Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
Year: 1891

page_text: Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
1, WILLIAM ARTHUR TURBAYNE 43 Metcalfe Street in the City of Toronto in
the County of York in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada,
Electrician, 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 relates to electric arc lamps, the object being to provide the
simplest means possible for striking the arc and regulating the feed of the upper
carbon.
The invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and claimed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 represents a section of the lamp casing showing the mechanism in side
elevation,
Figure 2 a side elevation of the mechanism while in operation, parts being broken
away, and
Figure 3 plans of the lever and ring clutch.
A represents a coarse wire solenoid or electro-magnet in the main circuit of the
lamp and in series with the carbons. a represents its movable core or armature.
B represents a high resistance solenoid or electro-magnet in a circuit shunting the
carbons. Its core or armature is represented by b. A weight is attached to the
core for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. C represents a lever connected
at its ends through links with the respective cores a and . It is provided with
lateral arms or trunnions at its middle portion which are mounted in the upper ends
of two standards C. The centre of this lever is provided with an elongated
opening through which the carbon rod R passes. D represents the clutch consisting
of a ring having arms d, d, extending in opposite directions from it. The carbon
rod passes through the ring and the internal diameter of the ring is such that when the
clutch is perfectly horizontal, the rod is free to move through the ring, but as soon
as the clutch is tilted to a slight extent, the edges of the ring grip the rod and lock
the clutch and rod together. The clutch is located just above the lever C. It has
no positive connection however, and simply rests upon it. The arms d and d' are
in the same vertical plane as the lever C. The arm d' at its extremity is provided
with an antifriction roller 2 which bears upon the top of the lever C, and the
arm is provided at its extremity with a vertical adjusting screw d³ the point of
which is adapted to rest at times upon the top of the said lever C. The arm d
stands, above the shunt magnet and the other arm above the main magnet.
c, represent two guides which are attached to the side of the lever C and extend
upward beside the clutch for the purpose of preventing it from swinging around and
keeping it in the same vertical plane with the lever C.
The operation of my invention is as follows;-When the lamp is not burning,
the lever C is horizontal and is maintained so by the weight on the shunt solenoid
corc.
The core may be provided with a stop which will prevent its downward
movement or, as shewn, the weight itself may serve as a stop by striking the top of
the solenoid. When the lever is in its horizontal position, the core a is withdrawn
from the solenoid A to its full extent. Now when the current is turned on, the
solenoid A first becomes energised and draws down its core or armature. This
tilts the lever C and allows the edges of the clutch to become engaged with the
sides of the carbon rod. This takes place upon the slightest movement of the
lever C. After the engagement of the clutch, the further movement of the lever
causes the clutch to move upward and thus establishes the arc. In its upward
movement, the roller on the clutch rides on the top of the lever C. When the

page_text: arc becomes too long owing to the consumption of the carbons, current is shunted
into the magnet or solenoid B which attracts its armature and pulls the lever C
into its horizontal position thus releasing the clutch and allowing the carbon to feed.
The pull of the two magnets will be very nearly balanced, so that the feed of the
carbon rod will be regular.
The object of the adjusting screw 3 is to adjust the normal length of the arc.
By means of the screw, the end of the clutch may be raised or lowered and
consequently the distance which the carbon rod is raised when the lever C. moves is
determined.
If desired, the antifriction roller d² may be substituted by a lug or projection
having a rounded surface like that of an egg, which will slide upon the smooth top
of the lever C with very little friction.
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 an electric arc lamp, the combination and arrangement of main and shunt
solenoids, a centrally pivoted lever connected at its opposite ends with the cores of
the respective solenoids, and a ring clutch resting freely upon the top of the said
lever substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
2. In an electric arc lamp, the combination and arrangement of main and. shunt
solenoids, a centrally pivoted lever connected at its opposite ends with the cores of
the respective solenoids and a ring clutch provided with lateral arms extending in
opposite directions, one arm carrying a roller or other anti-friction device bearing
upon the said lever and the other arm carrying an adjusting screw, the end of which
also bears upon said lever, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. In an electric arc lamp, the combination and arrangement with main and shunt
solenoids, of a centrally pivoted lever connected at its opposite ends with the cores
of the respective soleroids, a weight having a tendency to maintain the lever in a
horizontal position and a ring clutch operated by said lever, substantially as herein-
before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
4. In an electric arc lamp, the combination and arrangement of main and shunt
solenoids, a centrally pivoted lever having its opposite ends connected with the
cores of the solenoids respectively, a ring clutch resting freely upon the top of the
said lever and guides connected with said lever for holding the clutch in its proper
place, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
5. In an electric arc lamp, an apparatus for feeding the upper carbon and for
striking the arc, constructed arranged and operating substantially as herein before
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of May A.D. 1891.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.