IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC ARC LAMPS
Year: 1882

page_text: The decision of the Chief Examiner, acting on behalf of the Comptroller, of the"
22nd day of February 1894, allowed, under Section 18. of the Patents, &c.
Act, 1883, an Amendment of this Specification.
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th September 1882.
JAMES BROCKIE of Brixton in the County of Surrey "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELECTRIC ARC LAMPS
"
This Invention refers to various mechanical devices in the construction of arc
lamps whereby the same may be rendered more simple and less costly than
hitherto.
The first improvement consists of a dash wheel in order to prevent the too
sudden approach of the carbons or descent of the upper carbon holder. This dash
wheel consists essentially of a hollow disc, drum or cylinder mounted on a spindle
which is revolved by the descending carbon holder the disc or drum is partially
filled with mercury or liquid such as oil or glycerine, or small shot or any finely.
granulated substance may be used.
Now a certain amount of friction will take place between the mercury or other
substance and the interior sides of the hollow disc when the latter is revolved, the
amount of friction depending upon the nature of the liquid or substance and the
roughness or shape of the interior of the disc, and therefore the free rotary
movement will be impeded more or less. I prefer to fix projections like the floats of
a water wheel, on the inside of the disc or otherwise channel it, in order to obtain
more friction or to lift the mercury or other substance as the wheel revolves and
thus secure a more difficult rotation. I also prefer to make the disc airtight and
therefore no leakage can take place, which leakage is an inconvenient and serious
[Price 8d.1

page_text: efect in all dashpots when used in electric lamps; this wheel is also much more
compact than the long dash pots usual in lamps and it can never get clogged or
out of order
In constructing lamps having this dash wheel I prefer to drive it directly by the
upper carbon holder by means of a pinion and rack as in most clockwork lamps,
or a cord, chain or flexible wire may be wound round the spindle of the dash wheel
and attached to the upper holder. Now in order to regulate such a lamp 1 gear
the core of a solenoid (which may be wound either by the main circuit or in a
shunt across the arc or partly by both) to the periphery of the said dash wheel or
disc by means of two levers in the following manner. riz The first lever is pivotted
on the same axis as the dash wheel and is made slightly longer than the radius of
the wheel so that it projects beyond it. The second lever is pivotted near the end
of the first, and is cranked at the pivot end, which cranked part forms a shoe or
brake and which rubs or presses against the edge of the wheel when the second
lever is raised; the solenoid core works this lever; the first lever is made somewhat
heavy so that when the second is raised by the solenoid, the crank or brake may
exert sufficient pressure on the wheel to prevent it slipping and so both levers, will
be raised and the wheel be partially rotated. Now I arrange that when the levers
are raised and the wheel is thus rotated, the top carbon holder will be lifted and
the arc established, then as the main current becomes weaker or the arc becomes
too resisting, the core will gradually lower the levers and the wheel will turn
slightly in the opposite direction by the action of the descending carbon holder,
until the levers arrive at a certain point where I place a stop which prevents the
further descent of the first lever; now as the core still depresses the second lever
the brake will be gradually taken off the wheel until it slips round thus the
carbon holder descends and the arc is reduced, but this has the immediate effect of
strengthening the solenoid, and the second lever is instantly lifted and the brake
thus put on again arresting further slip, and should the carbon holder have slipped
too much, the solenoid will continue lifting and so turn the disc and separate the
carbons the correct distance. Instead of placing a stop to limit the drop of the
first lever, the stop may be applied to the second lever, in which case this lever
will be prolonged towards the axis of the wheel. this plan would also cause the
lever to relax its grip on the wheel should it be depressed beyond a certain
point.
Instead of using a shoe or brake to be worked by the second lever, an eccentric
could be employed or a pawl engaging very small teeth cut on the periphery of the
disc. I sometimes put a band of india rubber, leather or like substance on the
face of the wheel to increase the grip of the brake and secure a more gradual slip
of the wheel. I also control such a disc by means of one lever pivotted on the
same axis as the disc and having a pawl engaging the disc, this pawl to be held
on by a weighted lever or spring which lever is tilted by a stop when the main
lever arrives at a certain point, or it may be operated by a separate coil or magnet
and thus permit the slip of the wheel. I also use all the combinations above
described to operate simple discs or wheels in electric lamps which wheels may or
may not have any special hindering property in themselves.
I also propose to construct lamps as above described having two or more pairs
of carbons preferably controlled by the same solenoid or magnet.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Brockie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th March 1883.
JAMES BROCKIE of Brixton in the County of Surrey
ELECTRIC ARC LAMPS
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention refers to various mechanical devices in the construction of arc
lamps, whereby the same may be rendered more simple and less expensive than
hitherto and also efficient in working the features of which will be best understood
by reference to the accompanying drawings Figures 1 2 and 3 show the main
points of this Invention Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a double lamp.
The first improvement is I show in Figures 1 and 2, and consists of a dash
wheel in Order to prevent the too sudden approach of the carbons or the descent of
the upper holder. This dash wheel to which I make no claim consists essentially of
a hollow disc drum or cylinder A mounted on a spindle B which is revolved by the
descending carbon holder C; this disc or drum is partially filled with mercury or
liquid such as glycerine or oil; or any fine granulated substance may be used. I
prefer to divide the interior of the drum or hollow disc into equal divisions by
partitions D but communicating with each other by small openings at E and large
ones near the axis at F. I prefer to drive this disc directly by the upper carbon
holder C by means of a pinion and rack as shown, but it may be driven by a cord
or chain or any convenient manner. Now it will be seen that as the holder C
descends, the wheel will be turned in the direction shown by the arrow and the
partitions or divisions will lift the mercury until a balance is obtained, but the
mercury will begin to leak back or find its level through the openings at E and so
the wheel will gradually revolve, the rate of revolution depending upon the size of
the openings at E, the weight employed and the character of the mercury or other
substance in the drum The interior of the hollow disc may of course be constructed
in various ways in order to obtain a slow movement or it may even be left quite
plain if a very slow movement is not desired or a very light carbon holder is used
but I find in practice that the construction described and shewn in Figure 1 and 2
is good and efficient and secures a very slow descent if the carbon holder is of a
convenient, weight. When mercury is used the hollow disc is preferably made of
iron and the cover or lid is fitted very closely to prevent leakage. I also prefer to
enamel the interior of the iron disc.
In constructing lamps with this dash or gravity wheel I propose to operate the
wheel by means of a solenoid as shown in Figure 3. This solenoid may be either
in the main circuit, or in a shunt across the arc, or differentially by in both In the
drawing a differential coil M is shown. The core H lifts the cam lever K which is
pivoted to the other radius lever L, this latter is preferably made heavy so that
when the cam lever K is lifted, the cam or pawl P will exert sufficient pressure on
the rim of the wheel A to turn it. The end of the lever K is prolonged towards
the axis of the wheel as shown and a stop or table T is fixed at the under side
which limits the descent of this lever. The action of this arrangement will be as
follows. When no current exists in the circuit the solenoid core H will be in its
lowest position and therefore the lever K will be resting upon the stop. T which
will therefore tilt it and take the pawl or brake P off the wheel, this will therefore
be free to turn and the carbons will be allowed to meet: now when the current is
passed through the lamp the core H will be drawn up and it will therefore lift up
the cam lever K and the wheel A will be turned, and the carbon holder rod C lifted
and therefore the arc be obtained.

page_text: When the arc becomes too long the core will gradually descend and the wheel
will turn in the opposite direction and the carbons approach; the core will continue
to descend until the end of the pawl lever K comes upon its stop or table T and
as the core still continues to descend the pressure of the pawl P will be gradually
taken off the wheel until it begins to turn by the weight of the holder, thus the
carbons will approach until the correct distance is obtained as the core will
immediately lift the pawl lever K and again lock the wheel; thus the regulation of
the lamp will proceed until the carbons are consumed, the pawl locking and
unlocking the wheel A as required and the carbon rod C, prevented falling-too fast
by the peculiar construction of the said wheel.
Various other arrangements of levers could be used to operate the wheel, for
instance the lever L could be lifted by the core of the solenoid and a weight or
spring applied to the lever K to keep the pawl on the wheel until lifted off by the
stop or table T. The periphery of the disc may also be cut with very fine ratchet
teeth or covered with some elastic substance to increase the grip of the pawl and
secure a more gradual slip. For the pawl may of course be replaced by substituted
an eccentric or similar device.cam, as, for example in Figure 4
This combination of levers, may also be applied to discs or wheels having no
mercury.or other hindering property in themselves.
.I.also propose to, construct,lamps having two pairs of carbons, in which case I
have two carbon rods which rotate two discs, the general arrangement of which is
shown in Figure 4. The core H of the regulating solenoid M lifts both cam
levers K K but the stops or tables shown in Figure 3 will be arranged in this
double lamp at different heights so, that one pawl will grip.before the other; or one
carbon holder, may be locked by a lever which lever is withdrawn by the carbon
holder. of the pair first in action when it arrives at a certain point.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I claim.
First In electric-are-lamps-the employment of a hollow dise or drum driven by
the carbon holder rod, this dise or drum being partially filled with mereury, liquid,
or divided-substance, such as shot or sand, in order to retard the rotation of the
wheel and therefore the too rapid approach of the carbons when the releasing
brake or contrivance is taken off. The interior of this drum-or hollow dise being
provided or not with divisions channels or projections, all substantially as described
and shewn with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Second 7. In order to control or regulate the carbons in a lamp provided with
such a a dash or retarding wheel such as herein described the combination of levers
shown in Figure 3 operating upon the periphery of the said wheel, the combination
consisting of a lever pivoted on the same axis as the wheel and another lever
working a brake or pawl pivoted at the extremity of this first lever; or the
modifications of the same, all substantially as described.
Third 2. The construction of arc lamps having two pair of carbons the
controlling, of which is effected by a double set of discs and levers worked, by one
regulating solenoid, substantially as shown with reference to Figure. 4. of: the
accompanying drawings
In-witness whereof I the said James Brockie have hereunto set my hand and
seal this 'Fifteenth day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand
seicht hundard A
JAMES BROCKIE (L.S.)

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Brockie at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th September 1882.
JAMES BROCKIE of Brixton in the County of Surrey
ELECTRIC ARC LAMPS
"
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN
This Invention refers to various mechanical devices in the construction of arc
lamps whereby the same may be rendered more simple and less costly than
hitherto.
The first improvement consists of a dash wheel in order to prevent the too
sudden approach of the carbons or descent of the upper carbon holder. This dash
wheel consists essentially of a hollow disc, drum or cylinder mounted on a spindle
which is revolved by the descending carbon holder the disc or drum is partially
filled with mercury or liquid such as oil or glycerine, or small shot or any finely
granulated substance may be used.
