AN IMPROVED ELECTRIC LAMP
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Allen Kipling at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st February 1878.
RICHARD ALLEN KIPLING, of Paris, Boulevard de Strasbourg, No. 23. " AN
IMPROVED ELECTRIC LAMP."
-
In the improved electric lamp which is the object of this Invention there are four
carbons, two meeting at their points at one level, and two others, also meeting at
their points at a somewhat higher level, and crossing the lower pair at right angles.
Each of these four carbons is fitted to slide in a tubular casing, in which it is pressed
forward by a spring, so that as the carbons consume, the points of each pair are kept
always in contact. The one pair of carbons which are mounted on one frame.
receive the + current of electricity, and the other pair, which are on a separate
frame, receive the current. The two frames are made relatively adjustable in
level by means of a screw, or by automatic regulating apparatus, which I will
presently describe, so that the action of the lamp is as follows:-When the upper
pair of carbons, which are connected to the one electrode, are in contact with the
lower pair, which are connected to the other electrode, no light is produced, but
on raising a little the upper pair of carbons with their frame, or depressing a little,
the lower pair so as to establish a certain distance between the one pair of points"
and the other pair, then the luminous are is produced and maintained with great
constancy.
For effecting automatic regulation of the distance between the one pair of carbon
points and the other I employ the following arrangement:-I fit the lower frame
to slide and to be pressed upwards by springs, and I connect to it the armature of

page_text: an electro-magnet. When the electric current passes through the coil of this
magnet the armature is attracted, drawing down the frame in opposition to the
springs, and thus establishing the required distance between the two pairs of
carbons.
For supplying fresh carbons as those in the lamp become wasted the casing con-
taining each may be made as a cylinder, having several parallel chambers like the
barrels of a revolver, so that when one of the carbons is nearly exhausted another
can be at once substituted for it by turning the cylinder partly round to bring
another of its chambers into line. Or a store of carbons may be arranged like the
charges of a repeating fire-arm, the one following the other, and instead of employing
a separate spring in each casing the carbons may be pressed forwards by a travelling
band.
In many cases it is preferable to employ hollow or tubular carbons, as these,
without greater expenditure of electricity, produce a larger luminous arc.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Allen Kipling in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
August 1878.
RICHARD ALLEN KIPLING, of Paris, Boulevard de Strasbourg, No. 23.
IMPROVED ELECTRIC LAMP."
...
12."
"
AN
In the improved electric lamp which is the object of this Invention there are
four carbons, two meeting at their points at one level, and two others also meeting
at their points at a somewhat higher level, and crossing the lower pair at right
angles. Each of these four carbons is fitted to elide in a tubular casing, in which
it is pressed forward by a spring, so that as the carbons consume, the points of each
pair are kept always in contact. The one pair of carbons which are mounted on
one frame receive the + current of electricity, and the other pair, which are on a
separato frame, receive the current. The two frames are made relatively
adjustable in level by means of a screw, or by automatic regulating apparatus,
which I will presently describe, so that, the action of the lamp. is as follows:-
When the upper pair of carbons, which are connected to the one electrode, are in
contact with the lower pair, which are connected to the other electrode, no light is
produced, but on raising a little the upper, pair of carbons with their frame, or
depressing a little the lower pair so as to establish a certain distance between the
one pair of points and the other pair, then the luminous arc is produced and
maintained with great constancy..
For effecting automatic regulation of the distance between the one pair of carbon
points and the other I employ the following arrangement:-I fit the lower frame
to slide and to be pressed upwards by springs, and I connect, to it the armature of
an electro-magnet. When the electrie. current passes through the coil of this
magnet the armature is attracted, drawing down the frame in opposition to the
-3

page_text: springs, and thus establishing the required distance between the two pairs of
carbons.
For supplying fresh carbons as those in the lamp become wasted the casing
containing each may be made as a cylinder, having several parallel chambers like
the barrels of, a revolver, so that when one of the carbons is nearly exhausted
another can at once be substituted for it by turning the cylinder partly round to
bring another of its chambers into line. Or a store of carbons may be arranged
like the charges of a repeating fire-arm, the one following the other, and instead of
employing a separate spring in each casing the carbons may be pressed forward by
a travelling band.
In many cases it is preferable to employ hollow or tubular carbons, as these,
without greater expenditure of electricity, produce a larger luminous arc.
Fig. 1 shews a vertical section of one arrangement of the before-described
apparatus on line M, N, of the plan, Fig. 2; and Fig. 3 shews a section on line P, Q,
Fig. 2.
The four carbons are arranged horizontally in pairs, A and B, A' and B', each
group of two carbons being supported in a framing C, C'; by means of the screw V
below the one line of carbons may be separated more or less from the other. A
brace D prevents the frames from getting out of shape, and keeps them at right
angles to each other. Each carbon is contained in a socket or case E, at the inner
end of which is a helical spring F, which causes the carbon to advance as it is
consumed. The two pairs of carbons are thus made to cross each other at different
levels. When they are moved away from each other the electric spark passes
vertically from the one pair to the other at the point where they cross. Each
socket E has a connecting screw G, to which the conducting wires leading to a
source of electricity are attached. One of the carbon pairs receives the positive
current, and the other pair receives the negative current. When the two pairs are
in contact no spark passes.
The removal from and approach to each other of the pairs of carbons may be
effected by any suitable contrivance, by preference by the arrangement shewn at
Fig. 4.
The frame C which supports the lower carbons A and B carries a pulley b, over
which passes a chain c, fixed at one end to a, and connected at the other end to the
plate b, which is pivoted at o and constitutes the armature of an electro-magnet e.
On the passing of a current through the conducting wires the electro-magnet
attracts b, whereby the chain is drawn down, and the frame C with the carbons A
and B made to descend from A¹, B₁, and a spark then passes from the one pair of
carbons to the other. When the frame is thus drawn down the springs r, Fig. 4,
are compressed, so that when on the cessation of the current the electro-magnet e
ceases to attract the plate b the springs in reacting will raise the carbons A, B,
again so as to bring them in contact with A¹, B¹.
Figs. 5 to 8 shew the before-described arrangements for supplying fresh carbons
as those in action are consumed.
At Fig. 5 a number of carbons are arranged in a vertical box H, and are raised
by a spring mechanism and directed horizontally behind the one in action.
Figs. 6 and 7 shew a section and end view of an arrangement in which the
carbons are arranged horizontally in a revolving chamber, which turns when the
carbon in action is consumed so as to bring a new one into action.
Fig. 8 shews an arrangement employed, by preference, in which in place of
helical springs for propelling the carbons an endless cord g is employed for this
purpose, being connected to the carbon B and led over guide rollers h, h, h, k, of
which the latter is actuated by a spring so as to propel the cord.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim,—

page_text: First. The use of an electric lamp wherein two pairs of carbons are arranged so
that the carbons of the one pair are caused to meet and are pressed against each
other at a higher level than and at an angle to those of the other pair, so that the
two pairs cross each other without touching, the electric spark passing from the one
pair to the other pair at the point where they cross, substantially as herein
described.
Second. The use for supporting and actuating the two pairs of carbons, operating
as set forth in the preceding claim, of apparatus constructed and operating as
described with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Allen Kipling, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
CH, ARMENGAUD,
Civil Engineer,
Bd. de Strasbourg, No. 23,
à Paris.
R. A. KIPLING. (L.S.)