Improvements in Extensible Gas Light and similar Fixtures.
Year: 1889

page_text: Improvements in Extensible Gas Light and similar Fixtures.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM BAYLEY, of No. 2043 Fulton Street in the City of Brooklyn'
and State of New York, United States of America, Designer, 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 extension fixtures for gas lights and also to those for oil
lamps and chandeliers.
I will now describe an extension light fixture embodying my improvement.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is the vertical section of an extension light fixture embodying my
invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same taken on the plane of the dotted
line, a Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of one of certain wedges employed as brakes in the
device.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of a device illustrating a modification of my
improvement.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
A designates a tube or pipe. In the example of my improvement illustrated in
Figures 1, 2 and 3, this tube or pipe is rigidly connected at its upper end to a
supporting piece a, which latter may be secured to a ceiling or other suitable support.
At its other end the pipe or tube A has secured to it a case or shell B, which together
with the said pipe or tube constitute the stationary member of the extension fixture.
I have shown A and B as secured together by a screw-thread on A, screwing into a
neck b, extended upwardly from the case or shell B. The neck bis provided centrally
with an aperture through which passes a rod or pipe C constituting the extensible
member of the fixture. The rod or pipe extends through the case or shell B, and
below the same, and is to carry at its lower end or that portion that is below the case
or shell B, the harp or other portion of a chandelier, lamp-holder, gasalier or other
light fixture. The rod or pipe C extends upwardly within the pipe A, and is capable
of being moved longitudinally therein for the purpose of raising or lowering the
chandelier or other fixture to which it is secured.
It is desirable in extension fixtures to provide a lock for maintaining the extensible
part of the fixture in any position in which it may be adjusted. In such locks,
however, it is desirable that the upward movement of the chandelier or other fixture
should be free and that the lock should not operate except when the chandelier or
other fixture has been adjusted to the desired position. In any device the locking
of the extensible part in the desirable position is accomplished by means of wedges D,
which when the weight of the chandelier or other fixture operates to tend to cause
it to drop will bind upon the extensible part of the fixture and prevent such dropping.
In the example shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the wedges D are arranged within the
case or shell B, and are capable of vertical movement therein.
Their upward
movement is such as to release their grip upon the extensible rod or pipe C; their
downward movement on the contrary, causes them to grip said pipe or rod.
I accomplish this result by means of inclined guides c, which guides consist of rods
secured at their ends to the top and bottom of the case or shell B. It will be
observed that these guides or rods are arranged at an incline, their lower ends
being nearer to the rod or pipe C than are their upper ends. The wedges. D are
provided with projections d, which projections are provided with suitable apertures

page_text: through which the guide-rods c extond loosely. I prefer that the faces of the
wedges D or their portions which are adapted to bear upon the rod or pipe C should
be faced with rubber, leather or similar material which will tend to increase the
frictional contact of the parts I have illustrated such a facing at e, this facing
may be secured to the wedges by screws e or in any other suitable manner.
1
E designates an adjustable abutment for, the wedges. This abutment consists of a
hollow socket through which the extensible rod or pipe C passes, and which is screwed
through and adjustable upwardly and downwardly in a screw-thread in a boss n at the
bottom of the case or shell B.
.g
It will be apparent that as this abutment is adjusted in one direction or another,
the degree of downward movement of the wedges D.may be limited, in order to cause.
the wedges to bind more or less tightly upon the rod or pipe (.. I have shown
upon the lower ends of the wedges, D elastic cushions which may be made of rubber
and secured to the wedges by screws or otherwise. These cushions are advantageous
because they allow a slight play of the wedges after they have reached the limit of
their downward movement, and the wedges are thereby caused to have a slightly
yielding bite upon the rod or pipe C. In this example of my improvement shown in
Figures 1, 2, and 3 when the rod or pipe C is moved upwardly, the wedges, Daro
caused to release their grip upon the rod or pipe and the latter may then be moved
freely. When the upward movement of the rod or pipe ceases and gravity tends to
cause the rod or pipe to fall, the wedges are moved downwardly by reason of their
frictional contact with the rod or pipe and will bind upon the latter to maintain it and
the chandelier or other fixture in the position to which it has been.adjusted. In the
example of my improvement shown in Figure 4, the case. or shell B is omitted and the
wedges Dinstead of, binding upon the rod or pipe C, bind upon the inner surface of
the pipe or tube A the whole or a portion of which is made large enough to receive
them. In this case the guide rods e are arranged between flanges or collars which
are rigidly secured, upon the rod or pipe when the rod or pipe is moved upwardly.
The grip of the wedges upon the pipe or tube A is relaxed but when the rod or
pipe C moves downwardly such grip is restored. In this example of my improvement
I have shown, coil springs j arranged about the guide-rods c which tend to maintain
the wedges in an elevated position.
In both examples of my improvement the wedges D constitute brakes.
When my invention is used for a gas fixture suitable stuffing boxes will of course
be necessary to prevent the leakage of gas from about the extensible part C.
4.5:1..50
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
First. The combination with the stationary and extensible members of an extension
light fixture of inclined rods secured to one member and wedges through which said
rod's pass and which slide upon said rods in one direction to operate as brakes for the
descent of the extensible member and slide upon said rods in the opposite direction to
perimit the upward movement of the latter member, substantially as herein described.
Second. In an extension light fixture the combination with a fixed part of an
extensible part, a cylindrical case or shell on the fixed part, inclined guide rods
secured at their upper and lower ends to the top and bottom of the said case or shell,
brakes having their faces opposite to the extensible part and provided with lugs or
projections through which said guide rods loosely extend, and elastic cushions upon
the lower ends of said brakes, all substantially as herein specified.
ו'
Third. The combination with the pipe or tube A and the case or shell B formed
thereon or secured thereto of the inclined rods d, d secured at their upper and lower
ends in said case or Shell and the wedges D, D, fitted to slide on said rods sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3.
Fourth. The combination with the tube or pipe A of the rod or pipe C having
collars or flanges h, h the inclined rods c, c secured between said collars or flanges and
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page_text: the wedges D, D sliding upon said rods to operate against the interior of the said tube
or pipe A substantially as herein described.
Dated this 17th day of May 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.