Improvements in or Applicable to Lamps.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to Lamps.
I, RUDOLF KOPETCHI, of Focsani, in the Kingdom of Roumania, Lieutenant in
the 6th Royal Roumanian regiment of horse, 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 lamps provided with automatic extinguishers, which
operate as soon as the lamps assume a slightly inclined position.
The main feature of my invention consists in providing the extinguisher with a
spring, which is fixed to the underside of the foot of the lamp, and connected by
a rod and levers to the extinguisher proper. Under the action of the weight of
the lamp, the said spring is kept in tension as long as the lamp rests on a suit-
able supporting surface, against which bears the spring, which is thereby prevented
from operating the extinguisher.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lamp provided with my improvements.
Figures 2 and 3 are elevations partly in section showing the extinguisher proper
of a flat burner, and
Figures 4 and 5 are similar views showing the said extinguisher as constructed
for use with circular burners.
The part of the device which directly extinguishes the flame is formed of flaps a,
which prevent the access of air to the wick as soon as they are pushed beyond
the upper end of the wick-tube b. These flaps a are hinged by means of hinges a²
to a socket a¹, adapted to slide on the wick-tube b, and springs a³ continuously
tend to press the flaps towards each other.
The said flaps are actuated by pushing them, along with the socket a¹ to which
they are hinged, beyond the top end of the wick-tube b. To this end two levers c¹
are pivotted in a suitable bracket c, arranged upon the oil reservoir A. To the
front ends of these levers is jointed the socket a' by means of pins a*, projecting
into slots. To the shorter end of the said levers c¹ is jointed a rod d, extending
downwards through a tube d extending from the top side of the oil reservoir A
to its concave bottom or to the concave bottom surface of the foot of the lamp.
The end of the said rod d projecting from the lower end of the tube d' carries a
disc d², acted upon by a spring e, which is secured to the bottom of the oil reservoir
or to the foot of the lamp and tends to draw the rod d downward.
When the lamp rests on a suitable supporting surface, for instance on a table,
against which the end of the spring, which is jointed to the rod d, bears, the said
spring is kept in tension by a portion of the weight of the lamp, and the rod d
is raised to such an extent, that the levers c' occupy the position shown in figures 1, 2
and 4, in which position the flaps a are located below the top edge of the wick.
As soon as the lamp is tilted in any direction, the bent spring e is set free,
and exerts its power upon the rod d, thereby causing the socket a¹ with the flaps a
to slide upward along the wick-tube b. The flaps a then meet each other and
instantly extinguish the flame.
In order to effectually prevent the access of air to flat burners, the ends a³ of
the socket a extend upwards in a triangular shape to the. top edges of the flaps a.
When the lamp is to be carried from one place to another, a finger of the hand
grasping the oil reservoir should be placed beneath the outer ends of the levers c' so as
to prevent them from moving, whereby the lamp would otherwise be extinguished.
In order to extinguish the lamp, it is only necessary to lift it slightly so as to allow
the spring e to operate the mechanism.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
(1) In an oil lamp, the combination with an oil reservoir, resting on a stand or
made to form a stand, and a burner, of a spring e secured to the bottom surface of the
reservoir or stand, a rod d connecting this spring to levers el mounted on the upper
surface of the reservoir, and spring-actuated flaps a movable along the wick-tube and
jointed to the said levers, substantially as and for the purpose described.
(2) The improved lamp herein before described with reference to the accompanying
drawing.
Dated the 16th day of A 1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.