NEW AND USEFUL OR IMPROVED SUBMARINE LANTERN TO BE USED IN EXPLORATIONS BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE OCEAN OR ANY OTHER LARGE BODY OF WATER
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Washington Fuller (a Citizen of the United
⚫ States of America, and a Resident of Cambridgeport, in the County of
Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts,) for the Invention of a "NEW
AND USEFUL OR IMPROVED SUBMARINE LANTERN TO BE USED IN EXPLORATIONS
BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE OCEAN OR ANY OTHER LARGE BODY OF WATER."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Washington Fuller
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 28th April 1863, pursuant to the 9th Section of the
Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, BE IT
KNOWN, that I, GEORGE WASHINGTON FULLER (a Citizen of the United
States of America, and a Resident of Cambridgeport, in the County of
Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts,) have Invented a " NEW AND USEFUL
OR IMPROVED SUBMARINE LANTERN-TO-BE-USED-IN-EXPLORATIONS BENEATH-THE-
SURFACE OF THE OCEAN, OR ANY OTHER LARGE BODY OF WATER," and I do

page_text: hereby declare the nature of the said Invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, or in other words, its construction and mode of
operation, to be fully described in the following Specification, and represented
in the accompanying Drawings.
In making my Invention I have sought to produce a lantern, which when
in use at whatever depth below the surface of the sea or a body of water in
which it may be immersed, will have a pressure of air within it equal or about
equal to the pressure of the water on its external surface, the same enabling
me to construct a lantern of little strength and weight, comparatively, one
easily handled by a marine diver while in the water and below the surface
thereof.
Submarine lanterns, as heretofore made, have been provided with an air-
induction conduit and an air-eduction pipe, both of which during use of the
Jantern reached from it to and above the surface of the water.
With a
lantern of this character and while in use, the pressure of the water on its
external surface so far exceeds the pressure of air within the body or case as
to require the said body to be made of very strong materials and with great
care to prevent its collapse, as well as leakage of water into it.
In my improved lantern the pressure of the air within it operates favorably
to prevent the entrance of water at any of the joints of the lantern, and
furthermore, should any water enter the lantern by the air and smoke
eduction passage, such water will be caught in a suitable receiver, and by it
be prevented from falling upon the hot glass chimney, and thereby causing
either breakage of the latter, or the conversion of such water into vapor, and
the deposit thereof on the reflector and glass window of the lantern.
In making my Invention I have also sought to so construct the lantern as to
prevent from other causes deposits of vapor on the inner surface of the glass
window or part of its case, as when such take place they greatly impair the
illuminating power of the lantern.
Of the Drawings above mentioned, Figure 1 is a front view of the lantern
as closed; Figure 2 a front view of it as open; Figures 3 and 4 are vertical
sections of it taken in planes at right angles to each other.
In the said Drawings A denotes the case or body of the lantern, it being
constructed with a window opening (a) in its front, such opening being pro-
vided with a transparent door or window b. This window, as shown in the
Drawings, is a concavo-convex disc of glass, and is inserted or fixed in an
annulus or circular frame c, which is concentric with and arranged within
another ring (d), which is hinged (as shown at e) to the lantern case. The

page_text: frame or ring c is to be so adapted to the ring d as to be capable of being
turned or partially revolved therein, in order that its screw arcs, or sections
may be either engaged with or disengaged from those of the opening a, as
circumstances may require. The annular frame c is first formed with a male
screw to screw into a female screw formed in the rim or inner edge of the
opening a, and so as to force the ring d or an annular washerf firmly against
the circular part 9 surrounding the opening a. Afterward each of the
screws has the turns of its threads removed from equal arcs of its circum-
ference, that is to say, every other are of sixty degrees of the turns of the
threads of each screw is to be filed or cut away, so that of each screw there
shall be left only three equal arc portions of sixty degrees each, they being
situated at equal distances as under, the same being as shown in Figures 5,
6, 7, and 8, of the Drawings, wherein h, h, h, are the screw arcs of the
periphery of the male screw ring, while i, i, i, are the spaces between them,
k, k, k, being the screw arcs of the female screw of the opening a, while 1, 1, 1,
are the open spaces between them. Of these last-mentioned Figures the first
two are front views of the ring c and the opening a, while Figure 7 is a side
view of the ring, and Figure 8 is a transverse section of the mouth of the
opening a.
On closing the window of the lantern case the screw arcs of it will bo
caused to pass into the spaces between the screw arcs of the opening, and in
such manner that when the ring c is put in partial revolution the several
screw.ares will at once be engaged with or screwed into those of the opening.
In this way a partial revolution of the ring c suffices to firmly close the
window, and saves several entire revolutions of it, which would be necessary
were entire male and female screws used; and furthermore, the screw arcs
enable the window to be hinged to the opening a, in which case it is pre-
vented from dropping off the lantern case and being lost in the water, an
accident which is likely to happen unless it be connected by a hinge or some
equivalent. When a projection m on the ring c is against the hinge of the
window frame, the screw arcs will be in proper positions for the window to be
closed. The oil chamber of the lamp of the lantern is shown at n. The wick
tube extends upward. from the top of such chamber, and through an
auxiliary chamber p, which is arranged immediately over the oil chamber, and
about the wick tube. The front part of that portion of the said chamber p
which is about the wick tube is perforated with a hole or a series of holes, as
-seen-at-9, such-hole or holes being arranged in such manner-as-to-cause-air-
while issuing "from them and the chamber to pass directly against the inner

page_text: surface of the glass window b, or upwards between the same and the chimney r
of the lamp. The object of this is to prevent condensation of moisture on the
inner surface of the glass window. The air-induction pipe for supplying air to
the lantern by means of an air pump is to be coupled on a pipes, which is
situated within the lantern case and in rear of the deflector t, and enters the
chamber p. The air when issuing from such chamber is about the tem-
perature of the surrounding water, and if blown upward against the inner
surface of the glass window or between the same and the glass chimney of the
burner will intercept the heat radiated from the front part of the chimney,
and will operate in other respects to prevent condensation of vapor on the
inner surface of the glass window. Without the aerial current be so intro-
duced with respect to the inner surface of the glass window, it has been found
that the formation of vapor will often result and operate to interrupt the
light whieh would otherwise pass through the glass window. The air after
being introduced within the body of the lantern will flow into the perforated
hole x, which receives and supports the chimney and deflector supporter u,
and from thence it will pass into the conical deflector and against the
wick w, and from thence into and through the glass chimney r.
In order that access may be readily obtained to the wick, either for
enflaming or trimming it, or for extinguishing its flame, as circumstances may
require, the glass chimney and the conical deflector are supported within an
annular ring or frame u, which is arranged in the upper part of the base x, and
has applied to it by means of two connecting rods or bars z, z, and a forked
lever a', whose fulcrum is shown at 6'. By pressing on the tail or shortest
arm c¹ of the said lever the elevation of the chimney and the deflector sup-
porter off the base may be affected. For the purpose of causing the chimney
and deflector supporter to rise vertically it is provided with projections c¹, e',
which extend downward from it and into guide tubes f, fastened to
opposite sides of the said base part x.
A small mariner's compass B is affixed on the arm c², and so that the light
from the flame of the wick may strike upon its magnetic needle. The
compass being also so arranged as to enable the needle to be seen by a person
while looking into the glass window of the lantern. This compass serves to
guide the diver in his movements while he with the lantern may be beneath
the surface of a body of water. In order to enable the diver while the lantern
may be submerged to adjust the wick so as to regulate the height of the
flame thereof, there is a spur gear C fixed on the shaft D of the wick
elevator E. A pinion F engages with the spur gear, and is fixed on a shaft G,

