Improvements in Velocipede and other Lamps.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 8th July, 1889-Accepted; 24th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipede and other Lamps.
We, CHARLES ALBERT MILLER and FREDERICK JOHN MILLER trading as H. Miller
and Company of Miller Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Lamp
Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates primarily to that class of lamps which are supported by
"parallel motion" bracket arms, with a suspension-reaction spring connected to one
of them, and the back of the lamp, whereby the lamp is suspended, and yields in
obedience to the vibration of the machine, without changing its perpendicular position
or plane.
Our invention consists 1st, in the construction and disposition of a concealed
suspension-reaction spring. 2ndly in the formation of the sleeve of the bracket arm
carrying the said spring and 3rdly, in a removable reflector.
In carrying out the first part of our invention, (which is an improvement upon
Letters Patent granted to us on the 28th day of December 1886 and numbered 16952,)
we take an ordinary lamp provided with "parallel-motion" bracket arms, that is,
upper and lower bracket arms, inwardly and outwardly pivoted or jointed at
intervening distances apart, to the back of the lamp, and to the upper and lower
ends of a socket plate respectively, and of which the socket may consist of a
vertical open-ended flat tube, which comes upon the bracket or other arm of a
machine.
The joints as aforesaid, are formed by cross pins, lying within the interiors of
rubber tubes, located within sleeves or tubular socket parts, attachedly connected
to the back of the lamp, and to the ends of the socket plate as aforesaid.
The lower outer sleeve at the lower end of the socket plate, is made larger in
diameter than the outer sleeve, and is adapted to carry the suspension-reaction spring
within its interior.
The said lower and outer sleeve, has an inner and smaller rubber lined bearing
sleeve disposed axially within it, and connected together by a longitudinal web;
so that between the outside of the inner sleeve, and the inside of the outer one, a
nearly concentric space is left, wherein a coiled spring is disposed.
One end of this said coiled spring, which constitutes the suspension-reaction
spring is extended into an arm, with a hooked end, whilst the other end is
extended into an arm, parallel to the axis of the coil, and when in position, takes
into one or other, of a series of holes or eyes, disposed between the inner and outer
sleeves, so as to thus render the spring adjustable, and its tension thereby increased
or decreased accordingly.
The hooked end of the arm of the spring, as aforesaid, takes upon the pin of the
inner joint of the lower bracket arın, and normally keeps the parallel arms in their
proper positions.
Thus, when the lamp is in use, the suspension-reaction spring restores the lamp to
its former and erect position, after each oscillation imparted to it from the machine.
The end of the sleeve of larger diameter (which is only a shield or covering to
the spring,) is partially cut away, so as to admit of the arm of the spring lying
flush with its end, and extending inwardly from the said sleeve.
In carrying out the second part of our invention, we make the removable reflector
from a single blank of sheet metal, hemispherically concaved at its back part, and
its arched top part pierced with a hole, which comes below, and coincident with, the
chimney hole of the lamp. The fore part of the said arched top part, which is
presented to the open front of the lamp, is flanged or made into an upwardly directed
lip, which when the lamp is closed, comes between a flange at the top of the open

page_text: front, and the inside of the door, and is there held; and when the door is open,
forins a means of removing the detachable reflector.
it
To prevent rattling, a leather strip or strips may be fixedly secured between the
reflector, and the inside of the lamp.
The end of the spring which surrounds the inner sleeve, and is covered by the
outer one, may be adjusted by the one end as aforesaid, taking into a single hole of a
lock plate, which when turned and fixed, gives the necessary tension or adjustment to
the spring.
Dated this Eleventh day of December 1888.
CHARLES ALBERT MILLER.
FREDERICK JOHN MILLER.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipede and other Lamps.
We, CHARLES ALBERT MILLER and FREDERICK JOHN MILLER trading as H. Miller
and Company of Miller Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Lamp
Manufacturers, 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 :-
a
This invention relates primarily to that class of lamps; which are supported by
"parallel motion" bracket arms with a suspension-reaction spring connected to one
of them, and the back of the lamp, whereby the lamp is suspended, and yields in
obedience to the vibration of the machine, without changing its perpendicular position
or plane.
Our invention consists 1st, in the construction and disposition of a concealed
suspension-reaction spring.. 2ndly, in the formation of the sleeve of the bracket arm
carrying the said spring, and 3rdly in a removable reflector.
«
In carrying out the first part of our invention, (which is an improvement upon
Letters Patent granted to us on the 28th day of December 1886 and numbered 16952)
we take an ordinary lamp provided with parallel-motion" bracket arms, that is,
upper and lower bracket arms, inwardly and outwardly pivoted or jointed at inter-
vening distances apart, to the back of the lamp, and to the upper and lower ends of
a socket plate respectively, and of which the socket may consist of a vertical open-
ended flat tubo, which comes upon the bracket or other arm of a machine.
The joints as aforesaid are formed by cross pins, lying within the interiors of rubber
tubes, located within sleeves or tubular socket parts, attachedly connected to the
back of the lamp, and to the ends of the socket plate as aforesaid.
The lower outer sleeve at the lower end of the socket-plate, is made larger in
diameter than the other sleeves, and is adapted to carry the suspension-reaction spring
within its interior.
The said lower and outer sleeve has an inner and smaller rubber-lined bearing
sleeve disposed axially within it, and connected together by a longitudinal web; so
that between the outside of the inner sleeve, and the inside of the outer one, a nearly
concentric space is left, wherein a coiled spring is disposed.
One end of this said coiled spring which constitutes the suspension-reaction spring,
is extended into an arm, with a hooked end, whilst the other end is extended into an
arm, parallel to the axis of the coil, and when in position, takes into one, or other, of
a series of holes or eyes, disposed between the inner and outer sleeves, so as to thus
render the spring adjustable, and its tension thereby increased or decreased
accordingly.
The hooked end of the arm of the spring as aforesaid, takes upon the pin of the
inner joint of the lower bracket arm, and normally keeps the parallel arms in their
proper positions.

page_text: Thus, when the lamp is in use, the suspension-reaction spring restores the lamp to
its former and erect position, after each oscillation imparted to it from the machine.
The end of the sleeve of larger diameter (which is only a shield or covering to the
spring) is partially cut away, so as to admit of the arm of the spring lying flush with
its end, and extending inwardly from the said sleeve.
In carrying out the second part of our invention, we make the removable reflector
from a single blank of sheet metal hemispherically concaved at its back part, and its
arched top part pierced with a hole, which comes below, and coincident with the
chimney holo of the lamp. The fore part of the said arched top part, which is pre-
sented to the open front of the lamp, is flanged or made into an upwardly directed lip,
which when the lamp is closed, comes between a flange at the top of the open front,
and the inside of the door, and is there held; and when the door is open, it forms a
means of removing the detachable reflector.
To prevent rattling, a leather strip or strips may be fixedly secured between the
reflector, and the inside of the lamp.
The end of the spring which surrounds the inner sleeve, and is covered by the outer
one, may be adjusted by the one end as aforesaid, taking into a single hole of a lock
plate, which when turned and fixed, gives the necessary tension or adjustment to the
spring.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents partly in elevation, and partly
in vertical section, a velocipede lamp, provided with improvements made according to
our invention It will be observed that the suspension-reaction spring is partly con-
cealed within the outside lower bearing sleeve of the lamp.
Figure 2 represents a back elevation of the said lamp,. and with the outer barrel of
the lower arm shown in section, in order to better exhibit the concealed spring, and
its means of adjustment.
Figure 3 shows a front elevation of our new or improved removable reflector, while
figure 4 shows a section of the same upon the dotted lines A B figure 3.
Figure 5 is an underside plan of one of the arms. Figure 6 is a cross section of
the same. Figure 7 is a longitudinal section, and figure 8 shows the plating of the
arms, and transverse sections of the arms separately. Figure 9 shows a cross section
of the lower barrel or sleeve of the outer arms, showing the adjustment holes of the
spring.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in figures 1 to 9.
a is the lamp, supported by upper and lower parallel arms b, b³, jointed respectively
to the back of the lamp, and to the socket carrying plate 2 of the socket c. These
said arms are adapted to move in manner alike unto "parallel motion" links, whereby
the lamp which yields in obedience to the vibration of a machine carrying it, always
preserves an erect, or nearly erect position.
The lower end of the said socket carrying plate c², carries a transversely directed
barrel or tube c wherein a coiled spring d is enclosed, and whereby the lamp is made
to regain its assigned position, after each vibration or oscillation. occasioned by the
movement of a machine. The said spring d.is provided with an outwardly, and an
axially directed arm marked respectively d³, d³, and which former takes and hooks
upon the inner joint 63, of the lower arm 2, whilst the axially directed arm d³, takes
and fits within, one or other of a series of adjustment holes or small tubes ct, directed
horizontally within one end of the barrel c³ as aforesaid, and which said spring keeps
the lamp suspended, and the parallel arms in a slight upwardly inclined position.
The arins, 2 are made up of side frames 6; jointed at their ends respectively, to
transverse pins or axes 3, directed up the axes of joint sleeves 6, wherein rubber
bearings b, are disposed.
It will be seen that the inner sleeves of the joints are connected to the back of the
lamp, by rigid web connections, whilst the outer sleeve of the lower arm is encircled
by the barrel encircling the suspension-reaction spring...
The said side. frames 6, which are simply jointed links, are coupled together by
platings of sheet metal ; which have their ends or connections made by bending

page_text: them around and inwardly, upon gapped parts of the said side frame, as best seen in
the sectional view Figure 7.
The removable reflector of the lamp is marked e, and consists of a pierced hooded
upper parte, products of combustion outlet e³, and inverted beading e, at the lower
vertical end of the said reflector, and a lip e, at the termination of the said hooded
part. This said removable reflector is kept in position, by the back of the tank f,
taking its bearing upon the front lower part of it, and by the lip e, coming between
an inner flange or plate a², at the upper part of. the lamp, and its door a³, when the
same is closed.
By constructing and affixing the reflector in position as aforesaid, it admits of being
readily removed from the interior of a lamp for cleaning, and again affixed in position
after cleaning, and it will be also observed that the top or cowl part, is made yielding;
so that when placed in position, the lip es, which has a rut e at its junction with the
top, springs around the inner flange or plate a², and with the lower edge of the said
flange or plate resting within the said rut.
The object of making the spring d adjustable, is to regulate its tension or strength,
whereby the lamp's oscillation and position when in use is determined.
Figure 10 represents a modification of the joints of the arms.
From this view,
which is a part section, it will be seen that the pins which form the joints, or the
joint connections between the braced together arms, and the socket plate and back of
lamp respectively, are made short, and pass only into the outside interiors of the
interposed rubber tubes or blocks.
Figure 11 is a side elevation of one of the links, and figure 12 shows one of the
side frames of the arms, with the pin attached.
a is a lamp, bare side frames, coupled together by a single sheet metal plating c
constituting upper or lower coupled-together arms d. e are sleeves or barrels, carried
respectively by the socket carrier plate, and back of lamp. fare rubber tubes, and f
rubber blocks, for preventing the contact of metal to metal, of the short pins g,
which are fixedly carried by the side frame b.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is-
First. Providing the carrying arms of lamps, as herein described, with an
invisible or partly concealed wire coiled spring d, constructed, disposed and acting
substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly Adjusting suspension-reaction springs, by making one end take into
one of a series of holes or tubes, carried by a part of the lamp, while the other
end of the said spring remains constant or fixed, substantially as described and set
forth.
Thirdly. Jointing the carrying arms of lamps, by short pins, carried by them, or
upon side frames of them, taking into yielding or rubber joints, substantially as
described and set forth in figures 10, 11 and 12.
Lastly Constructing removable lamp reflectors with forwardly directed spring
tops, with lips at their fore parts, whereby the said reflectors are secured in position,
by a springing action, and affixed in position, by the closing of the door, substantially
as set forth.
_Dated the 28th day of Junė 1880.
CHARLES ALBERT MILLER.
FREDERICK JOHN MILLER.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicants.