AN IMPROVED COMBINED LAMP AND TIME INDICATOR
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis MacDonald Robertson, of Curtain Road, and
John Joyce, of Lower Edmonton, both in the County of Middlesex, for an
Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMBINED LAMP AND TIME INDICATOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis MacDonald Robertson
and John Joyce at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th
September 1880.
FRANCIS MACDONALD ROBERTSON, of Curtain Road, and JOHN JOYCE, of
Lower Edmonton, both in the County of Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED COMBINED
LAMP AND TIME INDICATOR."
This Invention consists in the construction of an improved combined lamp and
time indicator, whereby the varying level of the oil or other fluid employed for
producing the light is utilized for actuating the time indicating mechanism, and
also, when desired, for ringing an electric bell and for warming food.
The reservoir or receptacle for containing the oil is formed of any desired
material, and can be cylindrical or of any other suitable shape provided that its
internal capacity is the same throughout its entire depth. At the upper part of
the said reservoir is fixed in a vertical position or nearly so a dial or clock face,
through the centre of which passes in such a manner as to be capable of turning
freely a spindle, to one end of which is fixed a hand for indicating the time and on
the opposite end is mounted a small pinion. A float is placed within the oil
reservoir, and to the top thereof is attached a rod fixed vertically, the upper end
having a rack thereon which gears into the before mentioned pinion. The wick
holder is arranged in any suitable manner at the upper part of the reservoir, and
when the clock face is transparent it is placed behind the same, thus effecting the
double purpose of illuminating the said clock face and also of modifying the light;
the wick passes through an aperture or space in or at the side of the float or in
any other suitable manner to the oil.
The action of the apparatus above described is as follows:-It having been
ascertained that a certain quantity of oil will be consumed in a certain time, and
consequently the float will descend a certain distance with the alteration in the
Price Ba21

page_text: level of the oil, the rack and pinion are so formed that on the rod descending with
the float the pinion will be caused to revolve, and with it the hand, which will
indicate on the clock face a period of time corresponding to that occupied in the
consumption of the quantity of oil referred to.
When the lamp is lighted the hand may be moved to the exact time by putting
the rack out of gear with the pinion and turning the hand round, or the clock face
may be made to turn.
In cases where the apparatus is arranged for actuating an electric bell the clock
face is provided with a number of perforations, for instance, one at every hour or
half hour. The bell and battery being arranged in any desired manner one of the
wires forming the circuit is divided at a convenient point, thus breaking the
circuit; one of the divided ends is connected to the hand in any suitable manner
and the other end is connected to a metal plug or peg. The said plug or peg is
placed through an-aperture in the clock face at the hour it is desired that the bell
should ring, and on the hand reaching that point it bears against the same, thus
completing the circuit and actuating the bell. It will be well understood by
persons acquainted with electricity that the parts of the time indicating apparatus
to which the ends of the divided wire are connected should be properly insulated;
in the case of the metal plug or peg this is readily effected by forming the clock
face of glass, earthenware, or other suitable non-conducting material.
Instead of the said perforations and plug or peg a metal clip or other contrivance
(connected to one end of the divided wire), capable of being attached to or fixed on
the clock face in such a mannor that the hand can come in contact therewith in
order to complete the circuit is in some cases employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis MacDonald Robertson and John Joyco in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 8th March 1881.
FRANCIS MACDONALD ROBERTSON, of Curtain Road, and JOHN JOYCE, of
Lower Edmonton, both in the County of Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED COMBINED
LAMP AND TIME INDICATOR."
Our said Invention consists in the construction of an improved combined lamp
and time indicator, in which a float rests on the surface of the oil or other liquid
employed for producing the light, so that the descent of the said float in consequence
of the consumption of the oil or other liquid employed will, through the medium of
suitable mechanism, actuate a clock hand or pointer and cause the same to indicate
the hour on a dial or clock face. An electric bell can, when desired, be placed in
connection with the said apparatus.
The reservoir or receptacle for containing the oil is formed of any desired
material, and can be cylindrical or of any other suitable shape, provided that its
internal capacity is the same throughout. At the upper part of the said reservoir
is fixed in a vertical position or nearly so a dial or clock face, through tho contre
of which passes, in such a manner as to be capable of turning freely, a spindle, to
one end of which is connected a hand for indicating the time, and on or near the
opposite end is mounted a small pinion. When the reservoir is contained in an
outer case the dial or clock face is mounted in the latter. A float is placed within
the oil reservoir, and to the top thereof is attached a rod or bar, fixed vertically,
the upper end being provided with a rack, or other equivalent mechanical
contrivance, such as a bar or strip of metal, provided with apertures or indentations
for the teeth of the said pinion to gear into. The wick holder is arranged in any
suitable manner, and when the clock face is transparent it is placed behind the
same, thus effecting the double purpose of illuminating the said clock face and
also of modifying the light; the wick may be arranged to pass through an aperture
or space in or at the side of the float, or a wick tube may be connected with the
lowor part of the reservoir.
We will now proceed to refer to the accompanying Drawings, from which the
nature of our said Invention will be more clearly understood. The same letters of
reference indicate like parts in all the Figures. Figure 1 is a front view of the
case, showing the clock face or dial and hand; Figure 2 is a vertical section
through the case; Figure 3 is top view of the case and apparatus; Figure 4 is a
vertical section through the apparatus ; and Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the float,
and a portion of the oil cylinder or reservoir and rack; A is the case; B is the oil
reservoir; C is the float, which, in some cases, wo leave open at the bottom in order to
lighten it, the air contained therein being sufficient to keep the oil or other liquid from
entering; D is the clock face or dial, and d is the hand or pointer; the spindle on
which tho hand d is mounted is shown at e, e', the part e being made hollow to fit
over the extremity of the part e' for the purpose of facilitating the disconnecting
of the hand; however, if desired, the spindle can be formed in one piece. In some
cases the end e of the spindle does not pass through the dial, the hand & being
arranged within the case on the end e, and the regulation of the said hand is then
effected by turning the end e' of the spindle, which passes through the back of the
case. The pinion being mounted on the spindle by means of a spring sleeve or hub
allows the spindle to be turned independently of the same, or the desired object
may be effected by any suitable means. This arrangement will be found especially
convenient when the apparatus is attached to one side of the case for the purpose of
opening the latter and exposing the apparatus, the said side being hinged for that
purpose; is the pinion on the end of the spindle, the rack for actuating the latter
is shown at g; h is the wick holder or tube; and i is a contrivance, of any suitablo
construction, for regulating the height of the flame; is a tube for filling the
reservoir.

page_text: In constructing time indicators in accordance with this Invention, it must first
be ascertained what depth of oil or other liquid employed is burnt during a certain
time, and the pinion ƒ and rack y must be so formed as to cause the hand to move
from one point to another, a distance indicated on the dial equal to the said certain
time.
The action of the apparatus herein before described is as follows:-The reservoir B
having been supplied with oil, the float C will be at the upper part thereof, and the
hand d having been set to the desired hour, the lamp is lighted, and as the float
descends with the gradual descent of the surface of the oil as the satue is consumed,
the rack will act on the spindle e, through the pinion f, and thus cause the time
to be indicated on the dial.
In cases where the apparatus is arranged for actuating an electric bell at a
desired time, the clock face can be provided with a number of perforations, for
instance, one at every hour or half hour. The bell and battery being arranged
in any desired manner, one of the wires formning the circuit is divided at a
convenient point, thus breaking the circuit; one of the divided ends is connected
with the hand in any suitable manner, and the other end is connected to a metal
plug, peg, or clip. The said plug or pog is placed through an aperture in, or the
clip is fixed on, the clock face at the hour it is desired that the bell should ring,
and on the hand reaching that point it bears against the same, thus completing the
circuit and actuating the bell. Instead of the hand completing the circuit as above
described, a moveable clip may be arranged on the rack, such clip making contact
with a suitable metal bearing or plate, the wires being suitably arranged in
connection with the respective parts. It will be well understood by persons
acquainted with electricity that the parts of the time indicating apparatus to
which the ends of the divided wire are connected should be properly insulated; in
the case of the plug or peg this is readily effected by forming the clock face of glass,
earthenware, or other suitable non-conducting material.
As it is desirable that the flame should always be of a certain height, a suitable
guide to assist in regulating it should be provided. When the lamp is not
sufficiently large to admit of the flame being a sufficient distance from the reservoir
to prevent the heat affecting the oil or other liquid, a suitable allowance can be
made in setting the hand for the expansion of the oil or other liquid which takes
place for a short time after lighting the wick.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, we would observe in conclusion that
what we consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the
Invention secured to us by the said herein before in part recited Letters Patent,
are,-
First. The employment of a float resting on the oil or other liquid in the
reservoir of a lamp, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth
and described.
And, Secondly. The combination and arrangement of the float and time
indicating mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes herein before described
and set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Francis MacDonald Robertson and John Joyce,
have hereunto set our hands and scals, this Seventh day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.