Lamps.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 25th Jan.. 1889.
Complete Specification Accepted, 16th Mar.. 1889
of Oil Lamps.
I, ARCHIBALD HART, of Newtown of Pitcairns, Dunning, in the County of Perth,
North Britain, Minister of the Gospel do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in Appliances for cleaning or trimming
Lamp Wicks and has for its object to facilitate the said cleaning or trimming, to effect
it in a more perfect manner, and to prevent the charred or cut portions of the wick
falling down into the body of the Lamp as at present occurs, the char and cuttings
not only giving additional work in cleaning the Lamp, but also intercepting the proper
inlet of air for combustion.
In accordance with my improvements as adapted to circular wicks, the appliance
consists of a tray perfectly circular and formed with a central circular opening
corresponding in size to the wick tube or to the wick itself and over which the said
tray is placed.
In the manufacture of the said trays, the centre of the tray is formed with eight or
other convenient number of slits radiating from the centre of the tray to the extent
of diameter of the wick or wick tube over which the tray is to fit. The said slitting
produces a series of inverted V, shaped knife portions corresponding in number to
the number of radiating slits that were made and by bending the said portions- so
that they assume a vertical position a socket with eight or other number of cutting
or scraping edges is produced for scraping round the exterior of the wick by rotating
the tray. By bending the points of the knives or scrapers corresponding cutting or
scraping edges are provided for operating over the top of the wick.
The tray is preferably formed with a raised edge to confine the portions of char
or wick as they drop around and into the tray when actuating the cleaner.
In order to prevent any of the char and refuse falling into the centre of the wick
or burner, I may plug the same with a cork, or its equivalent, the said cork having a
cap or narrow projection to act as a stop.

page_text: In some cases the stopper may be in the form of a cylindrical ring for the purpose
of keeping the wick in shape when cleaning with the tray.
The cork stopper referred to above may also be used for the purpose of guiding
the scissors when trimming the wick. For this purpose I pivot a short arm of wire
or other material, upon which the scissors are caused to rest, a bend of the wire at
its free extremity controlling the position of the scissors when rotating the Lamp or
vice versa with regard to the scissors in the trimming operation.
As a modification of the said tray cleaner I may dispense with 'the formation of
horizontal scrapers for the top of the wick and as a simple form of cleaner I may
dispense altogether with scraping edges and form the centre of the tray as a solid
socket, the tray in this case acting as a receptacle only for the char and refuse when
trimming the Lamp with the Lamp Scissors.
The tray may be of tinned metal, or of any other suitable metal or material, but I
prefer that the cutting edges should be of steel.
For the purpose of adapting my improvements to Lamps having flat wicks I stamp
out or construct the centre of the tray, of a shape corresponding to the shape of the
wick or its flat tube. In this case the outer edge of the tray, forming the receptacle
for the char and refuse may be circular as before. In this application, the cleaner
acts for the same purpose as that of the cleaner of the first part of my said improve-
ments, in which a solid cylindrical socket is employed.
In the same way iny Improvements can be adapted to wicks and wick holders of all
shapes and by the employment of. two or more apertures, or sockets, in the tray, the
cleaner can be applied to Lamps having more than one wick.
•
For the purpose of steadying the Lamp and the tray cleaner during the cleaning
operation I may employ handles of wood or other material which in the case of a
Defries Lamp has a circular aperture at the extremity of the said handle piece to fit
over the cylindrical wick tube, and in the case of flat burners an aperture or apertures
of corresponding shape is or are formed at one extremity of the handle, piece for
the purpose of fitting over the flat wick tube or tubes; I may also make the steadying
handle with a prong piece to fit between the two flat tubes of the flat burner for the
purpose of steadying the Lamp and tray cleaner during the cleaning operation.
The wick cleaner for flat wicks may also be in the form of a simple circular metal.
dish and the top of the said dish may be convex in order to facilitate the trimming
of the wicks to the proper or ordinary convex shape.
In order however to obtain the required convexity for flat wicks I employ scissors
having their cutting blades curved to a concavity in a direction at right angles to the
direction of the cutting motion.
As a further modification in my appliances for trimming wicks, I may in the case
of circular burners, form the steadying handle for use with the cleaning trays, with a
plug piece to fit the wick tube and I pivot upon the said handle, upon a vertical axis,
and preferably in proximity with the plug portion, a blade of steel which can cut
over the wick in scissor cutting fashion, the said knife portion being operated by the
right hand while the under or steadying portion is held in the left hand.
Dated this 24th day of April 1888.

