IMPROVEMENTS IN REGULATORS FOR THE ELECTRIC LIGHT
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REGULATORS FOR THE ELECTRIC
LIGHT." A communication from abroad by Francisque Million, Engineer, of
Cours Morand, Lyons, in the Republic of France.
aled the 20th January 1880, and dated the 30th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
•
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th July 1879.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REGULATORS FOR THE ELECTRIC LIGHT." A communication from abroad
by Francisque Million, Engineer, of Cours Morand, Lyons, in the Republic of
France.
In regulators of electric light hitherto employed, such as those of Foucault and
Dubose, Serrin, and others, a spring acts constantly upon the arrangement of
supports to cause the carbons to approach each other whilst the current tends
constantly to separate them.
There results from this at each variation in the intensity, of the current very
injurious effects of oscillation, but-they-have a more serious inconvenience; it is
that, whatever may be the force of the current, the carbons are separated from each
other so as to bring its intensity up to that necessary to maintain the spring in
equilibrium, the remainder being expended in the production of the luminous arc..
It is therefore impossible to place many lamps upon the same circuit, as that whose
spring or mechanism would have the least resistance would absorb for its use the
entire force of the current, except that which maintains its spring in equilibrium,.
and which would not be sufficient to act upon the other springs supposed to be,
stronger. It is therefore necessary to have a special circuit and generator of
electricity for each luminous point.
The object of the present Invention is to remedy these inconveniences by a.com-
pletely different action of the regulating mehcanism, and at the same time to simplify
the arrangement and the construction of the apparatus to enable it to enter-prac-
tically into the daily uses to which it is desired to apply the electric light..
-I will describe first the general principles of the apparatus. The carbons are
carried by supports which slide vertically, and are formed with rack teeth to gear

page_text: with a toothed pinion, which according as it turns to the right or to the left causes
the points of the carbons to approach or separate from each other. Upon the axis
of this pinion is fixed a larger wheel, toothed around its circumference, and upon
which acts a regulating instrument carried by a balance or pendulum, which is
furnished with an iron armature operated by the electro magnet traversed by the
current. Two stops limit the motion of this balance or pendulum, which is drawn
back by a spring in opposition to the électro-magnet. The regulating instrument
is formed simply of a tooth fixed to the extremity of a spring carried by a cross
piece fixed to the balance or pendulum, and the tension of which is regulated by a
screw.
In repose the regulating tooth is disengaged from the large wheel, and the carbons
completely free are consequently in contact by the simple weight of their balanced
supports.
If the current is caused to pass the armature will be attracted, the regulating
tooth will become engaged in the toothed wheel, and cause it to turn to separate
the carbons a very small distance limited by one of the stops. This movement will
cause a very small luminous arc, which will become larger only by the consumption
of the carbons. Just at the moment when the magnetic action of the electro-
magnet might be overcome by the spring the regulating tooth will then return
little by little behind, causing the carbons to approach each other to establish the
equilibrium until it abandons the toothed wheel. At this moment the carbons
becoming free approach each other by their weight, and the current recovering its
intensity the tooth re-engages instantly in the next tooth of the wheel, again
separates the carbons a small distance, and the same operations recommence.
It will be seen by this that the regulating tooth has the effect of causing the.
carbons to approach each other in proportion to their consumption, but that it
cannot separate them more than a determined limit, which is fixed by the position
of the stops, which can be varied at will. This enables the force of a single current
to be divided to produce in a series of lamps luminous arcs so small that their total
resistance shall not exceed that of the current, which solves very simply the problem
of the division of the electric light as much as it is possible_to_be.done-with-the-
present sources of electricity.
I have hitherto supposed a direct current traversing the electro magnet and pro-
ducing the light, but frequently alternate currents have to be utilized, which are
produced by various magneto electric machines.
In this case the interposition in the current of a certain number of electro-magnets
becomes defective by reason of the numerous induced currents which arise to trouble
the magnetic action and to destroy a great part of the force of the principal
-current.
There could be created in this case a special direct current proceeding from a
battery or from any other source to traverse all the electro magnets of the regu-
lators; this current will be regulated by a single regulator coinposed of an electro
magnet placed in the principal current, and acting upon a moveable contact retained
by an antagonistic spring, which gives to the current from the battery the order of
acting or not upon the electro magnets of the lamps.
This secondary current may vary in a direct or in an inverse manner to that of
the principal current. In this latter case, as it would tend to cause the carbons
to approach each other when the principal current would diminish, the antagonistic
spring should be placed in inverse position to separate them.
The right is reserved of replacing in all cases the electro magnets by solenoids;
in this case the solenoid attracts a soft iron.rod fixed to the balance or pendulum,
and produces the same effects. The motion is also in this case limited by two
stops.
Lastly, it is proposed to cause each regulator to operate by a current derived from
the principal current, and composed of a very fine wire, which will form either the
electro magnet or the solenoid of the previous cases. With this arrangement the
greater the separation of the carbons the more the resistance of the principal

page_text: current will increase, and consequently the more electricity will pass into the derived
current. Magnetic force should therefore be employed to cause the carbons to
approach each other, and the spring should be again reversed to separate them.
