IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for tho
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS."-A communication from abroad
by Robert Cornelius of Philadelphia in the United States of America.
Sealed the 7th July 1863, and dated the 20th April 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th April 1863.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention of "Improvements in Lamps" is applicable to that descrip-
tion of lamp in which kerosene or volatile hydrocarbons is burned, and relates
to the modo of securing the shade to the dome or reflector, and of securing
the deflector to the lamp. This is effected by means of a circular spring
formed of wire which passes all round the inside of the dome and presses
down on the rim of the glass shade, and thereby holds it in place. One end
of this spring is attached to the dome or deflector, and the other end being
bent into the form of a hook passes out of an opening made in the side of the
deflector, and also through an opening in the exterior ornamental gallery
which supports the shade. By this arrangement all the parts are properly
secured together, and the hooked end of the spring also acts as a handle to
remove the deflector.

page_text: Another improvement consists in adapting to the ends of the opening in the
domo or deflector through which the flame passes auxiliary end guides for the
purpose of directing the current of air at the end of the flame and thereby
preventing the latter from spreading.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Groat Seal Patent Office
on the 20th October 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS," being a communication from abroad, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Newton,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of tho said Invention, 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 William Edward Newton, 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 following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention of improvements in lamps relates to that description of
lamp which is known by the name of kerosene lamps.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 represents an elevation of the im-

page_text: proved lamp; Fig. 2 is an elevation looking at right angles to the former
Figure; Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the burner part of the lamp; Fig. 4
is a plan view looking down on the burner; Fig. 5 represents the spring catch
which holds the shade; Figs. 6, 7, and 8 aro views of the parts detached.
The Invention relates to the mode of securing the shade to the dome or
deflector, and of securing the deflector to the lamp, also in placing small
auxiliary end guides to the aperturo made in the dome for the flame, and
having for its object the directing the air as it passes the ends of the flame.
In Fig. 5 is shown the deflector inverted. A circular springs is attached
at one extremity to the inside of the lower part of the dome, and after passing
around within the rim of the lower part of the dome terminates in a hook or
bent projections t, which passes out and extends over the lower edge
or rim of the glass shade, so that when the shade is placed on the dome
the elasticity of this spring causes the hook t to press upon and hold the
shade in connection with a projection i down to the deflector D. The spring
hook t besides its motion upon the rim of the glass shado has a lateral
motion within a slot p in the deflector. There is a recess r in the orna-
mental rim A, A, Figs. 1 and 8, of the lamp, into which recess the spring
books works when laterally pressed, the effect of which spring hook is
when opened to hold the dome D down to the body of the lamp. Thus the
spring book serves the double purpose of securing the glass shade to the dome
and the dome to the lamp. In order to cause the flame of the lamp to burn
more steadily, and to prevent it from expanding on its edges, I place in each
end of the flame aperture a small projection f, f, which extends nearly vertically
for a short distance, and serves to guide the air as it approaches the flame in
a direction nearly vertical. This prevents the flame from expanding and at
the same time secures greater steadiness of flame. Burners heretofore made
have certain defects, among which is the tendency of the flame to spread too
much and thereby to endanger the glass shade. The mode usually adopted
to correct this evil is to cut off cach of the corners of the wick, but after the
lamp has burned for some time the flame becomes pointed in the middle.
Another serious difficulty is that, owing to the imperfect form and construction
of the cap or dome, the beat is increased beyond what it should be. In the
improved burner the flame passes up through the cap, and the air comes in
contact with its surface in such a manner as not to disturb its upward direc-
tion, but favors the issue of the air by the peculiar form of the opening and
the projecting pieces at its ends. This form prevents the flame from spreading
beyond its proper limit and thus perfect combustion and a quiet steady flame
is the result. As the space between the flame and deflector is much increased

page_text: the air passes freely and prevents the burner from becoming so heated and the
collection of carbon on the corner of the wick is also avoided. The hook t
may be used without the circular spring and acts then as a handle for
removing the deflector.
Having thus described this Invention of improvements in kerosene lamps,
and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, as com-
municated to me by my foreign correspondent, I claim as the Invention secured
to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid,―
First, the use of the hook s, t, for securing the shade to the deflector and
the deflector to the lamp as above described.
Second, I claim the adaptation of the auxiliary vertical end guide pieces f, f,
for directing the air at the ends of the flame, and preventing it from expand-
ing or burning irregularly.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of October in the year of our 1
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)