, and other
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1890
Figure 8 is a modification of Figure 6, and
Figures 9 and 10 are side elevations of a modification of one of the parts.
In carrying out my invention I take a substance which softens or liquefies at a low
temperature such as bees-wax, tallow, stearine, paraffine, and other softenable
substances.
'
As shown in the first five Figures of the drawing, I make a cylinder or disc A out
of such substances and mount it on a shaft a supported in suitable bearings. I mount
a pulley or sheave B on this same shaft adapted to receive a cord which is wound
around the same and provided with a weight W. This arrangement of a sheave,
cord and weight will constantly tend to rotate the cylinder or disc A in the direction
of the unwinding of the cord. Other means for rotating the disc or cylinder, may be
employed, however, if preferred. In proper relation to this disc or cylinder I arrange
a bracket 1) which is either preferably formed of non-conducting material, or insulated
from its support, as shown in the first five Figures of the drawing. I lead a wire
adapted to carry a current of electricity from any source or generator to the
softenable substance or to a part which is in contact with the softenable substance.
The portion of the circuit or the part heated by the circuit I term a heat conductor K
and this, as above intimated, may either be a section of the circuit as shown in
Figures 3, 5, 8 and 10 or a piece which is in such relation to the circuit as to be
heated by it, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 9. In all the Figures of the
drawing it will be seen that there is a section of the circuit, or a piece heated by a
section of the circuit, which is capable of conducting or imparting heat to the softenable
substance, and in this lies the difference in the application of my idea in the various
Figures of the drawing. In some the heat conductor is formed from a portion of
the circuit which contacts directly with the softenable substance, while in others a
portion of the circuit heats a piece which in turn contacts with the softenable substance.
But in either case the part that is in contact with the softenable substance whether it
be a section of the circuit or a piece heated by a section of the circuit is the part
intended in the Specification and claims by the term heat conductor. Where a
section of the circuit is intended to operate as the heat conductor as, for instance, in

page_text: Figures 3 or 5 it of course should be made of a wire of sufficient resistance to generate
heat at the point where it comes into contact with the softenable substance, and
where a piece is employed which is heated by a section of the circuit, as for illustration,
in Figures 2 or 4 the section imparting heat to such piece should be of sufficient
resistance.to generate heat and heat the piece. This heat conductor, as I have termed
the part in contact with the softenable substance however heated, passes into or through
the softenable substance to be used, which is composed as above stated of a substance
that will soften or liquefy at a low temperature. Where the heat conductor is made
of a piece separate from the circuit and heated by it, the wire conveying the current
of electricity is coiled or wrapped around it, leaving that portion which extends into
or through or comes in contact with the softenable substance intended to be softened
or liquefied by the heat imparted to it from the current of electricity, bare or
uncovered. It will be understood in such case that the wire forming the electric
circuit is insulated from the piece in contact with the softenable substance, so that
the current of electricity merely imparts its heat to the conductor without passing
through the portion in contact with the softenable substance. Where the heat
conductor, however, is composed of a section of the circuit, the wire or section of the
circuit passes through or against the softenable substance the same as the additional
part in the other case. In either application, however, the part in contact with the
softenable substance forms a heat conductor capable of imparting heat to the softenable
substance and causing it to soften or liquefy sufficiently as hereinafter explained.
Where the heat conductor simply comes into contact with the softenable substance,
as in Figures 4 and 5 instead of passing directly through it, as in Figures 1 and 2
and other Figures I prefer to have its end slightly sunk into the surface of the
cylinder and to provide means, as the set screw G for adjusting its depth in or out of
the cylinder.
The portion of the heat conductor which passes through or into the softenable
substance will melt or soften a way for itself therein, so that any force tending to
rotate the disc or cylinder will cause it to revolve constantly and regularly in
proportion to the rapidity with which the material of which it is composed softens
melts or liquefies. If therefore the quantity of the electric current converted into
heat and imparted to the conductor be great, the softening or melting will be rapid,
and if it be small it will be slow; so that at all times the movement of the disc or
cylinder will be dependent on the quantity of the electric current.
In Figures 6, 7 and 8 I have applied the same principle in a somewhat modified
way. Instead of using a disc or cylinder composed of material capable of softening
melting or liquefying, I have placed such material in a tube H provided with slots /
on its opposite sides forming a channel or way from near one end of the tube to the
other. This tube is intended to be made of non-conducting material, and the
brackets D are intended to be arranged at the sides with the heat conductor passing
through the slots in. the tube. If this tube now be filled with a substance which will
soften or melt, or liquefy at a low temperature, and the weight W preferably but not
necessarily be suspended from its bottom, the current of electricity heating the heat
conductor, a way will be melted through the material and the tube caused to gradually
descend in proportion to the rapidity with which the melting or softening occurs.
This will at all times be in proportion to the quantity of electric current imparting
a greater or less amount of heat to the heat conductor. In Figures 9 and 10 I have
shown a heat conductor enlarged and bent in the form of a bow or loop adapted to
have its lower portion arranged in contact with the softenable substance so as to soften
or melt it as in the other cases. In. the one case the current passes entirely
around the bow, while in the other it imparts a sufficient heat to it to make it
operative.
As the material composing the disc or cylinder, or filling the tube, is softened or
melted for the passage of the beat conductor, it will immediately return to its former
place and cool and solidify behind the heat conductor, thus restoring it to its original
shape and condition, and fitting it for a repetition of the operation. In this way the
condition of the substance is constantly maintained, so that the operation may be

