Improvements in and relating to the Electric Circuit Connections used for Lighting Theatres or for analogous purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 25th June, 1891-Accepted, 25th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Electric Circuit Connections
used for Lighting Theatres or for analogous purposes.
I, HARRY SOUTH, of 10 and 12 Garrick Street, Covent Garden, in the County
of London, Electrical Engineer and Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the electric circuit connections used for lighting theatres,
or for similar purposes, whereby I-am enabled to arrange lamps in groups and to
control the same, in a convenient and efficient manner.
In the case of the footlights of a theatre, (for example), it is often required to
arrange the lamps in groups, each group being adapted to give light of a particular
colour, and each colour--as a rule-being used separately, and under control from
the wings. Those lamps required to show coloured light may be surrounded by a
coloured shade, or its glass bulb may be tinted, in any known manner.
Supposing the lamps to be arranged in four groups of three lamps in each
group; the first lamp to give white or uncoloured light, the second to give red,
and the third lamp of each group to give a green light. In this case I run a
conductor or conductors (hereinafter called the positive cable) from a fuse block
at one wing and electrically connect the same to one terminal of each lamp in
the first group.
A second positive cable is then run from a second block, placed
at the same wing, and electrically connected to one terminal of each lamp in the
second group; and so on with a third and fourth positive cables to the third and
fourth groups respectively, from a third and fourth fuse blocks situated at what
may be called the fuse wing. The opposite wing may be called the switch wing,
and from a switch intended to govern the white lights, I run a conductor or
conductors (hereinafter called the negative cable) to all the white lamps and
electrically connect with the remaining or negative terminals thereof. Similarly, a
second negative cable is run from the red switch to the negative terminals of
all the red lamps, and a third negative cable is run from the green switch to
the negative terminals of all the green lamps. From each fuse terminal, electrical
connection is made with the main supply across a safety fuse the four fuses being
conveniently mounted upon a suitable base. Similarly the white, red and green
switches are mounted together upon a suitable base at the switch ring and
connected to the main return cable.
It will be seen from the above arrangement that a positive cable (or its
equivalent) is provided for each group of lamps required, and that a negative
cable (or its equivalent) is provided for each colour of lamp, or what
may answer
thereto such as the position of the lamp in each group. It is to be noticed that
the described arrangement of the cables (or of the conductors if separate supplies
are used) is such that the positive cables (for instance) begins at the fuse wing
with four cables, and is afterwards reduced to three, then two, and finally one
cable at the opposite wing. Conversely, the negative cables (for instance) start
from the switch wing three in number and the length of these cables are reduced
as they reach the furthest group of lamps. The space thus taken up by the
conductors, and the weight thereon, is thus equalized and reduced to the minimum.
This is a matter of some consequence where space is limited, and is especially
so when the lamps are mounted upon a moveable base, batten, or channel, as for
wing or top lighting. In the latter case, the moveable base can be slung by
tackle, and with flexible cable conductors at each end, can be raised or lowered
with great facility, and with perfect command over the lamps.
It will be understood that the examples given are illustrative, as the system

page_text: can be equally applied to a greater or lesser number of groups, or of lamps in
each group, with or without colour, and to other purposes than theatre lighting.
Also that alternating currents may be used instead of the direct current indicated
by the terms positive and negative.
Dated this 24th day of September 1890.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Electric Circuit Connections
used for Lighting Theatres or for analogous purposes.
I, HARRY SOUTH, of 10 & 12 Garrick Street, Covent Garden, in the County
of London, Electrical Engineer and Contractor, 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 invention relates to the electric circuit connections used for lighting theatres,
or for similar purposes, whereby I am enabled to arrange lamps in groups and to
control the same, in a convenient and efficient manner. In the case of the foot-
lights of a theatre, (for example), it is often required to arrange the lamps in
groups, each group being adapted to give light of a particular colour, and each
colour as a rule-being used separately, and under control from the wings. Those
lamps required to show coloured light may be surrounded by a coloured shade, or
its glass bulb may be tinted, in any known manner.
It is to be understood that the system is equally applicable to one group only, or
to any number of groups, or of lamps in each group-with or without colour-and
to other purposes than theatre lighting. Also that alternating currents may be
used instead of direct current indicated by the terms positive and negative. The
moveable base may be of earthenware, slate, metal or other suitable material
adapted to receive the lamps upon one or more of the faces of the base, and the
base is channelled to receive within it the circuit connections from the mains to
the lamps.
In the further description of this invention, reference is made to the accom-
panying drawings of which
Fig. 1 is a diagram representing an arrangement of four groups of lamps, (having
three lamps in each group), combined with four fuse blocks, placed on the left hand
side of the diagram, and three switches on the right hand side of the diagram, and
the electric circuit connections between the same. This arrangement is adapted
for the footlights of a theatre.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section through a suitable channelled base or batten, on
which the lamps are mounted, and within which the circuit connections or cables
are placed.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of a batten on which is mounted a group of six lamps, for
wing or top lighting in a theatre, or for analogous purposes. The lamps are guarded
by wirework (as indicated in the figure) to avoid breaking them by contact with
scenery or tackle.
A circular fuse plate is shown on the right of the figure, with
flexible circuit connections to the several lamps.
Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 3, with the wire guard removed.
In the diagram, Fig. 1, four groups of lamps are shown, each group com-
prising a lamp giving a white light, a red light, and a green light respectively.
These lamps are indicated by the initial letter of their respective colours, as W, R,
and G. A conductor a (called the positive cable), is run from a fuse block F1
and connected to one of the terminals of each lamp-W, R, and G-in the first
group. A second positive cable is run from a second fuse block F2 and similarly
connected to one terminal of each lamp-W, R, and G-in the second group; and

page_text: likewise a third positive cable c, and a fourth positive cable d, are respectively
run from fuse blocks F3 and F4 to a terminal of each lamp in the third and fourth
groups. On the right side of the diagram three switches-S1, S2, and S³-are
shown. The first switch, S', is electrically connected by a conductor w (called the
negative cable) to the other terminal of all the white lamps. The switch S² is
electrically connected by a negative cable to the other terminal of all the red
lamps; and a third negative cable 9 electrically connects the switch S³ with the
remaining terminal of all the green lamps. From each fuse terminal electrical
connection is made with the main supply cable across a safety fuse, the four
fuses being conveniently mounted upon a suitable base F and placed (for
example) at the fuse side or wing. Similarly the white, red, and green switches
are mounted together upon a suitable base S, and may be conveniently placed at
the opposite side or switch wing, and connected to the main return cable. But it
is to be noted that the fuses and switches, with their respective connections, are
not necessarily placed on opposite sides, as all the parts may be worked from one
side, or from the centre-the circuit connections of the lamps extending in each
direction.
The lamps are conveniently mounted upon a suitable channelled base, as indicated
by the transverse section Fig. 2. The channelled base e is adapted to receive
conductors within the base, a copper conducting strip of being used as a nut for a
screw, to serve as the central contact of the lamp i, which is screwed into a
flanged metal nut j. The nut j is connected to the base e by screws k, k, and to
these the other conductors are electrically connected. An enclosing holder 1, of
porcelain or other suitable material, encloses the nut j, and is secured to the base
as shown, or by other equivalent means.
The base or batten e is well adapted to receive the lamps and their connections
as shown in the diagram Fig. 1, and the fuse and switch boards (F and S) may
also be mounted thereon, if required. But it is usually more convenient (especially
for wing or top lighting) to fix the switch and fuse base or bases in a permanent
manner and convenient place for control, and to use flexible conductors from the
batten thereto. . In this manner, the batten may be moved about either for lighting
the top, wings, or other required places; it may be slung by tackle, and raised or
lowered with great facility; while the flexible connections to the place of control,
enable each individual lamp, or group, to be under the effectual management of the
attendant.
In Figs. 3 and 4 the main supply lead is indicated by m, and the return by n.
Separate connections are made between a suitable switch and the several lamps.
A central fuse plate F with fuses is shown, and with suitable electrical con-
nections in the manner well known, each lamp may be completely controlled, or
new fuses inserted by the attendant, with great facility.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;
1. The herein described improvements relating to electric lighting circuits,
comprising the division of the lamps into groups, combined with a circuit connection
to a terminal of each lamp in a group on one side and electrical connection between
the other terminal of the said lamp and each corresponding lamp in the remaining
groups on the other side; substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. The combination of two or more groups of coloured lamps with a separate
electrical circuit connection to a terminal of each lamp of corresponding colour, a
joint electrical circuit connection to the other terminal of each lamp in a group,
and a separate switch adapted to control the current connection to all the lamps of
one colour; substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The combination of a batten or channelled base with a group or groups of
lamps mounted thereon, and cable connections from the main supply circuit to the
lamps, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

page_text: 4. The combination of a fuse block having electric circuit connections with one
.terminal of each lamp in a group, with a separate electric circuit and switch
connection to the other terminal of each lamp, and a moveable channelled base
for the lamps containing the circuit connections; substantially as and for the
purpose described.
5. The combinations and arrangement of parts shown or indicated by the
drawings Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, substantially as and for the purpose shown and
described.
Dated this 25th day of June 1891
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.