Improvements in Lamps, Specially Applicable to Signal Lamps.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 7th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lamps, Specially Applicable to Signal Lamps.
We MATILDA SIMPSON and HENRY SIMPSON both of 10 Crooked Lane, Liverpool
n the County of Lancaster, Lamp Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our present invention relates to oil-lamp burners and chimneys, and is specially
applicable to Signal Lamps constructed in the manner described in a Provisional
Specification left by us with an Application for a Patent No. 11940 dated
27 July 1889; and the objects of our invention are to improve the wick raising
arrangement for colza wicks, to improve the air supply arrangement and to provide
a continuous chimney for lamps placed within a casing. The improvements in lamps
according to our present invention are as follows:-
The wick is attached to a wick-holder having prongs which prevent the wick
slipping down, but which permit it being drawn up from time to time as it
carbonises.
This wick-holder slides in the wick tube being connected to a rack which works
outside the wick tube, the latter having a vertical slit to permit the connecting piece
between the wick-holder and the rack to slide up and down. When the wick tube,
the wick holder and the rack are inserted in position in the burner, and the wick tube
secured in place, the rack gears with a pinion or a spindle carried by bearings in the
burner in the ordinary way, the spindle being provided with a milled head by means
of which the pinion is actuated. By turning this milled head the height of the rack
and therefore the wick in the wick tube is adjusted, and wicks of the softest texture
may be employed without any liability of their becoming entangled.
We arrange the air supply and the continuous chimney as follows:-
We will assume that the arrangement of the lamp is similar to that described in
the aforementioned Specification, that is, that there is an outer casing on the top of
which a chimney is formed, and within this an inner casing into which the supporting
plate which carries the burner and oil receiver slides. When a heavy oil such as
colza oil is used the burner is carried by a supporting plate, underneath which an
air chamber is formed and all the air which supplies the burner passes through this
chamber. Our improvements consist in placing within this air chamber a second.
inner air chamber, which has perforations around the top of its sides, and leading
from the lower part of this inner chamber two air tubes, one on each side of the
wick tube; the upper ends of the air tubes being just below the flame and the current
of air being directed on to the flame.
The air tubes may have a cross-section approximately the same as the wick tube,
and the longer axis of the cross-section is parallel to that of the wick tube. The air
tubes are inclined inwards, towards the flame, and the space in between them forms
an oil chamber for the wick arrangement, the pinion spindle before referred to
passing out of this chamber through a stuffing box, and the oil supply pipe passing
into the chamber through the air tube nearest the oil container.
The air supply enters the outer air chamber through the perforations therein, then
into the inner air chamber through perforations at the top of the sides, then up the
air tubes and finally is directed on the flame.
Where a volatile oil such as petroleum is used the burner is carried above and the
oil container below the supporting plate.
In this case our improvements consist in surrounding the wick tube, which passes
from the oil container up to the burner through the supporting plate, by a cylindrical

page_text: casing which extends above and below the supporting plate. The portion below the
supporting plate extends nearly to the top of the oil container, and the portion above
forms the support for the gallery which carries the continuous chimney, the latter is
carried up to the chimney at the top of the outer casing of the lamp, and no air can
enter between it and the cylindrical casing round the wick tube. The air supply
which enters from below through a number of perforations in the supporting plate,
passes down through a series of smaller perforations in the same plate into an annular
space around the bottom of the cylindrical casing which surrounds the wick tube, the
air passes from this space into the cylindrical casing and is caused by a conical
deflecting plate attached to the cylindrical casing to flow up round the wick tube;
attached to the latter near the top is a second conical deflector, parallel with, but
higher up than, the first, which deflects the air down again between the two deflectors,
the air then flows up between the cylindrical casing and the periphery of the second
deflector and passes to the flame through the perforated top of the cylindrical
casing.
