IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF LIGHT AND HEAT FOR SIGNALLING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip Howard Colomb, of Harrow, in the County
of Middlesex, Commander in the Royal Navy, and Francis John Bolton,
of Rochester, in the County of Kent, Captain in Her Majesty's Army,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF LIGHT AND
HEAT FOR SIGNALLING AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 21st February 1868, and dated the 24th September 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip Howard Colomb
and Francis John Bolton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 24th September 1867.
We, PHILIP HOWARD COLOMB, of Harrow, in the County of Middlesex,
Commander in the Royal Navy, and FRANCIS JOHN BOLTON, of Rochester, in
the County of Kent, Captain in Her Majesty's Army, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF LIGHT
AND HEAT FOR SIGNALLING AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention which has for its object improvements in the production of
light and heat for signalling and other purposes refers to the production of
such light and heat by the combustion of inflammable powders. We use or
employ receptacles so constructed that the lower ends, mouths, or orifices of
the tubes or passages by which the powder is conveyed or guided to the
flames or heated surfaces for consumption extend down to and are closed by
the surface of the powder contained within the main bodies or casings of the
receptacles. According to this part of our Invention we make use by pre-

page_text: ference of an outer vessel or casing, the lower part of which tapers or
decreases in diameter as it approaches the bottom part of the receptacle, the
top of which is closed, but is formed with an aperture or apertures, the cover
or covers of which is or are capable of being removed at pleasure so as to
enable the receptacle to be supplied with the requisite powder for con-
sumption. Within this vessel or casing is a tube or passage having a bell
mouth or other suitable enlargement formed at. its lower end, while its upper
part or portion terminates in a mouth or nozzle, or mouths or nozzles so
situated as to allow the powder issuing therefrom as hereafter mentioned to
impinge upon a fixed flame, flames, heated surface or surfaces. A small pipe
or pipes whose orifice or orifices opens or open downwards within the enlarged
part of the tube or passage above referred to, serves or serve to convey a
current or currents of air impelled by a suitable arrangement provided for the
purpose, such air ultimately escaping. through the upper mouth or nozzle, or
mouths or nozzles, as herein-after, mentioned, and impinging upon the flame,
flames, heated surface or surfaces before mentioned, The action of the appa-
ratus is as follows:-The outer vessel or casing having been filled or supplied
the inflammable powder contained therein closes the lower end, mouth, or
orifice of the enlarged tube or passage, and thus forms a surface for the current
or currents of air to act upon. The powder being disturbed by the action upon
its surface of the current or currents of air becomes mixed therewith in the
tube or passage and issues in a jet or jets through the upper mouth or nozzle or
mouths or nozzles already mentioned into or upon the fixed flame, flames, or
heated surface or surfaces previously referred to, the light or heat being pro-
duced by the ignition and combustion of the powder. The requisite current
or currents of air may be produced by a cylinder and piston, bellows, or
other suitable contrivance; or if required for greater permanency may be
produced by a revolving fan, and a portion of the current or currents may be
used as a blow pipe on the fixed flame in order to increase its heat at the
point of ignition.
In cases where it is desired 'that the flashes of light produced by the
consumption of the inflammable powders or mixtures as above described
should be regulated by apparatus similar to that for which Letters Patent,
No. 1360, bearing date the 7th day of May 1862, were granted to Philip
Howard Colomb, we prefer to employ a reservoir or reservoirs into which air
is continually pumped by the action of the rotating shaft or equivalent part of
the apparatus in question; the air in such reservoir or reservoirs being main-
tained at an uniform or nearly uniform pressure. In this case the levers of
the apparatus are arranged to actuate suitable valves for permitting the

page_text: escape of air from the reservoir or reservoirs during long or short periods at
such intervals as may be necessary in order to produce flashes requisite for
conveying the desired signal; the air so allowed to escape from the reservoir
or reservoirs passing through the pipe or tube leading to the cylinder or
chamber containing the inflammable powder or mixture to be consumed, as
before mentioned.
In applying Colomb's Patent apparatus to the purposes of our present
Invention we prefer to modify the arrangement illustrated in the Drawings
accompanying the Final Specification of his aforesaid Patent, No. 1360,
of 1862, by dispensing with the notched bar and sliding pieces or keys'
therein shewn, and employing a separate piece or key for each row of pins,
projections, or studs.
In some cases we dispense with the receptacle herein-before firstly men-
tioned, and in lieu thereof we make use of a suitably formed vessel capable of
vibrating on axes, such vessel containing the inflammable powder, and being
provided with an orifice or orifices closed by an arc in such manner that the
vessel may be partially rotated on its axes out of the range of the arc, and
thus permit powder to fall from the orifice or orifices on to the flame, flames,"
heated surface or surfaces.
For illuminating purposes according to our Invention we prefer to employ
an admixture or combination of powdered magnesium, resin, and lycopodium,
by which combination we obtain an inexplosive and highly efficient illu-
minating powder, which we believe to be far superior to any that has hitherto
been employed. The proportions we prefer are 3 parts (by weight) of
magnesium, 1 part resin, and 1 part lycopodium.
In conclusion we may remark that powdered coal and any other impalpable
powders which are inflammable, but not explosive (either separately or two
or more combined) may be conveniently consumed and utilized according to
our Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed:
by the said Philip .Howard Colomb and Francis John Bolton in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd March 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, PHILIP
HOWARD COLOMB, of Harrow, in the County of Middlesex, Commander in the
Royal Navy, and FRANCIS JOHN BOLTON, of Rochester, in the County of
Kent, Captain in Her Majesty's Army, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Philip Howard Colomb and Francis John Bolton, Her special
license that we, the said Philip Howard Colomb and Francis John Bolton,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Philip Howard Colomb and Francis John Bolton, our executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF LIGHT AND HEAT FOR
SIGNALLING AND OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others), that
we, the said Philip Howard Colomb and Francis John Bolton, our executors,
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be.
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
'
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Philip Howard Colomb and Francis
John Bolton, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-.
tained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention which has for its object improvements in the production of
light and heat for signalling and other purposes refers to the production of
such light and heat by the combustion of inflammable powders. We use or
employ receptacles so constructed that the lower ends, mouths, or orifices of
the tubes or passages by which the powder is conveyed or guided to the flames
or heated surfaces for consumption.extend down to and are closed by the
surface of the powder contained within the main bodies or casings of the
receptacles.
According to this part of our Invention we make use by preference of an
outer vessel or casing, the lower part of which tapers or decreases in diameter
as it approaches the bottom part of the receptacle, the top of which is closed,
but is formed with an aperture or apertures, the cover or covers of which is or
are capable of being removed at pleasure so as to enable the receptacle to be
supplied with the requisite powder for consumption. Within the vessel or

page_text: casing is a tube or passage having a bell mouth or other suitable enlargement
formed at its lower end, while its upper part or portion terminates in a mouth
or nozzle, or mouths or nozzles, so situated as to allow the powder issuing
therefrom as hereafter mentioned to impinge upon a fixed flame, flames,
5 heated surface or surfaces. A small pipe or pipes whose orifice or orifices
opens or open downwards within the enlarged part of the tube or passage
above referred to serves or serve to convey a current or currents of air.
impelled by a suitable arrangement provided for the purpose, such air
ultimately escaping through the upper mouth or nozzle, or mouths or nozzles,
as herein-after mentioned, and impinging upon the flame, flames, heated
surface or surfaces before mentioned.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The outer vessel or casing
having been filled or supplied the inflammable powder contained therein closes
the lower end, mouth, or crifice of the enlarged tube or passage, and thus
forms a surface for the current or currents of air to act upon. The powder
being disturbed by the action upon its surface of the current or currents of
air becomes mixed therewith in the tube or passage, and issues in a jet or
jets through the upper mouth or nozzle, or mouths or nozzles, already
mentioned, into or upon the fixed flame, flames, or heated surface or surfaces
previously referred to, the light or heat being produced by the ignition and
combustion of the powder. The requisite current or currents of air may be
produced by a cylinder and piston, bellows, or other suitable contrivance, or if
required for greater permanency may be produced by a revolving fan, and a
portion of the current or currents may be used as a blow pipe on the fixed.
flame, in order to increase its heat at the point of ignition.
In cases where it is desired that the flashes of light (produced by the con-
sumption of the inflammable powders or mixtures as above described) should
be regulated by apparatus similar to that for which Letters Patent, No. 1360,
bearing date the 7th day of May 1862, were granted to Philip Howard Colomb,
we prefer to employ a reservoir or reservoirs, into which air is continually.
pumped by the action of the rotating shaft or equivalent part of the apparatus
in question, the air in such reservoir or reservoirs being maintained at an
uniform or nearly uniform pressure. In this case, the levers of the apparatus
are arranged to actuate suitable valves for permitting the escape of. air from
the reservoir or reservoirs during long or short periods, at such intervals as may
be necessary in order to produce flashes requisite for conveying the desired
signal; and the air so allowed to escape from the reservoir or reservoirs passea
through the pipe or tube leading to the cylinder or chamber containing the
inflammable powder or mixtures to be consumed as before mentioned.

page_text: In applying Colomb's Patent apparatus to the purposes of our present
Invention we prefer to modify the arrangement illustrated in the Drawings
accompanying the. Specification of his aforesaid Patent, No. 1360 of 1862, by
dispensing with the notched bar and sliding pieces or keys therein shown, and
employing a separate piece or key for each row of pins, projections, or studs.
In some cases we dispense with the receptacle berein-before firstly mentioned,
and in lieu thereof we make use of a suitably formed vessel capable of
vibrating on axes, such vessel containing the inflammable powder and being
provided with an orifice or orifices closed by an arc in such manner that the
vessel may be partially rotated on its axis out of the range of the arc, and
thus permit powder to fall from the orifice or orifices on to the flame, flames,.
heated surface or surfaces.
For illuminating purposes according to our Invention we prefer to employ
an admixture or combination of powdered "magnesium," "resin," and
"lycopodium." By the combination of resin or lycopodium with the
magnesium we obtain an inexplosive and highly efficient illuminating powder
which we believe to be far superior to any that has hitherto been employed..
The proportions we prefer are three parts (by weight) of magnesium, one part
by weight of resin, and one part by weight of lycopodium; but these pro-
portions.may be varied according to the power of light required.
We may remark that powdered coal and any other impalpable powders,
which are inflammable, but not explosive (either separately or two or more of
such powders.combined), may be conveniently consumed and utilized according
to our Invention with or without inagnesium.
The accompanying Sheets of Drawings with the following description thereof
will enable the manner of carrying our said Invention into effect to be well
understood.
. Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) is a vertical section of a lamp constructed according to
our Invention; and Fig. 2 is a similar section of the same, taken at right
angles to the foregoing view.
a is the outer vessel or casing, the lower part of which tapers or decreases
in diameter as it approaches the bottom of the receptacle, which is provided
with an aperture closed by a recessed screw cap a¹. The top a² of the recep
tacle a is formed with an aperture a³ provided with a screwed cap or cover a',
which is capable of being unscrewed and removed at pleasure, so as to enable
the receptacle to be supplied with the requisite powder for consumption. bis
the tube or passage situated within the vessel or casing a, b being the bell
mouth or enlargement formed at its lower end, aud 62, the nozzles forming the
upper terminations from which the powder issues; this bell-mouthed tube is

page_text: provided with and held in position by means of a screw cap b³ fitting into a
correspondingly screwed aperture in the upper portion of the receptacle a.
