IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS
Year: 1880

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 of Ohio, United
States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th December 1880.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS."
[A communication from abroad by William Burnet Robins, of Cincinnati, Hamilton,
County of Ohio, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to a peculiarly constructed lamp and a flame-regulating
feed-cushion, the same being designed especially for use with what I call a "mineral-
candle."
The "mineral candle" employed by me (and which I intend to be the subject
matter of an application for patent) may be described briefly as a core or central
lamina of bibulous paper or other suitable wick-material, whose vertical surfaces
are every where encrusted on all its vertical sides with a wall or coating of a
magma or compost of powdered chalk or other mineral or minerals, and a
mucilaginous or other bond, insoluble by and impervious to mineral oil.
For the above stated purpose the lamp is constructed with either an annular
or a flat candle-holder, according to the form of mineral-candle for which it is
intended.
For use with the annular form of mineral-candle the font is also annular, while
for use with the flat form of mineral-candle the font is straight.
When constructed for use with the annular or hollow cylindrical form of mineral-
candle the lamp has the wide central draft way, which constitutes one of the
characteristics of such "candles."
The bottom of the said "holder" is supplied with a highly elastic and at the
same time permeable feed-wick or cushion, of some springy fibrous or spongy
material, such as packed or felted wool, curled hair, worsted yarn, sponge, or
"mineral wool," so called.

page_text: In some cases the resilient qualities of such spongy or fibrous cushion are made
more permanent as well as more effective by the embedment within its mass of one
or more helical or other metallic springs.
Associated with such holder and its contained feed cushion and superincumbent
mineral-candle is a mechanical device to enable the forcible depression or elevation
of the candle, so as either to compress the "cushion," and thereby diminish the flow
of oil to the candle top, where alone the combustion takes place, or to permit
expansion of the cushion, and thereby enable the more active ascent of oil, and
corresponding increase of flame.
The fluid to be burnt ascends the central permeable core of the mineral candle,
and upon a match being applied a low and brilliant circle of flame is formed.
Should the flame smoke it is a sign that the supply of oil is in excess of that
which the burning capacities of the candle can consume. To rectify this it is only
necessary to increase the candle-pressure upon the feed-cushion, so as to partially
close up the latter's interstices.
A simple way of forming lamps adapted for the annular form of mineral candle
is to form in the upper part of the outer wall of the annular candle-holder spiral
slits for the protruding ends of a wooden splint or slender rod or pin passed
transversely through the candle to enter. By a slight turn of the candle in one or
other direction the pressure of the candle upon the feed cushion can be increased
or diminished as required.
Instead of the above construction the outer wall of the candle holder may be
surrounded by a sleeve, which can be moved up or down upon it, and spurs carried
by the sleeve may project inwards through slots in the outer wall of the candle
holder, and enter the substance of the candle. The stems of the spurs may be
screw threaded and screw through the sleeve, so that by turning them the spurs
may be drawn back clear of the candle.
Depending from the sleeve and traversing tubes formed through the font is a
stirrup, through which passes a screw, which being journalled in a cross-bar on the
under side of the font a right or left rotation of the screw will operate to depress
or elevate the candle, as the case may be.
The same arrangement may be modified by having the vertical limbs of the
stirrup carried down outside the font.
Or the sleeve may be located internally, and provided with a cross-bar, into
which a regulating screw rising up through the centre of the annular candle holder
may be tapped.
Or the internal sleeve may have spirally formed slots and be furnished with
a formed stem by which it can be rotated to right or left, and studs projecting
from the wall of the draft-way may enter said slots.
Or the sleeve may be external and provided with knobs, by which it may be
turned to right or left so as to elevate or depress the candle.
When a flat mineral candle is employed the candle is encircled by a frame
furnished with screw threaded-spurs which enter the mineral candle, whilst the
frame can be raised or lowered by screws screwing through lugs which project
from the frame. These adjusting screws may be located at the extremities of the
candle. Instead of two adjusting screws located at the extremities of the candle
a stirrup may be carried down from the sleeve at a point opposite the mid-length
of the candle, and may receive an adjusting screw. One limb of this stirrup may
occupy a tube passing through the font.
Should it be found that the flame is of unequal height at the two extremities
of the candle-summit, such inequality can be cured by momentary withdrawal of
the screw-threaded spur from the end where the flame is higher and its reinsertion
higher up on the candle. This effects an equalization of candle pressure, after
which the central screw regulator only will need to be used for regulating the
flame.
When an adjusting screw is employed at each extremity rectification of unequal
pressure may be produced either by a shift of one or more spurs, as above, or by

page_text: manipulation of one or both adjusting screws. After such adjustment for inequality
of pressure both screws are adjusted simultaneously for increase or diminution of
the flame line.
Elasticity of the fibrous packing may be aided either by one or more imbedded
springs, or by the introduction below the packing of springs attached to the
underside of or supporting a gland or plate.
In the cylindrical form of the mineral candle the rotary movement of the candle
itself may often be advantageously converted into a direct vertical motion by
employing an additional sleeve or member therefor, or otherwise limiting the
motion of the candle to a vertical direction, and in such case the construction first
described may be modified by having the slots for the reception of the pins pro-
jecting from the exterior of the candle cut vertically, and the spiral slots cut in a
superposed sleeve for receiving corresponding stumps affixed to the outer plate of
the socket or candle-holder.
Attrition of the candle against the feed cushion may be prevented by an
interposed gland or washer of wire-gauze.
The base of the lamps may be formed with a succession of steps to adapt it to
fit any sized supporting ring or bracket.

