Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1898-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1898
Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
(A communication from abroad by John Henry Hubbell, of Yonkers, Westchester
County, State of New York, United States of America, Lawyer.)
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of London,
Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, 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 and particularly to those known as
enclosed arc lamps and to the feeding and feed controlling mechanism
therefor.
The object of the invention is to produce an arc lamp especially adapted for use
on alternating current circuits and to so construct the details of the lamp that they
may be adapted to lamps intended for use on either alternating current circuits
or direct current circuits.
With these ends in view the invention consists in the construction, combination
and arrangement of parts as hereinafter fully described and set forth in the
claims.
:-
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification :-
Fig. 1, represents in partially sectionized side elevation an arc lamp embodying
the main features of this invention.
Fig. 2, represents a portion thereof in side elevation.
Fig. 3, is a modification of the lower portion of the lamp.
Fig. 4, is a vertical central section through the upper portion of the lamp.
Fig. 5, represents in plan and central section a form of contact brush for the
carbon or carbon carrier.
Fig. 6, represents in vertical and transverse section an improved form of carbon
holder.
Fig. 7, represents the upper portion of an arc lamp showing one form of feeding
mechanism.
Fig. 8, is a similar view showing the parts in working position.
Fig. 9, is a plan of the ring clutch which constitutes the principal foature of
the feeding mechanism.
Fig. 10, is a transverse section thereof.
Fig. 11, is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of said ring.
Fig. 12, is a modification of the ring.
Fig. 13, is a partially sectionized elevation of the solenoid core.
Fig. 14, is a plan of the main operating lever of the feed mechanism.
Fig. 15, represents the preferred form of dash pot.
Fig. 16, is a horizontal section through Fig. 15, taken on the line 16, 16.
Fig. 17, is a modification in detail.
Fig. 18, is a modified form of piston.
Fig. 19, is a detail of a portion thereof.

page_text: The form of lamp shown in Figs. 1 to 6, will first be described. Therein A,
indicates what may be termed the frame of the lamp; B, the feed magnets mounted
thereon as shown in Fig. 2, said magnets being omitted from Fig. 1. The side
rods D, depend from this frame and support the base plate E. The plate F,
constitutes the floor of the upper chamber of the lamp and serves as a support for
the usual jacket for the feeding mechanism, which jacket is not shown. G, represents
the lamp globe supported upon the flaring ring H, which is removably connected
to the base plate E. The terminal rosette I, may be removably connected in any
suitable way to the ring H. The space between the globe G, and the plate F, may
be enclosed in the usual manner if desired.
The lower carbon holder may consist, as shown in Fig. 1, of a socket J', having
a flaring seat at its upper end and externally screw threaded at its lower end for
suitable nuts as shown. The clamping tube J, having a conical exterior at its
upper end is fitted to the flaring socket and has a thumb screw turned upon its
lower end as indicated at J. The clamping tube is split at its upper end as
indicated. This carbon holder is preferably mounted upon the plate J, removably
secured in the ring E, either by screw threads as indicated in Fig. 1, or by bayonet
joint as indicated in Fig. 3, wherein it is provided with an ordinary form of carbon
holder.
The arc enclosing cylinder K, rests preferably upon a ring K2, removably inserted
in the base plate E, whereby upon the removal of said support from below, the
cylinder may likewise be removed through the lower end of the lamp. This cylinder
may, however, rest upon a base plate as E¹, Fig. 3, a sealing washer being
interposed as indicated. The arc enclosing chamber or cylinder is provided with a
telescoping cap consisting of the parts L, L2 and L³, a sealing washer as L', being
interposed between the cap and cylinder. The upper end of this cap terminates as
in a chamber M, which has a tlange for securing said cap to the plate F¹. A spring
as L³; is interposed between the chamber M, and the part L, of the cap so as to
force the latter part down upon the cylinder K. To hold this latter part up when
said cylinder is removed, a bayonet joint like L, Fig. 1, may be employed.
Within the chamber M, is preferably placed a sealing washer M¹, of asbestos.
Through this the carbon carrying rod N, may play freely without admitting air to
the arc chamber.
To insure the transmission of current from the frame of the lamp to said rod an
annular wire brush (Fig. 5) is secured to the underside of plate F, by means of the
cup W. This brush consists of a perforated ring W¹, through the perforations of
which a wire W2, is woven as indicated. Plates as W³, may be placed on either
side of the brush, as indicated.
