IMPROVEMENTS IN [THE] APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING LAMPS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Gustav Binswanger at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th May 1882.
GUSTAV BINSWANGER of Number 33 Aldermanbury in the City of London
Electrician. "IMPROVEMENTS IN [THE] APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING LAMPS IN
RAILWAY CARRIAGES
"
My Invention relates to improvements in lighting gas and other lamps in Railway
Carriages, by means of Electricity.
In carrying out my Invention, I place in a convenient part of the train, and
under the control of the Guard or other Official, a number of Voltaic cells, sufficient
to produce a current, the power of which shall be proportionate to the requirements
of each Train. I prefer to employ such batteries which either work intermittently;
or, the plates of which, can be conveniently taken out of the exciting fluids, so as
to prevent waste of battery power when not in use.
If the train is fitted up with Gas lamps, I ignite them either by means of
Electric Sparks, or by the incandescence of platinum wire. In the first case, I
connect to the battery a powerful induction coil, with or without Condenser, and
provided with a suitable arrangement of apparatus for making and breaking
contact, so as to ensure the current being broken when the battery is not in use,
but which, when required to work, is connected by pressing a spring. To the ends
of the Secondary wire of the Induction Coil, I connect suitable covered wires to
run along the train.-Proportionate to the length of the train and the number of
lamps, as well as the strength of the battery, and induction coil, I form one, or
several, circuits, with proper switch arrangements. I connect the lamps with the
circuit, so as to bring the sparks in contact with the gas, making at the same time
suitable arrangements to ensure that the gas flame shall not injure the Electric
wire or other connection, and which I prefer to accomplish by fixing the ends of
the copper wire very near to one side of the aperture in the burner: by which
means, only a very small part of the minimum heat-producing portion of the flame
is brought in contact with the end of the wires.
I may also employ platinum wire heated by the passing currents, which arrange-
ment allows of the ignition of not only gas lamps, but other lamps in railway
carriages. In this case I dispense with the induction coil, and employ suitable

page_text: battery power, with arrangement to break or complete the circuit as required:
I also form in this instance one, or several, circuits along the train, and attach the
short thin platinum wires carefully to the lamps.-I also make the necessary
provision to ensure that the flame shall not injure the platinum wires, which I
effect by preference in a similar manner to that described herein before, in reference
to the provision made for ensuring that the gas flame shall not injure the Electric
wire or other connection.
By the employment of the herein described Apparatus, the lamps of a whole
train may be lit up almost instantaneously. The advantage of this system will be
apparent, as resulting in a very considerable economy in labour and materials as
compared with the ordinary methods of lighting Railway Carriages: and, will be
found of especial utility for the temporary lighting of Railway Carriages when
passing through Tunnels.