IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS CONSISTS IN THE IMITATION OF A CANDLE AND CANDLESTICK
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Clark at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th April 1867.
-A communication from abroad by Edmond Armand Louis D'Argy,
Manufacturer, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS CONSISTS IN THE
IMITATION OF A CANDLE AND CANDLESTICK," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in lamps for burning light mineral
oils or essences, which lamps are made to resemble candlesticks in general
appearance.
The apparatus consists, 1st, of a hollow stem forming a reservoir for con-
taining the oil. 2ndly, of a small receptacle at the upper part of the stem of
the lamp for containing the wick; this receptacle is supplied with oil by tilting
the lamp, it may be while lighted or not. 3rdly, of a burner mounted on the
top of the stem, consisting of a part screwing into the stem of the lamp, so as
to perfectly close the oil chamber, or any other mode may be adopted in lieu
of a screw; the burner is further provided with an insulator, forming a non-
conductor of heat, as also with a wick formed in two parts, of the which one
supplies oil by capillary action from the receptacle above mentioned, and
always remains in the lamp, while the other part to be consumed is renewed
from time to time, the two wicks being simply superposed the one on the
other. Further, there is a burner, properly so called, formed of a tube in

page_text: which is enclosed and held the upper part of the wick to be consumed, as also
the wick for supplying the inflammable liquid. This burner is furnished with
a sliding part for regulating the flame by uncovering the wick more or less,
the regulator being made to resemble a candle in appearance. 4thly, of a
small tube for regulating the pressure in the reservoir without however
introducing any atmospheric air therein, the tube simply serving to prevent a
vacuum being created, which would prevent a regular supply of the inflammable
liquid to the burner; it is made of spiral form in order that the oil when the
lamp is tilted on its side for filling the small oil receptacle may have a con-
siderable length of traverse, and so be prevented from running out at the
orifice of the tube. 5thly, of a glass or chimney, which is not however
indispensable, as it is not intended to produce a draught, but only to prevent
currents of air from extinguishing the flame. 6thly, I add a stand or foot to
these lamps, which disconnects into two parts, aud is covered at bottom with
paper, on which small lumps of phosphorus are applied to be ignited by a
frictional point herein-after described for lighting the wick.
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, showing two
arrangements of the lamps.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a lamp, the foot of which is of a piece with
the stem, the parts being made hollow throughout to contain oil; Figure 2 is
a vertical section of a lamp in which the stem alone contains oil, and provided
with a detachable foot, while Figure 3 is a half under side plan of the foot.
The same letters serve for the three Figures.
a, hollow stem forming the oil reservoir, sliding in a socket b formed on the
foot d, from which it may be readily removed; c, frictional point for igniting
the phosphorus, which is dotted over a sheet of paper fitted into the bottom of
the foot d, to be replaced by another after all the phosphorus has been used.
In lighting the wick the upper part of the stem a is withdrawn from the
socket b, being afterwards replaced in position therein. f, oil receptacle
placed in stem a, which is supplied with oil by tilting the lamp ; 9, wick
immersed in the oil in f, made in one or preferably in two parts, the lower
one secured by a small pin n; h, socket screwed to the top of the stem a;
2, washer of wood or other non-conducting material; j, imitation candle, of
glass or porcelain, having a tube k in its interior, sliding on a tube / in which
the wick passes and is secured, as above mentioned. By adjusting the position
of tube k the wick 9 may be more or less exposed, and the flame thereby
regulated or extinguished. m, small capillary tube of the spiral form before
mentioned, so that when the lamp is tilted for filling the receptacle f any oil
entering said capillary tube will have such a length of traverse as to give it

page_text: insufficient time to run out of the lamp, and which oil will return to the
reservoir on the lamp being reinverted. Several of the burners arranged side
by side may be used as a candelabrum.
The lamp shown in Figure 1 needs no special description, it being the same
as the one above described, except that it is in one piece, while the stem and
foot are both made to contain oil.
The Invention consists in the following improvements in lamps :-
1st, the mode of supplying oil to the receptacle f by tilting the lamp.
2ndly, the pressure tube m of spiral form to prevent the oil escaping when
the lamp is so tilted.
3rdly, the application of a non-conducting washer i.
4thly, the flame regulator, made in imitation of a moulded candle.
5thly, making the wick in two parts, the upper one only being renewed.
6thly, the application of phosphorus to lamps for the purpose described.