The feeding mechanism for the upper carbon consists in the main of the ring
clutch O, the hook P, for raising said clutch, the yoke Q, connecting the solenoid
cores Q¹, and the solenoid B, for operating said cores. The piston of the solenoid
may be as shown in Figs. 4 and 15, constructed hollow or of annular form in cross
section, the cylinder for said piston being provided with a central rod or tube R,
and the stem of the piston being hollow and supported upon the yoke Q, by
means of the springs O2, placed at either side of the yoke and bearing against
the hook P, which is secured to the lower end of the piston rod and a shoulder
formed on said piston rod as indicated in Fig. 4. The springs compensate for
sudden movements of the solenoid core. The rod is preferably loosely connected
to the piston at Q3, in order that a slight amount of lateral play may be afforded
said rod.
The ring clutch O, is shown in detail in Figs. 9 and 10, and in use in a slightly
modified form of feeding mechanism in Figs. 7 and 8. The tilting clutch O, is
preferably formed of two annular plates bevelled on their inner periphery to form
with the carbon or carbon carrying rod a raceway for the balls O¹.
These plates
are also preferably countersunk on their proximate sides for the reception of a ring
as indicated at 0%, Figs. 10, 11 and 12, whose inner periphery is of sufficiently
less diameter than the inner periphery of the inclined surfaces of the plates to
t

page_text: prevent the balls O¹, from simultaneously engaging the inclined surfaces of both
plates and thereby preventing said balls from becoming wedged between said
surfaces and the carbon carrying rod. The inner periphery of the ring may be
bevelled as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 11, to reduce the contact surfaco
between it and the balls if so desired. Said balls may likewise be held in place in
the ring as by undercutting the plates constituting said ring in the manner
indicated in Fig. 12. The ring clutch thus constructed when mounted so that it
may freely move about its axis, as indicated in the drawings, will give a finer
adjustment of the carbon carrying rod and a more even feed than known
heretofore. Furthermore, said clutch being capable of changing position axially,
the balls cannot wear grooves into the carbon carrying rod. By tilting the
ring O, as by lifting one side thereof in the manner indicated in Figs. 1, 4, 7
and 8, it will clutch the rod and carry it along as far as said hook may be mado
to travel or the frame Q+, tilted, then upon the descent of said hook or frame, the
clutch ring, as soon as its edge has reached a resting place upon the base of the
lamp frame in Figs. 1-4, or the plate A', in Figs. 7 and 8, will allow the balls to
rotate and the carbon rod to descend until the distance between the carbons is
such as to cause sufficient current to pass through the feeding magnets to again
raise the hook P, or frame Q*.
In Figs. 7 and 8, the frame Qt, is pivoted upon the frame of the lamp, as indicated
at A2, Fig. 14, and supports by means of pinions A³, the plate A¹, one end of said
frame being connected to the core of the solenoid B¹, while the other end is
connected to the piston of a suitable dash-pot as shown.
In the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8, to insure the proper engagement
between the ring clutch O, and the carbon rod N', a weight may be assumed by
said clutch as it ascends. Such weight as indicated at D', has a hook D², extending
therefrom over the upper edge of the ring clutch O. A pin or post D³, is passed
through the plate A¹, for the ring clutch O, to engage with and be tripped by as it
ascends.
A cushion-connection is preferably provided between the frame Qt, and the
solenoid core B², as indicated in Fig. 13, said connection consisting of the clevis B³,
provided with a collar B*, on either side of which are located springs as indicated,
which confine said collar between the ends of a socket formed in the lower end of
said core.
As will be noted from Fig. 4, the upper carbon carrier is removable through the
base of the lamp and also the upper seal of the arc enclosing chamber is made
against said rod and, that the cap for the cylinder K, may be of minimum capacity.
The carbon clamp for said rod has a special construction as shown in detail in
Fig. 6. It consists of the socket X, secured to the lower end of the carbon rod,
the split tube X, also secured to said rod and located within the socket, and the
bimetallic ring X2, located about the lower end of said tube. This bimetallic ring
is open at one side and constructed of metals of unequal expansibility so that
upon the heating thereof it will contract and clamp the carbon in place.
A novel form of cut-out is indicated at V, Fig. 4. It consists of a ring preferably
mounted upon the ring clutch O, the opening therein being sufficient to allow the
free passage of the carbon carrying rod N. The latter is provided with a nick, as
indicated at V1, and when the upper carbon has been consumed to the practical
limit this notch V¹, has descended until the plate V, slides into it, this sliding of
said plate being insured by the tremor of the lamp which tremor is already produced
by the alternating current. The shoulder below the nick is preferably rounded so
that the rod may be readily inserted by simply pushing it up through the ring.
