Improvements in Electrical Apparatus suitable for Lighting, Cauterizing, and other Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1900-Accepted, 21st July, 1900
Improvements in Electrical Apparatus suitable for Lighting,
Cauterizing, and other Purposes.
We, JASPER RICHARDSON, Barrister-at-Law, and HARRY RAMSBOTTOм, Elec-
trician, both of Harvey Building, No. 427A, Strand, in the County of London,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to a construction of portable electrical apparatus
that can be readily adapted at will for lighting, cauterizing, X ray or other
purposes, and whereby the degree of light, heat or energy can be easily varied
to suit requirement.
According thereto in an apparatus suitable for lighting and heating pur-
poses, there is employed in conjunction with a suitable electrical battery, a
compound rheostat, a switch device, and electrical connections so constructed
and arranged that by inserting two plugs connected to the terminals of an
electric lamp in a pair of sockets the full voltage of the battery can be used
for lighting purposes and the degree of light can be varied by turning a pivoted
arm of the rheostat, and that by inserting two plugs connected to the terminals
of an electric heating or cauterizing instrument in two other sockets, the
battery will be divided into two parts arranged in parallel with one another
so that a less voltage but larger current will be available for cauterizing pur-
poses, the degree of heat then obtained being capable of accurate and immediate
adjustment by means of the rheostat.
In one arrangement of apparatus of this kind the battery comprises two sets
of cells enclosed in a portable box, the cells of each set being connected in series
and to two fixed terminals carried by the box The terminals of one set of
cells are herein called for distinction A and B, and those of the other set, A¹ B',
the terminals A and B being normally electrically connected together by a
pivoted spring actuated bridge piece or switch that is in permanent connection
with the terminal A' and normally bears against the terminal B and is pro-
vided with a tappet by which it can be moved out of contact with the said 'ter-
In a block of insulat-
minal B and brought into contact with the terminal A.
ing material secured to the outside of the box are two pairs of fixed metal
sockets, herein called for distinction C, C and D, D¹. The socket C is made of
two separate insulated arc shaped parts one of which is connected to the ter-
minal B and the other to the terminal B1, the two parts being adapted to be
connected together by the insertion between them of a plug. The socket D¹
is also connected to terminal B. At the front of the box are three terminals,
preferably made in the form of sockets and hereinafter called for distinction E, F
and G. Terminal E is connected to terminal A; terminal F to socket C¹; and
terminal G to socket D.
The rheostat comprises three resistance coils of suitable metal wire, for
example German silver wire, bent to a circular shape and fixed concentrically

page_text: side by side upon a circular or other shaped block of insulating material. Two
of the coils, viz. the inner and outer, are connected together at one end so as to
be in series with each other, their other ends being disconnected from one
another. The third coil, which is arranged between the other two, is connected
at intervals to a series of contact pins arranged in a circular row in the said
block. The back of the block is provided with three pins or plugs herein called
for distinction E, F and G adapted to fit tightly into the three socket like ter-
minals E, and G respectively fixed to the box, so that the block and attached
parts can be readily fixed on the box in connection with the proper terminals,
or can be easily removed, as may be desired. The pin or plug Gi is connected
to that end of the third or intermediate coil that is adjacent to the connected
ends of the other two coils, the other end of the said third coil being free. At
the front of the block are two metal contact arms insulated from one another
and mounted to turn about a centre concentric to the resistance coils and set of
contact pins. One of these arms, viz. the longer one, is connected to the plug E
and is adapted when turned from its normal position to travel in contact with the
outer resistance coil, this arm being also provided with a spring contact adapted
to travel in contact with the pins of the intermediate or third resistance coil.
The second or shorter arm is connected to the plug F and is adapted when
turned from its normal position to travel in contact with the inner resistance
coil. On the front of the block carrying the resistance coils and in proximity
to the free end of the outer resistance coil, is an insulated stop against which
the longer arm rests when in its normal position and which serves at this time
to hold the said arm out of contact with the said outer resistance coil.
