IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING GAS. WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Leigh Clarke and John Leigh, both of Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING GAS. WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Leigh Clarke and
John Leigh at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th January
1881.
CHARLES LEIGH CLARKE and JOHN LEIGH, both of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR
LIGHTING GAS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES."
This Invention relates principally to improvements upon the electric lamp for
lighting gas, which forms the subject for which Letters Patent, dated June 1st,
1880, No. 2229, were granted to us.
The first part of the Invention relates to the construction of the battery, and the
second part thereof relates to the method of forming the induction coil and
preparing the iron wire for such purpose.
The improved battery we form as follows:-
We take a small square piece of thin silver foil, on each side of which we lay a
coating (about one eighth of an inch thick) of chloride of silver in a dry powdered
state, keeping the latter in place by wrapping round the whole a single fold of
blotting paper, the silver foil being provided with a projecting lug to which one
of the wires is to be connected.
On each side we then lay a piece of zinc plate of about the same size, each plate
being provided with a projecting lug at one end or side for forming the connection
with the other wire.
The whole is then wrapped again in one fold of blotting paper, which is held
in position by two or three elastic bands. It is then subjected to a pressure in a
screw press, or otherwise, to solidify the chloride of silver.
It is then placed in a small ebonite or wooden box or cell containing the exciting
fluid, which is a saturated solution of chloride of zinc, the quantity of fluid being

page_text: rather more than will be absorbed by the blotting paper. A wire is connected to
the silver foil, and another wire is also attached to the two zinc plates.
In order to give greater conductivity to the iron wire of which the induction coils
are made, we take ordinary soft iron wire in the hank and wind it onto a tubular
iron bobbin.
We then wind on above it two or three layers of coarser wire to protect it, and
having done so we place it in a furnace and raise it to almost welding heat, and
then immediately plunge it in a vessel containing powdered charcoal, ashes, or
other suitable powdered substance, and cover it completely over to exclude the
atmosphere entirely, and in this state we allow it to cool gradually when it will be
found to have acquired the necessary properties, or the bobbin of wire might be
placed cold in the vessel of charcoal and submitted therein to the heat of the
furnace and then allowed to cool.
After this annealing process the bobbin of wire (when cooled) is saturated with
paraffin, turpentine, hot oil, or other suitable substance, and it can then easily be
wound off the bobbin and formed into the coil.
In induction coils, as now made, one of the terminal wires (that forming the
commencement of the coil) is always close to the core, and the other one is outside.
Now in order to bring both wires to the outside so that neither of them shall be
under the influence of the soft iron core, we place a washer of ebonite or other
non-conducting material on the centre of the core. We then fix one end of the
wire to this washer and proceed to wind one half of the coil to the required
diameter in the manner above described, when the end of the wire will of course
be outside at one end of the core. We then solder the end of a second wire to the'
inner end of the first wire, where it passes through the central washer and proceed
to wind the other half of the coil, and by these means both terminal wires are at
the outside.
It will be evident that both this induction coil and the battery above described
are equally applicable to any other electric apparatus wherein such appliances are
required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Leigh Clarke and John Leigh in the Great Seal Patent Office
the 19th July 1881.
CHARLES LEIGH CLARKE and JOHN LEIGH, both of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR
LIGHTING GAS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES."
This Invention relates principally to improvements upon the electric lamp for
lighting gas, which forms the subject for which Letters Patent, dated June 1st, 1880,
No. 2229, were granted to us.
The first part of the Invention relates to the construction of the battery, and the
second part thereof relates to the method of forming the induction coil and preparing
theson wire for such purpose.
The improved battery we form as follows:-
We take a small square (or other suitably formed) piece of thin silver foil, on
one or each side of which we lay a coating (about one eighth of an inch thick) of
chloride of silver in a dry powdered state, keeping the latter in place by wrapping
round the whole a single fold of blotting paper, the silver foil being provided with
a projecting lug, to which one of the wires is to be connected.
On one or on each side we then lay a piece of zinc plate of about the same size,
each plate being provided with a projecting lug at one end or side for forming the
connection with the other wire.
The whole is then wrapped again in one fold of blotting paper, muslin, or other
suitable material, which is held in position by two or three elastic bands,
It is then subjected to a pressure in a screw press or otherwise to solidify the
chloride of silver. It is then placed in a small ebonite or wooden box or cell
containing the exciting fluid, which is a saturated solution of chloride of zinc, the
quantity of fluid being rather more than will be absorbed by the blotting paper.
A wire is connected to the silver foil, and another wire is also attached to the two
zine plates.
In order to give greater conductivity to the iron wire of which the induction
coils are made we take ordinary soft iron wire in the hank, and wind it onto a
tubular iron bobbin.
We then wind on above it two or three layers of coarser wire to protect it, and
having done so we place it in a furnace and raise it to almost welding heat, and
then immediately plunge it in a vessel containing powdered charcoal, ashes, or
other suitable powdered substance, and cover it completely over to exclude the
atmosphere entirely, and in this state we allow it to cool gradually, when it will
be found to have acquired the necessary properties; or the bobbin of wire might
be placed cold in the vessel of charcoal, and submitted therein to the heat of the
furnace, and then allowed to cool.
After this annealing process the bobbin of wire (when cooled) is saturated with
paraffin, turpentine, hot oil, or other suitable substance, and it can then easily be
wound off the bobbin and formed into the coil.
In induction coils as now made one of the terminal wires (that forming the
commencement of the coil) is always close to the core, and the other one is outside.
Now in order to bring both wires to the outside, so that neither of them shall be
under the influence of the soft iron core, we place a washer of ebonite or other
non-conducting material on the centre of the core.
We then fix one end of the wire to this washer by passing it through a hole near
to the core, and proceed to wind one half of the coil to the required diameter in
the manner above described, when the end of the wire will of course be outside at

page_text: one end of the core. We then solder the end of a second wire to the inner end of
the first wire where it passes through the central washer, and proceed to wind the
other half of the coil, and by these means both terminal wires are at the outside.
It will be evident that both this induction coil and the battery above described
are equally applicable to any other electric apparatus wherein such appliances are
required.
Having now described 'the nature and object of our said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our Invention,-
Firstly. The construction of the battery, as hereinbefore described; and
Secondly. The method of forming the induction coil and preparing the iron wire
for such purpose, as herein described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Leigh Clarke and John Leigh, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fifteenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
CHAP. L. CLARKE. (L.S.)
JOHN LEIGH.
(L.S.)