IMPROVE- MENT IN SHIPS SIGNAL LAMPS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
EDWIN MARTIN Lamp Manufacturer 68 West India Dock Road & 73 Garford
Street, London, E. do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVE-
MENT IN SHIPS SIGNAL LAMPS to be as follows.viz. :—
A means of ensuring better light & an absolute freedom from being extinguished
by the violence of the weather irrespective of its soverity & consequently entitling
my invention to greater consideration for the prevention of "collisions at sea which
are often caused through the Light going out.
The construction of the Lamp is as follows:
It is made with two lenses an outer & an inner one either of which may be
coloured; the two lenses have a space between them so as to admit a current of air
to pass between them & keep them cool.
.
The inner lens A. is fitted inside the body of the Lamp & a shield plate B. is so
fixed to the lens & sides of the Lamp, as to prevent any up or down draught
coming in contact with the light C.
The shield plate B. is fixed to back & sides of the Lamp, & ben't conical & is left
open at the top end under the raised top of Lamp D.
"
The outer lens E. is fitted in a hinged frame so as to open to clean the glasses, &
thus prevent an accumulation of dirt which 'not unfrequently occurs & thus
obscures the light.
J
At the bottom of the Lamp between the two lenses is a row of air-holes F
BO constructed as to maintain a clear current of 'air & allow it to pass away either
top or bottom.
The Lamp is proof against being extinguished either by wind or water without
regard to its application.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, EDWIN MARTIN of 68 West India Dock Road & 73 Garford Street Poplar,
London E. Lamp Maker do hereby declare the nature of my invention for SHIPS
SIGNAL LAMPS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement viz, :—
A means of ensuring better light & absolute freedom from being extinguished by
the violence of the weather irrespective of its severity & consequently entitling my
invention to greater consideration for the prevention of collisions at sea which are
too frequently caused through the lights becoming extinguished.
The construction of the Lamp is as follows.
It has two lenses an outer & an inner either of which may be coloured; between
the two lenses there is a space about one-and-half inches wide for the purpose of
admitting a current of air between them the object being to keep them cool.
The inner lens A is fitted inside the body of the Lamp & a shield plate B is so
fixed to the lens & sides of the Lamp as to prevent any up or down draught coming
into contact with the light C.
The shield plate B is fixed to back & sides of the Lamp & bent conical & is left
open at the top end under the raised top of Lamp D.
The outer lens E is fitted to a hinged frame for the more ready convenience of
keeping it clean & preventing an accumulation of dirt whereby the full advantage
of the light may become unobtainable.
At the bottom of the Lamp is a row of air-holes F so constructed as to maintain
a clear current of air & allow it to pass away either top or bottom.
The Lamp is proof against being extinguished either by wind or water without
regard to its application.
Colza or Petroleum Oil may be used for burning & the method for trimming is
similar to that adopted in the ordinary Signal Lamps now in use.
Protection is not claimed for the body or frame of Lamp which may be made
any size or material as required by the Board of Trade or Lloyds register of
shipping.
Protection is claimed for the Shield Plate B which is the chief novelty in the
invention & can be fitted into any shape or size Lamp; this shield-plate B is
connected to an inner lens or glass & fixed to the side of lamp or lantern D or the
front of lamp or lantern G; it may also be similarly fixed in any lamps either flat,
conical or arched as shown in drawings see shield plate H. '
The object of raising the shield plate (as shown in figure H) is to allow a larger
light to be burnt inside the lamp & still protect it from being extinguished by
down draught or wind or water and allow the smoke to escape at top of shield
plate B & H
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First, Absolute protection of the light from being extinguished by wind or
water

page_text: Secondly. Its ready adaptation to any form of Lamp other than Ships Signal
Lamps.
Thirdly. The immense benefits to be derived to the whole shipping community
as a means of preventing collisions at sea thereby saving many lives that under
existing circumstances are annually lost.