US13729A

US13729A - Lamp foe

Info

Publication number: US13729A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1855-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 1872-10-30

Description

HORSFORD & NICHOLS.

Safety. Lamp.

Patented Oct. 30, 1855.

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UNITED STATES PATNT QFTQF.

E. N. HORSFORD, OF CAMBRIDGE, AND J. R. NICHOLS, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

LAMP FOR BURNING VOLATILE LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 13,729, dated October 30, 1855.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, E. N. HORSFORD, of Cambridge, Middlesex county, and JAMES R. NIoHoLs, of Haverhill, in thecounty of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Safety-Lamp, and that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the principle or character which distinguishes it from all other things before known and of the usual manner of making, modifying, and using the same.

Our invention consists in certain improvements in safety lamps, for the purpose of more effectually guarding against the frequent and serious accident in the use of lamps for burning volatile and highly combustible liquids.

The main features of improvement are as follows: First, in preventing the contents of the lamp from running out when the lamp may be overturned; second, in protecting the wick, which of itself holds a considerable quantity of the liquid; third, in guarding against the slipping back of the wick in such lamps; fourth, in the in troduction in such lamps of a device for preventing the overflow of the liquid at the junction of the cap and neck of the lamp; and fifth, in guarding against overflow from excessive capillary action.

Figure 1, is a perspective view of the lamp; Fig. 2, a vertical middle section; Fig. 3, a view of the wick tube; Fig. 4:, a vertical middle section of the same; Fig. 5, a horizontal section of the safety chamber through the line 00 m of Fig. 4.

The accidents from these lamps arise chiefly from the five following causes: First, the spilling of the contents by upsetting the lamp when the cap happens to be loose, or removed, as in the act of filling the lamp; second, the passage of flame into the lamp between the cap and neck of the lamp, when the cement there becomes loose or detached, or when the lamps are imperfectly made at this point; leakage from agitation may also occur in such case, and cover the outer surface of the lamp, and give rise to explosion, or crack the lamp if it be of glass; third, the dropping of the wick back through the tube into the lamp from any cause, which leaves a package for the flame into the lamp; fourth, from the flooding or overflow of the fluid at the top of the wick, which happens whenever the fluid is drawn up, faster than it can be consumed, from agitation or other causes; in this case the fluid spreads upon the lamp, ignites, and either cracks the lamp, or heats it so as to drive out either the cap, or force up a greater supply of fluid, and from the alarm of the moment, frequently causes the lam to be thrown down, thus increasing the evil that otherwise might have been avoided; fifth, flame is liable to pass into the lamp from the loosening of the wick tubes, or from imperfections in the top cap. e guard against all such accidents in the following manner: Connected permanently with the lower part of the cap (7)) is a metallic tube or casing as we term it closed at the bottom with wire gauze (h), and it will readily be seen, that should the lamp upset, with the upper cap (a,) loose or detached, but a small portion of the fluid could run out, and that slowly. The wire gauze intercepts all flame, and the tube and gauze together prevent spilling. The cap of this lamp is made so as to be cemented to the outer and inner surface of the neck of the lamp, which diminishes the chance of leakage at that point. It is represented in section at (c, Fig. 2,) and although a well known device for other purposes, yet in this particular lamp has a two fold advantage, viz, it prevents leakage; and the inner ring of the cap, as seen at (1%,) serves as a support for the tube (g). The difference be tween this and the common cap is, that here the cap has two concentric rings between which the neck of the lamp is embraced while in the common cap there is but one ring. At (7') is a small opening in the tube (g), protected with wire gauze for purpose of allowing air to escape when the lamp is being filled.

The wick tube of the lamp is composed of two principal parts, an upper and lower part. The upper part (70,) is firmly fixed to the upper cap (a) and the lower part (m,) is fastened to this cap by a screw, as seen at The upper end of the lower part of the wick tube (1%,) passes through a circular plate (f, Figs. 4 and 5,) in which there are numerous perforations, and a wire gauze protection below; and from this plate rises the screw thread (y), for fastening the lower portion of the wick tube (m,) to the cap. The screw may be omitted and the two parts united permanently. The extremity of the wick tube projects a little above the plate (f,) and is provided with spring barbs, curving inwardly to prevent the wick from slipping back into the lamp. Between the perforated plate and the upper part of the cap, is a chamber (6), and it will be readily understood, that any surplus of liquid drawn or carried up by excessive capillary action or by agitation or otherwise will flow over at this point, and down through the wire gauze partition.

The lower portion of the wick tube (m), is provided with a chamber made of perforated sheet metal, to contain the loose portion of the wick; and this may be closed at the bottom or not by a cap, perforated or not at pleasure. It is to be understood that the spout of the can used for filling the lamp is to be protected by wire gauze in a manner long known forsuch purpose. In

relation to the device for preventing the falling back of the wick, we consider this to be of the utmost importance in lamps for burning volatile ingredients for guarding against the return of the wick in such lamps.

lVe do not claim the use of perforated metal, or of wire gauze as a means of protection in these lamps; but

We claim as our invention- 1. The combination of the safety wicktube constructed as described with the safety tube or casing around it.

2. In combination with the safety tube or casing, the perforated safety chamber with its tube barbed at the top to contain and hold the wick in place.

3. Making the wick tube in two parts or divisions separable or not, substantially as herein-set forth, so as to form the safety chamber in which the barbed portion of the lower wick tube terminates.

E. N. HORSFORD. JAS. R. NICHOLS. Witnesses:

CHARLES R. MnToALr, CHARLES C. METoALr.