Improvements in Arc Lamps and Roller-clutch Mechanism for Feeding and Controlling the Electrodes therein.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1899-Accepted, 30th Dec., 1899
COM
Improvements in Arc Lamps and Roller-clutch Mechanism for
Feeding and Controlling the Electrodes therein.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGIT, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., Fel. Ch. Inst. P.A.,
F. I. Inst., practising as Phillips and Leigh, of No. 22, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the Administrative County of London, Engineer and Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication from
Thomas Edward Drohan, Electrical Engineer, corner of 14th Street and Robinson
Avenue, Chicago, in the County of Cook, State of Illinois, in the United States
of America) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to are lamps, and has for its object the provision of
improved carbon-feeding and controlling mechanism therefor. My invention
relates particularly to that class of feeding mechanism in which roller clutches
are employed for securing upper carbons in position and for releasing the same
when the carbons are to be fed.
My invention has for its object the construction of an improved form of carbon
feeding and controlling mechanism wherein the parts are reduced in number and
the efficiency of the mechanism is assured, and whereby the cost of production
thereof is cheapened.
In accordance with my invention, I carry the roller upon a swinging arm and
provide electro-magnetic means for actuating the arm to release the carbon, the
said electro-magnetic means permitting the arm to be restored to its normal posi-
tion to effect a binding engagement between the roller and the carbon.
engagement of the roller with the carbon is preferably direct, although I do not
wish to be limited to this direct engagement.
This
In the preferred embodiment of my invention, I employ a hollow carbon-carrier
in the form preferably of a tube in which the carbon, which is usually in the
form of a pencil of circular cross-section, is contained; the arm upon which the
roller is mounted being also carried by the carbon-carrier. By a downward move-
ment of the carbon-carrier, the arm is brought into contact with a stop, which
causes the roller to be released from engagement with the carbon to permit the
same to be fed.
I will explain my invention more particularly by reference to the accompanying
drawing, in which
Figure 1 illustrates carbon-controlling mechanism constructed in accordance
with my invention. the mechanism being shown partially in section.
Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional-view on line 2-2 of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is side-elevation of my improved mechanism; the feeding electro-
magnet being omitted for convenience.
Figure 4 is a sectional-elevation on line 4 of Figure 1, the carbon and
roller being removed.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the different figures.
I have in this instance shown a solenoid a as the feeding electro-magnet, the
core 6 of the solenoid supporting the carbon-carrier c. An extension d is provided

page_text: at the lower end of the carrier, this extension being preferably separately formed
and adjustably secured to the part e by a clamping screw e passing through ears
projecting from the rear of the extension. This extension constitutes, in the
embodiment of the invention shown, a supplemental roller bearing portion, and
has an oblique slot f whose opposed walls extend obliquely upward from the
carbon, whereby more readily to guide the roller g disposed within the said recess
away from and toward the carbon. A swinging arm is provided upon which
the roller or clutch member g is directly supported and preferably is bodily
movable toward or away from the carbon. This arm is preferably pivoted to the
carrier e and preferably directly to the extension & thereof.
When the arc becomes unduly elongated, the upper carbon i should be fed.
When the are becomes abnormally long, the energization of the solenoid a is
weakened, allowing the core to descend, thereby permitting the carbon-carrier c
with the arm h also to descend. A stop is provided in the path of the outer
free end of the arm h, so that when the arm descends with the carbon-carrier,
the downward movement of the outer end of the arm is checked, thereby causing
the elevation of the outer end of the arm and the consequent release of the
roller g from engagement with the carbon, thereby permitting the carbon
to feed. When the arc has reached its normal state, the strength of the magnet a
is restored, the core thereof being drawn vertically up thereby, whereby the free
end of the arm is removed from its engagement with the stop k and the roller
again restored to its engagement with the carbon to prevent the same from
feeding further and to hold the carbon in its newly adjusted position. This
engagement between the roller and carbon is preferably direct.
The roller is preferably elongated, as shown, and is provided with end-
plates 7, 7 between which the extension d is included, as shown most clearly in
Figure 2. The arm his preferably bifurcated at its pivoted end, the bifurcated
members being provided with slots or recesses m to receive the shaft of the roller.
The oblique slot f aids the arm h in its function of guiding the roller toward
and away from the carbon. The arm in the embodiment shown, constitutes a
lever of the second class, the roller being interposed between the pivot of the
arm and the stop k.
The roller, g, I preferably make of insulating material, such as lava; this
prevents any arcing between the carbon and the roller, which I have found in
practice, is very objectionable, as such arcing with a metallic roller results in
pitting the surface of the roller which again causes an unevenness in the feeding
of the carbon.
Notwithstanding that I have shown the arm as being provided with an elongated
recess for receiving the shaft of the roller, and have shown an oblique slot in
the extension of the carbon-carrier, it is obvious that a carbon-feeding
mechanism having these features may be modified without departing from the
spirit of my invention.
While I have shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of
my invention, I do not wish to be limited to this precise construction.
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 arc lamp, the combination with a carbon-carrier, of an arm, mounted on
the carbon-carrier, a revoluble clutch member rotatably supported by the arm
adapted for engagement with the carbon, and electro-magnetic means for actuating
the arm for releasing the said clutch member from engagement with the
carbon, substantially as described.
2. In an electric are lamp, the combination with a carbon-carrier, of electro-
magnetic means for controlling the vertical position thereof, an arm mounted
on the carbon-carrier, a revoluble clutch member rotatably supported upon the
arm and bodily movable with relation thereto toward and away from the carbon and

