CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF OIL LAMPS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Douglas Dennistoun, of Row, in the County of
Dumbarton, North Britain, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF OIL LAMPS."
Sealed the 28th February 1879, and dated the 3rd September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Douglas Dennistoun
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd September 1878.
FRANCIS DOUGLAS DENNISTOUN, of Row, in the County of Dumbarton, North
Britain. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF OIL LAMPS."
The said Invention relates to a new or improved lamp for burning oil or kindred
liquid.
The said improved lamp consists of a large upper reservoir which contains the
oil or liquid to be burned.
The said reservoir is preferably of a mushroom or dome shape, and the oil or
liquid is supplied therefrom through tubes opening from the said reservoir, preferably
at its outer edge, and leading downward therefrom to burners situated beneath the
under side of the oil reservoir, which under side is polished or silvered so as to
constitute a reflector for reflecting downward the light of the burners beneath it.
The oil or liquid being contained in the tank above the burners, the said oil or
liquid is supplied copiously to the said burners by its own weight, whereby a
brilliant light is obtained from the flames of the burners, which may be readily
controlled and regulated by means of taps upon the pipes leading from the oil reservoir
to the burners.
The burners are provided with glasses which pass through passages made for
them in the oil reservoir, and they may also be provided with oil cups beneath to
catch any oil which may drop therefrom.
The lamp may have one or any number of burners, and may be suspended in any
desired manner at the upper part of the apartment, or above the table or object to
bo illuminated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Douglas Dennistoun in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd March 1879.
FRANCIS DOUGLAS DENNISTOUN, of Row, in the County of Dumbarton, North
Britain. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF OIL LAMPS."
My said Invention relates to a new or improved lamp for burning oil or kindred
liquid.
The said improved lamp consists of a large upper reservoir which contains the
oil or liquid to be burned.
The said reservoir is preferably of a mushroom or dome shape, and the oil or
liquid is supplied therefrom through tubes opening from the said reservoir, pre-
ferably at its outer edge, and leading downward therefrom to burners situated
beneath the under side of the oil reservoir, which under side is polished or silvered
so as to constitute a reflector for reflecting downward the light of the burners
beneath it.
The oil or liquid being contained in the tank above the burners, the said oil or
liquid is supplied copiously to the said burners by its own weight, whereby a
brilliant light is obtained from the flames of the burners, which may be readily
controlled. and regulated by means of taps upon the pipes leading from the oil
reservoir to the burners.
The tubes, if they be not wide enough for the reception of the wicks of the
burners, may at their ends which receive the said wick be widened orform ed with
an enlargement for this purpose.
The burners are provided with glasses, which pass through passages made for
them in the oil reservoir, and they may also be provided with oil cups beneath, to
catch any oil which may drop therefrom.
The lamp may have one or any number of burners, and may be suspended in any
desired manner at the upper part of the apartment, or above the table or object to
be illuminated.
The lamp when used at sea will be hung so as to adapt itself freely to the motion
of the ship.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, inode, or manner in or under which tho
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the.
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
Bay -
Figure 1 represents in side elevation, Figure 2 in transverse section (on the line
1, 2, Figure 3), and Figure 3 in plan a lamp constructed according to my said
Invention.
It consists of a large upper tank or reservoir A, polished or silvered on its under.
sido, which tank or reservoir contains the oil or liquid to be burned, and from
which tank or reservoir depend tubes B, opening at their upper ends into the said
reservoir, and having at their other ends burners C, which are or may be upon
enlargements at the ends of the tubes, which enlargements, as shewn in the Drawing,
may take the form of small oil or liquid holders Ĕ.
The pipes B are provided with taps b to regulate the flow of oil or liquid to the
burners.
The burners have glasses or chimneys F fitted over them, which glasses or
chimneys pass through openings or passages a made through the tank or reservoir A.
The lamp will be suspended from above in any convenient way.
b
The taps 6 may be opened to supply a quantity of oil to the burners, and then
closed, or they may be kept open to any desired extent to supply .the necessary
quantity of oil to the said burners.

page_text: Gauge glassos may be fixed at e, so that the level of the oil supplied to the wicks
may be readily seen, or pieces of transparent material may be let into the sides of
the parts for a similar purpose.
The tank or reservoir A is provided with an opening, as at a', through which
the said tank or reservoir is supplied with oil or liquid, and it is also provided with
an opening or openings for the admission of air, all of which openings may be closed
at pleasure by screwed caps or otherwise.
Oil safes or cups may be placed under the parts E to catch any liquid which may
drop therefrom.
In a lamp constructed according to my Invention the oil or liquid is supplied
copiously to the burners by its own weight, and a brilliant light is obtained from
the said burners, which light is economized or utilized to the utmost by its being
reflected by the under side of the tank or roservoir A upon the place to be
illuminated.
The said under side of the tank or reservoir constituting the reflector is not liable
to have its reflecting power impaired by smoke from the burners, as any smoke is
carried away clear of such reflector by reason of the glasses or chimneys of the said
burners opening at their top above the said reflector.
My improved lamp has the further advantage that the parts are easy of access
for adjustment, trimming, or other purpose, and that the oil or other liquid is kept
clear of the glasses, and cannot pollute them and impede the transmission of light
therethrough, as frequently occurs in the case of lamps, the oil supply tubes of which
are contained within a surrounding glass.
The lamp may have one or other number of burners, as may be desired, and is
especially suited for illuminating billiard tables, and for taking the place of ordinary
sun burners" in situations where gas is not available.
"
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the saine is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is, the lamp constructed
essentially as herein-before described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings,
for giving the advantages herein-before mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Douglas Dennistoun, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
FRANK D. DENNISTOUN. (L.B.)