IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GAS LAMPS OR LANTERNS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas Sugg, of Vincent Street, in the City of
Westminster, Engineer, and Richard Pierson, of the same Place, Engineer, for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GAS LAMPS OR
LANTERNS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas Sugg and
Richard Pierson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th
March 1881.
WILLIAM THOMAS SUGG, of Vincent Street, in the City of Westminster,
Engineer, and RICHARD PIERSON, of the same Place, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF GAS LAMPS OR LANTERNS.”
This Invention relates more particularly to gas lamps or lanterns for use in
streets and other exposed places, the object being to simplify the construction of
the framing of the lamp or lantern, to improve the ventilation, and also the light
diffusing power of the lamp.
In carrying out our Invention we form the framing with flanged metal ribs,
trough or Ushaped in cross section, which we brace together at top and bottom,
with the loop or trough shaped portion outwards, in any convenient manner.
These ribs are formed in suitable dies from flat strips of metal, and inside the
trough and on either side, thereof is soldered or otherwise secured a strip of metal
which when bent outwards will form a second flange, and between the two flanges
the glass for the sides of the lantern is inserted. By this arrangement of the ribs
the interior of the trough will be open to the interior of the lantern for the
purpose to be hereafter more particularly referred to. The cover of the lantern we
prefer to make slightly conical, and the greater part of the air to support combustion
is drawn in at the top of the lantern through a series of openings arranged round
the same below the edge of the cover but above the reflector.
In order to prevent a too great rush of air through these openings at one time
into the lantern, which would cause eddies and render the light unsteady, we
arrange on the inside of the lamp a number of baffles, which are so placed as
to form a series of pockets which serve to regulate the admission of air to the
lamp.

page_text: It has been found from experience in the case of lanterns in which the air to
support combustion is supplied exclusively through the upper part of the lantern
that on boisterous nights the wind enters in greater quantities than is necessary to
merely support combustion and sometimes also blows down the chimney. From
the fact that the body of the lantern is hermetically closed this excess of air cannot
escape, but,swirls round in the lantern and renders the light unsteady.
To avoid this inconvenience we pierce a number of holes in the sides of the
hollow ribs through which any excess of air in the lantern can pass away quietly
without affecting the stability of the flame.
Air will also be induced to enter through these openings, but in a number of
small streams which will not inconveniently affect the flame.
The reflector is flat, of opal glass and of annular shape. In the centre is a
chimney with a porcelain conical or dome shaped mouth to collect and carry off the
products of combustion.
The reflector we form in segments, which are carried by an annular framing
supported from the body of the lantern, and consisting of flanged hollow ribs formed
in a manner similar to that described for the lamp ribs. The glass is held in place
against the underside of this framing by spring clips which enter into the hollow
ribs and are there secured by pins or otherwise.
By this mode of holding up the glass space for the expansion of the same in.
allowed, and should any segment get broken it may be readily replaced without
removing the lantern.
The chimney mouth is made to fit tightly into a channel or gutter formed on the
inner periphery of the annular frame.
By the use of the flat reflector the gas burners may be placed lower down in
the lantern than heretofore, and the light will therefore be diffused over greater
space.
In constructing the framework for globular lanterns the ribs after they have
been formed in the straight are passed through rolls whereby a proper curve will
be given to them.
The chimney will be provided with a cap piece and a conical baffic to deflect
the gases of combustion as they ascend and prevent as far as possible down
draughts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Thomas Sugg and Richard Pierson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 10th September 1881.
WILLIAM THOMAS SUGG, of Vincent Street, in the City of Westminster, Engineer,
and RICHARD PIERSON, of the same Place, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF GAS LAMPS OR LANTERNS."
This Invention relates more particularly to gas lamps or lanterns for use in
streets and other exposed places, the object of the Invention being to simplify the
construction of the framing of the lamp or lantern, to improve the ventilation, and
also the light diffusing power of the lamp.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is an elevation of an hexagonal lantern
constructed according to our Invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, with
the cover removed; and Figures 3, 4, and 5 are enlarged views, shewing the con-
struction of the ribs composing the frame of the lantern, Fig. 3 being a side view
partly in section, Fig. 4 a back view partly in section, and Fig. 5 a cross section of
the same.
a is the frame of the lamp_composed of flanged metal ribs, trough or U shaped
in cross section (seen best at Fig. 5), which we brace together at top and bottom in
any convenient manner, with the trough shaped portion outwards; b is the base
plate of the lantern, to which the lower ends of the ribs are soldered; and c is an
hexagonal horizontal frame, to which the upper ends of the ribs a are secured by
solder.
