Year: 1886

page_text: We, JOSEPH DE BONDINI, and ALBRECHT SEEFELDER, both of Constantinople,
in the Sultanry of Turkey, 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 the burners and wicks of petroleum and other oil
lamps.
We have noticed that petroleum and other oil lamps frequently burn with more
or less irregularity of the flame, owing chiefly to the wicks being badly trimmed.
The result of this irregularity is that the lamp emits a bad smell and that the
chimneys frequently break.
The wicks of lamps are seldom well trimmed, owing either to the difficulty
which this operation presents in itself, however simple it may seem, or to the
little attention given to it by the persons performing this duty. Also a certain
amount of uncleanliness results from this operation, because, in cutting or
trimming the wick, small carbonized pieces of the same fall into the interior of
the lamp. The edges of the wick tube or burner are also frequently damaged by
the scissors used for cutting the wick.
To remedy all these inconveniences in a complete manner, we have devised
means which enable the operation of cutting or trimming the wicks to be
altogether dispensed with, which means are illustrated in the accompanying
drawing the figures of which are hereinafter referred to.
The said invention consists essentially in providing the lamp with a wick
designed solely to cause the petroleum or other similar liquid to rise to the
extremity of the burner; and in placing upon this wick a small ring (Figure 1)
or bar (Figure 2) (according as to whether the burner is round or flat), 4 or
5 millimeters in height, and of the thickness of the wick upon which it is to be
placed; this ring or bar being composed of papier-mâché or other suitable com-
bustible or non-combustible material capable of absorbing liquids.
A cap b of round or rectangular shape, as shown in Figures 3 or 4, according to
the form of the burner to which it is to be applied, and provided at its upper side
with a number of fingers c bent inwards at their extremities, is placed upon the
extremity of the burner tube so that the said fingers extend about a millimeter

page_text: above the same and bear upon the ring or bar a. The weight of this cap, which
is of metal, maintains the burner ring or bar in contact with the wick and enables
the height of the flame to be regulated.
Figures 5 and 6 show in perspective a flat burner and a round burner, respec-
tively, provided with a cap having fingers for keeping the burner ring or bar upon
the wick.
b
Figures 7 and 8 are sections of these round and flat burners respectively,
showing the wicks m the burner ring and bar a, and the small collar and cap
with their fingers or claws c.
b
For large lamps the cap 6 weighs about 20 grammes.
The wick designed to convey petroleum or the like to the burner ring or bar
can be of the ordinary kind, the said wick, however, should be accurately cut so
that the burner ring or bar will be in close contact with the same.
The manner of using the improved burner rings or bars is so easy that it is almost
superfluous to describe it. When the wick m is put in the lamp in the ordinary
manner, it is adjusted so that it is 3 or millimeters below the extremity of the
burner tube, the burner ring or bar a is then placed upon the same and then the
cap b having claws is applied, so that the latter bear upon the said ring or bar.
It will be easily understood that this operation takes only a few seconds, so that
in a short time a number of lamps can be made ready for use, the same operation,
however, according to the old method would have occupied a considerable time.
The most important advantage is that the lamps burn with perfect regularity and
give their maximum of light. The glasses also will not break on account of the
irregularity of the flame; and the burners will no longer be spoiled by the scissors.
Absolute cleanliness is moreover obtained which contributes greatly to the beauty
of the light.
When the burner ring or bar a requires to be replaced it can be readily taken
out, and another inserted in its place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
Our improvements relating to lamp burners and wicks therefor, the said
improvements consisting in utilizing the wick for conducting the combustible
liquid only, without allowing the said wick to burn at its extremity, this result
being realized by the arrangement upon the wick, which is placed below the
extremity of the burner-tube, of a burner ring or bar (according to the shape of
the burner) of combustible or non-combustible material, capable of absorbing the
combustible liquid, this burner ring or bar being maintained upon the wick by
a cap or collar having claws, which cap or collar also enables the flame to be
regulated.
Dated thin and date of October 1004