IMPROVEMENTS IN REFLECTING APPLIANCES FOR LIGHTING VEHICLES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of Kensington, Middlesex for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN REFLECTING APPLIANCES FOR LIGHTING
VEHICLES a communication to him from abroad by Edward Spencer Piper;
of Toronto, in the Dominion of Canada
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th March 1883.
"
"
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex, "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REFLECTING APPLIANCES FOR LIGHTING VEHICLES' a communication to me from
abroad by Edward Spencer Piper, of Toronto, in the Dominion of Canada,
The object of the invention is to utilize the light of a railway car; a locomotive
head light or any other artificially lighted chamber, for the purpose of illuminating
thereby a lens or other glass used for signal purposes.
It consists in a box or case fitted into or applied to an aperture made in the said
chamber in such a manner that the interior of the said box shall be illuminated by
the light within the said chamber, in combination with a reflector placed within
the box or case for the purpose of refracting the light thus obtained on to a lens or
signal glass inserted into the box.
Also in a box or case having two lenses or signal glasses inserted in it opposite
to each other and an open side for the admission of light in combination with a
double reflector placed within the box or case in such a manner as to form a
partition between the lenses and refract separate rays of light on to each lens.
Also in a box or case having two lenses or signal glasses inserted in it opposite
to each other, and a reflector extending obliquely from the side of each glass
towards the centre and open side of the box for the purpose of forming a partition
between, and a separate reflector for each glass, the combination of coloured glass
so placed over the open side of the box that the rays of light admitted there-
through shall be differently coloured for each compartment formed within the box
by the partition as specified so that the light from each lens shall be of a different
colour,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th September 1883.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex " IMPROVEMENTS IN
REFLECTING APPLIANCES FOR LIGHTING VEHICLES," a communication to me from
abroad by Edward Spencer Piper, of Toronto, in the dominion of Canada
The Object of the invention, is to utilize the light of a railway car, a locomotive
head-light or any other artificially lighted chamber, for the purpose of illuminating
thereby a lens or other glass used for signal purposes, and it consists essentially in
arranging and connecting with a railway car, a locomotive head-light, or any other
chamber lighted by artificial means, a box or case fitted into or applied to an
aperture made in the said chamber so that the interior of the said box shall be
illuminated by the light ordinarily used in the said car, or chamber, a reflector
being placed within the box so as to refract the light, thus obtained, onto a lens
or signal glass inserted into the box or case substantially as hereafter more
particularly explained.
Figure. 1. is a perspective view of the case or box provided with two lenses or
signal glasses, situated opposite to each other and separated by a partition formed
by a reflector extending obliquely from the side of each glass towards the centre
and open side of the box.
Fig. 2. shows the application of this signalling lamp applied to the caboose of a
railway car.
Fig. 3. shows it applied to a head-light.
In the drawing, A, is a case made of wood, metal or any suitable material shaped
in accordance with any design desired and made any size most suitable for the
particular position the specific case or box is intended to occupy.
B, is a lens or signal glass which when applied to a box made as shown in
Fig. 1. is duplicated, one being placed at each end of the box immediately opposite
to each other.
C, is a reflector extending obliquely from the side of each lens, B, towards the
centre and open side of the box, thereby forming two distinct compartments within
the case, A, each compartment being backed by a reflector so arranged that the
light admitted through the open side of the case shall be refracted on to the lens
inserted into and communicating with the particular compartment so formed. It
will thus be seen that the reflector, C, not only refracts light upon the particular
lens behind which it is placed, but it also serves as a partition to separate the two
lenses, so that the light cast on it cannot blend or interfere with the light cast on
the other.
I may further mention here that angular reflectors so arranged are specially
serviceable for refracting light admitted through the open side of the box on to the
lens situated at its end, and that by placing a piece of coloured glass over the
compartment, D, the rays of light admitted therein and refracted through its lens
shall be coloured, while the rays of light transmitted from the same source but
admitted into the compartment, E, without passing through coloured glass will
transmit from the lens applied to the compartment, E, a signal different from that
transmitted by the lens applied to the compartment, D,
I may further mention that a piece of tin or other blank may be similarly applied
for the purpose of shutting off the light from either of the compartments thereby.
blinding one signal lens, while the other continues to cast the light intended for its
particular signal.

page_text: A casing thus constructed is particularly applicable to a caboose or car where a
signal or tail lamp is required. In such an application an aperture is cut in the
side of the car preferably in proximity to the ordinary lamp for lighting the car,
which lamp sheds its light on to the reflectors, C, arranged as specified, which
reflectors, in their turn refract the light thus obtained onto the lenses situated
opposite to each other and suitably coloured so that the one visible from the rear
of the car shall cast a danger signal while the white rays of light thrown from the
opposite lens shall signal to the engine-man that his tail signal lamp is in order.
Of course when coloured glasses are applied upon the open side of the box, A, as
hereinbefore explained both lenses should be made of clear glass, and the nature of
the signal altered by changing the colours of the glasses covering the open side of
the box.
There are various ways for connecting the case, A, in position. It may be so
formed as to fit into the window sash. It may be permanently screwed to the
outside of the car opposite to an aperture made through the car, for the purpose of
admitting light into the box or chamber, or it may be adjustably held opposite to
the said aperture so that it can be removed at will. It is therefore not necessary
to detail the particular manner of connecting it in position.
When the signal box is applied to a head-light it is not made double-ended, a
single reflector, C, only in this case being necessary.
When applied to a cab of a locomotive I prefer locating it in such a position that
the lamp used for making the water guage visible, shall be utilized for illuminating
the interior of the box, but it will of course be understood that I do not limit
myself to any particular location, or to any manner of applying it in position; the
sole object being to provide means for utilizing for signalling purposes the light
commonly employed for illuminating any particular compartment.
What I claim as this invention is:-
1. In connection with a railway car or any chamber lighted by artificial means,
a box or case fitted into or applied to an aperture made in the said chamber in such
a manner that the interior of the said box shall be illuminated by the light within
the said chamber, in combination with a reflector placed within the box or case for
the purpose of refracting the light thus obtained on to a lens or signal glass inserted
into the box substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. A box or case having two lenses or signal glasses inserted in it opposite to each
other and an open side for the admission of light, in combination with a double
reflector placed within the box or case in such a manner as to form a partition
between the lenses, and refract separate rays of light on to each lens substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a box or case having two lenses or signal glasses inserted in it opposite to
each other, and a reflector extending obliquely from the side of each glass towards
the centre and open side of the box for the purpose of forming a partition between,
and a separate reflector for each glass, the combination of coloured glass so placed
over the open side of the box that the rays of light admitted there-through shall be
differently coloured for each compartment formed within the box by the partition
as specified so that the light from each lens shall be of a different colour.
In witness whereof I the said Herbert John Haddan have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 10th day of September A.D. 1883.