Improvements in Oil Lamps
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1887
Complete Left, 12th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
WILLIAM DEVOLL Cuba Villa Chester Road Erdington in the County of Warwick
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the specification of a Patent,-No. 4919-of the 2nd of April 1887 (which was
granted to me for Improvements in Oil Lamps), I described a lamp for domestic
purposes, in which the oil container is surrounded by a cold water jacket, open at the
top, and having no communication with the said oil container, the water being used
for the purpose of extinguishing the light, in the event of the lamp being accidentally
upset, and for other purposes therein described. The sides or walls of the said oil
container, and also of the water jacket are described and shewn of a conical shape and
inclined towards the burner so as to lead the water, when the lamp is falling over,
into the air holes, underneath the burner, for the purpose of extinguishing the light.
This arrangement requires a considerable quantity of water around the oil container,
to insure the selfextinguishing of the light, as only a portion of it is used effectively,
viz. that which goes through the air holes underneath the burner. The object of my
present invention is to further concentrate the water on the burner by causing it to
pass through the air holes in the sides of the burner as well as through those under-
neath the burner. By this means a much smaller quantity of water will be sufficient.
This will enable a considerable reduction in the size of the lamp, and in the cost of
manufacture. For this purpose I form a small brass cap of a diameter a little larger
than the sides of the burner. The upper end of the cap is soldered to the burner
immediately underneath the gallery, thus forming a space for water between the inside
of the cap, and the outside of the burner, round the air holes. The lower end or
mouth of the cap forms a short, open tube. In one arrangement, the oil container is
made of a globular form, and the mouth of it is made in the form of a short, straight
neck, or tube. This tube is just large enough to admit the cotton wick easily, and is
screwed at the top internally to receive the burner, which is screwed into it. The oil
container is surrounded by a water jacket of its own shape, a space of three eights,
to half an inch (according to the size of the lamp) being left between the two for
cold water. The mouth of the water jacket surrounds that of the oil container, and
CD

page_text: is of the same shape, viz., a short, straight neck.-A sufficient space is left between
the two necks for the outlet of the water. The external diameter of the neck of the
water jacket, should be a little less than the internal diameter of the cap so as to leave
a space between the two, for air to pass into the burner. When the burner has been
screwed into the mouth of the oil container, the cap on the burner will cover the
neck of the water jacket, and when the burner is screwed home, the mouth of the
water jacket will be inside the cap and opposite the air holes in the bottom of
the burner. A space of about a quarter of an inch is left between the bottom of the
burner and the mouth of the water jacket, so that water may also pass to the air
holes in the sides of the burner.
When fixed, the cap should overlap the neck about half an inch.
If now the lamp be knocked over, a portion of the water will pass through the air
holes in the bottom of the burner, and another portion (owing to its being confined
by the cap) will pass through the air holes in the sides of the burner, and extinguish
the light.
The bottom of the oil container is soldered to the bottom of the water jacket, and at
the top, four small distance pegs are soldered in between the two necks, to keep them
firm and central. The lamp may then be connected to a suitable pillar or stand,
having a flange at the top which is soldered to the underside of the water jacket, or
by any other suitable connection. In another modification of my said invention, I
make the oil container and also the water jacket, of two short tubes, placed one inside
the other, leaving a sufficient space between them, for water. The burner screws
into the inner tube, and the cap covers the top of the outer one as hereinbefore
described.
The lower end of the outside tube is then soldered to a dish shaped bottom, similar
to a candlestick bottom, which is raised in the centre so as to form a small chamber,
or additional space for oil. The lower end of the central tube or oil container is left
open, and terminates in the small chamber at the bottom.
This modification shews how it may be made as a chamber lamp. In a third
modification of my said invention, I make the oil container and water jacket of two
tubes as before described, but with the bottom ends soldered up, so that the lamp may
be placed inside a vase. A flange large enough to rest on the top of the vase to
support the lamp, is soldered or otherwise fixed, to the top of the outside tube, below
the cap, for this purpose. In this modification, the tubes are made longer to suit
the vase.
Dated this 15th day of October 1887.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION:
Improvements in Domestic Oil Lamps.
WILLIAM DEVOLL Cuba Villa Chester Road Erdington in the County of Warwick
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
In the specification of a Patent-No. 4919 of the 2nd of April 1887 (which was
granted to me for "Improvements in Oil Lamps"), I described a lamp for domestic
purposes, in which the oil container is surrounded by a cold water jacket, open at the
top, and having no communication with the said oil container, the water being used
for the purpose of extinguishing the light in the event of the lamp being accidentally
upset, and for other purposes therein described. The sides or walls of the said oil
container, and also of the water jacket, are described and shewn of a conical shape
and inclined towards the burner, so as to lead the water, when the lamp is falling
over, into the air holes underneath the burner for the purpose of extinguishing the
light.
This arrangement requires a considerable quantity of water around the oil container,
to insure the selfextinguishing of the light, as only a portion of it is used effectively,
viz., that which goes through the air holes underneath the burner. The object of my
present invention is to further concentrate the water on the burner by causing it to pass
through the air holes in the sides of the burner, as well as through those underneath
the burner.
By this means a much smaller quantity of water around the oil container will be
sufficient and the light will also be more surely, and more quickly extinguished.
This will also enable a corresponding reduction in the size of the lamps.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, the same letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in all the corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation of a table lamp containing my said improve-
ments.
Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a elevation of a chamber lamp also containing the said improvements.
Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a part section of the neck, or mouth of the tubes shewing an arrange-
ment of four distance pegs, for keeping the inner mouth or tube, central with the
outer one.
Figure 7 is a plan of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a detail section, shewing the manner of connecting the inner case to the .
outer one, and also the pillar by soldering.

page_text: Figure 9 is a part sectional elevation showing an arrangement of my said invention
in which the water is used on the top of the oil container, but not around it.
Figure 10 is a part sectional elevation of a lamp containing my said improvements
which may be placed inside a vase as shewn.
For this purpose, I form a small brass cap a, Figures 1, 3, 5, 9 and 10, of a
diameter a little larger than the sides of the burner. The upper end of the cap is
soldered to the burner immediately underneath the gallery c, thus forming a space for
water between the inside of the cap, and the outside of the burner, round the air
holes d. The lower end, or mouth of the cap, forms a short, open tube, enlarged at
the mouth in Figures 9 and 10.
In the arrangement shewn at Figure 1 the oil container e, is made in the form of
an ellipse (but it may be made in the form of a globe if preferred) and the mouth of
it is formed as a short neck or tube f.
The said neck or tube is just large enough to admit the cotton wick easily, and is
fitted at the top with a collar a', Figures 1, 5, 9, and 10, which is screwed internally
to receive the burner which is screwed into it.
e,
The oil container is surrounded by a water jacket g, of its own shape, a space of
a quarter, to three eights of an inch in Figures 1 and 5, and from balf an inch to
three quarters of an inch (according to the size of the lamp) in the arrangements
shown in Figures 9 and 10, being left between the two for cold water.
The mouth of the water jacket surrounds the mouth of the oil container and is of
the same shape viz., a short neck or tube or tube, as shewn in Figures 1, 5, 9,
and 10.
The space h, between the two necks forms the outlet for the water.
The external diameter of the neck of the water jacket, should be a little less than
the internal diameter of the cap, so as to leave a space 1, between the two, for air to
pass into the burner in the manner shewn at Figures 1, 3, 5, 9, and 10. When the
burner has been screwed into the mouth of the oil container, the cap on the burner
will cover the neck, or tube of the water jacket, and when the burner is screwed
home, the mouth of the water jacket will be inside the cap and opposite the air
holes J, in the bottom of the burner, as shewn in Figures 1, 5, 9 and 10.
À. space
of about a quarter of an inch is left between the bottom of the burner and the
mouth of the water jacket, so that water may also pass to the air holes d. in the sides
of the burner.
When fixed, the cap a. should overlap the neck or tube of the water jacket about a
quarter of an inch.
This will be sufficient to confine the bulk of the water and compel it to pass
through the air holes J, d, both underneath and around the sides of the burner on
to the light.
The oil container of Figure 1 may be soldered to the bottom of the water jacket,
in the manner shewn at Figure 8, a distance ring K, equal to the water space, being
soldered in between the two. This can be easily done by means of the hole left for
the neck of the pillar, and at the top four small distance pegs V, Figures 6 and 7,
may be soldered in between the two necks to keep the inner tube or neck, central
with the outer one, but I prefer to join the cases together in the manner shewn
at Figure 1.
In this arrangement the oil container e, and also the outer case or jacket g, are each
made in halfs or shells, all of which are soldered to a central metal ring m, Figure 1.
This central ring gives great strength to the shells or caseings, and also prevents any
injury to the outer case, for if the lamp is accidentally upset, the central ring will
receive the blow when the lamp falls. Two small holes n, Figure 1, and line A. B.
Figure 2, may be drilled in the central ring to allow the water to pass to the under-
side of the oil container, if preferred, but the water in the upper half of the jacket
will be sufficient to extinguish the light.
The lamp may be connected to a suitable pillar, or stand o, having a flange at the
top, which, (if the pillar be of brass) may be soldered to the underside of the water

page_text: jacket, in the manner shewn at Figure 8, but if the pillar be of iron, I prefer to
connect it in the manner shewn in part section Figure 1.
In this arrangement a small brass flange P, is soldered to the inside of the bottom
of the outer case, before the cases are soldered on the central ring.
