CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SPIRIT LAMPS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Hedgely, of 32, New Road, Brighton, in the
County of Sussex, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SPIRIT
LAMPS."
Sealed the 22nd May 1857, and dated the 27th November 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Hedgely at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th November 1856..
I, HENRY HEDGELY, of 82, New Road, Brighton, in the County of Sussex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN SPIRIT LAMPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention is designed for the purpose of obviating the objections attend-
ing spirit lamps, arising principally from imperfect combustion, the consequence
of which is that the flame is unsteady, and the intensity of the light not
uniform for any length of time, and, further, an unpleasant odour is emitted.
The wick requires to be carefully and evenly trimmed each time the lamp is
used, and then the wick must be carefully raised, otherwise smoke will arise,
and large quantities of "blacks" be given off, and for this reason the use of
spirit lamps in dwelling-houses has for the most part been discontinued.
The object and intention of this Invention is to remedy the above objections
by constructing spirit lamps in the following manner: _I construct the lamp
with an argand burner, but instead of simply allowing the air necessary for
supporting combustion to pass up through the centre of the wick of the lamp

page_text: and the inside of the holder which supports the glass chimney, a principle
common to all argand burners, this Invention consists in directing and main-
taining a continuous current of atmospheric air through and between the outer
surface of the wick and the outer case of metal, or other part or piece which
encloses such said wick, and this I effect by piercing or puncturing such said
case with holes, the total area of which should be in accordance with the size of
the wick and tho quantity of air necessary to effect, as near as may be, perfect
combustion, or in other words, to so far improve the combustion as to prevent
the flame of the lamp from giving off smoke, thereby improving the brilliancy
and steadiness of the light, and avoiding the necessity for trimming the wick,
as commonly practised, but which operation is not necessary in lamps constructed
according to this Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Hedgely in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th May 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
HEDGELY, of 32, New Road, Brighton, in the County of Sussex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Hedgely, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Hedgely, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Hedgely, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SPIRIT
LAMPS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Hedgely,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Hedgely, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention is designed for the purpose of obviating the objections attend-
ing spirit lamps; arising principally from imperfect combustion, the consequence
of which is that the flame is unsteady, and the intensity of the light not
uniform for any length of time, and, further, an unpleasant odour is emitted.
The wick requires to be carefully and evenly trimmed each time the lamp is
used, and then the wick must be carefully raised, otherwise smoke will arise,
and large quantities of "blacks" be given off, and for this reason the use of
spirit lamps in dwelling-houses has for the most part been discontinued.
The object and intention of my said Invention is to remedy the above
objections by constructing spirit lamps in the following manner :-I construct
the lamp with an argand burner, but instead of simply allowing the air neces-
sary for supporting combustion to pass up through the centre of the wick of
the lamp and the inside of the holder which supports the glass chimney, a
principle common to all argand burners, my Invention further consists in
directing and maintaining a continuous current of atmospheric air through and
between the outer surface of the wick and the outer case of metal, or other
part or piece which encloses such said wick, and this I effect by piercing or
puncturing such said case with holes, the total area of which should be in
accordance with the size of the wick and the quantity of air necessary to effect,
as near as may be, perfect combustion; or in other words, to so far improve the
combustion as to prevent the flame of the lamp from giving off smoke, thereby
improving the brilliancy and steadiness of the light, and avoiding the necessity
for trimming the wick, as commonly practised, but which operation is not
necessary in lamps constructed according to my said Invention.
I now proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying
my said Invention into practical effect, and have attached to these Presents a
Sheet of illustrative Drawings, and have marked the same with numeral figures
and letters of reference, similar letters being placed upon corresponding parts,
in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at each of such said Figures
respectively.

page_text: of the same, through the line A, B, at Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation, in
section, of another form of construction of wick holder, also designed for
keeping the wick cool, according to this Invention; Figure 4 a detached
view of the outside of the case D, at Figure 1; Figure 5, an elevation of a
glass chimney.
At each of the foregoing Figures I employ similar letters of reference to
denote corresponding parts, in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at
each of such said Figures respectively.
A, A, is a screw cap or mounting, for connecting the burner to the spirit
reservoir or body of the lamp in the ordinary way; B, the wickholder, the inner
ring band lower part whereof are also of the ordinary kind; C, the cotton
wick, capable of being raised and lowered in the ordinary way; D, the outer
ring or case that encloses the cotton wick. This ring or case I form entirely
different from spirit lamps as heretofore constructed, for the purpose of directing
a current of air direct to the entire outer surface of the wick for keeping it
comparatively cool, whereby I improve the combustion of the spirit, and thus
prevent smoke, as above stated, and this I effect by constructing the ring or
casé D in the following manner: I arrange and dispose the rings 6 and D
considerably wider apart than heretofore, keeping the wick close, or nearly so,
against the ring b, but leaving space or an air chamber around the outer
surface of the wick; I also form perforations through the outer ring or case
D as channels for the passage of air into the aforesaid air chamber. The air
first passes through the ordinary perforated ring E for infinitely dividing the
particles of the air, and then between the inside of the cap G and the ring
or case D, the cap G being made large enough and kept at a distance from
the ring D by forming ribs or projections c, c, upon the ring D, as at Figure 2.
His a ledge for the glass chimney to rest upon, and I the glass shade holder,
both of which are of the ordinary kind.
I would here observe, that for effecting the objects of my said improvements
care should be taken to select a proper form of chimney. The form which I
have found to answer well in practice is exhibited at Figure 5. I do not,
however, intend to limit or restrict myself to the use of this particular form
of chimney, as I believe other forms might be used with equal advantage, so
long as it possesses the quality of directing the outer column or current of air
for supporting combustion of the spirit in a perfect manner to prevent smoke
being given off.
As regards the construction of the burner or wickholder, exhibited at
Figures 3 and 4, it differs in the following respects from that lastly above
described; that is to say, instead of leaving space between the cap and the

page_text: outer ring D, the said cap fits close against the same, and the air is con-
ducted to the outside of the wick by the channels d, d. I prefer, however, the
former arrangement, as being the most perfect, and giving the best practical
results.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention of "Certain Improvements in Spirit Lamps," together with the
best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I
would remark, in conclusion, that I hereby declare my Invention to consist in,
and I claim, the perforated ring or case marked D at Figures 1, 2, 4, in com-
bination with the cap G, and other ordinary parts of a spirit lamp, for the
purpose of directing and conveying a current of air to the wick for keeping
it cool, as constituting improvements in spirit lamps, as above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Hedgely, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
HENRY HEDGELY. (L.s.)
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE, Agent for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.