IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LANTERNS FOR SHIPS AND SIGNALS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Nunn, of 179, Saint George Street, at the
Parish of Saint George's-in-the-East, London, and in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF LANTERNS FOR SHIPS AND SIGNALS."
Sealed the 3rd October 1862, and dated the 10th April 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Nunn at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
April 1862.
I, WILLIAM NUNN, of 179, Saint George Street, at the Parish of Saint
George's-in-the-East, London, and in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF LANTERNS FOR SHIPS AND SIGNALS," to be as follows, that is to say:-
My Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of lan-
terns for ships and signals. The lenses in ship and signal lanterns have
hitherto been set in frames permanently fixed by solder or otherwise, whereby
their repair in case of accident at sea or elsewhere was difficult, occupied
considerable time, and could only be effected by skilled workmen.
My improvements consist in fixing the lenses in detached metal or other
frames, which can be attached to the lantern by screws, or made to slide into
their proper positions in grooves formed in the frame of the lantern, and be
fixed there by screws or springs or any other suitable means. These grooves
may be either on the outside or the inside of the frame of the lantern, and
may be made to receive one or more lenses according to the purpose for

page_text: 107
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Nunn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
October 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I WILLIAM
NUNN, of 179, Saint George Street, in the Parish of Saint George's-in-tho-
East, London, and in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, boaring date the Tenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Nunn, Her special licence that I, the said William Nunn, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Nunn, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF LANTERNS FOR SHIPS AND SIGNALS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Nunn, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should, particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and im-
mediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Nunn, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
lanterns for ships and signals. The lenses in ship and signal lanterns have
heretofore been set in frames permanently fixed by solder or otherwise, whereby
their repair in case of accident at sea or elsewhere was difficult, occupied
considerable time, and could only be effected by skilled workmen.
My improvements consist in fixing the lenses in detached metal or other

page_text: frames, which can be attached to the lantern by screws, or made to slide into.
their required position in grooves formed in the frame of the lantern, and be
fixed there by screws, springs, or bolts, or any other suitable means..
These
grooves may be either on the outside or inside of the frame of the lantern,
may be made to receive one or more lenses according to the purpose for
which the lantern is required. By these means a lens when broken or
injured may be removed and replaced by a new one in a few minutes by an
unskilled workman.
and
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will procced more fully
to describe the same, reference being had to the annexed Drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a lantern (commonly called an anchor and
night signal light) so constructed as to shew a light round the whole horizon,
and Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the same lantern. a is the glass
lens; 6 is the bottom or foot of the lantern, in which the lamp c is sustained.
This lamp is removed from the lantern when required through the bottom plate d,
upon which it rests, and it is made secure in its position when in use by means
of what are commonly called ketches., e is the top of the lantern, supporting
the chimney handle and other appurtenances for allowing the egress of the
smoke and products of combustion, and at the same time preventing the wind
affecting the flame of the lamp; f.f.f, are the tie rods, and may be made of
brass, iron, or any other suitable metal, and they are fastened to the bottom of
the lantern e, by the screws h, h, h, which pass through eyes formed upon the
tops of the rods f.f.f, and screw into the studs J, J, J, fastened to the top of the
lanterne. These tie rods may also be made to pass, through studs fastened to
and projecting from the top and bottom of the lantern, and screwed by a nut,
as shewn in Figure 10. I use as many of these tie rods as I find necessary,
according to the size and strength of the lantern. Now, supposing I require
to remove the lens a, I first take out the screws h, h, by means of an ordinary
screw driver, and thereby liberate the top of the lantern e from the bottom b.
The top can then be lifted off, the lens removed, and another having been put
in its place, the top e can be replaced, the screws refixed, and the lantern is
again ready for use.. My lenses are ground to fit to the top and bottom of
the lantern, but in case of their not accurately fitting from any cause, I make.
good any deficiency by a packing ring of thin tin, copper, or other metal.
Figure 4 is an elevation of a lantern in which the glass lens extends only
a portion of the way round the lantern, the other portion being of metal,
and Figure 3.is a sectional elevation of the same lantern. a is the glass lens ;;
6, the bottom of the lantern; o, the top of the lantern; c, a flange or reflector,
of metal, forming a frame in which the lens a is secured on the one edge;:

page_text: and the other edge is made to fit the configuration of the lantern e and
bottom b. To the outer edge of this flange or reflector is fitted a moveable
keeper of brass or other metal d, which is fastened to the lantern by means of
screws h, h, h, passing through the keeper d, and screwing into the studs j,j,
thereby making a secure fixing of the glass lens to the body of the lantern.
Now, supposing I require to remove the glass lens a, I take out the.
screws h, h, h, which may be done by a common screwdriver, and removing
the keeper d, set at liberty the flange or frame e, leaving the lantern free to
be set with another lens, as before described.
Figure 6 is the plan of a similar lantern, so arranged that the lens can be
removed from the inside of the lantern, through the door, instead of from the
outside, as before described, and Figure 7 is an elevation of the same lantern.
a, is the lens; b, the bottom; and d, the top of the lantern; e, is the flange or
reflector forming a frame for the lens, and if the metal keeper which is fixed
to the body of the lantern by the hinge g, so as to open away from the aper-
ture in the lantern in which the lens is placed, and fastened upon the other
side by the screw h, so that having removed the screw h, and thrown back the
keeper fupon its hinge g, you place the lens with the flange or frame fixed
upon it in its proper position, and turning the keeper back against it fix it firm
with the screw h.
Figures 8 and 9 show other means of fixing the lenses from the inside of
the lantern, in which the flange or reflector e, fixed upon the glass lens a, is
made to slide in a metal groove 9, formed upon the top and bottom of the
inside of the lantern, thereby making it a secure fixing, and yet one which
admits of a really readjustment in case of accident or damage to the lens.
Another method by which I propose to accomplish the same end is by
forming the lantern in three several parts. a (Figure 1) the lens; 6 the
bottom, and the top of the lantern, and fastening them together by means
of a bolt passing through collars or sockets up the centre of the lantern, and
secured by cross bars at the top and bottom of the lantern through which the
bolt passes. This bolt is fitted with a head at one end, and a screw and nut
at the other. By removing this nut the top of the lantern may be liberated
and the lens exchange in case of accident or damage. This arrangement
would render the outer tie rods and screws f, g, h. Figures
unnecessary.
and 2
The inner and outer surfaces of the lenses used in lanterns for ships and
signals are now made parallel to each other, but I propose to increase their
dispirsing and illuminating power by dividing the inner surface into several
flat planes.

page_text: Figure 11 is a horizontal section of a lens to be used in an "anchor light,"
the outer figure of which is circular, but the inner one divided into several
planes, strengthened at the points at which the planes meet by glass pro-
jections or pillars. Figure 12 is a vertical section of the same lens, shewing
a dioptric lens of my improved form.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the method of carrying out
my Invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the
exact details herein-before described, but what I do claim as my Invention is,
the method of making lamps for ships and signals, so that the lenses may be
removed and replaced by ordinary or unskilled workmen in case of accident
or damage; and also, of forming circular or other lenses, the inner surfaces
of which are made up of several planes, strengthened by glass pillars or
projections at the points at which the planes meet.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Nunn, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.