Improvements in and relating to Portable Electric Lamps.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1897-Accepted, 19th Feb., 1898
Improvements in and relating to Portable Electric Lamps.
I, WILLIAM MILLS, of 19, Sayre Street, in the City of Elizabeth, in the County of
Union, and State of New Jersey, U.S.A., Manufacturer, 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:
-
My invention refers to improvements in and relating to portable electric lamps
and has for its object the construction, more particularly for bicycles and the like
of a cheap compact and durable electric battery and a construction of lamp therefor,
and it consists in the construction and combination of parts forming the lamp and
its battery hereinafter described and further pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings forming part of this specification Figure 1 is a plan view of the
combined battery and head light or lamp embodying the various features of improve-
ment hereinafter set forth, and Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same. Figure 3
is a plan view of one of the battery cells detached, and Figure 4 is a sectional
elevation of the same on the line 4-4, Fig. 3; Figure 5 is a transverse section on
the line 5-5 Fig. 6, and Fig. 6 is a side view and sectional elevation on the line 6, 6,
Figure 1;
Figure 7, is an enlarged plan view of the switch connection with the electric
light;
Figure 8, is a sectional elevation of a modified form of reflector and bulb con-
nection, and switch; and
Figure 9, is an enlarged sectional elevation of the above.
Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several
views.
I shall first describe my improvements in the electric battery for which purpose
a description of one of the cells will suffice.
The main feature of improvement in this regard consists in providing a reser-
voir for the cell, which reservoir is adapted to contain an exciting fluid, and means
for allowing the fluid to pass into the cell, from the reservoir, and checking or
regulating the flow thereof.
At 1 in the drawings is a cell, preferably cylindrical in form and of a non-con-
ducting material such as hard rubber, or the like, the cell being formed preferably
of one piece of material in any desired way. At 2 are circumferential ribs forming
an annular recess 3 about centrally of the cell. The lower portion of the cell, as
at 4 is reinforced for ornamentation and strength, and at 5 is the bottom. The
upper portion of the cell is provided with an interior screw thread 6 into. which is
screwed a cap 7 shouldered at 8 to rest upon the top of the cell, the inside of the
cap being provided with another shoulder 9 upon which a screw. thread 10
is formed to engage the interior screw thread 6. The cap 7 is pro-
vided on the interior with a depending lug 11 having preferably a disc-

page_text: like bottom 12, and àt 13 a central aperture or channel, within which cup, bottom
and cap is formed a reservoir 14.
Through one of the shoulders 9 of the cap passes a channel 15, which opens into
the bottom of the shoulder and communicates with the interior of the cell, the
cap 7 between its top and the end of the channel 15 being provided with an enlarged
opening 16 in which is located a porous sealing compound of any desired material
preferably a mixture of carbon and peroxide of manganese, which will allow of the
gases from the cell passing through the channel and through the lug 17, and prevent
undue evaporation.
The reservoir 14 opens out of the top of the cap, the upper portion of which is
provided with an interior screw thread 18 into which is screwed a disc-like
stopper 19, provided with a thumb piece 20 on its exterior, and inside with a
depending lug 21, the bottom of which is rounded as at 22, and which is adapted to
seat itself upon a seat formed in the bottom 12 over the channel 13, so that by
moving the plug 19 up or down by means of the screw threads on the disc and cap
the plug will be moved to or from the seat over the channel 13 to allow the con-
tents of the reservoir 14 to pass therefrom into the cell.
At 23 is a channel formed in the disc 19, above which is located a plug 24 of
porous material allowing of the escape of gases from the reservoir without undue
evaporation as at 17.
At 25 is the carbon element of the battery, preferably much shorter than the
length of the cell, and its top lying some distance below the bottom 12 of the cap 7.
The carbon element is of less diameter than the interior of the cell, and is her-
metically secured to the bottom 5 of the cell by a layer of adhesive and non-corrosive
material 26 which is poured into the bottom of the cell, and the carbon set down
thereon to firmly affix it to the bottom 5 of the cell. The carbon element is cylind-
rical, and its interior is provided with a series of longitudinal corrugations 27
increasing the surface of the carbon. The lower portion of the carbon is provided
with a lug 28 formed integrally with the body of the carbon element, which lug
passes through an opening formed in the bottom 5 of the cell, the lug affording
means for connecting an exterior wire to the carbon element, the joints being sealed
by the material 26 as before described.
The bottom 5 of the cell is provided with a centrally and upwardly extending
integral lug 29, centrally apertured to allow of the passage of a conducting screw 30,
and on the top of this stud is seated the zinc electrode 31 the lower portion of which
is provided with an interiorly threaded channel to engage the thread on the screw 30,
and by means of which latter screw the zinc is held down upon the lug 29, a rubber
or other non-corrosive gasket 32 being interposed between the bottom of the zinc
rod and the top of the lug 29 to prevent corrosion of the screw 30 and seal the
connection of those parts, the screw 30 being provided with an enlarged head 33
which forms a suitable binding post.
The necessary parts for an electric battery are thus compactly formed and
united, producing a light, cheap, and durable structure, the zinc rod being readily
removable to replace it with a new zinc by merely unscrewing it from the screw 30.
So far as my particular improvements are concerned they are not directed.to
the particular exciting fluid employed which may be of the single or compound
class. In either case the fluid is initially placed within the cell on the outside and
inside of the carbon, and a sufficient supply of fluid is placed in the reservoir 14
to supply the cell when the exciting fluid therein has been worked out, or the fluid
from the reservoir may be resorted to in time to prevent the working out of the
fluid originally placed in the cell, and thus continue the action of the battery for a
considerable length of time over and above the active life of the fluid originally
placed in the cell.
At 34 is an aperture formed in the flanges of the plug 19, which aperture receives
a cork 35, the aperture leading into the reservoir 14. When it is.desired to charge
the reservoir, it can be done whether the cap 7 is screwed into the cell or not, it
being only neccessary to screw the plug 19 down far enough. to bring the end or

page_text: ball 22 of the plug 21 on the seat of the channel 13 to close the exit from the
reservoir, the cork 35 is then removed, and the fluid is then poured into the reser-
voir and the cork replaced. To free the fluid from the reservoir it is only necessary
to unscrew the disc to lift the plug 21 away from the channel 13, which will allow
the contained fluid to pass through the channel 13 into the cell in the desired
volume.
To construct my headlight, which forms the second portion of my invention, it
is apparent that I need not employ the specific construction of battery heretofore
described. But I prefer the method of carrying out both branches of my invention,
as disclosed herein, which consists in tying together two of the cells, connecting them
together, and interposing a light-bulb in the circuit and providing a switch for
regulating the currents as desired.
The means for connecting the two cells together are furthermore provided with
means for supporting them upon a lamp bracket secured to a bicycle, or any other
desired place, such bracket being of the usual or desired construction, and to which
I make no claim.
At 36 is a strip of metal encircling the outside of the paired cells and lying
within the annular recess 3 and between the exterior ribs 2, the ends 37, Figure 1,
overlapping or being otherwise suitably joined together to tightly bind the cells
together.
At 38 is an interposed block of hard rubber, or the like, in separate parts 39,
see Fig. 2, and 40 see Fig. 6, and wedge shaped to conform to the configuration of
the space between the two cells.
At 41 is the usual bracket or sleeve provided with the set screw 42 at one end
and an interior rubber bushing 43, by means of which the cells can be supported
upon a bracket in the usual manner." At 44 are screws, the heads 45 impinging
against the inner vertical side of the sleeve, the other ends being screw threaded and
passing into screw threaded apertures in the rear piece 40 of the block 38, thereby
firmly tying the two cells together, and providing means for supporting the light-
bulb, reflector, switch binding posts, etc. and insulating them from each other, as
will now be described.
