Improvements in Lamp Wicks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 6th May, 1899
PANY LIMITED, a Company registered under the Provisions of the Companies
Act, 1892 (South Australia), having its registered office at 10, Alfred Chambers,
Currie Street, Adelaide, in the Province of South Australia.]
Improvements in Lamp Wicks.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the Firm of G. F. Redfern & Co., The
General Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of London,
Patent Agents, 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 improvements in lamp wicks, and refers more particularly
to an improved method of treating the wicks for use in lamps for burning illuminat-
ing oils.
The objects of my invention are to render the wicks partially incandescent, and
to prevent them from charring, whereby retrimming is unnecessary, and the light
obtained materially improved in quality and brilliancy.
I accomplish these objects by immersing the wicks in a fluid containing sulphate
of calcium in a fine acicular crystalline form preferably obtained in the manner
hereinafter described. From such immersion the fibres of the wick become filled
with the crystals of sulphate of calcium and form at the top of the wick a sponge-
like tip which acts as a vehicle for the better transmission of the oil for the pur-
poses of illumination. When the wick has been in use for some little time, the
carbon becomes burnt out leaving the crystals only at the top, and this causes
complete vaporisation of the oil producing a better light and rendering retrimming
of the wick unnecessary.
For the purposes of my invention, I take gypsum or other substance containing
sulphate of calcium, and add a certain amount of hdyrochloric acid. The mixture
is then heated to boiling point, and to it is added a quantity of boiling water. By
this means the sulphate of lime is dissolved out. The solution is then filtered while
still hot to remove any silica or other insoluble substances, and the residue washed
with hot water. The clear remaining solution obtained is then allowed to cool,
when the sulphate of calcium settles down in a fine acicular crystalline form. The
solution is then again filtered while cold, to remove these fine crystals of sulphate
of lime which are washed with cold water and dried for future use in impregnating
the wicks.
For the purpose of impregnating the wicks a certain quantity of the sulphate
of calcium crystals obtained in the manner above described are taken and mixed
with a. liquid, preferably water, and from their fine crystalline form, the greater
portion are held in suspension. The wicks are then immersed or impregnated
with this fluid, and then dried for use.
In practical use the carbon at the top of the wick is gradually burnt out and
there is then formed a sponge-like tip which affords a better vehicle for the trans-
mission of the oil for the purposes of illumination.

page_text: 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:
Firstly: The herein described improvements in lamp wicks consisting essen-
tially of treating them with a fluid containing sulphate of calcium in an acicular
crystalline form.
Second: The herein described. improvements in. lamp wicks consisting essen-
tially of treating them with a fluid containing sulphate of calcium in a crystalline
form obtained in the manner as herein described.
Third: The herein described improvements in lamp wicks consisting essen-
tially of treating them with a fluid containing sulphate of calcium in an acicular
crystalline form obtained in the manner as herein described, subsequently drying
the same and burning out the carbon at the top, forming thereby a sponge-like
tip for the transmission of the oil for the purposes of illumination.
↓
Dotad the 1th day of Annil 1900
** 70-
G. F: REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.