Improvements in or connected with Lamps for Cycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896
Improvements in or connected with Lamps for Cycles.
I, GEORG PETER SCHMITT, of Mannheim, P- 3, No. 3, in the Empire of
Germany, 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 :-
The subject of this invention is a cycle lamp, in which greatest cleanliness and
security against explosions together with a uniform, quiet burning of the flame is.
attained by means of its construction and the arrangement of the various parts.
The annexed drawings represent the lamp, in which
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation through the lamp.
Figure 2 shews the cylinder of the lamp, in section.
Figure 3 shews the means for suspending the lamp on the cycle, in perspective.
Figure 4 is a detail part of the suspending arrangement; and
Figure 5 is a part of the lower portion of the lamp, shewn in section.
The lamp consists of the reflector A, the body-part B, the lamp-base C, the
chimney parts D and D¹, the oil vessel E, and the wick holder and bowl F
and F
The main improvements in connection with the lamp, consist in the separate
arrangement of the vessel E for the combustible liquid from which (vessel) the
liquid passes through the connecting tube v, which is provided with a shutting off
cock or valve a, into the vessel F', which is below the flame. Between this vessel
and the body of the lamp, there is a free space, through which fresh air passes to.
the flame through openings c in the lamp base C, at the same time cooling the
heated portions of the lamp. On the burner F there are two brackets / made of
sheet metal, which brackets, together with two springs i fitted in the lamp chimney D,.
keep the cylinder G in position. The body of the lamp comprises two parts, of
which the lower one carries the oil vessel and the upper one the parabolic reflector A..
When filling the vessel E with the illuminant liquid, the cock or valve a in
the tube is closed, and after unscrewing the top e, the oil is poured into the
vessel.
When the cock is opened, the illuminant liquid runs into the wick-bowl F¹ until
the opening of the air-tube 9 which passes from the wick bowl F' into the upper
part of the oil vessel E, is below the surface of the liquid. Then the access of air
to the illuminant liquid vessel E is interrupted, and the liquid will not flow any
longer, until the level of the liquid in vessel F' has sunk below the opening of the
tube g. Hereby a uniform burning of the flame is attained.
A further improvement lies in the construction of the reflector. This consists of
the projecting parabolic reflector A, and the parabola A', arranged behind same, and
the foci of which are identical. By this arrangement, very little light is lost..
By the cutting off of a portion of the front hyperbola A (which is constructed.
very acute) which cutting off is necessitated by the cylinder G having to pass.
through, a great deal of light would be lost backward, if it were not reflected to a.
very considerable extent, by the arrangement of the parabola A¹.
A third improvement is represented in Figure 2. It concerns the cylinder G,
the lower part 9' of which consists of mica, and the upper portion 9' of metal, so as.
to prevent both breakage, and crushing by the springs i.
A further improvement consists in the suspending arrangement H, represented in.
Figures 3 and 4, and called the "suspender;" it consists of an upper part h¹, and a

page_text: lower part, which are connected by front and back parts 8. The advantage of the
suspender lies in the very sensitive balancing, brought about by the pointed pivoting
of the four cross bars in the parts t. For giving the suspender "springiness," a
spring is attached to one of the lower cross bars g.
The burning capacity of the lamp is considerably increased also by the arrange-
ment of numerous openings for letting in and out air. As already mentioned above,
fresh air enters through the openings c provided in the lamp base C, further also
through the openings 6 provided in the body B, whilst the hot air escapes through
openings and d, likewise arranged in the body, but in its upper portion. In this
manner the perfect air circulation is created, such as is required for uniform and
quiet burning.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A cycle lamp comprising an oil vessel E arranged separately from the body of
the lamp and fr. m the wick-vessel F', and connected with said wick-vessel solely
by means of a pipe for conveying the liquid, and au air-pipe g, whereby not only
is the fuel isolated from the heat of the lamp, but also greatest cleanliness and
security against explosions is obtained; substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of November 1895.
GEORG PETER SCHMITT,
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents.