IMPROVEMENTS IN OIL LAMPS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1885

page_text: other Purposes.
I JAMES ROOTS of 144 Bishopsgate Without London EC Medical Assistant do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN OIL LAMPS FOR
RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND OTHER PURPOSES to be as follows:-
It refers more particularly to lamps that are designed to throw the light
downward without a shadow, for by the peculiar construction of the lamp, the
flame is projected downward and then spreads laterally outward by means of a
downward current of heated air. The supply of oil from the reservoir which is
preferably annular and which surrounds the lamp, is conveyed laterally by means
of tubing or wick casing to the burner which is placed in the centre of the lamp
and projects downward. The air supply is admitted from the exterior through
perforations in the outside wall of the lamp either immediately above or imme-
diately below the reservoir, in which latter case it may proceed in railway lamps
from the interior of the carriage, it is then made to pass through a tube or tubes,
within which are one or more plates of wire gauze, to the burner at the centre.
The products of combustion then ascending, passes round and by the tube or tubes
through a disc of wire gauze or perforated metal which is attached to these tubes,
and finally ascends the chimney in the centre and reaches the outer air through
perforations at or near the top of the lamp. Thus the outer air passing through the
tube or tubes heated in this manner by the flame and through the several plates of
wire gauze or perforated metal within the tube or tubes is continually gathering
heat preparatory to its deflection on the flaine, after which it is again passed
through perforations or gauze and thus robbed of a great part of its heat for the
purpose of heating the incoming air in the tubes. A bowl shaped glass may be
inserted between the flame and the outer globe or well for the purpose of rendering
the light more steady and to prevent fracture in the outer globe from excess of
heat. An earthenware or other reflector is used. Surrounding the chimney is a
chamber containing static air to serve as a cloak or covering for the chimney wall
to lessen the conduction of its heat. The cap of the burner may be made with
double walls in order that a supply of air may pass between them and reach the
Haine after it has passed through the cap. To obtain greater durability, for
the wick does not last long under the great heat evolved, I construct a burner
permitting a certain amount of expansion in its walls having within it layers of

page_text: fine wire gauze or perforated metal, the oil in its passage through the strata
of gauze or metal is finely divided and heated as in a wick and burns either from
a surface of gauze or from small Argand-like holes. Where the burner is below
the level of the oil or the reservoir, I use a tube, one end of which is above the
level of the oil, carrying a length of absorbent material, part of which is in the oil
and a part within the tube, attached to the end of the absorbent material is a float,
which is hinged or pivoted to pins, by rods or wire, at the end of the tube above the
oil level. Thus the absorbent material by capillary attraction, after the manner of
a syphon filter, keeps up a constant supply to the burner, which is regulated to a
great extent by the action of the hinged float retaining the end of the absorbent
material at the same distance from the tube end. To further regulate the supply,
a ball and cock or valve is attached to the tube at the bottom of the reservoir, and
so arranged, that if there are three supply tubes to the burner, the first may act
continuously, the second when the reservoir is half full, and the third when the oil
is still lower by permitting one or more of the balls only a certain amount of
ascent. Thus whatever the level of the oil the supply can be made regular and
constant, and no leakage takes place into the globe or well. Plates of metal are
placed within the reservoir to prevent the rush of the oil to oue part when tilted,
or in the case of railway carriages when starting or stopping.
:

page_text: Improvements in Oil Lamps for Railway Carriages and
other Purposes.
I JAMES ROOTS of 144 Bishopsgate Street Without, London, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is the construction of lamps that are designed to
throw the light downward without a shadow for by the peculiar construction of
the lamp the flame is projected downward or downward and outward by means
of a downward current of heated air. The supply of oil from the reservoir which
is generally annular in which case it surrounds the lamp is conveyed laterally by
means of wick casing or tubing to the burner which is placed in the centre of the
lamp and projects downward. Various forms of burner may be used.
The air supply is admitted through perforations, passes along a channel or tube
above the flame to the burner at centre descending with the flame then ascending
passes round and by the air channel in the centre.
In the lamps for railway carriage roofs the lamp has a suitable covering to
prevent the flame being affected by currents of air, thus the outer air passing
through the tubes or channels so heated by the flame below it and through the
perforated metal within it is continually gathering heat preparatory to its
deflection upon the flame after which it heats the incoming air in the air channels.
A reflector is used which with the glass or globe forms the flame chamber.
The cap or cone of the burner may be made with double walls or with perforations
so that air may reach the flame after it has passed through the cap.
The chimney may consist of one tube or channel or may be made of two or more
tubes or channels terminating in the air way.
To obtain greater durability (for the wick does not last long under the great
heat evolved) I construct a burner having within it layers or rolls of fine wire
gauze or perforated metal the oil, in its passage through the strata of gauze, is
heated and finely divided as in a wick and burns either from small perforations or
directly from a surface of gauze.
Where the burner is below the level of the oil or the reservoir I use a tube, one
end of which is above the level of the oil and the other below it, the tube carries &
length of absorbent material which is partly in the oil and partly within the tube
the oil thus by capillary attraction ascends the absorbent material and descends
it by gravitation passing along the absorbent material, reaches the burner in
regular quantities after the manner of a syphon filter. The end of the absorbent
material in the oil may be attached to a float to better regulate the supply by
keeping its end continuously at the same distance from the end of the tube.
A cock with one, two or more small perforations in it or a screw valve may be
used to further regulate the supply. Thus whatever the level of the oil the supply
may be made regular and constant and there is no leakage into the globe or glass.
Plates of metal may be placed within the reservoir to prevent the rush of the oil to
one part when tilted or in the case of railway carriages when starting or stopping.

page_text: My invention will be understood by the annexed drawings in which at Figure 1
I show a sectional elevation of a suspension lamp such as to be used in buildings
or ships.
In Figure 1A is an annular reservoir, B is a joint for the purpose of securely
attaching the wick cases or burner, D a cylindrical cap or covering of the burner
having two narrow curved perforations or slots in it which are immediately below
the ends of the wicks.
E is the air way, channel or tube through which the air passes from the exterior
to the central or heating chamber.
F is the lower part of the chimney fitting closely on to the reflector forming a
chamber containing the central heating chamber and air channels leading thereto.
G is the chimney. H is the central or air heating chamber.
I is a trap or slide valve which is opened on first lighting the lamp to create
a draught.
J is a toothed wheel or pinion for the purpose of regulating the light.
K is the frame attaching the central parts of the lamp to the chain or suspender.
L is the reflector. M is the glass or globe.
The oil supply passes along the wick case C to the burner.
On lighting the lamp the flames ascend through the tap or valve I which is
opened, causing a current of air up the chimney G. I is then closed when the
flames immediately turn downwards and burn through the apertures or slots in D.
The air to supply the flame passes, as the arrows indicate, through perforations at
the entrance of the air ways or channels E into the central chamber H, it then
passes with the flame through the apertures in D the force of the current projecting
the flames downward into the globe or glass M. The heated air with the products
of combustion then ascends into F passing round and by the central chamber H
and its air channels E heating them in its passage to the chimney G. Thus the
heated ascending outgoing air in F is made to heat the incoming air in E and H
producing a more perfect combustion and an intenser light. The light is moreover
Air is also
a downward light throwing its rays downward without a shadow.
admitted to the lamp through perforations in the reflector L with the object of
checking the conduction of heat to the glass or globe M.
Figure 2 is a plan of the burner and heating chamber in Figure 1 in which the
Fame letters apply to the same details of construction.
The lamp is provided with two flat wicks but by placing three wicks at equal
distances apart the flame will be circular or nearly so.
There may be any number of wicks to the burner. The wicks may be of
asbestos or of ordinary material.
Figure 3 shows another form of suspended lamp in which the burner is below
the level of the reservoir and the supply of oil to the burner C is by the tube N
carrying a length of capillary absorbent material which is continued in the
tube P. Qis a screw cock or valve for the purpose of regulating the supply of
oil to the burner C which is annular. The air enters at the sides E to the heating
chamber H passes down the inverted cap D down the sides of and through the
centre of the burner C supplying the flame.
The burner C is packed with fine wire gauze and the flame proceeds from the
surface of gauze, the air that passes through the centre of the burner impinging on
the deflector or button O spreads the flame laterally outward as shown. The
products of combustion then heating the air ways E and central chamber H, ascends
the chamber F and chimney G.
The chamber F may be formed of two or more tubes E¹ E¹ (see Figure 7) to
convey the products of combustion to the chimney G in either form of lamp.
In Figure 4 also the burner is below the level of the reservoir and the oil is
conveyed downward to the burner by two or more wicks composed of asbestos
within tubes or casing to the burner C which is annular, and the button O deflects
the flame laterally as in Figure 2. Q is the screw cock or valve regulating the
supply. S are floats attached to the wick ends and pivotted on the end of the

page_text: tubes N for the purpose of keeping the wick ends at the same distance from the
tube ends whatever the level of the oil, and thus better regulating the supply
that syphons over to the burner by capillary attraction. T are connecting wires
attached to floats S for the purpose of lifting them at will from the oil to stop the
supply to the burner.
Figure 5 shows a bracket lamp having only one wick in which the heating
chamber H has but one air channel E. The reservoir rests on the bracket R from
which arms project to support the lamp.
Figure 6 shows the application of the single wick form of my invention to a
railway carriage roof lamp although either of them may be equally well applied to
this purpose and the reservoir A may be placed either outside the lamp or inside
the lamp as shown at Figure 7.
It will be observed that the flame or flames whether from the wick or gauze
burner lanp, always burn downwards by means of the downward current of heated
air obtained by the described construction.
The lamps are applicable for every purpose for which ordinary lamps are used
but particularly for railway carriage roof lamps and either of the lamps shown is
applicable for this purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In an oil lamp the construction as described and shown whereby the flame or
flames are projected downward or projected first downward and then laterally by a
deflector.
2. In an oil lamp with a downward flame the construction whereby the air for
the supply of the flame passes into the lamp above the flame and is thus heated
by it.
3. In an oil lamp the construction as shown in Figures 2 and 3 wherein the
burner is placed below the level of the reservoir, the oil ascending and then
descending by capillary attraction to reach the burner, and the means used as
shown for regulating the supply.
4. In an oil lamp the construction of the circular burners with deflector as shown
in Figures 2 and 3 respectively.
5. In an oil lamp the construction as in the drawings of Figures 1, 4 and 5.