Year: 1899

page_text: I, CHARLES CURWEN, of 39, Victoria Street, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in portable or hand electric arc lamps
and consists in providing a hand lamp of the enclosed type, in which the carbon
electrodes are surrounded by a glass tube closed top and bottom, with simple
and efficient means of moving one carbon into contact with and away from the
other for the purpose of striking the arc by hand.
The way in which I carry out my invention is as follows:-
The glass tube enclosing the carbons is fitted between top and bottom castings
held together by two or more bolts, or other convenient means, the fixed or un-
adjustable carbon being held in position by means of any well known or con-
venient form of holder; the movable carbon or that which is to be operated to
strike the arc is supported in a metal tube which extends outside the casting
(for example. the bottom casting of the lamp frame) and is movable therein by
means of a thumb screw or the like (or the tube might have a telescopic action)
so as to be moved into and out of contact with the fixed electrode in order to strike
the arc.
The necessary leading in terminals are provided on the before men-
tioned castings. After the arc has been struck the lamp should not require any
adjustment for, say, half an hour, but when necessary the adjustment can be
readily effected by the means above described. In the case of a simple tele-
scopic action, either of the metal tube itself or of a plunger working therein,
to adjust the carbon, means (such as a spring catch) are provided for fixing in
the required position.
Where two or more of my lamps are working together I may so connect the
carbon moving devices on the several lamps that the carbons of all may be moved
simultaneously by hand to strike the arcs or for otherwise adjusting said
carbons.
A suitable handle is provided on the lamp.
My improved lamp as alove described is of simple and cheap construction
and may be employed for various purposes.
The details of construction may be varied without departing from my
invention.
Dated this 19th dar of October 1899
JOHN P. O'DONNELL. Fel.Chart. Inst.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant,
70 & 71, Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W.

page_text: Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
I, CHARLES CURWEN, of 39, Victoria Street, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex, Electrical Engineer, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in electric are lamps and consists in
providing a portable lamp of the enclosed type, in which the carbon electrodes
are surrounded by a glass tube or cylinder closed top and bottom, with simple
and efficient means for moving one carbon or several carbons, into contact with
and away from the other carbon or carbons for the purpose of striking the arc
by hand.
My invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with electric lamps.
used for the production of photo-prints and the like.
The glass tube enclosing the carbons is fitted between top and bottom. castings
held together by two or more bolts or other convenient means, the fixed or un-
adjustable carbon being held in position by means of any well known or con-
venient form of holder; the movable carbon or that which is to be operated to
strike the arc is supported in a metal tube which extends outside the casting
and is movable therein by means of a thumb-screw or the like (or the tube might
have a telescopic action) so as to be moved into and out of contact with the fixed
electrode in order to strike the arc. The necessary leading in terminals are pro-
vided on the before mentioned castings. After the arc has been struck the lamp
should not require any adjustment for say half an hour, but when necessary
the adjustment can be readily effected by the means above described. In the
case of a simple telescopic action either of the metal tube itself or of a plunger
working therein to adjust the carbon, means (such as a spring catch) are pro-
vided for fixing in the required position.
Where two or more of my lamps are working together I may so connect the
carbon moving devices on the several lamps that the carbons of all may be moved
simultaneously by hand to strike the arcs, or for otherwise adjusting said
carbons.
In carrying out my invention I prefer to employ two or more pairs of carbons
each pair being enclosed in a glass tube or cylinder or two or more pairs may
be enclosed in one glass cylinder. Each top or movable carbon is fitted in a
spring holder sliding in its supporting tube (on the lower end of which tube
18 a clutch of any convenient or well known form) the arrangement being such
as to enable all the carbons to be simultaneously lifted or moved to the same
extent; these tubes are held in a casting which can slide up and down a central
pillar or support (preferably tubular so that the leading-in wires may be run
through it) said central pillar being mounted at its lower end in the bottom
casting which also supports the lower carbons and glass cylinders. Below the
top casting and transversely through the central pillar or support is a spindle
fitted with preferably two cams and a handle so that on giving said handle say
half a turn the casting is raised and carries with it the tubes which in their turn
cause the clutches at the ends of said tubes to grip the carbons and lift them to
the required length of arc. Each of the glass cylinders is fitted with a cap on
the top having a central hole to allow the top carbons to slide freely through and
these caps are pressed up against a fixed casting or projection on the central
pillar or support and held in this position by springs in the lower carbon fittings.
I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying draw-
ings in which,―

page_text: Figure 1 is an elevation showing three pairs of carbons working in unison.
Figure 2 is a plan on line A-A Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation showing the pairs of carbons arranged in line with
one another instead of as in Figures 1 and 2, four pairs being shown.
Figure 4 is a detail view of the cam which is operated to raise and lower the
carbons.
Figure 5 is an elevation of my arrangement wherein I employ two or more
pairs of carbons (three being shown as an example) enclosed in one glass cylinder
or casing.
The same letters refer to the same parts or. substitutes therefor in the different
figures.
a are the glass cylinders or tubes enclosing the carbons, a¹ are the bottom
carbons mounted in suitable holders b, c are the bottom plates of the glass
cylinders a; c are spring sockets which support the glass cylinders and the
bottom carbons, said sockets c¹ being mounted in arms or extensions d of the
bottom casting A. a² are the top carbons held by suitable spring holders in
the tubes e, el being automatic clutches mounted on said tubes e. f are the top
plates or caps of the glass cylinders a which bear against the casting f¹ fixed on
the central pillar g which latter is mounted at its lower end in the bottom
casting A as shown. h is the top casting in which the tubes e are fixed and
which is provided with an extension ; this casting h. (and its extension h¹)
are capable of sliding up and down on the central pillar 9. j j¹ are pins or
studs in h¹ which work in a slot or recess in the central pillar or tube g. k is
the spindle mounted transversely in said central pillar g, k k are the cams
on said spindle, and is the handle for turning the spindle and cams.
The working is as follows:-
When it is desired to strike the are the handle is turned through say half a
turn thereby moving the cams so that the casting h moves down carrying with
it the tubes e; this action of lowering the tubes e opens the clutches e¹ (these
clutches e are of well known construction) and allows the carbons a² to move
down into contact with the carbons a¹ and on now turning the handle again
the cams acting on the extension of casting raises said casting and with
it the tubes e whereby the clutches el are operated to again grip the carbons a³
and lift them to the required length of arc. It will be seen that by this arrange-
ment all the carbons may be lowered and raised simultaneously to the same
extent by the operation of the handle 7.
Modifications may be made in the details as described without departing from
my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is―
In electric are lamps of the enclosed type means for striking the are by hand
substantially as herein set forth.
ein set forth.
day of May 1900.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel.Chart.Inst.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant,
70 & 71, Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W.