Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1898
I, EDWARD JOHN SHAW, of Astral Works. Hatherton Street, Walsall, in the
County of Staffordshire, Lamp and Glass Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be perfor.ned
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the construction of oil-lamps, and has for object to
provide an improved diffuser for and improvements in means for extinguishing such
lamps.
My invention consists firstly of the arrangement of a special conical diffuser above
the wick, and secondly, of an extinguisher held automatically in position by means
of a sliding counterpoise or weight travelling upon the extinguisher lever or by
means of a spring for the same purpose.
In describing my invention, I refer to the accompanying shest of drawings,
upon which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a central draught oil lamp fitted with my
invention.
Figure 2 being a similar view of the upper portion of the same.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the improved diffuser.
Figure 4 shews in elevation the extinguishing device removed from the lamp.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 shew modifications of the device for retaining the extin-
guishing lever in position.
Within the wick tube a I secure the lower portion of the diffuser or air spreader b
shewn separately and in section on Figure 3. This diffuser is secured to the
interior of the wick tube a by bayonet catches c on opposite sides of the bottom
portion.
The neck 6° of the diffuser is of a perforated tube and the shoulder b¹ between
the neck 6º and the lower portion may also be perforated if desired. The neck bo
is joined to the conical diffuser b which is also perforated, preferably with a single
ring of holes as shewn. The flat under-side or part base of the cone is also
perforated, the object being to allow as much air as possible to pass outwards from
the central tube and thus to increase the upward central draught to as great an
extent as possible, the result being a whiter light and less smoky flame.
This diffuser may be sprung into position within the wick tube a or placed
therein and secured in any other convenient manner. I prefer, however, to use the
bayonet catches as the position of the diffuser above the wick tubo thus remains
constant.
The other portion of my invention may be applied to central draught and other
lamps where practicable, and consists in providing the outer projecting lever of the
extinguishing device with a device for retaining said lever in its downward
position and therefore to keep the extinguisher tube against the diffuser or well
above the wick tube.
On Figures 1 and 21 have shown an extinguisher lever d provided with a
longitudinal slot d within which a weight e may slide.

page_text: This weight may take the form of two knobs or flat heads e e joined together by
a screw which latter in operation passes through the slot in the lever d.
The extinguisher lover d and the slot therein, are of such a length and the
former is so pivoted, that when the extinguishing tube f is lowered the weight e will
be at the inner end of the slot d', the lever d in this case being tilted above
the horizontal. On depressing the lever d below the horizontal and so as to cause the
extinguishing tube f to rise upwards, the weight e will pass along the slot d to the
outer end thereof, and when pressure is removed from the lever the weight e acting
at the end of the lever is sufficient to maintain the tube f in its upper position until
it is wished to lower the same.
This latter operation is performed by tilting lever d upwards again whereupon
the weight e will slide inwards to the position shewn on Figure 2.
The lever d is fulcrumed on the frame of the lamp, on the support of the rising
gallery, or at any other convenient position upon the lamp.
Figures 5 and 6 shew modified forms of the weight e; in the former caso the
lever dis provided with the slot d' and in the latter figure this slot is dispensed
with. The action of the weight is the same in each case.
Ou Figure 7 I have shown a modified device for retaining the extinguisher lever
in the depressed position. On the underside of the lever d is arranged a claw or
hook g adapted to be engaged by a spring h. This spring will allow the hook to
cscape when the lever is forced upwards but will retain the lever in its lower
position after the hook has pushed the spring outwards, the spring thereupon
tending to return to its normal position. A similar spring device may be arranged
above the lever.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In central draught oil lamps, a diffuser consisting of a cone-shaped head
provided with perforations and connected by a narrowed and perforated neck to a
base or support provided with bayonet catches or similar devicos for securing the
diffuser to the wick tube, substantially as described.
2. In oil lamps provided with an extinguishing tube, a weight or counterpoise
sliding upon or within a slot upon the oxtinguisher lever for the purpose of retaining
this extinguishing lever in the depressed condition, substantially as described.
3. In oil lamps provide.l with an extinguishing tube, a spring clip device
adapted to engage a hook or claw upon the extinguisher lever for the purpose of
maintaining the latter in its lower position, substantially as described.
4. In oil lamps, the combination with a lever fulcrumed upon tho support of the
rising gallery or other portion of the lamp and adapte to raise an extinguishing
tube, of a weight arranged to slide upon the outer arm of said lever, (or of a spring
to engago a claw upon said lever) for the purpose of maintaining the lever in its
lowered position, substantially as set forth.
5. In central draught oil lamps, the combination with an extinguishing device
consisting of a tube f operated by a lever d which may be retained in its lowered
position by means of a weight e or spring h, of a conical and perforated diffuser
device, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this Fourteenth day of March 1898.