US34914A - Improvement in locomotive-lamps - Google Patents

Description

S. H. TIMMONS.

- Rectr. y

No. 34,914. Patented April 8, 1862.

N PLYERS. Pham Lmwgwpm wnsmm 11111 u C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL H. TIMMONS, 0F MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCOMOTIVE-LAM PS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,914, dated April 8, 1862.

To ctZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. TIMMoNs, of Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Locomotive Head-Lights and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention consists in the use of a lens or lenses in front of the light, in connect-ion withthe ordinary reflector behind the same, which lens or lenses and reflector, either or both, are, by the device hereinafter to be described, rendered adjustable for the purpose of converging the light onto the track close in front of the engine or of throwing it to a great distance beyond, as may be requisite or most convenient, such adjustment of lens and reiiector being rendered easy and under the control of the engineer as he stands in the caboose of the locomotive.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of my improvement in head-lights, showing the adjustable tube containing the lens. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through lamp-tube and reflector, showing the adjustment apparatus, &c.

Like letters of reference designate like parts in both the drawings.

A is the body of the lantern.

d is the ventilator at top, and b a shade over the same. j

B is the lamp within, and C the parabolic reflector, through the bottom of which the burner c of the lamp is inserted, so that the light shall be in the focus of the parabola.

d is a chimney to carry olf the smoke and vapors from the reflector. j j

D is the front plate of the lantern, consiructed so as to slide in grooves at the sides. This front is constructed with a tube e, of a diameter corresponding to the size of the light required. Upon this tube e another slightly-larger tube f is made to slide, this latter tube bearing the lens (or lenses) g. The tube f may be slid out or drawn in upon tube e, so as to remove the lens (or lenses) farther from or bring them nearer to the lamp-burner, and thus alter the angle of convergence in the rays of light, as may be deemed requisite, by means of the device to be described. I

h is a screw-pin attached to tube f, and a corresponding pin (not shown in the drawings) is attached to the other side of same tube. To this pin the wire or rod (and another at the opposite side to other pin) is attached and secured by the milled nut j. The other end of wired is linked to the lever Zt 011 rocking shaft Z, which shaft going across the back of lantern is journaled in brackets m, one at each side of lantern. By means of an arm n fixed to shaft Z, which arm is connected with a rod o going to the .engine-caboose, the shaft Z may be rocked and the tube fbe pushed out or drawn in at the pleasure or convenience of the engineer.

By means of a rod p, connected at one end with the arm n and at the other end to the lamp B and reflector, it may be so arranged that while the lens-tube is being extended the lamp and reflector are Withdrawn, thus doubling the effect produced by the movement of the rod o.

The advantages my invention are theseviz., that where it is required to concentrate p the light upon the track, as in short curves, or where danger is apprehended, it may be effected easily and rapidly by the engineer as he stands in his Caboose; and, again, when it is required that the light should extend farther and more widely, it can be so arranged by the engineer in an easy and rapid manner.

I propose to make the lens-tubefadjustable by means of the device already described, or to make the lamp and reflector adjustable in relation to the lens, or to make both lens-tube and refiector adjustable in opposite directions, as shown in drawings, and already described.

I-Iaving thus fully described my invention and the mode of its operation and its advan tages, I proceed to state what I claim, and what I desire by Letters Patent to secure.

Adjusting the distance between the lens g and the reflector C so asto converge or diffuse the light, as may be desired, by means of the rod 0, or its equivalent, extending t'rom the lamp to the caboose of the engine Within the immediate control of the engineer, substantially as described.

SAML. H. TIMMONS. Witnesses:

WM. CLOUGH, GEO. PYBURN.

Images