IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRO-CARBON LAMPS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Pitcairn Wright and Bernard Wright, both of
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HYDRO-CARBON LAMPS."
Sealed the 11th May 1880, and dated the 14th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Pitcairn Wright and
Bernard Wright at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th
November 1879.
DAVID PITCAIRN WRIGHT and BERNARD WRIGHT, both of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRO CARBON LAMPS."
This Invention consists in an improved arrangement for lighting hydro carbon
lamps which have a perforated brass or wire gauze through which the air for
supporting the combustion of the flame passes in addition to the outside perforated
body. By this method they can be readily lighted without removing the chimney
& globe, or without raising the cone as is done in a hinge burner.
In the outside body of the burner we make an aperture in the position most
convenient of about diameter, and sufficient to allow a lighted match on the
tube of the spirit lighter (which forms part of our Invention) to be readily inserted.
Opposite this opening in the outside of the burners we make an aperture in the
gauze of somewhat similar dimensions. To the side or end of the opening in the
gauze we attach a flap working on a hinge so arranged as that the insertion of the
tube of lighter or match shall easily raise it and allow the light to be passed through
to ignite the wick or wicks of the lamp, and when the lighter is withdrawn shall
again fall and cover the opening. This flap we prefer to make of the same gauze
or wire as that to which it is attached, or it can be so arranged as to be opened
with hand from the outside, and when the hand is removed spring back and cover
the opening, or if preferred, a sliding piece may be used.
The lighter we have invented is of any convenient form, and may have any
suitable wick that will give sufficient capillory attraction, but must have a much
longer wick tube than is usual to lamps, and we prefer to make it with a metal
projection beyond the wick, so that when thrust into the lamp the projecting metal

page_text: opens the flap without disturbing the wick of lighter. The sides or ends of the
lighter we make elastic, as is the case with common oil cans used for oiling
machinery, so that if the capillory attraction of the wick is not sufficient a slight
pressure on the side or ends as arranged at once forces up a supply.
Our improvement also consists of a new method of fixing chimney or moon to
the holder. This is accomplished by a spring of thin steel attached to the burner
or moon ring, and so arranged that it bears upon the flange of the moon or chimney,
and holds it firmly in its place.
It also consists of an improved method for readily attaching a short supporter to
the moon ring. This is accomplished in a similar manner to the above, only that
the coiled spring of flat steel is reversed. It is attached to the movable shade
holder, and impinging against the under side of the moon holder holds it steadily in
its place.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Pitcairn Wright and Bernard Wright in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th May 1880.
DAVID PITCAIRN WRIGHT and BERNARD WRIGHT, both of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRO-CARBON LAMPS."
This Invention consists, firstly, in an improved arrangement for lighting hydro-
carbon lamps which have a perforated brass or wire gauze through which the air
passes for supporting the combustion of the flame in addition to the outside
perforated body.
By this method they can be readily lighted without removing the chimneys and
globe, or without raising the cone as is done in a hinge burner.
Secondly. In an improved lighter for lighting hydro-carbon lamps made according
to our Invention.
Thirdly. Our improvement consists of a new method of fixing the chimney or
moon to the holder, and-
Fourthly. In an improved method for readily attaching a shade supporter to the
moon ring.
And in order that our said several improvements may be more readily understood,
we will now proceed to describe the same, reference being had to the annexed
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Fig. 1 shows a burner with the first part of our Invention applied thereto, and
an elevation of the burner partially in section taken through the hinged flap of the
opening, and shews the flap up and the taper inserted through the aperture in the
act of lighting the lamp.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a burner with the third part of our Invention
applied thereto.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a shade supporter with the fourth part of our
Invention attached to it.
In the outside body of the burner a we make an aperture 6 in the position
most convenient of about half an inch diameter, and sufficient to allow a lighted
match or the tube of a spirit or other suitable lighter to be readily inserted.
Opposite this opening b in the outside of the burner a we make an aperture c in the
gauze of somewhat similar dimensions. To the side or end of the opening c in the
gauze we attach a flap d working on a hinge e, so arranged as that the insertion of
the tube of lighter or match shall easily raise it and allow the light to be passed
through to ignite the wick or wicks f, f, of the lamp, and when the lighter is
withdrawn shall again fall and cover the opening.
This flap d we prefer to make of the same gauze or wire as that to which it is
attached, or it can be so arranged as to be opened with hand from the outside, and
when the hand is removed spring or fall back and cover the opening, or, if preferred,
a sliding piece may be used."
The lighter, as seen in Fig. 1, is of any convenient form, and may have any
suitable wick that will give sufficient capillary attraction, but must have a much
longer wick tube than is usual to lamps. We prefer to make it with a metal
projection beyond the wick, so that when thrust into the lamp the projecting metal
opens the flap without disturbing the wick of lighter. The sides or ends of the
lighter can be made elastic, as is the case with common oil cans used for oiling
machinery, so that if the capillary attraction of the wick is not sufficient a slight
pressure on the side or ends, as arranged, at once forces up a supply.
Fig. 2 represents our new method of fixing the chimney or moon to the holder.
This is accomplished by a spring of thin steel g attached to the burner or moon
ring h, and so arranged that it bears upon the flange of the moon or chimney and

page_text: holds it firmly in its place. Fig. 3 shews an improved method for readily attaching a
shade supporter to the moon ring. This is accomplished in a similar manner to the
above, only that the coiled spring of flat steel is reversed. It is attached to the
moveable shade holder j, and impinging against the under side of the moon holder h
holds it steadily in its place.
Having thus described the nature and object of our said Invention, we would
observe in conclusion, that though we have in our Provisional Specification and
herein mentioned the lighter as forming part of our said Invention, we make no
special claim to the same, as various kinds of tubes and lighters may be used for
igniting lamps made with our improvements, but what we claim and desire to be
secured to us by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,—
First. The novel arrangement for lighting hydro carbon lamps without removing
the chimneys or globes, or without raising the cone, substantially as herein before
described and shewn on Drawing Fig. 1.
Second. The new method of fixing the chimney or moon to the holder by means
of the spring, as shewn on Drawing Fig. 2, and hereinbefore described.
Third. The new method of attaching a shade supporter to the moon ring, as shewn
on Drawing Fig. 3, and herein before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said David Pitcairn Wright and Bernard Wright,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twelfth day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
E. A. WARREN.
DAVID PITCAIRN WRIGHT. (L.S.)
BERNARD WRIGHT.
(L.S.)