A NEW AND IMPROVED LAMP BURNER
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, EDWIN H. HICKOк, Manufacturer, of 24 Church Street, in the City, County
and State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for A NEW AND IMPROVED LAMP BURNER, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My improvements relate more particularly to burners of Argand type, and the
invention consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter described
and claimed.
Reference is to be had. to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
specification, in which similar, letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the figures.
Figure 1, is a vertical section of the improved burner.
Figure 2, is a horizontal section of the samo, on the line X X in figure 1.
Figure 3, is an inverted view of the burner in part.
Figure 4, is a perspective view of certain of the wick raising devices, including
the rack with attached arms and wick ring.
Figure 5, is a perspective view of a spring used to operate a deflector, or
extinguisher, with which the burner is provided.
Figure 6, is a perspective view of a spring lock, for holding the extinguisher
closed.
Figure 7, is a plan view of a special construction of the wick ring.
"A," is the base piece, or body of the burner, which is cast, or formed, or pressed,
or molded, or otherwise produced out of any suitable material, all in one close piece,
that is to say, without a seam or joint, and with one or more lateral air tubes "b,"
of which there may be any number, also integral with it, and in communication at
their inner ends with the central air tube "c," of said body. This construction is in
contradistinction to a sheet metal Argand burner, with the lateral air tube, or tubes,
fitted and soldered to it at considerable expense; and by this method of construction,
covered by my invention, any increased number of air tubes, or passages, may be
used without appreciably augmenting the expense.
The bottom "d" of the central air space, or tube, "c," may either be cast, or
formed in one piece with the rest of the burner body, or it may be a separate plate,
to be afterward fastened to said body.

page_text: The wick tube "B," composed of inner and outer walls as usual, may be attached
to the body "A" in any suitable manner.
"C," is the screw collar on the bottom of the burner, which screws into the lamp
collar. This screw collar may either be one and the same size to fit a lamp collar
of given dimensions, or it may be of two, or more, sizes, to fit lamp collars of
different dimensions. It may be made integral with the outer shell "D," of the
burner, but it is here shown as made of a separate piece, arranged outside of the
lower end portion of the shell, or (it may be) lower extension of the body of the
burner, and of greater diameter than said portion, with which it is connected by
any number of ribs "e," either on the outside of the shell, or body extension, or.
inside of the screw collar, and solder applied to such points of contact, or said
contact otherwise secured. This leaves one, or more, air channels "e" down
between the shell, or body extension and the screw collar, which channel will have
a cooling effect on the collar and lower end of the burner, and will also admit a
proper supply of air into the fount, or body, of the lamp, thus contributing to the
safety of the lamp, and being a much more efficient provision than contracted
apertures in the collar of the lamp fount.
"E," is the cone of the burner, which is fitted with one or more air strainers, or
distributers, "f," arranged above the bottom of the cone, that is to say, up within
it, instead of at the base, as usual, whereby the air is strained to the flame, thus
more effectually preventing eddies in the air current. When more than one of such
strainers "f" is used in the cone, then the same are arranged to incline successively
in reverse directions relatively to the sides of the cone. This zig-zag arrangement
of said strainers "f" causes the incoming air to be thrown from side to side of the
wick tube "B" and the cone “E," thereby having a cooling effect upon both of
said devices, and modifying the action of side draughts of air upon the flame. Such
disposition of one or more strainers "f," up within the cone, is applicable to
different Argand burners.
The inside draught to the flame is regulated by two, or more, air strainers, or
distributers "F." F." arranged at a suitable distance apart, one above the other,
within the central air space of the wick tube, and into which they may be
separately slipped, or be conjointly placed by a tube "g" or by wires connecting
said strainers together for convenience of removal.
These strainers may be of any desired shape. By means of two, or more, of said
strainers, thus arranged, after the air of the inside draught passes through the first
strainer, whatever eddies may occur, above it will be corrected by the succeeding
upper strainers, thus causing steadiness in the flame. This system of air strainers,
one above the other, may be applied to any Argand burner.
