Improvements in Switches for Suspended "Arc" Lamps.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 15th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Switches for Suspended "Arc" Lamps.
We FREDERICK WAGG of 16 Crescent Road Plumstead in the county of Kent
Electrician and WASHINGTON HUDSON of 6 Egerton Road Greenwich in the county
of Kent Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to maintain the electric circuit whilst trimming and
adjusting one or more Arc Lamps in a lowered position also dispensing with all slack
wires or leads and controlling from below without the use of ladders.
The Lamp is raised and lowered by means of a rope or chain passing over a sheave
pulley attached to a Disc at the top then round another sheave pulley above the
Lamp. This ensures the Lamp and attachments or contacts meeting in their right
position and prevents twisting or revolving.
Our arrangement consists as follows.
A Disc of Wood or other non conducting material is fixed at the top or locality
where the Lanip is hung.
The Disc has two or more Springs securely fixed to it and connected with the
electric wires or leads through the bolts as " terminals."
Attached to these Springs is a Ring of metal, preferably brass, and cut through in
one or more places in a dog tooth form for rubbing contact.
Outside and surrounding the ring or in a groove is fitted an India Rubber ring or
band for ensuring contact when the Lamp is lowered.
A cone of Wood with two or more contact strips of copper or other suitable metal
are secured to it and finish in "Terminals" where the leads are connected up to the
Lamp.
This Cone supports the Lamp which is hung below it on straps of iron passing
through the centre of the Cone and attached also to the sheave pulley for raising the
Lamp.
When the Lamp is raised the Taper Block or Cone enters the Ring and expands it
opening the joints and breaking or diverting the current through the Lamp instead
of through the ring-When the Lamp is lowered the contact ring closes again and
makes direct circuit instead of through the Lamp.
These contacts act in such a way that there is no "Sparking" and as the Lamp
when lowered is entirely isolated from all leads or wires there can be no risk of an
electric shock.
Dated this 14th day of February 1889
W. HUDSON,
Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Switches for Suspended "Arc" Lamps.
We FREDERICK WAGG of Hope Cottage Anglesea Road Woolwich in the county
of Kent Electrician and WASHINGTON HUDSON of 6 Egerton Road Greenwich in
the county of Kent Engineer 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 :-
The objects of our invention are Firstly to maintain the electric circuit whilst the
Lamp is being trimmed and adjusted in a lowered position and "cut out" of circuit,
Secondly to dispense with the usual Switch and all "Sag" or slack wires or "leads."
Thirdly controlling from below without the use of Ladders,

page_text: the Lamp.
33
ACTION OF THE SWITCH APPARATUS.
On slackening the Rope M the Taper Plug F leaves the Ring Cand at the same
time the Lamp is "cut out," by the closing of the Ring which completes the circuit-
The reverse action takes place on tightening the Rope, that is, as soon as the taper
Plug enters the Ring the contact strips G G force open the joints of the split-ring
and make circuit through the Lamp instead of through the Ring direct. The Pulley E
prevents the Lamp and Plug from turning which ensures the polarity of the Carbons
and also makes it easier to raise the Lamp by virtue of the power gained.
This arrangement applies more especially to "Series" lighting, but when applied
to "Parallel lighting the split-ring will be prevented from closing at all, so that the
joints will only require to be open wider. In all other respects the "Switch" and
apparatus will be the same.
In some cases the Taper Plug may be made hollow and loaded up with Lead.
The relative positions of the Switch and the place from which the apparatus is hung
will vary according to the heights and circumstances of fixing. The end of the Rope
may be carried over pulleys and hitched on to a "Cleet" or barrel in a lockup
Cupboard or elsewhere and one or more "Stops," arranged on the rope to prevent
the Lamp from descending beyond a certain distance and at the same time guarding
against accidents.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same, is to be performed, we. declare that what
we claim is
.
1. The method and arrangement substantially as described and shewn.
2. The absolute safety from electric shock directly the Lamp is lowered forming its
own cut out" and substantially as described.
*
3. The Taper Plug with insulated strips and Split Ring with connecting Springs
and India Rubber band forming a "Switch" in the manner described and shewn.
4. The application of the Switch arrangement to either Parallel" or Series
system of lighting substantially as described.
66
"
"
5. The arrangement by which the Lamp is raised and lowered and prevented from
twisting and preventing the polarity of the Carbons substantially as described and
shewn..
Dated this 14th dow of November 1980
W. HUDSON,
For Wagg & Hudson.