IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO LAMPS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGE ROOFS AND OTHER EXPOSED POSITIONS, ARE APPLICABLE TO
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alban Edward Ragg, of Bebington, in the County of
"
Chester, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO LAMPS
FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGE ROOFS AND OTHER EXPOSED POSITIONS, PARTS OF
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alban Edward Ragg at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th March 1881.
ALBAN EDWARD RAGG, of Bebington, in the County of Chester. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND RELATING TO LAMPS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGE ROOFS AND OTHER
EXPOSED POSITIONS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
LAMPS."
The object of my Invention of improvements in and relating to lamps for
railway carriage roofs and other exposed positions in part applicable to other lamps
is as follows:-
Firstly. To construct a lamp such that wind or other current of air shall have
less deleterious effect than heretofore.
Secondly. Where needed, such as in railway carriages or other positions
requiring light from above, to provide improved means whereby any shadow caused
by the oil container may be reduced to a minimum when such container is fixed
below the flame.
Thirdly. To provide improved means so as to ensure that the oil in the oil
container does not become overheated.
Fourthly. To provide improved means whereby, more especially as applied to
railway roof and similar lamps, the oil container may be connected with and fixed
below the outer glass in such a manner as to exclude the surrounding atmosphere,
whilst at the same time it may be readily removable, as also at the same time to
attach or hold the said outer glass so that it may be readily and firmly attached to
the body of the lamp.
Fifthly. In lamps where a burner is used such that it requires a glass chimney
and it is desirable that such glass chimney should be used in combination with a
metal one, to provide improved means whereby the glass chimney may be held
ecurely in its place without interfering with the light and be readily removable
D
ו..

page_text: for cleansing and other purposes, and be so connected with the metal chimney as to
ensure a perfect draught.
Sixthly. To provide improved means whereby the flame may be raised or
lowered from the outside of the lamp, and when desirable to prevent such flame
being raised too high.
Seventhly. To provide a new and improved construction of gauge, whereby the
wick may be readily trimmed and a good shaped flame ensured.
Eighthly. To provide new and improved means of extinguishing the flame.
A. In carrying out my first improvement, that is to say, in constructing a
lamp whereon wind or other current of air shall have less deleterious effect than
heretofore.
(1.) As regards supplying air to support the combustion of the flame.
Ì form either inside or outside my lamp an air supply chamber of any convenient
shape. In this chamber I construct any desirable number of tubes so situated that
in travelling from the atmosphere to the burner the current of air has first to pass
through any given number of these tubes before it can gain access to the said
chamber, and back to the opposite side of the chamber before it can gain access to
the outlet tubes, from whence it passes to the burner. The inlet to this air supply
chamber as well as the outlet to the burner I protect when desirable with perforated
metal.
I use one or more of these said air supply chambers as may be most convenient
for gaining the desired result of thoroughly breaking up and diffusing the
current of air which supports the combustion of the flame ere it can reach the
burner.
(2.) As regards the outlet for the heated air and consumed vapours.
Besides the glass or metal chimney or combination of both when such are
necessary for the proper combustion of the oil, as also in all lamps to which my
improvements are applicable, I form on the top of my lamp another chimney of
either a conical or parallel form, which outer chimney I leave open at the top, and
surrounding this outer chimney I place an outlet chamber consisting of a hollow
cylinder (or other convenient form) open at the bottom and closed at the top, of
such size and height that when the proper area of holes or outlets for the escape of
the heated air and consumed vapours have been constructed in it the combustion
of the oil shall be the rather aided than obstructed. In the side or sides of this
chamber, or both in the side or sides and in the top, I construct a sufficient number.
of holes or outlets to allow merely of the perfect combustion of the oil, the number
and size of these holes being regulated by the number and size of the holes through
which the air supply passes through the burner to the flame, that is to say, I
construct my lamp so that the outlet for the heated air and consumed vapours
shall be in more accurate proportions to the inlet for the air to the flame through
the burner than heretofore. The said total area of the outlet being never more
than and in some cases preferably less than equal to the said total area of the inlet,
instead of as heretofore in many cases three or four times as great. In lamps
which have the flame burning in an open chamber I regulate the area of the outlet
by the total inlet of air to such chamber, and to screen such of these outlet boles
as I place in the side or sides of my outlet chamber from any great or sudden force
of wind, as well as to direct the current so that it may not blow directly into the
chamber, I place outside the said chamber and covering the outlet holes, leaving an
annular space betwixt it and the chamber, a double truncated cone (where the said
chamber takes a cylindrical form) joined at the largest diameters, the two small
ends of which I carry upwards and downwards in the form of a cylinder. When
the chamber takes otherwise than of a cylindrical form I place an equivalent
protector of an angular form, the upper and lower ends of which I extend in like
manner; and when I form holes in the top of my said outlet chamber I place inside
the said chamber and at the top a hollow truncated cone (when the chamber takes
the form of a cylinder), the smaller end of which I solder or fix to the top of the
said chamber and round the larger diameter of this cone, which is the same or

page_text: nearly the same size as the said chamber, I pierce, any desirable number of holes'
or cut out equivalent pieces, such that any current of air passing downward through
the holes I have formed in the top of my outlet chamber cannot flow directly down
the chimney but passes down and mingles with the consumed vapours escaping
from it. When the outlet chamber is of other than a cylindrical form I fix at
the top equivalent angular pieces with holes or pieces cut out in like manner.
This outlet chamber so formed I either fix permanently on my lamp or construct
it with a hinge or other appliance such that it may be readily removable for
cleansing purposes; I also when desirable place between this said chamber and
the outer chimney of my lamp, of such height that the top shall be higher than
the outlet holes in the side or sides (when the said chamber is of a cylindrical
form), an annular chamber open at the top and soldered or fixed at the bottom to
the top of my lamp. When the outlet chamber is of other than a cylindrical form
I make this chamber of an equivalent shape.
B. To accomplish my second improvement, that is to say, provide improved
means whereby any shadow caused by the oil container may be reduced to a
minimum when such container is fixed below the flame.
(1.) I use such shape of an outer glass that there shall be little or no refraction
of the rays of light to such a point that they are comparatively useless, that is to
say, instead of forming my glass in railway roof lamps for example of a rounded
or bent form vertically, I form the sides as straight as possible, and the whole 50
that it shall partake of either a conical or cylindrical form. This glass I leave
open at both ends.
(2.) I construct my oil container of a conical form, the larger end of which (by
means hereafter to be described) I attach to the lower end of my outer or only
glass.
(3.) Above the said glass and oil container I place a reflector of such size and
forming such an angle with a line drawn through the centre of the said glass and
oil container that the shadow formed by the oil container being below the light
shall disappear within a foot of the bottom of the said container, or in other words,
that a portion of the rays of reflected light shall cross each other at a point not
lower than a foot below the said container.
C. To accomplish my third object, that is to say, of providing improved means
whereby the oil in the oil container may not become over heated.
(1.) I form in my oil container and attached to it at the top a tube or equivalent
appliance, which tube I extend any desirable length into the container. I so
construct this tube that for a convenient distance the lower end shall be of less
diameter than the upper portion. Fitting tightly and soldered or fixed into this
smaller diameter I place another tube or equivalent appliance, the lower end of
which I either cut off at any convenient distance above or fix to the bottom of my
oil container, and the upper end I carry to a point above the top of the said oil
container. The annular space formed around this inner tube, and between it and
the tube above described as formed in the container, I fill when desirable with any
good non-conducting substance.
(2.) Upon or near the top of that portion of the tube or equivalent appliance
which is carried above the top of the oil container, leaving the top of the said
tube or equivalent open, I construct a disc of a convenient size; a space is thus
left between this said disc and the top of the oil container, communicating with
the annular space above described around the inner tube which descends into the
oil container. This space I either fill up with a good non-conducting substance or
leave it open as most desirable.
(3.) Upon the top of this disc so constructed I fix the mechanism by which the
burner is attached to the oil container, and also as applied to railway roof and
similar lamps that portion of the metal work which forms the lower part of my
attachment of the oil container to the outer glass.
In some cases where I prefer it I use the above described disc isolated, as above

page_text: described, from the top of the oil container by itself, and not in connection with
an annular space formed around a tube descending into the oil container.
D. In carrying out my fourth improvement, that is to say, of providing
improved means whereby, especially as applied to railway roof and similar lamps,
the oil container may be connected with and fixed below the outer glass in such a
manner as to exclude the surrounding atmosphere, whilst at the same time the oil
container may be readily removable, as also at the same time to attach or hold
the said glass so that it may be readily and firmly attached to the body of the
lamp.
(1.) I form on the disc, as above described, attached to the oil container an
annular ring slightly smaller than the said disc, of any desirable height, and
sometimes of a slightly conical form, upon which ring I form externally or
internally one or more projections or pins, upon which projections or pins, one or
more of them, I form a screw, upon which a nut or thumb-screw works.
(2.) To the bottom of my glass I attach a similar ring, which fits perfectly.
though movably either inside or outside the ring which I fix to my disc, and in
this ring I form one or more openings, such that combined with the corresponding
projections upon the ring attached to the disc they shall form what are known as
bayonet joints. The horizontal portions of the said openings I carry slightly
upwards, so that when the inner ring is inserted and the projections or pins are
properly placed in their corresponding openings in the corresponding ring a slight
turn draws the parts tightly together in a vertical direction, and the bottom of the
ring attached to the outer glass is brought into close contact with the disc, the
disc being formed larger than the ring attached to it so as to allow of this contact
when I prefer that the ring attached to the glass shall be the outside one. By
means of the nuts or thumbscrews, one or more, I am enabled to fix the rings thus
placed in a perfectly secure manner. When desirable I form the projections on
the ring attached to the glass and the corresponding openings in that attached to
the disc.
(3.) I attach the said ring to the bottom of the glass, and at the same time when
desirable the said glass to the body of the lamp by means of rods carried upwards
from the ring, and fixed by means of screws or solder, either to the body of the
lamp or to projections formed inside the body, or otherwise to an annular ring held
by projections fixed inside the body of the lamp, the said rods passing up either
through the reflector inside it or outside it, as most desirable. Or otherwise
I attach the said rods to an annular ring at the top of the glass in such a manner
as that the said glass is fixed firmly to the lower ring independently of the body of
the lamp, and attach the glass and rings so formed to the body of the lamp by
means of a hinge and catch or a bayonet joint. When desirable I insert between
the glass and the said rings, as also between the bottom ring attached to the glass,
washers or layers of any soft or suitable substance.
E. In carrying into effect my fifth object, that is to say, when I use a burner
such that it requires a glass chimney, and it is desirable that such glass chimney
shall be used in combination with a metal one to provide improved means whereby
the said glass chimney may be held securely in its place without interfering with
the light, and be readily removable for cleansing or other purposes, and be so
connected with the metal chimney as to ensure a perfect draught.
(1.) I construct around whatever burner I think most suitable for the object
I have in view, and either on a level with or a little above or a little below the
level of the bottom of the dome of the said burner, a truncated cone (or its
equivalent, where for any reason I use a glass chimney, the bottom of which is not
of a ciruclar form), the larger diameter of which I place below the point of contact
with the burner, and when desirable I turn the edge of this larger diameter up so
as to form or construct upon it a ledge or bulwark around it. Upon this cone or
its equivalent I place my glass chimney, which may be of such size at the bottom
that it not only rests upon the said cone or equivalent, but also held firmly by the
bulwark or ledge above described.

page_text: (2.) I form my chimney either of such size that it will when necessary pass
upward through the annular ring attached to the bottom of my outer glass, or
when this is not a necessity, of such size as may be most suitable, and of such
shape that whilst the sides are parallel, the top is either narrowed in or widened
out in a conical form, or first narrowed in and then widened out into a conical
form.
(3.) Inside the body of my lamp I construct so as to be removable or otherwise
permanently fix an annular ring or rings at such height that it or they shall be
situated above the top of the glass chimney; through this ring or rings and fitting
tightly though movably in a vertical direction I pass a metal chimney, upon the
lower end of which, when I have widened out the upper portion of my glass
chimney I form a cone, such that it shall fit into that portion of my said glass
chimney which I have widened out. When I have formed my glass chimney, such
that it is narrowed in at the top, I leave the bottom of the metal chimney plain, or
5 construct it of such conical form that it shall fit tightly over the said narrowed top
of, the glass chimney I construct this metal chimney of such a length that when
the glass chimney is in its place both it and the said metal chimney shall come
into close contact, and the glass chimney thus be held between two cones or their
equivalents, that at the bottom being fixed to the burner, that at the top being
formed either by the construction of the metal chimney or by the shape of
the glass chimney in a secure manner, whilst the light is no way interfered with
or intercepted, the vertical movement of the metal chimney allowing for any
difference in the height of the glass ones caused by the irregularity of manufacture.
When desirable I attach springs to the metal chimney, such that it shall auto-
matically compensate for any such irregularity;. or I form upon it a screw in such
a manner that by turning it round the height may be altered to suit any such
irregularity.
(4) When I find it desirable to fix the annular ring or rings through which my :
metal chimney passes in such a manner as to be removable, I attach them to a
removable inner casing fitting into the body of the lamp in such a manner that by
withdrawing the inner casing the chimney and rings may be all removed together;
and when I find it desirable to so fix my glass chimney to my metal one that it
may be removable at the one operation with the said metal chimney and inner
casing, instead of or as well as fixing the cone or its equivalent around the
burner, I attach it to the glass chimney by wire rods, these rods being carried up
and attached to the metal chimney by springs, either formed by the wires
themselves or separately, or other suitable device, so as to allow of the ready
replacement of the glass chimney when required.
F. In carrying out my sixth improvement, that of providing new and improved
means of regulating the height of the flame from the outside of the lamp, and when
desirable to prevent the flame being raised too high.
(1.) Attached to the wick spindle and in place of the knob, segment of a wheel
or beveled wheel as used, I use a straight-toothed wheel, which when the burner is
removed from the oil container acts in the place of the button or knob for the
purpose of turning the wick spindle; and in such cases as it is desirable to regulate
the wick from a position below the lamp I insert in and running through my oil
container and disc a tube of any desirable size.
(2.) In this tube I place a spindle, upon the upper end of which I have formed a
worm screw, the lower end being formed so as to be readily worked by an ordinary
knob or a key suitable for the purpose. When this spindle is thus placed in the
said tube, the worm screw is in such a position that by placing the burner in the
oil container and turning it on its axis from left to right or right to left, as
the case may be, the toothed wheel formed on the wick spindle is geared into
the worin screw. When the oil container is situated below the body of the lamp,
such as in railway roof and similar lamps, I extend the said spindle upon which
the worm screw has been formed sufficiently far down the said tube to be acted
upon by a knob or suitable key, and in mast head and other "over-head" lamps

page_text: where the oil container is enclosed in the body of the lamp, I extend the said
spindle through the bottom of the lamp so as to enable me to regulate the wick as
desired.
(3.) When it is desirable to regulate the flame from above the lamp, I form
the said worm screw on the bottom of the spindle, and make the upper end.
suitable for being worked with a key or knob carrying the said spindle in any
suitable manner to a convenient position outside and at the top of the lamp.
(4.) In lamps, such as ships' side lights, railway signal lights, and other lamps
where it is more convenient to regulate the flame from the side, I place a tooth
wheel held in such a position by a suitable tube or bearings that when the oil
container is in its place with the burner attached this said toothed wheel shall be
geared into the toothed wheel attached to the wick spindle; to the toothed wheel
so held in a tube or by suitable bearings I attach a spindle running through to the
outside of the lamp, the end of which I form so as to allow of it being worked by
a key, or when desirable fix a button or knob upon it by which it may be readily
worked.
(5). And in order when desirable to prevent the flame from being raised too
high, I attach to the other end of my wick spindle a tooth wheel, similar to or of
the same pitch as the one above described, and attached to the disc I fix a quadrant
working on its axis, upon the edge of which I have formed teeth corresponding to
the teeth in my wheel, and in such a position that when the one wheel is engaged
with or geared into the worm screw or fixed wheel on the one side the other wheel
shall be geared into the said quadrant, the said quadrant being so constructed
either by a spring or that by its own weight it shall always be in one position
when disengaged from the said wheel, and be so constructed or held by suitable
means as to be incapable of moving further than a certain distance around its own
axis, this distance being the required amount necessary for the proper adjust-
ment of the flame.
G. In carrying out my seventh improvement, namely, to provide new and
improved gauge, by means of which the wick may be readily trimmed and a good
shaped flame ensured, an improvement which is applicable also to any lamp in
which is used a burner of such construction that to gain a perfect shaped flame
the top of the wick has to be rounded off, I take a portion of tube of any
desirable length, and of the same size and shape as the wick tube in the burner to
be trimmed; one end of this tube I shape so that it shall be the required shape of
the wick, beveling the edges off so as to allow the scissors to have full play. This
tube so formed I provide with a foot-shoulder, or outer casing, such that it may be
readily placed and beld firmly against or fit over the wick tube in the burner to
be trimmed, and the portion of tube which forms the gauge lie directly over and
correspond with the wick tube of the burner to be trimmed. Thus by turning the
wick of the said burner sufficiently high through the gauge and cutting it off
round the end formed for the purpose on the gauge the right shaped curve for a
good shaped flame is easily acquired.
H. In carrying out my last improvement, that is to say, to provide new and
improved means of extinguishing the flame, I form in the top of my outlet chamber
a hole of any desirable size, which hole I cover in an air tight manner by means of
a suitable lid or cover, which is attached to the said outlet chamber by means of
a hinge and catch, this said cover being so constructed with a spring that when
it is freed from the catch it shall fly suddenly back and thus exhaust the air
inside the lamp sufficiently to put out the flame.
A lamp constructed upon or embodying the above improvements is capable of
successfully burning as well other what are known as heavy mineral oils, that is
to say, mineral oils having a specific gravity of 843 or thereabouts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alban Edward Ragg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th September 1881.
ALBAN EDWARD RAGG, of Bebington, in the County of Chester. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND RELATING TO LAMPS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGE ROOFS AND OTHER
EXPOSED POSITIONS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
LAMPS."
The object of my Invention of improvements in and relating to lamps for
railway carriage roofs and other exposed positions in part applicable to other lamps
is as follows:-
Firstly. To construct a lamp such that wind or other current of air shall have
less deleterious effect than heretofore.
Secondly. Where needed, such as in railway carriages or other positions requiring
light from above, to provide improved means whereby any shadow caused by the
oil container may be reduced to a minimum when such container is fixed below the
flame.
Thirdly. To provide improved means so as to ensure that the oil in the oil
container does not become overheated.
Fourthly. To provide improved means whereby, more especially as applied to
railway roof and similar lamps, the oil container may be connected with and fixed
below the outer glass in such a manner as to exclude the surrounding atmosphere,
whilst at the same time it may be readily removable, as also at the same time to
attach or hold the said outer glass so that it may be readily and firmly attached to
the body of the lamp.
Fifthly. In lamps where a burner is used, such that it requires a glass chimney,
and is desirable that such glass chimney should be used in combination with a
metal one, to provide improved means whereby the glass chimney may be held
securely in its place without interfering with the light, and be readily removable
for cleansing and other purposes, and be so connected with the metal chimney as
to ensure a perfect draught.
Sixthly. To provide improved means whereby the flame may be raised or lowered
from the outside of the lamp, and when desirable to prevent such flame being
raised too high.
Seventhly. To provide a new and improved construction of gauge whereby the
wick may be readily trimmed and a good shaped flame ensured.
Eighthly. To provide new and improved means of extinguishing the flame.
A. In carrying out my first improvement, that is to say, in constructing a lamp
whereon wind or other current of air shall have less deleterious effect than
heretofore.
(1.) As regards supplying air to support the combustion of the flame.
I form either inside or outside my lamp an air supply chamber of any convenient
shape. In this chamber I construct any desirable number of tubes so situated
that in travelling from the atmosphere to the burner the current of air has first to
pass through any given number of these tubes before it can gain access to the said
chamber, and back to the opposite side of the chamber before it can gain access to
the outlet tubes, from whence it passes to the burner. The inlet to this air supply
chamber as well as the outlet to the burner I protect when desirable with
perforated metal.
I use one or more of these said air supply chambers as may be most convenient
for gaining the desired result of thoroughly breaking up and diffusing the current
of air which supports the combustion of the flame ere it can reach the burner.
(2.) As regards the outlet for the heated air and consumed vapours,

