Improvements in Lamp-posts for Signalling Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 8th July, 1887.
PARTON COy, Comment, United States of America.
Improvements in Lamp-posts for Signalling Purposes.
I, HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the firm of Herbert & Co., Patent Agents, of
67 Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improvement in lamp-posts, the object being to adapt
them for police-signaling, fire-alarm; or other uses, in which signalling may be
required.
With these ends in view my invention consists in certain details of construction
and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the
claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, in front elevation, of a lamp-
post embodying my invention and adapted for police-signaling purposes. Fig. 2 is a
view thereof in vertical central section. Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section on the
line a a of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line b b of the same figure; and
Figure 5 is a view of a lamp-post constructed in accordance with my invention, and
adapted for fire-alarm purposes.
The box A, provided with a door, B, and a tapering upward extension, C, is made
independent of and interposed between the upper section, D, and the lower section, E,
of the post, of which the central part is removed, the lower end of the box fitting
over the upper end of the lower section of the post and the lower end of the upper
section of the post fitting over the upper end of the box. A cylindrical case, F,
provided with a collar, G, fitting over the upper end of the upper section of the
post, forms a shield for the retirement of the signal, which as herein shown,
consists of a colored glass globe, H, mounted in a frame I, located upon the upper
end of a hollow tube, J, encircling the gas-pipe, K, and elevated by two weights, LL,
having cords connected with a carriage M, secured to the lower end of such tube

page_text: and normally held in a lowed position, in which the globe is retired within the case
and below the burner N of the lamp, as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings, and
released to permit the weights to elevate the globe to surround the burner, as
shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, through the agency of a magnet, O, connected
with a directing-station. The said magnet and its associated mechanism for releasing
and holding the carriage are located in the box, and the weights in the upward
extension thereof, such extension being provided expressly to receive them. The
box is also designed to receive a telephone and a call-box, for communication with
the directing-station from which the magnet is controlled. The frame P, forming the
top of the lamp proper and inclosing the burner, is secured to the case F, aforesaid
The post shown by Fig. 5 of the drawings is provided with a box, Q, furnished
with a door, R, and made independent of and interposed between and in line with the
upper and lower sections of the post which its upper and lower ends are drawn into
mesh. This box is adapted to receive the apparatus of an ordinary fire-alarm. A
similar box might serve as a mail-box.
Under my invention existing lamp-posts may be readily fitted for the additional
uses specified at a light expense. When so modified, they form compact, attractive,
and eminently convenient repositories for the apparatus called for by any of the
services mentioned, and are marked in their advantages over the cumbrous structures
heretofore employed, and notably for police and fire-alarm service.
The particular use to which the post is put, out of the uses suggested, and the
character of the apparatus employed will of course determine its specific construction
and form.
Obviously it may undergo some changes in conforming it to the demands of each
use. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact
construction shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such slight
changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.
I am aware a sectional lamp-post is not broadly new, and that it is old to provide
a lamp-post with a box.
Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by
Letters Patent, is-
1st. The combination, with a lamp-post having a box forming its central section, a
standard forming its lower section, and a hollow top forming its upper section, the
lower end of the said box being connected with the upper end of the standard, and
the lower end of the said hollow top being connected with the upper end of the said
box, of a signaling apparatus located in part in the said box and connecting through
the hollow top of the post with a light, substantially as set forth.
2nd. The combination, with a lamp-post provided at its upper end with a shield,
of a signalling apparatus located in part within the post and connected with the light
through the hollow upper end thereof and comprising a signal adapted to be obscured
by the said shield, substantially as set forth.
3rd. The combination, with a lamp-post having a standard, a box, and a hollow
top, the box and standard being made independent and secured together, of a shield
located upon the top of the post, and a visual signaling apparatus located in part
in the box, and connected with the light through the said hollow top of the post and
comprising a signal adapted to be obscured by the said shield, substantially as set
forth.
4th. The combination, with a lamp-post provided with a box having a tapering
upward extension opening into the hollow top of the post, of a shield located at the
upper end of such post, and a visual signaling apparatus located in part in the box and
in the tapering extension thereof and connecting through the hollow top of the post
with the light and comprising a signal adapted to be obscured by such shield, substan-
tially as set forth.
5th. The combination, with a lamp-post provided with a box located between its
upper and lower ends and opening into the hollow top of the post, with a shield
located the top of the post, of a signaling apparatus located in part in the box and

page_text: connecting through the hollow top of the post with the light thereof, and comprising
a signal which is surrounded and obscured by the said shield when not in use, substan-
tially as set forth.
6th. The combination, with a lamp-post provided with a box located between its
upper and lower ends and opening into the hollow upper end of the post, of a case
forming a shield and provided with a collar fitted to the upper end of the post, and a
signaling apparatus focated in part in the box and connecting with the light through
the hollow upper end of the post, and comprising a movable glass globe, which is
moved to surround the light and to be obscured in the said shield or case, substantially
as set forth.