Improvements in Oil Lamps and Stoves.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 25th Apr., 1889-Accepted, 29th June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Oil Lamps and Stoves.
I, ARCHIBALD HART of Newtown-of-Pitcairns, Dunning, in the County of Perth
North Britain, Minister of the Gospel do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
.7
This Invention relates to improvements in oil lamps and stoves and consists of an
improved arrangement of the oil supply aperture, an improved system of igniting the
wicks aided by an improved" button or flame divider, and also an improved system
.for indicating the depth or level of the oil in the lamp.
In accordance with my Invention the burner never requires to be removed in
order to fill the lamp or the stove. The aperture for the oil supply is formed
immediately inside or, beneath, the graduator of the burner at a position preferably
above (or close heside or in front and at thumb wheel in stoves,) the junction of the
oil vessel and the burner at a central part thereof, this position being such as gives
the greatest height above the level of the oil.
The oil-hole is preferably constructed to fitly admit my special fount filler, and at
an angle for easy pouring, through, or close-beside the upper ring of the rim on the
oil vessel of ordinary lamps and passes through or close by that part of the oil vessel
called the socket, and through, or close to, that part of the burner which fits on to the
socket and through or close by that part of it which corresponds, to the part of
the socket where the burner is screwed to the oil vessel; to the said aperture is fitted,
if required as an extension of the oil hole formation, or soldered an oil filling tube,
the tube being preferably bent or curved for certain oil vessels and straight for others;
the tube being preferably fitted with a screw, or cap, or by a sliding shutter of brass,
or other metal. or material, or, in casting the brass for summit ring and rim of oil
vessel, add said tube to it just outside screw joint or socket, also depth-hole; and also
by a pin, made double and joined with brass plate and flat-socketted midway to carry
stopper for filler hole, and, also fitted to fix burner to oil vessel. when suitable; similar
appliance for stoppering the stove oil hole and similar means of indicating depth of
oil in stoves; the whole arrangement being such as to enable the lamp to be, filled or
resplenished without extinguishing. the light. The filling hole in oil vessels of stoves
is preferably made in the junction of burner and oil vessel and always outside and in front,
beside the thumb wheel.
In. connection with the said improved method of oil supply, iny Invention relates to
an improved method of indicating the oil depth. In accordance with this part of my
Invention I employ a cork float, or other, float, to which is attached, a line which
passing through or sliding up or down in an aperture or tube or channel in the oil
vessel or through the hole cut in the upper part of the oil burner, and through a small
archway in the air graduator and is drawn through an eyelet fixture, thrown over, a
roller, and also a pulley mounted on the upper rim or ring of the oil, vessel, or, on
lower, rim of the burner.connection as a different method; or, thirdly mounted with
support from oil vessel or otherwise supported, the arrangement being such that the
indicator line descends by means of a small weight, over the side of the oil vessel as
the oil is filled in and, ascends as, the oil is consumed. As a modification. the float
may be mounted the end of, a straight piece of wire in the oil vessel, or the filling
tube, or a separate tube which may stand perpendicularly either inside or on, the
outside of oil vessel with connections at bottom for oil inlet, or part of the arrange-
ment may be of this construction, the sight portion being a line or weight, with
graduated, depth scale of suitable. material.
at
As regards.my, Invention for improved means of lighting the wicks Lemploy an
arrangement, in, part, in. connection with my improved oil hole. I employ a sliding.

page_text: spring, hinged or bracketted door or aperture, with, for lamps, an outer and inner
gateway for admitting a match or other lighting medium, the arrangemnt being snch
that the outer gateway is closed immediately the lighter is withdrawn. I prefer that
the arrangement should also be such that before the lighter can be applied, the oil
hole cover must be replaced so as to guard any contact of the flame with the oil; in
some cases however where the lamp is not suitable for this arrangement I may make
the doors for the oil filling and lighting, disconnected. The lighter hole shutter may
be binged, hung or sliding or with spring or ball weight and it may be hooked or
fixed to end of the filler-hole stopper, or otherwise kept open, only when lighting is
being effected.
The lighter is preferably in the form of a tube formed with split grip end, or wire
case as a different way, to hold a match and with a serrated side or sides on the end
holding the match; a small piston, or ram slide for wire case, is fitted at the bottom
of the said tube to push up the match against the serrated sides of the tube, and also
to touch the part of wick-case roughened and hardened for it and specially for the
wire case match bearer, when the tube end is opposite the edge of the wick; the
match being lit by friction against the serrated side. The tube is preferably formed
with slit and guide pin at the bottom for the piston and is cut for the admission of
air or about three fourths of its length above the piston guide, preferably in long
slits reaching to serrated part which is preferably pierced with holes having jagged edges.
As a modification in the method of connecting the top part of the wick case with
the jacket and hole of the lighter, I fix a ring or grooved guide, or half a ring or half
a short tube, (i.e. split lengthwise) when the space is small, on the upper end of the
wick case through which the match bearer is inserted; the match is pressed obliquely
upwards through the shutter of the lighter hole and the lighting being effected and the
match bearer withdrawn, the shutter of lighter hole will fall into position as before
lighting by being hinged at top, or side, hung at upper edge, or hinged and with spring
at bottom edge of shutter.
The depth index line is also subject to these modifications; the line may run
through either the lighter or filler hole or it may be adapted to other parts of the
burner, coming out through, or under, or fitted outside of the air graduator.
Further modifications of my improvements are as follows:-
The small weight at the end of the oil depth recording cord may be provided with
a scale upon the side of the lamp, the scale being marked in order to shew the depth
at a glance.
According to a further modification of oil depth-recording appliance, I may use a
larger pulley with its rim cut into equal sections; and as it revolves, each of these
segments shews a different colour, such as red, white, blue, &c. the red indicating the
limit of full or empty according to its position.
As regards the "lighter," a guide-channel may be fixed in the burner as match
bearer and extending from lighter hole below to near wick above, and at that point
with a peculiar finish, but also with the option of striking the match on its hardened
or roughened upper side or against a hardened and roughened portion of the wick-case
directly under the lip or orifice of case. The form of some of the larger burners
requires it to be left optional whether to fix and brazen on the match bearer within
the burner connections, or make and use it as a separate appliance, separate in
connections with aperture and guide-way to wick in burner, or altogether dispense
with it, and use a match or taper.
The match may be lighted by friction on upper portion of the wick-case or burner
where a small appliance made of steel or emery or other material is fitted on to receive
and explode an ordinary match, the tubular match bearer not being required in fitting
lighter holes &c. for some of the burners.
For circular burners, that is, those with a circular wick case, and for flattened
burners, that is, those with one flat wick-case, carrying a wick of an inch or more
in breadth, and also those called duplex or carrying two wicks of one inch or more in
breadth, such burners, both of lamps and stoves burning paraffin or other oils, I
light by means of an aperture in the outer casing. But in the matter of lighting the

page_text: larger make of lamps I am aided by a peculiarly formed guide-channel formed in the
casing of the hurner connections, brass or tin being used along with steel or emery
in forming a guide-way, a match bearer, a hardened or roughened part fitted for
exploding the match against or on the top of wick case.
In addition to these appliances, for the smokless lighting of flat or circular burners,
I fit on, an aid to easy lighting, in the form of, an improved" button" or flame divider
in circular burners, of the larger make, mounting it over the centre of the summit of.
the wick case by means of a Gothic and trefoil brass support resting on or within the
wick case.
The button part I make of nearly solid brass, but with modifications there-
from, and with bevelled rim, and peculiar stem, with certain holes therein, and at
bottom of stem a cup like formation from which a cut brass, or a hardened wire
formation radiates to circle of the wick case and serving to divide the flame into
three or more sets of double pointed jets, or into six or more single jets according
to style of the formation, and considerably regulating the height of the flame. I
nay use spurs or circles of brass to fit and fix the base of button appliance securely and
also to connect with wick-lighter and guide and friction appliances.
Lighting of the larger lamps being, by this Invention, subsequent to the fitting on
of the chimney I employ preferably a chimney, with a wide diameter at near base,
and made short, and contracting rapidly towards a narrow summit.
11
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Oil Lamps and Stoves.
I, ARCHIBALD HART, late of Newtown-of-Pitcairns, Dunning, but now of Glenallan
Dunblane, both in the County of Perth North Britain, Minister of the Gospel, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This Invention relates to improvements in oil lamps and stoves and consists of an
improved arrangement of the oil supply aperture, an improved system of igniting
the wicks aided by an improved "button or flame divider, and also an improved
system for indicating the depth or level of the oil in the lamps or stoves.
In order that my Invention may be easily understood and readily carried into effect
I will describe it with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings.
