IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION, REGU- LATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC AND ELECTRO-CALCIC LIGHTS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Wentworth Lascelles Scott, A.S.T.E., of Wolverhampton,
in the County of Stafford, Public Analyst, and Sanitary and Telegraphic
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION, REGU-
LATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC AND ELECTRO-CALCIC LIGHTS."
Sealed the 6th May 1879, and dated the 18th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Wentworth Lascelles Scott
'
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th November 1878.
WENTWORTH LASCELLES SCOTT, A.S.T.E., of Wolverhampton, in the County
of Stafford, Public Analyst, and Sanitary and Telegraphic Engineer.
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION, REGULATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC
AND ELECTRO-CALCIC LIGHTS."
My Invention consists, firstly, in the adaptation to and employment in connection
with apparatus and appliances for electric lighting of a condenser or condensers of
suitable construction, the surfaces of such condensers being equivalent to one-and-a-
quarter times (or thereabouts) the surface of the conducting wires, plus such addi-
tional length of the same wire as may be of equal resistance to the resistance of the
burner.
My Invention consists, secondly, in the hereinafter named improvements in the
manufacture and use of electrodes or burners employed in the production and dis-
tribution of electric lights hereinafter denominated "electro-calcic lights."
I take for this purpose blocks, cakes, plates, spheres, domes, discs, cylinders, rods,
sticks, cones, or other suitable forms of lime, magnesia, alumina, or other suitable
oxide of the earthy or alkaline-earthy metals or mixture thereof and affix or place
one or more between or against any wires, points, pencils, or surfaces from which
electric lights, sparks, or incandescence is or are to radiate or be emitted, and I call
such an arrangement an "electro-calcic lamp" or burner."
<<

page_text: I also increase the conductivity or diminish the resistance of such electro-calcic
burners and surfaces by coating, impregnating, or mixing in with their substance
platinum, iridium, silver, copper, graphite, carbon, or other suitable conductor of
electricity, and I employ such metallized or carbonized electro-calcic burners, not
only in the manner herein before described, but also as terminal points, pencils, or
electrodes from which electric lights are produced or emitted.
My Invention consists, thirdly, of the use of platinum or other suitable metal in
the form of wires, helices, spirals, forks, brushes, wedges, and plates with serrated
edges in connection with and juxta-position to the aforesaid electro-calcic burners,
and metallized or carbonized electro-calcic burners and surfaces.
My Invention consists, fourthly, of the application to and use with the aforesaid
electro-calcic electrodes, burners, and surfaces, or any variety thereof, of any suitable
phosphorescent or fluorescent substance or substances in the solid or liquid state,
such as sulphide of calcium, sulphide of strontium chlorophane, .solutions of quinine,
fluoresceine, etc., for the purpose of increasing, diffusing, or otherwise modifying the
light emitted from the aforesaid electro-calcic burners.
My Invention consists, fifthly, in a mode of largely reducing the resistance caused
by any of the electro-calcic burners aforesaid, and of increasing the luminous powers
thereof, by employing at will for the negative electrode a large solid or hollow
reflector of polished metal with or without the use of a stream of cold water for the
purpose of cooling the same.
My Invention consists, sixthly, in increasing, extending, regulating, or otherwise
modifying the luminosity of my electro-calcic burners aforesaid, or any of them, by
enclosing the same in glass globes, tubes, or chambers, and in increasing or
diminishing as desired' the atmospheric pressure therein, and in changing or re-
placing the gaseous or vapourous contents thereof.
My Invention consists, seventhly, of a means of altering the colour of the light
.emitted from my electro-calcic burners when required for signalling, military, naval,
photographic, or other special purposes by adding to the substance thereof (with or
without suitable oxidyzing substances) such metals or compounds as will impart to
the light emitted the desired tint.
My Invention consists, eighthly, in keeping any of my electro-calcic burners or
electrodes while in use (and when the light or lights are not produced by the incan-
descence of a continuous wire or wires as hereinbefore described under the third
part of my Invention) at a proper distance from or contact with each other by
floating one of each pair of such burners or electrodes on or upon some suitable
fluid (for which purpose I prefer mercury), and with or without renewing the
working surface or apex of such electrode by means of a jet of mercury directed
upon and constantly flowing over the same.
My Invention consists, ninthly, in maintaining automatically a constant and
equable light or number of lights by employing a column or jet of mercury kept at
an unvarying level, for and as one of each pair of electrodes, and a metallized
electro-calcic surface for and as the second of each pair of electrodes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Wentworth Lascelles Scott in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 17th May 1879.
WENTWORTH LASCELLES SCOTT, A.S.T.E., of Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Public Analyst, and Chemical, Sanitary, and Telegraphic Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION, REGULATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF
ELECTRIC AND ELECTRO-CALCIC LIGHTS."
My Invention consists, firstly, in the adaptation to and employment in connection
with apparatus and appliances for electric lighting of a condenser or condensers of
suitable construction, the conductive surfaces of which are equivalent to at least
one-and-a-quarter times the surfaces of the conducting wires or bands, plus such
additional length of the same wire or band as may be of equal resistance to the
average resistance of the burner or electro-pyre, near or in connection with which
the said condenser or condensers are placed. Such condensers may be constructed
in several ways, and I do not confine myself to any particular form or mode thereof
for the purposes of this Invention, but I prefer condensers of the kind or form
invented by ine for use in connection with my electro-calcic lights, and which are
hereinafter particularly described, under the designation of (B) "augmentors" or
magnetic condensers."
A. Condensers upon the ordinary or "Fizeans" principle. These condensers as
constructed for the purposes of this Invention are formed of thin plates, bands, or
ribbons of metal (or other good conductor of electricity) insulated from each other'
by the interposition of one or more thicknesses or layers of any suitable insulating
substance or substances, such as caoutchouc, gutta percha, paraffin, wax, or cloth,
felt, paper, or other suitable substance or fabric impregnated or varnished with such
insulating substance, each alternate metallic plate, layer, or surface being in¨
electrical connection with each other and with one of the electrodes or conducting
wires.
"
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B. "Augmentors or magnetic condensers " upon the new or "Scott
principle.
These "augmentors" or "magnetic condensers" I construct in a similar manner
to the condensers herein before described, except that between the metallic plates or
layers thereof I place a layer or stratum of iron (or other magnetic metal) in the
form of plate, sheet, foil, wire, or powder, such iron layer or stratum being insulated
by a coating or covering of any suitable material, and being carefully guarded.
against all contact or electrical connection with the conductive surfaces, on either
side thereof. I prefer for this purpose to employ iron wires placed transversely or
Such conductive
at right angles to the edge of the said conductive layers or bands.
layers, plates, bands, or ribbons I prefer to construct of sheet copper coated super-
ficially with silver, nickel, or tin, but I do not confine myself to this particular
material for such purpose. The said new form of condenser is also available for
other purposes for which such instruments are usually employed, and I find it to
be greatly superior in its effects to the arrangement hitherto known under that
name.
Diagrams illustrative of some forms of condensers or augmentors are herewith
appended.
(C.) In some instances I find it advantageous to replace the conducting lines,
cables, or wires with flat bands or ribbons of suitable metal or metals, of which
several are superimposed one over another, a layer of insulating material sepa-
rating each metallic band from the others (with or without the stratum or layer
of insulated iron before mentioned), thus forming a kind of elongated "augmentor"
or "condenser," which also serves the purpose of a conducting wire or wires.
(D.) I further combine or employ in connection with the said condensers or
augmentors, or any one of them, a "secondary battery" or "secondary batteries,"

page_text: which receive any excess or overplus of electricity which may, when a number of
lamps are in use simultaneously, be set free by the extinguishing of one or more
thereof, and I call such combinations reservoir condensers.
