IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS' ANCHOR OR RIDING LIGHTS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM HARVIE of No. 222 Broomielaw, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Lamp Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS' ANCHOR OR RIDING LIGHTS and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My Invention relates to certain improvements in that class of lights which are
suspended on a ship to indicate in the dark that a ship is riding at anchor and
which lights are commonly known as "Riding Lights" or "Anchor Lights."
In order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect, the drawings hereunto annexed will now be described.
Figures 1 and 2 (sheet 1) are respectively a frout and a back elevation of a
Lanthorn constructed according to and constituting a part of my present Invention.
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a plan of the upper side and a plan of the under
side of the same,
Figure 5, (sheet 2) is a vertical section of the same representing the lamp therein
contained, one half in elevation and one half in section."
Figure 6, is a horizontal section of the same taken on the line A. B. Figure 5.
Figure 7, is a plan of the under-side of the Lanthorn having the lamp therein.
Figure S, is in part a section and in part an elevation of a detached upper
portion of the Lanthorn shewing the air inlets thereinto.
Figure 9, is a section through the lamp taken on the line C, D, Figure 5.
In the improved lights constructed according to my Invention, the upper part of
the Lanthorn is provided with an annular chamber E, which is formed between the
outer cylindrical casing a, and the conical casings b, c, and d. The outer casing a,
is formed with sets or clusters of perforations e, (shewn more particularly at
Figure 8) at several parts (preferably three parts) of its exterior, for the purpose
of admitting air to the interior of the said chamber E. Each set or cluster of
perforations e, is guarded by a shield f, to prevent the influx of gusts of wind to
the interior of the Lanthorn, and this prevention is further enhanced by the interior
of each such shield f, being divided up by the strips g, into rectangular passages,

page_text: one of such passages supplying air to and through preferably two vertical rows of
perforations e, of which upon the annexed drawings there are represented six such
vertical rows; or other suitable number of such perforations and dividing strips
may be used.
The aforesaid annular chamber E, at the upper part of the Lanthorn, is connected
preferably by three inclined or helical tubes h, the longer sides of a horizontal
section of which tubes are radial to the focus of the lens. By means of these tubes h,
air communication is established between the upper annular chamber E, and the
lower annular chamber F, which is formed between the outer cylindrical part of
the casing, the inclined part of the casing j, the flat annular parts k, and I, and
the exterior of the lamp G, which being conical when in its place forms the inner-
most side of the annular chamber F. The lamp proper, that
to say the oil
containing vessel m, is formed with the chamber n, below it, and from this
chamber n, air is discharged to the wicks o, up through the side and central tubes p,
connected therewith, the air passing from the chamber F, to the chamber n, by the
holes q. The air discharged up through the tubes p, is directed properly on the
flame burning at the wicks o, by means of the deflectors r.
Each section of the lens s, of which there are preferably three, is held by the
metal strips t, which are secured respectively to the plates k, and u, and between
the opposing surfaces of every pair of the inclined or helical tubes h. For the
purpose of throwing a circle of light at a low angle round the point at which the
improved Riding light is suspended, the lower division or prism of the lens is
formed with a semicircular or segmental exterior as represented at v, upon the
annexed drawings, and that part of the lower annular casing F, marked j, is arranged
conically in order to admit of the rays of light passing thereover in order that the
light may be seen at a low angle. The arrangement of the tubes h, upon inclined or
helical lines as herein before described and shewn upon the annexed drawings is
adopted for the purpose of reducing the amount of shadow cast by the tubes to a
minimum.
The lamp G, is preferably secured in the Lanthorn by means of stud and slot
joints, the rings upon which such joints are formed are turned to fit close and air-
tight to each other. The studs of these joints are represented at w, and the slots
at x, on the annexed drawings the former being secured to the plate l, by screwed
nuts or their equivalents, and the latter being formed in the ring y, which is
soldered or otherwise suitably secured upon the bottom of the lamp G. The lamp G,
with the ring y, in which the slots x, are made, are secured together by passing the
widest parts of the holes a, over the T-shaped head of the studs w, so that when
the handle 2, is slightly turned round, the narrow parts of the slots x, pass under
the T-heads of the studs w. It is to be understood that any other suitable joint
for fixing the lamp G, into the lower part of the Lanthorn may be adopted without
departing from the nature of my Invention.
The upper part of the Lanthorn herein before described and represented upon the
annexed drawings, is provided with a down-draught preventing chimney similar to
that ordinarily provided on ship's side lights manufactured by me and therefore
need not be hereinfurther described.
Although I have on the annexed drawings shewn the lamp G, with its wick-
holders and other attachments as suitable for burning Colza Oil, it is nevertheless
to be understood that such wick-holders and attachments may be of the kind
suitable for burning mineral and other oils.
In place of using the tubes h, inclined as hereinbefore described they may be used
vertical although I prefer to use them inclined or helical as set forth.
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
The arrangement or construction of Ships' Riding lights having an upper annular
chamber E to which air is admitted through shielded nerforations e. the said upper

page_text: chamber being connected to the lower annular chamber F, by means of the inclined
or vertical, or helical air supply tubes h, and from the lower chamber F, of which
air is supplied to the burners through the tubes p, all substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore set forth with reference to the annexed drawings.
885.
J. H. JOHNSON, DAY & JOHNSON,
Applicant's Agents,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.