IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE BURNERS OF OIL-LAMPS USED FOR DOMESTIC AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Foxcroft, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and John Titley, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE BURNERS
OF OIL-LAMPS USED FOR DOMESTIC AND OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Foxcroft and John
Titley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th November
1881.
WILLIAM FOXCROFT, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, and JOHN
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
TITLEY, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford.
CONNECTED WITH THE BURNERS OF OIL LAMPS USED FOR DOMESTIC AND OTHER
PURPOSES."
Our Invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
parts to lamp burners (being that class known as oil lamps), and consists in
employing what may be termed an instrument or cutter for snuffing or trimming
the wicks of lamps by removing the consumed or partially consumed portion, and
at the same time extinguishing the flame.
We will describe our Invention as applied to an ordinary domestic oil lamp
having one wick and tube, but the same can be employed to burners having more
than one wick.
The cutter or trimmer is arranged upon or adjoining the apex of the wick tube,
the inner part which performs the cutting being concaved and odged, so that when
employed it first meets the edges of the consumed part of the wick, and a clear cut
is effected. The cutter carries two pieces or levers, passing down on each edge of the
wick tube, and working upon a projecting pin of the said tube, the lower ends of
these levers forming a serrated or toothed segment, and engaging in or upon a
corresponding spindle or their equivalent in the same position as hitherto, the
purpose of which is to raise or lower the wick by means of toothed wheels interiorly
situated, a plain spindle having been used.

page_text: We may by preference uso a plain spindle, but should then arrange upon the
same toothed wheels for gearing into the segment above described. Adjoining or
connected to this segment is a bowed lever taking one half of the circumference
exteriorly of the burner, and this acts to throw the cutter out of gear when the
wick is required to be raised.
By a modification we construct the cutter as before described, but dispense with
the segment and its gearing by constructing the lever above described to work
interiorily of the burner with a projecting piece by which it can be actuated. The
ends of this lever are slotted, and plate moving vertically at the back of wick tube
with a projecting pin upon each edge, which engages in the said slots. The mode
of cutting the wick is by an outward and return movement of the bowed lever by
raising the plate sufficiently for the wick to be compressed against, and then
returning to its normal position.
The lighting of the lamp is effected by means of a sliding door conveniently
arranged in the perforated body of the burner at the front by preference.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Foxcroft and John Titley in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th May 1882.
WILLIAM FOXCROFT, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, and Jonn
TITLEY, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
CONNECTED, WITH THE BURNERS OF OIL LAMPS USED FOR DOMESTIC AND OTHER
PURPOSES."
Our Invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
parts to lamp burners (being that class known as oil lamps), and consists in
employing what may be termed an instrument or cutter for snuffing or trimining
the wicks of lamps by removing the consumed or partially consumed portion, and
at the same time extinguishing the flame.
We will describe our Invention as applied to an ordinary domestic oil lamp
having one wick and tube, but the same can be employed to burners having more
than one wick.
The cutter or trimmer is arranged upon or adjoining the apex of the wick tube,
the inner part which performs the cutting being concaved and edged, so that when
employed it first meets the edges of the consumed part of the wick, and a clear cut
is effected. The cutter carries two pieces or levers passing down on each edge of
the wick tube, and working upon a projecting pin of the said tube, the lower ends
of these levers-forming a serrated' or toothed segment, and engaging in or upon a
corresponding spindle or their equivalent in the same position as hitherto, the
purpose of which is to raise or lower the wick by means of toothed wheels interiorly
situated, a plain spindle having been used. We may by preference use a plain
spindle, but should then arrange upon the same toothed wheels for gearing into the
segment above described. Adjoining or connected to this segment is a bowed lever,
taking one half of the circumference exteriorly of the burner, and this acts to throw
the cutter out of gear when the wick is required to be raised.
By a modification wo construct the cutter as before described, but dispense with
the segment and its gearing. By constructing the lever above described to work
interiorly of the burner, with a projecting piece by which it can be actuated, the
ends of this lever are slotted, and plate moving vertically at the back of wick tube
with a projecting pin upon each edge which engages in the said slots, the mode of
cutting the wick is by an outward and return movement of the bowed lever, by rnising
the plate sufficiently for the wick to be compressed against and then returning to
its normal position. The lighting of the lamp is effected by means of a sliding
door conveniently arranged in the perforated body of the burner, at the front by
preference.
Having thus specified the object and nature of this our said Invention, its
description will be proceeded with in reference to the accompanying Drawings
(that is to say): —
Fig. 1 is a view, part vertical section, of an ordinary lamp burner (differing only
by shape or configuration) for domestic purposes, with our improvements connected
thereto; Fig. 2 is a plan view of same, with dome removed to more clearly illus-
trate the cutting or trimming mechanism; Fig. 3 is a view, part vertical section, of
same at right angles to Fig. 1; Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 are the working parts detached, or
details; Fig. 9, a reeded spindle, to be herein after described; Fig. 10, a view, part
vertical section, of a better class of domestic lamp burner with our improvements;
Fig. 11 is a plan view of same with dome removed, shewing our improvements; Fig. 12,
a vertical view in its entirety, with sliding door or lighting arrangement; Fig. 13, a

page_text: view, part vertical section, of same at right angles to Fig. 10; Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17,
18, 19, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 are detail parts; Fig. 25 is a view in front elevation
of a burner applicable to velocipedes, with our improvements connected thereto;
Fig. 26, a side view elevation of same; Fig. 27, a plan view; Figs. 28, 29, 30, 31,
parts in detail; Fig. 32, a view_part vertical section of a tablo or domestic lamp
burner with our improvements; Fig. 33, a plan view of same.
The same letters of reference upon the several Figures indicate the same parts.
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, a is the body of the burner with gallery 6 for
carrying the chimney as hitherto; c is the cone or dome; d is the wick tube;
c, the trimmer, which has the cutting edge e¹ made concave in plan, so that the
wick is trimmed gradually from the ends inwards as the trimmer passes over it;
e², e, are the side pieces or lovers; e³, e³, are the holes for the fixed fulcrum pin d',
which is soldered or otherwise fastened to the wick tube d; e, e, are the serrated
or toothed ends of the trimmer; and e, the hole for the attachment of the wire e®,
which passes through the body of the burner at the front by preference, and is
actuated by the hand taking hold of the knob e outside the burner. Though a
single straight wire is shown on the Drawing, taking into one side of the trimmer,
yet this may be made bowed or Y shaped, so as to take into both sides of the
trimmer, and yet be actuated by a single knob e', as before described. The purpose
of this knob and wire is to shift the trimmer e out of gear with the wheels f³, f³,
when it is desired to raise the wick of the lamp; fis the disc or milled button
which is grasped by the finger and thumb and caused to revolve. It is carried by
a spindle f, which rotates in suitable bearings. The spindle f¹ carries the usual
small toothed wheels ff, which engage with the wick, and raise or lower it as
desired. It also carries two other small spur toothed wheels f³, ƒ³, which engage
with the serrated ends et, et, of the trimmer.
Instead of a round spindle with theso four toothed wheels, a reeded spindle, as
shown at fin Fig. 9, may be used. A cross-section of the reeded part of the
spindle will resemble the spur wheels already described, and it will answer the
same purpose.
Fig. 3 shows a partial vertical section through the lamp burner, with the parts
in their normal position when the lamp is burning. It will be seen that the
trimmer e is just clear of the top of the wick tubo d. If the milled button ƒ be
partially rotated in the direction of the arrow the wick descends a little, and the
sharp edge e' of the trimmer passing over the top of the wick tube d cuts off the
partially or wholly burnt part of the wick, thus rendering it fit to be lighted again,
and the upper part of the trimmer remaining over the top of tho wick tube d
extinguishes the light and prevents the escape of vapour. The various parts will
now have assumed the positions shown in Fig. 4. When it is desired to raise
the wick the trimmer e is pushed out of gear with the wheels f³, ƒ³; the wick can
then bo raised in the usual manner.
Figs. 10 to 24 inclusive show the burner of a petroleum or other oil lamp of a
Jarger size than that previously, and fitted with our improvements. In this case
the movement of the trimmer is procured in a manner different to that above
described. a, as before, is the body of the burner, with gallery 6 for carrying the
chimney as hitherto; c is the dome, which is only shown in Fig. 12, being omitted
from Figs. 10, 11, and 13 for the sake of clearness. In this lamp g is the trimmer
with top g', which has its top edge straight in the Drawing, although it may be
made concave, convex, or oblique if desired. g, g, are the sides of the trimmer,
and g³, g³, the holes in the same for the reception of the fixed fulcrum pin, and g', g',
the holes for the reception of the ends of the actuating wire; h is a vertical sliding
plate shown detached in Figs. 21, 22, and 24, which are elevation, plan, and side
view respectively. This vertical sliding plate moves in contact with the wick
tube d, and is guided by projections on same d², d², as shown clearly in Figs. 14,
15, and 16. Tho plate has projections h¹, h, on it, one on each side of the wick
tube d. In each of these projections h¹ is a slot 2 of the shape shown on the
Drawing. In these slots the ends of the actuating wire i engage; these ends also

page_text: engage the holes ƒª, ƒª, in the trimmer. The actuating wire 2, which is bowed
in plan, as shown at it, has a prolongation i which passes through the outer part
of the burner, and which has a knob is on the outer end. This knob is moved by
the finger and thumb. The actuating wire i has a horizontal outward and return
movement, and its ends i, , being bent outwardly or inwardly, and passing
through the slots h², h², and the holes g', g, give the plate a vertical movement
upwards, and the upper part of the trimmer g' a movement inwards towards the
wick and towards each other simultaneously, thus trimming the. wick and
extinguishing the lamp.
Fig. 13 shows the normal position of the various parts while the lamp is burning,
and Fig. 23 shows their position when the wick is trimmed and the lamp
extinguished. With this form of trimmer and means of actuating it the milled
head with its attached parts is entirely distinct and separate, and it is used
simply and solely, as in the ordinary form of lamp. In Fig. 12 is also shown tho
means we adopt and make use of for lighting the lamp without removing the
chimney. In the perforated part of the body of the lamp burner a we cut an
opening of rectangular or other suitable shape. This opening is covered by a
sliding perforated cover k¹, which is guided by projecting knobs or pins k³, k²,
moving in slots k³, 1³. The cover has a projecting knob, by which it is
actuated. Figs. 17 and 18 show the cover detached in elevation and plan.
Instead of the slot guides,, lip guides may be used like those for the vertical
sliding plate. In Fig. 12 the opening is shown covered. When the lamp is to
be lit the cover is moved to the right hand, and the light introduced and tho
lamp lit. When the light is withdrawn the cover is moved again to the left, thus
closing the aperture.
In our improvements in lamps for velocipedes a trimmer is moved horizontally
over the top of the wick tube d, see Figs. 25 to 27, where Fig. 25 is a front view,
Fig. 26 a side view, and Fig. 27 a plan of the velocipede lamp. The burner a has
two projecting guides a¹, a, fastened to it; these engage with the grooves l, l', on
the sides of the trimmer . The trimmer has its cutting edge concave, as the
others previously described. It has two projections in the front to limit its
movement, and two side pieces, , with serrated edges 1, 1, which engage with
the spur wheels, on the spindle f. This spindle has the usual button head f
and wheels, to engage the wick. When the spindle is rotated, or partially
rotated, the wick is raised or lowered, and the trimmer is moved horizontally
simultaneously.
Fig. 32 shows a sectional elevation, and Fig. 33 a plan of a lamp burner with
our improvements. In this case we show another form of trimmer which is entirely
independent of the button head fand its appendages. The trimmer is made in
two parts or blades m, m, which are jointed at m' to a fulcrum fixed to the wick
tube d. These blades are actuated by jointed levers m³, m², united by a joint at m³
to a piece m projecting outside the burner a, and having a knob m³ on the end.
By pressing this knob m in the trimmer blades are inade to open, and by pulling
it out they will close. A spring may be applied to facilitate the action, and we
use a knob n to be held by the left hand to steady the lamp while the trimmer is
actuated by the right. The arrangement for lighting, as shown in Fig. 12, may be
applied also to this form of lamp or to that shown in Fig. 1.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of this our said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is or may be performed or carried into effect, we
wish to say that we do not confine ourselves to the exact shape or configuration or
arrangement of parts, as shown on the accompanying Drawings, but that we hold
ourselves at liberty to alter or modify the same without departing essentially from
our said Invention.
We do not claim the construction of the several parts, as herein before specified,
taken separately and apart from each other, as being of our Invention, but what
we claim as novel and original, and desire to bo secured to us by the herein before
in part recited Letters Patent are,―

page_text: First. To the burner of a petroleum or other oil lamp, the construction and
arrangement of a trimmer with segmental serrated edges actuated by spur wheels,
and thrown into or out of gear by a projecting wire, substantially as herein before
Bet forth and described.
Second. To the burner of a petroleum or other oil lamp, the construction and
arrangement of a trimmer, in conjunction with a sliding vertical plate moved
simultaneously with the trimmer by means of a wire and slotted plates, substantially
as set forth and described.
Third. To the burner of a velocipede lamp the construction and arrangement of
a horizontally moving trimmer, substantially as set forth and described.
Fourth. To the burners of petroleum or other oil lamps the mode of lighting,
by means of an opening in the burner, with a sliding cover, substantially as set
forth and described.
Fifth. To the burners of petroleum or other oil lamps, the construction and
arrangement of jointed trimmer blades actuated by jointed levers, substantially as
set forth and described.
Lastly. The construction, arrangement, and application of any or all of the
foregoing improvements to the burners of petroleum or other oil lamps, for domestic
and other purposes, whether having ordinary, duplex, triplex, or any other
number of wicks, and whether having chimneys or not, also to velocipede lamps.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Foxcroft, on behalf of myself and
the said John Titley, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty
seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and nighto two
Witness,
THOMAS. KENDRICK.
WILLIAM FOXCROFT. (L.S.)