IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS." A communication from abroad by
William Burnet Robins, of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th March 1881.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS."
[A communication from abroad by William Burnet Robins, of Cincinnati, Hamilton
County, Ohio, United States of America.]
The Invention in its complete form is designed to comprise the following
features, to wit:-
A flat wick of great breadth and of peculiar conformation.
A removeable wick way section, which is thermally insulated at its lower edge
from that portion of the wickway that communicates with the front, and whose
upper edge is provided with removeable burner plates, of which one plate is
adjustable toward and from the other so as to enable the narrowing or widening of
wickway at will of the user.
A peculiarly constructed and arranged wick elevating device.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lamp
embodying the improvements; Figure 2 is a partly sectional end elevation of the
same; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the lamp; Figure 4 represents
the wick elevator detached; Figure 5 represents the adjustable burner plate
detached; Figure 6 represents the non conducting section of the wickway; Figure 7
represents to a larger scale a portion of the composite wick.
I have selected to illustrate the Invention a form of lamp adapted to hang
against a wall or column.
A is a rectangular vessel constituting both the front and the base of the lamp,
its dimensions from right to left being considerably greater than from front to
rear. The back wall of said font is prolonged upward to constitute a wall plate B.
Price Gd1

page_text: Attached to the front of said plate may be a mirror C of metal or glass. Orifices 6¹
in said plate enable the lamp to be hung to hooks inserted in the wall.
The end walls of the font are near the front portion thereof prolonged upward to
constitute cheeks D which hold a rectangular slab E of wood, cork, papier-maché,
porcelain, or other refractory non-conductor of heat. The said slab has a central
vertical slot e, whose lower portion is occupied by a neck a that rises from the font
top. This neck constitutes the lower member of the wickway.
The middle member or section of the wickway consists of a flat tube F whose
foot fits and occupies the upper part of the slot e, descending so far into it as
preferably to fall somewhat short of touching the neck a. The slab E being a slow
conductor of heat, and the tubes F and a being out of actual contact it is not
possible for the heat of the flame to pentrate to the font space.
The middle wick section F is slotted at its ends to receive a plate or blade G
whose upper edge is armed with inturned spurs or serrations g. Shanks g¹ that
extend through the said slots f receives handles H, by means of which the blade G
is elevated either equally along its whole length or more at one or other end, as the
condition of the flame may require. Each handle H has a sheath I which serves to
cover the slot fat its respective end of the wick tube F.
Each side of the wick plate F has one or more sockets J for the lower edges of the
respective rear and front burner plates K and L. Each burner plate has preferably
a lower vertical portion or foot which occupies the socket, and is thence bent
outward, upward, inward, and finally upward with a slight inward inclination, as
indicated in Figures 2 and 5.
Extending from the respective rear and front walls of the wick tube F are screw
threaded lugs, of which one lug M receives a set screw N which by pressing
against the foot of the rear burner plate K holds it firmly to any desired altitude.
Located at a somewhat lower elevation on the front wall of the wick tube is a
similar lug O, whose set screw P bears against the lower extremity of a bent
lever Q, that projecting downward from the front burner plate L, fulcrums at q
against the tube wall.
Springs Y attached to the tube wall press against the front of the front burner
plate L and tend to force and hold the said plate's upper edge against that of the
rear burner plate. This inward tendency of the plate L is counteracted and
controlled through the instrumentality of the screw P.
Each burner plate is perforated, as at 1, for admission of draft air.
All that portion of the wick holder which is above the slotted slab E is preferably
removeable, and when in position for use is secured at one end by a fork R, that
extending rigidly from one of the slab cheeks embraces the wick tube F and
engages over a lug f¹ thereon. The wick tube having been inserted in said fork is
secured at its other end by a sliding bolt S that engages in an eye or staple T
upon the other slab cheek."
U represents a customary screw capped feed-neck.
The wick employed with this lamp has preferably the following construction:-
The wick is stiffened to enable its accurate adjustment in the wickway and
accurate trimming by means of a core or foundation V of card board in its upper
portion designed for burning, while its lower feeding portion folding down into the
oil font is left limp, as shewn at W, without possessing any such stiffening centre
part.
The exterior portions or wick proper are preferably of canton flannel, whose
napside is turned toward the board and caused to adhere thereto by first coating
the board freely with flour paste or other cement impermeable and insoluble in
burning fluids.
In a wick thus constructed the oil mounts in two separate planes to the burning
edge, where at the card board (which soon becomes charred by the close contact of
the flame) unites the three laminæ in one efficiently burning wick.
