Electrical Apparatus for Producing Flashes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Electrical Apparatus for Producing Flashes.
We, SIEMENS BROTHERS & CO. LIMITED, of 12 Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex, and FRANCIS GIBSON BAILY, Ventnor Cottage,
Mount Street, Charlton in the County of Kent, Electrical Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to apparatus which, when connected to a suitable source
of electricity, produces brilliant flashes, such as may serve to imitate lightning in
theatres or exhibitions, or may be employed for signalling purposes.
In this apparatus an electro magnet has its armature attached to a spring lever
carrying a carbon, which, when the apparatns is inert, is pressed by the spring
against a stationary carbon. The one terminal of a battery, dynamo machine, or
other source of electricity, is connected through the coil of the electro magnet and
the spring lever to the carbon carried by the lever, and the other terminal is
connected to the stationary carbon. When the circuit with the source of electricity
closed, the electro magnet, being excited, attracts its armature moving the spring
lever whereby the one carbon is rapidly withdrawn from the other causing a
brilliant flash. The circuit being opened by this separation of the carbons, the
armature is no longer attracted, the spring causes fresh contact of the carbons,
which is again broken with a flash, and thus, so long as connection with the source
of electricity is maintained, a succession of flashes is produced.
Dated this 21st day of March 1892.
ABEL & IMKAI,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Electrical Apparatus for Producing Flashes.
We, SIEMENS BROTHERS & CO. LIMITED, of 12 Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex, and FRANCIS GIBSON BAILY, Ventnor Cottage,
Mount Street, Charlton, in the County of Kent, Electrical Engineers, 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 apparatus which when connected to a suitable source of
electricity, produces brilliant flashes, such as may serve to imitate lightning in
theatres or exhibitions, or may be employed for signalling purposes.
The accompanying drawing represents a vertical section of apparatus according
to this invention. A solenoid A has its core C attached to a lever B, which is
urged upwards by a spring D and carries a carbon E.
When the apparatus is inert, this carbon is pressed by the spring against a
stationary carbon F. The one terminal of a battery, dynamo machine, or other
source of electricity is connected at G and through the coil of the solenoid A. and
the spring lever B to the carbon E, and the other terminal is connected at H to the
stationary carbon F.
When the circuit with the source of electricity is closed, the solenoid A being
excited, attracts its core C moving the spring lever B whereby the carbon E is
rapidly withdrawn from the other F, causing a brilliant flash. The circuit being
opened by this separation of the carbons, the core is no longer attracted, the spring
causes fresh contact of the carbons, which is again broken with a flash, and thus,

page_text: so long as connection with the source of electricity is maintained, a succession of
flashes is produced.
For the solenoid and its core an electro magnet and armature may obviously be
substituted, the action being the same as described.
The apparatus is preferably enclosed within a case K which may be of wood
with a glass front L guarded by wire net, and a reflector M may be placed behind
the arc.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
Electric apparatus for producing flashes, consisting of a stationary carbon
connected to the one terminal of a source of electricity and another moveable
carbon connected to the other terminal through the coil of an electromagnet or
solenoid, and carried on a spring lever linked to the armature or core, arranged
and operating substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of December 1900
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.