page_text: of Oil Lamps.
I, ARCHIBALD HART of Dean Cottage, Newtown of Pitcairns, Dunning, in the
County of Perth, North Britain, Minister of The Gospel, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to improvements in appliances for cleaning or trimming
lamp wicks, and has for its objects to facilitate the said cleaning or trimming, to
effect it in a more perfect manner, and to prevent the charred or cut portions of the
wick falling down into the body of the lamp, as at present occurs; the char and
cuttings not only giving additional work in cleaning the lamp but intercepting the
proper inlet of air for combustion.
In order that my Invention may be carried into effect and readily understood, 1
will describe it with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
In accordance with my improvements as adapted to circular wicks, my appliance
as shewn in plan, Figure 1 and sectional elevation Figure 1ª, sheet 1, consists of a
perfectly circular Tray A, formed with a central. circular opening B, corresponding
in size to the wick tube or to the wick itself, and which the said Tray encircles; the
said Tray having eight or any other convenient number of inverted V shaped knife
portions C, for cutting or scraping the wick; the said knife portions being formed
in the manufacture by having slits cut in centre of said Tray, corresponding to the
required number of knife portions radiating from the Trays centre to the extent of
the diameter of the wick or wick tube, which the Tray is intended to fit: The said
slitting produces the inverted V shaped knife portions, and by bending the said
portions upwards they form cutting or scraping edges, for scraping or cutting round
the exterior of the wick by rotating the said Tray, and by bending the points of
said scrapeis or cutters to the horizontal plane; corresponding cutting or scraping
edges are provided for operating on the top of the wick.
The Tray is preferably formed with a raised edge a to confine the portions of char
or wick as they drop around, and into the said Tray. In order to prevent any of
the char and refuse from falling into the centre of the wick or burner: I may plug
the same with a cork or stopper or its equivalent as shewn in plan Figure 2 and
elevation Figure 2ª, the said stopper D having a projecting edge to act as a stop and
also aid the trimmer, or in some cases the said stopper may have the addition of a
metal cap or of a cylindrical ring with a sharpened knife edge d, for the purpose of
keeping the wick in shape and assisting in the clean cutting of the wick: I may
also employ the said stopper for the purpose of guiding scissors for trimming the
wick if preferred: For this purpose I mount or pivot a short arm d¹ of wire or
other material, upon which the scissors are caused to rest, their proper position
when rotating being controlled by the free extremity of the said arm being bent
pwards.
As modifications of the Tray cleaner or trimmer, I may dispense with the said

page_text: cutting or scraping edges, and form-and-stamp out the centre of Tray as a "socket";
in this case the Tray will act as a receptacle for the char and refuse when trimming
the lamp with scissors; or I may form the Tray in two or more parts as shewn in
plan Figure 3, and elevation Figure 3ª, each part being part of a circle corresponding
to the kind of wick or burner used, the said parts E, E, being constructed with knife
portions and raised edges as already described with reference to Figs. 1 and 1ª as a
modification, and the intervening portions may be formed as continuously cutting.
edges, 32 degrees depressed from plane of knife portions and suitable breadth, and
joined together by means of a spring handle E', formed in an endless fashion; the
said handle part may be of a light solid steel rod wire or properly tempered flat
steel, so that on the said Tray parts being pressed against the wick or wick tube,
their action is similar to that of the circular Tray cutter, the stoppor or cork as
already described being also used in this case; or I may dispense with the Tray parts
and use a separate Tray as hereinbefore described, leaving only the cutting portions
attached by the spring handle.
As another modification of my Tray cleaner or Trimmer, I may use an appliance
as shewn in plan Figure 4, and sectional elevation Figure 4ª, the said Tray and
plug or stopper being formed in one piece F, having a number of openings f, all
forming parts of a circle (the joining parts or bridges having knife edges formed
upon them) for allowing the wick to reach the cutter or knife edge f, which in
this case I form on a separate piece f² so mounted on a spindle of said Tray and
stopper, as to revolve by means of a handle f³, having finger guard f, and so cut or
clean the char and refuse; the said char and refuse falling into the Tray.
I may make the said Trays and stoppers of tinned metal or of any other suitable
metal or material, but I prefer that the cutting edges should be of steel or other
hardened material or metal.
For the purpose of adapting my improvements to lamps having flat wicks, I
stamp out or construct the centre of the Tray-with cutting edges a, as shewn more
particularly in Figures 8, 8, & 9, 9", sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings, and
of a shape corresponding to the shape of the wick or its flat tube and in this way
my improvements can be adapted to wicks and wick holders of all shapes, and by
the employment of two or more slots in the Tray, the cleaner or Trimmer can be
applied to lamps having more than one wick.
For the purpose of steadying the lamp and the Tray cleaner or Trimmer, during
the cleaning or trimming operation, I may employ handles of wood or other material,
having apertures at their extremity to fit the wick or wicks, or wick tube or
tubes, which in the case of a circular wick, would have the said handles formed at
its one extremity with a circular aperture or ring with cutting edges, all made so as
to fit over the cylindrical wick tubes, and of course regulated by the size of wick, or
wick tube; and in the case of a flat wick, the said handle having a slot or slots
formed or mounted at its one extremity, the said slot or slots being made with
cutting edges, and all made so as to fit over the flat wick tube or tubes: may also
make the steadying handles with prong piece, jointed or pivotted with a nail or its
equivalent to the cutting edges and Tray, corresponding to the shape of wick, for
the purpose of steadying the lamp; receiving char and shaping the wick during the
cleaning or trimming operations.
Figures 5 and 5 are plan and elevation of a circular wick trimmer, having. its
central disc or Tray G separate, (which in this case is all the Tray that is required)
the said Tray acting as stopper with cutting edges, and having a small handle or
knob g for fitting or removing it; the said Trimmer taking the form of a pair of
scissors with curved blades, meeting face to face, though not allowed to touch, by means
of the two handles acting as a stop at g', the cutting edges being so formed as to corre-
spond with those on stoppers, disc or. tray; the said handles may be made entirely of
metal, either solid or hollow, or they may be sheathed with wood, bone, or any suitable
material; in all cases the whole appliances being made proportionate to the size of
wick intended to be trimmed by them and having spiral or other springs and catches
as hereinafter described with reference to Figures 8 and 8", when required.

page_text: Figures 6 and 6° are plan and part sectional elevation of my appliance as suited for
a circular wick, having Tray H, cutting edges, steadying handles J, and stopper K;
the said bandles (in this case) working the cutting edges.being here formed on tray
and stopper, and also in the shape of two curved blades L, L, (as shewn), or any other
convenient shape; working from the centre outwards centrifugally: The said handles
may be made of hollow metal-work (as shewn) or of solid metal, or sheathed with
wood, bone, or other suitable material having spiral or other springs M for bringing
the blades back to their normal position, after the cut has taken place, and the said
blades may be made so as to work on pins (as shewn) or both to work up on one pin,
or nail, and may be made either in one piece with the handle or may be joined by any
suitable means; or I may make the handles shorter, and with shoulders projecting on
each side of the pin or pins m, so as to enable me to dispense with the spiral springs,
as the pressing of said shoulders is found ample to bring the blades back ready for
the next cut.
As a modification of this arrangement, I may employ (as shewn in Figure 7) a
pair of cutting edges N. N, for cutting towards the centre with spring handle O, as
hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 3*; the Tray and stopper as
herein before described being used in conjunction with them; or I may so construct
them as to cut from the centre outwards, so that before cutting the blades are pressed
together by means of the spring handle, and allowed to expand themselves by the
spring being allowed to open out.
In accordance with my Invention the wick cleaners or trimmers for flat wicks may
also be in the form of a simple circular metal dish, and: the top of the said dish may
be convex, in order to facilitate the trimming of the wicks to the proper or ordinary
convex shape In order however to obtain the required convexity for flat wicks, I
employ scissors having their cutting blades curved to a concavity, having tray, stopper
and prong-piece attached thereto by means of any suitable arrangement, preferably by
a pin or pivot at the junction of the blades, as more particularly described and shewn
hereinafter with reference to Figs. 8, 8%, & 9, 92, though may so form the flat
wick trimmers as to fit any style. of burners, either with single or any number of
wicks.
Figures 8 and 8 are plan and elevation of my said improvements, as adapted for a
duplex flat wick burner, having Tray P or riding piece with cutting edges; Prong
piece p; cutting blades. Q, Q; steadying and operating handles R; all jointed or
pivotted by means of a bolt r or its equivalent; the said handles being shewn as
sheathed with wood, having the necessary spiral springs (for opening the blades
after the cut has taken place) fixed on to end of prong piece p, and also having the
necessary catch at extremity, for keeping the cutting edges closed when not in use, .
and thus preventing them getting damaged, though I may use any other equivalent
spring or catch, and I may make the handles either of metal solid or hollow or sheathed
with wood or other material, and of any required size or length; The said prong
piece p, having also the necessary stop p¹ on it for preventing the blades coming
together, as also two small arms p² for guiding the blades Q. This trimmer when
turned upside down is found to answer for trimming straight or circular wicks, and
may also be used for other purposes.
As a modification of the duplex flat wick, trimmer, I may so construct it as to have
the blades or cutting edges working from the inside towards the edges of wicks
having the necessary tray with. raised edge formed on outside of tray or riding
piece P, Figure 8.
Figs. 9, 9 show my improvements as adapted to a single flat wick burner, having
the necessary cutting edges S, S¹, with Tray T; Riding piece t and steadying
handles U, all working on the pivot s; In this instance I form the cutting edges, one
of them as a single blade S, and the other S¹ on the Riding piece or edge of slot in
same; the edge or side of said Riding piece not having cutting edge on, being preferably
made a little less in height than that of the side having the cutting edge on, so as to
allow the blade S play in reaching the cutting part S, and thus making a clean cut,
the char falling into the Tray T.

page_text: I may modify.any of. my improved trimmers by affixing or mounting in a sufficient
and suitable manner, a small bristle or hair brush for the purpose of cleaning the top
and other parts of burner.
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 :-
1st. The general arrangement and construction of circular Trimmers for cleaning
or trimming circular wicks of oil lamps, having trays, cutting edges, steadying
handles, and stoppers, or any of the various modifications of same, substantially as
hereinbefore described and shewn in sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
2nd. The general arrangement and construction of Trimmers, for cleaning or trim-
ming flat wicks of oil lamps, having trays, riding pieces, cutting edges, steadying
handles and stoppers, or any of the modifications of same, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn in sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
Dated th: 54th 1……. ^ L
1000