Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Supporting and Suspending Electric Light and other like Fittings.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Supporting and
Suspending Electric Light and other like Fittings.
I, WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON of 1 Whitfield Villas, Cotlands Road Bourne-
mouth, in the County of Hampshire, 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 :--
My invention relates to apparatus chiefly designed for use in supporting and
suspending electric light fittings and is specially adapted for sectional lighting of
incandescent electric light lamps but as will be apparent from the description
hereinafter given it is applicable for supporting and suspending other lamps and
articles.
71
I, WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON of 1 Whitfield Villas, Cotlands Road Bourne-
mouth, in the County of Hampshire, 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:-
My invention relates to apparatus chiefly designed for use in supporting and
suspending electric light fittings and is specially adapted for sectional lighting of
incandescent electric light lamps but as will be apparent from the description
hereinafter given it is applicable for supporting and suspending other lamps and
articles.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will refer to the
accompanying drawings in which :-
:-
Fig. 1. is an end elevation partly in section of my said apparatus.
Fig. 2. a sectional elevation taken on the line a. b. Fig. 1.
Fig. 3. a plan on top of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4. a side elevation partly in section.
Figs. 5, and 6, show end views of a detail hereinafter described.
Fig. 7. an outside elevation of my apparatus on a reduced scale shewing a
three light fitting depending.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
In the drawings, A, is a ceiling block or rose which is preferably made
circular in form and in which a circular or annular recess C, and a pit-hole or
aperture D, is formed.
E, E', are plates suitably secured to the block or rose A, on both sides of the
pit-bole D, through which a portion of the plates E, E', project upwards, another
portion of the said plates point downwards and this portion forms pawls e, e¹.
F, F, are arms connected at the upper ends to the plates E, El, so as to pivot
upon the pins f, f₁, and hang therefrom H, is a hollow reel with closed sides upon
which are fitted detachable pieces h, h¹, h³, h³, the reel is fitted between the
arms F, F, and is preferably sunk somewhat into the pit-hole D.
1, is the axial spindle of the reel H, each end of the spindle is slotted and
projects through and is firmly held in suitable bearings provided in the arms F, F.
S, is a coil spring fitted within the reel H, around the spindle 1, to which it
(the spring) is attached at one end and at the other end to the said reel.
J, J, are ratchet wheels of the form shown each fitted and secured to the
side pieces ³, 1³, of the reel H. The said ratchet wheels are adapted for
engagement with or disengagement from the pawls e, e¹, and when engaged to
prevent the said reel from turning and on being disengaged to allow the reel
to turn.
M, M', are washers fitted between the ratchet wheels J, J', and the arms F, F'.
N, N', are guide rollers fitted immediately under the reel H, and loosely
mounted on fixed spindles S, S', which also serve to tie together the arms F, Fi
at the bottom end P, is a flexible wire cord, composed in this instance of three
wires p, p, p, twisted together, the cord P, passes between the guide rollers N, N¹,
and around the reel H, on which it is suitably held.
In fitting my apparatus for use, the ceiling block or rose A, is screwed 'or
otherwise secured to a support, for example the ceiling B, of a room. Upon
grasping the cord P, or the fitting P, and drawing it slightly to one side, as
indicated by dotted line (see Fig. 1) the pawls e, e', are disengaged from the
ID 077

page_text: ratchet wheels J, J', and the reel H, thus set free on the spindle I, then upon
pulling on the cord P, the fitting P₁, will be lowered and at the same time the
spring S, will be placed in tension, so that upon letting go of the cord P, or the
fitting P¹, the ratchet wheels J, J, will then engage with the pawls e, e', thus
fixing or holding the said fitting at the desired height of suspension. To raise
the fitting the said cord or fitting is drawn to one side as shewn by dotted lines
(see Fig. 1.) the said pawls are thus disengaged from the said ratchet wheels and
the re-action of the spring S, causes the reel H, to rotate and draw up the
fitting P', to the desired height which is controlled by the hand of the operator.
In the reel H, I provide a passage o, through which the wires p, p¹, p², are led
as follows: The wire p, through the passage o, and corresponding hole o', in
the piece ³, so as to be in contact with the ratchet wheel J, the wire pl, through
the said passage o, and corresponding hole o², in the piece h, so as to be in contact
with the piece h¹. The wire p², is led through the passage o, and hole o², and
through a non-conducting collet c, suitably fitted in the piece h', and through the
piece h², so as to be in contact with the ratchet wheel J.
The ceiling block or rose A, the axial spindle I, the reel H, and the end
pieces h, 2, 3, and the fixed spindles s, s¹, of the guide rollers N, N', are made
of non-conducting material, whereas the ratchet wheels J, J', the washers M, M',
the arms F, F1, and the plates E, E', are made of material which will conduct
an electric current. The ratchet wheel J, and the piece h³, are secured to the
reel H, preferably by three screws d, d', d, placed equidistant to each other, and
the ratchet wheel J', and the pieces h, h', h2, are held by three screws 1, 1, 1, which
pass through non-conducting collets c¹, c², c³, in the piece h', so as to prevent
electrical contact of the piece h¹, with the ratchet wheel J', by means of the said
screws c¹, c², c³.
-
0%
P3, P³, are supply wires led from the ceiling B, through a hole or passage
provided in the ceiling rose A, and plate E₁, and connected to terminals r, r,
respectively. From the terminal r, the electric current is conveyed by contact to
the plate E', and along the arm F¹, through the washer M', and the ratchet
wheel J, to the wire p2.
The terminal r, is mounted on a non-conducting collet so as to prevent electrical
contact with the plate E', and convey the current through its screw to a spring S¹,
which is connected at one end to the head of the said terminal r, and at the other
end the said spring S', bears on the periphery of the piece h¹, the latter being a
conducter conveys the current to the wire p'.
From the wire p, the return current is conveyed through the ratchet wheel J,
and washer M, and along the arm F, and plate E, to a terminal ³, and from the
latter by a lead fuse a, to a terminal ³.
P, is a common return wire led from the ceiling B, through a hole or passage of,
in the ceiling rose A, and plate E, and connected to the terminal, thus completing
the circuit when a fitting-such as P', is connected to the other end of the said
wires p, p, p, which hang twisted together from the reel H, in manner hereinbefore
described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
U, is one form of a shell or casing adapted to enclose the said plates and arms,
and all their said attachments. The said shell or casing is attached by screws or
otherwise to the ceiling rose and is so made that it has a suitable guide-eye V, for
the passage of the cord P or such like, to and from the guide-rollers N, N³, and the
reel H.
My improved apparatus described and shewn can be readily adapted for a fitting
with any number of lights.
For instance, in a fitting with one or two lights, by dispensing with the
wires P2, p, and the pieces h¹, 2, and the spring Stor for a four-light fitting by
attaching two pieces-similar in construction to the pieces h', ',-between the
ratchet wheel J, and the piece ³, and a spring to correspond with, and be operated
in like manner as the spring S¹. Both sides of the reel would be similar in con-
struction, and the cord P, is composed of four wires one end of which would be led

page_text: in two equal parts through the said passage o, to opposite side pieces and connected
or brought in contact with the electric current in like manner as the wires p', p².
For every additional light two pieces such as h', h2, and a spring such as S', and
a wire such as p², are added and connected as above described to alternate ends.
In a fitting for sectional lighting of the lamps, the wires are suitably sub-divided
and connected at the fitting and the electric current switched on or off in the
ordinary way.
For supporting and suspending an oil lamp, my apparatus would be similarly
disposed in manner as bereinbefore described for a one or two light fitting with the
exception of the electrical connections.
Moreover, it is obvious my said apparatus may be advantageously used for
supporting and suspending other articles than lamps.
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:-
1st. An improved apparatus adapted for supporting or suspending electric light.
and other like fittings, consisting of the parts arranged and constructed substantially
as hereinbefore described and operating as and for the purposes specified.
2nd. The particular form and construction of the reel H, consisting of the parts.
arranged and constructed substantially as described for the purposes specified.
3rd. The method and means of conveying the electric current from the supply
wires to the wires (forming the cord P,) which are connected so as to hang twisted.
together from the reel H.
Dated this 7th 1
of Babe 100t
W. H. MURCH,
Draughtsman,
Upper Terrace Road, Bournemouth, Agent for the Applicant.