Improvements in Lamp Chimneys.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1891-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lamp Chimneys.
I, CARL WIENER of Werb, Westphalia, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Merchant,
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 :-
My invention relates to an improvement in lamp chimneys, particularly those for
petroleum and other hydro-carbon oil lamps, and the object of my invention is to
provide a simple and convenient means for lighting the lamp without lifting the
lamp chimney from the burner and, at the same time, to prevent accidents.
It is well known that in order to light a petroleum lamp, particularly in the dark,
more than one match has had hitherto to be used, the first match serving to give light in
preparing the lamp and lifting the shade and chimney, and the second, or further
match, to ignite the wick. When the first match has burnt down, before the lamp
has been lighted, we formerly used to throw it away to avoid burning our fingers,
and the glowing remainder of the match is a frequent cause of fire and accident.
Or, if in the dark we have spent one match to fetch the lamp and are going to light
n second one, we often happen to throw down and break the chimney or shade before
the lamp has been lighted. With suspension and bracket lamps the difficulty of
lighting the lamp is greatest.
By means of my present invention, a great convenience is offered in lighting a
lamp and, accordingly, it will but rarely occur that more than one match need be
lighted.
My invention consists in providing in the lower part of the chimney, a little below
the top of the burner, an aperture of sufficient size to allow the introduction of a
burning match or the like.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a lamp chimney A having a circular hole
and
Figure 2 is a chimney having a hole a extended down to the base of the chimney.
The shape of the hole a may vary, the effect to be obtained being independent
of any particular shape, it is only required that the hole a be provided in the proper
height to reach the wick with the burning match. The shape or form of the
The said hole
chimney may equally vary to fit any particular system of burner.
or aperture a, besides serving as a gap for igniting the flame, has another purpose,
namely, to prevent the flame being forced down into the basin or oil reservoir, if
a strong draught or current of air is entering the upper end of the chimney, for
instance if we blow into the chimney top to extinguish the lamp. Such usual blowing
out of petroleum lamps is a frequent cause of explosion and grave accidents.
With the improved lamp chimney of my invention if a current or blast of air
enters the chimney top, the current passes out below through the aperture a, and
the flame is directed that way, instead of being forced into the wick tube and oil
reservoir. Accidents, thereby, are prevented, the more so, as it will be far more
convenient to extinguish the lamp by blowing into the aperture a than by blowing
down into the top of the chimney A as has been the usual way hitherto.
The hole or aperture a may be formed into the glass by any convenient means,
either while manufacturing the chimney, or subsequently by grinding, cutting or
other means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
Lamp chimneys of any shape, having in their lower part, about the height of the

page_text: burner top, a hole or aperture a of any suitable shape, enabling the lamp to be
ignited by the introduction of a burning match or the like and to be extinguished by
blowing the flame out, the same aperture also serving to prevent explosion by a
downward current of air entering the chimney.
Dated this 30th day of December 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.