IMPROVEMENTS IN LANTHORNS FOR LAMPS BURNING PARAFFIN, PETROLEUM, AND SIMILAR OILS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Richmond, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark;
North Britain, Tinsmith, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LANTHORNS
FOR LAMPS BURNING PARAFFIN, PETROLEUM, AND SIMILAR OILS."
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Richmond at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th September 1877.
THOMAS RICHMOND, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Tinsmith. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LANTHORNS FOR LAMPS BURNING PARAFFIN,
PETROLEUM, AND SIMILAR OILS."
This Invention which relates to improvements in lanthorns for lamps wherein
paraffin, petroleum, and similar oils are burned, has for its object to secure a clear
steady flame from such oils without the employment of the glass chimney hitherto
used with these lamps
The Invention consists in applying to the ordinary lanthorns an air chamber,
conduit, or partition, whose vertical section is preferably of a curved or inclined
form. This chamber or partition is fitted into the lower part of the lanthorn at a
short distance above the oil lamp or reservoir and so as to surround the burner, with
which as well as with the interior periphery of the lanthorn the partition forms an
air-tight joint, thereby shutting off communication with the upper part of the
lanthorn and with the burner except by means of passages herein-after referred to.
The chamber or partition so constructed keeps the oil in the lamp cool by causing a
current of air to pass over the lamp; and by burnishing the upper surface of the par-
tition it may be made to act as a reflector. The air to support combustion in the
lanthorn passes into the chamber through perforations made round the lanthorn at a
position between the top of the oil reservoir or lamp and the air-tight partition, and
from the chamber the air is conducted to the burner through the ordinary perfora-
tions made around it. By means of this arrangement a clear steady flame is obtained
without the employment of the glass chimney hitherto used, and a considerable
economy is effected.
+

page_text: In order to render the interior of the lanthorn easy of access for cleaning or
other purposes it is preferred to fix the herein-before mentioned partition upon a
removeable ring or socket, which latter, with the attached partition, may be taken
out of the lanthorn when desired. A slip pin and socket or equivalent means may
be employed to fix the ring and partition in position.
The improvements in lanthorns herein-before described may be applied to all
lamp lanterns wherein paraffin, petroleum, or other similar oils are burned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Richmond in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
March 1878.
THOMAS RICHMOND, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Tinsmith. IMPROVEMENTS IN LANTHORNS FOR LAMPS BURNING PARAFFIN,
PETROLEUM, AND SIMILAR OILS."
This Invention which relates to improvements in lanthorns for lamps wherein
paraffin, petroleum, and similar oils are burned, has for its object to secure a clear
and steady flame from such oils without the employment of the glass chimney hitherto
used with such lamps.
The Invention consiste in the application to such lanthorns of a removeable or fixed
air chamber or partition, preferably of a curved or inclined section and fitted into the
lower part of the lanthorn a short distance above the oil reservoir, and closely sur-
rounding the ordinary burner. A series of perforations are also made through the sides of
the lanthorn and beneath the level of the partition, and through these perforations
the air enters, and passing beneath the partition and over the oil reservoir (which is
thereby kept cool), is fed through the perforated burner to the flame, which is thus
rendered clear and steady without the assistance of the hitherto employed glass
chimney.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I will now
proceed particularly to describe the system or mode of carrying the same into
practical effect, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
Figure 1 of the said Drawings is a front elevation of an ordinary railway signal
lamp to which the improvements constituting my said Invention are shewn applied;
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same; while Figure 3 is a view of the lamp at
right angles to Figures 1 and 2.
The lanthorn, which is otherwise of the ordinary construction, is fitted at its lower
part with a partition A, the vertical rim or flanch a of which fits into the interior
of the lanthorn, and is furthermore provided at its lower edge with a bead or pro-
jection b running all the way round, and which prevents the partition A from being
pushed too far into the lanthorn and adjusts it at the proper height relatively to the
burner B, which latter is of the ordinary description usually employed, in conjunction
with the type of lanthorn and lamp illustrated on the Drawings.

page_text: A circular flanched orifice is made in the centre of the partition A, and a lip or pro-
jection c on the burner abuts against the side of the said orifice so as to prevent the
passage of air thereby. The oil reservoir or lamp proper C is attached to the lower
part of the lanthorn by hooks d fitting into eyes e, or they may be secured together by
any other ordinary and well-known means. It will however be remarked that when
secured together, as shewn in the Drawings, the applicaton of the partition A in the
manner berein-before described forms a separate chamber in the lower part of the
lanthorn.
To give the atmosphere access to the flame a series of perforations ƒ are formed in
the sides of the said chamber, and as the lip or projection c on the burner is situated
above the perforations g usual in such burners; the air after entering the chamber
by the perforations f passes into the burner B by the perforations g and thence
upwards to the flame, as indicated by the arrows at Figure 2. The current of cool
air thus passing through the chamber and over the surface of the oil reservoir has
the further advantage that it prevents the oil therein from becoming injuriously
heated and prevents or diminishes the waste of oil by evaporation and also the
offensive smell which sometimes arises from this cause.
By conducting and concentrating the supply of air to and upon the flame, as
herein-before described, a clear and steady light is obtained, and the glass chimney
usually employed in such lamps may be dispensed with, and a considerable economy
in labour and material effected, besides increasing the efficiency of the lamp, which
cannot become inoperative by the breakage of the glass chimney, as is the case with
many of those at present in use.
The curved upper surface of the partition A may be utilized to increase the
brilliancy of the light by keeping it in a burnished condition, and thus causing
it to perform the duties of a reflector.
With regard to the type of lanthorn at present under consideration, it is preferred
also to make the partition removeable, as herein-before described, so that it may be
easily withdrawn when it is required to cleanse or repair the interior of the
lanthorn; but when access thereto can be gained by other means the partition may
be permanently secured to or from a part of the lanthorn, as shewn in Figures 4
and 5 of the Drawings, which represent a square "stable" lanthorn fitted with an
unmoveable and flat partition A.
An arrangement is also shewn at Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, the object of which is to
prevent the light from being accidentaly put out by a sudden down draft of air,
such as might happen were the lanthorn exposed in stormy weather.
Instead of the ordinary corrugated cowl I prefer to employ a rectangular or other
shaped arrangement of tubes D (as shown in plan at Figure 6), which I fix to and
place in communication with the top of the lanthorn in the manner shewn. The
two outer tubes D1, D2, have perforations ½ in their lower sides, through which the
heated air from the interior of the lanthorn can easily escape, while at the same
time a sudden gust of wind would not enter these perforations; or if it effected
an entrance, could only with great difficulty find its way to the interior of the
lanthorn.
Figure 7 is a modification of the foregoing wind-baffling arrangement, wherein
two side tubes h are employed in lieu of the perforations herein-before described.
Having now described my said Invention, and particularly ascertained the system,
mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be used or carried practi-
cally into effect, I would observe in conclusion that the Invention is not confined
to the types of lamps or lanthorns herein-before referred to, but that it is equally
applicable to other types of lamps or lanthorns; what then I consider to be novel
and original and therefore clain as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is the construction of lanthorns for lamps burning
paraffin, petroleum, and similar oils, with a partition conduit or air chamber in the
lower part thereof for the purpose of guiding and concentrating a current of air to
and upon the flame, and thereby causing it to burn clearly and steadily without the
assistance of the glass chimney as hitherto used in conjunction with such lamps and

page_text: lanthorns, all substantially as herein-before described, and shewn on the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Richmond, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
THOMAS RICHMOND. (L.S.)