"
In accordance with my invention the burner with its chimney and globe never
requires to be removed from oil lamps made either of metal or transparent material.
such as glass or china, in order to fill the lamp, nor the burner and its necessary
fittings in filling stoves. The aperture for the supply of oil is formed immediately
inside or beneath (as shown at A. Figures 1 and 1 sheet 1 of the drawings) the
graduator of the burner at a position preferably at the junction of the oil vessel and
the burner, at a central part thereof, this position being such as gives the greatest
height above the level of the oil, and in stoves the oil aperture is preferably formed at
the front, or thumb wheel end of oil fount, as shewn at B, in Figures 4, 4, 5 and 5*,
sheet 2 of the drawings. The said oil supply aperture may be formed of a piece of
brass or other metal tube of a suitable length, the said tube being so mounted as to
have its outer end in a convenient place for pouring the oil into from the oil vessel,
preferably from my improved decanting tubes as described in my complete specifi-
cation of 3rd April 1888, and numbered 4954.
In carrying out my said improvements with regard to the oil supplying part,
I employ a tube of brass or other metal, the said tube passing beneath the burner
as at A, Figures 1 and 1* to nearly the bottom of the oil fount of lamp, and
having a sliding or hinged door a, formed in the ring of the said burner, or I
may bend the top end of said tube so as to cause it to come through either the
top or bottom rings a', a³, of burner its outer end being stoppered or covered as

page_text: shown at A, Figure 1b or 1 may form it as shewn at A', in Figure 2, passing.
through to top of oil fount and having its outer and stoppered either by a cork,
cork with metal cover, or suitable screwed brass cap (or as shown at A in Figure 3)
the tube passing through the side of the burners' graduator, and thence through
the base of the burner and having its outer end stoppered as already described or
(as shown at A³ Figure 3) the tube passing through the socket of the burner
and also through the neck of the oil fount, and also stoppered, or, (as shown at A+
Figure 1) the tube passing through the socket of burner and thence close along
the side of wick holder, and also stoppered, and I may have the said tubes either
straight, curved or bent as found most convenient, and they may be caused to
either pass through into the fount, or to reach to nearly the bottom of fount, and
with perforated sides as desired; and also I may mount if required at the outside
extremity of said tubes a suitable filler either of a straight, bent or curved shape
and the necessary stoppering arrangement applied to the said filler instead of the
end of tube, the said filler being either a fixture to the tube, or loose and only
used when required; the employment of said tubes doing away with the ordinary
large filling hole on the side of lamps as at present in use, and thus enabling
the lamps to be refilled with oil, without extinguishing the light or removing the
burner and its connections.
The
As a modification I may so form the said apertures as to be cast or made in one
piece, along with the said socket, summit ring, burner, rim of oil vessel, or of oil
fount, if said fount be made as a separate fount for bracket lamps, or stoves.
filling hole or aperture in stoves is preferably formed near the junction of burner
and oil vessel, and always on top, outside, and in front beside the thumb wheel
or winder as shown at A Figure 4 and 4, and at A, Figures 5 and 5ª and
having the necessary stoppering arrangement, which may be a cork, a metal covered
cork or a metal screwed cap, the sail stoppers may be either loose, fastened by means
of a cord or chain to said stove or may be hinged to side of stove as shown at a¹
Figures 5 and 5º.
"
In connection with the said improved method of oil supply my Invention relates to
an improved method of indicating the depth of oil in lamps and stoves, other than
those made of glass or other transparent material. In carrying this part into effect I
employ a float C Figures 1, 1, 2, 4, 4º, 5, and 5, which may be of cork or other
suitable material to which is attached a line or rod of length sufficient to measure
entire depth of vessel and also to allow the free outer end to be seen as the indicator,
the said line being preferably a piece of what is known as "Gilt Busking for fishing
hooks or other desirable material and passing through an aperture or tube c,
Figures 1 and 1" on top of oil fount and over a suitably mounted roller or pulley c¹,
and having a weight hung on its outer extremity, the said roller or pulley may be
mounted on the upper rim, or ring of the oil fount, or on lower rim of burner
connection, or I may support the said roller or pulley from oil fount or otherwise, or
I may cause the said line to pass over the spindle of thumb-wheel or winder, and
thus do away with the said roller or pulley, and I may lead the said line through the
perforated oil supply tube, or through the stopper thereof, the whole arrangement
boing such that the indicator line descends, by means of the weight and float over the
side of the oil vessel, as the oil is poured in, and ascends as the oil is consumed, the
float then touching the botton of vessel. As a modification the float C, may be
mounted at the end of a straight piece of wire reaching to the bottom of oil fount and
passing through the filling tube, or a separate tube which stands perpendicularly
either inside as at C Figure 2, or on the outside of oil vessel as at c Figures 4 and 4*
or for bracket lamps it may be formed either as a separate tube carrying the float and
standing perpendicularly alongside oil and wick holder, or fitted as already described
in or on to the separate fount the said tubes being for the purpose of keeping the float
in its proper position, and to prevent the surging of the oil in the oil fount from
displacing the said floats I preferably form the tube C, in Figure 2, with a number of
perforations along its whole length, or in the case of stoves I form a casing round the
floats as at C³, Figures 4, 4, 5 and 5" of a suitable perforated material, and I alsọ

page_text: prefer to mount the float in such a manner to the said wire as to allow of a slight
movement in all directions. Or as a modification I may employ in lieu of small
roller or pulley c³. Figures 115 and 5ª a larger pulley having its rim cut into
equal sections or segments and as it revolves each of these shews a different colour,
such as red white, blue &c., the red indicating the limit of full or empty according to
its position, or I may only colour one of these segments, or any other number as
desired, and as another modification I may provide a suitable scale upon the side
of the lamp or stove, the said scale being marked so as to shew the depth of oil
at a glance by means of the aforementioned weight on end of line moving up and
down the said scale.
In carrying out my said improvements in regard to improved means of lighting or
igniting the wicks
form an aperture or opening in the graduators' rim as at D,
Figures 6, 6, 9 and 9", and which may be provided with a hinged, sliding or spring
door on outside as at d, Figure 9 (or in some cases I may employ two doors or
gateways when required) the said aperture having preferably fitted into it or connected
to it a short tube or its equivalent and having its inner end fitted with a hardened or
roughened surface, preferably a piece of serrated steel d' Figure 6, for the purpose of
striking the match upon. The whole arrangement being so mounted that upon a
match being passed through the said aperture its head comes into contact with the
roughened surface, and thus ignites by means of the friction thus caused, and so lights
the wick or wicks.
As modifications, I may form the hardened or roughened surfaces on any convenient:
part of the burners' inner connections, for example the roughened surface may be
placed obliquely on the side of the wick case.
When applied to circular burners, the said hardened or roughened surface may be
fastened by any suitable means to the side of wick case, or in the case of duplex or
other burners I may form a guideway ending as a short double length of fret saw
teeth rising upwards along the top of gauze plate as shewn at d Figures 9 and 9*,
and 1 may use either one or two of said apertures as desired; and in connection with
said igniting arrangement I may use for the purpose of applying or withdrawing the
match, a suitable match holder, preferably forined of a hollow tube having a slit along
part of its length, and having a small gripping arrangement working in the said tube,
the handle or pin of the said gripping arrangement being allowed to project through
the said slit in tube, and thus allow of the match being pushed forward or drawn
back or the match-holder may be a similar cylinder to grip and manipulate the
match, but having no pin or piston.
In order that the said operations may be easily done, I prefer to mount or form- one
or more suitable handles to the lamps or stoves preferably two, one on each side of
lamp; the said handles being either fastened or fixed to lamps, or may be made in
one piece with the body of lamp:
For assisting in the said lighting or igniting operation and specially for single and
duplex flat burners I prefer to employ a double thickness of wick, or two ordinary
wicks fastened or sewn together; the said double wick presenting a larger body at
the edge of the wick tube, (which is also made larger or wider so as to contain the
double wick) for lighting, and at the same time the use of the double wick enables me
to obtain an increased illuminating power owing to there being a larger body of light
induced thereby.
وو
In addition I fit on as an aid to easy lighting and good burning an improved
"button
or flame regulator, or divider E Figures 7 and 8 for circular burners of
the larger make and mounted over the wick case.
The said button or flame regulator or divider being employed for regulating or
widening the current of air at the summit of the cone in round-wick burners, and
also for forming and guiding the flame whilst burning in the chimney or funnel; and
thus doing away with the discomfort attending the burning of large circular wick
lamps when burning at much under their full power. which very often causes the
wicks to smoke and smell owing to the unevenness in the summit of the flame's
circle,

page_text: In accordance with this part of my improvements I form the said button double,
that is with two discs as shown at e, e¹, Figures 7, 7, 8 and 8; the under or smallest
disc is formed slightly hollow as in Figure 7, and either solid or perforated,
according to the style of burner used; the said disc being of great consequence in
burning the lamp low; as because of its greater nearness to the burner and its size,
it therefore commences the work of diffusion at the point required, as owing to the
smallness of the flame there is very little power; and thus assists in consuming the
smoke it also commences the formation of the flame when the light is turned up,
and is thus an auxiliary to the larger disc above it e¹, this disc again receives the
flame in a cup like rim as shewn in Figures 7 and 8b and diffuses it to the extent of
the burner's power in any given case; the said disc with the centre or body of button
may be made solid or perforated as a means for qualifying the draught, or not,
according to the style of burner used. The buttons or flame regulators or dividers for
circular burners may be fixed or attached to the summit of wick-case, either by their
being formed with a small solid stem as shewn at F, Figures 7 and 76, the said stem
being fitted into a suitable eyelet or socket inside the wick case or by being formed
(as shewn at F1 Figures 8, 8* and 8) with a tubular stem, and having 3, 6 or more
pieces of wire or other suitable material fitted inside the said stem, and their lower
extremities bent or curved upwards and rivetted, or fixed to a washer f, the said
washer fitting into the inside of wick-case and preferably mounted a little below the
summit of wick case as shewn, so as to forni a kind of arched support, the said
pieces or supports fitting exactly into and sliding in the inner wick-case tube, and
resting on a small washer or projecting ring f on the inside of the wick-case
tube.
