Improvements in Devices for Heating and Lighting.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Heating and Lighting.
I, LEWIS THOMAS WILCOX, of the City and County of Jackson State of
Michigan, one of the United States of America, Attorney 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, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings: :-
Figure 1, is a vertical, central section, through my improved device for heating
and lighting.
Figure 2, is a fragmentary plan of the same, on broken line x-a of Figure 1.
Figure 3, is a fragmentary plan of the top of the stand showing the construction
thereof.
Figure 4, is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, central section of the lamp, of a
modified construction.
Figure 5, is an enlarged vertical section through a modified form of the wick-
tube.
Figure 6, is an enlarged perspective view of the wick clamping spring; and
Figure 7, is a vertical central section of a modified form of my improved device
for heating and lighting.
My invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices for heating and
lighting, and is designed for the use of either oil or gas as fuel, and consists in the
construction, combination and arrangements of parts, as fully hereinafter described
and claimed.
The objects of the improvements hereinafter described, are to produce an orna-
mental, inexpensive, convenient, efficient and portable device for heating and
lighting, with the same fuel, at the same time, and at the single expense of either
alone.
The first part of my invention pertains to the construction and arrangement of a
portable stand, which is provided with an air passage extending from near the floor
of the apartment to and communicating with an enclosed burner supported upon
the stand; and which stand is also adapted for use as an ordinary article of
furniture, wherein simplicity, cheapness and strength are most advantageously
combined.
Secondly, to the peculiar and novel construction and arrangement of a lamp, or
enclosed burner, wherein I secure complete and perfect combustion, an intense heat
and brilliant light; the parts being so constructed as to form substantially vertical
air-passages through the lamp and heating the air by bringing it in contact with
the burner and heated parts of the lamp.
Thirdly, to the combination and arrangement of the stand and lamp, whereby the
lamp is supported at a suitable height from the floor to permit the light to be most
conveniently utilized, and the air-passage in the stand serves to conduct a large
volume of cold air from near the floor of the apartment to the lamp, where it is
heated, and whereby the whole apartment is efficiently heated by the rapid circula-
tion of the air through the device.
The top of the stand, A, is a section of wood, or other suitable material, and
which may be of any desired plan, the plan here shown being rectangular, provided
with an aperture, a. B is a hollow base resting upon the floor and which may be
of any desired contour and material, the one here shown being rectangular in plan
and cross-section, and which is provided with an aperture b; and C, is a hollow
supporting column, which may likewise be of any desired form and material secured
to the top and base, and communicating with the apertures a, b. A', B' are
suitable mouldings, to give the stand greater strength and a more ornamental
appearance.

page_text: As shown in Figures 1 and 3, I preferably construct the column C, and aperture a
of the top A, of such sizes that portions o, of the end of the column C, may be
secured to the underside of the top A, and the portions n will project within the
aperture, a, forming seats for a cover A", which cover is used when the lamp is
removed and the stand is used as an article of furniture. In Figure 7, I show a
modified construction of the stand, wherein the top A, is supported by a series of
legs, D, which are made more rigid by the shelf D', which is secured between them,
and the air-tube, C, is secured to and communicates with apertures a, b, and forming
the air-passage J, completely through the parts, substantially as shown" in
Figure 1.
I do not wish to be confined to any particular design, material or construction;
for it is obvious that many modifications may be made by one skilled in the art to
which it appertains, without departing from the spirit of the invention; the primary
object being the construction of the stand consisting of an apertured top, suitable
supports, an air tube connected with the aperture in the top of the stand and
extending to, and open to the atmosphere, near the floor.
The annular oil-tank, K, may be of any desired contour, and suitably ornamented,
preferably constructed of sheet-metal, the inner annular wall K', forming a circular
opening vertically through the same, and within which the wick-tube and parts are
secured. The oil-tank, K is secured to and supported by the base, d, which base
may be provided with a series of apertures, d', and a sliding band, e, provided with
a series of apertures, e', registering with the apertures d', will wholly or partially
close the same as the band e is moved. If desired the apertures d', and band e, may
be omitted and the base d. may be imperforate.
