Improvements in Lamps.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1894
Improvements in Lamps.
I, EDWARD GERARD, of 84 Tunnel Road, Edge Hill, near Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Lamp Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in lamps in which the illuminating
agent employed is a volatile liquid such as benzine. the object being to construct
such lamps that they may be less liable to explosion or accident when over-
charged and may be carried about with safety. Hitherto benzine lamps have been
defective and dangerous owing to the large area of wick well which admits of the
lamp being carelessly overcharged and also allows a greater amount of saturated
wick surface being exposed to the radiated heat of the flame thus causing the
volatile liquid to evaporate and quickly escape around the wick adjusting
arrangement.
In a lamp constructed according to my invention the volatile liquid is contained
in a vessel provided with a closely fitting cover, from which depen is a perforatel
or wire ganze tube of about the same diameter as the wick which is located therein;
the space around this wick tube is preferably filled with absorbent material such
as cotton. The upper edge of the vessel projects somewhat above the cover, so as
to allow of a burner being conveniently secured in position. The burner is in the
form of a dome-shaped cover provided at the top with a short wick tube on the
underside of the cover, a plate is provided having a central hole for the passage
of the wick (the edges of said hole being so shaped that they in line upwardly
towards the centre so as to prevent the wick descending, should the lamp be
knocked or shaken).
This plate is so arranged that an air space is left between the under side of the
burner and the cover of the vessel containing the volatile liquid, this space having
for object to partly prevent the heat from the flame being conducted to the liquid
containing vessel, which is practically closed, so that should the lamp accidentally
be lighted before the burner and wick are fitted into position the volatile gas will
simply burn at the end of the perforated or gauze tube.
In a lamp constructed according to this invention the wick is more or less
closely encased throughout the greater part of its length, so that there is very
little surface for evaporation or exposed to the heat of the flame and should the
lamp be overcharged or upset any excess of liquid not absorbed by the wick-cotton
or the like absorbent could not easily escape or spill through the small wick opening
and become ignited. The lamp may be provided with a wick raising device when
desired.
Dated this 17th day of March 1602
EDWARD GERARD,
By L. W., per F. B.
GUMTIMIN DIE IFICATION.
Improvements in Lamps.
I, EDWARD GERARD, of 38 Tunnel Road, late of 84 Tunnel Road, Edge Hill,
near Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, 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 has reference to improvements in lamps in which the illuminating

page_text: ugent employed is a volatile liquid such as benzine, the object being to so construct
such lamps that they shall be less liable to explosion or accident when overcharged,
and that they may be carried about with safety. Eitherto benzine lamps have
been defective and dangerous owing to the large area of wick well, which admits
of the lamp being carelessly overcharged and also allows a greater amount of
saturated wick surface being exposed to the infiatel heat of the flame thus causing
the volatile liquid to evaporate and quickly escape around the wick adjusting
arrangement.
In a lamp constructed according to my invention the volatile liquid is contained
in a vessel provided with a closely fitting cover, from which depends a perforated
or wire gauze tube of about the same diameter as the wick located therein the
space around this wick tube is preferably filled with absorbent material such as
cotton. The upper edge of the vessel may project somewhat above the cover, or
be otherwise suitably arranged so as to allow of the burner being conveniently
secured in position. The burner is in the form of a dome-shaped cover provided at
the top with a short wick tube; on the under side of the cover a plate is or may he
provided having a central hole for the passage of the wick (the edges of said hole
being 50 shaped that they incline upwards towards the centre so as to prevent the
wick descending should the lamp be knocked or shaken).
For ordinary lamps for household use the plate may be dispensed with, but when
it is used it is so arranged that an air space is left between the under side of the
Burner and the cover of the vessel containing the volatile liquid, this space having
for object to parily prevent the heat from the fame being conducted to the liquid
containing vessel, which is practically closed. Should the fluid in the lamp become
accidentally ignited before the burner and wick are fitted into position the volatile
gas will simply burn on the top of the cover at the end of the perforated or gauze
tube.
