An Improved Device for Regulating the Distance Apart of Freshly Inserted Carbons in Arc Lamps.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 31st Aug., 1897-Accepted, 6th Nov., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Regulating the Distance Apart of Freshly
Inserted Carbons in Arc Lamps.
I, RICHARD HOLSTEN, of Stralsund, in the Empire of Germany, Electrician
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a device for regulating the distance apart of the carbons
of sbunt circuit arc lamps after their insertion.
It has for its object to prevent the carbons after their insertion from being
pushed firmly against one another, in which case no are can be formed.
On a bed plate of the regulating device there are provided standards which carry
a iciler, round which is wound a chain carrying the two carbon holders, which are
approximately of the same weight. The roller is rotated in the ordinary manner
by means of a ratchet wheel operated by an electro-magnetic pawl device in such
a way that the carbons are suitably pushed forward as they burn away.
The chain has so much friction on the drum that the carbon holders remain
stationary in any position so long as a carbon holder is not raised or the power
mechanism set in action. On one of the two carbon holders being raised, the friction
of the chain on the drum is overcome by the weight of the other carbon holder,
so that the chain travels over the drum. The exact amount of friction necessary
for the object required may easily be obtained by suitably roughening the drum,
namely by filing suitable surfaces on the latter."
By the friction of the chain wound over the drum, on the one hand, the slipping
of the chain is rendered more difficult and, on the other hand, a more certain
adjustment of the two carbon pencils by means of the electro-magnets is produced
during the working of the lamp.
The end of the chain, which is attached to the lower carbon holder, is carried
over a roller which is carried by a frame pivotted in standards. The frame lies
under the action of a spiral spring which maintains it in its upper position
limited by a stop so long as the weight of the lower carbon holder does not act on
the chain and the roller. When the latter is the case, the pressure of the spring
is overcome, and the frame assumes its lower position.
There is arranged on the sole plate an electro-magnet with a revoluble armature.
An elbow arm is attached to the armature, the free end of said arm resting on
the sole plate when the magnet is free from current. In the lower position of the
frame the extended shaft of the frame roller rests on the elbow arm, so that
the frame must be raised as soon as the electro-magnet attracts its armature.
On the raising of the carbon holder, the frame maintains the chain taut until
the frame encounters the stop. The chain then begins to slip until the carbons
come in contact. On the lower carbon holder being released, the chain is stretched
or drawn taut, and the upper carbon holder is not in a position to descend further
lownwards so that the necessary distance between the carbons must be established.
If new carbons are to be inserted, the upper carbon holder is raised, whilst the
rame remains in its lower position, and the lower carbon holder, in consequence

page_text: of its own weight, descends. The carbons are then inserted in the carbon holders
and the lower carbon holder is raised until the carbon points encounter one
another. During the lifting of the lower carbon holder, the spring draws the
frame into its uppermost position, as the weight of the lower carbon holder does
not then act on the frame roller. On the lower carbon holder being released, the
pressure of the spring is again overcome, so that the frame comes into its lower
position. There is consequently formed a given distance apart of the carbon points
so that the carbons never come in contact after their insertion.
By making the separate parts of suitable dimensions, it is possible to regulate
the distance apart of the carbons entirely at will or as may be desired.
As soon as current passes through the lamp the electro-magnet attracts its
armature, so that the frame is somewhat raised, and the carbon points somewhat
approached, and consequently the arc light may be reliably formed.
Nothing is altered in the essential part of this invention if the separate
mechanisms herein before described are replaced by others.
Dated this 7th day of December 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
An Improved Device for Regulating the Distance Apart of Freshly
Inserted Carbons in Arc Lamps.
I, RICHARD HOLSTEN, of Stralsund, in the Empire of Germany, Electrician
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 a device for regulating the distance apart of the
carbons of shunt circuit arc lamps after their insertion.
It has for its object to prevent the carbons after their insertion from being
pushed firmly against one another, in which case no arc can be formed.
The invention is shown in elevation in the accompanying drawing.
On a sole plate A of the regulating device there are provided standards B
which carry a roller D round which is wound a chain G carrying the two carbon
holders E and F which are approximately of the same weight. The roller D is
⚫ rotated in the ordinary manner by means of a ratchet wheel II operated by an
electro-magnetic pawl device in such a way that the carbons are suitably pushed
forward as they burn away.
The chain G has so much friction on the drum D that the carbon holders remain
stationary in any position so long as a carbon holder is not raised or the power
mechanism set in action. On one of the two carbon holders being raised, the
friction of the chain on the drum 1) is overcome by the weight of the other carbon
holder, so that the chain travels over the drum. The exact amount of friction
necessary for the object required may easily be obtained by suitably roughening
the drum D, namely by filing suitable surfaces on the latter.
By the friction of the chain wound over the drum D), on the one hand, the
slipping of the chain is rendered more difficult, and, on the other hand, a more
certain adjustment of the two carbon pencils by means of the electro-magnets is
produced during the working of the lamp.
The end of the chain G, which is attached to the lower carbon holder F, is
earried over a roller I which is carried by a frame K pivoted in the standards C..

