IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMPS
Year: 1885

page_text: We, JAMES COMPTON MERRYWEATHER of Greenwich Road S.E. in the County
of Kent, Engineer and CHRISTOPHER JOHN WALLACE JAKEMAN of Greenwich
Road S.E. in the County of Kent Engineer do hereby declare the nature of our
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMPS to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in portable electric lamps and consists of
a battery, preferably of carbon & zinc, excited by a solution of bichromate of
potash and sulphuric acid, contained in a divided trough of ebonite or other
suitable material.
In one form of lamp, apparatus is provided for withdrawing the elements from
the liquid when the light is not required, and a commutator or switch is arranged
to connect a portion of the elements to the lamp when the battery is first charged
and a further number as the liquid becomes decomposed.
The electric light is on the incandescent system, and the whole is contained in a
case or lantern preferably of metal fitted with a suitable glass & reflectors.
The trough is made to remove easily from the case or lantern to be replenished
without disturbing the elements or lamp; in some cases the trough is fitted with'
plugs or screwed plugs for emptying and replenishing the battery without removing
it from the case.
In one form the lamp instead of being fixed in one position inside the lantern
is contained in a small case, preferably of circular form attached by jointed arms
to the battery case so that the light may be thrown in any direction without tilting
the battery case and so upsetting the liquid.
In some cases we construct the lamp as follows-The case or lantern is of metal
covered with an acid proof substance inside, or is made of other suitable material
and is hermetically sealed; the lamp is contained in a parabolic or other reflector
with a glass front-this is also airtight and is placed within the lantern or case."
The elements are fixed to the bottom of the battery & when the light is not
required the lamp is inverted thus emptying the battery of the exciting liquid
which will then flow into the other part of the lantern or case.
,
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35

page_text: Improvements in Portable Electric Lamps.
We, JAMES COMPTON MERRYWEATHER of Greenwich Road S.E. in the County
of Kent Engineer and CHRISTOPHER JOHN WALLACE JAKEMAN of Greenwich
Road S.E. in the County of Kent 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in portable electric lamps and consists
of a battery in combination with an incandescent lamp enclosed in a portable case.
Referring to the annexed sheet of drawings, fig. I shows the front elevation of
the lamp, and fig. II the side section. Fig. 111 shows one form of switch and
Fig. IV shows section of a lamp to be carried separately.
Fig. V shows front view of another form of our invention and fig. VI side section
of same.
Referring to figs. I & II, we construct a case 1, in which is fixed a battery
trough 2, divided into cells, of which the number may vary; the elements 3,
preferably carbon & zinc are fixed to a plate 4 of ebonite or other suitable material,
and capable of vertical movement in the case or lantern; when the light is not
required, the elements may be withdrawn from the exciting liquid, and may be
retained in that position by tightening the screws 5; this prevents the expenditure
of zinc and liquid when the light is not use.
The lamp 6 is an incandescent filament lamp and is fixed to the plate 4, and
connected by wires to the elements; reflectors 7, 7, and a glass 8, are provided to
the lantern.
Referring to fig. III-in some cases we provide a switch arrangement of which
one form is shewn, so that on first producing a light, and the liquid being at its
maximum power, a small number of cells only may be used and others may be
progressively brought into use, and a light may be shewn of moderate intensity
but of greater duration than if all the cells were in the first instance used. In the
figure, 9 is a metal slide, the end of which fits between two faces, one 10, being
of metal, and the other, 11, of nonconducting material; into 11 are fixed metal
contact pieces 12 insulated from each other. Each cell is connected by its positive
or negative pole as indicated by 13, to one of the contact pieces 12, thus by
altering the position of the slide 9, the number of cells in circuit may be varied
at will, the current passing through one of the contact pieces 12, the slide 9, and
the face 10 in its passage from one of the poles 13 to the lamp.
Reverting to figs. I & II, the battery trough 2, is arranged to be secured in lamp
case 1 by screws 14, 14 engaging in holes in the battery trough 2, and which when
withdrawn, permit the trough to be taken out below for the purpose of charging
or replenishing with liquid.
Referring to fig. 4, in some cases we construct the lamp portion separately from
the battery. It consists simply of the lamp 6, with suitable reflector 7 and glass 8
enclosed in a metal case 1, preferably of circular form.

page_text: In figs. V & VI we make the case 1 watertight, & either of an acid proof
material or of metal covered with an acid proof substance inside; the battery 2 is
introduced from below as in figs. I & II but a watertight joint is made at 15 in any
convenient manner; in that shewn a lip is fixed to the lamp case 1, and the edge
of the battery trough is bevelled off as shewn; an india rubber ring is compressed
between these two by means of screws and tapped plates shewn at 16.
The lamp 6 is similar to that shewn in figs. I & II but is enclosed in a case,
watertight as regards the case 1 and forming a reflector 7; this may be of metal
covered outside with an acid proof substance. The elements 3 are arranged
similarly to those in figs. I & II, but instead of being fixed to a sliding plate, are
secured to the bottom of the battery 2 as shewn and suitable conductors are
connected to the lamp for which purpose a tube 17 may be attached to the back of
the reflector 7, for the passage of the conductors.
This form of lamp may le fitted with a switch arrangement as shewn in fig. III.
This battery may be charged and kept ready for use, standing upside down when
the exciting liquid will be withdrawn from the elements, flowing into the space 18,
around the reflector, and on the lamp case being reversed the liquid will flow into
the cells and the light will be at once produced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is.
1. The combination of an electric lamp and battery in a case with reflectors, in
a portable form substantially as described."
2. The arrangement for withdrawing the elements from the liquid when the
light is not required, substantially as described.
3. The arrangement of a switch for the purpose of progressively connecting the
cells to the lamp substantially as described.
4. The arrangement of battery and case that the liquid may be withdrawn from
the elements by turning the case upside down.
Deted his 6th dore of Fabory 18on