Now a certain amount of friction will take place between the mercury or other
substance and the interior sides of the hollow dise when the latter is revolved, the
amount of friction depending upon the nature of the liquid or substance and the
roughness or shape of the interior of the disc, and therefore the free rotary
movement will be impeded more or less. I prefer to fix projections like the floats of
a water wheel, on the inside of the disc or otherwise channel it, in order to obtain
more friction or to lift the mercury or other substance as the wheel revolves and
thus secure a more difficult rotation. I also prefer to make the disc airtight and
therefore no leakage can take place, which leakage is an inconvenient and serious
defect in all dash pots when used in electric lamps; this wheel is also much more
compact than the long dash pots usual in lamps and it can never get clogged or
out of order
In constructing lamps having this dash wheel I prefer to drive it directly by the
upper carbon holder by means of a pinion and rack as in most clock work lamps,

page_text: or a cord, chain or flexible wire may be wound round the spindle of the dash wheel
and attached to the upper holder. Now in order to regulate such a lamp I gear
the core of a solenoid (which may be wound either by the main circuit or in a
shunt across the arc or partly by both) to the periphery of the said dash wheel or
disc by means of two levers in the following manner. viz The first lever is pivotted
on the same axis as the dash wheel and is made slightly longer than the radius of
the wheel so that it projects beyond it. The second lever is pivotted near the end
of the first, and is cranked at the pivot end, which cranked part forms a shoe or
brake and which rubs or presses against the edge of the wheel when the second
lever is raised; the solenoid core works this lever; the first lever is made somewhat
heavy so that when the second is raised by the solenoid, the crank or brake may
exert sufficient pressure on the wheel to prevent it slipping and so both levers will
be raised and the wheel be partially rotated. Now I arrange that when the levers
are raised and the wheel is thus rotated, the top carbon holder will be lifted and
the arc established, then as the main current becomes weaker or the arc becomes
too resisting, the core will gradually lower the levers and the wheel will turn
slightly in the opposite direction by the action of the descending carbon holder,
until the levers arrive at a certain point where I place a stop which prevents the
further descent of the first lever; now as the core still depresses the second lever
the brake will be gradually taken off the wheel until it slips round thus the
carbon holder descends and the arc is reduced, but this has the immediate effect of
strengthening the solenoid, and the second lever is instantly lifted and the brake
thus put on again arresting further slip, and should the carbon holder have slipped
too much, the solenoid will continue lifting and so turn the disc and separate the
carbons the correct distance. Instead of placing a stop to limit the drop of the
first lever, the stop may be applied to the second lever, in which case this lever
will be prolonged towards the axis of the wheel, this plan would also cause the
lever to relax its grip on the wheel should it be depressed beyond a certain
point.
Instead of using a shoe or brake to be worked by the second lever, an eccentric
could be employed or a pawl engaging very small teeth cut on the periphery of the
disc. I sometimes put a band of india rubber, leather or like substance on the
face of the wheel to increase the grip of the brake and secure a more gradual slip
of the wheel. I also control such a disc by means of one lever pivotted on the
same axis as the disc and having a pawl engaging the disc, this pawl to be held
on by a weighted lever or spring which lever is tilted by a stop when the main
lever arrives at a certain point, or it may be operated by a separate coil or magnet
and thus permit the slip of the wheel. I also use all the combinations above
described to operate simple discs or wheels in electric lamps which wheels may or
may not have any special hindering property in themselves.
I also propose to construct lamps as above described having two or more pairs
of carbons preferably controlled by the same solenoid or magnet.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Brockie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th March 1883.
JAMES BROCKIE of Brixton in the County of Surrey
ELECTRIC ARC LAMPS "
" IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention refers to various mechanical devices in the construction of arc
lamps, whereby the same may be rendered more simple and less expensive than
hitherto and also efficient in working the features of which will be best understood
by reference to the accompanying drawings Figures 12 and 3 show the main
points of this Invention Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a double lamp.
The first improvement is shown in Figures 1 and 2, and consists of a dash wheel
in Order to prevent the too sudden approach of the carbons or the descent of the
upper holder. This dash wheel consists essentially of a hollow disc drum or.
cylinder A mounted on a spindle B which is revolved by the descending carbon
holder C; this disc or drum is partially filled with mercury or liquid such as
glycerine or oil; or any fine granulated substance may be used. I prefer to divide
the interior of the drum or hollow disc into equal divisions by partitions D but
communicating with each other by small openings at E and large ones near the axis
at F. I prefer to drive this disc directly by the upper carbon holder C by means of
a pinion and rack as shown, but it may be driven by a cord or chain or any
convenient manner. Now it will be seen that as the holder: C descends, the wheel
will be turned in the direction shown by the arrow and the partitions or divisions
will lift the mercury until a balance is obtained, but the mercury will begin to leak
back or find its level through the openings at E and so the wheel will gradually
revolve, the rate of revolution depending upon the size of the openings at E, the
weight employed and the character of the mercury or other substance in the drum
The interior of the hollow disc may of course be constructed in various ways in
order to obtain a slow movement or it may even be left quite plain if a very slow.
movement is not desired or a very light carbon holder is used but I find in practice
that the construction described and shewn in Figure 1 and 2 is good and efficient
and secures a very slow descent if the carbon holder is of a convenient weight.