To facilitate trimming the lamp a supplemental clutch is provided which consists
of a plate Y, Figs. 1 and 4, pivoted to the plate F1, at Y¹, and provided with an
opening through which the rod N, may freely pass when the plate is in horizontal
position. To clamp the rod in any particular place as while trimming, the plate Y,
may be raised at its outer end and to hold it in its raised position a button as Ys,
may be turned under its free end. Pins as U, Figs. 1 and 4, may be used to assist

page_text: in holding the ring clutch O, in proper position and a curved spring U¹, may be
attached to the hook P, to insure against the ring clutch being thrown up too far
during the trimming operation or feeding action. To ensure a suitable check to
the quick action of the solenoid B, in the feeding operation, the piston R¹, of the
dash-pot C, may be constructed as indicated in Figs. 15 and 16, or as in Fig. 18.
In Figs. 15 and 16, said piston is shown as provided with a section as R2, made
movable relatively to the section R¹, its movement being limited by the flanged
stud R³, which is screwed into the section R¹. The peripheral edges of the sections
R¹, R2, are chamfered and in the annular space formed by this chamfering there is
located an expansible ring R4, which may be of three pieces as indicated in Fig. 16,
or of one piece as indicated in Fig. 17. It will be seen that upon the sudden lifting
of the piston R¹, the ring R', will be forced outwardly against the walls of the piston,
the section R2, being deterred from sudden movements because of the air confined
between it and the head of the cylinder. Any air or other fluid between the two
sections of the pistons may be afforded immediate escape through apertures x, y,
in the section R³, of the piston.
The piston may be made in the form indicated in Fig. 18, and the expansible ring
may, if desired, be made of some flexible or elastic material, such as rubber, and
when so made it would preferably be of one piece as indicated in Fig. 19, and
circular in cross section. In this construction the elevation of the lower section of
the cylinder as by the raising of the piston rod P³, will, because of the resistance to the
immediate movement of a section R², cause the ring R5, to be squeezed outwardly
against the sides of the cylinder and a more perfect fit produced between the piston
and the walls of the cylinder.
It is obvious that the friction devices in the ring clutch may consist of rollers as well
as of the balls shown. The ring 02, may also be omitted from the clutch if desired,
though a more perfect feeding action is produced by its use.
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 I
claim is
1. The combination of the annular base plate, the outer globe supported thereon,
the removable ring for sustaining the globe, the arc-enclosing chamber mounted
directly upon said plate over the opening therein, and a removable plate closing
said opening and carrying the lower carbon holder.
2. The combination with the base plate suspended directly from the upper frame
work of the lamp and having an opening through the center, of the lamp globe
supported upon said base, the arc-enclosing globe also supported upon said base
plate, the cap for the arc-enclosing globe secured to the upper framework of the
lamp, the plate removably fitted to the opening in the base plate, the lower carbon
holder mounted thereon, and the upper carbon carrier removable through the base
plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In an alternating current arc lamp, the combination with the feeding
mechanism, of a cut-out co-operating therewith to stop the feeding and
adapted to be thrown into operation by the tremor of the lamp, substantially as
set forth.
4. The combination with the carbon-carrying rod, provided with a nick or
projection, of an inclined plate mounted to slide into engagement with said nick or
projection to stop the feeding of the rod.
5. The combination with the tilting clutch, of a plate mounted movably thereon,
and the nicked rod having a rounded shoulder below said nick for the purpose set
forth.
6. The combination with the carbon-carrying rod and its feeding clutch, of a
supplemental clutch or break wholly independent of the feeding clutch and consisting
of a perforated plate embracing the carbon-carrying rod but out of engagement
therewith during feeding and adapted to be tilted to bite the rod and hold the same 5
up during trimming.

page_text: 7. The combination with the dash-pot and its piston, of the solenoids on either
side thereof, the yoke connecting the cores of the solenoids and embracing the
stem of the piston and spring-seated thereon, and the feeding clutch operatively
connected to said piston.
8. In an electric arc lamp, a detached tilting clutch freely movable about its
axis and provided on its inner periphery with rotary friction devices, for the purpose
set forth.
9. A clutch for arc lamps consisting of a series of balls and a tilting ring provided
with ball raceway on its inner periphery formed by two inwardly inclined surfaces
separated by a surface of sufficiently less diameter than the inner periphery of the
inclined surfaces to prevent the balls from simultaneously engaging both inclined
surfaces, as and for the purpose set forth.
10. A ball clutch having a loose ring or washer inserted in the ball race,
substantially as shown and described.
11. A tilting ring clutch having a number of freely moving balls confined in a
raceway on its inner periphery, as and for the purpose described.
12. In an arc lamp, the combination of a tilting clutch freely movable about its
axis and provided on its clutching surface with rotary friction devices, a movable
platform under said clutch, means on the platform for tilting the clutch, and means
controlled by the current of the lamp for raising and lowering the platform.
13. The combination with the carbon carrying rod, of the ring clutch, the
platform having a projection engaging one edge of the ring, means for raising the
platform, a movable weight for engaging the ring at the edge opposite said
projection, and means for tripping the ring, substantially as set forth.
14. In an arc lamp, the combination of the detached ring clutch freely movable
about its vertical axis and provided on its inner periphery with rotary friction
devices, means for tilting and lifting the clutch, a weight normally out of
engagement with the clutch but assumed thereby as the clutch is lifted, and a
tripping device for the clutch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
15. In an arc lamp, a dash-pot having a central tube concentric with the outer
wall, and having a piston consisting of concentric tubes working in the spaco
between said central tube and the outer wall, and a hollow piston rod, as and for
the purpose set forth.
16. In an arc lamp, a dash-pot having a piston provided with a moving section
and an expansible packing ring adapted to be forced outwardly by the movement
of said section when the piston is doing duty.
17. In an arc lamp a dash-pot having a piston consisting of two parts movable
relatively to and from one another and having a packing ring located between the
said parts and adapted to be expanded beyond the periphery of the piston when
the piston is doing duty and to contract to or within the periphery of the piston
when the piston is not doing duty.
18. The combination with the solenoid core, provided with a socket in its lower
end, of the feeding lever, and a connection between the core and said lever spring
seated within said socket, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
19. A thermostatic clamp, consisting of a split tube surrounded by a bimetallic
ring.
20. The combination with the carbon carrying rod, of a socket upon its lower
end, a split tube located therein, and a thermostatic device for decreasing the
diameter of said tube.
21. The improved feeding mechanism for electric arc lamps and the controlling
means therefor substantially as herein shewn and described.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.

page_text: 7. The combination with the dash-pot and its piston, of the solenoids on either
side thereof, the yoke connecting the cores of the solenoids and embracing the
stem of the piston and spring-seated thereon, and the feeding clutch operatively
connected to said piston.
8. In an electric arc lamp, a detached tilting clutch freely movable about its
axis and provided on its inner periphery with rotary friction devices, for the purpose
set forth.
9. A clutch for arc lamps consisting of a series of balls and a tilting ring provided
with ball raceway on its inner periphery formed by two inwardly inclined surfaces
separated by a surface of sufficiently less diameter than the inner periphery of the
inclined surfaces to prevent the balls from simultaneously engaging both inclined
surfaces, as and for the purpose set forth.
10. A ball clutch having a loose ring or washer inserted in the ball race,
substantially as shown and described.
11. A tilting ring clutch having a number of freely moving balls confined in a
raceway on its inner periphery, as and for the purpose described.
12. In an arc lamp, the combination of a tilting clutch freely movable about its
axis and provided on its clutching surface, with rotary friction devices, a movable
platform under said clutch, means on the platform for tilting the clutch, and means
controlled by the current of the lamp for raising and lowering the platform.
13. The combination with the carbon carrying rod, of the ring clutch, the
platform having a projection engaging one edge of the ring, means for raising the
platform, a movable weight for engaging the ring at the edge opposite said
projection, and means for tripping the ring, substantially as set forth.
14. In an arc lamp, the combination of the detached ring clutch freely movable
about its vertical axis and provided on its inner periphery with rotary friction
devices, means for tilting and lifting the clutch, a weight normally out of
engagement with the clutch but assumed thereby as the clutch is lifted, and a
tripping device for the clutch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
15. In an arc lamp, a dash-pot having a central tube concentric with the outer
wall, and having a piston consisting of concentric tubes working in the space
between said central tube and the outer wall, and a hollow piston rod, as and for
the purpose set forth.
16. In an arc lamp, a dash-pot having a piston provided with a moving section
and an expansible packing ring adapted to be forced outwardly by the movement
of said section when the piston is doing duty.
17. In an arc lamp a dash-pot having a piston consisting of two parts movable
relatively to and from one another and having a packing ring located between the
said parts and adapted to be expanded beyond the periphery of the piston when
the piston is doing duty and to contract to or within the periphery of the piston
when the piston is not doing duty.
18. The combination with the solenoid core, provided with a socket in its lower
end, of the feeding lever, and a connection between the core and said lever spring
seated within said socket, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
19. A thermostatic clamp, consisting of a split tube surrounded by a bimetallic
ring.
20. The combination with the carbon carrying rod, of a socket upon its lower
end, a split tube located therein, and a thermostatic device for decreasing the
diameter of said tube.
21. The improved feeding mechanism for electric arc lamps and the controlling
means therefor substantially as herein shewn and described.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.