AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE EXTINCTION OF LAMPS, AND SIMILAR APPARATUS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Paul André Roger, of Paris, in the Empire of
France, Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
PREVENTING THE EXTINCTION OF LAMPS, AND SIMILAR APPARATUS."—A
communication from François Desiré Victor Molvé, residing at Rue de
l'Université, Paris, aforesaid.
Sealed the 28th April 1865, and dated the 1st November 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Paul André Roger at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
November 1864.
I, PAUL ANDRÉ ROGER, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR PREVENTING THE EXTINCTION OF LAMPS, AND SIMILAR APPARATUS," a com-
munication from Francois Desiré Victor Molvé, a person residing at Rue de
l'Université, Paris, aforesaid, to be as follows:-
This apparatus is intended for preventing the extinction of signal and other
flames in lamps or similar apparatus by currents of air or sudden gusts of
wind. It consists of a plate of metal placed above the opening of the
chimney of the lamp or other apparatus, and carrying a rim or border
corresponding to this opening. Above the said rim or border is placed a disc
or second plate, supported on a rod carrying a knife oscillating on two
uprights fixed to the first plate and a balance weight, which may be regulated
at will, so as to keep the cover, slightly raised above the rim or border of the

page_text: opening. The heat of the flame raises the cover, and allows the viciated air
to escape, while any currents or gusts from without shut the cover down, and
prevent the flame being extinguished.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Paul André Roger in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th April 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PAUL
ANDRÉ ROGER, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Paul André Roger, Her special licence that I, the said Paul
André Roger, my executors, administrators, and assigns; or such others as I,
the said Paul André Roger, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
in any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN Ix-
PROVED APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE EXTINCTION OF LAMPS, AND SIMILAR
APPARATUS," communicated to me by Francois Desiré Victor Molvé, a person
resident at Rue de l'Université, Paris, aforesaid, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Paul André Roger, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Paul André Roger, 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 follow-
ing statement:
This apparatus is intended for preventing the extinction of signal and other
flames in lamps and similar apparatus by currents of air and sudden gusts of
wind. It consists of a plate of metal placed above the opening of the
chimney of the lamp or other apparatus, and carrying a rim or border

page_text: corresponding to this opening. Above the said rim or border is placed a disc
or second plate, supported by a rod carrying a knife oscillating on two uprights
fixed to the first plate and a balance weight, which may be regulated at will,
so as to keep the cover slightly raised above the rim or border of the opening.
The heat of the flame raises the cover, and allows the viciated air to escape,
while any currents or gusts from without shut the cover down and prevent the'
flame being extinguished.
The accompanying Drawings, made to the scale of execution, represent,
Fig. 1, a transversal section of the apparatus; Fig. 2, a plan view of the
same; Fig. 3, a section by the line Q, R, of the plan, Fig. 4; and Fig. 5, &
plan view of the cover or disc with its counterpoise and axis.
In the above Figures A is the foundation plate of the apparatus; B, B, B,
appendices for fixing the same; C; moveable disc; D, counterpoise or balance-
weight; E, E, knife-edged axis of the balance weight D and disc C; F, F,
uprights carrying the axis E; G, screw carrying the balance weight; H, opening
made in the plate A; I is the collar or rim surrounding the opening H,
closed by the disc C.
This apparatus is placed above the chimneys of lamps and lanterns. It is
composed of a foundation plate A, supported in any suitable way above the
top of the chimney, but preferably by the appendices B, B, B. This plate
carries a collar I surrounding the opening H, and placed exactly above the
opening of the chimney. It also bears two uprights F, F, which support the
axle E of the moveable disc or cover C. The counterpoise or balance weight D
may be placed on the screw G, and adjusted by turning right or left, or may
be cast with its axle E and the disc C, and then be adjusted to the necessary
weight by filing; or in case the disc C is too heavy, by filing it instead of the
weight. The plate A, the supports F, and collar I, with the appendices B, B, B,
may all be cast together in one piece, or be made separately, and afterwards
bolted together, as may be found most convenient. The disc C should be
balanced so as to be slightly opened, and to be quite sensible to the least
current from within or without, so that when the lamp or other apparatus is
lighted the heat will keep it raised, and allow the escape of the rarefied air by
means of the current from the bottom. Thus the flame is regulated, the
light rendered much more uniform, and the lighting material economised, as
the wicks do not readily carbonize. But the principal advantage of the
improved apparatus consists in closing at every gust or current of air to
prevent the wind entering the chimney and extinguishing the flame, and
rising immediately afterwards ready for closing at the next gust or current.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
•

page_text: which the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details above given; but what I claim is,
placing above the chimney, or a continuation of the chimney, of lamps and
similar apparatus a moveable disc or valve, kept slightly raised by a balance
weight, so as to close momentaneously under the influence of a gust or current
of air, and to prevent the extinction of said lamp or other apparatus.
In witness whereof, I, the said Paul André Roger, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.