Improvement in Lamp Wick and Method of Manufacturing the same.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Lamp Wick and Method of Manufacturing the same.
I, JOHN WESLEY HYATT, of No. 141, Commerce Street, Newark, County of Essex,
State of New Jersey, U.S.A., Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of the present invention is primarily to improve the conducting capacity
of a lamp wick made of yarn, by securing the yarns together without winding or
wrapping the fibres in any manner which would be liable to obstruct the free move-
ment of the oil within its capillary spaces. Where lamp wicks have been formed by
weaving or braiding the yarns together, the yarns are twisted or wrapped one over
another, so as to exert considerable compression upon one another at the various parts
of crossing, and the free flow of the oil in such a lamp wick is obstructed by the com-
pression of the yarns, while it is also impeded by the numerous bends in each yarn,
which increase the distance which the oil is required to travel to reach the top of the
wick, and compel the oil to move through a tortuous channel.
In the present invention, I obviate the compression of the yarns and secure a more
direct channel for the passage of the oil by disposing the yarns parallel with one
another in a layer and securing them together by cement applied at intervals only to
one side of the layer. If the yarns were secured to a layer of fibrous material by
cement over the whole surface of the latter, the lamp wick would be greatly stiffened
and the fibres of the yarns would be more or less clogged by the mass of cement, and
to avoid such result, I connect the yarns by a transverse thread coated with glue and
drawn transversely across the layer at intervals; or they may be connected by a
layer of thin porous fabric, like cotton cheese cloth, with narrow strips of glue
impressed upon such layer transversely at intervals to engage the contiguous surface
of the yarns. I thus avoid the crossing, bending, or compressing of the yarns, and
as each makes only a tangential contact with the cement bearing surface, the body
of the yarn and most of its interior fibres remain unclogged by the cement and thus
furnish free channels for the passage of the oil. The fibrous material for carrying the
cement may consist of thin woven fabric; but I have found by experiment that a
thread cemented transversely at intervals across the layer of parallel yarns is prefer-
able, as it serves to hold them together with sufficient firmness, while it does not
impair the flexibility of the wick, and does not tend to clog the fibres of the yarn
with any considerable amount of cement.
A two-ply fabric is readily constructed by leading the yarns for the two layers
separately to a meeting line, drawing a thread with moist cement alternately back
and forth transversely across one of the layers at such meeting line, and progressively
feeding the two layers forward with such thread and cement pressed between the
layers.
A tubular fabric may be formed of two annular layers of parallel yarns having a
spirally disposed thread cemented between their contiguous surfaces, and such a
fabric can be made with great rapidity, by leading the yarn for such layers separately
to an annular meeting line, winding the thread with cement upon the inner layer

page_text: adjacent to such meeting line, and feeding the two layers progressively forward with
the thread and cement pressed between them. When the layers are relieved from
the pressure which is applied to cement them together the fibres of each yarn are
entirely freed from compression, and no obstruction is offered to the free movement
of the oil within the wick.
Improvement in Lamp wick and men vi
I, JOHN WESLEY HYATT, of No. 141, Commerce Street, in the City of Newark,
County of Essex, State of New Jersey, U.S.A., 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:-
The object of the present invention is primarily to improve the conducting capacity
of a lamp-wick made of yarn, by securing the yarns together without winding or
wrapping the fibres in any manner which would be liable to obstruct the free move-
ment of the oil within its capillary spaces. Where lamp-wicks have been formed by
weaving or braiding the yarns together, the yarns are twisted or wrapped one over
another, so as to exert considerable compression upon one another at the various
parts of crossing, and the free flow of the oil in such a lamp-wick is obstructed by
the compression of the yarns, while it is also impeded by the numerous bends in
each yarn, which increase the distance which the oil is required to travel to reach the
top of the wick, and compel the oil to move through a tortuous channel.
In the present invention, I obviate the compression of the yarns and secure a
inore direct channel for the passage of the oil by disposing the yarns parallel with
one another in a layer and securing them together by cement applied at intervals
only to one side of the layer.
If the yarns were secured to a layer of fibrous material (like paper) by cement over
the whole surface of the paper, the lamp-wick would be greatly stiffened and the
fibres of the yarns would be more or less clogged by the mass of cement, and to avoid
such result, I connect the yarns by a transverse thread coated with glue and drawn
transversely across the layer at intervals.
Lamp-wicks have been made by cementing the yarns upon paper tubes, but such
method of construction applies the glue or cement to the entire length of each yarn
upon one side, and not only impairs the flexibility of the wick but tends to clog the
fibres of the yarn in a very material degree.
I have found by experiment that a thread cemented at intervals transversely or
obliquely across the layer of parallel yarns serve to hold them together with
sufficient firmness, while it does not impair the flexibility of the wick, and does
not tend to clog the fibres of the yarn with any considerable amount of cement.
A two-ply fabric is readily constructed by leading the yarns for the two layers
separately to a meeting line, drawing a thread with moist cement alternately back
and forth transversely across one of the layers at such meeting line, and progressively
feeding the two layers forward with such thread and cement pressed between the
layers.
A tubular fabric may be formed of two annular layers of parallel yarns having a

page_text: spirally disposed thread cemented between their contiguous surfaces, and such a
fabric can be made with great rapidity, by leading the yarn for such layers separately
to an annular meeting line, winding the thread with cement upon the inner layer
adjacent to such meeting line, and feeding the two layers progressively forward
with the thread and cement pressed between them. When the layers are relieved
from the pressure which is applied to cement them together the fibres of each yarn
are entirely freed from compression, and no obstruction is offered to the free
movement of the oil within the wick.
The invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawing, in which
Fig. 1 is a side view of portion of a one-ply fabric, and Fig. 2 an end view of the
same. Fig. 3 is an end view of a two-ply fabric, and Fig. 4 a perspective view of a
piece of such fabric with the layers separated at one end to expose the connecting
thread. Fig. 5 is a cross section of a tubular fabric; Fig. 6 is a diagram representing
the method of manufacturing a flat two-ply fabric, and Fig. 7 is a longitudinal
section of an apparatus for manufacturing the tubular fabric.
Fig. 8 is a cross section of the mandrel f looking toward the tube g¹.
, a designate in Fig. 7, the parallel yarns upon either side of the fabric, and
a¹, a² designate the layers in which the yarns are disposed. bdesignates the
fibrous threads cemented upon one side of the layer of yarns, and which may consist of
any material adapted, with the cement, to bind the yarns together.
In Fig. 2, a single layer a¹ is shown, with the binding material 6 cemented upon
one side of the same; while Fig. 3 shows two layers a¹ and a² attached to opposite
sides of the binding material b.
Fig. 4 shows the material as a thread disposed in zigzag loops transversely
between the layers a¹ and a², and thus operating with the cement to secure the two
layers together at intervals. I find that a thread of Number 60 sewing cotton cemented
between the two layers at intervals of one sixth of an inch serves to hold them
together with the utmost firmness, while it does not impair the flexibility of the
fabric, or impede the movement of the oil through the same.
Fig. 6 shows in diagrammatic form, the method of cementing two flat layers
together, by leading them from different directions between two rolls c, and drawing
the thread with moist cement back and forth either in contact with one of the layers,
or between the layers, so close to their meeting point or line that the thread may adhere
to the adjacent yarns.
The thread 6 is shown extended through a hopper containing liquid glue
and terminated at the bottom with a fine aperture, to permit the thread to be
drawn therefrom with a suitable charge of glue. Such hopper may be vibrated
back and forth to draw the thread across the surface of the lower layer a¹, while
both layers are fed continuously forward in the direction of the arrow e by the rotation
of the rolls c.
In Fig. 5, the two layers of yarns are arranged in tubular form with the binding
material b cemented between them, and such annular fabric may be used for a
tubular wick, or to make a single flat wick by pressing the sides of the tube together,
or to make two or more flat wicks by slitting the tube into strips.
In Fig. 7, which shows the means for cementing two annular layers of yarn
together, designates a central mandrel surrounded by a tube g, and provided at the
rear end with a guide h having holes to lead the yarns a, between the mandrel and
the tube. Rolls c¹ are provided to draw away the finished product, pressed flat between
the rolls, and a tube is supported around the mandrel to press the outer layer
of yarns upon the inner layer, and to support a guide h¹ for leading the outer layer of
yarns to an annular meeting point or circle i.
Between the tube g and such annular meeting point a space is left to wrap the
thread b around the inner layer of yarns, as indicated by the lines b, b¹, which are
extended from opposite sides of the mandrel f to indicate two threads wound
simultaneously upon the forwardly moving yarns, which cements the threads in spirals
at equal distances apart around the inner layer, and serves effectually to secure the

page_text: outer layer to the inner layer where both are passed through the tube g¹. The tube
is flattened by the rolls c¹ which feed it forwardly, and the pressure of the rolls
serves still farther to bring the yarns into close contact with the cement bearing
thread.
The apparatus represented in Fig. 7 would be made of sufficient length and kept
at such a temperature as to partly dry the cement upon the binding thread before
the fabric was compressed by the rolls c¹, or brought in contact with other substances,
and the tube g¹ is represented broken on the drawing, as well as the newly made
fabric, for want of room to express the required length.
Such tubular wick may be used in circular form for Argand burners, or may be slit
longitudinally into any desired number of flat wicks, in which case the cemented
threads are cut at each edge of the wick, as shown in Fig. 1.
Where two threads are wrapped around the inner layer, it is preferable to wind
them in opposite directions so that the spirals may cross one another, and thus forin
(in the finished product) a tubular wick which is prevented from expanding or
contracting when rotated in applying it to the wick tube of a lamp. Where a single
thread is wound in a spiral form, it tends to contract the tubular wick if the wick be
twisted in a certain direction, and such contraction is prevented by using two threads
and winding them in opposite directions. When such a tubular wick is made of
single ply and then slit to form several single ply flat wicks, the crossing of the
spirally wound threads is plainly evident, as is represented in Fig. 1, which shows a
flat wick thus produced.
It is obvious that the inner layer of yarns in contact with the mandrel f may be
wound with the cemented thread, and the cement dried thereon, without applying
the outer layer of yarus. Such construction would form a single ply wick like that
represented in Figs. 1 and 2, where a designates the single layer of yarns and b the
parallel threads disposed spirally across the breadth of the fabric and cut at the edges
of the same to form the flat layer shown in Fig. 2. A great advantage is gained by
securing yarns together by cement at intervals only, as it produces a much more
flexible fabric, and one in which the fibres are not perceptibly clogged with the
cement.
I have found by experiment, that a lamp wick made by the present invention, will
feed the oil to the flame with freedom, and is not so liable to be "caked" at the top,
or clogged internally, as a woven or braided wick.
As a result of the free movement of the oil through the wick, the flame from such
a wick, when employed in the same kind of lamp and with the same amount and kind
of oil, is larger, and capable of giving correspondingly more light than that produced
by a braided or woven wick.
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 fabric for lamp wicks composed of a layer of parallel yarns having a continuous
series of transverse strands cemented to the yarns at one side, whereby all the yarus
in the layer are connected laterally at one side.
2. A fabric for lamp wicks composed of two layers of parallel yarns having their
adjacent sides connected by a continuous series of transverse strands cemented at
intervals to the contiguous surfaces of the layers.
3. A tubular fabric for lanp wicks, comprising one or more layers of parallel yarns
having a continuous wrapping of transverse strands cemented thereto.
4. A tubular fabric for lamp wicks, comprising two layers of parallel yarns having
one or more spirally disposed threads cemented to their contiguous surfaces.
5. The method herein described for making a fabric of two layers of parallel yarns,
which consists in leading the yarns for such layers separately to an annular meeting
circle, winding a thread with cement thereon upon the inner layer adjacent to such

page_text: meeting circle, and feeding such layers progressively forward with the thread and
cement pressed between them.
6. The improved fabric hereinbefore described, and illustrated by the drawings
to annoxed
meeting circle, and feeding such layers progressively forward with the thread and
cement pressed between them.
6. The improved fabric herein before described, and illustrated by the drawings
herow
Dated and signed at No. 70. Nassau Street, New York, N.Y., this 26th day