Improvements in Oil Lamps.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Oil Lamps.
We, JOHN DENNIS YOUNG, of Taw Vale Parade, Barnstaple, in the County of
Devon, Metal Merchant, and HENRY BURGESS YOUNG, of 36, Dudley Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction and arrangement of single and duplex
wick oil lamps, and its object is primarily to provide an improved adaptation and
arrangement of a combined spring and gravitating action for the automatic
extinguishing of such lamps; to provide an improved method in duplex lamps of
connecting the one sliding shutter box to the other also of connecting the shutter
box or boxes to the operating lever; to provide means for keeping the shutters full
open during their forward (extinguishing) motion, until they reach a certain point
in their travel, also to provide improvements in the air inlets or perforations in the
burner body; to provide a buffer cushion upon the burner body to receive the fall
of the gallery &c., also to, provide a sustaining device in combination with the
gallery raising mechanism; also to provide a locking arrangement for securing the
burner to the ring upon the oil container.
Some of these improvements are based upon and improvements of, an invention
for which Letters Patent have been granted to the aforesaid John Dennis Young,
bearing date February 11th, 1889, and numbered 2391.
Upon the exterior of the burner body a hinge or fulcrum joint is formed of a
considerable width, that is to say, generally of a width about half of the width of
the wick tube, nevertheless this width may be made more or less. The object of making
this joint as wide as permissible, being, to prevent the lower canting or touching
the wick tube, when tilted sideways. A double arm or frame lever is now provided
to work upon this joint, which passes from the said joint upon its one side inwards
through the interior and around the wick tubes, and again outwards, passing the
fulcrum joint again at its other side, and to which it is again connected, making in
reality a broad skeleton or frame lever embracing the two or single wick tubes, and
having its fulcrum upon the exterior of the burner body.
Below the front (interior) end of this lever, and in the bottom of this burner body
an open topped recess or chamber is formed, by means of turning downwards the
metal forming the wick winder cover plate. Attached to the said front of the lever
is a heavy weight, which when the lever is down passes into and fills up this said
recess. Upon the other side of the wick tubes and below the lever a spring is
provided which is secured at its one end to the bottom of the burner passing thence
to the other side, then doubled and returned to the opposite side, this last upper
part lying beneath and against the underside of the lever with a tendency to raise
it. If desirable however, we may use any other form of spring serving the same
purpose. Upon the wick tubes are now provided sliding shutter boxes the upper
part of which are somewhat similar to those of ordinary make, while their lower
parts are extended much lower than is usual, which said lower parts are made to
loosely embrace the wick tubes. In duplex lamps these two shutter boxes are
connected at their lower ends to each other by means of a cross bar having an
extended tail guide working in openings in the body of the burner upon each side
and being rigidly connected thereto or formed thereon. When the boxes are down,
and the skeleton lever is down, these cross bars and the lever are in line with each.
other and connected to each other by means of a pin passing through the cross bars
and also the two sides of the lever, in which latter the holes are slotted so that upon
depressing the exterior handle of the lever, the boxes are raised or slid up the wick
tube.
In the case of single wick lamps we provide upon the farther side of the box,

page_text: a projection, which takes into a slot upon the weighted lever, thus uniting the
motion of the lever and the box. This arrangement may however be modified
somewhat in detail. Thus upon the overturning of the lamp the gravitating force
of the weighted lever is reduced by reason of its changed relative position to
the fulcrum, when the spring force is sufficient to raise the lever and put out the
light.
Again. Upon the shutter side of the wick tube a suitably shaped rib or pro-
jection is provided which, as the box slides forward bears against the shutter and
preserves the parallel position of the said shutter, until it has reached the end of its
travel, when by reason of a spring action thereon it is made to suddenly fall over
and cover the wick, putting out the light.
Further. At the upper part of the burner body and between it and the inner
perforated lining, or in an annular recess specially prepared therefor, a buffer, of
cork, india-rubber or other suitable material is provided, upon which, when the
raised gallery &c. is being lowered, it shall rest. It frequently happens in lamps
as at present made that when thus being lowered it is dropped suddenly and with
an unpleasant noise; and with a dangerous liability to fracture the glasses by the
violent concussion of the metallic surfaces.
By these improvements however these defects will thus be overcome.
For the purpose of closing the shutter over the light, we provide a spring made
of wire, of a somewhat U shape. This spring is secured to the box, and its one
free end acts upon and presses against the shutter.
Again. In the centre of the burner a vertical slideway is provided of a non-
circular section and preferably rectangular.
This slideway is carried on for some distance below the bottom (exterior) of the
burner. Corresponding to this slideway and upon the underside of the gallery
is a rectangular leg of a suitable length, and having near its lower end a slot or
opening.
Referring again to the slideway
:―
Connected to the extended lower end and upon the one side, is a plate extending
upwards to near the body of the burner and terminating with a catch lump upon its
inner side, which passes through a hole in the slideway into its interior. Upon the
back of this plate is provided a spring the tendency of which is always to force the
catch lump into the slideway, or if desired the plate itself may constitute the said
springs.
