Improvements in Cycle Lamps.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Cycle Lamps.
I, JOHN ALEXANDER STRACHEY BUCKNILL, of Hylands House, Epsom, in the
County of Surrey, Barrister-at-Law, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows;-
The object of my invention is to provide a cycle lamp which can conveniently
be inspected, and if necessary regulated, when in use by the rider without the
necessity of the latter dismounting. For this purpose I provide on the back or
in other suitable part of the lamp a window or opening which will allow the rider
to inspect the flame direct when seated on the saddle of the cycle. In order that
the flame of the lamp should only be exposed to the eye of the rider when desired
I may cover up this window by some opaque substance which can be hinged or
otherwise arranged so that it can be removed or pushed aside by the rider.
Instead of inspecting the flame directly I may inspect it through a simple system
of mirrors which can be adjusted so as to prevent the light shining continuously
in the eye of the rider.
For the purpose of regulating the flame I arrange that the regulator can be
very conveniently manipulated by the rider while in the saddle;-for example
I may connect the ordinary mechanism for adjusting the wick to a connecting
rod, or system of connecting rods, in such a way that the adjustment can be made
from a point on the lamp near to the inspecting opening; or I may carry the
adjusting system to the handle bars, from which the adjustment can then be made.
Dated this 13th day of December 1897.
JOHN A. S. BUCKNILL,
Applicant.
I, JOHN ALEXANDER STRACHEY BUCKNILL, of Hylands House, Epsom, in the
County of Surrey, Barrister-at-Law, 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide a cycle lamp which can conveniently
be inspected, and if necessary regulated, when in use by the rider without the
necessity of the latter dismounting. For this purpose I provide on the back or
in other suitable part of the lamp a window or opening which will allow the rider
to inspect the flame when seated on the saddle of the cycle.

page_text: Although it is possible to adapt this invention to many forms of lamps now in
use by cutting away from the back or other suitable part of the lamp such a
portion as may be required in order to allow the inspection to be made in the
manner indicated as above it is preferable to make a new lamp embodying the
improvements and a new lamp thus made presents a neater appearance than an
old one after alteration.
The exact position in which the opening or window in a new or an old altered
lamp is placed depends upon the form and shape of the lamp and the said opening
or window may be of any convenient shape or size so long as it fullfills the function
of allowing the rider to inspect the light conveniently from his seat without
dismounting.
This window or opening is or may be covered up by some opaque substance
which will prevent the light shining continuously in the eye of the rider and this
covering can be arranged to discover the flame to the rider by means of a simple
finger screw, spring, hinge or other suitable device whenever the rider wishes to
view the light and can when necessary be returned to its former position by a
reverse movement. I find it useful where a large reflector is used in some cases
to have the inside surface of the removable covering polished so as to allow it
when closed to form part of the reflector of the lamp. The reflector in some of
these cases may have to be cut in a crescent or some other shape to allow the sight
of the flame to reach the eye of the rider when in the saddle when the covering
is removed.
Instead of inspecting the flame direct through an opening I may do so through
a simple system of mirrors which can be adjusted on pins or otherwise to prevent
the light shining continuously in the eyes of the rider. I do not however find
this form so convenient in practise owing to the liability of the mirrors to
become clouded when the lamp is alight and from other causes.
For the purpose of regulating the flame and in order that it shall be very
easy for the rider whilst in the saddle to regulate the flame whilst examining
the lamp I connect the ordinary mechanism for adjusting the flame by suitable
mechanical means such as a pair of ratchet wheels to a connecting rod or system
of connecting rods one of which rods is carried either outside or inside the casing
of the lamp up to a point near the inspecting opening or even to the extreme top
of the lamp where it can then be worked by a simple thumb screw. I find it most
convenient to provide a spring which when the lamp is open throws the upper
adjusting apparatus out of gear with the ordinary adjusting mechanism in such
a manner that the ordinary mechanism for adjusting the flame can alone be used.
When the lamp is closed the ordinary mechanism is or may be blocked off and
the upper extra adjusting mechanism is brought into play.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood I will proceed to
describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of one form of my lamp viewed from
the side.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation partly in section of the same form of my lamp.
Fig. 3 is a view of a reflector cut in a crescent shape as mentioned in the body
of my specification. The same letters refer to the same parts shown in all the
drawings.
A is the framework of the lamp, B the opening or window, C the adjustable
covering of the said window, D is the thumbscrew for actuating the said covering,
E is the oil reservoir, F is a rod running inside the body of the lamp up to the
thumb screw G and geared at its lower end by a worm H to a star wheel I the
said star wheel being situated on the rod J (which with the thumb-screw K forms
what is the usual form of flame adjusting mechanism in lamps of cycles).
When the front of the lamp is opened the spring L which may be as shown
situated at the back of the oil reservoir E, pushes the reservoir E forward and by
so doing disengages the star wheel I from its connection with the worm H. In this
position therefore the ordinary adjusting mechanism (which is as I have before

page_text: stated composed mainly of the rod J and thumb-piece K) can alone be used the
upper or extra adjusting mechanism composed essentially of the rod F and worm H
being thrown out of gear.
When the front of the lamp is closed the star-wheel I engages with the worm H
and the upper or extra adjusting mechanism thus brought into use.
I do not of course confine myself to the exact form of lamp which I have
illustrated in the above drawings as of course there are many similar ways in which
my invention can be carried out.
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. A cycle lamp having in its back or other suitable part an aperture through
which directly or indirectly the rider can whilst in the saddle inspect the flame
of the lamp substantially as described and set forth.
2. A cycle lamp having in its back or other suitable part an aperture through
which directly or indirectly the rider can whilst in the saddle inspect the flame
of the lamp and a flame adjusting mechanism capable of being operated by the
rider whilst in the saddle substantially as described and set forth.
3. In a cycle lamp substantially as described arranging the ordinary adjusting
mechanism in relation to the extra adjusting mechanism in such a manner that
when the lamp is open the ordinary adjusting mechanism alone can be used and
when the lamp is shut the extra adjusting mechanism is put into use substantially
as described and set forth.
Dated this 10th day of August 1898.
JOHN A. S. BUCKNILL,
Applicant.