Improvements in Arc Lamps.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 15th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 19th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Arc Lamps.
I, LUTHER HANSON of 13 West Grove Terrace, Halifax, Yorkshire, Electrical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in lamps having a solenoid in the main
circuit, for the purpose of separating the carbons or striking the arc, and also with a
solenoid in the shunt circuit (or "bye pass" across the arc) which opposes any further
action of the main solenoid, allowing the carbons to be fed forward in the ordinary
manner as they are consumed. The object of my improvements in such lamps is,
firstly, to obtain a fine even feed of the carbons so as to produce a steady light; and
secondly, to make such lamps more adaptable for use with varying currents.
In order to carry out my invention I employ the two solenoids previously mentioned,
both of which are arranged over two rocking frames or levers which may be pivotted
on the same fulcrum, or upon separate fulcrums. The iron core of the main solenoid
in connected with the end of one of the rocking frames or levers, which rocking
frame also carries a train of wheels, a pinion of which gears with the rack formed
in the positive carbon-rod for the purpose of separating the carbons and striking the
arc, which takes place when the current is switched on to the lamp. The other
rocking frame or lever is placed in connection with the iron core of the shunt
solenoid, such rocking frame having a projection thereon which acts against a
projection on the rocking frame previously mentioned, for the purpose of preventing
the carbons being separated too far. The action of the lamp is as follows:-
When the current is first of all switched on to the lamp, the main solenoid attracts
its iron core, and tilts or rocks the frame or lever carrying the train of wheels, the
upward movement of which frame places the brake wheel in contact with its brake, by
which the train of wheels are locked, in addition to which, and simultaneously there-
with, the carbons are separated, but as soon as the said carbons commence to consume,
more current is sent through the shunt coil, thereby attracting its core, causing the
second named rocking frame or lever to be drawn upward, placing the projection
thereon in contact with the projection on the first mentioned rocking frame, the effect
of which is to oppose the action of the main coil so as to release the brake and allow
the carbons to be fed.
Dated this 17th day of June 1889.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Arc Lamps.
I, LUTHER HANSON, of 18 West Grove Terrace, Halifax, Yorkshire, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in arc lamps having a solenoid in the
main circuit, for the purpose of separating the carbons or striking the arc, and
also with a solenoid in the shunt circuit (or "bye-pass" across the arc) which opposes
any further action of the main solenoid, allowing the carbons to be fed forward in
the ordinary manner as they are consumed. The object of my improvements in such
lamps is, firstly, to obtain a fine even feed of the carbons so as to produce a steady
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page_text: light; and, secondly, to make such lamps more adaptable for use with varying
currents.
In order to carry out my invention I employ the two solenoids previously mentioned,
both of which are arranged over two rocking frames or levers which may be pivoted
on the same fulcrum, or upon separate fulcrums. The iron core of the main solenoid
is connected with the end of one of the rocking frames or levers, which rocking frame
also carries a train of wheels, a pinion of which gears with the rack formed in the
positive carbon rod, for the purpose of separating the carbons and striking the arc,
which takes place when the current is switched on to the lamp. The other rocking
frame or lever is placed in connection with the iron core of the shunt solenoid, such
rocking frame having a projection thereon which acts against the rocking frame
previously mentioned, for the purpose of preventing the carbons being separated
too far.
In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now make reference
to the accompanying sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof, wherein Fig. 1 is
elevation of an electric arc lamp having my improvements applied thereto, and Fig. 2
is elevation of the opposite side to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is plan view taken through the
line 1-2 of Fig. 2, whilst Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of some of the parts. A repre-
sents the main circuit, used for the purpose of separating the carbons or striking the
arc, and B represents the shunt circuit employed for the purpose of opposing any
extreme action on the part of the main solenoid. The iron core C of the main
solenoid is connected by a rod to the end of a rocking frame or lever D working
upon a fulcrum a, the opposite end of such rocking frame being connected by rod E
to the plunger of an air dash pot L or other like device usually employed for the
purpose of preventing the too sudden separation of the carbons. This rocking
frame D also carries a train of wheels b and c, the pinion of which gears with the
rack F formed in the positive carbon rod G for the purpose of separating the carbons
and striking the arc, which function is performed when the current is switched onto
the lamp. I also employ another rocking frame or lever H arranged in connection
with the iron core I of the shunt solenoid B, this second rocking frame preferably
working upon a pivot a which carries the first named rocking frame D. This second-
named rocking frame H is provided on the underside with a projection or lip d, and
it is employed for the purpose of acting under the rocking frame D when the carbons
are being separated too far. The projection d may be attached to the frame D
instead of frame H, whereby the same ends would be attained. The rocking
frame D carries a brake e, the extent of its upward movement being limited by
the screw f. The rocking frame D also carries the brake wheel J, for purposes
hereinafter explained. K is a weight to counterbalance the rocking frame H.
The action of the lamp is as follows: When the electric current is first of all
switched onto the lamp the main solenoid A attracts the iron core C, in doing which
the rocking frame D is drawn upwards, and with it the train of gearing connected there-
with, the effect of this upward movement of the rocking frame is to place the brake
wheel K into contact with the brake e by which the train of wheels are locked. In
addition to this operation, and simultaneously with it, the carbons are separated; but
as soon as the said carbons commence to consume, more electric current is sent through
the shunt coil, which in turn attracts its core I, causing the second rocking frame H to
be drawn upward placing the projection d thereon into contact with the underside of
the rocking frame D, the effect of which is to oppose the action of the main coil so
as to release the brake and allow the carbons to be fed thereby.
By constructing and combining the compound rocking frames as herein described,
and by using the projection d, it is evident that whenever the main solenoid is acting too
strongly or irregularly the shunt circuit B will regulate its action by the projection
acting on the underside of the rocking arm D. By this means I obtain a fine regular
and even feed of the carbon so as to produce a steady light, and also the lamps so
constructed are more adaptable to be used with varying currents.

page_text: 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 :-
In electric are lamps having a solenoid in the main circuit, together with a solenoid
in the shunt or bye-pass circuit, the employment of two separate levers or rocking
frames, arranged and operated so as to oppose each other when the lamp is in action,
substantially as described.
Dain thin 11th of March 1800
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.