Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Incandescent Lamps and the Methods Adopted for Converting Old Lamps into New, Materials Used therefor, and in Combination therewith.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 30th June, 1888
Complete "pecification Accepted, 10th Aug., 1888
Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Incandescent
Lamps and the Methods Adopted for Converting Old Lamps into
New, Materials Used therefor, and in Combination therewith.
1 ARTHUR SHIPPEY of 13 and 14 King Street Cheapside in the City of London
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows :—
This Invention relates to Improvements in Incandescent Electric Lamps, and its
chief objects are to reuse and make up spoiled or damaged Lamps, repair same, and
convert old Lamps into new, by utilising the waste materials used in connection and
combination therewith.
It is a well known fact that there are thousands of damaged Incandescent Lamps
of the Edison, Swan, Shippey, Khatinsky, Bernstein and other types of Glow
Lamps in the Market which are useless in their present state by reason of the fracture
of the filament, broken connections and other faults-In consequence thereof [
propose to utilise such damaged filainents and materials and remake up in new Lamps
the various waste materials used in Lamp Manufacture-Another object of this
Invention is the production of a purer Carbon prepared from such waste materials.
I may mention that in the course of my experiments I have discovered a Carbon.
filament which has been used for some time to produce Electric Light by Incandescence
instead of being quite useless as is now generally believed, can be reconverted into a
filament of a much better quality and purer state by reason thereof, and consequently
produces a purer and a better light from the energy absorbed, than from filaments
hitherto manufactured from raw materials used for this purpose.
I have also discovered that a carbonized Carbon material which has been prepared
as above described is a very much more suitable Carbon to mix with other metallic
and mineral substances for the production of Electric Lamp Burners as the material
so produced is much less porous than the filaments hitherto used for this purpose being
in a semi graphite state after use is much harder and more dense than a newly made
Carbon and is therefor better suited for the manufacture of filaments for Electric
Lighting Purposes.
Now in order to convert these Waste Lamps and materials into articles of public
utility, I do one or other of the following things, vizt.
1st. Cut down or shorten the damaged filaments and remount same into their
platinum or other supports.

page_text: 2nd. Recoat weak and damaged Carbon Conductors with a coating of Metallic
substance, gum or glaze in order to exclude occluded gases or vapour therefrom.
3rd. I can also reduce the high resistance of a damaged Carbon filament to one of
low E.M.F.
4th. I can also increase the low resistance of a damaged Carbon filament to one
of higher E.M.F.
5th. I sometimes weld blend or platinize the Carbon filament of damaged Lamps so
as to convert same into a useful and workable Lamp.
6th. In order to improve the semi-metallic Incandescent Conductors and carbonized
illuminating portions of Incandescent Lamps made under this process I coat same
with Bisulphide of Carbon or Naphthaline.
7th. In some cases where very low resistance Lamps are required I pulverize the
damaged Carbon filaments and semi-metallic Conductors which have been used and
by mixing up such materials in combination with each other and thus obtain a
substance of low conductivity.
8th. I can also convert the damaged Carbon Conductors into a compound by
calcination or Acid process and by mixing same with Zirconium I am able to produce
a material suitable for small Carbon pencils which are admirably adapted for small arc
and semi Incandescent Burners for Electric Lighting purposes.
9th. I also find that very finely pulverized fibrous lamp filaments of high resistance
can be reused again to advantage if mixed with diamond dust, lime, salts of platinum,
iridium, ruthenium or other suitable luminous metal which combination of materials
produces by calcination a semi metallic substance capable of being made in sheets by
great pressure which substance can afterwards be cut into strips and used for Lamps
of high candlepower, which will produce according to the size, thickness and length of
burners, lamps capable of giving 100 to 1000 Candlepower if required.
In carrying out the before mentioned objects I purpose to purchase where possible
all the old damaged and broken Lamps I can buy which are then sorted into different
classes In some cases where the filaments have done no work but simply broken off
at the joint I cut same shorter, and then remount the filament into the, platinum
socket and enclose same in a new globe and thus produce a Lamp from such waste
materials of lower voltage and candlepower accordingly-The old platinum sockets
when useless for remaking up into new lamps, I melt down and have same redrawn
and converted into wire again, and use same for making sockets for other Lamps.
In the case of Carbon filaments such as the Edison & Swan type which are useless
to remount again, I grind or pulverize into very fine powder and mix and use same
with metallic and other materials according to requirements and as such Carbon
filaments have been sold by the Patentees and Royalty paid thereon they are free
from infringement and can be utilized for remaking up into Lamps to advantage by
my process.
In order to reduce the resistance of the Carbon when required for small Battery
Lamps, I saturate same in tetrachloride of platinum so as to obtain an improved
carbonaceous compound of very low conductivity so as to produce a light from
2 to 20 volts pressure according to candlepower required and energy expended.