page_text: adapted for engagement with the carbon, and a stop for engaging the arm when
the carbon-carrier is lowered upon undue elongation of the arc, whereby the arm
is actuated to release the revoluble clutch member from engagement with the
carbon to permit the same to feed, substantially as described.
3. In an electric are lamp, the combination with a carbon-carrier, of a carbon
adapted to be moved with relation to the carrier, electro-magnetic means for
controlling the vertical position of the carrier, a swinging arm, a revoluble
clutch member rotatably supported upon the swinging arm, the carbon-carrier
being provided with an oblique slot for receiving the said clutch member the
said slot also affording engagement between the carbon and the roller, and a stop
for engaging the unmounted end of the arm. upon the descent of the carbon-
carrier to cause the clutch member to be released from its engagement with the
carbon to permit the carbon to feed upon an undue elongation of the arc, sub-´
stantially as described.
4. In an arc lamp, the combination with a hollow carbon-carrier in which a
carbon is adapted to travel vertically, of electro-magnetic means for controlling
the vertical position of the carbon-carrier, an arm pivoted at one end to the
carbon-carrier, a stop for engaging the other end of the arm, and a clutch member
in the form of a roller rotatably supported upon the arm, the said arm being provided
with an elongated recess for receiving the shaft of the roller, substantially as
described.
5. In an arc lamp, the combination with a hollow carbon-carrier, in which a
carbon is adapted to travel vertically, of electro-magnetic means for controlling
the vertical position of the carbon-carrier, an arm pivoted at one end
to the carbon-carrier, a stop for engaging the other end of the arm,
and a clutch member in the form of a roller engaged by the arm, an oblique slot
being provided in the carbon-carrier for containing the roller to guide the same
toward and away from the carbon, substantially as described.
6. In an arc lamp, the combination with a hollow carbon-carrier in which a
carbon is adapted to travel vertically, of electro-magnetic means for controlling
the vertical position of the carbon-carrier, a pivoted arm mounted upon the
carbon-carrier, a stop for engaging the arm, and a clutch member in the form of
a roller engaged by the arm, an oblique slot being provided in the carbon carrier
for containing the roller to guide the same toward and away from the
carbon, substantially as described.
7. In an electric arc lamp, the combination with a feeding solenoid having a
core, of a hollow carbon-carrier adapted to contain the upper carbon of the lamp
and in which the upper carbon is adapted to travel, the said carbon-carrier being
provided with an oblique slot, a roller adapted to travel obliquely from and
toward the carbon in the said slot, an arm pivoted to the carbon carrier and
engaging the roller, and a stop for engaging an end of the arm, whereby the
arm is caused to remove the roller from engagement with the carbon upon the
descent of the carbon carrier to permit the carbon to feed upon an undue elonga-
tion of the are taking place, substantially as described.
S. In an arc lamp, the combination with a carbon-carrier, of an arm and a
roller clutch member of insulating material rotatably supported by the arm
adapted for direct engagement with the carbon, and electro-magnetic means for
actuating the arm for releasing the said clutch member from engagement with the
carbon, substantially as described.
9. In an electric arc lamp, the combination with a carbon-carrier, of electro
magnetic means for controlling the vertical position thereof, a swinging arm, a
roller clutch member of insulating material, rotatably supported upon the arm
and adapted for direct engagement with the carbon, and a stop for engaging the
arm when the carbon-carrier is lowered upon undue elongation of the arc,
whereby the arm is actuated to release the revoluble clutch member from
engagement with the carbon to permit the same to feed, substantially as described.
10. In an arc lamp, the combination with a hollow carbon-carrier in which a

page_text: carbon is adapted to travel vertically, of electro magnetic means for controlling
the vertical position of the carbon-carrier, an arm pivoted at one end to the
carbon-carrier, a stop for engaging the other end of the arm, and a clutch member
of insulating material in the form of a roller rotatably supported upon the arm,
substantially as described.
11.
1000