Up: Patent Index

586,214 · Basquin · "Vault-Light" · Page 1 Home  > Prism Glass  > Patent Index  > Page 1

586,214: 1 of 4

Patents: 339 of 530	UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. OLIN H. BASQUIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE LUXFER PRISM PATENTS COMPANY, OF WEST VIRGINIA.	Olin H. Basquin 13 of 28
VAULT-LIGHT. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letter Patent No. 586,214, dated July 13, 1897. Application filed January 23, 1897. Serial No. 620,458. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:     Be it known that I, OLIN H. BASQUIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vault-Lights, of which the following is a specification.     My invention relates to vault-lights for diffusing and distributing the light, and has for its object to provide the new and improved prism-lights for this purpose illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein—     Figure 1 is a section through a lens or vault-light embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section through a modified form of my device. Fig. 3 is a section through a further modified form of my device. Fig. 4 is a section through a pavement composed of my prism-lights.     Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.     The object of my invention is to form a prism-light which will throw the light as near to the edge of the prism next in advance as practicable and still allow it to pass by the prisms without being obstructed thereby, thus avoiding the loss of light ordinarily occurring. I have found that the prism-light herein illustrated approaches this result as near as it is practicable to do so. The several constructions herein shown all approximate this result.     Referring now to Fig. 1, which shows a body portion A, provided with the projecting parts or prisms B, I have found that if the reflecting-surface C is curved in a manner similar to that shown— that is, if it is a convex curve— the rays of light falling on the receiving-surface D and passing through the prism will be reflected by that surface and subsequently be by the other prism-surface refracted so as to clear the prism next adjoining, as shown, the rays of light, after leaving the prism, being thrown in as nearly horizontal lines as is practicable. The curve given to this surface depends, of course, upon the several conditions, and I therefore do not wish to limit myself to any particular curve, the only limitation being that it shall be curved so as, in conjunction with the other surface of the prism, whether that be curved or not, to converge, substantially all the light falling upon the

receiving-surface associated with said prism on a line just below the lower line of the next preceding prism.     Referring now to Fig. 2, I have shown a construction for obtaining the same result when the reflecting-surface C is straight. In this case the refracting-surface E is curved, such surface being given a convex curve, as shown.     In Fig. 3 I have shown a construction wherein two curved surfaces are used, the reflecting-surface C and the refracting-surface E both being curved. In this construction both curves act to change the direction of the rays of light, so as to make them leave the prisms in as nearly horizontal lines as is practicable and still have them pass below the adjoining prism or lens.     I do not of course presume to have shown in these drawings all the possible forms by which the result sought can be attained, and indeed I have designed other forms than those shown. The ideal device along the lines of my invention would be one in which all of the rays of light entering are received and directed forwardly, so as to most nearly approach without impinging upon the prism in front. Of course this would be most desirable in such lights as are called " vault-lights."     Referring to Fig. 4, G is the vault beneath the pavement; H, the retaining-wall; J, a column supporting the building; K, a store-front, and the pavement-light is composed, as indicated, of a set of my prisms.     I have described my improvement as being a body of glass with a series of prisms. Of course my invention is realized in a body of glass with a single prism, or in a body of glass with a series of prisms, or in a structure made up of bodies of glass having one or more prisms, provided that the relation of the prisms to the body of the glass is such as to bring about the result which I have described.     To determine the character and relations of the two faces of the prism I proceed as follows: Knowing the direction from which the light is to be received and the direction of the receiving-surface, I arbitrarily determine the width of the prism and place on a diagram upon which the line indicating the