US1514717A - Signal lamp - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 11 ,-19Z4. 1,514,717

' z. OLSSON SIGNAL LAMP Filed Oct. 23. 1922 INVENTOR A TTOR NE Y Patented Nov. ll, 1924.

UNITED STATES mam PATENT orricafi ZAOHARIAS OLSSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 BURGOYNE LIGHT & SIGNAL CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SIGNAL LAMP.

Application filed October 23, 1922. Serial No. 596,388.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ZAOHARIAS OLssoN, a citizen of Sweden, and resident of the city of New York, in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in lamps, and is especially, though not exclusively, adapted for railroad signal lamps, and has for its main object to provide a lamp of this type that will burn und er all conditions until the fuel is exhausted, the flame being not aflected in the least de gree by rain, wind and snow, nor by the movement of the lamp in the air.

Another object of the invention is to produce a lamp, wherein the air for the support of th flame is received at the top and conducted downwardly to the burner, the arrangement being such that'the products of combustion are prevented from mingling with the air flowing to the burner.

Another object of the invention is to pro-- duce a lamp of the type mentioned which is simple in construction, durable in use and efficient in operation, it being also capable of manufacture on a commercial scale, or in other words not so difficult to make as to be beyond the reasonable cost of such an article.

With these and other objects in view, which will more fuly appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the combination, arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that many changes may be made in the size and proportion of the several parts and details of construction within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

One of the many possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which represents a central vertical section taken through a lamp embodying the improvements.

In the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a base, on which is mounted a housing 2, having openings 3 in its sides, said openings being in alignment each with a lens 4, as usual in signal lamps. Around each lens is formed a flange 5, said flanges serving to screen the lenses and preventing more than oneshowing, when the lamp is properly placed. The housing is provided with a top 6, that is hinged at 7 thereto, a catch 8 being provided for holding the said top in closed position. The top includes a dome-shaped elementv 9, from which extends downwards the tubular body 10, the latter forming a continuation of the vertical walls of the housing. Through the said dome-shaped element extends a chimney 11, that is surrounded by an upright tubular wall ,12 on the dome-shaped element. The tubular wall projects at its top inwards toward the top of the chimney 11 and is united with said chimney, so as to close the annular space 13 formed between the said tubular wall, the chimney and part of the dome-shaped element 9. Over the tubular wall 12 is fitted the downwardly projecting flange 14 of a cap 15, the latter overhanging the said flange. In a similar manner does the dome-shaped element 9 of the top 6 overhang, the tubular body 10 of the said top. The purpose of this arrangement will be described hereinafter.

In the housing is located a removable lamp, comprising an oil font 16, from which rises a lamp casing 17. This lamp casing is provided in its vertical walls 18 with openings 19, in registering positions with the lenses 4. The openings are covered by transparent material 20, for instance glass. In transverse cross-section, the size of the lamp casing is considerably smaller than the transverse cross-section of the lamp housing 2, for a purpose hereinafter to be described. From the top 21 of the lamp casing projects upwards a flue 22, into which is snugly fitted the lower end of the chimney 11. If necessary, a gasket 23 may be interposed between the flue and chimney, to provide an air-tight union between these two elements.

From the top 6 of the lamp housing extends downwards a flange 24, that is spaced from the tubular body 10 above referred to, it surrounding the flue 22 and projecting, preferably, down to a level that coincides with that of the top 21 of the lamp casing.

In the tubular body 10 of the top of the lamp housing is provided a plurality of apertures 25, through which air is admitted to support combustion, said air passing between the said tubular body and the flange 2d downwards, continuing its flow thence between the inner face of the vertical wall of the housing 2 and the outer face of the lamp casing, entering the latter through perforations 26, which are disposed below the burner 21 as near as possible to the top portion 27 of the oil font, the said top portion forming the bottom of the lamp casing. The products of combustion leave the lamp casing through the flue 22, pass through the chimney 11, are deflected by the cap 15, and leave the housing through perforations 28 in the flange lat of the said cap.

The dome-shaped element 9 projects over the apertures 25, thereby excluding rain and fluctuating draughts, which may be caused by gusts of wind, the flange 2e battling the air, passing into the housing 2, to such an extent as to prevent it rushing into the lamp with sufiicient force to interfere with the flame. A further bafliing is effected by causing the air to turnat the bottom of the lamp casing. It may be noted that the flange 24s is not absolutely necessary for the proper operation of the lamp, as the flue 22 joins the chimney 11 and thereby prevents flowing of air into the lamp casing 17 at the top of the latter. In practice, however, it has been found that better results are obtained if the air is caused to flow downwards immediately upon entering the housing 2. a

From the foregoing it appears that an abundant air supply is provided for, and it will be seen that, no matter how strong the wind may blow on the lamp or how rapidly the lamp may be moved in the air, the direction of the air is entirely altered by the deflecting flange 24: and by the location of the perforations 26, so that, before reaching the inside of the lamp casing, the pressures are practically equalized in all directions and all undue velocity checked.

Inasmuch as the chimney 11 fits snugly into the flue 22 of the lamp casing 17, the fresh air supply cannot intermingle with the products of combustion The flame produced is thus a steady one, while, if the products of combustion would be permitted to mingle with the fresh air supply, it would flicker, in time.

In the tubular wall 12 is provided a plurality of perforations 29, a plurality of perforations 30 being formed in the inwardly projecting portion of the said tubular wall.

The partial vacuum, created in the chamber through the perforations 30 and intermingling with the products of combustion, flowing out through the apertures 28. The purpose of inducing a flow of air through the chamber 18 is to cool the top of the housing 2. I

The perforations 28 in the flange let of the cap are overhung by the said cap, to protect the lamp against weather and also to prevent any downward draught of air through the said perforations.

What 1 claim is l. A signal lamp comprising an outer housing having a top hinged thereto, a chimney extending through said top and movable therewith, a lamp casing removably mounted within said housing having a transverse cross-section smaller than that of said housing, and a flue fixed to said lamp casing, the inlet to said chimney and the outlet of said flue closely fitting into one another, forming a single passage when said top is in its closing position.

2. A signal lamp comprising an outer housing having a top hinged thereto, a chimney extending through said top and movable therewith, a lamp casing within said housing having a transverse cross-section smaller than that of said housing, and a flue fixed to said lamp casing, the inlet of said chimney and the outlet of said flue making an air-tight joint whensaid top is in its closing position.

3. A signal lamp, comprising an outer housing, a closed lamp casing therein, a chimney on said housing, and a flue on said lamp casing, the inlet to said chimney and the outlet of said flue making an air-tight joint, thereby forming a single passage, the transverse cross-section of said lamp casing being smaller than that of said housing, whereby an annular space is provided between the inner face of said housing and the outer face of said lamp casing, said housing being provided with air inlets above said lamp casing and said lamp casing being provided with air inlets adjacent its'bottom.

Signed at New York, in the county ofNew York, and State of New York, this 8th day of September, A. D.1922. i

' i ZACHARIAS OLSSON.

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