Improvements in the Manufacture of Night Lights and other similar Lights, and Machinery or Apparatus employed therein.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th June, 1893-Accepted, 29th July, 1893
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Night Lights and other similar
Lights, and Machinery or Apparatus employed therein.
We, GEORGE CUPIT FOWLER and MORRIS BROAD FOWLER, both of
75 Tressillian Road, Brockley, in the County of Kent, Night Light Manufacturers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to the present invention an entirely new process is employed in the
manufacture of night lights and other similar lights, that is to say, instead of
pouring melted paraffin wax or other material into moulds or containers of the
necessary size and shape, a sheet of paraffin wax or other material of the required
thickness to produce the desired size of night or other like light is first prepared,
discs are cut, stamped or pressed out of the same, and such discs are stamped or
moulded to shape or pattern and lettered and perforated; all these latter
operations may be performed simultaneously with the cutting or stamping out of
the discs from the sheet of material, or such processes may be performed in two or
more operations.
The sheet of paraffin wax or other material may be prepared of the required
uniform thickness in any suitable and convenient manner, but in some classes of
material we propose to roll the same, or to force it through a die, to produce sheets
of approximately the desired thickness; the paraffin wax or other material may in
some cases be first kneaded or masticated in suitable machinery and then rolled or
forced through a die to form it into sheets. If necessary the sheets of material of
approximate thickness are passed under a fixed knife or planing tool to ensure their
being of exactly the thickness required, and if required the edges may be trimmed.
The paraffin wax or other material may, if found necessary, be warmed or cooled
according to its nature and according to the nature of the operation being performed,
and, if required, the apparatus employed or parts thereof may be warmed or cooled
according to circumstances.
The sheet of material is passed through a machine, or it is treated by hand, to form
discs thereof; the discs are then separated from the remainder of the sheet. The
above operations may be effected in a machine of similar description to a biscuit
machine, or other suitable machine, in which the sheet of material is carried along
by an endless band or otherwise and the discs cut out therefrom the discs may
drop out or they may be assisted in their separation from the sheet by any suitable
means or by hand. In cutting the discs from the sheet it may be necessary to
employ means for pressing the discs out of the cutters.
The discs are preferably always of the same diameter, but in such case for
varying the time of burning of the light the thickness of the disc will be changed
and not the diameter. In this case, when employing a die to form the head of the
cutter, it may be moved nearer to or further from the cutting edge, or separate
cutters and dies may be employed for each size of night or other like light.
By the above method of manufacture we obtain greater accuracy of weight and
greater uniformity in time of burning, we avoid the use of water which hitherto
has been necessary for cooling the melted material when such is run into moulds,
and consequently obtain considerable saving of expense in the cost of manufacture,
in addition to which we avoid the deterioration of the night or other like light by
water and dirt, which according to the said process of manufacture are sometimes
present in the moulds.
In the method of manufacture hitherto employed, when running the melted
material into moulds, a small proportion only of a charge of the melted material
was made into night or other similar lights, say about lbs. out of a charge of

page_text: about 15 lbs. this necessitated a constant remelting of a large proportion of the
material which resulted in a deterioration thereof in color and otherwise. We
avoid this deterioration with some classes of material as, instead of remelting the
surplus material, it is, according to our process, kneaded or masticated into a
homogeneous mass and not remelted, whilst, on account of the waste according to
our process being comparatively small, the deterioration of the material by
.remelting is greatly reduced in cases where such remelting is necessary.
The parts of the machines employed can be easily changed for producing night
or other similar lights of different diameters and thicknesses.
We also obtain greatly increased speed of production and economy in cost of
machinery and space required therefor.
Dated this 30th day of August 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Night Lights and other similar
Lights, and Machinery or Apparatus employed therein.
We GEORGE CUPIT FOWLER and MORRIS BROAD FOWLER both of
75 Tressillian Road, Brockley, in the County of Kent, Night Light Manufacturers,
do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
According to the present invention an entirely new process is employed in the
manufacture of night lights and other similar lights; that is to say, instead of
pouring melted paraffin wax or other similar material into moulds or containers of
the necessary size and shape to produce the desired light, we prepare, by mechanical
means, discs of the proper size and thickness to produce the desired size of night light
or other like light, and we, either simultaneously with the formation of such discs,
or in a subsequent process or processes, stamp or mould them to shape or pattern
and letter and perforate them, after which the wick is applied and sustained in any
well known and suitable manner.
In carrying our invention into effect a sheet or flat bar of paraffin wax or other
like material is prepared of the required uniform thickness in any suitable and
convenient manner, but in some classes of material, such, for instance, as paraffin
wax or compounds containing a large proportion of paraffin wax, we may roll the
same or we may force it through a die, or the material used may be cast in moulds
or trays to produce sheets or flat bars of approximately the desired thickness.
Material for night and other lights is usually refined by the night light maker;
in such case when the material is in the melted state after refining, it can be
poured into trays or moulds to produce sheets or flat bars of the required size
and approximate thickness, which, when cold, can be taken out of the trays or
moulds; by the above method of working a special melting of the material to
produce sheets or bars of the required thickness, or approximately so, is avoided.
The material can however be specially melted for such purpose whether in bulk
or in the form of. scrap.
When avoiding an unnecessary remelting of the material to produce sheets or
flat bars of approximately the desired thickness, it may be acted upon by means
of a rolling machine such, for instance, as that known as a dough brake,"
or by means of a machine of the character known as a "soap plodder."
CC
" (
The "brake" is specially suitable for making scrap into sheets or flat bars of
approximately the desired thickness; in this case the scrap is heated in a warm
rooni to the required temperature to secure a proper working of the material, it is

