IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS FOR BURNING MINERAL OILS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO LAMPS FOR BURNING OTHER OILS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, of Manby Street,
Stratford, in the County of Essex, Gas Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS FOR BURNING MINERAL
OILS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO LAMPS FOR
BURNING OTHER OILS."
Sealed the 29th December 1871, and dated the 4th July 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathaniel Fortescue
Taylor at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 4th July 1871.
I, NATHANIEL FORTESCUE TAYLOR, of Manby Street, Stratford, in
the County of Essex, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS FOR
BURNING MINERAL OILS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO LAMPS
FOR BURNING OTHER OILS," to be as follows:-
The Invention has for its object improvements in lamps for burning
mineral oils parts of which improvements are applicable to lamps for
burning other oils. For this purpose I form the main reservoir for the oil

page_text: with a tube passing through the centre thereof and soldered to the reservoir
at the top and bottom so as to form as it were a close annular chamber
around such tube. This tube is open at the top and bottom and is of
a size to fit a solid or hollow rod or standard fixed to a proper base or
otherwise as desired. The lower part of this reservoir is received into a
second vessel or supplemental reservoir also provided with a tube in the
centre thereof to fit the aforesaid rod or standard. By these means the
reservoir may be turned on its axis as desired. The second vessel is
formed with a perforated false bottom to which and to the real bottom
the central tube is soldered so as to obtain sufficient strength and
rigidity. In the bottom of the main reservoir is arranged by preference
a slightly conical. valve with its rod or spindle projecting downwards
below the bottom, this rod or spindle (when the two chambers are
placed in correct position on the rod or standard for use) comes upon
the false bottom of the second or supplemental chamber whereby the
valve is opened and free communication established between the two:
By these means the oil flows into the second chamber until the mouth
of the main reservoir is sealed, and as the oil flows to the burner and is
consumed it is regularly supplied from the main reservoir and a constant
level maintained in the second. To fill the main reservoir it is only
necessary to remove it from the rod or standard and turn it upside
Then
down, taking care whilst so doing to hold the valve to its seat.
when the reservoir is placed in this position and the valve released it
can be filled through the valve opening, the valve being again held to
its seat whilst reversing the reservoir. The supply pipe to the burner
is fixed to both the false and the real bottom of the second chamber for
the purpose of rigidity, and if desired a brace or bracket connected to
the chamber and to. the supply pipe may assist in holding it securely in
position. This supply pipe is provided with. a. peculiar form of swivel
joint constructed in the following manner to prevent the possibility of
leakage In the lower half of the joint I form an annular recess.
receive a similar shaped piece of fine grained cork which projects
somewhat above the metal. The centre pin of the joint is formed as
heretofore to permit of the free flow of the oil from the one part to the
other, but is formed cylindrical and not conical. The upper end of the
centre pin is furnished with another annular piece of cork, through
which a screwed portion of the centre pin passes. The centre pin is
received into a suitable recess formed for it in the upper or second
half of the joint, the screwed portion passes through the centre thereof,
-
+
•
to

page_text: and the two halves of the joint are bound together firmly so as to
compress the two or more pieces of cork around the pin. By these
means a moveable jointed bracked is formed so that the position of the.
light can be varied as desired. The height of the reservoirs may be.
adjusted on the rod or standard as desired by means of a binding
screw, and if desired two or more supply pipes and burners may be
fixed to the same reservoir. Thus far my improvements are equally
applicable to lamps for burning mineral and other oils.
The burner, which is of the hollow wick kind, is constructed in the
following manner-An upright tube is fixed to the supply tube 'so`
that the top of the burner is about two inches and a quarter above the
level of the oil. In the centre of the burner instead of an ordinary flat-
button I fix a hollow inverted bell-shaped "button" " with perforations-
therein just above the top of the burner. The outer tube is provided
with. a light gallery to support a chimney which curves out gradually
from a short distance above the burner to the bottom, which is supported
on the gallery at a distance of about two inches below the top of the
burner. By these means I obtain a well shaped naked flame of con-
siderable brilliancy with little or no shadow.
In order to prevent the oil flowing out through the opening through
which the spindle passes for raising and lowering the wick I form at
such part a stuffing box provided with an annular piece of fine grain.
cork which is firmly compressed by the stuffing box binding screw
between a shoulder on the spindle and the end of the stuffing box.
If desired a cone may be used outside of the burner as usual, a suitable
glass chimney being used therewith, and in some cases I apply two
perforated cylinders below the gallery connected together by an annular
perforated disc, thereby affording an extra check to the air on its way to
the burner

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, Her special licence
that I, the said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor,
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 “Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS FOR BURNING MINERAL OILS, PARTS.
OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO LAMPS FOR BURNING OTHER OILS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Nathaniel Fortescue
Taylor, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, do
hereby declare the nature of my 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:
11 A
This Invention has for its object improvements in lamps for burning
mineral oils, parts of which improvements are applicable to lamps for
burning other oils.. For this purpose I form the main reservoir for the
oil with a tube passing through the centre thereof, and soldered to
the reservoir at the top and bottom so as to form as it were a close
annular chamber around such tube. This tube is open at the top and
bottom, and is of a size to fit a solid or hollow rod or standard fixed to a
'proper base or otherwise as desired. The lower part of this reservoir is
received into a second vessel or supplemental reservoir, also provided
with a tube in the centre thereof to fit the aforesaid rod or standard. By
these means the reservoir may be turned on its axis as desired. The
second vessel is formed with a perforated false bottom, to which and to
the real bottom the central tube is soldered so as to obtain sufficient

page_text: strength and rigidity. In the bottom of the main reservoir is arranged,
by preference, a slightly conical valve with its rod or spindle projecting
downwards below the bottom. This rod or spindle (when the two
chambers are placed in correct position on the rod or standard for use)
comes upon the false bottom of the second or supplemental chamber,
whereby the valve is opened and free communication established between
the two. By these means the oil flows into the second chamber until
the mouth of the main reservoir is sealed, and as the oil flows to the
burner and is consumed it is regularly supplied from the main reservoir,
and a constant level maintained in the second. To fill the main reservoir
it is only necessary to remove it from the rod or standard and turn it
upside down, taking care whilst so doing to hold the valve to its seat.
Then when the reservoir is placed in this position and the valve released
it can be filled through the valve opening, the valve being again held
to its seat whilst reversing the reservoir. The supply pipe to the burner
is fixed to both the false and the real bottom of the second chamber for
the purpose of rigidity, and if desired a brace or bracket connected to
the chamber and to the supply pipe may assist in holding it securely
in position. This supply pipe is provided with a peculiar form of swivel
joint constructed in the following manner to prevent the possibility of
leakage In the lower half of the joint I form an annular recess to
receive a similar shaped piece of fine grained cork, which projects some-
what above the metal; the centre pin of the joint is formed as heretofore
to permit of the free flow of the oil from the one part to the other, but
is formed cylindrical and not conical. The upper end of the centre pin
is furnished with another annular piece of cork, through which a screwed
portion of the centre pin passes. The centre pin is received into a
suitable recess formed for it in the upper or second half of the joint; the
screwed portion passes through the centre thereof, and the two halves.
of the joint are bound together firmly so as to compress the two or more
pieces of cork around the pin. By these means a moveable jointed
bracket is formed, so that the position of the light can be varied as
desired. The height of the reservoirs may be adjusted on the rod or
standard as desired by means of a binding screw, and if desired two
or more supply pipes and burners may be fixed to the same reservoir.
The burner, which is of the hollow wick kind, is constructed in the
following manner :—An upright tube is fixed to the supply tube, so that
the top of the burner is about two inches and a quarter above the level of

page_text: spindle
spindle
projecting downwards below the bottom a³%; this rod or
(when the two chambers. a, b, are placed as shown in the
Drawing in correct position on the rod or standard x for use) comes
upon the false bottom 3 of the second or supplemental chamber 6,
whereby the valve c is opened and free .communication established
between the two. By these means the oil flows into the second
chamber until the mouth of the main reservoir a is scaled, and as the
oil flows to the burner and is consumed it is regularly supplied from
the main reservoir a, and a constant level maintained in the second
chamber 6. To fill the main reservoir a it is only necessary to remove
it from the rod or standard x and turn it upside down, taking care whilst
so doing to hold the valve c to its seat c². Then when the reservoir a is
placed in this position and the valve released it can be filled through
the valve opening, the valve c being again held to its seat c² whilst
reversing the reservoir a to place it again in position for use. The
supply pipe d to the burner fis fixed to both the false bottom ² and the
real bottom of the second chamber for the purpose of rigidity, and;
if desired, a brace or bracket e connected to the chamber band to the
supply pipe d may assist in holding it securely in position. This supply.
pipe d is provided with a peculiar form of swivel joint F constructed in
the following manner to prevent the possibility of leakage: In the
lower halff of the joint I form an annular recess f² to receive a similar
shaped piece or pieces of fine grained cork f³, which projects somewhat
above the metal. The centre pin f* of the joint is formed as heretofore
with suitable passages to permit of the free flow of the oil from the one
part to the other, but is formed cylindrical and not conical.
The upper
end of the centre pin f is furnished with another annular piece or
pieces of cork f³, through which a screwed portion f of the centre pin f
passes. The centre pin ƒ is received into a suitable recess formed for it
in the upper or second half f' of the joint, the screwed portion f passes
through the centre thereof, and the two halves of the joint F are bound
together firmly by a nut f³ so as to compress the two or more pieces of
cork around the pin. By these means a moveable jointed bracket is
formed, so that the position of the light can be varied as desired. The
height of the reservoirs may be adjusted on the rod or standard x as
desired by means of a binding screw x¹, and, if desired, two or more
supply pipes d and burners may be fixed to the same reservoir. Thus
far my improvements are equally applicable to lamps for burning
mineral and other oils.

page_text: The burner, which is of the hollow or tubular wick kind, is con-
structed in the following manner:-An upright tube g is fixed to the
supply tube d, so that the top of the burner h is about two inches and a
quarter above the lever of the oil. In the centre of the burner h, instead
of an ordinary flat button, I fix a hollow inverted bell-shaped "button"
h with perforations ³ therein just above the top of the burner h. The
outer tube g is provided with a light gallery g' to support a chimney i,
which curves out gradually from a short distance above the burner to the
bottom, which is supported on the gallery at a distance of about two
inches below the top of the burner. By these means I obtain a well-
shaped naked flame of considerable brilliancy with little or no shadow.
In order to prevent the oil flowing out through the opening through
which the spindle K passes for raising and lowering the wick, I form at
such part a stuffing box k provided with an annular piece of fine grained
cork, which is firmly compressed by the stuffing box binding screw k
between a shoulder k³ on the spindle and the end of the stuffing box k.
By simply omitting the central tubes a¹, 61, from the main and
supplemental reservoirs a, b, and making such reservoirs of a suitable
shape, and dispensing with the swivel joint F; I am enabled to provide a
very convenient and effective form of lamp for floating lightships and
for the side lights of ships, and for other purposes.
If desired a cone may be used outside of the burner, as usual, a
suitable glass chimney being used therewith. And in cases where the
lamp is exposed to strong currents of air I apply two perforated.
cylinders ; m; below the gallery g¹, connected together by annular
perforated discs n, thereby affording an extra check to the air on its
way to the burner h; but with this arrangement tlie burner would throw
a shadow below it.
.
The improvements relating to the burner are specially applicable to
lamps for burning mineral oils.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode
in which I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,―
Firstly. The novel arrangement and combination of parts forming the
reservoir of oil. lamps in manner and for the purpose substantially as
hawain shown and decorihod

page_text: Secondly. I claim the novel arrangement and combination of parts
forming the swivel joint of oil lamps in manner and for the purpose
substantially as herein shewn and described.
Thirdly. I claim the novel arrangement and combination of a per-
forated hollow button with a lamp burner in manner and for the purpose
substantially as herein shown and described.
Fourthly. I claim the mode of preventing the oil flowing out through
the opening through which the spindle passes for raising and lowering
the wick in manner substantially as herein shown and described.
And fifthly. I claim the novel arrangement and combination of
perforated discs n and cylinders l, m, for the purpose of protecting the
burner from air currents in manner substantially as herein shewn and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.