Improvements in the Construction of Hand and Engine Lamps in use on Railways for Signalling and other Purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 18th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Hand and Engine Lamps in
use on Railways for Signalling and other Purposes.
I, WILLIAM PRESS, of 10 Frith Road, Leytonstone, in the County of Essex, a
Railway Guard in the employ of the Great Eastern Railway Company do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in the construction of tri colour
hand and engine signalling lamps now in use in connection with the working of
railways and for other purposes and relates particularly to the mode of producing
the succession or interchange of colours such as white, green, or red or other selected
colours by the introduction of special mechanism operating by lever and spring and
actuated by the simple pressure of the thumb or finger of one hand upon one or
other of two knobs provided for that object.
With my improved lamp the coloured glasses say green and red are instantly
brought into position by means of a lever and spring fully under the control of the
thumb or finger of the hand in which the lamp is carried thus leaving the other
hand of the operator at perfect liberty.
A slight pressure of one of two small knobs attached one on each side of the
lever brings down the green glass to the opening in front of the burner; a similar
pressure applied to the other or opposite knob lifts the green glass; the same knob
is then momentarily released from pressure in order to allow the spring to rise
when renewed pressure on the same knob serves to bring down the red glass.
These movements may be reversed at the will of the operator.
The lamp is provided with an interior circular opening thereby rendering the
colours more distinctive than would otherwise be the case. It is also provided
with a curved reflector to concentrate and intensify the light & an inner airtight
glass.
Dated this Eighth der of December 1800
WILLIAM PRESS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Hand and Engine Lamps in
use on Railways for Signalling and other Purposes.
I, WILLIAM PRESS 10 Frith Road Leytonstone Essex Railway Guard, 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—
This invention has for its object improvements in the construction of tri colour
hand and engine signalling lamps now in use in connection with the working of
railways and for other purposes and relates particularly to the mode of producing
the succession or interchange of colours such as white, green or red or other
selected colours, by the introduction of special mechanism operating by lever and
spring and actuated by the simple pressure of the thumb or finger of one hand upon
one or other of two knobs provided for that object.
With my improved lamp the coloured glasses, say green and red are instantly
brought into position by means of a lever and spring fully under the control of the
thumb or finger of the hand in which the lamp is carried thus leaving the other
hand of the operator at perfect liberty.
A slight pressure of one of two small knobs, attached one on each side of the

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lever brings down the green glass to the opening in front of the burner; a similar
pressure applied to the other or opposite knob lifts the green glass; the same knob
is then momentarily released from pressure in order to allow the spring to rise
when renewed pressure on the same knob serves to bring down the red glass.
These movements may be reversed at the will of the operator..
The lamp is provided with an interior circular opening thereby rendering the
colours more distinctive than would otherwise be the case. It is also provided
with a curved reflector to concentrate and intensify the light and an inner airtight
glass..
Referring to the annexed drawings
Figure 1 is a view partly in section and elevation of my invention the lower part
of the lantern or lamp being removed.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of a lamp constructed according to my invention.
a is a lever which is hooked at b, on to the spring c, or otherwise suitably
attached thereto. This spring is flat & is secured to the handle d at e (Fig. 2). f. is
a frame carrying the glass of suitable colour g. This frame is pivoted at / to the
cross piece i, which is secured to the sides j of the lamp by any convenient means.
A similar frame carrying another disc is pivoted on the other side of the cross
piece i, the end of the pivot ' being shown. k is a cross rod which is secured to
the sides of the lamp and carries a projection 7.
It will be seen that upon pressing the knob m, the lever a will swing until the end
comes into contact with the shoulder n on the cross piece i. On still continuing the
pressure the spring c will descend and thus allow the rod a to swing until finally it
arrives at the position as shown by the dotted lines, and has entered the slot o in
the cross piece, thus being retained in position. The part of the rod a which
enters this slot is bent at right-angles to the rod and projects under the cross piece i.
During its passage it has allowed-the frame to fall and by coming into contact
with the lug p, completes the movement of the frame thereby. The dotted.circle q
shows the position of the aperture-in-front of the burner r, Fig. 2. On now.pressing.
knob m, the lever a will descend from the slot o and travel along the shoulder n
until it reaches the end of same when the projection will arrest-its progress after
leaving the shoulder by coming into contact with the pin s. The pressure, is--now
-removed from knob m² and lever a will rise to its normal or initial position; if
pressure is now applied it will swing-over to shoulder n³ when the same procedure
is observed as in the previous instance and in this way the frame--Fig. 2 on the
other side of the-cross-piece_i, will be brought down, and may be raised in a manner
similar to frame f. Owing to the quick movement-of-the-lever a after it leaves the
shouldern, the pins comes in contact with the projection, before the lever has
risen, owing to the pressure on the knob aforesaid. A partition t is provided having
the aperture g.
The top part of the lamp carrying the mechanism may be attached
to the lower part thereof in any well known manner. A sheet of glass is provided
at which covers the end of the cone a carrying the lense & prevents the same
being dimmed, owing to the condensation of moisture taking place thereon.
the lamp reflector.
vis
y is an extension of the frame f, which prevents the fall of the frame when the
frame fis down, and vice-versa..
The pins & projection renders it impossible to accidentally bring down a frame,
when lifting the frame already down, without stopping at the initial position.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
(1) In lamps of the class herein described, the combination and arrangement of
the various parts substantially as described.
'e..
(2) In signalling -lamp, the construction & arrangement of the frames fcarrying
coloured or glass in combination with and operated by a lever a hinged to a spring
or its equivalent & operated by knobs m & m' the lever having a pin
on same

page_text: for engaging on a projection ; the frames being suitably pivoted to a cross piece i
having slots o for the reception of the end of the lever a; the lense being protected
from internal moisture by a plate of glass u, substantially as described & for the
purpose set forth.
Doted this 10th dor of Sentombor 1901
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.