A boss R, on the flange, fits into the top of the pillar and is screwed out to recieve
a small bolt S, which passes through the pillar o, and also through the base T. The
lower end of the pillar fits into the base in the manner shewn at Figure 1, and
the central bolt when screwed up with the nut u, underneath, connects both the lamp
and the base to the pillar.
In another modification of my said invention Figures 3, 4, and 5, I make the oil
container and also the water jacket g, of two short tubes g, f, placed one inside the
other, leaving a sufficient space as herein-before described, between them, for water.
The mouth of the inner tube is fitted with a collar a', which is screwed to recieve
the burner, and the cap a, on the burner, covers the mouth of the outer tube g, as
herein-before described.
The lower ends of the tubes are soldered to a crown plate, which forms an
enlarged, or additional oil chamber e, Figures 3, and 5, thus allowing more room
for oil and wick.
The inner tube, or oil container f, opens into the chamber which is soldered to a
dish shaped bottom L, in the manner shewn at Figure 5, but if preferred the
tubes g,, Figure 5, may be made the full length, and soldered to the bottom plate L,
without the additional chamber e; but in this arrangement the tubes would require to
be of a little larger diameter, so that the central tube f, would hold sufficient oil.
I prefer to place the handle y, in the position shewn in Figures 3, 4, and 5, as this
position equalises the weight and keeps the lamp upright when carried about.
The lamps herein-before described are shewn with single burners. Figure 9 shews
an arrangement of my said invention for a lamp having a duplex burner (which
requires a larger oil container) in which the water jacket g, is placed on the top of
the oil container, but not around it, so as to allow a larger diameter to the oil
container.
The water on the top of the oil container in the space formed by the cover, or
jacket g, is sufficient to extinguish both the lights, and also to keep the oil cool, but
where the base of the lamp is made hollow, as in Figure 9, it may, if preferred, be
filled with water from the top by means of the small pipe n, which passes through
the oil container, and is soldered in at both ends in the manner shewn.
Figure 10 shews an arrangement of a lamp also containing my said improvements,
which may be placed inside an Earthenware Vase.
In this arrangement the oil container e, and also the jacket g, may be made of two
short tubes soldered up at the bottom as hereinbefore described, and as shewn by the
dotted lines in Figure 10, but I prefer to make the oil container e, of the shape shewn
in section down to line a³, (which also forms the bottom of the water jacket), as this
arrangement allows the full diameter of the outer case, below the line a², for oil.
A flange large enough to rest on the top of the vase, is soldered to, or formed on,
the top of the outside tube or jacket, to support the lamp. All other parts of the
lamp are the same as herein-before described.
If now, either of the lamps (when filled with oil, and trimmed, and the jacket filled
with water) be knocked over, a portion of the water, will rush out of the mouth of
the water jacket, and will pass through the air holes J, in the bottom of the burner,
and another portion (owing to its being concentrated and confined by the cap a,) will
pass through the air holes d, in the sides of the burner, on to the light.
•
By this means, a larger quantity of the water is made to pass on to the light, or
lights which are thereby more surely, and more quickly, extinguished, and owing to
the water (as before described) being confined and concentrated by the cap, less of it
is wasted, and a much smaller quantity of water around the oil container will be
sufficient. This will also enable a corresponding reduction in the size of the lamps.
The arrangements shewn at Figures 1 and 10, are equally applicable as suspended
lamps, or as lamps placed in wall brackets, if, instead of the pillar Figure 1, a suitable

page_text: flange ring be attached to the outside case (in a manner well understood by competent
persons) to support the lamp. In such an arrangement no hole would be required in
the bottom of the outside case. Small holes will have to be drilled, or small slots cut
in one side of the caps, to clear the spindles of the wick raisers.
I prefer to use flat wick burners of the ordinary type, but with a flat bottom, and
straight sides, as shewn in the drawings, which give the best results.
The water jacket may be more conveniently filled if a cork is first screwed into the
mouth of the oil container, and the jacket need not be filled higher than the bottom
of the neck in lamps as Figures 1, 9, and 10, and within half an inch of the top in
lamps as Figure 5.
I prefer to make the best lamps, in brass or copper, and the common or cheaper
kinds in strong tin, the joints in the various parts being soldered together, the manner
of which is well understood.
When the chamber lamp Figure 5, is made of Tin, the central tube (which requires
to be strong) should be made of brass tube.
No distance pegs will then be required at the top.
my said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is,
1. In domestic oil lamps, the combination with the oil container e, of an outer case
or water jacket g, in which the mouth or neck of the said oil container, and also of
the water jacket, are contracted and covered by a cap, a, fixed on the burner, arranged
to confine, and concentrate the water on the burner, for the purpose herein set
forth, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
2. In domestic oil lamps, the combination with a cap a, of an inner tube, forming
the oil container f, an outer tube forming the water jacket g, an additional oil
chamber e, and bottom plate L, arranged to operate as, and for, the purpose set forth
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
Dated this 11th day of January 1888.