An Improvement in or Applicable to Lamps Burning Mineral Oils and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 29th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 29th Mar., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in or Applicable to Lamps Burning Mineral Oils
and the like.
I, JAMES NOAD, of High Street, East Ham, Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:
-
This invention relates to an improvement in or applicable to lamps burning
mineral oils or readily inflammable liquids, the object of the invention being to
render such lamps free from the liability of exploding upon being upset, by regu-
lating the supply of the liquid illuminant to the burner in an improved manner.
To this end, I interpose between the illuminant-reservoir and the burner, a
chamber to which only a small quantity of the illuminant (sufficient for the im-
mediate requirements of the burner) can, at a time, obtain access, by gravitating
thereinto from the reservoir, and from which the lamp-wick draws its supply
through the instrumentality of an absorbent pad, which, at its lower part, dips
into the illuminant within the chamber, and, at its upper part, supplies the lamp-
wick with the illuminant.
The chamber may be cylindrical at the top, and may be let into the reservoir
so as to extend from the top to near the bottom thereof, but communicates there-
with only at its lowest part through an opening which is adjustably controlled by
a valve operated by an externally projecting rod or the like, when the lamp is in
operation, and is closed, while the reservoir is being charged with the illuminant,
which is effected through a top closable opening in the reservoir, the illuminant
surrounding the chamber, to which it can only obtain access by the said valved
opening.
The burner, below the part thereof which screws into its holder, is fitted with
a case adapted to support an absorbent pad of felt, asbestos or other suitable fibrous
material which extends from the lower part of the burner to the bottom of said
chamber, and, by capillary attraction, draws up the oil from the bottom of the
chamber, becomes charged therewith throughout its length, and supplies the same
to the lamp-wick at the upper part of the chamber.
Air obtains access to the chamber through suitable perforations made in the
burner, and, by a bird-fountain-like action, intermittently obtains access from
the chamber to the reservoir as the supply of illuminant in the chamber needs
renewal, and permits of a further small quantity of the illuminant escaping from
the reservoir into the chamber.
The improved arrangement is of advantage in that it permits of the wick being
used to the very last vestige as long as it engages with the top of the absorbent
pad, while simultaneously permitting of the oil being used to the very last drop.
The chamber also tends to keep the reservoir cool and to prevent the generation
of explosive vapours, and, should the lamp be upset, it prevents the illuminant
escaping from the reservoir and so avoids the liability of explosion or of the ignition
of the oil.
The chamber also enables the lamp to be charged with albo-carbon without the

page_text: latter being placed in the liquid illuminant, and whereby the illuminative effect
of the lamp will be considerably improved.
Dated this 29th day of March 1897
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
An Improvement in or Applicable to Lamps Burning Mineral Oils
and the like.
I, JAMES NOAD, of High Street, East Ham, Essex, 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:-
This invention relates to an improvement in or applicable to lamps burning
mineral oils or readily inflammable liquids, the object of the invention being to
regulate the supply of the liquid illuminant to the burner in an improved manner
and by means which, should the lamp be upset while alight, will prevent the
illuminant from escaping from the reservoir and so will avoid the liability of the
ignition or explosion of the illuminant and the danger of fire arising therefrom.
On the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 represents a lamp adapted with the present improvement;
Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the lamp body, with the burner removed;
Figs. 3, and 4 represent elevations of the burner."
To the end aforesaid, I interpose between the illuminant-reservoir, a, and the
burner, b, a chamber, c, to which only a small quantity of the illuminant (sufficient
for the immediate or near requirements of the burner) can, at a time, obtain access,
by gravitating thereinto from the reservoir, and from which the lamp-wick, d,
draws its supply through the instrumentality of an absorbent pad, e, which, at
its lower part, dips into the illuminant within the chamber, c, and, at its upper
part, supplies the lamp-wick with the illuminant.
The chamber, c, may be cylindrical at the top, and may be let into the reser-
voir, a, so as to extend from the top to near the bottom thereof, but communicates
therewith only at its lower part through an opening, f, which can be closed by a
valve, g, operated by an externally projecting rod, h, or the like, and is so closed while
the reservoir is being charged with the illuminant, but is left open at other times.
The reservoir is charged with the illuminant through a capped opening, i, and
surrounds the chamber, to which, as aforesaid, it can obtain access only by the
said opening; f, when open or unclosed by the valve, g.
The burner b, below the part thereof which screws into its holder, k, is fitted
with an open wirework screen or case 1, serving to support the absorbent pad e,
which may consist of felt, asbestos or other suitable fibrous material, and which
extends from the lower part of the burner to the bottom of the chamber c, and,
by capillary attraction, draws up the oil from the bottom of the chamber and be-
comes charged therewith throughout its length and serves to supply the same to
the lamp-wick, d.
Air obtains access to the chamber, c, through perforations made in the burner,
and, by a bird-fountain-like action, intermittently obtains access from the chamber
to the reservoir, a, as the supply of illuminant in the chamber needs renewal, and,
at each such action, permits of a small quantity of the illuminant escaping from
the reservoir into the chamber.
The improved arrangement is of further advantage in that it permits of the

page_text: wick, d, being used to the last vestige, as long as it engages with the top of the
absorbent pad e, while also permitting of the oil in the chamber, c, being used to
the last drop, and that the chamber also tends to keep the reservoir cool and to pre-
vent the generation of explosive vapours.
The chamber also enables the lamp to be charged with albo-carbon without the
latter being placed in the liquid illuminant, the albo-carbon being supported in
the chamber, e, in any convenient manner above the level of the liquid illuminant
therein and whereby the illuminant effect of the lamp will be considerably improved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
In lamps for burning mineral oil, in combination, an illuminant reservoir, a
burner and an intermediate chamber, the chamber communicating with the reser-
voir through a bottom opening controlled by a valve and through which only a
small quantity of the illuminant (sufficient for the immediate and near require-
ments of the burner) can, at a time, obtain access to the chamber by gravitating
thereinto from the reservoir, and the burner being fitted with an absorbent pad
extending to the bottom of the chamber and serving by capillary attraction to
draw up the illuminant from the bottom of the chamber and to supply the same
to the lamp-wick, as set forth.
Dated this 29th day of December 1897
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.