A NEW APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE LIGHT AND ECONOMISING OIL OR SPIRIT IN THE LAMPS OF RAILWAY TRAINS, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Brockelbank, of 37, Thornsett Road, South Penge
Park, Anerley, for the Invention of "A NEW APPARATUS FOR REGULATING
THE LIGHT AND ECONOMISING OIL OR SPIRIT IN THE LAMPS OF RAILWAY
TRAINS, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
Sealed the 18th December 1877, and dated the 30th June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Brockelbank at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th June 1877.
GEORGE BROCKELBANK, of 37, Thornsett Road, South Penge Park, Anerley.
"A NEW APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE LIGHT AND ECONOMISING OIL OR SPIRIT
IN THE LAMPS OF RAILWAY TRAINS, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
The first-mentioned Invention has for its object an apparatus for saving oil or
spirit in lamps, and other such like purposes, and consists of a partial extinguisher,
covering only part or parts of the wick of a lamp, allowing a portion not covered to
remain alight and burning. The partial extinguisher is formed out of a piece of
metal or other suitable material into a convenient shape, and is fixed to or forms
part of a metal lever or rod of a shape and length suitable to the peculiarity of the
lamp.
In the case of a railway lamp this lever or rod passes up the smoke passage, on
the top of which is a cross bar or fulcrum to which the lever or rod is firmly joined;
or of which it is made part, and from which it hangs like a pendulum, the cross bar or
fulcrum being placed on bearings made permanent or otherwise. At an angle of
the lever or rod a balance weight is attached in a position so as to cause the partial
extinguisher to pass over the wick automatically. At the bottom of the rod or lever
a stop is placed to regulate the action of the partial extinguisher and to prevent its
covering the whole of the wick, and thus entirely putting out the flame.
Instead of a balance weight, a spring placed in a suitable position may be used
to pull or force the partial extinguisher over the wick. The partial extinguisher
can be made in another form by fixing to the sides of the metal frame containing
the wick or otherwise, pieces of metal of a convenient shape and movable on hinges,
and which (on being raised by means of a connecting rod or other appliance reaching

page_text: to the top of the lid chimney of the railway lamp, and connected with a crank or
wheel placed thereon) are lifted and meet over the wick, one piece lapping over the
other, thus partially putting out the light.
Another way of using a partial extinguisher is as follows:-A piece of metal in
the form of a trough fixed on a hinge or hinges to any suitable place at one end of
the wick which it partially covers, can be lifted from the wick by a similar contri-
vance to the last-named, and standing on end on its hinge or hinges allow full play
for the flame to extend along the whole of the wick.
To enable the guard to work the partial extinguisher, a ring or hook connected
by a cord, wire, or other suitable appliance with a crank which is fixed to the
outside of the lamp case, or to the roof of the carriage, is placed by the lamp porter
over the top of the rod or lever before described, which protrudes above the lid
chimney. From this, crank, which has check stops to prevent its being pulled
or pushed too far, a line of communication can be effected by a cord, wire, rod, or
other appliance carried over the carriages to the guard's van.
Instead of the above-described line of communication, the cranks may be fixed
having as their axis a rod extending along the roof of the carriage, and square at
the ends over which a travelling square tube passes, connecting the rod of one
carriage with another on the next carriage, and so on to the end one, serious oscilla-
tion being provided against by making some knuckle joints on the rod, one to work
horizontally and the other vertically. A crank on the rod on the guard's van will
suffice to work this connection.
Another méthod possibly is the most effective. In the guard's van I fix a small
winch from which a rope, chain, or other means, passing over a pulley on the top
of the carriage is fastened to the end of a travelling rod running along the top
of the carriage, and connected with the next carriage by a line or other suitable
appliance to the rod on its roof, and so on to the end of the train. This rod
travels on rollers placed in the lowest extremity of a frame, like a fork, or other
convenient shape, which is fastened firmly to the carriage roof by the side of the
lamp case. On the top of this frame a lever is fixed, at one end of which is a
wheel like a sheave grooved resting on the travelling rod. At the other end of this
lever is a chain attached to the crank, fixed to the side of the lamp case. A few
inches from the grooved wheel the rod is raised upon, and thus made higher about
three quarters of an inch, and for about six inches long. So soon as the guard
turns the winch the travelling rod is put in action, and the raised part of the
travelling rod runs on the roller, and passes under the grooved wheel which rises
on the top of the raised part of the travelling rod, and consequently depresses the
other end of the lever, thus pulling over the crank on the lamp case, and the lever
or rod to which the partial extinguisher is attached is then put in motion as before
described.
Guides for the travelling rod will be necessary. Thus about a mile or more before
entering a tunnel, the guard will be able to instantly release the wick from the
partial extinguisher, when the hitherto small flame will extend from one end of
the wick to the other before entering the tunnel, giving the brightest and fullest
amount of light. On emerging from the tunnel the guard will release the winch,
and the travelling rods will be pulled back by a strong spring balance weight or
other contrivance.
To secure a certainty of the action of my partial extinguisher at the proper
time my Invention of an automatic apparatus, which I proceed to describe, will
suffice.
My automatic apparatus which I call a "dumb guard," consists of a wheel with
an india-rubber tire running on an axis in a fork with a backbone resembling the
hindwheel fork and backbone of a bicycle.
The top of the backbone I fasten to a convenient part of the railway carriage on
a hinge or knuckle joint, so that the wheel fork and backbone may rise or fall. On
the line under the carriages (a mile or more from the entrance to a tunnel) I fix an
inclined plane up which the wheel is.to run, and when it has reached the highest
=

page_text: point of the inclined plane connecting rod fixed to the backbone with all necessary
joints and bearings is capable of being so adjusted as to work either of the before-
described appliances.
When the wheel is at the highest point of the inclined plane a catch bolt or other
means retains the wheel in that position, and when the train emerges from the
tunnel the bolt or catch, or other means, is withdrawn by similar inclined plane or
other appliance which allows the wheel fork, and backbone, and connecting
rod to fall to their original places, which allows my partial extinguisher to pass
over the wick, and again reduce the flame to the minimum light.
This apparatus, as well as the modes of communication with the guard, are
applicable to other purposes, and will have to be modified in their application to
meet the peculiarities of the railway carriages, as the case may be.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Brockelbank in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 29th
December 1877.
GEORGE BROCKELBANK, of 37, Thornsett Road, South Penge Park, Anerley.
"A NEW APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE LIGHT AND ECONOMIZING OIL OR SPIRIT
IN THE LAMPS OF RAILWAY TRAINS, AND FOR OTHER SUCH LIKE PURPOSES."
This Invention has for its object to save oil or spirit in the lamps of a railway
train, or in other places where lamps are used, and consists in applying to the
lamps apparatus by which the flame from a part of the wick of each lamp can be extin-
guished when light is not required, and then allowing a small part only to remain
alight. This may be effected in various ways. For example, the greater part of
flame of each lamp may be extinguished by an extinguisher sliding endwise over
the wick tube, or by extinguishers moving on hinge joints or otherwise, or by
withdrawing the greater portion of the wick into the wick tube, leaving alight a
small wick only, from which the flame will quickly spread along the larger wick
whenever this wick is clevated or the extinguisher is removed from over it.
When an extinguisher is employed a single wick may be used, but I prefer to form
the portion of wick which is to remain alight continuously separate from the other
portion of wick which is to be lighted and extinguished intermittently.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed I have shewn my Invention applied to the
carriage lamps of a railway train.
One arrangement is shewn at Figures 1 and 2, and a modification of the same
arrangement is shewn at Figures 3 and 4. In both these arrangements an
extinguisher B, of sheet metal or other material, can be moved endwise over the top
of the wick tube, so as to cover over the greater part of the wick, or to cover it
over entirely when the lamp is to be put out.
In the Drawings, A is the wick tube; B is the extinguisher carried by a lever C,
which rises up through the smoke passage or chimney, and turns on a fulcrum at D;
E is a spring acting upon the lever C, and tending always to move the extinguisher
over the wick. The fulcrum of the lever C is carried by a frame which drops into
the smoke passage or chimney, and rests upon its top, or it might be otherwise
carried. The lever C rises above the roof of the lamp, and has attached to it by a
clip or other yielding attachment, a rod F, from which a chain passes over a roller

page_text: F1 carried by the outer lamp guard G. The chain after passing over this roller is
attached to one arm of a lever H; the other arm of which carries a roller I; other
neans than that just described may be employed for connecting the lever C with
the lever H. The roller I rests upon a rod K, which passes along the roof
of the carriage, and is carried by rollers L, so that it can be moved endwise. On
the rod are projections with inclined ends, which, when the rod is moved end wise,
pass under the roller I, and either raise it or allow it to descend.
In the arrangement shewn at Figures 1 and 2 there are two inclines. When
the roller is allowed to come on to the lowest part of the rod the flame is completely
extinguished; when the roller is on the flat surface between the two inclines the
small wick only remains alight; and when the roller has beeen raised by both
inclines no part of the wick remains covered by the extinguisher, and the flame
spreads over the entire wick.
Each of the carriages is provided with a similar rod running along its roof, and
the rods of the several carriages are coupled together by cords or otherwise, so
that the rods throughout the train may be simultaneously shifted by the guard.
The projections on the rods are of such a length that the rods may have a con-
siderable amount of endway movement given to them without altering their action
upon the extinguishers, so that no great nicety is required in coupling the rod of
one carriage to the rods of the carriages in front and behind it.
To allow the guard to simultaneously move the rods of the several carriages
throughout the train a cord is carried down from the rod into the guard's van and
connected to a small winch, so that by turning the winch the guard can draw
.the rod end wise; and when the rod has been caused to travel a sufficient distance a
small pawl falls into a notch and retains it.
To allow the guard to draw the rod back again to its former position whenever
he desires to do so, a return cord may be used, passing from the further extremity
of the continuous rod to the guard's van, or springs or other means may be adopted
to draw the rods back.
In the arrangement, shewn at Figures 3 and 4, in place of using a second incline
on the rod, as above described, to enable the guard to cause the flames of both wicks
to be extinguished whenever he desires to do so, an automatic apparatus is used to
cause the flames of both wicks to be extinguished after a train has passed through
a given number of tunnels. In this case the lever arm C carries a pawl O, by which
each time the lever C is moved by the guard a ratchet wheel P is turned one step
or tooth.
Standing out from the side of the ratchet wheel is a pin Q which,
when the ratchet wheel has been moved a given number of teeth, comes against the
small weighted lever R, and causes the opposite end of this lever to bear upon and
shift a lever, which previously formed a stop to limit the movement of the lever C,
so that when a train has passed through a certain number of tunnels the lights
will be extinguished.
At Figure 5 is shewn an arrangement in which the larger wick is lowered into
the wick tube whenever the greater portion of the flame is required to be extin-
guished. The mechanism for raising and lowering the wick may be such as is now
used in an ordinary moderator or parafine lamp, and on the spindle of the roller
which supports the wick, I fix a pinion gearing into the pinion; I have a rack S'
on a rod S, which can be raised or lowered by the guard. The rod is shewn
to have a rack S² at its upper end into which gears a toothed quadrant T; on the
axis of the quadrant is a lever arm U, which can be moved to and fro by the
guard in the same way as described with reference to the levers C of Figures 1,
2, 3, and 4.
If desired the larger wick only of the lamps may be acted on by the apparatus
above described, or the wick roller or wheels which are to act on the wicks
may be so formed that the larger wicks shall be first withdrawn into the
wick tubes on the first movement of the rollers or wheels, and after they
have made about 3/4 of a revolution then that the smaller wick shall be withdrawn
likewisc.

page_text: At Figure I have shewn an arrangement by which the lights of a railway
train may automatically be partially extinguished as a train leaves a tunnel, and
be again allowed to fully light up a short time before the train enters the next
tunnel. In this arrangement I carry down a cord or chain from the continuous
rod which is above the roof of the carriages, and connect this cord or chain to
a lever V, which carries a wheel W. This wheel comes, say about 18 inches
from the ground. About a mile from the entrance to each tunnel is formed a
long inclined plane X. As the train passes the incline the wheel W, running on
the incline, is gradually raised, say about 8 inches, and pulls down the chain
or cord; the continuous rod which is above the roof of the carriages is thereby
drawn endwise, and the lamps allowed to fully light up.
At the end of the
tunnel another inclined plane acting upon another similar wheel and lever at
the opposite end of the train reverses the action of the rod, and partially extinguishes
the lamps.
If it be desired to altogether extinguish the lamps at the end of the last tunnel,
the incline at the further end of this tunnel may be made to rise to a higher level
than the others, and so give a greater endway motion to the continuous rod which
is above the roof of the carriages and cause it, as herein-before explained, to totally
extinguish the lamps.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein-before given, as my Invention may be carried out in many various
ways, but what I claim is,
First. The employment, in combination with the carriage lamps of a railway
train, or with a number of lamps used for lighting other places, of apparatus
for enabling the guard or attendant to simultaneously extinguish the flame
from a great part of the wicks of each of the lamps whenever their light is not
required.
Second. The employment of extinguishers, substantially as herein described, to
cover over the greater part of the wick of a lamp when the whole light the lamp
is capable of giving is not required.
Third. The construction of lamps with two wicks, one a small one to remain
alight so long as it is required to keep the lamp lighted; the other, a larger one,
which is only allowed to light when the full light of the lamp is required.
Fourth. The employment of a sliding rod with projections or enlargements upon
it, substantially as herein-before described, for partially or entirely extinguishing
the flames from the wicks of carriage lamps of a railway train, or other number of
lamps employed for lighting other places.
Fifth. The combined arrangements of apparatus, substantially as herein-before
described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, for controlling the burning of
the carriage lamps of railway trains and other assemblages, of lamps used for other
lighting purposes.
Sixth. The combined arrangement of automatic apparatus, substantially as herein-
before described, for controlling the burning of the carriage lamps of a railway train,
substantially as described with reference to Figure 6.-
In witness whereof, I, the said George Brockelbank, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
GEO. BROCKELBANK. (L.S.)