IMPROVEMENTS IN SPIRIT LAMPS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel King, of Edwards Street, Portman 'Square,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SPIRIT LAMPS."
Sealed the 26th June 1860, and dated the 29th December 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel King at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
December 1859.
I, SAMUEL KING, of Edwards Street, Portman Square, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SPIRIT LAMPS," to be as follows:-
1stly, in an improved method of making the wings for adjusting the wind
guard, by making them open or perforated, and fixed vertically upon the outer
tube, and not upon the wind guard, as heretofore..
2ndly, a new mode of supporting the button for spreading the flame, which
is accomplished in the following manner:A small tube, the interior diameter
of which is sufficiently large to allow of the introduction of the button rod, is
securely fixed to the bottom plate which supports the interior and exterior
tubes. The tubular form of the button holder gives sufficient strength without
the usual support, and at the same time an uninterrupted passage is left for
the air..
3rdly, in perforating the outer part of the bottom plate which supports the
wind guard, to give greater facility in keeping up the supply of air.
4thly, forming a passage for the air at each side of the external tube iu an
elliptical form, for introducing or leading it into the inner tube and interior of
the flame. By this means a through draft is obtained, and the increase of
passage for the air tends to keep the lamp cool, and to bring cold air in contact
with the flame.

page_text: 5thly, in making the wick or cotton in a peculiar form, which is similar
externally to the form of breeches having two distinct legs, which pass through
the lower extremity of the cotton holder, thence into the spirit. The chief
advantage of this arrangement is, that the division of the wick permits of the
free ascension of the spirit.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel King in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th June 1860.
-
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
KING, of Edwards Street, Portman Square, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Samuel King, Her special licence that I, the said
Samuel King, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Samuel King, 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 Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SPIRIT LAMPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Samuel King, 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 naturo of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel King, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is, to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention of improvements in spirit lamps consists, firstly, in an
improved method of making the wings for adjusting, the wind guard by
making them open or perforated, and fixed vertically upon the outer, tube,

page_text: and not upon the wind guard, as heretofore. The top of the wind guard to
be made in the shape of a frustrum of a cone, instead of dome-shaped. By
these means the combustion is more perfect, as the air passes more freely into
the flame.
Secondly, a new mode of supporting the button for, spreading the flame
which I accomplish in the following manner :-A small tube, the interior
diameter of which is sufficiently large to allow of the introduction of the
button rod is securely fixed to the bottom plate which supports the interior
and exterior tubes. The tubular form of the button holder gives sufficient.
strength without the usual support, and at the same time an uninterrupted
passage is left for the passage of the air. The manufacture of these button
holders is also much facilitated thereby, as any button will suit any lamp of
the same size, whereas before each button had to be fitted to its particular
lamp; and in any case where it was lost or damaged the lamp had to bo
returned to the manufacturer to be fitted with a new one. The tube is made.
of brass, and is consequently not liable to corrosion, and being securely
fastened at the base, it is difficult to get it out of centre..
.
Thirdly, in perforating the outer part of the bottom plate which supports
the wind guard, to give greater facility in keeping up the supply of, air. . The
interior tube of the nozzle is made larger at the bottom than the top, the
upper part being made straight down for about half an inch, when the
diameter is gradually increased. This is for the purpose of admitting a larger
ámount of cold air to the insterstices of the cotton, which makes the spirit rise
more freely, and prevents any resinous deposit. However, should any resinous
deposit come to the top of the nozzle, it will fall down to the bottom of the
perpendicular sides, or low enough not to interfere with the brightness of the
flame.
Fourthly, forming a passage for the air at each side of the external tube in
an elliptical form, for introducing or leading it into the inner tube and interior
of the flame. By this meaus a through draft is obtained, and the increase of
passage for the air tends to keep the air cool, and to bring cold air in contact
with the flame. The rack pinion is at the base of the burner, the spindle of the
same passing through the wood non-conductor; it is thus kept always cool, and
having a longer bearing, the strength and solidity of the pinion spindle is much
increased. In ordinary lamps the spindle often gets very hot, and the bearing
being only the thin metal of the tubes, they often break off and become stiff
by the expansion of the metal by heat. Also by my improvement the spindle
does not interfere with the wind guard, whereas in ordinary lamps provision
has to be made for the same, and part of it cut away to allow it to be placed.

page_text: Fifthly, in making the wick or cotton of a peculiar form, which is similar
externally to the form of breeches, having two distinct legs which pass through
the lower extremity of the cotton holder, thence into the spirit. The chief
advantage of this arrangement is, that the division of the wick permits of the
free ascension of the spirit. The cotton holder is made of brass instead of tin,
as previously, and is made to fit the interior tube exactly without being.
divided at the top to fit by the spring of the metal.
And in order that my 'Invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to
describe the Drawings accompanying and forming part of this Specification, in
which like parts are indicated by the same letters of reference.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a lamp, in which A is the reservoir for the
spirit, and B part of the pillar or stern supporting the lamp. The burner or
ipper part is fixed on, to the top of the reservoir by the top mount or collar D,
which is cemented thereto. G is the button or handle of rack pinion, by
turning which to the right or left we can respectively raise or lower the wick.
The spindle of the rack pinion passes through the wood non-conductor F.
The gallery supports the globe or shade. The wind guard C supports the
chimney at H, and the upper part is made in a conical shape, by which means
the air is brought directly to the flame: The whole of the lower part of the
wind guard is perforated to admit as much air as possible. Fig. 2 represents
an elevation of the upper part or burner of a lamp with the wind guard and
chimney removed; Fig. 3 is a plan of the same; and Fig. 4, an elevation of
the burner with the nozzle removed, and the gallery which carries the globe
or shade cut away, to shew the interior arrangement more plainly. To the
outer tubo U (see Fig. 4,) are attached the wings P, P, P, which are per-
forated, or may be made of brass wire, as shewn in the Drawing. The wings
serve to adjust the wind guard, and keep it concentric with the centre of the
lamp, and being made in the manner described, offer no obstruction to the
passage of the air to the flame. In Fig. 2, N is the button for spreading the
flame; this button is supported by a tube R placed in the centre of the inner
tube, and passes through a boss fixed on the bottom plate, which gives it great
firmness and stability, and both being made of brass, they are not liable to
corrosion, and consequently no difficulty is experienced in putting the stem of
the button holder into the tube through the corrosion of the metals. To give
additional strength to the tube a bar of steel or other metal is driven in at
the bottom about the length of an inch and a half, or thereabouts. The
bottom plate D may be perforated for the admission of a further supply of air

page_text: and also a passage or aperture similar to that marked O may be made at each
side of the air tube U, for the same object. The interior tube of the nozzle M,
of which a section is shewn in Fig. 6, is slightly enlarged at the bottom, to
allow the air to pass to the instertices of the cotton wick. The upper part of
the said tube being straight, any resinous deposit which may get to the top
having no place to lodge upon at the top must fall down outside away from
the flame. To give a larger space for the admission of the air, the outside
curtain of the nozzle may be dispensed with, and a nozzle used similar to the
one shewn in Fig. 8. The rack pinion for raising and lowering the wick
holder is placed in the wood non-conductor F, which being thicker than any
other part, gives a better and firmer bearing to the spindle, and the non-
conductor keeps it cool and not liable to get stiff by the expansion of the
metal. Also in this position it does not interfere with the wind guard C.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of the cotton holder, which is made of brass, and fits
over the inner tube T, as shewn in Fig. 4. When air openings or apertures
are made at each side of the tube U, as herein-before mentioned, the cotton
holder is made in the form shewn in Fig. 7, with a leg at each side, through
which the cotton passes to the spiral reservoir below.
Having described and ascertained the nature of my Invention, and the
manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise arrangements herein described and
shewn, as the same may be varied without departing from the Invention; but
what I claim and desire to secure under the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the several improvements in spirit lamps, substantially as
herein-before described and shewn by the accompanying Drawings, or any
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel King, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
JOSEPH WILLCOCK,
Patent Agent & Consulting Engineer,
89, Chancery Lane, London.
SAMUEL KING. (L.S.)