AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF LANTERN
Year: 1864

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Abbott at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th June
1864. A communication from abroad by Michael Alexander Dietz; of
New York, in the United States of America.
I, WILLIAM ABBOTT,-of St. Paul's Buildings, in the City of London, Mer-
chant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
CONSTRUCTION OF LANTERN," to be as follows:-
The lantern which forms the subject of the present Invention is intended
more particularly for burning petroleum or rock oil, and the object of the
Invention is to construct in-a simple and economical manner a lantern adapted
for this purpose.
The case or body of the lantern is composed of sheet metal and flat glass
plates. The metal part forms the two sides and top of the lantern, and consists
of only one piece, which is cut and bent into the right form to produce this
result. By constructing the metal part in this manner all soldering is avoided.
The edges of the metal sides are turned up so as to form a groove or shoulders
to receive the flat glass plates which form the other two sides. The metal
sides are indented externally, so as to present internally convex or angular
reflecting surfaces. The lamp with its burner forms the base or bottom part
of the lantern, and may be connected to the upper part by a hinge, or it may
be provided with side flanges which may, be slidden in guides, formed either by
turning up the under edges of the metal sides of the lantern or by making
ledges in the metal pieces which connect the metal sides together at their
lower ends. Care must of course be taken that a proper supply of air be
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provided at the lower part of the lantern for the burner; this may be effected
in various ways. The way I prefer is to attach a corrugated plate to the
lower part of the lantern, so that when the lamp is in its place a number of
small openings will be left for the admission of air. The burner is counter-
sunk in the top of the lamp, so as to prevent the oil from running over. It
must also be provided with a deflector or cap, so as to cause the air to impinge
upon or be deflected on the flame. When the lantern is constructed in such
a manner that the lamp is slidden along guides into its place, a space or
opening must be cut out of one of the metallic sides of the lantern, so as to
allow the burner to pass in, and this opening is to be closed by a shutter,
which, when lowered, will prevent the lamp from shifting or coming out.
hole is cut in the top of the lantern, so as to allow the gases to escape, and
this is covered by a curved dome piece, which is secured by means of the ends
of two bent wires, which are passed through it for the purpose. The outer
parts of these wires serve also as eyes to receive the ends of the wire bail or
handle whereby the lantern is held or suspended. The ends of these wires
may also be extended down to the base of the lantern in front of the glass
sides, so as thereby to protect the same from injury. The lantern is made of
a pyramidal shape, and by the currents of air being thus confined and kept at
equal distances all round the flame the oil may be burned without any
chimney.