Improvements in Electric Light Suspension Fittings.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Light Suspension Fittings.
LESLIE BRADLEY MILLER of 2 Grays Inn Road, London, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My improvements relate to those counterweight fittings in which the lamp or
electrolier is suspended by a single cord from the overhead attachment; and an up
and down movement of the lamp &c. obtained by interposing a differential pulley
consisting of two drums of unequal diameter turning on the same axis and contained
in an outer shell or frame suitably weighted to balance the suspended object.
The aim of my improvements is to make a fitting of good mechanical construction
suitable for balancing heavy electroliers &c. as well as lighter fittings, and to cheapen
the construction.
In my improved counterbalance the outer shell is made of two half shells of cast
iron or other metal. There is a separate ring at the centre where the two half
shells meet which may be screwed to the lower half shell or may be cast on to it if
the casting is not intended to be covered by a spinning. One of the bearings
for the axle may be made by merely drilling a hole in the casting to take one end
of the axle, the other bearing is held on to the edge of the casting or to the ring
by screws so as to be removable in order to take out the pulley. The pulley is
made of insulating material. The shells are bushed at the top and bottom with an
insulating bush constructed with a flange so that by screwing in the bush stamped
metal leaves or an outer ornamental spinning are held without further fixing.
The central ring hides the junction between the two half shells and also laps over
and hides the edge of any spinning or stamping held between it and the flanged
insulating bush at the other end.
Instead of making use of a solid metal casting two concentric half shells may
be used with a space between them into which shot can be poured to obtain the
required weight.
Dated this 12th day of July 1895
LESLIE MILLER.
Improvements in Electric Light Suspension 'Fittings.
'LESLIE BRADLEY MILLER of 2 Grays Inn Road, London 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 improvements relate to those counterweight fittings in which the lamp or
electrolier is suspended by a single cord from an overhead attachment, and an up
and down movement of the lamp is obtained by means of a differential pulley
interposed between the point of suspension and the object suspended.
In my improved counterbalance the outer shell which contains the differential
pulley is made of two half shells of cast iron or other metal or of porcelain'

page_text: There is a separate ring at the centre where the two half shells meet which may
be screwed to the lower half shell or may be cast on to it if the casting is not
intended to be covered by a spinning. One of the half shells may screw into the
other half or both into the ring, or as there is very little strain on the upper half
when the lower one contains the pulley it may merely be held by a screw at the
side. One of the bearings for the axle may be made by drilling a hole in the
casting to take one end of the axle. The other bearing is held on to the edge of
the casting or to the ring by screws so as to be removable in order to take out
the pulley. The pulley is made of insulating material and the construction I prefer
is to make the body of wood with discs of vulcanized fibre or other unbreakable
material nailed on at the two ends with a ring of the same material at the centr..
This ring is made by stamping the small end piece from the centre of it. It is
forced on to a shoulder turned on the wood and held by nails. The shells are
bushed at the top and bottom where the cord passes in and out with insulating
bushes which may be made to screw in and are of such a shape that they will.
hold in position any ornamental spinning or stamping of copper brass &c. which
may have been previously passed over the casting, also to form convenient
projections round which an envelope of silk &c. may be drawn up, by means of a
cord, like a bag. The central ring hides the junction between the two half shells
and also laps over and hides the edge of any spinning or stamping held between it
and the flanged insulating bush at the other end. By adopting this construction
the maker will be able to keep in stock a number of the cast metal bodies fitted
complete and by means of a variety of spinnings and stampings quickly change the
character of the ornamentation.
Instead of making use of a solid casting for the shell the desired weight may be
obtained by means of two half shells one inside the other with the space between
them filled up with the proper quantity of shot.
It is obvious that this counterbalance fitting may be used for suspending other
things besides electric lamps such as telephones or oil lamps.
I should add that I am aware this description of differential counterweight fitting
was invented and used by Lord Kelvin about 1883 and therefore my improvements
relate only to details found necessary in practice.
Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical section and Fig. 2 a side view of
one of the improved counterweights.
1. is the cast metal case.
2. the ring.
3. the axle on which the pulley turns.
4. the hole bored in the casting at the end of the axle where the end thrust takes
effect.
5. the bearing in which the other end of the axle turns.
6. the screws for holding the bearing on to the casting so that it can be easily
removed and the pulley taken out when required.
7. the pulley made as described.
8. the insulating bushes.
9. an ornamental thin metal cover over the casting held between the central ring
and the end bushes.
10. in Fig. 2. are ornamental stamped or pressed leaves held on by the end
bushes, alone or in addition to the thin metal envelope. These are not shown in
Fig. 1.
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 :-
(1.) In a single cord counterweight the combination of an outer case of heavy
material, a light inner pulley and a detachable ornamental portion substantially as
described.
(2.) In a single cord counterweight the combination of an outer case made in two

page_text: parts with a central ring biding the junction substantially as described and shown
in the drawings.
(3.) In a single cord counterweight a pulley constructed as described and shown
in the drawings.
(4.) In a single cord counterweight the use of the removable bearing shown at 5
in the drawing Fig. 1.
(5.) In a single cord counterweight the combination of the screwed end bushes
and a detachable ornamental shell or stamping.
(6.) In a single cord counterweight the use of a hollow outer shell for containing
shot &c. for the required weight.
Dated this 7th day of November 1895.
LESLIE BRADLEY MILLER.