IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS
Year: 1885

page_text: "
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, Middlesex, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS
(a communication from Marmaduke Matthews of Toronto Canada Artist), to be
as follows:-
:-
The object of the invention is to so construct a lamp that the top level of the oil
or fluid shall always remain at the same relative distance from the burner; and it
consists essentially, first, in connecting the bottom of the oil reservoir with a com-
pressible vessel containing water or other fluid heavier than the oil, and providing
means by which the water or other heavy fluid shall be forced into the oil reservoir
to take the place of the oil consumed by the burning of the lamp; and secondly,
in so connecting the oil or fluid reservoir to the tube leading from the burner that
it will move freely up on the said tube as the oil is consumed; the said reservoir
being so balanced either by floatation or weights that it will move upwardly only
in proportion to the consumption of the oil or fluid within it.

page_text: "
Improvements in Lamps.
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LAMPS (a communication from Mariniidukė Matthews of Toronto, dominion
of Canada Artist) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :--
The object of the invention is to so construct a lamp that the top level of the oil
or fluid shall always remain at the same relative distance from the burner; and it
consists, essentially, first, in so connecting the oil or fluid reservoir to the tube
leading from the burner that it will move freely up on the said tube as the oil is
consumed; the said reservoir being so balanced either by floatation or weights that
it will move upwardly only in proportion to the consumption of the oil or fluid
within it; and secondly, as an alternative forin of the first, in connecting the
bottom of the oil reservoir with a compressible vessel containing water or other
fluid heavier than the oil, and providing means by which the water or other heavy
fluid shall be forced into the oil reservoir to take the place of the oil consumed by
the burning of the lamp.
:
To facilitate the description of this invention I shall first describe the construc-
tion involved in the elevating of the oil reservoir, and will afterwards describe the
construction of the lamp when the compressible vessel is employed.
- Figure 1 represents an ordinary table lamp in which the burner is located
immediately over the oil reservoir, and the tube connecting the burner to the oil
reservoir is straight and centrally located within the lamp.
Figure 2 represents a lamp in which the tube connecting the burner to the oil
reservoir is arranged to act as a syphon.
Figure 3 represents a lamp with two burners supplied by a double syphon tube
which connects the burners to the reservoir.
Figure 4 represents a lamp with two burners connected to the reservoir by two
separate syphon tubes; a separate tube being provided for filling the reservoir.
All the lamps shown in these figures are constructed on the same principle,
the reservoir in each being adjustably fitted onto the tubes, and each reservoir is
balanced by floatation.
Figure 5 represents a lamp made in accordance with the first portion of this
invention, but having its reservoir balanced by weights instead of by floatation, as
in the construction shown in the forner figures.
Figure 6 is an enlarged detail, showing the form of joint between the tube
and oil reservoir.
Figures 7 and 8 represent sectional views of a lamp provided with a compressible
vessel made bellows-form.
Figures 9 and 10 shew sectional views of a lamp with compressible vessel shown
spherical in form.
Figure 11 is a sectional view of a modified form of construction exhibited in
the latter figure.

page_text: In Figure 1, A, represents the burner provided with a wick-tube B, held in
position by the frame C, which is connected and separated by the main or outer
body D, of the lamp. This frame C, is designed as shown, to support the lamp
shade E.
F, is the oil-reservoir having a central hole a, through which the wick-tube B
passes, the said wick-tube being an easy fit, so that the reservoir F, may be moved
freely up and down upon the tube.
bare lugs formed on the reservoir F, and arranged to fit onto the standards of
the frame C, so that in moving up and down the reservoir is prevented moving
laterally.
G is a light float connected by the rod or tube H to the oil-reservoir. This
float G, is contained within the outer body D, of the lamp which is filled with
water or other fluid. The size of the float G, is calculated so that its displacement
shall represent a little less than its own weight and that of the reservoir F, when
filled with oil, consequently when the reservoir F, is filled with oil the float G, will
rest upon the bottom of the lamp-body. As the burner consumes the oil, the
weight being thus decreased, the float will naturally rise toward the top in pro-
portion to the reduction of the weight by the consumption of the burning fluid.
As the float, G, is connected as described to the reservoir F, the said, reservoir F,
will of course move up with the float, consequently the top level of the oil within
the reservoir will always be about the same distance from the burner, which
regularity of distance will insure a constant and equal flame during the whole
period that the lamp may be burning.
Another great advantage in the construction of this improved lamp is that the
buruer is held at a sufficient distance from the oil to prevent the heat from the
flame in any way atlecting the oil; and further, there is no unnecessary air-space in
this lamp in which explosive gases may accumulate, which gases inoreover are not
likely to be generated as the Hame is too far from the oil to produce them.
In Figure 2 the reservoir F, is provided with a float similar to G, and connected
to the tube B, in the same manner, as shown in Figures 1 and 6, but-instead of it
being straight as in Figure 1, the wick-tube B, in Figure 2 is bent so as to form a
syphon between the reservoir F, and burner A
In Figure 3 two burners A are shown. The wick-tubes B leading from the
burner A, connect with a central tube I, which leads into the reservoir F, and
forms a similar connection between the said reservoir and burner A, as described
and shown in Figure 2.
In Figure 4 two burners A, are shown connected to the reservoir by the
wick-tubes B, each shaped to form a syphon. These tubes are connected to the
oil reservoir F, in the saine manner as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, but instead.
of the central tube I, being employed to connect the two wick-tubes together the
said central tube leads from the reservoir F, to au oil-cup J through which oil or
any other burning fluid may be poured into the reservoir. The central tube I, as
shown in both Figures 3 and 4, is connected to the reservoir F in the same manner
as the tubes B, are connected, so that the floating reservoir F, may move freely
vertically on all the said tubes.
Figure 5 represents a lamp designed the saine as shown in Figure 3, but instead
of the reservoir F, being floated in water or other fluid it is balanced by the strings
of weights K. These weights are connected to the bottom of the reservoir F, by
flexible chains or cords, which pass over pulleys M, journalled in some convenient.
part of the frame of the lamp. These weights are calculated to represent a little
less than the weight of the reservoir F, when filled with oil. As the oil is con-
sumed, the weights will naturally force up the reservoir F, on the central tube 1.
In order to prevent the upward speed of the reservoir increasing as the weight
decreases the weights K are arranged as before described, on a flexible chain Land
place them over a base plate N, so that the weights K, which descend as the
reservoir ascends will come in contact with the base plato N,. which thereby
relieves the chains L, of a portion of the weight, thereby equalising the weight,

page_text: used to balanco the reservoir F, and thus prevent the said reservoir ascending too
quickly.
The above description covers this invention in which the oil or fluid reservoir
is caused to ascend towards the burner. I shall now proceed to explain its con-
struction when the compressible vessel is employed.
1, represents the burner rigidly connected by the wick-tube 2, to the oil
reservoir 3. The oil reservoir 3, is attached to or forms part of the lamp body 4,
which is made water-tight and is filled with water.
5 is a compressible vessel, made of rubber or other flexible material, and shaped
in any desired form. The interior of the vessel 5, is connected to the interior of
the oil-reservoir 3, by a small hole 6, and is filled with water or other fluid heavier
than the oil or burning fluid contained within the oil-reservoir 3.
.7 is a float attached to the bottom of the compressible vessel 5, and representing
a displacement a little less than the weight of the fluids in the oil-reservoir 3, and
vessel 5; consequently when the vessel 3, is full of oil the compressible vessel 5,
will be expanded as shown in Figures 7 and 9. As the oil is consumed by the
burning of the lamp the weight on the float 7, will be gradually decreased, and
will, in proportion to the decrease, ascend within the lamp body, 4, which, as
before stated, is filled with water. This ascending of the float 7, will of course
compress the vessel 5, forcing the liquid within it out through the hole 6, into the
reservoir 3, so as take the place within the said vessel of the oil consumed by the
lamp.
L
Figures 8 and 10 show the float 7, floating in the water contained within the
lamp body 4, the compressible vessels 5, being compressed in proportion to the
height of the float within the said body. It will be seen from this description
that all the oil within the reservoir 3, may be consumed, and also its level will be
maintained at about an equal distance from the burner, thereby gaining all the
advantages secured by the maintenance of this equal distance, and also enabling
the oil to be almost if not altogether consumed. The water will flow back into the
vessel 5, when the float is forced down to the bottom of the body 4, and the oil
reservoir 3, may again be filled. By providing only a small hole 6, for the passage
of the water from the vessel 5, into the reservoir 3, the mixing of the oil with the
water by the sudden jars caused by carrying the lamp is prevented, and the water
from the compressible vessel 5, will only flow into the oil reservoir 3, slowly in
proportion to the consumption of the oil by the burner.
Two forms of compressible vessel 5, and two forms of float 7, are shown. Other
forins might easily be designed to effect the same purpose. The two are merely
shown to indicate that the form itself is of very little importance. In Figures 7
and 9 the compressible vessel is shown made in the form of a bellows, the float
attached to the bellows formed vessel being made cylindrical.
In Figures 9 and 10 the compressible vessel 5, is shown spherical in shape, and
the float 7, attached to it semi-spherical.
-
In Figure 11 a substitute for the compressible vessel 5 is shown, that is to say,
instead of making the vessel itself compressible, as shown in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10
it is telescopically connected to the oil reservoir, and otherwise arranged so that
exactly the same effect is produced. In this substitute or equivalent form the
burner 1, and wick-tube 2, are, as in the other figures rigidly connected to the oil-
reservoir 3, which reservoir is attached to or forms part of the lamp body 4.
Instead of however, making the vessel 5, compressible it is fitted telescopically over
the reservoir 3, and extended into the lamp-body 4, within which the float 7,
attached to the vessel, 5, is floated in suitable liquid. In this form of construction
the oil-reservoir 3, is without a bottom, opening fully into the vessel 5. Into the
reservoir.3, sufficient brine or other heavy fluid is first poured to force the float to
the bottom of the lamp-body 4, continuing to pour in the brine until the oil-
reservoir is itself partially filled. The oil is then poured in on top of the brine,
which will then naturally find its way around outside of the oil-reservoir 3,
botween it and the vessel 5, which, as shown, extends up to the top of the oils

page_text: reservoir. The effect of this operation will be that as the oil within the reservoir
is consumed the brine, which is by the pressure of the oil forced to a higher point
outside of the reservoir 3, than it reaches in the reservoir, forces the brine within
the reservoir 3, upwardly in proportion to the consumption of the oil, so that as the
oil consumes the brine takes its place, the float 7, being relieved by a certain weight
due to the consumption of the oil, thus maintaining the oil at an equal distance
from the burner and accomplishing the same effect as produced by the arrangement
shown in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
1. The burner A fixed to the long stationary wick-tube B, in combination with
the oil reservoir F, provided with a hole a through which the wick-tube passes,
and a support calculated to carry the weight of the reservoir F, when full, but
arranged to move the said reservoir over the tube B, closer to the burner in propor-
tion to the consumption of the oil contained within the reservoir, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
2. The oil-reservoir F, adjustably fitted onto the wick-tube B, and provided
with a float G extending into the lamp-body D, which contains water or other fluid,
the said float being unale of such a size and so connected to the oil-reservoir F,
that it forces by its buoyancy the said reservoir up toward the burner A, in
proportion to the consumption of the oil within the reservoir.
3. The lamp-body D, arranged to support the syphon-tubes B, to which the
burners A aro attached, in combination with the oil reservoir F, floated within the
lamp-body D substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. The oil-reservoir F, floated within the lamp-body D as specified, and provided
with holes a, for the passage of the tubes B, to which the burners A are attached,
in combination with the central tube I, provided with oil-cup J, arranged sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. A wick-tube a having a burner 1, fitted to it and connected to the oil-
reservoir in combination with a vessel 5, arranged to contain brine or other fluid
heavier than oil, and provided with a float 7, supported in fluid within a lamp-
body D, and arranged to keep the oil at about an equal distance from the burner,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. A wick-tube 2, connected to the oil-reservoir 3, communicating with a com-
pressible vessel 5, in combination with a float 7, contained within the body 4, and
arranged to compress the vessel 5, by its buoyancy, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
1