IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING REFLECTORS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTING APPARATUS
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th January 1879. A communication
from abroad by Edwin Burges Watson, of Yokohama, Japan, Merchant.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
REFLECTORS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTING APPARATUS." [A communication from abroad
by Edwin Burges Watson, of Yokohama, Japan, Merchant.]
TO
This Invention relates to means for increasing the effect of the electric light by
the employment of reflectors consisting of silvered glass, and arranged in close
proximity to the light or illuminating point.
It is very desirable in the use of the electric light to make provision for reflecting
the rays in such a manner as to obtain the greatest illuminating effect, while
preventing or subduing as much as practicable the intensity or brilliancy which is
the chief characteristic of this light. And it is desirable to effect this object
without actual loss of lighting power, such as results from the use of thick glass
globes or covers and the like.
My Invention is chiefly based upon the fact that by reason of the slight degree
or amount of radiant heat from the electric light the use of silvered glass in close
proximity to the light is practicable. And in practising the said Invention
I arrange in or upon an electric lamp or lighting apparatus a reflector or reflectors
formed of silvered glass, preferably such as is used in the manufacture of mirrors.
These reflectors may be plane, concave, or convex, and may be arranged in any
suitable position near the lamp or light according to the direction in which it is
desired to direct, concentrate, or diffuse the rays. In some instances I cut the
glass on its unsilvered side to form facets or projections thereon, and thereby
present a number of illuminated points. And in some instances I form the said
reflectors of colored or tinted glass, or partly of plain and partly of tinted glass.
I am aware that the employment of reflectors in connection with an electric light
is not new, as it is obvious that ordinary reflectors of this kind are as applicable to
this as to other lights, and I am also aware that various special arrangements have
been devised for the use of reflectors for the electric light arranged at a considerable
distance from the lamp for lighting streets, mines, and other places where the
object is to direct the rays to a distance in a particular direction. But the main
object of my Invention is to provide electric lamps when used for domestic and
similar purposes with reflectors, which by their power and lustrous qualities

page_text: enhance the effect of the light, and for this purpose to utilize glass mirrors in a
manner and for a purpose which has.not.heretofore been practicable..
In combination with the mirror or mirrors which form the chief reflector of the
light, I sometimes use auxiliary or subsidiary reflectors or refractors of smaller size.
These may be arranged immediately-over the light, and are plane, convex, or 5
-concave, according to the shape of the large reflector; for instance; if the latter is
-concave, the-small-one-should-be-convex-And-these-small-reflectors or refractors
may be of white or colored glass.