IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS FOR BURNING PETROLEUM AND OTHER MINERAL OILS
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edouard De Meuter at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th August 1878.
EDOUARD DE MEUTER, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS FOR BURNING PETROLEUM AND OTHER
MINERAL OILS."
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of lamps for burning
petroleum and other mineral oils, and which are of such a nature as to allow of the
employment of a circular wick made in one piece, whereby a more regular and
perfect flame is obtained and a superior light given, as compared to lamps of
ordinary construction, the unpleasant smell produced by the combustion of the oil
is avoided, and the liability to explosion from the flame being communicated to the
oil contained in the reservoir or from the latter becoming heated, is entirely
obviated.
:
Lamps constructed according to this Invention are in some cases provided with
apparatus whereby the flame is instantly extinguished in the event of the lamps
being overturned or broken.
The oil reservoir, which is of any desired size or form and of any suitable
material, is constructed with a circular chamber running vertically through the
centre thereof.
The wick holder is formed of two cylindrical tubes of different diameters, the
smaller one being placed concentrically within the larger; the space between the
two, which is sufficiently large to contain the circular wick, is closed at the bottom.,
The said wick holder is placed within the before-mentioned circular chamber of the
reservoir, the lower end nearly reaching the bottom thereof, the upper end
projecting to any required distance above the top of the reservoir; between the
wick holder so placed and the circumference of the circular chamber an annular air
space is left.
In order to allow of the necessary feed of oil to the wick, the lower portion of the
reservoir is connected to the lower part of the wick holder by means of one or more
small tubes.
Attached to the upper part of the reservoir is a small chamber which surrounds
the wick holder and contains the necessary apparatus, which may be of any suitable

page_text: construction, for raising the wick as the same is consumed. The said chamber is
provided with perforations for the admittance of the atmospheric air, which passes
down through the annular space around the exterior of the wick bolder, and up
through the space contained by the inner tube thereof to the interior of the circular
flame. Above the said small chamber is formed another chamber also provided
with apertures or perforations, through which the atmospheric air passes and is
guided by means of a circular plate on to the exterior of the flame.
The chimney or glass rests on the upper part of the last-mentioned chamber.
The upper part of the reservoir is provided with minute perforations for the
admission of air.
I will now proceed to describe that part of my Invention which refers to
apparatus as applied to lamps constructed as above described for extinguishing the
flame in the event of the lamp being overturned or broken; this apparatus,
however, is not necessary when the reservoir is constructed of metal. .
Within the interior and around the exterior of the upper part of the wick holder
are placed two short tubes, the upper ends of which are so bowed and slotted that
on being caused to pass above the upper extremity of the wick holder they bend
over the wick from their respective sides, and meeting together extinguish the
flame.
The inner extinguishing tube is kept in its normal position by means of a vertical
rod, one end of which is connected there with; the other end thereof which descends
nearly to the bottom of the space contained by the inner tube of the wick holder, is
held there and released when the necessity arises by any suitable or known means,
but, by preference, by the following arrangement of mechanism :-The last-
mentioned end of the rod is provided with projections or notches, on to or into
which two detents on the respective ends of two small levers take; these levers,
which are fixed, are pivoted together, their lower arms being also connected together
by means of two small rods which project downwards.
On the lamp being overturned a small weight which is loosely placed at the
bottom of the chamber in the reservoir strikes against the rods connecting the ends
of the levers, which are thereby caused to open and release the end of the before-
mentioned rod.
A spring suitably placed, as will be well understood, causes the said rod to travel
upwards, taking with it the inner extinguishing tube, the bowed part of which
passes partially over the rim of the wick and assists in extinguishing the flame, as
before described.
The external extinguishing tube is so connected to the mechanism actuating the
internal extinguishing tube as to act with it, and thus the flame is effectually
extinguished.
When the diameter of the space contained by the inner tube of the wick holder is
not sufficiently large to admit of the before-described arrangement of mechanism,
the same is placed outside the wick holder, both extinguishing tubes being
connected therewith in such a manner as to cause them to act simultaneously, as
will be well understood.
It will be seen from the foregoing description that the before-described apparatus
for the employment of circular wicks may or may not be used in connection with
the extinguishing mechanism, as desired."