IMPROVEMENTS IN LANTERNS
Year: 1885

page_text: We, GEORGE CONRAD DRESSEL, and FREDERICK DAVIS STOREY, both of the
City and State of New York, United States of America, Machinists, do hereby
declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN LANTERNS, 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 various improvements in signal and other lanterns.
It relates firstly to mechanism for displaying lights of different color, and secondly'
to a new mode of attaching the bull's eye or lense to the lantern case.
-
In the accompanying drawing, Fig: 1, is a side view of our improved lantern.
Fig. 2, is a vertical central section of the same.
Fig. 3, a top view with the top removed, and,
Fig. 4, a detail view of the fastening wire.
The letter A represents the cylindrical body or case of a lantern, a being the top
cap, and b the base. c is the white bull's eye. Within the upper part of case A
is a cross-rod, d, having a central upright perforation, through which passes a
shaft e. This shaft which can be revolved in manner hereinafter specified, is
connected by two radial arms f, to a frame B. The frame B consists of four, more
or less, uprights g, connected at their upper and lower ends by cross-rods h, so as
to form four, more or less, frames for receiving an equal number of glass panes. Of
these panes we make one red, another green, a third blue, and the fourth white;
but different colors may be used. At the lower end, the frame B is unsupported,
and is provided with friction-rollers i, which, when the frame is revolved, travel
along the inner side of case A, and thus serve to keep the frame in proper central
position.
In order to revolve frame B, the shaft e, is provided at its upper end with an
enlargement having two shoulders jj, and having downwardly-extending triangular
lugs k, and upwardly extending lugs k¹. The points of these lugs are arranged
alternately, as shown, so that a zig-zag path is left between them. Into this path
enters oue end of a spring-lever l, pivoted to frame A, the other end of the lever
being provided with a suitable thumb-piece. m, m, are springs attached at opposite
ends to frame A, and pressing with their free ends upon lever l. When the operator
presses on thumb-piece of lever 1, the opposite end of such lever will run along one
of the inclined sides of a lug k, and thus cause the shaft e to make a short turn.
The pressure on lever being released, the springs m, will force the lever down
along one of the inclined sides of lugs k, and thus another short turn of shaft e
Price 6d1

page_text: will be effected. As many lugs k, and as many lugs k¹, should of course be employed
as there are sides in frame B.
With the construction shown, the hand pressure on lever l, will cause one-eighth
revolution of shaft e, and the spring pressure causes, also, a one-eighth revolution,
so that the entire motion will be a quarter revolution, or sufficient to bring a new
pane in line with the bull's eye.
To the base b of the lantern is rigidly attached the oil-reservoir n of the lamp.
Around base b is an upwardly-extending flange o, into which the body A sets and
to which it is locked by a bayonet-joint or otherwise.
Through the body n of the reservoir we make two tubular air-passages, p p.
extending from the top to and through the bottom of base b. This base has a
perforated downwardly-extending flange q, as shown.
In this way the air necessary for the combustion passes through the perforated
flange q, and thence through the air-passages p. The reservoir n is preferably
surrounded by a flange and thus any leakage will escape through passages p
below the base b, and will thus be prevented from soiling the clothes.
8, is a handle to be used when the lantern is to be used as a swinging signal.
It passes through two perforated lugs t tand is provided at its ends with outwardly-
turned snap-hooks u. When pulled out the hooks will engage the lugs, and the
handle is extended far above the lantern.
When the handle 8 is not 'to be used, it is pushed down, as in Fig:
arms of the handle pass through the lugs.
so that the
The ordinary handle w, should be placed directly below the thumb-piece of
lever ; but when the lantern is to be used as a post signal the handle wis
supplanted by a rod and slide.
J
A reflector x, may be used behind the burner, if desired.
We prefer to make the panes in frame B straight, and use them in connection
with the ordinary convex bull's eye c, as we have found that the best light is
obtained in this manner.
The face or front of the lantern A has a large circular opening which is
surrounded by a backwardly-extending tapering flange a*. This flange is at its
edge bx, bent inwardly to form a seat for the lense c. The lense projects forward,
within the tapering flange a* so that an annular channel is left between flange
and lense as shown in fig: 2.
d*, is a circular wire of a size to fit over the edge of the lense c and within the
flange a*. This wire has preferably disconnected ends e*, and these ends are bent
outwards, to fit into two perforations in flange a*. fx is a set screw, spring catch
or similar fastening device, attached to or passing through flange a*, and adapted
to be projected over wire dx, so as to press it against the lense.
In use, the lense c is placed upon its seat b*, and the wire is then placed over
the edge of the lense, and with its ends extending through the flange-holes.
Next the set screw f* is turned until it projects over the wire.
In this way the wire is held down at three points, and constitutes a firm locking
device for the lense. To remove the lense it is only necessary to turn the set.
screw back, and lift the wire out.
We prefer to pass the ends ex of the wire through two separate holes in
flange a as shown, in as much as by this construction, we obtain three contact
points. But if only two contact points are desired, the wire may be passed
through one hole only.
The use of the lantern is extremely simple. The frame B is revolved, by lever l
until the desired colored pane is brought between the bull's-eye and the flame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
First
The combination of case A, having bull's-eye c with the revolving
frame B, carrying straight panes of different colors, and with lamps placed on base
of case A, substantially as specified.

page_text: Second-The combination of case A with perforated cross-rod d, frame B,
suspending shaft l, and friction-rollers i, substantially as specified.
Third The combination of case A, with frame B, having arms f, uprights g,
and cross-rods h and with lever 1, substantially as specified.
Fourth-The combination of case A, shaft e, having shoulders j j¹, and lugs k k¹,
forming a zig-zag passage between them, and revolving frame B, and lever l,
substantially as specified.
Fifth The combination of case A, revolving frame B, shaft e, having
shoulders jj', and lugs k k¹, forming the zig-zag groove, lever L, and spring m,
substantially as specified.
Sixth-The combination of case A, frame B, shaft e, having shoulders jj", and
lugs kk, forming the zig-zag groove, spring m, lever l, and friction-rollers i, the
frame B being supported solely from its top, substantially as specified.
Seventh-The combination of case A, having perforated lugs t, with swinging
handle 8, having outwardly turned snap-hooks u, the handle passing through the
lugs when the snap-hooks are disengaged, substantially as specified.
Eighth-The combination of lantern A, having flange a*, with lense c, and
with the wire d*, having outwardly bent ends ex, that pass through a hole or
holes in flange a*, and with fastener f*, substantially as specified.
Ninth -The combination of lantern A, having flange a*, and seat b*, with
lense c, and wire d*, having two outwardly bent disconnected ends ex, and with
fastener fx, substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated the ninth day of ML 1005
GEORGE CONRAD DRESSEL.
FREDERICK DAVIS STOREY.