page_text: then doubled up and passed backwards and forwards between the rollers of the
"brake" as often as is necessary to produce a sheet or flat bar of approximately
the desired thickness and of the required homogeneity. The " "brake is however
also suitable for working solid material in a somewhat similar manner.
A "plodder" is also suitable for working either scrap or solid material; in
this case the material is heated as before to the required temperature and it is
then placed in the "plodder," which, by forcing it through a die or mouthpiece,
forms it into sheets or into flat or cylindrical bars of the required thickness and size.
Other forms of rolling machines and of machines for forcing the material
through dies may however be employed.
If required the sheets or flat bars of material of approximately the desired
thickness are heated in a warm room to the temperature required and are then
passed one or more times between rollers or on a movable bed or table under a
roller until it is of the exact thickness required, suitable adjusting means being
provided to enable the distance of the parts to be varied according to the thickness
required for the sheet or flat bar. If desired the sheets or flat bars of material
may, in addition to being treated as above, be passed under a fixed but adjustable
knife, planing tool or thicknessing bar, to ensure their being of exactly the thickness.
required, and, if required, the edges of the sheets or flat bars may be trimmed by
knives, planing tools or other suitable means, and, in cases where large sheets are
produced, such sheets are cut into sizes suitable for being subsequently cut into
discs.
The paraffin wax or like material is, if found necessary for the proper working
thereof, warmed or cooled according to its nature and according to the nature of
the operation, and, if required, the apparatus employed or parts thereof is or are:
warmed or cooled according to circumstances.
For instance; it is found that paraffin wax, or material containing a large
proportion thereof, or material which is somewhat brittle when below certain
temperatures, requires, except when being planed, to be suitably warmed to
facilitate the kneading, rolling, trueing, cutting out and stamping or moulding
processes, and it may be necessary to warm parts of the apparatus when the.
temperature is low, to avoid an objectionable chilling of the surface of the material.
under treatment.
It is preferred to warm the material in a room heated to the required tempera-
ture, and when the discs are completed they are preferably placed in a cooling
room or otherwise treated to cool them preparatory to inserting the wicks therein.
When planing material to a thickness it requires to be at such a low
temperature as will best permit of such operation.
The sheet or flat bar of material when trued to thickness is passed through a.
machine or it is treated by hand to form discs thereof; the discs are then,
separated from the scrap or remainder of the sheet in any well known manner.
The above operations may be effected in a machine of similar description to a
biscuit cutting machine, or in other suitable machine, in which the sheet of material.
is carried along by an endless band or otherwise into position underneath dies or
cutters and the discs cut out therefrom; the discs may drop out or they may be
assisted in their separation from the sheet by any suitable means or by hand. In.
cutting the discs from the sheet we may employ a well known form of biscuit.
cutter or die the outer case or cup of which forms the cutter which cuts the disc:
from the sheet and the head of which is made to form the top of the disc to the
required shape and if necessary to imprint it with any desired design and lettering.
The head is preferably made separate from the case or cup of the cutter but to.
fit accurately therein and movable so that it may act also as an ejector to press:
the discs out of the case or cup. In the base plate of the cup or case we fix a
pin for perforating the disc of wax or other like inaterial; this pin passes through
the movable head or ejector of the cutter or die; or the pin may be attached to.
the head or ejector, in which case the discs would require to be taken off the pin
after they are forced out of the cup.

