Improvements in Lamps for Burning Oil or Spirit.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lamps for Burning Oil or Spirit.
I, BENJAMIN PIERPOINT, of Stanmore Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:―
This invention is designed to provide a suitable lamp for domestic purposes,
such as carrying about a house, reading, or as a night light.
I construct a reservoir of suitable size preferably cylindrical with a lever lid
which can be readily removed by being prized up by a coin or other article
inserted beneath the edge. To this lid (or at one side of it) is fitted a wick tube
of sufficient length that the heat from the top or burner end will not be con-
ducted down to the lamp body. Around the burner tube is placed a second tube
capable of sliding up and down thereon by raising or lowering of which the flame
is regulated. The wick is practically stationary in the wick tube and projects
A slit is cut in the
from the end over which the end of the outer tube slides.
wick tube to adjust the wick therein when required. To the sliding tube is
secured a reflector of convenient shape or form but preferably made of tinned
sheet metal or brass.
The interior of the lamp or oil reservoir is preferably coated with plaster of
Paris which is then saturated with a solution of gelatine in glycerine to render
it impervious to paraffin or petroleum oil.
The dish shaped lid serves to collect any oil that may run down the wick tube.
By this arrangement I am enabled to dispense with mechanical devices such as
racks, screws and the like and consequently to produce an inexpensive lamp which
is very simple in construction and easy of manipulation.
EL dave of March 1808
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention is designed to provide a simple, inexpensive, portable and
handy lamp for domestic use, such as for reading, for a night light, carrying
about a house or other similar purposes.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. Front vertical sectional elevation.
Fig. 2. Side vertical sectional elevation.
Fig. 3. Plau.
Fig. 4. Perspective view showing a modification.
The lamp is constructed with a cylindrical reservoir A. of suitable size of from
about 2 to 6 inches in height and from 2 to 4 inches in diameter though these
sizes may be increased or reduced if found desirable. The interior of the oil
reservoir A is filled with a textile or similar absorbent material B which will
hold petroleum, paraffin or other oil or spirit from which it can be drawn by the
wick. The absorbent material prevents any fear of spilling of the oil should the
lamp from any cause be overturned.
The interior of the oil reservoir A is lined internally with an impervious oil
proof lining a to prevent leakage through the seams. This impervious lining
may consist of a coating of gelatine dissolved in glycerine or a coating of plaster
of Paris saturated with gelatine dissolved in glycerine.
The entire top of the oil reservoir A is fitted with a lever lid C which can be
readily removed when required by being prized by a coin or other article inserted
beneath the edge b. By the adoption of the lever lid a large opening for the pour-
ing in of the oil is afforded, and a simpler and easier method of closing is provided
than by a screw or the like.
To the lid C is fitted a long thin wick tube D of sufficient length that the
heat from the top or burner will not be conducted down to the lamp body.
Around the tube D is fitted a second tube E capable of sliding up and down
thereon, by raising and lowering which, the flame at the top of the tube is
regulated.
The wick d passes down the interior of the tube D and comes into contact with
the absorbent material B from which the oil necessary for the flame is gradually
drawn.
To the sliding tube E is secured by a wire y a small reflector G preferably made
of tinned sheet metal or brass. The reflector G serves the double purpose of a
reflector when the lamp is in use for reading and as a shade when in use as a night
light to screen the light from a person's eyes.
The dish shaped lid serves to collect any oil that may run down the wick tube.
The lamp may be arranged to hold kettle, pan or other vessel as in Fig. 3 by
attaching a tripod H to the moveable wick tube E on the top of which the vessel
will rest. By this arrangement I am enabled to dispense with mechanical devices
such as racks, screws and the like, and consequently to produce an inexpensive
lamp which is very simple in construction and easy of manipulation.
The lamp is applicable for a variety of purposes such as the following:-
Night lamp, reading lamp, hand lamp, smoking lamp, shaving lamp, food
warmer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A lamp for oils or spirit comprising a reservoir A lined with a lining a of
oil proof material and provided with a large opening at top for the insertion of
oil, a textile absorbent material placed in the interior of the reservoir, a lever lid C
fitted into such opening, a wick tube D and wick d fitted to the lever lid to serve
as a burner, a second tube E sliding on the wick tube to carry a reflector and shade

page_text: and a reflector and shade fitted to the sliding tube, substantially as described and
shown.
2. A lamp having the several parts constructed and arranged in combination,
substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.