page_text: repeated indefinitely. This is particularly true where the arrangement is such as is
shown in Figures 4 and 5 where the heat conductor simply melts a channel or groove
in the top of the cylinder, although I have found it also to be true where the arrange-
ment was that shown in the other figures. Of course it will be understood in reference
to the arrangement shown in figures 6, 7 and 8, that when the heat conductor has
reached the top of the tube it must be slipped out and inserted through the material
again at the bottom of the slot.
In all the means shown in the drawing the same principle of operation is observed
and applied. In all there is an electric circuit, and a portion or section of the circuit
arranged so as to generate and impart heat, which may be termed a heat conductor,
a material composed of a softenable substance, that is, a substance that will soften,
melt or liquefy at a low temperature and harden after uso in an operative position,
arranged in contact with a heat conductor which becomes heated by the passage of
the electricity, the heat conductor and substance being held in fixed relative position
to each other until the conductor is heated, when it softens or melts a way for
itself through the substance in contact with it, and means for automatically
changing the relative positions of the heat conductor and substance as the substance
becomes softened by the heating of the conductor. In all of these cases the rapidity
with which the way for the heat conductor to pass through the softenable substance
will be cut or made is in proportion to the quantity of the electric current passing
through the circuit, by which greater or less heat will be developed in the heat
conductor in contact with the substance, and the weight or force employed to
change the relative positions of the conductor, and substance softened or melted
by it.
I have thus been able to secure an electro-mechanical movement that is at all times;
regular, uniform, and invariably proportioned to the quantity of the electric current.
passing through the circuit, and the force tending to change the relative positions of
the heat conductor and the softenable substance in contact with it. This movement
may be applied to a variety of useful purposes, such as controlling and regulating the
movement of the carbon in electric arc lamps, or by connecting it with the proper
parts from an electrometer for measuring the quantity of electricity which passes
through a circuit. 1 mention these merely as illustrations of the useful purposes to
which my invention may be applied. In a word, 1 may say that it is applicable to
all cases where a movement is required proportioned to the quantity of electricity
employed in the circuit.
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. In an electro-mechanical movement the combination of an electric circuit, a
heat conductor to which heat is imparted by the current in said circuit, a softenable
substance adapted to harden in an operative position in contact with the heat
conductor, such substance and conductor being held in fixed relative positions to each
other until the conductor is heated and means for changing their relative positions
as the substance is softened by the heating of the conductor, substantially as
described.
Second. In an electro-mechanical movement, the combination of an electric circuit,
a heat conductor to which heat is imparted by the current in said circuit, a softenable
substance adapted to harden in an operative position in contact with the heat
conductor, such substance and conductor being held in fixed relative positions to each
other until the conductor is heated, and means, set into operation only by the heating
of the conductor, for changing their relative positions as the substance is softened by
the heating of the conductor, substantially as described.
Third. In an electro-mechanical movement, the combination of an electric circuit,
a beat conductor to which heat is imparted by the current in said circuit, a disc or
cylinder of softenable substance adapted to harden in an operative position in contact
with the heat conductor, such disc or cylinder and conductor being held in fixed

page_text: relative positions to each other until the conductor is heated, and changing their
relative positions as the substance of the disc or cylinder is softened by the heating of
the conductor, substantially as described.
Fourth. In an electro-mechanical movement, the combination of an electric circuit,
a heat conductor to which heat is imparted by the current in said circuit, and a disc
or cylinder of softenable substance, into or through which the heat conductor projects
or passes, such disc or cylinder and conductor being held in fixed relative positions to
each other until the conductor is heated, and changing their relative positions as the
substance of the disc or cylinder is softened by the heating of the conductor projecting
into or passing through the same, substantially as described.
Fifth. In an electro-mechanical movement, the combination of an electric circuit,
a heat conductor to which heat is imparted by the current in said circuit, a disc or
cylinder of softenable substance in contact with the heat conductor, such disc or
cylinder and conductor being held in fixed relative position to each other until the.
conductor is heated, and means for rotating the disc or cylinder as the substance of
the disc or cylinder is softened by the heating of the conductor, substantially as
described.
Dated this 11th day of February 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.