US728738A - Lantern. - Google Patents

Description

I PATENTEDMAY 19, 1903. G. W. MANLEY.

LANTERN.

AIPLIOATIOKFILED NOV. 8, 1902.

2 SHBETS -BHEE-T 1.

H 0 M 0 D B L m: aims PETER! co. PHOYQ'LITnO WASHINOTIIN, n'. c

Patented May 19, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE \V. MAN LEY, OF RANTOUL, ILLINOIS.

. LANTERN.

SPECIFICATION forming art tr Letters Patent No. 728,738, dated Ma 19, 1903.

Application filed November 8, 1902. seen. No. 130.608. (No model-J in lanterns of that kind or class adapted for railway signaling; and the object is to' provide a lamp or lantern of the kind named and for the purposes stated wherebya clear signal may be changed to indicate another character of signal-such as danger, can-1 tion, and other designated or determined character prescribed by the rules of the road and then restored as desired to the original or primary condition.

The invention embodies a lantern comprising the usual constructions and equipments, a base-ring, a lifting expanding spring, and a colored cylinder seated on the ring and adapted to be depressed and elevated, all as will be fully set forth and the novelty claimed particularly and distinctly pointed out.

I have fully and clearly illustrated'my invention in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lantern equipped with my improvements, showing the colored signal-cylinder elevated. Fig. 2

is a horizontal'section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing the arrangement of the parts. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the lantern, showing theaggroupment of the parts, with the lifting-spring expanded and the colored signal-cylinder in elevated position surrounding the lampfiame. Fig. it is a perspective View of the colored signal-cylinder. tive view of the supporting-ring on which the colored signal-cylinder seats.

In the drawings similar reference notations designate like parts in all of the illustrations.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the lantern-frame, comprising vertically-arranged standards 1 in radial relation and formed with inwardly-extending knees 2. These standards are connected and strengthened above the knees by wires 3, passed through them with the ends cemented to.- gether, and at the base is a similar wire 4,

Fig. 5 is a perspec-:

which strengthens and binds the legs together. At the top of the standards is secured a flanged ring 5,10 which is hinged the cover 6,formed with a fine extension 7, perforated as usual to provide a draft for the lamp. A spreader Sis located in the flue extension.

Asnap-catch 9 is secured to the cover 6,

which engages the flange on the ring 5 and locks the cover in closed position. Between the knees 2 is arranged and secured the lampcylinder 10. This consists of a metal cyliuder having open ends and of such height and diameter as may adapt it to receive and contain the lamp and to hold the base-flange of the chimney 11, the top of which is held in place by a circular flange 12 on the inner face of the cover. 13 designates the lamp of the usual make, having its bottom extended and formed with a vertical annular flange'14, which fits up around the lower part of the cylinder lOand is detach-ably held in position by the engagement of laterally-projecting lugs 15 on the cylinder with a slot 16 and a spring-tongue 17 in a well-known manner. A carrying-bail 18 is. secured to the upper ends of opposite standards, as shown. Each and all ofthese elements and parts hereto-v fore described are of well-known construction, except that the lamp-cylinder 10 is preferably made longer than usual to fully accommodate the improved appliances and parts involved in my invention, and also certain changes are made in the cylinder 10 for the same purpose, and these, with the other embodied parts of the invention, I now proceed to describe.

l9.designates an expansive spiral spring disposedin the space between the cylinder 10 and thelamp 13, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, with the lower coil secured in clips slots, so as to hold the spring depressed and the colored cylinder down in its lower position. The colored signal-cylinder, as here tofore mentioned, may be of any selected color designed to publish a signal having a prescribed meaning.

The utilization of the improvements may be stated as follows: Normally the white light is displayed and indicates a well-known signal; but should a signal of other significance and meaning be required then a lamp having a colored cylinder of the kind necessary is selected, the arms 26 are unlocked, and the spring moves the colored cylinder into upper position and surrounding the white light, and a signal of the selected color is displayed. When the exigency has passed, the spring is depressed, carrying with it the colored cylinder, and again the white light prevails.

The advantages attending the use of a lantern of the construction specified are several and important. Every trainman, switchman,

flagman, or other employee of a railway company whose duties require him to attend on the coming and going of trains is under present rgime provided with a red lantern or any other color indicative of danger or canlion and at the same time is allowed to carry only one lantern, the signal designation of which is stationary and unchangeable, while in the instance of the invention he carries a lantern which can be changed to impart either a clear signal or a danger indication. Its use also materially reduces the expense in the stock of lanterns and saves in cost of oil and labor of keeping the lanterns supplied.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is In a signal-lantern, the combination with the lamp, having its bottom extended and formed with a vertical annular flange, of a lamp-cylinder formed with opposite vertical slots having bayonet extensions at their base, an expansive spring arranged between the lamp and the lamp-cylinder, a plate-ring secured to the upper coil of the ring formed with diametrically opposite finger-pieces to slidingly engage in the vertical slots of the lamp-cylinder, and a colored signal-cylinder mounted on the ring.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. MANLEY.

Witnesses:

B. RUNALLS, I W. W. KELLEY.

Images