Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM HIGGINBOTHAM of 36 Capel Street, Dublin Ireland, Foreman Gas
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In supplying lamps with oil, particularly when the oil is more or less volatile,
it is desirable to arrange the oil at a distance from and below the flame, thus
avoiding the risk of vaporising and igniting the oil.
My invention relates to simple apparatus for supplying lamps, especially those
on a large scale such as are used in lighthouses, from an oil reservoir below and at
any desired distance from the flame. For this purpose I provide a vessel divided
into two compartments, a convenient form being a vertical cylinder divided by an
inner cylindrical partition into a central compartment and an annular compartment
surrounding it. I fill one of these compartments with oil, and then, by means of a
small hand pump mounted on the vessel, I force this oil into the other compart-
ment, thereby compressing the air in that compartment. The air pressure forces
oil up to the lamp by a pipe leading from the lower part of the latter com-
partment; and in order to prevent escape of air when the oil supply is nearly
exhausted, I provide the mouth of this pipe with a float valve which closes it when
the float descends with the oil to a low level in the compartment. The band pump
is preferably arranged so that it can be used for forcing air into the compartment
where its pressure acts on the oil.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: WILLIAM HIGGINBOTHAM, 83 Capel St Dublin (Gas Engineer) do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for APPARATUS FOR SUPPLY OF OIL TO LAMPS and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:- •
In supplying lamps with oil particularly when the oil is more or less volatile
it is desirable to arrange the oil at a distance from and below the flame thus
avoiding the risk of vapourising and igniting the oil. My invention relates to
simple apparatus for supplying lamps especially those on a large scale such as are
used in lighthouses from an oil reservoir below and at any desired distance from
the flame. For this purpose I provide a vessel divided into two compartments a
convenient form being a vertical cylinder divided by an inner cylindrical partition
into a central compartment and an annular compartment surrounding it. I fill one
of these compartments with oil, and then by means of a small hand pump mounted
on the vessel I force this oil into the other compartment thereby compressing the
air in that compartment. The air pressure forces oil up to the lamp by & pipe
leading from the lower part of the latter compartment, and in order to prevent
escape of air when the oil supply is nearly exhausted I provide the mouth of this
pipe with a float valve which closes it when the float descends with the oil to a
low level in the compartment. The band pump is preferably arranged so that it
can be used for forcing air into the compartment where its pressure acts on the oil,
With reference to accompanying drawings A A A A are two concentric metal
cylinders which may be cast on to base B or otherwise secured as may be found
convenient. CC metal cover having a raised flange round the edge to catch any
drips of oil that might occur in the filling of reservoir E or overflow from the
lamps this cover is bolted or secured to flanges on top of cylinders A A A A in such
a manner as to make the annular space or reservoir F between the outer and inner
cylinders perfectly air tight. D hinged lid or cover over space or reservoir E.
G. a force pump as is well understood, to pump the oil from inner space or
reservoir E and force it into outer space or reservoir F by means of pipes H and I.
Pipe H may have an air tap at top so that the pump may be used to force air into
annular space F. if the oil is required to be raised to a great height. J supply
pipe through which the oil is forced by the air pressure to the lamp or lamps. On
the lower end of this pipe is a hollow flange K having a series of holes L L drilled
through its upper side above which and surrounding pipe J is a hollow ball or
float M the lower end of this ball or float carries a flange N which covers the
holes LL when the oil is so low in reservoir F as not to keep the float up a
small collar round pipe J prevents float from rising higher than is nesessary when
the reservoir is full of oil. When the flange N presses on and covers holes LL
neither oil nor air is allowed to pass to lamps until the reservoir is refilled.
Instead of this arrangement any other make of float and valve can be used which
would answer the same purpose. A tap or regulator as is used for gas and which
is well understood may be fastened or connected to supply pipe J to control the
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page_text: flow of oil to the lamp or lamps. To work the apparatus space E is filled with oil
through opening at top by lifting lid D the pump is then used to force the oil into
reservoir The air in top of reservoir F being compressed forces the oil through
pipe J to the lamp or lamps until the oil level is reduced to the point where the
flange N on lower side of ball or float M is allowed to rest on hollow flange K thus
covering holes L L and shuting off the supply until more oil is pumped into
reservoir F from reservoir E. The oil can be pumped into reservoir F before the
level is reduced so as to allow flange N to cover holes L L thus keeping up a
continuous flow of oil to the lamps. Any overflow of oil from lamps may be
conducted back to reservoir E by means of a pipe. Instead of a vessel having an
inner and outer chamber or reservoir two separate vessels may be used.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The construction and general arrangement of an apparatus for forcing oil to a
lamp or lamps and the application of same to lighthouse or other lamps or burners
as described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.