IMPROVED REGULATORS OR LAMPS FOR THE ELECTRIC LIGHT
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George William Wigner, of 79, Great Tower Street, in
the City of London, Analytical and Consulting Chemist, for an Invention of
"IMPROVED REGULATORS OR LAMPS FOR THE ELECTRIC LIGHT."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George William Wigner at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th February 1880.
ss
GEORGE WILLIAM WIGNER, of 79, Great Tower Street, in the City of London,
Analytical and Consulting Chemist. IMPROVED REGULATORS OR LAMPS FOR THE
ELECTRIC LIGHT."
My Invention consists in improved apparatus for automatically regulating and
adjusting the position of the carbon or other electrodes between which the electric
current passes for the purpose of producing the electric light, and its object is to
keep the points of these electrodes separated from each other by such a distance as
is suitable to the strength of the electric current which is being employed, and to
cause the said electrodes to move automatically towards each other at the same
rate as they are consumed or worn away by the current.
The essence of my Invention consists in the use of a fluid, such, for instance, as
water, contained in a reservoir situated above the regulating apparatus, or of water
under sufficient pressure to force it to a height greater than that of the regulating
apparatus, as the motive power by which I cause the electrodes to move auto-
matically towards each other, and in the use of the electric current itself, or a
portion of the said current to automatically regulate the supply of this water and
to automatically separate the electrodes to a suitable distance after the current has
been established by bringing them into contact with each other. The said current
will then prevent the electrodes again approaching each other until they have been
so much consumed or worn away that the distance between the points is too
great.
The regulator is, when properly adjusted, entirely automatic, and can be con-
structed to take carbons of any desirable length or size.
These carbons or electrodes may be used in a vertical line, or in a horizontal line
or oblique to each other. It is also possible by my Invention to use them in such
a position that they are almost parallel to each other.

page_text: I will first describe a form of my Invention as applied to a regulator in which
the carbons are used in a vertical line one over the other.
The lower part of the regulator consists of a vertical tube or cylinder closed at
the bottom, but preferably open at the top. A hollow piston is constructed so as
to move with moderate freedom up & down this cylinder. A tube is provided to
allow for the overflow of any water which may escape past the hollow piston
owing to its being somewhat loose in fit. The cavity in the interior of the hollow
piston is connected by a flexible or a telescopic pipe with a reservoir of water or
other suitable source of water supply. The cavity of the hollow piston is also
connected through a suitable valve or tap with the interior of the cylinder in which
it moves so that when this valve or tap is open the water can pass from the
interior of the hollow piston into the cylinder, and so by water pressure move the
piston up, but so that when the valve or tap is shut the water cannot pass into
the interior of the cylinder, and the piston consequently remains at rest supported
by the water already in the cylinder.
The valve or tap itself is so arranged that the pressure of the water or, if pre-
ferred, the action of a suitable spring or weight shall always tend to keep it open,
but it is automatically closed and controlled by the electric current in the following
manner-
On the top of the hollow piston I mount an electro magnet or solenoid, the wire
of which forms part of the circuit of the electric current which is to produce the
light. The armature of the magnet or the iron core of the solenoid is connected
with or rests upon the spindle or lever of the valve or tap, so that the pressure of
the water or, if preferred, the action of the spring or weight shall be sufficient to
support the weight of the armature or iron core, thereby allowing the valve or tap
to remain open unless it is closed by the electric current, as hereinafter described,
and consequently allowing the water to enter the cylinder and to raise the hollow
piston, carrying with it the electro magnet or solenoid, and the armature or iron
core.
On the top of this armature or iron core I affix the lower electrode or carbon so
that it moves up or down as the armature or iron core moves up or down. The
upper electrode is supported vertically over the lower electrode, & is kept in
position by a pair of gripping wheels or rollers and a guide or guides. The
gripping wheels are free to rotate and are rotated by a flexible cord or chain
connected to the hollow piston and passing over a pulley on the axis of one of the
gripping wheels, so that as the piston rises and carries the lower electrode upwards
with it the the flexible cord or chain causes one of the gripping wheels to rotate,
which wheels drive or push the upper electrode downwards.
The relative speed of this downward motion is or may be regulated by the size
of the pulley over which the flexible cord or chain passes.
The action of the regulator is as follows:-Starting with the cylinder empty of
water, and the piston therefore at the bottom of the cylinder, the necessary con-
nections are made to the electro magnetic machine or other source of electricity,
and the two electrodes put into their place in the regulator. The supply of water is
then turned on, and the water pressure causes the hollow piston carrying the lower
electrode to rise in the cylinder, while at the same time it pulls the flexible cord
or chain and causes the upper electrode to descend. This continues until the two
electrodes touch each other, when the electric circuit being completed the electro
magnet or solenoid which has before been inactive becomes active by reason of the
current passing through it. This causes the armature or iron core to be attracted
downwards, though a short distance, carrying with it the lower electrode, and so
separating the points to a sufficient distance to produce the electric light. The
amount of this separation is dependant on the amount of motion allowed to the
armature or iron core, and can of course be adjusted. The same downward motion
of the armature or iron core closes the valve or tap by which the water is admitted
to the cylinder, and therefore prevents any further approach of the electrodes to
each other. As soon however as the electrodes have consumed or wasted away

page_text: so as to cause an increased resistance to the current the power of the electro magnet
or solenoid becomes weakened and the armature or iron core rises slightly, allowing
a little water to enter the cylinder, and the electrodes are thereby caused to approach
each other until they reach their original distance apart. This action will be
automatically repeated as often as the waste of the carbons renders it necessary
and a constant separation of the electrodes will therefore be maintained.
If the light is accidentally extinguished the lower carbon will instantaneously
rise and again complete the circuit, and so start the light again.
Instead of a cylinder with a hollow piston moving therein I sometimes use a
closed pair of bellows, on the top of which the electro magnet or solenoid is affixed,
connected with the regulating valve or tap exactly as hereinbefore described, the
only difference being that the valve or tap allows the water to pass into the interior
of the bellows instead of allowing it to pass into the interior of the cylinder.
In both cases a tap or valve is provided to empty the cylinder or bellows of
water when it becomes necessary to insert fresh carbons.
When it is desired to use the two electrodes in a position oblique to each other
it is possible either to incline the cylinder, or by carrying the flexible cord or chain
over a guiding pulley to allow the top electrode to be placed in an inclined
position.
When it is desired to use the two electrodes in the same line, but in a horizontal
position, the whole regulator can be turned on to its side, but in this case it will be
desirable to provide the cylinder with a suitable cover to prevent the escape of any
water which may pass the piston. The cover must of course be provided with an
opening for the electrode to pass through.
Or, instead of this arrangement, the cylinder and electro magnet or solenoid may
remain in its vertical position as first described, and instead of affixing the lower
carbon directly to the armature or iron core I suspend the carbons or other
electrodes below the cylinder with their points inclined downwards, and connect
the guides through which they move to the armature or iron core by means of a
stirrup or slings hanging from the said armature or iron core, so that the upward
motion of the armature or core shall cause the points of the electrodes to approach
each other until they come in contact, when the action of the electro magnet or
solenoid will, as before described, draw the armature or iron core down, and thereby
separate the electrodes and afterwards control their forward movement by means
of flexible cords or chains, as hereinbefore described.
In each case I depend on water, acting as before described, as the motive power,
and on the electric current as the regulating agent.
It is obvious that some other fluid, such as oil or glycerin, may be substituted
for the water, but under ordinary circumstances no advantage is gained by this
change.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George William Wigner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th August 1880.
"
GEORGE WILLIAM WIGNER, of 79, Great Tower Street, in the City of London,
Analytical and Consulting Chemist. IMPROVED REGULATORS OR LAMPS FOR
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT."
My Invention consists in improved apparatus for automatically regulating and
adjusting the position of the carbon or other electrodes between which the electric
current passes for the purpose of producing the electric light, and its object is to
keep the points of these electrodes separated from each other by such a distance as
is suitable to the strength of the electric current which is being employed, and to
cause the said electrodes to move automatically towards each other at the same
rate as they are consumed or worn away by the current.
The essence of my Invention consists in the use of a fluid, such, for instance, as
water, contained in a reservoir situated above the regulating apparatus, or of water
under sufficient pressure to force it to a height greater than that of the regulating
apparatus, as the motive power by which I cause the electrodes to move auto-
matically towards each other, and in the use of the electric current itself, or a
portion of the said current to automatically regulate the supply of this water and
to automatically separate the electrodes to a suitable distance after the current has
been established by bringing them into contact with each other. The said current
will then prevent the electrodes again approaching each other until they have been
so much consumed or worn away that the distance between the points is too
great.
The regulator is, when properly adjusted, entirely automatic, and can be con-
structed to take carbons of any desirable length or size.
These carbons or electrodes may be used in a vertical line or in a horizontal line,
or oblique to each other. It is also possible by my Invention to use them in such
a position that they are almost parallel to each other.
I will first describe a form of my Invention as applied to a regulator in which
the carbons are used in a vertical line one over the other.
The lower part of the regulator consists of a vertical tube or cylinder closed at
the bottom, but preferably open at the top. A hollow piston is constructed so as
to move with moderate freedom up and down this cylinder. A tube is provided to
allow for the overflow of any water which may escape past the hollow piston
owing to its being somewhat loose in fit. The cavity in the interior of the hollow
piston is connected by a flexible or a telescopic pipe with a reservoir of water or
other suitable source of water supply. The cavity of the hollow piston is also
connected through a suitable valve or tap with the interior of the cylinder in
which it moves, so that when this valve or tap is open the water can pass from the
interior of the hollow piston into the cylinder, and so by water pressure move the
piston up, but so that when the valve or tap is shut the water cannot pass into
the interior of the cylinder, and the piston consequently remains at rest supported
by the water already in the cylinder.
The valve or tap itself is so arranged that the pressure of the water or, if
preferred, the action of a suitable spring or weight shall always tend to keep it
open, but it is automatically closed and controlled by the electric current in the
following manner:―
On the top of the hollow piston I mount an electro magnet or solenoid, the wire
of which forms part of the circuit of the electric current which is to produce the
light. The arniature of the magnet or the iron core of the solenoid is connected
with or rests upon the spindle or lever of the valve or tap, so that the pressure of
the water or, if preferred, the action of the spring or weight shall be sufficient to

page_text: support the weight of the armature or iron core, thereby allowing the valve or tap
to remain open unless it is closed by the electric current, as hereinafter described,
and consequently allowing the water to enter the cylinder and to raise the hollow
piston, carrying with it the electro magnet or solenoid and the armature or iron
core.
The
On the top of this armature or iron core I affix the lower electrode or carbon, so
that it moves up or down as the armature or iron core moves up or down.
upper electrode is supported vertically over the lower electrode, and is kept in
position by a pair of gripping wheels or rollers and a guide or guides. The
gripping wheels are free to rotate, and are rotated by a flexible cord or chain con-
nected to the hollow piston, and passing over a pulley on the axis of one of the
gripping wheels, so that as the piston rises and carries the lower electrode upwards
with it the flexible cord or chain causes one of the gripping wheels to rotate, which
wheels drive or push the upper electrode downwards.
The relative speed of this downward motion is or may be regulated by the size
of the pulley, over which the flexible cord or chain passes.
The action of the regulator is as follows:-Starting with the cylinder empty of
water, and the piston therefore at the bottom of the cylinder, the necessary con-
nections are made to the electro-magnetic machine or other source of electricity,
and the two electrodes put into their place in the regulator. The supply of water
is then turned on, and the water pressure causes the hollow piston carrying the
lower electrode to rise in the cylinder, while at the same time it pulls the flexible
cord or chain, and causes the upper electrode to descend. This continues until the
two electrodes touch each other, when the electric circuit being completed the
electro magnet or solenoid which has before been inactive becomes active by reason
of the current passing through it. This causes the armature or iron core to be
attracted downwards, though a short distance, carrying with it the lower electrode,
and so separating the points to a sufficient distance to produce the electric light.
The amount of this separation is dependent on the amount of motion allowed to
the armature or iron core, and can of course be adjusted. The same downward
motion of the armature or iron core closes the valve or tap by which the water is
admitted to the cylinder, and therefore prevents any further approach of the
electrodes to each other. As soon however as the electrodes have consumed or
wasted away, so as to cause an increased resistance to the current, the power of
the electro magnet or solenoid becomes weakened, and the armature or iron core
rises slightly, allowing a little water to enter the cylinder, and the electrodes aro
thereby caused to approach each other until they reach their original distance
apart. This action will be automatically repeated as often as the waste of the
carbons renders it necessary, and a constant separation of the electrodes will
therefore be maintained.
If the light is accidentally extinguished the lower carbon will instantaneously
rise and again complete the circuit and so start the light again.
Instead of a cylinder with a hollow piston moving therein I sometimes use a
closed pair of bellows, on the top of which the electro magnet or solenoid is affixed
connected with the regulating valve or tap exactly as herein before described, the
only difference being that the valve or tap allows the water to pass into the
interior of the bellows instead of allowing it to pass into the interior of the cylinder.
In both cases a tap or valve is provided to empty the cylinder or bellows of water
when it becomes necessary to insert fresh carbons.
When it is desired to use the two electrodes in a position oblique to each other,
it is possible either to incline the cylinder, or by carrying the flexible cord or chain
over a guiding pulley to allow the top electrode to be placed in an inclined
position.
When it is desired to use the two electrodes in the same line, but in a horizontal
position, the whole regulator can be turned on to its side; but in this case it will
be desirable to provide the cylinder with a suitable cover to prevent the escape of

page_text: any water which may pass the piston. The cover must of course be provided with
an opening for the electrode to pass through.
Or instead of this arrangement the cylinder and electro magnet or solenoid may
remain in its vertical position as first described, and instead of affixing the lower
carbon directly to the armature or iron core, I suspend the carbons or other
electrodes below the cylinder with their points inclined downwards, and connect
the guides through which they move to the armature or iron core by means of a
stirrup or slings hanging from the said armature or iron core, so that the upward
motion of the armature or iron core shall cause the points of the electrodes to
approach each other until they come in contact, when the action of the electro
magnet or solenoid will, as before described, draw the armature or iron core down,
and thereby separate the electrodes and afterwards control their forward movement
by means of flexible cords or chains, as herein before described.
In each case I depend on water acting as before described as the motive power,
and on the electric current as the regulating agent.
It is obvious that some other fluid, such as oil or glycerine, may be substituted
for the water, but under ordinary circumstances no advantage is gained by this
change.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention I will proceed to describe
the manner in which the same is to be carried into effect, reference being had to
the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of a
regulator or electric lamp constructed according to my Invention, in which the
poles or electrodes are placed in the same vertical line, and Fig. 2 represents a hori-
zontal section of the same regulator taken on the line X, X, Fig. 1, the same letters
and Figures of reference representing the same parts in each Drawing; Fig. 3
represents a vertical section of a regulator or electric lamp, also constructed
according to my Invention, in which the poles or electrodes are each inclined
downwards and are placed below the cylinder or bellows of the said regulator or
lamp, so that the two poles or electrodes nearly touch each other while the
regulator is at work; Fig. 4 represents a bellows which I sometimes use in the
construction of these regulators.
I will describe the regulators as worked by water only, although other suitable
fluids, such as oil or glycerine, may if preferred be used instead of water.
I will first describe the vertical regulator or lamp as represented in Figs. 1 and 2.
A, A, is the base plate or stand of the lamp, and is adapted to stand upon the top
of a lamp post or other suitable support; B, B, B, are the columns or uprights
which support the plate C, C, which carries the gripping wheels or rollers and
guide or guides for the upper electrode referred to hereafter. These columns B, B, B,
are insulated by ivory or other suitable insulator at B', B, B', to prevent the
conduction of the electric current from one electrode to the other, except through
the electric arc; D, D, is a cylinder of metal or other suitable material closed at
the bottom, except through the openings L¹, M¹, hereinafter referred to. In this
cylinder is a hollow piston E, E, E, E, free to move up or down. This piston is
provided with suitable packing at E¹, E¹, to prevent escape of the water.
In the
interior of this hollow piston is a flexible diaphragm E², preferably made of india
rubber, the centre of which diaphragm is free to move up and down to a limited
extent. This diaphragm should be water tight. In the centre of this diaphragm
I affix by a water tight joint, such, for instance, as a pair of washers secured by
back nuts, a rod or spindle Es, carrying at its lower extremity a conical valve E*,
or other suitable equivalent for stopping the flow of water through or from the
lower chamber of the hollow piston. On the top of this hollow piston, and in
some cases at a short distance above it, I affix a solenoid or electric magnet F, F,
wound with a coil of wire of a suitable thickness, one end of which wire is
electrically connected with the metallic bobbin of the said solenoid or electro
magnet, and the other end is insulated and taken outside the cylinder, and there
connected as hereinafter described. Inside this solenoid there is an iron core. G, G,

page_text: free to move in a vertical direction, and preferably loaded by an iron collar and
weights G¹, G', which core is or may be in electrical contact with the metallic
bobbin. This core is itself bored partly through or bored entirely through and
plugged, so that it may rest upon and be supported by the top of the rod or
spindle E, and so tend by its weight to shut the valve E. The magnetic force
of the solenoid or electro magnet F, F, when any current passes through it will
tend to pull the iron core G, G, and its collar G₁, G¹, down more strongly, and so
shut the valve E more tightly. This iron core G, G, carries at its upper extremity
a socket or holder H, into which the lower electrode J is fitted. This electrode,
which is or may be of any of the usual kinds of carbon, passes, by preference,
through a guide K to ensure its moving in a vertical line. In some cases I prefer
to conduct the current of electricity from the interior coil of the solenoid to the
guide of the lower carbon, and not allow it to pass through the iron core.
The tap L is connected with a suitable supply of water. A very small supply
of water, say one or two gallons, will be sufficient, and this water may be under
any convenient pressure, say, from 3 lbs. to 40 lbs. per square inch; I find a
pressure of 10 lbs. to 15 lbs. per square inch the most easily managed. It is quite
practicable to use the supply direct from the water companies' mains. The tap L
communicates with the pipe L', the end of which is in the interior of the cylinder D, D,
and this pipe L' is connected by means of a flexible india rubber tube, or in some
other suitable way, with the pipe E, which communicates with the interior of the
lower chamber of the hollow piston.
The tap M communicates by the tube M' with the interior of the cylinder and is
used to remove the water from the cylinder when it is required to separate the
poles or to insert fresh carbons. The magnet or solenoid F is preferably surrounded
with a short cylinder or trunk F fitting freely inside the cylinder D in order to
protect the magnet or solenoid from water should it at any time leak past the
piston in sufficient quantity to rise to the level of the magnet. This trunk or
cylinder F is provided with one or more lugs or ears F2, F2, and in order to enable
the piston to which the trunk carrying these lugs or ears is attached to descend to
the bottom of the cylinder D, the said cylinder D is slotted out with a narrow slot
or slots to the depth D¹. The motion of the piston in the cylinder is communi-
cuted by means of a flexible cord or chain, which is connected to one or more of
these lugs or ears to the gripping wheels which regulate the movement of the top
carbon in the following way :-
A flexible cord or chain N (an ordinary clock chain being a very convenient
form) is affixed to one or more of the lugs or ears F2, and then passes downwards
and around a guiding pulley N¹ and upwards through the interior of the column B,
over the guiding pulley N2, around the drum or axle of one of the gripping wheels
O, O, and then by preference around the drum or axle of the other of the said
gripping wheels, to which drum or axle the end of the said chain N is affixed after
having taken several turns round it. This cord or chain, if metallic so as to form a
conductor of electricity, is divided into two parts at N³, and these two parts are
connected together by means of a suitable insulator of such a size that it can travel
up and down inside the hollow column B as the chain moves. Another chain P is
passed around the other ends of the said axles of the gripping wheels in the reverse
direction to that in which the chain N has been passed, and after making several
coils around them is passed over another guiding pulley P', where it is attached to a
counter weight P2 of suitable size to slide freely up and down the hollow column B, B.
The use of this counter weight is simply to keep the chain N stretched, and a spring
or other suitable provision may be substituted instead. The directions in which
the chains are wound round the drums or axles of the two gripping wheels are such
that as the chain N is pulled by the rising of the piston E, carrying with it the
ear F, the pulling of the said chain shall cause the gripping wheels to rotate in the
direction shown by the arrows.
In Fig. 2 the course of the chains in passing round the axles or drums of the
gripping wheels can be seen as viewed in another plane.

page_text: It is obvious that the size of the drums or axles around which the cord or chain N
is wound relatively to the size of the gripping wheels O, O, will regulate the speed
of the top carbon relatively to that of the lower carbon, so that both carbons may
be caused to advance at the same rate when an intermittent current is used, or one
may be caused to advance twice as fast as the other when a continuous current is
used, thus maintaining the electric are always in the same position.
I prefer to use a suitable plate R, R, to cover the gripping wheels, and this plate
can if desired be furnished with a tube R¹ to serve as a shield for the top carbon.
Suitable binding screws or other attachments to connect the lamp with the leading
wires of the electro magnetic machine or battery are provided at S and T. The
screw S is electrically connected through the column B and the plate C with C¹,
the guide for the top carbon, and thence with the carbon C² itself. The screw Tis
insulated from the base plate of the lamp, and is connected to the insulated end F³
of the coil of the magnet or solenoid F. This connection may be conveniently made
by connecting T to a small insulated tube T', in which slides a thick wire T³, which
is attached to the insulated end of the wire of the coil. The electric current will
then pass through the screw T to the outer end F3 of the coil F, and thence to the
inner end of the coil which is connected with the metallic bobbin on which the wire
is wound, and thence to the iron core G, on the top of which iron core is screwed
the socket of the lower carbon or electrode H. The metallic bobbin being in
electrical connection with the piston E the electric current passes also to the cylinder,
and thence to the guide K of the lower carbon, thus avoiding the resistance of any
great length of carbon.
The action of the lamp will be as follows:-The cylinder having been filled with
water so as to displace air the tap M is opened, and the piston allowed to descend
until it nearly rests on the bottom of the cylinder. A suitable length of carbon is
put into place in the lower socket; this carbon may be 9 inches or more in length,
and its point ought to rise just above and pass through the lower guide K. Another
suitable length of carbon, which may be 18 or 20 inches in length, is passed between
the gripping wheels, and pushed downwards until its point is within a short distance
of the point of the lower carbon. The lamp is then connected by the binding screws
S and T with a battery or electro-magnetic machine or other source of electricity,
and the tap L is connected with the cistern or other supply of water. When this
tap is turned on the water will pass through the flexible tube to the pipe E³, and
so into the interior of the hollow piston E, and the upward pressure of the water
will cause the diaphragm E2 to rise, carrying with it the spindle E³, and will thus
open the valve E, and at the same time lift the lower electrode J nearer to contact
with the upper electrode. The opening of the valve E* will allow the water to pass
from the interior of the hollow piston into the cylinder, and this water will therefore
cause the piston to rise, carrying with it the lower carbon, the piston at the same
time pulling the chain N, and thereby causing the gripping wheels to rotate, and
causing the upper carbon to descend, that is to say, this admission of water causes
the two carbons to approach each other. This approach continues until in a few
seconds the points of the two carbons touch each other, when the circuit of the
battery being completed the electro magnet or solenoid F becomes magnetic and
attracts the iron core G downwards, thereby shutting the valve E' and preventing
further admission of water to the cylinder, and by the same action separates the
two carbons which were touching each other, and establishes the electric arc. As
soon as by the wasting or burning away of the carbons the distance between the
poles has become too great for the amount of current passing, the magnet F will
have diminished attractive power, and the pressure of the water on the underside
of the diaphragm E2 will slightly open the valve E', and so cause the poles to
approach each other again, and this action will be automatically repeated as often
as the current diminishes in strength. When the lamp is properly adjusted this
automatic adjustment of the poles will take place very frequently.
The distance apart at which the poles shall remain while the lamp is burning
may be regulated by increasing or diminishing the weight of the core of the

page_text: magnet or by increasing or diminshing the pressure of the water. An increased
pressure of water will cause the poles to remain nearer together unless that be
counter balanced by an increased weight in the core of the magnet or by increased
magnetic power. Similar effects may obviously be obtained by varying the
magnetic power of the solenoid, or by altering the area of the diaphragm E².
In some cases, especially when the lamp has to be suspended from the top of a
building, the cylinder D and hollow piston may be replaced by a bellows similar
to those shown in Fig. 4. These bellows may be constructed of india rubber or
other suitable watertight substance with top and bottom plates constructed of some
solid substance.
On the top of the top plate I mount the solenoid with the moveable iron core
inside it, and this core presses precisely as before described on the spindle E3 of the
valve E, and so governs the feed of water to the interior of the bellows.
A tap or
valve must be provided to empty the bellows of water when it becomes necessary
to insert fresh carbons.
When it is desired to use the carbons in a position inclined to each other, the
cylinder D may be placed in an inclined position on its base plate, and the
columns B, B, B, curved, so that the lower portion is parallel to the cylinder, which
is in an inclined position, and the upper portion is in a vertical line so as to carry
the upper carbon vertically over the point of the lower carbon. The chain N¹
must then pass round one or more guiding pulleys, so as to lead it in the proper
direction. By this means the shadow thrown by the base plate of the lamp will
be diverted to one side of the lamp, and the light from the point of the upper
carbon will be projected vertically downwards. The action of the regulating
apparatus will be the same as previously described.
When it is desired to use the electrodes in a horizontal position the lamp can
be turned bodily on its side, but in this case a cover should be provided for the
piston with a hole in the centre through which the lower carbon may work.
In some cases it is of importance to avoid throwing a shadow downwards from
the lamp, and this is effected by a slightly different disposal of the parts so as
to put the cylinder, piston, and regulator over the carbons, which are then moved
towards each other in the form of the letter V, and the light is produced at the
point of the V. One mode in which this may be carried into effect is shewn in
Fig. 3.
A, A, is the base plate of the lamp, which is provided with a sling or stirrup
A', A¹, by which the lamp is suspended. This sling or stirrup is hollow, and the
necessary supply of water to work the lamp may pass through it to L¹, which is a
tube conveying water to the interior of a water chamber U furnished with a flexible
diaphragm, valve rod, valve, and a solenoid on the top resembling the hollow
piston of the vertical lamp, but instead of forming an integral portion of the piston
it is for convenience placed underneath or at one side of the cylinder D with which
it communicates by the pipe U¹, and which cylinder is provided with a solid
piston D which has a piston rod D³.
The carbon electrodes J¹, J', slide with slight friction in the tubes J, J2, which
tubes are pivotted in loose sleeves J³, J³, so as to be capable of a slight rocking
movement. These sleeves are attached by rods or plates of metal J, J5, to the
base plate A, A. The rod or plate J is in metallic connection with the base
plate A, A, and the rod or plate J is insulated therefrom by an insulator Jo. The
core G of the solenoid or electro magnet F is provided with ears or lugs G¹, G¹,
which are connected by chains or cords, one of which is insulated with the tubes J²,
so that as the core rises it pulls the ends of the carbons upwards, and as it falls it
allows them again to fall.
The piston rod D³ is provided with a cross head D, to the end of which are
attached chains or cords D³, D³, which pass round guiding pulleys, and then to the
outside ends of the two carbons, so that as the piston rises the ends of the carbons
are caused to approach each other without altering their direction or inclination.
These chains may if preferred be connected with and passed round gripping wheels

page_text: or pulleys contained in or attached to the sleeves J³, J³, which will in a similar way
move the carbons forward. One of these chains D³, namely, that one connected to
the carbon which is insulated from the base plate, must itself be insulated by an
insulator D. A reflector W may be fixed below the base plate.
Binding screws are provided at S and T for connecting the lamp with the battery.
The binding screw S is insulated from the lamp, and is connected with the
external insulated end of the coil of the solenoid or magnet F, the other end of which
coil is connected with the metallic bobbin, and thence with the base plate of the
lamp and with one of the carbon poles. The other binding screw T is connected
with the insulated rod or plate which carries the sleeve of the other carbon holder,
and thence with that carbon.
The mode of starting and using the lamp is practically the same as in the case of
the vertical lamp.
The carbons are inserted in the carbon holders and pushed towards each other
until their points are a short distance apart. The chains or cords D³, D³, are
tightened up and attached to the cross head of the piston rod, the piston being at
the bottom, and to the ends of the carbons of the cylinder. The other chains which
are attached to the core of the solenoid are left permanently in position. The
leading wires of the battery or electro magnetic engine are screwed on to the proper
screws. The water supply is then turned on; this causes the diaphragm E² to rise
carrying with it the magnet core G and so rocking or lifting the points of both the
carbons upwards. The same motion of the diaphragm opens the valve E' and allows
water to pass into the cylinder beneath the piston D2; this causes the piston to rise
and thus pulls the chains or cords D4, D5, and causes the points of the carbons to
approach each other until in a few seconds they touch. The electric circuit is thus
completed and the hitherto inactive solenoid becomes magnetic and attracts the iron
core downwards, thereby dropping the internal ends of the carbons and establishing
the electric arc, and by the same action stopping the passage of water into the
cylinder.
As soon however as the current begins to lose in intensity by the wasting of the
poles, the magnet core will rise and, allowing a little more water to enter the
cylinder, will cause the poles to slightly approach each other, and this action will be
repeated as often as necessary. If the lamp should be accidentally extinguished
the rising of the magnet core from the water pressure will instantaneously bring
the points into contact and relight the lamp.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim
the exclusive use of fluids for regulating or adjusting the electric light, neither do I
claim the mere use of a cylinder provided with a piston, neither do I claim the
exact details of construction herein before described, further than they are essential
to the carrying out of the Invention, but what I do claim is, the construction of
improved regulators or lamps for the electric light in which the motive power is a
fluid under pressure, and the regulation is effected by controlling the supply of this
fluid to a cylinder or bellows by electro-magnetic power, substantially as herein before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George William Wigner, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord
Ona than 1
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