IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMP WICKS AND BURNERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Franklin Stevens, of Trafalgar Square, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMP
WICKS AND BURNERS." A communication from abroad by Henry Clay
Scott, of Clinton, Iowa, United States of America.
Sealed the 6th March 1877, and dated the 13th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Franklin Stevens
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th December 1876.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STEVENS, of Trafalgar Square, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMP WICKS AND BURNERS.' A communication from abroad
by Henry Clay Scott, of Clinton, Iowa, United States of America.
This Invention onsists 1st. in constructing the perforated flame protector in two
sections, one section being adjustable vertically, and also in the special combination
of a flame protector thus constructed with the cone of the burner and a regulating
slide as herein-after described.
In carrying out this part of the Invention the exterior casing of the burner is
secured to the oil fount in the usual manner. The ordinary cone is placed above
the casing and held in position by any suitable means. A ring is secured to the
top of the casing adapted to receive the chimney. A ring plate is also attached to
the lower part of the casing, and to it are attached upright springs, so that the ring
plate is also adapted to receive and hold the chimney.
These two chimney holders are of different sizes and may be made of different
forms, so that chimneys of different kinds may be used upon the same lamp without
changing the burner. Upon the bottom of the ring is pivotted a catch, one end of
which has a bent lip extending upward to fit over the bottom of the chimney, whilst
the other end is provided with a short pendant against which one end of a spring
rests and operates to hold the spring in position to engage with the chimney and
secure it in place. In the side of the casing a hole is made large enough to admit
the introduction of a match for the purpose of lighting the lamp without removing
the chimney. This hole is protected by a slide which can be moved to one side
whenever it is desired to light the lamp.
The wick tube is surrounded by a sliding tube upon which is a rack which is
operated by a toothed wheel and setting wheel. It is desirable to insert a wiro

page_text: gauze disc or perforated plate just below the flame to operate as a protector against
the descent of the flame, which might produce an explosion. In order to adapt this
protector to a burner having a sliding flame regulator the gauze protector is made
in two sections one of which is annular in form and attached to the cone at or near
its base. A small circular piece or disc made to exactly fit within the annular piece
constitutes the other section of the protector and is attached to the slide and moves
with it. This construction admits of the moveable section of the protector being
depressed in order to light the lamp as herein-before described, and also of the
gauze or perforated plate being entirely removed from the burner by removing the
cone and slide.
The wick is made in sections, as more fully herein-after described, the upper
section being asbestos, and resting upon a lower section being asbestos, and resting
upon a lower section of any fibrous material which extends into the oil and feeds
the asbestos section. When the slide is raised to extinguish the light the disc
portion of the gauze protector is elevated with it.
When it is desired to light the lamp the inner section of the protector is to be
depressed by turning down the slide, and a lighted match may then be introduced
and thrust up to the wick at the top of the wick tube. These devices which I have
described as applied to a burner in which an asbestos wick is used are equally
applicable to other burners.
The said Invention has for its object, secondly, obtaining an indestructible
wick which may be applied to lamps and burners of ordinary construction, and
consists in the combination of a wick constructed in two sections, the upper one of
which is asbestos, with a stationary wick tube, regulating slide, and sectional flame
protecting plate, and also in the combination of other devices belonging to the
burner as herein-after described,
In carrying out this part of the Invention the wick is constructed in two parts,
the lower portion being made of cotton, woollen, or any other substance such as is
generally used for ordinary lamp wicks. This portion of the wick dips into the oil
in the fount and extends up the wick tube to within a short distance of the top.
The upper portion of this tube is filled with another wick section which is made of
asbostos. The asbestos is moulded and baked in the form desired to adapt it to fit
the wick tube used, and in the process of moulding should be compressed so as.
to retain its shape perfectly in handling and in use. The asbestos section is inserted
in the top of the wick tube and the two sections arranged so that the upper one will
rest immediately upon the lower section and at the same time project a slight
distance above the top of the wick tube. The lower section feeds the oil to
the asbestos section, but, as it does not reach the flame, is not consumed thereby and
will therefore last an indefinite period. As asbestos is fibrous the oil is regularly
fed to the flame, and as it is indestructible by fire a small section is sufficient to
constitute a permanent wick.
In order to regulate the light a slide is placed upon the wick tube on the outside
thereof and a rack attached to one of its sides with which a small pinion engages
operated in the usual manner. A spring or other suitable device may be employed
instead. By raising and lowering the slide so that it will project more or less upon
the asbestos wick section the height of the flaine is regulated perfectly, the effect
being the same as that obtained in ordinary burners by raising and lowering the
wick.
In order to accommodate the motion of the slide the perforated flame pro-
tecting plate is made in two parts, the outer portion being aunular in form and
attached to the outer casing of the burner, while the inner portion, circular in form
and exactly fitting within the annular portion, is attached to the slide and moves
with it.
When it is desired to extinguish the light it is only necessary to raise the slide
so that it projects considerably above the top of the wick tube and wick and the
light will be extinguished.
•
The Invention is equally adapted to a flat wick tube to the circular wick

page_text: tube used in argand burners.
It is only necessary in applying the Invention
to the latter class to mold the asbestos section of a suitable form to fit the
tube. This may be done by making it one piece or in sections, as may be most
convenient. It is necessary however to extinguish the flame in this burner to close
the lower end of the circular tube. This is accomplished by attaching a small disc
to the lower end of the regulating slide arranged at such a distance below the tube
that the slide may be elevated some distance above the tube before the disc will be
brought up against the lower end of the latter. When however the disc is brought
up against the lower end of the tube so as to close it perfectly the light will be
immediately extinguished.
The Invention provides a cheap and indestructible wick which enables the lamp
to be used for an indefinite period without the trouble and annoyance of trimming
the wicks daily and changing them every few days.
A vent tube is employed which permits the escape of gas from the oil fount.
It is obvious that the Invention is equally applicable to wicks made entirely of
asbestos, woven, plaited, or felted so as to make a continuous wick. The regulating
slide used in connection with such a wick obviates the necessity of raising and
lowering the latter, which is objectionable with an asbestos wick, as the fibre is
easily torn and the wick therefore in a short time destroyed by the operation of the
toothed raising and lowering wheels. A lever or spring may however be used
which will obviate this objection.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Franklin Stevens in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
June 1877.
"
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STEVENS, of Trafalgar Square, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMP WICKS AND BURNERS." A communication from abroad
by Henry Clay Scott, of Clinton, Iowa, United States of America.
The said Invention consists,-
1st. In constructing the perforated flame protector in two sections, one section
being adjustable vertically; and also in the special combination of a flame protector
thus constructed with the cone of the burner and a regulating slide, as herein-after
described.
2ndly. In the combination of a wick constructed in two sections, the upper one
of which is asbestus, with a stationary wick tube, regulating slide, and sectional
flame protector; and also in the combination of other devices belonging to the
burner, as herein-after described.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now pro-
ceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corre-
sponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a vertical section of a portion of a lamp
with the improvements which form the subject of the said Invention applied
thereto; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of the same with the chimney shewn in
section; Figure 3 is a sectional plan of the under side of the burner detached,
shewing the construction and location of a spring for holding the chimney in
place; and Figure 3* is an enlarged detail to be herein-after referred to.
Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a vertical section and sectional plan illustrating the
application of the improved wick to an argand burner; and Figure 6 is a plan of
the under side of the wick tube.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 3ª, A. represents the oil fount, and B the
exterior casing of the burner, which is secured to the fount in the usual manner;
the ordinary cone C is placed above the casing B, and held in position by any
suitable means. A ring D secured to the top of the casing B is adapted to receive

page_text: the chimney E. A ring plate F is also attached to the lower part of the casing B,
and to it are attached upright springs f, so that the ring is also adapted to
receive and hold the chimney.
These two chimney holders are of different sizes, and may be made of different
forms, so that chimneys of different kinds may be used upon the same lamp without
changing the burner. I have shewn a burner adapted to the use of chimneys
known in the trade as "sun hinge" and "sun chimneys." Upon the bottom of
the ring D is pivotted a catch d (Figure 3), one end of which has a bent lip
extending upwards to fit over the bottom of the chimney, while the other end is
provided with a short pendant, against which one end of a spring e rests and
operates to hold the catch in position to engage with the chimney and secure it in
place. In the side of the casing B a hole is made sufficiently large to admit of
the introduction of a match for the purpose of lighting the lamp without removing
the chimney. This hole is protected by a slide 6¹, which can be moved to one side
whenever it is desired to light the lamp.
The Invention is shewn applied to an asbestus burner, that is, one in which an
asbestus wick is used, which forms the subject matter of the second part of the said
Invention.
In this burner the wick tube a is surrounded by a sliding tube G, upon which
is a rack g, which is operated by a toothed wheel H and setting wheel h. It is
desirable to insert a wire gauze disc or perforated plate immediately below the
flame to operate as a protector against the descent of the flame, which might pro-
duce an explosion. In order to adapt this protector to this burner having a
sliding flame regulator the gauze protector is inade in two sections, as shewn clearly
in the detail, Fig. 3, one of which c is annular in form and attached to the cone C
at or near its base. A small circular piece or disc I made to exactly fit within the
annular piece c constitutes the other section of the protector, and is attached to the
slide G and noves with it. This construction admits of the moveable section of the
protector being depressed in order to light the lamp, and also of the gauze or per-
forated plate being entirely removed from the burner by removing the conc
and slide.
When it is required to extinguish the light the slide G is raised and the disc
portion I of the gauze protector is elevated with it, as shewn in dotted lines in the
upper portion of the cone in Figure 1 of the Drawings.
When it is desired to light the lamp the section I. is to be depressed by turning
down the slide to the position indicated by the lower dotted lines in Figure 1 of the
Drawings, and in which position a lighted match may be introduced and thrust up
to the wick at the top of the wick tube. By raising and lowering the slide to the
requisite extent so that it will project more or less upon the asbestus wick the
height of the flame is regulated perfectly, the effect being the same as that obtained
in ordinary burners by raising and lowering the wick. A spring or other suitable
device may be employed in substitution for the arrangement shewn.
The wick is constructed in two parts, the lower portion L being made of cotton,
woollen, or any other substance, such as is generally used for ordinary lamp wicks.
This portion of the wick dips into the oil in the fount and extends up the wick
tube a to within a short distance of the top, as seen in Figure 1 of the Drawings.
The upper portion of this tube is filled with another wick section K, which is made
of asbestus. The asbestus is moulded and baked in the form desired to adapt it to
fit the wick tube used, and in the process of moulding should be compressed so as
to retain its shape perfectly in handling and in use. The asbestus section K is
inserted in the top of the wick tube, and the two sections arranged so that the
upper one will rest immediately upon the section L, and at the same time project a
slight distance above the top of the wick tube. The section L feeds the oil to the
asbestus section K, but as it does not reach the flame is not consumed thereby, and
will therefore last an indefinite period. As asbestus is fibrous the oil is regularly
fed to the flame, and as it is indestructible by fire a small section K is sufficient to
constitute a permanent wick.

page_text: In Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings the Invention is shewn adapted to a flat
wick tube, but it is equally applicable to the circular wick tube used in argand
burners; I have shewn it thus applied in Figures 4 and 5 of the Drawings. It is
only necessary in applying the Invention to the latter class to mould the asbestus
section of a suitable form to fit the tube; this may be done by making it one
piece or in sections, as may be most convenient. It is requisite however in order to
extinguish the flame in this burner to close the lower end of the circular tube; this
is accomplished by attaching a small disc G¹ to the lower end of the regulating slide,
the said disc being arranged at such a distance below the tube as to admit of the slide
being elevated some distance above the tube a before the disc will be brought into
contact with the lower end of the latter. When however the disc G' is brought
into contact with the lower end of the tube a so as to close it perfectly, the light
will be immediately extinguished.
The said Invention provides a cheap and indestructible wick, which enables the
lamp to be used for an indefinite period without the trouble and annoyance of
trimming the wicks daily and changing them every few days.
A vent tube H¹ is employed, which permits the escape of gas from the oil
fount.
It is obvious that the said Invention is equally applicable to wicks made entirely
of asbestus, woven, plaited, or felted so as to make a continuous wick. The regu-
lating slide used in connection with such a wick obviates the necessity of raising
and lowering the latter, which is objectionable with an asbestus wick, as the fibre is
easily torn, and the wick therefore in a short time destroyed by the operation of
the toothed raising and lowering wheels. A lever or spring may however be used,
which will obviate this objection.
Although I have shewn and described the two parts of the said Invention as
employed in combination, either may be used separately and independently of the
other if desired.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,
1. The perforated or wire gauze flame protector constructed in two sections, one
of which is moveable vertically, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before
described.
2. The combination of the cone C and the annular section of wire gauze or per-
forated plate c attached to the base of such cone, substantially as herein-before
described.
3. The combination of the cone C, sections of wire gauze or perforated plate I
and c, and slide G, substantially as herein-before described.
4. A stationary lamp wick composed of an upper asbestus section K and a lower
section L of common wicking in combination with a stationary wick tube a and a
regulating slide G fitted around and moving upon the outside of the tube, substan-
tially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
5. The combination of the stationary wick tube a, regulating slide G, and stop
disc G¹ attached to the lower end of the slide, substantially as and for the purpose
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Franklin Stevens, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundead and