AN IMPROVED FLOAT LIGHT
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Coleman Defries, of the Firm of Jonas Defries
and Sons, of No. 147, Houndsditch, in the City of London, Manufac-
turer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED FLOAT LIGHT."
Sealed the 1st March 1867, and dated the 7th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Coleman Defries at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
September 1866.
I, COLEMAN DEPRIES, of the Firm of Jonas Defries and Sons, of No. 147,
Houndsditch, in the City of London, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED FLOAT LIGHT," to be as
follows:-
I make a cast or wrought iron framing, the back of which forms a hollow
tube which has top and side plates, is open at the bottom, and on the front
of which I form a sash for the reception of a sheet or sheets of glass; this
frame or box may be made of any desired length, but I find two-feet lengths
very suitable. I make the front of the hollow tube (namely, the side towards
the stage,) slope backwards at an angle regulated by the rake of the stage;
this box is supported in the centre by angle iron, and has at each end other
angle iron, by which it is attached to other similar boxes combined to reach
entirely or partly across the breadth of the stage. Above the top of each box
or of the combined boxes I place a metal plate, leaving a space between the

page_text: top of the box and this plate for the introduction of sand or other isolating
material. When these boxes are placed in position so that the tube of each
forms one continuous conduit the top of each box rises about three inches
above the actual rake of the stage, which, however, begins to slope down to
the bottom of the boxes or float when about one foot from it. From the main
gas pipe passing beneath the stage from one side to the other branch pipes
rise into each of the boxes, say, six to each two-foot box or compartment, each
alternate burner being from two to three inches, more or less, lower than the
other, and each pipo bent backward, following the angle formed by the front of
the continuous conduit. The tap of each burner is placed at the bottom of the
branch pipe at or near its junction with the main gas pipe, so that it may be
easily reached beneath the stage.
When the iron frames or compartments
are joined together, forming one continuous box open at the bottom and with
glass in front, the hollow back of the box forms a continuous tube or conduit,
having one sloping and one vertical side, and with holes at intervals near the
top of the sloping front; one end of this continuous tube is placed in connection
with a shaft extending outside the building.
The action is as follows:-The branch gas pipes following the angle of the
front of the tube forming the back of the float, and each alternate burner rising
to a different height, the highest row of burners cast their light in an almost
horizontal direction over the stage, whereas the lower row cast their light in a
somewhat vertical direction, and thus light is fairly thrown all over the front
part of the stage. The supply of air to these burners is drawn from the open
bottom of the box, and the heated air from the jets in each compartment is
drawn through the holes at the top into the air tube, and passes from thence
into the shaft, the draught being first established by lighting a gas burner in
the shaft. The top of each compartment being hollow and containing a layer
of sand or other isolating material, as above described; the upper plate always
remains cool, and the angle iron which supports each box and that by which
the boxes are connected to each other keep the float from the woodwork of
the stage and orchestra. At each end of the float light thus formed I place
grooved uprights rising to the top of the float, and in these uprights rises and
falls a frame carrying the glass mediums by which different colored light is
thrown on to the stage. The glass in front of each of the compartments does
not quite reach the top of the float in order to give a better supply of air to
the jets.
I propose in some cases to cover the space from the front of the top of the
air tube to the glass framing with talc or analogous material in order to throw
a soft light directly upwards and prevent all shadow. In this case the air

page_text: tube will be cast or wrought with side plates or flanges only, and no top plate
or flange.
I propose to use fish-tail instead of the argand burners hitherto used in
float lights, and I am enabled to do this, because in my improved float light
the sheets of glass in front of the compartments replace the ordinary chimney
glasses, and I thus effect a great saving of gas.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Coleman Defries in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, COLEMAN
DEFRIES, of the Firm of Jonas Defries and Sons, of Number 147, Hounds-
ditch, in the City of London, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Ierself, Iler heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Coleman Defries, Her special licence that I, the said Coleman Defries, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Coleman
Defries, my executors, administrators, 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 "AN IMPROVED FLOAT LIGHT,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Coleman Defries, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, 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 I, the said Coleman Defries, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawing
forming part of this my Specification, and to the figures and letters of refer-
ence placed thereon, similar letters of reference being placed upon and

