IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, PARTS PROVISIONAL
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas Sugg, of Vincent Works, Vincent
Street, in the City of Westminster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, PARTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas Sugg at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th January 1867.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS SUGG, of Vincent Works, Vincent Street, in the City
of Westminster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM.
PROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES.
PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be
as follows:-
The principal reason why gas has not been more generally employed for the
lighting of railway carriages is the want of an efficient set of apparatus
whereby a train might be supplied in bulk with a stock of gas so expeditiously
as to prevent any appreciable delay at the various stations from which it could
be obtained; suitable receptacles for storing the gas while the train was
performing its journey; cocks, taps, or valves for turning on or off the gas
from individual compartments or lights, and lamps or lanterns that would not
admit of the glasses being removed and the lights tampered with by passengers,
Price I

page_text: while the simplicity of their construction would allow of their principal features
being applied to the existing oil lamps, and thus adapt them to receive gas.
To meet all these requirements the following improvements have been
devised, and in the first place they have reference to valves, and consist in the
application of hollow annular india-rubber or prepared leather rings so
arranged as to facilitate the filling of the gas holders, and for this purpose
they are constructed and used in pairs of two distinct and separate parts,
the one being fastened to the end of a flexible gas supply pipe, and the
other affixed to the gas holder of the carriage. Each part is composed of a
metallic cylindrical chamber of somewhat larger diameter than the flexible
pipe, and contains a hollow annular india-rubber or prepared leather cushion
valve, which is fastened to a spindle working in suitable guides. Around
each of the spindles is coiled a spiral spring, which while at rest keeps the
valve close in its seat. The two chambers before mentioned with their valves
are constructed precisely in the same manner, save that the one has a short
faucet end, while the other is made with a taper spigot, so that one end may
be inserted in the other. The spindles of each are made of such a length
that almost as soon as the spigot is inserted in the faucet the ends come into
contact with each other, and the effect of the exertion in pushing the spigot
home is to cause cach spindle to impart the force to its fellow, thus opening
both valves simultaneously, and affording a free passage for the gas. As soon
as the gas holder is filled it is only necessary to withdraw the spigot, when the
spindles are released from each other, and the spiral springs cause the valves
to resume their seats and render the escape of gas impossible. An almost
instantaneous method is thus afforded for filling such gas holders. The
principle of the hollow annular india-rubber ring may be also applied to
valves for various purposes, such as pumps, either for water, gas, or air, or
for the effectual closing of the bottom of watercloset pans.
For pumps,
whether used for foot or suction valves, the ring is attached to a metallic
plate, the spindle of which passes through its centre and works in guides
either above or below, or both. A metallic plate having a circular orifice of
somewhat less diameter than the ring serves as a seat. In the case of water-
closet pans it is only necessary to attach one of these rings of suitable size to
either the metal plate which ordinarily serves as a valve, or to the pan itself
against which the plate abuts to secure a water-tight joint.
The improvements in the gas holders are made by constructing the top and
bottom of wood or metal, while the sides are formed of leather suitably
prepared. The main improvement, however, in this part of the apparatus
consists in the peculiar method by which the seams in the leatherare rendered

page_text: gas-tight. In order to do this the edges are lapped and rivetted; a band of
leather is then sewn over the seam on the inside in such manner that the
stitches never pass completely through the leather, but only partially so, and
the whole is then paid over with prepared gutta percha; a secure gas-tight
joint is thus made. The gas holder is covered by a case closed at the ends,
but fitted at the sides with panels of perforated metal.
That part of the Invention which relates to the stop-cocks, taps, or valves
for turning on or off the gas to individual compartments or lights consists in
the construction of them in such a manner as to considerably reduce the
labour in finishing. The plug is made of the usual brass or tap metal, and
finished in the ordinary way. The barrel, on the contrary, is made of a
mixture of tin, lead, and antimony, or other suitable compound, and is cast in
a polished iron or steel mould, so that it is only necessary to grind the plug
and barrel together to fit the cock or tap for use. Cocks, taps, or valves
made in this manner are also applicable wherever gas is used.
The foregoing improvements would, however, be incomplete without pro-
vision being made for suitable lamps or lanterns wherein the gas might be
consumed. It is therefore proposed to form them thus:-The bottom of the
lantern is composed of a hemispherical or curved-shaped glass with a flange
on its edge; this is supported by a metallic ring also curved on its edge to
catch the Hange of the glass, an india-rubber ring specially adapted being
interposed to prevent noise when vibrating and the liability to breakage;
these are surmounted by a dome which is made to swing back on a hinge,
which while it admits of access to the interior of the lamp also serves from
the peculiarity of the contrivance as a means for introducing gas within the
lantern. A reflector is attached to the dome in order to utilize as much as
possible the entire quantity of light. The whole is supported by a broad
flange fixed to the metallic ring before spoken of, resting upon the edge of the
orifice cut in the roof of the carriage to receive it. Lanterns made in this
manner will not allow of the glasses being removed by any one within the
carriages.
By the adoption of these improvements many of the objections to the
introduction of gas into railway carriages would be removed, and thus a far
better light than that obtained from oil as usually consumed would be rendered
available for travelling purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Thomas Sugg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, WILLIAM
THOMAS SUGG, of Vincent Works, Vincent Street, in the City of Westminster,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Thomas Sugg, Her special licence that I, the said William Thomas
Sugg, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Thomas Sugg, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times there-
after 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 Mau, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, PARTS OF
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Thomas Sugg, 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Thomas Sugg, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing, and to the
letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
The principal reason why gas has not been more generally employed for the
lighting of railway carriages is the want of an efficient set of apparatus
whereby a train might be supplied in bulk with a stock of gas so expeditiously
as to prevent any appreciable delay at the various stations from which it could
be obtained; suitable receptacles for storing the gas while the train was
performing its journey; cocks, taps, or valves for turning on or off the gas
from individual compartments, or lights and lamps or lanterns that would not
admit of the glasses being removed and the lights tampered with by passengers,

page_text: while the simplicity of their construction would allow of their principal
features being applied to the existing oil lamps, and thus adapt them to
receive gas.
To meet all these requirements the following improvements have been
devised, and in the first place they have reference to valves, and consist in the
application of hollow annular india-rubber or prepared leather rings so
arranged as to facilitate the filling of the gas holders, and for this purpose they
are constructed and usedi n pairs of two distinct and separate parts, the one
being fastened to the end of a flexible gas supply pipe, and the other affixed to
the gas holder of the carriage. Each part is composed of a metallic cylindrical
chamber of somewhat larger diameter than the flexible pipe, and contains a
hollow annular india-rubber or prepared leather cushion valve, which is
fastened to a spindle working in suitable guides; around each of the spindles
is coiled a spiral spring which while at rest keeps the valve close to its seat.
The two chambers before mentioned, with their valves, are constructed very
nearly in the same manner, save that one has a short faucet end, while
the other is made with a taper spigot, so that one end may be inserted in the
other. The spindles of each are made of such a length and so arranged that
almost as soon as the spigot is inserted in the faucet the ends come into
contact with each other, and the effect of the exertion in pushing the spigot
home is to cause each spindle to impart the force to its fellow, thus opening
both valves simultaneously, and affording a free passage for the gas. As soon
as the gas holder is filled it is only necessary to withdraw the spigot, when the
spindles are released from each other, and the spiral springs cause the valves
to resume their seats and render the escape of gas impossible. An almost
instantaneous method is thus afforded for filling such gas holders. The
principle of the hollow annular india-rubber ring may be also applied to valves
for various purposes, such as pumps, either for water, gas, or air, or for the
effectual closing of the bottom of watercloset pans. For pumps, whether
used for foot or suction valves, the ring is attached to a metallic plate, the
spindle of which passes through its centre and works in guides either above
or below, or both. A metallic plate having a circular orifice of somewhat
less diameter than the ring serves as a seat. In the case of watercloset pans
it is only necessary to attach one of these rings of suitable size to either the
metal plate which ordinarily serves as a valve, or to the pan itself, against
which the plate abuts to secure a water-tight joint.
The improvements in the gasholders are made by constructing the top
and bottom of wood or metal, while the sides are formed of leather suitably
prepared. The main improvements, however, in this part of the apparatus

