Year: 1897

page_text: We, EMILE PROSPER LEON MORs and LOUIS CLEMENT ALEXIS POTTIER, both
of 34, Rue des Entrepreneurs, Paris, in the Republic of France, Electricians,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to electrical are lamps of an improved construction
more especially characterized by a regulating mechanism or in other words an
arrangement permitting the carbons to be automatically moved closer together
either in starting the lamp or for the purpose of compensating for the gradual
wear of the said carbons, while it also enables the carbons to be moved apart after
lighting the lamp.
The complete regulating or carbon controlling mechanism of this arc-lamp is
located between two supporting plates or discs connected by pillars, while an
envelope or case suitably secured in place surrounds the whole of the mechanism.
Upon the lower plate there are secured tubes serving as guides for the upper
carbon-holder, within which tubes slide small rods connected with the lower
carbon holder. One of the rods terminates at its upper end in a small pulley
which is suitably mounted to receive a cord for controlling the movements, of
the lower carbon holder as will presently be explained, while the other rod carries
at the top a roller; the pulley and roller serving to regulate the movements of
the rods within the tubes.
The upper carbon-holder is made heavier than the lower carbon-holder by the
addition thereto of a weight, it being also provided with a pulley around which
passes a thin cord connecting it to the regulating mechanism.
To the upper surface of the lower supporting plate there is secured a double
frame or fork each vertical arni of which receives a pivot, the ends of which
pivots constructed as bearings, receive the spindle of a disc, one surface of which
carries two grooved pulleys.
The disc and the disc pulleys are surrounded by a frame of peculiar shape
mounted on the said pivots about which it is revolvable.
The part of this frame which is substantially horizontal is provided with a pin
or stud engaging in a fork which is secured to the soft iron core subject to the
magnetic action of a solenoid mounted upon a tube which envelopes the core
and is retained between the top and bottom supporting plates. The solenoid is
fitted with two armatures or pieces of soft iron intended to improve the magnetic

page_text: field; one of such armatures being connected by a rod to a sleeve or socket
adapted to slide upon one of the pillars and connected with such pillars at a
convenient point by means of a set screw. When the core moves within the tube
it thereby actuates the fork; and to avoid interfering with the movements of
such fork the said tube is provided with a slot.
In order to avoid any too sudden movements of the core within the tube this
tube is so arranged that above and below the said core there are left close cham-
bers containing the air which the core is to compress and which thus serves to
deaden its movements.
The portion of the frame extending upwards carries a spindle whereon is
mounted one of the ends of a rod or link the opposite end of which is pivotted
to a piece or shoe adapted to act as a brake upon the disc as will be presently
explained.
The piece or shoe comprises an enlarged portion at one end which keeps it in
contact with the disc.
The movements or oscillations of the frame about the spindle are limited both
by a socket or sleeve, attached by means of a set screw to a pillar and by a stop
piece secured to the frame. This piece carries a set screw adapted to act in con-
junction with the link when the regulating mechanism is in operation.
One end of the cord connecting the upper carbon-holder to the said regulating
mechanism is secured to the lower supporting plate. It passes around the pulley
on the said upper carbon holder and then becomes wound onto the pulley secured
to the disc; while its opposite end is secured to the cheek of the said disc.
The cord which connects the lower carbon-holder to the regulating mechanism
is at one end, attached to the movable frame. It passes around the pulley on
the lower carbon supporting rod, then over a pulley the shaft or spindle of
which is mounted in a support integral with or attached to the lower supporting
plate, and eventually winds on the other pulley attached to the disc; while its
other end is secured to the disc.
It must be understood that the cords wind upon their respective pulleys in
opposite directions so that whenever one cord is wound on its pulley the other
cord must unwind from the pulley over it which it passes; the arrangement
being such that when the one disc pulley becomes wound with its coil-which
may happen for example whenever the upper carbon-holder 'rises-the cord
unwinds from the other disc pulley, thereby causing the lower carbon-holder to
descend; in which case the carbons are removed from each other.
versely, when the cord of the first disc pulley unwinds and the upper carbon
holder descends, the cord becomes wound on the other disc pulley and the lower
carbon-holder rises, so that now the carbons move closer together.
And in-
Current is supplied to the lamp through the binding screw or post attached
to but insulated from, the plate. It is conducted by a flexible wire to the upper
carbon-holder; while the outlet screw or post is electrically connected to the
body of the lamp.
The solenoid is made up of fine wire connected in parallel (or multiple arc)
to the main current passing through the lamp, to this end its entrance is con-
nected by a wire to the inlet post and its discharge end to a washer and through
it to the body of the lamp and the outlet post through the medium of the tube
on which the solenoid is mounted.
When the lamp is at rest the several parts constituting the regulating or
carbon-controlling mechanism occupy the positions in which the piece or shoe
acts as a brake upon the disc.
By reason of the difference in the respective distances between the spindles
and the points of application of force, represented, respectively, by the weight
of the two carbon-holders; and by reason also of the position of those points of
application of force, one of which is situated upon the movable frame while the
other is placed upon the disc pulley which is then inoperative, the weight of
the lower carbon-holder is sufficient to attract the frame (which is free) in the

page_text: downward direction, so that such frame in descending meets the socket. And
this movement of the said frame is further assisted by the core which under the
action of its weight tends to move downwards and therefore actuates the frame
in the downward direction, through the medium of the fork and pin.
The operation of the improved lamp is as follows:
-
Supposing the carbons to be apart when the current is sent through the lamp:
owing to the distance between the carbons the current cannot pass through the
lamp by traversing the said carbons, so that a portion of the current takes the
direction of the outlet post through the solenoid.
The magnetism of the solenoid acts upon the core which is thus attracted
upwardly. In rising the core takes the fork along with it and through the
medium of the pin actuates the movable frame which turns about its pivots
moving with it all the parts that go to form the brake device the piece, by its
action upon the disc causes it to describe a slight angular movement, which
movement is imparted to the disc pulleys, the effect being to bring the carbons a
trifle closer together until the screw by coming in contact with the link causes
such link to turn on its pivot and by so doing removes the piece or shoe from
the disc.
The said disc being now free, the upper carbon-holder descends by its own
weight, thereby causing the lower carbon holder to rise, so that the carbons of
the lamp move nearer to each other. As soon as the carbons are in contact the
current circulating within the lamp passes through the carbons, the quantity
of current passing through the solenoid amounting practically to nil. The core
is now no longer attracted and by its own weight descends, thereby causing the
frame to perform a fresh movement inversely to the movement it accomplished
previously. The moment the screw is no longer in contact with the link the
piece or shoe acts as a brake upon the disc and carries it along as it moves.
When the disc has thus the brake applied to it the weight of the lower carbon-
holder becomes added to the weight of the core with the result that the frame
is impelled to turn on the pivots. The point of attachment of the cord of the
lower carbon holder, in descending along with the frame, causes this carbon-
holder also to be lowered and consequently removed from the upper carbon-
holder: such movement being at the same time completed by the angular move-
ment imparted by the piece or shoe to the disc and consequently to the disc
pulleys, which movement causes the two carbon holders simultaneously to move
away from each other.
The carbons having now moved apart as hereinbefore stated the arc flashes out
and the lamp is thus kindled.
As the lamp continues in operation the carbons gradually wear away and the
distance between their ends increases in proportion so that the luminous arc
offers the current a steady increasing resistance.
The derived (parallel or multiple arc) current in the solenoid increases accord-
ing as the voltage in the binding posts of the lamp becomes more considerable,
until the magnetic action of the said solenoid becomes sufficient to attract the
core upwards.
The frame now turns upon its pivots and in so doing moves both the brake
shoe and the disc with the result that the points of the carbon are brought closer
together in proportion to their wear.
When the angular movement of the discs moves the link towards the fixed
screw the piece or shoe is thereby raised and liberates the disc. The carbon-
holders will then move closer together by reason of the excess of weight of the
upper carbon holder. And as the said carbons move nearer together the resist-
ance of the arc to the current diminishes, the current traversing the solenoid
becomes less, the core is permitted to descend and the carbons move apart as
above set forth.
It will readily be understood that when the lamp is in operation, by reason of
the amount of current passing through the solenoid-which amount varies ac-

page_text: cording to the distance at which the carbons happen to be placed from each
other the core is, in a manner of speaking, maintained in an equilibrium, and
the intensity of the current passing through the said solenoid increases; an
occurrence which happens when the points of the carbons move apart and when
the core rises and thereby brings the carbons closer together again. When,
however, the points of the said carbons are brought too near to each other, the
said current will decrease in intensity, with the result that the core will move
apart the carbons in descending.
Owing to this arrangement of the mechanism the lamp is controlled in a
perfect, though outwardly, invisible manner and without any hitch.
The fittings of the lamp are supplemented by the provision of a small globe of
any suitable transparent material enveloping the carbon at a point facing the
source of light, for which purpose it is interposed between the guiding tubes.
On to this globe there are screwed small metal lugs terminating each in a slot
or notch which are simply passed over the tubes when it is desired to secure the
globe in position:
The solenoid being situated eccentrically to the axis of the supporting plates
there is interposed between such plates, a tube into which molten lead is poured
and the effect of which is to counterbalance the weight of the said solenoid.
When the lamp has thus been fitted up, it may be desirable to move the car-
bons nearer together without sending any current through the lamp. To this
end there is provided on the lower plate a knob or button connected by a wire to
the movable frame. It will be understood that by operating this knob the said
frame may be turned on its pivots exactly as if it were moved by the ascending
core under the magnetic action of the solenoid, the result being to release the
disc and to enable the carbons to move nearer together.
In order to prevent the cords connecting the carbons to the carbon-controlling
mechanism from leaving the grooves of several pulleys whereon they pass, these
pulleys are fitted with small rods, located in convenient positions for retaining
in place the said cords.
It will be understood that according to such modifications as may be made in
the construction of the solenoid our lamp without any change in its construction
may operate as a constant potential a differential or a "series" lamp.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Electrical Arc-lamps.
We, EMILE PROSPER LEON MORS and LOUIS CLEMENT ALEXIS POTTIER, both
of 34, Rue des Entrepreneurs, Paris, in the Republic of France, Electricians,
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 electrical arc lamps of an improved construction
more especially characterized by a regulating mechanism or in other words an
arrangement permitting the carbons to be automatically moved closer together
either in starting the lamp or for the purpose of compensating for the gradual
wear of the said carbons, while it also enables the carbons to be moved apart after
lighting the lamp.

page_text: drawings in which
accompanying
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the complete lamp in the axial plane of the
tubes guiding the carbon holders.
Figure 2 is a section of the carbon-regulating or controlling mechanism on
line 2-2 Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an elevation of the said carbon-controlling mechanism illustrating
its action;
Figure 4 is a detail-view of part of the said mechanism; and
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5 Figure 3.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
As will be seen by referring to the drawings the complete regulating or car-
bon-controlling mechanism of this arc-lamp is located between two supporting
plates or discs A A¹ said plates being connected together by pillars a.
While
the envelope or case a suitably secured in place surrounds the whole of the
mechanism.
Upon the lower plate A there are secured the tubes B serving as guides for
the upper carbon-holder C within which tubes slide small rods B connected -
with the lower carbon holder. C¹. One of the rods B' terminates at its upper
end in a small pulley b' which is suitably mounted to receive a cord 1) for con-
trolling the movements of the lower carbon holder as will presently be explained,
while the other rod carries at the top a roller b; the pulley b₁ and roller b serving
to regulate the movements of the rods B¹ within the tubes B.
The upper carbon-holder C is made heavier than the lower carbon-holder C¹
by the addition thereto of a weight it being also provided with a pulley c
around which passes a thin cord D) connecting it to the regulating mechanism.
