IMPROVEMENTS IN OIL LAMPS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Palling, of No. 37, Elliott Road, Brixton,
in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OIL LAMPS."
Scaled the 22nd February 1876, and dated the 31st August 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Palling at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st August 1875.
I, FRANCIS PALLING, of No. 37, Elliott Road, Brixton, in the County
of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OIL LAMPS," to be as follows:-
I propose to make a lamp for burning hydrocarbon or other oils.
composed simply of reservoir, wick holder, and of a tube or cylinder
surrounding wick holder and surmounted by a dome or other shaped cap
with slit for passage of flame. The bottom of the outer cylinder will be
closed by a plate or diaphragm of cork or other suitable material carried
by the wick holder or fixed to the reservoir, and the sides of the cylinder

page_text: will be perforated or cast with a number of apertures provided or not
with small tubes or conduits for the introduction of air into the space
between the wick-holder and the outer cylinder, the effect being that when
the lamp is lit the air drawn in by these openings insures a combustion
and steadiness of flame which will permit this lamp to be used without
the ordinary chimney and its accessories, thus further decreasing the
cost of manufacture as well as saving the often recurring expense of
renewal of chimney.
I may further simplify this lamp by removing. the outer cylinder
surrounding the wick holder, replacing it by two pieces of metal or a
piece with two branches forming curved plates uniting at bottom in a
slide to be passed over the wick holder or otherwise supported, but so
that the upper edges of these arms or plates will converge and almost
meet right and left of the flame, and in the same horizontal plane, or
nearly so, as the top of the wick, the breadth of these arms or plates
being equal or about equal to the breadth of the wick. The air guided
to the flame by these curved pieces or converging wings insures a com-
bustion which will also permit dispensing with the usual chimney.
The wick will of course be raised and lowered by the ordinary
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Francis Palling in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th February 1876.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
PALLING, of No. 37, Elliott Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey, 2
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Francis Palling, Her special
licence, that I, the said Francis Palling, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Francis Palling, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no

page_text: I may further simplify this lamp by removing the outer cylinder
surrounding the wick holder, replacing it by two pieces of metal or one
piece with two branches forming curved plates uniting at bottom- in a-
slide to be passed over the wick holder or otherwise supported, but so
that the upper edges of these arms or plates will converge and almost 5
meet right and left of the flame and in the same horizontal plane, or
néarly so, as the top of the wick, the breadth of these arms or plates
being equal or about equal to the breadth of the wick. The air guided
to the flame by these curved pieces or converging wings ensures a com-
bustion which will also permit dispensing with the usual chimney.
1
Figure 4 of the Drawing is an elevation of a lamp embodying this
arrangement; Figure 5 being a side view of same. A, the reservoir;
B, the wick holder; D, top of reservoir, unscrewing or otherwise
moveable for feeding reservoir with oil; E, E, the curved plates
supplying air to wick; F, F, guides for curved plates to work on; 1
G, wick.
My improved lamps are more particularly intended for burning hydro-1
carbon oils, but by lengthening the support or supports of the curved
plates E, E, so as to enter the reservoir this lamp will be found to burn
with advantage colza and other non-mineral oils, the heat of the 2
supports liquifying the oil in the reservoir, and thereby obtaining a
more regular supply to the wick and more perfect combustion. In both
these lamps the wick may be raised and lowered by a pinion, as shown,
or by any of the ordinary means.
Figure 6 of the Drawing shows a cap H, which may be of any 2
suitable shape, to be passed over the wick, as at Figure 7, to transform
the lamp, Figures 4 and 5, into a night light.
My improved lamps, made as above described and shown in the
Drawing, may be carried about without any fear of spilling the oil or
extinguishing the flame; but to prevent the flame flickering like that of 3
a candle when the lamp is moved about a gallery may be fitted to the
reservoir and a globe or other glass be used, as shown at Figure 1.
The shape of reservoir may vary, but I prefer that which I have
shown, as cheap in manufacture and easy to handle; it may be made of
metal, glass, or any suitable material.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-.
tion, and in what manner the same is or may be performed, what I
3

page_text: claim as secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
Firstly. The use of a lamp with reservoir, wick holder, and perforated
outer cylinder combined, substantially as herein-before set forth and
shown, Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawing.
Secondly. The use of a lamp having the curved plates E, E, applied,
substantially as shown, Figures 4 and 5, and for the purpose above
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Palling, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
six.
FRANCIS PALLING. (L.S.)