At 46, Figure 6, is a plate secured to the front portion 39 of the block 38, of con-
ducting material and provided with an annular projection or socket 47 extending
through an aperture in the front block 39, and having a screw thread on its exterior
and interior, the interior screw thread receiving the screw threaded sleeve 48 of an
electric light bulb 49, the exterior of the projection receiving the interiorly
threaded sleeve 50 of a reflector 51, within which lies the electric light-bulb.
At 52 is a screw which extends through the parts 39 and 40 of the block 38, the
front portion being provided with a head 53, the rear with a binding nut 54, the
screw and the nut 54 forming a binding post for a conducting wire 55 and binding
the two parts of the block together at this point.
The upper portion of the plate 46 is soldered or otherwise electrically connected
with the screw 52 so as to put the socket 47 in electrical connection with the con-
ducting wire 55. This wire leads to a binding post. 56 formed by a conducting
screw with an enlarged head inserted in the depending lug 28 of the carbon
element 25.
At 57 is a screw passing through the sections 39 and 40 of the block 38, one end
of 'which is screw threaded and the other end of which is provided
with an enlarged head 58 by means of which the lower portion of the
sections 39 and 40 are tied together. The screw 57 further provides means
for supporting a switch 59 which is pivoted midway of its length on the screw 57
in a recess in the block section 40, that point of the switch being provided with a
hub 60 to which the end of a conducting wire 61 is secured, the other end of the
wire passing to the screw 30 which connects with the zinc electrode 31, which screw
forms with its head 33 a binding post, thereby putting the switch 59 in electrical
connection with the zinc electrode of either of the cells.

page_text: As will have been observed, the cells are coupled together, and for this purpose
the wire 55 connects the carbon electrode of one. cell, and the wire 61 the zinc
electrode of the other cell, another wire 62 connecting the zinc and carbon electrodes
of the respective cells and forming a complete circuit, only interrupted by the
switch.
Of course it is to be understood that if but a single cell is to be used, the
wires 55, 61 would run respectively from the carbon and zinc electrodes of that
particular cell.
At 63 is a U-shaped spring, held within the aperture formed between the
blocks 39. and 40 in which the switch moves, by a screw 64, the outer end 65 of the
spring being in direct line with the end of the bulb sleeve 48 and the screw 64 is
provided with a head 66 which lies between both ends of the spring 63, the upper
end 67 of the switch 59 being provided with a knife edge or triangular portion 68
adapted to be moved between the end 65 of the spring 63 and the head 66 of the
screw 64 so as to force the end 65 of the spring against the bulb sleeve 48 to make
connection between the plate 46 and wire 61, which establishes a complete circuit,
the lamp being cut out of the circuit by simply moving the triangular head 63
away from the spring end 65, allowing the latter to move out of contact with the
sleeve 48.
Instead, however, of employing the reflector and bulb connection and switch
heretofore recited, I can employ that illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, in which the
reflector is made to carry the bulb, the socket end of the reflector being adapted to
move in and out so as to be brought into and out of contact with a stationary pin in
electrical contact with the wire 61, thereby forming a switch, the socket end of the
reflector being in electrical connection with the wire 55 through a plate connected
with the receiving socket for the reflector end.
Referring to Figures 8 and 9, at 46 is the plate secured between the two parts 39,
40 of the block 38 by the screws 52, 57 which hold the parts together, the upper
portion of the plate being secured to the screw 52 and in electrical contact therewith,
the lower portion of the plate being secured to the front part by the screw 57". The
plate 46 has an outwardly extending integral socket 69 interiorly screw threaded
and adapted to receive a threaded annulus or ring 70 formed on the inner end 71
of the reflector 51, the reflector thereby being capable of a longitudinal movement
in and out of the socket.
At 49 is an electric light bulb formed in the usual way, it having an exteriorly
threaded collar or sleeve 48 and a stud 72 secured in one end of the collar and
extending therefrom and embedded in plaster 73 in the usual way. One of the
leading wires 74 is put in electrical contact with the stud 72 and the other 75 in
electrical contact with the sleeve 48.
a
Secured to the inner side of the hub 71 of the reflector is an annulus 76 having
thread formed thereon corresponding with that formed on the sleeve
of the bulb, both threads running in the same direction. The bulb
is screwed tight into the end or hub of the reflector so that it will
partake of the movements of the reflector in and out.
The bulb is by the foregoing means, placed in electrical contact with the wire 55.
At 77 is a conducting stud or screw secured in part 40 of the block 38 and in
electrical contact with the wire 61, the stud being located in line with the stud 72
of the electric light bulb, both of the studs extending into the recess 78 formed
between the two parts 39, 40.
By this mechanism I dispense entirely with an independent switching device,
and make or break the current through the manipulation of the reflector from the
exterior of the head-light, thus obviating the necessity of employing a number of
additional parts for this purpose, and cheapening the construction of the head light
and reducing its weight, which, when the light is employed on a bicycle, is a
desirable result to be obtained.

page_text: 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. In an electric lamp battery, the combination with a receiving cell, electrodes
within the cell, of a reservoir for exciting fluid secured to said cell over said
elements, substantially as described.
2. In an electric lamp battery, the combination with an electric lamp battery,
with a receiving cell, electrodes within said cell, a reservoir suspended over said
elements and secured to said cell, and a valve for regulating the egress of liquid
from said reservoir into the cell, substantially as described.
3. The combination in an electric lamp battery, of a receiving cell, electrodes
within the cell, a cap supported on the top of said cell and forming a cover therefor,
a reservoir formed in said cap and a valve interposed between said cell and said
reservoir over said electrodes, substantially as described.
4. The combination in an electric lamp battery, of the cell and the annular carbon
electrode secured to the bottom of said cell, a zinc rod extending upwardly from
the bottom of said cell within the carbon electrode, a cap forming a cover for the
top of said cell, a reservoir within said cap, an opening in the bottom of the cap
in line with the space within the carbon electrode, and a valve in said cap for
closing said opening, substantially as described.
5. In an electric lamp battery, the combination with a cell, of the screw cap
having a hollow depending cup, an opening in the bottom of said cup leading into
the cell, and a valve movable in said cap having a projection exterior to said cap,
and a depending plug engaging said opening, and electrodes in said cell, substan-
tially as described.
6. In an electric lamp battery, the combination with a cell, and electrodes within
the cell, of the cap secured to the top of said cell and having a hollow depending
cup a disc movable within the hollow of said cup and provided with a depending
lug, an opening in the bottom of said cup in line with end of said plug, and an
operating handle on the exterior of said disc, substantially as described.
7. In an electric lamp battery, the combination with the cell 1, of the circular
cap 7 having a depending cup 11, a circular recess formed in the cap and in the cup
a circular disc 19 provided with an exterior screw thread engaging a screw thread
formed on the cap 7, an opening 13 formed in the bottom 12 of the lug 11, a plug 21
depending from the disc 19 in line with said opening, and a finger piece 20
formed exterior of said dise, substantially as described.
8. In an electric lamp battery the combination with the cell 1, the 7 attach-
cap
able to said cell, a channel extending from the cell through the cap, and a body of
porous and mouldable material located in said channel on the exterior of said cap,
substantially as described.
9. In an electric lamp battery, the combination with the cell 1, the cap 7 having
a chambered depending portion, a disc 19 movable in the chamber, a channel 23
extending from the chamber through the disc, and a body of porous mouldable
material inserted in the disc in line with said channel, substantially as described.
10. In an electric lamp battery, the combination with the cell, the annular carbon
electrode having a depending lug 28, an aperture formed in the bottom of said
cell through which said lug passes, a conducting binding screw on saïd lug, and
means for securing the carbon to the bottom of the cell and packing the joint
between the lug and cell, substantially as described.
11. In an electric lamp battery, the combination with the cell, the bottom 5, the
zinc rod 31 within the cell, a conducting screw 30 passing through the bottom of the
said cell and into said zinc rod, and a non-corrosive gasket inserted between the
bottom of the cell and said zine rod and surrounding said screw, said screw having
an enlarged exterior head, substantially as described.
12. In an electric lamp battery, the combination with the cell 1 and bottom 5,
a lug 29 extending centrally and upwardly from the bottom of said cell, a screw 30
having an enlarged exterior head 33 passing through said lug, a non-corrosive

page_text: gasket 32 on said lug, and a zinc rod secured upon said gasket by the screw 30,
substantially as described.
13. In a portable electric lamp and battery, the combination of the two cells, a
strap encircling both cells, an insulating block located between said cells an attach-
ing sleeve to the rear of said cells, screws extending between said strap at the rear
to the block in the front, an electric light-bulb secured to said block, electrodes
in said cells, wires leading from the electrodes to said bulb, and a switch interposed
between said bulb and cells, substantially as described.
14. In an electric lamp battery, the combination with the paired cells, of the
strap 36 encircling the cells the block 38 interposed between the two cells and in
front of the strap 36, and screws 44 extending between the rear of the strap 36
and passing into said block for binding the cells together, substantially as described.
15. In a portable electric lamp and battery, the combination with the block 38,
the plate 46 having an outwardly extending socket 47, an electric light bulb received
in said socket, the screw 52 and wire 55 connected with the screw 52, the screw 52
being electrically connected with said plate 46, the wire 61, the switch 59 electrically
connected with the said wire 61, means for connecting the sleeve 48 of the bulb 49
with said switch, and an electric generator in connection with said wires, substan-
tially as described.
16. In a portable electrical lamp, the combination with the battery cell, the
block 38, the socket 47 interiorly screw threaded, an electric light bulb having a
threaded sleeve movable in said socket, a switch 59, a U-shaped spring plate secured
to said block at the rear of said sleeve, and enlargement on the end of the switch
for moving said spring into contact with said sleeve, and wires leading from said
socket and switch to said battery cell, substantially as described.
17. The combination in a portable electrical lamp, of a battery cell, with the
block 38, a socket 47 projecting therefrom and provided with internal and external
screw threads, the light bulb having a metallic and threaded sleeve 48 engaging
the interior screw thread of said socket, a reflector 51. having an internal screw
threaded hub 50 engaging the external thread on said socket, and means for
electrically connecting said socket with said cell and regulating the current there-
from, substantially as described.
18. In a portable and self-contained electrical lamp, the combination of a battery
and a circuit, a reflector and a light bulb carried by said reflector and movable
therewith, a support for the reflector in which it is movable, a connection with said
electrical battery and said reflector, and a contact point adapted to be contacted
by said light bulb to open or close the circuit, substantially as described.
19. In a portable electric lamp and battery, the combination with a reflector and
the contained electric light bulb, both movable in the direction of their lengths,
of a battery, and a support for said reflector, one end of the circuit leading from
said electrical battery ending in the support, the other end terminating in a
contact point located in the line of movement, of said bulb, substantially as
described.
20. In a portable electric lamp and battery, the combination with the block 40,
the stud 77 in said block, the plate 46 having the interiorly threaded socket 69, the
reflector 51 having an interior thread at its end engaging the thread in the socket,
the electric light bulb movably secured within said reflector, and a contact point
on the end of the bulb in line with the said stud substantially as described.
21. In a portable electric lamp and battery, the combination with the socket. 69,
the reflector 51 longitudinally movable in the socket, the electric light bulb 49
longitudinally movable in said reflector and adapted to be carried with it, and the
stud 72 projecting from the end of said bulb substantially as described.
22. In a portable electric lamp and battery, the combination with a source of
electrical energy, a circuit leading therefrom terminating in two stationary points,
a reflector, and an electric light bulb within said reflector, one terminal of said
circuit supporting said reflector and bulb and allowing of their longitudinal

page_text: movement therein, the other terminal of said circuit contacting with said bulb to
complete the circuit through the bulb and reflector, substantially as described.
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
60, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.
Chartered Patent Agents.