The top of the stand, and floor of the apartment, are protected from any particles
of coal and oil which may drop from the wick-tube, by the pan, h, which may be
cheaply stamped from sheet-metal, and is of the same plan as the base d, to which
it is detachably secured by set-screws, 2, in the usual manner, and which is of the
form shown in cross section, having an annular imperforate depression, A, extending
wholly under the wick-tube, which depression receives the falling coal and oil, and
also protects the flame from the direct and sudden draughts of air, while a central
aperture and a series of apertures, i, permits the free circulation of air through
the parts.
The tube G is centrally located within the annular wall, K', and has an enlarged
perforated top portion, G¹, which serves as an inner deflector of the flame, the air
from the air-passage J' is discharged through the apertures in the deflector G'
against the inner side of the flame.
Without, concentric with, and at a little distance from the central tube G, is an
annular wick-tube or burner, consisting of the two annular concentric tubes H, I,
united at their lower ends and supplied with oil from tank K, through tube W.
In Figures 4 and 5, I show the manner in which I preferably construct the wick-
tube. The lower portions H, I, I preferably construct of sheet-zinc, or similar low
heat-conducting material and the upper portions H, I, I preferably construct of
copper, brass or similar material possessing heat-conducting qualities in a large
degree, the parts are united by a suitable seam, preferably of the form shown,
wherein the tubes are telescoped and then swaged to form an oil-tight joint, and
outwardly curved from the wick, M, forming annular spaces M" between the wick
and wick-tube opposite the joint, the oil drawn by the capillary attraction of the
wick, does not come in direct contact with, or accumulate at, the joint, and is less
likely to penetrate the same.
I do not wish to be confined to the form of joint here shown, as it is obvious that
with any of the common and well known seams or joints which may be used, the
spaces M11
may be formed.
To further prevent the portions H, I, of the wick-tube from becoming heated, the
joint may be constructed as shown in Figure 5, with a band M' of asbestos, or
similar non-heat-conducting material, interposed between the parts.
The upper portions of the wick-tube H', 1', being constructed of a material

page_text: possessing high-heat-conducting qualities, are intensely heated by the flame, and the
oil in the upper end of the wick M, is heated to a degree to generate a gas before.
it reaches the point of combustion; and the large volume of air admitted through
air passages, N, O, J', also facilitating the combustion, insures the most perfect
and complete combustion, the most brilliant light and intense heat and with the
greatest freedom from smoke and odour; and the lowest portion of the wick-tube,
and the oil-tank, remain comparatively cold, rendering an explosion impossible.
I do not wish to be limited in the use of the wick-tube to the form or construction
of lamp here shown, as it is obvious that it can be applied and used with ordinary
lamps.
The annular wick, M, is placed within an annular sleeve, R¹ (which is vertically
adjusted by any ordinary and well known neaus, and requires no explanation,) and
an expansive clamping-spring, T', which may be constructed of sheet-metal, with
its ends not united, is compressed and inserted within the wick, M, and when
released it expands, exerting a continuous, strong and outward pressure against the
wick within the sleeve, and firmly holding it in position, as plainly shown in
Figure 4. The sleeve R₁ may be provided with an inturned flange, S', extending
under the wick and clamping-spring, to aid in holding the parts in position.
The annular tube, F, is arranged without, at a little distance from, and concentric.
with, the wick-tube, forming the air-passage O, and at its upper end is secured a
chimney support F1, which supports a transparent chimney E, and within the
chimney E is formed the combustion-chamber O¹.
Without the tube F, but concentric therewith and at a little distance therefrom,
is an annular tube L, which may be an extension of the wall K' as shown in
Figure 1, or may be detachably secured to the same by telescope joint L" as shown
in Figure 4, and to the upper end of which is secured balcony L which supports a
transparent globe E'.
The annular air passage, P', is formed between the chimney and, globe, and
communicates with air-passage P, and the heat radiation from the chimney not
only causes a draught of cold air between the wick-tube and oil-tank serving to
keep the latter cold, and increasing the heating capacity of the device by circulating
a large volume of heated air, but it also obviates the intense lateral heat radiation,.
and unpleasantness resulting therefrom to persons in close proximity to the lamp,
which would be the result if the globe E' was omitted. If for any cause it should be
desirable to dispense with the globe E¹ and tube L, they may be easily removed
when constructed as shown in Figure 4.
A series of braces, R, S, T, secure the parts in position.
If desired, the ordinary combination chimney and globe supports which are in
general use may be substituted for the chimney support F and balcony L'.
In Figure 7, I have shown a modified construction of the lamp, wherein it is
adapted to the use of gas as fuel, by omitting the chimney, wick-tube and parts,
and substituting therefor the gas burners U, which may be of the ordinary type,
and suitably braced in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1-A portable stand consisting of an apertured top and means for supporting the
same, a suitable air-tube having its interior connected with the aperture in the top
and extending to near the floor and open to the atmosphere at the bottom, sub-
stantially as described.
2-The combination with the apertured stand top, of an air tube secured thereto
and communicating therewith, with inner portions projecting within said aperture
and forming a seat for a cover, substantially as described.
3-The combination, of the wick-tube, sleeve R', wick M, and the clamping-
spring T', substantially as described.

page_text: 4-The combination, of the wick-tube, sleeve R' having a flange S¹, and the
clamping spring T', substantially as described.
5 The combination, with the wick-tube, of the circumferential corrugations
forming spaces M" between the sides of said wick-tube and the wick substantially
as described.
6-A wick-tube consisting of top sections constructed of copper or similar high
heat-conducting material, and bottom section constructed of zinc or similar low
heat conducting material, substantially as described.
7-A wick-tube consisting of top sections constructed of high heat-conducting
material, suitably joined to the bottom sections of said wick-tube, with a band of
asbestos or similar non-heat-conducting material, interposed between the parts at
the joint, substantially as described.
8-A wick-tube consisting of top sections constructed of high heat conducting
material, suitably joined to the bottom sections, with the seam or joint swaged
outwardly from the wick, substantially as described.
9-The combination, with the lamp, of a pan secured to the base of said lamp,
said pan being provided with a depression directly under the wick-tube to arrest
the falling cinder and oil, and with apertures to admit the air to the flame, sub-
stantially as described.
_
P
10 The combination of a lamp having an annular wick-tube and air passages on
either side thereof, with the pan, h, provided with an annular depression directly
under said wick-tube, and with apertures to admit air to the lamp, substantially as
described.
11 The lamp having an oil tank provided with an inner annular wall forming
an opening vertically through the same, a wick-tube having air-passages outside of
and about said wick-tube, which air-passages are separated from each other by a
partition tube at the top of which is provided a chimney support and chimney, the
inner air-passage discharging air on the outer side of the wick-tube within the
chimney, and the outer air-passage discharging air on the outside of the chimney,
substantially as described.
12-The combination, of the oil-tank, annular wick-tube, air passages on both
the outer and inner sides of said wick-tubes, and a chimney above forming a com-
bustion chamber, with a globe surrounding said chimney and forming the air
passage P, which communicates with the air passage P, substantially as described.
13 The combination, in a device of the class described, of a chimney surrounding
the flame and forming a combustion chamber, and a globe surrounding said chimney,
and connected at the bottom with a substantially vertical air-passage or passages
whereby increased draught is obtained between the chimney and the globe, sub-
stantially as described.
14-In a device of the class described, a lamp consisting of the oil-tank, annular
wick-tube, air-passages on both the outer and inner sides of said wick-tube, a
chimney above forming a combustion chamber, a globe surrounding said chimney
and connected at the bottom with a substantially vertical air-passage or passages
through said lamp, in combination with a supporting stand provided with an air-
passage communicating with the lamp and extending to near the floor of the apart-
ment, substantially as described.
15 The combination, with a supporting stand constructed with an air-passage
extending from near the floor of the apartment to and connected with an aperture
in the top of said stand, of a transparent chimney, and enclosed has an oil burner
supported upon said stand, and constructed and arranged in such a manner that the
air may freely circulate through the parts, substantially as described.
Dated this 5th day of October 1891.
FREDERIC PRINCE,
1, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.