Improvements in Means for Adjusting Electric Light Carbons.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Means for Adjusting Electric Light Carbons.
I, ALFRED HORSWILL GIBBINGS, of 12 Oakroyd Terrace, Manningham, Bradford, in
the County of York, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows:-
The Invention, the subject of this Invention, has reference to means connected
with the adjustment of the carbons of electric arc-lamps; and it has for its object
to provide a means by which the carbons can be quickly and easily adjusted-and
with a certainty, in line with each other when they are being placed in or when
being readjusted in the lamps; so that when they have been adjusted and fixed, they
shall lie and remain truly centrally in line, and thereby avoid defective or unequal
distribution of light, which at present very frequently takes place, owing to this
want of true central adjustment of the upper and lower carbons; this defective adjust-
ment being due largely to the non-existence of a means for enabling their proper
centric adjustment to be readily made by those who have to attend to the lamps.
The present invention has reference to means for effecting the ends referred to,
and consists of a gauge device adapted to be opened, and placed round the ends of
the two (i.e. upper and lower) carbons, and closed about them, and to hold them
centrally in line one with the other; so that the one which is first fixed in its socket
or attachment in the lamp, serves to hold, and hold centrally, through the intervention
of the adjusting' gauge, the other; and this, being held in this position, is fastened
at its other end in its adjustable socket or holder, in this desired, and correct position.
One form of adjustment gauge consists of a hinged device, adapted to open by
means of a hinge, and be placed over the carbon ends, and then be closed together;
and it may be held in this position by a dowel or other spring fastening, or other
locking device, which holds it on the carbons, and in turn holds the carbons in
position. In another construction, the two parts are adapted to be separated entirely
one from the other, and to fit and lock or fasten one upon or with the other, when
placed in position over a carbon. The parts are provided with suitable knobs, handles,
or similar provisions, by which they can be held and worked.
The parts of which the gauge above described is made, in some cases, consists of
a main base or body part, and a smaller part, acting as a closing piece or part.
In a further modification, the gauge consists in itself of a spring construction,
being made of spring steel or other suitable metal, and adapted to be pressed or
placed in position over the carbons, and to be sprung back off same, when the
two carbons have been adjusted in the proper position. The spring form of gauge
may be in one continuous piece; or, as separate spring portions, held together
longitudinally by a carrier bar or piece.
Internally, the gauges, in some cases, are made parallel through out; whilst in
others, they are made larger in diameter in one end than at the other. The former
construction would be used in connection with lamps in which both carbons are of

page_text: same diameter; and the latter form, in cases where the two carbons are of different
diameter. This point of the internal construction refers to all forms of gauges.
Dated this 4th day of January, 1897.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15 Water Street, Liverpool.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Adjusting Electric Light Carbons.
I, ALFRED HORSWILL GIBBINGS, of 12 Oakroyd Terrace, Manningham, Bradford.
in the County of York, 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:-
The Invention, the subject of this application, has reference to means connected
with the adjustment of the carbons of electric arc-lamps; and it has for its object to
provide means by which the.carbons can be quickly and easily adjusted-and with a
certainty, in line with each other when they are being placed in or when being
readjusted in the lamps; so that when they have been adjusted and fixed, they shall
lie and remain truly centrally in line, and thereby avoid defective or unequal
distribution of light, which at present very frequently takes place, owing to this want
of true central adjustment of the upper and lower carbons; this defective adjustment
being largely due to the non-existence of a means for enabling their proper centric
adjustment to be readily made by those who have to attend to the lamps.
The present invention has reference to means for effecting the ends referred to,
and consists of a gauge device adapted to be opened, and placed round the ends of the
two (i.e. upper and lower) carbons, and closed about them, and to hold them centrally
in line one with the other; so that the one, which is first fixed in its socket or attach-
ment in the lamp, serves to hold, and hold centrally, through the intervention of the
adjusting gauge, the other; and this, being held in this position, is fastened at its
other end in its adjustable socket or holder, in this desired, and correct position.
One form of adjustment gauge consists of a hinged device, adapted to open by
means of a hinge, and be placed over the carbon ends, and then be closed together;
and it may be held in this position by a dowel or other spring fastening, or other
locking device, which holds it on the carbons, and in turn holds the carbons in
position. In another construction, the two parts are adapted to be separated entirely
one from the other, and to fit and lock or fasten one upon or with the other, when
placed in position over a carbon. The parts are provided with suitable knobs,
handles, or similar provisions, by which they can be held and worked.
The parts of which the gauge above described is made, in some cases, consist of
a main base or body part, and a smaller part, acting as a closing piece or part.
In a further modification, the gauge consists in itself of a spring construction,
being made of spring steel or other suitable metal, and adapted to be pressed or
placed in position over the carbons, and to be sprung_back off same, when the two
carbons have been adjusted in the proper position. The spring form of gauge may
be in one continuous piece; or, as separate spring portions, held together
longitudinally by a carrier bar or piece.
Internally, the gauges, in some cases, are made parallel throughout; whilst in
others, they are made larger in diameter in one end than at the other. The former
construction would be used in connection with lamps in which both carbons are of
saine diameter; and the latter form, in cases where the two carbons are of different
diameter. This point of the internal construction refers to all forms of gauges.
Examples of means for adjusting electric light carbons according to this Invention,
are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: -
Figures 1, 1, 1B, and 1°, shew one modification, in its opened out view, plan,
and end, and side elevation, respectively. In this case, the gauge device consists of
two halves a a', held together by a hinged joint b at the back; and provided at
their front meeting edges with lugs c, one of the lugs being disposed above the
other. In this case, the upper part d of the core of these gauge halves is inade
larger than the lower core e, so as to serve for ordinary cases where the upper
or carbons of an arc lamp are larger than the lower or carbons. In action,
the halves a a¹ are brought up to, and closed round the lower carbon, and then slid
up, so as to bring the upper core 6 to a position to receive the upper and larger
carbon, (or any suitable mode of applying the gauge, so as to surround and hold
the ends of the two carbons, may be adopted); and then in any case, whichever of
the carbons is first fixed in its socket or attachment in the lamp, will hold the other
centrally, through the intervention of the gauge; and this carbon may be fastened
in its adjustable socket or holder, whilst it is thus centrally and correctly held.
This action will be practically the action and effect, as regards central holding, in
all cases; and therefore, the action connected with the other modifications about to
be described will not be repeated.
In the modification shewn in outside elevation, sectional elevation, and plan, in
Figures 2, 2A and 2B, respectively, the gauge is in two halves a a¹, which are
completely separable; and they are held together when in use in connection with
the lamp, by means of spring clips f, which are secured on one of the halves of the
gauge; while the other half is provided with notches, with which a corresponding
tooth or teeth or inwardly projecting parts h on the inside of the free ends of the
catches f, engage; and which hold the two parts firmly together when on the
carbon. Dowel pins i are provided on the edge of the halves or one of them, and fit
in dowel holes in the other. These serve to guide the two halves and hold them in
the correct position relatively to each other; whilst the springs lock the two halves
together, when the device is on the carbon. The two halves are manipulated by
the knob handles c; and the upper part d of the core of the gauge is larger than
the lower part e.
Another modification, somewhat similar in general form of gauge to that shewn
in Figure 2, is shewn in elevation, and sectional plan, in Figure 3, and Figure 3ª.
In this case, the part a is provided with extended sides or wings a, whilst the
part a¹ is made to fit within and fill the space between the wings a*, except of
course the inner core in which the carbons lie when the gauge is placed on them.
This piece will be slid into position in a, when a has been placed upon the carbon ;
and it will be held in position conveniently by suitable springs and pins, as set forth
with reference to Figures 2 to 2B, or by other suitable means.
All of the above inodifications, as drawn, would be of solid metal, such as cast
metal, and machined at the parts required; but it is to be stated that a modification
of these may consist, generally, in making them of sheet metal, with equivalent or
suitable fastenings such as described, for holding the separate part in the desired
correct positions.
A modification upon the lines last referred to is shewn in Figures 4 and 4* in
elevation and plan; that is, the gauge is this case consists of a split spring gauge
tube, the body of which is bent round to the form and approximate size of the
carbon, and also carried out at each into projecting edges or lugs c, by which it can
be sprung open more or less when placing it in position, or moving it upon, the
carbons. This body of this device being of the same size throughout, is more
particularly serviceable for cases where the + and carbons are of equal diameter,
or for alternating current arc lamps.
-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is
1. The herein described improved means for effecting the central fixing of electric
arc-lamp carbons, consisting of the gauge device, adapted to be placed on or over the

page_text: ends of the carbons of the lamp, and to hold them centrally in line, one with the
other, while they are being adjusted and fixed; substantially as set forth.
2. The modifications of devices, serving as means for effecting the central holding
and fastening of electric arc carbons in line with one another, particularly as set
forth with reference to and shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings,
respectively.
Dated this 4th day of October 1807
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15 Water Street, Liverpool.