Year: 1897

page_text: I, JOHN LEWIS, of 169, Seven Sisters Road, Holloway, in the County of London,
Oil and Colourman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to night-lights of that kind or class consisting of very
small lamps adapted to burn paraffin, or other oil, or solid or semi-solid substances
such as wax or admixtures thereof, and comprises the improvements hereinafter
set forth.
According to my invention, when intended to burn paraffin or the like, I provide
a small metal or glass reservoir or container for the fuel, upon or in the aperture or
mouth of which reservoir or container I fit a suitable metal or other cap. The
top of this cap is bossed inwards so as to form a slight concavity, at the apex
whereof is formed a small hole. The wick, which may consist of a single thread
of darning cotton or the like, is passed through a short tube adapted to fit in the
above mentioned hole in the cap, and extending therefrom to within a short dis-
tance of the bottom of the reservoir or container. To prevent the above mentioned
wick tube from falling through the hole or aperture in the cap, the upper end of
the said tube is formed slightly bell-mouthed or flaring, or a small flange is pro-
vided thereon, and to admit the necessary supply of air to the reservoir or container
the hole in the cap is either formed square, or small notches are cut in the edges
thereof.
.
To steady the wick tube and cause it to maintain a central position relatively
to the reservoir or container I sometimes provide a short sleeve attached to the cap
and extending for a short distance downwards therefrom. In this case suitable
air holes or vents are formed at or about the point of junction between the said
sleeve and the cap or the inwardly extending boss upon the latter.
To prevent the possibility of any oil finding its way to the exterior of the
reservoir or container by sweating, I may in some instances fix in the cap a disc
or diaphragm slightly coned downwards, and perforated centrally or at its apex
to admit of the passage therethrough of the wick tube and wick. Any moisture
that may find its way into the cap will fall upon this diaphragm and be conducted
thereby to the central aperture through which it will pass back to the reservoir
or container, instead of percolating between the cap and the mouth of the latter
to the exterior, as might be the case where the said cap forms a more or less slack
fit with the neck of the reservoir or container, as is usually the case when the
latter is made of glass or the like.
When the lamp is intended for the consumption of a solid or semi-solid sub-
stance such as wax, or compositions thereof, I form the mouth or aperture of the
reservoir or container of the full, or nearly the full, diameter of the latter so as to
facilitate the insertion of the solid or semi-solid fuel therein. The cap or cover is
arranged to fit into the mouth or aperture of the reservoir or container and is

page_text: supported upon a suitable flange, or upon a beading formed on the side wall
thereof. The said cap or cover is provided moreover, with an inwardly extending
boss or depression perforated at or near its centre for the wick, substantially as
already described. For the sake of cheapness I may in this case construct the
reservoir and container and cap or cover of tin or the like.
By so bossing the cap or cover of my improved lamp as to form a slight con-
cavity or well into which the wick tube drops, so that its upper extremity will
be slightly below the upper edge of the said well, I am enabled to prevent the
wick from burning right down to the said tube and rendering it difficult to pull
up the said wick when required. In the case of the lamp for burning liquid
fuel, to facilitate the raising or lowering of the wick in the tube I may provide,
moreover, a suitable longitudinal slot or slit in the latter to admit of the passage
of a needle, pin, or other pointed instrument.
My improved night-light can be very cheaply manufactured, and as the con-
sumption of fuel is small it is far more inexpensive than any of those heretofore
made. It is likewise very cleanly and safe in use, does not give rise to an un-
pleasant odour when burning, and affords a very powerful light in comparison to its
consumption of fuel.
Improvements in Night-nights.
I, JOHN LEWIS, of 169, Seven Sisters' Road, Holloway, in the County of London,
Oil and Colourman, 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 night-lights of that kind or class consisting of very
small lamps adapted to burn paraffin, or other oil, or solid or semi-solid substances
such as wax or admixtures thereof, and comprises the improvements hereinafter
set forth.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in vertical section, and
Figure 2 is a detail view illustrating one of my improved lamps or night-lights
adapted to burn paraffin or other oil.
Figure 3 is a vertical central section, and
Figure 4 is a plan and elevation of a portion of Figure 3, showing an arrange-
ment of my improved lamp or night-light adapted to burn solid or semi-solid
.substances.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 a is a small metal or glass reservoir or container
for the oil or fuel, and b is a metal or other cap adapted to fit upon or in the
aperture or mouth a¹ of the said reservoir or container. The top of the cap b is
bossed inwards so as to form a slight funnel-shaped or other concavity or well 61
c is the wick which may consist
at the apex whereof is formed a small hole 62.
of a single thread of darning cotton or the like, and which wick is passed through
a short tube d adapted to fit loosely in the above mentioned hole 62 in the cap h,
and extending therefrom to within a short distance of the bottom of the reservoir
01 container a, To prevent the above mentioned wick tube d from falling through

