IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL LANTERNS
Year: 1860

page_text: .LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Turner Clark and John Price, of 84, High
Street, Southampton, in the County of Southampton, for the Invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL LANTERNS."
Sealed the 14th December 1860, and dated the 21st June 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Turner Clark and
John Price at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 21st June 1860.
We, ARTHUR TURNER CLARK and JOHN PRICE, of 84, High Street, South-
ampton, in the County of Southampton, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL LANTERNS," to be as follows:-
This Invention is more particularly applicable to those descriptions of:
lanterns which are used on board ships for signalling between the commander>
and helmsman, and at the same time to another vessel that may be
approaching; but we also claim the application of this improved lantern for
the purpose of tidal or harbour signals, and also as signals to be. used on rail-
ways, or on locomotive engines when approaching a station or passing another
train.
For the purpose of ship or railway engine signals, it is necessary that the
signal lantern should shew a white, green, or red light two ways at once, as
may be required As a, tidal or harbour signal, the same lights are shown
alternately, but only one way at a time.

page_text: Now this Invention consists in doing all this with a single lamp, by sur-
rounding the same with a rotating six-sided lantern, (as in Clark's original
improved telegraph lantern, only of different construction,) each of the sides
of which are glazed with glass of one or the other of these colours, and
arranged so that the opposite sides of the lantern be glazed with glass of
same color, surrounding a tapered lamp having a concave bottom, with either
concave or flat top to same.
Surrounding the revolving lantern is an exterior case, in which two dioptric
or plane lenses are set in conical reflectors opposite to each other, and at such
an angle as shall cause the rays of light to be concentrated and thrown
forward at one time, so as to be seen brighter at a greater distance than a
near one.
One of these directs the light to the helmsman and the other to the
commander, and from its greater power also to a ship "nearing," when used
for a vessel; but as a railway or locomotive engine signal from the engineer
of one engine to the engineer of another that may be approaching in an
opposite direction, or to the men on look out at any of the stations that the
engine may be approaching. For a tidal or harbour signal, we replace the
three opposite glasses by three reflectors, using only one dioptric or plane lens
of the same lantern. Thus, in case of a vessel or ship, by turning the
revolving lantern by means of a tiller or handle of a certain length, we shew
a light of either color to the helmsman, who is thereby directed in the
management of the helm, also to a ship "nearing," who may be directed how
she may steer at one and the same time.
In the case of a railway or locomotive engine, a light of either color may be
made visible by the same means to the engine drivers of two trains approaching
each other at one and the same time:
For a harbour or tidal signal, by moving same tiller either colored light
may be shewn at pleasure, so as to indicate danger, high or low water, or
otherwise.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Arthur Turner Clark and John Price, Her special licence that we,
the said Arthur Turner Clark and John Price, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Arthur Turner Clark and John
Price, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SIGNAL LANTERNS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Arthur Turner Clark and John Price, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand
and seal of one of us, or them, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature 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 Arthur Turner Clark, on behalf of
myself and the said John Price, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
that is to say:
This Invention is more particularly applicable to those descriptions of
lanterns which are used on board ships for signalling between the commander
and helmsman, and at the same time to another vessel that may be
approaching; but we also claim the application of this improved lantern for
the purpose of tidal or harbour signals, and also as signals to be used on
railways, or on locomotive engines when approaching a station or passing
another train. .
For the purpose of ship or railway engine signals, it is necessary that the
signal lantern should shew a white, green, or red light two ways at once, as
may be required. As a tidal or harbour signal, the same lights are shewn
alternately, but only one way at a time.
Now this Invention consists in doing all this with a single lamp, by sur-
rounding the same with a rotating six-sided lantern, (as in Clark's original
improved telegraph lantern, only of different construction,) each of the sides

page_text: of which are glazed with glass of one or the other of these colors, and arranged
so that the opposite sides of the lantern be glazed with glass of same color;
surrounding a tapered lamp having a concave bottom, with either concave or
flat top to same.
:
Surrounding the revolving lantern is an exterior case, in which two dioptric
or.plain lenses are set in conical reflectors opposite to each other, and at such
an angle.as shall cause the rays of light to be concentrated and thrown forward
at one time, so as to be seen brighter at a greater distance than a near one.
One of these directs the light to the helmsman, and the other to the com-
mander, from its greater power also to a ship "nearing," when used for a
vessel; but as a railway or locomotive engine signal from the engineer of one
engine to the engineer of another that may be approaching in an opposite
direction, or to the men on look out at any of the stations that the engine may:
be approaching..
For a tidal or harbour signal, we replace the three opposite glasses by three
reflectors, using only one dioptric or plain lens of the same lantern. Thus, in
case of a vessel or ship, by turning the revolving lantern, by means of a tiller
or handle of a certain length, we show a light of either color to the helmsman,
who is thereby directed in the management of the helm, also to a ship
'nearing," who may be directed how she may steer at one and the same time.
In the case of a railway or locomotive engine, a light of either color may
be made visible by the same means to the engine drivers of two trains
approaching each other at one and the same time.
66
For a harbour or tidal signal, by moving same tiller either colored light
may be shewn at pleasure, so as to indicate danger, high or low water, or
otherwise.
And in order that our Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a signal lantern arranged according to our
Invention;
and Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same. a, a, is the
exterior case of the lantern, in which two dioptric or plain lenses b, b, are set
in conical reflectors c, c, opposite each other, and the reflectors are at such an
angle as shall cause the rays of light to be concentrated and thrown forward at.
one time, so as to be seen brighter at a greater distance than a near one; d is:
a bandle mounted on the axis e, which passes through a stuffing box on the
top of the case a; to the axis e is attached the frame f. This frame has on
its under side a pin g, which forms a pivot for the frame f to turn on, but it is

page_text: prevented from making more than half a revolution about its axis by the stops
h, h. Carried by the frame f is a six-sided lantern, somewhat similar to the
one described in the Specification of the Patent for the lantern above referred
to. Two of the sides of this lantern are glazed with white glass, two with red
glass, and two with green glass; the sides opposite each other being glazed
with glass of the same color, so that the same colored light will always be
thrown through the two lenses at the same time. The glasses i, i, are held
by the split metal tubes k. In the interior of the lantern is the tapered lamp 1,
which is formed with a concave bottom, in order that all the oil contained in
it may be burned. On the bottom of the lamp m is a socket, which fits over
a metal ring fixed to the bottom of the revolving lantern. In order to admit
the lamp 1, two sides of the lantern are made to open by turning on hinges
m', m'; n is a handle hinged at o to one of the sides; p is a knob attached to
the ring q, which turns within, and is steadied by the exterior case a, a. On
this ring are attached plates r, r, which when they are turned round by the
knob p, so as to be in front of the lenses, prevent any light passing from
the lantern.
When it is desired to use the lantern as a railway or locomotive signal lantern,
a disc-shaped reflector is placed in front of one of the lenses, the disc having
but a small hole through it, in order to permit the engine driver to see what
colored light is being sent through the opposite lens.
For a tidal or harbour signal, where it is only required to shew a light in
one direction, one glass of each color is removed from the lantern, and
reflectors are slid into the split tubes k, k, to replace them.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Turner Clark have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
AKIHUK T. CLARK.
(8.)