Improvements in or relating to Lanterns or Lamps.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Lanterns or Lamps.
A communication from abroad by HEINRICH SCHÜSSLER and WILLY ROSENBERG,
of 11, Alexander Strasse, Berlin, C. Germany, Manufacturers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 :-
Lanterns as often hitherto constructed possess the disadvantage that, when they
are exposed to strong draughts or are swung about, the light either goes out altogether,
or the flame is so much reduced that it gives out only a faint light, and their
illuminative power is reduced to a minimum. By constructing the lanterns in the
imanner hereafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, these
inconveniences are avoided.
In the drawings:
-
Figure 1 is a section through the line A, B. Fig. 3.
Figure 2 a section through C, D, Fig. 3 and
Figure 3 a section through E, F, Figure 2.
Now, in order to prevent the outer air which feeds the flame and which is conducted
to it from underneath the lantern, from flowing in too swiftly or too suddenly, in
consequence of a strong wind, as to extinguish the flame, the lower portion of the
lantern is entirely enveloped in a shield c, d, e, z. The peculiarity of this shield
consists in the fact that it is only open from above at f, g, h, y, (Figures 1 and 2), so
that the air required for feeding the flame can only enter the reservoir a, a, a, a.

page_text: through these openings. A reservoir is thus formed on one side by this shield, on the
other by the sides of the lantern. The shield is thus closed at the sides and underneath,
so that no air can pass into the said reservoir from those directions. This arrangement
causes the outer air which pours into the reservoir from above through the openings
f, g, h, y, to rebound against the bottom of the tin shield c, d, e, , whereby its force
is entirely broken. The air then flows quietly and naturally through the openings
b, b, b, from the reservoir into the lantern to feed the flame. By means of this tin
shield c, d, e, , the direct entrance passages for the air to the lantern are fully
protected, and the outer air cannot strike the flame from any side with its full force.
But breaking the force of the draught of air which feeds the flame will not alone
prevent the extinguishing of the lantern, if care is not taken that the products of
combustion and the warm air will flow out of the lantern with their natural speed,
even in the face of the strongest gusts of wind. This object is attained by providing
the escape openings k, l, Figure 1, with a hood m, and with projections . o, behind
which the gases are in a certain degree stored up as they flow out. The air and gas
escape from the lantern into the outer cavities behind the projections n, o; these are
thus always filled with warm air, for according as they are emptied by the outward
flow of the air above, they are filled from below by a continually renewed flow of
air from the inside of the lantern. Thus if a very strong current of air passes over
the lantern, it is only the uppermost layers in the cavities behind n, o, that are
affected, whilst the warm air inside the lantern remains entirely undisturbed by it.
These outer cavities are, moreover, protected by the hoods m. The speed with which
the gases flow out is therefore, not influenced even by the fiercest gusts of wind. By
means of these two arrangements of the air entrances and exits, it is possible for the
flame of the lantern to burn steadily and with its full power even in the midst of the
greatest storm, without being disturbed or extinguished. Furthermore, in order to
support the greatest oscillations and vibrations which the lantern may suffer in its
use as a lantern for cycles, or more especially for carts, the following arrangement.
is applied to it.
The lantern is fixed to the cycle by means of the socket p. This socket, as also
the cycle itself, is connected with the lantern by means of an elastic arm, such as
a flat spring . This elastic arm is not, however, fastened as has hitherto been
customary to the case of the lantern, uniting the latter directly with the cycle, but it
grasps directly the stirrup or ring t, in which the lantern hangs. By means of this
elastic arm, the vibrations of the cycle are in the first place, broken, and secondly, are
not transmitted to the lantern but to the ring t. This ring t. is again fastened to a
flat spring s, which slides on the roof of the lantern, and thus does not leave room for
the lantern to swing too far backwards or forwards. Instead of the flat spring, the
lantern may be steadied by the application of pointed screws u, u, or in fact, by any
other suitable check.
In order to prevent the lantern from swinging sideways, the socket p is fastened
to the cage of the lantern by means of a hinged arm v. The hinged connection,
which is pivoted at the points v1, v2, v3, allows the lantern to swing up and down,
backwards and forwards, but not sideways.
By means of the combined action of the stirrup t, and of the elastic connecting arm
which connects the stirrup with the vehicle or cycle, also the check apparatus s, the
hinged connecting arm r, it becomes possible to keep the lantern in a vertical position,
even when subject to the severest vibration, so that the illuminated power of the same
can never be affected thereby.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me. by my foreign corrrespondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In combination with lamps or lanterns, a shield such as c, d, e,, open only
at the top with the object of forming a reservoir for the air entering from without to
feed the flame, whereby the violence of the draught is broken and the extinguishing
of the flame is prevented, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. In combination with lamps or lanterns, projections such as n, o and a hood such
as m forming receptacles for the air and products of combustion at the egress
openings k,l of the lantern, whereby a strong draught and the consequent extinguishing
of the flame is avoided, substantially as set forth.
3. In combination with lamps or lanterns such as described when used for vehicles
or cycles a stirrup or fork in which the lantern swings or hangs an elastic arm 1,
check springs check pins e jointed arm arranged with the object of arresting the
vibrations imparted by the movement of the vehicle and thus prevent the extinguishing
of the flame.