Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Lighting and Extinguishing Electric Lamps.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1895-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Lighting and
Extinguishing Electric Lamps.
I, LUCIEN HERMAND, of 21 Boulevard Poissonnière, Paris, in the Republic of
France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
My invention relates to apparatus for lighting and extinguishing electric
lamps.
It is known that in order to light and extinguish electric lamps, in the case of
public lighting, servants go from lamp to lamp to act upon the switches provided
for this purpose; it is also known that these electric lamps for public lighting are
lighted and extinguished at different hours according to the seasons; lastly it is
known that the servants must commence their work some time before the hour for
lighting so as to light the last lamp at the said hour, and that they finish the extinction
only some time after the prescribed hour, considering that they extinguish the first
lamp of their locality only at the prescribed hour.
In consequence of these different conditions a comparatively great number of
servants are required for the work, on every one of whom reliance must be placed
for fulfilling the engagements undertaken, and, which is an important point for the
supplier, all the lamps except one burn a longer or shorter period beyond the time
really stipulated for and lastly they consume more electricity than the quantity
paid for.
The apparatus constructed according to my invention fulfils all the prescribed
conditions and suppresses at the same time all the inconveniences before adverted
to. This apparatus lights and extinguishes simultaneously all the lamps of the
same sector or part of the latter (an apparatus may be provided for each lamp) at
the stipulated hours; it is sufficient for this purpose to regulate the apparatus
accordingly, which takes place with the greatest facility as will be readily
understood from the following description.
The apparatus proper is enclosed in a box consisting of cast-iron or other
material and made very strong, this box being closed by means of a cover retained
by a safety lock of any kind or in any other suitable manner. Upon the bottom
of this box are two contacts fixed on a disc of insulating material suitably fastened
upon the bottom. These contacts present the form of hooks; both are connected
to electric conductors which pass into the box through an opening and between the
two the circuit is cut. A third hook which is similar to the other two but has no
influence from the electrical point of view is likewise fixed upon a disc and
completes the bed of the apparatus. Below these hooks engage by a simple
turning movement three parts appertaining to the bottom plate of the apparatus
proper. The first of these parts is in electrical communication with the material
of the apparatus, while the second part is insulated therefrom and communicates
through a wire with a switch hereinafter adverted to.
Irrespective of this it will be seen that the apparatus is fixed in its box at three
points in such a manner that it may be readily put in its place and removed. This
mode of fastening may however be replaced by any other mode offering the same
facilities and the same securities.
The apparatus proper is formed of any clockwork comprised between the bottom
plate and a second intermediate plate, and of a switch mechanism arranged between
the intermediate plate and a ton plate.

page_text: Nothing need be said of the clockwork, for the arrangement of the same is
known and its operation is easily understood; moreover, as herein before stated,
this clockwork may be of any kind, with this feature that the dial is divided into
twenty-four portions (12 for the hours of the day, and 12 for the hours of the
night, the latter being indicated by a grey shade), and that the minute wheels will
be adapted to this mode of graduation which possesses the advantage of avoiding
any possible error. Two hands mark the time on the dial.
The switch mechanism which forms an essential part of the invention requires
on the contrary to be specified.
This mechanism comprises in principle two concentric and divided metallic crowns
which are independent of each other and secured to two insulating discs. By a
.socket one of the crowns is secured to a pointer, and by a second socket the second
crown is secured to another pointer. The sockets are concentric to each other and
relatively to the crowns, and the pointers like the aforesaid hands turn in front of
the dial. The two pointers are each provided with a small tenon which engages
lightly with indentations on the edge of the mounting on the dial and renders the
pointers immovable and therefore also the crowns in the several positions which
they may occupy. The said sockets are traversed by the socket which receives the
hands of the hour movement.
Below the crowns and at a certain distance therefrom is a metallic disc put in
electrical communication by a rod with a conducting wire coming from a terminal.
This disc is connected in its turn by a spring with a portion of one of the crowns
and by a small spring piston with another portion of the second crown. These
portions of the two divided crowns are always in connection with the electrical
conductor. On the side of the said portion of the first crown is fixed a spring strip
forming a spark protector as hereinafter set forth. Another portion of the first
crown comprises a spring rubbing upon the second crown and, when the before-
mentioned portion of the latter is in contact with the said spring, enables the
current to pass into a further portion of the first crown. A length of another
portion of the second crown is covered with an insulating piece secured to one of
the aforesaid sockets and which covers at the same time a part of the first crown.
Lastly another length of the last-mentioned portion of the first crown possesses a
piece which covers a part of the second crown.
Upon the two crowns and two pieces move and rub two connected brushes
mounted upon a wheel on the socket of the hour-hand, that is to say making a
complete turn in twenty-four hours.
I will now proceed to describe the operation of my improved apparatus.
Suppose for example the lighting to take place from 5 o'clock in the evening
to 7 o'clock in the morning.
'
One of the pointers is placed upon the 5 and the other pointer on the 7 for the
hours of the day. Under these circumstances the two crowns or rather their
respective portions occupy corresponding positions in which they are rendered
immovable.
As the brushes on the contrary receive a continuous circular movement and are
connected to the material of the apparatus it is clear that when one brush comes in
contact with a certain portion of the second crown the circuit will be closed and
consequently the lamp lighted exactly at 5 o'clock in the evening. This lamp will
burn exactly till the moment when the other brush abandons the first-mentioned
portion of the first crown, that is to say exactly at 7 o'clock in the morning. The
aforesaid spring will pass slightly beyond this portion and the circuit will be
broken a little later, so that the spark will be produced on this spring and not on
the first crown whose edge is thus protected.
When the lamp is to be lighted later it is sufficient to turu the pointer which carries
along with it the second crown and diminishes the angle of contact corresponding
to the lighting. For extinguishing the lamps earlier I act upon the pointer which
carries away the first crown and changes its position relatively to the second
crown.

page_text: The current for the brushes is obtained without a break in the continuity.
In any case the contact is ensured for a given time and determined in advance.
Moreover the surfaces of the switch cannot become oxidized, inasmuch as the
rotary brushes constantly rub on the top.
It will be understood that the details employed in the construction of the switch
apparatus may be varied and that I do not confine myself to those hereinbefore
described.
Deted this 1st day of February 1805
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Lighting and
Extinguishing Electric Lamps.
I, LUCIEN HERMAND, of 21 Boulevard Poissonnière, Paris, in the Republic of
France, 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 apparatus for lighting and extinguishing electric
lamps.
It is known that in order to light and extinguish electric lamps, in the case of
public lighting, servants go from lamp to lamp to act upon the switches provided
for this purpose; it is also known that these electric lamps for public lighting are
lighted and extinguished at different hours according to the seasons; lastly it is
known that the servants must commence their work some time before the hour for
lighting so as to light the last lamp at the said hour, and that they finish the
extinction only some time after the prescribed hour, considering that they extinguish
the first lamp of their locality only at the prescribed hour.
In consequence of these different conditions a comparatively great number of
servants are required for the work, on every one of whom reliance must be placed
for fulfilling the engagements undertaken, and, which is an important point for the
supplier, all the lamps except one burn a longer or shorter period beyond the
time really stipulated for and lastly they consume more electricity than the quantity
paid for.
to.
The apparatus constructed according to my invention fulfils all the prescribed
conditions and suppresses at the same time all the inconveniences before adverted
This apparatus lights and extinguishes simultaneously all the lamps of the
same section or part of the latter (an apparatus may be provided for each lamp) at
the stipulated hours; it is sufficient for this purpose to regulate the apparatus
accordingly, which takes place with the greatest facility as will be readily
understood from the following description.
In the accompanying drawing
:
Figure 1 represents an elevation of the lighting and extinguishing apparatus
enclosed in a strong box, shown in section placed at the bottom of each electric
lamp or arranged in any other suitable position..
Figure 2 represents the bottom of the box upon which bottom the apparatus
proper is hooked fast.
Figure 3 is a front view of the apparatus. which is hooked fast upon the bottom
of the box.
Figure 4 is the front or dial of the apparatus which appears when the box is open
and which has hands allowing of regulating the hours for the lighting and
extinguishing.

page_text: special portion of its mechanism.
Figure 5 is a partial radial section on the line 1-2 of Fig. 6.
Figure 6 is a front view of this special portion of the mechanism.
Figure 7 shows the brushes or rubbers which act upon this portion of the
mechanism and
Figures 8, 9 and 10 are diagrams showing the essential parts of the mechanism
of the apparatus in different positions and producing the lighting and the
extinguishing at different hours.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawing.
The apparatus proper is enclosed in a box A consisting of cast-iron er other
material and made very strong, this box being closed by means of a cover B
retained by a safety lock of any kind or in any other suitable manner. Upon the
bottom of this box are two contacts a and b, fixed on a disc d of insulating material
suitably fastened upon the bottom. These contacts present the form of hooks;
both are connected to electric conductors C and C' which pass into the box through
an opening o and between the two the circuit is cut. A third hook c which
is similar to the other two but has no influence from the electrical point of view is
likewise fixed upon a disc d and completes the bed of the apparatus. Below these
hooks a b and c engage by a simple turning movement three parts a¹ b' clapper-
taining to the bottom plate P of the apparatus proper. The first of these parts a¹
is in electrical communication with the material of the apparatus while the second
part is insulated therefrom and communicates through a wire with a switch
hereinafter referred to.
Irrespective of this it will be seen that the apparatus is fixed in its box at three
points in such a manner that it may be readily put in its place and removed. This
mode of fastening may however be replaced by any other mode offering the same
facilities and the same securities.
The apparatus proper is formed of any clockwork comprised between the
plate P and P¹ and of a switch mechanism arranged between the plates Pl
and P2.
Nothing need be said of the clockwork, for the arrangement of the same is known
and its operation is easily understood; moreover, as herein before stated, this
clockwork may be of any kind, with this feature that the dial D Figure 4 is divided
into twenty-four portions (12 for the hours of the day, and 12 for the hours of the
night, the latter being indicated by a grey shade) and that the minute wheels will
be adapted to this mode of graduation which possesses the advantage of avoiding
any possible error. Two hands or pointers e and f mark the time on the dial D.
The switch mechanism which forms an essential part of the invention comprises
in principle two concentric and divided metallic crowns g and Figures 5 and 6
which are independent of each other and secured to two insulating discs g' and h¹.
By a socket g² the crown g is secured to a pointer J' and by a second socket /³ the
second crown is secured to another pointer ¹. The sockets g² and 2 are
concentric to each other and relatively to the crowns, and the hands or pointers i¹
and j', like the aforesaid hands or pointers e and turn in front of the dial D. The
two pointers and are each provided with a small tenon which engages lightly with
indentations a on the edge of the mounting on the dial and renders the pointers
immovable and therefore also the crowns in the several positions which they may
occupy. The said sockets 92 and 2 are traversed by the socket which receives the
hands or pointers e and f of the hour movement.
9
Above the crowns g and h and at a certain distance therefrom is a metallic disc
put in electrical communication by a rod g' with a conducting wire coming from a
terminal 6. This disc is connected in its turn by a spring r with a portion 1-2
of one of the crowns 9 and by small spring piston (Figure 5) with another
portion 7-8 of the second crown h. These portions 1-2 and 7-8 of the two
divided crowns 9 and are always in connection with the electrical conductor. Ou

page_text: the side of the said portion of the first crown 9 is fixed a spring strip forming a
spark protector as hereinafter set forth. Another portion 3-4 of the first crown g
comprises a spring & rubbing upon the second crown and, when the before-
mentioned portion 7-7 of the latter is in contact with the said spring Figure 6
enables the current to pass into a further portion 3-4 of the first crown gas
hereinafter specified. A length 9 of another portion 9-10. of the second crown h
is covered with an insulating piece z secured to one of the aforesaid sockets h² and
which covers at the same time a part of the first crown g. Lastly another length 10
of the last-mentioned portion 9-10 of the first crown g possesses a piece z¹ which
covers a part of the second crown h.
Upon the two crowns g and hand two pieces z and z¹ move and rub two connected
brushes m and n Figure 7 mounted upon a wheel E on the socket of the hour
hand, or pointer e that is to say making a complete turn in twenty-four hours.
I will now proceed to describe the operation of my improved apparatus:
Suppose for example the lighting to take place from 5 o'clock in the evening to
7 o'clock in the morning.
One of the pointers is placed upon the 5 Figure 4 and the other pointer i¹ on
the 7 for the hours of the day. Under these circumstances the two crowns g and h
or rather their respective portions occupy corresponding positions represented in
the Figure (6) and are rendered immovable.
As the brushes m and n on the contrary receive a continuous circular. movement
and are connected to the material of the apparatus it is clear that when one brush n
arrives at x in contact with a certain portion 7-8 of the second crown h the circuit
will be closed and consequently the lamp lighted exactly at 5 o'clock in the
evening. This lamp will burn exactly till the moment when aty the other brush m
abandons the first-mentioned portion 1-2 of the first crown g, that is to say
exactly at 7 o'clock in the morning. The aforesaid spring will pass slightly
beyond this portion 1-2 and the circuit will be broken a little later, so that the
spark will be produced on this spring r and not on the first crown g whose edge 7 is
thus protected.
When the lamp is to be lighted later it is sufficient to turn the pointer j¹ which
carries along with it the second crown hand diminishes the angle of contact
corresponding to the lighting. For extinguishing the lamps earlier I act upon the
pointer which carries away the first crown g and changes its position relatively
to the second crown h.
In the diagrammatic view Figure 8 the lighting is supposed to take place at
8 o'clock in the evening and the extinction at 3 o'clock in the morning; in Figure 9
the lighting is supposed to take place at 10 o'clock in the evening and the extinction
at 2 o'clock in the morning; lastly in Figure 10 the lighting is not supposed to take
place the covering pieces and 2 arriving at the contact.
In these Figures as well as in Figure 6 the crown portions which receive the
current are indicated by section lining.
The current for the brushes is obtained without a break in the continuity.
In any case the contact is ensured for a given time and determined in advance.
Moreover the surfaces of the switch cannot become oxidized, inasmuch as the
rotary brushes constantly rub on the top.
It will be understood that the details employed in the construction of the switch
apparatus may be varied and that I do not confine myself to those herein before
described.
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 I
claim is :--
1. An apparatus for the automatic lighting and extinguishing of electric lamps,
the characteristic features being the combination of a clock work mechanism and
of a circular switch comprising: two metallic crowns divided into parts and
independent of one another, capable of relatively different positions under the

page_text: action of a transmission actuated by two independent hands, the one for the
lighting, the other for the extinguisbing, and two rotary brushes placed under
the control of the clockwork mechanisin; the said brushes closing the electric
circuit on their passage over the said crowns forming by their parts a more or less
large lighting angle as hereinbefore specified.
2. The special arrangement of the metallic crowns divided into parts and
independent of one another, mounted upon discs of insulating material and their
relation, by means of a socket, with hands revolving upon a dial and permitting
of changing their relative position in such a manner as to vary not only the
duration of lighting but also the moments of lighting and of extinguishing, as
hereinbefore specified.
3. The combination of the metallic crowns and h divided into fractions and
independent of one another, with insulating discs g¹ and ¹ which support the same,
with sockets 9' and ' which connect them respectively to the hands i¹ and j', these
hands revolving upon a dial D, with current receivers and 2 upon the washer g
connected to the electric conductor, with pieces and 2¹, with the spring r
forming the spark breaker and with rotary brushes m and n; set in action by a
clock work movement; the whole arranged and acting in the manner as and for
the purpose indicated and with reference to the accompanying drawing.
4. The combination of the automatic lighting and extinguishing apparatus with
a box having contacts serving not only to secure the electric communication but
also the fixity and the protection of the apparatus, as herein before specified.
5. The lighting and extinguishing apparatus for electric lamps, as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 1st day of November 1895
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.