and other Lamps.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 10th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification_Accepted, 30th Nov., 1888
80
and other Lamps.
We ROBERT ROBSON Town-end Low Wortley No. 101 near Leeds in the County of
York Boiler Maker and JOHN ROBERT ROBSON 87 Oak Road New Wortley near Leeds
in the County of York Boiler Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
-
This invention relates to the construction of oil & other lamps with an improved
method for regulating the wick & extinguishing the light and has special reference
to the class of lamps used by workmen and others in places where Gas & other fixed
lights are not available.
The ordinary lamps used for this purpose consist of an oil reservoir having a wick-
spout or funnel through which the wick passes & are either carried uncovered or
placed in a casing framed with glass for protection from wind or draughts. The wick
is raised by tweezers or prickers & in some lamps commonly used in Foundrys and
Boiler shops by knocking the wick spout or funnel, the latter method tending to knock
the funnel off or otherwise damage the lamp.
The said invention consists in placing into the interior of the lamp or oil reservoir
& directly above the oil an air-tight piston free to move up or down and worked
from the outside by a rod or screw. The raising of the wick is effected by pressing
the piston down against the surface of the oil which acting against the wick in the
funnel displaces or forces the said wick upwards equal to the amount of cubic contents
of oil displaced by the piston. It will be seen that if the area of the piston is greater
than the sectional area of the wick a slight movement of the piston downwards will
cause the wick to move upwards a greater distance & also cause it to move with
greater velocity, because the distance moved by the wick multiplied by its sectional
area will equal the distance moved by the piston multiplied by its area & as the area
of the piston is greater than the sectional area of the wick, the wick will move
faster & also through a greater distance. By this difference of areas a great
advantage is gained as it will be seen that a considerable length of wick can be

page_text: raised through the funnel by having a short travel or stroke of piston. When it is
required to extinguish the light the piston is raised, thereby causing a vacuum between
the surface of the oil and the bottom face of the piston, this enables the pressure of
air outside to act on the wick & force it back into the funnel at the same time
extinguishing the light & also preventing the smoke and smell which otherwise
would proceed from the wick when left to smoulder after the light is put out in the
ordinary way. In order that the piston may be raised or lowered without disturbing
the wick a vertical hole is drilled through the piston-rod or screw this when left
uncovered admits air on the surface of the oil when the piston is drawn up thereby
balancing the pressure of the air which would otherwise act on the wick outside or
allows the oil to pass up the hole instead of pressing on the wick when the piston is
pressed down.
By this invention & method of regulating the wick in oil & other lamps the
wick is continually kept moist owing to the oil being pressed into the funnel, besides
affording a ready & easy means of raising or lowering the wick without disturbing
or damaging the lamp.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of Regulating and Extinguishing the Light in Oil
and other Lamps.
We ROBERT ROBSON Town end Low Wortley No. 101 near Leeds in the County of
York Boiler Maker & JOHN ROBERT ROBSON 87 Oak Road New Wortley near Leeds
in the County of York Boiler Maker 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 construction of oil & other lamps with an improved
method for regulating the wick & extinguishing the light, & has special reference
to the class of lamps used by workmen & others in places where gas & other fixed
lights are not available.
The ordinary lamps used for this purpose consist of an oil reservoir having a wick
spout or funnel through which the wick passes & are either carried uncovered or
placed in a casing covered with glass for protection from wind or draught. The wick
is raised by tweezers or prickers & in some lamps commonly used in foundrys &
Boiler shops by knocking the wick funnel the latter method tending to knock the
funnel off or otherwise damage the lamp.
In order to facilitate the description of our invention reference is made to the
annexed drawing (Fig. 1) shewing a sectional elevation through the centre of an
ordinary oil lamp with the improvements in our invention added thereto.
The lamp (A) is fitted with an air tight piston (E) placed directly above the oil
& worked from the outside by means of the piston rod (B). In order to raise the
wick the piston is pressed down against the surface of the oil which acts against the
wick (R) in the funnel (D) & forces the said wick upwards more or less according
to the distance moved by the piston. To lower the wick or extinguish the light the
pressure on the surface of the oil is removed by drawing the piston up & allowing
the atmospheric pressure acting on the wick at (M) to force the wick back into the
funnel. In order to raise the piston without disturbing the wick the piston rod (B) is
made hollow, this when the hole is left uncovered admits air on the surface of the oil
& prevents a vacuum being formed below the piston or otherwise balances the
pressure acting on the wick at (M). In order to secure the free working of the piston
(E) it is necessary that the body of the lamp (A) wherein the said piston works should
retain its true cylindrical form & be prevented in the case of rough use from being
bulged or otherwise damaged & thereby cause impediment to the free working of the
piston. This is effected by placing round the lamp a metal or other suitable
sheathing (H) which protects the lamp from being damaged & also serves as a
receptory for any waste oil dropping from the wick. The area of the piston (E) being
greater than the sectional area of the funnel (D) a considerable length of wick can be
raised before the piston has reached the end of its stroke.
The improvements in this invention can be applied to any class of lamps wherein a
wick is used, but it is not always convenient to place the piston (E) in the body of the

page_text: lamp directly above the oil, therefore when necessary the piston is placed in a separate
cylinder or compartment having communication with the interior of the lamp &
effecting the same result.
By this invention & method of regulating the wick in lamps, the said wick is
continually kept moist owing to the oil being pressed into the funnel, besides affording
a ready & easy means of raising or lowering the wick without disturbing or
damaging the lamp.
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.
First. The construction of an oil or other lamp wherein a wick is used, fitted with an
air tight piston by means of which the wick in the said lamp can be raised or lowered
as required, substantially as herein described.
Second. The piston (E) & hollow piston rod or screw (B) as a means of raising,
lowering or extinguishing the wick in oil & other lamps wherein a wick is used, as
herein described and illustrated.
Third. The Sheathing (H) as a protection to that portion of the lamp wherein the
piston travels as herein described & illustrated.
Dated this 8th day of September 1888.
F. JOHNSON,
Agent for Applicants.