IMPROVEMENTS IN OIL LAMPS
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM NUNN of the firm of W. Nunn and Company 204-206 St George
Street, Middlesex, Lamp Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OIL LAMPS" to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is
1. To construct the frames of oil lamps with two air compartments connected by
a shaft in which the air has free circulation from the lower to the upper chambers,
the upper one being partitioned off from the body of the lamp by an inside roof.
2. Fitting metal chimneys in said inner roof with a portion projecting below and
with extensions above, said extensions being curved at their extremities within the
upper chamber to prevent down draughts.
3. Arranging a wick holder in the form of a spring which can be pressed into
small compass for insertion into a circular wick and then expanded to hold the
wick firmly.
4. Arranging a rotating socket within the burner to govern the up or down
motion of the wick holder which can move on a threaded portion of an internal
socket or tube to increase or diminish the flame.
5. Providing a cylindrical cap with a long neck to take into a chamber formed
in the oil vessel said cap fitting loosely over the burner tubes and with its upper
end rounded inwards for the passage of air to the outside of the flame, there being
also a clear passage through the central tube for the passage of air to the insideo
of the flame, these acting in conjunction to produce a steady flame of great
brilliancy.
For the purpose of my invention I form a ledge within the two sides and front
of a lamp casing, parts of said ledge forming a shelf on which oil vessel can rest
when pushed in.
Between the ledge and the bottom of the lamp an air chamber is formed and
the front portion of the ledge is provided with an air shaft whose upper end
is in communication with an upper chamber formed between the inner and outer
roofs.
The inner roof has two metal tubes (chimneys) attached directly over the
position occupied by the burners and the lower ends of them project slightly into
the body of the lamp while their upper ends within the chamber have their
extremities curved towards the centre of the lamp to allow of free passage of

page_text: heated vapour into said chamber at the same time preventing down draughts that
would otherwise cause the flames to flicker.
The oil vessel has a screen at its back and with feet at its front whose length
correspond to the height of the ledge and assists in steadying the oil vessel when
in place:
•
The bottom of the oil vessel supports horizontal spindles whose outer ends which
extend beyond the back screen are provided with thumb buttons to enable them
to be turned by hand for regulating the height of the wick, this being effected by
pinions on the inner ends of the spindles which are in gear with teeth of a ring
connected to loose fitting sockets, one of which is provided to each burner.
These sockets are slotted in the direction of their length and rings with which
their upper ends are provided are notched to correspond with the slots for the
reception of pins projecting from collars of the wick holders which wick holders
are tubular and in the form of springs to enable them to be pressed each into
a small compass for easy insertion into circular wicks and then to expand to hold
the wicks firmly on them.
The wick holders have each a stud projecting from their inner surfaces to engage
in slots of tubes fixed in the burners, said tubes are within concentric tubes and the
chamber between are in connection with the oil vessel by branch pipes to supply
the wicks with oil.
The fixed tubes of the burners have each a spiral slot in which the studs of the
wick holders move under the control of the rotating sockets the pins riding within
the slots of the sockets when rotated.
The central tubes and the concentric tubes are secured at their bottom ends but
the central tubes are left hollow for air to pass through to the interior of the
circular wicks from the lower chamber. Each concentric tube is surrounded by a
cap whose upper end is contracted or rounded inwards, sufficient space being left
between them for the passage of air to feed the outside of the flame to support
combustion and produce steadyness of the flame.
These caps have long necks which pass into the circular openings in the oil
vessel and the distance to which they can be set is regulated by rings.
Reflectors are socketed upon stems at the proper angles for reflecting the light
through the glass or glasses fitted in the lamp frame.
I have heretofore referred to two wick sockets and their appurtenances as being
in the same lamp but one only need in some cases be used, the metal chimney and
air shaft being arranged in any convenient manner.
Where a distribution of air from the lower to the upper chamber is required two
or more air shafts may be fitted in the lamp.

page_text: I WILLIAM NUNN of the firm of W. Nunn and Company 204-200 St George
Street, Middlesex, Lamp Manufacturers, 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:—
The object of this invention is to produce in closed lanterns, with oil or paraffin
lamps, the effect of argand or sun burners without the necessity for using glass
chimnies and in such a manner that the steadiness of the flame shall not be affected
by currents of air and this is secured by arranging an upper, middle and lower
chamber so that while the flame is produced in the middle chamber the necessary
air shall pass into a large upper chamber and then down by a suitable internal shaft
or shafts into the lower chamber, then by suitable passages on to the flaine or flames
the products of combustion ultimately passing through a metal chimney or chimney's
and discharging into the upper chambèr.
I construct the frames of oil or paraffin lamps with two air compartments
connected by an internal shaft or shafts in which the air has free circulation from
the upper to the lower chambers the upper one being partitioned off from the body
of the lamp by an inside roof.
I fit metal chimneys in said inside roof with a portion projecting below' and with
extensions above, these extensions being curved at their extremities within the
upper chamber to prevent down draughts.
I arrange a wick holder in the form of a spring which can be pressed into small'
compass for insertion into a circular wick and then expanded to hold the wick
firmly.
I also arrange a rotating socket within the burner to govern the up or down
motion of the wick holder which can move on a threaded portion of an internal
socket or tube to increase or diminish the flame.
I provide a cylindrical cap with a long neck to take into a chamber formed in
the oil vessel said cap fitting loosely over the burner tubes and with its upper end
rounded inwards for the passage of air to the outside of the flame there being also
a clear passage through the central tube for the passage of air to the inside of the
flame, these acting in conjunction to produce a steady Hame of great brilliancy.
The entry of fresh air into the upper chamber is by suitable holes preferably
close down to the diaphragm which separates the upper from the middle chamber.
The holes are small and numerous and are preferably, provided with a wind break
to distribute the air evenly. The escape for the vapour or product of combustion
from the flame is through suitable opening or openings at the tops of the upper
chamber. By this arrangement the two currents upwards from the flame and
downwards to the flame do not interfere with each other and yet are equally
affected as to pressure by varying outside currents.
I use any of the ordinary arrangements for the argand or sun burner lamps
arranging suitable gearing and spindles carried outside the lantern so that the wick
may be raised or lowered to its proper height while the lantern is closed.

page_text: Instead of the usual wick holder I employ one in the form of a portion of
a spring so that it can be reduced in diameter by pressure for insertion into the
wick when on release it expands and holds the wick firmly in place. The wick
holder is fitted with studs to work in the screw threads and slotted cylinder usual
in the argand burner or constructed in any suitable manner.
My invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed drawings in
which Figures 1, 2 and 3 are elevation, vertical and transverse sections respectively
of a bow lamp. Figure 4 is a section of a chimney and Figure 5 a perspective view
of a spring wick holder. Figures 6, 7 and are plan and sections (with and with-
out the lamp or burner) respectively of a flashing signal lamp.
For the purpose of my invention (see Figures 1, 2 and 3) I form a ledge A
(Figure 2) within the two sides B, B, and front C of a lamp casing D parts of said
ledge A forming a shelf on which an oil vessel E can rest when pushed in as shown
at Figure 3. Between the ledge A and the bottom of the lamp F an air chamber G
is thus formed which is provided with an air shaft or shafts H, H, whose upper end
is in communication with an upper chamber I formed between the inner roof J and
outer roof K. The inner roof J has two metal tubes or chimneys L L (Figures 3
and 4) attached directly over the position occupied by the burners M, M, and the
lower enda a of them project slightly into the body N of the lamp while their upper
ends b within the chamber I have their extremities curved downwards as shown to
allow of free passage of heated vapour into said chamber I at the same time
preventing down draughts that would otherwise cause the flames to flicker.
The oil vessel E has a screen P at its back which closes in the space between
upper and lower chambers, with feet QQ at its front whose length correspond to
the height of the ledge A and assist in steadying the oil vessel E when in place
(see Figures 3 and 8).
The bottom of the oil vessel E supports horizontal spindles R. (Figure 8) whose
outer ends which extend beyond the back screen P are provided with thumb
buttons S to enable them to be turned by hand for regulating the height of the
wick T this being effected by pinions U on the inner ends of the spindles R which
are in gear with teeth of a ring V connected to loose fitting sockets W one of which
is provided to each burner.
These sockets W are slotted in the direction of their length and rings X, X, with
which their upper ends are provided are notched as at Y (Figure 9) to correspond
with slots Z, for the reception of pin c projecting from collars of the wick holders d
which wick holders d are tubular and in the form of springs as shown at Figure 5
to enable them to be pressed each into a small compass for easy insertion into
circular wicks and then to expand to hold the wicks firmly on them.
The wick holders d have each a stud e projecting from their inner surfaces and
the chamber between the tubes ƒ and g is in connection with the oil vessel E by
branch pipes h to supply the wicks with oil.
The inner fixed tubes g, g, of the burners have each a spiral slot j, in which the
studs e of the wick holders & move under the control of the rotating sockets W the
pins cc riding within the slots of the sockets W when rotated.
The central tubes g, g, and their concentric tubes f. f, are secured at their bottom
ends but the central tubes are left hollow for air to pass through to the interior of
the circular wicks. Each concentric tube f, f, is surrounded by a cylindrical cap k
whose upper end is contracted or rounded inwards to produce steadyness of flame.
These caps le, k, have long necks which pass into the circular openings in the
oil vessel E and the distance to which they can be set is regulated by rings m, m.
Reflectors m, n, are socketed upon stems p, p, at the proper angles for reflecting
the light through the glass or glasses q, q, fitted in the lamp frame or casing D.
I have heretofore referred especially to two wick sockets and their appurtenances
as being in the same lamp but one only need in some cases be used as in a signal
Jamp such as is represented in Figure 6, 7 and 8 the metal chimney and air shaft
being arranged in any convenient manner. Where a distribution of air from the

page_text: lower to the upper chamber is regulated two or more air shafts H, H, may be
fitted in the lamp as shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
I claim
1. The improvements in oil lamps hereinbefore described and substantially as
shown in the annexed drawings.
2. Connecting the upper middle and lower chambers of lamps (notably ships
lamps) by means of an internal shaft or shafts or passages and employing metal
chimneys discharging into the upper chamber.
3. The employment of an expanding or spring wick holder as hereinbefore
described for the purpose set forth and substantially as shown in the annexed
drawings.