Improvements in Signal Lamps, Specially Applicable to Ships' Signal Lamps.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 31st May, 1890'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Signal Lamps, Specially Applicable to Ships'
Signal Lamps.
We, MATILDA SIMPSON, and HENRY SIMPSON, both of 10 Crooked Lane, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Lamp Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:—
Our present invention relates to signal lamps burning oil, and has for its objects,
the prevention of flaring or extinction of the light due to sudden gusts of wind, the
prevention of explosion, and the prevention of the undue heating of the lenses.
In order that our invention may be more readily understood we will describe it with
reference to a ship's side-light which we construct as follows:-
An outer casing of the usual shape is provided and within this is fitted an inner
casing similar in shape; in plan the casings are quadrants of circles or approximately
so, the radius of the quadrant of the outer casing being somewhat greater than that
of the inner casing. A suitable door is fitted to one of the flat sides of each casing ;
when the casings are in position the two doors are on the same side of the lamp.
The curved portion of the inner casing is of glass, plain or coloured, which is
removable for cleaning etc.; and to the curved portion of the outer casing the
lens is attached.
The lens rests on a bed of rubber and is secured in position by detachable
metal bands,
The plan of the inner casing being a quadrant of a circle somewhat less in radius
than that of the outer casing, a space is left between the lens and the glass of the
inner casing when the latter is in position, and joints are formed which separate this
space from the interior of the inner casing. Air freely enters this space through the
open end, and through perforations in the bottom, passes up between the lens and the
glass, which are prevented thereby from being unduly heated, and then passes through
perforations in the top which lead to an annular casing surrounding the chimney
formed on top of the outer casing, the air finally mixing with the heated gases from
the lump.
The arrangement of the lamp within the inner casing depends upon the kind of oil
to be burned.
'We will first describe the arrangement suitable for burning a heavy vegetable oil
such as colza oil.
The burner, and the oil container which is on the fountain principle, are carried on
a horizontal plate which will be termed the supporting plate; this plate slides
into the inner casing near the bottom and divides the inner casing into an upper and
lower part.
The door of the inner casing when closed makes a joint with the supporting plate
but does not extend below it so that no air can enter the upper part of the inner
casing except through the supporting plate. The upper part of the inner casing
is divided into two compartments by a vertical division plate extending upwards from
the supporting plate, between the oil container and the burner, to the top of the inner
casing, where a ledge is provided for it to abut against; the container and the burner
being thus placed in separate compartments, the oil supply pipe from the container to:
the burner passing through the vertical division plate.
An air chamber is formed underneath the supporting plate the latter forming the
top thereof.
Air enters this chamber from the lower part of the inner casing through a 'number
of perforations.
A portion of the air which so enters passes un through perforations in the supporting

page_text: plate into the compartment where the burner is placed and supports combustion,
the products of combustion passing out through the chimney. A portion also of
-the air which enters the air chamber passes up through somewhat larger perforations
into the compartment where the oil container is placed; this air keeps the latter cool
and passes out througli the top of the compartiment and mixes with the gases in the
chimney.
The object-of-making-the-perforations leading to the container compartment lärģēr
than those leading to the burner compartment, is to allow the surplus air due to a
sudden rush of air into the air chamber to pass into the container compartment
instead of into the burner compartiment, where it would affect the light.
The vertical division plate between the oil container and the burner is perforated;
and a suitable, slider over the perforations is attached, whereby, it desired, an
an
additional quantity of air may be admitted to the burner compartment.
In the case of a light mineral oil, such as petroleum, being used we modify the'
arrangement within the inner casing as follows:-
The oil container is now placed below the supporting plate a space being left between
the top of the contaiñer and the bottom of the supporting plate, so that the
air entering the lower part of the inner casing has a free passage round the
container.
The burner is fixed above the supporting plate, the wick tube passing through the
latter.
The air necessary for combustion is admitted into the portion of the inner casing
above the supporting plate, in which the burner is placed, through perforations in the
supporting plate, some of which are covered by a slider so that the area of the air
inlet can be adjusted.
"In this way a practically unlimited quantity of air-is allowed to circulate round the
oil container and so keep it cool, while only a certain definite quantity of air
necessary for combustion enters the burner compartment; the heated gases as before
pa sing into the chimney through an opening in the top of the inner casing.
The chimney formed on top of the outer casing is constructed in the ordinary.
manner with the exception that the top edge is bevelled outwards at an angle of 45°
in order to provent, as far as possible, impinging currents of air from being deflected
down the chimney into the lamp.
The door of the outer casing which is detachable is perforated as also are the
bottoms of the inner and outer casings to admit air when the outer casing door
is closed..
Although we have described our invention with reference to ship's side-lights, we
do not limit ourselves to such, it being obvious that the improvements described are
applicable to signal lights generally; the arrangement of the parts being modified to
suit the configuration of the different kinds of lamps.
5.
Dated this 26th day of Julv 1889.
:
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
26, Castle Street, Liverpool, Agents for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Signal Lamps, Specially Applicable to Ships'
Signal Lamps.
We, MATILDA SIMPSON, and HENRY SIMPSON, both of 10 Crooked Lane, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Lamp Manufacturers, 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 :-
Our present invention relates to signal lamps burning oil, and has for its
objects, the prevention of flaring or extinction of the light due to sudden gusts
of wind, the prevention of explosion, and the prevention of the undue heating of the
lenses.

page_text: In order that our invention may be more readily understood we will describe it
with reference to a ship's side-light which we construct as follows:-
An outer casing of the usual shape is provided and within this is fitted an inner
casing similar in shape; in plan the casings are quadrants of circles or approximately
so, the radius of the quadrant of the outer casing being somewhat greater than that
of the inner casing. A suitable door is fitted to one of the flat sides of each
casing; when the casings are in position the two doors are on the same side of the
lamp.
The curved portion of the inner casing is of glass, plain or coloured, which is
removable for cleaning etc.; and to the curved portion of the outer casing the lens
is attached. The lens rests on a bed of rubber and is secured in position by detachable
metal bands.
The plan of the inner casing being a quadrant of a circle somewhat less in radius
than that of the outer casing. a space is left between the lens and the glass of the
inner casing when the latter is in position, and joints are formed which separate this
space from the interior of the inner casing. Air freely enters thus space through the
open end, and through periorations in the bottom, passes up between the lens and
the glass which are prevented thereby from being unduly heated, and then passes
through perforations in the top which lead to an annular casing surrounding the
chimney formed on top of the outer casing, the air finally muxing with the heated
gases from the lamp.
The arrangement of the lamp within the inner casing depends upon the kind of oil
to be burned.
We will first describe the arrangement suitable for burning a heavy vegetable oil
such as colza oil.
The burner and the oil container which is on the fountain principle are carried on
a horizontal plate which will be termed the supporting plate; this plate shdes into
the inner casing near the bottom and divides the inner casing into an upper and
lower part.
The door of the inner casing when closed makes a joint with the supporting plate
but does not extend below it so that no air can enter the upper part of the inner
casing except through the supporting plate. The upper part of the inner casing is
divided into two compartments by a vertical division plate extending upwards from
the supporting plate, between the oil container and the burner, to the top of the inner
casing, where a ledge is provided for it to abut against; the container and the burner
being thus placed in separate compartments, the oil supply pipe from the container
to the burner passing through the vertical division plate.
An air chamber is formed underneath the supporting plate the latter forming the
top thereof.
Air enters this chamber from the lower part of the inner casing through a number
of perforations.
A portion of the air which so enters passes up through perforations in the supporting
plate into the compartment where the burner is placed and supports combustion, the
products of combustion passing out through the chimney. A portion also of the air
which enters the air chamber passes up through somewhat larger perforations into the
compartment where the oil container is placed; this air keeps the latter cool and
passes out through the top of the compartment and mixes with the gases in the
chimney.
The object of making the perforations leading to the container compartment larger
than those leading to the burner compartment, is to allow the surplus air due to a
sudden rush of air into the air chamber to pass into the container compartment
instead of into the burner compartment, where it would affect the light.
