IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING LIGHT OR VOLATILE OILS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Robert Baker, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Mechanical Engiucer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LAMPS FOR BURNING LIGHT OR VOLATILE OILS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Robert Baker at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th July 1881.
FRANCIS ROBERT BAKER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical
Engineer. " IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING LIGHT OR VOLATILE
OILS."
My Invention has reference to lamps for burning light or volatile oils, such as
kerosine, paraffin oil, and the like, and consists of the construction, herein after
described, of the burner and parts connected therewith, and of the method, herein
after described, of arranging the wicks of the said lamps.
In the ordinary method of constructing the said lamps the end of the wick is
cut or trimmed to the edge of the wick case, and the proper burning of the lamp,
that is, the obtaining of the maximum of light without smoking depends upon the
nicety with which the trimming of the wick is effected. The difficulty of
properly trimming the wick is great, and the object of my Invention is to remedy
this difficulty.
In constructing the wick cases of the lamp according to my Invention I fix at
the summit of the wick case a roller turning freely in bearings in the ends of the
wick case.
This roller may be fluted with fine flutes. In the lower part of the
wick case is an axis having toothed wheels of the kind ordinarily employed for
raising the wick. In lamps having a single wick this axis is prolonged to the
exterior of the lamp and terminates in a knob or button for turning it.
In lamps
having double wicks the last described axis is geared to an axis midway
between the two wicks, this middle axis serving to operate upon the two wicks
simultaneously.
The wick passes up the inner side of the wick case over the roller at top, and
descends in the wick case at its outer side. That portion only of the wick which
passes over the upper side of the roller at the top of the wick case is exposed,

page_text: and it is this portion of the wick which is ignited. The flame produced is uniform
in size and burns many hours without requiring any change in the position of the
wick.
The wick case has a cap sliding tightly upon it. The removal of this cap
facilitates the introduction of the wick and the adjustment of the cap regulates the
size of the flame.
I employ extinguishers of the ordinary kind for extinguishing the lamp.
In order to trim the lamp it is only necessary to turn the wick button when the
portion of the wick which has been charred passes from off the top roller and a
fresh portion takes its place.
The charred portion of the wick may be removed from time to time by cutting
it away from the descending portion of the wick.
The edges of the wick on which the toothed wheels operate to draw the
wick down are prevented from charring by being covered at the ends of the
case.
The ordinary dome or cap with an opening or openings for the flame or flames
to pass through is employed.
The roller over which the wick passes instead of being cylindrical may be
curved, that is, may be of a bulbous figure. In this case the opening in the dome
through which the flaine passes bas a similar figure. I do not limit myself to any
particular shapes of the roller.
My Invention is applicable to cylindrical wicks, as well as to flat and curved
wicks.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Francis Robert Baker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th January 1882.
FRANCIS ROBERT BAKER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING LIGHT OR VOLATILE
OILS."
My Invention has reference to lamps for burning light or volatile oils, such as
kerosine, paraffin oil, and the like, and consists of the construction, hereinafter
described, of the burners and parts connected therewith, and of the method, herein
after described, of arranging the wicks of the said lamps.
In the ordinary method of constructing the said lamps the end of the wick is
cut or trimmed to the edge of the wick case, and the proper burning of the lamp,
that is, the obtaining of the maximum of light without smoking depends upon
the nicety with which the trimming of the wick is effected. The difficulty of
properly trimming the wick is great, and the object of my Invention is to remedy
this difficulty.
In constructing the wick cases of the lamp according to my Invention I fix at
the summit of the wick cases a roller (or rollers) turning freely in bearings in the
ends of the wick case. This roller may be plain or fluted with fine flutes. In the
lower part of the wick case is an axis having toothed wheels of the kind
ordinarily employed for raising the wick. In lamps having a single wick this
axis is prolonged to the exterior of the lamp and terminates in a knob or button
for turning it. In lamps having double wicks the last described axis is geared to
an axis midway between the two wicks, this middle axis serving to operate upon
the two wicks simultaneously.
