Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
I, ADDISON GOODYEAR WATERHOUSE, Electrician of 188 Albany Avenue
Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America, 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 electric arc lamps, and is designed to simplify the
construction and operation of the same.
My said invention comprises improvements first in a weather-proof lamp frame:
second, in the method of construction of the lamp so that its parts can be joined
together and insulated by means of cement; third, in its general form with a.view
of simplifying its construction; fourth, in the method of constructing and joining
its electro-magnets and controlling mechanism; fifth, in its automatic shunt circuit
breaker; sixth, in the means of producing: a slow and even feed to the upper
carbon; seventh, in several accessory and equivalent devices.
The various parts of my invention will be described in connection with the
accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1, shows a sectional side elevation of the lamp, showing most of its
accessory parts.
Figures 2, 3, and 4 are details of the lamp frame and globe holder.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 show elevations from different sides of the insulated cage
containing the electro-magnets and regulating mechanism of the lamp.
Figure 8 is a detail.
Figures 9 and 10 show sections of the regulating mechanism of the lamp and its
automatic shunt circuit breaker.
Figures 11 and 12, are plans of the cage partly in section.
Figures 13, 14, 15, and 16 show means of retarding the downward motion of the
carbon rod.
Referring to Figure 1, showing a side and partial sectional elevation of a
complete lamp. The frame of this lamp consists of the top tube T; a top F
shaped in the form of an inverted cup. This top has hanging eyes F side lugs or
sockets F' adapted for receiving and sheltering the insulators F, to which the lamp
terminals tt are secured by means of the nuts n and n. From these nuts, the
conductors and z, pass into the mechanism of the lamp. The side bars of the
lamp frame F³ are cast to and made a part of the top F, and extend downward to
the sockets F and unite at the bottom in forming the lower base F" which has an
annular recess in which a shell P" adapted for holding the lower carbon holder P
is rigidly secured by the insulating cement B³. In the lower part of the base F is
screwed a tail tube T, which tube T' is adapted for receiving the globe holder G.
This globe holder is made in. a semi-spherical form with a shell Go having an
annular opening which adapts it for sliding or fitting around the tube T. The
upper end of the shell G forms a hub inside the globe holder G, which leaves an
annular recess inside of the globe holder and outside of the hub formed by G; this
recess to be used for holding the chain G³. One end of said chain is connected to
the lower lamp frame F and the other end to the globe holder G. The object of
the chain is for suspending the globe holder G and its globe G to the lamp frame
while the lamp is being trimmed as shown in Figure 2. The globe holder is.
secured to the lamp frame by means of a sliding bolt "e" which enters a recess in
the lower part of the lamp frame F. This bolt has bearings inside of the globe
holder G, and is provided with a spring which forces the bolt e into the lamp
rame and holds the globe holder in. its place. The outer end of the bolt e is

page_text: provided with a hook el which is adapted for drawing the bolt out from the
frame by turning the hook upwards so its point will cam on the outer surface of
the globe holder as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 3, is a plan of the globe holder G, showing three internal ribs e³, also the
bolt e, its springe and its hook e', also showing the internal hub of G6 with its
central opening G adapted for receiving the tail rod T. G shows a ring con-
nected to one of the ribs, this ring is for receiving one end of the chain G³, as
shown in Figures 1 and 2.
In Figure 1, is also shown the weather-proof shield, C which with F completely
incloses the regulating mechanism of the lamp by fitting inside of F at the top, the
bottom of C is lined with an insulating ring B2, which forms a weather-proof joint
around the said mechanism and the shield C.
The parts of the lamp frame consisting of the top F, side bars F', and lower
frame are all cast in one piece.
The top tube T and the lower tube T' are screwed into the lamp frame. These
tubes and the lamp frame are insulated from the parts of the lamp carrying the
current.
"
The parts connected to the lamp frame, but electrically insulated therefrom, are
the auchor-plate A, to which the cage K, containing the controlling mechanism is
attached. This anchor plate A is secured in the bell F of the lamp frame, by
means of an insulating cement B, which surrounds the anchor-plate A, and also fits
in the upper part of the bell F, so that A, and the cement B becomes a part of the
lamp frame. The insulating cement is further secured in its place by lugs and
annular beads or ribs Fe such as shown cast in the interior of bell F. The anchor-
plate A is constructed so that its edges will present a series of points and angles,
to enable the cement B, in which it is imbedded, to cling to it, and its under surface
has four lugs which extend out through the cement and form a seat or bearing for
the cage K; two or more of these lugs are provided with screw holes into which
the screws A' and A' enter and secure the cage K to the anchor A, as shown in
Figure 6. The wire a enters from one of the lamp terminals passing through the
cement and is secured to plate A; the wires y and z pass through the spokes of
plate A without touching it and are secured in their place by the cement "B
which holds A in place; also, the wires x, y, and z binding them all together and
making them fixed and rigid parts of the lamp frame. As before stated, the
shell is insulated from the lamp frame by means of the cement B³ which inter-
venes between the central shell of P and the inner surface of F. This cement
extends up from F forming a hub which is capped by the top flange of P". This
flange has a bead extending around its under edge which holds that part of the
cement extending above the lamp frame F from cracking or spreading. The
advantage of joining these electrodes A and Ph to the frame by means of a cement,
which can be used while in a soft state is, that it forms a perfect fit between and
around the articles to be joined together and thereby does away with the expenses
of finishing or fitting the two parts together with the insulation required between
them, and the great value in the case of joining the anchor A in the bell top F of
the frame by the means shown, is that it avoids the necessity of making any screw
holes or placing any screws through the bell top F, thereby avoiding any leak
from outside sources and keeping the electrical conductors or current away from
the top of the lamp where rain or moisture will lodge and be liable to short circuit
the parts which would extend up through the frame.
The electrical connections which are fixed to the lamp frame are, first, the
positive terminal t secured into a nut n, fixed in a wooden arm F from which nut ",
a wire runs to the cage K and carbon rod R, then through the carbons to the
lower carbon holder P in base F, then out through the side wire y, which is con-
nected to the shell P" in the base F, and lashed on one of the side bars F³ of the
frame, then into the bell F, and through the cement B, by way of wire y', then to
the two electro-magnets M, which are connected in series, and insulated from the
cage K by means of the paper spools upon which their wire is wound then out
7

page_text: through wire to a nut n, then to the negative terminal t which is fixed on the
other wooden arm F*.
I will now refer to Figures 5, 6, and 7 showing various elevations of what I call
the cage K, consisting of a brass or non-magnetic frame for holding the electro-
magnet coils, and all parts belonging to the regulating mechanism.
The cage K is a rectangular frame, having top and bottom formed by circular
discs, and consists of the top 1, bottom 2, side-bars 3 and 4, and magnet floors 5
and 6, all cast in one piece. Figure 7 shows a side elevation, showing one of the
side-bars 3, the top 1, bottom 2, upper magnet floor 5 and lower magnet floor 6. In
constructing these cages see Figures 11 and 12, I have a central hole 7, for the
carbon-rod, and holes 8 and 9 for the electro-magnets, and holes 10 and 11 for bolts
to pass through for bolting the cage to the anchor plate A. After the holes are
bored, the magnet. coils M M and S S as shown by S in Figure 8 are slid in
between the floor 6 and bottom 2, then the tube d is passed up through the
bottom 2 through coils S and floor 6, where it is held in place by the plate d',
which covers the holes. In this way all the four magnet coils are inserted in their
respective places. The tubes perform the double purpose of keeping the coils in
their place, and acting as guides for the moving or controlling armature, composed
of the iron rods c and c', which are connected by the iron yoke c² connected to is
the link through which the movement of the armature is imparted to the
lever 1, the clutch and carbon rod R.
CC
Before leaving this subject of electro-magnets, it is well to state that the upper
coils M, M, are the main circuit coils, used for producing and maintaining a
separation of the carbons, and the lower coils S S, are shunt or derived circuit coils
around the arc, used for producing a downward feed of the upper carbon. All
these coils are wound on insulating spools which completely insulate the wire
forming the coils from the cage K. One of the advantages of securing the electro-
magnet coils in this way, is the exact alignment secured for the tubes d in which
the armature works. Of course, a single magnet instead of double magnets can be
made the same way.
Figure 5, shows an elevation of the cage K, with the coils on one side cut away,
showing the armature c¹ and floors 5 and 6.
Figure 6 shows an opposite elevation of the cage K showing part of the contact
piece a, dash-pot D, and insulating block I, attached to the slide 3 and 4 of
the cage.
"
A
"9
The arms are extensions from the side bars 3 and 4, which form bearings into
which the clutch lever is pivoted, as better shown in plan view, Figure 12.
plan of the contact piece "a" is shown in Figure 11, showing the two ends of "a
screwed to the side-bars 3 and 4, and provided with four contact brushes a¹ which
slant upward and press against the carbon rod R.
Figure 12 shows a sectional plan of the side bars 3 and 4, also two lower
floors 6 6, for the magnet coils S S also holes 10 and 11 through which the
bolts A1 and A2 screw the cage to the anchor plate A, as shown in Figure 6. Also,
the arms g upon which the lever is pivoted to which is connected the rod D2 of
the dash-pot; also the pin belonging to the link of the armature yoke c², and
which works the lever, and the pin to which is hung the clutch
which engages
with and supports the carbon rod R. There is also connected to lever 1, part of a
cut-out device, consisting of a swinging wire w, hinged in the lever at to this wire
loosely passes through a hole in an upright arm 1 made a part of lever 1. On the
end of wire w is fixed a roller w³, which strikes against a spring v secured to a
lug K', made a part of cage K.
A complete description of this shunt cut-out or circuit breaker, together with a
description of the circuits forming the electro-magnets of the lamp, is as follows;
reference being had to Figures 9 and 10.
Figure 9 shows a section of part of the cage K showing the part of the mechanism
belonging to the automatic shunt circuit breaker and also the routes of the two
circuits through the lamp. The main current circuit first passes to the cage K, as

page_text: before described, then it passes down the upper carbon through the arc to the lower
carbon, then up the side wire y. One end of y being shown in Figure 9, which is
where the current enters; y leads to the terminal y₁ fixed in the insulating block I,
then it leads from y' and through conductors which form the main magnet
coils MM. These coils are insulated from the cage K. Then it leads to
terminal in block I, then out on wire to the negative lamp terminal.
The shunt circuit begins at the cage K, which is charged with the main circuit
just before it passes to the arc. The shunt circuit passes out on lug K' to the snap
wire then to the spring u which normally remains in contact with v, then through u
to the screw u³, placed in the insulating block I, then out on the shunt wire, shown
in curled form, to shunt magnet coil S', then across on wire S³ to shunt coil S³, then
to the end of wire z which is connected to the terminal in block I, which leads
out of the lamp to its negative terminal.
It will be seen that as the shunt circuit crosses from wire v to spring u, that by
separating and u, the shunt circuit would be broken.
The automatic shunt circuit breaker performs the following duties, 1st, it keeps
the shunt circuit complete while the lamp is working in a proper condition; 2nd, it
breaks the shunt circuit in case the main circuit breaks, or the resistance of the
lamp becomes so great as to endanger the shunt coil or coils; 3rd, it re-connects
the break or completes the shunt circuit when the lamp or currents returns to its
normal condition. This circuit breaker consists of the swinging wire w inserted
loosely in the lever 1, at w'. The wire to is guided by the arm A, which is part of
the lever ; w passes through a fork in the top of 1, which allows it to swing a
certain angle, but limits its motion; at the upper end of w is a roller w³ made of
boue, or some insulating material, and so fixed, that when the controlling maguets
of the lamp move the armature down to the extreme end of its stroke, which occurs
only when the lamp fails to feed properly, the lever is swung up to the angle
shown in Figure 10 and causes the roller w³ to snap past the end of the wire and
wedge itself between the wire v and the spring u thus separating them and breaking
the electrical connection between them which breaks the shunt circuit. As soon as
the magnets move from the lower end of their stroke, they begin to swing the
lever towards a horizontal position, and before this movement progresses far
enough to separate the carbons, the roller to is withdrawn from between the wire v
and the spring.u, when they spring together and complete the shunt circuit; by
this means a snap switch is formed, actuated by the electro-magnets, enabling them
to perform the following duties 1st, to break the shunt circuit; 2nd, to cause the
shunt circuit to remain open; 3rd, to close the shunt circuit as above described.
The last part of my invention relates to the means employed for producing a
slow and even downward feed to the upper carbon.
Figure 13 shows a mechanism which represents the idea employed for con-
trolling the downward movement of the carbon rod, and the use made of the
top tube T for such purpose.
I know that the top tubes of lamps have been
used to retard the downward motion of the carbon rod, by having the rod
provided with a plunger to fit the tube, and by using atmospheric resistance for
preventing a too rapid descent of the rod. But the objections to the means
heretofore employed, are of two kinds: first, the liability of the plunger to
stick in the tube; and, second, the fact that when the whole weight of the rod
hangs on the plunger after the rod has moved down part of the distance, there
is so much air drawn in the tube back of the plunger that any weight placed
upon the plunger rarifies such air, and by its expansion, allows too great a drop
to take place before the enclosed air rarifies sufficiently to allow the atmospheric
pressure to arrest its downward motion.
My invention is to avoid these
objections.
Tube T is the top tube of the lamp, provided with a screw bushing T
soldered to the tube, and threaded to fit in the bell F of the lamp frame..
(See Figure 1.) Inside of this tube T is a plunger R', which is free to slide
in T, but forming an air-tight joint between R1 and T. R' has a stem R'

page_text: which fits loosely in the carbon rod R, so that if the rod would drop, it would
slide from around the stem R2 and leave the plunger R' to slowly settle after
it. To prevent this, and use the slow motion of the plunger R', I provide the
carbon rod R with a head R', which bears against the tube on one side, and
on the other is a pivot R' to which is hung a cam lever R. This cam presses
against the tube on the side opposite to where the head R' bears. Now
the cam lever reaches across the space in tube T and is pivoted to the
plunger R and R, so as the carbon rod R drops, it must drag the plunger
after it, but in so doing, it acts through the cam lever R₁ and tilts it so as to
make it bind against the tube T on one side, while the head R³ binds on the
other. So the friction of this binding arrests the movement of the carbon rod,
without bringing a strain on the plunger, which would rarify the air and draw
the plunger down as it would if the rod was connected direct to the plunger so
its whole weight came directly on the plunger. Therefore, use the resistance
of the atmosphere, to retard the downward motion of the plunger and the slow
motion of the plunger to work a clamping device, which produces a friction
between the rod R and tube T that arrests the downward motion of the
rod R. As soon as the slow motion of the rod R is arrested by the controlling
magnets, the plunger R¹ settles and relieves the strain on the cam lever R
against the tube T.
The objection to the use of a metallic or any solid form of plunger is its liability
to stick and cause friction at the wrong time, when made tight enough to obstruct
the passage of the air. To prevent this, I use the form of plungers shown in
Figures 14 and 15.
Figure 14 shows a form in which T is the closed top tube, R the carbon rod, and
fixed in its upper end is a head 1. Upon the head I is an asbestos paper disc H,
cut larger than the inside diameter of the tube T, and on top of H is a mica disc 2,
which fits the tube T, just close enough to guide the rod R in and insulate it from
the tube, but not close enough to stick or obstruct the passage of the air. On top
of the mica 2 is a small metal washer 3, which does not touch the tube, and the
screw 4 passing through 3, 2 and H into 1 screws them rigidly together as shown.
The paper disc H assumes an unbrella form, which closes as the rod is forced up,
and is opened as it moves down, and owing to its peculiar shape, the pressure of the
atmosphere forces its periphery, like a toggle joint lever, against the sides of
tube T.
Figure 15 shows the closed top tube T with screw bushing T³ screwed into the
lamp frame F, and having fixed at its lower end a mica guide and insulator N; on
top of the mica N is an asbestos paper washer H, which surrounds the rod R:
This washer, H' has a hole in it some smaller than the rod R, so that as the rod
passes up through it, the part surrounding the rod bulges up; but owing to the
softness of the paper, it does not bind or cause friction on the rod, but as the
plunger R¹ descends, it compresses the air between the plunger and H³, causing
the bulged part to spring in and hug the rod R, and also make an air-tight joint
around it, so as the plunger descends towards the end of its stroke, the decreased
volume of air in the lower part of the tube will offer an increased resistance, owing
to its greater solidity, as the greater volume of air above the plunger loses its
resistance by reason of its expansibility, and in that way the drop of the rod R is
equally opposed at all points of its travel. When the rod has a lower guide H', I
provide its plunger K' with a sliding joint R³, which enables the rod to have side
play in the tube T while the plunger R' remains in the centre.
Figure 16 shows a detail of the sliding joint R' shown in Figure 1, in which R'
is a plan of the head, provided with grooved clips R' between which a flat square
plate i slides. The rod R, is provided with a head R', which has grooved clips,
which enable it to be slid on plate i, at right angle to the clips R of head R₁
so as each part slide at right angle to each other, the head R can remain in the
centre of the tube T, when the rod R is slightly on one side.

page_text: 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 :-
First. An electric are lamp frame, consisting of a cup-shaped top F, which will
cover and partially surround the regulating mechanism; said top F having on its
sides sockets F¹ for receiving the insulating arms F³, which project from F and
surround part of the arms F, also side bars F, which are extensions from the
sockets F and unite at their lower end in forming the base F, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
Second. In an electric arc lamp frame, the insulating cement B into which the
terminal plate A is imbedded, said cement having an annular recess around the
carbon rod R and supported in its place by adhering to the inner surface of
the lamp top F, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. In an electric are lamp, the insulating cement B secured in its place by
adhering to the inner surface of the cup-shaped top of the lamp frame, said cement
having imbedded into it the terminal plate A, and forming a central recess through
which the carbon rod can pass, and an annular wall which abuts upon the bead F,
and forms an insulating case between part of the regulating mechanism and the
inner surface of the lamp frame, substantially as, and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. In an electric arc lamp, the combination of the lower part of a lamp frame,
having an annular recess, with a terminal shell P³, consisting of a disc shaped top,
adapted for receiving a lower carbon holder, the under surface of which is provided
with an annular bead, extending downward from its periphery, and the binding.
cement B³, which will form a hub extending above the base of the lamp frame to
the under surface of the disc-shaped top of P3, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Fifth. In combination with an electric arc lamp frame, having a cup-shaped top,
with sockets projecting from its sides for covering and receiving the insulators of
the lamp terminals and side bars which unite at their lower ends in forming the
base of the lamp frame, a shield for inclosing that part of the regulating mechanism
of the lamp, which projects from the cup-shaped top of the lamp frame; said shield
being provided with an internal insulating ring at its lower end which will form a
closed joint between the shield and the mechanism, and having its upper end made
so as to fit inside of the cup-shaped top of the lamp frame, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
Sixth. An electric arc lamp, having a globe holder formed semi-spherical, with a
central shell for fitting around the tail tube or rod of a lamp frame, ribs e³ for the
globe to rest on, bolt e provided with bearings in the globe holder, and spring e² for
sliding the bolt in, a hooked end e', made to cam on the outside of the globe holder,
for drawing the bolt out, and a recess in the globe holder for holding the chain G³,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Seventh. In an electric arc lamp, a cage or frame, containing the regulating
mechanism and electro-magnets, in which is provided supports or bearings for the
mechanical parts, and floors or positions for the electro-magnets, which magnets
when in place are secured by tubes which are slid through the cage and the magnet
coils, thereby securing the coils in position, and providing guides for the movable
armature in the coils, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Eighth. In an electric are lamp, a cage or frame K, consisting of top 1, bottom 2,
side bars 3 and 4, and floors 5 and 6, with holes bored in a straight line through
the top and the upper floor, and the bottom and the lower floor, through which
tubes d are pressed, which extend through the frame and coil or coils placed between
the top 1 and floor 5, and through the bottom 2 and floor 6, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
Ninth. In an electric arc lamp, the cage or frame K provided with extensions
for the contact piece a, and lower bearings gy, also having connected thereto the
dashpot D, and insulating block I, said cage holding the armature rods c and c¹

page_text: confined in tubes d which hold the magnet coils in place, while the armature yoke c²
has room to work between the magnet floors 5 and 6, together with the carbon
rod R, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Tenth. In an electric arc lamp, a contact piece connected to the lamp provided
with hooks or eyes at each end for receiving holding screws; said piece being
provided with semi-circular yoke at its centre and contact brushes for surrounding
the carbon rod, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Eleventh. An automatic circuit controller consisting of a snap switch forming a
path for the high resistance shunt circuit, said switch being operated by the
extreme movement of the regulating armature, closing it under the action of
the main circuit magnets, and opening it under the action of the shunt circuit
magnets.
Twelfth. In an electric arc lamp, an automatic shunt circuit breaker, consisting
of the swinging wire to and roller to³, actuated by the working armature, through
the lever 1, and the spring v and wire u, which form part of the shunt circuit,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Thirteenth. In an electric lamp, the combination with the closed top tube of a
lamp, with a carbon rod, having a loose plunger connected to its end by means of a
lever adapted for converting. the strain between the carbon rod and the plunger
into a pressure or friction between the said carbon rod and the inner surface of said
tube, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourteenth. In an electric arc lamp, the combination with the closed top tube T
and carbon rod R of a head R³, firmly connected to the carbon rod R, a
plunger R, provided with a stem R³, which loosely fits in the carbon rod; said
plunger R' being connected to the carbon rod R and head R³ by means of the cam
lever R, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fifteenth. In an electric arc lamp, the combination of a closed top tube T and
carbon rod R, provided with a head adapted for guiding the top end of the rod R
in the centre of the tube T and insulating the two from each other; said head
being composed of a shank for screwing it to the carbon rod, a series of mica discs
formed so as to fit the tube T and a flexible asbestos packing clamped between the
mica disc, and the head which is screwed to the rod R; the mica disc and asbestos
packing, and the head being held together by a screw passing through the said disc
and packing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Sixteenth. In an electric arc lamp, a plunger connected to the carbon rod R, and
made to fit in the top tube T; said plunger being formed of the head 1, flexible
umbrella shaped asbestos packing H, mica or insulating disc and guide 2, washer 3,
and screw 4, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Seventeenth. In an electric arc lamp, the carbon rod provided with a plunger
made to fit a closed top lamp tube T having a packing in the bottom of said tube,
which forms an air-tight joint around said carbon rod, constructed substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
Eighteenth. In an electric arc lamp, a plurger R' connected to the carbon
rod R, by means of a sliding joint R' substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Nineteenth. An electro-magnet, composed of a coil conductor upon an insulating
spool placed between two floors which are rigidly connected together but far enough
apart to receive the said spool; said floors being provided with holes which will
correspond with the opening through the centre of said spool, in combination with
a tube to be slid through said floors and spool adapted for keeping the spool in place
and also for receiving an iron magnet core or armature, as set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.