Improvements in and relating to Lamps or Lanterns.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Oct., 1895-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Lamps or Lanterns.
I, JOHN WILLIAM BRAGGER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing
at Watertown in the County of Jefferson in the State of New York, one of the
United States of America, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, 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 certain new and useful improvements in lamps or
lanterns, and it has particular reference to that class of lamps which are employed
upon bicycles and for signalling purposes.
The invention has for its object the provision of a lamp of the character described,
which may be cheaply constructed and which will be adapted to meet all of the
requirements of a lamp of this nature, the same being free from liability to flicker
or smoke, and not liable to be extinguished by high winds.
To these ends, and to such others as the invention may pertain, the same consists
in the peculiar construction and combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter
more fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims; reference
being had to the details of the drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a bicycle lamp constructed in
accordance with my invention, and
Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2, of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a detail view of the burner plate.
The
Referring to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the outer case of
the lantern, which is made of any suitable metal adapted for the purpose.
lower end of said case A being fitted about the circumference of the bottom B,
while its upper end is in like manner fitted into the top portion C. D is a perforated
cylinder, which may be formed integral with portion C, or may be separate, and
attached to the said portion in any suitable manner. E is a cap fitting onto the
cylinder D, said cap having an opening at its top to allow the products of
combustion to escape. O is a cap convexed in form and provided with perfora-
tions O¹ and having a bottom plate O' having a central opening O which opening
allows the heated air from the lamp to escape, and also causes a more perfect
draft, as will hereinafter appear; it also serving to protect the lamp from downward
drafts to which it might be subjected when in use.
F is an inner cylinder or tube which is held in place by securing straps F1 by
which it is attached to the outer case A, allowing a space X to intervene between
the outer and inner cases, as shown. This inner case F is also riveted or otherwise
secured to the cases or tubes holding the side lights and lense. The upper end of
this cylinder or case F is fitted into the lower end of the cap portion G, which from
its lower outer edges is curved inward as shown, thence extended upward parallel to
the vertical walls of the perforated outer cylinder D, and maintaining between the
said outer cylinder and the inner cylindrical portion G of the inner cap G a space
equal in width to the space between the inner and outer portions of the body
of the lamp.
H is the oil chamber or tank which is secured to the bottom, said lamp being
provided with the usual wick tube and means for raising and lowering the wick,
which consists of a post Q obliquely held in the oil tank, and at the lower end
of said post is a worm Q adapted to mesh with and turn the cogs of a pinion
wheel 9 journaled on a shaft carried by the wick tube. The upper end of said

page_text: post is provided with a wheel Q2, and a suitable packing is provided where the
post passes through the wall of the oil tank, so as to guard against any leakage
of oil.
There is a space left between the oil tank and the shell plate so as to
allow the air to circulate between the oil tank and plate and keep the oil cool.
R¹ is a ring perforated, and supported on the oil tank by means of the lugs r,
and from said ring extend upwardly the lugs which support the member ³
and the burner plate R held by the screws on the washers intervening between
the member and the burner plate.
The brackets S integral with a plate a' the outer casing of the lantern have
pivoted connections with the links S and S2, and are connected by means of
said links S¹ and S' and link S to the clamp member St.
Tis a curved segment, longitudinally slotted, and is pivoted at one end to
the link S and adjusted at different points by means of the thumb screw T.
A modified form of clamp is also shown in the drawings, which consists of the
threaded screw T on which is carried a hollow cylinder T whose ends are
caused to bear against the inner side of the links, pivoted together by means of the
screw T. By these provisions the lantern may be held at different angles..
U is a hood, to the upper edge of the flaring or enlarged outer end of which is
hinged the frame U within which is secured the lense u, a suitable spring actuated
latch at the lower end of the said frame serving as a means for securing the frame
in place, when the lense is in position for use, it being understood that by releasing
the catch and throwing the lense and its frame upward, access is had to the hood U
and to the interior of the lantern, for lighting the lamp, or for cleansing, or for
other purposes.
This
The locking mechanism for the lantern by which the lantern may be held to a
lantern holder of the bicycle, consists of the post 1, having a square top, and screw-
threaded nearly its entire length, and suitably mounted within the boxing.
screw-threaded post works through a screw-threaded plate 3, which carries a lug 4.
This lug 4 works in a slot 5 of the plate 6, the slot being disposed obliquely, and
to the lower end of said plate 6 is pivoted the plate 7 which is provided to contact
against and clamp the lantern holder secured to a portion of the bicycle frame. The
upper end of the plate 6 is pivoted to a pin 8 held to the walls of the boxing 2, and
holds the upper end of the plate 6 stationary, while its lower end is designed to force
the plate outward.
From the foregoing it will be seen that a lantern constructed in accordance with
my invention will admit of the tilting of the same, the lantern may be securely
locked to the frame of the bicycle by means of a key, and the regulating device for
raising the wick so constructed that a sudden jar will not affect the blaze, and
having a turning post disposed obliquely, the said post is always kept cool.
It will also be seen that a continuous current of heated air will be maintained
upward through the outlet openings at the top of the lantern, thus causing a uniform
inward current of air through the inlet perforations, the said incoming current
passing downward within the air space between the inner and the outer cases or
cylinders of the lantern, thence over the oil tank or chamber to the burner.
My invention, while especially adapted for bicycle lanterns, may also be con-
structed for use as lamps for carriages, sigual lanterns, and the like, without departing
from the spirit of my invention.
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 combination, in a lantern, an inner and an outer casing A and F,
respectively, with an intervening space X, the cap C fitted over the upper end of
said outer casing and provided with a series of apertures, a cap G fitted over the
top of said inner casing, and having an outwardly flaring portion which is connected
to the upper end of cap C, a base portion carrying a burner having a plate r³ whose

page_text: outer circumference is disposed beneath the lower edge of the said inside casing, a
slight space intervening between the two, substantially as shown and described.
2. In combination with a lantern, the brackets S, the links S³, pivoted to the
lower brackets S, the clamp S pivoted to the links S2 of the toggle links S¹ each
connected at an end to a bracket S, and the links S³ pivoted to the member S*, of
the adjustable thumb screw T2, hollow cylinder T', adapted to hold the adjacent
ends of the said links S' and S', and allow of a tilting of the said lantern, all:
substantially as shown and described.
3. In a lantern, the combination with the oil tank, of a wick holder, a shaft.
carrying a pinion wheel mounted thereon, spur wheels on said wheel shaft; of an
obliquely disposed turning post having a worm at its lower end designed to mesh
with the said pinion, and a turning wheel at its other end, substantially as shown.
and described.
4. In a lantern, the combination with the base portion, the lugs r, the perforated.
ring R' mounted on said lugs, the lugs integral with said ring, the shell supporting
plate mounted on said lugs; of the burner plate R having a widened aperture,
substantially as shown and described:
5. In combination with a bicycle lantern having the brackets S, the links S¹
and S2, S3 and clamp S of the curved segment T having an elongated slot, and a
thumb screw T' adapted to engage in said longitudinal slot, whereby the lantern.
may be held at different angles, substantially as shown and described.
6. In combination with the brackets of a lantern, the boxing 2, the screw 1,.
journaled therein, the plate 3 having a screw-threaded aperture through which said
screw works, the lug 4 on said plate; of the plate 6, pivoted on the pin 8, the
oblique slot 5 in said plate 6, and the clamping plate 7, carried by the plate 6, and
means whereby said screw may be turned, all substantially as shown and for the.
purpose set forth.
Dated this 1st day of October 1895.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.