CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS
Year: 1822

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
PARKER the Younger, of Argyle Street, in the Parish of Saint James, West-
minster, and County of Middlesex, Bronzist, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present Majesty King George the Fourth, in and by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Tenth day of December last, for Himself; His heirs and suc-
cessors, did give and grant unto me, the said Samuel Parker; my executors,
administrators, and assigns, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege' and
authority, that I, the said Samuel Parker, my executors, administrators, or
assigns, and every of them, by myself and themselves, or by my and their
deputy or deputies, servants or agents, or such other's as I; the said Samuel
Parker, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
LAMPS," within that part of His Majesty's United Kingdoin of Great Britain
and Ireland called England, His Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, in such manner as therein mentioned; in which said Letters
Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Samuel Parker, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same' is to
be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within two calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said

page_text: Samuel Parker, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained, in and by the Drawing hereunto annexed, and the following
description thereof, that is to say :—
My improvements are chiefly applicable to that description of lamps termed
static lamps, or those lamps in which the oil is raised to the proper burning
height from below by the pressure of the superincumbent parts. In the
Drawing, A, A, is a cylindrical vessel (shewn in section), open at top, and
closed at bottom. B, B, is another cylindrical vessel of the same description,
but shorter than the other, and of a diameter somewhat less. The bottoms of
both of these vessels are united by means of the screw C, and the shoulder of
the cylindrical stem D (shewn entire), having a collar of leather E, and a
screwed nut F, upon it (shewn in section), and by means of which the closure
is firmly and securely made, the cylindrical vessels kept concentric with each
other, and the stem D retained in its proper situation. The tube G, G, moves
up and down this stem, being guided by means of the steady pins or
screws H, H, &c. acting upon it, and which pins are screwed into the
tube G, G. To the tube G, G, the heavy cylindrical vessel I, I, is firmly
affixed between the shoulders at J, J, and made air-tight at the juncture.
Upon the outer rim or border of this vessel I, I, a thin cylindrical ring K, K,
is securely affixed and made air-tight also; a certain quantity of mercury or
quicksilver is then poured into the space between the rims of the vessels A, A,
and B, B, into which the lower border of the ring K, K, is plunged, and thus
effectually prevents the escape of the air, which is inclosed between the
vessels K, K, and B, B. If now oil be poured into the upper part of the
tube G, G, it will occupy the lower part of the vessel B, B, and rise in
the tube also, being pressed up, by the properly adjusted weight of the parts
resting upon it, to the burning height. Between the oil, however, and the
outside of the vessel I, I, a quantity of air is, as before said, interposed,
which will act by its elasticity in such a manner as to permit of the lamp
being carried about, when necessary, without the previous removal of the
greater part of the superincumbent weight, which in my improvement is ren-
dered totally unnecessary. I also obtain another very considerable advantage
from the introduction of the air into the interior of the reservoir of the lamp,
which is, that the oil and mercury never come into contact with each other, as
was the case in other static lamps, and which rendered it necessary frequently
to remove the mercury in order to separate the oil which was mixed with it.
I have also made an improvement in the manner of fixing the French glass
chimnies upon the burners of lamps, which consists in supporting the chimney
by its shoulder, internally resting upon three or more metal supports, two of

page_text: which are shewn at L, L, and which are affixed to the turning adjuster M of
the lamp wick, instead of its bottom resting upon the said adjuster. In this
manner I can always adjust the shoulder of the chimney in the best position
for causing the air to act upon the flame of the lamp, but which can hardly be
done when it rests upon its bottom, on account of the great irregularity in the
lengths of the chimnies, as usually made. I have also made several notches
or gaps N, N, in the inner tube of the burner to allow any oil which might
overflow to fall into the vessel I, instead of drowning the flame. The materials
of which the various parts enclosing the mercury are made must of course be
such as are not liable to be acted upon by that metal. I prefer cast and
wrought iron for this purpose. The other parts of this lamp, being common
to argand or other lamps, need not be described here, but it is evident that
my Invention is equally applicable to all those lamps which are supported
upon pillars or pedestals, as well as those which are suspended, be the number
or form of their burners whatever they may; and also that the exterior of the
lamps may be decorated in any required manner.
My improvements therefore consist in retaining the oil in a separate and
distinct vessel from the mercury, and thereby preventing them from mixing
together, and thus avoiding the tedious process of separating them from time
to time. Also in the introduction of air, as an elastic medium, between the
oil and the mercury, and thereby rendering my lamp moveable without affecting
the flame. Likewise in providing an escape for the overflow of the oil above.
And, lastly, in supporting the French chimneys of all argand lamps upon their
shoulders, instead of their bottoms resting upon the glass holders as usual.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Parker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord
SAMUEL (L.s.) PARKER, Jun'.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Eighth day of February,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Samuel Parker came before our
Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid,
and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written. And also
the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute
in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Eighth day of February, in the year above written.