CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ARGAND AND OTHER LAMPS
Year: 1827

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, Joun
ROBERTS,, of Wood Street, in the City of London, Engineer, and GEORGE
UPTON, of Queen Street, Cheapside, in the City of London, Oil Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-fourth day of
November now last past, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said John Roberts and George Upton, His especial
licence that we, the said John Roberts and George Upton, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Roberts
and George Upton, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, our
Invention of CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ARGAND AND OTHER LAMPS;" in which
said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging us, or one of us,
by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, particularly to describe
and ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in His
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and
by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.

page_text: George Upton, do hereby declare that our Improvements in Argand and
other Lamps are fully described and ascertained as follows, that is to
say:
Our improvements consist,―
First, in the regulating the admission of the atmospheric air to the burners
of oil, spirit, and gas lamps; where chimney or outside glasses are used,
to obtain the best and most perfect combustion of the said oils, spirits, and
gases.
Secondly, in regulating the supply of oil to the burner, and in carrying and
keeping it so fully up to the wick, that it may come into direct contact with
the flame, and a part of it pass over unconsumed, and by which superabundant
supply of oil, the wick or cotton may be kept moist and prevented crusting,
as is usual where the common or inferior oils are burned in the Argand lamps
as they are at present constructed. By this superabundant supply the
burning of all oils is greatly improved, but when combined with the properly
regulating the admission of the atmospheric air, a brilliant flame may be
obtained from oils of an inferior quality; viz, seed and common fish oils in
lamps where sperm oil has in general only been burned.
Thirdly, by preserving from waste and conveying from the boiler the oil
that has passed the flame unconsumed, to a suitable receiver, and from thence
passing it conveniently and without emptying it out of the lamp, to its original
situation in the lamp, in order that it may be returned to the flame for use,
which is done whether the reservoir be in the base of the pedestal or above
the burner.
Fourthly, in the raising a supply of oil to the burner, when the reservoir
or cistern is below it, by a combined liquid and metallic pressure.
These improvements are fully described and ascertained by the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and the following description thereof (that is to say):
B, Fig. 1, is the improved Argand burner. The sides of the cistern are all of
equal heights (see L, L). The rim of the cotton regulator or glassholder
is raised about one sixteenth of an inch above them (see N, N, and 0, 0).
The advantage of this alteration is, that the oil cannot, as in the common
burners, where the outward rim is lower than the inner one, as in M, M,
escape without coming into direct contact with the flame. The rim of the
cotton regulator being raised above the edges of the burner cistern, not only
assists in keeping the flow of oil up to the flame, but helps to turn that which
is not consumed towards the inside of the burner tube on its way to the oil
cup (see section a, a 1). In other principles, this burner is the same as
.

page_text: those in general use, and is, like them, capable of being made in various
ornamental forms. A is the air regulator. It consists of two plates, one
working under the other; each plate has holes or spaces of the same size;
they are placed directly under the gallery or glassholder, but do not interfere
with its free action. The upper one is fixed to the burner tube; the under
one is moveable, and by its action opens or closes in part or wholly the holes
or spaces in the upper plate, so that the quantity of air admitted to the
outward circle of the Argand burner can be regulated as required for the
proper combustion of the ignitable matters. The plates are shewn separately,
the upper one b, b1, the under one b, b 2. A gas regulator on the same
principle is shewn at Figure 7. C is the cover of the upper part of the
cylinder and case. It lifts up when the oil is to be poured in, and is fastened
down by two pins passing into a groove, or it may be left loose at pleasure.
The oil may also be put in at the cup H, and pass down the pipe I, when the
cover C may be soldered to the top of the cylinder, so as to allow the quantity
of oil lying on the top of the disc of the piston to be encreased. D is a fixed
flooring, through the centre of which a piston rod a is allowed to pass freely.
It has openings to let the oil pass through to the disc or plate L, where it
remains till let through the valve to the lower chamber F, which is effected
by raising the piston rod.. E, the upper chamber.or space between the flooring
D and the dise or plate L. The extent of this space is increased or dimi-
nished by the quantity of oil contained in the lower chamber F, as will be seen
by comparing Fig. 1 and 2; Fig. 1 being supposed to be full of oil below
the valve, and Fig. 2 to be nearly empty. F is the lower chamber of the
cylinder which lies under the piston dise valve. It receives all that passes
from the upper chamber E through the valve O. The oil here is in direct
cominunication with the supply pipe,G, and is acted on by the oil lying,above
the disc and the weight N, and is propelled upwards through the supply
pipe G, to the burner tube B, G, to the supply, which rises from the lower
chamber F, and is connected by a screw or otherwise to the burner tube A.
It may either be carried outside the cylinder, as in Fig. 1, or passed up the
centre through the metallic weight N, the centre leather packing (shewn
h, h, d, d, Fig. 2), the disc L, the waste pipe I, and the piston rod X, to
the burner B, as in Fig. 2, and as partly also shewn in c, c, Fig. 2. His
the oil cup or receiver of the overflowing oil from the burner. It has a grating
at its bottom, to which the oil passes to the pipe I.. I is a pipe connected
with the oil cup to convey the overflowing oil to the dise, to be passed through
the valve O to the lower chamber F. This pipe may be distinct from the
supply pipe, as in Fig. 1, or it may form a covering to it, as in Fig. 2. In

page_text: both cases it has holes at the bottom to let the oil through. K is the leather
packing which surrounds the disc L; it is firmly held between the upper
and lower plates of the disc, which are screwed together; L is the metallic
disc or plate of the piston rod; it should nearly fit the cylinder; it is circular
and is composed of two parts screwed together (see L 1, L2, L 3), holding
the leather packing between them. The outward edges are surrounded with
leather or other flexible material to make it oil-tight. It must also have
leather or other proper packing, protected by a screw or other means, to
secure an opening in its center when the supply pipe, as in Fig. 2, is carried
through it, as shewn in d, d, Fig. 2, h, h. It may be connected with the
piston rod, by a small ball inserted in a socket, so that it may move in any
way, or screwed to it, as in Fig. 2, d, d. It has holes or spaces on its surface to
let the oil pass through to the under plate; and a valve O, which opens down-
wards, and lets the contents of the upper chamber E pass to the lower chamber
F. M is a rim of metal which connects the rim of the lower piston disc with
the weight N, shewed in Fig. 1. It may be screwed, as in Fig 2, or otherwiso
fastened to each; it surrounds the valve in Fig. 1; it has holes round it to let
the oil through. N is a metallic weight connected with the disc L, with the
rim M, Fig. 1, or by a screw d, d, Fig. 2; O is the valve of the disc, which
is allowed to open a small way downwards, when the piston rod X is raised,
and is closed by the under pressure when the piston rod is left to itself. It
is composed of leather, or may be made of any flexible material proper for the
purpose, shewn in e, e; it is shut in Fig. 1, and open in Figure 2; Y is the
outside or ornamental case; Z is the gallery or glassholder; P is an outside
case to the burner tube, to prevent the oil which overflows being seen
outside the burner; the cup in Fig. 1 screws on it at the bottom, and in
Fig. 2 it rests inside the cup. If thought not necessary, it can be omitted.
Q is the cock to regulate the supply of oil to the burner. It may be placed
in any part of the oil pipe where it may be found most convenient or orná-
mental; see Fig. 1 and 2. The opening in it may be either a hole through the
stopper, or an aperture made at one side. R is a pipe or pillar, as in Fig. 1,
to help support the burner tube, and for ornament; S screws in sockets or
plates to fasten the pillar R on one side the flooring D, and to connect that
part of the supply pipe G above the flooring to that which runs from the
lower part of the cylinder, and passes through its side directly over and on
the flooring, as shewn in Fig. 1. These pipes or pillars may also be fastened
by a union joint. T is a plate with a hole in it soldered to the flooring D,
and lying under the screw plate S, which connects the upper and lower parts
of the supply pipe together; it has a leather packing to prevent leakage.

page_text: V is a circular hole or screw to let out any impure matter that may be
deposited in the lower chamber, which may be used or not. X is the piston
rod; it rises from the disc, to which it is connected by a screw or ball
and socket, or other means; it has holes in its side near the bottom; it passes
over, as in Fig. 1 and 2, the pipe which conveys the waste oil from the cup;
it has two studs or handles a, a, Fig. 2, which serve to raise it. A ring may
be put to facilitate the raising of it, or it may be raised by a windlass and
chain, as in Fig. 3, a, a 3, or by pullies or other mechanical powers well
understood. U is a perfect metallic cylinder tinned inside, and forms the
case of the lamp in Fig. 1, and also seen in Fig. 2; it extends from the
circular hole to the cover C, shewn in Fig. 2 above the disc; it supports the
oil that forms the liquid pressure below; it contains the weight or metallic
pressure, and the oil to supply the burner. The liquid pressure, during the
action of the metallic power, is increased by the oil which passes unconsumed
from the burner. It may be considerably increased in its dimensions, but
any reduction in its size must be governed by its having to contain, in addition
to the necessary machinery before described, the oil to supply the flame for
d, d 2, is a piston rod
the length of time the lamp is required to burn.
through the supply pipe passes a screw, shews where it is connected with the
disc and weight; e, e, is a piston rod, which shews how it and the disc are
connected by a ball and sockett; f. f, is a section of the weight n; an
This is
aperture is made through the weight for the supply pipe to pass.
surrounded by leather packing h, h, to prevent the oil rising through it from
the under chamber, which packing is held and secured under the screw a that
connects the disc and weight together. g, g, is a socket fixed to the bottom
of the cylinder, with holes to which the supply pipe is screwed; shewn in the
cylinder V, Fig. 2, G, G; this also shews the opening at the bottom; c, c, is
a section of the supply pipe, shewing how it passes through the cup, and is
This section also shews that, it is
attached to the burner by the screw.
covered by the pipe that carries off the waste or unconsumed oil that has
passed from the burner, which pipe is also covered by the piston rod which
is raised to its greatest height when the lower chamber is full of oil. Note,
these lamps are capable of possessing all the variety of form common to pillar
lamps, where the oil to supply the burner is contained in a vessel of a cylin-
drical form, in or near the base of the pillar. To charge or fill the lamp, the
oil should be poured in above the flooring, either by lifting up the cap when
that is loose, or pouring it in at the oil cup; when sufficient oil is poured in,
the piston rod should be gently raised, by which means, the lower chamber

page_text: If too
will be quite full. The piston rod should then be left to its own action, and
when the lanip is to be lighted the cock should be turned on; this last
operation may be done a few minutes before the lamp is wanted.
great a supply of oil should be passed to the flame, it may be restrained by
the cock. A valve, as in Fig. 5, may be attached; to give notice when it is
full of oil, to prevent its running over; see H, Fig: 5:
Fig. 4 is a lamp made to receive a ribbon or flat wick, and has no inner
current of air. The air is admitted through the regulators to the outside
of the flame, and passes to it between two caps or inverted metal dishes with
apertures in their centers. The wick rises through the under one, and the
flame only is allowed to pass through the upper one. The effect is, that the
air allowed to pass through the regulators comes in direct contact with the
flame, as it must pass between the space left between the upper and under
dishes, and can only escape with the flame through the aperture in the upper
ole. This burner and apparatus may be applied to all lamps with flat wicks.
The oil flows to it in the usual manner, and it may receive a chimney glass
of the commion kind. A, the outward case; B, the circular air regulators, as
seen in 6, 61, and b, b 2, in Fig. 1; C, the rim over which the under dish D
is placed; E is the upper dish which conducts the air to the flame, and is
placed over the smaller dish D; F is the cotton holder, which is a metal case
with (G) an aperture to allow the oil to flow to tlie wick, and another (II)
near the top to allow the wick regulator I to act on it. It has also to wires
n to prevent its slipping down the case . k is a case through which the oil
flows at L to the inner case F; it has also a square projection to receive the
prong of the cotton regulator I.
Description of Fig. 5.-A is a vase or globe above the burner containing
oil to supply the flame; D is a space in the pillar through which the oil
passes to the burner from the globe or vase; C is a cock to regulate the
supply of oil to the burner; B is the burner tube, made the same as
Fig. 2, with air regulators; oil cup, grating, and otlier necessary appendages;
F is the ornamental mouth of a pipe which receives the overflowing oil
from the cup and conveys it to the upper chamber, from whence it passes
through the valve H to the lower chamber I; there is a communication with
the vase A by a pipe L. By the action of the pump K the oil collected in
the lower chamber I can at any time be returned or carried to the vase A.
The handle of the pump. rises out of the base so that it can be conveniently
worked; it may be ornamented in any way: H is a valve which is always open,
unless the lower chamber is filled with oil, when it rises and carries the rod Q

page_text: through, by which notice is given that the lower chamber or reservoir is full.
The valve H has a cork bottom or other light material that will cause it to
rise; this valve may be applied to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, if desired. P is a valve
with an air hole through its top, and is on the same principle; it is made of
cork or any other light material to float when the ball is filled either from the
top through the aperture or from the reservoir by the pump. They have both
leather on their tops, and the one that acts in the vase rests on wires so as not
to stop the aperture when oil is to be poured in; this also prevents any oil
being forced over by the pump. The pump K is made after the usual
methods of pumps, and may be varied according to the form of the cylinder.
A separate Drawing is given of the pump valve, see M; also of the vase
valves, see R and P. S is the flooring over which the oil flows to the burner
tube from the vase A. This lamp can have any number of burners attached
to it.
Description of Fig. 6 and 8.-A is a vase or circular rim above the burner
containing oil; C is the cock to regulate the supply of oil to the burner;
B is the burner tube, same as in Fig. 2, with gallery regulators, although not
shewn in these Drawings; D is a pipe to carry the oil from the rim to the
burner; E is pipe which screws on to the mouth of the pump pipe to conduct
the oil from the lower chamber or reservoir to the rim; H is the oil cup with
grating to let the overflowing oil pass to the reservoir; I is the part of the
pump pipe into which the pipe E is screwed. The pipe coming from the
pump must be sufficiently secured by braces to enable it to support the
weight brought on it by E. Fig. 8 is the same, except the cock to regulato
it is placed nearer the rim, and the supply enters above the screw. P is the
valve, the same as described in R, P, Fig. 5. H, H, is the oil cup shewn in
Fig. 6 and not in Fig. 8; it is only attached to the vase and burner when the
pipe E is screwed into it. Fig. 6 and 8 are filled at the valve P. Fig. 7 is
a conic circle formed of two plates with holes in each, and working one within
another, producing the same effect as the plates b, b1, and b, b 2; it has an
aperture in the centre to fit on to the gas burner, and also forms the gallery
or glassholder.
.
Fig. 9. This lamp or lanthorn only receives air directly through the
bottom of the oil vessel; the air is thus brought into immediate contact with
the flame; and further, with more certainty to effect that purpose, a circular
plate, having an aperture in its centre to receive the wick, is shut down upon
the opening through which the air comes to the flame. This circular plate is
shewn in the section, letter A, as lifted up on its hinge on the occasion of

page_text: trimming the wick. The oil vessel is moveable and can be taken out; it passes
through a groove, by which means the external air is better excluded. It is
(as before stated) intended that no air shall be received but at the bottom,
by which the brilliancy of the flame is greatly increased, and the smoking
prevented; and to secure this lamp from being blown out by any violent gust
of wind, a swinging tube of leather or other flexible substance with holes at
the bottom, with rings to keep it extended so that the air may never be
entirely excluded, is attached. The beneficial effect of this plan is, that the
flame cannot be put out, as the mouth of the leather pipe will always be
opposite to the part from whence the wind blows; and for further security the
top of the air pipe which enters the lamp has a plate of metal raised about
a quarter an inch above its mouth, that the air received through it may be
properly diffused. When used for lighting lobbies, passages, or against houses,
the air pipe may receive its supply from a box or other place protected from
sudden or violent gusts of wind. The top part shewn in the section is made
on the principle of the snioke jack to carry off the heated air, and also to
prevent gusts of wind from entering above the flame; it is surrounded by a
case full of holes, which is so acted on by the wind as to always turn the
opening of the ventilator from it.
Description of Fig. 9.-A, the plate through which the flame passes, and
which brings the air into contact with it; B, the oil vessel having a space
round to let the air rise to the flame, the part which holds the wick being con-
nected with it by a pipe to receive oil to supply the wick, the air consequently
circulates freely below the flame, and is brought into close contact with it by
the plate A; C is the pipe up which the air rises; D is a leather bose screwed
on to the mouth of the pipe to prevent any violent gust of wind entering to
extinguish or disturb the flame; it is of sufficient length to give it play. It has
also rings to prevent its closing and entirely shutting off the air when
violently acted on. E is the metallic top.full of holes to let the heated air
pass out; F is a fly which works on a spindle, the top and bottom being
shewn in G and II, G the top and H the bottom; I is a plate to regulate the
air on a flat wick.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Upton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of May, One thousand eight
hundred and twenty-eight.
GEORGE (L.s.) UPTON.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Twenty-fourth day of
May, in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid George Upton came before
our Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year above written..