The arrangement is such that upon inserting the terminals say of a lamp
into the sockets D, D¹ and moving the longer arm of the rheostat from off its
stop, the lamp will be placed in series with the whole of the battery cells
through the third or intermediate resistance coil by means of which the degree
of light can be readily varied to suit requirement. Also by inserting the ter-
minals say of a cauterizing device in the sockets C, C, the pivoted switch plate
will be moved by a pin or projection on an insulating block carrying the said
terminals, so as to disconnect the terminal A' from terminal B and place it
in connection with terminal A so that upon then turning the longer lever arm
from its normal position, the two sets of cells will be placed in parallel with each
other and in series with the cauterizing device and inner and outer resistance
coils, the degree of heat produced by such device being capable of more or less
correct adjustment by the longer arm of the rheostat and of finer adjustment
by the shorter arm.
In a modified arrangement, the terminals herein called A and B are con-
nected to metal spring tongues that normally bear against each other and are
adapted to be pressed apart and into contact with two other spring tongues in
connection with the terminals A and B, by a pin of insulated material inserted
between them. This pin may conveniently be carried by the same insulating
holder that carries the terminals of the cauterizing device so that when these
terminals are inserted in their respective sockets, each of which in this case
may be an insulated metal tube, the first two mentioned switch or spring tongues
will be simultaneously pressed apart and into connection with the other spring
tongues and the battery be thus divided into two portions as before.
In a modified construction of apparatus suitable not only for lighting and
cauterizing purposes, but also for X-ray investigations there are employed in
conjunction with the rheostat, battery, switch and sockets herein before described,
a commutator, an additional pair of sockets to receive a pair of terminals
attached to the ends of the primary winding of an induction coil, and electrical
connections so arranged that by suitably turning the commutator, a greater
number of cells can be placed in series parallel with the inner and outer resist-
ance coils of the rheostat for working the induction coil of X-ray apparatus
than are used in series parallel for cauterizing purposes. In this case the

page_text: battery is provided with more cells than in the hereinabove described arrange-
ment which is designed only for lighting and heating purposes.
The battery in each case is or may conveniently be composed of storage cells.
In each case, the sockets herein before referred to may obviously be replaced
by plugs and the plugs by sockets.
Improvements in Electrical Apparatus suitable for Lighting,
Cauterizing, and other Purposes.
We, JASPER RICHARDSON, Barrister-at-Law, and HARRY RAMSBOTTOM, Elec-
trician, both of Harvey Building, No. 427A, Strand, in the County of London,
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:―
This invention has reference to a construction of portable electrical apparatus
that can be readily adapted at will for lighting, cauterizing, X ray or other
purposes, and whereby the degree of light, heat or energy can be easily varied
to suit requirement.
According thereto in an apparatus suitable for lighting and heating pur-
poses, there is employed in conjunction with a suitable electrical battery, a
compound rheostat, a switch device, and electrical connections so constructed
and arranged that by inserting two plugs connected to the terminals of an
electric lamp in a pair of sockets the full voltage of the battery can be used
for lighting purposes and the degree of light can be varied by turning a pivoted
arm of the rheostat, and that by inserting two plugs connected to the terminals
of an electric heating or cauterizing instrument in two other sockets, the
battery will be divided into two parts arranged in parallel with one another
so that a less voltage but larger current will be available for cauterizing pur-
poses, the degree of heat then obtained being capable of accurate and immediate
adjustment by means of the rheostat.
In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 is a front view, Fig. 2a
plan, and Fig. 3 a cross section on the line A A of Fig. 1, showing one construc-
tion of apparatus of the kind just referred to. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing
the connections more clearly. Figs. 5, and 6 are detail views of one form of
switch that may be used in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, Fig. 5 being
a front elevation, and Fig. 6 a cross section on the line B B of Fig. 5.
