Improvements in Bicycle and Tricycle Lamps.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycle and Tricycle Lamps.
I JOHN HARRISON of Kensington Street Birmingham Manufacturer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its objects the keeping of the lamp always in an upright
position and also the facilitating of lighting the same.
The lamp is suspended from the top by a ball bearing, universal, or any other
suitable kind of hinge joint, (such hinge joint if required being made adjustable)
in such a manner that the lamp swings freely from side to side, the object thus
obtained is that the lamp is always kept in an upright position and does away with
the disagreeableness of the oil in the buruer of the lamp running out of such
burner when the bicycle or tricycle to which the lamp is affixed tilted or resting
on its side.
I facilitate the lighting of such lamps in the following way: Attached to the
ordinary burner vessel is a small vessel containing paraffin or similar oil the wick
chamber from which is so arranged that when the paraffin oil wick is lit the flame
from it impinges against the ordinary colza oil wick in the burner of the lamp and
lights such wick more quickly than by the ordinary means. The paraffin oil wick
is extinguished as soon as the burner wick is sufficiently alight. This invention
does away with the loose sponge soaked with paraffin oil as sometimes used and is
much more convenient and certain in its action.
Dated the 13th dox of March 1901
t
JOHN HARRISON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycle and Tricycle Lamps.
I, JOHN HARRISON, of Kensington Street, Astun, near the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturer, 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 pertains to velocipede lamps, and has for its object primarily, the
keeping of the said lamps always or constantly in an erect or upright position, on
the machine being inclined sideways, or making laterally an oblique angle.
My said invention consists in giving pendulosity to the said lamp, by suspending
or supporting the same upon a ball bearing or plane axis disposed above the centre
of gravity of the article.
Heretofore the lamps have been rigidly connected to their bracket arms or
supports, and partake of the motion of a machine.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in perspective, a velocipede
lamp pendulously suspended, and provided according to my invention.
Thus, by the suspending of the lamp from a point above the centre of gravity,
the alternate action of gravity keeps the same constantly erect, hence the non-
spilling of the oil from the container, also the non-blacking of the interior sides of
the lamp, by the flame coming in contact with them.
The said lamp is suspended or supported at a short distance only above the
centre of gravity, so that the weight of the lamp shall be just sufficient to keep the
same constantly erect or upright.
Figure 2 represents upon an enlarged scale, partly in elevation, and partly in
section, the said lamp, but showing a ball joint connection, for the easy and free
movement of the loosely and pendulously hung lamp.

page_text: Figure 3 represents a section upon the dotted lines A. B. through the ball
bearing.
Figure 4 represents a back elevation of the lamp shown erect, whilst the bracket
or bracket arms of the same are represented inclined, a position which the said
latter take, on a machine inclining, or coming over upon one side, which is attendant
upon a machine making or curver, or on a machine being inclined or resting against
a support when not in use.
a is the body of the lamp, having fixedly secured to its back, and above the
middle part thereof, or above the centre of gravity of the same, an axis, pivot or
centre b, fitted with ball bearings e, which work between a collar race 6, of the
said axis, pivot or centre, and a dished or cupped formation 2, fashioned out of, or
carried by a carrying or back plate d, to the upper and lower parts of which, the
brackets arms e, are jointedly connected, whilst the said arms are connected to a
socket plate f, having a carrying socket f at the rear of it.
The ball bearing joint is adjusted by a screw collar g taking upon the screwed
end, of the axis pivet or centre b, and there affixed by a locking nut h.
Thus, by hanging or suspending the lamp at a point above the centre of gravity,
or above the middle part of the same, it preserves an erect or upright position, or
remains constant in a vertical plane, by the weight of the lamp following the action
of gravity, whilst the bracket part, which is attached to the machine, moves round
the balls within the collar race, hence a constant erect lamp.
Figure 5 represents a lamp with the point of connection raised or elevated from
that previously represented.
Figure 6 represents an edge view of the same.
I wish it to be understood, that I do not confine myself to the means whereby
the said pivot axis or centre is connected to the back of the lamp, as the same may
be affixed by rivetting, screwing, soldering or otherwise; neither do I limit myself
to the ball bearing race, as the same may be made or formed within the back of
the lamp, forming as it were a bearing, whilst the excentric axis, pivot or centre,
may be carried by the back plate d, and the ball race collar or other part, taking
within a socket or the like, fitted within the back, and containing ball bearings as
aforesaid, and still further, I may if necessary employ a cone or plain bearing for
the axis, pivot or centre to work within or upon, but in each case, the same must
be disposed or located vertically above the centre of gravity of the lamp.
Instead of the joint being carried by a plate extending between the bracket
arms, the same may be connected to the lower end of a link, or a depending arm,
attachedly connected to the bracket arms or sockets.
Plain bearings may be substituted for ball bearings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
First In a velocipede lamp, suspending the same upon an axis, by an axis, or
from an axis, disposed above the middle of the lamp, or above the centre of gravity
of the lamp, whereby the same remains in a constant erect or upright position, on a
machine to which the same is connected inclining sideways, or making an oblique
angle, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly-In a velocipede lamp, suspending the same upon an axis, from an
axis, or by an axis with ball bearings, or ball bearing fittings, disposed above the
middle, or above the centre of gravity of the same, hence a ball-bearing
pendulously mounted lamp, substantially as, and for the purpose described and
set forth.
Deted this 19th day of December 1901
JOHN HARRISON.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.