Lampas, or Descriptions of Mechanical Improvements of Lamps and Waterpoises

The wick becomes choked or clogged so that the fuel will no longer rise through it; alcohol original: "Spirit of Wine" will evaporate over time and lose its potency; and other oils have various flaws that make them incapable of maintaining a flame for very long. But I have found that almost all of these issues can be largely avoided through chemical or mechanical inventions—some examples of which I will provide later—as suggested by the theory of fire and flame.

The first method I will describe uses a round box. Its inner cavity is divided by a partition original: "Diaphragm" into two equal parts and fitted with a suitable counterweight original: "Counterpoise", which moves on a horizontal axis. This mechanism will be more clearly understood by looking at the illustration provided, where the second figure shows the entire instrument with its globe, frame, pedestal, socket, and lit lamp.

A represents the pedestal or base upon which the instrument stands; it may be made of silver, brass, wood, or similar materials. B C D E F represent the frame, which is attached to the pedestal and shaped like a snake. It is pierced at B and D to hold the pivots original: "Gudgeons" of the lamp (G H), and it is hollow from E to F to carry the oil or alcohol from the end of the hollow pivot H to the wick I, to feed the flame K. The hole at E, which receives the end of the hollow pivot, is slightly tapered, and the end of pivot H is ground to fit into it so that it turns easily yet snugly enough to prevent oil leaks. This pivot is kept firmly in place by the tension original: "springing" of arm B. The surface of the oil or alcohol used for fuel original: "Pabulum," Latin for food or nourishment is always kept exactly at line L M by the movement of the globe on its axis G H until it is completely consumed. How this is achieved will be better understood by explaining the internal design of the globe: how it is divided, filled, and counterbalanced.