Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 21st Sert., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
I, EDWARD WILLIAM ANDERSON of Roydon Lodge, Erith, Kent, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
:-
My invention consists in the first place of a peculiar form of levers and clutch for
controlling the carbons and giving the necessary motions for striking the arc when
starting, for feeding the carbon or carbons together as they are used up, and for
permitting them to come together ready for starting again whenever the current is
cut off or interrupted from any cause.
I actuate this mechanism either by means of one electro magnet or solenoid in series
with the main circuit through the lamp or by two electro magnets or solenoids, one
being in series with and the other a shunt to the main circuit through the lamp,
arranged to act differentially on the lever, or else by one electro magnet or solenoid
having two windings on it, the one being in series with and the other a shunt to the
main circuit through the lamp, acting differentially on one armature or core.
I apply it either to lamps in which only the upper carbon moves, or to those in
which both move as they are used up; and it is of such a nature that it may be made
to act either on a rod carrying the upper carbon, or else on the carbon itself.
My invention furthermore consists in an improved arrangement of arc lamp.
In this there are two long vertical parallel guide bars between which 2 crossheads
can slide easily.
Each crosshead has a socket in the middle, with a clamping arrangement in
which the ends of the carbons are held, due regard being paid to insulation.
At their upper ends the guide bars carry a framework in which a pair of
differential pulleys are arranged, and are connected by suitable flexible attachments
to the 2 crossheads in such a way that, if one carbon is moved the other will
also move but in the opposite direction and at a different rate of speed, the
respective rates being in the same proportion as the rates of burning away, so that
the point of meeting where the arc is formed will always remain in approximately
the same position.
At about the middle of the guide bars another framework is attached to thein
carrying the electro magnetic regulating apparatus, and my improved lever and
clutch arrangement; and the position is so arranged that the clutch may act upon
the upper carbon itself as near as practicable to the point where the arc is forined
and constitute a guide for it.
A light cross bar is also fixed to the vertical guide rods as near as practicable to
the point of the lower carbon where the arc is formed.
"Thus each carbon is guided close to the arc, and the crossheads carrying their
other ends being guided by the vertical rods, it is manifest that the points must
always meet fairly even if the carbons are not quite straight.
The upper carbon crosshead is made of such a weight that, when the clutch is
released, the carbons run together by gravity.
When the current passes, the electro magnetic arrangement is energised, causing
the clutch to grip the carbon and lift it slightly (to an extent capable of easy
regulation), thus striking the arc.
As the carbons are used, the resistance of the main circuit is increased, and the
electro magnetic arrangements permit them to approach until a certain point is
reached when the clutch is automatically released, and they run together. Instantly
the magnet is more strongly energised, the clutch grips and separation takes place
as at starting.
When the current is interrupted the clutch is released, and the carbons run
together in manliness for a fresh start

page_text: In this arrangement very long carbons may be used capable of burning all night;
and, as the resultant weight opposing the action of the electro magnet will decrease
as the carbons burn away, I proportion the weights per unit of length of the flexible
connections between the crossheads and pulleys in such a way, that, for a given
weight per unit of length of carbons, the resultant force opposing the electro magnet
will be approximately constant.
Dated this 15th day of November 1888
CARPMAEI, & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
I, EDWARD WILLIAM ANDERSON, of Roydon Lodge, Erith, Kent, 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 invention consists in the first place of a peculiar form of levers and clutch for
controlling the carbons and giving the necessary motions for striking the arc when
starting, for feeding the carbon or carbons together as they are used up, and for
permitting them to come together ready for starting again whenever the current is
cut off or interrupted from any cause.
I actuate this mechanism either by means of one electro magnet or solenoid in sories
with the main circuit through the lamp; or by two electro magnets or solenoids, one
being in series with and the other a shunt to the main circuit through the lamp,
arranged to act differentially on the lever, or else by an electro magnet or solenoid
baving two windings on it, the one being in series with and the other a shunt to the
main circuit through the lamp, acting differentially on one armature or core.
I apply it either to lamps in which only the upper carbon moves, or to those in
which both move as they are used up; and it is of such a nature that it may be made
to act either on a rod carrying the upper carbon, or-else on the carbon itself.
My invention furthermore consists in an improved arrangement of arc lamp.
In this there are two long vertical parallel guide bars between which 2 cross-
heads can slide easily.
Each crosshead has a socket in the middle, with a clamping arrangement in which
the ends of the carbons are held, due regard being paid to insulation.
At their upper ends the guide bars carry a framework in which a pair of differential
pulleys are arranged, and are connected by suitable flexible attachments to the 2
crossheads in such a way that, if one carbon is moved the other will also move but
in the opposite direction and at a different rate of speed, the respective rates being in
the same proportion as the rates of burning away, so that the point of meeting where
the arc is formed will always remain in approximately the same position.
At about the middle of the guide bars another framework is attached to them
carrying the electro magnetic regulating apparatus, and my improved lever and clutch
arrangement; and the position is so arranged that the clutch
may nct upon the
carbon itself as near as practicable to the point where the arc is formed and constitute
upper
a guide for it.
A light cross bar is also fixed to the vertical guide rods as near as practicable to
the point of the lower carbon where the arc is formed.
Thus each carbon is guided close to the arc, and the crossheads carrying their.other
ends being guided by the vertical rods, it is manifest that the points must always
meet fairly even if the carbons are not quite straight.
The upper carbon crosshead is made of such a weight that, when the clutch is
released, the carbons run together by gravity.
When the current passes, the electro magnetic arrangement is energised, causing
the clutch to grip the carbon and lift. it slightly (to an extent capable of easy
regulation), thus striking the arc.

page_text: As the carbons are used, the resistance of the main circuit is increased, and the
electro magnetic arrangements permit them to approach until a certain point is
reached when the clutch is automatically released, and they run together. Instantly
the magnet is more strongly energised, the clutch grips and separation takes place as
at starting.
·
When the current is interrupted the clutch is released, and the carbons run
together in readiness for a fresh start.
In this arrangement very long carbons may be used capable of burning all night;
and, as the resultant weight opposing the action of the electro magnet will decrease
as the carbons burn away, I proportion the weights per unit of length of the flexible
connections between the crossheads and pulleys in such a way, that, for a given
weight per unit of length of carbons, the resultant force opposing the electro magnet
will be approximately constant.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the complete lamp partly in section.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan of the frame carrying the clutch mechanism.
Figure 4 is a half plan of the top carbon crosshead.
Figure 5 is a plan of the magnet lover.
Figure 6 is a plan of the clutch lever and shows also other parts connected
therewith.
Figure 7 is a part plan of the lower carbon crosshead.
Figure 8 is a part plan of the lower carbon guide.
A and A¹ are respectively the upper and lower carbons and the clutch mechanism
is shown acting directly upon the upper carbon but it could equally well act upon a
rod or tube carrying the carbon in the ordinary manner.
E is a framework carrying the clutch gear-B is an electro magnet or solenoid.
which may be wound in series altogether or in shunt and series according to
circumstances, that is in series only when a single lamp is in circuit or in shunt and
series when a number of lamps are in series on the same circuit. C is the core which
is drawn up into the solenoid when the current passes and in so doing lifts the end of
the lever D the other end of which is hinged to the frame E.
If preferred the lever D may be disposed so that the shunt and series coils are
wound on separate reels each acting on its own core or armature connected to the
lever D.
A connecting rod H is attached to the lever D) and its other end is connected:
to one arm of a bell crank lever G which is hinged to a bracket projecting from
a second lever F.
The lever D has a loop formed in it (see Figure 5) through which the carbon
freely passes and lever F has also a loop (see Figure 6) of peculiar shape; such.
that its large end is scarcely bigger than the carbon which however can easily slide
in it while the elongated part is made to accommodate the bell crank lever G and
its connecting rod H in the manner shown.
It will now be seen that the end of lever F being prevented from fising too easily
by a weight For a spring taking the place of it, upon allowing a current to pass
round the solenoid the rounded end of the bell crank lever G will be pressed against
the carbon and clamp it tight. Any further movement of the solenoid core will
overcome the resistance of weight or spring F and cause the carbon to lift bodily
thus striking the arc. As the carbons burn the arc lengthens and the solenoid
weakens, the levers drop until the lower one F touches the stop J, when further
movement causes the lever G to come away from the carbon and thus free it so
that it can drop by the action of gravity on to the lower carbon, when the cycle of
5 movements repeats itself. The length of the arc may be regulated by the stops J
and J. This clutch mechanism may be applied to lamps of various forms.
any

page_text: In my improved arrangement_of_arc lamp which is here shown there are 2
long vertical parallel guide bars K K between which 2 crossheads: LL can slide
easily.
Each crosshead has a socket in the middle with a clamping arrangement in which
the ends of the carbons are held due regard being paid to insulation.
At their upper ends the guide bars carry a framework M in which a pair of
differential pulleys N are arranged and are connected by suitable flexible attach-
ments to the 2 crossheads L L' in such a way that if one carbon is moved the other
will also move but in the opposite direction and at a different rate of speed the
respective rates being in the same proportion as the rates of burning away, so that
the point of meeting where the arc is formed will always remain in approximately
the same position.
At about the middle of the guide bars another framework E is attached to them
carrying the regulating arrangement before described which in this case acts upon
the upper carbon itself and at the same time forms a guide for it..
A light crossbar O is fixed to the guide bars KK near the point of the lower
carbon and serves to guide it.
Thus each carbon is guided close to the arc, and the crossheads carrying their other
ends being guided by the vertical rods it is manifest that the points must always meet
fairly even if the carbons are not perfectly straight.
The upper carbon crosshead L is made of such a weight that when the clutch is
released the carbons run together by gravity.
In this arrangement very long carbons may be used capable of burning all night
and, as the resultant weight opposing the action of the electro magnet will decrease as
the carbons burn away I proportion the weights per unit of length of the flexible
connections between the crossheads and pulleys in such a way that, for a given
weight per unit of length of carbons the resultant force opposing the electro magnet
will be approximately constant whether the carbons are long or short.
When the upper carbon is burnt as far as possible the piece which necessarily
remains may be used as the lower carbon; thus there is very little waste.
By these arrangements a very simple and economical lamp is produced capable
of burning all night without changing the carbons and requiring no special care in
putting in new ones.
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 a
claim is :-
1. The clutch mechanism and levers substantially as described for producing and
maintaining the arc.
2. The means herein described for guiding the carbons in proximity to the arc.
3. The method herein described of compensating for the variation in the pre-
ponderance of the upper carbon and crosshead due to the burning away of the
carbons.
Dated this 12th day of August 1889