Improvements in and relating to Electric Arc Lamps or Lighting Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Arc Lamps or Lighting
Apparatus.
FREDERIC VICTOR MAQUAIRE of No. 3 Avenue du Maine, Paris in the Republic
of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to electric arc lamps which can be worked by direct or
alternating currents. The working of the lamp is obtained by the following means.
The current which flows through the lamp runs through two solenoids. One
of these is in the main circuit, and the other is in a circuit shunted from the arc.
The combined action of these two solenoids is exerted on the same articulated
parallelogram, which transmits to the parts of the lamp the variations of motive
power produced by the current in the solenoids.
The parts of the lamp above referred to have for their object the production of
two effects.
1st. To produce the motion of a ratchet wheel which shall exclusively control
the receding of the carbons of the arc lamp.
2nd. To produce the motion of a friction wheel or an escapement wheel which
controls the feeding of the carbons or electrodes.
The operations of striking the arc and of feeding the same are transmitted to both
carbons or electrodes by means of an endless chain or ribbon or to one of the
electrodes only by means of a rack a chain or a suspending ribbon. These different
means of imparting motion to the electrodes are operated by means of an epicyclic
train which renders independent of each other the operations of striking the arc
and of feeding the carbons.
To strike the arc or to increase the resistance of the arc, the receding of the
electrodes is effected by the solenoid excited by the main current. This solenoid
exerts its motive action on the ratchet of a satellite wheel by means of a clicket or
catch. A second catch stops the ratchet from going backwards.
The feeding of the lamp is obtained by allowing the motion of the friction wheel
or of the escapement wheel which stops the two electrodes from coming suddenly
in contact by their own weight.
The movement of the friction wheel or of the escapement wheel is controlled, as
concerns the moment of its taking place and its duration, by the solenoid excited by
a current shunted from the arc.
This solenoid transmits its action to a brake or an escapement by means of a
cam fixed on the parallelogram which is put in motion by the differential action of
the two solenoids above referred to. The movement of this parallelogram may be
rendered very slow by means of a dash-pot or by increasing the weight of the parts
in movement so as to incease the inertia of the whole system.
In case of alternating currents the magnetic core of the solenoids are constituted
by tubes with a longitudinal slit, with the view to prevent abnormal heating of
these cores.
The exact regulation of the point of feed of the lamp is obtained by giving
preponderance to one or the other of the solenoids by means of weights or springs,
which being adjustable beforehand at will allow the determination of the length of
arc to be maintained' constant. When this length is changed for one reason or
another the approach or receding of the electrodes is accomplished as explained
above.
19h NT1001

page_text: .
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Arc. Lamps or Lighting
Apparatus.
I, FREDERIC VICTOR MAQUAIRE of 3 Avenue du Mairie, Paris, in the
Republic of France, 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 :-
This invention relates to electric arc lamps which can be operated by direct or
alternating currents.
The operation of the lamp will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, forming part of this Specification, wherein
Figure 1 represents a part sectional front elevation of the lamp and Figure 2 a
sectional elevation of part of the regulating mechanism, drawn on a larger scale.
The current flows through two solenoids A, B, the one A in the main circuit and
the other B in a shunt to the arc. The combined influence of these two solenoids
is exerted upon two parallel levers CH D, E G F, which are coupled together by
rods respectively carrying the solenoid cores a, b, and whereof the movements
produced by the current in the solenoids are transmitted to the regulating
mechanism. This mechanism is designed to perform two separate functions, vis.-
(1) To actuate a ratchet wheel M rotating only in one direction for separating the
carbons. (2) To permit the motion of a friction wheel P or an escapement wheel Q
controlling the feeding together of the carbons. The movements for striking the
are and the feeding of the carbons are transmitted or permitted either to both
carbons by means of an endless chain or band J or to one of the carbons only by
means of a rack, chain, or band operated or controlled by means of an epicyclic
train of wheels K, r,,, whereby the movement for striking the arc is rendered
independent of that for feeding the carbons. The separation of the carbons for
striking the arc or for increasing its resistance is effected by the influence of the
solenoid A excited by the main current acting through a pawl m and ratchet
wheel M on the train K, the ratchet wheel being prevented from turning backwards
by a detent m¹.
The feeding of the carbons is effected by gravity under the control of a friction
brake and brake wheel P or escapement Q which may be used separately or
conjointly, as shewn. Normally the brake and escapement detent are pressed
into engagement with the wheels PQ by the offset portion of a cam R, mounted
on the lever F, G, E, acting on the tail end of the brake and detent lever, but
at the proper moment the cam is raised, the time and duration of this movement
being determined by the influence of the solenoid B excited by the shunt
current, the differential action of the two solenoids above referred to producing
a movement of the parallel levers whereby the cam R is raised as above mentioned
to permit the release of the brake and escapement. When thus released from
the control of the brake and escapement, the train of gear shewn in Figure 2,
with the exception of the wheels M and is free to be revolved by the unbalanced
weight of the upper carbon carrier transmitted through the chain J and the wheel K,,
whereby the lower carbon is raised as the upper one descends. The movements of
the parallel levers may be rendered very slow by employing a dash pot S, or by
the inertia of the moving parts.
In the case of alternating currents, the magnetic cores ab of the solenoids are
tubes having longitudinal slits to prevent overheating of the cores.. The exact
regulation of the point. of feed is effected by giving preponderance to one or
the other solenoid core. by means of weights c, d, or springs, 3, s which being
adjustable enable the length of the arc to be maintained constant and when this, is
required to be changed for any reason the carbons are fed together or separated
as before explained.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1st. In an electric arc lamp, the combination of two solenoids placed the one in
the main circuit and the other in a shunt from the arc the two solenoids
simultaneously influencing the same system of coupled levers, substantially as
described with reference to Figure 1.
2nd. In an electric arc lamp, the combination of two solenoids influencing the
same system of coupled levers as described and actuating a ratchet wheel and
epicycloidal train of gearing transmitting through an endless chain or band the
motions for separating the carbons, substantially as specified.
3rd. In an electric arc lamp, the combination of two solenoids influencing the
same system of coupled levers as described and moving a cam for releasing the
brake or disengaging the escapement in order to permit the carbons to be fed
towards one another by the action of gravity through the medium of the epicycloidal
train and endless chain or band, substantially as specified.
4th. In an electric arc lamp, the combination of the epicycloidal train as
described with a system of coupled levers actuated by two solenoids whereby to
produce by the same system of levers independent and opposite movements for
separating and approaching the carbons, substantially as specified.
5th. In an electric arc lamp, the cores a a', bb, formed of concentric magnetic
tubes magnetically insulated and longitudinally slitted for preventing the heating
of the cores when alternating, undulatory, or intermittent currents are employed, as
specified.
Dated this 17th day of August 1892.
F. V. MAQUAIRE,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.