Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 14th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
A communication from LA SOCIÉTÉ JAPY FRÈRES ET CIE., of Paris, France.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE of No. 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of
London Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The present improvements in electric arc lamps relate to the construction of
lamps of greatly simplified arrangement and restricted to the smallest possible
dimensions, and formed of parts made in quantities identical as regards their
construction and manufacture in order to allow of instantaneous and easy inter-
changeability and repair of the same.
These lamps may be converted into "shunt" lamps, that is to say, with a fine wire
coil in a shunt or derived circuit from the two terminals of the lamp; or they may
be converted into differential lamps, that is to say, with a fine wire coil in a shunt
or derived circuit from the two terminals of the lamp, and a thick wire coil
interposed in the main circuit.
These lamps may also work with continuous or with alternating currents. These
results are obtained by means hereinafter described.
A lamp with fixed focus according to this invention comprises a fixed clock
movement mounted on the upper plate of the mechanism, and provided with an
anchor escapement in which is actuated a toothed wheel upon which is wound a
chain (which may be a pitch chain of brass or copper). This chain is fixed to the
upper carbon holder and also to one of the rods or stems of the lower carbon holder.
This rod or stem may be insulated by means of ivory washers. The weight of the
upper carbon holder is greater than that of the lower carbon holder. In this
manner, it pulls the rods or stems that are guided in the two standards or uprights
and actuates the wheel work of the clock movement when a balance or rocking
"beam is by the action of the current caused to release the anchor escapement.
The lamp also comprises a very powerful circular electro-magnet of small
volume. This electro-magnet may be provided with openings or slits or slots in
order to obviate over-heating of the thick wire solenoid, and formation of Foucault
currents.
This electro-magnet is fixed to or forms part of the upper carbon holder.
By means of this special electro-magnet, the separation of the carbons at starting
is obtained by reason of the electro-magnet attracting its armature and consequently
the upper carbon holder.
The lamp also comprises two springs acting as brushes, rubbing on the two
standards or uprights employed in order to convey the current to the separating
electro-magnet without passing through the greater part of the chain and thus to
obviate heating of the latter.
One of these springs which may be of copper is insulated and fixed-to the top of
the electro-magnet for separating the carbons, and rubs externally upon one of the
standards or uprights which contains one rod or stem of the lower carbon holder
drawn by the chain. The other spring is fixed to the bottom and to the interior of
the other standard or upright, and runs upon the other rod or stem of the lower
carbon holder serving as a guide for the same.
.
The standard or upright last referred to is insulated from the plate of the
mechanism, whilst the other standard or upright is not.
Furthermore, in order to guide the rods or stems of the lower carbon holder in
the standards or uprights, these rods are provided with small tenons arranged
cross-wise, and adapted to slide against the walls of the standards or uprights.

page_text: These tenons may be replaced by rollers or other analogous devices.
The lamp also comprises a solenoid in which is arranged a soft iron core carried
by a balance or rocking beam connected with an opposing spring, provided with an
adjusting screw which enables the luminous intensity of the lamp to be regulated at
will within very wide 'limits.
The escapement anchor of the clock movement is also provided with a spring
pumping device or equivalent to allow of the carbon holder being abruptly released
in cases in which very short carbons are employed, and it is not desired to wait
until the carbons come into contact of themselves, when the current is on the
lamp.
In order to render the lamp capable of working with alternating currents a
special arrangement of the separating electro-magnet is employed to obviate the
vibrations of the upper carbon holder.
There is a cylindrical pallet or part of soft iron which in this case is not in one
with the rod or stem of the upper carbon holder so that when it is attracted by the
electro-magnet, its vibrations resulting from the passage of the electric current
being alternately reversed, will not have any influence upon the upper carbon
holder which is kept away by a coiled spring.
When the current does not circulate in the electro-magnet the pallet or part falls
by its own weight upon the shoulder or collar of the rod or stem of the carbon
holder, the coiled spring aforesaid is compressed, and the carbons come again into
contact.
An arrangement for giving to the lamp extreme sensitiveness by making it
differential without increasing the volume of the casing enclosing the mechanism,
comprises a fine wire solenoid in a shunt or derived circuit from the two carbons, and
a thick wire solenoid arranged in the main circuit.
The two soft iron cores are provided with a connecting part also of soft iron,
which serves to increase still more the sensitiveness of the lamp.
A suitable arrangement or apparatus may be employed to allow of the concen-
tration of the light of the lamps in globes of very limited dimensions and to
facilitate the arrangement of them in lanterns of the smallest possible dimensions
and of an attractive and ornamental appearance.
Data hi 14th 1.
CM 1000
W. LLOYD WISE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
A communication from LA SOCIÉTÉ JAPY FRÈRES ET CIE., of Paris, France.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of No. 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said 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 for object improvements in electric arc lamps whereby such
lamps can be made of simple form and of very small dimensions.
Lamps according to this invention can be constructed as "shunt" lamps, that is
to say lamps in which the regulation is effected by a fine wire coil in a shunt or
derived circuit between the terminals of the lamp; or as differential lamps, that is
to say, lamps in which the regulation is effected by the differential action of two
coils viz. a fine wire coil in a shunt or derived circuit between the lamp terminals,
and a thick wire coil in the main circuit. The lamps can also be adapted to work
either with continuous or with alternating currents.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shows partly in elevation and partly in section an electric arc lamp with
fixed focus constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan of part of the lamp.

page_text: Fig. 3 is an elevation of the clock movement and adjacent parts of the regulating
mechanism. The remaining figures are hereinafter referred to.
1 is a clock movement mounted on a plate 2 at the top of the lamp, and provided
with an anchor escapement, that is actuated by a toothed wheel 3 upon which is
wound a chain 4 which may be a pitch chain and be of brass or copper. This chain
is connected at one end to the upper carbon holder 5 and also to one of the rods 6, 6"
that carry the lower carbon holder 7. The rod 6 to which the chain is connected
is insulated at 8, by suitable means such as ivory washers. The upper carbon
holder is of greater weight than the lower one, so that it will draw up the rods 6, 6ª,
which are guided in the two hollow standards or guide rods 9, 9 and actuate the
wheel work of the clock movement .1 when a balance or rocking beam 10, (herein-
after more particularly referred to) is by the action of the current, caused to release
the anchor escapement. 11 is a powerful circular electro-magnet of small volume.
It is provided with openings, slits or slots in order to prevent the formation of
Foucault currents and thus to obviate overheating of the thick wire solenoid of the
magnet. This electro-magnet 11 is provided with an armature 12 that is fixed to
or forms part of the upper carbon holder 5, and serves when attracted by the
electro-magnet, to raise the upper carbon holder and thus to effect the separation
of the carbons and the striking of the arc at starting. 13, 13" are two metal
springs serving as brushes, to place the electro-magnet 11 in the lamp circuit
without passing the current through the chain 4, thus obviating heating of the
latter.
One of these springs, viz. 13, which is fixed to but insulated from the top of the
electro-magnet 11, is arranged to rub externally upon the standard 9 and is con-
nected to the solenoid on the electro-magnet. The other spring viz. 13" is fixed
within the lower end of the standard 9 so as to be in rubbing contact with rod 6"
and serve as a guide for this rod.
The standard 9 is insulated at 14 from the plate 2 whilst the standard 9 is not or
need not be so.
In order to guide the upper ends of the rods 6, 6" in the standards 9, 9* these
rods are provided with small guide pins 15 arranged cross wise, and so as to slide
against the inside of the standards. These pins 15 may be replaced by rollers or other
analogous devices. 16 is a solenoid provided with a soft iron core 17 (Fig. 3)
carried by one end of the balance or rocking beam 10, the other end of which is
connected to an opposing spring 18 by an adjusting screw 19, by means of which
the length of arc and consequently the luminous intensity of the lamp can be varied
at will within wide limits.
The escapement anchor of the clock movement is also provided with a spring
disengaging device 20-21 which allows of the upper carbon holder being abruptly
released in cases where very short carbons are employed, and it is not desired to
wait until the carbons are allowed to come into contact by the operation of the
escapement alone, when the lamp is switched into circuit. The solenoid 16 is
arranged in a shunt circuit between the terminals of the lamp, or between the
carbons, & it is this solenoid that releases the anchor escapement of the clock move-
ment. The clock movement is of ordinary construction & therefore need not be
further described. It is provided with the well known anchor escapement operated
by a weight which in the present case is that of the upper carbon-holder. This
takes place each time the current in the solenoid releases the anchor escapement.
The lamp is provided with a cross piece 22 insulated at 23 and 23ª from the two
standards 9, 9 upon which it is clamped with any desired degree of pressure by
means of screws 24, 24ª (Fig. 2). The cross piece which serves to connect the
lower ends of the standards, and thus ensure their rigidity, carries at its centre a
small globe 25 (60 to 75 millimetres in diameter) that encloses the arc and protects
the rods 6, 6* from the heat thereof thus ensuring the free sliding of these rods in
the standards. Experience has shown that this small globe withstands the heat
of the arc, as the focus of the lamp is constant. The globe absorbs but very little
26 is an
of the light, thus enabling the maximum amount thereof to be obtained.

page_text: ash receptacle consisting of a simple plate or saucer of suitable material as for
example clear glass. In order to render the lamp capable of working with alter-
nating currents, a special arrangement of separating electro-magnet is employed to
prevent vibration of the upper carbon holder. In this arrangement which is shown
in vertical section, to an enlarged scale in Fig. 4, the soft iron circular armature 12
is separate from the rod 5" of the upper carbon holder 5, so that when it is attracted
by the electro-magnet 11, its vibrations, caused by the passage of the alternating
electric current through the solenoid of the magnet will have no influence upon
the upper carbon holder which is supported by the coiled spring 27.
When the current ceases to pass through the electro-magnet, the armature will
fall by gravity upon the shoulder or collar 5 on the rod 5", compressing the
spring 27 and bringing the carbons again in contact.
Fig. 5 illustrates diagrammatically a lamp according to this invention with a
differential arrangement of solenoids for making the lamp extremely sensitive
without increasing the size of the casing enclosing the regulating mechanism. In
this arrangement 16 is the fine wire solenoid in a shunt or derived circuit between
the two carbons, and 16 is the thick wire solenoid arranged in the main circuit.
The two soft iron cores 17, 17" of these solenoids are connected to a pivoted
cross bar or lever 10, made of soft iron, that carries the escapement of the clock
movement so as to further increase the sensitiveness of the lamp. In other respects
the construction is similar to that of the lamp shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
Any suitable arrangement of apparatus may be employed to allow of the con-
centration of the light of the lamps in globes of very limited dimensions, and to
facilitate the arrangement of them in lanterns of the smallest possible dimensions
and of an attractive and ornamental appearance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what ]
claim is
1. The improved electric arc lamp with constant or fixed focus substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the
drawings annexed.
2. The modified construction of lamp hereinbefore described with reference to
and shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings for use with alternating currents.
3. The improved differential electric arc lamp substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to and shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 16th day of February 1891.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham.