AN IMPROVE- MENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS OR LANTHORNS FOR THE BETTER PROTECTION OF THE LIGHT AGAINST THE EFFECTS OF WIND OR MOTION
Year: 1824

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CROSLEY, of Cottage Lane, City Road, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Fifth day of May, in the fifth year of His reign, did, for Himself,
His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, John Crosley, His special
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said John Crosley,
my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Crosley,
my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "AN IMPROVE-
MENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAMPS OR LANTHORNS FOR THE BETTER PROTECTION
OF THE LIGHT AGAINST THE EFFECTS OF WIND OR MOTION;" in which said Letters
Patent there is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said John Crosley, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's
same

page_text: High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same
reference being thereunto had, will more fully appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Crosley, do hereby declare that my said Invention of an improvement
in the construction of lamps or lanthorns consists, first, of the method of
admitting an abundant supply of air into the lamp or lanthorn, but varying
its course so as to prevent the flame from being materially agitated by any
sudden rush or gust of wind or motion of the lamp or lanthorn; and, secondly,
of so providing for the egress of the smoke and rarified air, that in case of
boisterous weather or sudden motion of the lamp or lanthorn it shall scarcely,
if at all, be obstructed or affected by the wind from without; and these two
objects are, I conceive, bost effected in the following manner :-First, the
bottom of the lamp or lanthorn is formed with an aperture in the centre about
two inches in diameter, in which is secured a circular rim or inverted frustum
of a cone, standing up about an inch high in the lamp or lanthorn, the upper
or largest diameter of which rim may be about two inches and a half; in the
centre of this aperture is secured, by stays, a tin or other cylindrical tube,
about five or six inches long, standing up perpendicularly in the middle of the
lamp or lanthorn, of just sufficient capacity to admit the pipe intended to
convey or contain the gas or other combustible matter. This tube is for the
purpose of supporting, in an upright position, a cap or cover formed of two
frustums of cones joined together at their basis or greatest diameters, which
may be about three inches and a half, and the smaller diameter of the
lower or inverted frustum may be about two inches and six-tenths of an inch,
or just so large as to admit of its passing down over the rim or frustum
of a cone first mentioned, which is already secured in the bottom of the lamp or
lanthorn. The side of the lower or inverted frustum may be about one inch
deep, and that of the larger or upper frustum may be about three inches,
terminating with an aperture just sufficient to adinit the tube intended to
support it. This cap or cover may be slided down upon the support tube to
about four-tenths of an inch from the bottom of the lamp or lanthorn, and
there rest upon two, three, or more small stays or beads attached to the
outside of the rim or frustum of a coue first mentioned. By this arrangement
it is intended that all air admitted into the lamp or lanthorn shall pass through
the aperture in the bottom, and after rising up into the cap or cover shall
descend around and between the lower or inverted frustum of the cap or
cover and the fixed rim or inverted frustum first mentioned, and strike the

page_text: bottom of the lamp or lanthorn, from whence it will arise gradually to supply
the flame. In very exposed situations some little air may get at the flame
through the aperture in the top of the cap or cover, unless it be fitted'
with great accuracy upon the support tube. This may be obviated by securing,
in the aperture another tube about three inches long, falling down perpendi-
cularly in the centre of the cap, and of just sufficient diameter to admit the
support tube. Some air may also get at the flame through the support
tube if the pipe intended to convey or contain the gas or other com-
bustible matter be not also fitted very closely, this may be prevented by
closing the top or bottom of the support tube, after the pipe is admitted, with
a little putty or white lead, or other suitable material. This precaution can
however, only be requisite in the most exposed situations.
•
The second part of my said Invention, which provides for the egress of the
smoke or rarified air, I conceive may be best effected in the following
manner:- -Upon the pyrimidical part of the top of the lamp or lantborn,
which usually terminates with a square whose sides are about six inches, a
cylindrical rim about. five inches diameter is attached, standing up perpendi-
cularly about an inch. Another cylindrical rim is then made to fit close over
the one first mentioned, and to stand up in like perpendicular manner about
two inches high, rising, therefore, one inch above the other. Around and to
the top of this last-mentioned rim is affixed an inverted frustum of a cone, the
smaller circumference of which is of course defined by that of the rim to
which it is joined, and the diameter of the upper or widest part is about six
inches and a half, the perpendicular depth about eight-tenths of an inch, and
the depth of the side about one inch. Over this is a concave cap or cover.
about eight inches in diameter, with an aperture in the centre of it about
four inches diameter, to the outer circumference or border of which cap on
cover is attached an inverted frustum of a cone, the lower or smallest diameter
of which is just sufficient to admit of its being past down close over the
frustum of a cone already secured to the cylindrical rim, its perpendicular
depth being about eight-tenths of an inch, and the depth of the side one
inch. This concave cap or cover, with the inverted frustrum of a cone
attached to it may then be passed down over the frustum of a cone fixed to
the cylindrical rim, until the basis of the two inverted frustums are brought
nearly to the same level. It is then secured in that position by small pillars
or stays rivitted or otherwise attached, one end to the cylindrical rim
and the other to the concave cap or cover. Around the aperture of four
inches diameter already mentioned another cylindrical rim is affixed,

page_text: standing up perpendicularly about seven-tenths of an inch. Over this another
concave cap or cover about seven inches in diameter is supported by small
pillars or stays, as before, at such a height as to bring the circumference or
border thereof to about two-tenths of an inch below the level of the top of the
last-mentioned cylindrical rim. The object of this arrangement is to prevent
any gust or gale of wind blowing horizontally across through the upper part of
the lamp or lanthorn, and thereby obstructing the egress of the smoke or
rarified air. And I do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are also particularly
described and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereunto annexed, and the
following description thereof (that is to say):-First, in the centre of the
bottom of the lamp or lanthorn shewn in section A, A, in Figure 1, is an
aperture of about two inches in diameter, to which is affixed a rim or frustum
of a cone B, described in Figures 1 and 2, standing about one inch high in
the interior of the lamp or lanthorn, the upper diameter of which may be
about two inches and a half; in the centre of this rim B a tin or other
cylindrical tube C, also described in Figures 1 and 2, about five or six inches
long, is secured by means of stays a, a, a, a, described in Figure 3, so as to stand
up perpendicularly in the middle of the lamp or lanthorn. The diameter of
the tube C being just sufficient to admit the pipe intended to convey or contain
the gas or other combustible material. This tube C is for the purpose of
supporting in an upright position a cap or cover former of two frustums of
cones D and E, described in Figures 1 and 4, joined together at their basis or
greatest diameters, which may be about three inches and an half, and the lower
or smaller diameter of the inverted frustum E may be about two inches and
six-tenths of an inch, or just so large as to pass down close over the rim B.
The depth of the side of the lower or inverted frustum E may be about an
inch, and the depth of the side of the upper or larger frustum D may be about
three inches, terminating with an aperture of just sufficient diameter to admit
the cylindrical tube C. The cap or cover D, E, is then to be slided down upon
the tube C to about four-tenths of an inch from the bottom of the lamp or
lanthorn, and there rest upon two, three, or four small stays or beads attached
to the outside of the rim B. By this means the air will be admitted through
the aperture in the bottom of the lamp or lanthorn, and after rising up into
the cap or cover will descend between the inverted frustums B and E, and
strike the bottom of the lamp of lanthorn, from whence it will gradually arise
to the support of the flame. It may be requisite in very exposed situations to
prevent any air from escaping through the aperture at the top of the cap or

page_text: cover D, E, which may be effected by fixing a tube O, described in Figure 4,
to the aperture, from whence it will descend into the cap or cover, the diameter
of the tube O being just sufficient to admit the tube C, and in some instances
it may be requisite to close the top or bottom of the tube C, after the pipe.
intended to convey or contain the gas or other combustible matter shall have
been admitted, with a little putty or white lead, or other suitable material.
Secondly, upon the pyramidical part of the top of the lamp or lanthorn a
cylindrical rim F, described in Figure 1, about five inches in diameter, is
attached, standing up perpendicularly about an inch. Another cylindrical
rim G (the projecting part of which is intended merely for ornament) is then
made to fit close upon the rim F, and to stand up also perpendicularly about.
two inches high. Around and to the top of this rim G is affixed an inverted
frustum of a cone H, the smaller diameter of which is defined by that of the
rim G, to which it is attached, and the diameter of the upper or widest part.
is about six inches and a quarter, the perpendicular depth about eight-tenths
of an inch, and the depth of the side about one inch; over this is a concave
cap or cover J, which may be about eight inches in diameter, having an
aperture in the centre of it about four inches in diameter. To the outer
circumference or border of this cap or cover is attached an inverted frustum
of a cone K, the lower or smallest diameter of which must be just sufficient
to pass over the frustum of a cone H as closely as possible, and its per-
pendicular depth may bo about eight-tenths of an inch, and the depth of tho
side one inch. This cap or cover J, K, may then be passed down over the
frustum H until the basis of the two inverted frustums H and K are brought
nearly to the same level; it is then secured in that position by small pillars or
stays I, I, rivitted or otherwise attached, one end to the cylindrical rim G
and the other to the cap or cover J. Around the aperture of four inches
diameter already mentioned another cylindrical rim L of the same diameter.
is affixed, standing up perpendicularly about seven-tenths of an inch; over
this another concave cap or cover N, about seven inches diameter, is sup-
ported by small pillars or stays M, M, at such a height as to bring the outer
circumference or border thereof about two-tenths of an inch below the level
of the top of the rim L, so that no gust of wind can pass directly across
through the upper part of the lamp or lanthorn, while sufficient space is left
open for the egress of the smoke and rarified air. The red dotted lines in
Figures 1, 5, and 6, are intended to show the course by which the air is
admitted into the lamp or lanthorn at the bottom and the apertures through
which the smoke and rarified air may escape at the top.

page_text: And I, the said John Crosley, do hereby further declare that the form,
proportions, and dimensions contained or set forth in the above description,
and the Plans and Drawings hereunto annexed, are applicable to the form,
proportions, and dimensions of the lamp now in general use for lighting the
streets with gas, of which the following are about the usual dimensions
(that is to say):-The bottom of the lamp is about nine inches square,
the widest part which fits into the lamp iron about fourteen inches square,
the depth of the side about fourteen inches and three-quarters, the depth
of the top or pyramidical part about nine inches, and the square of
the top about six inches, but there is scarcely any description of lamp or
lanthorn to which the parts, as above described, are not applicable, varying
the size, form, and dimensions thereof according to the size, form, or dimen-
sions of the lamp or lanthorn to which they are applied and the material
therein consumed, and in binnacle or signal lamps or lanthorns, lamps carried
in the hand, carriage lamps, or other moveable lamps or lanthorns constructed
in the manner above described, the light will be sufficiently protected from
the fluctuations of the air which may be caused by any sudden jerk or motion
if the lamp or lanthorn be made in other respects sufficiently air-tight.
I do not mean or intend hereby to limit myself to the employment of any
particular material or materials in the construction of the several parts
described, but to avail myself of any materials which are fit and proper for
the purpose. I may also observe, that though I prefer the above method of
accomplishing my object to any other, yet the plan, as described, may be
varied by substituting cylindrical, spherical, or other geometrical figures or
combinations thereof, such as would naturally be suggested by the above
description to persons conversant with the subject, whereby a circuitous rout
may be provided for the admission of the air, and a sufficient protection
afforded for the egress of the smoke and rarified air.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Crosley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twenty-four.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Third day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-four, the aforesaid
John Crosley came before our said Lord the King in His Chancery, and
acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form above written. And also the Specification
aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that
purpose.
Inrolled the Third day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twenty-four.