Improvements in Carriage Lamps.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 2'st Apr., 1894
Improvements in Carriage Lamps.
I, THOMAS WILLIAM OFFIN Junr., of Turret House, Hockley, Essex,
Gentleman 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 an improved construction of carriage lamp, and has for:
its object to provide an arrangement whereby the light from the lamp can be
regulated or partially obscured when desired.
:
:
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With the ordinary lamp the carriage horses are frequently frightened by the
shadows thrown on the ground in front of them from the strong light and swerve:
or become restless. The light is also much stronger than is necessary to give
warning to approaching drivers on a clear night, and tends to dazzle them when :
they come close.
i
According to my invention shutters of metal or other suitable material are
furnished, provided with suitable apertures to allow of the passage of the light
which can be adjusted so as to cover or uncover the flame partially or completely.
When the full light is required, the shutters are turned to the inner side of the.
lamp, next the carriage, which is as usual formed with a plain or closed side. The.
windows are thus left quite free. To allow the shutters to be turned so as not to
interfere with the light the reflector commonly fitted to the side is brought forward.
closer to the flame, and fixed to the top and bottom plates. The shutters or slides
can thus pass behind it, without interfering.
The slides preferably two in number are in plan in the form of a part of a circle,
concentric with the candle, and move in grooves formed in the bottom of the lamp,
of a length just sufficient to allow the slides to pass in front of and partially cover
the flame, or to slide into inoperative position. These grooves are placed one
outside the other, sufficient space being left between for the slides to pass each
other freely.
The slide intended to cover the front of the lamp is provided with a circular
window of coloured glass, preferably red or green, so that when slidden in front of
the flame a comparatively small coloured light will be thrown in front, sufficiently
bright to give effective warning but not liable to dazzle the eyes of approaching.
drivers, or to startle the horses.
The second slide may also be furnished with a similar window, but this is not
necessary, and a simple perforation will suffice.
To operate the slides a finger piece or pin is preferably employed for each, .
passing through. a circular slot in the top of the lamp of the required length..
This pin is fitted to the top of the slide so that the latter can be turned to any
desired position. Small spring clips or like devices may be employed to hold the
pins and slides in the extended or collapsed positions, preventing any rattling.
Soft or resilient material may also be provided for the slides to move upon, to
reduce any vibration which may be caused by travelling.
The door of the lamp is, as in ordinary lamps furnished with a reflector, in the :
centre of which is fitted a small red glass allowing the light to be seen from.
behind.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a complete carriage lamp fitted with my improved..
shutters, showing them collapsed.
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page_text: Fig. 2 is a similar view, with the shutters in operation,
Fig. 3 is a plan of the top with the chimney removed, and
Figs. 4 & 5 are sectional plans showing the shutters respectively open or collapsed
and closed.
A is the body of the lamp carrying the chimney B and the usual candle holder C,
arranged concentric with the candle c are the grooves D and E in the base a of the
lamp. These grooves extend respectively from the front outer corner to the rear,
around the front of the lamp and from about the same position around the back to
the inner corner towards the front.
In these grooves slide the shutters F and G, F sliding in the groove D and being
employed to cover the light at the front and G sliding in the groove E and covering
the outer side.
The shutter F is fitted with the small window of coloured glass, through which
the light can be seen when the shutter is turned into operative position, the
shutter G is shown with a simple perforation 9. The top a¹ of the lamp is formed
with the circular slots d & e equal in length to the travel of the shutters, through
these slots project the pins or finger pieces f' and ' fitted to the top of the
slides so that by moving these finger pieces in the slots the slides will be turned
to the required position. Small spring catches d' and e¹ are fitted on the top of
the lamp at the ends of the said slots, so that when the pins d & e are moved to the
end of their travel in either direction the slides will be held firmly until moved by
hand.
If the full light of the lamp is required at the front, but it is desired at the same
time to shield the horses from the direct light the shutter F may be turned partially
round, cutting off the light at the proper angle. The reflector H instead of
being fitted to the blank side a² of the lamp is brought nearer to the centre and
fixed to the top and bottom by the plate / thus allowing the shutters to pass behind
it as shown in Fig. 4 without interfering with the light.
The door J of the lamp is provided with the small coloured glass window j.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
elaim is :-
--
(1.) An improved carriage lamp in which are fitted sliding shutters operated by
hand, which can be slidden in front of the light partially obscuring it when desired,
or collapsed so as not to interfere with it, substantially as described and for the
purposes specified.
(2.) An improved carriage lamp carrying a curved sliding shutter, concentric
with the candle or flame and moving in suitable guides, furnished with a small
coloured glass window, so that the light at the front can be partially obscured when
desired substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
(3.) In a carriage lamp the employment of two curved sliding shutters, sliding in
grooves concentric with the flame, furnished with windows or perforations, and
capable of being turned so as to partially obscure the light of the lamp, or collapsed
at one side, substantially as and for the purposes specified."
(4.) In a carriage lamp the combination of two curved sliding shutters, grooves
in the base of the lamp in which the shutters slide, and corresponding slots in the
top of the lamp, through which project pins fitted to the shutters for operating the
latter, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(5.) In a carriage lamp the combination with curved sliding shutters concentric
grooves in which they slide, slots in the top of the lamp, and projecting pins fitted
to the shutters for operating them, of spring catches retaining the pins at the ends
of their travel, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(6.) In a carriage lamp the combination with concentric shutters sliding in
grooves, and capable of turning so as to partially obscure the light, of a reflector
fitted to the top and bottom of the lamp allowing the shutters to collapse behind it,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.

page_text: (7.) The improved carriage lamp comprising curved sliding shutters, arranged
concentrically, grooves in which they slide, means for operating them, and reflector
fitted to the top and bottom of the lamp constructed and operated substantially in
the manner described and shown in the accompanying drawings and for the
purposes specified.
Dand thin ath day of Manch 1004
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.