IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS, AND IN APPLIANCES RELATING THERETO "
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Henry Emmens, of Argyll Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Actuary, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
LAMPS, AND IN APPLIANCES RELATING THERETO
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Henry Emmens
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th June 1882.
STEPHEN HENRY EMMENS, of Argyll-Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Actuary, IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS, AND IN APPLIANCES RELATING
THERETO."
56
My invention relates to certain improvements whereby the carbons of an electric
"candle" are made to approach one another, on the diminution or cessation of the
electric current, and whereby an automatic feed of the carbons, in "candle" or
other lamps, is provided.
The first part of my invention consists of a pair of levers, jointed scissor-wise,
and having at one pair of extremities arms, to hold the parallel candles of the
lamp. The levers holding the candles are held in open position by the attraction
of an electro magnet, formed by the passage of the lamp current, so long as this
current is flowing and the lamp remains luminous. The hanging extremities of
the scissor levers are weighted or fitted with springs, which are insufficient to
overcome the attraction of the electro magnet whilst the current is operative, but
which immediately upon cessation or sensible diminution of the current, and
consequent inoperation of the magnet, cause the arms holding the candles to
approach one another, and the candles to converge and complete the circuit, when
the magnet again becomes operative, and maintains the candles, in their normal
and parallel position.
The second portion of my invention is designed to afford a continuous and
automatic feed, which shall renew the carbons of candle or other arc-lights. I carry
this out in two ways.
In one case, designed especially for application to "candle" lamps, I cause the
candles to be held in position by suitable and easily combustible fastenings (such
as cotton or thin wire), and these fastenings are attached at suitable intervals to

page_text: the carbons, which are caused to press upwards by weights or other suitable means.
As the carbons burn down to each of these combustible fastenings they are con-
sumed, and the check being thus removed, the upward tendency of the carbons
causes them to rise into operation.
In the second case, designed especially for application to lamps dependent upon
the movement of one carbon, I employ an electro magnet, rendered operative by
the lamp circuit. This magnet attracts a pair of armatures, pivotted remotely
from the carbons, which grip the carbon so long as the current passes. The carbon
is given a forward impulse by means of suitable weights and pulleys or springs,
and immediately upon any cessation or sensible diminution of the current allowing
the armatures to open outwards on their pivots, and thus their grip to slacken, the
said impulse feeds forwards the carbon until the circuit is again closed.
The said feeding devices enable me to automatically feed forward any number of
carbons into successive action, by uniting them in a continuous line.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Stephen Henry Emmens in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th December 1882.
STEPHEN HENRY EMMENS, of Argyll Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Actuary. IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS AND APPLIANCES
TIIERETO
RELATING
My Invention relates to certain improvements whereby the carbons of an
electric "candlo are made to approach one another, on the diminution or
cessation of the electric current, and whereby an automatic feed of the carbons,
in "candle or other lamps, is provided.
The first part of my Invention consists of an apparatus whereby the carbons of
an electric candle are made to approach one another on the diminution or cessation
of the electric current, and may conveniently be in the form of a pair of levers A, A,
jointed scissor wise, Figure 1, and having at one pair of extremities, arms to hold
the parallel candles of the lamp. The levers holding the candles are held in open
position by the attraction of an electro-magnet C C, formed by the passage of
the lamp current, so long as this current is flowing and the lamp remains
luminous. The hanging extremities D D of the scissor levers are weighted or
fitted with springs which are insufficient to overcome the attraction of the electro
magnet whilst the current is operative, but which immediately upon the cessation
or sensible diminution of the current and consequent inoperation of the magnet,
cause the arms B B holding the candles to approach one another, and the candles
to converge and complete the circuit, when the magnet again becomes operative,
and maintains the candles in their normal and parallel position.
Another form of this candle lamp is shown in Figure 2. of the_accompanying
Drawings. The cross levers are here replaced by bell cranks E F and Ğ H
holding the carbons by the arms E and Ġ and being acted on by the magnets
through the arms F and H. When the current ceases and F. and H are no longer
held down, the arms E and G are drawn together by the spring K and the carbons
are caused to touch at their upper extremities and so make circuit again.
The second portion of my Invention is designed to afford an automatic feed of
the carbous of candle or other are lights
One form of feed is shown in Figure 2. above mentioned The candles are
retained in position by a string or other easily combustible fastening L which is
fastened to a peg somewhat too large to pass through a hole in the base plate M.
Other similar strings or fastenings are placed at intervals along the candles.
When the candle burns down to L it is released and feeds forward (by the opera-
tion of a counterweight N or by its own weight if the lamp be placed in a reversed
position) until it is checked by the next string and peg.
Another form of feed is shown in Figure 3 aud consists in placing the carbons
in holders E and G so pivoted as to assume varying degrees of inclination in
proportion as the candle is consumed. These holders are inclined towards each
other by the tension of the spring K and are caused to diverge by the armature O
of the inagnet C. The opposing forces of K and O serve to strike and maintain the
voltaic are between the ends of the carbons, and 1 sometimes render the regulation
still more sensitive by causing the current, after passing the arc, to traverse an
outer coil or coils of wire wound round the magnet in a direction opposing that of
the main coil.
A third form of feed is shewn in Figure 4 and is designed especially for appli-
cation to lamps with carbons approaching each other in opposite directions in the
same line. An electro-magnet C is operated by the main circuit and attracts a

page_text: pair of armatures 0. O. pivoted remotely from the carbons and furnished with con-
tact pieces G G which grip and sustain the upper carbon so long as the current is
passing. The grip slackens on any cessation or sensible diminution of the current
and one or both of the carbons are fed forward by weights or springs or other
suitable devices and attachments. When very powerful currents are used I
connect up the magnet coil as a shunt, or parallel with the arc circuit in advance
of the arc
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature and objects of my
invention and the manner in which it is to be performed be it known that what
I consider novel and useful and desire to protect by Letters Patent is :-
First, The construction of a candle electric lamp with adjustable inclined pencils,
substantially as described in reference to Figs 1, 2 and 3.
Secondly, In such converging candle lamps the continuation of springs or
weights and of electro-magnets to cause the pencils to converge and diverge
by their action and re-action substantially as described in reference to Figs 1, 2
and 3.
Thirdly, In any are electric lamp the combination of a combustible detent
operating against the gravity or other mechanical feed of the pencil to regulate the
same substantially as described in reference to Fig 2.
Fourthly In any are electric lamp the construction of a frictional grip operated
by an electro-magnet to advance or withdraw one or both of the carbon pencils,
substantially as described in reference to Fig 4.
In witness whereof I the said Stephen Henry Emmens have hereunto set
my hand seal this Eighteenth day of December in the year of our Lord
One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty Two.
Witness:
JOHN. C. FELL
23 Rood Lane
Fenchurch Street
London EC.
Patent Agent.
STEPHEN 11. EMMENS (LS.)