The perforated and chambered form of the burner plates K, L, together with
their discontinuity of metal of said plates from the wick tube or central member of

page_text: the wickway F, and it from the lowest member a, in the manner explained, affords
a perfect safeguard against the communication of heat to the font.
The means described for regulating the width of the burner slot or upper
wick-way enables the ascent of the burning fluid to be so regulated as to obtain
the desired luminous effect and freedom from smoke.
While these burner plates may be stamped or otherwise formed of sheet metal it
is preferred to make them of rigid cast iron or other cast metal.
In place of shaping the burner plates convergently for forming flameway in
conjunction with the described flameway regulator the two plates may be brought
up about a quarter of an inch vertically above the line of air holes so as to stand
about three eighths of an inch apart from end to end, and be surmounted by a
properly slotted tip of fire clay or other refractory material.
The improvements may be employed in pendent and in table and other forms of
Jampa.
The sliding sheaths or covers I, besides giving a neat finish to the lamp, serve to
prevent evaporation and loss of the burning fluid and ignition of vapour that
would escape from the slots if not so covered, in consequence of the flame running
down the lines of escaping vapour from the burner flame to the slots. The sheaths
also aid in holding up the wick at any desired level to which it has been adjusted
by the blade G.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Sydney Pitt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th September
1881.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS."
A communication from abroad by William Burnet Robins, of Cincinnati, Hamilton
County, Ohio, United States of America.
The Invention in its complete form is designed to comprise the following features,
to wit:-
A flat wick of great breath and of peculiar conformation.
A removable wick way section, which is thermally insulated at its lower edge from
that portion of the wick way that communicates with the font, and whose upper
edge is provided with removable burner plates, of which one plate is adjustable
toward and from the other so as to enable the narrowing or widening of wickway
at will of the user.
A peculiarly constructed and arranged wick elevating device.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lamp
embodying the improvements; Figure 2 is a partly sectional end elevation of the
same; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the lamp; Figure 4 represents
the wick elevator detached; Figure 5 represents the adjustable burner plate
detached; Figure 6 represents the non conducting section of the wick way;
Figure 7 represents to a larger scale a portion of the composite wick.
I have selected to illustrate the Invention a form of lamp adapted to hang
against a wall or column.
A is a rectangular vessel constituting both the font and the base of the lamp, its
dimensions from right to left being considerably greater than from front to rear.
The back wall of said font is prolonged upward to constitute a wall plate B.
Attached to the front of said plate may be a mirror C of metal or glass.
Orifices b¹ in said plate enable the lamp to be hung to hooks inserted in the wall.
The end walls of the font are near the front portion thereof prolonged upward
to constitute cheeks D which hold a rectangular alab E of wood, cork, papier-
maché, porcelain, or other refractory non conductor of heat. The said slab has a
central vertical slot e, whose lower portion is occupied by a neck a that rises from
the font top. This neck constitutes the lower member of the wick way.
The middle member or section of the wick way consists of a flat tube F, whose
foot fits and occupies the upper part of the slot e, descending so far into it as
preferably to fall somewhat short of touching the neck a. The slab E being a
slow conductor of heat, and the tubes F and a being out of actual contact, it is
not possible for the heat of the flame to penetrate to the font space.
The middle wick section F is slotted ƒ at its ends to receive a plate or blade G,
whose upper edge is armed with inturned spurs or serrations g. Shanks g¹ that
extend through the said slots freceive handles H, by means of which the blade G
is elevated either equally along its whole length or more at one or other end, as
the condition of the flame may require. Each handle H has a sheath I which
serves to cover the slot fat its respective end of the wick tube F.
Each side of the wick plate F has one or more sockets J for the lower edges of
the respective rear and front burner-plates K and L. Each burner plate has pre-
ferably a lower vertical portion or foot which occupies the socket, and is thence
bent outward, upward, inward, and finally upward with a slight inward inclination,
as indicated in Figures 2 and 5.
Extending from the respective rear and front walls of the wick tube F are
screw threaded lugs, of which one lag M receives a set screw N, which by pressing
against the foot of the rear burner plate K holds it firmly to any desired altitude.

page_text: Located at a somewhat lower elevation on the front wall of the wick tube is a
similar lug O, whose set screw P bears against the lower extremity of a bent
lever Q, that projecting downward from the front burner-plate L, fulcrums at q
against the tube wall.
Springs Y attached to the tube wall press against the front of the front burner-
plate L, and tend to force and hold the said plate's upper edge against that of
the rear burner-plate. This inward tendency of the plate L is counteracted and
controlled through the instrumentality of the screw P.
Each burner-plate is perforated as at 7 for admission of draft-air.
