Improvements in Velocipede and other Lamps.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Aug., 1892-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipede and other Lamps.
I, JAMES PLENDERLEITH of 238 Tottenham Court Road London, Salesman
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
This invention is for the purpose of enabling a velocipede or other lamp to
carry a much larger quantity of than usual, by means of an additional easily
detachable reservoir, and for a method of preventing overflow from the same]
am aware that velocipede lamps have been constructed on the bird fountain
principle, but such lamps are not capable of being used without the fountain, it
forming an integral portion of the lamp. This improved lamp however, is capable
of being used either with or without the fountain as desired.
For this purpose I take a velocipede lamp of ordinary construction, with the
usual anti-vibration arrangement at the back. On the top of the lamp is placed an
airtight metallic box or vessel (of any desired capacity without reference to the
size of the lamp) having on the upper side an opening closed by an airtight screw
cap for the admission of oil.
From the lower side thereof depend four stout wires, hinged together, which
slide into tubes attached to the sides of the lamp and prevented from moving.
unless required, by any simple catch or fastering. The vessel or box may thus be
raised or lowered or removed altogether from the lamp as desired.
In order to carry out the second part of this invention I employ the following
device. A straight tube (the air tube) passes through the bottom of the vessel
before described, rising within it above the highest oil level therein and forming a
stand pipe, it proceeds downward externally to the lamp and terminates at the
required oil level in the usual oil fount contained within the lamp. Another and
smaller tube (the oil tube) is secured to the bottom of the reservoir or vessel
immediately behind the air tube opening into, but not rising within the reservoir.
The oil tube runs parallel with the air tube a certain distance, then unites with
it and is continued down within the air tube its whole length, the air and oil
tubes are thus kept quite distinct without increasing the diameter of the larger
tube.
The small tube is provided with a light tap above its junction with the large
tube, for the purpose of controlling and cutting off the supply of oil as required.
A projecting tubular elbow or arm, terminating in a cup like expansion, is
attached to the small oil fount within the lamp passing through one side of the
lamp which is cut away to receive it then turning up to receive the combined oil
and air tube which dips into it, thus allowing the oil from above to flow into the
small fount.
1
The action is as follows, the vessel or box being filled with oil and the cap
screwed down tight, the tap is opened, oil flows through the oil tube into the lower
fount air ascending by the air tube to replace it. When the oil in the lower fount
reaches the level of the combined tube it seals the airway stopping further flow,
the tap is now closed and the lamp lighted. After burning some time the box
or vessel becomes hot, the air within expands and escapes down the air tube
until the pressure in the box or vessel is no greater than the surrounding
atmosphere, the tap is again opened when the lamp will burn without further
attention until the whole of the oil is consumed.
It is obvious that this invention is not confined to velocipede lamps but may
be applied to other lamps required to burn a considerable time such as fire escape
and fire engine lamps &c. In ships side light and railway head and tail lamps

page_text: and other larger bodied lamps the whole arrangement before described may be
placed within the body of the lamp, if preferred.
Dated this 21st day of November 1891.
JAMES PLENDERLEITH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipede and other Lamps.
I, JAMES PLENDERLEITHI, of 238 Tottenham Court Road, London, 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 :-
This invention has for object;
1. Enabling a velocipede or other lamp to carry a much larger quantity of oil
than usual by means of an additional easily detachable reservoir.
2. A method of preventing overflow from the same.
I am aware that velocipede lamps have been constructed on the bird fountain
principle, but such lamps are not capable of being used without the fountain, it
forming an integral portion of the lamp. This improved lamp however is capable
of being used either with or without the fountain as desired.
For this purpose, I take a velocipede lamp of ordinary construction, with the
usual anti-vibration arrangement at the back. On the top of the lamp is placed
a metallic box or vessel (of any desired capacity without reference to the size of
the lamp) having on the upper side an opening for the admission of oil, and
closable by an airtight screw cap. From the lower side of the reservoir depend
four stout wires bent or hinged together, which wires slide into tubes attached to
the sides of the lamp, and prevented from moving unless required by any simple
catch or fastening, which when released enables the vessel to be removed from
the lamp.
In order to carry out the second part of this invention, I employ the following
device:
A straight tube (the air tube) passes through the bottom of the vessel before
described, rising within it above the highest oil level therein, and forming a
stand pipe, it proceeds downwards externally to the lamp and terminates at the
required oil level in the usual oil fount contained within the lamp, another. and
smaller tube (the oil tube) is secured to the bottom of the reservoir or vessel
immediately behind the air tube, opening into but not rising within the reservoir.
The oil tube runs parallel with the air tube a certain distance, then unites
with it and is continued down within the air tube to its full depth.
The air and oil tubes are thus kept quite distinct without increasing the
diameter of the larger tube. The small tube is provided with a tap above its
junction with the larger tube for the purpose of controlling and cutting off the
supply of oil as required.
A projecting tubular elbow or arm terminating in a cup like expansion is
attached to the small oil. fount within the lamp, passing through one side of
the lamp which is cut away to receive it, then turning up to receive the
combined oil and air tube which dips into it, thus, allowing the oil from above to
flow into the small fount.
The invention is shown in the annexed drawings..
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a velocipede lamp.
Figure 2 a side elevation of same.
Figure 3 section of combined air and oil tube.
A is the body of the lamp, B the usual oil well therein, C is the burner, the
wick in which can be raised and lowered by the turn button D: E is a branch

page_text: of the oil well B curved upwardly and provided with a funnel shaped head F,
the edge of which forms a seating for a washer G cemented under a flange H
of the air tube I.
The tube I passes upwardly slightly beyond the top of the additional
reservoir J, where its end is surrounded by a short tube K of still greater height
and perforated at or near the top shown at K' and forms part of a screw cap 1 by
which the upper reservoir is closed when the cap is screwed on to the nozzle M.
Within the lower part of the tube I and terminating at the same level is an oil
feed tube N but which just above the flange H passes outwardly and has its upper
end secured to the bottom of the additional reservoir J for leading the oil
therefrom to the well B. P is a tap for regulating the flow or for shutting it off
when desired. is a screw plug fitted temporarily on the ferrule R, and available
as a stopper in the funnel F when the lamp is used for ordinary purposes the
branch E then serving for filling the well B.
To enable my additional top reservoir J to be fitted in place on a lamp, I shape
two lengths of stout wire with prongs S, T, one of each being shorter than the
other to be slid into sockets U, V, fixed to the lamp body. The connecting
portion W of the two prongs is fitted in sockets on the bottom of the reservoir,
the fixture being effected by a stump Z passing through the weather shield a and
& pin pushed through it.
To support my additional reservoir J on the lamp, I employ a projection from
the bottom of the lamp body with an extra spring d to upper part of socket e
which spring may be disconnected when the reservoir J is not used.
"
The lamp selected to show my invention is that known as the "Invincible
(Salsbury's Patent) but can be adapted on any kind of lamp, and in some
constructions, the additional reservoir can be fitted within the roof.
Figure 3 illustrates how I combine my two tubes I, N.
Supposing the vessel to be affixed on a lamp as shown, the action is as
follows:-
The additional reservoir or vessel being filled with oil and the cap L
screwed down tight, the tap P is opened, oil flows through the oil tube N´into
the lower fount B air ascending by the air tube I to replace it.
When the oil in the lower fount reaches the level of the combined tube it seals
the air way and stops further flow. The tap P is now closed and the lamp
lighted. After burning some time, the vessel J becomes hot, the air within it
expands and escapes down the air tube I until the pressure in the vessel J is no
greater than the surrounding atmosphere, the tap P is again opened, when the
lamp will burn without further attention until the whole of the oil is consumed.
It is obvious that this invention is not confined to velocipede lamps but may be
applied to other lamps required to burn a considerable time, such as fire escape
and fire engine lamps &c. In ships side lights, railway head and tail lamps, and
other large bodied lamps; the whole arrangement before described may be placed
within the body of the lamp.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The particular construction, arrangement, and method of fitting an additional
oil supply reservoir on a lamp, and the means and appliances for feeding the oil
to the well, said reservoir and appliances being affixable to and removable from
the lamp in the manner shown by the drawings and as and for the purposes
described.
2. The arrangement of pipes I, N, for air and oil respectively, and the method
of fitting them to a lamp to prevent overflow or escape from the removable
reservoir, as described.
3. The means by which a close joint can be obtained between the two oil

page_text: vessels when connected as set forth and substantially as shown by the annexed
drawings.
4. The combined air and oil tube or tubes in which the oil way may be closed or
regulated without affecting the air way.
1000
H. GARDNER,
Per C. G.,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said James Plenderleith.