Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov., 1886.
Specification Accepted, 14th Jan., 1887.
I, MARSHAL WHEELER, of Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States of America,
Inventor 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:
My invention relates to an improvement in electric lamps; and it consists in the
combination of a suitable holding device, or cup, the two wires or wire which conduct
the current, an amorphous mass or body of zirconia, in either a powdered or a
solidified form, and which is placed in the cup, recess, or cavity in the holder, and in
which the ends of the wires extend, the electric current being made to pass from one
wire through the zirconia to the other, as will be more fully described hereinafter.
The object of my invention is to utilize the intense light which is produced by
zirconia when heated by an electric current for illuminating purposes.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of an apparatus embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the zirconia disk, which is used to close the top, or recess in
the holder.
A represents a suitable holding device, which may either be of the construction here
shown, or any other that may be preferred, and which is perforated at both of its ends,
so as to allow the platinum wire or wires B, to pass through it. The holder A, is
made of platinum, or other suitable material, which will resist the heat, and is insulated
from the wire or wires B, by a packing of any suitable material.
At or near the centre of the holding device A, is made a suitable recess, pocket, or
cavity, which is filled with amorphous zirconia, either in a powdered, or compressed
state. The manner of preparing the zirconia, or as to whether it is in a powdered
form, or is compressed tightly around the points of the wires B, is immaterial. There
should be sufficient zirconia in the pocket or recess C to give an amount of light in
comparison to the force of the electric current which is passed through the two wires B,
and through the zirconia. If the zirconia is placed in a loose form in the pocket, or

page_text: recess C, it will be securely held therein by the use of a disk D, which is also made
of zirconia, solidified to a suitable extent. As the tips of the wires D, do not touch
cach other, the current passes from these wires through the body G, of the zirconia,
and in the passage of the electric current through this body G, it becomes highly
heated, and throws off an intense light. As the holder A, is here shown, the pocket or
recess is open upon its upper side only, and hence the light will be reflected upward if
turned in that direction, and a reflector of some kind is necessary in order to deflect
the light downward, and obtain the best results. If the holder is turned so as to have
the open end of the pocket extend in any other direction than upward, the light will be
projected in that direction in which it is desired to throw the light. The form of
holder here shown is best adapted for household purposes, for the reason that the light
is thrown upward against the ceiling, and will be reflected back in a soft diffused form,
which especially adapts it for use in a room. As above stated however, I do not
restrict myself to the particular form of holder here shown, for that may be varied at
will according to the use to which it is applied.
By the term "amorphous mass" is meant a body of powdered zirconia which is
placed in a suitable holder without regard to its form.
I am aware that zirconia and carbon have been molded together, and wires passed
through the body thus formed, but in this case the invention consists in a mixture of
zirconia and carbon alone.
I am also aware that a molded body of zirconia has had a recess formed therein, and
in this recess carbons have been placed, and then an electric current passed through both
the enclosing body of zirconia and carbon, and both of these inventions I broadly disclaim.
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 electric lamp, the combination of the conducting wires, a suitable holding
or conducting device which is applied to the wire or wires, and an amorphous mass or
body of zirconia, substantially as shown.
2. The combination of a suitable holding, or supporting device, having a recess or
pocket formed therein, a body or amorphous mass of zirconia, which is placed in said
pocket, and the conducting wires which pass through the supporting device to.
the pocket formed therein, and which have their ends serrated and surrounded by a
mass of zirconia, substantially as described.
3. The combination of a suitable holding or supporting device, provided with a
recess or pocket, an amorphous mass or body of zirconia which is placed in the pocket
around the tips, or points of the two conducting wires, and a disk D, of zirconia placed
in the open end of the pocket, substantially as set forth.
4. In an electric lamp, the combination of the two conducting wires connected with
the terminals of the circuit, the points of which are slightly serrated, and through
which the electric current passes, with a body or amorphous mass of zirconia which is
placed around the tips of the conducting wires, and through a portion of which zirconia
the current passes, whereby the whole mass becomes intensely heated, substantially as
specified.
M. WHEELER.
Pp. Herbert & Co.,
67, Strand, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.