page_text: :
.
The discs are preferably always of the same diameter, but in such case, for
varying the time of burning of the light, the thickness of the disc, will be changed..
In this case, when employing a die to form the head of the cutter, it may be moved
nearer to or further from the cutting edge; it is however preferred to employ
separate cutters and dies for each size of night or other like light.
Instead however of preparing discs of material to the proper size and thickness
by cutting or stamping them from a sheet or flat bar of the required thickness, we
may force the material through circular dies so as to produce a cylinder of the
diameter required for the discs and then cut off the required length of such cylinder
to produce the desired thickness of disc. The stamping or moulding to shape or
pattern and the lettering and perforation may all be performed simultaneously
with the cutting or stamping out of the discs from the sheet or flat bar of material,
or such processes may be performed in two or more operations when either cutting
the discs from a sheet or flat bar or from a cylinder of material.
The following table gives examples of materials used, their melting points and
the temperatures in Fahrenheit at which they are best treated.

page_text: When "braking" or rolling, or "plodding" or forcing, solid material, the latter
is preferably worked at a slightly lower temperature than "scrap."
The following general remarks should be carefully noted when carrying our
invention into effect.
'
When rolling the sheets or flat bars to a thickness or approximate thickness,
they should be rolled at as low a temperature as is consistent with the proper
performance of the operation; the heat necessary to secure a proper rolling is
higher than is necessary to secure the proper cutting, piercing and stamping
operations. The temperature of the warming room should be the same as that
required for the material, whether in the bulk, in scrap or in the form of sheet or
bar, and the material should remain in the warming room until it is of the same
heat throughout.
To cut into discs, stamp, perforate and letter the discs, the sheet or bar of
material is heated to the most suitable temperature; it is then cut into discs and
stamped, perforated and, if desired, lettered. The discs are then separated from
the scrap or remainder of sheet or bar when a flat sheet or bar is used, after which
the completed dises are immediately removed to a cool place or are otherwise cooled,
as before referred to.
The discs should be cut from the material when the latter is at as low a
temperature as is consistent with the proper execution of the operation in order to
allow of the discs being placed on trays or otherwise handled without damage to
their shape and perforation.
By the above method of manufacture we obtain greater accuracy of weight and
consequently greater uniformity in time of burning; we avoid the use of water
which hitherto has been necessary for cooling the melted material when such is run
into moulds to form the light as heretofore and consequently obtain considerable
saving of expense in the cost of manufacture, in addition to which we avoid the
deterioration of the night or other like light by water and dirt, which, according
to the said process of manufacture, are sometimes present in the moulds.
In the method of manufacture hitherto employed, when running the melted
material into moulds, a small proportion only of a charge of the melted material
was made into night. or other similar lights, say about 5 lbs. out of a charge
of 15 lbs.; this necessitated a constant remelting of a large proportion of the
material, which resulted more or less in a deterioration thereof in color and
otherwise.
We avoid this deterioration with the classes of material herein before referred
to, as instead of remelting the surplus material it can be, according to our process,
kneaded, by rolling or "braking" or by "plodding" or forcing, into a homogeneous
mass and not remelted, whilst, on account of the waste according to our process
being comparatively small, the deterioration of the material by remelting is greatly
reduced in cases where such remelting is adopted.
The parts of the machines employed can be easily changed for producing night
or other similar lights of different diameters and thicknesses.
We also obtain greatly increased speed of production and economy in cost of
machinery and of space required therefor.
We have not thought, it necessary to give drawings of machinery employed, as
such are of similar character to machines used in biscuit making and soap making
and will be readily understood from the foregoing description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The manufacture of night and other similar lights by the process and
apparatus substantially as herein described.
2. The manufacture of night and other similar lights by first preparing a sheet
or flat bar of material to the required thickness, secondly, stamping or cutting out
discs therefrom, thirdly, stamping or moulding to shape or pattern, fourthly,

page_text: lettering and, fifthly, perforating, after which the wick is applied in any well
known and suitable manner, the cutting out of the discs, the shaping, lettering, and
perforating, being performed in one or more operations, substantially as herein
described.
3. The manufacture of night and other similar lights by first mechanically
preparing a disc of material to the required size and thickness and then shaping,
lettering and perforating the same in one or more operations, after which the
wick is applied in any well known and suitable manner substantially as herein
described."
Dated say or
GEO. C. FOWLER,
MORRIS B. FOWLER,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.