Regulating Mechanism for Electric Arc Lamps.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1896-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Regulating Mechanism for Electric Arc Lamps.
1, ERWIN LAVENS, of 100 Monroe Street, in the City of Brooklyn, County
of Kings, State of New York, United States of America, Electrical 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 relates to a simple construction of the regulating mechanism of
electric are lamps as I shall describe referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of a lamp, embodying my invention.
Fig. 2, is an end view (partly in section) looking at the right end of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan view partly sectional the top plate being removed.
Figs. 4 and 5 are detail transverse sections of the clutch mechanism.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.
A is the base plate; B the top plate, C and D are side plates, all suitably
secured together to support the mechanism. E' E' are the two parts of a shunt
magnet connected by the yoke F. G is a shaft mounted on the adjustable
pivots H H. On the shaft G is fixed a wheel I gearing with a rack on the
carbon-supporting rod J which is vertically guided by passing through openings K
in the plates A and B.
Instead of a rack and pinion a flexible band often employed in similar lamps,.
may obviously be used.
L is a clutch-wheel fixed on the shaft G baving an edge flange L'. As the
wheels I and L are fixed on the shaft G, the weight of the carbon and rod J,.
tends to rotate the shaft and wheels to the right as it descends, and to the left
when it is raised. An armature P is attached to two side-arms N, O free to turn
on the pivots H H. The arm N, (Figs. 2 and 3) is extended upwards, so that
when the armature drops, it bears against an adjustable screw-stop N' carried in
an off-set N from the side-plate D. By the stop N', the distance which the
armature P will drop, is adjusted. The arm O carries dogs Q each of which is a
bar slotted transversely at its outer end, to engage the flange L of the clutch-
wheel L, and having a gab at its inner end, to engage a pin R. Fastened at one
end to the dog, and at the opposite end to a pin 01 on the arm O, is a helical
spring which tending to move the dog round the pin R as a centre causes the slot
at the end of the dog to grip the flauge L' of the clutch-wheel. The action of
the spring or springs is manifestly aided by the weight of the carbon and rod,
whilst an upward movement of the rod tends to slacken the bite of the dogs
permitting free upward movement.
The armature P carries weights T which can be adjusted to suit variations of
electrical tension.
As the loaded armature acts at greater leverage than the carbon rod, it descends
separating the carbons and so striking the arc.
U is a lever which can be moved round H as a pivot, and then secured in an
adjusted position by a clamping screw U' moving in an are shaped slot U' on the
side plate C.
The arms U carry stops V V which project into the path of the dogs Q, aud
when the dogs bear against them, push the dogs backwards so releasing the clutch.
wheel L. Preferably one of the stops V is provided with an adjustable screw V*.
by which the feeding movement of the carbon rod is adjusted.

page_text: Instead of two dogs Q and two stops V and V' a single dog with one stop may
obviously be employed.
The operation of the mechanism is as follows:-
When the current is turned on, the magnet attracts the armature causing the
shaft G to rotate to the right till the dogs Q strike the stops, whereupon the clutch
wheel is released and the carbon rod descends, bringing the carbons into contact;
the armature then descends raising the carbon rod and striking the arc. As the
resistance of the arc increases, the armature is gradually raised, lowering the
carbon rod to feed the carbons as they are consumed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Regulating mechanism for an electric arc lamp, substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In an electric arc lamp, the combination of a carbon rod connected to a wheel
on a shaft carrying a clutch wheel, a loaded armature which normally overcomes
the weight of the carbon and rod, spring dogs so pivotted on the armature lever as
to grip the clutch wheel, a shunt electromagnet, stops against which the dogs
strike when the armature in its movement reaches a certain point, thereby
releasing the clutch wheel, and permitting the upper carbon to descend,
substantially as described.
3. In un electric arc lamp, the combination of the carbon rod J, shaft G, wheel
or drum, clutch wheel L, armature l', dog or dogs Q, and adjustable stops U,
substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1896.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.