In this way the burner of the lamp is kept cool; and the air supply having to
enter the chamber above the supporting plate through perforations in the latter, and
leave the said chamber on its way to the burner through a series of smaller
perforations, the force of any sudden rush of air into the lamp casing is spent in
this chamber, and the air supply is comparatively unaffected thereby.
We construct the continuous chimney before referred to, in three parts, one part
is attached to the burner, one part to the inner casing and one part to the outer
casing, so as to allow the supporting plate with the receiver and burner to be with-
drawn from the inner casing, or the inner casing to be withdrawn from the outer
casing. When these parts are placed in position a continuous chimney is formed.
The lower part is of glass and is attached to the gallery which is fixed to the cylindrical
casing surrounding the wick tube, the attachment being such that little or no air is
allowed to enter between the chimney and the casing round the wick tube. The
second or middle part of the chimney consists of an outer metal tube fixed to a stay
which crosses the top of the inner casing, and an inner metal tube sliding within the
outer tube, the lower end of the inner tube has a round metal plate attached, in which
there is a circular opening concentric with the tube, the opening in the plate is less
in diameter than the top of the glass chimney and comes into position concentrically
over the latter, and the edges of the plate are turned up so that the glass chimney in
entering raises the inner tube in opposition to its weight. The upper part of the
chimney consists of a metal tube which slides in a socket supported by a stay which
crosses the top of the outer casing; the upper end of this tube reaches into the
chimney formed on the top of the outer casing, and the lower edge of the tube is
bevelled.
The upper edge of the tube fixed to the inner casing is also bevelled so that when
the latter is inserted the upper part of the chimney is automatically raised until it
and the middle part come into line when the upper part and the inner tube of the
middle part descend by their own weight and make joints.
When the inner casing is withdrawn, the upper part of the chimney is also
automatically raised by the action of the bevelled edges, to free the middle part of
the chimney.
Although we have for convenience of description, set forth our invention with
reference to Signal Lamps such as are described in the Provisional Specification
already referred to, and to which our invention is specially applicable, it must be
understood that we do not limit our improvements to such lamps.
DL
921
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, 26, Castle Street, Liverpool, Agents for Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Lamps, Specially Applicable to Signal Lamps.
We MATILDA SIMPSON and HENRY SIMPSON both of 10 Crooked Lane, Liverpool
in the County of Lancaster, 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 :-
Our present invention relates to oil-lamp burners and chimneys, and is specially
applicable to Signal Lamps constructed in the manner described in the Complete
Specification of our prior Patent No. 11940 dated 27th July 1889; and the objects
of our invention are to improve the wick raising arrangement for colza wicks, to
improve the air supply arrangement and to provide a continuous chimney for lamps
placed within a casing. The improvements in lamps according to our present
invention are as follows:-
The wick is attached to a wick-holder having prongs which prevent the wick
slipping down, but which permit it being drawn up from time to time as it
carbonises.
This wick-holder slides in the wick tube being connected to a rack which works
outside the wick tube, the latter having a vertical slit to permit the connecting piece
between the wick-holder and the rack to slide up and down. When the wick tube, the
wick-holder and the rack are inserted in position in the burner, and the wick tube
secured in place, the rack gears with a pinion on a spindle carried by bearings in the
burner in the ordinary way, the spindle being provided with a milled head by means
of which the pinion is actuated.
By turning this milled head the height of the rack and therefore the wick' in the
wick tube is adjusted, and wicks of the softest texture may be employed without any
liability of their becoming entangled.
We arrange the air supply and the continuous chimney as follows:-
We will assume that the arrangement of the lamp is similar to that described in
the aforementioned Specification, that is, that there is an outer casing on the top of
which a chimney is formed, and within this an inner casing into which the supporting
plate which carries the burner and oil receiver slides. When a heavy oil such as
colza oil is used the burner is carried by a supporting plate underneath which an
air chamber is formed and all the air which supplies the burner passes through this
chamber.
Our improvements consist in placing within this air chamber a second inner air
chamber, which has perforations around the top of its sides, and leading from the
lower part of this inner chamber two air tubes, one on each side of the wick tube ;
the upper ends of the air tubes being just below the flame and the current of air being
directed on to the flame.
The air tubes may have a cross-section approximately the same as the wick tube, and
the longer axis of the cross-section is parallel to that of the wick tube.
The air tubes are inclined inwards, towards the flame, and the space in between
them forms an oil chamber for the wick arrangement, the pinion spindle before
referred to passing out of this chamber through a stuffing box, and theoil supply pipe
passing into the chamber through the air tube nearest the oil container.
The air supply enters the outer air chamber through the perforations therein, then
into the inner air chamber through perforations at the top of the sides, then up the air
tubes and finally is directed on the flame.
Where a volatile oil such as petroleum is used the burner is carried above and the
oil container below the supporting plate.
In this case our improvements consist in surrounding the wick tube, which passes
from the oil container up to the burner through the supporting plate, by a cylindrical
casing which extends above and below the supporting plate. The portion below the
supporting plate extends nearly to the top of the oil container, and the portion above
forms the support for the gallery which carries the continuous chimney, the latter is

page_text: carried up to the chimney at the top of the outer casing of the lamp, and
no air can enter between it and the cylindrical casing round the wick tube.
The air supply which enters from below through a number of perforations in the
supporting plate, passes down through a series of smaller perforations in the same
plate into an annular space around the bottom of the cylindrical casing which
surrounds the wick tube, the air passes from this space into the cylindrical casing and
is caused by a conical deflecting plate attached to the cylindrical casing to flow up
round the wick tube; attached to the latter near the top is a second conical deflector,
parallel with, but higher up than, the first, which deflects the air down again between
the two deflectors, the air then flows up between the cylindrical casing and the
periphery of the second deflector and passes to the flame through the perforated top
of the cylindrical casing.
In this way the burner of the lamp is kept cool; and the air supply having to
enter the chamber above the supporting plate through perforations in the latter and
leave the said chamber on its way to the burner through a series of smaller perforations,
the force of any sudden rush of air into the lamp casing is spent in this chamber, and
the air supply is comparatively unaffected thereby.
We construct the continuous chimney before referred to, in three parts; one part
is attached to the burner, one part to the inner casing and one part to the outer casing,
so as to allow the supporting plate with the receiver and burner to be withdrawn
from the inner casing, or the inner casing to be withdrawn from the outer
casing.
When these parts are placed in position a continuous chimney is formed.
The lower part is of glass and is attached to the gallery which is fixed to the
cylindrical casing surrounding the wick tube, the attachment being such that little
or no air is allowed to enter between the chimney and the casing round the wick
tube.
The second or middle part of the chimney consists of a metal tube which slides in
a short sleeve fixed to a stay which crosses the top of the inner casing, the lower end
of the tube is cone-shaped and has an annular rim which fits on the top of the glass
chimney when the latter is in place; this rim may have a bevelled edge so that the
glass chimney on entering lifts the middle part of the chimney in opposition to its
weight, but we find it more convenient to fit a forked lever which is fulcrummed
to the inner casing, by means of which the middle part of the chimney, which is
pivoted to the forked end, is raised as the supporting plate with the burner and glass
chimney is introduced.
The upper part of the chimney consists of a metal tube which slides in a sleeve
supported by a stay which crosses the top of the outer casing the upper end of this
tube reaches into the chimney formed on the top of the outer casing and the lower
edge of the tube is bevelled.
The upper edge of the tube fixed to the inner casing is also bevelled so that when
the latter is inserted, the upper part of the chimney is automatically raised until it
and the middle part come into line when the upper part and the middle part descend
by their own weights and make joints.
When the inner casing is withdrawn the upper part of the chimney is also auto-
matically raised by the action of the bevelled edges to free the middle part of the
chimney.
Although we have for convenience of description set forth our invention with
reference to Signal Lamps such as are described in the Specification already referred
to, and to which our invention is specially applicable, it must be understood that we
do not limit our improvements to such lamps.
In the accompanying drawings :-
Figs. I and II illustrate the form of lamp with reference to which we have described
our present invention, the continuous chimney, and a burner and oil container for
burning a light mineral oil being shown in position. Figs. III IV V and VI
illustrate in detail the air and oil supply arrangements for burners when a light

page_text: mineral oil such as petroleum is used. Figs. VII VIII IX and X, illustrate the air
and oil supply arrangement when a heavy vegetable oil such as colza oil is used.
Figs. XI XII XIII XIV and XV illustrate a modification of the last mentioned
arrangement adapted for burners using circular wicks, and Figs. XVI XVII
and XVIII illustrate the wick raising arrangement for colza wicks.
Throughout the drawings similar parts are indicated by the same reference figures,
and in the case of sections the direction in which they are viewed is indicated by the
small arrows placed adjacent to the letters denoting the plane of section; metal in
section is shown by heavy lines of exaggerated thickness.
Fig. I is a section elevation on Z Z of Fig. 11, and Fig. II is a sectional plan
on Y Y of Fig. I, of a lamp similar in respect to the construction of the casings, to
that described more fully in our specification before referred to, consisting essentially
of an outer casing A to which the lens 1 is attached and on which the chimney a is
formed with an annular casing surrounding it, and an inner casing B fitting within
the casing A and forming an annular passage c between the casings; the supporting
plate 2 slides into the casing B and carries the burner 3 and oil container 4. It will
be seen from an inspection of Figs. I and II that no air can enter into the burner
compartment except through the supporting plate 2 or, in cases where one is fitted,
through the sliding door 14 and in describing our invention we have supposed in each
case that the burner and oil container are attached to a supporting plate which slides
into the lamp as shown in Figs. I and II and that these conditions as to the air supply
hold good.
Referring now to the case where a light mineral oil such as petroleum is used
the arrangement is illustrated in Figs. I, II, III, IV, V and VI. Figs. I and II
show the arrangement in position in the lamp, Fig. III is a plan Fig. IV an elevation
partly in section, Fig. V is a sectional elevation on X X of Fig. III and Fig. VI is a
side elevation.
The burner 3 and oil container 4 are carried on the supporting plate 2; in the case
illustrated there are two wick tubes 5. The wick tubes are surrounded by the
cylindrical casing 6 which extends above and below the supporting plate as shown,
the top of this casing carries the gallery 7 for the glass chimney 8; an annular
space 9 is formed between the supporting plate and top of the oil container, the
supporting plate over this space having a number of small perforations. 10 and 11
are the first and second conical deflectors, 12 is the perforated top of the cylindrical
casing. The supporting plate has a ledge 13 on which in the present case a sliding
door 14 is fitted, the door of the casing B fits against the ledge 13; opposite the
sliding door an air deflecting plate is attached.
Air enters the compartment in which the burner is placed through the larger
perforations in the supporting plate, the supply being augmented if desired by opening
the sliding door 14, the course of the air being indicated by the arrows in the
drawing.
The arrangement for burning a heavy vegetable oil such as colza oil is shown in
Figs. VII, VIII, IX and X. Fig. VII is a plan, Fig. VIII an elevation partly in
section, Fig. IX is a sectional elevation on W. W of Fig. VII and Fig. X is a section
on V V of Fig. VII.
The burner 31 and the oil container 15 are carried on the supporting plate 2 the
container being on the fountain principle and being supported on the feet 16; the
supporting plate slides into the casing B and a vertical division plate 17 attached to
the top of the supporting plate makes joints with ledges in the casing B and forms
separate compartments for the burner and container. Below the supporting plate is
the air chamber 18, and within this the inner air chamber 19; the air tubes 20 lead
the air from near the bottom of the inner chamber 19 to the top of the wick tubes 21;
in the drawing two wick and three air tubes are shown and the course of the air is
indicated by the arrows.
The oil instead of being led direct from the container 15 is first led into a tank 22,
and then by the pipe 24 to the burner; a waste pipe 44 is placed in this tank the top

page_text: of the pipe being a little lower than the top of the wick tubes so that no oil overflows
at the wick tube; an air pipe 23 is also fitted.
A modification of the arrangement just described is illustrated in Figs. XI XII
XIII XIV and XV.
Fig. XI is a plan, Figs. XII and XIII are sectional elevations on U U and TT
respectively, of Fig. XI. Figs. XIV and XV are sectional plans on S S and R R
respectively, of Fig. XIII.
The air tubes are now circular and air enters them from the inner chamber 19; the
inner air tube has a conical perforated plate 25 and a circular deflecting plate 26
fitted; the wick is attached to the ring 27 to which is fixed the two racks 28 which
are actuated by the pinion 29.
The pinion and the racks are enclosed in the chamber 30 which has two depending
tubes 31 for the racks to work in; the oil supply is the same as described in the last
arrangement and the course of the air is indicated by the arrows.
Figs. XVI, XVII and XVIII show an arrangement for raising colza wicks.
Fig. XVI is a plan partly in section on QQ of Fig. XVII. Fig. XVII is an
elevation partly in section on P P of Fig. XVI and Fig. XVIII is a detail of the
wick-holder and rack.
The prongs 32 of the holder 33 keep the wick from slipping down; the rack 34 is
attached to the holder and the two are inserted in the wick tube 35 which fits and is
secured in the tube 36 of the burner 31; the rack is actuated by the pinion 37.
The continuous chimney is shown in section in Figs. I and II.
The glass part 8 of the chimney fits in the gallery 7; the middle part 38 slides in
the sleeve 39 which is carried from the casing B; the forked lever 40 which is
fulcrummed on the bracket 41 attached to the casing B is pivoted to the middle part
of the chimney 38 at the forked end, and the opposite end is depressed when it is
desired to raise 38. The lever 40 and the bracket 41 are not shown in section in
Fig. 1 but are shown in front of the plane of section. The upper part 42 of the
chimney slides in the sleeve 43 which is carried from the casing A as shown. The
top of the part 42 extends into the chimney on the casing A, and the lower end is
bevelled as also is the top of the part 38, so that when the latter is introduced 42 is
raised until the two are in line when 42 drops and makes a joint. In the drawing,
the two parts making the joint are separated so as to more clearly indicate the
joint.
We make no claim herein to the outer and inner casings A and B nor to the
placing of the burner and oil container in separate compartiments of the inner casing
each communicating with the air chamber 18, these being part of the subject matter
of our prior patent aforesaid.
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 :-
1. In lamps in which the burner and oil container are placed in separate compart-
ments, and having an air chamber communicating with each of these compartments
into which the air supply is led; combining with said air chamber an inner air
chamber in communication there with by perforations, and leading from the bottom of
the inner air chamber one or more air tubes through the burner which direct the air
on to the flame, substantially as described.
2. In lamps in which the burner is surrounded by a chimney preventing direct
access of air to the flame; surrounding the wick tube or tubes by a cylindrical casing
having a perforated top and in which there are one or more deflecting plates, air
entering said casing through an air chamber and circulating round the deflecting
plates and wick tube or tubes and passing through the perforated top on to the flamo,
substantially as described.
3. In lamps having an inner casing; the improved continuous chimney, substan-
tially as described and illustrated in Figs. I and II.

page_text: 4. The improved signal lamp, substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. I
and II.
5. The improved air supply arrangement, substantially as described and illustrated
in Figs. I to VI.
6. The improved air supply arrangement substantially as described and illustrated
in Figs. VII to X and Figs. XI to XV.
Dated this 29th day of April 1890.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, Castle Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.