Improvements in Hand Signal Lamps.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1896-Accepted, 9th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hand Signal Lamps.
JOHN THOMAS 567 Caledonian Road London, N. Lamp Manufacturer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The body of the lamp is of the usual cylindrical shape in horizontal section
having a cover at top in which is an arrangement for ventilation and protecting
the light from the wind, as is well understood. A vertical plate or diaphragm,
divides the cylindrical body into two parts or chambers.
In the lower portion of the vertical plate or diaphragm is a circular aperture
and immediately behind this aperture is placed the light.
On the front side of the plate viz. :-on the opposite side to that of the flame is
a metal frame which I call a spectacle having two circular apertures into which
are fixed coloured glasses. This frame or spectacle is fixed on a spindle so as to
be capable of a revolving motion within certain limits upon the vertical plate or
diaphragm and in such manner that when the spectacle frame is caused to revolve
either of the coloured glasses come in front of the aperture in the vertical plate or
diaphragm and consequently in the front of the light.
In front of the spectacle frame and in line with the light is a conical reflector
and a lens for concentrating the light as is well understood.
On the top or cover of the lamp and immediately under the handle is placed a
horizontal lever, in such a position relatively to the handle of the lamp that the
said lever can be moved up and down by the fingers of the hand that carries
the lamp.
A rod or bar of metal connected at its upper end with the lever already described
passes down through the cover of the lamp and is attached at its lower end to the
spectacle frame in such manner that the movement of the lever at top is transmitted
to the spectacle frame causing the said frame to revolve on its axis and thus bring
the coloured glasses into a position in front of the light.
Air to supply the flame is brought down from the top of the lamp in the following
manner. A number of holes are made in the side of the cylindrical body near the
top. These are surrounded by a hoop or band of metal fixed a little distance from
the cylindrical body so as to leave a space between-the bottom edge of the band
is connected to the cylindrical body below the holes referred to, the top of the
band terminating about level with the top of the cylindrical body. On the inside
of the cylindrical body is fixed one or more vertical air channels-these serve to
convey air from some of the holes in the body down to the lower part of the lamp
to supply the flame.
The oil tank forms the bottom or base of the lamp. This is fitted with a burner
for mineral or paraffin oil as is well understood, the cap or cone surrounding the
flame being however of oval shape in horizontal section. A vertical tube (preferably
of conical shape in vertical section) passes up through the tank near the wick tube.
On the top end of this tube is a valve arrangement consisting of a ball or small
marble or a flat piece of metal resting on the top of the tube & kept in its place
by any suitable means. A cover or case is placed over the valve in the top of
which is a small aperture in such a position as to come immediately under the
burner cone or cap already referred to.
D
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page_text: improvements in Hand Signal Lamps.
I, JOHN THOMAS of 567 Caledonian Road London N. Lamp Manufacturer,
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 :―
These improvements comprise an improved arrangement of the "spectacles" and
the means for working the same with an improved arrangement of spring catch for
holding the same in position; also an improved arrangement of the air supply to
the lamp whereby the important advantage is obtained of being able to use
petroleum oil and other cheap mineral oils instead of the expensive oil hitherto
used of necessity in lamps of this description; also the application of a self acting
valve to a bottom inlet passage whereby the lamp flame is prevented from being
extinguished if the lamp is set down suddenly or waved up and down forcibly.
Fig. 1 on the accompanying drawing is a vertical sectional side elevation of a
hand signal lamp constructed according to this my invention, Fig. 2 a vertical
sectional front elevation and Fig. 3 a plan section on line ab Fig 1. The body A
of the lamp is of the usual cylindrical shape in horizontal section, having a cover A¹,
at top of which is a usual cap B with perforations BI and an inner cap C with
perforations C', as is well understood. The cover A¹ and the body A are held
together by clips S hinged to the body A and provided with shoulders S¹ against
which the flat springs T on the handle K take a bearing. To detach the cover, the
springs are depressed and the clips can then be turned up. A vertical plate or
diaphragm D forming part of the cover A' divides the cylindrical body A into a
front and a rear chamber. In the lower portion of this vertical diaphragm is a
circular aperture D', and immediately behind this aperture is placed the light or
burner E with reflector F. On the front side of the diaphragin D is a metal
frame G which I call the spectacle frame having two circular apertures G' G³ into
which are fixed differently coloured glasses. This spectacle frame is mounted on
a spindle G³ so as to be capable of a revolving motion (within certain limits) against
the diaphragm D and in such manner that when the spectacle frame G is caused
to revolve either of the colored glasses, G¹ or G³, come in front of the aperture D'
in the diaphragm D and consequently in front of the lamp flame.
In front of the spectacle frame and in line with the lamp flame is a conical
reflector H and a lens H' for concentrating the light as is well understood. On the
top or cover A' of the lamp and immediately under the handle K is placed a
horizontal lever L in such a position relatively to the handle K of the lamp that
the said lever can be moved up and down by the fingers of the hand that carries
the lamp. A rod or bar L' within a tube C2 is connected at its upper end by hook
(or pin joint) to the lever L and attached at its lower end to a lug L2 which swivels
on the spectacle frame G, so that the movement up or down of the lever L causes
the said frame to revolve on its spindle G and thus brings one of the coloured
glasses into position in front of the lamp flame. The frame G has three half round
notches corresponding to these two positions and to the position intermediate of
them, and the dog M on the flat spring M' catches into one of the notches; and
the edge of the frame between the notches is made to slope or rise so that the
dog M has no tendency to stick in any position between the notches.
Air to supply the flame is brought down from the top of the lamp in the
following manner. A number of holes A2 are made in the side of the cylindrical
body A near the top; these are surrounded by a hoop or band N of metal fixed a
little distance from said body so as to leave a space all round; the bottom edge
of the band is connected to the body A below the holes A2, but open in certain
portions whereby dirt and moisture are prevented from accumulating in the annular

page_text: space. The top of the band terminates about level with the top of the body A.
On the inside of the latter are fixed one or more vertical air channels or pockets A³
(three of them are shewn in this example) which serve to carry the air from some
of the holes A down to the lower part of the lamp where the air issues through
the holes A' and supplies the flame. I prefer to make the inlet holes in the pockets
so large as to be about equal to the entire area of the other holes which lead
directly into the upper or flame chamber. It will thus be noticed that there are
two kinds of air supply, one by the channels A³ to the bottom of the chamber,
and another to the upper part of the flame chamber. By reason of this arrange-
ment I am enabled to burn petroleum oil or the like without the necessity for
using the ordinary glass chimney.
The oil tank O forms the bottom or base of the lamp and is fitted with the
burner or wick tube E of any usual or suitable form for petroleum or other
mineral oil, the cap or cone E¹ being by preference of flat or oval shape in
horizontal section.
A vertical tube P, preferably of conical shape in vertical section as shewn,
passes up through the tank near the wick tube E. On the top end of this tube P
is a valve consisting of a thin light metal disc Q (or it might be a light ball or
marble) kept in place (but capable of playing freely up and down) by means of
any suitable guard device; I have here shown a cover R with a small opening
through it which is close to the burner cap or cone E'. The action and effect
of this valve is this that when the lamp is put down suddenly or waved up and
down forcibly, the valve disc Q will by the resistance of the air below it be raised
and admit a little air from below and prevent the flame from becoming
extinguished as has hitherto been the case in all attempts which have been made
in applying a mineral oil burner to a hand signal lamp.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The application and use in hand signal lamps of a spectacle frame
revoluble round a central fulcrum and operated substantially by the means
described and shewn.
2. In a hand signal lamp a vertical diaphragm on the bottom of the removable
cover of the lamp body, said diaphragm carrying the fulcrum for the spectacle
frame and adapted to shew the light from the burner flame through one of the
spectacle glasses substantially as set forth.
3. In a hand signal lamp the application and use of a two fold air supply
from the upper part of the lamp viz. one for the lower or burner part and
another for the upper part of the interior of the lamp, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
4. In a hand signal lamp body the application and use of perforations near
the top in combination with an outer hoop, a little distance from the body and
fixed thereto and a chamber or chambers communicating with the space between
the body and the hoop and serving to carry air down to the lower or burner part
substantially as described and shewn.
5. In a hand signal lamp the application and use of a passage leading up
through the oil chamber and provided with a self acting valve which opens by
the air resistance when the lamp is brought down suddenly and admits some air
to the burner, so as to counteract any suction action from above which would.
extinguish the flame, substantially as described and shewn.
6. The construction of the hand signal lamp as shewn on the drawing.
Dated this Second day of March 1906
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents..