IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL LAMPS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ROBERT WILLOUGHBY VINING at the Office for Patents, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of
the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL LAMPS," to be as follows:-
It is now customary for the convenience of passengers and the public for tram
cars to carry lamps (often two or more) with lights differing in color, so that by
this signal the destination of the car may be easily determined without the
necessity of reading the names pointed thereon. This as at present arranged
necessitates the burning of as many lights as there are colors shown.
'The object of this invention is to provide a signal lamp which will display two
or more distinct colors at a considerable distance apart, at the same time only
burning one light.
I take a lamp of ordinary construction and place the burner therein opposite
the lense. To one side of the lamp I attach a reflector and opposite this a sleeve
carrying an inclined mirror upon which the rays of light strike, these are by this
mirror deflected against and through a lense or glass colored or otherwise as may be
required. A second mirror may be attached-in another position if required.
By this means a signal light of two or more colors may be employed with a
single burner.
Although this invention was designed in the first instance for use on tram- cars,
it is equally applicable for use on railways, or on ship board, or in other places or
position where signalling by lamps and colours is adopted.

page_text: "3
I, ROBERT WILLOUGHBY VINING at the office for patents, 6 Lord Street,
Liverpool, Lancashire, Merchant do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL LAMPS and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
:
It is now customary for the convenience of passengers and the public, for tram
cars to carry outside lamps (often two or more) with lights differing in color, so
that by this means, the destination of the car may be easily ascertained, without
the necessity of reading the names printed thereon. As at present arranged as
many lights are required as there are colors to be shown.
The object of this invention is to provide a signal lamp which will display two
or more distinct colors at a considerable distance apart, at the same time only
burning one. light.
Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view, and Figure 2 a plan view
of signal lamp constructed according to my invention.
In these A is a lamp of ordinary construction with the burner placed therein
opposite the lens B. To the side of the lamp is affixed a projecting sleeve C, which
at its outer, end carries a mirror D, set obliquely at such an angle to the, rays
issuing from the burner of the lamp as shall cause them on striking against it to
be deflected at a right angle or at such other angle as may be required. The rays
falling upon or striking against the; mirror D. are thus deflected. forward and
through a glass E placed obliquely to the mirror, which may be colored or otherwise
for the signal required. The deflecting mirror D may be made, of either plain or
corrugated glass, and the glass E may be made movable, so as to vary the signal if
desired. The lamps shown in the drawing is provided with but one sleeve, and
deflecting mirror in which case in order to strengthen the light, I place a reflector
opposite to the sleeve. The invention however is not limited to the use of one
sleeve and deflecting mirror, as a second may be placed at the opposite side of the
-lamp, and a third-light-may-be shown. Or instead of displaying a third light, the
centre or lens glass may be dispensed with and a reflector placed instead thereof.
This in the case of tram car lamps, which are used not only for signal lamps,
but, also for illuminating the interior of the car would be a very serviceable
arrangement, as more light would be reflected, into the interior of the car.
end D¹ of the sleeve may be made movable, so that it can be taken from the lamp
on one end or side of the car to that on the other, in order to change the signal
as the car may be moving in one direction or the other. A shutter is in such case
provided to cover the end of the remaining portion of the sleeve. By this
invention a signal lamp, is constructed displaying two or more lights or colors from
a single burner.
The
Although this invention was designed in the first instance for use on tram cars,
it is equally applicable for use on railways, or on ship board, or in other places or
position where signalling by lamps and colors is adopted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
The improvement in signal lamps which consists in placing an oblique reflector
to one side of the lamp, and a white or colored transparent or translucent glass

page_text: oblique to the reflector whereby the rays of light from the side of the lamp are
deflected backwards or forwards through the white or colored glass, to form a
second signal, substantially as described.
Dated this h
WM P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and
323, High Holborn, London,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.