IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO LAMPS FOR RAILWAY OR OTHER PURPOSES.
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alban Edward Ragg, of the city and county of Chester
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO LAMPS FOR
RAILWAY OR OTHER PURPOSES.'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alban Edward Ragg at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1883.
ALBAN EDWARD RAGG of the city and county of Chester "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND APPERTAINING TO LAMPS FOR RAILWAY OR OTHER PURPOSES
כו
This invention has for its object a lamp that will give a strong light unaffected
by surrounding currents of air, or those caused in the lamp itself by violent
swinging or jolting, also a lamp more convenient in construction than those at
present in use.
In the first place in my invention I form a metal chimney, and affix to it a cap
and side tubes similar to those used in the ordinary hurricane lamp; upon the
lower part of this said chimney at the point where the side tubes join, I also affix
an air chamber so that the chimney above said air chamber may be in one single
piece capable of fitting into a socket or rim attached to the oil container.
In the second place in the metal chimney I construct two glasses or lenses at
opposite ends or sides of a bonnet passing through and forming a part of the said
chimney; these lenses, one or more of them, I open and close in the manner of a
watch or clock glass, that is to say, with a hinge and close fitting joint.
The advantage of this or these hinged glasses or lenses is that the lamp can be
lit or relit if blown out by simply opening the door or lens and applying a light to
the rising vapour or to the wick, instead of the chimney having to be removed for
this purpose as heretofore. The glasses or lenses can also be more easily cleansed.
In the upper annular part of the air chamber attached to the lower portion of
the metal chimney, I construct a row of horizontal as also a row of vertical holes to
admit air.
Thirdly, the whole of this arrangement I place in the body or case of any lamp
which may be made for the ordinary uses to which these improvements may apply,
or in one specially prepared for the purpose.

page_text: Fourthly, when necessary, outside the lens inserted in or hinged to the bonnet
which forms a portion of the above aforesaid metal chimney, I fix a conical
reflector, and on the door of the lamp body or case itself inside the main lens, I
fix another conical reflector constructed at such an angle that when the said door
of the lamp is shut, it fits into and forms part, or otherwise a continuation, of the
said reflector affixed to the lens upon the bonnet of the metal chimney.
Fifthly, in order to facilitate the operation of putting in and taking out the
oil container and chimney from the body or outer casing of the lamp, instead of
(as is presently the case) taking off the chimney so as to admit of the burner and
oil container, and replacing it when the said burner or oil container are placed
inside the lamp, I construct the lid of the body or case of my lamp so that I am
enabled to throw the top or lid back upon a hinge which allows of the oil container,
burner, and chimney being slid into the body of the lamp after being lighted and
ready for use, as also to be extracted from the case without taking off the chimney.
And in order to give the body of the lamp the necessary stability required (the
front portion of the top having been cut away for the purpose of admitting the
chimney), I construct at the said top and below the lid of the said body of the
lamp a plate of metal or other substance which forms a strengthening piece, in
which I make a slot with a rounded or other shaped end which fits the chimney
when the said chimney is in its normal place, and in the case of stable or other
lamps, when side lights are required, the plates of glass forming the said side lights
I slide into the position through slots formed in the strengthening plate inside the
body of the lamp instead of outside as heretofore.
And where different motions are required, such as "in signal or other lamps, to
protect them more effectually from being put out, owing to the different currents
of air, I construct in the outlet of my lamp a cylinder or truncated cone (whichever
best suits the purpose), and so form the said outlet that a given number of tubes
shall project downwards below the top of the said cylinder or cone, and between
it and the outer casing of the outlet chamber, that it shall prevent any direct
draught or wind blowing immediately into that portion of the lamp where the
flame is burning.

page_text: 1004,
ALBAN EDWARD RAGG of the city and county of Chester "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND. APPERTAINING TO LAMPS FOR BAILWAY OR OTHER PURPOSES
"
This invention has for its object a lamp that will give a strong light unaffected
by surrounding currents of air or those caused in the lamp itself by violent
swinging or jolting also a lamp more convenient in construction than those at
present in use.
It is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section, and
Fig. 2 horizontal section through line x y of Fig. 1 of my apparatus complete.
Fig. 3 view of lower part of outer casing.
Fig. 4 view of inner portion with outlet chamber partly removed shewing
internal cone.
Fig. 5 outside view of metal chimney with air chamber cap B and hurricane
tubes combined.
Fig. 6 burner of any serviceable kind but with pinion wheel attached so as to
gear with fixed pinion wheel on oil container instead of ordinary button.
Fig. 7 view of lid of outlet chamber shewing outlet tubes.
Fig. 8 oil container with pinion wheel attached.
Like letters relate to like parts in all the figures.
As some parts of my apparatus are similar to those of existing lamps, I will.
fully describe only those points which are novel, and merely touch upon such
other parts as it may be necessary to speak of so as to fully describe the former
(novel points).
1st. I form a metal chimney and affix to it a cap and side tubes similar to those
used in the ordinary hurricane lamp. Upon the lower part of this said chimney
at the point where the side tubes end, I also affix an air chamber the top of which
is affixed to the lower ends of the said air tubes, so that the chimney above the
said air chamber and said air tubes may be in one single piece capable of fitting
into a socket or rim attached to the oil container.
This is well shown in Fig. 5, in which A is the metal chimney, B cap, C side
tubes, D air chamber the bottom of which fits into the socket or rim e on the top
of the oil chamber E (Fig 8.) and is held in its place by the nib or projection Z
on the air chamber fitting into a corresponding slot or bracket Z¹ on the outer
casing Fig 3
2ud. In the metal chimney I construct two glasses or lenses F F at opposite
ends or sides of a bonnet or truncated cone G passing through and forming a part
of the said chimney; these lenses one or more of them I open and close in the
manner of a watch or clock glass, that is to say with a hinge and close fitting.
joint, leave them with loose fitting joint.
The advantage of this or these loose or hinged glasses or lenses is that the lamp
can be lit or relit if blown out by simply opening or pulling out the door or lens
and applying a light to the rising vapour or to the wick, instead of the chimney
having to be removed for this purpose as heretofore. The glasses or lenses can
also be more easily cleansed and replaced upon the inside by this means.
In the upper annular part of the air chamber attached to the lower portion of
the metal chimney I construct a row of horizontal as also a row of vertical holes
to admit air.

page_text: I also construct a row of holes as shown at Fig. 2 in the bottom of the
bonnet G so as to allow of a direct communication of air to the outside of the
flame.
The vertical holes are shown at H in Fig. 2, the horizontal holes are shown at w
Fig 5.
3rd. The whole of this arrangement I place in the body or case of any lamp
which may be made for the ordinary uses to which these improvements may apply,
or in one specially prepared for the purpose.
In the ordinary drawings an inner casing with three openings I I I is shown
Fig 4, one glazed with red glass, one with blue or green glass, and the other
without glass so as to show white light for use in signalling on railways as is
usually the case.
4th. When necessary, outside the lens inserted in or hinged to the bonnet which
forms a portion of the above aforesaid metal chimney, I fix a conical reflector, and
on the door of the lamp body or case itself inside the main lens, I fix another
conical reflector J, Figs 1 and 2, constructed at such an angle that when the said
door of the lamp is shut it fits into and forms part or otherwise a continuation of
the said reflector affixed to the lens upon the bonnet of the metal chimney, as
shown by the thick dotted lines y in Fig 1.
In the drawing the inner reflector is dispensed with, but the outer reflector J
serves to concentrate the rays into the outer lens K.
Where different motions are required, such as in signal or other lamps to protect
them more effectually from being put out owing to the different currents of air,
I construct in the outlet of my lamp a truncated cone as shown in the drawing
at Q Figs 1 and 4, and so form the lid of the said outlet that a given number of
tubes shall project downwards from the lid, as shown at O O Fig 7, below the top
of the said truncated cone and between it and the outer casing of the outlet
chamber, so that they shall prevent any direct draught or wind blowing
immediately into that portion of the lamp where the flame is burning, or in
other words directly down the chimney, and at the bottom of the said casing
of the outlet chamber I construct any given number of holes k to allow of any
sudden current of air escaping through them. The tubes in the lid of the outlet
chamber by their position insuring that they do not first reach the flame by going
down the chimney. This arrangement is shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 7; in these
Fig. 4 is the lid of the outlet chamber L of the lamp, N a plate fitting on top in
which is constructed a ring of tubes O O, and having a downward flange P fitting
into the inner or if preferred over the outward side of the outside portion of the
outlet chamber L. Qinterior cone. R cap constructed on the top of the lid
with ventilating sides fixed over large central hole in plate N. The gases escape
partly between plates N and R, partly over the top of cone Q, and up through
tubes O O.
5th. I gain my supply of air through vertical holes marked X¹ in the base of
the lamp as also horizontal holes in the conical portion which forms the base
marked X in Figs. 1 and 3, both of which sets of holes communicate with holes V
Fig. 2, which latter I protect with perforated metal in order to break any sudden
current of air.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a tail lamp with case open and lamp proper
partially withdrawn.
In order to facilitate the operation of putting in and taking out the oil container
and chimney, when in proper position, from the body or outer casing of the lamp,
instead of, as at present, having to take off the chimney so as to admit of it, the
burner, and oil container, fixed ready for use, I construct the lid of U Fig 9, the
body or case of my lamp, so that I am enabled to throw the said lid U¹ back upon
a hinge, as shown, and thus draw the oil container, burner, chimney and reflector
out bodily as in the example shown in Fig. 9, which allows of the oil container,
burner and chimney, shown combined in Fig. 9, being slid into the body of the
lamp after being lighted and ready for use, as also to be extracted from the case

page_text: without taking off the chimney. And in order to give the body of the lamp the
necessary stability required (the front portion of the top having been cut away for
the purpose of admitting the chimney) I construct at the said top, and below the
lid of the said body of the lamp, a plate of metal V Fig 9 or other substance which
forms a strengthening piece in which I make a slot with a rounded or other
shaped end W Fig 9 into which the chimney fits when the said chimney is in its
normal place.
In the case of stable or other lamps when side lights are required, the plates of
glass forming the said side lights I slide into position through slots formed in the
strengthening plate inside the body of the lamp as shewn in Fig 10 instead of
outside as heretofore.
Having now described my invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I desire to protect under the
Letters Patent is:
1st. In a lamp for railway or other purposes, the combination of a metal chimney
with cap, side-tubes, and air chamber below, all in a single piece, and for the purposes
described.
2nd. In a lamp for railway or other purposes, a metal chimney having a bonnet
passing through and forming a part of it, two lenses forming the front and back of
said bonnet, and one or both of said lenses opening with hinge and close fitting
joint, for the purposes described.
3rd. The air chamber with horizontal and vertical holes, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
4th. The combination with an outer casing of an inner metal cone and chimney
with cap and hurricane tubes, and the former cone combined with a lid fitting at
the top in which tubes the aforesaid are constructed, substantially as described.
5th. The combination with a bonnet and lens forming part of the metal chimney
in the zone surrounding the flame, a second lens in outer case with conical reflector
collecting the light from the first lens.
"
6th. The manufacture of lamps with outer casing and lid arranged substantially
as described in paragraph commencing 5th," by which means the oil container,
chimney, and burner can be drawn or slid into or out of the body of the lamp
without taking off the chimney.
7th. The arrangement for preventing a down current from putting out the lamp,
which consists of a cylinder or truncated cone delivering the products of combus-
tion at a short distance below a plate through which are guarded perforations and
exit tubes not admitting of a direct passage from the outside down said cone or
cylinder.
In witness whereof I the said Alban Edward Ragg have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fourth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.
ALBAN EDWARD KAGG (L.S.)