Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 1st Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
WALTER ATKINS 49 Hall Road Handsworth near Birmingham Staffordshire do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists principally in constructing a Spirit Lamp with a metal
vessel attached for the purpose of containing water & to act as an extinguisher to the
Lamp when the water is sufficiently heated; & also to prevent the general waste of
Spirit caused by evaporation in this style of Lamp. The Lamp forms the foot & has
fixed upon the two sides of it opposite to each other, two flat upright metal springs
which clip the outer sides of the metal vessell & consequently keeps the metal vessel in
an elevated position over the flame when in use. Down the centres of these Metal
Springs I cut slots running from the top to the bottom for the purposes of guideing
& keeping the Metal vessel in a perpendicular position, this is accomplished by fixing
upon the edge of the base of the metal vessel two metal pegs opposite each other &
so arranged to fit into & to slide in the slots of the upright metal Springs.
When the Lamp is required to be used, the slots in the Springs being made
sufficiently long allows. the Metal Vessel to be raised & held to the required height for
obtaining the greatest heat from the flame below it, when the water is sufficiently
heated, the process of pushing down the Metal vessel to its lowest possible point,
covers the burner of the Lamp & instantly extinguishes the flame owing to the air
being excluded.
The base of the Metal Vessel being so constructed as to fit tightly over the burner
of the Lamp prevents the evaporation of the spirit remaining unused in the Lamp
until it is required again.
Dated thin 10th dow of Fahon 1987

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spirit Lamps for Heating Small Quantities of
Water.
I WALTER ATKINS, of 171 Hockley, Birmingham Chandelier Manufacturer, 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 consists principally in constructing a spirit lamp having a metal
vessel attached for the purpose of containing water &c., and which said vessel may also
serve as an extinguisher to the lamp when the water &c. is sufficiently heated, and
also prevent the general waste of the spirit, caused by evaporation in these kinds of
lamps when not in use.
The lamp proper forms the foot, and has fixed upon the two sides of it, and opposite
to each other, two flat upright metal springs, which clip the outer sides of the metal
vessel, and consequently keeps the said vessel in an elevated position over the flame
when in use. Down the centres of these metal springs I cut slots running from the
top to the bottom, for the purpose of guiding and keeping the metal vessel in a per-
pendicular position. This is accomplished by fixing upon the edge of the base of the
metal vessel two metal pegs opposite each other and so arranged to fit into and to slide
in the slots of the upright metal springs.
When the lamp is required to be used, the slots in the springs, being made sufficiently
long, allows the metal vessel to be raised, and held at the required height for obtaining
the greatest heat from the flame below it.
When the water is sufficiently heated, by the pushing down of the metal vessel to
its lowest possible point, the burner of the lamp is covered, and the flame instantly
extinguished, by reason of the air being, excluded.
The base of the metal vessel being so constructed as to fit tightly over the burner of
the lamp, prevents the evaporation of the spirit, remaining unused until the lamp is
again required.
I will now more particularly describe this my invention, and the manner in which it
is to be performed having reference to the accompanying illustrative sheet of drawings
upon which are figures and letters of reference, like letters referring throughout the
several views to the same thing or part.
Fig. 1, is a front elevation of a heating apparatus constructed and arranged
according to this my said invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a front sectional elevation of Fig. 1.
°
Fig. 4 is a view showing the vessel closed or pushed down on to the spirit lamp.
Figs. 5 & 6, are details hereinafter explained.
Fig. 7 illustrates how this my invention may be adapted to serve as an article for
toilet or other purposes, for instance as a shaving requisite.

