Improvements in Electric Light Fittings.
Year: 1898

page_text: I, HENRY CLARK BROWN, of Broadstairs, in the County of Kent, Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
to
According to this invention an electrolier, arc lamp or other similar fitting is
suspended by a tube terminating at its upper end in a cup which fits in the socket
attached to the ceiling so as to form a universal joint. Means are provided
for electrically connecting one of the leads from the lamp to such cup which is
insulated from the pendant tube while the socket is connected
one of the mains and is preferably insulated from its supports. The
other lead from the lamp is electrically connected to the other main by means
of a rod fitted within but insulated from the before mentioned cup and terminating
at its upper end in a concave metallic plate that makes electric contact with the
lower end of a spring controlled plunger fitted in a tube attached to the ceiling.
The connections are made through sliding contacts that form portions of approxi-
mately spherical surfaces thus allowing the pendant to be rotated or tilted
in any desired direction.
My invention is applicable to pendant electric light fittings of any design.
Improvements in Electric Light Fittings.
I, HENRY CLARK BROWN, of Broadstairs, in the County of Kent, 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 an improved oscillating, revolving, electric light
pendant, that can be rotated in any direction.
To effect this the electric current is led through the ceiling plate and rose or
other fitting from which the pendant is suspended, instead of the main leads
being carried direct to such pendant as heretofore.
And in order that my said invention may be better understood and readily
carried into effect, I will now with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein

page_text: similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts proceed more particularly
to describe and ascertain the same.
Figure 1 illustrates in section one form of my invention which is adapted for
the fighter kind of electric fittings and of which the following is a description.
A block is fixed to the ceiling to which a perforated metal plate forming the
ceiling late is fixed, a layer of any suitable insulating material a' being placed
between them. The ceiling plate is provided with a threaded rim b' to allow of a
rose e furnished with a socket e being screwed thereon. Embedded in the
insulating material a is a screw d, to which a tubular socket e is fixed. This
socket is fitted with a plunger f that is kept in continuous contact with a concave
metal plate or its equivalent by a spring h. Perforated lugs 62 el are formed
on the ceiling plate b, and tubular socket e. Through these lugs the main
leads i, , are carried so as to make contact with such lugs. That portion of
the current which is conveyed through the main lead i, and lug e¹ is conducted
through the socket e and plunger to the concave plate g, or its equivalent
whence it is led through a rod g to a terminal, and thence through one of the
lamp leads to the lamp, while that portion of the electric current which passes
through the main lead, lug, and rose c, is conducted through a sleeve 1,
and coupling m, to a lug n, and thence through the other lamp lead to the
lamp. The concave plate and rod g, g', and the sleeve 7, and coupling m, and
lugn, are insulated from each other by suitable insulating material o.
A nut unites the stem of the pendant to the coupling m.
By this arrangement I dispense with the ordinary wire connections between
the main leads and the leads of the lamp or lamps, and substitute therefor the
universal joint formed at the junction of the rose c with the sleeve / when fitted
in the manner above described, whereby the pendant may be rotated in any desired
direction while the electric circuit remains unbroken owing to the continuous
contact of the spring plunger f with the concave metallic plate g or its equivalent.
Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings shews a modification of my invention
which is applicable to the heavier class of fittings wherein I substitute for the
ceiling plate b a flanged tube r, which is connected to the rose c by a nuts and
coupling piece t whereon the perforated lug 62 herein before described is formed.
In this arrangement the sleeve is elongated and tapped at its lower end whereby
the coupling m is dispensed with, as the nut p unites the stem q directly to such
sleeve.
For out door work I make a groove round the upper part of the fitting wherein
I fit an india rubber mantle in order to keep the fitting dry.
I would here observe that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein-
before described and shewn as the same admit of variation without departing
from the essential features of my invention which are, conducting the electric
current through the support or supports of an electric lamp or electrolier instead
of carrying the main leads thereto direct, as heretofore, and connecting such electric
lamp or electrolier to such support or supports by a universal joint in order to
allow of such lamp or electrolier being readily adjusted in any desired position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In electric light fittings conducting the electric current through the support
or supports of an electric lamp or electrolier, instead of carrying the main leads
thereto, direct, as heretofore, and connecting such electric lamp or electrolier to
such support or supports by a universal joint, in order to allow of such lamp
or electrolier being readily adjusted in any desired position, all substantially as
herein before described.
2. In combination with an electric lamp or electrolier, the construction, arrange-
ment and combination of parts, all substantially as firstly hereinbefore described
and shewn, or any mere modification thereof.

page_text: 3. As a modification of my said invention, the construction, arrangement and
combination of parts, all substantially as secondly hereinbefore described and
shewn, or any mere modification thereof.
Dated this 22nd day of March A.D. 1099.
ELT & Co.,
Registered Patent Agents,
43, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for Applicant.
A.D. 1893.
ELT & Co.,
Registered Patent Agents,
43, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for Applicant.