780 



SILBER LIGHT 



'IB thus bathed with the circumambient air, so that the oil in the receiver is kept 

 at the temperature of such circumambient air, and is thus prevented from being 

 unduly heated, whereby the danger hitherto apprehended from burning mineral 

 oils in such lamps is prevented, c is a screw-cap, which closes the feed hole by which 

 oil is admitted into the receiver c ; D is a pipe by which the oil flows from the receiver 

 c to a chamber or socket E, which holds the burner F. The pipe D passes from the 

 outside receiver c into the body of the lamp, o is an arm connected at one end with 

 the socket E, and at the other with the body of the lamp. It (as well as the pipe D,) 

 supports the socket E. The burner F holds a wick, which at its lower end dips into the 

 oil in the socket E, and thus receives its supply. The apparatus E, F, is shown as 

 constructed in fig. 1763. n is a glass chimney held in a gallery or groove; lisa 

 metal chimney which surrounds the chimney H to a certain height, and at a little 

 distance from it. The chimney i protects the chimney H, and the flame, from sudden 

 draught or currents of air. J is a reflector of silvered-copper, which throws the rays 

 downward ; it is connected with the pipe D by a bracket, and it carries little uprights 

 y*, through which pass rods j 2 for holding the chimney i in place ; A, h, are springs 

 which hold the chimney H firmly, and prevent it from oscillating or being shifted out 

 of place ; z, tap for regulating the flow of oil towards the burner ; I, I, are air-holes 

 in the part A x of the body of the lamp ; they receive air through a channel formed by 

 flanges L, L X , which are in a piece with the body of the lamp ; A S is a dome or cap, 

 which surmounts the lamp, and has over it a cap Q, fixed on a perforated cylinder Q X , 

 formed of perforated metal or wire-cloth, and having an interior space as shown ; q, 

 short air-pipe or chimney fixed in the cap A S ; m?, m s , m*, concentric wind-guards or 

 cowls for protecting the light from gusts of air, and for allowing the aeriform or 

 fuliginous products of combustion to escape into the external atmosphere ; m* is 

 a diaphragm attached to the cap m 4 , and acting as a deflector to guide the said 

 products into the open air ; m s is a cap attached to the cowl m*, for guiding the 

 smoke outwards ; p, p, are lugs, through which pass the ends of a handle p, which 

 are hooked. On the lugs are tails, which pass through the cap Q, and support the 

 parts Q, m?, m 3 , q. 



Another arrangement, patented July 31, 1871, relates to street, signal, and carriage 

 lamps, and affords a means of keeping the oil-supply contained in them at the tem- 

 perature of the atmosphere, by surrounding the receptacle with an air-jacket. By this 

 means the flame is prevented from rising, and the lamps may be left burning, without 

 any attention for 24 hours or more. The reason for not separating the bulk of the oil, 

 as in railway roof-lamps, and inserting a small cup for present supply in the centre, 

 is that the available space, in those now under consideration, is too limited for this 

 purpose ; and- also that, in street lamps, the oil receptacle would cast an objectionable 

 shadow. In all other closed lamps, in which mineral oils are used, the oil becomes 

 heated, and upon this the flame rises and becomes 

 smoky, diminishing the light, fouling the chimney, and 

 increasing the consumption of oil very considerably. 



Another important point in all lamps intended for 

 use in the open air, is to establish such an equilibrium 

 within the lantern that no more air will find admittance 

 than is necessary for the support of the flame, and that 

 there shall be no disturbing down-draught from the 

 top or sides. This is effected by the use of a top or 

 cowl, which entirely excludes down-draught. Lamps 

 fitted with these cowls, and with no other protection, 

 have been in use in the carriages of the Metropolitan 

 Railway, and on lines on which a very high speed has 

 been maintained, and they have burnt quite steadily, 

 the flame being absolutely unaffected by the motion. 



Fig. 1764 is an elevation, partly in section, of a 

 street lamp constructed according to Silber's invention. 

 A is the case of the lamp, consisting, as is usual, of a 

 glazed frame, one side of which forms a door, but the 

 case is formed open at bottom instead of being closed as 

 usual, the bottom of the oil-holder closing the case 

 when the lamp is in its place within it. The lamp, 

 which is detachable from the case, so as to be readily 

 placed in it and taken out of it, consists of an oil- 

 holder B, and a burner or wick-holder c, which is inserted in, and communicates 

 with the interior of the oil-holder B. D is a jacket or casing, which is connected with 

 the oil-holder n, by ties or struts at intervals, and which surrounds the oil-holder on 

 all sides except at the bottom, and also except at a small portion of the top. The 



1764 



