Improvements in or in connection with the Optical Apparatus of Lighthouses.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or in connection with the Optical Apparatus
of Lighthouses.
I WILLIAM TREGARTHEN DOUGLASS, of 15 Victoria Street, in the County
of London, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to the revolving optical apparatus of lighthouses in which
the said apparatus is supported by a ring floating in an annular bath of mercury,
and has for its object to enable the burner or burners of such apparatus to be easily
connected to an inside or outside supply source and readily manipulated, to provide
efficient means for maintaining the axis of the revolving apparatus in a vertical
position during its rotation and to provide an alternative supporting device to be
automatically substituted for the mercurial supporting arrangement in the event of
its failure without the stoppage of the apparatus.
In one arrangement of apparatus constructed according to this invention the
burner or lamp, instead of being rigidly secured to and rotating with the optical
apparatus, as is usual, is mounted upon a fixed central supporting pedestal which
permits of it being rigidly connected in any suitable manner to a stationary
electric, gas or oil reservoir or other source of supply situated inside or outside the
apparatus.
In order to facilitate the manipulation of the burners or lamps a platform or
platforms is or are provided fixed, preferably, inside, and independent of, the
revolving apparatus in any suitable manner.
The framework connecting the optical apparatus to the supporting float
surrounds the beforementioned central pedestal and is rotatably connected thereto,
preferably, by suitable ball or roller bearing devices which maintain the axis of the
rotating apparatus vertical and support it in the event of the failure of the mercurial
supporting device.
Dated this 27th day of February 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in or in connection with the Optical Apparatus
of Lighthouses.
I WILLIAM TREGARTHEN DOUGLASS, of 15 Victoria Street, Westminster,
in the County of London, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the revolving optical apparatus of lighthouses in which
the said apparatus is supported by a ring floating in an annular bath of mercury,
and has for its object to enable the burner or burners of such apparatus to be easily
connected to an inside or outside supply source and readily manipulated, to provide

page_text: efficient means for maintaining the axis of the revolving apparatus in a vertical
position during its rotation, and to provide an alternative supporting device to be
automatically substituted for the mercurial supporting arrangement in the event of
its failure without the stoppage of the apparatus.
The accompanying drawing represents in vertical section an apparatus constructed
according to this invention.
On a fixed entablature a is mounted a fixed hollow pillar b surmounted by a table c
ou which is mounted the burner d. The oil supply is conveyed from any outside
source to the burner d by a pipe e, while the surplus oil overflowing at the burner
is conveyed back by the drain pipe f. On the entablature a is mounted an annular
bath of mercury g in which floats a hollow ring supporting, by means of the
struts i, the table 7 on which the optical apparatus m is fixed.
The axis of the revolving apparatus is maintained vertical by a hored table
fitting the upper part of the pillar b and by a ball bearing a between the lower part
of the revolving apparatus and entablature a.
In the event of the supporting float h becoming inoperative from any cause, such
as leakage of the mercury, the revolving apparatus is supported on a ball bearing o
on the pillar b.
P
The optical apparatus is rotated by means of an internal toothed wheel gearing
with a pinion mounted on a shaft s connected through bevel gearing and shaft
with any outside source of power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In the revolving optical apparatus of lighthouses, supporting the burner
separately from the revolving parts, substantially as described and for the purpose
set forth.
2. In the revolving optical apparatus of lighthouses, the combination with
a supporting float of a fixed burner and hollow supporting pillar, substantially
as described.
3. In the revolving optical apparatus of lighthouses, the combination with a
supporting float of an alternative ball bearing support and guide, substantially
as described.
4. The combination of parts constituting my improvements in or in connection
with the optical apparatus of lighthouses, the whole arranged, constructed and
operating, substantially as described with reference to the drawing hereunto
annexed.
Dated this 27th day of November 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.