APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND COMMUNICATING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT
Year: 1839

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LUKR
HEBERT, of the Office for Patents, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-second day of June, in the third year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her beirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Luke
Hebert, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Luke Hebert, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Luke Hebert, my exors, adiñors, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, excrcise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, the Invention
of "APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND COMMUNICATING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT," communi-
cated to me by a certain foreigner residing abroad; in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Luke Hebert, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I do hereby
declare that the nature of the Invention consists, first, in certain mechanical
contrivances for propelling a chemical match against a rough surface placed
contignously to the burners of lamps of any of the ordinary descriptions, so

page_text: that the friction upon the match shall cause it to become ignited by the time
it reaches the orifice of the burner, when it will inflame the wick or other
combustible matter that may be employed to produce the light; second, in
the addition of certain mechanism to lamps calculated to shew the height of
the wick.
And the manner which the said Invention may be carried into effective
operation I will now proceed to describe in detail, with reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
The Drawings on the Sheet marked A, represent the Invention as applied
to an ordinary table lamp. In this, as in the other Sheets where the same
letters of reference occur in different Figures, they denote the same parts.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the burner of a lamp with a lighting apparatus
prepared for action; Figure 2 is an elevation of the burner and section
of the glassholder, shewing the lighting apparatus in action; Figure 8,
another elevation of the burner, with the lighting apparatus in the same state
as in Figure 2, but giving a front view of the rack; Figure 4, a plan of the
burner; and Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, detached pieces of the lighting apparatus.
A is the burner; B, the sliding glassholder; C, the arbor of the rack by
which the wick is raised or lowered; D, a piece of metal soldered to the
burner, to the shape of which it corresponds. This plate is cut so as to present
a rough surface to the electric match, for the purpose of causing the match to
inflame by the friction in its passage to the orifice to the burner.
In lieu of the plate D, the surface of the burner itself may be made rough,
and also any other suitable material may be substituted for the plate D. E, the
box, in which is enclosed the mechanism by which the rack is raised and
lowered that carries the match; F, a barrel carrying a ratchet a, which is
held by the detent b, pressed upon by the spring c. Upon the arbor d of the
barrel is fixed a pinion e, which works into the rack that carries the match;
fis the square end of the arbor, by which the spring of the barrel is wound
up; G, a rack moved by the ratchet a, that raises it by uncoiling of the
spring, and causes it to descend as the spring is wound up. To the top of the
rack is fixed a clip g, which carries the friction match h, which may be of any
of the ordinary kinds. This rack is slightly inclined from the perpendicular
towards the burner, in order that the match may not rub, and thereby become
ignited, until it has nearly reached the top of the burner.
With the view to prevent the glass being soiled by the smoke from the
sudden ignition of the match, the rough surface may be placed much lower
than the top of the burner, and either by a second detent, or by a rack and
pinion, the match may be carried to the top when fully ignited.

page_text: The mechanism for raising the match may be omitted, and its office be
performed by the glassholder, when (as in some lamps) this is moveable,
but in that case it will be requisite to work the glassholder by hand either
vertically or horizontally, to cause the match to rub against the rough surface;
also the match itself may be circular instead of straight, as, for instance, a very
small wax tȧper covered all round with the inflammable composition, so as to
apply to the whole circumference of the burner, and in this case the rough
surface must likewise be circular; or, lastly, the barrel may raise several
matches round the circumference of the burner, so as to fire the wick at
several points at once.
From what has been said, the action of the apparatus will be readily under-
stood, the barrel being wound up and a match placed in the clip; upon pressing
the button of the spring c, the spring unwinds, and carries round the pinion e,
which, acting upon the rack G, raises it with a quick motion, and the chemical
composition with which the match is tipped rubbing against the rough
surface ignites, and when the bent end of the match touches the wick, it
quickly lights it. As soon as the wick is lighted the rack may be lowered by
winding up the barrel, which is again ready for action.
The Drawings in Sheet B. exhibit a modification of the preceding apparatus
as applied to what is called "an air lamp," the rough surface being placed
within the interior tube of the burner, and an index being added to shew the
height of the wick in different positions (namely, when trimmed, when
lighted, and when burning. Figure 9 is an elevation of a portion of the
lamp and of the glass chimney. The lamp is of the overflowing kind, that is,
the oil is forced above the level of the burner by any suitable contrivance,
which causes the wick to burn with a white flame. The lamp is shewn from
that side on which is the button by which the rack of the wick is turned, and
upon which button is placed the index which shews the height of the wick ;
Figure 10 is a vertical section upon the line A, B, shewing the position of the
lighting apparatus and of the index which marks the height of the wick;
Figure 11 shews the channels formed on the upper part of the air tube to
divert the overflow of oil from the rough surface. A is the interior tube of
the burner, called the air tube; B, the wick of the lamp, moved by a rack in
the usual way; C, the rack which raises or lowers the match, and placed,
together with the mechanism by which it is set in motion, within the air tube
D, the rough surface-fixed to the internal side of the air tube or in the part a, on
each side of which are two channels.b, b, cut in the upper part of the air tube
to form gutters, to prevent the oil which overflows from wetting the rough
surface, and also to prevent the match. from throwing the oil against the glass;
i

page_text: E, the match, which takes fire in rubbing against the rough surface D; F, the
button, placed upon the rod by which the height of the wick is regulated; G,
a circular plate fixed upon the button F; this plate, which turns with the
button, can also be turned by the finger without turning the button; it is
marked with three figures, showing the three positions of the wick with.
respect to the level of the burner, namely, No. 1, which is placed by the hand:
below the arrow when the wick is cut level with the buruer; No. 2, which.
shews when the wick is at the proper height for lighting; and No. 3, which.
shews when the wick is at the proper height to burn with a white flame, and:
also at a proper height as regards the shoulder of the chimney. His the
arrow or index, beneath which the figures successively stand in the different
positions of the wick.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-Supposing the lamp to have.
been in use over night, it is to be replenished with oil, and the wick is to be
cut in the usual way level with the burner, and the index plate is then to be
turned by hand to stand beneath the index H, as shewn at G¹, Figure 12.
When the lamp is to be lighted the button is to be turned until the index
plate G, which turns with it, stands with the number 2, as shewn at G" in:
Figure 9, which will carry the wick to the proper height for lighting by means
of the friction match. (These two preliminary operations may be performed
when preparing the lamp in the morning. A few seconds after the match has
acted, that is, when the wick is perfectly lighted, the button is again turned,
bringing the number 3 below the index, as shewn at G, Figure 13, when the
wick will stand at the right height for burning with a white flame, observing
that the chimney must be previously fixed at the right height as regards its
shoulder by means of the chimney holder, which should not afterwards be-
raised or lowered, but only turned round if required. For lamps which burn
with a white flame without an overflow, the index plate will require but two
numbers, the one to shew when the wick is level with the burner, and the
other shewing when it is at the right height for lighting and for burning with
a white flame. For gas lamps, as the burners of these do not require to, be
prepared daily, as in the case of lamps with wicks, to avoid the necessity of
daily putting in a match, a Vaucanson chain or any similar contrivance may
be added, stored with a quantity of matches; the barrel spring which puts it.
in motion would in this case require two detents to the ratchet, one to set the
chain in action, and the other to limit the range of its action to the requisite
space for carrying the match to the wick each time the lamp is to be lighted..
The mechanism for this purpose may resemble the striking parts of a clock.
Tho Sheet of Drawings marked C, represents an arrangement of the appa-

page_text: ratus adapted to reverberating lamps.
Figure 14 is an elevation of a rever-
berating lamp with two burners, the lighting apparatus being shewn on the
one side as ready for action, and on the other as having dono its office;
Figure 15, the same lamp, shewing the burner in front; Figure 16, a view
corresponding to Figure 14, shewing the lamp without the lighting apparatus;
with that part in section which carries the lighting apparatus, to shew the
manner of connecting this latter with the lamp, which is placed over it;
Figure 17, a view corresponding to Figure 15, and designed, as Figure 16, to
shew the method of attaching the lighting apparatus to the lamp. A is the
body of the lamp, carrying the burners B, the number of which is immaterial,
and which may likewise have flat wicks instead of round ones; C, the rough
surface, attached to the burners for the purpose of lighting the friction match;
D, a small tube fixed to the burner, and in which is placed a match d, to
which the friction match sets light, in order the better to insure the ignition
of the wick; E, the end of the wax match d, which is bent over the wick of
the lamp, and tipped with any suitable composition, and is lighted by the
friction match G, which takes fire by friction in its course towards the
wick F, which is of the common kind; H, a dish, in which is placed the
mechanism, and having a hollow tube in which is inserted the tube of the
lamp, so that the apparatus can be attached or detached at pleasure; J, a
plate of metal, curved to fit the side of the dish, and also to allow the match'
holder, which slides over it, to carry the match in the direction of the wick;
K, K, guides to the match holder, sliding along the plate J; L, match holder,
at the extremity of which is fixed the friction match G; M, a rod, with a
button m fixed to the lower end of the match holder, to bring it back to its
first position; N, a spiral spring, one of the ends of which is fastened at n
to one of the guides K, and at the other end to the rod m¹; O, a flat rod
fixed beneath the end of the match holder L, and attached by a clasp to a
flat spring, to keep the spring N stretched when the match holder is cocked;
P, the flat spring for holding the end of the match holder by the button ?,
attached to the spring; Q, stop to the spring, to prevent its being over
drawn; R, R, rings fastened to the spring P, to pull down the button 1, and
detach the rod O, by the wire which is fastened to these rings; S, cord chain'
or wire fastened to the rings R, R, and by drawing which the apparatus is
brought into action; T, a tube attached to the lamp, and having a flat springt,
with a button t¹, its end; U, a hollow tube, attached to the dish II, and having
a hole cut in it to admit the button t¹. The hole is in the form of a horizontal
groove, to facilitate the removal of the dish II, the button being round on its
plan, so that by turning the tube U it is readily detached from the hole u..

page_text: This arrangement of the spring, with its button and the hole u, is adopted to
prevent the accidental ignition of the matches by rubbing against the burner
whilst fixing the apparatus.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-Suppose the lower part
which carries the lighting apparatus to be detached from the upper part
(which properly constitutes the lamp), and that the friction matches are
attached; the tube of the lamp is inserted in the tube of the dish, by pushing
the latter upwards until the button on the spring of the lamp tube enters
the hole in the tube of the dish. The two parts being thus connected, when
it is wished to light the lamp, it is only necessary to pull the cord or wire
attached to the springs, which act as detents to the match holders, which
being liberated and drawn by the spiral springs towards the burners, cause
the friction matches to rub against the rough surface, and thereby to become
ignited, and then set light to the match, which is bent over the wick of the
lamp, and thus more effectually insures the ignition of the wick than could
be effected by the friction match alone, as in lamps of this construction the
wick is not in precisely the same line in which the match moves..
In order the more readily to charge the lighting apparatus with fresh
matches, it is detached from the lamp, which is effected by simply turning
the dish, and the button on the spring of the lamp tube, having a feather
edge on one side, enters the notch in the dish tube, and lies between the two
tubes, and allows the dish to be detached by drawing the latter downwards.
When the apparatus is charged, it is refixed, the match holder cocked, and a
match inserted in the tube on the upper side of the burner; the apparatus is
then again ready for action.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention, and shewn how the
same may be carried into effect, I would observe that I do not limit myself
to the particular methods specified, as the mechanical arrangements may be
modified according to the description of the lamp to which they may be
applied, or according to the taste or fancy of the manufacturer; neither do
I limit myself to the use of matches that ignite by friction, as, in lien thereof,
may be employed those which ignite by pressure or by percussion, provided a
corresponding change be made in the mechanism, various modes of effecting
which will readily suggest themselves to an intelligent mechanic; subject,
therefore, to the foregoing explanation, the claims to Invention under this
Patent are,
First, I claim the application to lamps of mechanism calculated to fire, by
friction, pressure, or percussion, a malch connected therewith, and to cause
the said match to inflame the wick of a lamp or the jet of a gas burner.

page_text: Second, I claim the application to lamps of an indicator, by which the
height of the wick in regard to the burner can be ascertained without removing
the chimney, globe, or shade thereof..
In witness that this is a true Specification of the aforesaid Invention, I,
the said Luke Hebert, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
18th day of December, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eighteenth day of December, in
the year of our Lord 1839, the aforesaid Luke Hebert came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.