Improvements in Electric Lamps for Stage-lighting.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1895-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Lamps for Stage-lighting.
I AUSTIN WALTERS of 35 Dorset Street Hulme, Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to make an efficient electrical apparatus for stage
lighting to replace the ordinary limelights for producing effects and the same will
be readily understood from the following description on reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side view in section, of an apparatus constructed according to my
invention,
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan with the carbon points and holders removed, and Fig. 3
a back view thereof with the parts m and d¹ removed.
Fig. 1 is an enlarged view of the carbon and holder be.
The principal part of the invention consists of a suitable removable reflector a
hinged to the lamp as seen at Fig. 3 at the centre of which is a hole provided with
an insulating ring a' through which passes freely the carbon b of an electric are
burner (see Fig. 1). The form and focus of the reflector a will vary according
to the requirements of the case, such as the position in which the lamp is fixed
with regard to the stage.
The base 62 of the burner can slide in a suitable groove formed by the guides c
on the base c² of the casing c of the lamp, and can be fixed in the desired position
by a set screw 3 (or other equivalent device).
The support for the carbon b is adjustable along the base. 62 of the burner by
means of the screw d and wheel d' (or by equivalent means). The support 6+ for
the carbon is fixed on the base 2..
"
The holder of the carbon b is in the form of a lever pivotted at * to the
support and held in the position shewn in full lines by a spring which holds
the pin on the lever 6 against the stop 610 (see Figs. 1 and 14), when the light is
not required; but when the light is required the attendant sets or moves the
"switch as usual and pushes the holder 6 forward until the pin 68 reaches the
stop (as shewn dotted at Fig. 1A) when the carbons 6 and 6' should meet, and
the current of electricity is established; he then releases the carbon b, and the
spring withdraws it to its original position; the arc is thus struck and the lamp
remains lighted.
The lamp is extinguished as usual by the switch.
Thus the lamp can be instantly extinguished or illuminated at any required
moment at a given signal or
$6 cue.
The colored glass or glasses 9 slides or slide in grooves (Figs. 1 and 2) across
the front of the lamp the upper part of which is open (see Fig. 1) and thus the
color of the light can be changed at will.
I prefer to place an adjustable sight reflector upon a ball joint or otherwise
inside the lamp so that the attendant can see and adjust the are properly and focus
the light.
With the exception of the reflector a the back of the lamp is (or may be) quite
open. is a standard carrying a pivotted adjustable frame upon which the lamp
can swing and be adjusted by lock nuts or otherwise upon pivots to locate the
focussed light at any point required on the stage.

page_text: kisa ventilating hood for the escape of the cheated air, & is a guard to prevent
the light from the reflector from escaping through the ventilator.
m is an insulating support for the terminals: and a to which the carbons b and b¹
are connected respectively by the wires y and y'.
I also provide at a point in the circuit within easy. reach of the. attendant a
suitable reversing switch of any known construction to reverse the electric current
passing to the terminals and a¹ in order to produce an open light by causing the
carbon b to become the positive carbon, or a focussed light, by causing the carbon b¹
to become the positive.carbon.
I would remark in conclusion that I do not wish to confine myself to the exact
construction shewn on the accompanying drawings and described by the Specifi-
cation, as the details may be varied by any skilled mechanic accustomed to electric
lighting and stage effect.
For example the device for striking the arc or-extinguishing the lamp may vary
as well as.the.exact methods of adjusting the.carbons, and their position with regard
to. the reflector.
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 II
claim is :-
1. An improved. electric arc. lamp for stage effects constructed substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the annexed drawings...
2. The combination in an electric arc lamp for stage, lighting of a reflector
-through which one of the carbons passes and means for adjusting the points with
.regard to each other and the said reflector, substantially as herein before described
.and.illustrated by the annexed drawings.
·
3...The combination in an electric arc lamp for stage lighting of a reflector
through which one of: the: carbons, passes. and means for adjusting. the points with
regard to each other and the said reflector, together with means: for reversing the
current of electricity substantially as herein before described...
4. The combination. in an electric.arc lamp for stage, lighting of a reflector,
adjustable carbons, and means for instantly striking the arc or extinguishing the
lamp, substantially as hereinbefore described and. illustrated by the drawings
annex.ed..
5. The combination in an electric arc lamp for i stage. lighting, of a reflector,
adjustable. carbons, means for.striking, the arc or extinguishing the lamp, and an
adjustable sight reflector:substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
the drawings,annexed...
Dotod:thic:10th:domafi Lulu 1905
GEO: DAVIES:& SON,,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents. for the.Applicant.