When mercury is used the hollow disc is preferably made of iron and the cover or
lid is fitted very closely to prevent leakage. I also prefer to enamel the interior of
the iron disc.
In constructing lamps with this dash or gravity wheel I propose to operate the
wheel by means of a solenoid as shown in Figure 3. This solenoid may be either
in the main circuit, or in a shunt across the arc, or differentially by both In the
drawing a differential coil M is shown. The core H lifts the cam lever K which is
pivoted to the other radius lever L, this latter is preferably made heavy so that
when the cam lever K is lifted, the cam or pawl P will exert sufficient pressure on
the rim of the wheel A to turn it. The end of the lever K is prolonged towards
the axis of the wheel as shown and a stop or table T is fixed at the under side
which limits the descent of this lever. The action of this arrangement will be as
follows. When no current exists in the circuit the solenoid core H will be in its
lowest position and therefore the lever K will be resting upon the stop T which
will therefore tilt it and take the pawl or brake P off the wheel, this will therefore
be free to turn and the carbons will be allowed to meet: now when the current is
passed through the lamp the core H will be drawn up and it will therefore lift up
the cam lever K and the wheel A will be turned, and the carbon holder rod C lifted
and therefore the arc be obtained.

page_text: When the are becomes too long the core will gradually descend and the wheel
will turn in the opposite direction and the carbons approach; the core will continue
to descend until the end of the pawl lever K comes upon its stop or table T and
as the core still continues to descend the pressure of the pawl P will be gradually
taken off the wheel until it begins to turn by the weight of the holder, thus the
carbons will approach until the correct distance is obtained as the core will
immediately lift the pawl lever K and againlock the wheel; thus the regulation of
the lamp will proceed until the carbons are consumed, the pawl locking and
unlocking the wheel A as required and the carbon rod C, prevented falling too fast
by the peculiar construction of the said wheel..
Various other arrangements of levers could be used to operate the wheel, for
instance the lever L could be lifted by the core of the solenoid and a weight or
spring applied to the lever K to keep the pawl on the wheel until lifted off by the
stop or table T.
The periphery of the disc may also be cut with very fine ratchet
teeth or covered with some elastic substance to increase the grip of the pawl and
secure a more gradual slip. The pawl may of course be replaced by an eccentric
or similar device as for example in Figure 4
This combination of levers may also be applied to discs or wheels having no
mercury or other hindering property in themselves.
I also propose to construct lamps having two pairs of carbons, in. which case I
have two carbon rods which rotate two discs, the general arrangement of which is
shown in Figure 4. The core H of the regulating solenoid M lifts both cam levers
KK but the stops or tables shown in Figure 3 will be arranged in this double
lamp at different heights so that one pawl will grip before the other; or one carbon
holder may be locked by a lever which lever is withdrawn by the carbon holder of
the pair first in action when it arrives at a certain point.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I claim.
First: In electric arc lamps the employment of a hollow disc or drum driven by
the carbon holder rod, this disc or drum being partially filled with mercury, liquid,
or divided substance, such as shot or sand, in order to retard the rotation of the
wheel and therefore the too rapid approach of the carbons when the releasing
brake or contrivance is taken off. The interior of this drum or hollow disc being
provided or not with divisions channels or projections, all substantially as described
and shewn with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Second-In order to control or regulate the carbons in a lamp provided with
such a wheel, the combination of levers shown in Figure 3 operating upon the
periphery of the said wheel, the combination consisting of a lever pivoted on the
same axis as the wheel and another lever working a brake or pawl pivoted at the
extremity of this first lever; or the modifications of the same, all substantially as
described.
Third-The construction of arc lamps having two pair of carbons the
controlling of which is effected by a double set of discs and levers worked by one
regulating solenoid, substantially as shown with reference to Figure 4 of the
accompanying drawings
In witness whereof I the said James Brockie have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Fifteenth day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand
night hundred and nighto thro