Improvements in Signal Lamps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1899-Accepted, 17th June, 1899
Improvements in Signal Lamps.
We, JAMES JOSEPH MULCONROY, of 62, N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, State of
Pennsylvania, ERNEST ARMSTRONG, of 319, Berkley Street, Camden, State of
New Jersey, and JAMES GAW, of 62, N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, State of Pennsyl-
vania, all in the United States of America, Manufacturers, 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 consists of a signal lantern in which different colours may be
displayed, constructed of a number of cylinders adapted to be held above the
lamp of the lantern or lowered and illuminated by the same, and catches having
noses of varying lengths so that each nose engages with a different cylinder or
body. Provision is also made for retaining the several cylinders or bodies in
lowered position by a common fastening and other features are presented as will be
hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.
Of the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a signal lantern embodying our invention.
Figure 2 represents a sectional plan thereof taken on the line of Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a side elevation of one of the cylinders of the lantern.
Figure 4 represents a vertical section of said cylinder.
Figure 5 represents a vertical section of the lantern drawn to an enlarged
scale.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.
A designates a signal lantern, which, excepting the feature of my invention
applied thereto is of the usual construction.
B designates concentric cylinders of transparent or translucent material of
different colours, all of the same being adapted to be placed in elevated position in
the upper portion or gallery C of the lantern, and either of them to be lowered so
as to be illuminated by the lamp of the lantern, one of said cylinders as lowered
being shown in Figure 5.
In the upper part of the gallery are spring catches D which have noses of
different lengths, owing to the different diameters of the cylinders, said noses
projecting inwardly so that they engage respectively with the different cylinders,
it being noticed that each cylinder has at its upper end a ring E which is raised
above the top rim of said cylinder forming a space into which the respective
nose may enter and act as a shoulder for interlocking the cylinder with its proper
catch, said rim and ring being connected with the strengthening and supporting
frame G of the cylinder.
The bottoms of the cylinders are each provided with the ring H, which is
separated from the adjacent rim J, thus forming a space for the reception of the
spring-pressed stem K, which is mounted in the lower portion of the frame of the
lantern and may be of such length that it may engage with either cylinders as may
be lowered.
It will be understood that when a certain colour is to be displayed, the respective
catch is drawn out, whereby its nose leaves the ring E of the cylinder and as

page_text: said latter is no longer controlled, it drops and resis on the base portion of the
lantern and so is illuminated. The stem K is also operated so as to engage the
bottom ring H of said cylinder, thus controlling the cylinder against movement and
rattling.
When the stem is drawn out, the cylinder may be raised and then engaged
with its respective catch and so again held in elevated position.
In order to permit the introduction of the finger through the guard of the
lantern, to reach the cylinder to be raised, said guard is provided with a vertical
channel L formed in the present case by separating a certain portion of said
guard and uniting the ends of said portion by the vertical wires or rods M, thereby
forming a free vertical passage in said guard as most clearly seen in Figure 1.
The lantern is provided with the usual chimney N for the white light, which,
however, does not interfere with the illumination of either of the cylinders B
when loosened around said chimney.
The cylinders are of different heights, so that the rings thereof are disposed one
above the other, whereby each will be engaged by the proper catch without
interfering one with the other.
The sides or bodies of the cylinders will be preferably formed of pliable material
such as celluloid, the same being light and sufficiently strong and not liable to
be broken. The frames & sustain and stiffen said bodies and prevent closing and
buckling of the same, they being soldered or otherwise firmly secured to the
rims F and J and so keeping the latter and the rings E held properly apart.
The ring of each cylinder may be continuous or in segments but preferably
continuous for purposes of strengthening both the ring and the end of the cylinder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1st. In a signal lantern, a vertically-movable coloured cylinder, a frame con-
nected with said cylinder, a shoulder secured to said frame and separated from
said cylinder, and a catch on the lantern adapted to engage said shoulder when
the cylinder is in elevated position.
2nd. In a signal lantern, concentric cylinders of transparent material of different
colours, each provided with a ring secured to said body and separated therefrom
at the end thereof and a catch on the lantern whose nose is adapted to engage said
ring and control the cylinder in elevated position.
3rd. A series of vertically-movable and concentric coloured cylinders, rigid
frames connected with the cylinders, shoulders attached to the ends of said frames
and removed from the adjacent ends of said cylinders and catches on the lantern
to engage said shoulders, said catches being of different lengths, whereby the
longest one may pass under the shoulders of the wider.cylinders and engage with
the shoulder of the narrowest cylinder.
4th. In a signal lantern, a plurality of vertically-movable coloured cylinders,
shoulders on the upper and lower ends of each cylinder, catches having noses
of different lengths adapted to engage the upper shoulders, and a stem adapted to
engage the lower shoulders as a common fastening therefor.
Dated the 18th of M... 1900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.