IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING HYDROCARBON OILS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Hooper, of Hungerford Road, Holloway, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR
BURNING HYDROCARBON OILS."
Sealed the 9th March 1877, and dated the 11th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Hooper at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th January 1877.
JOSEPH HOOPER, of Hungerford Road, Holloway, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING HYDROCARBON OILS."
My improvements in lamps for burning petroleum, paraffin, and other hydro-
carbons consists of a case, termned herein-after the safety case or wick holder, which
may be either attached to the ordinary burner or to the fluid container, and be
either circular, oblong, oval, or of whatever shape may be most suitable for the
burner or fluid container employed. I propose to fit this case with a bar or bars,
or rollers, at the lower end, or other suitable apparatus for keeping down the wick
or wicks, which may be either circular or flat.
This safety case or wick holder may be made in one length suitable to the depth
of any particular container, or in parts sliding so as to adapt itself to any depth of
container. It may be made of metal, ivory, wood, or other material as may be
most suitable to the other parts of the lamp.
To the bottom of my safety case or wick holder I propose to attach a filter or
purifier in the shape of a cover or cap fitted with some closely woven material, such
as felt, flannel, serge, or other suitable material, and finely perforated metal or wire
gauze for the purpose of keeping back the impurities in the fluid and preventing
them from entering the safety case or wick holder.
It will be evident that my safety case might be used without the purifier.
I propose by means of slots in the case, or otherwise, to keep my safety case from
becoming heated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Hooper in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th July
1877.
JOSEPH HOOPER, of Hungerford Road, Holloway, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING HYDROCARBON OILS."
This Invention relates to improvements in lamps for burning petroleum, paraffin,
and other hydrocarbons, and has for its object the concealing from view the free
end of the wick or wicks, which has hitherto been permitted to hang loose in the
oil reservoir, which presents a very unsightly appearance, and also ensuring the
thorough filtration of the petroleum, paraffin, or other hydrocarbon consumed by
the lamp, thus considerably enhancing its illuminating power, at the same time that
increased facility and convenience is afforded for removing and replacing the wick
or wicks when necessary.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood and readily
carried into effect I will now, with the aid of the accompanying Drawings, whereon
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, proceed more particularly
to describe and ascertain the nature of the same, that is to say,-
My improvements in lamps for burning petroleum, paraffin, and other hydro-
carbons consist of a cylindrical case, herein-after termed the safety case or wick
holder, which I make of any convenient dimensions and of any suitable material,
such as metal, ivory, wood, or any other material which may be most in keeping
with the other parts of the lamp to which it is to be fitted. I attach such safety
case or wick holder to the ordinary burner or to the fluid container as preferred
either by a bayonet catch, as shewn at a, Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings,
which shews a view in side elevation of one form of my improved safety case, but
which may
be either circular, oblong, oval, or of whatever shape may be most suitable
for the burner or fluid container employed. Inside the lower end of such safety case
or wick holder, which is made hollow at both ends, I fit one, two, or more horizontal
bar or bars, as shewn in Figure 2 of the accompanying Drawings, which shews a
plan view of the bottom of my improved safety case or wick holder, and which bars
serve to hold the wick or wicks, which may be either circular or flat, in position by
passing the two ends of the wick through the spaces respectively marked b, b,
Figure 2, and then thrusting the portion remaining pendent at the bottom of the
case between the bars through the centre space c, Figure 2, but if preferred such
bars may be fixed angularly or in any other convenient position, as indicated at
Figure 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
My improved safety case or wick holder may either be made in one length
suitable to the depth of any particular container, or in two or more telescopic parts
capable of sliding in and out, so that it may be readily adapted to the depth of any
container.
Around the bottom of my improved safety case or wick holder I form a small rim,
shewn at k, Figure 5, so as to enable me to attach thereto by slipping over the same a
filter or purifier, shewn at d, Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings. This filter
or purifier I make in the form of a cover or cap, as shewn at Figure 3, which is a
plan view of the outside of one of such filters, and either of a corresponding material
with the safety case itself, or, if preferred, of a different material, and I form it
hollow at the top with a narrow flange all round, as seen at e, Figure 3. This flange
serves to support a lining or packing of felt, flannel, serge, or other suitable filtering
material, indicated at f, Figure 3, which is placed inside such cap or cover and then
covered over with a finely perforated metal plate or liner, preferably of wire gauze,
shewn at Figure 4. This metal plate or liner is of a corresponding shape to the
bottom of the cap or cover, and serves to retain the felt or other filtering material
fitted therein in proper position, while the perforations permit of the passage of the
oil therethrough. Such filter is for the purpose of keeping back the impurities in
the fluid and preventing them from entering the safety case or wick holder, thus

page_text: both preventing the clogging of the wick or wicks therewith and allowing of the
free passage of the fluid up to the burner, and so increasing the illuminating power
of the lamp.
It will however be obvious that my improved safety case may be used without
the purifier or filter attachment if preferred, and Figure 5 of the accompanying
Drawings is a view of my improved safety case without such filter attachment.
In order to afford proper ventilation and so as to prevent my improved safety
case or wick holder becoming overheated I form perforations, slots, or other suitable
openings around the top thereof, as shewn at g, Figures 1 and 5, and at a con-
venient distance below such openings I insert therein a strip of vulcanite or any
other suitable non-conducting material, indicated at h, Figures 1 and 5, and which
on the interior thereof forms a lining extending upwards to the perforations or other
openings, as indicated by the oblique shading lines in Figures 1 and 5 of the
Drawings. I secure such vulcanite or other non-conducting material to the safety
case itself by means of rivets or in any other convenient manner. By this means
all danger of its becoming overheated is effectually prevented.
When the wick requires to be rearranged or renewed it is only necessary to lift
out the safety case, detach the filter therefrom, and thus rearrange or renew the
wick or wicks with the greatest facility and cleanliness.
Another advantage of my improved safety case or wick holder is that common
oil may be consumed in the lamp when used therewith without danger of explosion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and the manner of carrying the saine into effect, I would have it understood
that what I claim and desire to secure by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the manufacture and use of an improved safety case or wick holder either
with or without a filter attachment thereto, substantially in the manner and for the
purposes herein-before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Hooper, have hereunto set- my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JOSEPH HOOPER. (L.S.)