The cone
"E" and the shell "D," instead of being made to fit closely the one
upon and around the other, are restrained from continuous contact with each other
around the sides of their meeting ends, by ribs, or projections, "h,” either on the
cone, or shell, and at suitable distances apart form each other to prevent the too
ready conduction of the heat from the cone to the shell; said ribs, or projections, "h"
forming the bearing points, or surfaces, between the cone and the shell, and
presenting but very limited surfaces for the transmission of the heat, thus con-
tributing to safety, and to the convenient handling of the burner by the
shell.
The wick "G" has its movement controlled by devices the construction of which
may be varied, but which I prefer to make as shown. Said devices include a wick
raising rack, rod or tube, placed within the central air tube, or space, a wheel, or its
equivalent for operating said rack, rod, or tube, and arms, flexible, or otherwise,
extending outside the central air tube and connecting the rack, rod or tube, with
the wick ring, or holder, the whole being more particularly suitable for application
to a burner having a reduced lower neck or collar, but generally applicable to any
Argand burner. Thus "H" is the wick raising, or adjusting rack, which is
supported and guided by an upright bearing "I" arranged to pass through the
bottom "d" of the burner body and to extend some distance above and below it, or

page_text: either, and which is fastened to said bottom. This support or bearing "I" I prefer
to make in the form of a tube of angular, or square shape, in its transverse section,
and the same not only serves as a guide to the rack of like configuration without
having resort to arins occupying space in the central air passage, but also as a stop
to the rod (or it might be tube) "" which carries the deflector, or extinguisher "J,"
to prevent said extinguisher from being thrown up beyond a certain height, or
point. This it does by an arm "k" on the rod "i" being arranged to pass through
a slot "I" in the one side of the tubular rack guide "I," said slot being made to
stop short of the top of said guide. Another slot "m," open at its top, is made in
the opposite side of said guide "I" to facilitate the entry of the wheel "K" which
operates the rack.
The guide or bearing "I" may also serve as a lateral support to
a spring lock, hereinafter described, and used to hold the extinguisher shut when
closed.
The wick raising rack "H," which is connected with the wick holder, or ring, "L"
by the arms " Mis of a closed tubular form, for the purpose of enclosing and
constituting a long bearing to the rod or tube "i," which carries the deflector, or
'extinguishing disk "J."
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This will prevent the rod, or tube "i" from being stopped, or clogged by the
wick in the neck of the burner, while lowering the extinguisher, or allowing it to
drop. It will also keep the extinguisher rod, or tube, central with regard to the
wick tube. Said tubular rack "H" is slotted on its one side, as at "n," to allow
of the arm "" passing out through it; on its other side it is perforated to provide
for engagement with the wheel "K." Said rack may have a lug on its upper end,
to prevent its dropping out of gear, when the wheel, which operates said rack, is
locked. The wheel "K" is a mutilated one, having several teeth removed, and
carries a side pin near its pitch line. The mutilated, or stripped, space on the
wheel provides for the stopping of the downward movement of the rack and wick
at their lowest points, and, when this stop occurs, the side pin "8" acts upon a
spring lever "N," used to throw up the extinguisher "J" and allows said
extinguisher to drop and extinguish the flame. The wick thus requires to be only
slightly depressed, which will make a shorter wick tube suffice than would be the
case were the wheel not mutilated. The side pin "s" when it has depressed thẻ
spring lever "N" sufficiently to allow the extinguisher "" to drop and extinguish
the flame, engages with a locking device "P" to hold the spring lever "N" down;
this prevents the extinguisher "J" from recoiling, or flying up again, and causes it
to remain down on the wick tube "B," until the motion of the mutilated wheel is
reversed. Such provisions, especially when applied to large burners, will effectually
prevent any puff of smoke, or foul gas, from escaping from the burner when the
flame is extinguished. The locking device, or catch "p" is here shown as a spring
wire one, arranged to lie against, and to be laterally supported by the rack
guide "I" and to rest on, or pass through, the bottom of the body of the burner;
and it is formed with a bend or crook "u," under which the side pin "8" catches,
when locking down the closed extinguisher. But it will be evident that such
catch, or locking device, may be variously constructed, and be otherwise arranged
to engage with the side pin "8" on the wheel "K" or to engage with any other
device on the wheel, or its shaft, it not being necessary that the projection "8"
should be a pin, or that it should be attached to the wheel, as it might be a wiper,
or its projection from the shaft direct, which carries the wheel, and said wiper, or
projection, may engage with the lock at the extreme inward end of the shaft, or
even adjacent to the button which moves said shaft, outside the shell of the
burner.
Also with regard to the wheel "K," a simple lever, might, under certain forms
of Argand burner construction, be substituted for said wheel, and I would consider
said lever as the equivalent of said wheel.
Also the spring lever "N may be variously constructed; thus it might be a
lever, acted upon by an independent spring, or the lever may grasp, or embrace the
arm of the rod, or tube carrying the extinguisher and thus both lower and raise it,

page_text: "
in which case the spring might act directly on the extinguisher rod, or tube; but
I prefer to make the lever as here shown, of spring wire bent to form a loop "w,"
receiving the rack guide "I" up through it, and pressing upward on the arm k"
of the extinguisher rod, or tube, and with a portion of the wire coiled around the
wheel shaft "Q" which operates, by one and the same movement, the whole flame
regulating and extinguishing mechanism; and is extended below to form legs "y,"
resting against a step or steps "z" on the top of the bottom plate "d" of the
burner body.
Thus constructed, the lever "N" not only serves as a spring to throw up the
extinguisher, and hold it up, when not depressed by action of the side pin in the
wheel "K," but it also encloses the wheel shaft and may be made to act as a
tension on said shaft and it likewise operates as a brace to keep the wheel shaft in
its bearings and to restrain the wheel from lateral motion.
Again; the wheel "K," as also the spring "N" and the lock "P," whether con-
structed as described, or otherwise, may severally, or jointly, be used in connection
with a wick raising rack, arranged outside of the central air tube, instead of
within it. Also in some cases, instead of using a mutilated wheel a complete
wheel for operating the rack might be employed, but this would generally
necessitate a longer wick tube to provide for the extra motion of the wick thus
brought about. Furthermore, the rack rod, or tube "H" may be guided by passing
through a hole in the bottom of the body of the burner, and also by an arm or
tripod, or other device within the central air space; and the rod or tube which
carries the extinguisher, may be similarly supported and guided, and be placed
close to and parallel with the rack aforesaid. The rack "H" also need not be
tubular in some cases, but I prefer the arrangement and construction of the several
parts as herein before described.
The extinguisher disc "J" is made or provided, in any suitable. way with a
core "a" of plaster of Paris pottery, lava, or other suitable incombustible and
non-conducting material, in order to check the flow of heat from the extinguisher
disc down the rod, or tube which carries it, said rod or tube connecting with said
disc at the core.
The base, or body "A" of the burner is reduced in diameter at its lower end
relatively to the wick tube "B." This reduction may be made by contracting the
said body at its lower end, or the contraction may be made in the shell which, as
shown in the drawing affords a support to the collar of the burner, and I prefer to
make the reduction as shown. This reduction is in contradistinction to the
ordinary manner of making Argand burners, which expand at their lower portions,
to permit of free egress for the wick, but this expansion necessitates the use of a
large lamp collar. I make use of a wick that is to be the subject of a separate
application for patent, composed in its principal portion of longitudinal filaments
only; and this wick readily passes through the reduced neck, and gives an ample
supply of oil.
Figure 7, shows the wick ring "L" as provided with barbed, or hooked teeth "b"
to secure a better hold on the wick; each wick may thus have its own ring fitted
to it.
One of the conspicuous features of my invention is the operation of the
extinguisher of an Argand burner by the saine instrumentality, or means that
adjusts the height of the flame.
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
First. An Argand burner body, having one or more lateral air tubes, or passages,
integral with the inner and outer walls of the body, the whole being constructed
without seam, or joint.
Second. The screw collar on the bottom of a lamp burner, in combination with
the shell, or portion of the burner to which it is attached, made to present one

page_text: or more air passages down between them, essentially as and for the purpose
described.
Third. The cone of an Argand burner provided with one, or more air strainers,
or distributors, placed within it, above its base.
Fourth. The cone of an Argand burner provided with a series of air strainers, or
distributers, placed within it and arranged in zig-zag relation with each other,
essentially as and for the purpose, or purposes described.
Fifth. The air regulator, or distributer of the inside draught of an Argand
burner, composed of a series of air screens, or strainers, arranged at suitable
distances apart, one above the other, within the central air passage of the burner,
essentially as described.
Sixth. In an Argand burner, the cone "E" and shell "D" having interposed
ribs or projections "h" at distances apart, around their meeting ends where said
cone and shell fit one upon, or within, the other, essentially as and for the purpose
specified.
Seventh. In an Argand burner having a wick raising rack, rod, or tube, placed
within the central air space of the burner, the upright bearing or tubular guide "I"
for said rack, rod or tube, essentially as described.
Eighth. In an Argand burner, a wick raising rack, rod or tube placed within the
central air space of the burner, substantially as specified.
Ninth. In an Argand burner, a wick raising rack "H" of tubular form, in
combination with the rod or tube "i" that supports the deflector or extinguisher,
enclosed within and guided by said tubular rack, substantially as specified.
Tenth. In an Argand burner having a wick raising rack, rod or tube, placed
within the central air space of the burner, flexible or inflexible arms extending
from the lower end of said rack, rod or tube, outside the central air space, to the
wick ring or holder, and connecting said ring or holder with said rack, rod or
tube, for the purpose, or purposes herein before set forth, and substantially as
described.
Eleventh. The combination with an Argand burner of a wick raising rack, rod
or tube, placed within the central air space of the burner, a wheel or its equivalent,
for operating said rack, rod or tube, a wick ring or holder, and flexible or inflexible
arms connecting said rack, rod or tube with said ring or holder, and passing outside
the central air space of the burner, substantially as described.
Twelfth. In combination with an Argand burner having a reduced neck or
collar, a wick raising rack, rod or tube placed within the central air space of the
burner, and flexible or inflexible arms connected to said rack, rod or tube, carrying
the wick ring or holder, and passing outside the central air space of the burner,
substantially as specified.
Thirteenth. In an Argand burner the mutilated wheel "K" in combination with
the rack "H" essentially as and for the purpose herein described.
Fourteenth. In an Argand burner, the combination with the flame adjusting
mechanism of the burner, of an extinguisher operating by said mechanism.
Fifteenth. In an Argand burner the combination with the wick raising rack, rod
or tube, the wheel, or its equivalent for operating said rack, rod or tube, and the
extinguisher, with its attached rod, or support, of a spring, operating to throw up
the extinguisher, and controlled by said wheel, or its shaft, in a manner to provide
for the closing of the extinguisher.
Sixteenth. The combination with the rising and falling extinguisher of a lamp
burner, of a catch or locking device for preventing back action, or reaction of the
extinguisher, when closed.
Seventeenth. In an Argand burner, provided with an extinguisher, the com-
bination with the wick raising rack, rod or tube, and a wheel, or its equivalent,
for operating said rack, rod or tube, of a spring for throwing up the extinguisher,
means connected with the shaft of said wheel for drawing down, or back, said
spring, and a locking device for holding said spring closed, for the purposes
herein before set forth,

page_text: "
Eighteenth. The wire-spring lever N," constructed as herein described, with a
loop "w" arms or legs "y y" and coiled intermediately of its length, for use within
the burner of a lamp, and for application to the extingusher thereof, and to the
wheel shaft, substantially as specified.
1
"
Nineteenth. The spring wire locking device "p" for preventing reaction or back
action of the extinguisher, when closed, constructed with a crook, or bend "u,"
and arranged within the burner for operation in connection with the flame
adjusting mechanism thereof, essentially as described.
Twentieth. In an Argand burner, the extinguisher, having its lifting rod, or
support, insulated by an incombustible and non-conducting material at its
connection with the extinguisher, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Twenty-first. In" an Argand burner, with the wick ring or holder, provided with
hook shaped or barbed teeth for holding the wick, substantially as described.
Twenty-second. An Argand burner with its lower portion or neck reduced in
diameter, substantially as described.