IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS AND LAMP WICKS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Vasconcellos Houghton, of Grove House, West
Reading, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS AND LAMP WICKS."
-Partly a communication from abroad by David Eldon Hall, residing
at Brooklyn, New York, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 11th March 1864, and dated the 18th September 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Vasconcellos Houghton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th September 1863.
I, VASCONCELLOS HOUGHTON, of Grove House, West Reading, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS AND LAMP
WICKS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in lamps and lamp wicks,
and is applicable in constructing lamps and in making wicks which are more
particularly intended to be used when burning hydrocarbons. In order to
adjust and regulate the supply of air into the vessel containing the fluid to
be burned and above the surface of the fluid therein, a diaphragm is applied
at the upper part of such vessel below which there is an air passage or tube
through which air passes to and mixes with the vapours rising from the
hydrocarbon or burning fluid in the vessel, and such mixture rises up a tube
or passage which ascends near to the flame of the lamp and is consumed
Prine Rd1

page_text: thereby. The wick manufactured as hereafter described is placed within a
wick tube through which tube holes are formed in which the teeth of a wheel
pass. This wheel works through a slot in the burner tube and such wheel
is ou a suitable axis so that by turning the axis the wick tube and the wick
therein are raised or lowered through the burner tube. There is an apparatus
at the upper part of the burner for deflecting the air on to the flame on either
side. This apparatus consists of two bent plates one in each side of the
burner tube. These plates are placed on horizontal axes near the middle,
and each plate is formed with a hollow bend above and another such bend
below the axis, the hollows of the bends in the plates being towards the wick.
The axes of these plates are capable of being moved so as to adjust the
positions of the plates, and these plates are capable of being closed together
at their upper edges. Above the diaphragm above mentioned is a chamber
perforated with holes at the sides, but closed at top, excepting where the two
plates pass partly through an opening, the axes of the two plates being on
either side of the opening so that there is one bond of each plate within and
another bend without such chamber. The wick and wick tube also pass
through such opening and between the axes which carry the two bent plates;
hence the air entering the chamber as well as the vapour rising through the
diaphragm are received between the two bent plates, they rise between such
plates and are deflected by the upper bends of the plates on to the flame at
the upper end of the wick. When two wicks are used, edge to edge openings
are made in the wick tube and above such openings the wick tube is closed, by
which some of the air will pass into the wick tube and go off laterally as it
will be prevented rising directly upwards by the close part of the wick tube.
The lower end of the chimney is secured by springs or spring clips, and the
lower part of a globe, when used, is retained in position by spiral springs. In
making wicks for lamps wherein hydrocarbons are burned, each wick is at
its upper end where the hydrocarbon is inflamed composed of a mineral
substance which will not burn whilst the lower part of the wick which
descends into the fluid is composed of cotton or other fibrous substance
suitable for bringing up the fluid to the mineral upper wick. The mineral
portion of the wick is inserted in the upper part of the wick tube above
described, and the fibrous portion of the wick is introduced into the lower
part of such wick tube in such manner that the upper part of the fibrous
wick comes against the lower part of the mineral wick, by which the liquid
which rises up the fibrous portion of the wick passes from its upper end into
the lower end of the mineral wick, which is short, and in fact may be said to
form only the tip of the combined wick, and the teeth of the wheel which

page_text: passes into the wick tube and into the parts of the wick will retain them
together. The mineral portion of the wick is made in the following man-
ner: I take sulphate of lime, a solution of borax, alum, and phosphate of
ammonia, and mix them thoroughly together, using warm water to facilitate
the thorough mixing, after which it should be dried in an oven, and then
pulverized, and is ready for use. In making the mineral wick tip, I take a
proper quantity of said pulverized material and moisten it with a weak solution
of silicate of soda, or soluble glass until it attains the consistency of paste
or putty, and amianthus partially ground is mixed in with the mass, and then
the same is spread upon a table or formed into sheets of the desired size
and a layer of amianthus in threads is placed thereon,, and then the sheet
or strip is folded upon itself and pressed to the required thickness for the
mineral tip, and may then be cut off and formed up into the required size
and shape of the mineral wick tip. This mineral tip when used with petroleum
slightly effervesces when first employed, clay or any other suitable mineral
substance may be employed with the amianthus or similar mineral substance
to enclose the same and form the mineral tips, which tips are not injured
by the heat and serve as a protection to the wick, which by its capillary
attraction draws the material being burnt to the mineral tip. Lamps and
wicks may according to the above Invention be arranged to produce flat or
hollow flames, and when desired provision may be made for employing two or
more wicks whether of a cylindrical or other form. When using glass vessels
to contain the hydrocarbon or burning fluid the lower parts or bottoms of
such vessels are made with internal hollow or tubular projections which are
closed at their upper ends so as to admit of such vessels being supported
by upright supports passing into such hollow internal projections.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Vasconcellos Houghton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, VASCONCELLOS
HOUGHTON, of Grove House, West Reading, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sevently year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Vasconcellos Houghton, Her special licence that I, the said

page_text: Vasconcellos Houghton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Vasconcellos Houghton, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS AND LAMP WICKS," the result
partly of a communication from abroad made to me by David Eldon Hall,
a person resident at Brooklyn, New York, in the United States of America,
and partly of Invention and discovery made by myself, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Vasconcellos Houghton, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Vasconcellos Houghton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in lamps and lamp wicks,
and is applicable in constructing lamps and in making wicks which are more
particularly intended to be used when burning hydrocarbons. In order to
adjust and regulate the supply of air into the vessel containing the fluid to be
burned, and above the surface of the fluid therein, a diaphragm is applied at
the upper part of such vessel, below which there is an air passage or tube,
through which air passes to and mixes with the vapors rising from the hydro-
carbon or burning fluid in the vessel, and such mixture rises up a tube or
passage which ascends near to the flame of the lamp and is consumed thereby.
The wick,manufactured as hereafter described, is placed within a wick tube,
through which tube holes are formed, in which the teeth of a wheel pass.
This wheel works through a slot in the burner tube, and such wheel is on a
suitable axis, so that by turning the axis the wick tube and the wick therein
are raised or lowered through the burner tube. There is an apparatus at the
upper part of the burner for deflecting the air on to the flame on either
side. This apparatus consists of two bent plates, one on each side of the
burner tube. These plates are placed on horizontal axes near the middle, and
each plate is formed with a hollow bend above, and another such bend below
the axis, the hollows of the bends in the plates being towards the wick. The

page_text: axes of these plates are capable of being moved, so as to adjust the positions
of the plates, and these plates are capable of being closed together at their
upper edges. Above the diaphragm above mentioned is a chamber perforated
with holes at the sides, but closed at top, excepting where the two plates pass
partly through an opening, the axes of the two plates being on either side of
the opening, so that there is one bend of each plate within and another bend
without such chamber. The wick and wick tube also pass through such
opening and between the axes which carry the two hent plates, hence the air
entering the chamber as well as the vapor rising through the diaphragm, are
received between the two bent plates; they rise between such plates, and are
deflected by the upper bends of the plates on to the flame at the upper end of
the wick. When two wicks are used, edge to edge openings are made in the
wick tube, and above such openings the wick tube is closed, by which some of
the air will pass into the wick tube and go off laterally, as it will be pre-
vented rising directly upwards by the other close part of the wick tube. The
lower end of the chimney is secured by springs or spring clips, and the
lower part of a globe when used is retained in position by spiral springs.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the improved lamp; Figure 2 is a plan of
the burner; Figure 3 is a section at right angles to Figure 1; aud Figure 4
is an elevation of the wick tube detached from the burner. b is a collar
attached to the reservoir a. I prefer that the burner and collar be made in
one piece or attached permanently togetherand to the reservoir, and that said
reservoir be filled at a separate opening provided with a screw cap or other-
wise. c is a circular diaphragm in the collar b, and below the same a pipe d
is attached that allows 'air to pass into the reservoir from outside, and x is a
pipe opening through and rising above said diaphragm c, so that a circulation
of air can pass in this way, and convey to the flame any vapours that may be
generated in the lamp. is the perforated cylinder or cone of the burner;
and is a stationary pipe, attached to c, in which the wick tube g is placed.
The wick tube g is shown in Figure 4, and receives the ordinary wick in the
lower portion, and in the upper part I introduce sections of mineral tips, as
hereafter described. These mineral tip are shown at h, k, Figure 3. Between
these tips k is a mortice through the wick tube, as at i, and a piece of metal
closes the two sides and bottom of said mortice, leaving the top part thereof
open within the wick tube, and above this is a small deflector shown atj. The
air passes in at the sides of the morticei,and passes out into the middle of the
flame, as shown by the arrows, Figure 5, to promote the combustion of the oil

page_text: being consumed. The present lamp is especially adapted to burning coal oils,
and in order to adapt the position of the flame to the deflectors that direct the
air, I provide for adjusting said wick tube vertically by means of the ratchet
wheels h, h, actuated by a button (as usual), taking into perforations in the
said wick tube. These perforations not only secure an easy and durable
device for raising and lowering the wick, but also form vents for the escape of
any gases formed in the wick from the heat of the tube. In order to direct
the air upon the flame, I make use of the deflectors n, n, attached by the small
pins to e, e, and occupying the space between the fixed deflectors 7, 1. These
deflectors can be moved or swung on the pins (2), (2), so that the upper edges
come nearer to or farther from the base of the flame. When the flame is high
the deflectors 1, 7, should be nearer together at the top, which will increase the
width between the bottom of said deflectors, so as to receive and transmit to
the flame a greater quantity of air, and increase the velocity thereof, and if the
flame is low, these deflectors are to be spread wiler at the top, which by the
bottom parts will diminish the inlet of air, and hence a small flame will burn
steady instead of flickering in consequence of too great supply of air. In
order to secure the chimney 9, I provide the spring clips o, o, attached under
the plate y of the burner, and passing up with a curled end through slots in
said burner, so that the chimney can be either put in place or removed by
simply pressing the flange thereof down between said curved ends, or drawing
up from between them, said springs moving as the flange passes. To secure
the globe or shade z to this plate y I make use of the helical or coiled spring t,
the ends of which are attached together by winding over a small interior
helix v, as in Figure 5, and within this spring is a hoop of wire &, that hooks
beneath hooks r projecting from or secured to the plate y, and to enter said
shade z, the flange thereof has only to be pressed within this spring t, as in
Figure 1, or the same may be withdrawn by the reverse movement; said
spring cannot become detached in consequence of the hoop s, which in its
turn is held down by the hooks r. These devices for holding the chimney and
shade will not injure them as they expand and contract, because said springs o
andt yield. In Figure 2 only a part of the springt is shown, the dotted lines
indicating that it surrounds the burner and contracts upon the flange of the
globe. The deflectors n, n, may be moved by hand if desired, or a slotted
plate fitted to be moved up or down by any suitable means, and taking pins
projecting from the lower corners of these deflectors may be used if desired.
Figure 6 shows a vertical section of a bracket lamp, there being an internal
tube closed at its upper end to receive the pin of the bracket, as shown in
the Drawing.
it

page_text: In making wicks for lamps wherein hydrocarbons are burned each wick is,
at its upper end where the hydrocarbon is inflamed, composed of a mineral
substance which will not burn, whilst the lower part of the wick which
descends into the fluid is composed of cotton or other fibrous substance suitable
for bringing up the fluid to the mineral upper wick. The mineral portion of
the wick, which is about half an inch in length, is inserted in the upper part
of the wick tube above described, and the fibrous portion of the wick is
introduced into the lower part of such wick tube, in such manner that the
upper part of the fibrous wick comes against the lower part of the mineral
wick, by which the liquid which rises up the fibrous portion of the wick passes
from its upper end into the lower end of the mineral wick, which is short, and
in fact, may be said to form only the tip of the combined wick, and the teeth
of the wheel which passes into the wick tube and into the parts of the wick
will retain them together. The mineral portion of the wick is made in the
following mauner :-I take sulphate of lime, a solution of borax, alum, and
phosphate of ammonia, and mix them thoroughly together, using warm water
to facilitate the thorough mixing, after which it should be dried in an oven
and then pulverized, and is ready for use. In making the mineral wick tip
I take a proper quantity of said pulverized material and moisten it with a weak
solution of silicate of soda or soluble glass until it attains the consistency of
paste or putty, and'amianthus partially ground is mixed with the mass, and
theu the same is spread upon a table or formed into sheets of the desired size,
and a layer of amianthus in threads is placed thereon, and then the sheet or
strip is folded upon itself and pressed to the required thickness for the mineral
tip, and may then be cut off and formed up into the required size and shape
of the mineral wick tip. This mineral tip, when used with petroleum, slightly
effervesces when first employed. Clay or any other suitable mineral substance
may be employed with the amianthus or similar mineral substance to enclose
the same and form the mineral tips, which tips are not injured by the heat,
and serve as a protection to the wick, which by its capillary attraction draws
the material being burnt to the mineral tip. Lamps and wicks may according
to the above Invention be arranged to produce flat or hollow flames, and when
desired, provision may be made for employing two or more wicks, whether of
a cylindrical or other form. When using glass vessels to contain the hydro-
carbon or burning fluid, the lower parts or bottoms of such vessels are made
with internal hollow or tubular projections, which are closed at their upper
ends, so as to admit of such vessels being supported by upright supports passing
into such hollow internal projections.

page_text: What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-
First, the openings & and r for passing air through the reservoir, and con-
veying all vapors therefrom to the flame, so specified.
Second, I claim the adjustable wick tube g, provided with perforations
taking the teeth of the ratchet wheels h, h, and also allowing for the escape of
vapors from the wick tube, as set forth.
Third, I claim the deflectors n, n, set and moving on the centre pins 2, 2¸
and extending both above and below said pins 2, 2, for regulating the air
upplied to the flame, as specified.
Fourth, I claim the opening in the flat wick tube fitted as shown to supply
air to the middle of the flame, as specified.
Fifth, I claim the springs o, o, applied, as aforesaid, to hold the flange of
the chimney 2, as and for the purposes specified.
Sixth, I claim the contractile, helical, or coiled spring & in combination with
the hooks for attaching the shade or globe to the burner, as set forth.
Seventh, I claim the manufacture of mineral wick tips, as herein described.
And, eighth, I claim the manufacture of the oil or fluid vessels of lamps
with internal tube for receiving the upright pins of brackets, as shown in
Figure 6 of the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Vasconcellos Houghton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
VASCONCELLOS HOUGHTON. (L.S.)