IMPROVEMENTS IN LENSES AND IN THE LAMPS WHEREWITH SUCH ARE OR MAY BE USED
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Harvic, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LENSES
AND IN THE LAMPS WHEREWITH SUCH ARE OR MAY BE USED."
"
Sealed the 20th December 1872, and dated the 25th June 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Harvie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th June 1872.
I, WILLIAM HARVIE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of “IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LENSES AND IN THE LAMPS WHEREWITH SUCH ARE OR MAY BE USED," to
be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object in the first place to utilize a greater
amount of the light given out by a lamp or burner than is at present
utilized or reflected by lenses as hitherto constructed. This part of the
Invention is carried into effect by placing at or around the sides, edge,
or periphery of ordinary lenses a triangular reflecting prism, which
receives and reflects the rays thrown from the light beyond the limits

page_text: of the lenses as ordinarily constructed. These triangular prisms are
constructed by moulding them in one or more pieces, cither connected
with or separate from the other part, according to the method described
in the Specification of the said William Harvie, No. 1493, A.D. 1863.
In order to obtain an improved light from the burning oils employed
in lamps with which the improved lenses herein-before described or
others are or may be used, and which constitutes the second part of this
Invention, the burners are formed with air passages whose lower and
exterior openings pass through the sides of the burner and are connected
with inclined passages on both sides of the wick, through which the
currents of air whilst the lamp is burning are suitably supplied thereto.
The upper part of this improved burner is provided with a transparent
globe or short chimney, and it may be used inside a lanthorn or not.
It is to be understood that the improvements constituting this Inven-
tion are suitable for ships' lights, harbour lights, as well as railway
station, signal, train, and engine lamps, and applicable to other
purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Harvie in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 23rd December 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HARVIE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Harvie, Her special license that
I, the said William Harvie, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said William Harvic, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,

page_text: should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vond, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LENSES AND IN ·
LAMPS WHEREWITH SUCH ARE OR MAY BE USED," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Harvie, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the.
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LENSES AND IN.
LAMPS WHEREWITH SUCH ARE OR MAY BE USED," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Harvie, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the.
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Harvic, do licreby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :—
•
.
My said Invention has for its object in the first place to utilize a greater
amount of the light given out by a lamp or burner than is at present
utilized or reflected by lenses as hitherto constructed. This part of the
Invention is carried into effect by placing at or around the sides, edge,
or periphery of ordinary lenses a triangular reflecting prism, which
receives and reflects the rays thrown from the light beyond the limits
of the lenses as ordinarily constructed. These triangular prisms are
constructed by moulding them in one or more pieces, cither connected :
with or separate from the other part, according to the method described in
the Specification of Lefters Patent granted to me the said William Harvie,
No. 1493, A.D. 1868.
In order to obtain an improved light from the burning oils employed
in lamps with which the improved lenses herein-before described or
others are or may be used, and which constitutes the second part-
of this Invention, the burners are formed with air passages whose
lower and exterior openings pass through the sides of the burner and
are connected with inclined passages on both sides of the wick, through
which the currents of air whilst the lamp is burning are suitably
supplied thereto. The upper part of this improved burner is provided
with a transparent globe or short chimney, and it may be used inside a
lanthoru or not.
"
.
•
•
'

page_text: station, signal, train and engine lamps, and applicable to other similar
purposes.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood,
I now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner
in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, that is to say :-
On the Sheet of Drawings hereunto appended, Figure 1 is a front
clevation of an ordinary dioptric lens constructed with semicircular
ends, and having the improved reflector formed in accordance with this
Invention shewn in conjunction therewith. Figure 2 is a transverse
section of the lens on the line a, b, Figure 1, as shewn more particularly
at Figure 2. The reflector A consists of a triangular prism similar in
form to the reflecting prisms used in lighthouse apparatus, and which is
arranged round the upper and under sides and semicircular ends of the
lens B. The prism A. receives and reflects the rays thrown from the
light beyond the extreme limits C, D, of the lens, as ordinarily con-
structed, that is to say, the triangular reflecting prism A occupies a
position around the lens B, which in lanthorns provided with lenses of
the type shewn at Figures 1 and 2, but constructed without the said
prism A, is occupied by a portion of the metallic casing of the lanthorn,
and thus the prism A receives and reflects those rays of light which
would otherwise be thrown against the inner surface of the metallic
casing of the lanthorn, so that by the employment of the prism A, a
greater amount of the light given out by a lamp or burner within the
lanthorn is reflected and utilized than obtains with similar lenses as
hitherto constructed. The triangular reflecting prism A is constructed
in one piece with the lens B in a mould made to the proper form, and
in which the glass is moulded under pressure so as to obviate cutting, as
set forth in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me the said
William Harvic, bearing date A.D. 1868, No. 1493, or the triangular
reflecting prism A may be moulded in two or more pieces connected to
the lens in cases where the lens is made in two or more pieces, or it may
be moulded under pressure in one or more pieces, separately from the
lens, and thereafter attached to the upper and lower edges and semi-
circular ends of the lens B in any suitable manner.

page_text: In lieu of forming the lens B with semicircular ends and curving
the triangular reflecting prism to correspond thereto, as herein-before
described and shewn at Figure 2 of the Drawings, the ends of the lens
and triangular reflecting prism may be formed at right angles to the
upper and lower sides of the lens; and in cases wherein the lens is formed
cylindrical triangular reflecting prisms are arranged at the peripheries
of its upper and lower sides.
At Figures 3 and 4, which are respectively a front clevation and
transverse section, the triangular reflecting prism A is shewn moulded
around the periphery of a circular lens or disc B constructed with a
series of prismoidal rings C on the outer surface thereof, and at Figures 5
and 6, which are also a front elevation and transverse section respectively,
the triangular reflecting prism A is shown in conjunction with a plano-
convex lens B.
The triangular reflecting prisms A in lieu of being moulded under
pressure in one piece around the peripheries of the lenses, shewn at
Figures 3 and 4, and 5 and 6, may be moulded under pressure in two
or more pieces connected to the peripheries of the said lenses when the
said lenses are moulded in two or more pieces, or they may be formed
separately, and thereafter attached to the lenses, as herein-before set
forth.
It is to be here understood that I do not confine myself to employ the
triangular reflecting prism in conjunction only with the forms of lenses
illustrated on the accompanying Drawings, as it is obvious that the
said triangular reflecting prism moulded as herein-before described is
applicable to many forms of lenses other than those berein-before
specified and shewn by the various Figures on the Sheet of Drawings
referred to.
Lenses constructed with triangular reflecting prisms, as herein-before
described are suitable for ships' lights, harbour lights, as well as railway
station, signal, train, and engine lamps, and for other similar purposes.
In order to obtain an improved light from the burning oils employed
in lanthorns with which these improved lenses, or others herein-before
described, are used, the lamps or burners are formed with air passages
whose lower and exterior openings pass through the sides of the lamp
or burner and are connected with inclined passages on both sides of the

page_text: .
wick, through which the currents of air, whilst the lamp is burning, arc
suitably supplied thereto. The upper part of the lamp or burner is or
may be provided with a transparent globe, and it may be used inside a
lanthorn or not.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe
in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the hercin-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. Constructing and arranging lenses with triangular reflecting
prisms, moulded under pressure, either in one or more pieces, connected
to the lens or separate therefrom, as herein-before described and shewn
on the Drawings hereunto appended.
Second. The arrangement and construction of lamp or burner hercin-
before described.
In witness whereof. I. the said William Harvic have hereunto set