IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF OIL LAMPS AND IN GLASSES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Sullivan, of 77, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF OIL LAMPS AND IN GLASSES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH."
Sealed the 2nd May 1865, and dated the 5th November 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Sullivan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th November 1864.
I, JOHN SULLIVAN, of 77, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF OIL LAMPS AND IN GLASSES TO BE
USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH," to be as follows (that is to say):-
My Invention has reference to obtaining greater simplicity in the arrange-
ment of the several parts of oil lamps, as also in increasing the brilliancy of
light, by intercepting and regulating the passage of oxygen to the flame, and
consists in forming in connection with flat wick burners a socket, in which a

page_text: perforated diaphram is secured transversely to the beak of the burner so as to
admit of the passage of air or oxygen through the same being more uniformly
directed or supplied to the flame through the medium of an oval or flat-shaped
chimney formed of transparent or opal-coloured glass, and of the same form as
the wick.
Also in employing in connection with round wick lamps a vertical rack
motion for raising and lowering the wick through the medium of a screw and
thumb-stud movement, so as to admit of being worked by hand or by a key
from below when suspended or employed for street or hall lamps, the said rack
being supplied with cotton in connection with a fixed feeder placed within the
oil chamber, by which the supply of oil to the wick is maintained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Sullivan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
May 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SULLIVAN, of 77, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Sullivan, Her special licence that I, the said John Sulli-
van, my exécutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Sullivan, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF OIL LAMPS AND IN GLASSES TO
BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Sullivan, 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

page_text: 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 John Sullivan, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and the Drawings therein referred to (that is to say) :-
My Invention has reference to the general construction and mode of
arranging the several parts of oil lamps in connection with the burners
and air passages, whereby increased brilliancy of light is obtained, and
consists,―
Firstly, in forming flat wick burners with a perforated diaphram secured
transversely to the beak of the burner, so as to admit of the free passage of
air to the flame through the medium of an oval or flat-shaped chimney or
glass.
•
Secondly, in employing, in connection with round wick burners, a vertical
rack motion for raising or lowering the wick by means of a screw and thumb-
stud movement, placed so as to admit of being readily worked by the hand on
the outside of the lamp, or turned by a key from below when suspended or
employed for hall or street lamps.
And, thirdly, in constructing and employing in connection with the said
lamps glasses of oval or flat shape, suitable to the form of burner required.
And in order that my said Invention may be more fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I now proceed to describe it by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, reference being had to the letters and figures.
thereon marked (that is to say):
-
Fig. represents a front elevation of the upper portion of a lamp in
accordance with my improvements, and which I term the Aladdin lamp;
Fig. 2, a vertical side view thereof; Fig. 8, a top or plan view, having the
glass removed; Fig. 4, a transverse vertical section, taken through the dotted
line in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a. detached underneath view of the perforated diaphram
or cone surrounding the burner; Fig. 6, a transverse vertical section of the
safety lamp glass detached from the lamp; Fig. 7, a sectional elevation of my
improved lamp, constructed to burn the diamantine oil, and which I term the
perlucidic suspension lamp; Fig. 8, a top or plan view of the same, and
Figs. 9 and 10, enlarged detail views of the rack motion for raising. or
lowering the cotton.

page_text: In each Figure the same letters of reference denote similar corresponding
parts. A, A, a lamp socket, for attaching to the body thereof; B, B, the
burner or beak for the reception of the wick; C, C, wick or cotton; D, D,
rack for raising or lowering the same; E, E, perforated diaphram for inter-
cepting and regulating the passage of air to the flame, whereby greater
uniformity and brilliancy of light is obtained than by the system at present
in use; F, F, oval openings formed in the cone F¹, through which the flame
issues; G, G, perforations surrounding the neck of the burner, through which
the external air passes thereto; H, H, safety glass, enclosing the same; I, I,
ground portion thereof; J, J, body of suspension lamp; K, K, vessel contain-
ing the oil; L, L, passages for supplying air to the interior of the flame;
M, M, round wick or feeder; N, N, button for spreading the flame; 0, 0,
thumb-stud and screw rack for actuating the cotton; P, P, screw cap opening,
through which the oil is inserted; Q, Q, chimney or round glass; R, R,
socket for holding the same; S, S, openings therein for the admission of
air to the interior of the glass; T, T, gallery supporting the globe; U, U,
glass stand and frame upon which the lamp is placed; W, studs, secured
to the stand for retaining the same in its position upon the same; W, W,
suspending chains.
In conclusion to the foregoing description it may be here necessary to
note that oval glasses in lieu of the ordinary globes may also be employed in
connection with the flat wick burners and chimneys, as above described; and
I would further note that the said glasses may be composed wholly or partly
of transparent or translucent substances or compositions as may be found
necessary; and I would here further note that the form and construction of
the said lamps may be varied as required, and employed separately or in
conjunction with suspension frames, brackets, street lamps, or otherwise.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed and carried
into effect, I would have it clearly understood that I do not claim as of my
said Invention the exclusive use of the several parts or combinations thereof
herein-before mentioned and described, except when the same are employed
in and for the purposes of my said Invention, which I hereby declare to
consist,―
Firstly, in the construction and employment of a perforated diaphram
formed of white metal, secured to the cone, and fitting transversely upon the
beak of the burner in connection with oval-shaped chimneys or glasses above
referred to.

page_text: And, secondly, in the mechanical arrangement and disposition of the air
passages for supplying oxigen to the round wick burners in combination with a
feeder, button-spreader, screw, rack cotton movement, and glass suspension
plate, in the manner and for the purposes herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Sullivan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
JOHN SULLIVAN. (L.S.)
Witness,
C. L. D. ASHE,
Clerk to Messrs. Weatherdon & Co.;
77, Chancery Lane.