page_text: denoting similar parts where such parts appear or may be seen at each of the
Figures respectively, Figure 1 being a front elevation of one of the sections
or divisions of my improved float, Figure 2 a cross section of same at A, B,
Figure 1, and Figure 3 shewing detached the reducing joint by which the
float is connected with a flue leading to the outside of the building.
A indicates a cast or wrought iron framing or body forming two hollow
tubes or chambers a, a', and carrying in the front a sash 6 for the reception of
a sheet or sheets of glass; this frame or box may be made in sections of any
desired length, but I find two-feet lengths very suitable. The front of the
hollow tube or vitiated air chamber a is wrought or cast in the concave shape
sbewn Figure 2, or sloping backwards from the stage at an angle regulated
by the rake of this latter, and is coated or covered with any suitable reflector.
This section is supported in the centre by the angle iron or leg c, and has at
each end angle iron or flanges d (see Figure 2), by which the sections are
screwed or otherwise fastened together to form in combination the length of
float desired. Above the top of each section, or of the combined sections,
I place a plate e, leaving a space between the top of the box or frame A and
this plate for the introduction of sand or other heat isolating material; or I
leave this space free and pierce the plate e with holes e', and the top of the
frame A with holes e" (see Figure 2), for the introduction and exit of a
current of cold air, as indicated by the arrows. When these boxes or sections
A are placed in their proper position and combined to form a float light tho
tubes or chambers a, a¹, of one section will come in a line with those of the
preceding and succeeding section, and their ends being open, two continuous
tubes or chambers will be formed in the entire length of the float. The top
of the float rises from three to four inches above the rake of the stage, which
at about a foot from the float is cut sloping down to the level of the bottom of
the chamber a. B indicates the main gas pipe passing beneath the stage from
one side to the other, and f branch pipes with burners rising within the frame
formed by the front of a and the glass in b. Six of these burners are shewn
at Figure 1, but their number will vary with the length of the section and
other considerations. It will be observed that each alternate burner is of the
same height, and that each succeeding one is of a different elevation; also
that I bend my branch pipes backwards, following the line of the concave
reflector, but the branches might rise in a straight line from the gas pipe B,
although I deem it less convenient. The tap 9 of each burner is placed near
the junction of the pipes f and B, in order that they may, if desired, be easily
reached from beneath the stage. The glass in front of the burners inay rise
to the top of the frame b, and air be supplied to the burners through an opening

page_text: left between the top of the frame b and the top plate e, or the glass may rise
only to within an inch or two of the top of the frame b, as may be desired;
the burners are also supplied with oxygen through the open bottom h; i indi-
cates the bottom line of the reflector, which may be enamelled on the wrought
or cast iron frame or body A, or be a separate piece made of any material
commonly used for reflecting light; j indicates slits or openings through which
the vitiated air is drawn into the tube a; and k (Figure 2) indicates an
opening (of which there are several to each section) by which the vitiated air
passes from a to a¹.
ratus.
I would bere observe that although I have shewn on the Drawing two
chambers or tubes for vitiated air in many cases that a will be sufficient of
itself to carry off the heated air, but in such case the angle iron or leg c will
be made longer and of the shape most convenient for the fixing of the appa-
C (Figure 1) indicates the position of a reducing piece (shewn sepa-
rately at Figure 3) by which the chamber a' is connected to an iron flue
pipe C¹ in communication with the outer air; F, gas burner for creating a
current of air when the float is first lit up. Instead of an iron flue pipe a
brick one will be built where desirable, or an existing flue be used, the shape
of the joint C being altered to suit the special requirements of the locality.
If only one vitiated air chamber bo used the joint or reducing piece C will be
connected at one end to the end of the chamber a at its bottom or side, and
by the other end with the brick flue or iron pipe C'; D, D, (Figures 1 and 2)
are brackets assisting in supporting the sections, and carrying at their lower
ends sockets, in which is received an iron barrel shaft E which revolves on
the bracket D in bearings, indicated by m (Figure 2); naro set screws for
securing the shaft E in the sockets 1. At each of the brackets D, D, and at
each section throughout the full length of the float, this shaft E carries a
grooved roller over which passes the endless chain o, carried also on the
pulley p at the top of the body or frame A; 9, 9', are metal tubes attached to
the endless chain, and carrying the tammy-colored glass mediums or other
material r, r, (Figure 2) by which colored light is thrown over the stage.
The shaft E passes through the sockets from side to side of the stage, as do
the tubes q, q'. Instead of being raised and lowered by an endless chain, as
shewn, the mediums might ride in grooved uprights, each medium lifting by a
separate chain or cord like a window in its sash; but I prefer the arrangement
shewn. The shaft E carries a fly at one end and a grooved pulley at the
other, this latter carrying a band passing to a driving pulley driven by a crank
in the prompter's box, or the driving pulley may be over the middle of the
shaft if the prompter's box be in the front centre of the stage.

page_text: Action and Advantages of my Improved Float Light.-The effect of having
the burners fat an alternating height, as shewn, is that the light from the
highest row of jets is cast almost horizontally over the stage, while that from
the lower row is thrown more vertically, the shape of the concave reflector
assisting greatly in this disposition of the light, which disposition may be
modified by varying the relative height of the two rows of jets and the angle
of the reflector, whether concave or a simple inclined plane. By covering
the space between the top of the reflector and that of the sash b with talc or
analogous material in lieu of the front part of top plate e, I can throw a
soft light vertically and still further prevent all shadow, but I am of opinion
that the arrangement shown on the Drawing will be found quite sufficient for
this purpose. The effect of my arrangement of air chamber or chambers a
and a¹ in connexion with the pipe or flue C¹ is as follows:-When the
burners are first lit up that F (Figure 3) is also lit, and establishes a
draught, which draws the vitiated air from the space between the reflector
and the glass through the slits ; into chamber a, from thence by the
openings into chamber a', and so on through the reducing joint to the
flue C¹ (as indicated by the arrows). As before stated the hot air may be drawn
directly from the chamber a to the shaft C' if it be found inconvenient to
have two chambers. The coolness of the entire apparatus is further increased
by the cold air sucked in through the orifices e¹ and e". By these means no
hot or unwholesome air or vapour passes to the stage or auditorium, and the
health and comfort of actors and audience are preserved. The sheet or sheets
of glass in the sash b are not only necessary to my system of ventilation,
but they also do away with the possibility of the flame from the burners
reaching the dress of the actor or actress, and permit the use of ordinary
fish-tails in lieu of the expensive argand burners hitherto used, no chimneys
being required. The simplicity and convenient working of my improved
arrangement of colored mediums will be readily understood. The prompter
or other functionary by turning a crank placed in his box or at the side of the
stage in one direction causes the endless chain o to revolve and carry up in
front of the float the medium q, that q' lowering, and by reversing the motion
he causes that q to lower and to rise to the position shewn, Figuro 2 of the
Drawing, or to pass 9, and rise in front of the float light; this may be done
by separate chains or ropes, and the mediums rise in an upright frame grooved
like a window sash, but the arrangement shewn ] deem most simple and
expeditious.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the means by
which I carry it into practical effect, I would have it understood that I do

page_text: not confine myself to the use of any particular material, or to any precise
dimensions of parts in the construction of my improved float light, nor to any
size of float, varying the same as may be found most suitable to the circum-
stances of each particular case, and although I prefer making my float in
sections of two feet or thereabout, as being more handy for removal and fitting,
nevertheless I may make the entire float of sheet iron, and build it on the
spot, and whether made in sections of wrought or of cast iron, or built
up on the spot, there may be either one or two chambers or vitiated air
conduits as may be found most suited to the locality; neither do I absolutely
confino myself to the use of an endless chain for raising or lowering the
mediums, as shewn on the Drawing, as this may also be done by separate
cords or chains raising the mediums in grooved uprights, and other modifi-
cations may be made in my improved float light without substantially departing
from the principle of its construction. I do not claim the use of any of the
parts of my improved float light taken as parts, and not used in combination,
or for the purposes of my Invention; but what I do claim is the exclusive
use of an improved float light constructed and arranged substantially as herein
described and shewn on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing, whether tho
mechanism for raising and lowering colored mediums be or be not applied
thereto.
In witness whereof, I, the said Coleman Defries, havo hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of March, in the year of our Lord Ono
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
COLEMAN DEFRIES. (L.S.)