Improvements in or relating to Extinguishers for Lamps and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left. 23rd Oct.. 1899-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Extinguishers for Lamps and the like.
I, WILLIAM EBENEZER ARCHER, Accountant, of 53, Shaftesbury Road, Upper
Holloway, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to extinguishers for lamps and the like and has for its
object to construct an extinguisher which will operate automatically and with.
certainty in the event of the lamp being overturned or otherwise caused to assume
an abnormal position. This invention is particularly applicable to oil lamps.
According to this invention the burner is constructed in the usual way but.
provided with an extinguisher, comprising preferably two members which are
so constructed and connected to a table situated below them that upon raising
the table the members of the extinguisher rise and close in over the top of
the burner thus putting out the light. Around and preferably below the level
of the burner in some suitable position are arranged a series of pivotted levers.
One arm of each lever is weighted while the other arm bears against or is con-
nected to the extinguisher platform. The levers are so arranged that so long as
the lamp remains vertical in its normal position the levers do not act upon the
platform but as soon as the lamp is tilted out of the vertical or upset the weighted
end of one or more of the levers falls over and raises the platform which by
operating the extinguisher puts out the lamp.
The weighted levers, in my preferred arrangement, are preferably of bell crank
form and are arranged in a circle around the platform for operating the extin-
guisher the weighted ends of the levers in the normal position of the lamp being
directed upwards and turned slightly inwards over the periphery of the platform,
the other ends of the levers bear against the under surface of the platform. The
levers may conveniently be formed of some suitable metal, with the weights which
are preferably of lead attached to the ends in some suitable manner or the weights
and levers may be formed in one piece out of the same metal. Preferably the
parts are so constructed that each weight is by itself sufficient to raise the platform
and operate the extinguisher.
In applying the invention to a duplex lamp a separate extinguisher is preferably
provided for each burner. Each of these extinguishers is made up of two members,
one of which merely rises so as to project vertically above one side of the burner,
this member being curved round at its ends so as to enclose the ends of the flat.
wick holder. The other member is curved and pivotted to the first mentioned.
member, a cam, surface or projection on the wick holder by coming in contact
with some point on the pivotted member below its pivot causing this member when
it rises to close in over the top of the wick.
In applying this invention to a circular burner the extinguisher is formed in
two semi-cylindrical parts with semi-circular tops, these two parts being provided
at their sides with slots through which pass fixed pins projecting from the wick
holder, the two parts of the extinguisher are pivotted to vertical projections from
the operating platform, these projections being preferably extended and slotted so

page_text: as to enable them to serve as guides for the table, the same pins which pass
through the slots in the extinguisher members passing through the slots in these
guides. The slots in the extinguisher members are so arranged that as the table
is raised by the movement of the weighted levers as previously described the
extinguisher in being forced upwards will be caused to close in over the top of the
burner and extinguish the flame. In the case of a lamp having a single flat wick
the extinguisher is composed of two suitably shaped parts slotted, pivotted, and
operating in substantially the same way as in the case of the circular burner.
In some cases, particularly in lamps of the larger type, it is convenient to
have some means of operating the extinguisher without necessarily tilting the
lamp. For this purpose a lever may be provided which is forked at one end,
one arm of the fork lying above and the other arm below the rising platform.
This hand lever is pivotted at some convenient point on the burner casing and
projects on the exterior in some position where it may be readily got at and
depressed by hand, this depression causing the rising of the platform and pressure
from beneath will cause the platform to descend in the event of its jamming or
accidentally being retained in its raised position. In order to enable the extin-
guisher to be retained if desired over the burner, a notch may be cut in the
hand-operating lever in such a position that when it has been depressed so as to
extinguish the lamp the notch will be brought outside the casing and into the
path of a detent or lever pivotted on the exterior of the burner casing. The detent
when in engagement with the notch will retain the lever in its depressed position
and consequently the extinguisher will remain over the wick. The detent can be
readily moved out of operation by the finger or by a specially arranged lever,
cord or the like.
If desired the weighted levers may be combined with other forms of extinguisher
than those described above, such other forms being attached so as to be put in
operation by the falling from their normal position of the weights directly the
lamp is tilted. The weighted levers are preferably enclosed in a suitable casing
so as to prevent their being tampered with, or accidentally held so as to prevent
them operating. The invention may be applied to other kinds of burners than
those described above.
In a modification I counterpoise two bodies one of which is a movable extin-
guisher and the other a movable receptacle, the two being connected together by
any suitable linkage or gearing. There is further provided an additional body
or bodies, which shall, under conditions of dangerous or undesirable positions of
the lamp, so move as to add their weight or to remove it from that of the
receptacle, thereby operating the extinguisher. The receptacle is preferably so
arranged that when it is replaced after extinction has been effected, the additional
body or bodies shall leave it and return to their normal position. In order to
render the operation of the extinguisher certain, it is preferred to effect the
closure of two flaps of say, the usual construction, by means of an inclined
or cam surface instead of relying on springs as is commonly done.
