IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR USE IN TRIMMING LAMP-WICKS
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I ABRAHAM MARTIN, Engineer care of A. M. and W. Clark 53 Chancery Lane
London, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR USE IN TRIMMING LAMP-WICKS," and in what manner the saine is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My Invention relates to an improved contrivance for use in trimming lamp wicks
whereby the employment of scissors or any other instrument for cutting the wick
is avoided.
In trimming lamp wicks it is undesirable to remove more than the crusted and
thoroughly carbonised portions of the wick and when scissors are used one is apt
to cut off the portion of the wick which is only partially carbonised and to trim
the wick unevenly; the consequence being that the lamp is more difficult to light
and does not burn so well as when this partially carbonised portion of the wick is
allowed to remain. For this reason it is better to pinch off the carbonised and
crusted portions with the fingers rather than to cut the wick, but this operation is
uncleanly and cannot be easily done without leaving a jagged edge to the wick
which causes the lamp to smoke, and without allowing some of the debris to fall
into and foul the wick tube and other parts of the burner which is very objectionable
by reason of the smell thereby emitted when the lamp is burning.
My Invention has for its object to provide a means whereby the thoroughly.
carbonised and crusted portions only of the wick will be removed leaving the
partially carbonised portion with a clean, sharp, and level edge which will facilitate
the relighting of the lamp, this contrivance also preventing the accumulation of
the debris about the burner.
My Invention consists essentially of a gauge formed of a striking edge or edges
against which the carbonised portion of the wick may be pressed and be thereby
cut or swept off level, the same being arranged to fit temporarily on the burner
combined with a tray to catch the debris.
In order that my Invention may be more readily understood I have illustrated
in the annexed Drawings forming part of this Specification various forms or
modifications of which my Invention is susceptible and I will proceed to describe
the same with reference thereto.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of my contrivance adapted for lamps,
such as that described in a former Patent granted to me and dated Jan. 28th 1884

page_text: .
No 2270 in which two flat wicks together form one circular wick, or for use with
the ordinary duplex flat wick. Figure 2 is a plan of the same. Figure 3 is n
vertical section of the same. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the form of
the contrivance suited for a tubular or annular wick. Figure 5 is a cross section
and Figure 6 a plan of the same. Figure 7 is a cross section and Figure 8 a plan
showing a modification of the last arrangement, provided with a central tray to
prevent the debris falling into the interior of the wick tube. This is the preferred
arrangement and it may be used in two ways as hereafter described.
Referring to the arrangement shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 as intended for use with
a burner such as described in my said former Patent a is a tube fitting on the outer
tube of the wick case. It is struck up or otherwise formed with a circumferential
tray b having a turned up rim to catch the debris. The tube a is gradually
flattened at the upper part, the upper orifice corresponding in length and width
to the width and thickness of the wick. When applied to a lamp having two flat
wicks forming one circular one, each wick is separately raised until its carbonised.
portion projects just sufficiently above the rectangular mouth of the tube a. The
projecting carbonised portion may then be readily rubbed off with a piece of paper
_or a small brush and will fall into the tray b. The sharp straight edges o at the
-mouth of the tube a against which-the-carbonised portion is pressed or struck off
ensure the wick being trimmed level-and-without any jagged edges.
Referring to Figure 4 the tube a is quite short, being only an upwardly turned-
flange around the central orifice of the tray b. It fits upon the wick tube as before
and the wick is trimmed. by being pressed or struck off against the edges c.
Figure-7-is a similar contrivance but with a central tray d. This is of cupped
form and it stops the central passage through-the-wick tube so as to prevent the
debris falling therein. The upwardly turned edges.d and the edges c of the tube a
act in the same way as the opposite edges of the first arrangement-described. This
central part or tray d is joined-to-the-tube or flange a (which fits outside the wick
tube or case as before described) by an arched or bent strip e-and-in-trimining-the
wick in the manner before described, the contrivance is turned partly round on
the wick tube when one part of the wick has been trimmed, so that the part which
was covered by the arched connecting strip e may be trimmed also. Or instead
of trimming the wick by striking off the carbonised portion in the manner above
described, the edges ffi of the bent strip e may be sharpened and act as cutters
by rotating the whole contrivance on the wick tube, the leading edge for f¹
shearing off the carbonised portion of the wick which falls into the trays b and d.
The apparatus is made of sheet brass or other metal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of any said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
The respective constructions and forms of appliances for use in trimming lamp
wicks in the manner herein specified, substantially as herein described and
represented in the respective Figures of the Drawings.
AL AT 10DA