page_text: the hole or aperture 62 in the cap b, the upper end of the said tube is formed
slightly bell-mouthed or flaring, as indicated at d, or a small flange or the like
may be provided thereon, and to admit the necessary supply of air to the reservoir
or container a, an air hole or perforation may be formed in the cap b, or the
hole 62 in the said cap may be either formed square, or small notches cut in the
edges thereof.
To admit of the adjustment of the wick being effected the wick tube d has
preferably formed in it a slot as shown in Figure 2, through which slot a
needle, pin, or other pointed instrument may be inserted to move the wick up
or down in the said wick tube.
To steady the wick tube d and cause it to maintain a central position relatively
to the reservoir or container a I may in some instances provide a short sleeve
attached to the cap and extending for a short distance downwards therefrom
In this case suitable air holes or vents are formed at or about the point of
junction between the said sleeve and the cap or the inwardly extending boss upon
the latter.
To prevent the possibility of any oil finding its way to the exterior of the
reservoir or container by sweating, I may in some instances fix in the cap ba
disc or diaphragm slightly coned downwards, and perforated centrally or at its
apex to admit of the passage therethrough of the wick tube d and wick c. Any
moisture that may find its way into the cap 6 will in this case fall upon the above
mentioned diaphragm and be conducted thereby to the central aperture through
which it will pass back to the reservoir or container a, instead or percolating
between the cap and the mouth a¹ of the latter to the exterior, as might be
the case where the said cap 6 forms a more or less slack fit with the neck of the
reservoir or container a as is usually the case when the latter is made of glass or the
like.
When the lamp is intended for the consumption of a solid or semi-solid sub-
stance such as wax, or compositions thereof, I construct the lamp as shown in
Figures 3 and 4. The reservoir or container a is in this case made of thin metal,
preferably lead or alloys thereof, and the mouth or aperture a¹ of the said reservoir
or container a is formed of the full, or nearly the full, diameter of the latter so as to
facilitate the insertion of the solid or semi-solid fuel therein or the said fuel may
be inserted therein in a melted condition. The cap or cover b is formed of
like material to the reservoir or container a, and is arranged to fit into the said
mouth or aperture a¹ of the said reservoir or container a and is supported upon
a beading a², or upon a suitable flange, formed on the side wall thereof. The
said cap or cover b is provided, moreover, with an inwardly extending boss, depres-
sion or well 6 perforated at 62 for the wick, substantially as already described, and
has an upwardly extending flange over which the upper part or edge of the mouth
of the reservoir or container a is turned or seamed, as shown at a³ in Figure 3,
when the fuel is in position therein. The wick tube d is provided with a base
plate d³ upon which it rests or is supported on the bottom of the reservoir or
container a, and is of sufficient length to reach, when in position, to the wick hole
or aperture 62, or thereabouts.
To facilitate the lighting or ignition of the light in the first instance, I prefer
to fill up the space in the boss or depression 6 round the wick c, with fuel, as
shown.
Although I find it advantageous as hereinbefore mentioned, to construct the
reservoir or container a, and the cap or cover b, of lead or of some alloy thereof
which will admit of their being readily formed or shaped by stamping, I may
make the said parts, or either of them, of tin or other suitable metal or material.
And in some instances, when solids are employed I may prefer to first mould
the wax or its equivalents and afterwards encase it in the manner described with
lead or like foil or capsuling."
By so bossing the cap or cover of my improved lamp as to form a slight funnel
shaped or other concavity or well into which the wick tube drops, or to which it

page_text: extends, so that its upper extremity will be slightly below the upper edge of the
said wall, the flame extends to, and rests upon, the annular edge of the well b¹
and every particle of oil or vapour is consumed. Further, the wick is prevented
from burning right down to the said tube and rendering it difficult to pull up the
said wick when required, and, finally, the wick tube, being an easy fit in the
well of the cap, objectionable heat is not conveyed by it to the reservoir.
In the case of the lamp for burning liquid fuel, to facilitate the raising or lowering
of the wick in the tube I may provide, moreover, a suitable longitudinal slot or
slit in the latter to admit of the passage of a needle, pin, or other pointed instru-
ment. Or obviously any ordinary or suitable ratchet mechanism may be
employed.
My improved lamp or night-light can be very cheaply manufactured, and as
the consumption of oil or fuel is small it is far more inexpensive than any of
those heretofore made. It is likewise very cleanly and safe in use, does not give
rise to an unpleasant odour when burning, and affords a very powerful light in
comparison to its consumption of fuel.
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:-
1. In a lamp or night-light, the combination with a reservoir or container,
of a cap or cover having a depression or well substantially as set forth.
2. In a
lamp or night-light, the combination, with a reservoir or container,
of a cap or cover having a depression or well, and a wick tube fitting into the
bottom of such well substantially as set forth.
3. The improved lamp or night-light constructed substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawing.