IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING LIGHT OR VOLATILE OILS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert Ernest Newton Mason, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer, and Joseph Price, of Birmingham aforesaid,
Accountant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING
LIGHT OR VOLATILE OILS."
Sealed the 23rd September 1879, and dated the 7th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert Ernest Newton
Mason and Joseph Price at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
7th April 1879.
HERBERT ERNEST NEWTON MASON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, and JOSEPH PRICE, of Birmingham aforesaid, Accountant. IM-
PROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING LIGHT OR VOLATILE OILS."
Our Invention has reference to lamps in which light or volatile oils are burned,
such, for example, as the oils commonly called in commerce petroline or kerosine.
In the said lamps as ordinarily constructed the oil is contained in a receptacle
below the burner, from which receptacle it is raised to the point of ignition by the
capillary attraction of the wick. The said receptacles generally have such a size as
fits them to hold oil enough for an evening's consumption.
Our Invention consists in constructing the said lamps in the manner herein after
described, whereby a large quantity of oil can be stored in the base of the lamp,
and raised at pleasure in suitable quantity to the receptacle below the burner by &
simple operation on the mechanism of the lamp.
In constructing a lamp according to our Invention we give it the general figure
of a moderator lamp. The base of the lamp consists of a storing reservoir, having a
capacity proportioned to the length of time it is required to burn the lamp without
refilling the said reservoir. Surmounting the reservoir is a tubular pillar, carrying
at its top a receptacle for containing a small quantity of oil, the said receptacle
supporting the burner and the usual appliances.
In the bottom of the reservoir and centrally situated is a hollow cylinder, open
at top and closed at bottom. This cylinder is fitted with a piston, the rod of which
extends upwards into the tubular pillar described. A coiled spring in the tubular

page_text: pillar surrounds the top of the piston rod and lifts it when it is at liberty to move
to its highest or normal position. A pipe opens at bottom into the cylinder, and
at top into the upper part of the receptacle under the burner.
Another pipe opens at top into the upper part of the receptacle and at bottom
into the upper part of the reservoir. The former pipe is a supply pipe by which
oil is raised, as herein after explained, from the reservoir to the receptacle. The
latter pipe is an overflow pipe by which oil raised into the receptacle returns to the
reservoir after the oil has reached the proper level in the receptacle.
In the tubular pillar of the lamp is a series of vertical slots in which arms work,
which arms connect the top of the piston rod with. a sliding collar on the tubular
pillar. By depressing the said sliding collar the pistón is depressed and the oil
contained in the cylinder is forced up the supply pipe into the receptacle below the
burner, any excess of oil returning to the reservoir by the overflow pipe. The
replenishing of the receptacle from the roservoir is thus immediately effected by
depressing the sliding collar on the tubular pillar.. When the hand is removed
from the said collar it is raised to its normal position by the coiled spring.
In order to enable the piston to raise the last portion of the oil from the reservoir
the said reservoir is provided with a false bottom around the cylinder, the said false
bottom being at a level a little below the top of the cylinder.
The oil flows into the cylinder from the reservoir through a hole or holes near
the top of the cylinder. The cubic capacity of the cylinder somewhat exceeds that
of the receptacle, so that a single depression of the sliding collar ensures the filling
of the receptacle to the proper height.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert Ernest Newton Mason and Joseph Price in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 27th September 1879.
HERBERT ERNEST NEWTON MASON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, and JOSEPH PRICE, of Birmingham aforesaid, Accountant.
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR BURNING LIGHT OR VOLATILE OILS."
Our Invention has reference to lamps in which light or volatile oils are burned,
such, for example, as the oils commonly called in commerce petroline or kerosine.
In the said lamps as ordinarily constructed the oil is contained in a receptacle
below the burner, from which receptacle it is raised to the point of ignition by the
capillary attraction of the wick. The said receptacles generally have such a size as
fits them to hold oil enough for an evening's consumption.
Our Invention consists in constructing the said lamps in the manner herein after
described, whereby a large quantity of oil can be stored in the base of the lamp and
raised at pleasure in suitable quantity to the receptacle below the burner by &
simple operation on the mechanism of the lamp.
In constructing a lamp according to our Invention we give it the general figure
of a moderator lamp. The base of the lamp consists of a storing reservoir, having
a capacity proportioned to the length of time it is required to burn the lamp
without refilling the said reservoir. Surmounting the reservoir is a tubular pillar,
carrying at its top a receptacle for containing a small quantity of oil, the said
receptacle supporting the burner and the usual appliances. In the bottom of the
reservoir and centrally situated is a hollow cylinder, open at top and closed at
bottom. This cylinder is fitted with a piston, the rod of which extends upwards
into the tubular pillar described. A coiled spring in the tubular pillar surrounds
the top of the piston rod, and lifts it when it is at liberty to move to its highest or
normal position. A pipe opens at bottom into the cylinder and at top into the
upper part of the receptacle under the burner. Another pipe opens at top into the
upper part of the receptacle and at bottom into the upper part of the reservoir.
The former pipe is a supply pipe by which oil is raised, as herein after explained
from the reservoir to the receptacle. The latter pipe is an overflow pipe by which
oil raised into the receptacle returns to the reservoir after the oil has reached the
propel level in the receptacle.
In the tubular pillar of the lamp is a series of vertical slots in which arms work,
which arms connect the top of the piston rod with a sliding collar on the tubular
pillar. By depressing the said sliding collar the piston is depressed and the oil
contained in the cylinder is forced up the supply pipe into the receptacle below tho
burner, any excess of oil returning to the reservoir by the overflow pipe. The
replenishing of the receptacle from the reservoir is thus immediately effected by
depressing the sliding collar on the tubular pillar. When the hand is removed from
the said collar it is raised to its normal position by the coiled spring.
In order to enable the piston to raise the last portion of the oil from the reservoir
the said reservoir is provided with a false bottom around the cylinder, the said false
bottom being at a level a little below the top of the cylinder. The oil flows into
the cylinder from the reservoir through a hole or holes near the top of the cylinder.
The cubic capacity of the cylinder somewhat exceeds that of the receptacle, so
that a single depression of the sliding collar ensures the filling of the receptacle to
the proper height,

page_text: We will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
the manner in which our Invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in vertical section a lamp for burning light or volatile oils,
the parts of the said lamp for feeding the oil to the wick dipping receptacle or
vessel being constructed and arranged according to our Invention; and Figure 2
represents in plan, partly in horizontal section, the sliding collar of the feeding
mechanism. The same letters indicate the same parts in Figures 1 and 2.
a is the storing reservoir in the body of the lamp in which a store of oil is con-
tained. Above the storing reservoir a is a tubular pillar b, carrying at its top a
receptacle or vessel c for containing oil, in which receptacle the wick or wicks of
the lamp dip. The said receptacle or dipping vessel c supports the burner and the
other appliances of the lamp.
In the axis of the body of the lamp and below the storing reservoir a a hollow
cylinder d, closed at bottom and perforated at top, is arranged. In the said cylinder d
is a piston e working tightly in the said cylinder. In the sides of the cylinder d
are perforations or holes f near its top for supplying the said cylinder with oil from
the storing reservoir a. The said holes fare situated a little above the false
bottom of the storing reservoir a as represented. The rod g of the piston e
extends upwards into the tubular pillar b, and is connected with the sliding collar h
(shown separately in Figure 2). The said collar h is provided with three radial
arms i, i, i, which work in vertical slots k, k, in the tubular pillar b. On the
collar h are two handles l, l, for depressing the said collar h, piston rod g, and
piston e. Around the upper part of the piston rod g and situated in the tubular
pillar is a coiled spring m, bearing at its bottom against the plate n and at its
top against the underside of the radial arms i, i, i, of the sliding collar h. By
means of the said spring m, the piston e, rod g, and sliding collar hare raised into
their highest positions or the positions represented in the Drawing, when the
handles 1, 7, of the sliding collar h are loosed, as herein after explained; q is the oil
supply pipe opening at bottom into the bottom of the cylinder d, and passing
upwards and opening at top into the wick dipping vessel or receptacle c; is the
overflow pipe opening at top into the wick dipping vessel c and at bottom into
the storing reservoir a. The storing reservoir a is filled with oil by removing the
screw stopper 8.
In supplying the dipping vessel or receptacle c of the lamp with oil for use the
handles, , are grasped by the hand and depressed. The sliding collar h is thereby
carried down (the arms i, i, i, of the said collar working in the slots k, l, le,)
together with the piston rod g and piston e. The oil contained in the cylinder d,
which has been supplied from the storing reservoir a, is forced by the descent of
the piston c in the said cylinder d up the supply pipe q into the dipping vessel or
receptacle c of the lamp, any excess of oil returning to the storing reservoir a by
the overflow pipe r. By the depression of the piston e and piston rod g the coiled
spring m is compressed, and after the pistone has reached the bottom of the
cylinder d the handles 1, 7, are loosed. The piston e, rod g, and collar h are by the
expansion of the coiled spring m raised into the normal positions represented in the
Drawing, and the lamp is ready for use. On the piston e in its upward stroke
passing the perforations or holes f, f, oil from the storing reservoir & flows by the
said holes ff, into the cylinder d, which is filled therewith, and the oil in the said
cylinder is ready on the next descent of the piston g to be forced into the wick
dipping vessel or receptacle c. Small holes at 73, 72, are made in the top of the
cylinder d to permit of the passage of the oil above the piston into the reservoir a
on the lifting of the piston by the coiled spring m.
By the construction and arrangement of parts described the replenishing of the
wick dipping vessel or receptacle c from the storing reservoir a is effected by
the depressing of the sliding collar h, and as the cubic capacity of the cylinder d
exceeds that of the receptacle c a single depression of the sliding collar ensures
the filling of the said receptacle c to the proper level. Figure 3 represents in

page_text: section a modification of the lamp. last described; and Figures 4 and 5 represent
parts of the same as herein after described:
In this modification the descent of the piston e in the cylinder d, to force the oil
up the supply pipe q into the wick dipping receptacle c is effected by the action of a
coiled spring, and the raising of the said piston for the replenishing of the said
dipping receptacle c is effected by a rack and pinion operated by hand.
The cylinder d, piston e, dipping receptacle. c, and the supply and overflow
pipes q, r, are of the same construction as the corresponding parts in the lamp
already described, but the upper part of the piston rod g is made into a rack 9,.
with which a pinion t in the box t gears. The upper part of the piston is guided,
I and lateral motion in it prevented by the roller g³. A coiled spring u, fixed at one
end of the head of the piston rod g, g³, and at its other end to the box & tends
when the piston and piston rod are at liberty to move to press them into their
lowest positions. Rotation is given to the pinion t to raise the piston rod g, g³,
and piston e by a separable axis and handle w, shown detached in Figure 4, the said
axis having at its inner end a ratchet wheel w², with which a spring pawl w³ in
the body of the lamp (indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3, and shown detached
in Figure 5) engages. By means of the said ratchet wheel and pawl w³, w³, the
back or downward motion of the piston and its rod during the winding up of the
said parts for the replenishing of the wick dipping receptacle c of the lamp is
prevented. The inner face of the ratchet wheel w is provided with a square stud w
which engages in a square hole in the axis of the pinion t. In the case of the
lamp and opposite the pinion t an opening is made of a size proper for the ratchet
wheel won the separable axis w to pass through.
When it is wished to replenish with oil the dipping receptacle c the combined
axis and ratchet wheel w, w³, w, is passed through the case of the lamp, and the
stud w inserted in the square hole in the pinion t. As the axis w and ratchet
wheel w³ are thus temporarily connected with the pinion t, the pawl w³ is at the
same time geared with the said ratchet wheel. By rotating the pinion t in
the direction of the arrow by turning the handle and axis w the racked piston
rod g, g², is raised, and with it the piston e, the back or downward motion of the
said racked piston rod being prevented during the winding up of the said rod by
the ratchet wheel and pawl w², w³. As the piston rod is raised the coiled spring u
is elongated. On raising the piston e to the top of the cylinder d oil flows
into and fills the said cylinder through the holes f, f. As soon as the cylinder dis
filled, which is ascertained by the absence of the gurgling noise of the inflowing
oil into the cylinder, the combined axis and ratchet wheel w, w, w, is withdrawn
from the lamp. The piston and piston rod being no longer held in their raised
positions they are pressed down by the expanded spring u, the descent of the
piston e forcing the oil in the cylinder & through the supply pipe q into the wick
dipping receptacle c.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our
Invention of "Improvements in Lamps for Burning Light or Volatile Oils,"-
First. The construction and combination of parts herein before described and
illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings for feeding or sup-
plying oil from the storing reservoir of the lamp to the wick dipping vessel or
receptacle of the lamp, that is to say, the combination of the cylinder d below the
false bottom of the lamp, the piston e working in the said cylinder, and the supply
and overflow pipes q, r, with the piston rod g, spring m, and sliding collar h, i, l,
the said parts being constructed, arranged, and working substantially as described
and illustrated.
Secondly. The modification herein before described and illustrated.in Figures 3, 4,
and 5 of the accompanying Drawings, in which the piston is raised in the cylinder
by a rack and pinion worked by a separable axis and ratchet wheel, and depressed

page_text: in the cylinder to force the oil through the supply pipe to the wick dipping vess el
or receptacle by the pressure of a coiled spring.
In witness whereof, we, the said Herbert Ernest Newton Mason and Joseph
Price, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fifth day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy
nine.
HERBERT ERNEST NEWTON MASON. (LS.)
JOSEPH PRICE.
(L.S.)
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW,