IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY EXTINGUISHING LAMPS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Dwyer, of 8, Mulkern Terrace, Birkbeck Road,
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS AND APPARATUS FOR
AUTOMATICALLY EXTINGUISHING LAMPS."
Sealed the 3rd November 1876, and dated the 19th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Dwyer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th July 1876.
EDMUND DWYER, of 8, Mulkern Terrace, Birkbeck Road, London. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LAMPS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY EXTINGUISHING LAMPS."
This Invention of improvements in lamps is chiefly applicable to those lamps
used for burning mineral oil, and is intended to obviate the accidents arising
from upsetting these lamps, and the consequent danger from fire, by attaching to
them an apparatus which, if the lamp is overturned, becomes a self-acting extin-
guisher.
The usual flat-wick burner is the one to which my Invention is best adapted,
though other forms of the apparatus may be applied to other kinds of burners.
Lamps of the flat-wick kind have been constructed to be extinguished by a
sliding tube enclosing the wick carrier, which by elevation by means of a lever
extinguishes the flame, the supply of air being thus cut off. My Invention consists
in making this sliding tube self-acting, which I do by fixing to this tube a helical
spring to cause its upward movement to extinguish the flame. When the lamp
is to be lighted I press down this outer tube and retain it with a small catch or
pall, the catch or pall is retained in position by a lever, at the end of which I place
a loose weight; to prevent the weight being lost it is attached to a part of the
lamp by a short length of chain.
If by accident the lighted lamp is overturned the loose weight is turned off the
end of the lever, the catch is released, the spring comes into play, carrying up the
outer tube, and the flame of the lamp is extinguished in the act of falling.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Edmund Dwyer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th January
1877.
IMPROVE-
EDMUND DWYER, of 8, Mulkern Terrace, Birkbeck Road, London.
MENTS IN LAMPS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY EXTINGUISHING LAMPS."
This Invention of improvements in lamps is chiefly applicable to those lamps
used for burning mineral oil, and is intended to obviate the accidents arising from
upsetting these lamps, and the consequent danger from fire, by attaching to them
an apparatus which, if the lamp. is overturned, becomes a self-acting extinguisher.
The usual flat-wick burner is the one to which my Invention is best adapted,
though other forms of the apparatus may be applied to other kinds of burners.
Lamps of the flat-wick kind have been constructed to be extinguished by a
sliding tube enclosing the wick carrier, which by elevation by means of a lever
extinguishes the flame, the supply of air being thus cut off. My Invention consists
in making this sliding tube self-acting, which I do by fixing to this tube a helical
spring to cause its upward movement to extinguish the flame. When the lamp is
to be lighted I press down this outer tube and retain it with a small catch or pall,
the catch or pall is retained in position by a lever, at the end of which I place a
-loose weight; to prevent the weight being lost it is attached to a part of the lamp
by a short length of chain.
If by accident the lighted lamp is overturned the loose weight is turned off the
end of the lever, the catch is released, the spring comes into play, carrying up the
outer tube, and the flame of the lamp is extinguished in the act of falling.
In the Drawing attached, and forming part of this Specification, Figure 1 is a
view of a flat-wick burner fitted with my improvements, the lamp being ready for
use,
and the danger apparatus ready. Figure 2 a view of the same apparatus
released, and the light extinguished. The like letters refer to like parts.
a is the wick holder proper, shewn in Figure 1 in dotted lines, the indicating
letter a being also dotted; b, the extinguisher tube; c, a bent arm attached to the
extinguisher tube, a projecting portion of which is held by the detent or catch d,
the detent works on the pin e, having bearings in the burner; the detent arm or
lever has a loop or cup at the end, on which when set for action rests the weighty;;
is the helical spring; i, the chain for securing the weight.
It is obvious that if by chance the lamp should be turned over the weight y also
falling off the helical spring would at once force up the extinguishing cover b and
put out the flame.
I am aware that extinguishing lamps have been constructed with a lever and
weight to operate upon the extinguishing cone, and I therefore do not claim the
use of the extinguishing cone acted upon by a lever, but what I claim as the Inven-
tion is the use of a helical spring to throw up the extinguisher, the action of the
spring being kept down by a loose weight on a lever and detent, so that when the
weight is thrown over the helical spring can at once raise the extinguisher and put
out the light, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Dwyer, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 18th day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.