Improvements in Oil Lamps suitable for Omnibuses and other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug., 1396-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Oil Lamps suitable for Omnibuses and other
Vehicles.
We, THOMAS COOPER JOHN THOMAS, Engineer, and WILLIAM MUDD STILL,
Manufacturer, both of 24 Charles Street, Hatton Garden, in the City of London,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the game is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has refereuce to an improved construction of oil lamp suitable for
omnibuses and other vehicles whereby a steadier and brighter light can be obtained
with a given consumption of oil than has heretofore been usual with the oil lamps
of known construction. For this purpose my improved lamp is constructed as
I shall now describe by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein
Figs. 1 and 2 are sectional clevations of my improved lamp taken in planes at
right angles to each other.
1 is a lamp casing of ordinary construction provided with a transparent glass
front 2, reflecting inner sides and back with concave reflector 3, and a hinged top 4,
openings 1 being provided in the upper part of the casing for entrance of air and
openings 4 in the hinged top for exit of hot gases and products of combustion.
The lamp proper comprises an upper air chamber or box 5 designed to rest upou
a ledge or shoulder 6 in the casing 1, and a lower casing 7 provided with a false
bottom 7 so as to form an oil reservoir 7b and beneath it an air chamber 8 provided
at the bottom with an open tubular extension 9 adapted to rest upon a dome shaped
seat 10 at the bottom of the lamp casing 1. To enable the air chamber 5 and the
tubular extension 9 to rest simultaneously upon the shoulder 6 and the seat 10
respectively, the air chamber 5 is connected to the casing 7 by two pairs of
telescopically arranged tubes 11 that are in communication at their upper ends
with the air chamber 5 and at their lower ends with the air chamber 8. The air
chamber 5 is provided with an annular row of air exit openings 9.
Carried by and extending through the air chamber 5 is a chinney 12 the lower
end 12" of which extends below the said air chamber and is provided with an
annular row of holes 12. The upper portion of the chimney extends above the
air chamber 5 and is surrounded by a tubular extension 13 of that chamber, the
aunular space between such tubular extension and chimney being iu free
communication with the said air chamber. 14 is a vertical air pasange arranged
to extend through the oil reservoir 7b and to nearly surround a vertical wick
tube 15, containing preferably a wick of the kind known as a "drop in wick"
which requires no adjustment, said wick tube being in communication with the oil
reservoir by a pair of horizontal pipes 16. The air passage 14 is in free
communication at its lower end with the air chamber 8, and terminates at its upper
end around the wick tube and below the hinged burner cone 17.
As will be readily understood the reflector 3 may be dispensed with and the back
as well as the front of the lamp casing may be of glass so as to give light in both
directions.
With the arrangements described, upon lighting the wick 18 and placing the
lamp proper within the casing 1, air will flow upward through the air passage 14
and prevent the flame from being extinguished, the air chamber 5 finally resting
on the shoulder 6 and the tubular extension 9 resting on the seat 10, the telescopic
tubes 11 enabling this to be done. Upon then closing the cover 4 air will enter

page_text: the casing at the openings 1, part of this air passing to the top of the lamp and
escaping through the openings 4 and the remainder entering the air chamber 5
through the air openings 5 thorein. A portion of this air will pass upward through
the space between the chimney 12 and the tubular extension 13 whilst the remainder
will pass downward through the telescopic tubes 11 to the air chamber 8 where it
will divide, part passing upward through the vertical passage 14 and issuing around
and in close proximity to the flame aud part issuing through the holes 9 in the
tubular extension 9 into the lower part of the lamp casing through which it will
flow upwards and escape to the chimney 12 through the openings 12b in the
downward extension 12 of the chimney. By this means a steady and brilliant
flame will be produced, and overheating of the lamp casing and lamp proper will
be prevented, the air passing to the flame being supplied in a honted condition,
whereby the luminosity of the flame is increased.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
Our improved oil lamp, suitable for omnibus and other vehicles, constructed,
arranged and operating substantially as described and shown.
Noted this in
T. C. J. THOMAS.
W. Lloyd Wise,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Applicants' Agent.