c is the fixed flame, upon which the powder impinges on issuing from the
nozzles 6; this flame emanates from a wick supplied with spirit from the
annular chamber d, which contains the liquid to be consumed, d' being the
wick tube or holder, and d² a. screw cap closing the aperture through which
the chamber d is supplied with liquid. e is the small pipe, whose orifice e
opens downwards within the enlarged. part 6' of, the tube or passage b; fare
bellows 9 is a hollow staff, which is screwed at its upper end into the
recessed portion of the cap a¹; h is a pipe or tube, along which air (actuated
by the bellows f) passes through the small pipe e, from whose orifice e' such
air issues on to the surface of the powder i, the air and powder thus becoming
mixed or intermingled and issuing from the nozzles 2 on to the flame c, as
previously explained; k is the framing of the lantern; k¹, the glass; k², the
chimney, a wire gauze screen for protecting the glass from the action of
the flame; and are holes (regulated by a slide) for admitting the requisite.
amount of air to support the combustion of the saturated wick.
In carrying out the principle of our Invention we consider it important that.
the areas of the orifices e¹ (of the small pipes e) should be considerably less,
than the total areas of the nozzles 62 through which the powder issues on to
the flames or heated surfaces for consumption.
Fig. 3 (Sheet 2) is a vertical section, Fig: 4 a front view, and. Fig. 5 a
sectional plan (taken through the line A, B, of Fig. 3), showing means for
regulating the action upon the powder of the currents of air produced by the
bellows for making the requisite flashes of light when signalling.
"
g is the hollow staff, which in this case is formed in two lengths screwed
together at g¹; h, h¹, are the two corresponding parts of the pipe for conducting
air from the bellows; h³ is a valve which closes the lower end of the upper
part of the air conducting pipe; h³, the valve spindle working in guides as,
shown; 9 is a partition formed across the interior of the hollow staff 93 and
g3 is the valve box or chamber; 1 is a bell-crank lever, having its fulcrum at ;.
this lever is provided at its lower end with a slot, through which the valve
spindle passes, and its upper end is provided with a small antifriction roller l
and a spring for maintaining the lever in position for being actuated by the
projections herein-after mentioned. To the under side of the bellows fis
affixed a vertical spindle m, upon which is fitted a tube m¹ capable of moving.
vertically upon the said spindle. n, n', are sectors capable of partial rotation
upon the tube m'; upon each of these sectors n, n', is a series of projections n³
similar to those described in the Specification of Colomb's Patent, No. 1360

page_text: of 1862, the series on the upper sector n being intended to act upon the bell-
crank lever for signalling the unit figures; the series on the lower sector to
act in like manner for signalling the tens, and so on, a separate sector being
employed for each series of projections. In the code of signals for which the
apparatus is arranged the numeral 1 is represented by one short flash of the
light; 2, by two such short flashes; 3, by three such short flashes; 4, by four
such short flashes; 5, by five such short flashes; 6, by one long flash, and so
on. The spindle, tube, and sectors are all enclosed by a circular casing o
secured to and capable of vertical movement with the upper side or portion of
the bellows f. To prevent any rotation of this casing it is formed with an
extended part o¹, which surrounds the hollow staff g in such manner however
as not to interfere with the vertical movement of the casing o. To the
sectors n, n', are secured spring catches n², which take into notches formed in
the casing o.
The apparatus is shown set to signal the number 55.. It will
be seen that each of the spring catches n², n2, is in the notch 5 of its series,
and that a corresponding number of projections n³ on each sector is opposite
to the bell-crank lever l. In order to make the signal the casing o, tube m,
and sectors n, n², are pulled up (by the handle o) into the position shown-by
dotted lines in Fig. 3, thus opening the bellows f and filling them with air.
On now releasing the handle o² the casing and sectors will fall by their own
weight, so that the five projections on the lower sector n¹ will successively
come into contact with the end of the bell-crank lever 1, thereby depressing it
five times; there will then be a short interval, after which the five projections
on the upper sector n will act in like manner upon the bell-crank lever. At
each depression of the lever it will actuate the valve spindle h³, thereby
temporarily withdrawing the valve h² from its seat, so as to allow air from the
valve chamber to pass along the pipe h and act upon the surface of the powder
for producing a flash of light, as required. Surplus air from the valve
chamber is allowed to escape at h³.