The wick passes up the inner side of the wick case over the roller at top and
descends in the wick case at its outer side. That portion only of the wick which
passes over the upper side of the roller at the top of the wick case is exposed,
and it is this portion of the wick which is ignited. The flame produced is uniform
in size and burns many hours without requiring any change in the position of the
wick.
The wick case has a cap sliding tightly upon it. The removal of this cap
facilitates the introduction of the wick and the adjustment of the cap regulates the
size of the flame,
I employ extinguishers of the kind herein after described for extinguishing the
lamp.
In order to trim the lamp it is only necessary to turn the wick button when the
portion of the wick which has been charred passes from off the top roller and a
fresh portion take its place.
The charred portion of the wick must be removed from time to time by cutting
it away from the descending portion of the wick.
The edges or sides of the wick on which the toothed wheels operate to draw
the wick down are prevented from charring by being covered at the ends of the
case.
The ordinary dome or cap with an opening or openings for the flame or flames
to pass through is employed.
The roller over which the wick passes instead of being cylindrical may be
curved, that is, may be of a bulbous figure. In this case the opening in the dome
through which the flame passes has a similar figure. I do not limit myself to any
particular shapes of the roller.
My Invention is applicable to solid, round, or cylindrical wicks, as well as to flat
and curved wicks.
I will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawing,
the manner in which my Invention is to be performed.
Figures 1 and 2 represent vertical sections taken at right angles to one another

page_text: of a duplex burner constructed according to my Invention; Figure 3 represents
the same view as Figure 1, with the dome or deflector raised from the burner and
the extinguishers made to cover the wicks; Figure 4 represents a plan of the
burner with the dome or deflector removed; and Figure 5 represents the same
view as Figure 4, with the wick cases in section, the said Figure 5 exhibiting the
wick raising mechanism.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of
the Drawing.
a, a, are the wick cases of the burner, at the summit of each of which cases is a
roller b turning in bearings in the end plates of the cases. Each of the wicks c, c²,
is arranged in its case a in the manner represented in Figures 1 and 3, that is to
say, each wick passes up the inner side of the wick case over the roller b at top
and descends in the wick case at the the other side, thereby forming a doubled wick,
the sides of which are marked respectively c and c². That portion only of each
doubled wick c, c², which passes over the upper side of the roller b at the top of the
wick case is exposed (see Figures 1 and 4). The wick adjusting mechanism consists
of the axes d, e, geared together by the toothed wheels f, g, the axis e being turned
by the button or handle h. The pinions or star wheels i, i, of each of the axes d, e,
engage with the outer or descending side c² of each doubled wick c, c², so that on
turning the axis e in the proper direction by its handle a fresh or uncharred
portion of the two wicks are simultaneously brought to the tops of the wick cases,
the charred portions of the wicks being carried away on the descending sides of
the said wicks. The pinions or star wheels i, i, are prevented from rotating
excepting in a direction proper to raise the side c and cause the other side c² of the
wicks to descend by means of the pawl or catclig² which acts as a stop on the
wheel when the latter is turned in a direction contrary to that indicated by
the arrow near the said wheel in Figures 1 and 3.
k is a cap capable of sliding upon and being lifted from the burner. This sliding
cap carries the dome or deflector 7 having in it the ordinary slots through which
the flames from the wicks c, c², c, c², pass. The said cap k is also furnished under
the dome with cases m, m, which form, when the cap k is depressed, as represented
in Figures 1 and 2, upward prolongations of the wick cases a, a, of the burner.
The upper parts of the cap wick cases m, m, are open at one side and at top, and to
the open side of each case m a flap or extinguisher n is jointed (see Figures 1 and 3).
The opening at the top of each of the cap cases m is of less length than the cases a
and the wicks c, c³, working in them, so that when the cap k is in its place on the
burner during the use of the lamp the uncut away parts m³, m³, of the slotted top
of the cases n overhang or cover the edges or marginal parts of each wick, as best
seen in Figure 2, and thereby protect the said edges from being charred. It is on
these uncharred edges of the wicks that the pinions or star wheels i, i, of the
adjusting mechanism act to adjust the wick. The cap carrying the dome and
upper cases m, m, and the extinguishing flaps n, n, is furnished with guide
rods P, P, on opposite sides which take into the tubular sockets q, q, on the burner.
The said cap is raised and lowered by means of the depending rack carried by it,
with which rack a pinion s supported by the burner engages, the said pinion
being turned by the handle t.
k
When the handle ț is turned in a direction proper to depress the rack and
lower the cap k upon the burner, the wick cases m in the said cap pass over the tops
and sides of the doubled wicks c, c², in the cases a, a, the uncut away or over-
hanging parts m³, m³, at the top of the cap cases m, m, passing over and protecting
the edges or marginal parts of the wicks from the flames, as seen in Figure 2, and
as herein before described. As the cap descends upon the burner the flaps or
extinguishers n, n, are raised into the vertical position represented in Figure 1,
and the wicks are uncovered. At the same time the prolonged outer sides m² of the
cap wick cases m enter the sides a² of the lower wick cases a, a, and press the outer
or descending side of each doubled wick into contact with the teeth of the
pinions i, i, so that the gripping of the wicks by the pinions is ensured. Or the

page_text: same effect may be produced by prolonging upwards the side or part a² of the
wick case by means of a jointed flap or plate over which the outer side m² of
the cap case m passes when the cap & descends to its place on the burner. By the
use of the last described arrangement the slight movement of the wick over the
roller which takes place by the sliding of the part m² of the upper case m upon
the wick when the cap k is raised is prevented.
•
When it is wished to extinguish the flames the cap is raised by turning the
handle t into the position represented in Figure 3. As soon as the flaps or
extinguishers n, n, have been raised above the tops of the wicks they fall upon
the said wicks and extinguish the lamp. A spring may be used to press the flaps
or extinguishers into the horizontal position, Figure 3.
By adjusting the sliding cap the size of the flames may be regulated.
When it is required to trim the wicks it is only necessary to turn the handle or
button h when those portions of the wicks which have been charred pass from off
the rollers b, b, and fresh portions of the wicks take their place, the pinions or star
wheels i, i, acting upon the uncharred edges of the wicks to adjust them as before
described.
In single wick lamps I use one only of the doubled wicks represented, combined
with appliances of the kind described and represented with respect to a duplex
burner, excepting that a single wick case is employed in the burner, and sliding
cap and the gearing wheels f, g, are dispensed with.
Instead of passing each wick over one roller two parallel rollers at a short
distance from one another may be employed for each wick to pass over. In this
case the whole of that portion of the wick extending horizontally between the two
rollers is ignited.
Burners and appliances connected therewith, constructed according to my
Invention, are applicable to lamps for heating purposes as well as for lighting
purposes:
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention
of "Improvements in Lamps for Burning Light or Volatile Oils."
The improvements in the construcion of the burners of the said lamps and parts
connected with the said burners and the method of arranging the wicks in the said
burners herein befoi described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, that
is to say, fixing at the summit of each of the wick cases of the burner a roller (or
rollers) over which the wick doubled in the manner described passes that portion
only of the doubled wick which passes over the upper side of the roller being
exposed and ignited, the trimming or adjusting of the wick being effected by
turning the charred portion from off the top roller and bringing a fresh portion of
the wick into its place, substantially as described and illustrated; also the
construction and combination of the parts of the sliding cap described and
represented containing the jointed plates and extinguishers, and also the upper wick
cases, which cases when the cap is depressed pass over the upper parts of the wicks
and protect from charring the marginal portions of the wicks, substantially as
described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Robert Baker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord, One
thousand sight hundred and oighty twea
0 Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
37, Temple Street,
Birmingham,
FRANCIS ROBERT BAKER. (L.S.)