IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPs' and other SIGNAL. LAMPS
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Nunn at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd May
1870.
I, WILLIAM NUNN, of 65, 66, and 67, Saint George Street East, in the
County of Middlesex, Ships' Lamp Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPs' and other SIGNAL.
LAMPS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates chiefly to the construction and the combination:
of parts of ships' signal lamps, but with certain modifications they are
applicable to other lamps used for signalling purposes..
The improvement firstly consists in so constructing the lamp that it
shall be available for burning candles or oil.
Secondly. In the means of directing a current of air to the flame.
Thirdly. In a means of fixing a reflector to the lamp in such a manner
that the greatest amount of light shall be thrown off from it, and also to
protect it from the flame.
Fourthly. In the fitting of a chimney in the upper part of the lamp:
to create a draft.

page_text: Fifthly. In fitting covers or shields to shut out the light when
desired.
Sixthly. In securing such lamps firmly in position.
And, seventhly. In means of swivelling or centering them upon a
bent or curved bar.
The first improvement consists in fitting a spring socket or candle
holder within a ring fixed in a position in the lamp, so that the socket
can be removed from or replaced in such ring as desired to admit of a
light burning a given number of hours, when it will extinguish itself;
also in fitting an inclined plate with turned over edges within such lamp,
so that an oil reservoir provided with wicks can be slid down into position
to be used in place of the candle. The oil reservoir is made of a
cylindrical form and with two skins or jackets, the outer one to be fitted
at a distance from the inner one, so that a space is left between them
for the passage of air to the flame or flames. The wicks are arranged in
a circle, and an air passage is formed through the central part to support
combustion. The air being led from the space before referred to by short
tubes, the main entrance for the air being through a perforated tube at.
the bottom of the reservoir. I attach a conical cap or ring to the upper
part of the candle socket to direct a current of air down upon the top
surface of the candle to keep the tallow near the flame comparatively
cool, and also to assist combustion. The reflectors are formed of a
segment of a circle of any size for concentrating and giving off the
greatest amount of light; the reflector forms a portion of the ring or
body with the glass. By this means at whatever angle the lamp may
be put there is no chance of the flame coming in contact with it. The
chimney is of circular form and is dropped in from the top; it is provided
with studs or projections to rest upon the top edge of the inner top ring.
The covers are composed of rings of a depth corresponding with the
height of the glass. They can be fitted either to the inside or outside of
the lamp and lifted by a button or knob to the top of the glass, when
spring catches with which they are provided take over a rim or projecting
edge to hold them in that position. The top handle or "bail" is
provided with a threaded socket for passing over a rounded end of a
curved bar, so that the lamp can be suspended over the side or stern of
the vessel. The socket admits of the lamp swinging in two directions,
and the pins in which the "bail" is held form two other swinging
points, so that the lamp is always kept in an upright position, at whatever

page_text: angle the vessel may be. The lower end of the curved bar can be fitted
into a socket or hole to receive it, or it may be flattened out to be secured
to the vessel by screws or nails. In the case of port and starboard and
other signal lamps which are secured to a screw I attach threaded or
key knobs to them, so that thumbscrews or segmental keys can be passed
through them into a threaded or plain socket in the screen.
Any or all of the above-described parts can be fitted to signal lamps,
whether such lamps be used for signalling on board ship, or in harbour
lighthouses, or other places.