Improvements in Lanterns or Lamps for Arc Electric Lights and in Posts or Columns therefor.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lanterns or Lamps for Arc Electric Lights and in
Posts or Columns therefor.
•
I, ALFRED LYSTER SHEPARD, of 8 West Kensington Gardens, in the County
of Middlesex, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-'
My invention relates to lanterns or lamps for are electric lights and to posts or
columns therefor and more especially to lamps intended for street lighting and.
comprises the improvements hereinafter set forth.
An important feature in my said invention consists in suspending the lamp or
lantern from the post or column by means of one arm, extension or support, the
said lantern or lamp being constructed in two parts rotatably supported upon the
latter, and so arranged that upon the release of a suitable catch or fastener the said,
parts can be together rotated or turned into any convenient angle relatively to the '
said lamp-post or column. Upon the release of another catch or fastener the lower
part or globe of the said lantern or lamp can be lowered or caused to descend a
suitable distance whilst the upper part containing the lamp mechanism, remains
stationary. I thus provide very advantageous means for permitting of access to
the interior of the said lantern or lamp, for the insertion of new carbons for repairs
or for other purposes without the necessity of any part thereof being detached or
removed from the lamp post or column.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide at the upper extremity of
the lamp post or column and firmly secured thereto by means of one or more.
hollow or other arms or extensions a tubular piece rod, or support of suitable length
intended to carry the lantern or lamp which latter is adjustably secured thereto by
other arms or extensions. This tubular piece or rod is placed parallel to the axis
of the lamp post or column, and the arms or extensions by means of which it is
secured to the latter and those supporting the lantern or lamp are of such a length
as to ensure the axis of the said lantern or lamp being coincident or approximately
coincident with the axis of the said lamp post or column thus obviating the
creation of any shadows by the latter. The lantern or lamp is formed in two parts.
The upper part carrying the lamp mechanism is preferably formed in the shape of
a cone, having an uptake or chimney at its apex and is constructed of metal; or.
partly of metal and partly of opal glass or other suitable material.. The lower
part of the said lantern or lamp consists in a globe or bulb of clear or other glass.
The arm or extension supporting the conical or upper part of the lantern or lamp
is secured at one extremity to the latter and at the other extremity to a ring, loose
collar, or sleeve provided upon the herein before mentioned tubular piece or rod,
and resting upon a pin projection or fixed collar thereon, in such a manner as to be
capable of rotating freely upon the said tubular piece or rod. The lower part of
the lantern or lamp is in like manner supported upon the said tubular piece or rod
by means of an arm or extension firmly secured at one extremity to a ring or
socket to which the upper extremity of the glass globe or bulb is connected in any
suitable manner, and the extremity whereof is rotatably mounted upon a sleeve or
outer tubular piece provided upon the said tubular piece or rod. Suitable stops or
projections are provided upon the said ring or socket supporting the globe or bulb
and adapted when the lantern or lamp is closed to engage with another stop or
projection upon the conical or upper part of the latter and thus to maintain the
said two parts firmly locked or secured together.
A suitable catch or fastener moreover is provided upon the upper extremity of
the hereinbefore mentioned tubular piece or rod which under normal conditions or

page_text: when the lamp or lantern is in position over the lamp post or column locks or
secures the ring sleeve or loose collar (by means of which the upper part of the
lantern or lamp is mounted upon the tubular piece, rod, or support) firmly in
position.
The sleeve or outer tubular piece which supports the lower part of the lantern or
lamp is likewise provided at its lower extremity with a suitable catch, or fastener
by means of which it is normally locked or secured to the hereinbefore mentioned
tubular piece or support. The said 'outer tubular piece or sleeve is provided
morcover with a suitable slot through which the hereinbefore mentioned hollow or
other arm or extension, or arms or extensions connecting the tubular piece or
support to the lamp post extend and which will permit the said sleeve to move
downwards upon the tubular piece or support when the above mentioned catch or
fastener is released.
To open the lamp or lantern for cleaning or other purposes the catch or fastener
upon the upper extremity of the tubular piece or rod is disengaged unlocked or
released and the said lantern or lamp is turned or swivelled round upon the tubular
piece or support into any convenient angle relatively to the lamp post or column.
The catch or fastener which secures the outer tubular piece or sleeve to the said
tubular piece or support is then disengaged, and the said sleeve will descend upon
the tubular piece or support through the length of the herein before mentioned slot,
and carry with it the lower part of the lantern or lamp so as to open the latter and
admit of access being obtained to the interior thereof. The lower part of the
lantern or lamp is preferably arranged to descend a sufficient distance to clear the
lower carbon holder, thus admitting of the upper part of the said lamp, and
the lamp mechanism being turned or moved away from the lower part so as to
obtain more convenient access to the said mechanism.
When it is desired to close the said lantern or lamp the sleeve and lower part are
again raised and secured in position upon the tubular piece or support by means of
the catch or fastener. The said lantern or lamp is again moved round over the
lamp post or column when the catch or fastener upon the upper extremity of the
tubular piece or support drops automatically into engagement with the sleeve ring
or loose collar and locks or secures the parts in position.
When the hereinbefore mentioned support and arm or extension or arms or
extensions securing the latter to the lamp post or column are formed hollow or
tubular the wires or cables for conveying the electric current to the lamp may be
passed up through the same, thus permitting the rotation of the lamp to be effected
without interfering with the said wires or cables.
Although I have hereinbefore described convenient and advantageous means for
carrying my said invention into practice it is obvious that I can somewhat modify
the construction of my improved lantern or lamp for are electric lights or of the
post or column thereof without however in any way departing from the nature of
my said invention. For instance I sometimes provide a second tubular or other
support at the other side of the said lantern or lamp and from which the said lamp
or lantern can be readily detached or disengaged when it is desired to turn or
swivel it round for opening.
In some cases I arrange a pin upon the tubular piece or support adapted to
engage with a cut away collar secured to, or in a slot provided in the herein before
mentioned sleeve carrying the lower part of the lamp, so as to prevent the lowering
of the latter from being effected until it has been turned or rotated through a given
angle relatively to the lamp-post or column. I sometimes provide by means of a
rod passing up through the said hollow tubular or other support or in any other
convenient manner for enabling the release or disengagement of the upper catch or
fastener to be effected from the lower extremity of the above-mentioned tubular or
other support.
In some cases I dispense with the hereinbefore mentioned outer tubular piece or
sleeve, and arrange the ring or collar carrying the globe or lower part of the
lautern or lamp to move upon the tubular or other support. The ring or socket of

page_text: the said globe moreover in this instance is preferably so constructed that it can be
.turned or pivoted relatively to the said ring or loose collar, so as to enable the
clearing of the lower carbon holder to be effected without having to let the said
globe descend so low.
Dated this 11th day of October 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lanterns or Lamps for Arc Electric Lights and in
Posts or Columns therefor.
I, ALFRED LYSTER SHEPARD, of 8 West Kensington Gardens, in the County
of Middlesex, Electrical Engineer, 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 relates to lanterns or lamps chiefly designed for street lighting,
and comprises the improvements hereinafter set forth.
The main object of my said invention is to provide an improved lantern or lamp
for an electric arc light, which can be easily and expeditiously opened to permit
access to the interior thereof for cleaning, for the insertion of new carbons, for
repairs, or for other purposes.
I accomplish the desired result as follows, that is to say :-I make the lamp or
lantern in such a manner that the globe or lower part thereof can be moved
vertically relatively to the upper part of the said lamp or lantern to permit access
to the interior thereof, and can be secured to the upper part by means of a suitable
catch or fastening when the lamp or lantern is closed. And I mount the said lamp
or lantern upon a post or colunin in such a manner that it can be swung about a
vertical pivot to move it clear of the said post or column and thus permit the
opening of the said lamp or lantern by the lowering of the globe or lower part of
Moreover I sometimes so arrange the two relatively movable parts of
tbe lamp or lantern that, when the globe or lower part is in its lowermost
position, the upper part can be readily swung about the said vertical pivot, to move
it clear of the said globe or lower part, and thus afford easier access to the lamp-
mechanism or to the carbons or other parts.
the same.
I find it advantageous to mount the lamp or lantern on a single bent or curved
5 supporting piece or arm secured to the top of the post or column. This arm can
then be so arranged that the shadow cast thereby will be thrown in the direction in
which the light is least required. I may, however, use more than one arm whereby
the lamp or lantern will be supported when in its central position above the post or
column.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a post or column provided with my improved
lamp or lantern, designed more especially for an electric arc light.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, and,
Figure 3 a rear elevation, both drawn to an enlarged scale, showing details of
construction.
Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, drawn to a somewhat
larger scale than Figure 1, showing a modification of my said invention hereinafter
described.
Figure 5 is a side elevation, drawn to the same scale as Figure 4, the lamp or
lantern being shown open.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the lamp-post; B, B are the relatively movable parts of the lamp or
lantern; C, C are the carbons; C₁ is the lower carbon-holder.

page_text: The upper part B of the lamp or lantern comprises a conical or other suitably
shaped reflector of- metal, opal glass or other suitable material, and supports the
lamp-mechanism.
In the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 3, the said upper part is rigidly secured to a
sleeve or collar D, which is fitted, so that it can be turned freely, upon a tubular (or
other) support or arm A1 A2 firmly connected to the lamp-post A. A³ is a pin secured
in the arm or support A¹ A² for preventing endwise movement of, or supporting the
said sleeve or collar D. The arm or support A' A is bent or curved at its lower end
so that its vertical portion is parallel to a prolongation of the axis of the lamp-post
or column A. The lower part 1 of the lantern or lamp consists of a globe or
basin of glass or other transparent material supported in a ring or socket E which
is firmly secured to another sleeve F fitted, so that it can be turned freely, upon an
outer tubular piece G mounted upon the tube A, E, E are lugs or projections
formed on or secured to the sleeve F, or to the ring or socket E, and adapted to
engage with a stop or projection D* upon the sleeve or collar D, when the lantern
or lamp is closed, and thus maintain the two parts of the lamp firmly locked or
secured together so as to prevent angular movement thereof relatively to each
other. His a catch or fastener comprising a screw H' working in an L-shaped
slot G, by means of which the outer tubular piece G may be locked or secured to
the tubular piece A¹. I is another catch or fastener comprising a pin l'extending
through a slot A in the tube A' and adapted to enter notches D in the sleeve or
collar D, whereby the said sleeve or collar may be locked or secured to the tube A¹;
the turning of the lamp or lantern on the said arm or support may thus be pre-
vented. I prefer to so arrange the lantern or lamp B, B' that, when closed and in
position for lighting (as shown in full lines in Figure 1), the axis thereof will be in
line with the axis of the lamp-post or column A.
The outer tubular piece or sleeve G is formed with a slot G' through which
extends the part A2 of the arm or support A' A², and which permits the up and
down movement of the sleeve G upon the said arm or support, when the catch or
fastener H is released, whilst preventing rotary movement of the said sleeve G on
the said arm or support.
The sleeve or collar F is formed with a slot F, which, when the lamp is turned
or swung into the position for opening (as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1),
coincides with the slot G1 thus permitting the lowering of the globe basin B' upon
the arm or support A' A², into the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1,
and which, by engaging with the part A2, prevents rotary movement of the lower
part of the lamp whilst the lamp is open.
To open the lamp or lantern, the catch of fastener I is first disengaged or
released by raising it, and the said lamp or lantern is turned or swung about the
tube A (which serves as a vertical pivot) into the position indicated by the dotted
lines in Figure 1. The catch or fastener H is then disengaged by partially
rotating the same and the sleeve G is lowered upon the tube or pivot A' together
with the lower part B₁ of the lantern or lamp, as indicated by the dotted lines in
Figure 1.
The lower part of the lantern or lamp is preferably so arranged that it can be
lowered sufficiently to clear the bottom of the lower carbon-holder, thus permitting
the turning or swinging of the upper part of the lamp and the lamp-mechanism
away from its usual position above the lower part of the lamp, so as to afford easier
access to the said mechanism or to the interior of the globe.
To close the said lantern or lamp, the two parts thereof are brought in line with
each other, the sleeve G and the lower part are raised upon the tube or pivot A',
and secured in position thereon by means of the catch or fastener H, and the
lantern or lamp is again swung about the vertical pivot into the position shown in
full lines in Figure 1, the catch or fastener I then dropping automatically into
engagement with the sleeve or collar D and locking or securing the parts in
position as before:
Figures 4 and 5 show a modification of my said invention wherein the upper

page_text: portion B of the lantern or lamp is firmly secured to the outer tubular piece or
sleeve G, which is provided with a han llo G for convenience of rotating the same
upon the arm or support A'. The said handle G is formed on, or secured to a
ring or collar G³ mounted upon the said sleeve G so as to be free to move to and
fro thereon, but is restrained from rotation relatively thereto by means of a screw-
stud or pin working in a slot, or in any other convenient manner. The said ring
or collar G³ has formed therein another slot or notch adapted to engage with a
pin or projection upon the tube or pivot A', so as to form a catch or fastener for
locking or securing the said sleeve G to the pivot A', when the lamp or lantern is
in its normal position as shown in Figure 4. The globe or basin B' is provided
with a suitable aperture B at its lower end, through which is passed a screw-
threaded extension or stud J formed on, or secured to the lower carbon-holder C¹,
and a wing or thumb nut K is screwed upon the projecting extremity of the said
stud J. is a washer placed between the said thumb or wing nut K and the
globe B, and L' is a collar fixed upon the stud J. When the thumb-uut K and
washer L are in position, the globe B' is firmly clamped or secured between the
latter and the said collar L'.
M is a removable rod of such diameter that it can pass easily through the
thumb-nut K, washer L, and aperture B³, and having at its upper end a screw-
threaded portion of reduced diameter, adapted to enter a correspondingly tapped
hole J in the lower end of the stud J. The said rod M is provided at its other
or lower end with a head or enlargement M'.
To lower the globe B', the lamp or lantern is first swung about its vertical pivot
into the position shown in Figure 5, by rotating the sleeve G upon the tube or
pivot A The rod M is then screwed into the stud J as shown in Figure 5, the
thumb-nut K is unscrewed from the stud J, and, together with the washer L and
globe B, lowered upon the said rod M, until these parts rest upon the head or
enlargement M', as shown in Figure 5. It is obvious that one rod M will serve
for any desired number of lamps.
When the lamp post or column, and the arm or support attached thereto are
made hollow or tubular, the wires or conductors for conveying the electric current
to the lamp may be passed through the same. In this case, I prefer to employ a
small tube or bush of metal or other suitable material, as shown at N, Figures 4
and 5, to prevent wear of or damage to the said wires or conductors during the
opening and closing of the lamp or lantern.
It is obvious that I can somewhat further modify the construction of my
improved lantern or lamp without departing from the nature of my said invention.
For instance, I sometimes provide, in addition to the arm or support A' A², a
second tubular or other support at the opposite side of the post, and from which
the lamp or lantern can be readily detached or disengaged when it is desired to
swing it about its vertical pivot for the purpose above specified. In some cases, I
arrange upon the tubular piece or support, a pin or projection adapted to engage
with a cut away collar secured to the outer tubular piece or sleeve, or to enter a
slot therein; or I provide other suitable means for preventing the lowering of the
lower part of the lamp or lantern until the latter has been turned or rotated
through a given angle relatively to the tubular or other support. I sometimes
provide for enabling the release or disengagement of the upper catch or fastener to
be effected from the lower extremity of the support by means of a rod passing up
through the said support, or by other convenient means.
It will be readily understood that, by obvious modifications, my improved lautern
may be advantageously adapted for gas or oil lamps.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood
that I claim :-
First. A lamp or lantern which is mounted upon a post or column in such a
manner that it can be swung about a vertical pivot to move it clear of the said

page_text: post or column, and the globe or lower part of which is movable vertically
relatively to the upper part thereof to permit access to the interior of the said
lamp or lantern.
Second. The combination of a bent or curved arm or support adapted to be
secured upon a post or column, a lamp or lantern arranged to be swung about the
said arm or support, and so constructed that the globe or lower part is movable
vertically relatively to the upper part thereof, and fastening devices for retaining
the lamp in its normal position, and for securing together the parts of the same,
substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Third. The modification of my invention wherein provide for swinging the
upper part of the lamp or lantern about the vertical pivot relatively to the globe
or lower part thereof after the latter has been lowered, for the purpose above
specified.
Doted this 28th dox of Tul., 1901
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.