Year: 1897

page_text: (A communication from HARRY CROSS HUBBELL and THOMAS FRANCIS BOLAND,
Mechanical Engineers, of Elmira, New York, United States of America.)
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The objects of the present invention are, first; to provide a portable electric
lighting device which shall be self-contained, comparatively inexpensive, sightly,
efficient and well adapted for use upon bicycles and vehicles in mines, mills and oil
factories, and as a convenient means for obtaining light, second; to prevent spilling
of the battery fluid and permit of the escape of gas, third; to provide for the
removal of exhausted electrodes and for the insertion of efficient electrodes and for
automatically maintaining good electrical contact free from corrosion between the
electrodes and their terminals in such manner that even the unskillful may properly
and easily perform these operations without having access to the conductors, switches
and other like parts of the apparatus, and fourth; to provide an insulating, strong,
durable housing for the apparatus of which the cost of production is comparatively
small and in which the wires, conductors and like parts are suitably imbedded.
The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully
understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings forming part hereof and in which
Figure 1, is a side elevational view of the complete lighting device.
Fig. 2, is a transverse central sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1, taken
on the line 2-2, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a similar view taken on the line 3-3, of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4, is a diagrammatic view illustrating the circuit connections.
Fig. 5, is a front view of part of the device illustrating the lamp socket, and
Fig. 6, is a top or plan view showing a rubber or analogous diaphragm having
perforations like pin points that permit of the escape of gas and not of the battery
fluid.
In the drawings, a, is a housing having cells al and a², of which the number is not
material. A part of the invention consists in the provision of a composition of
matter suited by its cheapness, durability and in other ways to the manufacture of
the housing. This new composition consists essentially of the following ingredients
in substantially the following proportions; asphaltum, nine parts by weight, asbestos,
one-half part by weight; and sulphur and hard or vulcanized rubber, one-fourth part
each by weight. These ingredients in a sub-divided state are softened and mixed and
converted into a plastic by heat and are then compressed by pressure in a mould so as
o imbed the conductors and other parts of the device as is hereinafter more fully
described. This moulded housing may be lacquered or painted or decorated. The
andle b, shown in the drawings, is adapted for attachment to a bicycle lamp bracket
ut it may be differently shaped. It may be attached to place by imbedding a

page_text: suitable portion of it as b¹, into the material of the housing, whilst said material is
plastic and in the mould. c, is a metallic lamp socket similarly imbedded in and
insulated by the housing. d, d¹, d², d³, are pins or terminals split or bifurcated at
their ends. These terminals have their feet enlarged and imbedded in the housing
and project upwards into the battery fluid which is contained in the battery cells and
is a solution of acid sulphate of soda or its equivalent. Two cells are shown separated
by a partition formed or moulded in the housing. The imbedded feet of the terminals
or pins are permanently connected by conductors also imbedded in the wall of the
housing in series through an incandescent lamp e, and a switch e', as shown in Fig. 4.
One conductor is in electrical connection with the lamp socket c, and the other is
exposed so as to contact with a terminal at the back of the lamp as shown in Figs. 3
and 5. To a suitable boss or projection a³, is attached a reflector f, having a lense or
glass. The electrodes have formed within them downwardly opening pockets which
fit over and onto the upwardly projecting terminals or split pins d, d¹, d² and d³.
Thus the electrodes may be readily removed and replaced by others to regenerate or
revivify the battery. Moreover, these pockets operate like diving bells and by
retaining air exclude the battery fluid, thus good clean or bright electrical contact is
ensured. The electrodes g and g¹, are zinc and the electrodes g² and g³, are peroxide
of lead. When the lead electrodes are reduced, they are removed and replaced by
others, thus the battery is revivified or regenerated. The reduced electrodes are or
may be again peroxidized and used again and again. At the top of the housing a,
is a seat preferably ribbed or corrugated (Figs. 2 and 3) and also a screw thread.
Onto this seat is fitted a soft rubber gasket or lid h, having a central opening h¹.
This lid , is so large in diameter that it hugs the screw thread. On top of the lid h,
is a cap i, having a diaphragın , mounted in an opening in its center, for example,
by means of a screw 2, in which there is a cavity and a small hole. This
diaphragm ', is provided with pin holes as shown in Fig. 6. The pin holes permit
of the escape of gas but not of the battery fluid. The cover j, is provided on its
under side with a chamber and its rim screws into the housing and presses down the
lid and cap to make a fluid and gas tight joint. This cover j, is provided with an
opening, through which the gas passes after traversing the pin holes which are
opened by reason of the distention of the diaphragin by the pressure of gas. A cut
made by the point of a knife is in some instances better than pin-holes. Accordingly
I have shown such a cut.
Dated this outh
100
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Camps.
(A communication from HARRY CROSS HUBBELL and THOMAS FRANCIS BOLAND,
of United States of America.)
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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:-
This invention relates to a portable electric lighting device. The objects of the
present invention are first, to provide a portable electric lighting device which shall
be self-contained, comparatively inexpensive, sightly, efficient and well adapted for
use upon bicycles and vehicles, in mines, mills and oil factories, and as a convenient

page_text: means for obtaining light; second, to prevent spilling of the battery fluid and
permit of the escape of gas; third, to provide for the removal of exhausted
electrodes and for the insertion of efficient electrodes and for automatically
maintaining good electrical contact free from corrosion between the electrodes and
their terminals in such manner that even the unskilful inay properly and easily
perform these operations without having access to the conductors, switches, and
other like parts of the apparatus, and fourth, to provide an insulating, strong,
durable housing for the apparatus of which the cost of production is comparatively
small and in which the wires, conductors and like parts are suitably imbedded.
The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully
understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings forming part of this specification and in which
Figure 1, is a side elevational view of the complete lighting device.
Figure 2, is a transverse central sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1,
taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3, is a similar view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the circuit connections.
Figure 5, is a front view of part of the device illustrating the lamp socket, and
Figure 6, is a top or plan view showing a rubber or analogous diaphragm having
perforations like pin points that permit of the escape of gas and not of the battery
fluid.
In the drawings, a is a housing having one, two, or more cells a¹ a², of which the
number is not material. A part of the invention consists in the provision of a
composition of matter united by its cheapness, durability and in other ways to the
manufacture of the housing. This new composition consists essentially of the
following ingredients in substantially the following proportions; asphaltum, nine
parts by weight, asbestos, one-half part by weight; and sulphur and hard or
vulcanized rubber, one-fourth part each by weight. These ingredients in a
sub-divided state are softened and mixed and converted into a plastic mass by heat
and are then compressed by pressure in a mould so as to imbed the conductors and
other parts of the device as is hereinafter more fully described. This moulded
housing may be lacquered or painted or decorated. The handle b, shown in the
drawings, is adapted for attachment to a bicycle lamp bracket but it may be
differently shaped as may be desired. It may be attached to place by imbedding a
suitable portion of it as b¹, into the material of the housing, whilst said material is
plastic and in the mould. c, is a metallic lamp socket similarly imbedded in and
insulated by the housing, d, d¹, d², ds, are pins or terminals split or bifurcated at
their ends. These terminals have their feet enlarged and imbecided in the housing
and project upwards into the battery fluid which is contained in the battery cells
and is a solution of acid sulphate of soda or its equivalent. Two cells are shown
separated by a partition formed or moulded in the housing. The imbedded feet
of the terminals or pins are permanently connected by conductors also imbedded in
the wall of the housing in series through an incandescent lamp e, and a switch e¹ as
shown in Fig. 4. One conductor is in electrical connection with the lamp socket c,
and the other is exposed so as to make contact with a terminal at the back of the
lamp as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. To a suitable boss or projection at is attached a
hood f having a reflector and a lens or glass f². The electrodes have formed within
them downwardly opening pockets g' which fit over and on to the upwardly projecting
terminals or split pins d, di, d2 and d³. Thus the electrodes may be readily removed
and replaced by others to regenerate or revivify the battery. Moreover, these pockets
operate like diving bells and by retaining air exclude the battery fluid, thus good
clean or bright electrical contact is secured. The electrodes g and g¹ are zinc and the
electrodes 2 and g³ are peroxide of lead. When the lead electrodes are reduced,
they are removed and replaced by others, thus the battery is revivified or regenerated.
The reduced electrodes are or may be again peroxidized and used again and again.
Although the electrodes g, g', g², g³ may be of any desired size or shape it is preferred
to construct them of such dimensions that those intended to be placed upon the

page_text: central pins d' d² are too large to be placed upon the pins d, d³ which being near
the periphery of the housing a cannot accommodate so large an electrode as can the
central pins d¹, d².
The above described construction obviates the risk, during renewal or repair of the
battery, of placing the electrodes upon the wrong pins, for, even if the smaller
electrodes be accidentally placed on the centre pins the larger electrodes cannot
be inserted.
This arrangement, together with the construction which avoids the use of binding
posts and employs conductors embedded in the wall of the housing, entirely obviates
the risk of damage from making wrong connections.
As shown in the drawings the plates intended for the central pins are the lead
peroxide plates and as may be seen from Fig. 3 are of a width approximately equal
to the internal diameter of the housing a and cannot therefore be placed upon the
pins d, ds.
At the top of the housing, is a seat a preferably ribbed or corrugated (Figures 2
and 3) and also a screw thread a. On to this seat is fitted a soft rubber gasket or
lid h, having a central opening h¹. This lid h is so large in diameter that it hugs
the screw thread a. On the top of the lid h, is a cap i, having a diaphragm i¹
mounted in an opening in its centre, for example, by means of a screw 2 in which
there is a cavity, and a small hole . This diaphragm i¹ is provided with pin
holes or slits or both as shown in Fig. 6. The pin holes permit of the escape of gas
but not of the battery fluid. The cover ; is provided on its under side with a
chamber and its rim screws into the housing and presses down the lid and cap to
make a fluid and gas tight joint. This cover jis provided with an opening j¹ through
which the gas passes after traversing the pin-holes which are opened by reason of the
distension of the diaphragm by the pressure of gas.
A cut made by the point of a knife is in some instances better than pin holes ;
accordingly I have shown such a cut.
Some of the details of construction may obviously be varied without departing
from the spirit of this invention. For instance the pins d, d¹, d², d³ may be of
rectangular cross section and need not be split or bifurcated although the form
described is preferable; any well known form of battery may be used such for
instance as an ordinary lead and leadperoxide accumulator; and the lid ; or the
cap 12 be affixed by screws instead of being screwed into position; and lastly any
form of handle may be used such as a leather strap passing over the top and affixed
to the sides, and the handle, of whatever form may be secured in any convenient
may
manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A portable electric lighting device comprising a lamp, battery, and connecting
conductors, having the connecting conductors protected or insulated or both protected
and insulated by being embedded in the wall or walls of the cell or cells containing
the electrolyte.
2. A portable electric lighting device of the kind described having a lamp socket
supported or insulated, or a handle attached by being embedded wholly or in part
in the wall of the cell or cells containing the electrolyte.
3. In a portable electric lighting device a casing formed of material containing
asphaltum, asbestos, sulphur and hard or vulcanized rubber, in or about in the
proportions stated.
4. In a portable electric lighting device a casing or cell for the electrolyte formed
of material such as is described in Claim 3, by heating, pressing and moulding it in
substantially the manner described.
5. An electrode having a downwardly opening pocket or recess such as g¹ such that
the electrolyte shall not have access to a support within the pocket substantially as
described.

page_text: 6. The combination of an electrode of battery and a conducting or other pin such
as & upholding the electrode.
7. A portable electric lighting device of the kind described so constructed that
the plates can be renewed without danger of making wrong electrical connections.
8. In a portable electric lighting device of the kind described a perforated
diaphragm such as i¹ through which gases will pass but which prevents the spilling
of the electrolyte súbstantially as described.
9. In a portable electric lighting device of the kind described the combination
of a disc such as h, cap such as i, diaphragm such as i¹, cap such as i² and cover such
as ; as a closure for the battery substantially as described.
10. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete portable
electric lighting device substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.