Year: 1888

page_text: I, ROBERT DAVY BOWMAN, of No. 70, Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, in the County
of Surrey, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improved automatic regulators for controlling the quantity
of combustible flowing down the supply tubes of that type of liquid hydrocarbon
lamps in which the combustible flows down the supply tube by gravity, and then rises
therein towards the burner; and has more particular reference to means by which
the surface of the liquid in a reservoir shall be always kept at the same level as the
top of the burner, so that the flame shall neither burn low in consequence of a short
supply, nor be lessened by an excessive one.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide an intermediate reservoir into which
the combustible is led at or near the bottom, and from which the supply tube to the
burner is taken.
The mouth of the pipe through which the combustible flows into the reservoir is
controlled by a valve.
I provide an electro magnet, the armature of which is linked to the said valve, so
that when the magnet is excited the valve shall be moved off its seat. The armature
may be pivotted to the reservoir, or be provided with any suitable guide. It is
provided with a suitable returning spring; and, if necessary, a slight spring pressure
may be applied to the valve to keep it in its proper plane of motion.
I provide a float at the end of a metal arm pivotted to the reservoir.
The arm of
this float is coupled to one of the leads. The other lead is coupled to a contact
supported immediately under the said arm, preferably by being fixed to the reservoir
side. Either the arm of the float, or the contact, is insulated from the reservoir, (if
the latter be metal).

page_text: The operation of my invention is as follows.
The float is adjusted so as to keep its arm clear of the contact so long as the proper
level of the combustible in the cistern is maintained.
As soon as this drops, the arm of the float makes contact and completes the circuit,
with the result that the valve is moved from its seat and fresh combustible will flow 5
into the cistern until the elevation of the float to its normal level breaks the circuit.
Dated this 27th day of March 1888.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Automatic Regulator for the Supply]Tubes of Liquid
Hydrocarbon Lamps.
I, ROBERT DAVY. BOWMAN, of No. 80, Lordship Lane, in the County of Surrey,
Electrician, 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 :-
My invention relates to improved automatic regulators for controlling the quantity
of combustible flowing down the supply tube of that type of liquid hydrocarbon
lamps in which the combustible flows down the supply tube by gravity, and then rises
therein to the burner; and has more particular reference to means by which the
surface of the liquid in a reservoir shall be always kept at the same level as the top of
the burner, so that the flame shall neither burn low in consequence of a short supply
of combustible, nor be lessened by an excessive one.
In order that my invention, and the means by which the same is to be carried into
practical effect, may be thoroughly understood, I will proceed to describe it in detail,
making reference to the accompanying drawing which is to be taken as part of this
specification and read therewith.
A is the cistern; and B, the pipe through which the combustible flows thereinto.
C is the supply pipe to the burner. D is a slide valve having its seat d formed upon
the mouth of the tube B. A port d' is formed in this seat, through which the
combustible enters the cistern. E is a spring adapted to keep the valve down upon
its seat. F is a lever pivotted at f, and having the valve 1 connected to it by a
link f. G is an electro-magnet fixed at any convenient level in the cistern.
armature is fast on the lever F. A suitable returning spring or equivalent device is
provided for closing the port d'.
Its

page_text: G¹ is a ball, or float, having its stem g insulated from the cistern.
adjustable contact likewise insulated from the cistern.
H is an
One of the leads is connected to the ball-stem 9 and the other to the contact H.
The said contact is adjusted, so that when the flow of combustible through the
port d' is equal to the consumption at the burner, the stem shall be just out of contact.
Consequently, if the consumption be suddenly increased, the level of the combustible
in the cistern will as suddenly fall, and the electric circuit be closed; whereupon the
port d' will be opened, the supply to the cistern increased, and a balance effected
between that and the consumption.
I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the relative
positions of the various parts of the regulator, but may vary them so long as the
relative functions as above described are maintained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In combination with the supply pipe to a gravity-feed lamp, a ball or float provided
with an electric contact and adapted to close an electric circuit when the consumption
at the burner rises and to thereby admit more combustible into the cistern, and to
break the said circuit when the consumption at the burner falls thereby closing the
supply pipe to the said cistern, as set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1888.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.