Improved Fittings for Electric Incandescence Lamps.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1887
Complete Left, 18th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 8th June, 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Fittings for Electric Incandescence Lamps.
We, WILLIAM BROOKS SAYERS Electrical Engineer, 231 Monument Road
Birmingham in the County of Warwick and WILSON HENRY STURGE, Electrical
Engineer of 17 Frederick Road Edgbaston Birmingham do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The Fitting consists of a claw with 3 or 4 radiating arms supporting a reflector
which may be of silvered glass, opal, polished, painted or enamelled metal or other
suitable material. One arm of the above named claw is extended to form a collar
through which an adjustable tube passes, which latter is bent round to carry the lamp
holder so that the filament of the lamp is approximately parallel with the plane of the
rim of the reflector. The collar is fitted with a screw to clamp the tube in any desired
position so that the lamp may be secured in the best relative position to the reflector.
The claw which supports the reflector may be joined to the supporting tube or rod by
a universal joint of any of the well known forms. The conducting wires or leads pass
through the bent tube and may either be carried along the supporting rod or tube by
means of eyelets fixed thereto or may pass into the tube through a hole or holes in the
sides.
A small disc of opal or other translucent material may be fixed below the lamp to
prevent the direct rays from the filament reaching the eye. This is supported either
from the adjustable tube or from one of the other arms of the claw. In some cases
the opal dish is replaced by a shield or guard of wire.
When it is required to vary at will the distance of the reflector from the point of
attachment to wall or ceiling, a sliding or telescopic support is employed. To provide
for the lengthening or shortening of the conductors, these are made of flexible lead
and a central portion of each is wound around two small drums which are made to
revolve on studs projecting from a ring or collar which passes freely over the
telescopic or sliding support. The drums each have a small peg fixed in the centre of
.מ

page_text: the periphery, taken lengthways, a sufficient length of the lead is coiled around the
drums and the direction of winding is reversed in the centre of the coils by passing
the leads round the pegs above described. A spiral spring is fixed to the inside of
each drum the other ends being secured to the studs on which the barrels revolve.
When the slide or telescope is drawn out the lead is unwound from either end of the
cylinders simultaneously. The cylinders with the collar on which they are fixed move
half the distance which the reflector and lamp is moved.
1
CT11007
WILLIAM BROOKS SAYERS.
WILSON HENRY STURGE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Fittings for Electric Incandescence Lamps.
We WILLIAM BROOKS SAYERS, 231 Monument Road, and WILSON HENRY
STURGE, 17 Frederick Road, both in Birmingham, in the county of Warwick,
Electrical Engineers, 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:—
This invention relates to the fittings for electric incandescence lamps, and the
objects of our improvements are, to provide a telescopic action for varying the
distance of the reflector and lamp from the ceiling &c., to provide means for securing
the reflectors, to provide an adjustable device for carrying an incandescence lamp, for
adjusting its position relative to the reflector, to provide means for taking up slack
leads or wires, and further, to combine parts constituting an improved fitting for such
lamps.
A fitting embracing these our improvements may be constructed thus,, although
certain new and useful parts or details may be applied also to other forms of fittings
for such lamps.
When it is required to vary at will the distance of the reflector from the point of
attachment to wall or ceiling, a sliding or telescopic support is employed. At the
one end of this support, the lamp proper is situated, and carried therefrom thus :-
A claw device is provided with three or four radiating arms supporting a reflector,
which may be of silvered glass, opal, polished, painted or enamelled, or other suitable
material.

page_text: One arm of the above named claw is extended to form a collar, through which an
adjustable tube passes, which latter is bent round or formed to carry the lamp holder,
so that the filament of the lamp is approximately parallel with the plane of the rim of
the reflector. This collar is fitted with a screw to clamp the tube in any desired
position, so that the lamp may be secured in the best relative position to the
reflector.
The claw which supports the reflector, may be joined to the supporting tube or rod,
by a universal joint.
The conducting wires or leads pass through the bent tube, and may either be carried
along the supporting rod or tube, by means of eyelets fixed thereto, or may pass into
the tube through a hole or holes in the sides.
To provide for the lengthening or shortening of the conductors or leads, these said
leads are of a flexible nature, and the central portion of the length of each, wound
around two small spring drums mounted and made to revolve, on studs projecting
from a ring or collar, which passes freely over the telescopic sliding support. The
drums each have a peg or its equivalent fixed on the centre of the peripheries, around
which the lead is passed at its central point. A sufficient length of lead is coiled
around the drums, and the direction of winding is reversed by such passing round the
peg. One end of a spiral spring is fixed to the inside of each drum, and its other end
is secured to the stud on which the drum revolves.
When the telescopic fitting is drawn out, the leads are unwound from either end of
the drums. The drums with the collar on which they are carried, move half the
amount by which the fitting is drawn out.
Having now described the nature of our invention, we will proceed to shew how it
is to be carried out, reference being made to the accompanying illustrative sheets of
drawings, upon which are figures, and letters of reference, similar letters referring
throughout the several views to the same thing or part.
Fig. 1 is a front, and Fig. 2 a side elevation of a pendent fitting constructed
according to our invention.
Fig. 3 illustrates the arrangement of the universal joint carrying the claw,
lamp &c.
Fig. 4 shews an enlarged front view of the device for taking up the slack leads.
Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view, and Fig. 6 a side sectional view of the winding
drum.
Fig. 7 illustrates the application of the "taking up" device to a fitting with two or
more lamps.
Fig. 8 illustrates a further modified form of pendent fitting; also a modification of
the arrangement of the taking up device.
Fig. 9 shews in detail a modified form of spring drum, and of the method of
securing thereto the reversing point of the wire or lead.
Fig. 10 shews a modified section of tube which may be used for the main
support.
a, is the lamp proper, which is attached to, and carried by the lamp holder b, and
bent tube c.
d is a claw device, consisting of three arms e, e¹ & e. On the claw e is
provided an extension piece f, which is formed into a tube or collar, through which
the upward part of the bent tube c passes. This collar f, being further furnished with
a screw g or its equivalent, by which the tube c may be firmly secured in any adjusted
position. h, is the reflector carried by the arms e, e¹ & e³, three arms are shewn upon
the drawings, but the number may be increased if desirable. Upon one or more of
these arms, is placed a depending hook i, carried upon a joint j, so that when placing
the reflector in position within the arms e, e¹ & e³, the depending hook or hooks i, may
be swung out of the way, until the rim of the reflector has passed within it, or
them, when the hook or hooks inay be turned under the reflector, and will then
support it.
We further provide that this reflector shall be held firmly in its position, yet without
undue rigidity, by means of the spring k, the one (upper) end of which is secured to
the underside of the claw centre.

page_text: Upon the upper part of the claw is a projection 1, the end of which is hinged into a
double joint piece m. The lower end of the sliding piece n, is hinged into the opposite
end of the joint piece m, the axis of the hinges being arranged at right angles to each
other, so that a universal joint is formed.
The two hinge joints may be made capable of being tightened after wear, so that
they may remain in any desired position after adjustment, but generally this will not
be required, as the wear will be very small. Spring or other washers may be inserted
in the joints to take up the wear if desired. By these means we produce a joint
which is simple in construction, and well adapted for its purpose; and by which the
reflector can be turned or adjusted through an extensive range of angles or directions.
o, o, are the leads or conductors, which are carried from the ceiling &c., along the
fitting to the lamp a, by means of eyelets p, the centres of which may be insulating
bushes.
In order to vary at will the distance of the reflector from the point of attachment to
the wall, ceiling &c., the main supporting rod or tube q is made to receive a telescopic
slide n, by which the lamp may be raised or lowered as desired.
To provide for the lengthening or shortening of the leads o, o, consequent upon the
telescopic arrangement described, we proceed thus:--The said leads are made
flexible, and a portion of each lead wound around a spring drum r. These drums or
barrels, which we will hereinafter describe as druins, are illustrated in detail in
Figs. 4, 5, & 6.
Fig. 5 represents the drum in transverse section. r, is the external part upon
which the flexible leads are coiled. 8, is a metallic hollow cylinder, having a central
hole to suit the stud t, upon which it revolves. Between this cylinder and the outer
part we may if desirable, insert insulating material u. The outer part r, insulating
material u, and the cylinders, are all firmly attached to each other in any suitable
manner, by cementing or otherwise.
Upon the inside of the cylinder a peg v is provided, to which is attached the one
end of an involute or spiral spring w, the other end of such spring being attached to a
similar peg a fixed upon the stud t. The spring w, having been placed in position,
the moveable end of the cylinders, is secured in its place.
Thus, when a rotary motion is given to the drum r, (in the direction of the arrow
preferably) the spring w, is wound up; and upon being let free the spring unwinds
itself, bringing back the drum with it.*
Upon the periphery of the drum, we provide for the attachment and carrying of the
leads o, o.
We make two grooves z, and 2', and cut away a portion of the centre
ridge at a¹. The lead o, is then bent round the opening or gap in the centre ridge, (the
edge of which serves the purpose of the peg 6 hereinafter described in Fig. 9.), the
one end being coiled in one groove around the drum, and the other end being coiled
in the other groove, and in the same direction. In order to prevent confusion of lines
in the drawing, Fig. 6, we have only shown the lead as being coiled half way round
the one groove, as seen in dotted lines, while it is not shown coiled at all in the groove
in section, but merely hitched into the gap in the ridge. In practice both leads would
be coiled upon their respective grooves as much as may be required.
The action of this device will now be understood,-Assuming the leads to be coiled
around their drums; when pulling the ends in opposite directions, as in extending the
telescopic fitting, the rotation of the drums, will wind up the springs w, and the leads
will be kept tight, the unwinding of the drum giving off as much of the lead as may
be required. Upon the other hand, when the telescopic action is used to shorten the
main support, the unwinding of the spring winds up the slack of the leads.
Thus the leads are always kept tight and neat in appearance.
The studs upon which these drums are carried, are attached to, or form part of a
sliding piece c¹, which is free to slide up and down the telescopic sliding piece n; and
it will be observed that the motion of the drums and the sliding piece c', will be one
half the alteration in length, of the telescopic fitting.
In Fig. 8, we illustrate a modified method of placing the drums r; and in the same
figure we show the telescopic arrangement inverted to that of Figs. 1, 2, & 7. In

page_text: this case the drums are placed edge facing edge, one upon either side of the main
support, and carried upon independent fixed spindles d', between a fork e', which said
fork piece slides freely up and down the tube n.
The leads may by this means, be kept close to the sides of the lower tube; or, the
leads may be passed through a hole or holes into and along the tube itself.
To facilitate the passing of the leads into the tube, we may in some instances have
the tube drawn to a special section, similar say to Fig. 10, so that such leads can pass
down the sides, and not interfere with the telescopic slide.
Again, in Fig. 9 we illustrate a modified form of the drum, in which we provide
but one groove. The leads or wires are secured at their reversing point, by means of
the peg or pin, which is passed through the two flanges of the drum, a recess being
formed in the body of the drum for this purpose. This pin 6' may be insulated if
desired, where the lead is passed around it.
We may employ the telescopic arrangement, and the taking up device, for fittings
carrying two or more lamps, as shown in Fig. 7.
We have shewn the methods we prefer of carrying out our invention, but we do
not confine ourselves to the precise details shown, nor to the materials stated,
inasmuch as these can be modified without departing from the essential features of
our invention.
We are aware that a universal ball joint has been used in connection with similar
fittings, and therefore we do not claim the use of a universal joint broadly, but-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In an electric incandescence lamp pendant or other fitting, the use of the claw
arrangement or device for carrying the reflector, that is to say, a claw consisting of
three or more arms, and having upon one or more of such arms a pivoted hook to act
in conjunction with fixed hooks upon the other arms, and with a pressure spring,
acting upon the upper part of the reflector, each substantially as described and
illustrated, and for the purposes specified.
2. The carrying or supporting of an electric incandescence lamp upon its fitting
by means of an adjustable holder, substantially as shown, and for the purposes
specified.
3. In an electric incandescence lamp fitting, the taking up, or the lengthening out
of the wires or leads, by means of the spring winding drum arrangement, constructed
and arranged substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6.
4. The modification of the arrangement of carrying the drums, and of the telescopic
movement combined, as described and illustrated in Fig. 8.
5. The modification of the method of constructing the drums and of connecting the
reversing points of the leads, as described and illustrated in Fig. 9.
6. The combination in a fitting for electric incandescence lamps of the parts
constituting such fitting as described and illustrated in Figs. 1 & 2, substantially as
and for the purposes specified.
7. The combination of an electric incandescence lamp, and adjustable holder, and
the claw device for carrying the reflector, of the double or universal joint, as described
and illustrated and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 17th day of An: 1000
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicants' Agent.