Improvements in or relating to Gas and Oil Lamps.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Gas and Oil Lamps.
I, WILLIAM ALFRED REES, Ironmonger, of 203, St. John Street Road, Clerkenwell,
London, E.C., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My improvements as set forth in the following specification are intended to
preserve the "mantles" used in incandescent gas lighting from fracture by sudden
or strong draughts of air; also to remove the danger of fracture in lighting attending
the use of ordinary chimneys. It consists chiefly in the use of a vase or plate-so
formed as that the act of attaching it to the gas fitting shall make it air tight below
the burner, the upper end being enlarged and formed for supporting the vase and chimney,.
which may be formed in one piece; the combination of the vase or plate with the
globe and chimney, in one piece, or the usual form of such, forming the chief part of my
invention or improvement. I am aware that several devices are in use for preventing
sudden draughts of air reaching the "mantles" used in incandescent gas lighting;:
but all, to the best of my knowledge cause the air to be admitted below, and to
converge directly towards the mantle, thus causing a strong up draught through the
said mantle. The use and aim of my invention is to so admit the air as that it shall
circulate in the vase and globe before reaching the said mantle. An example of my,
improvement may consist in making a vase say about 2" in depth, its lower end being
about 1" in diameter-with a small hole for fixing to the gas fitting-and increasing
to about 3" at its upper end where a flat or concave rim may be formed about " in
width, on this is formed a vertical rim about " in height. This rim serving the
double purpose of keeping the globe in position, and forming a check to the admission.
of air, a portion of which may be deflected downward to the bunsen burner. The
action of this combination is as follows. The vase, or plate, is attached to the gas:
fitting through the hole in the bottom, and is made airtight by screwing on the lower
part of the bunsen burner (forming part of the "incandescent gas burner), the mantle-
is then placed in position, the globe, which is corrugated around its lower circumference-
is then placed on the vase (the raised rim being inside the globe); it will thus be
seen that the air is admitted through the corrugations and strikes against the raised
rim, by which it is given an upward direction, thus causing it to circulate in the
globe before reaching the "mantle." If it is wished to increase the brilliancy of the
light a short chimney may be suspended from, and inside, the top of that made on or
used with the globe, this causing a sharper draught, & larger admission of air; as
the air will pass down between the two chimneys. In lieu of, or in addition to, the
corrugations around the globe as described, my improvement may consist in forming
a series of tubes in the flat or concave rim of vase the air entering in an upward
direction, away from the "mantle." The use of the vase, or plate in combination
with the ordinary globes & chimneys I consider as part of my improvement &
invention, as the air needed for combustion will be drawn from the top between the
globe & chimney when the globe is placed on the vase. The vase may for convenience
of lighting the gas have a slide, or an indentation with a hole in it, in which will rest
a ball; which, after being displaced by passing through the hole the lighting medium
used will revert to its position thus preventing admission of air.

page_text: My improvement therefore, in its present incomplete form consists in the use of a
vase or plate which is made airtight, or nearly so-without specially grinding in of
parts by fastening to the gas fitting, the vase being formed to recieve a ball,
covering an hole used for lighting purposes, and of a combined globe & chimney to
rest on the vase; the said vase or plate being applicable for use with ordinary globes
& chimneys if desired. There may be modifications of above, such as standing the
chimney loosely within the globe, in which case the air will pass downward, as
described in my previous specification mentioned.
It is also especially applicable for use with oil lamps, as it prevents all draughts,
and the air is warmed before reaching the burner.
March 20/97
I, WILLIAM ALFRED REES, of 203, St. John Street Road, Clerkenwell, in the County
of London, Ironmonger, 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 gas and oil lamps and is designed to provide means
whereby the air necessary to support combustion can be introduced in such a manner
as to avoid danger of cracking the globes or chimneys, or breaking the mantles in
the cases where incandescent burners are used.
The main feature of my said invention consists in so arranging the air-inlets that the
air flowing into the lamp takes up a spiral or rotary motion inside the same and
circulates around the interior thereof, and around the mantle if one be employed,
instead of flowing directly to the burner in a radial or approximately radial direction.
According to my said invention I provide a cup-shaped holder for the lamp globe
or chimney, this holder, referred to as a vase or cap in my Provisional Specification,
being adapted to fit on to the burner and to make a practically air tight joint
therewith, so that the air inlet shall only take place around the upper edge of the
holder where the latter joins the globe or chimney. In some cases the lower edge of
the globe may be provided with air-inlets or openings inclined chord-wise to cause the
In other cases
incoming air to take up the spiral or rotary motion above referred to.
the holder may be provided with similar inlets below the edge of the chimney. In
combination with either of these arrangements other sets of inlets and also suitable
deflectors may be employed if desired.
If desired also an internal chimney may be combined with the outer globe or
chimney, the upward current of air in this internal chimney inducing a downward
-current of air between it and the outer globe or chimney.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the same by aid of the accompanying drawings in
which :-
Figure 1 shows half in section and half in elevation an incandescent lamp provided
with my improvements.
Figure 2 a section on the line x-x Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the globe employed with this lamp.
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 1 showing a different arrangement for an
incandescent burner