In Sheet 3 is represented another modification of mechanism for regulating
the flashes of light produced according to our Invention by means of apparatus
similar to that patented by Philip Howard Colomb as herein-before mentioned,
Fig. 6 being a front view showing the apparatus open, Fig. 7 a view (partly:
in section) at right angles to the foregoing, and Fig. 8 a plan of the same.
a is the outer casing of the apparatus. The working barrel p is formed at its
lower end with a projecting part p¹, supported and free to revolve in a
bearing på, and at its upper end the barrel is provided with a hollow trunnion p
revolving in the bearing p', and formed to receive the lower end of the hollow
lantern staff herein-before mentioned. Upon the hollow trunnion p³ is also
༡

page_text: keyed a worm wheel p³ actuated by a worm p formed upon the shaft p²,
which shaft is capable of being caused to rotate by means of the winch
handle ps, and is formed with cranks p provided with connecting rods p for
actuating the bellows f. q is a collapsible reservoir into which air is con-
tinually pumped by the action of the rotating shaft p', the air in such reservoir
being maintained at an uniform or nearly uniform pressure by means of the
weights q; in this case the barrel is arranged for only one series of pro-
jections n, but more may be employed by lengthening the barrel. In front
of the barrel p and parallel to its axis is a round shaft r supported in bearings r
and carrying levers, all of which levers (with the exception of one marked 2)
are held back from the working barrel by springs 73. There is a separate
lever for each row of projections on the barrel. The part h of the air con-
ducting pipe is attached to the working barrel p, and communicates with a
small pipe or passage h¹, the lower end of which enters the valve chamber. g³,
and is closed by a valve similar to that shown at h in Fig. 3 (Sheet 2). The
valve chamber is supplied with air from the bellows by the pipe h', and
surplus air is allowed to escape at . To each end of the round shaft ris
fixed a bent arm or lever, held back by a spring ; to these two arms is
hinged or jointed a "paul plate" or "catch" extending along the entire
length of the series of levers, and held in position (as shown in Fig. 8) by
means of springs 27. In an apparatus arranged for more than one series of
projections a separate plate is to be provided for the levers of each series.
The valve spindle h³ passes through and receives motion from the slotted end
of a short arm or lever is attached to the round shaft r. The apparatus, as
shown, is just about to commence signalling the numeral 9, which (in the
code of signals for which it is arranged) is represented by two short flashes of
light succeeded by one long flash. On reference to Fig. 8 it will be observed
that the front end of the lever has been pushed into and is held back by the
catch. On the barrel being now caused to rotate in the direction of the
arrows the three projections n³ will successively come into contact with the
lever, thereby depressing it three times, and at each depression causing the
shaft to partially rotate on its axis and (through the short arm and valve
spindle ³) to temporarily withdraw the valve from its seat, thus permitting
air from the valve chamber to pass along the pipe h¹ and act upon the surface
of the powder for producing a flash of light as required. Supposing one lever
to be in the position occupied by the lever in Fig. 8, then the act of
pressing another lever back into the same position will cause the lever to
be released from the catch by its own spring, which will cause it to resume
the position of the levers (Fig. 8), because only one lever in each series is

page_text: required to be in use at a time. For heating
For heating purposes the receptacle a and
bell-mouth tube or passage b are made larger, the heated surface upon
which the powder impinges consisting by preference of an incandescent coal
fire upon a grate. We may remark that coal gas or other inflammable gas
may be substituted for tlie jets of air when it is desired to make the light or
heat continuous, or when it is undesirable to use a fixed flame or heating
surface.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it distinctly understood that we make
no claim to the mechanical parts separately, as it will be seen that the
apparatus shewn and described is in some respects similar to what has before
been used; but what we claim is, -
Firstly. The combined arrangement of apparatus and mechanism herein
described for the production of light and heat for signalling and other
purposes by the combustion of inflammable powders.
And, secondly. The admixture or combination of powdered magnesium,
resin, and lycopodium, as described.
In witness whereof we, the said Philip Howard Colomb, and Francis
John Bolton, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-first
day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-eight.