Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1858
Complete Specification Left, 10th May. 1889-Accepted, 29th June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
I, HENRI PIEPER, Fils, of 12 Rue des Bayards, Liege, in the Kingdom of Belgium
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
any
My Invention consists in the application of the difference between the speeds of
rotation of two moving bodies rotating in the same direction to produce the
advance of feed motions and regulate the relative positions of the carbons in Arc
Lamps, the said difference being dependent on or produced in
suitable manner
by variations in the current. With this object any suitable combination of pulleys
may be employed working a cord or chain or cords or chains connected with the
upper and lower carbons. One of the pulleys being fixed on the rotating shaft or-
axis of an electric motor placed in the main circuit and another pulley being fixed
on the shaft or axis of another electric motor placed on a derivation shunt around
the arc and arranged to rotate in the same direction as the first the two motors thus
arranged rotate so long as the lamp is in action. It is simply necessary to regulate
the magnetic field of each motor in such a manner as to cause them both to work
at the same speed when the Arc is of the normal length. When the two motors
work at the same speed the carbons are stationary and the cord simply runs over
the pulleys on the carbon holders. If the Arc becomes too short the speed of the
motor in the main circuit increases and that of the motor in the shunt decreases so
that the carbons separate to a corresponding extent. If the Arc becomes too long
the speed of the motor in the shunt circuit increases and that of the other motor
slackens so that the carbons are drawn together. In practice the shunt motor is
adjusted to move somewhat more rapidly than the other in order to compensate for
the consumption of the carbons.
The motor in the shunt circuit constantly tends to draw the carbons together and
the motor in the main circuit similarly tends to separate them. Consequently if the
last mentioned motor runs at the same speed as the first, that is to say if the rate
at which the carbons tend to separate is equal to that at which they tend to draw
together the length of the Arc remains constant although both motors are
in notion and does not change until the speed of one motor changes relatively to
the other.
It should be observed that the direction of the motion of the endless chain and
pulleys is always the same whether the carbons move towards or away from one
another.
One of the two electro motors may be dispensed with a spring or weight being
employed to impart a constant speed to one of the shafts in this case the Arc is
regulated by one electro motor acting on the other shaft.
According to another arrangement two clockwork movements are employed in
place of the two electro motors one of such movements being actuated by the weight
of the upper carbon holder and the other by a spring tending to cause the carbons
to move in the opposite direction to the weight. In this case a coil or bobbin of
thick wire and a coil or bobbin of fine wire both act upon the same soft iron
armature acting by means of hooks or catches on wheels connected with the two
clockwork movements.
When there is no current passing through the lamp elastic or flexible blades or
springs cause the armature to move to one side with the effect that the upper
carbon holder is enabled to descend and operate the clockwork by reason of its weight
thereby causing the lower carbon holder to rise. Consequently when the lamp is not
lighted the carbons are always in contact. If a current be caused to pass in the lamp
under these conditions the current passes through the bobbin of thick wire which

page_text: then attracts the armature with the effect that the spring is brought into action and
causes the carbons to separate and start the arc. When the arc is extended to the
normal length the intensity of the current passing in the thick wire diminishes so
that the armature tends to return to its original position and assumes an intermediate
place which stops the two clockwork movements. Directly the arc exceeds the
normal length the current increases in the fine wire electro magnet which attracts
said armature with the effect of liberating the clockwork motion which is under the
action of the weight of the upper carbon holder and the carbons move towards one
another until the are resumes its normal length, whereupon the two movements are
again stopped. It is to be observed that the movement operated by the spring works
only when the lamp is lighted or when the carbons separate owing to the are being
too short.
A centrifugal fly wheel or regulator is also employed according to this Invention.
A small moveable weight is placed on each arm of the regulator and these weights
tend to fly apart under the action of the centrifugal force so that in consequence of
this increase in the diameter the regulator comes in contact with certain stops.
The wheel or regulator being thus stopped the weights fall back and enable the arm
to pass the stop. These movements are repeated until the arc is of the normal
length; the regulator being only able to describe half a revolution at a time.
Dated this 10th day of August 1888.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
I, HENRI PIEPER fils of 12 rue des Bayards Liège in the Kingdom of Belgium
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The object of my Invention is to effect the regulation of the length of the voltaic
are in electric are lamps by means of a difference in the speeds of two motors or
trains of wheels resulting from the variations of the current passing in the lamp as
hereinafter explained.
For this purpose the two motors are so connected to the carbons that the move-
ment of one motor tends to increase, and that of the other to decrease the distance
between the carbons and one or both motors are arranged to be controlled in their
operation by the electric current.
Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings are diagrams showing the principle on
which the mechanism of the lamp is based. Figure 3 is a sectional front elevation
of a lamp constructed according to my invention. Figure 4 is a side view of the
upper portion of the lamp, and Figure 5 a plan of the same.
In Figure 1, a and b are two pulleys or sprocket-wheels connected to or forming
each a part of one of the aforesaid motors and both rotating in the same direction, as
shown by the arrows 1 and 2. g is the upper carbon attached to a pulley c, and gl
the lower carbon carried by a bar Q supported by two pulleys d and f. Around
the said pulleys a, b, c, d and fis passed a chain or cord e as indicated in the
drawing. Now, if the said motor pulleys a b be rotated at equal peripheral speed,
they will cause the chain or cord e to travel around the pulleys c d f, without
altering the relative positions of the carbons. This is the state of the mechanism.
when the arc is of normal length. If the pulley for example be caused to rotate
more rapidly than the pulley a, it will take up and pay out a greater length of
chain or cord than the latter in a given time in consequence whereof the carbon g.
is lowered and the carbon g¹ raised, so that the arc becomes shorter. On the other
hand, if the pulley a is caused to rotate faster than the pulley b, the opposite effect.
is produced and the arc becomes longer.

page_text: Figure 2 shows a modification of this arrangement which consists in supporting
the carbon g¹ by a single pulley d and placing the pulleys a b c d one above the
other, the chain or cord e being passed around the same as shewn by the figure.
The pulley a may be operated by an electro-motor controlled by or placed in the
main circuit of the lamp, and the pulley by an electro motor connected to a shunt
of the said main circuit. If, in this case, the arc becomes too long, the resistance
in the main circuit increases, a greater portion of the current passes through the
shunt circuit, the pulley b runs faster than a, and the distance between the carbons
is diminished, whereas if the arc is too short, the force of the current in the shunt
circuit is reduced, the pulley a runs faster than .b, and the distance between the
carbons is increased. In the ordinary course of operation the pulley always runs
somewhat faster than the pulley a so as to compensate the waste or consumption of
the carbons.
One of the electro-motors may be replaced by a weight or a spring in combination
with suitable clockwork which imparts to one of the pulleys a uniform speed.
Under these conditions the electro-motor driving the other pulley, alone produces the
regulation by the increase or diminution of its speed or as in the arrangement herein-
after described forming the object of my present invention, both pulleys being
operated by means of wheel or clockwork and weights or springs, are controlled by
two electro magnets connected respectively to the main-circuit and to the shunt
circuit. A lamp of this construction is represented in the Figures 3, 4 and 5 herein-
before referred to. C and C are two clock trains or wheel-works. The train C is
driven by a chain e supporting the holder P of the upper carbon g, the said holder
being made sufficiently heavy, to drive the train C, the train C² being driven by a
spring R. His an electro magnet having a coil of thick wire connected to the
main-circuit of the lamp, and H Figures 4 and 5 an electro-magnet with a coil of
thin wire placed in a shunt-circuit. Above the cores of the two electro-magnets is
suspended an armature E carried by two springs S and S¹, which allow the armature
to move or oscillate a small distance to the right or to the left, according as it is
more powerfully attracted by the electro-magnet H' or by the electro-magnet H. To
the said armature are attached two catches N and N¹ adapted to engage with
corresponding flyers or arms F and F' controlling the two trains C and C, and so
adjusted that, when there is no current passing through the lamp, the catch N
releases the arms F, while the catch N¹ engages with the arms F¹. Under these
conditions the wheel-work C₁ being prevented from rotating, remains at rest; but
when the carbons are separated the holder P, tends to descend by its own weight
actuating the wheel-work or train C, and lowering the upper carbon at the same time
raising the holder Q carrying the lower carbon, until the carbons are in contact.
Thus when the lamp is out of operation, there is always contact between the carbons
and the circuit is closed through their ends.
If under these conditions the lamp is switched into connection with the generator
the current will pass entirely through the coil of the electro-magnet H¹. The
armature E will consequently be drawn towards the said electro-magnet, or to the
right hand in Figure 4, so that the catch N engages with the arms F, while
the catch N' is withdrawn from or releases the arms F.
This causes the train C to be locked whilst the train of wheels C¹ being freed, is
set in motion by the spring R, so that it acts through the pulley b upon the chain e
and separates the carbons thus starting the arc. When the arc has attained its
normal length, the intensity of the current diminishes in the electro-magnet H' and
augments in the shunt-magnet H, and consequently the armature E is drawn to the
left until it has assumed a middle position in which the catches N and N¹ lock both
trains of wheels C and C².
When the arc exceeds its normal length, the electro-magnet H, receiving a larger
portion of the current, attracts the armature to one side and thereby causes the
catch N to release the train of wheels C, while the catch N₁ remains in engagement
with the train C. The carbon holder P is then free to descend and operates in such
a manner through the pulley a as to reduce the distance between the carbons until

page_text: the arc has been restored to its normal length. At this moment the motion of both
trains of wheels is again arrested.
When the carbons are renewed the spring driving the train of wheels ("must be
wound up.
A centrifugal regulator illustrated in end and side elevation respectively and partly
in section in Figures 6 and 7 may also be employed in this lamp. In this arrangement
a small moveable weight is placed on each arm of a regulator or flyer F and these
weights tend to fly apart or towards the ends of the arms under the action of the
centrifugal force as the flyers revolve and the weights are thereby caused to come
in contact with fixed stops i as indicated in Figure 6. The regulator arms being
thus arrested the weight on the upper arm drops or falls back to the position
represented in Figure 7 and enables the arm to pass the stop. These movements are
repeated at every revolution until the arc is of the normal length, the regulator being
thus prevented from describing more than half a revolution without being
momentarily arrested by one of the loose weights coming in contact with the fixed
h
stop i.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
e,
1. In an electric are lamp the combination of the carbon holders P and Q, pulleys
pivoted to the said holders, the wheel train C controlling the pulley a and flyer or
arms F, the motor C operating the pulley band flyers or arms F', spring R, chain
a shunt-circuit branched off from the main circuit, the electro-magnets H and H¹, the
armature E having the catches N and N', and springs S S¹ carrying the armature,
substantially as bereinbefore set forth.
2. In electric arc lamps, regulators consisting of revolving arms carrying loose
weights which, as the said arms revolve, tend to fly outwards under the influence of
centrifugal force and come in contact with fixed stops, whereby the movement of the
arms is momentarily arrested or retarded, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of May 1889.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.