Improvements in the Construction of Paraffin Lamps.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1886.
Complete Left, 19th Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 21st Oct., 1887.
Improvements in the Construction of Paraffin Lamps.
1, EDWARD PITCAIRN WRIGHT, of Woodville Handsworth Birmingham in the
County of Warwick Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the method of raising the
cone and moon-holder of paraffin lamps, perpendicularly; and in the means and
appliances for effecting the same; for the purpose of trimming and lighting the lamps
without removing the chimney and moon.
In carrying out my invention, I fit two vertical parallel rods to the underside of
the cone, or to a light frame attached thereto. Corresponding holes are made in the
mount, underneath the cone, in which the rods may slide freely; each rod passing
through two plates, or through tubes, in order to keep them in a vertical position.
To the underside of the said cone, or light frame attached thereto, I also attach one
two or more jointed levers (but preferably two, one on each side) so arranged as to
form"
toggle joints." One end of each jointed lever is soldered rivetted or other wise
firmly fixed to a horizontal bar to one end of which a handle or thumb piece is attached
for turning the same by hand. A small gap or other arrangement is made on each
side of the upper edge of the mount, in which the horizontal bar rests, such gaps
forming bearings for the bar. The object of this arrangement being to enable the cone
and glass holder, with light frame and rods attached, to be removed for the purpose
of filling the lamp with oil. It is obvious that if preferred the said bar, by which
the levers are actuated, may be fixed into the body of the burner, and so not be
removeable.
When the cone and moon holder are in their normal position, at rest on the mount,
the levers are folded at acute angles; and, when the handle attached to the horizontal
bar is turned by the finger and thumb, the lower links of the "toggles" rise up, and,
by straightening the joints, raise the cone and moon holder in a vertical direction, and
thus expose the wick tubes to view, and afford ample convenience for igniting the
wicks.

page_text: In some cases I fit one toggle jointed lever, instead of two as above described; the
vertical rods ensuring the stability of the cone and moon holder, when in a raised
position.
On the levers becoming straightened they naturally fix themselves and then the cone
and glass holder are maintained in their raised position-Or, in order more securely
to fix them when raised, they may be carried slightly beyond their centres, then they
can be naturally fixed by pressing against a stop which may be provided.
De 1721. Dazu 1980

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Paraffin Lamps.
I, EDWARD PITCAIRN WRIGHT, of Woodville, Handsworth, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the method of raising the
cone and moon-holder of paraffin lamps, perpendicularly, and in the means and
appliances for effecting the same; for the purpose of trimming and lighting the lamps
without removing the chimney and moon.
In carrying out my invention, I fit two vertical parallel rods to the underside of the
cone, or to a light frame attached thereto. Corresponding holes are made in the
mount, underneath the cone, in which the rods may slide freely; each rod passing
through two plates, or through tubes, in order to keep them in a vertical position.
To the underside of the cone, or to a light frame attached thereto, I also attach one,
two, or more jointed levers (but preferably two: one on each side) so arranged as to
form "toggle joints." One end of each jointed lever is soldered, rivetted, or otherwise
firmly fixed to a horizontal spindle, to one end of which a handle or thumb piece is
attached for turning the same by hand. A small gap or other arrangement is made on
each side of the upper edge of the mount, in which the horizontal bar rests and works,
such gaps forming bearings for the bar. The object of this arrangement is to enable
the cone and glass holder, with the light frame and rods attached thereto, to be
removed for the purpose of filling the lamp with oil, trimming cleaning &c.
It is obvious that, if preferred, the bar by which the levers are actuated, may be
fixed to the body of the burner, so as not to be removable.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1, is an elevation, partly in section, of my improved lamp, closed, with the cone
and moon-holder down. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same raised; and Fig. 3 is a
similar view, at right angles to Fig. 2.
th
This
is a portion of the moon-holder; is the cone; c c are the burner or wick tubes;
dd are the spindles for regulating the wicks. ee are the vertical guide rods for
ensuring the steadiness of the cone and moon-holder, when raised. is a spindle
resting on or in openings or holes in the mount or body underneath the cone.
spindle is fitted with a handle or thumb piece g, for turning the same, by hand. hh
are links forming parts of the toggle levers, fitted to the spindle so as to rotate
therewith. are also links, forming parts of the toggle levers, jointed to the
underside of the cone, and otherwise arranged, as shewn in the drawings.
In the closed position, shewn in Fig. 1, with the cone and moon-holder at rest on
the mount, the levers are folded together at acute angles; and, when the handle
is turned by the finger and thumb, the links h h rise up, and, by straightening the

page_text: toggle, raise the cone and moon-holder in a vertical direction, and thus expose the
wick tubes to view, and afford ample convenience for trimming and igniting the wicks.
The lowering of the cone and moon-holder is effected by moving the handle g in the
reverse direction to that for raising the same.
A shoulder, as at 7', is formed on the links of the toggle lever, so that, when in the
position shewn in Fig. 2, they naturally fix themselves, and safely maintain the cone
and moon-holder in their raised position. Or, for the same purpose, they may be
carried slightly beyond their centres, when they can be naturally fixed by resting
against a stop provided for such purpose.
In come cases I fit one toggle jointed lever instead of two, as above described; the
vertical rods ensuring the stability of the cone and moon-holder, when in a raised
position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In combination with paraffin lamps, the application and use of toggle jointed
levers hi attached to the spindle f, having a handle g; such levers being jointed to
the underside of the cone 6, severally operating substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
2. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of the several and
respective parts, for raising and lowering the cone and moon-holder, or the cone only,
of paraffin lamps, constituting my improvements in the construction of paraffin lamps,
substantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
Dated 17th September 1887
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.