A New and Improved Torch.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Torch.
I, JOSHUA HATTON, of 144, High Street, Wandsworth, in the County of London,
Sanitary Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This my invention relates to a new and improved torch which may be fixed in
any position or carried and swung in the hand with perfect safety. The great
defect in tar and ordinary torches is that a certain amount of matter falls from
them as the process of combustion goes on, which is highly dangerous and in-
convenient.
Another defect is the short time these torches last and when used in proces-
sions and carnivals extending over a few hours, they have to be renewed at con-
siderable expense and trouble. By my invention. these and other defects are
remedied in the following manner.
I provide a tube made of tin or any other suitable material, of a conical shape
about 3 inches in diameter at the top and 14 inches at the bottom (the larger
end upward) and capable of holding we will say one pint of paraffin. About
an inch down from the top of this tube I solder a disc of metal which exactly
fits the aperture, and through the centre of this I pass a inch tube which
extends to nearly the bottom of the torch or the receptacle for the oil. Upon
the top of the disc referred to above, extending to the top of the torch, and down the
inch tube to the bottom, I tightly pack cotton waste or some similar material,
keeping the same firmly fixed in its place by wires running across the top, or
wire gauze as may be deemed most convenient.
The torch is now ready for filling, and for this purpose I provide a small
opening at the side just below where the metal disc is soldered and secure the
same from leakage after filling by an ordinary screw device. By capillary attrac-
tion the whole of the cotton waste becomes saturated with the oil (preferably
paraffin) and may at once be lighted.
It will be seen that if the torch be tilted or even thrown to the ground the
oil cannot pour out, as the cotton waste prevents its escape.
This cotton waste referred to being firmly held in its position by the wires
or gauze prevents the possibility of any burning matter falling to the ground.
As a wooden handle is attached to the bottom of the torch, the hands in carrying
it are kept perfectly clean, and it will be found that one filling with a pint of
oil will last quite four hours. These torches may of course be made of any size
thus giving a corresponding longer period of burning.
Although I have specifically described one shape only it must be understood
that I do not confine myself to that particular outline as any fanciful design may
be adopted that admits of the use and application of the cotton waste in and for
the purposes already described.
Dated thin 11th day of September 1897

page_text: I, JOSHUA HATTON, of 144, High Street, Wandsworth, in the County of London,
Sanitary Engineer, 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 my invention is a new and improved torch and the object sought to be
obtained is an excellent light, perfectly safe, with no falling matter the result
of combustion from the torch itself, cheap in construction and inexpensive in the
burning.
I will now proceed to fully describe the same, having reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
Fig. 1, is a general view of the torch mounted upon an ordinary stick or
handle.
Fig. 2, is a sectional view, vertically cut through the centre of the torch.
In Figs. 1 and 2, A is the wooden handle or stock; B the oil receptacle which
in ordinary use is made to hold about a pint; C the cotton waste; D the wire gauze
or plain wires drawn across to keep the waste in its place; E the hole for filling
the oil receptacle and the screw cap tightly screwing down upon the same to
prevent any escape of the oil; F is the tube passing down into the oil receptacle
within an inch or so from the bottom of the same, & firmly soldered into the
disc G, the said disc being itself also soldered down inside from the top of the
torch about an inch, so as to admit of a padding of cotton waste between it and
the wires or wire gauze already referred to.
I cause the cotton waste to pass down the tube in the centre, which by
capillary attraction keeps the cotton waste on the top of the torch charged with
the oil. Another object of the centre tube is to prevent the oil running out
should the torch be laid down or turned upside down. Any oil used for illum-
inating purposes may be employed, paraffin being preferable as being easily
obtained and least expensive. When the torch requires to be refilled it is
replenished by pouring the oil into the hole E which is inserted just below the
disc G. We have now provided by my invention a light, portable and clean
torch, which will when lighted burn for hours in almost any position requiring
no attention, until the oil is burnt out and at the same time perfectly safe to
handle. The torch itself may be made of any suitable metal but for ordinary
purposes tin is preferable.
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:-
1. A torch, preferably cuniform in shape, consisting of a metal receptacle
capable of holding oil, with a disc soldered about an inch down from the top
of the same, having a tube passing through the said disc so adjusted that when
the torch is turned upside down the oil is still retained within the receptacle
substantially as described.
2. A torch of metal preferably cuniform in shape with a gauze or wired top,
having a disc soldered about an inch down from the top of the same, and having

page_text: a tube passing through the disc, with the space between the wire gauze and the
disc and the whole length of the tube referred to carefully packed with cotton
waste in the manner specifically set set forth and described.
J. HATTON,
Applicant.