page_text: Fig. 8 illustrates a modification of the upper metal vessel, in the form of a kettle.
with or without a lid.
Figs. 9 & 10 are details of Fig. 7.
a, is the spirit lamp, constructed and arranged as regards its properties as a lamp
similar to those in ordinary use, that is, containing wool, wadding, or other suitable
material for absorbing the spirit, and covered with gauze wire at b, where the spirit is
ignited into a flame. I further provide however at e, perforations through the upper
part of the body a, for the purpose of allowing the lower end of the spring d, to pass
therethrough, up to and against the shoulder e, see Fig. 6. Upon again referring to
Fig. 6, it will be seen that at f, upon each side of the spring I make a notch to
accommodate the stretcher piece g; see also detail Fig. 5. I first pass the two
springs d, d, into their position, as seen in Fig. 3, then pass the two projections h, h,
at one end of the stretcher g into the notches; then further spring the two similar
projections h, h, at the other end of the stretcher g into the notches, of the opposite
spring d.
It will now be seen that by thus inserting the stretcher piece between the lower
extremities of the vertical springs d, their upper ends at i are contracted somewhat,
which causes them to tightly clip or grip the metal vessel j, so as to hold it in any
given position in its up and down movement. At kI may provide a vertical slot, into
which a stud or projection 1, engages, which said stud may be made separate from the
vessel and attached thereto, or, in some cases, it may be formed as part of the said
vessel, by the metal of the vessel being slit at such point, and then pushed outwards
to form such projection; the drawing shewing it to be formed in this latter
manner.
As before intimated j is the metal vessel for containing the water &c. to be heated.
As shewn in Figs, 1, 2, 3, 4 & 7 it is in the simplest form made.
The using of this arrangement would now be thus:-The- lamp is charged with
spirit, and the vessel with the water to be heated, then the vessel is raised to the
desired height, and the lamp lighted.
When the water is sufficiently heated, the vessel j may be pushed down over the
flame, close on to the lamp body, as seen in Fig. 4, making a close joint at m, so that
the air supply to the flame is cut off, which necessarily extinguishes it. Again; by
reason of this joint m, the evaporation of the spirit, left in the lamp is reduced to a
minimum, if not entirely prevented.
As before stated Fig. 7, illustrates the application of my invention to form a com-
bination with accessory parts. Thus I may utilize the space of the interior of the
vessel, to contain a store case or magazine », of the spirit, ready for use, and which
may be readily removed out of the said vessel, when the lamp is required to be used.
This spirit store case, is shewn separate in Fig. 10, where it will be seen that the lid
is made to screw on at n, an airtight joint being made by inserting a piece
of india-rubber or other suitable material at o, against which the screw part n presses.
Again, instead of finishing off the foot of the lamp as seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 4 I
may shape it to form a lid or cover to slide or fit upon the box p, as seen in Fig. 7,
the said box being shown in detail in Fig. 9.
This combination would be very useful for many purposes, inasmuch as that the
spirit to be used would always be at command, and the receptacle p, would serve to
contain various articles; and would be particularly useful as a toilet requisite for
shaving purposes, the receptacle p, serving in this case as a soap or lather box. The
closing down of the vessel, upon the lamp, for the purposes of extinction &c. would
be similar to that described in Fig. 4.
Further, in Fig. 8 the metal vessel j₁, is modified in form to that of Fig. 1 &c.,
being in this case provided with a spout, and a turn down handle, and also a remov-
able lid. This also provides a very useful form of my invention which I generally
style the "Picnic" or "workman's" kettle. It will be seen that in common with
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 7 this may be closed down as shewn in Fig. 4, and for the same
purposes, and also if desired, that the foot of the lamp may be prepared to receive a
receptacle similar to that shewn in Fig. 9.

page_text: I wish it to be understood that I do not bind myself to the precise details illustrated,
for the carrying out of this my invention, as I may somewhat vary these without
departing from its nature; such for instance, in some cases I may dispense with the
slots k, and arrange two projections similar to 1, to work along the sides of the
pieces d, arranging for the parallel part of such pieces to be of sufficient length, or,
other equivalent device, the method and forms shewn, however, I find to answer
satisfactorily, and hence their illustration.
I am aware that spirit lamps similar to these have been used in connection with
detachable or loose metal vessels, and therefore I do not claim these parts in and of
themselves, but,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1st. The improvements in spirit lamps for heating small quantities of water as
herein described and illustrated, that is to say, The supporting or holding of the
vessel above the lamp by means of the spring clip pieces d, which said pieces are
attached to the body of the lamp, and having slots k, or other equivalent to guide or
control the sliding motion of the vessel.
2nd. The combination of the lamp a, having the spring clip uprights d, with the
sliding vessel j, as described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 4, and for the purposes
set forth.
3rd. The combination of the lamp a, having the spring clip uprights d, with the
sliding vessel j, and the store case r, and the receptacle p, all substantially as and for
the purposes set forth, and illustrated in Fig. 7.
4th. The combination of the lamp a, having the spring clip uprights d, with
the sliding vessel j³, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and illustrated in
Fig. 8.
5th. The extinguishing of such lamps by means of the vessel j or j¹, covering and
making a joint at m, and thereby excluding the air, similarly as described and
illustrated.
Dated this 30th day of November 1887
CHARLES T. POWELL,
4, Cherry Street, Birmingham,
Applicant's Agent.