One con-
struction of extinguisher according to this modification is as follows:-
Round the burner or burners in the centre of the lamp, is formed a circular
gallery having compartments formed by radial walls projecting outwardly
from an inner circular wall these compartments are open at their outer periphery
and serve to retain in the normal position of the lamp, spheres or rollers or any suit-
able material, preferably one of high specific gravity. Outside this gallery, which
will hereinafter be termed the inner gallery, is formed a second, also having com-
partments which are formed on it by radial walls projecting inwardly from an
outer circular wall. The number of these compartments is the same as that of
the compartments on the inner gallery and the compartments on the outer gallery
are open at their inner periphery so that when the floors of the two galleries are
at the same level, the spheres contained in the chambers of the inner gallery are
free to roll into those of the outer gallery. To prevent this occurring at undesir-
able occasions the floor of the outer gallery is inclined at an angle with the hori

page_text: zontal so that under normal conditions the spheres will remain within the chambers
of the inner gallery. The outer gallery is connected by suitable linkage or gear-
ing, preferably pivotted levers, to a rising and falling extinguisher, which may be
of the kind commonly employed in oil lamps, in such a manner that the rising and
falling of the outer gallery will communicate a falling and rising motion of the
extinguisher. The weight of the outer gallery and of the extinguisher are so
proportioned that under normal conditions the extinguisher remains down and
the gallery up, this being the inoperative position of the extinguisher, the weight
of some of the spheres when rolled into the chambers of the outer gallery being
sufficient to cause its descent and consequent extinction of the lamp. In order to
ensure the certain action of the extinguisher, one or more projections are attached
to the outside of the wick tube, the projection or projections being provided with
an inclined or cam surface, which as the extinguisher embracing the said wick
tube rises, engage with or operate on corresponding surfaces formed with or
attached to one member of the extinguisher and thus effect its closure upon the
other member.
This invention may be applied either to single or duplex lamps or to lamps
with flat, or circular wicks, the extinguisher in the case of a lamp having a circular
wick being similar in action to that employed with a flat wick lamp but having
its members made circular in form instead of flat. If preferred the movable
weight may normally hold the movable receptacle depressed against the action
of the spring, tilting the lamp causing the weight to be removed and so allow the
spring to operate and effect extinction.
Dated this 1 of Tona 1900
Improvements in or relating to Extinguishers for Lamps and the like.
I, WILLIAM EBENEZER ARCHER, Accountant, of 53, Shaftesbury Road, Upper
Holloway, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement ;-
This invention relates to extinguishers for lamps and the like and has for its
object to construct an extinguisher which will operate automatically and with
certainty in the event of the lamp being overturned or otherwise caused to assume
an abnormal position. This invention is particularly applicable to oil lamps.
According to this invention the burner is constructed in the usual way but
provided with an extinguisher, comprising preferably two members which are
so constructed and connected to a platform situated below them that upon raising
the platform the members of the extinguisher rise and close in over the top of the
wick holder thus putting out the light. Around and preferably below the level of the
top of the wick holder in some suitable position is arranged a series of pivotted levers.
One arm of each lever is weighted while the other arm bears against or is con-
nected to the extinguisher platform. The levers are so arranged that so long as
the lamp remains vertical in its normal position the levers do not act upon the
platform but as soon as the lamp is tilted out of the vertical or upset the weighted
end of one or more of the levers falls over and raises the platform which by
operating the extinguisher puts out the lamp.
The weighted levers, are preferably of bell crank form and arranged in a circle
around the platform for operating the extinguisher the weighted ends of the levers
in the normal position of the lamp being directed upwards and turned slightly

page_text: inwards over the periphery of the platform, the other ends of the levers bear
against the under surface of the platform. The levers may conveniently be
formed of some suitable metal, with the weights which are preferably of lead
attached to the ends in some suitable manner of the weights and levers may
formed in one piece out of the same metal. Preferably the parts are so con-
structed that each weight is by itself sufficient to raise the platform and operate
the extinguisher.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side view partly in section and with parts removed of a duplex
burner provided with extinguishers and operating mechanism according to this
invention
The Weges and revmay
formed in one piece out of the same metal. Preferably the parts are so con-
structed that each weight is by itself sufficient to raise the platform and operate
the extinguisher.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side view partly in section and with parts removed of a duplex
burner provided with extinguishers and operating mechanism according to this
invention.
.
Figure 2 is a similar view at right angles to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan view;
Figure 4 an enlarged elevation of the extinguisher and wick holder detached.
Figure 5 is a side view of a circular burner fitted with an extinguisher according
to this invention.
Like letters indicate like parts in all figures.
Referring first to Figures 1 to 4.
A is a duplex burner of ordinary construction, comprising a body with a flat
circular floor A and a top casing A2, the latter being only shown in Figure 1.
A³ A are the two wick holders, each provided with a separate extinguisher,
carried on a common platform or disc B. Each extinguisher is formed of two
members; one member B is formed with or affixed to the table, and encloses one
side and both ends of the wick holder. The other member B2 covers the other side
of the wick holder, and is pivotted at 133 by a pin in each end of the member B¹.
The top of the member B2 is curved, and on each side at its lower part is a lug B
forming a projection to engage a cam surface A provided on the end of the wick
holder conveniently by soldering a piece of metal thereon. This construction of
the extinguisher is shown in Figure 4 in which one end of the member B is cut
away from the left hand wick holder. The members B₁ of the extinguishers may
be strengthened by a connecting piece B, and the platform is preferably provided
with a guide rod "B12.
Arranged in a circle near the edge of the floor A' is a series of slotted stan-
dards in each of which is pivotted a bell crank lever of which the lower arm C
projects beneath the extinguisher platform B, whilst the upper arm C2 is provided
with a weight C³.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When the lamp is in an upright or
normal position the lower edge of the arm C rests on the floor A¹, its upper edge
merely engaging the underside of the platform B, and the arm C2 and weight C
are turned slightly inwards towards a common centre and may project over the
periphery of the platform as shown in Figures 1 and 3 and in full lines in Figure 2.
As soon as the lamp is tilted out of the vertical or upset the weighted end C³ of
one or more of the levers, on the side to which the lamp is inclined falls over into
the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, causing the lower arm C to raise
the platform B and with it the extinguishers into the position shown in dotted
lines in Figures 2 and 4. As the extinguishers are raised the lug B' of the
member B2 comes in contact with the cam surface A', throwing the curved top
of the member 132 over towards the member 13' thus enclosing the wick and extin-
guishing the flame.
In Figure 5 is shown a convenient construction of the invention as applied to
a burner having a circular wick-holder. The arrangement of the weighted
levers CCC and extinguisher platform B are similar to that just before described
but the extinguisher is formed of two semi-cylindrical parts or members B5 13º
pivotted at each side by a pin 138 common to both to a standard 137 fixed on the
platform B. Each standard B is preferably slotted at B, the slot engaging a
pin A projecting from the wick holder, enabling these standards to serve as
guides for the platform B.

page_text: Each pin A likewise engages a cam slot 1310 in each side of each of the
members B5, B6, these slots being so shaped that as the platform is raised by the
movement of the levers C C C as previously described the two members of the
extinguisher in being forced upwards will be caused to close in over the top of the
wick holder, taking the position shown in dotted lines in the figure, and extin-
guish the flame.
In the case of a lamp having a single flat wick the extinguisher is preferably
composed of two suitably shaped parts slotted pivotted and operating in sub-
stantially the same way as in the case of the circular burner.
In some cases, particularly in lamps of the larger type it is convenient to have
some means of operating the extinguisher without necessarily tilting the lamp.
A convenient form of such an arrangement is shown in Figures 1 and 3 applied to
a duplex lamp.
A lever D is pivotted at some convenient point on the burner casing say in
a slotted standard D on the floor A'. The end of the lever within the casing is
forked, one arm of the fork lying above and the other arm below the platform B.
The outer end of the lever projects on the exterior in some position where it
may be readily got at and depressed by hand, this depression causing the raising
of the platform, and pressure from beneath will cause the platform to descend in
the event of its jamming or accidentally being retained in its raised position.
In order to enable the extinguisher to be retained if desired over the wick holder,
a notch I may be provided in the upper edge of the lever D, in such a position
that when it has been depressed so as to extinguish the lamp the notch D2 will be
brought outside the casing and into the path of a detent or lever D³ pivotted on
the exterior of the burner casing. The detent when in engagement with the
notch will retain the lever in its depressed position and consequently the extin-
guisher will remain over the wick. The detent can be readily moved out of opera-
tion by the finger or by a specially arranged lever, cord or the like.
If desired the weighted levers may be combined with other forms of extinguisher
than those described above, such other forms being attached so as to be put in
operation by the falling from their normal position of the weights directly the
lamp is tilted. The weighted levers are preferably enclosed within the casing A
so as to prevent their being tampered with, or accidentally held so as to prevent
them operating. The invention may be applied to other kinds of burners than
those described above.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;
1. The combination with an extinguisher of a platform disc or table and a
series of levers adapted to operate it and arranged so that whichever way the lamp
falls over one or more of such levers will operate the platform and the extin-
guisher substantially as described.
2. The combination with an extinguisher having a platform disc or table such
as B of weighted levers such as C substantially as described.
3. The improved apparatus for extinguishing lamps substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
4. The improved apparatus for extinguishing lamps substantially as described
with reference to Figure 5.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1899.
BOULT, WADE, & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicant.