Improvements in Lightbuoys.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 29th July, 1898-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1898
Improvements in Lightbuoys.
I, CARL HENRIK RAMSTEN, 45, Karlsgatan, Malmo, Sweden, Inspector of Govern-
ment Pilots and Lighthouses, Division of Scania, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to certain improvements in lightbuoys the object
being to render the light of such a buoy easily distinguishable from other lights.
For this purpose, the lantern of the buoy is provided with coloured strips or
narrow pieces of glass arranged round the light in such a way that, when the light-
buoy is moved to and fro round its axis, it will if viewed from a distance show a
light changing from white to coloured and vice versa.
The lantern may be either fixed directly to the buoy or attached to it by means
of a ball and socket joint and be fitted with a balance weight.
The buoy may be of conical or other shape and kept in a vertical position by a
weight attached to its lower part and is provided with inclined planes or sections
of a screw thread placed in such a way as to cause the buoy to turn to and fro
about its vertical axis as it is moved up and down by the waves or affected by the
currents. The buoy should be secured on its station by a slack mooring so that
its movements may be as free as possible.
If the lantern is kept upright by a balance weight, the pendulum of the latter
is steadied by means of chains running over rollers and provided with elastic
stoppers or springs to soften the working of the balance in a rough sea.
Dated this 1st day of October 1897.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
I, CARL HENRIK RAMSTEN, 45, Karlsgatan, Malmo, Sweden, Inspector of Govern-
ment Pilots and Lighthouses, Division of Scania, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
My invention has reference to certain improvements in lightbuoys the objects
being to render the light of such a buoy easily distinguishable from other lights,
and to provide a buoy which will have easy motions or work easily in a rough sea
or tide-way. According thereto the lantern of the buoy is provided with coloured
strips or narrow pieces of glass arranged round the light in such a way that, when

page_text: the lightbuoy is moved to and fro round its axis, it will if viewed from a distance
show a light changing from white to coloured and vice versa.
The lantern may be either fixed directly to the buoy or attached to it by means
of a ball and socket joint and be fitted with a balance weight.
The buoy may be of conical or other suitable shape and kept in a vertical position
by a weight attached to its lower part and is provided with inclined planes or sections
of a screw thread placed in such a way as to cause the buoy to turn to and fro
about its vertical axis as it is moved up and down by the waves or affected by the
currents. The buoy should be secured on its station by a slack mooring so that
its movements may be as free as possible.
If the lantern is kept upright by a balance weight, the pendulum of the latter
is steadied by means of chains running over rollers and provided with elastic
stoppers or springs to soften the working of the balance in a rough sea.
in the accompanying drawing a form of the buoy is shown by way of example.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of the buoy, Fig. 2 an elevation of the
lantern to a larger scale, also partly in section, and Fig. 3 a horizontal cross
section of the lamp showing an advantageous arrangement of the coloured glass
strips.
1 is the buoy proper. 2, 2 weights on the lower part of it, 3 a shackle to which
the mooring chain 3* is connected, and 4, 4 the inclined planes on the outside of
the buoy. 5 is the lantern.
Inside the lens system of the lantern there is erected a framework 6, that carries
two rings 7 and 8 above and a grooved ring 9 below. 10, 10 are the narrow pieces
of glass, inserted between the rings 7 and 8 and resting in the ring 9. The glass
pieces 10 may however be arranged outside the lens Il if desired.
The lantern is supported by a balanced framework 12 mounted on the super-
structure of the buoy by means of a ball and socket joint 13. To the lower part
of the weighted arm 14 of said framework is fixed a suitable number of chains or
ropes 15 preferably wire-ropes, passing through guiding eyes 16, preferably pro-
vided with rollers, fixed within the superstructure of the buoy at a suitable level.
The parts of the ropes below the eyes should have a sufficient weight or be pro-
vided with special weights 17, and the ends may be connected as shewn.
india rubber buffers.
18 are
Any suitable lamp may be used but preferably a petroleum lamp burning for
a long time without attendance.
The coloured strips of glass are for practical purposes preferably placed inside
the lens as shown in Fig. 3, in which the inner and outer dotted circles respectively
indicate the burner and lens. The strips 10 should not be broader than the
diameter of the burner and placed in such a manner as to leave apertures or narrow
spaces between them, thereby causing the light, if the lantern is slightly turned,
to change from white to coloured or from a lighter to a deeper shade or vice versa.
A few degrees turning of the buoy to either side, on its vertical axis, will cause
a change in the appearance of the light, which thereby is easily distinguishable
from other lights.
The inclined surfaces or screw-thread sections 4, 4 are preferably arranged
on the lower part of the body of the buoy, so as to be always submerged. The
mooring is attached to the side or sides of the buoy somewhat above its lower end,
in such a way as to allow the buoy to keep a vertical position, and be free in its
movements, the upper end of the mooring being either directly connected to the
buoy, or made to slide on a fixture, somewhat in the shape of a large shackle
as shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The combination of a buoy provided with inclined surfaces and kept in a
vertical position by a weight, a slack mooring attached to the side or sides of the

page_text: buoy in such a way as to assist in keeping the buoy in a vertical position and
admit its free movements in a sea- or tide-way, a lantern, and coloured strips of
glass arranged round the light with narrow spaces left between them substantially
as described and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination of a buoy provided with inclined surfaces and kept in a
vertical position by a weight, a slack mooring attached to the side or sides of the
buoy in such a way as to assist in keeping the buoy in a vertical position and
admit its free movements in a sea- or tide-way, a lantern, coloured strips of glass
arranged round the light with narrow spaces left between them, a weighted
balance carrying the lantern, and steadying chains between the balance and the
buoy, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
3. The improved light buoy shown in and described with reference to the draw-
ing annexed.
Data 201 dow of L..1.. 1900
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.