Improvements in and Apparatus for Producing a Flash-light, applicable for Photographic and other Purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1st July, 1896-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
[Communicated from abroad by EUGEN HACKH, of Stuttgart, in the Kingdom of
Württemberg, Photographer.]
Improvements in and Apparatus for Producing a Flash-light,
applicable for Photographic and other Purposes.
I, THEODORE LANGGAARD, of 176, Tulse Hill, London in the County of Surrey
do hereby declare the nature of this invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent to be as follows:-
The invention which forms the subject of my present application for
Letters Patent is devised to obtain in an expeditious, safe and reliable manner, a
brilliant flash-light of sufficient duration for photographic purposes, or for other
uses in which such an illumination is required. The light is moreover produced
in such a manner that it can be thrown in any desired direction and at any required
angle. Means are also provided for efficiently collecting and absorbing the
products of combustion so as to leave the air of the studio uncontaminated.
The apparatus of my invention consists essentially of the following main
parts.
1. A closed chamber, of adequate strength and suitable material provided with
a curved or straight channel, or passage, within which the light generating
material is ignited.
2. A system of reflectors so arranged that the light issuing from the channel
aforesaid is thereby collected and reflected in any desired direction.
3. An apparatus preferably in the form of a bellows so arranged as to inhale the
smoke and combustion products generated, and to pass them through a set of
chambers in a receptacle provided with filtering or absorbing media which retain
the obnoxious combustion products and perinit the purified air to pass out into the
studio.
4. An electric device for igniting the light generating material, preferably
combined with a bell signal apparatus which is set ringing on the passage of the
current and continues ringing until the circuit is broken by the operator.
The closed chamber or magazine may be made in various forms according as the
light is required upwards, downwards, or in any other direction, the light channel
being shaped to correspond. It contains a receptacle for the light generating
material, and terminals for the electric igniting apparatus if the ignition is effected
by an electric spark or preferably a thin connecting wire of platinum or other
suitable material is stretched between the terminals, so that the passage of the
current raises it to incandescence, and ignites the charge.
The shape of the resulting flame as well as its direction is capable of regulation
by the construction of the light channel and its orifice. For the purpose of
conducting the flame on its further course and preserving its form a light channel
of special shape is arranged to connect to the channel of the magazine. In order
the more effectually to keep the flame together the said channel is covered by a
wire netting over which two or more curved bars are fixed to guide the blind
which serves to close the light channel automatically immediately after the flash.
The products of combustion are thus retained in the light channel and are
From the
immediately inhaled through an automatic valve into the bellows.
bellows the fumes are driven through another valve into a box or receptacle
preferably formning the bottom of the bellows. This box is divided into chambers

page_text: by wire gratings or other suitable means, the middle chamber of which is preferably
filled with a suitable filtering material such for instance as cotton wool. Here the
solid products of combustion are retained allowing the purified air to escape back
into the studio. Means are provided whereby the light channel and reflectors
can be revolved or turned about or inclined backwards or forwards as required.
The requisite adjustment with the bellows is effected by a small intermediate
bellows also arranged so as to act automatically. The operation of the device is
as follows:
The requisite quantity of the light giving material having been placed in the
receptacle within the magazine the apparatus is then adjusted to the position
required to give the requisite illumination. The material is then ignited by means
of the electrical apparatus and the flash immediately follows. The rest of the
operation effects itself automatically.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1895.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
31, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.
CUMT LEIE DIMCIFICATION.
Improvements in and Apparatus for Producing a Flash-light,
applicable for Photographic and other Purposes.
I, THEODORE LANGGAARD, of 176, Tulse Hill, London, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The invention which forms the subject of my present application for Letters
Patent is devised to obtain in an expeditious, safe and reliable manner, a brilliant
flash-light suitable for photographic or other purposes. The light is moreover
produced in such a manner that it can be thrown in any desired direction and at
any required angle. Means are also provided for efficiently collecting and
absorbing the products of combustion so as to leave the air of the studio
uncontaminated.
The apparatus consists essentially of the following main parts.
1. A chamber, of adequate strength and suitable material provided with a curved
or straight channel, or passage, within which the light generating material is
ignited.
2. A system of reflectors so arranged that the light issuing from the channel
aforesaid is thereby collected and reflected in any desired direction.
3. An apparatus preferably in the form of a bellows so arranged as to inhale
the smoke and combustion products generated, and to pass them through a set of
chambers in a receptacle provided with filtering or absorbing media which retain
the obnoxious combustion products and permit the purified air to pass out into the
studio.
4. An electric device for igniting the light generating material, preferably
combined with a bell signal apparatus which is set ringing on the passage of the
current and continues ringing until the circuit is broken by the operator.
The chamber or magazine may be made in various forms according as the
light is required upwards, downwards, or in any other direction, the light channel
being shaped to correspond. It contains a receptacle for the light generating
material, to which terminals for the electric igniting apparatus, are attached. The
ignition is affected by an electric spark, or preferably a thin connecting wire of
platinum or other suitable material is stretched between the terminals of the touch
block so that the passage of the current raises it to incandescence, and ignites the
charge.

