Improvements in Devices for Lighting Lamps, Lanterns, Gas Jets, and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Lighting Lamps, Lanterns, Gas Jets,
and the like.
A communication by BRADFORD H. PENDLETON, of Evanston, in the County
of Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America, Jeweller.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street Liverpool and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 this invention is to provide a new or improved device for
conveniently lighting lamps, lanterns, gas jets, etcetera, without removing the
chimney or globe, and which is arranged to be at all times ready for immediate
use, dispensing entirely with matches and similar devices for igniting purposes.
This invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the
same, as will be fully described hereinafter, reference being had to the accom-
panying drawings, forming a part of this Specification, in which similar letters of
reference indicate like parts in all the figures. In these,
Figure 1, is a side elevation of the improvement as applied to a lamp;
Figure 2 a partial section and side elevation to show the relative position of the
lighter inside the burner portion of an ordinary lamp;
Figure 3 a top face or lid view on an enlarged scale of the box containing the
lighter mechanism detached from the lamp ;
Figure 4 a view of the lower or opposite side of the lighter box from that shown
in Figure 3;
Figure 5 an edge elevation of the box shown as when viewed in direction of
arrow A, Figure 3;
Figure 6 an interior view of the lighter box with the lid removed to show position
of parts when ready for use;
Figure 7 a portion of the top of the body of the lighter box with the lid removed
to show receptacle for holding an igniting tape, this view also showing one position
of the scratcher which ignites the fulminate points on the tape, and
Figure 8 a view of the lighter box with the lid thrown open and the scratcher
over to the position it is given when a new igniting tape is being introduced as will
be hereinafter more fully explained.
This improved lighting device is provided with a box B which is adapted to be
passed into a sleeve, C Figures 1, 2 and 6, which sleeve is secured in an inclined
position on the lamp, lantern, or gas jet on which the lighting device is used, the
box B being held in position by the pressure of the elastic sides of the sleeve or by
means of any of the ordinary spring devices which are in common use for similar
purposes. The box B is provided with a hinged lid or cover B¹ which can be
opened, Figure 8, to conveniently get at the contents of the box.
In the upper end of the box B is arranged a circular casing D forming a
receptacle adapted to receive a strip E of canvas or other suitable material and
provided on its outer surface with points or protuberances E', made of an igniting
substance and placed at suitable distances apart, as is plainly shown in the drawings.
The strip E is adapted to pass through a slot D' in the rim of circular casing D
and then the strip is extended over part of the said rim to finally wind at its outer
end on the inner end F¹ of a shaft F, mounted to turn in suitable bearings in the
cover or lid B' so that the lid can be opened with the shaft in position as shown in
Figure 8. The end F¹ of shaft F, however, also has bearing in the rear of the box

page_text: in a hole G, Figure 8, when the lid B' is closed, the projecting end of shaft F
being shown in Figure 5. The shaft F swinging outward with the lid, when the
latter is opened, Figure 8, the used up igniting strip E is easily removed from the
shaft and a new strip as easily inserted in operative position. The tape may be
more easily removed from the shaft F and receptacle or casing D than if said shaft
were mounted in the box, for the reason that the shaft is fully exposed and
accessible and the fingers of the operator do not have to be passed into any narrow
space such as would exist between the sides of a box and a shaft as shown when the.
box is closed.
The outer end of shaft F is provided with a milled head H by which the shaft
is turned by the fingers to wind up the igniting strip E as hereinafter more fully
described.
On the shaft F inside the lid B is secured a ratchet-wheel I engaged by the free
end of a spring I' secured to the inner side of the lid and serving to prevent a
return movement of the ratchet wheel I and shaft F and the unwinding of the used
up end of the igniting strip E.
On the back of box B is pivotally attached at J a scratcher J, bent over the
upper end of the box and extending in close proximity to the outer surface of the
strip E so that when the latter is passed over the stationary casing D, the lower
end of the scratcher J comes in contact with the igniting points E' so that on
pulling the strip E the points E' are successively and separately ignited.
The casing D is firmly secured in the position shown within box B, but the
scratcher J is pivoted at J' so that it can be swung over to the position to one
side, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, but is held from swinging farther in the opposite
direction than the position shown in Figure 4 by the stop pin K, this movement
and change of position of the scratcher being for the purpose as will now be
described.
To insert an igniting strip E, the lid B is swung open, Figure 8, and the
scratcher J moved over to the left to the position shown in Figures 7 and 8, which
releases the scratcher point from contact with igniting strip E which permits the
easy removal of the remaining portion of the strip from the casing D, and the
unwinding of the other end of the strip from the shaft F, after which the new strip
in the form of a roll is placed in the casing D, after which the outer loose end of
the strip is brought up and out of the slot D¹, thence over the top of the casing D,
thence downwardly to the shaft F when the end of the strip is inserted through a
slot L through the shaft, after which the lid B is closed, when, by rotating shaft F
in the direction of the arrow, Figures 3 and 6, the strip E will be wound on shaft F
and cause igniting points E' to be brought successively against scratcher J.
As shown in Figure 2, the upper end of box B containing the scratcher J is in
close proximity to the wick or jet of the lamp, so that, when one of the igniting
points E' is fired by coming in contact with scratcher J, the wick or jet is ignited
thereby.
It will be seen that a lighting device constructed in this manner is always ready
for use, and permits of conveniently lighting the lamp, lantern or jet without
removing the chimney or globe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :---
1. A lighting device comprising a box adapted to be secured on a lamp or
lantern and provided with a scratcher, a circular casing in the said box, a
strip
arranged in a roll and placed in the said casing, the said strip being provided with
igniting points and passed through a slot in the rim of the casing and over the said
rim, and a shaft mounted to turn in the box and adapted to wind up the said
igniting strip, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a lighting device, the combination, with a box having a hinged lid, of a
circular casing within said box, a movable scratcher pivotally secured to said box,

page_text: and a strip provided with igniting points and arranged in a roll held loosely in the
said casing, a shaft mounted to turn in the box and adapted to wind up the said
igniting strip and cause the igniting points thereof to contact with the free end of
said scratcher in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.
3. The combination, with the buruer provided with the open ended tube or
sleeve C, of the lighting device comprising a box extending through the tube or
sleeve, and provided, adjacent to the burner-tip, with a scratcher, a circular
slotted tape carrying casing in the open end of the box adjacent to the scratcher,
and a tape operating shaft mounted in the lower or outer end of the box exterior
to said tube or sleeve, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 5th day of October 1892
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.