IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMP BURNERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Rowatt, junior, of the City of London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMP BURNERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Rowatt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th February 1878.
THOMAS ROWATT, junior, of the City of London.
BURNERS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMP
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
that class of burners having double wick tubes and inner and outer slotted domes,
part of such improvements being also applicable to burners with single wick
tubes.
It consists in substituting for the lower portions of the two wick tubes, as usually
constructed, a single straight tube sufficiently wide to admit of a double wick, the
said tube then branching out on each side in an upward direction by a gradual and
easy curvature into the two single wick tubes. A close fit is ensured between the
lower or single portion of the wick tube and the two wicks introduced, as described,
and by the friction produced between the latter one set of gripping racks, with
their spindle and handle mounted in the ordinary manner, suffices to raise and
lower simultaneously the two wicks, as if two sets of racks and lifting gear were
employed in the ordinary manner.
To prevent the wicks being pinched too tightly by the lower or single portion
of the wick tube one of the sides of the latter is split for a short distance from its
lower end, so as to spring back or yield and thereby relieve the wicks from undue
pressure.
By this Invention the construction of the lamp is simplified and cheapened, and
the two wicks being close together retain a better suction on the oil as it falls in
the reservoir than by two separated wicke.
In the case of burners with single wick tubes the tube is made for its entire
length in a similar manner to the lower or single portion of the double wick tubes,

page_text: previously described, to admit of two wicks in lieu of one, as heretofore, thereby
giving a greatly increased intensity or body of light combined with better suction,
the single set of racks operating the two wicks as if only a single wick.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Rowatt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
August 1878.
THOMAS ROWATT, junior, of the City of London.
BURNERS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMP
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
that class of burners having double wick tubes and inner and outer slotted domes,
part of such improvements being also applicable to burners with single wick
tubes.
It consists in substituting for the lower portions of the two wick tubes, as
usually constructed, a single straight tube sufficiently wide to admit of a double
wick, the said tube then branching out on each side in an upward direction by a
gradual and easy curvature into the two single wick tubes.
In the case of burners with single wick tubes the tube is made for its entire
length in a similar manner to the lower or single portion of the double wick tubes
before mentioned.
And in order that the said Invention may be well understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, reference being made to the accom-
panying Drawing, where Figure 1 is a section of the improved lamp burner, and
Figure 2 a plan thereof.
a, a¹, represent the upper portions respectively of the two single wick tubes in
a double wick tube burner, as usually constructed, but in this case instead of being
continued downwards parallel and separate the said tubes approach each other by
a gradual and easy curvature towards their lower portions, where, they are united
in a single tube b, sufficiently wide to admit the double wicks c, c, which being
inserted from the bottom of the tube 6 branch out respectively into the single wick
tubes a, a¹. A close fit is ensured between the lower or single portion b of the
wick tubes and the two wicks c, c¹, and by the friction consequently produced
between the latter one set of gripping racks d with their spindle and handle suffices
to raise and lower simultaneously the two wicks c, c¹, as if two sets of racks and
lifting gear were employed in the usual manner.
To prevent the wicks c, c', being pinched too tightly by the lower or single
portion 6 of the wick tubes one of the sides of the latter is split for a short distance
from its lower end, so as to spring back or yield and thereby relieve the wicks c, c',
from undue pressure.
In order to regulate and bring the wicks c, c', to the same level in the case of
unequal burning or other disturbing cause, one of the wicks c can be retained at
will and prevented from moving by the action of a spring bolt e enclosed in,a tubeƒ,

page_text: between the inner end of which and a collar g formed on the said bolt is placed a
spiral spring h. On pushing inwards the bolt e by its knob or handle i the inner
end thereof is projected through the wall of the wick tube a hard against the
wick c, which is thereby pinched and held firmly whilst the wick c¹, being acted
upon by the ordinary gripping racks d, is forced to slide over the wick c, and being
raised or lowered, as the case may be, the necessary adjustment of the wicks c, c¹,
is effected and the lights rendered uniform. On releasing the bolt e it is brought
back to its normal position free of the wick c by the action of the spring h.
By this Invention the construction of the lamp is simplified and cheapened, and
the wicks c, c¹, being in contact retain a better suction on the oil as it falls in the
reservoir and by two separate wicks.
In the case of burners with single wick tubes the tube is made for its entire
length in a similar manner to the lower or single portion 6 of the double wick
tubes a, a', above described, so as to admit of two wicks in lieu of one as here-
tofore, the single set of racks operating the two wicks as if only a single wick.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion, that what I consider novel and original and therefore claim
as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent
is,-
1st. In double wick tube burners forming the lower portions of the wick tubes
into a single straight tube, sufficiently wide to admit of the two wicks, substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein-before described, and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.
2nd. In single wick tube burners, forming the wick tube of sufficient width to
admit of two wicks instead of one as heretofore, substantially as and for the
purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Rowatt, junior, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
E. T. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
123, Chancery Lane,
London.
THO. ROWATT, JR. (L.S.)