In the example shown, the battery comprises two sets of cells 1, and 2,
enclosed in a portable box 3, the cells of each set being connected in series. The
cells 1, of which two are shown, are connected to two fixed terminals 4 and 5,
and the cells 2, of which there are also two, are connected to two fixed ter-
minals 4 and 5". The terminals 4 and 5 are normally electrically connected
together by a pivoted spring actuated bridge piece or switch that is permanently
connected to the terminal 4*, normally bears against the terminal 5 and is
provided with a forwardly projecting tappet by which it can be moved out of
connection with the said terminal 5 and brought into connection with the ter-
minal 4. This bridge piece or switch may conveniently comprise, as shown in

page_text: Figs. 5 and 6, a pair of spring tongues 6 carried by a sleeve 6b that surrounds
a fixed pivot G and a coiled spring 6d, one end of the latter being connected to
the fixed pivot and the other end to the said sleeve. The tappet is in the form
of a horizontal projection 6* of insulating material extending from the said
sleeve. 4 and 5 are the terminals, in the form of metal strips, connected to the
positive and negative poles respectively of the cells 1. The switch 6 is arranged
between these terminals so that it normally bears against 5 but will be moved
away therefrom and caused to bear against 4 when the tappet 6* is pressed
downward: In a block 7 of insulating material secured to the outside of the box 3
are fixed two pairs of sockets 8, 8" and 9, 9ª. The socket 8 is provided with two
separate insulated arc shaped metal parts 8^, S" (Fig. 4) one of which is con-
nected to the terminal 5, and the other to the terminal 5ª, the two parts being
adapted to be connected together by the insertion between them of a metal plug.
The sockets 8ª, 9 and 9ª each consists of a metal tube. At the front of the box 3
are three terminals 10, 11, and 12 (Fig. 3), preferably made in the form of
metal sockets. Of these, terminal 10 is connected to terminal 4; terminal 11
to socket 8*; and terminal 12 to socket 9. Socket 9ª is connected to terminal 5ª
(Fig. 4).
The rheostat comprises three resistance coils 13, 14 and 15 of suitable metal
wire, for example German silver wire, bent to a circular shape and fixed con-
centrically side by side upon a block 16 of insulating material, which may
conveniently be of circular shape as shown. Two of the coils, viz. the inner
and outer ones 13 and 14 respectively, are connected together at one end, as
shown at 17, so as to be in series with each other, their other ends 13 and 14"
being disconnected from one another. The third coil 15, which is arranged
between the other two, is connected at intervals to a series of contact pins 18
arranged in a circular row in the said block 16. The three coils are made of
suitable resistance. The back of the block 16 is provided with three pins or
plugs 19, 20 and 21 that are adapted to fit tightly into the three socket like
terminals 10, 11 and 12 respectively, so that the block and attached parts can be
readily fixed on the box in connection with the proper terminals, or can be
easily removed, as may be desired. The pin or plug 21 is connected to that end
of the third or intermediate coil 15 that is adjacent to the connected ends of the
other two coils 13 and 14, the other end 15 of the said third coil being free. At
the front of the block are two metal contact arms 22 and 23 that are insulated
from one another and mounted to turn about a centre concentric to the resist-
ance coils 13, 14 and 15 and set of contact pins 18. One of these arms, viz.
the longer one 22, is connected to the plug 19 and is adapted when turned from
its normal position to travel in contact with the outer resistance coil 14, this
arm being also provided with and connected to a spring contact 24 adapted to
travel in contact with the pins 18 of the intermediate or third resistance coil 15.
The second or shorter contact arm 23 is connected to the plug 20 and is adapted
when turned from its normal position to travel in contact with the inner resist-
ance coil 13. On the front of the block 16 and in proximity to the free end
of the outer resistance coil 14, is an insulated, stop 25, preferably of metal,
against which the longer contact arm 22 rests when in its normal position and
which serves at this time to hold the said arm out of contact with the said outer
resistance coil 14.
As will be seen, the arrangement is such that upon inserting the ter-
minals 26, 26 say of a lamp 27 (Fig. 1) into the sockets 9 9ª and moving the
longer contact arm 22 of the rheostat from off its stop 25, the lamp will be
placed in series with the whole of the battery cells 1 and 2 through the third
or intermediate resistance coil 15 by means of which and the said contact
arm 22 the degree of light can be readily varied to suit requirement. Also,
by inserting the terminals 28, 28" say of a cauterizing device 28 (Fig. 1) in the
sockets S, 8, the pivoted switch 6 will be moved so as to disconnect the ter-
minal 4ª from terminal 5 and place it in connection with terminal 4 so that

page_text: upon then turning the longer lever arm 22 from its normal position, the two
sets of cells 1 and 2 will be placed in parallel with each other and in series with
the cauterizing device 29 and inner and outer resistance coils 13 and 14 respec-
tively, the degree of heat produced by such device being capable of more or less
correct adjustment by moving the longer contact arm 22 of the rheostat and of
finer adjustment by moving the shorter contact arm 23. The said movement
of the switch may be effected by a pin carried by an insulating holder 28° carry-
ing the cauterizing device 28b, the said pin entering a socket formed in the
block 7 above the switch tappet 6*. It is however more convenient to arrange
the tappet to extend across the socket 8ª so as to be moved in the required
manner when the terminal 28" enters such socket.
As will be obvious the switch device may be variously constructed and
arranged.
Instead of mounting the switch and the block 7 carrying the sockets 8, 8", 9
and 9ª directly on the box, they may be mounted on the removable block 16 so
as to be removable and replaceable therewith. Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views
to Figs. 1 and 4 respectively, showing so much of an arrangement of this kind
as is necessary to understand the construction thereof. In this case the pivoted
switch 6 and terminals 4, 5, 4ª are arranged within a recess in an extension 16
of the block 16, the said extension also carrying the sockets 8, 8ª, 9 and 9.
In this case the terminal 4 in the form of a plate, is arranged at the front of the
recess, and the terminal 5 at the back of the recess, the switch plate being
carried in a pair of metal strips constituting the terminal 4". The switch
plate normally bears against the rear terminal 5. Terminal 4 is connected
to a metal strip 29 fixed to the block 16 and adapted to be fixed to a screw 29
secured to the box 3 and connected to the positive pole of the set of cells 1.
The terminal 5 is connected to a metal plug 30 carried by the extension 16*
and adapted to fit into a socket 30 fixed to the box 3 and connected to the.
negative pole of the pair of cells 1. The terminal 4ª is connected to another
metal plug 31 carried by the extension 10ª and adapted to fit into a socket 31ª
fixed to the box 3 and connected to the negative pole of the set of cells 2. The
part 8 of socket 8 is connected to socket 9 which is connected to a metal
strip 32 fixed to the block 16 and adapted to be fixed to the terminal screw 5ª
fixed to the box 3 and connected to the negative pole of the set of cells 2.
strip 29 is connected to the arm 22, the socket 8ª to the arm 23 and the socket 9
to one end of the coil 15, by conductors embedded in the block 16, the socket 10, 11
and 12 and plugs 19, 20 and 21 (Fig. 1 to 4) being omitted. In other respects
the construction and operation of the arrangement shown in Figs. 7 and 8 are
similar to those of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.
The
Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a further modified arrangement wherein the
terminals 5 and 4" are connected to metal spring tongues 5* and 4* that normally
bear against each other and are adapted to be pressed apart, and into contact
with two other spring tongues 5° and 4° in connection with the terminals 5ª
and 4, by a pin 28 of insulated material inserted between them. This pin 28d
may conveniently be carried by the same insulating holder 28 that carries the
terminals 28 and 28ª of the cauterizing device so that when these terminals
are inserted in their respective sockets 8 and 8ª, each of which in this case may
be an insulated metal tubo the two switch or spring tongues 5* and 4* will be
simultaneously pressed apart and into connection with the other spring tongues 5°
and 4° respectively and the battery be thus divided into two portions coupled
in parallel as before. In other respects the arrangement shown in Fig. 9 is
similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.
In a modified construction of apparatus suitable not only for lighting and
cauterizing purposes, but also for X-ray investigations, there are employed in
conjunction with the rheostat, battery, switch and sockets herein before described,
a commutator, an additional pair of sockets to receive a pair of terminals
attached to the ends of the primary winding of an induction coil, and electrical

page_text: connections so arranged that by suitably turning the commutator, a greater
number of cells can be placed in series with the inner and outer resistance coils
of the rheostat for working the induction coil of X-ray apparatus, or for light-
ing, than are used in series parallel for cauterizing purposes. In this case the
battery is provided with more cells than in the hereinabove described arrange-
ments, which are designed only for lighting and heating purposes.
Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an arrangement of this kind in which 33, 33
are two additional cells connected in series with each other and 34, 34ª are two
additional sockets. The positive poles of the three pairs of cells 1, 2, and 33
are connected to three fixed spring contacts or terminals 4, 42 and 4b respec-
tively, and the three negative poles of the said three pairs of cells 1, 2 and 33
are connected to three fixed spring contacts or terminals 5, 5ª and 5b. 35 and 36
are fixed spring contacts arranged in the same plane as the contacts or ter-
minals 4, 42 and 4b and connected respectively to the sockets 11 and 8ª, 35 being
also connected to socket 34ª. 37 is a spring contact arranged in the same plane
as the contacts or terminals 5, 5ª and 55 and connected to each of the sockets 8, 9*
and 34. Between the two sets of contacts 4, 4, 4b, 35, 36 and 5, 5, 5b, 37, is a
cylindrical commutator barrel 38 of insulating material mounted to partly
rotate. To one side of this movable cylinder are fixed two metal strips 39 and 40
arranged in line with one another and diametrically opposite to another metal
strip 41 fixed to the other side of the cylinder. To one side of the commutator
barrel and between the said contact strips 39, 40 and the strip 41 are fixed three
contacts 42, 43 and 44, and to the opposite side of the barrel are fixed two con-
tacts 45 and 46 whereof 45 is connected to 42 and 46 to 43. As will be seen
the arrangement is such that when the commutator barrel 38 is turned into
the position shown in Fig. 10, the contacts 4, 4ª and 4b will bear on the contact
strip 39; the contacts 35 and 36 on the contact strip 40, and the contacts 5, 5ª 5b
and 37 on the contact strip 41 so that the three pairs of cells will be connected
up in parallel with one another and in series with a cauterizing device the
terminals of which are inserted in the sockets 8, 8, and upon turning the com-
mutator barrel into the position shown in Fig. 11 so as to cause the movable
contacts 45 and 46 to bear against the fixed contacts 46 and 4ª respectively,
the movable contacts 42 and 43 to bear against the fixed contacts 5 and 56
respectively, and the movable contact 44 against the fixed contacts 5ª and 37,
tue whole of the six cells 1, 2 and 33 will be connected in series with each other
and with X ray apparatus the terminals of whose induction coil are inserted in
the sockets 34, 34, or with a lighting device. the terminals of which are inserted
in the sockets 9 and 9. The strength of the current in each case can be
adjusted by suitably moving the contact arms 22 and 23, the resistance coils 13
and 14 only being used when the cauterizing device or X-ray apparatus is
used, and each of the coils 13, 14 and 15 coming into action when the lighting
device is used. As will be seen the commutator is so constructed as to constitute
a combined commutator and switch, and so obviate the necessity of using a
separate switch such as 6 (Figs. 1 to 9).
The battery in each case is or may conveniently be composed of storage cells.
In each case the sockets herein before referred to may obviously be replaced
by plugs and the plugs by sockets.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:
1. A portable electrical apparatus suitable for lighting and heating purposes,
comprising an electrical battery, a compound rheostat, a switch, two pairs of
Eockets or plugs and electrical connections, the arrangement being such that
upon connecting the terminals of an electric lamp to one of the said pair of
sockets or plugs the full voltage of the battery can be used for lighting pur-
poses and by connecting the terminals of an electric heating or cauterizing

page_text: instrument to the other pair of sockets or plugs, the battery will be divided
into two parts arranged in parallel with one another so that a less voltage but
larger current will be available for heating purposes, the degree of light and
of heat being capable of regulation by adjustment of the rheostat, substantially
as described.
2. Portable electrical apparatus suitable for lighting and heating purposes,
constructed arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, or modified according to Figs. 7 and 8,
or to Fig. 9 of the drawings annexed.
3. A portable electrical apparatus suitable for lighting, heating and X-ray
purposes, constructed and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings annexed.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.