These ribs a are formed in dies from flat strips of metal, and inside the troughs
and at intervals in their length are soldered or otherwise secured pieces of metal d
of corresponding section. The glass for the sides of the lantern is inserted between
the flanges of the ribs a and the pieces d, as seen at Fig. 5. The troughs of the
ribs, it will be seen, open into the lantern. This is for a purpose to be hereafter
more particularly referred to. e is the conical cover of the lantern fitted to the
hexagonal frame c. Part of the air to support combustion is drawn in at the top
of the lantern through a series of openings fin the frame c below the edge of the
cover e and at the back of the reflector g.
In order to prevent a too great rush of air through these openings fat one time
into the lantern, which would cause eddies and render the light unsteady, we
arrange on the inside of the lamp a number of baffles h, Fig. 2, which serve to
break up the currents of air entering the lamp through the openings f
It has been found from experience that in some forms of lanterns in which the
air to support combustion is supplied exclusively through the upper part of the
lantern the wind on boisterous nights not only enters the lantern in the regular
way in greater quantities than is necessary to merely support combustion, but at
times also finds its way down the chimney. From the fact that the body of the
lantern is nearly hermetically closed, this excess of air cannot escape, but swirls
round in the lantern and renders the light unsteady.
To avoid this inconvenience we pierce a number of small holes i in the sides of
the hollow ribs a, through which any excess of air in the lantern can pass away
quietly without affecting the stability of the flamé.
Air will also be free to enter the lantern through these holes i, but in a number
of small streams which will not inconveniently affect the flame. These holes are
pierced alternately on opposite sides of the trough.
At Figures 6 and 7 we have shewn a slight modification in the formation of the
rib, Fig. 6 being a longitudinal section of a rib taken on the line y, y, of the cross
section, Fig. 7.
In these Figures a is the trough shaped rib; to the flanges of which are soldered

page_text: the flanges of a smaller rib a¹ of similar section, and forming a kind of air guard
and diffuser of the incoming air. The glass butts against the inner rib a¹, and it
is held thereto by clips a secured by solder to the rib a'. Holes i are pierced in
the sides of the part a, as before explained, but in the part a¹ the holes ¹ are formed
in the crease of the rib. The holes we make twice the capacity of the holes i, so
that the air collected in the hollow rib shall have free egress therefrom, and currents
of air blowing onto the flame will be avoided.
The reflector g we make flat, of opal glass, and of annular shape, from the centre
of which rises a chimney k, with a porcelain conical base k¹ to collect and carry off
the products of combustion.
The reflector g we prefer to make in segments, which are carried by an annular
frame g¹ pendent from the frame c, and consisting of flanged hollow ribs and cross
stays formed in a manner similar to that described for the lamp frame ribs. The
segment shaped.pieces are held in place against the underside of this frame by clips
similar to those described with reference to the ribs."
By this mode of holding up the opal glass pieces space for the expansion of the
same is allowed, and broken segments may be readily replaced.
The chimney base we make to fit into the flange on the inner periphery of the
annular frame. The use of a flat reflector will allow of the gas burner being placed
lower down in the lantern than heretofore, and the light will therefore be diffused
over a greater space.
In constructing the frame for globular lanterns, as shewn in the elevation, Fig. 8,
the ribs, after they have been formed in the straight, are passed through rolls,
whereby a proper curve will be given to them.
The reflector in this case will take the form of the lantern, the position of the
burners in this form of lantern being near the bottom, but in all other respects the
construction of the lantern will as far as possible be the same as in Fig. 1.
The chimney in both forms will be provided with a cap piece and a conical baffle
to deflect the gases of combustion as they ascend, and prevent as far as possible
down draughts.
Having now described our Invention of "Improvements in Gas Lamps or
Lanterns," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, we wish it to
be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent we claim,-
First. In manufacturing the frames of gas lamps or lanterns the use of perforated
hollow or trough shaped metal ribs, substantially as and for the purpose herein
shewn and described.
Second. The arrangement of gas lamps or lanterns, substantially as herein shewn
and described, whereby the ventilation and the light diffusing power of the lamps
or lanterns are improved.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas Sugg, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thongend eight hundred and eighty one.