page_text: consists in the peculiar method by which the seams in the leather are rendered
gas-tight. In order to do this the edges are lapped and rivetted; a band of
leather is then sewn over the seam on the inside in such manner that the
stitches never pass completely through the leather, but only partially so, and
the whole is then paid over with prepared gutta percha. A secure gas-tight
joint is thus made. The gas holder is covered by a case closed at the ends,
but fitted at the sides with panels of perforated metal.
That part of the Invention which relates to the stop-cocks, taps, or valves
for turning on or off the gas to individual compartments or lights consists in
the construction of them in sucha manner as to considerably reduce the labour
in finishing. The plug is made of the usual brass or tap metal and finished
in the ordinary way. The barrel, on the contrary, is made of a mixture of
tin, lead, and antimony, or other suitable compound, and is cast in a polished
iron or steel mould, so that it is only necessary to grind the plug and barrel
together to fit the cock or tap for use. Cocks, taps, or valves made in this
manner are also applicable wherever gas is used.
The foregoing improvements would, however, be incomplete without pro-
vision being made for suitable lamps or lanterns wherein the gas might be
consumed; it is therefore proposed to form them thus:-The bottom of the
lantern is composed of a hemispherical or curve-shaped glass with a flange on
its edge; this is supported by a metallic ring, also curved on its edge to catch
the flange of the glass, an india-rubber ring, specially adapted being interposed
to prevent noise when vibrating and the liability to breakage; these are
surmounted by a dome which is made to swing back on a hinge which while
it admits of access to the interior of the lamp also serves from the peculiarity
of the contrivance as a means for introducing gas within the lantern.
reflector is attached to the dome in order to utilize as much as possible the
entire quantity of light. The whole is supported by a broad flange fixed to
the metallic ring before spoken of resting upon the edge of the orifice cut in
the roof of the carriage to receive it. Lanterns made in this manner will
not allow of the glasses being removed by any one within the carriages.
A
But in order that a more definite idea may be conveyed as to the construc-
tion of the valves and lamp Drawings are attached hereto.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent longitudinal sections of the pair of valves which are
used together, and Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 2. Where the same letters of
reference are used they will be found to relate to the same or corresponding
part in each Figure.
A, A, A, A, show the outer metallic case; B, B, B, B, the india-rubber
cushion valves, and C, C, C, C, their seats; D, D, are the spindles to which

page_text: they are attached, and E, E, E, E, are the guides through the spindles work;
F, F, are the spiral springs which when the valves are at rest press them
home to their seats at the points C, C, C, C. The valves, although the
spindles are not in contact, are shown upon the Drawing as if they were
drawn back in order to exhibit more clearly the passage for the gas, which is
indicated by the direction of the arrows. It will be observed that the spindle
of the faucet-ended case is formed with a dish or cup shaped extremity, so
that in pushing in the spigot end of the corresponding case there will be no
uncertainty as to the spindle of the one imparting the force applied to it to tho
other, and thus open both valves. G, G, is a flange by means of which the
one valve is affixed to the gas holder of the carriage, the other valve being
attached to the flexible gas supply pipe at the station.
Fig. 4 represents in plan the hinged joint of the dome of the lamp, which
joint also serves as a way for admitting gas to the point of consumption.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the case of the lamp, the supply pipe, burner,
and hinged joint aforesaid being shewn in elevation. H is the body of the
lamp; I, the dome or ventilator which being formed of a double casing acts
as a wind guard; the body H is also formed with a double casing, each
having perforations at different parts,so as to admit air to the burner J withou!
causing the light to flicker; K is the curved glass bottom, through which th
light passes to the interior of the carriage, and L, L, shows the point where
the india-rubber ring before spoken of is inserted; M is a small stop-cock,
and N is the swing joint before referred to; 0, O, is the roof of the carriage,
and P, P, the flange by which the lamp is supported on it; Q is a reflector
attached to the lower portion of the dome.
By the adoption of these improvements many of the objections to the
introduction of gas into railway carriages would be removed, and thus a far
better light than that obtained from oil, as usually consumed, would be
rendered available for travelling purposes.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the
precise details or arrangements which I have described or referred to, as
variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the principles or
main features of this Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is, the construction of valves, substantially as
herein described; the application of the india-rubber or prepared leather
annular cushion valve to pumps, waterclosets, or other similar purposes where

page_text: a gas, air, or water tight valve is requisite; the casting of taps or cocks, or
parts of the same, in polished steel, iron, or other metal moulds; the method
described of forming the seams of the flexible part of the gas holder; and the
lamp or lantern as a whole, or its principal features as applied to existing
railway carriage lamps.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas Sugg, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
WILLIAM T. SUGG. (...)