AN IMPROVED CON- STRUCTION OF SUBMARINE LAMP
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Rettic, of Aberdeen, North Britain,
Lamp Manufacturer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED CON-
STRUCTION OF SUBMARINE LAMP."
Sealed the 9th January 1854, and dated the 23rd August 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Rettic
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 23rd August 1853.
J, WILLIAM RETTIE, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF SUBMARINE LAMP" to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved construction of lamp to be used
under water. The lamp proper is inserted into a glass globe or other
transparent water-tight vessel, and screwed to the under side thereof.
Affixed to the upper part of the globe is a tube composed of lengths
connected together by union joints, so that the length of the tube
may be readily increased or diminished to suit varying circumstances.
From this tube the glass globe with its lamp is pendent, and connected
to the upper end thereof is a lantern top, which is so attached as to

page_text: allow of air entering the tube, and passing down to feed the flame of
the lamp. In the centre of this tube and projecting into the glass
globe is a smaller tube, provided with a trumpet mouth at its lower
end. The use of this tube is to collect and carry upwards the gases
of combustion, and deliver them out at the lantern top.
It will be understood that the passages for the entrance of the fresh
and the escape of the burnt air are distinct, and that the length of the
inner tube must be increased or diminished with the outer tube. Pro-
vision is made for the attachment to the main tube (immediately below
the entrance passage for the air) of a float, which may be used when
the lamp is required to be left in the water for a length of time, and
will serve to keep the lantern head above water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Rettic in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 23rd February 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM RETTIE, of Aberdeen, in the Kingdom of Scotland, Lamp
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said William Rettie, Her special
licence that I, the said William Rettic, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Rettie, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all time thereaftèr during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, tho
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
CONSTRUCTION OF SUBMARINE LAMP," upon the condition (amongst others)
that T the said William Rettie, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and 'seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature

page_text: of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
Said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Rottie, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thercon (that
is to say):
This Invention relates to an improved construction of submarine
lamp, which, when used under water, is capable of drawing in fresh
air to supply the flame with oxygen, and of expelling the heated and
vitiated air. The lamp proper, or that part which contains the hydro-
carbon and the wick, is inserted into a glass globe or other transparent
water-tight vessel, and firmly secured thereto. Affixed to the upper
part of the globe is a tube composed of lengths connected together by
union joints, so that the length of the tube may be readily increased or
diminished to suit varying circumstances. From the lower end of this
tube the glass globe with its lamp is pendent, and connected to the
upper end thereof is a lantern top, which is so attached as to allow of
air entering the tube, and passing down to feed the flame of the lamp.
In the centre of this tube and projecting into the glass globe is a
smaller tube, provided with a trumpet mouth at its lower end. The
use of this tube is to collect and carry upwards the gases of combus
tion, and deliver them out at the escape orifices of the lantern.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1, shews in elevation the im-
proyed lamp in a globular form. a, is a glass globe sufficiently strong
to withstand the pressure of water at great depths. To the lower part
of the globe a metal foot b, is attached, which is formed with a central
opening to receive the burner of the lamp. The oil chamber c, of the
lamp carries at top an argand burner; or nozzles for holding wicks
made of tufts of cotton may be used in place thereof. The oil chamber
is secured to the foot b, of the lamp by means of a screw thread on
the chamber taking into a female screw formed in the hollow of the

page_text: foot b, and the junction is made water-tight by a washer or otherwise.
Attached to the upper part of the globe a, is a tube d, composed of
picces connected together by union joints, and capable of being clon-
gated at pleasure by applying additional lengths thereto so as to permit
of the globe being immersed at any depth in the water, while at the
same time the upper end of the tube projects above the water. The
upper end of this tube d, is fitted with a lantern e, which is divided
into two compartments by a horizontal partition f. Free access of
air is permitted to the lower compartment by means of holes formed
therein, and the air thus admitted passes down the tube d, to feed the
flame of the lamp. Within this tube is a tube g, which projects into
the globe a, and is furnished with a trumpet mouth to collect the
of combustion and pass them upwards. The top end of this tube g,
projects through the horizontal partition f, of the lantern into the upper
compartment, which is also open to the atmosphere. When, therefore,
the lamp is burning a continuous supply of air will pass down the
annular space between the tubes d, and g, to supply the flame with
oxygen, and the vitiated air will ascend the central tube g, and pass
out of the lantern under the dome or cap e*.
gases
Fig. 2, represents a modification of this lamp, wherein a cylinder of
glass h, is used in place of the globe a. In this arrangement the ends
of the cylinder are closed by metal plates i, k, which are connectedl
together by rods 7, furnished with tightening nuts m, for securing the
attachment. The joints are made good either by cement or by inter-
posing a ring of india-rubber or other clastic material between the
ends of the glass cylinder and the plates.
This construction of submarine lamp may be used as a floating light,
when required. In such case I apply thereto an annular float or air
vessel n, made in two parts, connected together by a hinge, as
shown in plan and edge views at Figs 3. This float or air vessel fits
around the tube d, immediately below the lantern, and may be secured
by a spring catch or hook or other analogous contrivance. When it
is desired to sink the lamp in deep water I apply to the foot of the
lamp one or more annular weights o, (sec Figs 4,) formed of two parts,
which are hinged together, and are capable of easy attachınent and

page_text: detachment, like the float or air vessel. At the time of applying
the weights it will in general be found requisite to elongate the
entrance and exit air passages, and for this purpose it will only be
necessary to unscrew one of the joints of the tubes d, g, which for
convenience may be permanently connected together in lengths, and
to apply one or more of such lengths of tube as is shewn at Fig. 5,
whereby any required length of air passage may be readily obtained.
Having now described the nature of my Invention of an improved
construction of submarine lamp, and set forth the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above
in part recited Letters Patent I claim the general arrangement of parts
as above explained, and constituting a self-acting lamp, whereby I am
enabled to maintain a continuous supply of fresh air to the flame,
and to effect a regular discharge of the vitiated air from the lamp.
In witness whereof, T, the said Willian Rettic, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twentieth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
JA LINE,
Magistrate and J. P. for
the County of Aberdeen.
WILL RETTIE. (L.S.)