Improvements in Regulators for Electric Arc Lamps.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Regulators for Electric Arc Lamps.
FOR
I, HERBERT JOHN HADDAN of 67 Strand, in the city of Westminster, do hereby
declare the nature of said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN REGULATORS
ELECTRIC ARC LAMPS, a communication to me from abroad by Hugo Henneberg
and Richard O. Lorenz, both of 17 Marxergasse, of Vienna, Austria, Manufacturers
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 the employment of the magnetic action at a distance
upon rotating iron or other paramagnetic bodies for the regulation of the arc in
electric arc lamps.
This kind of regulator has for its object to obtain a continuous feed of the
carbons in the ratio of their consumption, so that the length of the arc, the
resistance of the same and the strength of the current are all maintained
" constant."
For this purpose the weight of a rack, serving as one of the carbon holders and
meshing with a gear wheel or equivalent piece of mechanism, is used for turning a
disc of iron, and the speed of rotation of this disc is influenced by the action of
electromagnets at a distance.
In the annexed drawing this improved arc-lamp is represented in two vertical
sections figs. 1 and 2 and in a horizontal section Fig. 3.
The letter A designates the poleshoes, between which the disc E is rotating, on
one side of these poleshoes is situated the electromagnet B, excited by the main
line circuit, and on the other side the electromagnet C, excited by the shunt
circuit.
The rack D meshes with a spur wheel, as indicated in the drawing, or with any
other mechanism, capable of procuring a great speed of rotation for the disc E.
L is the other carbon holder, which is capable of movement in a vertical direction
and of being drawn down by an armature M.

page_text: :
His a locking device, which has the purpose to prevent the rack D from
dropping, when the lamp is not in action.
This is effected by means of a pawl G, and the armature K, secured to the
double armed lever H, the said pawl gearing into a ratchet wheel g, mounted upon
the axis of the iron disc E.
The lamp works in the following manner:
When the carbons are out of contact, the entire current passes through the short
circuit magnet C, in consequence of which this latter attracts the armature K,
which moves the angular lever H and thereby causes G to disengage the ratchet
wheel g.
The disc E now commences to rotate, and the rack D is sinking, until the carbons
come in contact.
Now the main circuit is closed, and the electro-magnet B attracts the armature M
so that the arc is formed; on the other hand the poleshoes A are magnetized, so
that the motion of the disc and hence of the rack, connected with one of the
carbons (in the present case the upper one) is perfectly stopped.
By the gradual consumption of the carbon the resistance of the arc increases and
causes the force of the short circuit magnet C to increase.
But since the magnetism, which C generates in A, is opposite to that generated
by B at A, the magnetic attraction of the poleshoes decreases in proportion to the
increase of the arc, and the disc commences to rotate, first slowly, but gradually
quicker, because the decrease of magnetism at A continues as long as the are gains
in resistance or is increasing in length.
Nevertheless no further decrease of magnetism can take place in A, as long as the
speed of the disc is exactly proportional, and consequently the feed of the carbon
corresponds to the speed, with which the carbons are consumed, and henceforth
the length of the arc and consequently its resistance must remain practically
constant.
The nearer the disc E between the poleshoes A is brought to the main circuit
electromagnet B, the more does its magnetism prevail over that of C and vice
versa.
The disc and the gearing are therefore rendered adjustable, (in the present case
by means of a screw spindle S) so as to obtain a practical and effective adjusting
device for different lengths of arc and strengths of current.
The electromagnets are coupled in such a manner, that the poleshoes at both sides
of the disc are magnetized in the same sense.
The disc as well as the poleshoes, are of soft iron. It is evident, that other
paramagnetic bodies may be used to advantage, and that in place of the disc shape
other shapes, for instance a ring,—ball,—
―or cylinder—may be employed for the body,
rotating between the poleshoes.
In the same way discs or otherwise shaped bodies of well conducting material,
such as silver, copper, or aluminium, may be employed.
But since these bodies only rotate between poleshoes of opposite polarity and
are stopped by induction, the main and short circuit magnets and the poleshoes
described are simply to be furnished with unequal magnetism, an object, which is
attained by suitable coupling.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In electric arc lamps, the use of an iron disc or any other paramagnetic body
of any desirable shape, which, by suitable gearing, is connected with one of the
carbons and in the manner described is arranged to rotate freely between tlie pole-
shoes of an electromagnet of equally named magnetism for regulating the distance
of the carbons of an electric arc lamp by the inductive action of the poles, substan-
tially as and for the purpose described,

page_text: 2. A regulator for electric are lamps, consisting of a rack D, serving as one of
the carbon holders, a spur gearing or equivalent mechanism meshing with this rack,
an iron disc E, poleshoes A, serving to arrest or stop this disc, the said poleshoes
being connected with the main and short line circuit magnets B and C, stopping
device Gg H, K and set screw S, substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In electric arc lamps, the regulation of the arc by means of a disc or body of
any other desirable shape of well conducting material, adapted to revolve in the
manner described between poleshoes of unequally named magnetism, and to be
stopped by induction, substantially as and for the purpose described.