Improvements in and connected with Portable Electric Lamps and in. Primary Batteries and Lenses for Deflecting Light, to be used therewith.
Year: 1891

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as allowed by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 3rd day of February 1899.
Date of Application, 7th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th May, 1892-Accepted, 2nd July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Portable Electric Lamps
and in. Primary Batteries and Lenses for Deflecting Light,
to be used therewith.
1. FREDERICK GEORGE WILLIAM JAMES ADAMS, of Greenwich, Kent, Electrician,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of parts
of portable electric lamps and in the batteries to be used in connection there
with also in the construction of lenses for deflecting light to be used there-
with. In such batteries it is important to reduce to a minimum the number of
moveable parts which are liable to be misplaced in putting the battery together or
disturbed in its use. With this object I form the battery which may comprise any
required number of cells in one piece by stamping or pressing its substance out of
any suitable non-conducting material but preferably out of india-rubber, when
prepared for the purpose of vulcanization and before vulcanizing and in like manner 1
form by moulding in one piece the cover of suitable shape adapted to close the battery
in such a way that the contents of the cells may be prevented from escaping. The
detachable front is stamped out in a similar way fitting in grooves or channels on
back of the ridges or raised parts of the battery and by which the connections are
sealed or covered and to which lamps vases or other fittings may be attached.
For the purpose of making contact from the outside with electrodes contained in
such a battery I use an improved form of metallic plug screwed in holes passing
through the cell walls.
I11
Also use for the purposes of such a battery as I am here describing three electrodes
in each cell that is to say a negative electrode which is permanently fixed in position
and a pair of electrodes, positive and negative which are made fast by means of
suitable blocks or wedges of insulating material preferably vulcanised rubber.
the construction of these electrodes I provide at suitable points small blocks or studs
of insulating material to be carried by the electrodes for the purpose of preventing
their coming into contact with one another (and in thus giving rise to short circuit-
ing) in case of their not being accurately adjusted in their intended positions. Also
with the object of preventing short circuiting through any sediment which may
collect in the bottom of the cell I provide a raised ridge upon the bottom of the
cell which is formed in the moulding process herein before referred to and upon it the
electrodes rests.
A further improvement consists in the use of a new form of fitting adapted for
fastening the cover of the battery in position consisting of a metal strap running the
whole length of the cover and preferably ending in projecting arms; to which are

page_text: carried stamped screwed fastenings which are hooked on corresponding stamped
metallic fittings.
The form of electric lamp adapted to be used in connection with such a battery
(when fitted up as a hand lamp) is mounted and connected with the battery as
follows.
A stamped or pressed metallic base is formed with hole through the centre and
two flanged recesses on the front and a flange on the back for securing to the battery.
Into the hole through the centre a piece of suitable insulating material (preferably
vulcanic) is screwed and through this insulating piece two pieces of metal with
springs attached are screwed. At the ends of the springs are hooks for carrying an
incandescent lamp which is held in position by a stamped or pressed metal adjustable
holder which is screwed into the base itself. A stamped enamelled reflector is spun
into the larger inner flanged recess before the lamp and its holder are placed in
position and an envelope or shield of glass metal or other suitable material is screwed
cemented or otherwise affixed in the outer flanged recess.
The form of electric lamp adapted to be used in connection with such a battery
(when fitted up as a safety miner's lamp) is mounted and connected with the
battery as follows:-
I mount the electric lamp upon the ends of a short length of glass tube in any
suitable manner. 1. then introduce into the middle of the tube a metallic disc
preferably of platinum and seal it there in air tight manner. A spring of any suitable
material attached to this metallic disc the other is caused to pass round the disc
outside the glass tube and to terminate in a book or other suitable terminal at the
further end of the glass tube. I then introduce the lamp so mounted into an en-
closing envelope made wholly of glass and fix it in position by sealing the said
envelope to the glass tube. A small hole is left in the envelope and another in the
tube above the disc for a purpose to be hereinafter described. When the lamp has
been so mounted I compress air into the envelope thereby causing the metallic disc
to be depressed and to make contact with a second terminal sealed in the outer end
of the glass tube and when such contact has been established I confine the air within
the envelope by sealing up the aforesaid opening.
Instead of compressing air in the envelope I may exhaust and adjust the connec-
tions accordingly.
I further provide a lens of special form which is adapted to provide an advantageous
distribution or projection of the light through such a lamp. The lens is of a
parabolic form having preferably a flat base and being cut upon the front with
a number of facets running from the base or near it to the apex and preferably
brought to a point.
I further provide an envelope or shield with a lens as above described attached
all moulded or blown in one piece and either with or without facets as may be
found best.
s L..l.. 1001
FREDERIC PRINCE,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in and connected with Portable Electric Lamps
and in Primary Batteries and Lenses for Deflecting Light,
to be used therewith.
I, FREDERICK GEORGE WILLIAM JAMES ADAMS, of Naval College, Greenwich, Kent,
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:—
My invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
parts of portable electric lamps and in the batteries and lenses to be used there-
with. With this object I form a battery which may comprise any desired number of
cells by stamping or pressing the same in one piece out of india-rubber or other
suitable non-conducting material in a plastic condition. When using india-rubber L
use it when prepared for vulcanizing and vulcanise it when the required shape has
been given to it.
To enable my invention to be properly understood I will proceed to describe the
same with the aid of the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a single fluid battery as arranged for a portable
lamp.
Fig. 2 a plan of same on line y Fig. 1.
Fig. a sectional end view on line Fig. 2.
Fig. 4a perspective view of front of battery showing arrangement of sliding front
on which the incandescent lamp is attached.
Fig. 5a diagrammatic view of the mode of connecting the electrodes.
Fig. 6 detached perspective view of one of the plates.
Fig. 7 sectional view of an improved lamp arrangement.
Fig. Sa view of a safety lamp arrangement.
Figs. 9 and 10 side view and front view of the improved construction of lens.
A is the outside case of the battery which is internally divided into a number of
cells by partitions B around the top of casing A is a rim upon which the cover of
the battery can be fitted so as to make a good joint and to prevent the acid contents
of the cells from being spilt. The partitions Bare carried as shown up to the same
level as the outer casing A is a ridge formed in the bottom of each cell moulded in one
with the casing A upon which the plates of the battery rest. The use of this ridge
is to keep the foot of the plates from contact with any sediment that may accumulate
at the bottom of the cell. Blocks A are also moulded in the bottom of the cells as
shown in Fig. 8 to receive screws for securing a sliding front hereinafter to be
described. Upon the front of the battery there is formed an overhanging ridge
shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 by means of which a sliding front carrying the incandescent
lamp and fitting cau be attached to the front of the battery. A second part of my
invention relates to a cover D to be applied to such a battery. Such a cover is shown
in section in Figs. 1 and 3. The sides of the said cover are brought down as shown
at C to embrace the rim upon the upper surface of this rim the cover rests by its
flat surface which may be made truly flat or covered with suitable packing such
as soft india-rubber for the purpose of making an acid proof joint with the battery.
A longitudinal recess formed at B' in the said cover receives the projecting ends of
the wedges E by which the electrodes are held in position against the sides of the
contact pieces. For the purpose of securing the cover to the battery I use a metal
strap shown in Figs. 1 and of T section which runs the whole length of the cover
and projects beyond at either end for the purpose of receiving the ends of a pair of
screwed eye bolts F which hook on corresponding hooked fittings on the battery
case and which eye-bolts are tightened up and held in place by means of winged
nuts By this means the cover is held firmly down in position.
