IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING LIGHT BY ELECTRICITY
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thomas Way, of Welbeck Street, Cavendish
Square, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OBTAINING LIGHT BY ELECTRICITY."
"
I..
Sealed the 12th March 1858, and dated.the 10th November 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. left by the said John Thomas Way at
the Office of the Commissioners of. Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th November 1857.
I, JOHN THOMAS WAY, of Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the 'Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN OBTAINING LIGHT BY ELECTRICITY," to be as follows:
When a jet or jets of mercury connected with one pole of the battery is
directed upon a point of charcoal or other conducting substance in connection
with theother pole of the battery, the charcoal or other conducting substance
is liable to be consumed, in which case the focal distance is altered, and the
brilliancy of the light is impaired.
Now, one part of my Invention consists in so arranging the charcoal or
other conducting substance forming the solid electrode, that it shall be con-
tinually renewed and presented to the stream of the flowing electrode at a
constant distance from the orifice of the jet from which the latter issues. This
object may be effected in one or other of the following ways, or otherwise:-
I arrange cylinders or rods of charcoal or other conducting material opposite
to each other, and cause them to be pressed together by springs, or other con-

page_text: venient mechanism. Upon the point where the ends of the rods meet, I
direct the jet or jets of mercury, which, by proper means of adjustment, as
described in my former Patents, may be fixed at the focal distance or breaking
point of the stream.
It is important that the pressure applied to the different rods of charcoal or
other conducting material should be as nearly as possible the same. I some-
times employ for this purpose, in place of springs, the following arrangement:-
Cylinders of iron or steel, or other suitable material are fitted with pistons,
which, in moving, press the conducting rods against each other; at the back
of these pistons mercury is introduced by pipes leading from a cistern above,
and by this column of mercury, the rods of charcoal or other conducting
material are pressed forward with great equality. Instead of pressing rods of
charcoal or other conducting substance against each other, one such rod
may be pressed against a piece of lime, phosphate of lime, or other com-
paratively infusible material, the flowing electrode being directed against the
point of junction. A surface of charcoal or other conducting material forming
one electrode may be presented at a constant distance from the orifice from
which the flowing electrode issues, by causing a cylinder or rod of each con-
ductor upon
which the flowing electrode is thrown to move forwards, and on
its axis, the required motion being given by suitable self-acting mechanism.
Ora rod of charcoal or other conducting material forming one of the electrodes
may be projected by a spring or otherwise through a ring of iridium, so that
as the end of the charcoal is consumed a fresh portion is pushed forwards in
a similar manner to that in which the candle in a Palmer's candle lamp is
forced forwards as its end is consumed.
Another part of my Invention consists in heating the material forming the
flowing electrode before it is supplied to the jets.
Another part of my Invention consists in adjusting the focal distance or
breaking point of the flowing electrode by increasing or diminishing the
pressure which causes it to issue from the jet.
Another part of my Invention consists in a method of maintaining at a
constant height above the jet the column of mercury or other flowing electrode.
For this purpose, in conjunction with the open cistern from which the mercury
flows, I employ a close cistern, from which the mercury is led by a pipe to the
open cistern; this pipe dips slightly below the surface of the mercury in the
open cistern; so soon therefore as the level of the mercury in the lower cistern
is reduced, the mercury will flow from the upper cistern, so that the pressure
of mercury remains practically constant.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Thomas Way in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th May 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
THOMAS WAY, of Welbeck, Street, Cavendish Square, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of November, in the year ofour Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Thomas Way, Her special licence that I, the said John Thomas Way,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Thomas Way, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might makė, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OBTAINING LIGHT BY ELECTRICITY," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Thomas Way, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals; should 'particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Thomas Way, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say -
When a jet or jets of mercury connected with one pole of the battery is
directed upon a point of charcoal or other conducting substance in connexion
with the other pole of the battery, the charcoal or other conducting substance
is liable to be consumed, in which case the focal distance is altered, and the
brilliancy of the light is impaired.
Now, one part of my Invention consists in so arranging the charcoal or
other conducting substance forming the solid electrode, that it shall be con-
tinually renewed and presented to the stream of the flowing electrode at a
constant distance from the orifice of the jet from which the latter issues. This
object may be effected in one or other of the following ways, or otherwise :-

page_text: I arrange cylinders or rods of charcoal or other conducting material opposite
to each other, and cause them to be pressed together by springs, or other con-
venient mechanism. Upon the point where the ends of the rods meet, I
direct the jet or jets of mercury, which, by proper means of adjustment, as
described in my former Patents, may be fixed at the focal distance or breaking
points of the stream.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of part of an electric lamp constructed in
this manner. A, A, tubes of iron; B, B, pistons ground in, say, an inch
long; C, C, springs; D, D, screw nuts to open the tube for charging;
E, junction of the rods of charcoal; F, the jet; G, the stream of mercury.
It is important that the pressure applied to the different rods of charcoal or
other conducting material should be as nearly as possible the same.
I some-
times employ for this purpose, in place of springs, the following arrangement:-
Cylinders of iron or steel, or other suitable material are fitted with pistons,
which in moving press conducting rods against each other; at the back of
these pistons mercury is introduced by pipes leading from a cistern above, and
by this column of mercury the rods of charcoal or other conducting material
are pressed forward with great equality. This arrangement is clearly shown
at Figure 2, which is also a longitudinal section of part of an electric light.
A, A, tubes of iron; B, B, pistons ground in ; C, C, tubes connecting the
tubes A, A, with a mercury cistern above; D, D, screw nuts to open the
tubes A, A, for charging; E, junction of the rods of charcoal; F, the jet ;
G, the stream of mercury. The size (diameter) of the charcoals is dependant
upon the strength of the battery, and the mercury current about that of an
ordinary lead pencil or goose quill, or somewhat smaller is found to answer
with a battery power of 48 cells of a Maynooth's battery, the zinc plates of
which expose a surface of 60 inches each, and a mercury stream of from 15 to
20 fluid ounces per hour, with a pressure of 18 to 24 inches. The lamp may
be of the shape shewn in the Drawings of my Specification (No. 1258 (1856),
the charcoals being introduced at the sides, and the jet of mercury coming from
the top, and adjusted in the manner shewn at Figure 3, which is here in-after
described. Instead of pressing rods of charcoal or other conducting substances
against each other, one such rod may be pressed against a piece of lime,
phosphate of lime, or other comparatively infusible material, the flowing
electrode being directed against the point of junction. In this case when
phosphate of lime is employed, it is prepared by precipitating phosphate of lime,
moulding into a cylindrical form, similar in size to the charcoal employed, and
burning it; the cylinder of phosphate of lime is fixed in a suitable cup on
boss of iron at the end of a rod or tube carried by the frame of the lamp.

page_text: A surface of charcoal or other conducting material forming one electrode,
may be presented ata constant distance from the orifice from which the flowing
electrode issues by causing a cylinder or rod of such conductor upon which
the flowing electrode is thrown to move forwards and on its axis; the required
motion being given by suitable self-acting mechanism. For this purpose a rod
or axis is mounted horizontally at the bottom of the lamp, and on this axis a
cylinder of charcoal about 1 to 2 inches in diameter is mounted, a hole being
formed through the centre of the charcoal cylinder for the purpose. Motion
is given to the axis by clockwork, so that it may make about one-sixth of a
revolution per minute, and on one end of the axis a screw is cut, having about
10 threads to the inch, and this end of the axis passes through a fixed screw
nut,so that as the axis revolves it is constrained also to move forwards end wise,
thus a fresh surface is constantly offered to the flowing electrode. Or a rod of
charcoal or other conducting material forming one of the electrodes may be
projected by a spring or otherwise through a ring of iriduum, so that as the
end of the charcoal is consumed a fresh portion is pushed forwards in a similar
manner to that in which the candle in a Palmer's candle lamp is forced forwards
as its end is consumed. Figure 3 is a vertical section of a lamp constructed
in this manner. a is an iron tube, communicating at its upper end with a
reservoir of mercury, and carrying at its lower enda jet of fire-clay b cemented
into it. On the exterior of the tube a a screw thread is cut, and it has on it
the nut c, by turning which the jet at the end of the tube is raised and lowered
to adjust the focus; d is an exterior tube, through which the tube a can slide
freely; a cap screws.on to the upper end of the tube d, and by nipping the
flange at the lower part of the nut c clamps the tube a and the tube d together.
On the lowerend of the tube da ball fis formed, which fits into a socket formed
. at the upper part of the cap g, and it can be clamped in any position in this
socket, by screwing down the piece upon it; thus facility is afforded for the
horizontal adjustment of the position of the jet. i is a glass cemented at its
upper end into the cap g, and at its lower end into the metal ring, which
screws on to the bottom k. Through the centre of this piece a hole is drilled
of sufficient size to receive the charcoal rod 7, which is pressed constantly
upwards by the spiral spring m contained in a metal tube screwed into the
pieces k, and the upper end of the charcoal rod is prevented from rising
5. above its proper position by a cap of fire-clay m¹ carrying a ring of iriduum of
smaller diameter than the charcoal rod; this ring of iriduum is shewn sepa-
rately at Figures 4. It will be seen that it is furnished with four projections,
which are embedded in the fire-clay of the cap m¹ before it is burnt. I would
remark that it is not necessary that the iriduum ring should be formed in one