My Invention consists, secondly, in the hereinafter mentioned improvements in
the manufacture and use of electrodes or burners employed in the production and
distribution of electric lights, herein denominated electro-calcic lights.
I take for this purpose blocks, cakes, plates, spheres, domes, discs, cylinders, rods,
sticks, cones (or other suitable forms) of lime, magnesia, alumina, zirconia, or other
suitable metallic oxides or mixtures thereof, and I fix or place one or more between
or against any wires, points, pencils, or surfaces, from which electric light, sparks,
or incandescence does or can radiate, and I call such an arrangement an electro-
calcic burner. I also increase the conductivity or diminish the resistance of such
electro-calcic surfaces and burners by coating, impregnating them or mixing in with
their substance platinum, iridium, palladium, silver, copper, Tungsten iron, graphite,
carbon, or other suitable conductor of electricity; and I employ sucli metallized and
carbonized electro-calcic surfaces and burners, not only in the manner berein-before
described, but also as terminal points, pencils, electrodes, and electro-pyres, from
which electric lights are or can be produced or emitted. I produce, form, or mould
the said electro-calcic compositions into the shapes or configurations required by
means of suitable moulds, cutters, and presses, and I harden, indurate, or render
more compact the said electro-calcic compositions by heating or by alternately
compressing and heating the same with or without the addition of small quantities
of silica or silicates.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in the use of platinum, iridium, palladium, or
other suitable metal in the form of wires, helices, spirals, forks, brushes, wedges,
plates, or other suitable form in connection with and in juxtaposition to the afore-
said electro-calcic and metallized or carbonized electro-calcic electrodes, burners, and
surfaces.
My Invention consists, fourthly, in the application to and use with the aforesaid
electro-calcic electrodes, burners, and surfaces, or any variety thereof, of any suit-
able phosphorescent or fluorescent substance or substances (in the solid or liquid
state), such as sulphide of calcium, sulphide of strontium, chlorophane, solutions of
quinine, esculine, fluoresceine, etc., for the purpose of increasing, colouring, diffusing,
or otherwise modifying the light emitted from the aforesaid electrodes, burners,
and surfaces. In some cases I add a portion of one or other of the aforesaid phos-
phorescent or fluorescent substances to the, or a part of the, aforesaid electro-calcic
compositions, electrodes, burners, or surfaces. In other cases I apply or use one
or other phosphorescent or fluorescent substance, preferably in the liquid con-
ditition in, at, or upon the surface of the reflectors, lamps, globes, shades, or glasses
employed around or near the said electro-calcic electrodes or burners. For this
purpose I prefer to employ double globes, shades, or glasses, and to insert in the
space between the same glass-wool, spun-glass scales, plates, rods, tubes, balls, or
other suitable pieces of glass, or other suitable transparent substance or substances,
and to completely fill the interstices in between and around the said pieces of glass
or other transparent substance or substances, with one or other of the said phos-
phorescent or fluorescent substances, or mixture thereof, in the fluid state or in
solution.
My Invention consists, fifthly, in a mode of largely reducing the resistance of or
caused by the or any of the electro-calcic burners aforesaid by employing for, or in
place of, or in close juxtaposition to one or both of each pair of electro-calcic elec-
trodes, a large metallic reflector or reflectors, with or without the use of a stream of
cold water passing through or around such reflector or reflectors for the purpose of
cooling the same.
My Invention consists, sixthly, in increasing, extending, regulating, or otherwise
modifying the luminosity of my electro-calcic electrodes or burners as aforesaid, or
any of them, by enclosing the same in glass globes, tubes, or chambers, and in

page_text: increasing or diminishing as desired the atmospheric pressure therein, and in
changing or replacing the gaseous or vaporous contents thereof to or with other
suitable gases or vapours.