In case I require to increase the resistance of my Conductors, I add then according
to requirements a small quantity of the finest powdered diamond dust and Zirconium
and other refractory substances of a suitable nature.
1 do not bind myself to any particular shape or class of bulb, but in case the same
is filled with Nitrogen attenuated Gas or other vapour for some classes of Lamps as
the case may be, then in that case, I prefer to use a special class of bulb patented and
described by me in Letters Patent No. 5955 of December 1883 as and for the
purposes named.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Incandescent
Lamps and the Methods Adopted for Converting Old Lamps into
New, Materials Used therefor, and in Combination therewith.
I ARTHUR SHIPPEY of 13 and 14 King Street Cheapside in the City of London
Electrical Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of incandescent lamps
the chief object being to reuse and make up soiled or damaged lamps repair the same
and convert old lamp materials into new lamps by utilizing the waste materials which
have been previously used in lamp manufacture.
It is well known that there are thousands of damaged incandescent lamps of the
Edison, Sawyer-Mann, Swan, Shippey, and Bernstein, Seel, and other types in the
market which are useless in their present damaged state by reason of the fracture of
the filaments or conductors, broken connections and other faults. I propose to
utilize such damaged lamp filaments and other lamp materials and to remake them
into new lamps.
Another object of this invention is the production of an improved and purer
carbon either in a pulverized or semi-graphite form to be used in making filaments
and conductors for producing light by incandescence.
Now in order to describe my invention I may mention that in the course of my
experiments I have discovered that carbonized conductors and filaments which have
been used for some time to produce electric light by incandescence instead of being
quite useless as is now generally believed can be converted into new filaments and
conductors of much better quality and purer state by reason of the increased density
and resistence due to their previous use; consequently producing a better and more
brilliant light from the energy absorbed than can be obtained from filaments which
have been simply carbonized according to methods now in common use.
I have also discovered that a carbonized material the base of which originally was
of a fibrous or carbonaceous nature after being used for some time on lamp circuits
gradually becomes of very high resistance in consequence of the electric current
which has passed through the same in vacuo. This material owing to its dense nature
is admirably suited as the base material for filaments and conductors. This solid base
material I sometimes coat with naphthaline, benzine, hydrocarbon vapor, solid, or
semi solid hydrocarbon, fire damp carburetted hydrogen, marsh gas, or other gaseous
fluids of a like nature either singly or in combination with each other. I can also
coat the filaments or conductors with bi-sulphide of carbon.

page_text: In order to convert these waste lamps and materials into articles of practical utility
I do one or other of the following things.
1. I may cut down or shorten the damaged filaments which have been previously
used and again remount the same in the platinum or other supports pertaining to the
special system of lamps operated upon.
2. I sometimes recoat the carbonized filamentous conductors with a coating or film
of any suitable metallic substance, gum silicon or suitable glaze in order to exclude
any occluded gases or vapours therefrom and also for the purpose of protecting the
base filamentous material which conveys the current required to heat the outer portion
or coating of my improved filaments to a state of incandescence.
3. I can reduce the high resistance of a damaged carbon filament to one of low electro-
motive force according to the methods hereinafter described. I can also increase the
low conductivity of such carbon to one of high efficiency by standardizing the same
according to voltage required to be used in the lamp which is regulated by the
quantity and thickness of the coatings placed upon the base filamentous material.
4. I sometimes blend, weld, or platinize the leads to the filament and by this
means produce a good mechanical joint or connection between the light emitting
filament and attaclied conductor. I can also produce a good joint by momentarily
short circuiting the current flow at the point of juncture between the burners and
conducting leads.
5. In some cases where very low voltage lamps are required to produce a light of
great candle power I prefer to build up my conductors or filaments in alternate
layers, one of a conducting and another of non conducting material the base of which
material is of a semi-metallic nature composed of pulverized platinum carbon and
composite layers can be arranged and built up of any thickness or diameter according
to the candle power required. This class of burner is very suitable for lamps
required for experimental purposed and for currents generated by chemical action for
battery lighting.
6. I have also discovered that very finely pulverized fibrous lamp filaments which
are of great resistance can be used to advantage when mixed with treacle, sugar,
pure diamond dust, or diamond paste, or finely pulverized slag in combination with
salts of platinum, Iridium zirconium, ruthenium or other suitable luminos metal,
which combination of materials is immersed in egg white or Senegal gum in order to
saturate the same fully and for the purposes of binding such materials into one mass
prior to calcination or carbonization after which a solid material is produced in the
form of a carbide, meiallic or semi-metallic substance capable of being converted
into sheets by great pressure which sheets can be cut into strips, or such material can
be moulded into conductors, after which such carbide or metallic conductors are
carbonized in any well known manner, then covered or coated with hydro-carbon in a
liquid or solidified state the base of which being a semi-metallic carbide of great
density will carry a current of any required voltage and filament burners made out
of this special compounded material can be made to produce burners for incandescent
lamps (owing to its dense solid nature) capable of giving a light of 100 to
1000 candle power or more. It can be mentioned that in order to spread and divide
up the flow of current for lamps of over 100 candle power I convey the same
through the bulb by multiple conductors which are better adapted for sealing into the
bulb of the lamp.
In order to carry out the before mentioned objects I propose to purchase where
possible all the old and damager incandescent lamps I can procure from consumers
which old lamps are to be sorted into the different classes. In some cases where the
filaments have done no work simply broken off at the joint I cut the same shorter
and then remount the same filament into the platinum socket and enclose same in a
new bulb and thus produce a new lamp from such waste materials but of somewhat
lower voltage and candle power.
The old platinum sockets when useless for remaking into new lamps I melt down
and have the same redrawn and converted into wire again to be used for making
sockets and conductors of other lamps.

page_text: In the case of carbon filaments and filamentous conductors such as are used in the
Edison, Swan, or Sawyer-Man systems which are useless to remount I grind or
pulverize them into a fine powder and mix with other suitable metallic substances or
carbonaceous materials according to requirements and then form the mixture into new
filaments or conductors, which in some cases can be pressed through a die of suitable
character.
In case I require to reduce the resistance of the carbon when it is required for
making into small battery lamps then saturate such materials in tetrachloride of
platinuin according to the method mentioned in English Patent No. 595 December
1883 so as to reduce the resistance and by this means I obtain an improved carbona-
ceous metalloid compound of very low conductivity but capable of standing great
heat and thus produce a lamp filament carrying from 2 to 20 volts. pressure
according to candle power and energy expended.
In case require to increase the resistance of my conductors I then add a small
quantity of the purest diamond dust or paste zirconium, or other refractory substance.
Hitherto it has been a difficult matter to reduce vacuum of a lamp without
absolutely spoiling or destroying the conductor enclosed therein but I have discovered
a means of solving this problem which is follows. At the base of the lamp 1 drill a
small hole by the aid of a fine diamond drill which gradually reduces the vacnum I
am then able to unseal the lamp with the blowpipe take out the conductor, repair the
same and then remake up the lamp with new bulb according to the well known methods
adopted in lamp manufacture.
I do not bind myself to any particular shape or class of bulb as a covering for the
filaments or burners but in case the bulbs are to be filled with nitrogen, attenuated
gas. or other vapour for some class of lamps as the case may be-then in that case I
prefer to itse a special class of lamp bulb described in British Letters Patent
No. 5955 of 1883 which lamp bulb has an expansive chamber at one end.
I may make my filaments and conductors either in single, double; or multiple loops.
In case of using them as double or multiple loop filaments they must be connected up
in series or group-series. The advantage of making and using multiple filaments is
that when one filament breaks the other remains intact and are still usable though
of course producing a lower candle power..
And in order that my said invention may be better understood and more readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the

page_text: 2. In the manufacture of incandescent electric lamps the method of utilizing
damaged and cast off filaments or conductors which consists in pulverizing the same
and combining the pulverized products with other suitable materials for the production
of new filaments or conductors substantially as described.
3. The method of manufacturing a homogeneous carbide or metallic conductor or
filament for incandescent electric lamps which consists in pulverizing damaged and
cast-off filaments or conductors that have been previously used mixing the same
with pulverized carbonaceous and metallic substances and a binding material then
forming the same into a compound by calcination and forming filaments or conductors
therefrom and then carbonizing such filaments or conductors substantially as
described.
4. The method of manufacturing a homogeneous carbide or metalline conductor or
filament for incandescent electric lamps which consists in pulverizing damaged or
cast off filaments or conductors that have been previously used mixing the same with
diamond dust or paste, Chromium or chrome paste and a binding material then
forming the same into a compound for making metalline filaments or conductors
substantially as described..
5. In the manufacture of incandescent electric lamps the method of connecting
the filament and leads by blending or welding the same together substantially as
described.
6. In the manufacture of incandescent electric lamps the method of reducing the
vacuum of the bulb or globe that encloses the filament which consists in drilling a
small bole in the base of the lamp and thereby gradually reducing the vacuum so as
to enable the lamp to be unsealed for the purpose of removing and repairing the
filament substantially as described.
7. The improved construction of incandescent electric lamps arranged and combined
in the manner and for the purposes described and illustrated in the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Agents for the Patentee: