AN IMPROVED LAMP FOR MILITARY NIGHT SIGNALLING
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION: .
I, JAMES LOGAN WATKINS, of 4 Limberg Road, Battersea Rise Clapham,
Surrey, Decorators Manager, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
AN IMPROVED LAMP FOR MILITARY NIGHT SIGNALLING to be as follows:-
A Block Tin Lamp eight inches in height four and half inches wide and three
inches in depth. A white glass lens fitted in the front, and a small glass side light
on each side with slide to cover when riot in uso.
The Light is exposed by moving a shutter working in grooves fitted on sides of
Lamp with cranked lover worked by a piston rod on the outside of Lamp fitted
with a spring and thumb rest.
1
Wire handles to fold back secured to top.and sides.
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page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I JAMES LOGAN WATKINS of 4 Limberg Road Battersea Rise Clapham
Surrey Decorators Manager do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"AN IMPROVED LAMP FOR MILITARY NIGHT SIGNALLING" 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 an improved lamp for military night signalling.
My improved lamp is provided with a glass lens with a sliding shutter in front
of it which can be raised so as to uncover the glass by means of a lever and thumb
piece on the exterior of the lamp and which when released closes with a spring.
By this means Bashing signals may be transmitted to the rear from an advanced
position. The lamp has also small glazed side lights with flaps for covering the
same. By uncovering the side glasses rays of light may be permitted to issue from
either side of the lamp. In this way an alignment may be given, and this with so
small a beam of light as not to be apparent from the enemy's position in front.
My improved lamp is shown by the drawings annexed.
Figure 1 is a side elevation. Figure 2 is a front elevation and Figure 3 is a
vertical section.
Figure 4 represents the lamp as it appears when open, and Figure 5 is a
horizontal section taken on the line 1, 1, in Figure 3.
AA is the body of the lamp, it is made of sheet metal. B is the large glass
lens by which the light from the burner C is shown to the rear when it is desired
to signal. In place employing an oil burner as the drawing suggests a small
electric lamp (incandescent or arc) may in some cases be employed. D is the screen
which obscures the light when it is not required to be shown; this screen is only
raised for the purpose of showing the light at intervals in flashes suitable for
transmitting telegraphic signals. The screen is capablo of moving up and down in
guides E E, it is connected by a link F with a lever G having its fulcrum at G°.
His a coiled spring attached to the lever, and which, when free, draws it down
into the position in which it is shown in Figures 2 and 8, thereby placing the
screen D in such a position as to obscure the light. I is a rod capable of sliding
in a guide on the exterior of the lamp; its upper end is connected with the lever G
beyond the fulcrum, and its lower end is in like manner connected to another
lever K having its fulcrum at K. At K' a thumb piece is formed on the lever K.
By pressure on this thumb piece the rod I is drawn down the inner end of the
lever G is raised and with it the screen D, and the light is exposed and remains
visible through the lons B so long as the pressure on the thumb piece is maintained.
Or when desired the screen may be prevented from descending by shooting the
small bolt J so that its end projects above the lever K. A block of felt is inserted
beneath the lever K to receive it when it descends and so to prevent noise when
signalling.
Lis a concave reflector in front of the flame directing the light to the lens B.
M M are the side apertures, they are provided with glasses and also with
flaps M M' by which they are covered except when required for use as in giving

page_text: an alignment or for reading a despatch or for other purposes in the field where a
small light is required such as an enemy is not likely to detect.
N is a hinge joint connecting the part of the lamp containing the lens B with
the body of the lamp. This part forms a door and for the purpose of opening the
lamp for trimming and so forth can be opened as it is seen in Figure 4. O is a
spring catch for keeping this portion of the lamp in position when the lamp is
closed. P P P are handles for carrying the lamp either in the hand or by attaching
it to a belt. Q is a socket on the lamp to attach the same to a tripod or other
convenient stand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed that what I claim is
(1.) A military night signalling lamp with lens B rising and falling shutter D
and lever apparatus for moving the same and with glazed side apertures M M as
herein described.
(2.) A military night signalling lamp substantially as described and represented
in the annexed drawings.