A New or Improved Automatic Electric-switching Device for use with Arc Lamps.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Automatic Electric-switching Device for use
with Arc Lamps.
We, RICHARD BOMBE, Electrician of 27 Schlegelstrasse, and FERDINAND
SCHUCHHARDT, Manufacturer of 9 Wassergasse both in the City of Berlin Germany,
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 :-
"
.
As is well-known, a considerable percentage of electric energy is lost or wasted,
through using "dead or inactive resistances (Wederstande) in arc-light plants.
This energy, according to the number of arc lamps used, may at times use to
as much as 30 to 60 per cent. of the total current. If this loss was translated into
money value, it would represent, with the, at present, extensive use of electricity,
an immense sum.
Under this invention, "living" or active resistances, in the form of storage
batteries or accumulators, glow lamps, or contact arc-lamps, are employed, and
"dead" resistances are only used in a supplementary manner, that is to say,
they do not come into use until, or unless, the active resistances are cut off.
The cutting off of the active resistances, is performed by an automatic switching
device.
And in order that our said invention may be properly understood, we have
hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon:-
Fig. 1 is a diagram, showing, by way of illustration, a switching device for
changing the current from an active resistance, represented by a series of glow lamps,
to a dead resistance, whenever the tension of the current, passing through the glow
lamps, becomes too great.
Fig. 2 is a diagram, showing a parallel series of glow lamps A, as active
resistances.
Fig. 3 is a diagram, showing contact arc-lamps or glow lamps B, arranged in
lines, as the active resistances.
Fig. 4 is a diagram, showing accumulators C as the active resistances.
Referring to Fig. 1, the electric current enters the circuit at a and passes over
the swing lever p, which is pivoted at b, to the contact m. From the contact m,
the current passes along the wire q to the glow lamps j, which form the
active resistances, and thence to the arc-lamp h. From the lamp h, the current
returns along the wire i. Should the tension of the current, at any time, increase
to such an abnormal extent as to render the glow lamps liable to be damaged or
burned, the solenoid f is actuated sufficiently to pull down the core k, and anchor-
catch e.
The downward motion of the anchor e, which is normally held up or
locked by spring e¹, releases the catch d, whereupon the lever c, which has on it a
contact weight 1, and is pivoted at b, falls down in the direction of the arrow, and,
at the same time, carries along with it the lever p. When the levers c and p
reach the horizontal position, as shown in dotted lines, the contact m touches the
contact n, which is at the end of a wire n', leading from a "dead" resistance o.
In this position of the lever p, the current coining from a, passes along p, and,
through the contacts m, n, direct to the resistance o, and thence to the lamp h,
returning back by the conductor i.
The lever c is normally held, by catch d, in a position slightly out of the vertical,
as shown, to facilitate its release from the catch d, and to ensure its dropping down
to the left-hand.
The same or a similar switching contrivance can be used with the lamps or
accumulators, as indicated at Figs. 2, 3 and 4.
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page_text: This invention has been tested at various practical trials, and its success
-demonstrated.
That this invention is of great importance, will be readily understood, when it is
stated that not less than 630 volt-amp. can be used for the active resistances, when
an arc lamp of 9 amp., in a plant of 110 volts, is used.
It is to be understood, that this invention has no reference to, nor must it be con-
founded with, arrangements which merely store or utilize the superabundant current
power, but it merely relates to the new switching contrivance, by means of which,
in conjunction with the living and dead resistances, all the energy of the current
can be utilized.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
A device, consisting of a tumbling lever (c), which is freed electro-magnetically
and turns a switch lever (p), for automatically switching on a so called "dead"
resistance in place of "active" resistances, whenever the electric tension becomes
too great for said active resistances, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1892.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.