IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING KEROSENE, NAPHTHA, AND SIMILAR INFLAMMABLE OR EXPLOSIVE FLUIDS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING KEROSENE, NAPHTHA, AND SIMILAR
INFLAMMABLE OR EXPLOSIVE FLUIDS." A communication from abroad by
Charles Stevens Westland, of Providence, Rhode Island, United States of
America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th January 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING KERO-
SENE, NAPHTHA, AND SIMILAR INFLAMMABLE OR EXPLOSIVE FLUIDS." A communi-
cation from abroad by Charles Stevens Westland, of Providence, Rhode Island,
United States of America.
My improvements relate to lamps in which kerosene, naphtha, or other in-
flammable or explosive oils or fluids are used. My first improvement is based upon
the well known power of carbonic acid gas to extinguish flames, and said improve-
ment consists in providing a lamp of any ordinary and suitable construction with
a closed receptacle formed or partly formed of glass or other fragile material and
charged with carbonic acid gas, and in so arranging the said receptacle with
relation to the burner that the receptacle will be opened or broken, and the
confined gas
be permitted to escape, and thereby prevent any disastrous results by
fire should the lamp explode.
Referring to the Drawing,
Figure 1 represents in vertical section a hand or table lamp embodying the said
first improvement, and
Figure 2 shews a vertical section of an oil or fluid reservoir having interior
tubular portions, which increase the capacity of the carbonic acid gas-chamber.
In these Figures A denotes the oil reservoir, whose wall a is preferably made of
glass blown into the desired form. This reservoir is surrounded by the gas-
T

page_text: chambers B, which also extend downward into the handle or neck C of the lamp-
base, the said neck forming the greater portion of the outer wall of the gas-
chamber.
The remaining portion c of said outer wall is preferably made of glass blown
into the required form, and permanently joined at the top to the reservoir wall, so
as to leave an annular space between said walls below their junction.
The neck C may be made of glass, brass, or other suitable material, and is
hermetically joined at D to the portion c by cement or other suitable substance.
The lower end of the neck is closed, but is provided with an inlet or gas charging
orifice e which is controlled by a stop cock E, and is provided with a nipple e¹ for
attaching the gas-supplying apparatus. The chamber B therefore is adapted to
receive, and contain a quantity of carbonic acid gas under pressure, and is in such
proximity to the burner that the gas will inevitably be liberated, and fire thereby
be prevented if the reservoir A is shattered by an explosion. The lamp is sup-
ported upon a base F which is secured to the neck C, and may form an integral
part thereof. If desired this base may be provided with a bottom, and the lower
end of the neck C be left open and the stop-cock and inlet be arranged in the side
of the base.
If preferred the reservoir A may be formed, as shown in Figure 2, with tubular
portions a¹ extending upward into it, thereby increasing the capacity of the gas-
chamber. The degree of the compression of the gas in the chamber B must depend
largely upon the strength of material employed, and the space which may be
devoted to its confinement.
In applying this Invention to existing lamps I prefer to inclose the compressed
gas in small sealed vials, which may be dropped one by one into the oil reservoir,
and allowed to float therein. Instead of this arrangement however, an annular
hollow glass-jacket shaped to fit the upper part of the lamp and charged with gas,
may be placed over the oil reservoir before the burner is applied. In either case
the gas-receptacle is sure to be broken with the oil-reservoir in case of an
explosion.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the improvement described
contemplates and secures an instantaneously available remedy against danger from
fire in the event of breakage of a lamp while burning, and that this remedy is
automatically applied.
My second improvement relates to means for detachably securing the oil reservoir
of a lamp to its hase, and retaining the said reservoir in its proper vertical
position.
My said second improvement is specially adapted to hanging or bracket lamps
having a reservoir of the ordinary construction, or one provided with a gas-
chamber for the purpose above specified. It consists in providing the reservoir
with a socket-piece, in adapting the base to engage said socket-piece, and in
furnishing the said base with spring arms which clasp the reservoir, hold it in
position, and yet allow it to be removed when desired.
Referring to the Drawing,―
Figure 3 represents a lamp embodying my first and second improvements, the
said lamp being of the pendant variety.
Figure 4 shows a vertical section of the lamp's reservoir and base, and
Figure 5 represents a top view of the said base.
As shown in Figures 3 and 4, A¹ denotes the body of the lamp, which is
spherical in form and provided with a socket piece or stem a²; F¹ denotes the
hollow metallic base having an aperture f¹ adapted to receive the socket-piece, and
it may be provided with ears f' to furnish an attachment for the tail or hanger G.
Secured to the base F1 is a conical cup H, which forms a support for the spring-
arms J which may be three, four, or more in number.
These spring-arms J extend upward and outward, and are properly shaped to
allow the reservoir to be inserted between, and to clasp and securely hold said
reservoir in its proper position. When the reservoir A¹ is in position the socket-

page_text: piece or stem a³ will be engaged by the aperture f¹ in the base F¹, and the spring
arms J will clasp the said reservoir, and securely hold it against lateral
displacement.
By the employment of the socket-piece a³ in combination with the retaining
orifice f¹, I am enabled to construct and arrange a spring-clasp for lamp-reservoirs
or bodies, so that the downward rays of light from the burner will be but slightly
obstructed, the reservoir also being in full sight, so that its contents can be
determined at a glance.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
-
First. The combination with a lamp for burning explosive or inflammable oils or
fluids of a closed receptacle containing carbonic acid gas under pressure, so located
with relation to the burner that in case of an explosion the compressed gas will be
liberated, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Second. A lamp reservoir or body provided with a socket-piece, in combination
with a base provided with a socket-retaining orifice and spring-arms adapted to
clasp the said body, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.