To the upper surface of the lower supporting plate A there is secured a double
frame or fork e each vertical arm of which receives a pivot E, the ends of which
pivots E, constructed as bearings, receive the spindle ƒ of a disc F, one surface of
which carries two grooved pulleys G G¹.
The disc Fand the disc pulleys G G are surrounded by a frame H of peculiar
shape mounted on the said pivots E about which it is revolvable.
The part of this frame H which is substantially horizontal is provided with
a pin or stud engaging in a fork i which is secured to the soft iron core I
subject to the magnetic action of a solenoid J mounted upon a tube which
envelopes the core I and is retained between the top and bottom supporting
plates A and A', as shown in Figure 2. The solenoid J is fitted with two arma-
tures or pieces of soft iron intended to improve the magnetic field; one of such
armatures, being connected by a rod j¹ to a sleeve or socket 2 adapted to slide
upon one of the pillars " and connected with such pillar at a convenient point by
means of a set-screw. When the core I moves within the tube it thereby
actuates the fork i; and to avoid interfering with the movements of such fork
the said tube is provided with a slot ².
In order to avoid too sudden movements of the core I within the tube this
tube is so arranged that above and below the said core there are left close cham-
bers containing air which the core I is to compress and which thus serves
to deaden its movements.
The portion of the frame H extending upwards carries a spindle k whereon
is mounted one of the ends of a rod or link K the opposite end of which is pivotted
to a shoe L adapted to act as a brake upon the disc F as will be presently
explained.
The piece or shoe L having the shape indicated in Figures 1 and 2 is provided
with an enlarged portion 7 which keeps it in contact with the disc F.
The movements or oscillations of the frame H, about the spindles E, are limited
both by a socket or sleeve h¹, attached by means of a set screw to a pillar a, and
by a stop piece e secured to the frame e. The said piece el carrying a set screwe³

page_text: adapted to act in conjunction with the link K when the regulating mechanism
is in operation.
One end of the cord D, connecting the upper carbon-holder C to the said
regulating mechanism is secured to the lower supporting plate A at d. It passes
around the pulley c on the said upper carbon holder and then becomes wound
onto the pulley & secured to the disc F; while its opposite end is secured at d¹
to the cheek of the said disc pulley G.
The cord which connects the lower carbon-holder C¹ to the regulating
mechanism is at one end, at, attached to the movable frame H. It passes
around the pulley b', on the lower carbon supporting rod, then over a pulley M,
the shaft or spindle of which is mounted in a support integral with or attached
to the lower supporting plate A, and eventually winds on the other pulley
attached to the disc G¹; while its other end is secured at to the disc F.
It will be seen that the cords ] ]' wind upon their respective pulleys G and G¹
in opposite directions so that whenever one cord is wound on its pulley the other
cord must unwind from the pulley over which it passes; the arrangement being
such that when the pulley G, say, becomes wound with its cord D-which may
happen for example whenever the upper carbon-holder C rises-the cord Di
unwinds from the other disc pulley G¹, thereby causing the lower carbon-holder
to descend; in which case the carbons are removed from each other.
versely, when the cord of the disc pulley G unwinds and the upper carbon holder
descends, the cord D¹ becomes wound on the disc pulley and the lower carbon-
holder rises, so that the carbons move closer together.
And in-
Current is supplied to the lamp through the binding screw or post attached
to but insulated from, the plate A¹. It is conducted by a flexible wire o to the
upper carbon-holder; while the outlet screw or post i is electrically connected
to the body of the lamp.
The solenoid J is maile up of fine wire connected in parallel (or multiple are)
to the main current passing through the lamp. To this end its entrance is
connected by a wire of to the inlet-post 0 and its discharge end to a washer o
and through it to the body of the lamp and the outlet post 0¹, through the
medium of the tube ¹ on which the solenoid is mounted.
When the lamp is at rest the several parts constituting the regulating or
carbon-controlling mechanism occupy the positions in which they are shewn in
Figure 1, when the piece or shoe L acts as a brake upon the disc F.