page_text: The shape of the resulting flame as well as its direction is capable of regulation
by the construction of the chamber or magazine, its orifice and of the light
channel. For the purpose of conducting the flame on its farther course and
preserving its form a light channel of special shape is arranged to connect to the
channel of the magazine. In order the more effectually to keep the flame together,
the said channel is covered by a wire netting, over which two or more curved bars
are fixed to guide the blind which serves to close the light channel automatically
immediately after the flash. The products of combustion are thus retained in the
light channel and are immediately inhaled through an automatic valve into the
bellows. From the bellows the fumes are driven through another valve into a box
or receptacle preferably forming the bottom of the bellows. This box is divided
into chambers by wire gratings or other suitable means the middle chamber of
which is preferably filled with a suitable filtering material such for instance as
cotton wool. Here the solid products of combustion are retained allowing the
purified air to escape back into the studio. Means are provided whereby the
light chaunel can be revolved or turned about or inclined backwards or forwards as
required. The requisite adjustment with the bellows is effected with a small
intermediate bellows also arranged so as to act automatically.
In order to more clearly explain the invention I will now refer to the
accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of the ignition chamber with upward
channel.
Figure 2 a modification of Figure 1, with downward channel.
Figure 3 plan view of the foregoing, shewing position and shape of the orifice
of the channel.
Figure 4 sectional elevation of a modification of the ignition chamber with
downwards directed channel and semi circular orifice.
Figure 5 the same as Figure 4 but with channel directed upwards.
Figure 6 plan view of Figures 4 and 5 shewing the position and shape of the
orifice of the chanuel.
Figure 2 shews a section, and
Figure 2B a front elevation of the apparatus complete, provided with ignition
chamber with downward rectangular orifice.
Figure 5 shews a section, and
Figure 5B a front elevation of an apparatus provided with an ignition chamber
with upward orifice and semi-circular orifice.
It is obvious that these combinations are illustrated by way of example and that
the position of the ignition chamber may be varied as found desirable, and the
shape and direction of its orifice be adapted accordingly.
In these drawings, a indicates the ignition chamber, b the drawer or magazine
arranged to slide into a, a¹ the hollow space in the chamber a and b the hollow
space in the magazine b; d represents the chamber channel, e the base plate, c the
touch block, terminals of electric circuit, g g connecting screws.
The light
channel of the reflector is preferably protected by the netting ≈ and bars i
guiding the blind k. The light producing mechanism and reflector are by a ring t
secured to a plate s hinged at to the main support g. The self acting valve
leads from the light channel f through connecting bellows n to the aspirator m
provided with self acting valve o into chamber w, thence into chamber & and and
to exit orifice r. The dotted line u (Figures 2 and 5B) denotes the arc in which
the apparatus can move.
Throughout the drawings the same letters indicate like parts.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The touch block having being inserted into the cavity b¹ of the drawer b,
between the 2 terminals c¹, the illuminant is placed into the cavity 61 and the
drawer pushed into place in the chamber a, the reflector is adjusted as
required and an electric current passed through wires connected to the screws g g
which when the drawer b is in place grip the terminals c c'. The touch block c is

page_text: preferably a square block of wood containing embedded in its two sides two
separate wires of soft metal, which are gripped by the terminals c¹ c' as soon as
the touch block c is inserted in the hole provided for it in slide b. On passing of
current, the wires in the touch block will ignite the charge by an electric spark, or
if the said wires are connected by a thin platinum or other suitable wire, ignition
takes place by the incandescence thereof.
The electric current may be derived from an induction coil or other suitable
source.
When ignition takes place, the flame passes through the channel d into channel f
of the reflector. The arrangement shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 24, 2B, affords a long
narrow flame whilst that shewn in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 5A 5B gives a broad shell
like flame. As already stated the position of the chamber and its orifice may be
arranged to give a flame downwards or upwards as desired, whilst its length
and form depend upon the formation of the opening d and the amount of the
charge.
The light channel further guides and protects the flame, by aid of the wire
netting z. The curved bars i serve to guide the blind k which automatically closes
the light channel as soon as the flame as expired, by means of an arrangement of
springs levers and a wheel placed above the bellows, and held in check by a thread
saturated with chlorate or nitrate of potash or the like and dried which will ignite
at the flash and burn through releasing the closing device. The products of
combustion are consequently retained in the light channel and pass through the
inlet valve which opens by the aspiration of the bellows or aspirator m which acts
automatically; a small bellows n connects m with 1. The fumes on the closing of
the aspirator are driven through valve o in chambers & y separated by wire
gauze partitions. The middle chamber x is filled with a filtering medium such
as cotton wool or other suitable material. Here the oxides etc., are retained whilst
the purified gases pass out through the orifice r.
The light channel and appurtenances are arranged to swing on the ring t
attached to plate s in the curve indicated by the dotted lines u (Figures 2B 5B)
and can be moved backward or forward on the hinge v fixed to the upright q,
which holds the bellows.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In flash-light apparatus applicable for photographic or other purposes, the
arched chamber a with magazine 6 and outlet d in combination with means for
electrically igniting the charge of illuminant substantially as described.
2. In flash light apparatus applicable for photographic or other purposes the
light channel with reflectors and automatic curtain for the purpose of
regulating & directing the light, and retaining the combustion products.
3. In Hash-light apparatus applicable for photographic or other purposes, the
means for electrically igniting the illuminant, consisting of connecting screws
connected to a source of electricity, terminals c¹ and touch block e, provided
with two embedded wires for effecting ignition by sparking, or connected by a thin
wire for ignition by incandescence and preferably combined with an electric bell
circuit in series with the igniting mechanism substantially as described.
4. In flash-light apparatus applicable for photographic or other purposes the
provision of means for collecting and absorbing smoke or fumes consisting
essentially of a collecting channel an inlet with valve, a flexible connecting tube
or bellows, an aspirator and filtering chambers leading to an exit orifice
substantially as described.
5. In flash-light apparatus applicable for photographic or other purposes, the
device for double adjustment consisting essentially of a central ring around the
smoke exit and turning in the block plate which plate is hinged to the upright
support substantially as described.

page_text: 6. The combination of parts forming the improved flash light apparatus
substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 1st day of July 1896.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322 High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant...