IMPROVEMENTS IN OIL AND OTHER LAMPS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Whele, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OIL AND OTHER LAMPS."
Sealed the 15th June 1855, and dated the 18th December 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Whele at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th December 1854.
I, EDWIN WHELE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OIL AND OTHER
LAMPS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in lamps relates to obtaining a more regular supply of
oil to the burner, and preventing unnecessary overflow or waste, and obtaining
better light and a more regular supply of oil, by adjusting the wick in the burner
by a rod attached to the bucket, and passing through a hole in the bottom
of the burner, as a means of pushing it up, or drawing it down, or by other
suitable means; and facilitating the winding or drawing up of the valve in the
body of the lamp, (that is, in moderator or other lamps,) by a chain attached
to the valve and passing over a barrel or pulley, or by other suitable means;
and for regulating the supply of oil by a filterer, of sponge or other suitable
material, placed in the supply pipe, or other suitable possition; and in fountain

page_text: and other lamps, returning the waste oil or overflow back into the reservoir by
a pump placed in the feed pipe, or other suitable means, and preventing over-
flow by balancing the lamp, upon three, or more centers, or by other suitable
means, and feeding such lamps by forming it of an inner and outer case,
the inner one revolving in the outer one; the inner one having an opening at the
bottom, and the outer one a corresponding one at the top, by which means the
oil may be supplied when the inner case is reversed, or by forming the supply
pipe or leg of the burner of a double tube, by which means the burner may
be reversed and the oil poured in at the burner, or by having corresponding
openings in the tubes, closing and opening as the tubes slide one in the other,
or by other suitable means; and in ordinary table or other lamps, I propose
to regulate the supply of oil by a moovable bottom, made to slide or screw up
or down in the body, or by other suitable means; and also to form the body of
the moderator and other lamps of a single case, or where an outer case is used
to form that of paper mache or other suitable material:
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letter's Patent, filed
by the said Edwin Whele in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th June 1855..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWIN
WIELE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by' Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and. successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Edwin Whele, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her
special licence that I, the said Edwin Whele, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edwin Whele, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OIL AND OTHER LAMPS,"
upon the condition {(aniongst others) that I, the said Edwin Whele, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edwin Whele, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My said improvements in oil and other lanips relate to certain arrangements
for obtaining a more regular supply of oil to the burner; and preventing
unnecessary overflow or waste, and obtaining better light and a more regular
supply of oil.
" :
And for the better understanding of my said Invention, and the mode of
carrying it out, I will proceede to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed...
:
: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS..
Figure '1 is a section of an Argand burner, formed in the usual way, except
that the inner case projects inward, forming a tube or pipe a, into which a
wire 6 is inserted, the upper end of which is attached to the bucketc, and the
lower end passed through a stuffing box at the bottom of the burner, by which
means 'the wick can be pushed up or drawn down in the burner; or the wire b
may be wormed into a nut at the bottom, and so screwed up or down.
Figures 2, 3, & 4 show another mode by which I adjust the wick in the
burner; and so also' Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, 21, & 22, and which
will be described hereafter, with their respective parts. Figurés 2, 3, & 4
represent a burner and cap for a flat wick. Figure 2 is a section of the
burner and cap; Figure 3 is a plan of the burner; and Figure 4, a plan of
the cap. The letters indicate the same parts in each Figure. a, a, are two
cog wheels, between which the wick is placed; these wheels work in the frame
b, b, b, b, which also forms a guide c for the wick. d is a pin, forming an axle
of one of the wheels, and by which they are turned, in order to pass the wick
up or down; fis the cap, through which the wick passes at the opening c.
The wheels may be formed plain or otherwise, and two pair may be used instead
of one; one pair toothed and geared into each other, and the other plain, the
wick passing between the plain wheels or rollers. Figures 5 to 13 are parts
used as my improvements in moderator or overflowing lamps, the general
formation of which is well understood by the trade. Figure 5 is a section of
the body of an overflowing lamp. a is a pulley or wheel, fixed on the spindle
or key b, and to which is attached one end of the chain c, the other end being
attached to the valve or plunger, and by this means the valve may be wound

page_text: up, instead of by a rack and pinion; but where the rack is used, I prefer to
form such rack of iron or tined metal; and to avoid the use of brass parts in
contact with the oil, I also propose to form the cases of these lamps as illus-
terated by Figures 5, 6, & 7. In Figure 5, d, d, is the outer caseing, to which
the bottom is soldered; and e, c, is the inner case without a bottom, but with
the top soldered to it, and the outer caseing being screwed on to the inner one
at the top, or part marked by this means the lamp may be easily opened
and cleaned, and the proper flow of oil restored. In Figure 6, the bottom is
soldered to the inner case e, e, and the top to the outer case d, d, and the inner
case screwed into the outer one at the joint f. Figure 7 is a single case. d, d,
is the case; e is a packing, of cork or leather, or other flexible material, fitting
the bottom of the case; fis a metal plate, also fitting the case; and g, another
metal plate, in the center of which is inserted and wormed the screw h. This
plate is locked to the case by studs or ledges fixed on the bottom of the case,
and marked thus
and by screwing up the plate fa tight joint will be
formed by the set-off at the bottom of the caseing and the intermediate
packing c. In Figures 5 & 6, a packing may be used at the top, or between
the outer and inner caseing, and it may be screwed up tight by means of the
plates and screw, as described in Figure 7. Figure 8 is a section of the valve
and flow pipe of the overflowing lamp. a is the flow pipe, formed of iron, or
tined or silvered metal, to which is screwed or fastened air-tight a hollow ball
or vessel b, and through the bottom of which a hole is pierced; c is a shot or
ball, placed inside the vessel b, and forming a valve; d is the plunger, formed
of a plate or plates of metal grooved round the edge; e is the leather, formed
out of a strip and wound round the plate d, the edges overlaping each other
and beviled off, so as to form a smooth packing against the case of the lamp,
and is bound round the plate d by a wire or cord, so as to make it air-tight;
this leather is best wraped twice round the plate d. Figure 9 is a section of
the upper flow pipe and rack case, plans of which are shown by Figures 10
& 11. In Figure 9, a is the moderator wire, screwed into the top of the
flow pipe at the point marked b. The dotted lines marked c, c, show the flow
pipe, and those marked d, d, the two rack cases; and e shows the communi-
cation from the flow pipe to the burner rack case, and by which the burner is
supplied with oil. In Figures 10 & 11, a is the flow pipe, and b, b, the rack
case; these are formed with the flow pipe in two halves and soldered together,
forming a round pipe in the center, and a square one on each side. The flow
pipe is enlarged at the bottom, as shown by Figure 12, so as to form a stuffing
box. Figure 13 is a plan of the inner tube of the burner.
a shows a groove
running up the burner, to receive the rack to which the bucket is attached.

page_text: Figure 14 is a section of another form of an overflowing lamp. a is the
reservoir or oil vessel; 6 is the mouth; c is a crank pump, working in the pipe
d, to pump the waste oil or overflow back into the reservoir from the waste
vessel eff, are the burners, formed in the usul manner, or as herein
described, and having a communication with the oil vessel a by means of the
pipes 9, 9; these pipes should have a moderator wire placed in them, or be
sufficiently narrow to supply a proper flow of oil to the burner. h, h, are the
waste pipes, communicating with the waste vessel e. This lamp may be formed
with any number of burners. Figure 15 is a plan, and Figure 16 an elevation,
of a hand lamp swinging on three centres. The letters refer to the same parts
in each Figure. a is the bodey of the lamp; b, the burner; c is a half circular
rim, through which the pins d pass, and on which the bodey of the lamp
swings in one direction. The pins & are fixed to the bodey of the lamp; to
the rim c is affixed the pin e; this passes through the tube f, and works in
washers fixed in each end, and is kept in its place by the head of the pin
allowing it to swing in an opposite direction to the motion described by its
action on the pin d. The tube f is attached to the handle g; this handle is
connected with the bottom or pan of the lamp, marked h. i is a ring, by which
it might be hung up. This lamp may be formed of glass, and hung or balanced
in the usual manner of the hand, swing, or gimble lamp. Figures 17, 18,
& 19 are sections of glass gimble lamps. In Figure 17 an indentation a
is formed on each side in the bodey of the lamp, into which the pins enter, on
which it swings. In Figure 18, a ring or groove a is formed round the bodey
of the lamp, into which a hoope or strip of metal is placed, on which the pins
are fixed; or a projection may be formed, over which the hoop may be rolled.
In Figure 19 pins or projections are formed on the body of the lamp; any
of these forms may be blown in moulds in the usual way, projections or inden-
tations being formed in the moulds. Figures 20 & 21 represent a fountain
lamp, the inner case revolving in the outer one. Figure 20 is an elevation or
upright section. a is the inner case of the lamp, forming a globe, with an
opening b at the top, for supplying the lamp with oil; c is the inner case, also
globe shape, with an opening d at the bottom, and revolving on the pin or
axis e, so that when reversed, the opening d corresponds with the opening b,
thereby forming a communication to the inner case or oil vessel; and when
again reversed, by turning the handle f, this communication is cut off, and a
communication formed with the burner g by means of the case or box h. i is
a pipe, passing through the burner and box h, and is open at the bottom, as a
means of supplying air to the flame. The box is inclosed on all sides except
where it communicates with the burner and body of the lamp. 9 is a rod

page_text: attached to the bucket, and also attached to the centre This passes
through the side of the box h, and has a key or handle upon it, by which
means the bucket may be moved, and the wick adjusted 'in the burner.
Figure 21 is a horizontal section, showing the communication from the
body of the lamp to the burner. This lamp may be formed with 'the usual
Argand burner, and with two or more burners, and adapted' for the wall,
or formed as a suspension lamp, or with a stand for the table, and instead
of being globe shape it may be a 'half globe, or flat and circular; and it
may also be arranged for a carriage lamp, as shown in Figure 22. In this
section, a is the oil vessel; b is a flat, oval, or round pipe, passing through
the oil vessel, and having an opening at both ends to supply air to the
burner c; d is the bucket, sliding on the pipe b, and attached by the rod e to
the center ; and to which is attached a key, by which means the wick is
adjusted. This may be worked by a pinion and toothed' räck, or segment of a
wheel. The dotted lines show the reflector. 9, 9, is also a reflector; h,'h, is
a pipe, forming the outer casing of tlie chimney; i, i, is also a pipe or tube,
forming the inner casing of the chimney, and having a ventilator at the top.
The inner tube i is made to slide in the outer one hand to draw out at the
top. is the chimney glass, formed with rings or grooves round it, marked e,
into which the springs m pass; these hold the glass steady, and for this pur
pose should be placed at intervals round the tube. Figure 23 shows another
mode of adjusting the chimney and glass. a is a metal or tin chimney; with
a projecting flange b; b, at the bottom, in which is inserted an india-rubber
ring or flexible packing, and which holds the glass tube or short chimney c, c.
Figure 24 is a section of another form of fountain lamp. "a", is the oil vessel;
b, the chimney; c, the burner; d, a pipe, forming a communication from the
oil vessel to the burner; e is a rod, to which is attached a windlass or key'f.
On this rod is placed the plug g, and also the plate h. In the plate h is a hole
or opening i, and by reversing the plate, the opening i is brought opposite the
opening in the reservoir, and by this means the oil is supplied to the lamp,
and the communication cut off from the burner by the plug g. The plate h
be kept air-tight against the top of the oil vessel by a spiral or other
spring. Figure 25 is a section of a lamp with a moovable bottom. a is the
outer casing; b, the burner; c, c, is a leather or flexible bottom, fastened air-
tight to the caseing a, and to the metal plate d, in which works the pin e. This
pin is wormed into the bottom of the lamp, and the false bottom c is lowered
or raised by turning the pin round. Figure 26 is another form of this lamp,
and the letters apply to the same parts, but instead of a leather or flexible
bottom a piston bottom is used."
may

page_text: Having thus described the different arrangments of my said Invention, I
would here observe that I do not confine myself to any particular size or
dimensions, or to any particular form, unless such form is expressly mentioned,
nor to any material, unless such material is expressly mentioned; and it will
also be obvious that the various improvements described may admit of different
arrangments or adaptations; I therefore do not limit myself in this respect;
but what I particularly claim is, namely, the means of adjusting the wick in
the burner, by a rod passing up the center, and by placing the wick between
wheels or rollers, and the winding up of the valve or plunger of moderator
lamps by a pulley and chain; also the mode of forming the caseing of such
lamps to open, as illusterated in Figures 5, 6, & 7, and the use of iron or tined
racks and flow pipes, and the absence of all brass parts or fittings in contact
with the oil; and, further, the use of a valve at the bottom of, or in the flow
pipe, and the forming of the leather and plunger, as described and illustrated
by Figure 8; and also the formation of the upper flow pipe of halves or parts
joined lengthwise, as illustrated and described by Figures 9, 10, 11, & 12,
and the use of a crank or other pump as a means of returning the overflow
to the bodey of the lamp. In hand, swing, or gimble lamps, I claim the
balancing of them on three centers, as illusterated and described by Figures
15 & 16, and the forming of gimble glass lamps as described and illusterated
by Figures 17, 18, & 19. In fountain lamps, I claim the use of an inner
case revolving or partialy revolving in an outer one, and the general formation
or combination of parts, as illusterated and described in Figure 24; and in
general, I claim the means of adjusting the wick in the burner, as illustrated
and described in Figures 20, 21, & 22; and the use of a curved air pipe in
Argand burners, and the mode of supporting a chimney glass by springs and
grooved rings or packings, as illustrated and described by Figures 22 & 23;
and a lamp with a moovable bottom, as illustrated by Figures 25 & 26.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Whele, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of June, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-five.
Signed and sealed in the presence of
LUCY WHELE.
EDWIN WHELE. (L.S.)