange at the base of the striker
tube da slot of a size suitable to receive the said coiled thread or quick threaded
screw e on the match tube a. The said match tube contains a pusher c of the kind
herein before described. The charged match tube a, Figures 6 and 7, is introduced
into the striker tube d, d, Figure 8, until the front end of the screw thread.e
enters the slot d³ in the base of the striker tube.
By pressing inwards the match tube a, the striker tube d, d, being held
stationary by means of its angular part d, the match tube advances in the striker
tube by a screwing or rotatory motion, and causes the match carried by it to be
ignited by the action of the spring arms d², d, of the said striker tube, as before
explained.

page_text: My Invention may be modified in the manner illustrated in Figures 10, 11,
and 12; Figure 10 representing the apparatus ready for igniting the match;
Figure 11, the same after the match has been ignited; and Figure 12, the match
tube and its propelling rod or wire withdrawn from the striker tube.
By the use of this modification the match, after it has been ignited, may be
projected some distance from the end of the striker tube, the propelling rod or wire
used serving both to press the match from the match tube and to project the
ignited match from the striker tube. a is the match tube; d, d², the striker tube ;
and f, the long propelling rod or wire working in the match tube a, and having at
its outer end a ring or handle få for operating it.
The match is struck and ignited by pushing the rod f inwards. The said
rod is thereby made to push the match 6 between the points of the spring
arms d², d, and ignite it, and also project the ignited match to any required
distance from the striker tube, as seen in Figure 11, the said ignited match being
gripped and held by the spring arms d², d².
After the match has been ignited the match tube a with its propelling rod f may
be withdrawn from the striker tube d, e, leaving the ignited match held by the said
striker tube. While the match is so held the striker tube may be supported upon
a table by the flange of the base part d, which acts as a foot, and the lighted match
may be used for sealing letters or for other purpose.
Instead of making the ends of the spring arms d³, d², of the striker tube pointed
and turned inwards, as represented, the interior of the said spring arms near their
free ends may be roughened, notched, or corrugated for igniting the match as it
is forced through them.
My Invention may be used for lighting or igniting lamps and for lighting or
igniting matches for various purposes, the lengths and other proportions of the
parts being varied to suit the particular purpose to which the apparatus is to be
applied.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my
Invention,-
The improvements in apparatus for lighting or igniting lamps, and for lighting
or igniting matches for various purposes, herein before described and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawing, that is to say, apparatus consisting essentially of a
match tube a provided with a sliding pusher c, c², (Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7),
or with a propellor or ejector f, f', (Figures 10, 11, and 12), in combination with
a striker tube d, ds, for igniting the match, the acting part of the said striker tube
being formed of a series of spring arms, the extreme ends of which are pointed and
turned inwards, or the interior of the free ends of the said spring arms roughened,
notched, or corrugated, whether the match tube be made to advance in the striker
tube for igniting the match by a sliding rectilinear motion, or by a screw like or
rotatory motion, substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Stokes, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
37, Temple Street,
Birmingham.
WILLIAM HENRY STOKES. (L.S.)