IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS
Year: 1842

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
ROBERTS, of Park Place West, Liverpool Road, Islington Road; Miner, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Fifteenth day of August, in the sixth-year of Her reign; did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Roberts, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said George Roberts, my exors, adññors, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said George Roberts, my exors, adiñors, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might-make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS;" in which-
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said George Roberts,
shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the-same-is to be performed, to be-inrolled in Her said Majesty's
High Court of Chancery; within six- calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by, the
same, reference-being thereunto had, will-more-fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
George Roberts, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which-the-same is to be performed, are fully described and

page_text: ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
My Invention relates,-
First, to improvements in lamps for burning naptha, turpentine, or such
spirits as are usually burned in lamps.
Secondly, my Invention relates to improvements in lamps used for burning
oils or melted fats.
Thirdly, my Invention relates to improvements in lamps for consuming
candles and mould tallow, or other material in the form of candles.
And fourthly, my Invention relates to improvements in the construction of
what are called miners' lamps.
And in order that my Invention may be most fully described and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows the section of a spirit lamp, having my improvements
applied thereto. Figures 2 and 3 show some of the parts separately. The
lamp is for the most part similar to an ordinary Argand lamp used for burning
oil. a is the vessel for containing naptha or other suitable spirit, such as is
usually consumed in lamps. 6 is a tube up which the air for the interior of
the flame passes.
On the outer surface of this tube 6 is formed the spiral
groove for raising and lowering the wick holder c, which is similar to those
used in ordinary oil lamps. d is a tube having a slit down it into which the
stud c' of the wick holder enters; hence, when the tube d is turned, the wick
holder c is caused to move either up or down, according to the direction in
which the tube d is turned. The tube d is affixed to the ring d' at top, and
to the ring d at bottom; and it will be seen that the ring d' rests on the
upper part of the vessel a, and turns thereon. e is the gallery which is con-
nected with the ring d by means of wire stems f, f, the gallery consisting of
an open frame allowing the air to pass freely into the glass shade g, and also
into the glass chinney h, as hereafter explained; and it is the manner of
directing and deflecting the air which enters the lower part of the glass
chimney which constitutes this part of my Invention, and for this purpose
several discs, with openings through them, are combined in such manner as to
deflect air on to the wick, and also on to and all around the flame after it is
formed, such deflection of the air being at intervals apart, consequently the air
will be deflected on to the flame at different heights, the air being prevented
passing into the upper part of the chimney, excepting with the flame. The

page_text: chimney used is what is called an ordinary French chimney, which rests on
the upper disc. This disc has a hole through its centre, of a diameter some-
what smaller than that of the wick through which the flame passes, and any
air which may rise up and come in contact with the under surface of the disc i
will be deflected off and against the flame in all directions; and it will be
desirable here to remark, that this disc i, in its separate condition, is similar to
those which have been used in lamps for causing air to be deflected against
the flame at a point above the point of combustion, and the same when used
separately is not claimed as of my Invention. Below this disc i is another
disc j, also having a hole in its centre of rather larger dimensions than the
disc i, and any air which may rise up against the inside of the disc j will be
deflected off against the flame; and these two discs i and j, when used in com-
bination, will go far to produce a good light from naptha or other spirits
usually consumed in lamps for the purposes of artificial light, and in conse-
quence of the supply of air all round the flame, by means of the two discs i and j,
there will be little if any smoke. k is another disc, the opening in which is of
still larger diameter, and is of about the diameter of the interior of the wick,
and comes directly over the wick, as is shown, and the air coming against the
under surface of the disc k will be deflected against the flame just where it is
formed on the upper part of the wick. is another disc which is fixed on the
ring d', there being a space between it and the upper surface of the ring d¹
through which the air rushes against the wick and keeps it cool, the diameter
of the whole through the disc being large enough for the passage of the wick
through it, as is shown; and it will be found that by combining the use of the
four discs, as above described, a lamp, such as above described, may be made
suitable for burning naptha and other spirits without smoke, producing a very
powerful light. m is a ring which carries the three upper dises, as is shown,
and also the glass chimney, there being projections on the under side of the
ring m, which causes it to stand above the gallery, and thus allows of air
passing into the interior of the lower part of the glass chimney. On the
interior of the inner tube b is placed a short tube b¹ which rises above the tube
b, consequently receives the heat from the flame, and prevents it getting to the
tube b, and the tube 61 conducts the heat away by the stem 62, and the stem b²
is kept in a central position by the projections b³.
I will now describe the second part of my Invention, which relates to
improvements in lamps for burning oil or melted fat.
This part of my
Invention relates to the means used in deflecting the air on to the flame above
the wick, and also in deflecting air on to the wick. Figure 4 shows so much
of an Argand burner of an ordinary construction of lamp, some of the parts

page_text: being in section.. is a disc having a hole through the centre, such disc being
supported from the gallery by wire stems, as is shown. The opening through
this disc should be rather less than the diameter of the wick, and the disc
should prevent the air passing into the upper part of the chimney, except
through the centre with the flame. This disc is similar to those heretofore
used, and separately is not claimed as of my Invention. The air which rises
up and comes against the under surface thereof is deflected all around against
the flame. is another disc, the opening through which is of rather larger
diameter than that through the deflector i, as is shown, and the air which comes
against the under surface of the disc j will be deflected off against the flame,
and owing to the use of too such discs, each deflecting air from its under surface
against the flame, it will be found that the lamp will burn much better than
when only one dise is used. Figure 5 shows the upper part of another burner
of a lamp wherein two discs are used; but in this case the under surface of the
lower disc deflects the air against the wick just at or under the lower part of
the flame, which will be found of great advantage; and this deflecting of the
air on to the wick may with advantage be used in combination with the
disc only, or combined with the discs i and j, as described in respect to
Figure 4.
I will now describe the third part of my Invention, which applies to lamps
for burning candles or moulded tallow or other materials in the form of
candles. Figure 6 shows the section of part of a lamp for burning a candle
where the wick turns out of the flame when being consumed. A is a tube for
holding a candle, such tube when in use being inserted into a pillar, as is
shown at Figure 7. The candle in the tube A is constantly forced up to the
nozel B by a spring C, as is well understood. The tube A enters the nozel B,
and is affixed therein. by a projecting stud entering into a slit B', shown by
dotted lines. D is the gallery for the glass chimney, it being an open or
framed gallery, to allow of air passing freely through the same into the glass
chimney. is a disc having a hole through it, as is shown, and on this dise
the glass chimney is supported in such manner that the air is prevented
passing into the upper part of the chimney except at the opening through
which the flame passes. This disc i is similar to those which have been before
used in deflecting air against the flame of a lamp which passes through it, and
separately is not claimed. j is another disc having an opening through it, and
through this disc the upper ends of the wicks of the candle pass, and air will
be deflected against the flame produced in consuming the wicks and the candle.
Figure 7 shews the section of another lamp, but the same is shown to be
consuming tallow or other material, moulded into the form of a candle, there

page_text: being a short wick, consisting of three short pieces of platted wick bound
together at their lower ends, or the wick used may be otherwise formed, the
mode of making the wick forming no part of my Invention. The wick is
placed on the pin E, which passes into the flame, and descends into the tallow
or other matter below, and by the heat of the pin E the tallow or other matter
employed will be melted. F, F, are three projecting studs which support the
wick, the studs and pins being affixed in the small plate F, which is connected
to the lower deflecting disc j by the wires G, as is shewn, i being the upper
disc. These deflect the air on to the flame so as to produce a much better
light than can be produced when only one deflecting instrument such as that
at is used. Figure 8 shews a plan and vertical section of the nozel and
parts connected therewith separately, such as is applied to Figure 7; and
Figure 9 shews a plan and vertical section of the nozel and parts connected
therewith, such as is shewn in Figure 6.
I will now describe the fourth part of my Invention, which relates to
improvements on miners' safety lamps. Figure 10 shews a vertical section of
a lamp constructed according to this part of my Invention. Figures 11, 12,
13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, shew various views of the parts. I is the oil-vessel,
which is of the ordinary construction, having only the addition of the ring I,
which forms a hollow cup to receive any oil which may run from the wick,
tube, or pipe, when the lamp is tilted, but which will flow back when the lamp
is upright. J is a cylinder of wire gauze within which the flame of the lamp
burns. Over the upper part of this cylinder is placed a tube of iron or other
metal K, consequently the air is prevented passing into or from the cylinder J,
where it is covered by the metal covering K. The upper end of the cylinder J
is closed with wire gauze, and the air for supporting combustion can only pass
through the cylinder J at the part thereof which surrounds the flame. The
lower part of the wire gauze cylinder J is affixed to the plate L, as is shewn.
M is a glass cylinder, which surrounds the lower part of the cylinder J, the
upper part of the glass supporting the cylinder of wire gauze N, which is
closed at top with wire gauze. O is a spring cap or cover which fits within
the ring P and over the wire gauze cylinder N, and the ring Pand plate L are
combined together by the rods Q. Figure 18 shews the section of another
miners' lamp, Figures 19 and 20 shewing views of some of the parts.
In this instance the air for supporting combustion is introduced through two
surfaces of wire gauze R up between the deflecting plates S, S. In place of
the second cylinder N of wire gauze before described, a metal cylinder N is
used, with a hood or cover to it, as is shewn, and the cylinder J is not covered
so low down with metal as in the other lamp.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the best means I am
acquainted with for performing the same, I would remark that I do not
confine myself to the exact details herein described, so long as the peculiar
character of my Invention be retained; and I would have it understood that
what I claim is,―
First, the mode of applying discs for directing the air against the flame and
also against the wick, as above described in respect to Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Secondly, I claim the mode of applying two or more discs to deflect the air
on to the flame and on to the wicks of lamps, as described in respect to Figures
4 and 5.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of employing two discs i, j, to candle lamps, or
lamps consuming tallow or other material moulded in the form of candles, as
described in respect to Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9.
And fourthly, I claim the mode of applying the parts K, N, M, as above
.described.
And I also claim the mode of introducing air through the wire surfaces R
and deflecting surfaces S, S.
And I also claim the application of the ring I, forming a cup at the top of
the oil vessel, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Roberts, have hercunto set my
hand and scal, this Fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord