Improvements in and relating to Electric Lamps or Lighting Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 13th Sept., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE CURTIS PYLE, of Indianapolis, Indiana,
United States of America, Electrician.]
Improvements in and relating to Electric Lamps or Lighting
Apparatus.
I HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southamption Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 said invention, while it relates to electric-arc lamps generally is particularly
designed for use in connection with those employed with locomotive electric head-
lights.
It consists in certain details of construction and arrangements of parts whereby an
even and regular feed of the carbons is maintained, whereby said carbons are firmly
supported in proper relation, whereby an equal resistance is maintained in said carbons
notwithstanding their varying lengths, and whereby the lamp is enabled to withstand
sudden shocks without disarrangement of the mechanism of varying the intensity of
the light, all as will be hereinafter described.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lamp embodying my said invention.
Figure 2 a rear elevation of the same.
Figure 3 a vertical sectional view looking toward the left from the dotted line 3 3
in Figure 1.
Figure 4 a similar view looking toward the right from the dotted line 4 4.
Figure 5 a similar view looking toward the left from the dotted line 5 5.
Figure 6, a similar view looking toward the right from the dotted line 66, and
particularly showing the guide for the carbons.
Figure 7 a top or plan view of the lamp.
Figure 8 a horizontal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, looking downwardly
from the dotted line 8 8 in Figure 1.
Figure 9 a similar view looking upwardly from the dotted line 9 9, but diverging to
include the arm G, as indicated in Figure 2.
Figure 10 a horizontal sectional view through one of the carbons and its guide on
the dotted line 10 10 in Figure 6, and
Figure 11 a view of the clutch and brake mechanism separately as seen from the
dotted line 11 11 in Figure 1, the adjacent parts being shown in dotted lines.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar paris.
In said drawings the portions marked A represent the frame of the lamp; B the
frame carrying the upper carbon; C the frame carrying the lower carbon D the
shaft of the gearing by which the movement of said carrying-frames is effected; E a
clutch-wheel on said shafts by which said movement is regulated; F the coil of the
solenoid by which the mechanism is governed; G an arm pivoted on the shaft I) and
carrying the brake and clutch which engage with the wheel E and which is also
attached to and governed by the core of the solenoid; H a guide by which the points
of the carbons are held at all times in proper relation; I and J the incoming and
outgoing line-wires, and K K' the carbons."
The frame A is mounted in a base A¹ and should be formed of brass or some other
diamagnetic material. It is made adjustable vertically in its bearings in said base or
means of lever A² operated by a screw A2, which is pivoted to a boss on the base and
extends through the side of its upright part to beneath the lower end of the frame A,
where it fits into a notch in said frame and thus holds it from turning in its bearings.
A set screw A³ is provided by which when the desired adjustment is effected the frame

page_text: can be secured rigidly to position. Said frame is provided with bearings for the
carbon carrying frames B and C as well as for the mechanism by which they are
operated. An arm on said frame carries the said solenoid F and binding posts a
for the incoming and outgoing line-wires I and J.
The carbon-carrying frame B consists of a rod (which is preferably hollow to secure
lightness) with a cross arm B₁ on its upper end, which extends out and carries the
carbon which cross-arm is formed with an enlarged end b' on the opposite side to the
carbon, which serves as a counter-balance therefor. Its vertical portion is mounted
in a corresponding bearing in frame A, and is provided with a rack-bar bon one side,
with which wheel d on the shaft engages, whereby it is operated. The end which
carries the carbon is formed in a separate piece and insulated from the other portion
of the cross-arm (see Figure 1), and is provided with a clamp B2 by which the carbon
is held which clamp is preferably operated by a thumb-screw b². A stop a prevents
this frame from descending too far, either when there are no carbons in the lamp or
the carbons have been burned to their practicable limit.
The frame C is very similar to the frame B, except that it is placed in a reverse
position and is geared to move in operation only about half as fast as said frame B
as is common in lamps of this character.
The shaft D is mounted in bearings in the frame A and carries the clutch-wheel E.
It also carries small pinions d' and d which engage with the rack bars on the frames B
and C.
The wheel E as shown most plainly in Figure 8, is a combined friction and clutch
wheel, and is operated (as will be presently described) by the solenoid through the
medium of the brake and clutch attached thereto. Its operation will be described in
connection with the operation of said brake and clutch.
The coil F and the core F' compose an ordinary "solenoid so far as its general
construction is concerned, and it is operated by the variation in the electric current
in an ordinary and well-known manner. Said core is connected to the clutch and
brake mechanism by a pivoted bar A on the frame A and appropriate connecting
rods attached to its ends.
The arm G is pivoted at its inner end on the shaft D. To an arm g on one side
is secured the connecting rod by which through the bar A it is connected to
the core of the solenoid. To its extreme outer end is secured the clutch-bar G¹
and to a projection g² is secured the brake G. The clutch-bar G' extends up along-
side the wheel E, and has a curved end which rests on a small roller a³ which is
mounted on a stud-shaft A on the frame A. About midway its length it is provided
with a clutch pin or pawl g which engages with the teeth on the clutch-wheel E.
It is held into contact with the roller a or the surface of the wheel E, according to
its location, by a small spring s. The face of the brake G2 should be armed with a
piece of leather or other fabric which will adhere to the surface of the wheel when
in contact therewith and retaŕd its motion. An arm A which projects out from
the frame A supports this mechanism when not sustained by the force of the
solenoid, and a spring G³ attached.to the brake G2 not only holds this brake in contact
with the periphery of the wheel E, but also holds the brake and clutch mechanism so
that it rests upon the arm A when not raised by the action of the solenoid. The
curvature of the inner end of the clutch bar G₁is such that when it is held down
in this position said inner end will be raised sufficiently by its contact with the roller a
so that clutch-pin g' will be above the points of the teeth of the clutch-wheel, thus
permitting said clutch-wheel to revolve without obstruction from such clutch-pin.
When, however, the solenoid is energized by the increase of the electric current
passing through it, its core is drawn down in the ordinary manner, bringing the
clutch-ping into contact with a tooth of said wheel and preventing its further
rotation. In practice the current passing through the coil of the solenoid is just
strong enough, to hold the clutch parts into engagement, but when the carbons aro
burned away the current becomes weakened permitting the clutch mechanism to drop
and disengage, and allowing the weight of the carbon-carrying frames, acting through
the shaft Ď and gear-wheels thereon, to revolve said shaft, together with the clutch-

page_text: wheel, whereby the carbons are enabled to approach each other and re-establish their
normal condition.
An important feature in the construction of my lamp is the balancing of parts by
making the lower carbon-carrying frame and the core of such weight that the
leverage on the arm G will enable them to operate as though of substantially
equal weight with the upper carbon-carrying frame, so that except for the spring G
the parts would remain in any position in which they might be placed. This result
is accomplished by means of the gearing which engages with the vertical portions
of the carbon-carrying frames through which gearing the weight of the core of
the solenoid is enabled to operate thereon, said core being connected to said gearing
through the bar A+, the rod f2 the arm G and the parts immediately connected
therewith. When the spring G³ is removed the weight of said solenoid-core holds
the mechanism in such a position that the clutch-pin 'g' is held constantly into
engagement with a tooth on the wheel E and the sizes of said wheel and the
other gearing are so proportioned that when the weight of said core is thus added
to the periphery of said wheel (through said wheel, the pinions, and their common
shaft) the exact balancing between the two carbon-carrying frames, before described
is secured. When however, the spring G³ is attached it operates against the
weight of said core, raising it, relieving the wheel E and permitting the carbon-
carrying frames to approach each other, except when the solenoid is energized
sufficiently to counteract the force of the spring and hold the devices into engage-
ment, as before described. Thus except at the times when the current has operated
to disengage these parts they are exactly balanced and no jar upon the lamp,
however violent, is capable of varying the arc unless the mechanism is at the same
time injured.
The guide H is held in an arm H, which is secured on the frame A by an
insulated connection. It consists, substantially of a vertical bar carrying two
loops H H through which the points of the carbons extend, between which loops
said carbons come together to form the arc. Said loops are attached to said bar
by an insulated connection and are also preferably covered with an insulating
preparation as well as that portion of the bar adjacent to them. In the point of
each loop is an anti-friction roller against which one side of the carbon rests,
and between the arms of said loops, opposite to said rollers, are small springs h¹ which
hold them in contact therewith. Said guide may be varied in its vertical position as
it is held upon the arm H by a clamp H2, having a clamp-screw /².
The wires I and J are the ordinary outgoing and incoming line-wires. The
extensions of 1, J1 of said wires which run from the solenoid to the carbons, are
connected to said carbons through the loops H³ H* instead of to the upper and lower
carbon-carrying frames, as is common. By this means exactly the same amount of
resistance is maintained at all times, so far as the carbons are concerned, as the current
enters them always at a uniform distance from their points.
The carbons K K₁ are ordinary carbons for the purpose, such as are commonly
used in electric-arc lamps.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my fereign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:
First. The combination in an electric-arc lamp of upper and lower carbon-carrying
frames arranged to feed toward each other, interposed gearing engaging with both
frames, a clutch-wheel mounted on the same shaft as said gearing, a clutch-arm pivoted
on said shaft a solenoid a pivoted lever and connections extending thereto from said
solenoid and said clutch-arm and a spring operating to oppose the force of the solenoid,
substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination in an electric-arc lamp, of a combined clutch and friction-
wheel, an arm pivoted to the same shaft therewith and carrying both a clutch and a
brake, the solenoid, and a connection between said arm and said solenoid, whereby said
clutch and said brake are operated substantially as set forth.

page_text: Third. The combination in an electric-arc lanip of the clutch-wheel the clutch, the
spring for retracting said clutch, and an arm A° whereby the movement caused by said
spring is limited substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination in an electric-arc lamp, of the clutch-wheel, the clutch-bar
having a curved end, and a roller or support extending from the frame underneath
said clutch-bar whereby as the operated end of the clutch bar descends the contact
between its curved end and said support will throw the clutch out of engagement,
substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination, in an electric-arc lamp, of a clutch-wheel mounted on the
shaft which also carries the gearing whereby the carbon-carrying frames are operated
an arm also pivoted on said shaft, a clutch pivoted to said arm, a brake also pivoted to
said arm, and a solenoid by which the whole is operated substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination in an electric-arc lamp, of the upper and lower carbon-
carrying frames constructed of different weights, and arranged to feed toward and
from each other interposed feeding mechanism and a solenoid-core connected to said
mechanism, (the movement of said carbon-carrying frames being thus controlled) said
solenoid-core being made of the proper weight to balance said carbon-carrying frames
notwithstanding the difference in their weight, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination, in an electric-are lamp of the carbon-carrying frames,
interposed gearing, clutch mechanism engaging with said gearing, and a solenoid the
- core of which is connected to said clutch mechanism by means of levers, said core
being of an adjusted weight whereby the difference in weight between said carbon-
carrying frames is compensated for, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The combination, in a carbon-guide for electric-arc lamps, of the main bar to
said guide, two arms containing loops or ways for the carbons anti-friction rollers in
said loops or ways, and springs, whereby said carbons are held into contact with said
rollers, substantially as set forth..
Ninth. The combination in an electric-arc lamp, of the main frame, the upper and
lower carbon-carrying frames, the mechanism for feeding said carbon-carrying frames
toward and from each other a guide-arm extending up alongside the carbons, and two
guides mounted on said guide arms but insulated therefrom and extending out therefrom
and embracing the carbons at substantially equal distances from their points and the
conductor-wires connected to said guides, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The combination, with an electric-arc lamp, of a base embodying a socket
into which the lower end of the lamp-frame is fitted and extends, a lever mounted on
a pivot in cars on said base, the inner end of which extends through the side of said
base below the lower end of said lamp-frame, and an adjusting-screw whereby said
lever may be moved up and down, and the lamp-frame thus raised or lowered in relation
to said base, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 5th day of August 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.