Improvements in Lanterns for Tramcars and the like Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lanterns for Tramcars and the like Vehicles.
I, FLORENZ VOGEDING, of 124, Alleestrasse, Barmen, in the Empire of Germany,
Manufacturer of Metal Wares, 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 an improvement in the construction of tramway car
lanterns, whereby, on the one hand, owing to the novel form of the lantern case,
the illuminating area of the lantern is considerably increased, and, on the other
hand, in consequence of the peculiar form of the brackets or holders, when two
lanterns are used the rays of light can be brought into effect at any desired angle
in relation to one another.
In the accompanying drawing, the invention is illustrated in different forms,
in regard to the construction of the case, and in different forms of application,
attained by the varied construction of the bracket or holder.
Fig. 1 shows in side view, a new tramway car lantern, open, with peculiarly
constructed holder by which means the lantern can be hung up on the inside of
the roof of the driver's cab in such a manner that the roadway, and a tablet
indicating the point at which the journey ends, are simultaneously lighted up.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the lantern showing the method of supporting it
and the lighting effect.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a novel tramway car lantern with the same form
of case as in Fig. 1, furnished with an arrangement for employing various signal
discs, and also for facilitating the attachment of the lantern to the roof of the
cab in a horizontal position, in such a manner that the lighting of the roadway and
the tablet before mentioned is effected.
Fig. 4 is a plan showing the manner of applying the lantern to the roof of the
cab, and the lighting effect.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the same showing part of the car and the tablet destina-
tion indicator in section.
Fig. 6 shows a tramway car lantern with the same form of case, having inside
double reflectors of dish-like shape the constructions of the bearings of which
enables the lantern to be attached to the roof of the cab in such a manner that
with but a single lantern and by means of the arrangement of the dish-shaped
reflectors, the whole of the tablet and the roadway in front of the car are lighted
up.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of part of a car with the lantern attached.
The lantern consists of a case a, in the form of an obliquely cut cylinder, the
obliquely cut surface of which is closed by means of a strongly lighting pane or
disc of glass b of any desired colour. To the opposite side of the cylinder, a
frame hinged at one side and fastened at the other by a suitable fastener e,
serves for the reception of a planoconvex lens d, which ensures the strongest
concentration of the light on the roadway. In order that it may be possible
to allow the rays of light falling on the roadway to appear in any desired colour,
a frame f is arranged between the frame c and the case a, which serves for the

page_text: reception of signal dises or plates, coloured as may be desired. The frame c can
be applied, according to requirement, in all forms of lantern construction.
If the area of the lighting effect is to be as large as possible, two reflectors g g'
are arranged inside the cylinder, as illustrated in Fig. 6, which have the form of
strongly bulging dishes, the bottoms of which are cut out; their arrangement
being such that, between the two reflectors an electric pear-shape globe is mounted,
so that its rays of light are reflected by both reflectors, at the same time, on
different sides.
For the mounting of the source or sources of light, which, in most cases, is an
electric pear-shape globe, an incision h is made in the cylinder covering a and
to this a bearing frame i is fixed, into which the pear-shape globe is screwed,
or fixed in any other suitable manner.
The construction of the carrier, or bracket, is varied according to the application
of the lantern in any particular place.
If the lantern is to be freely suspended on the inside of the roof of the cab,
two arms k k¹ with end pieces or laps for fastening, are fixed in any suitable
manner on the cylinder covering, in the broadest part, by means of which the
lantern is screwed on to the interior of the roof m of the cab, as shown in Fig. 2.
In order that, in this position also the rays of light may stream out sideways
a window r is arranged on the side of the lamp case, which is turned to the
cab.
a
If the lantern is to serve for the simultaneous lighting of the track and of
the tablet n, and be applied for this purpose to the roof of the cab, two carrying
or bearing constructions are provided. The construction illustrated in Figs. 3 to
consists of two pieces of iron o o¹, twice bent at a right angle, fixed to the cylinder
in such a manner that, when the lantern is mounted on the roof of the car, the
broadest side of the cover runs parallel with the longitudinal side of the roof of
the car, and the cut surface of the cylinder case is turned to the tablet n at an
acute angle, in such a manner that the rays of light issuing from the same strike
against the tablet, and the greatest concentration of light is directed towards the
middle; in this kind of carrier construction two lanterns are provided in front of
each tablet, as shown in Fig. 4.
If the simultaneous lighting up of the tablet and of the track is to be effected
by means of a single lantern as shown in Fig 7, two carriers or bearers ? pare
arranged on the broadest part of the cylinder cover a, in such a manner that when
the lantern is fixed on the roof of the cab, the obliquely cut surface of the
lantern turned to the tablet, appears at an acute angle to the middle of the same
and the lantern itself at an acute angle to the track.
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 tramway car lantern in the form of an obliquely cut cylinder with window
arranged on the cylinder cover for the simultaneously lighting.up of the roadway,
or track, the driver's cab, and the tablet for indicating the point at which the
journey ends, arranged on the roof of the cab, such lantern being freely sus
pended on the inside of the roof of the cab by means of two arms.
2. A tramway car lantern in the form of an obliquely cut cylinder for the
simultaneously lighting up of the roadway, or track, and of the tablet above men-
tioned, such lantern being horizontally arranged on the roof of the driver's cab
by means of two carriers or bearers, in such a manner that the broadest side of
the lantern case runs parallel with the longitudinal side of the car, and the
obliquely cut surface of the case is turned to the tablet at an acute angle, in
such a manner that the rays of light issuing from the same strike against the
tablet and the greatest concentration of the rays of light is conducted to the
middle.
3. A tramway car lantern in the form of an obliquely cut cylinder for the

page_text: simultaneously lighting up of the roadway or track, and of the above mentioned
tablet, which lantern is fixed to the middle of the roof of the driver's cab in such
a manner that the obliquely cut surface of the lantern stands at an acute angle
thereto and the lantern itself at an acute angle to the roadway or track.
4. The improved lantern for tramcars and the like vehicles substantially as
described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1898.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.