Improvements in Illuminating Buoys and Beacons.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SITUITIATIN
Improvements in Illuminating Buoys and Beacons.
I, JOHN RICHARDSON WIGHAM, of 33, Capel Street, Dublin, Lighthouse Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of improvements in the use of mineral oil for the illumina-
tion of buoys, beacons, lighthouses and other places which require a continuous
light to be maintained for weeks or months without any attention. I use for this
purpose the lamp with movable wick described in Letters Patent No. 18959/94
granted to me, but instead of the reservoir shown therein I place the supply of oil
in a copper chamber underneath the lamp in such a position as will give an
abundant supply of oil to the wick for the period for which the lamp is required
to be burned and I so subdivide the oil reservoir into compartments communicating
with each other as to prevent the oscillations of the buoy from flooding the wick
and also to give a regular flow of oil at the point of combustion. I admit air to
the oil receiver through tubes, curved or otherwise provided for the purpose and I
so arrange the float in the cylinder as to give it perfect freedom of action.
I also provide a supply of air over the float by means of a D shaped
wick tube communicating with the outer air or with the air in the lantern in such
a way as to give sufficient pneumatic force to effect the regular descent of the float,
and to regulate the rate of descent of the float, I employ a valve so constructed as
'to maintain without intermission a rate of drip varying with the head of oil in the
cylinder.
Dated this 31st day of December 1897.
Improvements in Illuminating Buoys and Beacons.
I, JOHN RICHARDSON WIGHAM, of 33, Capel Street, Dublin, Lighthouse Engineer,
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:-
My invention consists of improvements in the use of mineral oil for the illumina-
tion of buoys, beacons, lighthouses and other places which require a continuous
light to be maintained for weeks or months without any attention. I use for this
purpose the lamp with movable wick described in Letters Patent No. 18959/94
granted to me, but instead of the reservoir shown therein I place the supply of oil

page_text: in a copper chamber underneath the lamp in such a position as will give an
abundant supply of oil to the wick for the period for which the lamp is required
to be burned and I so subdivide the oil reservoir into compartments communicating
with each other as to prevent the oscillations of the buoy from flooding the wick
and also to give a regular flow of oil at the point of combustion. I admit air to
the oil receiver through tubes, curved or otherwise provided for the purpose and I
so arrange the float in the cylinder as to give it perfect freedom of action without
guiding rollers. I also provide a supply of air over the float by means of a D shaped
wick tube communicating with the outer air or with the air in the lantern in such
a way as to give sufficient pneumatic force to effect the regular descent of the float,
and, to regulate the rate of descent of the float, I employ a valve so constructed as
to maintain without intermission a rate of drip varying with the head of oil in the
cylinder.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1, A B shows the sectional elevation and plan of the compartments into
which the oil reservoir is divided and also the curved air tube C.
Figure 2 shows the arrangement of float dispensing with guide rollers. W, is
the wick to which the float C is attached by means of the hook O.
His the coup-
ling which connects the two parts of the wick tube D.
Figure 3, R is the roller over which the wick W, passes E is the casing which
surrounds the upper part of the wick, through an orifice in which the flame of the
burner passes.
Fis the D shaped tube.
Figure 4 is a plan of the wick tube.
Figure 5 shows the drip valve J is the stop cock K is the cavity for cotton wool
L diaphragm of wire gauze M conical bottom N valve.
Figure 6 shows the sectional elevation of the lamp showing all the parts
assembled.
G is the door in the cylinder giving access to the float and coupling.
I is the diaphragm above drip valve.
A complete description of the action of the lamp is as follows-see Figure 6-
The float cylinder B being filled with oil till the float C is in the position shown
in the drawing and the reservoir for oil A. E being also filled with oil and the lamp
lighted, the drip valve N is opened so as to admit of the oil dropping from the
cylinder into the sea or if it be desired to use its again into any vessel placed to
receive it. As the oil drops from the cylinder its upper surface descends bringing
with it the float C to which the wick W is attached. The result is that as the wick
passes over the roller a fresh portion is continually presented at the point of com-
bustion and all charring is prevented. When the oil has reached the bottom of
the cylinder it is necessary to put in fresh oil and a fresh wick. By the arrange-
ment above described the lamp will continue to burn without any attention what-
ever night and day for a month, or if the dimensions be enlarged, for two or three
months as may be desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The subdivision into compartments of the oil reservoir as described.
2. The employment of curved air tubes as described.
3. The arrangement of float so as to dispense with guide rollers.
4. The provision of a supply of air over the float by a D shaped wick tube.
5. The employment of the drip valve as described.
Dated this 24th day of September 1898.