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 10th June
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 of Ohio, United States of America.
This Invention relates to a peculiarly constructed lamp and a flame-regulating
feed cushion, the same being designed especially for use with one form or other of
what I call a mineral candle. The said mineral candle being the subject of
another Patent requires no specific description.
For the above stated purpose the lamp is constructed with either an annular or
a flat candle holder, according to the form of mineral candle for which it is
intended. When constructed for use with the annular or hollow cylindrical form
of mineral candle the lamp possesses the wide central draftway, which constitutes
one of the characteristics of such candles. The bottom of said holder is supplied
with a highly elastic and at the same time permeable feed wick or cushion of some
springy fibrous or spongy material, such as packed or felted wool, curled hair,
worsted, yarn, sponge, or "mineral wool," so called. Associated with such holder
and with its contained feed-cushion and superincumbent mineral candle is a
mechanical device to enable the forcible depression or elevation of the candle, so as
either to compress the cushion, and thereby diminish the flow of oil to the candle-
top, where alone the combustion takes place, or to permit expansion of the cushion,
and thereby enable the more active ascent of oil and corresponding increase of
flame.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lamp adapted
for use with the annular form of the candle, a portion of the font being broken
away; Figure 2 is a partly sectioned elevation of the same, showing the feed
cushion and candle in position; Figure 3 shows the annular or hollow cylindrical
form of the candle; Figure 4 is a partly sectioned elevation of a lamp embodying
a modification of the candle adjusting mechanism; Figure 5 is a front view, and
Figure 6 is a side elevation of a wall lamp embodying nearly the same form of
adjusting mechanism as Figure 4; Figures 7 and 8 are axial sections, and Figure 9
is a partly sectioned elevation of lamps representing other modifications of the
candle adjusting device. All of the above represented lamp modifications are
adapted for use with the annular form of mineral candle; Figure 10 is a perspec-
tive view of a lamp adapted for use with the flat form of mineral candle, a portion
of the font wall being broken away so as to expose parts of the feed cushion and
superincumbent portion of the mineral candle; Figure 11 is a transverse section of
such a lamp adapted for use with a single central adjusting screw.
For use with the annular form of mineral candle the font A is likewise
annular, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and Figures 4 to 9 inclusive, while for use
with the flat form of mineral candle the font is straight, as shown in Figures 10
and 11.
B represents the customary screw-capped feed neck.
The front-wall C of the candle holder or socket C, D, extends downwards into
the font, and has oil passages c. The bottom of the candle holder is packed with
or receives the elastic feed wick or cushion E, composed either wholly of some
springy fibrous or spongy material, or such material associated with an embedded
metallic spring, preferably of helical form, as shown at e, Figure 7.
For the material of the cushion proper I employ either separately, or any two or
more of them combined, anys uitable pervious and springy material, such as sponge,
mineral wool, packed or felted wool, curled hair, or worsted yarn.