page_text: Besides the glass or metal chimney or combination of both where such are
necessary for the proper combustion of the oil, as also in all lamps to which my
improvements are applicable, I form on the top of my lamp another chimney of
either a conical or parallel form, which outer chimney I leave open at the top, and
surrounding this outer chimney I place an outlet chamber consisting of a hollow
cylinder (or other convenient forin) open at the bottom and closed at the top, of
such size and height that when the proper area of holes or outlets for the escapo
of the heated air and consumed vapours have been constructed in it the com-
bustion of the oil shall be the rather aided than obstructed. In the side or sides
of this chamber, or both in the side or sides and in the top, I construct a sufficient
number of holes or outlets to allow merely of the perfect combustion of the oil,
the number and size of these holes being regulated by the number and size of
the holes through which the air supply passes through the burner to the flame,
that is to say, I construct my lamp so that the outlet for the heated air and
consumed vapours shall be in more accurate proportions to the inlet for the air to
the flame.through the burner than heretofore. The said total area of the outlet
being never more than and in some cases preferably less than equal to the said
total area of the inlet, instead of as heretofore in many cases three or four times
as great. In lamps which have the flame burning in an open chamber I regulate
the area of the outlet by the total inlet of air to such chamber, and to screen such
of these outlet holes as I place in the side or sides of my outlet chamber from
any great or sudden force of wind, as well. as to direct the current so that it may
not blow directly into the chamber, I place outside the said chamber and covering
the outlet holes, leaving an annular space betwixt it and the chamber, a double
truncated cone (where the said chamber takes a cylindrical form) joined at the
largest diameters, the two small ends of which I carry upwards and downwards in
the form of a cylinder. When the chamber takes otherwise than a cylindrical
form I place an equivalent protector of an angular form, the upper and lower
ends of which I extend in like manner; and when I form holes in the top of
my said outlet chamber I place inside the said chamber and at the top a hollow
truncated cone (when the chamber takes the form of a cylinder), the smaller end
of which I solder or fix to the top of the said chamber, and round the larger
diameter of this cone, which is the same or nearly the same size as the said
chamber, I pierce any desirable number of holes or cut out equivalent pieces, such
that any current of air passing downward through the holes I have formed in the
top of my outlet chamber cannot flow directly down the chimney but passes down
and mingles with the consumed vapours escaping from it. When the outlet chamber
is of other than a cylindrical form I fix at the top equivalent angular pieces with
holes or pieces cut out in like manner.
This outlet chamber so formed I either fix permanently on my lamp or construct
it with a hinge or other appliance, such that it may be readily removable for
cleansing purposes; I also when desirable place between this said chamber and
the outer chimney of my lamp, of such height that the top shall be higher than
the outlet holes in the side or sides (when the said chamber is of a cylindrical
form), an annular chamber open at the top and soldered or fixed at the bottom to
the top of my lamp. When the outlet.chamber is of other than a cylindrical form
I make this chamber of an equivalent shape.
B. To accomplish my second improvement, that is to say, provide improved
means whereby any shadow caused by the oil container may be reduced to a
minimum when such container is fixed below the flame.
(1.) I use such shape of an outer glass that there shall be little or no refraction
of the rays of light to such a point that they are comparatively useless, that is to
say, instead of forming my glass in railway roof lamps for example of a rounded
or bent form vertically, I form the sides as straight as possible, and the whole so
that it shall partake of either a conical or cylindrical form. This glass I leave
open at both ends.
(2.) I construct my oil container of a conical form, the larger end of which

page_text: (by means hercatter to be described) I attach to the lower end of my outer or
only glass.
(3.) Above the said glass and oil container I place a reflector, of such a size and
forming such an angle with a line drawn through the centre of the said glass and
oil container that the shadow formed by the oil container being below the light
shall disappear, within a foot of the bottom of the said container, or in other words,
that a portion of the rays of reflected light shall cross each other at a point not
lower than a foot below the said container.
C. To accomplish my third object, that is to say, of providing improved means
whereby the oil in the oil container may not become overheated.
(1.) I form in my oil container and attached to it at the top a tube or equivalent
appliance, which tube- I extend any desirable length into the container. I so
construct this tube that for a convenient distance the lower end shall be of less
diameter than the upper portion. Fitting tightly and soldered or fixed into this.
smaller diameter I place another tube or equivalent appliance, the lower end of
which I either cut off at any convenient distance above, or fix to the bottom of
my oil container, and the upper end I carry to a point above the top of the said
oil container. The annular space formed around this inner tube, and between it
and the tube above described as formed in the container, I'fill when desirable with
any good non-conducting substance.
(2) Upon or near the top of that portion of the tube or equivalent appliance,
which is carried above the top of the oil container, leaving the top of the said tube
or equivalent open, I construct a disc of a convenient size; a space is thus left
between the said disc and the top of the oil container, communicating with the
annular space above described around the inner tube which descends into the oil
container. This space I either fill up with a good non-conducting substance or
leave it open as most desirable.
(3.) Upon the top of this disc so constructed I fix the mechanism by which the
burner is attached to the oil container, and also as applied to railway roof and
similar lamps that portion of the metal work which forms the lower part of my
attachment of the oil container to the outer glass.
In some cases where I prefer it I use the above described disc isolated, as above
described, from the top of the oil container by itself, and not in connection with an
annular space formed around a tube descending into the oil container.
D. In carrying out my fourth improvement, that is to say, of providing improved
means whereby, especially as applied to railway roof and similar lamps, the oil
container may be connected with and fixed below the outer glass in such a
manner as to exclude the surrounding atmosphere, whilst at the same time the
oil container may be readily removable, as also at the same time to attach or hold
the said glass so that it may be readily and firmly attached to the body of the lamp.
(1.) I form on the disc, as above described, attached to the oil container an
annular ring slightly smaller than the said disc, of any desirable height, and
sometimes of a slightly conical form, upon which ring I form externally or
internally one or more projections or pins, upon which projections or pins, one or
more of them, I form a screw, upon which a nut or thumb-screw works."
(2.) To the bottom of my glass I attach a similar ring, which fits perfectly
though movably either inside or outside the ring which I fix to my disc, and
in this ring I form one or more openings, such that combined with the corre-
sponding projections upon the ring attached to the disc they shall form what are
known as bayonet joints. The horizontal portions of the said openings I carry
slightly upwards, so that when the inner ring is inserted and the projections or
pins are properly placed in their corresponding openings in the coresponding ring,
a slight turn draws the parts tightly together in a vertical direction, and the
bottom of the ring attached to the outer glass is brought into close contact
with the disc, the disc being formed larger than the ring attached to it so as to
allow of this contact when I prefer that the ring attached to the glass shall be the
outside one. By means of the nuts or thumb-screws, one or more, I am enabled

page_text: •
to fix the rings thus placed in a perfectly secure manner.
When desirable I form
the projections on the ring attached to the glass and the corresponding openings
in that attached to the disc.
(3.) I attach the said ring to the bottom of the glass, and at the same time, when
desirable, the said glass to the body of the lamp by means of rods carried upwards 5
from the ring, and fixed by means of screws or solder either to the body of the lamp
or to projections formed inside the body or otherwise to an annular ring held by
projections fixed inside the body of the lamp, the said rods passing up either through
the reflector inside it or outside it as most desirable. Or otherwise I attach the said
rods to an annular ring at the top of the glass in such a manner as that the said
glass is fixed firmly to the lower ring independently of the body of the lamp, and
attach the glass and rings so formed to the body of the lamp by means of a hinge
and catch or a bayonet joint. When desirable I insert between the glass and the
said rings, as also between the bottom ring attached to the glass, washers or layers
of any soft or suitable substance.
E. In carrying into effect my fifth object, that is to say, when I use a burner
such that it requires a glass chimney, and it is desirable that such glass chimney
shall be used in combination with a metal one to provide improved means whereby
the said glass chimney may be held securely in its place without interfering with
the light, and be readily removable for cleansing or other purposes, and be so
connected with the metal chimney as to ensure a perfect draught.
(1.) I construct around whatever burner I think most suitable for the object I
have in view, and either on a level with, or a little above, or a little below the
level of the bottom of the dome of the said burner a truncated cone (or its
equivalent where for any reason I use a glass chimney, the bottom of which is not
of a circular form), the larger diameter of which I place below the point of contact
with the burner, and when desirable I turn the edge of this larger diameter up so
as to form or construct upon it a ledge or bulwark around it. Upon this cone or
its equivalent I place my glass chimney, which may be of such size at the bottoni
that it not only rests upon the said cone or equivalent, but also held firmly by the
bulwark or ledge above described.
(2.) I form my chimney, either of such size that it will when necessary pass
upward through the annular ring attached to the bottom of my outer glass, or
when this is not a necessity, of such size as may be most suitable, and of such
shape that whilst the sides are parallel the top is either narrowed in or widened
out in a conical form or first narrowed in and then widened out into a conical
form.
(3.) Inside the body of my lamp I construct so as to be removable or otherwise
permanently fix an annular ring or rings at such height that it or they shall be
situated above the top of the glass chimney; through this ring or rings and fitting
tightly though movably in a vertical direction I pass a metal chimney, upon the
lower end of which when I have widened out the upper portion of my glass
chimney I form a cone, such that it shall fit into that portion of my said glass
chimney which I have widened out. When I have formed my glass chimney, such
that it is narrowed in at the top, I leave the bottom of the metal chimney plain, or
construct it of such conical form that it shall fit tightly over the said narrowed top
of the glass chimney. I construct this metal chimney of such a length that when
the glass chimney is in its place both it and the said metal chimney shall come
into close contact, and the glass chimney thus be held between two cones or their
equivalents, that at the bottom being fixed to the burner, that at the top being
formed either by the construction of the metal chimney or by the shape of the
glass chimney in a secure manner, whilst the light is in no way interfered with or
intercepted, the vertical movement of the metal chimney allowing for any
difference in the height of the glass ones caused by the irregularity of manufacture.
When desirable I attach springs to the metal chimney, such that it shall auto-
matically compensate for any such irregularity ; or I form upon it a screw in such.

page_text: a manner that by turning it round the height may be altered to suit any such
irregularity.
(4.) When I find it desirable to fix the annular ring or rings through which my
metal chimney-passes in such a manner as to be removable, I attach them to a
removable inner casing fitting into the body of the lamp in such a manner that by
withdrawing the inner casing the chimney and rings may be all removed together;
and when I find it desirable to so fix my glass chimney to my metal one that it
may be removable at the one operation with the said metal chimney and inner
casing, instead of, or as well as fixing the cone or its equivalent around the burner,
I attach it to the glass chimney by wire rods, these rods being carried up and
attached to the metal chimney by springs, either formed by the wires themselves
or separately, or other suitable device, so as to allow of the ready replacement of
the glass chimney when required.
F. In carrying out my sixth improvement, that of providing new and improved
means of regulating the height of the flame from the outside of the lamp, and when
desirable to prevent the flame being raised too high..
o
(1.) Attached to the wick spindle and in place of the knob, segment of a wheel,.
or beveled wheel as used, I use a straight toothed wheel which when the burner is
removed from the oil container acts in the place of the button or knob for the
purpose of turning the wick spindle, and in such cases as it is desirable to regulate.
the wick from a position below the lamp I insert in and running through my oil
container and disc a tube of any desirable size.
(2.) In this tube I place a spindle, upon the upper end of which I have formed a
worm screw, the lower end being formed so as to be readily worked by an ordinary
knob or a key suitable for the purpose. When this spindle is thus placed in the
said tube, the worm screw is in such a position that by placing the burner in the oil
container and. turning it on its axis from left to right or right to left, as the case
may be, the toothed wheel formed on the wick spindle is geared into the worm
screw. When the oil container is situated below the body of the lamp, such as in
railway roof and similar lamps, I extend the said spindle upon which the worm
screw has been formed sufficiently far down the said tube to be acted upon by a
knob or suitable key, and in mast head and other "overhead" lamps, when the oil
container is enclosed in the body of the lamp, I extend the said spindle through the
bottom of the lamp so as to enable me to regulate the wick as desired.
(3.) When it is desirable to regulate the flame from above the lamp, I form.
the said worm screw on the bottom of the spindle, and make the upper end
suitable for being worked with a key or knob carrying the said spindle in any
suitable manner to a convenient position outside and at the top of the lamp.
(4.) In lamps, such as ships' side lights, railway signal lamps, and other lamps
where it is more convenient to regulate the flame from the side, I place a tooth
wheel held in such a position by a suitable tube or bearings that when the oil
container is in its place with the burner attached this said toothed wheel shall be
geared into the toothed wheel attached to the wick spindle; to the toothed wheel
so held in a.tube or by suitable bearings I attach a spindle running through to
the outside of the lamp, the end of which I form, so as to allow of it being worked
by a key, or when desirable fix a button or knob upon it by which it may be.
readily worked.
(5.) And in order when desirable to prevent the flame from being raised too high
I attach to the other end of my wick spindle a tooth wheel, similar to or of the
same pitch as the one above described, and attached to the disc I fix a quadrant
working on its axis upon the edge of which I have formed teeth corresponding to
the teeth in my wheel, and in such a position that when the one wheel is engaged
with or geared into the worm screw or fixed wheel on the one side the other wheel
shall be geared into the said quadrant, the said quadrant being so constructed
either by a spring or that by its own weight it shall always be in one position
when disengaged from the said wheel, and be so constructed or held by suitable.
means.as to be incapable of moving further than a certain distance around its own,

