Improvements in Lamp Burners.
Year: 1897

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lamp Burners.
I, WILLIAM BOURKE, of 273, Macon Street, Brooklyn, Kings County, New
York, U.S.A., Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in lamp burners, and consists in
constructing a burner mechanism so as to permit the wick being burned from its
side edge, instead of from the end or side, as is the usual practice in lamp burner
construction, and the object being to prevent the flame from becoming excessively
high so as to cause smoking, and also so as to require no trimming of the wick, as
is characteristic of the use of wicks in the ordinary style of lamp burners.
The nature and objects of my invention will be more fully explained and
understood, by reference to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this
specification, and from what is hereinafter set forth, and as will be more especially
pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings, in which similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the
several views :-
Figure 1, represents a front elevation of a lamp provided with my improvement,
and which is of the class more especially adapted to use in lanterns, and for bicycle
or similar purposes of illumination. In this figure the oil fount is shown in section,
that the wick may be seen therein, and as it is drawn into the wick tube at one end
of the latter, and is also drawn back into the oil fount through the other end of the
wick tube.
Fig. 2, represents a side elevation of the wick tube mechanism, showing the wick
raising device, and also how the lower portion of the wick tube is shaped so as to
straddle the wick raising device, and this figure also shows a side view of one of
the sections of the flame regulator mechanism.
Fig. 3, represents a horizontal sectional view of the wick tube and the wick
raising device on the line, a, b, in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4, represents a top view of the wick tube showing the combustion opening
therein, and the top view of the flame regulator mechanism.
Fig. 5, represents a horizontal section of the wick tube and the pivotal
connection of the flame regulator mechanism, therewith, and on the liue, c,d, in
Fig. 1.
Fig. 6, represents a perspective view of another form of my invention, and in
which the wick tube has a combustion opening upon each of its side edges, and
which is adapted to burn the wick from both of its side edges. This figure also
shows how the wick raising device is arranged so as to feed the wick into the tube
from one of its ends and out of the tube through the other end.
Fig. 7 represents a perspective view of another form of construction of my
invention, and in which a series of openings are provided in the upper edge of the
tube for the combustion of the wick from its upper edge and at several points
around upon the same. This figure is intended to illustrate how a central draft
burner can be constructed according to my invention and adapted to produce a
flame somewhat similar in shape and appearance to the flame as is usually produced
in any central draft lamp burner mechanism.
In the drawings:-A, represents a wick that is of what is commonly known as
the flat wick variety, and which may be of any suitable material for such purposes.
B, represents a tube having its cross section of a shape suitable to fit the wick A,

page_text: and being shaped like an inverted letter "U," or like a horse-shoe, with its ends
secured to the top C, of the lamp fount C', in any convenient manner and which
may be either as having a screw threaded connection therewith, or otherwise, as
may be desired, and the tube B, having both of its ends, B1, B2, opening into the
oil fount, C. At the top of the outer edge, B³, of the tube B, the combustion
opening, B, is made therethrough, and of a dimension corresponding to the width
of the flame that may be desired, and which is preferably of a length not exceeding
the width of the two legs of the tube. D, D', respectively, represent two sections
of a flame regulator mechanism, which are pivoted to a bridge, B³, between the
legs of the tube, B, by means of the pivots, D², D³, and which arrangement allows
the free ends, D, D³, of the sections, D, D', to be moved from the position as
shown in Fig. 1, and in which the combustion opening, B4, of the tube, B. is
unobstructed, to the closed position as indicated by the dotted lines, and in which
latter position the combustion opening would be entirely covered and consequently
the flame, if the lamp were in use, would become extinguished. The sections, D, D₁,
of the flame regulator can be adjusted to any intermediate position between the
two positions ae already referred to, and both of the sections thereof, are made to
move towards each other as well as uniformly to and from the centre of the
combustion opening, B, by means of gear teeth, D', D', respectively, with which
they are provided, and which are adapted to engage with each other for this
purpose, and their movement is effected by means of the shaft, D8, having the
thumb wheel, D, which is provided for the purpose, and a lever, D, which is
secured to the shaft, D³, and which engages with lugs, D", which are secured to
the section D, of the flame regulator mechanism.
-
The tube B, is shaped near its ends so as to have one of its legs to pass upon
each side of the wick-raising wheels, E, E¹, and the shaft E³, respectively upon which
they are mounted. This arrangement causes the wick moving device to draw the
wick into the tube B, through the end, B₁, and propel it around under the
combustion opening B, and thence back again through the end B³, into the oil
fount, C, again whenever the thumb wheel, E³, is manipulated in a right-handed
direction, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, or if the motion of the wick
raising mechanism is reversed, the wick of course will be moved in a contrary
direction.
In Fig. 6 the tube is shown as being provided with two openings, B6, B7,
respectively, and which are adapted to burn the wick from both of its edges, and
thereby produce two jets of flame. In Fig. 7 the upper edge, B8, of the tube is
shown as being provided with a series of combustion openings, B³, B, respectively,
and which arrangement would cause a corresponding series of jets of flame and
which together would make a flame approximating in appearance that produced by
a round central draft lamp burner mechanism.
In the figures, the usual air deflector mechanism that is usually provided for
lamps intended to burn petroleum or similar oil is omitted, as the application of
such an element in a lamp burner is not a part of this, my invention, but it is to be
understood that any suitable air deflector mechanisin that is ordinarily found
serviceable in other lamp burner devices, can be likewise used in connection with
any of the forms of the burner mechanism that I have herein shown and described.
It is also to be understood that any suitable connection between the tube
mechanism and the oil fount as provided in lamps of other burner construction, can
be used in conjunction with my improved burner.
In the use of my invention, the wick is ordinarily passed into the tube through
one of its ends and then guided through it and out of it through its other end as
indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, and by the manipulation of the wick moving
device as already described. To do this it is of course necessary that the whole
burner device shall have some kind of a detachable connection with the oil fount,
but as stated, any connection that is best adapted, or most desirable for this
purpose, can be used.
On account of the peculiar construction of a burner of this character, it can be