In a lamp constructed according to this invention the wick is more or less closely
encased throughout the greater part of its length, so that there is very little
surface for evaporation or exposed to the heat of the flame and should the lamp be
overcharged or upset any excess of liquid not absorbed by the wick cotton or the
like absorbent could not easily escape or spill through the small wick opening and
become ignited, The lamp may be provided with a wick raising device when
desired.
In the accompanying drawing a sectional elevation of a construction of lamp
according to any invention is illustrated, I is the tubular container secured at its
lower end to a dish or tray 2 made of any suitable shape to suit the purpose the
lamp is intended for. To the upper end of the container I is soldered or otherwise
secured a flanged cover 3 that is internally screw threaded to receive the detachable
burner 4. The cover 3 is provided with a central downwardly projecting flange 3ª
the hole or opening thus formed being somewhat tapered and a little larger in
diameter than the wick 5 to be used. From the cover 3 a perforated or wire gauze
tube 6 depends its upper part surrounding the central flange 3. This tube is a
little larger than the wick designed to be used in the lamp, it extends downward to
the bottom 7 to which it is soldered. Between the perforated tube 6 and the
container tube 1 absorbent material 8 such as short staple cotton wool or sponge
clippings is inserted previous to the bottom 7 being fixed on.
The burner 4 is provided with a wick tube 4. The lamp may be provided with
a wick raising device; or the upper part of the wick tube may be slotted to
enable the wick to be raised on the insertion through one of the slots of a pin or
the like. I find that instead of raising or lowering the wick to obtain the size of
light required it is advantageous to employ a sliding tubular ferrule 9 encircling the
upper end of wick tube 4. By raising this the light can be readily diminished, by
sliding it downward so as to expose more wick the light will be increased. The
ferrule 9 may be made of pen steel or thin brass and has a small projection at its
lower end by which it can be manipulated. The extinguisher 10 may be of the
ordinary tapered kind and be connected by a chain to the burner 4.

page_text: In some cases on the underside of the burner or cover + a plate 11 is provided;
it is fixed to the burner as shewn in dotted lines, and has a central hole for the
passage of the wick, the edge of said hole being inclined upwardly as shown, so as
to prevent the wick descending should the lamp be knocked or shaken.
The plate 11 is so arranged that an air space is left between the under side of
the burner and the cover 3 of the vessel 1 containing the volatile liquid, this space
having for object to partly prevent the heat from the flame being conducted to the
liquid containing vessel, which is practically closed. By this arrangement should
the lamp accidentally be lighted before the burner and wick are fitted into position
the volatile gas will simply burn on the top of the cover 3 as it is evaporated in the
small wick tube, without causing an explosion which would probably result under
similar circumstances when a large wick well is employed as in the usual form of
lamp.
It will be seen that by my arrangement should the lamp be accidentally overcharged
or a light applied before the burner is in position there will be little danger as the
small hole in the cover 3 will only allow a small quantity of gas or vapour from
the benzine or other inflammable or volatile liquid to escape.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
--
1. A lamp for burning inflammable volatile liquids such as benzine comprising a
vertical tubular container, an inner concentric tubular perforated wick tube adapted
to be surrounded by absorbent material such as cotton wool sponge clipping or the
like, a closely fitting lid and a burner substantially as described.
2. A lamp for burning volatile liquid such as benzine comprising a liquid
containing vessel (1), a closely fitting cover (3) having a central aperture, a
perforated wick tube or well extending from said cover, and a dome-shaped cover
or burner 4 with upwardly extending wick tube 4 the arrangement being such
that the wick is more or less closely encased throughout its length substantially as
described.
3. My improved lamp for burning volatile liquid constructed substantially as
described and shewn whether the plate 11 be used or not.
Dated this 18th day of December 1893.