By reason of the difference in the respective distances between the spindles E
and f Figure 4 and the points of application of force, dd, represented, respec-
tively by the weight of the two carbon-holders; and by reason also of the position
of those points of application of force, one of which, d, is situated upon the
movable frame H, while the other, d, is placed upon the disc pulley G, which
is then inoperative,-the weight of the lower carbon-holder C is sufficient to
attract the frame H, (which is free) in the downward direction, so that such
frame in descending meets the socket h¹. And this movement of the said frame H
is further assisted by the core I which under the action of its weight tends to
move downwards and therefore actuates the frame in the downward direction,
through the medium of the fork i and pin h.
The operation of the improved lamp is as follows:-
Supposing the carbons to be apart when the current is sent through the lamp:
owing to the distance between the carbons the current cannot pass through the
lamp by traversing the said carbons, so that a portion of the current takes the
direction of the outlet post 01 through the solenoid J.
The magnetism of the solenoid acts upon the core I which is thus attracted
upwardly. In rising the core takes the fork along with it and through the
medium of the pin h actuates the movable frame H which turns about its pivots E,
moving with it all the parts that go to form the brake-device. The piece or
shoe L. by its action upon the disc F, causes it to describe a slight angular move-
ment in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, which movement is imparted to

page_text: the disc pulleys G, G¹, the effect being to bring the carbons a trifle closer together
until the screw 2, by coming in contact with the link K causes such link to
turn on its pivot & and by so doing removes the piece or shoe L from the disc F.
The said disc F, being now free, the upper carbon-holder C descends by its
own weight, thereby causing the lower carbon holder C¹ to rise, so that the car-
bons of the lamp move nearer to each other. The positions which the several
parts of the carbon controlling mechanism occupy at this juncture is shewn in
Figure 3.
As soon as the carbons are in contact the current circulating within the lamp
passes through the carbons, the quantity of current passing through the sole-
noid J amounting practically to mil. The core I is now no longer attracted and
by its own weight descends, thereby causing the frame H to perform a fresh
movement inversely to the movement it accomplished previously. The moment
the screw e is no longer in contact with the link K, the piece or shoe L acts as
a brake upon the disc F and carries it along as it moves,
When the disc F has the brake applied to it the weight of the lower carbon-
holder C becomes added to the weight of the core I with the result that the
frame His impelled to turn on the pivots E in the direction indicated by the
arrow in Figure 3. The point of attachment of the cord D¹ of the lower
carbon-holder C, in descending along with the frame H, causes this carbon-
holder also to be lowered and consequently removed from the upper carbon-
holder C; such movement being at the time completed by the angular movement
imparted by the piece or shoe L to the disc F and consequently to the disc
pulleys G G which movement causes the two carbon holders simultaneously to
move away from each other.
The carbons having now moved apart as hereinbefore stated the arc flashes
out and the lamp is thus kindled.
As the lamp continues in operation the carbons gradually wear away and the
distance between their ends increase in proportion so that the luminous arc
offers the current a steadily increasing resistance.
The derived (parallel or multiple arc) current in the solenoid J increases ac-
cording as the voltage at the binding posts of the lamp becomes more consider-
able, until the magnetic action of the said solenoid becomes sufficient to attract
the core I upwards.
The frame H now turns upon its pivots and in so doing moves both the brake
shoe L and the disc F in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, with
the result that the points of the carbon are brought closer together in proportion
to their wear.
When the angular movement of the disc F moves the link K towards the
fixed screw e the piece or shoe L is thereby raised and liberates the disc F. The
carbon-holders will then move closer together by reason of the excess of weight
of the upper carbon holder C. And as the said carbons move nearer together
the resistance of the arc to the current diminishes, the current traversing the
solenoid becomes less, the core I is permitted to descend and the carbons move
apart as above set forth.
It will be readily understood that when the lamp is in operation, by reason
of the amount of current passing through the solenoid J-which amount varies
according to the distance at which the carbons happen to be placed from each
other the core I is, in a manner of speaking maintained in an equilibrium, and
the intensity of the current passing through the said solenoid increases; an
occurrence which happens when the points of the carbons move apart and when
the core I rises and thereby brings the carbons closer together again. When,
however, the points of the said carbon are brought too near to each other, the
said current will decrease in intensity, with the result that the core I will move
apart the carbons in descending.

page_text: Owing to this arrangement of the mechanism the lamp is controlled in a
perfect, though outwardly, invisible manner and without any hitch.
The fittings of the lamp are supplemented by the provision of a small globe N
of any suitable transparent material enveloping the carbon at a point facing the
source of light, for which purpose it is interposed between the guiding tubes B.
On to this globe there are screwed small metal lugs n terminating each in a
slot or notch n¹ which are simply passed over the tubes B when it is desired to
secure the globe in position, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.
The solenoid J being situated eccentrically to the axis of the supporting
plates A A', there is interposed between such plates, a tube P into which molten
lead is poured and the effect of which is to counterbalance the weight of the
said solenoid.
When the lamp has thus been fitted up, it may be desirable to move the carbons
nearer together without sending any current through the lamp, to this end
there is provided on the lower plate A a knob or button Q connected by a wire
to the movable frame H. It will be understood that by operating this knob the
said frame H may be turned on its pivots exactly as if it were moved by the
ascending core I under the magnetic action of the solenoid J, the result being
to release the disc F and to enable the carbons to move nearer together.
In order to prevent the cords D D¹ connecting the carbons to the carbon-
controlling mechanism from leaving the grooves of the several pulleys whereon
they pass, these pulleys are fitted with small rods R, located in convenient posi-
tions for retaining in place the said cords.
It will be understood that according to such modifications as may be made
in the construction of the solenoid our lamp without any change in its construc-
tion may operate as a constant potential, a differential or a series" lamp.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:
1. In an electrical arc lamp, regulating mechanism enabling the carbons to
be automatically moved closer together either in starting the lamp or in propor-
tion as the carbons wear away, the arrangement consisting of the combination
of a disc (F) having pulleys (G and G¹) attached to it, over which are passed
cords (1) 11) connecting the carbon-holders (C C¹) to the regulating mechanism;
of a movable frame (H) set in motion by the core (I) of a solenoid (J) connected
to, or derived from, the main current passing through the lamp in parallel; and
of a brake actuating the disc (F) and formed by a piece or shoe (L) connected
by a rod (K) to the said movable frame (H) such rod acting in combination with
an adjustable fixed stop (e²); all substantially as and for the purpose herein-
above specified with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In an electrical arc lamp, mechanism intended to cause the carbons to move
apart either in lighting the lamp or in controlling the arc, such mechanism
mainly consisting of cords (D D¹) for connecting the carbon-holders (C C¹) with
the regulating mechanism one of which cords (D), supporting the upper carbon
holder (C), is attached at one end to the support (A) of the lamp and at the other
end to the movable part (F G and G¹) of the apparatus; while the other cord (D¹)
carrying the lower carbon-holder (C¹), is attached by one end to the movable
frame (H) and by the other to the said movable portion (F G G¹) of the appa-
ratus; all substantially as and for the purpose specified with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
3. In an electrical arc lamp, a solenoid (J) which through the medium of its
core (1) controls the regulating mechanism; which core is adapted to move
within a tube (1) closed at both ends so that there are formed chambers (r r¹)
above and below the said core (I); such chambers containing air which the said
core is intended to compress as it moves; all substantially as and for the purpose
hereinabove specified with reference to the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 4. In an electrical arc lamp a globe (N) fitted with metal lugs (n) and adapted
to be mounted upon the guideway-tubes (B) so as to surround the carbons on a level
with the source of light or focus of the lamp, substantially as hereinabove
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
66
29
5. An electrical arc lamp whether as a complete apparatus or in its structural
details, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 11th day of May 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.