IMPROVEMENTS IN HAND LANTERNS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Alfred Barlow, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard,
London, Patent Agent and Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HAND LANTERNS." A communication from abroad by Carl Heinrich
Viereck and Elias Peter Kanberg, of Schleswig, in the Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Alfred Barlow at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th March 1878.
WALTER ALFRED BARLOW, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, Patent Agent
and Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HAND LANTERNS." A communication from
abroad by Carl Heinrich Viereck and Elias Peter Kanberg, of Schleswig, in the
Empire of Germany.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of hand
lanterns, and the special features and advantages of a lantern constructed according
to this Invention are that it is of small size, will burn for a comparatively long
time, the light is very wide spread and brilliant in consequence of the oil box or
receptacle being placed outside the lamp; it is so constructed as never to become
hot, the light will not be liable to go out nor be extinguished even if used whilst
running or otherwise being violently shaken, and the spilling and dripping of oil
is entirely prevented.
The characteristic feature in this lantern is the placing of the oil box inde-
pendently on the outside of the lantern, whereby much space is gained in the
interior thereof, and less heat is caused, and more light diffused, as the oil box does
not obstruct the reflection of light by the polished surface at the back.
The lantern is flat and of square or rectangular shape, the bottom being pierced
with small holes, and the door is furnished with a hook for hanging it on the belt
of the miner, conductor, postman, guard, or other person using it. The door is
double, that is, constructed of two sheets of tin, with a space for air between them,
the outside being thereby prevented from becoming hot; it is hinged, and has the
usual fastening bolt.

page_text: The side on which the oil box is secured is also of sheet tin (i.e., tinned iron),
with an opening at the bottom, for purpose herein-after explained. The opposite
side is also of sheet tin, and is protected by an outer bent sheet or screen to cover
the ventilating hole, and so as to admit currents of air only parallel with the
side.
The front of the lantern is of thick glass, and the back is furnished with a
reflector.
The top plate is cut through at two longitudinal lines, and one centrally
positioned transverse line (somewhat in H form), whereby are produced two flaps
formed and turned up at an angle. This top is covered over with a double cap of
sheet iron, tinned, or other suitable sheet metal open at both ends of the arch,
and over this are placed two arcs of felt to prevent danger to the fingers from
burning.
The oil box is semi-cylindrical in shape, and is placed on the outside of the
lantern on a projecting part of the bottom, which is provided with an edge
or border, and is secured by a bolt, this bolt and a small hook being the only
fastenings.
The wick basin is soldered and connected with the oil box by a tube, and is in-
serted through the before-mentioned opening in the side, the said opening being
covered by the flat back of the oil box.
The oil box consists of two compartments, the upper compartment being filled
with oil through an opening in the top, which can be closed by a stopper, and
the lower compartment is separated from the upper by a partition having a
small opening in the centre. Upon this opening a tray or valve of leather and
sheet metal is firmly pressed by a spring, and by pulling up the valve by means
of a wire attached thereto, the oil is admitted into the lower compartment, that
is, the wick basin.
The wick basin is formed with a light lip or rim, and two air holes are
provided near the wick tube. The holes in the bottom of the lantern are so
arranged that neither in leaping nor in running can the draught touch and ex-
tinguish the flame.
Untouched by any draught, the flame is so amply supplied with fresh air that
the lamp is always free from vitiated air, and burns brightly, and the openings
at the sides of the arched top and in the cover serve to allow of the free
passage of the smoke and other evaporations.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Walter Alfred Barlow in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
September 1878.
WALTER ALFRED BARLOW, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, Patent Agent
and Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HAND LANTERNS." A communication from
abroad by Carl Heinrich Viereck and Elias Peter Kanberg, of Schleswig, in the
Empire of Germany.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of hand
lanterns. The special features and advantages of a lantern constructed according to
this Invention being that it is of small size, will burn for a comparatively long time,
and the light is very widely spread and brilliant in consequence of the oil box or
receptacle being placed outside; it is constructed so as never to become hot, and
the light will not go out nor become extinguished even if the lantern be used whilst
running or leaping, or if otherwise violently agitated, and the spilling and dripping
of the oil are entirely avoided.
The characteristic feature in this lantern is the placing of the oil box inde-
pendently on the outside of the lantern, whereby much space is gained in the
interior thereof, less heat caused and more light diffused for the reason that the
oil box does not obstruct the reflection of light by the polished surface at
the back.
In order that the said Invention may be well understood, a Sheet of illustrative
Drawings has been annexed hereto, whereon,-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, showing the front and one side of lantern.
Fig. 2, a front view, fitted complete; Fig, 3, horizontal section of same.
Fig. 4, vertical section of the oil box.
Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 represent various details of the lantern.
The lantern is flat and of a square or rectangular shape, the bottom E (Figs.
and 3) being provided with small holes e.
A (Figs. 1, 3, and 9) is the door, furnished with a hook a for hanging the lantern
on to the belt of the miner, conductor, postinan, guard, or other person using it. The
door is double, that is, constructed of two sheets of tin, with a space for air between
them, the outside being thereby prevented from becoming hot. a' is the hinge, and
there is the usual fastening bolt a².
The side B (Figs. 1 and 3) is also of sheet tin, with an opening at the bottom for
the reception of the oil box and lamp. The opposite side D is also of sheet tin, and
is protected by an outer bent sheet or screen d¹ (Figs. 2 and 3), which is to cover
the ventilating hole d, and so as admit currents of air parallel with the side of the
lantern.
The front is of thick plate glass, the interior face of the back being a polished
reflector.
H (Figs. 1 and 8) is the top plate cut through at two longitudinal lines, and one
centrally positioned transverse line, somewhat in H form, whereby the two flaps h, h,
are formed and turned up at an angle, as shown in Fig. 1. This top plate is
covered over with a double-arched cap i, i¹, of sheet iron, tinned, or other suitable
sheet metal, open at both ends of the arch, and over which are placed two arcs of
felt k, k², to prevent the burning of the hands.
The oil box F is semi-cylindrical in shape, and is placed on the outside of the
lantern on a projecting part of the bottom E, which is provided with an edge or
border b (Figs. 1, 2, and 3), and it is secured by a bolt f, this bolt and a small hook
being the only fastening.
The wick basin G (Figs. 2 and 4) is soldered and connected to the oil box by a
tube f, and is inserted through the before-mentioned opening in the side B, said
opening being covered by the flat back of the oil box.
The oil box consists of two compartments, of which the upper is filled with oil
through the opening f³, which can be shut by a cap or stopper, and the lower

page_text: compartment F (Fig. 4) is separated from the upper by the partition ƒ³, having a
small opening in the centre. Upon the said opening, a trap or valve of leather and
sheet iron is firmly pressed by a spring f, and by pulling up the valve, by means
of a wire ƒ attached thereto, oil is admitted into the lower compartment and the
wick basin G.
The trap or valvo f1 of the oil box, as seen from above, is represented in Fig. 6,
and the wick basin G, Fig. 7, is shown in the same position, and has a light lip or
rim g; and g, g, are two air holes provided near the wick tube g¹.
The holes e in the bottom E (Fig. 3) are so arranged that even in leaping and
running the draught cannot touch or extinguish the flame.
Untouched by draught, the flame is so amply supplied with fresh air that
the air cannot become vitiated within the lamp, thus preserving a steady bright
light.
The holes in the upper part of the lantern (Figs. 1 and 2) serve to free the cap
from smoke and other products of combustion.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and shown by the
Drawings how the same is to be or may be carried into practical effect, I
claim,―
1st. The improved construction of lamp herein, as herein set forth and shown
by the Drawings.
2. The independent oil box fastened and supported as described, in combination
with a low wick basin G, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The interior construction of the oil box F, consisting of the partition and
trap, with the cover or disc f1, the spring f, wire ƒ, and air tube fo.
4. Semi-cylindrical outer portion d, as and for the purpose described.
5. The top of the lantern, consisting of the plate H with upturned flaps h, h,
and the covers i, i', and k, k¹.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Alfred Barlow, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WALTER A BARLOW
Gol