US2015432A - Lantern - Google Patents

Description

C. METZ epfi. 24-, 1935.

LANTERN Original Filed Aug. 16, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept 24-, 1935. c METZ 2,15,432

LANTERN Original Filed Aug. 16, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H, by Ms afiornay, v 5 g ww Patented Sept. 24, 1935 orFicE LANTERN Carl Metz, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Frederick Mclwen, Philadelphia, Pa.

' Application August 16, 1932, Serial No. 629,028

Renewed March 2, 1935 Claims.

This invention relates to lanterns and particularly to that class thereof designed for use in signaling on railways.

I have various objects in mind, to be carried 5 out by the improvements in lanterns, constituting my invention. One of these objects is to provide a lantern construction, which, while lending itself practically to sheet metal stamping operations, will aiford a more even draft through the lantern, in connection with supplying air to the burning wick and in the discharge of the air from the upper part of the lantern, regardless of the force of air blown against the outside of the lantern. In this connection, a further object is to provide forms of bafiie construction for the air inlet and outlet parts, of the lantern, which will prevent direct incoming or through drafts, which interfere with the natural circulation of air within a lighted lantern. I

A further object is to take advantage of the heat in the oil font, which accumulates during the burning of the wick, and to provide a construction of Walls and the positioning of air passages therethrough, which will cause the incoming air to remain longer in the vicinity of the heated font, as it is passing through the walled passages, giving the aira better chance to get warmer from these walls. My object in thus increasing the temperature of the air in the lower part of the lantern, is' to create a greater difierence in air temperature between the lower and upper areas within the globe and the hood of the lantern, which will result in a better and more controlled flow of air through the lantern, effecting a more even draft.

Another object is to provide a removable globe holder at the top of the lantern, which can be quickly sprung into place and locked there in a changeable position, for self-adjustment,-as it is seated upon the globe, when the lantern lid is snapped down into place.

A further object is to provide with the globe holder, a form of cylindrical windshield, which will give an upward direction to cooling and'incoming air, to pass in and out of the lantern top, to reduce the temperature thereof, to make a greater difference in temperature between the bottom and the top of the lantern, thus further amplifying this diiference of temperature, which is increased below as has been stated, and thus decreased above, affording a still more improved and controlled draft through the lantern.

Another object is to providea form of globe holder adapted to slidingly fit within the hood of the lantern, having at the usual upper opening,

a winged baflle piece, fixed to the globe holder and extending across said opening. This bafiie piece, I desire to have formed with box-shaped ends, extending to the outer top edge of the globe holder and While forming an anchorage for the 5 usual compression spring above, will also be adapted to co-ordinate with studs fixed to and extending Within the hood of the lantern, having these studs positioned diametrically opposite one another, afiording, with the box-shaped ends of the 10 baffle piece, a kind of bayonet locking arrangement, at the same time permitting a freedom of action to the compression spring in automatically adjusting the globe holder in seating relation to the globe. Further, I desire to aiiord with such 15 bayonet locking arrangement, a construction permitting of a quick and easy release of the globe holder, for cleaning purposes, as well as affording a quick and easy replacement of the globe holder, with the hood, prior to snapping the lantern hood 2 down, with the globe in place;

With these and other objects, which will hereinaiter appear, my invention resides in certain construction, one embodiment of which is illustrated in the drawings, and is hereinafter de- 25 scribed. The use and operation of the construction is explained and what I claim is set forth.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevation of a lantern embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the globe holder.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4, of 35 Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5--5, of Figure 3.

In the figures, the lantern ill is shown to have a cage H, with upright ribs l2, which are sur- 40 mounted by a top ring I3, to which is hinged and releasably looked, a lantern top it, having a hood I5 and a skirt l6. Fixed to oppositely disposed ribs l2, arethe bail ears H, to which is loosely attached the bail l8. Engaging all the ribs I2 45 is the bottom ring 19, the guard ring 20 and the angle ring 2|, which has a horizontal flange 22, to which are fixed the ribs I2. 23 is the vertical leg of the angle ring 2|, forming a band fixed between the shoulder 24 and the outstanding bead 25, of the outer cylindrical wall 25, of the lower portion 2?, of the lantern l9. Below the shoulder 24, is the outstanding bead 28, above which is a series of holes 29, passing through the wall 26. Below the bead 28, is the skirt portion 30, of the wall 26. An inverted closure cap 3|, forms the bottom of the lantern portion 21, and has a rim portion 32, fitting tightly about the skirt portion 38, of the wall 25. The cap 3| has a flat wall portion 33, a cylindrical wall portion 34, and a floor portion 35. The top edge of the wall 25, is turned outward and is engaged by the rim portion 36, of the globe seat member 3;, having a globe seat 38, below the rim portion 35, upon which rests the glass globe 39. Depending from the inner edge of the seat 38, is the cylindrical wall portion 40, of the member 3?. The lower edge 4 of the wall portion 49, is turned in to be about the same diameter as that of the wall portion 34. Just below the globe seat 39, the wall portion 49 has a series of holes 52, there through. Below these holes 42, is the rim 43, of the oil font 44, of the lamp. This oil font 44 has a closure 45, a bottom 46, and a side wall 4?, which fits within the edge 4| and rests slidingly within the wall portion 34, of the cap 3|, and upon the floor portion 35. 48 is the wick of the lamp, and 49 is the wick wheel, with a stem 58, passing through the slot 5|, in the wall 25, to come below the globe seat 38.

Between the wall 26 and the font wall 41, is the flanged, cylindrical wall 52, which rests upon the flat wall portion 33 and engages the upper bead 25. This wall 52 is positioned midway between the wall 25 and the font wall 41, and has a series of holes 53, passing through its lower portion.

Considering the formation of the globe holder 54, which slidingly engages the inside of the hood |5, the outer wall 55 has a skirt portion 56, merging into a conical portion M, which merges into an upper portion 58, having an inclined inner flanged portion 59, surrounding the opening 60, in the top of the globe holder 54.

Reaching across the opening 59, is the winged baflle piece 6|, having divergently inclined wings 62, depending from the bar portions 63, between which is the longitudinal open space 64. The wings 62 are below the flange 59. The box-shaped ends 65, of the baflie piece 6|, each being shaped having opposite triangular sides 66 and 57, integral with a top 68, are open below where the sides 66 and 51 come in contact with the flange 59. Each wall 55 and 67 is notched below at 69 and I0, respectively, to be engaged by the bottom coil, of the spring I and each wall 61 is cut away enough at 12, to permit a stud l3, fixed in the wall of the hood, to project within a box-shaped end 65. The baflie piece 6| is securely locked on top of the flange 59 by means of the tongues 14, which are bent up under the flange 59, at each end. The lower edge 15, of the wall 58 is flared out a little and is engaged by the lower part of the cylindrical windshield portion 16, toform the rim ll, of the globe holder 54. Above the rim ll, is a series of holes 78, passing through the wall 56. The windshield portion 16 has a globe seat 19, resting upon the globe 39. Merging into the inner edge of the seat 79, is the cylindrical baffle portion 80, terminating above in an inturned edge 8|, annularly spaced from the conical portion 5! of the globe holder 54. The hood l5, has an outstanding bead 82, above which is the group of holes 83 passing through the sides of the hood I5. The top 84 of the hood I5 is made convex, and has the top coils of the spring bearing up against it, inside.

In use, considering the paths of the air currents into and through the lantern, when the same is lit, with the wick burning, air enters the holes 29,

in the outer wall 26, of the lower portion 21 of the lantern l0, and then descends toward the flat portion 33 and enters the holes 53 in the intermediate wall 52. Next it ascends between this wall 52 and the wall 47, of the oil font, and passes 5 up through the holes 42, where it enters within the globe 39. During the movement of the air between the outer wall 26 and the font wall 4's,

it becomes heated from these walls in lower portion if, of the lantern l9, and at the same time, 10 the wall 52 serves as a bafile to any air forcibly blown through the holes 29. At the same time, the limited passage to the air, afforded by the holes 53, acts to hold the air between the baffle wall 52 and the wall 26, until it has time to pass through the holes 53, thus checking any sudden draft before the air reaches the holes 42, and enters within the globe 39.

At the top of the lantern iii, the heated air passes through the globe holder 54, and out at the opening 55, therein, entering the hood l5, and. passing out through the holes 83. As the air passes through the globe holder opening 60, it passes also by bafiie piece 5|, and through its-- long opening 54. The bafile wings 52 and the conical flange 55, serve to check any sudden down currents of air, blown in through the holes 83. Additional up-flowing air currents within the globe holder 55, are afforded by the constructionincluding the baffle wall 85 and the annular space between the wall edge 8| and the conical portion 51, of the wall 55, in a manner, to increase the velocity of the air passing by the edge 8|, after it enters the space between the walls 55 and 89, coming in through the holes 78. The space surrounding the wall edge 8|, forms a sort of Venturi throat to increase the velocity of the upwardly moving air and improves the draft up through the upper part of the globe holder 5 Air enter- I ing the holes 18, if forcibly blown in, tends to 40 accelerate the velocity of the air through the Venturi throat and therefore increases the resistance of the air currents, so increased, against any down draft tendency. Then there is a cooling effect afforded by fresh cool air coming into the holes '58 and passing up through the parts as just explained. This cooling effect is beneficial, inasmuch as it makes for a greater difference of temperature between the air within, and at the bottom of the globe 39, and the air at the top. By increasing the temperature at the lower part of the globe 39, and decreasing the temperature at the upper part, I have improved the natural draft through the lantern and made it more steady and even, while at the same time, I have checked adverse drafts by means of the baffle walls 52, below, and 85 above as against strong air currents by wind or otherwise, blowing past the lantern. It will be observed, that with this better control of the natural air draft through the lantern, I have improved the lantern for signal purposes, permitting of swinging the lantern through the air without disturbing its natural internal drafts. Y

Referring again to the globe holder 54, but this time to the facilities afforded for easily positioning and releasing the same, in relation to the hood l5, as well as for securely locking the globe holder in place, when about to assemble the globe holder 54, with the hood' l5, after having cleaned the same and the hood l5, let us assume that the lantern lid I4 is open. We begin by entering the spring 1| into the hood I5, and slip the wall portion 58, into engagement with the inside of the wall of the hood I5, having the box-shaped ends 65, of the bafile piece 6|, out of line with the studs 13. Then upon forcing the holder 54 further in, until the outer part, of the flange 59, strikes the studs 13, the holder is held in this position and turned until the openings 12, have passed the studs l3, and the side walls 66, strike the studs l3. Then, with the spring ll being compressed, upon releasing the hold upon the globe holder 56, the spring will force the same outward, and bring the top walls 68, of the box ends 65, up against the studs 13, holding this locking engagement with the studs 13, on account of the same being between the side walls 66 and 6'5, of the box ends 65. Next, when I shut the lid I4 down, having the globe in place, and having engaged the globe top, to come against the seat 19 and within the flange Tl, there will be an upmovement between the wall of the hood I5 and the holder 54, as the lid i4 is snapped in place, so that the tops 68, of the ends 65, will become spaced from the studs l3, leaving the studs relatively, about midway between the tops 68, and the flange 59, so as to engage either of the side walls 66 or 61, to stop any turning of the globe holder 5 within the hood I5, after the lid M has been snapped down, in place upon the ring It. The steps in the operation of assembly and locking of the holder 54 within the hood l5, are taken in the reverse order for removing the holder 54, from the hood l5, for cleaning or any other purpose.

While I have shown and described but one em bodiment of my invention, changes in the forms of construction can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. I wish therefore, to include all forms which come within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lantern, having a lamp font, said lantern including in combination, a lamp font receptacle, comprising an outer cylindrical wall, an inverted cap closing the bottom of said wall, a globe seating member, attached to the upper part of said wall, and extending down as a receptacle wall within the same to fit around said lamp font, a skirt portion to said cylindrical wall spaced from the said receptacle wall, a bottom portion to said cap, a cylindrical bafiie wall between said outer cylindrical wall and said font, separating the space therebetween into two cylindrical spaces, concentric with said font, one space being on the inside and the other on the outside of said b aille wall, said baflle wall being in contact above, with said outer cylindrical wall, and being in contact below with a portion of said cap, there being air openings in said outer cylindrical wall, in said bafile wall, and in said globe seating member, the openings in said baffle wall being positioned in its lower portion, the openings in said outer cylindrical wall being above the openings in said baffle wall, and the openings in said skirt portion, of said globe seating member, being in the upper part of said skirt portion, above said font, resting within said receptacle.

2. A lantern, including a globe, a spring and a top, having a perforated hood, said lantern having in combination, a globe holder, comprising an outer cylindrical wall, a skirt portion to said wall, a hood fitting portion to said wall, a conical portion to said wall, joining said hood fitting portion and said skirt portion, an inturned flange at the top of said hood fitting portion, said flange being fixed to said spring and a cylindrical bafiie wall,

spaced from said skirt portion, and joined below 10 to said skirt portion, the upper edge of said bafiie 1 wall being spaced within said conical portion and forming therewith an annular Venturi throat, there being air inlets in said skirt portion, and

releasable locking means for securing said globe ilfi holder to said hood.

3. In a lantern, a globe holder having in combination therewith an outer wall having a lower and an upper portion of less diameter than the lower portion, an inclined portion forming a con- 2 ical section to said outer wall, joining the said upper and lower portions, said lower portion having openings therein, an inner upright wall connecting at its lower portion with the lower part of said outer wall, and extending upward within said 2 outer wall and spaced therefrom, the upper part crdinating with said spring connected with said baiile piece and said hood, said baflle piece comprising, spaced bar members, extending across said opening, end portions to said piece, extending over said inturned flange, baffle wings depending from said bar members, securing lips on said baffle piece, positioned at the ends-of the space between said bar members, and binding said bafile piece to said inturned flange.

5. A lantern, including a globe, a compression spring and a perforated hood, said lantern having in combination, a globe holder with an upper in turned flange with an opening in said flange, said spring being attached to said globe holder, a baffle piece extending across said opening and fixed to said globe holder, and a locking means co-orclinating with said spring connected with 55

Images