Patent GB-190614361-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Making Incandescent Electric Lamps and the like.
Filed: 1906-06-22
Granted: 1907-03-14
Abstract: 14,361. British Thomson-Houston Co., [General Electric Co.]. June 22. Exhausting. - Apparatus for exhausting and sealing bulbs or other exhausted vessels comprises a frame with holders for a number of bulbs, which is rotated step by step, each bulb being carried successively to a number of positions, each corresponding to a definite stage of the process. The tubulature of each bulb is connected by a rubber gasket to a tube 51 leading to a corresponding port in the rotary member 46 of a disk valve, while the leading-in wires are held by a spring clip 61. A fresh bulb is first carried round so as to be heated by the first of three burners 80, and is coonected by the valve 46, 47 to a rough pump. The burners 80 are mounted on a pivoted frame 78, which is rocked back against a spring by cam action while the frame is rotating. The bulb is next moved so that the second burner 80 heats it, while it is exhausted by the fine pump. At this stage it is connected to a vacuum indicator 85<11>, consisting of a tube, mounted at the end of a box darkened on the inside, and having spark electrodes connected to a coil 85'. If exhaustion is not proceeding satisfactorily, this bulb is sealed off by a blowpipe 81 controlled by a treadle 83 and mounted on the second burner. Next, the bulb is heated by the third burner while connected to the fine pump. In the next position, the bulb is still connected to the fine pump, and the filament is quickly heated above normal incandescence. The bulb is next brought near a compressed-air jet to cool it, the filament being heated to normal incandescence. In the next position, a burner plays upon the tubulature and volatizes a chemical to complete the exhaustion, the filament still being incandesced. This burner may be raised and lowered by a handle 95, while a blowpipe burner may also be supplied with gas and air by operation of a treadle 93. Finally, the bulb is sealed automatically, after which it reaches the first position and is removed. The electric connexions to the filaments are shown in Fig. 8. One limb of each of the spring clip 61 is connected to a corresponding brush 69 engaging a fixed commutator disk 66. Conducting-segments a, e, f, g of the commutator correspond to the first, fifth, sixth, and seventh positions of the rotary frame. The other limb of each clip 61 is connected to a ring 71 engaged by a brush 72. The commutator 66 is mounted at the top of a hollow central shaft, while the ring 71 is.carried by a disk on a concentric hollow shaft which supports the spring clips 61. The brush 72 and ring 71 are connected to one main 114 through a controller, formed by a rotary conducting-disk with an insulatirg portion and contact-springs 75, the insulating portion being arranged to prevent passage of current while the bulbs are being carried from one position to the next. The commutator segment a is connected through a bell and battery to the same main as the ring 71, the bell being rung if a bulb is inserted with the leading-in wires in contact. The segment e, corresponding to the position in which the filament is incandescent above normal, is connected through a variable resistance 119 to a spring contact 87<1> adapted to be reciprocated over a rheostat 87 and the terminals of a lamp 88 by a cam-operated lever. The rheostat 87 is connected to the second main, to which the commutator segments.f, g are connected through resistances 119. Sealing is effected by blowpipe burners 105 on a slide pressed towards the rotary frame by a spring 97<1> but held back by a cam-actuated lever 98 when the frame is rotating. The apparacus is actuated from a pulley 2 which drives a shaft 7 and a clutch member 10 loose on a shaft 11. A shaft 14 is adapted to be given one revolution by the shaft 7 when the operator releases a treadle 23<1> linked to a clutch 22<1>. This clutch controls the rotation of a disk 23 having two projections which depress a sliding rod in turn and through a spring and a pivoted lever 21 depress an arm on a rocking shaft 18. A second arm 25 on this shaft 18 engages a slidable pin, which, when released, clutches the shafts 7, 14 for one revolution, the arm 25 then re-engaging the pin. The shaft 14 at each revolution alternately retracts and advances the sealing - device, and at every other revolution rotates the frame and bulbs from one position to the next. This shaft is geared to a parallel shaft 28 carrying the cams actuating the sealing-device, the shaft 28 receiving half a rotation for each rotation of the shaft 14. Movement of the frame and bulbs is effected through gear from the shaft 11, which is connected for one rotation to the driven member 10 by a band clutch at each operation of a rock-shaft 30. An arm 31 on this rock-shaft is depressed by a pin 29 at each rotation of the shaft 28, i.e. at every other rotation of the shaft 14. The hollow shaft carrying the rotary frame bears the movable member 47 of the valve connecting the bulbs with the pumps, and also carries a disk with a projection arranged to prevent the shaft 14 from being clutched to actuate the sealing - -device while the frame is rotating. The supply wires are contained within a fixed hollow shaft inside the shaft of the rotary frame. A modified support for a bulb is shown in Fig. 6, comprising a gasket 56 connected by a tube 55 to a chamber 57 in which the valve pipe 51 is sealed. Gauze screens 58, 59 are provided to catch particles of glass.