page_text: Resting upon the cushion E is the rigid mineral candle F, either of annular form
as in Figures 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9, or flat, as in Figures 10 and 11. The mineral
candle may be described briefly as a core or central lamina f of bibulous paper or
other suitable wick material, whose vertical surfaces are everywhere incrusted with
a wall or coating of a magma or compost of powdered chalk or other mineral or
minerals and a mucilaginous or other bond insoluble by and impervious to mineral
oil.
A simple form of lamp adapted for the annular form of such candle is repre-
sented in Figure 1. In this form of lamp the outer wall C of the candle holder or
socket is pierced with spiral slots G for the protruding ends h of a wooden splint
or slender rod or pin H affixed transversely in the candle, as shown in Figure 3.
The burning-fluid ascending the central permeable core of the mineral candle
reaches the top edge of the latter, and a match being applied a low and brilliant
circle of flame is formed. Should said flame smoke it is a sign that the supply of
oil is in excess of that which the burning capacities of the candle can consume.
To rectify this it is only necessary to increase the candle pressure upon the feed-
cushion, so as to partially close up the latter's interstices. This is effected by a
slight backward or left-hand rotation of the candle by means of the projecting
ends h of the rod H. By a still greater retrograde rotation the supply of oil may
be sufficiently diminished to nearly or quite extinguish the flame. A contrary
movement of the rod of course produces opposite effects.
Instead of the above construction I sometimes employ a sleeve I, Figure 4, whose
screw threaded spurs J traverse vertical slots K in the outer wall of the candle
socket, and enter the substance of the candle.
Depending from sleeve I and traversing tubes L in the font is a stirrup M,
through which passes a screw N, which being journaled in a cross bar O a right
or left rotation of the screw operates to depress or elevate the candle, as the case
may be.
Figures 5 and 6 show a modification of the same arrangement for a bracket lamp,
the font being of D form, and the vertical limbs of the stirrup being carried down
outside of the font.
Figure 7 represents a still further modification, in which the sleeve I' is located
internally, and is provided with a cross bar P, into which the regulating screw N
is tapped.
Figure 8 represents a modification of the last named, whose sleeve I" has
spirally formed slots i and a T formed stem Q, by which the sleeve is rotated to
right or left. Studs R, projecting from the wall of the draftway, occupy said
slots i.
Figure 9 is a modification of the last named form, in which the sleeve I¹¹¹ is
external, and is provided with knobs S, by which it may be turned to right or left,
so as to elevate or depress the candle.
Figure 10 shows a form of lamp for adapting the feed-cushion for use with a flat
mineral candle.
An encircling frame T furnished with screw threaded spurs J, which enter the
mineral candle, has screws N tapped within lugs that project from it, and by
which it can be raised or lowered precisely in the same manner as described for the
manipulation of the annular candle. Instead however of two adjusting-screws
located at the extremities of the candle, as in Figure 10, a stirrup M may be
carried down from the sleeve, as in Figure 11, at a point opposite the mid-length
of the candle, and may receive an adjusting screw N. One limb of this stirrup
may occupy a tube L in the font.
Should it be found that the flame is of unequal height at the two extremities
of the candle summit, such inequality can be cured by momentary withdrawal of
the screw threaded spur J from the less luminous side, and its reinsertion somewhat
lower down upon the candle. This effects an equalization of pressure, after which
the adjustment can be effected by the central screw only.
In forms employing an adjusting screw at each extremity, as in Figure 10,

page_text: rectification of unequal pressure may be produced either by a shift of one or more
spurs, as above, or by manipulation of one or both adjusting screws. After such
adjustment for equality both screws are manipulated simultaneously for increase or
diminution of the flame-line.
Elasticity of the fibrous packing may be aided either by one or more embedded
springs, as at e, or by the introduction below the packing of springs U attached to
the under side of or supporting a plate V (see Fig. 10).
W, Figure 9, represents an open frame-base having stepped edges to adapt it to
fit any sized supporting ring or bracket.
I have illustrated the Invention in its adaptation to forms of lamps which are
designed for use without a chimney; but such mineral candles and compressible
cushions may obviously be used with various forms of lamps employing a
chimney.
The illustrations are designed to represent the improvements in the form of sheet
metal, but glass or other suitable material may obviously be employed.
In the cylindrical form of mineral candle the rotary movement of the candle
itself may often be advantageously converted into a direct vertical motion by
employing an additional sleeve or member therefor, or otherwise limiting the
motion of the candle to a vertical direction, and in such case the construction
herewith represented in Figures 1 and 2 may have the slots for reception of ends h
of the cross pin H cut vertically, and the spiral slots cut in a superposed sleeve
for receiving corresponding stumps affixed to the outer tube of the socket or candle
holder, or attrition of the candle against the feed cushion may be prevented by an
interposed washer of wire gauze, as indicated at x, Figure 7.
It may be of much importance to apply the compression and recession force
to the candle straight up and down to the constructions shown generally by
Figures 1, 2, 8, and 9, like to the straight pull and easing of Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 10,
and 11.
In Figure 9, the superposed additional sleeve tapped with the pins J may be
connected with the sleeve 1111 by receiving in an annular groove cut in its lower
edge, the top edge of the sleeve I turned inwardly, so as to enter and play
horizontally in said groove.
I claim as new,―
First. In combination with a mineral or rigid candle having a permeable core
and a corresponding holder or socket, the elastic permeable feed cushion E,
substantially as set forth.
Second. In combination with a mineral candle and its supporting elastic feed
cushion, and the holder or socket of the same, the means substantially as described
for elevating and depressing the candle, and thereby relieving or compressing the
feed cushion in the manner explained.
Third. In combination with candle holding tube C, D, feed cushion E, and
mineral candle F, one or more rods or pins H or J, which connect said candle with
a vertically-adjusting device or screw, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In combination with font A, candle holder C, D, and feed cushion E,
the rod, splint, or pin H, which extends athwart and through the annular mineral
candle F, and projects through spiral slots G in the holder-wall, as and for the
purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Pitt, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Third day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty and
SYDNEY PITT. (L.S.)