My Invention consists, seventhly, in altering the colour or tint of the light pro-
duced or emitted from my electro-calcic electrodes or burners when required for
signalling, military, naval, photographic, or other special purposes, by adding thereto
or to the substance thereof (with or without suitable oxidizing substances), such
metals or compounds as will impart to the light emitted the desired tint. Thus if
a red light be required the electro-calcic electrodes or burner should contain in addi-
tion to its other constituents a small quantity of some salt or compound of lithium
or strontium; if a green light be required a thallium compound; if yellow, a salt of
sodium, etc.
My Invention consists, eighthly, in keeping any of my electro-calcic electrodes,
burners, or electro-pyres whilst in use (and when the light or lights is or are not
produced solely by or from the incandescence of one or more continuous or unbroken
wires, rods, or surfaces) at a proper distance from or contact with each other by
means of floating such electrodes, or any of them, in or upon some suitable liquid
(for which purpose I prefer to use mercury), and with or without at the same time
renewing or changing the working surface or apex of such electrodes by means of a
jet or stream of mercury or other suitable fluid directed upon or flowing over the
same. I prefer for this purpose to employ an inverted syphon or U shaped tube
containing mercury, in one arm of which tube slides a hollow cylinder or "float,"
to the upper part of which (by means of a socket or otherwise) is attached a rod,
burner, stick, or "pencil" of "electro-calcic composition" (or compressed carbon or
other suitable material), the whole being so arranged that the column of mercury
in the second or outer arm of the tube precisely. balances the weight of the said
float and "pencil" or electro-pyre when adjusted to the height or position required.
An annular syphon may be similarly used in place of the said U-shaped tube.
2
My Invention consists, ninthly, in maintaining a constant and equable light (or
number of lights) by employing a steam column or jet of mercury (or other suitable
fluid) kept at a constant level for and as one of each pair of electrodes, and a
metallized or carbonized electro-calcic surface for and as the second of such pair of
electrodes.
I take, employ, and use as a source of electricity any suitable battery, magneto-
electric, or electro-dynamic machine, but I obtain from such batteries or machines
from fifty to three hundred per cent. additional light per pound of zinc dissolved or
per horse power expended by means of the several contrivances and arrangements
devised by me as herein-before described in this Specification.
If the conducting cables, lines, or wires, through or along which the electric
current or currents pass to and from the batteries or machines and the lamps or
burners supplied, fed, or lighted therefrom, be formed of a number of flat bands or
ribbons of insulated metal (as described in the first part of this statement or Speci-
fication, paragraph "C") I prefer to cause the said current or currents to pass
intermittently and consecutively along each alternate band or ribbon (by means of
any suitable commutator) in such manner that such current or currents, and con-
sequently the lights produced therefrom, are strengthened or augmented by the
induced currents arising from or occasioned by the closing and opening of the said
initial current. I use or employ one or more of the augmentors or condensers
herein-before described (for the purpose of increasing the amount and brilliancy of
the lights) placed underneath or as near as may be to each lamp or each group of
lamps.
My electro-calcic compositions, burners, and electrodes are adapted for lighting
streets and public places and buildings and private dwellings, and I alter or modify
the lamps, burners, and other arrangements to suit the special requirements of each
variety of such lighting, employing at will continuous, intermittent, or alternating
.currents, as may be most advantageous.

page_text: در
DESCRIPTION OF DIAGRAMS.
Diagrams 1, 2, & 3, show the construction in vertical section of electro-calcic
augmentors or condensers on the common principle, the dark lines A, A, and B, B,
representing the metallic plates or bands separated by (white) insulating sub-
stances, 1 a, 2 a, and 3 a being horizontal sections of same; 4 shows the structure of
the "Scott" augmentors; 5, a spiral variety thereof. The iron layer is represented
in both by dots; 6 and 6a are respectively section and plan of an electro-calcic
sun burner formed of concentric rings of metal and electro-calcic composition
alternately arranged; 7 and 7a exhibit the regulator or "balance" float berein-
before described; 8 shows an electro calcic "hour glass lamp" for bed-room or
other use; 9, a mercurial "shunt" for use between lamps and condensers, etc.; 10,
an "incandescent" domestic lamp; and 11a, street lamp in section. A being
reflector.; B, electro-calcic (or other) pencil; and C, double fluorescent diffusing
globes or shade.
Having thus particularly described the nature of my said Invention, and
explained the manner in which the same is to be performed or employed (without
however limiting myself to any one particular form or mode of carrying out any
part or parts of such Invention as herein described by way of example or illustra-
tion), I claim,―
८८
".
Firstly. The use of any form or kind of "condenser " or condensers in con-
nection or combination with my electro-calcic lights, burners, or system.
Secondly. The manufacture and use in connection with the electro-calcic or other
mode of electro lighting, or for any other purposes for which electrical condensers
are usually employed, of my special "augmentors" (or magnetic condensers), as
described in the first section of this my Specification, paragraphs "(B)."
Thirdly. The manufacture and use (as described) in the first section of this my
Specification, paragraph C) of condensing conductors formed of (at least) 3 or more
insulated metallic bands or ribbons. I do not claim however the manufacture or
use of single or double flat conductors, or other metallic conductors, when not
intended or used as "condensers " as well as conductors of electrical currents.
Fourthly. The manufacture and use in combination of condensers and secondary
batteries as augmenting and conserving the power of electricity when employed for
lighting purposes.
-
Fifthly. The use of lime, magnesia, alumina, zirconia, or other suitable oxide or
oxides, as material for the production of electro-calcic electrodes, burners, and
surfaces.
Sixthly. The use of combinations or mixtures of any two or more such oxides as
applied to increase the luminosity of electric lights, as herein-before described, inas-
much as according to my Invention such combinations or mixtures when heated
by the electric arc or current emit more light than any one of their compounds so
heated.
Seventhly. The manufacture and use of electro-calcic and metallized and car-
bonized electro-calcic compositions, electrodes, electropyres, burners, and surfaces.
Eighthly. The disposition and use of platinum, iridium, palladium, or other
suitable metal or mixture of metals in any suitable form, or in a finely divided
state, in combination with the or any of the said electro-calcic and metallized and
carbonized electro-calcic compositions, for the purposes herein described.
Ninthly. The use and application in or to the said electro-calcic compositions or
electro-calcic lamps, burners, or the globes or glasses employed with the same, of
any suitable phosphorescent or fluorescent substance or substances.
Tenthly. The manufacture and use of globes, shades, and glasses, for the better
diffusion of electric lights of any variety by the employment of double glasses, the
space between which is filled in with glass wool, balls, rods (or other suitable
pieces of glass), soaked, immersed, filled, or wetted with any suitable phosphorescent
or fluorescent substance, fluid, or solution.

page_text: Eleventhly. The combination of reflectors and electrodes in one, as herein-before
described.
Twelfthly. The manufacture and use of lamps or globes (for and with electro-
calcic electrodes), in which carbonic acid or other suitable gas or vapour is intro-
duced at a pressure similar to or greater or less than that of the atmosphere.
Thirteenthly. The use of any suitable metal or compound in addition to or in
combination with any of my electro-calcic compositions or electrodes for the purpose
of changing or modifying the colour of the light emitted therefrom.
Fourteenthly. The keeping one or more of my electro-calcic electrodes whilst
burning in its due place, level, or position, by means of the "syphon" (which
may be U-shaped or annular) or "balance" float arrangement, as herein-before
described.
Fifteenthly. The employment of mercury as one of each pair of electrodes when
desired.
Sixteenthly. The manufacture, use, and employment of any of the preceding, con-
jointly or separately.
In witness whereof, I, the said Wentworth Lascelles Scott, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
Eighteen hundred and seventy nine.