page_text: axis, this distance being the required amount necessary for the proper adjustment
of the flame.
G. In carrying out my seventh improvement, namely, to provide new and
improved gauge by means of which the wick may be readily trimmed and a good
shaped flame ensured, an improvement which is applicable also to any lamp in
which is used a burner of such construction that to gain a perfect shaped flame
the top of the wick has to be rounded off, I take a portion of tube of any desirable
length, and of the same size and shape as the wick tube in the burner to be trimmed,
one end of this tube I shape so that it shall be the required shape of the wick,
beveling the edges off so as to allow the scissors to have full play.
This tube so
formed I provide with a foot-shoulder, or outer casing, such that it may be readily
placed and held firmly against or fit over the wick tube in the burner to be trimmed,
and the portion of tube which forms the gauge lie directly over and correspond
with the wick tube of the burner to be trimmed. Thus by turning the wick of
the said burner sufficiently high through the gauge and cutting it off round the end
formed for the purpose on the gauge the right shaped curve for a good shaped
flame is easily acquired.
H. In carrying out my last improvement, that is to say, to provide new and
improved means of extinguishing the flame, I form in the top of my outlet chamber
a hole of any desirable size, which hole I cover in an air-tight manner by means
of a suitable lid or cover, which is attached to the said outlet chamber by means of
a hinge and catch, this said cover being so constructed with a spring that when
it is freed from the catch it shall fly suddenly back and thus exhaust the air inside
the lamp sufficiently to put out the flame.
•
A lamp constructed upon or embodying the above improvements is capable of
successfully burning, as well as other, what are known as heavy mineral oils, that
is to say, mineral oils having a specific gravity of 843 or thereabouts.
The objects of my Invention being now fully set forth I will proceed to explain
the method of carrying out the same by means of Drawings.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, Fig. 2 a section of my improvements as applied to railway
roof lamps. In the section, Fig. 2, I have clearly shown the arrangement I use for
an air supply chamber, Fig. 7 being a plan of the same, that is to say, a chamber A,
in which I have constructed any desirable number of tubes a and a', so situated
that in travelling from the atmosphere to the burner the current of air has to pass
through the tubes a before it can gain access to the chamber A, and back to the 3
opposite side before it can gain access to the tubes a¹, from whence it passes to
the burner, the course of the current being distinctly marked by arrows.
Fig. 8 shows an elevation, Fig. 9 a sectional plan, and Fig. 10 a back view of a
ship's masthead light, in which an inlet chamber thus constructed has been formed
upon the door of the said lamp, the shape of the said inlet chamber in this case
being that of a parallelogram or square, the tubes running horizontally in it, the
course of the current being shown as before by arrows. Fig. 11 shows the lower
portion of a hand signal lamp in which I have formed the said inlet chamber at
the bottom, the chamber being circular conveniently to fit the lamp, the tubes
also in this case being horizontal, and the course of the current being marked with
arrows.
The object of this inlet chamber A is to thoroughly break up and diffuse the
current of air which supports the flame before it can reach the burner. The use
and construction of such chamber being, to the best of my knowledge after an
exhaustive search perfectly novel, forms the first portion of my improvements in
lamps for railway carriage roofs and other exposed positions.
My next improvement consists in an outlet chamber, the peculiarity of which
outlet chamber is the simplicity of its construction. I do away with all obstructions,
horizontal, vertical, or otherwise above the chimney, and between the chimney
and the top of the said outlet chamber; I thus place no obstruction to the flame.
This outlet chamber is shown attached to the lamps at B, Figs. 1, 2, 8, 10.
The
outlet holes are marked b¹, b. When I prefer it I form all these holes in the

page_text: side of this chamber in the position of those marked b¹ and protect them.externally
by means of a double truncated cone joined at the larger diameter and carried
upwards and downwards in the form of a cylinder at the smaller ones.
protector is shown at G, Figs. 1, 2, 8, and 10.
This
When I form holes in the top of this chamber (shown at b³, Fig. 2,) I protect
them from any sudden downdraught by means of a conical ring, the smaller end of
which I solder or otherwise fix inside to the top of the outlet chamber, and round
the larger diameter of this said conical ring I pierce any desirable number of holes
or cut out equivalent spaces; I prefer that the number of such holes or equivalent
spaces shall be the same as the number of outlet holes in the top of the said outlet
chamber, and I fix in the said outlet chamber the conical ring, so that the blank
portions of the said conical ring shall be below the outlet holes in order that any
current of air passing downward cannot flow directly down the chimney but passes
downwards and mingles with the consumed vapours escaping from it.
Inside this said outlet chamber and fastened at the bottom to the top of the
lamp I place an annular ring b³, Fig. 2.
In Fig. 5 I have given an elevation of this outlet chamber, in which I have
constructed holes both in the side (marked b), and also in the top (marked 62), the
top portion C¹ of which I have shown in section in Fig. 5, so as to expose the outlet
holes 62, and the above last described internally protecting conical ring C' attached
to the top, and I have also broken away a portion of the externally protecting
truncated cones C to show the holes 6 in the side. In Fig. 6 I have shown a plan
looking upwards of the same.
The number and size of the holes and 6' in this outlet chamber I regulate
according to the number and size of the holes through which the air supply passes
through the burner D, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, to the flame. The total area of such outlet
holes b¹ and 6ª being never more than (and in some cases when the lamp is to be
subjected to a very severe current of air preferably less than) the total area of
holes d', Figs. 1, 2, 4, in the burner D.
In lamps which have the flame burning in an open chamber it is very convenient
to regulate the area of the outlet holes by the total area of holes through which
the air passes to the flame through the body of the lamp at the point I.
The construction of this outlet chamber, as above described, together with its
combination with the annular ring b³, as also the construction of a lamp in which,
whilst there is no obstruction between the flame and the centre of the top of the
said outlet chamber, the total outlet for the consumed vapours is regulated by and
never more than, but in some cases less, than the total inlet of air through the burner
to the flame, I believe to be entirely novel and claim as a portion of my improvements.
My next improvement consists in providing improved means whereby any
shadow caused by the oil container being below the flame may be reduced to a
minimum. For this purpose I use such a shape of outer glass that there shall be
little or no refraction of the rays of light to such a point that they are com-
paratively useless; that is to say, in railway roof lamps, for example, instead of
forming my glass of a rounded or bent form vertically, I form the sides as straight
as possible, and the whole so that it shall partake of cylindrical form, or of the
form of a truncated cone, as shown at G, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and I also construct my oil
container E, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, of a conical form, the larger end of which is upper-
most, and attached to the said glass G, and where sufficient depth can be allowed I
construct my glass G and my oil container E such that they shall form theoretically
part of the same cone. Above the said glass and oil container I place a reflector R³,
shown in section in Fig. 2, which reflector I make of such size and forming such an
angle with a line drawn through the centre of the glass G and oil container E that
the shadow shall disappear within a foot of the bottom of the oil container.
I am aware that the use of a conical glass has been shown as convenient for
railway roof lamps in a Patent, No. 3838, November 6th, A.D. 1874 (such Patent
being now void) in connection with a lamp, the oil container of which was inside;

page_text: but what I claim as being novel and my improvement is the conical form of the
oil container E, the larger end of which is attached to below and outside of a
conical or parallel or parallel cylindrical glass G in combination with a reflector R*,
Fig. 2, overhead, substantially as described.
My next improvement consists in providing improved means whereby the oil
in the oil container may not become overheated. This I accomplish by more
perfectly than heretofore isolating the burner and other attachments or connections
from the said oil container E. For this purpose I construct a disc, Figs. 1, 2, and
13, upon which disc, instead of upon the top of the oil coutainer, I fix my
burner and other attachments, as there shown. To this disc I attach a tube H
(shown in elevation above the oil container, and below the disc F, Figs. 1 and 4, and
in section in Fig. 2, and construct my oil container as there shown, so that the only
connection between it and the said tube H attached to disc F is situated at some
distance, say, half way below the top of the oil container E at the point k. I thus
procure a space, any vertical section of which taken from the centre of the said
tube H forms approximately a right angle between the said disc F, on which the
burner and other attachments are placed, and the point of contact K, where the oil
container E is joined to the tube H. This space I either fill with a non-conducting
substance or leave open to the access of the atmosphere.
h¹, h, are holes or air tubes to allow of the free circulation of the oil throughout
the oil container, the wick W being contained in the tube H.
The construction of an oil container such that the burner and other attachments
are placed upon a disc F, isolated as above described, so that a space, any vertical
section of which taken from the centre of the tube H forms a right angle or
approximately a right angle with the said disc F, I believe to be novel and claim as
an improvement.
My next improvement consists in so constructing a lamp, more especially for
railway carriage roofs and other similar lamps, that first the oil container E may be
readily removable from the glass G; secondly, that the glass G may be readily
removable from the body of the lamp L. In carrying out the first of these
improvements I form upon the disc F a ring slightly smaller than the said disc F,
shown in section at M, Fig. 4 (in which Fig. I have shown the burner D, glass
chimney Ch, and oil container E detached from the lamp), upon which ring M
I form one or more pins N, Figs. 1 and 2, upon which pins, one or more of them,
I form a screw upon which a nut or thumb-screw works, and to the bottom of my
glass GI attach another ring O, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, which fits perfectly though
movably over the ring M, in which ring O I form one or more bayonet joints ❝,
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, so that when the inner ring M is inserted in the outer ring Oa
slight turn from left to right attaches the oil container E firmly to the outer ring O,
which is attached to the bottom of the glass G by means of the said pins N, and I
fix the said ring there by means of a screw acted upon by a key or other suitable
appliance working upon the pin or pins N, Figs. 1 and 2; secondly, to attach the
outer ring O to the bottom of the conical or parallel cylindrical shaped glass G, and
at the same time to construct the lamp so that the glass G may be readily
removable, I make use of an upper ring 0¹, the same or as nearly as practical the
same diameter as the top of the said glass G when such glass is conical, and
connect the lower ring O to the upper ring O¹ by means of preferably flat rods R,
which are of such a length as that when the rods R are firmly fixed to the respective
rings O and 0¹ the glass G may be held firmly between them, as shown more
clearly in Fig. 3, and to attach the said rings O and O¹ containing the glass G to
the body L of the lamp I sometimes use a bayonet joint similar to the one afore-
described; or preferably I construct on one side of the upper ring 0¹ a curved
hook or hinge P, Fig. 3, which may be readily slipped over a pin p¹, Fig. 2, formed
in a slight recess constructed in the body L of the lamp in such a manner that
when so hooked it forms a convenient hinge upon which to hang, and by means of
which hinge it can be closed to its proper position, in which position it is held by