All that portion of the wick holder which is above the slotted slab E is preferably
removable, and when in position for use is secured at one end by a fork R that
extending rigidly from one of the slab cheeks, embraces the wick tube F, and
engages over a lug f¹ thereon. The wick tube having been inserted in said fork is
secured at its other end by a sliding bolt S that engages in an eye or staple T
upon the other slab-cheek.
U represents a customary screw capped feed-neck.
The wick employed with this lamp has preferably the following construction :-
The wick is stiffened to enable its accurate adjustment in the wickway and
accurate trimming by means of a core or foundation V of card board in its upper
portion designed for burning, while its lower feeding portion folding down into the
oil font is left limp, as shown at W, without possessing any such stiffening centre
part.
The exterior portions or wick proper are preferably of Canton flannel, whose
nap side is turned toward the board, and caused to adhere thereto by first coating
the board freely with flour paste or other cement impermeable and insoluble in
burning fluids.
In a wick thus constructed the oil mounts in two separate planes to the burning
edge, whereat the card board (which soon becomes charred by the close contact
of the flame) unites the three lamina in one efficiently burning wick.
The perforate and chambered form of the burner-plates K, L, together with
their discontinuity of metal of said plates from the wick tube or central member of
the wickway F, and it from the lowest member a, in the manner explained, affords
a perfect safeguard against the communication of heat to the font.
The means described for regulating the width of the burner alot or upper wick-
way enables the ascent of the burning fluid to be so regulated as to obtain the
desired luminous effect and freedom from smoke.
While these burner plates may be stamped or otherwise formed of sheet metal,
it is preferred to make them of rigid cast iron or other cast metal.
In place of shaping the burner plates convergently for forming flameway in
conjunction with the described frame way regulator, the two plates may be brought
up about a quarter of an inch vertically above the line of air-holes so as to stand
about three-eighths of an inch apart from end to end, and be surmounted by a
properly slotted tip of fire clay or other refractory material.
The improvements may be employed in pendent and in table and other forms of
lamps.
The sliding sheaths or covers I besides giving a neat finish to the lamp serve to
prevent evaporation and loss of the burning fluid and ignition of vapour that would
escape from the slots if not so covered, in consequence of the flame running down
the lines of escaping vapour from the burner flame to the slots. The sheaths also
aid in holding up the wick at any desired level to which it has been adjusted by
the blade G.
Of various forms of devices for regulating the movable member of the burner slot
one includes an enveloping shell for the wickway, having two set screws one located
near each end thereof, but inasmuch as such a form is to be comprised in the
subject matter of another application for Patent no explicit description of it is
needed in this.
The above described preferred form of wick elevating device may be modified in

page_text: various ways, for example, a clamp adapted to grasp the wick on both sides and
having rods or handles projecting through the end slots may be substituted for the
serrated bar, or there may be employed for this purpose, where a soft and thick
wick is used, a skewer or pin, which being inserted at one end slot is made to
penetrate the wick and enable its elevation or depression. Such a skewer will
have a suitable knob, which may be of glass or other non-conducting material,
on each end of it, one knob being permanent and the other removable, so as
to enable the easy manipulation and the expeditious insertion or withdrawal of
the pin.
One or more of these expedients may be made by me the subject of specific claims
in other applications.
I claim,
First. The non-conducting slotted slab E which receives in its lower part the
neck a of font A, and in its upper part the foot of wickway section F, as and for
the purpose set forth.
Second. The two handled serrated wick elevating and adjusting blade G occupying
slots fin wickway section F, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination of slotted section F and the sheaths J of wick
elevator G.
Fourth. The combination with the wickway F of the two half tips or burner-
plates, of which one plate K is stationary and the other plate L is adjustable
toward and from said plate K, by means and in the manner substantially as set
forth.
Fifth. In combination with the wickway F the two separable burner plates K, L,
which occupy sockets J on the wick way, and of which one plate K is held rigidly
by set screw N, and the other plate L is adjustable toward and from the first by
set screw P that bears against a bent lever projection Q from the said plate L, in
the manner set forth.
Sixth. The described flat wick holding tube F having vertical slots f in its
opposite vertical edges in combination with the wick mover or elevator G,
substantially as set forth.
Seventh. A broad and flat wick holding tube having vertical slots fin its
opposite vertical edges for the projections or handles of the wick elevating device,
substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The composite lamp wick consisting of a stiff bodied upper portion for
burning, and a limp lower portion for feeding, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. As a new article of manufacture a lamp wick which consists of a double
ply X of Canton flannel, or other textile material, enclosing in its upper part a body
of cardboard V to which it is attached by flour paste or other cement insoluble in
oil, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Pitt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.