CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS APPLICABLE TO VELOCIPEDES AND OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frank Spencer Kendrick at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd December 1881.
FRANK SPENCER KENDRICK of Balsall Heath in the County of Worcester.
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS APPLICABLE TO VELOCIPEDES AND OTHER
VEHICLES."
My Invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described for lamps
applicable to velocipedes and known as head and hub lamps, the latter being
suspended to the axle between the two discs of the hub.
The lamps as at present employed for velocipedes are complicated in their manu-
facture and employment, more especially with hub lamps, the great difficulty being
in constructing a lamp that shall pass the spokes of the wheel and be adjusted
with security to the axis.
Another and the most important feature of my Invention is dispensing with the
use of oil and wicks and the usual trouble and annoyance necessary in attending
to the same, also the cost and uncleanliness arising therefrom.
I will describe my Invention thus:-The lamp I construct in cross-section of any
shape or configuration which may suit my purpose but of such a depth that if for
a bicycle it shall pass the spokes with facility for its adjustment upon the axis, the
sides and front may be of glass as hitherto, or the body may take the form of an
ellipse, semi-circular, &c. &c., and stained in various colours and ways to suit my
requirement.
For dispensing with oil as before described, and affording what I may designate
self luminous lamps, I construct a plate of glass (or other transparent body) of a
size and form suitable to the class of lamp now employed. On the back or other
convenient part of this plate I coat with a mixture composed of spirit or other
suitable varnish of various bodies known as phosphorescent salts and which are
the mono sulphides of various metals such as uraniuin, calcium, barium, magnesium,
aluminium, strontium and others, but I do not limit myself to the use of these
phosphorescent salts but reserve to myself the right to adopt any other substance
capable of producing the same phenomena as set forth (that is to say) of emitting
in darkness light which has been stored up so to speak. The luminous appearance
which the lamp presents in the dark after having been previously exposed
to light.

page_text: I may employ hollow transparent or partially transparent cylindrical tubes or
chambers of glass (and of various colours for effect) talc, horn, and other like
substances, the phosphorescent or other light giving power is placed in the hollow
or annular spaces of the said chambers and thus preserved from coming in contact
with prejudicial influences that are detrimental to the proper luminous effect.
The first mode I employ of arranging or suspending the lamp to the axis is
chiefly applicable to that shape now generally in use I dispense with all hingeing
or jointing by making the lamp body in two parts, the back carries at the top
what would be described in the trade as a barrel; this in cross section is more
than semicylindrical and is placed upon the axis by passing the lamp through the
spokes first; at or near the front edges of the above described part are two grooves,
that is one on each side, and the front of the lamp carrying also a semicylindrical
form corresponding to the above at its top the lower part fitting into these grooves
and may be described as a sliding door, the one part of the barrel falling or fitting
upon the other, a simple but secure fastening is thus obtained, this applicable to
existing lamps.
The second mode of suspending the lamp I construct the barrel somewhat as
hitherto, extending the width of the body or nearly so and arranged horizontally,
a series of levers crosswise (working upon pins or pivots, are secured the highest
part to the barrel and the lowest to the top of lamp) at each end so that when
-depressed-by-the-action-of-the-upper part of the levers the barrel will divide or
open sufficiently to allow its adjustment upon the axis, but by the weight of the
lamp it will bring and maintain it in its normal position, in mechanics this principle
is known as the lazy tongs.