In applying my improved flame regulator or divider to duplex burners, I form on
the gauze, or otherwise at foot of burner, or on the rim of the burner, a tubular or
brass gauze air diffuser (as shown at G in Fig. 6) having its lower end fixed in and
coming through the rim of burner, and its upper end elevated to an angle fronting
the centre betwixt the two wicks, the same arrangement being employed on the
exactly opposite side of the burner, or as shewn in Fig. 6, I may make use of the
igniting or lighting aperture herein before described, the said apertures and tubes
being also used for the purpose of extinguishing the light instantaneously, and safely,
by simply causing a puff of air or breath to pass across the burner.
In accordance with my said improvements for obtaining larger lights or flames and
greater illuminative power, I prefer to employ a chimney or funnel, (especially for
duplex and flat wick burners) having extra width near base and contracting rapidly
upwards towards a narrow summit. The said chimney being preferably supported
within suitable brackets, as shown at K in Figs. 2, 6 and 6, the said brackets being
formed of any suitable material and of any convenient design and fastened to the
burners outer casing by, any suitable means and also having provision formed on them
for guiding on and holding a globe or shade as shown at k, Figs. 2, 6 and 6* and by
means of slots or eyelets formed in their tail ends and pins to match, thus fixing
burner to lamps, and thus doing away with the ordinary light obstructing gallery as
at present in use; or as a modification I may secure the burner to the socket by
casting when making, or by drilling when made, slots on the two opposite free
sides of the burner's base, one or more on each side, and slots on the two opposite
sides of the socket into which the burner's base fits; these being formed to exactly
fit each other, I fit pins to pass through the holes, one on each side, and as they will
be exactly parallel to each other I may make the two pins as one formation by uniting
them by means of a handle bent to a slight semi circle.
In order to keep the lamp cool and therefore prevent explosions taking place; I
preferably do away with the ordinary screw as at present used in making certain
lamps for securing the burner to the body of the lamp, and in lieu thereof I form two
or more projecting pins (as at H Figs. 2 and 6 in the under ring or rim of burner;
and on the upper ring or rin of oil vessel, I form corresponding openings, the said
openings being extended lengthwise, but formed narrower so as to hold the said pin
heads (as shown at h in Fig. 6) the said pin heads being formed on the pins in any

page_text: suitable manner and I also prefer to perforate any formations of the burners such as
is shown at J, Fig. 2, for enabling a free passage of air to take place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
First. In oil lamps and stoves the arrangement of an aperture or filling tube with
the necessary fittings as shown in Figures 1 and 1* Sheet 1 of the drawings, or any
of the modifications thereof substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Second. In oil lamps and stoves the arrangement of an oil depth index with the
necessary fittings as shown in Figures 1 and 1* or any of the various modifications
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Third. In oil lamps the arrangement of an aperture or lighting tube having the
necessary hardened or roughened surface for striking the match on, as shewn in
Figures 6 and 6ª or any of the modifications thereof substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In combination with my said improvements the employment of a double
thickness of wick, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Fifth. In oil lamps, for circular wicks the arrangement of a button or flame divider
as shown in Figures 7, 7ª, 7, 8, 8, and 8 or any of the modifications thereof sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein before described and shewn in the accom-
panying drawings.
Sixth. In oil lamps for duplex flat wicks the arrangement of apertures or tubes as
shown in Figures 6 and 6 or any of the modifications thereof substantially as and for
the purposes herein before described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Seventh. In oil lamps the combined arrangements of, chimney supports or holders,
as shown at Figures 2, 6 and 6; pins and recesses, as shewn at H, h, Figures 6
and 6; and perforations, as shown at J Figure 2, or any of the modifications thereof
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of 1000