IMPROVEMENTS IN REFLECTORS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Henry Collins, of the City of Winchester, in the
County of Hants, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFLECTORS."
Sealed the 20th October 1877, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
and dated the 13th April 1877
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Henry Collins at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patouts on the 13th April 1877.
THOMAS HENRY COLLINS, of the City of Winchester, in the County of Hants.
IMPROVEMENTS IN REFLECTORS."
According to this Invention I collect and reflect the light from strect lamps and
other lamps and the sun's light cutering through windows by means of reflectors
containing two or more sheets or panes of glass arranged one below the other with
varying angles, so that the upperinost pane is at a slightly steeper angle than the
next following, and so on, and so that the inclination of the reflector can be regulated
as required.
As applied to a street lamp I prefer to employ a double reflector each side,
composed of three panes, the two upper panes being flush or thereabouts at their
line of junction, and the bottom pane with its upper edge lying slightly higher than
the bottom edge of the second pane. The angle of the two reflectors against one
another, and of course also against the light, is regulated by a screw mechanism,
say, a screw on one reflector working in a nut, staple, or boss on the other, or an
independent screw might be employed for each side.
The reflectors are mounted a short distance below the burner, and being on
two opposite sides only do not prevent a certain amount of light from being thrown
down immediately under the lamp, while they, when properly adjusted, reflect a
clear light to a great distance cach way.
For lamps which are required to throw the light in one direction only a single
reflector is necessary.
The panes may be fastened to a wood backing by means of brass headed screws,
and may be of any required size.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Henry Collins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
October 1877.
THOMAS HENRY COLLINS, of the City of Winchester, in the County of Hants.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REFLECTORS."
According to this Invention I collect and reflect the light from street lamps and
other lamps and the sun's light entering through windows by means of reflectors
containing two or more sheets or sections or panes of glass arranged one below the
other at varying angles, so that the uppermost pane is at a slightly steeper angle
than the next following, and so on, and so that the inclination of the reflector can
be regulated as required.
As applied to a street lamp I prefer to employ a double reflector, one on each
side. Each reflector is composed of, say, three panes or sections, the two upper
panes being flush or thereabouts at their line of junction, and the bottoin pane with
its upper edge lying slightly higher than the bottom edge of the second panc. The
angle of the two reflectors against one another, and of course also against the light,
is regulated by screw mechanism, say, a screw on one reflector working in a nut,
staple, or boss on the other, or an independent screw might be employed for each
side.
The reflectors are mounted a short distance below the burner, and of course at
such an angle as to reflect the light suitably, and being generally on two opposite
sides only these reflectors do not prevent a certain amount of light from being
thrown down immediately under the lamp, while they, when properly adjusted,
reflect a clear light to a great distance each way.
-
For lamps which are required to throw the light in one direction only a single
reflector is necessary, but in other cases lamps may be fitted with three or four such
reflectors.
The panes or sections or parts may be fastened to a wood backing by means of
brass headed screws, and may be of any required size. The whole of such a reflector
nay, if desired, be moulded in one piece of the form described.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings shows a gas pipe A with burner a, and
fitted with double reflectors B, B, one on each side, such as would be suitable for a
street lamp or other light requiring to be reflected in two directions, say, up and
down a street. Each reflector in this case consists of a wood backing b, to which
are attached three sheets or panes of glass c, d, e; the uppermost pane c projects
slightly above the middle pane d, and the bottom pane e projects above the middle
one d, the angles of the panes being different, that is, decreasing in steepness from
top to bottom. The reflectors rest against some projection below, and are held
together near the top by means of one or two right and left linnded screws f working
in bracket nuts g, y, on the reflector backings b. By turning this screw one way or
the other the inclination of the reflector may be regulated as required.
d
Figure 2 shows another double reflector, in which the panes c, d, e, are attached
to a tin backing, the middle pane & being in this case placed deoper relatively to
the top pane c than in Figure 1. The reflectors rest on the arms g on the boss or
sleeve G, which can be shifted as required on the gas pipe or stem A, and fixed by
a set screw ; Figure 4 is a plan of G, g.
Figure 3 is a part side view of the reflector, which is broader at the bottom than
at the top.
Figure 5 shows another mode of fixing and adjusting the angle of the double
reflector, each side being capable of separate adjustment by means of a screw ƒ
abutting against the gas pipe stem A.
Figure 6 shows an ordinary street lamp fitted with my double reflector, as described
with reference to Figure 2.
Figure 6ª is a plan of four reflectors arranged around and below a light; this

page_text: arrangement is suitable for a lamp placed in a central position, say, in a square or
hall or other place where the light is to be reflected in four directions.
Figure 7 is a vertical section through a deflector suitable for deflocting the sun's
light through a window. It is here shown as consisting of six panos with gradually
decreasing steepness of angle, except the bottom one, which is of about the same
angle as the one next above it.
Although in the preceding Figures, shown generally as a double lamp reflector, it
may, as required, be fitted as a single reflector; or more than two such reflectors
may in certain cases be advantageously applied to lamp or burner.
For reflecting the sun's light generally these reflectors may be combined in various
ways, as now other reflectors are applied.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention I declare
that I claim,
The combination of two or more light-reflecting surfaces, panes, or sheets arranged
below one another at varying angles for the purpose of forming a reflector, all
substantially as set forth.
Also the application of such deflectors to street lamps and other lamps and burners,
substantially in the manner herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Henry Collins, have hereunto sot my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand ciglit hundred and seventy-seven.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the within-named Thomas Henry
Collins, in the presence of
WALTER BAILEY,
Solr.,
THOMAS HENRY COLLINS. (L.S.)
Winchester.