Improvements in Electric Lanterns.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1897-Accepted, 29th July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Lanterns.
I, OSCAR CHARLES PRASSE, Electrician, of West New Brighton, in the County
of Richmond, and State of New York, United States of America, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in electric lanterns for bicycles or other
vehicles, and the objects thereof are to do away with the use of foul smelling oils
and to provide a device of this character that will not smoke and cannot be acci-
dentally put out by the vibrations of the vehicle upon which it is carried. The
device is simple in construction, light and durable and it can be readily maintained
in operative or working position at a slight cost.
The invention will be hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in
the annexed claims.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification:
Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved lantern, showing the lid thereof in an
opened position; and Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the device,
showing the lid closed, whereby the lantern is in an operative condition ready
for use.
In the practice of my invention, I provide primarily, a sheet metal casing A, of
any suitable contour. To the upper edge of this casing, a lid A¹ is attached by
means of hinges a, and a spring catch a', is attached to the lid as a means for
maintaining it in a closed position, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.
Within the casing A, I place batteries B, these said batteries being preferably
two in number and they are respectively constructed as follows: Comprising a
cylindrical box 1, having a removable screw cap or head 2, connected thereto as
a means for keeping the box normally closed. This said screw cap has an
opening 3 in the center thereof which engages with a plug 4, composed of rubber
or other suitable insulating and flexible material. Depending from this rubber
plug is a zinc 5, which is in electrical connection with a post 6, which extends
upwardly beyond the outer surface of the plug 4, for the purpose of making
electrical connections as will be hereinafter described. This said zinc is surrounded
by a cup 7, composed of porous clay, the cup being of cylindrical contour.
Connected to the cap or head 2, and surrounding the cup 7 is a cylindrical
carbon 8, and this carbon is in electrical connection with a post 9. Leading into
the head 2 at a downwardly extended angle from the aperture 3, is a recess 10,
which is normally closed by means of a plug 11, said plug having a small
aperture 12, leading therethrough, whereby expansive gases may escape from the
cup 7 through a small vent 12. The recess 10 is partly filled with mercury 10"
to close the aperture 12, in case the device is accidentally tilted or inverted,
whereby the fluid compound contained in the cup 7 cannot escape.
As a means for electrically connecting the batteries, I employ a series of spring
metal plates 13, 13ª 13 and 13°, and they are all mounted upon a hard rubber
plate 14, by means of screws 15. These said screws extend through the plate 14 and
act as posts for connection with wire conductors for making the circuit,

page_text: Mounted centrally upon the inner surface of the insulating plate 14, is a
switch 16 which is adapted for opening and closing the circuit and is connected
to a handle 17 by means of a spindle 18. A spiral spring, 19, is used to maintain
electrical connection between the said switch and the metallic lid A¹, forming
part of the casing. This said switch is adapted for alternate engagement with
posts, 20 and 21, and secure connection therewith is maintained by means of a
plate spring, 22, which is held in place by a screw 23.
In operation, the post 21 is connected to the plate 13 by means of a conductor c,
and the plates 13" and 13° are connected by means of a conductor d. The plate 13
has a conductor e leading 'therefrom which is in electrical connection with one
pole of an electric lamp E, by means of screw e¹ which is insulated from the
metallic casing A, the other pole of the lamp being in electrical connection with
the casing A by means of the metallic collar f which surrounds the lamp. Extended
outwardly from this said collar is a reflector F which is normally closed by means
of a cap G, having a glass face g, whereby the rays of light from the lamp E can
be reflected outwardly, while at the same time the said lamp is thoroughly pro-
tected from all danger of being accidentally broken.
When the case is opened, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, all connection
between the batteries is broken, but when the lid A¹ is closed, the poles 13 and 13ª
connect with the zincs 5 and the poles 13 and 13° connect with the carbons 8,
whereby through the medium of the conductors c and d, electrical connection is
maintained between the batteries, and the circuit is carried through the con-
ductor e to the lamp carbon and thence through the metallic casing to the
switch 16, whereby when the switch is thrown into engagement with the post 21,
the circuit is completed and the lamp will burn as long as the batteries are charged.
When the switch is brought to bear upon the post 20, the circuit is broken and
the lamp is therefore normally maintained in an unlighted condition, but it is
evident that it can be instantly lighted by simply turning the switch 16 until it
engages with the post 21.
For charging the batteries, I use a solution of sulphuric acid and water in the
porous cup, 7, and a solution of bicarbonate of potash, sulphuric acid, bi-sulphate
of mercury and water in the cylindrical casing 1 of the battery, and it is evident
that any excess of expansive gas arising from the solution will escape through the
vent 10, whereby all danger of injury to the battery casings is obviated.
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 vehicle lantern, comprising a metallic casing having an electric lamp and
a series of batteries, and means for electrically connecting the batteries with the
lamp, substantially as shown and described.
2. A vehicle lantern, comprising batteries and a metallic casing for enclosing
them and an electric lamp in connection with said batteries and a switch for break-
ing and closing the circuit and conductors for making electrical connection, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
3. In an electric vehicle lantern, the combination of a metallic casing and
enclosed batteries and an electric lamp, one pole of said lamp being in electrical
connection with the said batteries and the other pole being in electrical connection
with the metallic casing, and an interposed switch also connected to the metallic
casing, said switch adapted for opening and closing the circuit, substantially as
shown and described.
4. In an electric lantern for vehicles, the combination of a series' of batteries
having cylindrical carbons therein, said carbons surrounding porous cups, and
zines contained within said cups and a metallic casing and an electric lamp, and
means for electrically connecting the lamp with the batteries and an interposed
switch for making and breaking the circuit, substantially as shown and described.

page_text: 5. In combination with a vehicle lantern of the class described, a battery compris-
ing a casing having a removable head thereon and a depending cylindrical carbon
attached to said head and an enclosed porous cup and a removable zinc contained
within said cup, the said cup and the said casing adapted for respectively con-
taining chemical compounds, the said head having a vent leading therethrough
for escape of gases, substantially as shown and described.
6. With a vehicle lamp of the class described, the combination of a porous cup
containing a suspended zinc, and cylindrical carbon surrounding the said zinc
and a casing enclosing the said parts, said casing having a removable head to
which the said carbon is attached and from which the zinc is suspended, and a recess
formed in said head for containing mercury, said chamber adapted as a vent from
the battery and the mercury therein adapted for closing the outlet when the
battery is tilted or inverted, substantially as shown and described.
0011 1
T 1
1007
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.