A third part of my invention relates to a sliding front G for carrying the incan-
descent lamp and fittings. The front runs in the grooves formed in the over-
hanging ridges H moulded in the front of the battery case A and is held in position
by screws. These overhanging ridges protect the upper and side edges of the
sliding front and the parts covered by it from creeping acid that is to say from
acid issuing from the battery and diffused from convection or otherwise over its
surface. A fourth part of my invention relates to the arrangement of an incandescent
lamp fittings to be used in connection with such a battery as is herein before described.
The arrangement is shown in section in Fig. 7 and in position on the front of the

page_text: battery at Fig. 3. The base is formed by stamping or pressing and may be
constructed of metal or other suitable material not necessarily non-conductive of
electricity. Into its centre is introduced a piece L of non-conductive material
preferably vulcanite which may be secured there by being screwed into position.
Through the vulcanite or other non-conductive "centre" are passed two metal
conductors to which are attached springs L for making contact with the terminal
hooks of the lamp M; a switch for furning off the current when the light is not
required may be introduced at any convenient point in the circuit. Upon the front
of the lamp fitting may be formed a recess for receiving the edge of a protective
glass cover N for the lamp and a lamp holder M' may be fixed and adjusted in
position by screwing the lamp holder into the front of the base Land then hooking
the lamp onto the springs as shown at Fig. 7. A reflector M formed by stamping
and enamelling from a metal plate having openings through which the springs Land
the lamp holder M can pass may be held within the inner flange of the flanged
recess I as shown. The conductors leading from the battery may best be connected
to the leads of the lamp fitting by soldering which must be done when the sliding
front is in position, the base L may be secured by screws or any convenient means to
this sliding front.
A fifth part of my invention relates to the method of making contact between the
electrodes contained in the cells of my battery and the external conductors. For this
I screw through the cell walls
purpose
0 or contact pieces of metal adapted to
pegs
resist the attacks of the acid used for charging the battery. The pegs or contact
pieces project within the cells so that electrical contact may be effected by causing
the electrodes to press against the sides of the said pegs as shown in Fig. 5. Such
pegs will of course he proportioned with regard to their conductive power to the
amount of current required from the battery. In a mining lamp having plates with
an active surface not exceeding ten square inches to every plate the pegs may he
formed of wire of about 16 B.W.G. and project within the cell walls to a distance of
about of an inch. To insure a good contact at these points the wedges E are pressed
home between the plates P1, P2, forcing them on either side against the pegs with
such pressure as is desirable.
The external ends of the pegs may be connected up to the external conductors in
any ordinary or suitable manner.
A sixth part of my invention relates to the form and the arrangement of the
electrodes within the cells. I use for the purpose of such a battery as I am here
describing three electrodes in each cell that is to say a negative electrode P which is
permanently fixed in position and a pair of electrodes positive and negative PP
which are made fast by means of the wedges E of insulating material preferably
vulcanised rubber. In the construction of these electrodes I provide at suitable points
small blocks or studs Q of insulating material to be carried by the electrodes for the
purpose of preventing their coming in contact with one another and thus giving rise
to short circuiting in case of their not being accurately adjusted in their intended
positions.
A seventh part of my invention relates to a form of safety lamp which may be used
with my portable battery and is especially suitable for use in coal mines or other
places liable to be invaded by explosive gas.
This arrangement of lamp is shown at Fig. 8. The lamp M is mounted upon a
Into the middle of this tube is introduced a flexible
short length of glass tube N¹.
metallic disc or diaphragm N2 formed preferably of platinum and made air tight by
sealing its edges into the glass. A light spring N connects this metal disc with one
terminal of the lamp the other terminal X is carried outside the glass holder N
and sealed through the outer glass envelope R.
This outer envelope encloses
As shown in Fig. 8. a small
the lamp and its holder to which it is scaled.
hole left in the holder N' serves to establish communication between the
and the interior of
The
the envelope R.
interior of
diaphragm N therefore serves to divide the cavity of the envelope R into two
compartments a large compartment G2 containing the lamp and its holder and a
the said holder

page_text: smaller compartment G³ containing only the leading in wire N which makes contact
with the diaphragm N2 in manner which I will now proceed to describe. A hole N7 is
left in the envelope G through which gas or air can be compressed into the large
compartment of the envelope and the end of the leading-in-wire N is adjusted to such
a position that with atmospheric pressure on both sides of the diaphragm N contact
is broken and the current will not pass. (This condition must be maintained even
with a pressure slightly in excess of atmospheric pressure that is to say equal in
or slightly exceeding that which is experienced at the lowest point in a coil mine.)
Compressed gas or air is then admitted through the hole N until the diaphragm N2
is forced down on the head of and makes contact with the leading-in-wire N"
and the hole N is then sealed off the internal pressure remaining sufficient to
maintain electrical contact until the envelope R becomes fractured by accident or
otherwise when as before mentioned the contact is broken and the current will not
pass.
(To facilitate the sealing off of the envelope under pressure I have recourse to the
following expedient. Outside the small hole N] form from the substance of the
glass envelope a fine drawn capillary tube having first introduced into the cavity of
The envelope, a small bead of wax shellac or other suitable substance. The charge of
compressed air is passed through the said capillary tube into the envelope and the
wax bead is shaken down into the hole N by the application of a gentle heat it is
caused to melt and occupy this hole after which the gas or air pressure outside the
envelope may be relieved. The internal pressure being temporarily maintained by
the waxen plug. The capillary tube may then be sealed off in the usual manner
and the envelope hermetically closed.)
An eighth part of my invention relates to a lense of special form which is adapted
to provide an advantageous distribution or deflection of the light through such a
lamp. The lens is of a parabolic form having preferably a flai base and being cut
upon the front with a number of facets running from the base or near it to the apex
and preferably brought to a point..
I further provide an envelope or shield with a lens as above described attached all
blown or moulded in one piece either with or without facets as may be
preferred.
Figs. 9 and 10 show side and front views of such forms of lens from which their
shape will be at once manifest without description.
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. A. many chambered battery substantially as herein described formed in one
piece by pressing or moulding India-rubber or other non-conductive material in a
plastic condition into a shape suitable for use with a portable electric lamp the shape
being such as to afford protection by means of overhanging ridges to the external
wires and connection also the means of making a liquid tight joint with the cover.
of holding the plates out of contact with sediment accumulated in the bottom of
the cells and of securing to the outside of the said battery by means of blocks
moulded in the bottom of the cells a detachable front carrying a lamp or lamp
fitting in the manner also herein described.
2. In combination with a battery such as is herein before described and claimed a
cover formed and attached substantially as herein described and shown with reference
to Figs. 1 and 4.
3. In combination with a sliding battery front such as G Fig. 4 the overhanging
ridges formed in the substance of the battery and adapted to protect the sliding
front and the connections covered by it from corrosion by the acid contents of the
battery.
'
4. In combination with a portable battery such as herein before described the use
of a portable lamp fitting for the lamp constructed substantially as shown and
described with reference to Fig. 7.

page_text: 5. In combination with a portable battery constructed as herein before described
the use of metal plugs or contact pieces passed through the cell walls and caused to
project within in a direction parallel to the plane of the adjacent cell plates in
manner herein before described and shown.
6. An electric safety lamp in which the circuit is completed through a flexible
metal diaphragm extending between the two compartments of an hermetically sealed
glass envelope enclosing the lamp which diaphragm is held in contact with one of
the conductors sealed through the said envelope by means of a difference of gas or
air pressure between the two compartments into which by the said diaphragm the
glass envelope is divided substantially as described with reference to Fig. S
7. In combination with a portable electric lamp of the type described a projecting
lens produced and shaped in the manner and form hereinbefore shown and described
with reference to Figs. IX. and X.
Dated this 7th day of May 1892.
FREDERIC PRINCE.
1. Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for Applicant.