page_text: Figure 5 is a plan of the cup-shaped holder shown in Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a part elevation showing a lamp having an internal chimney arranged
as above referred to.
Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 3 ;-
a is the cup shaped holder which is made of glass or other suitable material and is
contracted at its lower part to fit approximately air-tight around the stem of the
incandescent burner, (which latter is arranged as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 4) the
cup being adapted to accommodate the burner in its interior.
b is the globe or chimney which is provided around its lower edge with the inclined
openings or inlets c these being what are designated as "corrugations" in my
Provisional Specification.
d is a flange on which the globe rests and on which it is secured in any suitable
manner.
e is a rim or raised edge on the holder, which rim or edge serves as a deflector or
baffle and checks the currents of air entering through the openings c causing them
to be deflected both upward and downward.
ff are apertures or inlets in the holder a which are directed partly downward and
partly chord-wise and direct a part of the air into the lower part of the interior of the
holder.
The action of this arrangement as will be readily understood, is as follows:-
The draught produced by the burner draws in air though the inlets c, which air
instead of flowing directly towards the burner in a radial direction is, owing to the
chord-wise inclination of the said inlets, caused to flow around the interier of the
globe so that it only reaches the burner after having performed a circuitous spiral
path. Consequently it is not liable to injure the mantle. In addition to this a layer
of cool air is always circulating around the inner surface of the globe or chimney
thus obviating or considerably diminishing the danger of cracking the said chimney.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5 the holder a is provided around its
upper edge with serrations a' having ledges or shoulders a² formed in them on their
inner sides to receive the lower edge of the globe or chimney b. The inclined air-
inlets c are in this case formed between the serrations as indicated more clearly in
Figure 5.
The arrangements for deflecting the air are in this case dispensed with and the
said air takes up its spiral motion directly it enters the globe or chimney.
Referring now to the arrangement shown in Figure 6, 6' is the internal chimney
which is arranged concentrically inside the outer globe or chimney band is supported
therein by projections 62 resting on the top edge thereof, or by any other suitable
means. The direction of the air current induced when this arrangement is employed
is indicated by the arrows.
It is to be understood that the figure in question is not intended to illustrate any
particular arrangement of holder or chimney with inclined air inlets, as the internal
chimney may be applied to either of the arrangements before described or to any
suitable modification of them.
It is also to be understood that the holder and the globe or chimney need not
necessarily be formed in separate pieces, as if the lower part of the chimney be suitably
shaped and provided with inclined air inlets it will serve instead of the said holder.
The improvements hereinbefore described may be applied to ordinary gas or oil
lamps unprovided with mantles, in which case they serve very effectually to protect the
flame from draughts.
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
1. A lamp of the kind referred to having its air inlets so arranged that the air is
caused to circulate around the inside of the globe or chimney, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
2. A lamp of the kind referred to provided with air inlets as mentioned in the

page_text: preceding claim and with an internal chimney, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
3. A gas or oil lamp having its air inlets and globe or chimney, or chimneys,
arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference respectively to
Figures 1, 2 and 3, to Figures 4 and 5, or to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings,
for the purposes specified.
ated this 20 ay 01 January
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.