Improvements in Centre Light Suspending Arrangements for Oil Lamps.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st May, 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Centre Light Suspending Arrangements for
Oil Lamps.
We, ROBERT HALL BEST, of Cambray Works, Handsworth, in the County of
Stafford, Manufacturer, and HENRY VALE, of 36 Linwood Road, Handsworth,
aforesaid, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates to centro light suspending arrangements for oil lamps and its
object is to produce such a suspension as will retain the lamp in a fixed position
notwithstanding the change of weight due to the burning of the oil. At the same
time we allow for any desired adjustinent of the position of the lamp which may be
required by the user.
Our invention consists in the application of a pawl and ratchet for the purpose of a
lamp suspension so as to compensate for the want of balance occasioned by the burning
of the oil.
In one method of carrying our invention into effect we arrange two suspending rods
depending from the ceiling or from one rod attached to the ceiling to which the two
parallel rods are fixed. To the lower end of each of the rods we attach an arm
carrying a balance weight at one end. We connect the two ends however free from
the balance weight by a cross pin swivelled or pivoted to the two said ends.
From
this cross piece we suspend a rod or frame carrying within it or upon it the oil lamp.
We so arrange the relative length of the two weighted arms and the length of the rod
carrying the oil lamp that we are enabled to completely rotate the arms-that is to
swing them completely round with the oil lamp in position without any part of the
weights or arms fouling the lamp or its suspending arrangements.
According to one modification we make the weights somewhat heavier than the
lamp side so that at all times the weights tend to lift the lamp, and we cause the pawl
to engage a ratchet wheel attached to one or both arms at its central pivotting point,
the pawl may be pressed into position by a spring. This pawl. we keep continually
pressed into the ratchet teeth of the ratchet wheel. By this device, in changing the
position of the lamp, if we desire to raise it to a higher position, we have to rotate
the brackets completely round the circle so as to make the ratchet wheel move in the
direction permitted by the pawl. By this arrangement we make it impossible for the
lamp to be slammed violently up or down, and arrange matters so that the lamp can
be adjusted to any desired vertical position. As is usual in suspending arrangements
of this class we provide a swivelling contrivance near the ceiling to allow the lamp to
revolve about the centre.
Instead of keeping our pawl always in position against the ratchet teeth we may
arrange a liberating cord to liberate the pawl when we desire to move the lamp up.
In connection with this we may apply a brake to moderate the rate of movement
upwards whenever the pawl is liberated, or instead of a pawl we may apply a brake
operating in one direction only, and we may liberate this brake just as we liberate the
awl.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street Birmingham, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Centre Light Suspending Arrangements for
Oil Lamps.
We, ROBERT HALL BEST, of Cambray Works, Handsworth, in the County of
Stafford, Manufacturer and HENRY VALE, of 36 Linwood Road, Handsworth,
aforesaid, Mechanic, 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 :-
Our invention relates to centre light suspending arrangements for oil lamps, and its
object is to produce such a suspension as will retain the lamp in a fixed position
notwithstanding the change of weight due to the burning of the oil. At the same
time we allow for any desired adjustment of the position of the lamp which may be
required by the user.
Our invention consists in the application of a pawl and ratchet for the purpose of a
lamp suspension so as to compensate for the, want of balance occasioned by the burning
of the oil.
In the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred to,--
Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 an end elevation, and Figure 3 a plan through
the line ab (Figure 2), representing an oil lamp with suspension appliances arranged
in accordance with my invention.
. The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
In one method of carrying our invention into effect we arrange two suspending rods
as A A¹ depending from the ceiling or from one rod as B attached to the ceiling at its
upper end and having the rods A A¹ fixed to its lower end. To the lower ends of the
rods A A¹ we attach the arms C C₁, each arm carrying a balance weight at one end;
such balance arms or levers are similar. to those described in my Patent Specification
No. 6907 of 1893. We connect the two ends free from the balance weights, by a
cross pin swivelled or pivotted to the two said ends. From this cross-piece we suspend
a rod or frame D carrying within it or supporting the oil lamp E.. We so arrange
the relative lengths of the two weighted arms and the rods A A¹ that we are enabled
to completely rotate the arms, that is to swing them completely round with the oil
lamp in position without any part of the weights or arms fouling the lamp or its
suspending arrangements, as illustrated by the dotted lines at Figure 2.
.
According to one modification we make the weights F F somewhat heavier than
the lamp side so that at all times the weights tend to lift the lamp, and we cause the
pawls each to engage their ratchet wheels G G', such wheels being rigidly attached to
the arms at the central pivotting point, in such a manner as to prevent descent of the
over-balanced side. The pawls we keep continually pressed into the ratchet teeth of
the ratchet wheel, sometimes employing a suitable spring in connection with each
pawl. By this device, in changing the position of the lamp, if we desire to raise it to
a higher position, we have to rotate the brackets completely round the circle so as to
make the ratchet wheel move in the direction permitted by the pawl. By this
arrangement we make it impossible for the lamp to be slammed violently up or down,
and arrange matters so that the lamp can be adjusted to any desired vertical position,
and securely retained thereat, by the ratchet wheels and pawls. As is usual in
suspending arrangements of this class we provide a swivelling contrivance near the
ceiling to allow the lamp to revolve about the centre.
Instead of keeping our pawls always in position against the ratchet teeth we
may arrange a liberating cord to liberate the pawls when we desire to move
the lamp up.
In connection with this we may apply a brake to moderate the
rate of movement upwards whenever the pawl is liberated or instead of a pawl we may

page_text: apply a brake operating in one direction only, and we may liberate this brake just as
we liberate the pawl or pawls.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is.-
1. Centre light suspending arrangements for oil lamps, substantially as described.
2. In a suspending arrangement for an oil lamp, the use of a ratchet wheel and
pawl or like appliance, substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The combination with an oil lamp of suspension rods and weighted arms with
ratchet wheels and pawls, such arms being sufficiently weighted to over-balance the
lamp and to tend to raise the same, substantially as and for the purpose described and
as illustrated.
DL: 2011
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.