IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF BAD TISTO MINIATRIC LIG ON LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEO
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gustavus Paliner Harding, of 88, Jermyn Street,
Piccadilly, London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF
BAD TISTO MINIATRIC LIG
ON LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEO "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gustavus Palmer Harding
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th October 1880.
GUSTAVUS PALMER HARDING, of 88, Jermyn Street, Piccadilly, London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND LAMPS FOR USING THE ELECTRIC
LIGHT ON LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES."
This Invention relates to the lighting or signal lamps for locomotive engines,
and consists in the application of the electric light to replace or as an addition to
the ordinary signal lamp as used on the fore part of the engine, and in the
combinations to carry this into effect.
Hitherto the lamps at electric lighting on a railway have not been directed to
the lighting of the track, and the object of my Invention is not only to give a
signal light, but such a light as shall distinctly light the track to shew obstructions
on the line so far in advance as to enable the driver, by the appliance of his
brake or signal whistle to the guard, to bring the train to a stand before reaching
the obstruction of which he has been warned by the lighting of the track.
1st. I place the lamp on the fore part of the chimney at a convenient elevation,
so that it may light the track in advance of the engine, and the lamp to be used
may be of any construction of electric lamp that is suitable.
I make this light in one or more divisions that are or may be superimposed
upon each other, or so divided by suitable lenses or reflectors so that one light or
one portion of the light shall illuminate the track, say, the first and nearest portion
of the track a certain distance, say, for argument, 100 yards, the next light or
divided portion of the light the next 100 yards, and the next light or portion of
the one light another and further division of the track, and so on.
In dividing or throwing the light forward as described, I make use of a prism or
reflector, or two or more prisms or reflectors, mounted on the fore part of the
engine, and behind the lamp of any construction lighted by the usual conducting

page_text: wires from the generator. By the use of the prisms I can light the track in a
narrow path the width of the line and for a long distance, so that any obstruction
would be detected.
One of the objects is to show the light only in the direction, and to restrict it,
or because as desired, to avoid the inconvenience of the glare on approaching
trains or persons.
2nd. I generate the electricity required by the action of the
bearing, driving, or running wheels or axles of the engine or tender, which I cause,
by suitable devices, to drive any suitable electro magnetic or dynamo magnetic
machine to generate the current, or I attach to the tender or engine in any suitable
position a small engine or suitable motor to drive the electro magnet, or I employ
both means, so that when the engine is not running the small engine may generate
the light.
To accomplish this I place the electric generator upon bearings attached to
the frame work of either the engine or tender, and connect its driving pulley by a
pulley which by means of gearing keyed or connected with the axles of the engine
or tender, will drive the generator at a suitable speed, or I attach to the engine or
tender a small auxiliary engine capable driving the generator at a suitable speed,
but the generating of the electricity by the wheels of the engine or other power is
not claimed as part of this Invention. 3rd. I either shade the glass of the lamp
with colored media, or glaze the lamp with colored glass, partially or wholly, so as
to produce distinct signals for the guidance of the pointsman.
The object is also to light the track brightly for a considerable distance ahead
of the engine to diminish the danger of collision, and, as in the first part of my
Invention, I have more than one light, or divide the light, or I may have one for
the colored light, or a part of said light for the colored signal and the other
lights, or part of said light utilized for lighting the track.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Gustavus Palmer Harding in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th April 1881.
GUSTAVUS PALMER HARDING, of 88, Jermyn Street, Piccadilly, London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND LAMPS FOR USING THE ELECTRIC
LIGHT ON LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES."
This Invention relates to the lighting or signal lamps for locomotive engines,
and consists in the application of the electric light to replace, or as an addition to,
the ordinary signal lamp as used on the fore part of the engine, and in the
combinations to carry this into effect.
Hitherto the attempts at electric lighting on a railway have not been directed to
the lighting of the track, and the object of my Invention is not only to give a
signal light, but such a light as shall distinctly light the track to show obstructions
on the line so far in advance as to enable the driver by the appliance of his break
or signal whistle to the guard to bring the train to a stand before reaching the
obstruction of which he has been warned by the lighting of the track.
1st. I place the lamp on the fore part of the chimney at a convenient elevation,
so that it may light the track in advance of the engine, and the lamp to be used
may be of any construction of electric lamp that is suitable.
I make this light in one or more divisions that are or may be superimposed upon
each other, or so divided by suitable lenses or reflectors, so that one light or one
portion of the light shall illuminate the track, say, the first and nearest portion of
the track a certain distance, say, for argument, 100 yards, the next light or divided
portion of the light the next 100 yards, and the next light or portion of the one
light another and further division of the track, and so on.
In dividing or throwing the light forward as described, I make use of a prism or
reflector, or two or more prisms or reflectors, mounted on the fore part of the
engine and behind the lamp of any construction lighted by the usual conducting
wires from the generator. By the use of the prisms I can light the track in a
narrow path the width of the line and for a long distance, so that any obstruction
would be detected.
One of the objects is to throw the light only in the direction, and to restrict
it or localize as desired, to avoid the inconvenience of the glare on approaching
trains or persons.
2nd. I generate the electricity required by the action of the bearing, driving, or
running wheels or axles of the engine or tender, which I cause, by suitable devices,
to drive any suitable electro magnetic or dynamo magnetic machine to generate the
current, or I attach to the tender or engine in any suitable position a small engine
or suitable motor to drive the electro magnet, or I employ both means, so that
when the engine is not running the small engine may generate the light.
To accomplish this I place the electric generator upon bearings attached to the
frame work of either the engine or tender and connect its driving pulley by a
pulley which, by means of gearing keyed or connected with the axles of the engine
or tender, will drive the generator at a suitable speed, or I attach to the engine or
tender a small auxiliary engine capable of driving the generator at a suitable speed,
but the generating of the electricity by the wheels of the engine or other power is
not claimed as part of this Invention.
3rd. I either shade the glass of the lamp with colored media, or glaze the lamp
with colored glass partially or wholly, so as to produce distinct signals for the
guidance of the pointsman.

page_text: The object is also to light the track brightly for a considerable distance ahead
of the engine to diminish the danger of collision, and, as in the first part of my
Invention I have more than one light, or divide the light, or I may have one for
the colored light, or a part of said light for the colored signal and the other
lights or part of said light utilized for lighting the track.
Where only one ray of light is required I sometimes use a parabolic reflector.
It is obvious that the elements of the combination of the dynamo machine, the
driving of the same by the axles or wheels of the engine or carriages, or by the engine
or supplemental engine driven by steam from the locomotive or independently, the
lenses and mirrors and the electric lamp are all capable of many different combi-
nations, and therefore I do not claim any particular arrangement, but what I do
claim is the lighting of the track before the locomotive by any combination of the
means, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gustavus Palmer Harding, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
G. P. HARDING. (L.S.)