page_text: The frame K lies under the action of a spiral spring L which maintains it in
its upper position limited by a stop M so long as the weight of the lower carbon
holder F' does not act on the chain G and the froller.I: When the latter is the case,
the pressure of the spring L is overcome, and the frame assumes its lower position.
There is arranged on the sole plate A án electro-magnet N with a revoluble
armature 0. This electro-magnet N is connected in shunt to the main current.
This is simply attained by attaching the ends of the magnet coil to
the two pole clamps (terminals) of the lamp. Consequently current will
also pass through the electro-magnet when the two carlions are not
approached one to the other i.e. when the are is not yet formed.
An elbow arm P' is attached to the armature O, the free ends of said arm resting
on the sole plate A when the magnet N is free from current. In the lower posi-
tion of the frame K the extended shaft k of the frame roller I rests on the elbow
arm P, so that the frame K must be raised as soon as the electro-magnet N attracts
its armature 0.
On the raising of the carbon holder F, the frame K maintains the chain G
taut until the frame K encounters the stop M. The chain G then begins to slip
until the carbons come in contact. On the lower carbon holder being released, the
chain is again stretched or drawn taut, and the upper carbon holder is not in a
position to descend further downwards so that the necessary distance between the
carbons must be established.
If new carbons are to be inserted, the upper carbon holder E is raised whilst the
frame K remains in its lower position, and the lower carbon holder, in consequence
of its own weight, descends. The carbons e and f are then inserted in the carbon
holders, and the lower carbon holder 1 is raised until the carbon points encounter
one another. During the lifting of the lower carbon holder, the spring L
draws the frame into its uppermost position, as the weight of the
lower arbon houder does not then act on the frame roller I. On the
lower carbon holder being released, the pressure of the spring L is again over-
come, so that the frame comes into its lower position. There is consequently
formed a given distance apart of the carbon points so that the carbons never come
in contact after their insertion.
By making the separate parts of suitable dimensions, it is possible to regulate
the distance apart of the carbons entirely at will or as may be desired.
As soon as current passes through the lamp the electro-magnet N attracts its
armature 0, so that the frame K is somewhat raised, and the carbon points
somewhat approached, and consequently the are light may be reliably formed.
Nothing is altered in the essential part of this invention if the separate
mechanisms hereinbefore described are replaced by others.
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:
1. A device for regulating the distance apart of freshly inserted carbons in are
lamps, characterised by a pivoted frame (K) arranged under the influence of a
spring (L) and carrying a guide roller (I) for the chain (G) which carries the
carbon holders, with the object of relieving the spring (L) on the lower carbon
holder (1) being raised so that after the release of the lower carbon holder a
certain distance between the points of the carbons is automatically established,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In the herein before described arrangement for regulating the distance
apart of freshly inserted carbons in arc lamps, the use of an arm (P)
attached to the armature (0) of an electro-magnet (N) on which arm the
frame (K) carrying the guide roller (I) rests in its lower position, with
the object when the electro-magnet (N) is excited of diminishing the distance
between the carbon points to the desired extent, substantially a described.
3. The general construction and combination of parts taken as a whole forming

page_text: the improved device for regulating the distance apart of freshly inserted carbons
in arc lamps, substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
Dated this 30th day of August 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.