IMPROVE- MENTS IN LAMPS OR APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Fuller Shallis and Thomas Cooper John Thomas,
both of the Minories, in the City of London, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LAMPS OR APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Fuller Shallis and
Thomas Cooper John Thomas at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 16th August 1881.
JOHN FULLER SHALLIS and THOMAS COOPER JOHN THOMAS, both of the
Minories, in the City of London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS OR APPARATUS
FOR LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention has for object improvements in lamps or apparatus for lighting
railway carriages and for other purposes.
In a lamp according to our Invention the oil or spirit is contained in an annular
reservoir, surrounding or partly surrounding a reflecting chamber, above which is
a combustion chamber having below it a transparent diaphragm to exclude
draught. The said combustion chamber is provided with holes to admit air for
supporting combustion, also this combustion chamber has a metal chimney, and
the reflecting chamber below the transparent diaphragm is or may be provided
with holes to allow the escape of heat. One arrangement of the reflecting chamber
is in the form of a truncated cone with its axis vertical, but it may be parabolic or
otherwise shaped in vertical section, and in cross section it may have a polygonal
or other figure.
The light is produced at one or more burners arranged in a horizontal or an
inclined position over the reflecting chamber, the burner or burners being set above
the level of the oil or spirit and protruding into the combustion chamber. The
case and cover of the lamp are so arranged as to produce an efficient ventilation to
keep the reservoir cool, and to carry off the vapours of any spirit that may escape
or be spilt.

page_text: The transparent diaphragm below the combustion chamber may be in some part
of the reflecting chamber; a bowl of clear, or ground, or opal glass, which may or
may not contain liquid, may be used. Or we may use a lens or lenses, or a prism
or prisms to direct or disperse the light. Also lamps according to our Invention,
as above described, may be modified so as to use gas instead of oil or spirit.
We make lenses according to our Invention for directing or dispersing light from
lamps of the improved kind above described of glass, coated or covered with opal,
and such lenses may also be used in connexion with lighting apparatus of other
descriptions including apparatus for lighting with gas.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Fuller Shallis and Thomas Cooper John Thomas in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th February 1882.
JOHN FULLER SHALLIS and THOMAS COOPER JOHN THOMAS, both of the
Minories, in the City of London. " IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS OR APPARATUS
FOR LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention has for object improvements in lamps or apparatus for lighting
railway carriages, and for other purposes.
In lamps according to our Invention the oil or spirit is contained in an annular
reservoir or receptacle, surrounding or partly surrounding a reflecting chamber or
annular reflector, above which is a combustion chamber having below it a
transparent or translucent diaphragm or closure to exclude draught. The said
combustion chamber is provided with holes to admit air for supporting combustion,
also this combustion chamber has a metal chimney, and the reflecting chamber
below the transparent or translucent diaphragm is or may be provided with holes
to admit of ventilation and allow the escape of heat. One arrangement of the
reflecting chamber is in the form of a truncated cone with its axis vertical, but it
may be parabolic or otherwise shaped in vertical section, and in cross section it
may have a polygonal or other figure. The light is produced at one or more
burners arranged in a horizontal or an inclined position over the reflecting
chamber; the burner or burners being set above the level of the oil or spirit and
protruding into the combustion chamber. The case and cover of the lamp are so
arranged as to produce an efficient ventilation to keep the reservoir cool, and to
carry off the vapour of any spirit that may escape or be spilt.
The transparent or translucent diaphragm below the combustion chamber may
be in some part of the reflecting chamber or between the two chambers. A bowl
of clear, or ground, or opal glass, which may or may not contain liquid, may be
used. Or a lens or lenses, or a prism or prisms to direct or disperse the light may
be employed in place of or in conjunction with the transparent diaphragin. Also
lamps according to our Invention, as above described, may be modified so as to use
gas instead of oil or spirit. We make lenses according to our Invention for

page_text: directing or dispersing light from lamps of the improved kind above described of
glass, coated or covered with opal; and such lenses may also be used in connection
with lighting apparatus of other descriptions, including apparatus for lighting with
gas.
In the accompanying three Sheets of Drawings,-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of one of our improved lamps.
Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the oil or spirit containing reservoir and
reflecting chamber, as seen when lifted out of the lamp casing.
Fig. 3 is a half plan of the same.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the combustion chamber; and
Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of the said chamber.
Fig. 6 is a vertical elevation of part of a lamp body and top that may be used in'
place of the one shown in Fig. 1.
a is an annular reservoir containing the oil or spirit for supplying the burner,
and surrounding a reflecting chamber b, above which is a combustion chamber o
having below it a transparent diaphragm d to exclude draught; c¹ is a metallic
chimney; e, e, are holes in the chamber c to admit air for supporting combustion,
etcetera. The reflecting chamber is also provided with holes 6 to admit of
ventilation and allow of the escape of heated air, and in the arrangement shewn is
in the form of a truncated cone with its axis vertical; but (as already stated) it
may be parabolic or otherwise shaped in vertical section; and in cross section it
may have a polygonal or other figure. fis the burner. which in this case is shewn
as arranged in a horizontal position over the reflecting chamber. But instead of
being horizontal, the burner (or burners) may, as already stated, be inclined to the
horizontal. The burner protrudes into the combustion chamber c, as shewn; g is
the outer casing of the lamp in which the parts just described are carried or
suspended, as represented in Fig. 1; it is provided with holes g' and g³, in its upper
part for ventilation, and is formed double, as shown, to prevent draught;
packing for preventing admission of air when the upper portion of the case is
closed on the lower; i is the cover; it is in this case constructed according to the
Specification of a former Patent, No. 853, of 28th February 1881, granted to us. A
slightly different form of lamp top and cover is shewn in Fig. 6; it is constructed
according to the Specification of a Patent, No. 2604, dated 26th June 1880, granted
to one of us (the said Thomas Coooper John Thomas). k, (Fig. 1) are holes to
admit air for keeping the reservoir cool, and to carry off the vapour of any spirit
that may escape or be spilt; is a screw for feeding the wick when the upper part
of the case is opened, but which may also be operated from below by pushing a
key through the tube m (which passes through the reflector and reservoir) on to a
square end of the said screw, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. Liquid combustible
is fed to the reservoir through a hole usually covered by the screwed cap n
provided with a tube n'; o is a spring catch for keeping the upper part of the case
closed upon the lower.
is a
When the illuminating medium is gas the reservoir a is not required, and the
burner is replaced by one or more suitable gas burners. The connection to the
gas mains may be made in any convenient manner. When the lamp as arranged
for gas is required to be easily replaceable, a plug on the lamp dropping into a
conical socket on the frame or carriage forms a convenient connection to the gas
main.
Fig. 4 shews a modification of the manner in which the transparent diaphragm d
is secured below the combustion chamber. The inside of the combustion chamber
and the surface of the reflecting chamber are, in the example illustrated, enamelled;
and the said reflecting chamber, combustion chamber, and oil reservoir may be
lifted bodily out of the lower casing of the lamp when required. The lower part
or mouth of the reflecting chamber may, if desired, be provided with a lens for
directing or dispersing the light; when such is used it is usually advantageous to
make it in the improved manner hereinbefore described, that is to say, of glass
coated or covered with opal. The glass is a lens of suitable form according to the
.

page_text: direction in which the rays of light are to be dispersed; and the outer surface of
the glass lens has accurately fitted over it a layer or cover of opal of uniform
thickness.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in which
it is to be or may be carried into practical effect, we would have it understood that
what we consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as secured to us by
the Letters Patent hereinbefore in part recited is,---
1. In a lamp or lighting apparatus the combination of a combustion chamber, a
burner or burners projecting through and into the same, a transparent or trans-
lucent diaphragm closing the bottom of the said chamber, and a reflecting chamber
or annular reflector arranged below the said diaphragm, substantially as above
described.
2. In a lamp or lighting apparatus wherein oil or spirit is consumed, the com-
bination of a combustion chamber, one or more burners projecting into such
chamber horizontally or angularly, a metal chimney, a transparent or translucent
diaphragm closing the bottom of the said combustion chamber, a reflecting
chamber or annular reflector arranged below the combustion chamber, and an oil
or spirit reservoir or receptacle surrounding or partly surrounding the said
reflecting chamber or annular reflector and in communication with the burner or
burners, substantially as above described.
3. The improved lamp or lighting apparatus shewn in and described with
reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings.
4. In a lamp or lighting apparatus the use of a lens coated or covered with opal
for directing or dispersing the light, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Fuller Shallis and Thomas Cooper
John Thomas, have hereunto set our hands & seals, this Fifteenth day
of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
eighty two.
JOHN FULLER SHALLIS.
THOMAS COOPER JOHN THOMAS.
(LS.)
(L.s.) 30