page_text: piece of metal; a series of points of that metal embedded in the fire-clay cap,
and ranged in a circle round the central aperture and projecting inwards, so
as to come in contact with the upper end of the charcoal, succeeds equally
well; it is only necessary that the metal should abutt on the cylinder of
charcoal at a sufficient number of points in a circle round its axis to retain it
truly in its place. Figure 5 is a plan of a cap m¹, in which three only of such
points are employed, and a cap formed in this manner I find to succeed well
in practice. The mercury from the jet escapes by the pipe n, and is received
into a vessel o at the end of the metal tube containing the spiral spring is a
screw cap p,by removing which access may be obtained to the spring; 9, 9, are
strengthening wires passing from the ring; to the capy; they are insulated
from the cap g by passing through collars of ivory r, r.
When the lamp is in use the wires from the two poles of the battery are
clamped to the apparatus at s and 7, and the mercury jet is adjusted, so that
the stream of metal falls on the end of the charcoal rod before or about the
point where it breaks into drops.
Another part of my Invention consists in heating the material forming the
flowing electrode before it is supplied to the jets. For this purpose I arrange,
under the iron cistern from which the jet is supplied, a gas or other lamp, and
1 so regulate the lamp as to heat the mercury as much as possible without
producing an injurious amount of evaporation.
Another part of my Invention consists in adjusting the focal distance or
breaking point of the flowing electrode, by increasing or diminishing the
pressure which causes it to issue from the jet. For this purpose I connect
the cistern with the jet by means of jointed iron or flexible tubes, and in place
of fixing the cistern in its position with respect to the lamp, I suspend the
cistern from a standard by means of a cord passing over a pulley at the upper
part of the standard, and descending to à barrel on which the cord can be
wound so as to lift the cistern to a greater or less height, and by so raising or
lowering the cistern, the breaking point of the jet can be adjusted; the barrel
can be fixed in any position by means of a click dropping into the teeth of a
ratchet wheel fixed on the axis of the barrel.
Another part of my Invention consists in a method of maintaining at a
constant height above the jet the column of mercury or other flowing elec-
trode. For this purpose, in conjunction with the open cistern from which the
mercury flows, I employ a close cistern, from which the mercury is led by a
pipe to the open cistern; this pipe dips slightly below the surface of the
mercury in the open
cistern; so soon therefore as the level of the mercury in
the lower cistern is reduced, the mercury will flow from the upper cistern, so

page_text: that the pressure of mercury remains practically constant. This arrangement
is shewn at Figure 6; A is the cistern, having well-ground stop-cocks at
D and E; mercury is introduced into the system C by the funnel F. The
stop-cock E being at the time closed, and the stop-cock D open. The stop-
cock D is then closed, and upon opening the stop-cock E mercury flows till
the cistern A is filled up to the mouth of the tube. As the mercury in the
cistern is drawn off through B, it will be regularly replaced from the upper
cistern. The cisterns may be of any convenient size, but the cistern C, with
the pipe leading from it, cannot of course exceed 30 inches in height. It
has been assumed in the present Specification, that the source of electricity
employed in the mercurial light is a battery. Any arrangement by which
currentelectricity is obtained, such for instance as a magneto-electric machine,
is equally applicable to this form of light.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Thomas Way, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of May, in the year of Our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
JNO. ALCOCK.
J. THOMAS WAY. (L.S.)