IMPROVEMENTS IN SUBMARINE ELECTRIC LANTERNS
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick William Heinke and
George Lang at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th
January 1880.
FREDERICK WILLIAM HEINKE and GEORGE LANG, both of Soho, in the County
of Middlesex, Submarine Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SUBMARINE ELECTRIC
LANTERNS."
Our Invention refers to the construction of lanterns, or cylinders, or vessels for
holding or containing electric lamps for use under water. Heretofore it has been
found difficult to make the cylinders water tight. By our Invention we have
overcome that defect, and at the same time allow for the contraction and expansion
of glass and metal.
According to our Invention we make the bottom or base of the lamp as a plate
with flange, preferably of brass, and to this plate we connect legs made of lead by
bolts passing through same secured by nuts. These legs act as weights as well as
legs for sinking the cylinder and for steadying the same when standing. Unions
are secured on to the base of the cylinder plate aforesaid for connecting the pole
from the electric generator. These unions are lined internally with vulcanite, but
which does not extend quite to the base of the union, sufficient space being there
left for the reception of a copper disc to which the wires leading to the two poles
of the lamp are connected.
The connection to the conducting wire is made by a brass union lined with
vulcanite and provided with a copper disc, as for the union on the base plate; when
these connections are brought together and tightened up the two copper discs meet,
and the electric contact is made besides a water tight joint is produced. On the
upper surface of the cylinder base plate there is an india rubber dial, and on it a
plate corresponding with the base plate, the whole being secured together by bolts
and nuts. The glass cylinder containing the lamp is placed on an india rubber
ring resting on the top plate aforesaid, there being a similar india rubber
ring with plate at the top of the cylinder, and the top and bottom rings and plates
are secured and held together by tie rods extending from end to end between the
top and bottom plates and outside the glass cylinder; provision is thus made by
means of the rings for expansion and contraction of glass based on a system of
a different coefficient of expansion and contraction; brass, glass, and india
rubber.
A swivel shackle is provided at top to sling and attach a tackle for raising and
lowering the whole apparatus or lantern.

page_text: There is a connection on the top plate of cylinder whereby the position of the
carbons in the lamp inside may be regulated, This consists of a metal rod passing
through a stuffing box on the top plate, and extending down to the ordinary thumb
screw regulator on the lamp. The lower end of this rod is provided with a socket
to fit over the regulating screw; the upper and outer end of rod has a head with
milled edge, by turning it the regulating screw inside is operated.
Lanterns or cylinders made in this manner are intended to be carried and used
in combination with a trolley carriage provided with boiler, engine, and generating
machine, so that the whole machinery may be moved about from place to place at
one and the same time, and always at hand ready for use.
By our Invention the lanterns are hermetically closed and require no supply of
air. The arc being made in partial vacuum the carbons burn longer and more
steadily than heretofore.
We prefer to use a "Brotherhood" engine for driving the generator and a
"Siemens' " lamp in the cylinder or lantern.