IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE AND OTHER LAMPS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Seagrave, of Dublin, Ireland, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE AND OTHER LAMPS."
Sealed the 14th February 1879, and dated the 22nd August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Seagrave at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd August 1878.
GEORGE SEAGRAVE, of Dublin, Ireland.
AND OTHER LAMPS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE
This Invention relates to certain improvements in or upon an Invention for
which Letters Patent were granted to William Perkins, dated the 19th day of
April 1876, No. 1642, and has for its object,-
1st. Facilitating the means of obtaining access to the burners for the purpose of
lighting the lamp from the top of the carriage
2ndly. Increasing the illuminating power of the lamp.
3rdly. Facility for cleaning the tubes which supply air to the burners.
4thly. Mechanical means for adjusting the wick of the lamp to the desired
height, preventing the wick from moving under the concussion and oscillation of
the train.
5thly. Increased facility for removing and replacing the globes when required.
6th. When double wicks are employed, providing improved means for raising
both wicks simultaneously and increasing the power of the flame.
In order to effect the above objects I connect the perforated plate referred to in
the Specification of Letters Patent herein-before mentioned, and which perforated
plate covers the chimney of the lamp to the lid or cover in order that when the lid
or cover is raised for the purpose of lighting the lamp through the chimney, the
said perforated plate will be raised with it.
In order to increase the illuminating power of the lamp I make the chimney to.
taper from the lower orifice upwards, and I make the top of the wick tube either
convex or concave, or undulating, as desired, whereby the brilliancy of the flame is
considerably increased, whilst the wick is capable of being more readily trimmed.
Danion 077

page_text: The tubes which conduct the air to the burner for the purpose of supporting
combustion in lieu of being permanently fixed as heretofore, I connect to the body
of the lamp by means of screw threads and nuts, whereby the perforated portion
of the tubes may be readily removed for the purpose of cleaning, whilst the lower
or that portion of the lamp consisting of the air tubes, globe, and the appurtenances
connected therewith may be readily removed for the purpose of repairs or other-
wise.
The improvements relating to the means for regulating the height of the wick,
and at the same time preventing the wick from moving under the concussions and
oscillations of the train, consists in fitting on one end of the spindle, which carrics
the elevating wheels, a ratchet wheel, the teeth of which engage with a spring
detent or other suitable device, so that by turning the spindle to the extent of, say,
one tooth of the wheel, the wick will be raised to the required height, which will
be indicated to the operator by the spring detent or other suitable device engaging
with tho teeth of the wheel.
Instead of securing the globe of the lamp in its seat by means of cement or
putty as heretofore, I employ asbestos in any suitable form, or any asbestos com-
position, or any other sufficiently indestructible packing for the purpose, whereby
the removal and replacement of the globe may be effected with greater facility
and despatch.
When double wicks are employed in my improved lamp 1 raise both wicks simul-
taneously by a single action by connecting the elevating gear of the two wicks
together by means of spur wheels, so that they shall both work in unison by the
act of turning the spindle of one of the wheels.
I also provide a trough between the two wick tubes at the upper part thereof
for the reception of any partially condensed vapor by the combustion of which the
power of the combined flame of the two wicks will be greatly augmented.
I also, by preference, interpose any suitable material, which is an imperfect
conductor, between the two wick tubes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by 3
the said George Seagrave in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd February
1879.
GEORGE SEAGRAVE, of Dublin, Ireland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE
AND OTHER LAMPS."
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in or upon an Invention for 3
which Letters Petent were granted to William Perkins, dated the Nineteenth day
of April One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, No. 1642, and has for its
objects,―
Providing facilities for cleaning the tubes which supply air to the burners.
Increasing the illuminating power of the lamp.
4

page_text: Facilitating the means of obtaining access to the burners for the purpose of
lighting the lamp from the top of the carriage.
The provision of mechanical means for adjusting the wick of the lamp to the
desired height, and preventing the wick from moving under the concussion and
oscillation of the train.
Increased facility for removing and replacing the globes when required.
And when double wicks are employed, providing improved means for raising
both wicks simultaneously and increasing the power of the flame.
In order to effect the above objects I construct and arrange the lamps in tho.
manuer illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, which I shall now
proceed to describe.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a vertical section of a lamp of the description
herein-before referred to, having applied thereto some of the improvements which
form the subject of my said Invention.
Figure 2 is a section of a portion of a lamp illusterating a modification.
Figure 3 is a detail end view of a device herein-before described for regulating
the height of the wick, and Figure 4 shews detail views of a slightly modified
arrangement to be employed for a like purposo.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 are elevations representing improved forms of the wick tube.
And Figure 8 is a front view, and Figure 9 a plan illustrating improved means
applicable to double wicks for raising both wicks simultaneously and increasing
the power of the flame.
In carrying out my said Invention the tubes A, which conduct the air to the
burner B for the purpose of supporting combustion, in lieu of being permanently
fixed as heretofore, are connected to the body of the lamp at a by means of screw
threads and nuts b, whereby the upper portion c of the tubes, which is provided
with perforations at c', may be readily removed for the purpose of cleaning, whilst
the lower portion of the lamp, consisting of the lower branches d of the air tubes,
the globe C, and the appurtenances connected therewith, may be readily removed
for the purpose of repairs or otherwise.
The perforated portions c¹ of the tubes A are also, by preferenco, mado separate
from the portions c, and attached thereto by screwing so as to afford ready access
to the tubes for the purposes of cleaning.
In order to increase the illuminating power of the lamp, I make the chimney D
to taper from the lower orifice upwards, as shown in the example illusterated in the
Drawing, in which the chimney D and its surrounding cylinder E are attached to
the body of the lamp at e by screwing. I also in some cases make the top of the wick
tube Feither convex, as shewn in Figure 5, or concave, as represented in Figure 6,
or undulating, as shewn in Figure 7, whereby the brilliancy of the flame is con-
siderably increased, whilst the wick is capable of being more readily trimmed.
In order to enable the wick to be always adjusted to the required uniform height,
and at the same time prevent the wick from moving under the concussions and
oscillation of the train, I fit on one end of the spindle f, which carries the elevating
wheels, a ratchet wheel g (see detail, Figure 3), the teeth of which engage with a
spring detent h, so that by turning the spindle to the extent of, say, one tooth of the
wheel the wick will be raised to the required height, which will be indicated to the
operator by the spring detent engaging with the teeth of the wheel. Or a similar
result may be obtained by the employment of a segmental worm wheel h' and short
worm g, Figure 4, the wick being adjusted to the required height by the act of
turning the worm g', whilst when such height is attained, no further adjustment
can be made until the worm is turned back to its original position, so that all
liability of glasses being broken by reason of an excessive height of the flame
caused by an undue elevation of the wick, either by accident or otherwise is entirely
obviated.
If desired, the arrangements shewn in Figures 3 and 4 may be employed in
combination, the spring detent being employed to retain the parts rigidly in their
adjusted position.

page_text: In order to facilitate the lighting of the lamp from the top through the chimney,
it is found desirable in some cases to adopt the arrangement shewn in Figure 1, in
which the perforated plate i is connected to the lid or cover G, so that when the
latter is raised for the purpose of lighting the lamp, the perforated plate will be
raised with it.
When the lid or cover G is hinged, as shewn in the Drawing, the perforated
plate i may be connected to it by a pin k, which fits in the slot of a slotted pro-
jection of the lid or cover so as to ensure its proper movements, and at the same
time allow the requisite play.
In the arrangement of lamp shewn in Figure 1, which is intended to be used
with a protection on the top, the air for supporting combustion is admitted at m.
When, however, it is required to dispense with the protector, the air openings may
be provided with baffle plates, as shown at n, Figure 2. No claim is, however,
made to the arrangement of baffle plates, as forming any part of my said Invention.
When double wicks are employed in my improved lamp, I may adopt the
improved arrangement illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, in which both wicks are
raised simultaneously by a single action. According to this arrangement the
elevating gear of the two wicks o, o, are connected together by means of spur
wheels p, p, so that they shall both work in unison by the act of turning the spindle
of one of the wheels.
I also provide a trough g between the two wick tubes r, r, at the upper part
thereof for the reception of any partially condensed vapour, by the combustion of
of which the power of the combined flame of the two wicks will be greatly
augmented.
I also, by preference, interpose any suitable material, which is an imperfect con-
ductor of heat, between the two wick tubes.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that 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,-
First. The general arrangements and combinations of parts forming lamps for
railway carriages and other purposes, substantially as herein-before described, and
illustrated by Figures 1 to 7 of my Drawings.
Second. In lamps, having double wicks, the means for raising both wicks simul-
taneously and increasing the power of the flame, substantially as herein-before
described, and illustrated by Figures 8 and 9 of my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Georgo Seagrave, have to this my Specification
set iny hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of February, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine
Witness to the signature
of George Seagrave,
HENRY JOSEPH BAILEY.
GEORGE SEAGRAVE. (L.S.)