The vertical division plate between the oil container and the burner is perforated
and a suitable slider over the perforations is attached, whereby, if desired, an
additional quantity of air may be admitted to the burner compartment.
In the case of a light mineral oil such as petroleum, being used we modify the
arrangement within the inner casing as follows:-
I

page_text: The oil container is now placed below the supporting plate a space being left
between the top of the container and the bottom of the supporting-plate,-so-that
-the-air-entering the lower part of the inner casing has a free passage round the
container.
'
The burner is fixed above the supporting plate, the wick tube passing through the
latter.
The air necessary for combustion--is-admitted into the portion of "the inner casing
above the supporting plate, in which the burner is placed, through perforations in
the supporting plate, some of which are covered by a- slider so that the area of the
air inlet can be adjusted. In this way a practically unlimited quantity of air is allowed
to circulate round the oil container and so keep it cool while only a certain definite
quantity of air necessary for combustion enters the burner compartment; the
heated gases as hefore passing into the chimney through an opening in the top of
the inner casing.
The door of the outer casing which is detachable is perforated as also are the
bottoms of the inner and outer casings to admit air when the outer casing door is
closed.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figs. I, II, III and IV illustrate the form of lamp suitable for burning a heavy
vegetable oil such as colza oil, Figs. V, VI, VII and VIII illustrate a form of lamp
suitable for burning a mineral oil such as petroleum and Figs. IX, X, XI, and XII
illustrate in detail those portions of the lamp common to both forms.
Throughout the drawings, similar parts are indicated by the same reference figures
and in. the case of sections the direction in which they are viewed is indicated by the small
arrows placed adjacent to the lines showing the plane of section and -metal-in' section
is indicated by heavy lines of exaggerated thickness.
-1
The outer casing A of the lamp is shown in Figs. IX and X, Fig: LX-being a
sectional elevation on ZZ of Fig. X, and Fig. X being a sectional plan on Y.Y of
Fig. IX. 1 is the lens supported on the rubber strips 2 and secured by the detachable
metal bands 3. The sliding door 4 is detachable and perforated near its lower edge
as shown. The bottom of Å bas slides 5 attached for the inner casing B to slide on,
, and it is perforated, as also is the curved sido below the lens.
The chimney a is formed on the outer casing A and is surrounded by an annular
casing 6 which leads into the upper portion of the chimney which is of the usual
construction.
The top 6 of the outer casing has an opening leading to the chimney a and a series
of perforations leading to the annular casing b it is also fitted with a ledge 7 against
which the top of the inner-casing B makos a joint.
The inner casing B is shown in position in Figs. XI and XII, Fig XI being a
sectional elevation on X-X of Fig. XII and Fig. XII a. sectional plan on W Woof
Fig. XI.
The inner case is fitted with a glass 8 which is concentric with and supported in a
similar manner-to the lens 1, the door 9 is hinged and does not extend to the bottom
of the casing. The top of B makes a joint with the lodge 7 and it has an opening and
perforations corresponding with the opening and perforations in the top of A.
There is also a ledge 10 depending from the top and a vertical ledge 11 which form
joints. with the vertical division -plate. 14. The casing B-is also provided with two
slides 12 on which the supporting plate 13 slides, and the bottom is perforated.
•
It will be seen that an annular passage c between the glass 8 and the lens 1 is
formed when the casing 'B is in-place in A, and that this passage communicates with
the annular casing b by the perforations shown.
The construction of the lamp so far described is common to both the.colza and
petroleum arrangements.
Referring now to Figs. I, II III and IV we will describe the arrangement within
the casing B'adopted when colza oil is burned.
J
Fig.4 is a sectional elevation on V.V of Fig. Il, and Fig. II is a sectional plan
on U U of Fig. I; Fig III is an elevation looking in the direction of.the arrow in

page_text: Fig. II the door 4.being removed and the door 9 being partially broken away.to show
the interior. Fig. IV is a sectional plan on TT of Fig. III.
-The supporting plate. 13, which fits on the slides 12, and the vertical división
plate 14 divide the inner casing B into three compartments d, e, and, the oil!
container 16 and the burner 15 being in the compartments e and ƒ respectively the
oil pipe 17 connecting the container and burner.
N
The supporting plate has a ledge 18 against which the door fits.
Underneath the supporting plate and attached thereto is formed an air chamber 19
which has perforations round its top edge as shown, the interior of this air chamber
communicates with the compartment e by a number of large perforatious, and with f
by a number of smaller perforations, in the supporting plate.
It will. he seen from an inspection of Figs. I, II, III and IV, that the air enters ..
freely through the perforations in the bottom, sides and door of the casing A, a portion
of the air passes up the space c through the perforations into the annular casing b
and out by the chimney a thus serving to keep the lens 1 and the glass 8 cool ;- and a.
portion entors the compartment d thence into the air chamber 19 where it splits, part:
going into the chamber and supporting combustion, and the excess passing into the :
chamber e, and through the perforations in the top into the annular casing band.
finally passing out through the chimney a; any excess of air due to sudden gusts will
by.preference pass through the larger perforations into the chamber e, this serves to :
keep the container cool; a sliding door may be fitted to the division plate 14 whereby.;
the supply of air to the chamber may be augmented if desired.
The arrangement adopted for lamps burning petroleum is shown in Figs. V VI VII
and VIII which are analogous views to Figs. I, II, III and IV respectively.
.:
The supporting plate 13 fits the slides 12 as bofore and divides the casing Binto
two compartments d and 9, the burner 20 is above the supporting plate and the oil
container 21 is below, the two being connected by the wick tube 22.
As before air enters through the perforations in the outer casing a portion of which
as before passes up the annular passage c and the portion necessary for combustion
passes into the chamber g through perforations in the supporting plate 13; if desired
a sliding door may be fitted to the supporting plate 13 whereby the supply of air may
be regulated; in this way, while the air has tree access round the oil container 21,
the amount necessary for combustion may be regulated.
Although we have described our invention with reference to ship's side-lights, we
do not limit ourselves to such, it being obvious that the improvements described are
applicable to signal lights generally; the arrangement of the parts being modified to
suit the configuration of the different kinds of lamps.
We are aware that prior to our invention the air which supports combustion in
lamps has been caused to first come into contact with the oil container to keep the
latter cool; and that lamps have been constructed in which a current of air has been
caused to pass between the lens and the casing containing the burner and oil supply,
and to neither of these features do we make any broad claim.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In ship's signal lamps, placing within the outer casing. to which the lens is
attached, and on which the chimney having an annular casing is formed, an inner
casing similar in shape containing the burner and having a glass front adjacent to and
parallel with the lens, and so forming an annular passage between the said glass front
and the lens, which passage communicates with the annular casing round the chimney,
substantially as, and for the purpose described.
2. In ship's signal lamps using colza or other heavy oil, dividing the casing con-
taining the burner and oil supply into three compartments, containing respectively an
air chamber, burner and oil container and communicating by perforations substantially
as and for the purpose described.
3. In ship's signal lamps burning colza or other heavy oil, placing the burner and

page_text: oil container in separate compartments, and leading the air supply into an air chamber
communicating with these compartments by means of openings or perforations those
leading to the burner compartment being of less area than those leading to the con-
tainer compartment, substantially as described.
4. In ship's signal lamps using petroleum or other light oil dividing the casing con-
taining the burner and oil supply into two compartments containing respectively the
burner and the oil container, and communicating by perforations, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
5. In ship's signal lamps the combination of an outer casing A, with an inner
casing B forming an annular passage c communicating with the annular casing b, the
inner casing B being divided into three compartments d, e and f, said compartments
and annular casing and passage communicating with each other and with the external
air supply, substantially as and for the purpose describod.
6. In ship's signal lamps the combination of an outer casing A with an inner
casing B forming an annular passage c communicating with the annular casing b, the
inner casing B being divided into two compartments and g, said compartiments and
annular casing and passage communicating with each other and the external air
supply, substantially as and for the purpose described.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved ship's signal
lamp substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. I, II, III, IV, IX, X, XI
and XII.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved ship's signal
lamp substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI
and XII.
Dated this 26th day of April 1890.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, Castle Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.