Improvements in Hurricane or Tubular Lanterns.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Hurricane or Tubular Lanterns.
I, GEORGE BARKER of 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham in the County of Warwick,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
invention as communicated to me from abroad by L. R. King of Waterbury in the
State of Connecticut in the United States of America :-
This invention has for its objects improvements in hurricane or tubular lanterns and
refers in particular to the mode of holding or securing the globe so that it can be very
easily lifted or removed for trimming the light which is accomplished with remarkable
steadiness and certainty in the action as well as to the arrangement of the guard which
can never according to my invention be entirely removed from the lamp.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood and easily carried into
practical effect I have appended hereunto two double sized sheets of drawings upon
which various views and modifications are shown as explaining the same and by which
others will be able to adapt the invention to other modifications in the configuration
or design of such lanterns.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lantern in its complete form with the glass or
globe E fastened down and secured in its normal position.
Figure 2 is a side sectional elevation through one of the tubes (and c¹ and c²
and through the handle U also with the globe E in its normal position as in the
previous figure.
Figure 3 is a similar side sectional elevation to the previous Figure 2 but shewing
the globe E simply lifted into such a position as to allow the lamp to be trimmed.
Figure 4 is a side elevation without the globe being lifted that is with the sliding
parts in the same position as in Figures 1 and 2 but shewing a mode by which the
globe E may be readily removed without lifting which is one of the important parts
of the invention.
Figure 5 is a sectional plan on the line A. B. Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a sectional plan on the line F. G. Figure 3 showing the guide plate N

page_text: Figure 7 is a plan of the perforated plate which forms a base for the globe E and
by which air is admitted to the burner though I lay no, claim to the perforations in
such a plate.
Figure 8 is a broken off elevation in diagram form showing another mode of con-
necting and operating the plate R.
In each of the principal views of the lamps shewn upon the drawings the two air-
tubes C are united to the projecting part h¹ of the oil reservoir H just below the
burner D at 2 by a bend in each of the said tubes but my present invention has no
particular reference either to the burner the reservoir or the tubes C except that they
are united to the guide tube S at c¹ which constitutes an important part of the
invention inasmuch as the lifting or sliding action of the globe E is partly dependent
upon this for steadiness and easy action. This tube SI make from brass or other
similar metal of the same nature so as not to be liable to rust or cut and the tubes C
are united thereto at c¹ covering suitable holes first made in the sides of the centre tube S.
The deflector plate M which is made of tin is punched out at its centre with the hole m²
having the edge of the hole m³ turned upwards so as to bring the surface of the metal into
a condition so as to form a sliding medium upon the outer surface of the brass tube S thus
effecting an accurate fit between the two in the cheapest possible manner. The other parts
of the deflector plate are so formed as to give stiffness and stability to it as it has to
carry the wire or other guards K which are hinged or otherwise secured to it at k¹
but I prefer a hinge formed by turning the upper ends of the wire K around the
stiffening wire m¹ which forms the outer edge of the deflector M thus greatly stiffening
the same.
To the top of the guide tube S I affix a brass guide plate N which is
shewn in plan at Figure 6 having two holes n' and n² through which the bent bridge
wire V passes the ends being securely fastened to the deflector plate M either by the
screw nuts shewn or in any other suitable manner. Before however placing the ends
of the rods V in the deflector plate the distance piece W which may be either a plate
with two holes or a bent wire with two eyes is placed upon the same for the purpose of
keeping the rods at a set distance apart but I may dispense with this by making the
rods from sufficiently strong wire so that the bow or arch at the top is of sufficient
strength without it or I may form it somewhat as shewn at Figure 9 into a ring so as
to have an elastic action that is to have a constant tendency to either close narrower
than the gauge of the two holes n' and n² or to expand wider than their gauge thus
ensuring a certain amount of friction in the sliding action of the deflector plate
sufficient to cause the weight of the whole of the parts, viz. deflector plate S,
guards K, globe E and perforated carrying plate R to be supported thereby at any
desired elevation without any catch or further security.
When the bow is not used a slight amount of spring may be otherwise imparted
by putting a slight outward or inward cambre upon the rods V-the ones on the
drawing being shewn with an outward cambre-or the rods may be made slightly
taper to answer the same purpose. In this manner, viz. with the non-corrodable tube
and arrangement of slide rods, I ensure a very steady action in lifting the glass.
The guard rods K are hinged as before explained to the edge of the deflector
plate M from whence they are suspended being formed into such configurations as
may be desired for the purpose of sufficiently guarding the glass E from injury and
it will be readily understood that the number of the rods and their design configura-
tion or shape may be greatly varied to suit the shape of the globe and other
requirements but it is necessary that they should be bent or curled inwards at k³ in
such a manner as to press lightly yet securely against the globe or glass E to secure
it against shaking, of course a simple bend without a twist is sufficient. The plan
shewn upon the drawings is to bend in each wire so as to form spring fingers to touch
the glass but there may be a light supplemental bar carried across as shewn by
Figures 10 or the two rods K may be twisted together for stiffness at k³ as shewn by
Figures 11. In any case the rods K are continued downwards and turned or formed
so as to be secured to the perforated plate R by any suitable spring catches such for
instance as r¹. Such catches may be operated either upwards or downwards the ones
shewn requiring to be pressed upwards or simple bows may be used as shown at

page_text: Figure 12 in any case with a light yet secure spring action so as to hold the plate
firmly against the bottom of the glass in such a manner that the glass may be well
gripped between the said plate R and the projecting parts k³, k or k³ of the guards K.
The mode of operating the lamp as regards my present invention will be as
follows: To trim the lamp the globe E and perforated plate R may be lifted into the
position shewn by Figures 3 by simply placing the finger under the bow v¹ that is to
any convenient or desired height within its limits which is sufficient to trim or attend
to the wick. But besides this action both or either of the guards K may be released
from under the catches ¹ of the plate R to hang loosely or one may be lifted into the
position as shewn by Figure 4 when the glass E may be removed by slightly tilting
the plate R as there illustrated. In this illustration it will be seen that the plate R is
slightly tilted from the horizontal line which is always possible with either a
moderately loose hinge as seen at Figure 8 or with the catch shewn at Figure 4
or the wire hooks 72 as seen at Figure 12. In other cases both the wires may be thrown
up square until they stick sufficiently fast to support themselves or they may be carried
up far enough to be embraced by the hand carrying the lantern.
In other cases both the guards K may be liberated from the plate R and the
deflector plate M may be lifted so as to give still more room if so required at any
time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
:
First The improvements in hurricane or tubular lanterns in which the guards are
attached to the deflector plate so as to embrace the globe substantially in the manner
and for the purpose herein set forth and shewn upon the drawings.
Second: In hurricane or tubular lanterns the mode of attaching the guards to the
perforated plate which supports the globe so as to secure the same in position and
when being lifted while the glass is readily removeable therefrom substantially as
herein set forth and shewn upon the drawings.
Third In hurricane or tubular lanterns the brass or other equivalent guide tube
upon which the deflector plate with its parts are lifted for the purpose of ensuring
a steady and easy movement substantially as herein set forth.
Fourth-The mode of arranging the sliding rods in connection with the upper
part of the lantern to ensure sufficient tightness without over stiffness in its working
parts substantially as herein set forth.
Fifth-The particular mode of forming the guide rods as shewn by Figures 1, 10
and 11 so as to hold the upper part of the globe against vibration substantially as
herein set forth and shewn upon the drawings.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Agent for Applicant.