page_text: .
which passes through a stuffing box H and to the inside of the lamp; and
carries a milled nut I, which may be protected more or less by a guard K;
arranged as shown in the Drawings. By applying the thumb and index finger,
of one hand to the nut I the diver can turn the shaft, and thereby effect either
the raising or lowering of the wick, as circumstances may require. The oil
reservoir of the lamp is provided. with a filling opening L, which is furnished
with screw plug M, the whole. being arranged as shown.in the Drawings.
Furthermore, the lantern's body is furnished with two other such openings N
and O, which have such screw stoppers. One of these openings is placed at
the lower and the other at the upper part of such body as shown in tho
Drawings. The purpose of these openings is to cause a current of air to pass
through the lantern case at such times as the lantern may be out of water and
exposed to the heat of the sun. Were it not for these openings the air within
the lantern would be likely to become heated by the rays of the sun, and to
such an extent that vapor therefrom would condense on the inner surface of
the glass window. By unscrewing the stoppers of the openings .N, O, a
current of air will flow through the lamp, and thus the said condensation of
moisture will be prevented. The glass chimney of the burner opens at its top.
into the base of metallic tube or chimney P, whose upper end is covered by a
dome or cap Q, having a diameter larger than that of the said upper end,
and being raised a short distance above such upper end.. There is also a
water receiving or guard chamber R extending around the chimney P, and
being provided with a valve seat S and a valve T at its top.. The valve is
forced down upon its seat by a light spring U, arranged within a. perforated
cup V, which is screwed on the top part of the lantern, and held in place by
a check nut W, which screws on the screws to which the cap is adapted.
A ring or handle X fixed to the cap serves to enable a person to readily lift
the lautern or sustain it by his hand. The check nut, combined with the
handle, the cap and screw of the latter serves not only to prevent the cap
from becoming unscrewed while the lantern may be submerged, but enables
the diver to so adjust and fix the handle that while the lantern may be hanging
on his. árm or to his person the light of the lamp may be caused to flow in
such directions as may be desirable. The purpose of the dome Q and the
chamber. R is to intercept any water which may flow or leak through the
valve seat, and which might by dropping upon the. glass while in á. heated
.state cause. either.a breakage of it or a sudden formation of vapor within the
body of the lantern. The spent. gases.-and-smoke-arising-from-the-flame-of
the wick will escape through the valve opening at the upper part of_the_

page_text: lantern, and will pass out of the holes of the cap V and into the water when
the lantern may be submerged. For the purpose of causing the lantern to
readily sink in water, a weight W' may be affixed to the lower part of it.
Having thus described my said submarine lantern, what I claim in relation
thereto is as follows:→
I claim a lantern as made or provided with an air-induction conduit, and
with a valve opening, and valve arranged with respect to the body of the said
lantern, and for the purpose of supplying air to the lamp thereof and of dis-
charging the smoke and spent products of combustion into the water when the
lantern may be submerged therein as specified.
I also claim the combination for applying the glass window b to the body A
of the lantern, and so as to enable such window not only to be closed with a
water-tight joint, but to be opened as a hinge for the purpose as described,
the same consisting of the rings c, d, the hinge, and the sections of screws
connected with or applied to the rings and the lantern case, substantially as
specified.
I also claim the combination and arrangement of the air ventilating
devices N, O, and their screw stopper, or their mechanical equivalent with the
lantern body or case, the same being for the purposes set forth.
I also claim the arrangement or combination of the air inlet or inlets q,
with the lamp and the glass window, in manner so that the air forced into the
lantern case may be on its entrance therein discharged either against the
inner surface of the glass window or upward between the same and the
flame or chimney of the lamp, the same being for the purpose herein-before
set forth.
I also claim the combination and arrangement of mechanism for raising
the glass chimney and the conical deflector in order that access may be had
to the wick, the same consisting of the annular frame u, the forked lever a',
and the connecting bars z, z. The said frame u being provided with guides,
as specified.
I also claim the arrangement of the mariner's compass, viz., within the
lantern body, and with respect to the lamp and the window of the said body,
or on the lever a', as specified.
I also claim the combination and arrangement of the water receiving and
guard chamber R, and chimney cap or dome Q, with the chimney P, and the
valve seat S, and valve T applied or arranged with respect to the lamp and
the lantern body, substantially as specified.
I also claim the combination of the check nut W with the handle X, the

page_text: cap V, and the screws by which the latter is connected to the upper part of
the lantern case.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 16th day
of March, in the year, of our Lord 1863.
GEORGE WASHINGTON FULLER. (L.S.)
GEORGE WASHINGTON FULLER. (L.s.)