IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC LAMPS AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Lane of Fulham in the County of Middlesex
for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC
LAMPS AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Lane at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th June 1882
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
JOSEPH LANE of Fulham in the County of Middlesex
THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC LAMPS AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN.'
In electric lamps in which the light is contained in vacuum or in a closed
chamber or globe containing gases which are non-supporters of combustion and
more particularly in that class of electric lamps known as incandescent lamps the
lighting medium is connected to a conductor passing through and connected by
fusion to the glass either in the shape of an auxiliary tube which is fused to the
glass of the lamp or to the globe itself, a separate opening being formed for the
production of the vacuum which is also sealed by fusion, the whole becoming
practically one glass case with the wires passing through. Difficulties have been
found in passing wires other than those of small area through or into the glass
or in using wires composed of a cheaper metal than platinum on account of the
difference of the shrinkage of the metal and glass after fusion.
In lamps of the above construction any defect either in the manufacture of the
lamp or in the incandescent medium itself or arising from the oxygen of the air
finding its way into the interior of the lamp and so consuming the incandescent
medium or arising from any other cause involves the loss or waste of the entire
lamp.
Now the object of the present improvements is to facilitate the manufacture and
reduce the cost thereof and to enable any defect from whatever cause to be repaired
and made good at a small cost.
In carrying out my Invention I use the ordinary glass globe or chamber of any
suitable form and to the mouth thereof I connect in an air tight manner a ring or
collar of any suitable material to which I attach, also in an air tight manner a

page_text: The
removeable plug or cap carrying all the necessary connections with the lighting
medium. Through this plug or cap a passage or opening is formed affording access
to the interior of the glass globe and within this passage or opening I place a
valve or stopper of any convenient form resting on a corresponding seat.
vacuum having been produced, or the non-combustible gases introduced into the
globe by preference in the manner and by the means hereinafter described, I seal
air tight the said valve or plug with any suitable sealing material such for example
as wax and the like. In some cases I insert over the scaling material in the said
plug or cap a convenient connection for attaching the lamp to a bracket or other
holder If the plug or cap be composed of conducting material it will not be
necessary to introduce through it more than a single wire or conductor as the
plug or cap in that case will itself form the conductor for the second current.
For producing the vacuum or introducing non-combustible gases into the globe
and for closing the before mentioned valve I connect the lamp in an air tight
manner through the before mentioned removeable plug or cap with the vacuum
producer by means of a junction piece which is when required also connected with
the chamber or vessel containing the non-combustible gases The said junction
piece contains or is in connection with one or more electro inagnets acting when
excited upon an armature combined or not with a spring for the purpose of
controlling the valve or stopper and closing it when required. In one arrangement
the electro magnet holds the armature and valve open whilst the globe is being
exhausted and (when required) whilst the gas or gases are being introduced the
spring closing the valve so soon as the current is withdrawn from the electro
magnet. Or the spring may be made to allow the valve to remain open until by
the action of the electro magnet the armature closes the said valve. Or both the
opening and closing movements may be obtained from two electro magnets without
the necessity for a spring. In case of injury to the lamp the plug or cap can be
readily removed along with the parts carried thereon after first destroying the
vacuum which can be easily effected by removing the small valve or stopper, when
the separated parts can be repaired and the lamp made good

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Lane in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th December 1882.
JOSEPHI LANE of Fulham in the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC LAMPS AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
In electric lamps in which the light emitting portion is contained in vacuo or
in a closed chamber or globe containing gases which are non supporters of com-
bustion and more particularly in that class of electric lamps known as incandescent
lamps, the light emitting portion or lighting medium is connected to a conductor
or conductors passing through and united by fusion to the glass either in the shape
of an auxiliary tube which is fused to the glass of the lamp or to the globe itself a
separate opening being formed to permit the vacuum to be produced which opening
is also sealed by fusion the whole becoming practically one glass case or chamber
with the wires or conductors extending therefrom In the construction of such
lamps however difficulties have been experienced in passing wires other than those
of small area or light section through or into the glass or in using wires composed
of a cheaper metal than platinum by reason of the difference in the shrinkage
or expansion of the metal and glass after they have been fused together.
In lamps of the above mentioned construction any defect either in the manu-
facture of the lamp or in the incandescent medium or light emitting portion itself
or arising from the oxygen of the air finding its way into the interior of the lamp
and so causing the consumption of the light emitting portion or from any other
cause involves the loss or waste of the entire lamp.
The main objects of my invention are to remedy this disadvantage, to facilitato
the manufacture of such lamps to reduce the cost thereof and to enable any defect
arising from any cause to be repaired or made good at a small cost.
In the accompanying drawing I have shewn various methods of carrying my
invention into practice-Referring first to Figure 1 of the said Drawing which is a
central section of one form of my improved lamps, a represents the ordinary
enclosing glass globe or chamber which may be of any suitable form-To the mouth
or neck of this globe I connect in an air tight manner a ring or collar of any
suitable material-To this ring or collar I attach also in an airtight manner a
removable plug or cape which carries all the necessary connections with the light
emitting portion or lighting medium d-Through the said plug or cap c I form a
passage or opening which affords access to the glass globe or chamber a and within
this passage or opening I arrange a valve or stopper e of any convenient form
and adapted to come in contact with a seat of corresponding form in the said
passage or opening When a vacuum has been produced in the globe a or as soon
as the non combustible gases have been introduced therein preferably in the manner
and by the means hereinafter described I seal in an airtight manner the said valve
or plug e by employing therefor at fany suitable sealing material such as wax or
the like for instance. In some cases I insert into the plug or cap c after the
material at has been placed in position, a connection adapted to permit tho
lamp to be readily attached to a bracket or other holder or support If the said
plug or cap c is composed of conducting material it will not be necessary to
introduce therethrough more than one wire conductor or terminal as at has the
plug or cap will in that case serve with the wire conductor or terminal h' and
the connection to complete the electrical circuit through the filament or light
emitting portion d.
Figure 2 represents in section a lamp wherein a packing of compressible material
as at i is arranged between the globe or chamber a and the ring b in order to
compensate for or overcome the difference in the expansion and contraction of the

page_text: various parts of the lamp due to the heat evolved from the light emitting
portion d
Figure 3 represents in section a lamp similar to that shewn in Figure 1 with the
exception that the plug c is provided with an extra terminal or conductor h² to
facilitate the connection of the lamp with the circuit.
Figure 4 represents in section a lamp wherein the outer ring b extends around
the neck or mouth of the globe a so as to form a space jwhich may be filled with
suitable material so as to render the lamp air-tight.
Figure 5 represents in section a lamp similar to that shewn in Figure 4 with the
exception that the plug is not made of good conducting material and consequently
the connection or terminal 1 is passed entirely through the said plug.
Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 5 with the exception that the ring does not
surround the same as in the last named Figure.
Figure 7 is an exterior view of another form of lamp wherein the wires con-
nections or terminals are carried through the two ends or necks of the enclosing
case or globe a which are closed in an airtight manner. One of the said ends is
closed by a removable plug and stopper carrying the terminals and a valve as
herein before described-In this Figure I have shown the lamp provided with two
filaments or light emitting portions d but any number of such filaments may be
employed therein as desired.
Figure 8 is a face view and Figure 9 is a central section of a lamp having a
modified form of enclosing case or chamber and provided with my improvements.
In order to produce a vacuum in the globe or case a or to introduce non-
combustible gases into the same and close the aforesaid valve e I connect the lamp
in an air tight manner by means of the plug or cap c with the vacuum producer
through the medium of a junction piece which is when required also connected with
the chamber or vessel containing the non-combustible gases. The said junction piece
contains or is in connection with one or more electro magnets which when excited
or energised act upon an armature which may or may not be combined with a
spring for the purpose of controlling the valve or stopper e and closing it when
required.
In the arrangement illustrated in section in Figure 10 the electro magnet & holds
the armature in such a position that the valve e is open whilst the globe is being
exhausted through the passage m and whilst the gas or gases (when required) are
being introduced The spring n serves to close the said valve as soon as the
passage of the current through the electro magnet is interrupted. In the modifi-
cation illustrated in section in Figure 11 the spring n is so arranged as to allow
the valve e to remain open until by the action of the electro magnet & the armature
is caused to close the said valve Or I may employ the arrangement illustrated in
section in Figure 12 wherein I provide for obtaining both the opening and closing
movements of the valve by utilizing two electro magnets thus dispensing with the
necessity for a spring-In this case the electro magnet o acts on the armature / so
as to close the valve e while the other electro-magnet o serves to open the said
valve are two passages adapted to be connected one with the exhauster or
vacuum producer and the other with the chamber or vessel containing the non-
combustible gases. These passages are closed by cocks or valves and when only
one passage is in use I prefer to close the other by a plug as well as the cock. The
opening in the electro magnet o' is closed by a plug o².
From the above description it will be evident that in case of injury to a lamp
the plug or cap can be readily removed together with the parts sustained thereby
after first destroying the vacuum which can be readily effected by removing the
small valve or stopper e. The separated parts can then be repaired and the lamp
made good.
Having thus fully described my Invention and shewn how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice I wish it understood that I
claim,
First, An Electric lamp having a removable plug or cap which is designed to

page_text: support or carry a light emitting portion or filament and the conductors wires or
terminals connected therewith and which is provided with a passage or opening
adapted to be closed by a valve or plug substantially as above set forth and for the
purposes specified.
Second. A plug or cap having combined with it terminals or conductors for
supporting a filament or light einitting portion and provided with a passage or
opening to be closed by a valve or plug, the said plug or cap being adapted to be
combined with the globe or enclosing chamber of an electric lamp substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying Drawing and for the purposes
specified.
Third. The employment in combination with an electric lamp having a removable
plug or cap and provided with a passage or opening designed to be closed by a
valve or plug, of an electro magnet and spring or electro magnets alone for
operating the said valve or plug all substantially as herein set forth and for the
purposes specified.
In witness whereof I the said Joseph Lane have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Ninth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two
JOSEPH LANE (L.S.)