This employment of derived currents permits of borrowing from the principal
current only a portion of electricity just sufficient for the operations of the regulator,
whilst the direct interposition in a powerful current of magnetic apparatus causes
the rapid deteriortion of it, and uselessly exhausts this current.
I will now pass to the details of construction.
The carbons are fixed to their supports by simple binding screws, which hold
them in an angular hole which can thus receive carbons-of-very-different
diameters.
The two supports are guided at their lower part by rollers turning upon four
fixed shafts, which serve as columns to carry a table or gallery. The guiding of
the supports is completed by three other rollers fixed to the said table or gallery by
a small framing which carries the entire movement, and by a tube which is raised
just to the height of contact of the carbons.
The, current does not touch any piece in friction; it traverses the carbons by the
intervention of two small fixed columns and of two portions of flexible wire which
are attached to the supports without interfering with them in their movements. It
follows from this that by simply insulating the upper part of the support and the small
column which transmits the current to it all the rest of the apparatus may be charged
with the electricity of the upper carbon without any inconvenience.
The tension of the antagonistic spring is regulated by a screw; it can further be
hooked to the balance or pendulum upon hooks placed at different heights to act
upon a longer or shorter lever. The symmetrical arrangement of the framing
permits this spring to be hooked to the right or left side according to the kind of
regulation adopted. Lastly, the table or gallery can be if desired covered with a
globe or other shaped glass to retard the combustion of the carbons.
These details of construction may nevertheless be modified, particularly by
replacing the regulating tooth by a shoe forming a break upon a loose wheel.
There can also be mounted upon the same regulator either several pairs of parallel
carbons or flat carbons cut into plates, and larger or smaller. In these various cases
there will only be the form of the supports to be modified.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th January 1880.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REGULATORS FOR THE ELECTRIC LIGHT." A communication from
abroad by Francisque Million, Engineer, of Cours Morand, Lyons, in the Republic
of France.
In regulators of electric light hitherto employed, such as those of Foucault and
Dubose, Serrin, and others, a spring acts constantly upon the arrangement of
supports to cause the carbons to approach each other whilst the current tends
constantly to separate them. There results from this at each variation in the
intensity of the current very injurious effects of oscillation, but they have a more
serious inconvenience. It is that, whatever may be the force of the current, the
carbons are separated from each other so as to bring its intensity up to that necessary
to maintain the spring in equilibrium, the remainder being expended in the pro-
duction of the luminous arc. It is therefore impossible to place many lamps upon
the same circuit, as that whose spring or mechanism would have the least resistance
would limit the quantity of the current to that which maintains its spring in
equilibrium, and which would not be sufficient to act upon the other springs supposed
to be stronger. It is therefore necessary to have a special circuit and generator, of
electricity for each luminous point.
The object of the present Invention is to remedy these inconveniences by a com-
pletely different action of the regulating nechanism, and at the same time to
simplify the arrangement and the construction of the apparatus to enable it to
enter practically into the daily uses to which it is desired to apply the electric
light.
I will describe first the general principles of-the-apparatus-represented in the
accompanying Drawings, of which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation; and Figure 2,
a sectional plan drawn on the line 1, 2; of Figure 1, representing one form of the
present Invention, modifications of which are shown at Figures 3 and 4
c, c¹, are the carbons carried by the supports a, a¹, which slide vertically, and are
formed with rack teeth to gear with the toothed pinion b, which according as it
turns to the right or to the left causes the points of the carbons to approach or
recede from each other. Upon the axis of this pinion is fixed a larger wheel d,
. toothed around its circumference, and upon which acts the regulating instrument e,
carried by the balance or pendulum f, which is furnished with an iron armature g
operated by the electro magnet h traversed by the current. Two stops i, i, limit the
motion of this balance or pendulum, which is drawn back by a spring j in opposition
to the electro magnet. The regulating instrument is formed simply of a tooth e
fixed to the extremity of a spring carried by a crosspiece fixed to the balance or
pendulum f; the tension of this spring is regulated by the screw 8.
'
In repose the regulating tooth is disengaged from the wheel d, and the
carbons, completely free, are consequently in contact by the simple weight of their
balanced supports.
If the current is caused to pass the armature g will be attracted, the tooth e will
become engaged in the toothed wheel, and cause it to turn to separate the carbons
a very small distance, limited by the stop it. This movement will cause a very
small luminous arc, which will become larger only by the consumption of the
carbons until the moment when the magnetic action of the electro magnet might
be overcome by the spring j; the regulating tooth.will then return little by little
behind, causing the carbons to approach each other to establish the equilibrium
until it abandons the toothed wheel. At this moment the carbons becoming free

page_text: approach each other by their weight, and the current recovering its intensity the
tooth e re-engages instantly in the next tooth of the wheel, again separates the
carbons a small distance, and the same operations recommence.
It will be seen by this that the regulating tooth has the effect of causing the
carbons to approach each other in proportion to their consumption, but that it
cannot separate them more than a determined limit, which is fixed by the position
of the stops i, ¹, which can be varied at will. This enables the force of a single
current to be divided to produce in a series of lamps luminous arcs so small that
their total resistance shall not exceed that of the current, which solves very simply
the problem of the division of the electric light as much as it is possible to be done
with the present sources of electricity.
I have hitherto supposed a direct current traversing the electro magnet, and
producing the light; but frequently alternate currents have to be utilized, which
are furnished by various magneto or dynamo electric machines.
In this case the interposition in the current of a certain number of electro-
magnets becomes defective by reason of the numerous induced currents which arise
to trouble the magnetic action, and to destroy a great part of the force of the
principal current.
There could be created in this case a special direct current proceeding from a
battery or from any other source to traverse all the electro-magnets of the regulators.
This current will be regulated by a single regulator composed of an electro magnet
placed in the principal current, and acting upon a moveable contact retained by an
antagonistic spring, and which gives to the current from the battery the order of
acting or not upon the electro magnets of the lamps.
This secondary current may vary in a direct or in an inverse manner to that of
the principal current. In this latter case, as it would tend to cause the carbons
to approach each other when the principal current would diminish, the antagonistic
spring should be placed in inverse position to separate them.
The right is reserved of replacing in all cases the electro magnets by solenoids.
Figure 3 shows an example of one. In this case the solenoid h attracts the soft
iron rod g fixed to the balance or pendulum and produces the same effects; the
motion is also in this case limited by two stops i, i'.
Lastly, it is proposed to cause each regulator to operate by a current derived
from the principal current, and composed of a very fine wire which will form either
the electro magnet or the solenoid of the previous cases.
With this arrangement the greater the separation of the carbons (he more the
resistance of the principal current will increase and consequently the more electricity
will pass into the derived current; the magnetic force of the latter should therefore
be employed to cause the carbons to approach each other, and the spring should be
again reversed to separate them.
This employment of derived currents permits of borrowing from the principal
current only a portion of electricity just sufficient for the operations of the regulator,
whilst the direct interposition in a powerful current of magnetic apparatus causes
their rapid deterioration, and uselessly exhausts this current.
The inverse action of derived currents is employed in the arrangement repre-
sented at Figure 4, in which the balance or pendulum attracted to one side by tho
solenoid in the principal current is held on the other side by the solenoid h¹ in a
derived current, which thus replaces the spring.
A similar arrangement can be produced with electro-magnets.
I will now pass to the details of construction.
The carbons c, c', are fixed. to their supports a, a, by simple binding screws,.
which hold them in an angular hole, which can thus receive carbons of very
different diameters.
The two supports are guided at their lower part by rollers m, m,running upon
four fixed rods 1, 1, which serve as columns to carry the table or gallery D. The
guiding of the supports is completed by three rollers k, l, k, fixed to the table or

page_text: gallery D by a small framing which carries the entire movement, and by the tube n¹1
which is raised just to the height of contact of the carbons, and by a guider sliding
along this tube.
The current does not touch any piece in friction; it is conveyed to the carbons
by the intervention of two small fixed columns n, nl, and of two portions of flexible
wire o, o¹, which are attached to the supports without interfering with them in their
movements. It follows from this that by simply insulating the upper part p of the
support a', and the small column n' which transmits the current to it, all the rest
of the apparatus may without any inconvenience remain charged with the electricity
of the upper carbon.
The tension of the antagonistic spring is regulated by a screw x; it can further
be hooked to the balance or pendulum upon hooks placed at different heights to act
upon a longer or shorter lever. The symmetrical arrangement of the framing
perimits this spring to be hooked to the right or left side, according to the kind of
regulation adopted. Lastly, the table or gallery D can if desired be covered with a
bell or other shaped glass to retard the combustion of the carbons.
These details of construction may nevertheless, as may be required, be modified,
particularly by replacing the tooth e by a shoe, forming a break upon a loose
wheel.
There can also be mounted upon the same regulator either several pairs of
parallel carbons or flat carbons cut into plates, and larger or smaller. In these
various cases it will only be necessary to modify the form of the supports.
In recapitulation. The Invention rests,-
First. Upon the limited regularization of the separation of the carbons, enabling
the current to be divided between several regulators upon the same circuit.
Second. Upon the employment of a special or derived current, permitting of
employing for the regulator less than the entire force of the principal current.
"
Third. Upon the simplicity of the apparatus, which enables it to enter into
practical use, and to be maintained and repaired by any ordinary workman.
According to the applications and the nature of the current provided this apparatus
can. be operated,-
First. With an electro magnet in the direct or principal current.
Second. With a solenoid in the direct or principal current.
Third. With the same parts in a derived current by changing the direction of
action of the springs.
Fourth. With the same parts placed in a special current regulated by the principal
current.
Fifth. With two electro magnets or solenoids placed one in the direct current, the
other in a derived current replacing the spring.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and modes in which the
same may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,
the improvements in regulators for the electric light, substantially as herein shown
and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of January, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
B. J. B. MILLS. (L.S.)