page_text: seen that the wick can never be forced sufficiently outside of the combustion
opening so as to cause the flame to be insufficiently oxidized, if the lamp is provided
with the ordinary ingress and egress of the air in sufficient quantities. If the size
of the flame is to be reduced, however, this can be effected by partially closing the
flame regulator mechanism, and in which event the width of the wick that is
exposed for combustion thereby becomes diminished, but the part of the wick
remaining exposed is still free to burn unobstructedly and receive the requisite
quantity of fresh air for the purpose and without either lowering the flame
appreciably, or causing it to smoke or otherwise changing its characteristics for
perfect combustion. The effect of this arrangement is that a flame can be obtained
of any desired width between the amount when the combustion opening is fully
exposed and that down to the point of extinction, without either causing the flame
to smoke, or to cause it to throw off the disagreeable and injurious gases and odors
that are characteristic to the use of an ordinary lamp, when the wick is "turned
down low." These desirable features are peculiar to a lamp burner constructed
according to this invention, and constitute some of its important and desirable
qualities. I have found in practice, that lamp burners adapted to all classes of
applications can be made embodying this invention, and that in every case when so
provided with properly constructed regulator and air deflector mechanisms, that
the lamps thus provided with such burners are superior in those qualities most
desirable in lamps, to any other known form of devices intended for the combustion
of illuminating oils for lighting purposes. I have also found that when a lamp is
made with its tube mechanism provided with a series of combustion openings as
indicated in Figures 6 and 7, respectively that it is superior for heating purposes
in connection with portable stoves or similar apparatus, to the ordinary style of oil
burning devices as now in general use, and in that the flame cannot possibly be
raised so high as to cause smoking, when provided with the proper flame regulating
mechanism, and consequently for purposes of this character, my invention is
peculiarly well adapted.
When a wick has been in use for some time it loses its power of illumination at
the point of combustion, by reason of its becoming charred and its power of
absorbing the oil being thereby diminished, in this case, it is customary to trim off
the ordinary lamp wick, so as to bring a clean fresh portion for the ignition and
the continued combustion of the illuminant, when the regular style of burner is
used. This operation of trimming is uncertain as to the accuracy of doing it
properly, and unclean and disagreeable in doing, as well. Now in the case of a
lamp provided with my improvement and needing attention of this character, it is
only necessary to manipulate the wick feeding device so as to bring a fresh portion
of the wick into the combustion opening or in a corresponding position therewith,
and the effect will be the same as though it had been freshly trimmed and with the
effect that the wick is in the exact degree of the best illuminating capacity, and
the operation being only the work of an instant. As the wick becomes used the
charred or used portion goes down into the oil chamber again and continues to be a
Bource of capillary oil supply (that is the uncharred portion), to the point of
combustion as well as the portion in the other leg of the tube that has not yet been
used at all.
As a result of my method of designing a burner mechanism and using a wick
therein, I am enabled to dispense with the operation of trimming off the wick as
characteristic to ordinary lamp burners.
It can thus be seen that I provide a new method of burning a lamp wick along
its edge instead of from the end or side as it has been customary heretofore, and
which has several advantages, as can be seen from the foregoing description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is―
1. In a lamp burner, a curved flat wick tube having both of its ends opening into

page_text: the oil chamber of a lamp, and its two flat sides being substantially in the same
plane, and having a combustion opening in its outer edge, substantially as
-specified.
2. In a lamp burner, a curved flat wick tube having both of its ends opening into
the oil chamber of a lamp, and its two flat sides being substantially in the same
plane, and having a combustion opening in its outer edge, in combination with a
wick moving device, substantially as specified.
3. In a lamp burner, a flat wick tube provided with a combustion opening
between its ends, and upon its side edge, and having a wick moving mechanism and
adapted to burn a flat wick from its side edge, substantially as specified.
4. In a lamp burner, a wick tube provided with one or more combustion
openings, upon its side edge and between its ends, and adapted to burn a flat
wick from its side edge, and having a wick moving mechanism, substantially as
specified.
5. In a lamp burner, a flat wick tube provided with a combustion opening or
combustion openings upon either or both of its side edges, and being provided with
a wick moving mechanism, and adapted to burn a flat wick upon either or both of
its side edges, substantially as specified.
6. In a lamp burner, the combination of a wick tube having a combustion
opening between its ends, and a wick moving mechanism having two wheels-one
of which moves the wick from the oil fount towards the combustion opening, and
the other moving the wick from the combustion opening and into the oil fount,
and the wheels being on opposite sides of the tube, substantially as specified.
7. In a lamp burner, the combination of a wick tube having a combustion
opening between its ends, and a flame regulator having two sections each of which
has a pivotal connection with the tube and being adapted to move edgewise at
their free ends-to and from the centre of the combustion opening-aud thereby
partially or entirely covering the opening, substantially as specified.
Dated this 15th day of Februar 1807
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4 Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.