Upon lifting the gallery &c. as soon as the slot or opening in the leg comes
opposite to the catch lump, the latter falls thereinto and sustains it in the elevated
position but such is the shape of the front of the catch lump, that upon extra down-
ward pressure being applied, it may be forced out of the opening and the gallery
lowered, or with extra upward force, or rapid motion or otherwise holding back the
catch lump, the leg may be entirely withdrawn.
In constructing these burner bodies, we find it a great advantage to regulate the
depth of the perforations or air inlets around it; having the object that they shall
not if possibly convenient extend lower than any of the lever or other arrangement
internal parts, preventing thereby as far as possible the air when entering, from
striking such objects, which if permitted, would cause an irregularly shaped flame.
In order to secure the burner body to the oil reservoir we employ the following
arrangement, either in combination with the ordinary bayonet fastenings, or without
them. It consists of a spring detent action, which when the burner is inserted in
the collar of the reservoir, engages on the flange of the burner and effectually
prevents either its rotation or detachment during its engagement. Generally, this
spring detent is carried upon the ring or collar of the container, and falls into a
recess or cut out, upon the flange of the burner, the said notch preventing rotation,
while overhanging parts upon the detent, prevent the rising of the flange.
Dated this 27th day of December 1890.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicants' Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Oil Lamps.
We, JOHN DENNIS YOUNG, of Taw Vale Parade, Barnstaple, in the County of
Devon, Metal Merchant, and HENRY BURGESS YOUNG, of 36, Dudley Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, 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 the construction and arrangement of single and duplex
wick oil lamps, and its object is primarily to provide an improved adaptation and
arrangement of a combined spring and gravitating action for the automatic
extinguishing of such lamps; to provide an improved method in duplex lamps of
connecting the one sliding shutter box to the other, also of connecting the shutter
box or boxes to the operating lever; to provide means for keeping the shutters full
open during their forward (extinguishing) motion, until they reach a certain point
in their travel; to provide a buffer cushion upon the burner body to receive the
fall of the gallery &c.; also to provide a sustaining device in combination with the
gallery raising mechanism; also to provide a locking arrangement for securing
the burner to the ring upon the oil container.
Some of these improvements are based upon and improvements of, an invention
for which Letters Patent have been granted to the aforesaid John Dennis Young,
bearing date February 11th, 1889, and numbered 2391.
We attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1, is a sectional elevation of the lamp burner as it appears when the gallery
is raised.
Fig. 2, is a plan of part of the burner on line A-B (Fig. 1).
Figs. 3 & 4, are front and plan views in detail, of the wick tubes and the shutter
sustaining device.
Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the lever and weight.
Fig. 6 is a detailed elevation of the main spring.
Fig. 7, is a part front elevation of the burner, showing the locking device in its
attachment to the reservoir.
Fig. 8, is a side view, and Fig. 9 a plan view of the said locking device.
Figs. 10 & 11, are detached front and side views of the shutter boxes.
Fig. 12 is a detailed plan view of the shutter spring.
Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation of the burner as it appears when the lamp is
overturned.
Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation showing the attachment of the weighted lever to
the single wick burner, and Fig. 15 is a plan view of the single wick sliding
box lever.
Similar figures refer to the same thing or part throughout the several views.
1, is the body of the burner; 2, 2, are the wick tubes; 3, is the gallery; 4, is
the chimney holder carried upon the sliding leg 5; 6, 6, are the extinguishing boxes
having the shutters 7, 7, working upon the joint 8. These said shutters 7, 7, are
constantly pressing against the wick tubes by reason of the spring 9, (see Figs. 10,
11, & 12,) the two sides 10, 10, of which are passed through slotted holes 11, 11,
in the boxes, and act upon the underside of the shutters, on a line below the joint 8.
These two boxes 6, 6, are secured to each other by the pieces 12, 12, to which are
attached the legs 13, 13. These legs 13, 13, slide in holes or guides formed in the
bottom of the burner, and thus afford a guide in addition to their position upon
the wick tubes 2, 2, and thereby ensuring a long guide, and consequently a smooth
sliding action. 14, is a joint upon which is carried the lever 15, to which latter is
rigidly attached the weight 16. This lever 15, is connected to the extinguishing
boxes 6, 6, by means of the cross pin 17, which is rigid in the pieces 12, 12, but
works loosely in the slot holes 18, in the lever 15, (see Fig. 5).

page_text: - Connected to, and lying upon the bottom of the burner, is provided the main
spring 19, the upper part of which is always exerting its power upon the underside
of the lever 15, (see Figs. 1, 2 & 13). A recess 20, is provided in the bottom part
of the burner to receive the weight 16.
Thus, while in the vertical or normal position, the weight 16, overcomes by
gravitation, the power of the spring 19, and the extinguishers are held down; but
apon the lamp being overturned (see Fig. 13), by reason of the change of the
relative position of the joint 14, to that of the weight 16, the spring 19, over-
comes the now reduced power of the weight, and the extinguishers are raised,
and the light put out. Non-automatically the light may be put out, by pressure
upon the extended handle of the lever 15. In order to prevent the shutters 7, 7,
from striking the wicks in their ascent, the pieces 21, 21, are secured at
their lower ends to the wick tubes, (their upper ends being free, to permit
of the boxes 6, 6, being passed on to the tubes 2, 2, (see Figs. 1, 3, & 4).
When putting the boxes on the wick tubes by springing open the upper part of the
pieces 21, 21, the clip parts 22, 22, of the boxes, pass down between it and the tube,
until the parts 22, 22, have passed the parts 23, 23, when the latter resume their
normal position the parts 23, 23, forming also a stop for the upward sliding of
the boxes.
Thus the shutters in their sliding forward, ride upon the upper part of the
pieces 21, 21, which prevents their closing until they have passed them, and of
course, thereby prevents their touching the wicks.
Again. As before stated the gallery 3, chimney holder 4, &c., is carried upon the
leg 5, which latter slides freely in the slideway 24, which extends some distance
below the burner. Connected to the lower end of the slideway is the lever 25,
having at its upper end a catch lump or tooth 26, which passes through a hole in
the side of the slideway, and (when the gallery is raised) also passes into the
hole 27, in the lower end of the leg 5. This lever 25, is pressed upon by the
spring 28.
Thus, upon raising the gallery to a given height (as seen in Fig. 1,) the tooth 26,
is pressed into the hole in the leg and supports it. By reason however of the
said tooth 26, being more or less bevelled at its point, the gallery &c. may if
desired, be entirely removed by rapidly lifting it from its lowest position, in
which case the hole 27, is shot past the tooth 26, ere the latter has time to
enter it.
In the upper part of the burner we provide a recess to receive a cushion 29,
whose upper edge stands just above the rim of the burner, so that when the
gallery &c. is lowered, or accidentally falls, the noise and shock thereby shall be
much lessened.
Further. As usual the part 30, is permanently secured to or forms part of the
reservoir. To this reservoir mount 30, the burner may be secured in the ordinary
manner, as shown, that is to say, by the clip 31, upon the burner being slid round
upon the inclined catches 32, upon the mount, or by any equivalent dévice. In
order however to prevent the unwary turning backwards and unfastening of the
burner, we provide the lever or spring catch 33, and in harmony therewith make
a recess 34, (see Figs. 7 & 8) in the bottom ring or flange of the burner, so that
when the burner is being turned on to the catches 32, when the recess 34,
arrives opposite the catch 33, the latter drops therein and securely locks it, the
overhanging part 35, preventing an upward lift.
This spring may be variously constructed as to detail but as shown in the
drawings the catch 33, is fulcrumed at 36, and a pressure spring 37, is employed
to press it into position.
.
In applying the adaptable parts of this our invention to single wick burners, in
one or two instances we make slight modifications. In order to connect the
lever 15, to the extinguisher box 64, (see Figs. 14 & 15) a projection 38, is pro-
vided upon the said box, which engages with the hole 39, in the lever. Thus,
'when the lever and weight is raised, the box 6", is also thereby raised. In this

page_text: case we also provide the modified form of shutter spring 40, which being threaded
through the holes in the box, act always on the shutter to close it.
We e are aware that prior to our invention, the galleries of lamps have been
carried upon a single sliding leg, also that certain catches have been employed to
sustain such galleries when raised. We therefore do not claim such parts of
themselves broadly, but,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The combination in oil lamps, of a burner having sliding extinguishing
boxes 6, 6, or 6ª, and shutters 7, 7, and spring 9, or 40 with the weighted lever 15,
15, and spring 19, all substantially as set forth.
2. The combination in an oil lamp burner, of the lever having the weight 16,
with a recess 20, adapted to the said weight, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination in oil lamps, of the boxes 6, 6, carrying the shutters 7, 7,.
with the two side connecting pieces 12, 12, substantially as described and shown.
4. The combination in oil lamps of the boxes 6, 6, shutters 7, 7, and side con-
necting pieces 12, 12, with the extending sliding legs 13, 13, taking into slide holes
in the bottom of the burner, substantially as set forth.
5. In oil lamps the combination of the sliding boxes 6, 6, and weighted lever 15,
with the connecting pin 17, working in slot holes 18, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination in oil lamps, of the boxes 6, 6, or 6ª, having shutters 7,
7, 7, and spring 9, or 40, with the wick tubes having the projecting pieces 21, and
extensions 23, 23, substantially as described and shown and for the purposes
specified.
7. In oil lamps, the combination of a raising gallery with the body of the
burner, having a cushion 29, substantially as described and shown and for the
purpose specified.
8. The combination in oil lamps, of the raising gallery having the leg 5, in
which is provided the hole 27, with the body of the burner carrying the slide 24,
lever 25, having the tooth 26, and spring 28, all substantially as set forth and for
the purpose specified.
9. The combination in oil lamps, of the body of the burner having a recess 34,
with the reservoir mount having the spring detent or lever 33, and overhanging
part 35, substantially as shown and set forth and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 27th day of February 1891.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicants' Agent.