page_text: one or more spring catches p³, Fig. 2, such spring catches p³ being so constructed
and of such a size that the lowering of the lamp into its socket on the top, for
instance, of a railway carriage roof that they are pressed through the upper ring 01
into the body L of the lamp, and held securely there.
I am fully aware that for cleansing and other purposes a hinged glass has been
before shown in previous Letters Patent, No. 3838, dated November 6th 1874, but
what I consider novel and an improvement, and therefore claim as my Invention
in lamps for the purpose fully described, is a lamp constructed so that the glass G
may not only work upon a hinge, but be easily detached from the body of the
lamp in combination with the above described appliance, by which the lower ring o
is at the same time attached to the glass G by means of the rods R connected to the
upper ring o¹.
My next improvement consists in improved means for holding a glass chimney,
when such is necessary, upon the burner in combination with a metallic chimney,
when such is necessary, so as to ensure a more perfect connection between the said
metallic chimney and the glass one, and at the same time to have the glass one so
situated that no loss of light by refraction may ensue. For this purpose I construct
round the dome Q of the burner D, Figs. 1, 2,.and 4, a truncated cone q², Figs. 1, 2,
and 4, having round its larger diameter a bulwark q², Figs. 1, 2, 4, such that the.
lower and greatest diameter of the said truncated cone q¹ shall be below the point
where the rays of light from the flame FL, Figs. 1 and 2, can be of any utility,
upon which truncated cone q', and protected by the bulwark q², I place the bottom
of my glass chimney Ch, and upon the bottom of my metal chimney M², Fig. 2,
I form a corresponding cone q³, Fig. 2, which fits over the portion of the glass
chimney Ch at the point when it begins to narrow, as shown clearly in Fig. 2,
the said metal chimney M¹ being made movable in a vertical manner in the
annular rings 8, 81, Fig. 2, to allow for any irregularity in the manufacture of the
said glass chimney C. The annular ring s I form upon a conical and removable
inner portion T of the body L of the lamp shown in section, Fig. 2, the ring &¹
being connected to the said removable and internal part T by means of rods ť³, Fig. 2,
or other suitable device.
As regards this improvement, what I consider to be novel and therefore claim is
the combination and use of a truncated cone (7') formed around a burner D, and
constructed with a bulwark (g), combined with a truncated cone (9³) formed upon
the metallic chimney M', for the purpose of holding a glass chimney Ch, in com-
bination with a removable inner portion T of the body of the lamp, such inner
portion being so constructed that the metallic chimney M¹ may be vertically
adjustable within metallic rings (s and s!).
My next improvement consists in improved means whereby the flame can be
regulated from the outside of the lamp To affect this when I apply it to overhead,
such as railway roof and similar lights, I form in and running through my oil
container E a tube R³, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, working in which tube, and permanently
secured there, is a connecting rod r', Figs. 4 and 12, upon the lower end ², Figs. 4
and 12, of which I form a square or other suitable appliance upon which to place a
button or other convenient handle or key, for the purpose of actuating it; and on the
upper end I form a worm screw Z, Fig. 12, the said worm screw being so constructed
and placed in connection with the connecting rod r¹ and tube R² that when the burner
is in its proper position in the oil container E the said worm screw shall be geared into
a toothed wheel U, Figs. 4 and 12, which I fix upon and in place of the ordinary
button on the wick spindle of the burner D. By this means I am enabled by
revolving the connecting rod R' from the outside of the oil container E to actuate
the wick spindle, and so raise or lower the flame from the outside.
In lamps other than railway roof lamps, such as ships' mast head lights, et cetera,
instead of running the tube Ⓡ through the oil container, I form it in the side of the
body of the lamp, as shown at R, Fig. 9, working in which tube I permanently
secure the connecting rod r³, and in such case in place of the worm screw I use a
toothed wheel R³, Fig. 9, so situated that when the oil container and burner are in:

page_text: their position in the lamp the toothed wheel gears into the toothed wheel U
upon the burner.
And in order when desirable to prevent the flame being raised too high I attach
also to the opposite end of my wick spindle another toothed V, Figs. 4 and 13; and
attached either to the disc F or ring M I fix a quadrant W, Fig. 13, on the end
of which I have formed teeth v¹ corresponding to the teeth in the wheel V, in such
a position that when the burner is in its place, and the wheel U, already mentioned,
is engaged with or geared into the worm screw Z, Fig. 12, or toothed wheel,
Fig. 9, the wheel V shall be geared into the quadrant W by means of a slot w¹,
and a fixed pin w³. I prevent the quadrant W moving more than a certain
distance round its own axis, this distance being the required amount for the proper
adjustment of the flame. The quadrant W I construct either with a spring, or so
that by its own weight it shall when not geared into the wheel V always be in one
position, as shown in Fig. 13, when the counterbalancing end w³ of the quadrant
rests upon the disc F. By this means the fact of taking the burner out of the oil
container for trimming or other purposes causes the quadrant to resume the position
required for the next adjustment.
I believe this to be a novel means of preventing the wicks of lamps being over
wound, and therefore claim it among my improvements, that is to say, a quadrant W
in combination with a toothed wheel V attached to the wick spindle of a burner,
such quadrant being used in combination with a pin w and a slot w¹, and being so
arranged that it shall always be in the same position when disengaged from the
toothed wheel V. A modification of the above arrangement, which I also claim,
suitable for railway roof lamps may be made by attaching the toothed wheel V to
the lower end of the rod R, instead of the key or button carrying the said rod,
sufficiently far through the bottom of the oil container to allow of it, and fixing the
quadrant W in a line with and on the bottom of the oil container E, so that it shall
be permanently geared into the wheel V, and constructing the counterbalancing
end W so that it may form a handle whereby to actuate the quadrant, and thus
cause the wheel V to revolve. The same arrangement of pin w³ and slot w¹ in the
quadrant preventing the said quadrant being tuined more than a certain distance
round its own access, and a spring being so constructed in combination with the
handle as to always bring it back to the same position.
I also claim in combination with this means of preventing overwinding the
combination and arrangement of parts to regulate the wick from the outside when
such in arrangements I use the whole circumference of a toothed wheel working in
connection with a worm screw, which worm screw is attached to a connecting rod,
such connecting rod being permanently secured in a tube running through the oil
container.
In providing means for the more perfect trimming of lamp wicks, when such
wicks need to be rounded at the top whilst the top of the wick tube is flat, I use a
gauge to cut the wick, by such gauge I have shown in Fig. 14 which sufficiently
describes itself.
In carrying out my last improvement of providing new and improved means of
extinguishing the flame I form in the top of my outlet chamber B a hole of any
desirable size, which hole I cover in an air-tight manner with a lid X, Figs. 1, 2, 5, 8,
and 10, attached to the outlet chamber by means of a spring hinge x1, Figs. 1 and 2,
the said lid or cover x being so constructed in connection with the said spring
hinge that by releasing the catch the lid shall fly suddenly back, and thus
exhaust the air inside the lamp sufficiently to put out the flame.
This arrangement I believe to be and claim as a novel means of extinguishing the
flame.
I have thus fully set forth my improvements, pointing out as I have gone along
the parts which I consider novel. A lamp constructed upon or embodying these
improvements is capable of successfully burning as well as other what are known
as heavy mineral oils, that is to say, mineral oils having a specific gravity, 843, or
thereabouts, and I claim in conclusion the arrangement and combination of the

page_text: different parts fully heretofore set forth, for the purpose of constructing a lamp for
railway carriage roofs and other exposed positions.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alban Edward Ragg, have hereunto set my
hand, and seal, this Twenty fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
J. OWDEN O'BRIEN,
Clerk to Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Patent Agents,
Liverpool & London.
ALBAN EDWARD RAGG. (L.S.).