1,094,465. Wick burners. MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO. Ltd. Dec. 24, 1964 [Dec. 28, 1963 (3)], No. 52454/64. Heading F4T. An oil burner comprises a plurality of combustion wicks 39 of heat-resistant material such as glass or carbon fibres, sintered alloy or ceramic vertically movable in a plurality of wick guide tubes 34, and a plurality of suction wicks 43 of high fuel suction ability such as cotton, asbestos, staple or synthetic fibres having their lower ends in the fuel in a reservoir 1 and their upper ends normally urged into contact with two separable contacting felt members 41, 44 contacting the lower ends of the combustion wicks. The combustion wicks can be raised by means of a shaft 18, pinion 19 and rack 22 and within a certain range of this movement a spring 49 holds the felt members 41, 44 in contact with each other. Beyond this range the ends of the felt members separate and the combustion wicks are no longer supplied with fuel. Burning at the combustion wicks then removes any deposits on the tips of the wicks. The combustion wicks 39 are supported in tubes 40 fixed at their lower ends to a plate 33 secured to the lower end of the rack 22 and urged downwardly by springs 50 surrounding the tubes 40. The upper ends of the suction wicks are secured to a plate 42 on which the spring 49 acts in an upward direction and the upward movement of the plate 42 is limited by stops 48 on the ends of a U-shaped guide member 45 secured to a fixed member 15 and extending through slots 46 in the plate 42. The felt member 41 is fixed to the plate 33 and the other felt member 44 is fixed to the plate 42. The shaft 18 for rotating the pinion 19 is slidable in the pinion and is urged to the left by a coil spring 27 acting between an engaging pin 23 on the shaft and a collar 24 loosely mounted on the shaft outside an enclosure 16 for the pinion. Rotation of the shaft is limited by a pin 32 on the shaft engaging a stopper 31 at one corner of a box 28 through which the shaft passes but further rotation to raise the combustion wicks out of contact with the suction wicks is effected by pulling the shaft outwardly until the pin 32 clears the stopper 31. A further stopper 30 holds the shaft in the raised position of the combustion wicks. During the further rotation of the shaft an abutment 70 on the shaft engages a lug 75 on a pivoted plate 74 and rotates the plate against spring action so that an indication on the plate of the operating condition is visible through a window 11. To start the burner, the shaft 18 is rotated and the tips of the combustion wicks are exposed above an annular fire tray 37. Further rotation causes the engaging pin 23 to rotate a link plate 25 secured to the collar 24, loosely mounted on the shaft 18. The link plate 25 is connected to contact strips of an electric heater igniter 65, Fig. 7a, and to a member pivoted around one of the wick guide tubes 34 and covering an aperture in the fire tray 37. The igniter 65 is thus energized and the aperture is uncovered to expose the tip of a pilot wick 54 supported in a tube 53 moved upwardly in an extinguishing tube 54 against the action of a spring 57 by a tongue 55 on the tube 53 engaging the mounting plate 33 of the combustion wicks. The pilot wick is thus ignited and lights an ignition ring 51 in the fire tray and the flame spreads to the combustion wicks. On release of the shaft 18 a spring 26 acting on the link plate 25 returns the shaft 18 until the engaging pin 23 disengages and the pilot wick 54 is retracted into the extinguishing tube 54. This is the normal burning condition. In a modification, Fig. 9 (not shown), separation of the combustion and suction wicks is effected by rotating a second pinion (82) meshing with a second rack (84) the lower end of which abuts the plate (42) carrying the suction wicks. In a further modification, Fig. 10 (not shown), separation of the combustion and suction wicks is effected by pushing down the end (91) of a pivoted lever which is linked to a push-rod (89) abutting the plate carrying the suction wicks. In a further modification, Figs. 11, 12 (not shown), the pinion on the operating shaft drives two racks (95, 98) in opposite directions, one raising the plate carrying the combustion wicks as in the previous embodiments, the other abutting the plate carrying the suction wicks. In a further modification, Fig. 13 (not shown), the upward movement of the plate carrying the suction wicks is limited by stops on the burner casing.