Improvements in Devices for Lighting Lamps by Electricity.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1898--Accepted, 9th Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Lighting Lamps by Electricity.
I, CHARLES MELBOURNE WHITE, of Rooms 221-225, Birkbeck Bank Chambers,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by
Henry Martyn Brigham and Svend Martin Meyer, both of the City and State of
New York, United States of America) and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The subject of this invention is a device comprising a movable bar mounted on
the lamp burner and carrying a resistance coil of platinum wire or the like adapted
to be rendered incandescent by a current of electricity; the movement of the bar
serving to throw the coil into contact with or proximity to the wick or tip of
the burner, and also to close an electric circuit so that when in lighting position
the coil will be rendered incandescent, and when in retracted position the circuit
will be broken and the coil will be removed from the flame of the lamp.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a lamp burner, illustrating one form of the
invention.
Figures 2, 3, and 4 are detail views of the movable coil carrying device on a
larger scale.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of the lamp burner, illustrating a modified form
of the invention.
Figures 6 and 7 are detail views on a larger scale of the movable coil carrying
device in the form illustrated in Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a vertical section, on the line 8-8 Figure 5.
Figure 9 is an elevation, partly in section, of the lamp reservoir and burner,
illustrating a mode of making electrical connection between the shell of the
burner and the lamp reservoir, in the base of which a suitable battery or source of
electricity is located.
Figure 10 is a partial section of the lamp burner illustrating another
modification.
Figure 11 is an elevation of a lamp illustrating the invention with the lighting
coil mounted on a vertical rock shaft.
Figure 12 is an elevation of the burner thereof on a larger scale, partly in
section.
Figure 13 is a plan of the same.
Figure 14 is a horizontal section thereof.
1 represents the lamp reservoir, 2 the burner, and 3 the cone of the burner,
which surrounds the lamp wick. In the illustration shown in Figures 1, 2, 3
and 4; 6 represents a tubular rod mounted in nearly vertical position within the
lamp burner 2, having a longitudinal sliding movement in a socket 4, and drawn
down by a spring 13, shown in Figures 3 and 4. A metallic rod 7, rigidly con-
nected to the interior of the sliding tube 6, and in electrical contact therewith, is

page_text: connected at its upper end to a platinum coil 8, the other extremity of which is
connected to an insulated metallic rod 9, connected by an insulated wire 9" with
an external cap 10, which is mechanically connected to the bottom of the tube 6,
but electrically insulated therefrom by suitable insulating material 11. The
contact of the sliding tube 6, with the fixed guiding socket 4, in which it slides,
places the said tube in constant electrical connection with the lamp burner 2, and
consequently with the shell of the reservoir or body 1. The act of sliding up the
tube 6 moves the coil 8 into contact with or close proximity to the wick or tip
of the burner, and at the same time throws the metallic cap 10 into contact and
electrical connection with a contact point 14ª on the extremity of a conductor 14
which terminates in a socket 15, mounted in an insulator 15", in convenient position
for connection or disconnection with an insulated conductor 19, connected to one
pole of a battery 20, the other pole of which is grounded by a conductor 21, in
the lamp body 1.
In Figure 9 is shown a suitable mode of making the connection in a lamp
without removable font. This consists in a rod 16, sliding vertically in the
terminal socket 15, and slipping at its lower end in a metallic socket 18", mounted
on the upper end of an insulated wire 18, which passes down through a fixed
tube 1, in the body of the lamp, and is connected at its lower end by a wire 19
with one pole of a battery or suitable source of electricity 20, located in the base
of the lamp, the other pole of which is grounded at 22 on the lamp body 1, by a
conducting wire 21. The socket 18ª is held in position and insulated by an
annular cap 17, of insulating material, mounted in top of the lamp body 1.
It will be apparent from this description that by slipping up the wire rod 16
within its connecting socket 15, thereby raising it completely clear of the con-
ducting socket 18%, and the insulating socket 17, the burner 2, with its electric
attachments, is freed from the lamp body so that it may be removed therefrom as
in the case of an ordinary lamp.
In the modification shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, the rod 6 has an oscillating,
instead of a sliding, movement, being hinged to the extremity of the conductor 14,
by a pair of contact plates 6" and 14b (Figure 8), connected to the conductors 6
and 14 respectively, so as to keep them in permanent electrical contact. The cap 10
being insulated from the rod 6 by an insulating body 11, as before described, it
will be apparent that when, by manipulating the projecting arm or handle 12,
the rod 6, Figures 5 and 8, is moved upward, the metallic cap 10 will be thrown
into contact with the lamp cone 3, and in the same movement the coil 8 will be
thrown into contact with, or close proximity to, the wick or tip of the burner,
so as to ignite the same when it becomes incandescent by the closing of the circuit
by such contact of the cap 10 with the lamp cone 3. It will be further understood
that, in either form of the invention, the retraction of the bar 6 is effected by
spring or gravity the moment it is released. This removes the coil from the flame,
conceals it within the cone 3 or guiding socket 4, and at the same time breaks the
electric circuit, thus preventing any injury to the coil or exhaustion of the battery
in the normal condition of the apparatus and excepting at the instant of lighting
the lamp.
In the modification shown in Figure 10, the circuit is closed by an upward
sliding movement of the chimney gallery 5 and the neck 5*, to which it is attached,
within the shell 2 and cone 3 of the burner. In this illustration the tube 6 is
permanently connected to the neck 5ª, of the cone or chimney gallery, and con-
tains rods 7 and 9 as in Figure 2, on which the lighting coil 8 is mounted, the one
rod being in electrical connection with the tube 6, while the other, 9, is insulated
therefrom, by insulating sleeve 9b, and terminates below in a contact head 10,
which by the upward movement of the chimney gallery and attached parts, makes
contact with the arm 14*, connected to the insulated conducting socket 15, as shown
in dotted lines, thereby closing the circuit through the coil 8, at the same time
that this is elevated in contact with or proximity, to the wick. The rod 7, shown
in Figure 2, by which the "grounded" connection is made between, one end of

page_text: the coil 8, and, the tube, 6 is hidden in Figure. 10. In this illustration the electric
connection of, the tube 6 with the metal body of the lamp may be by its direct
attachment of the said tube to the neck 5" of the chimney gallery and the sliding
contact of this with the burner shell 2, or this "ground" connection may be made
by the contact of the upper end of the tube 6 with fixed cone 3 of the burner as
shown in dotted lines.
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1
....
In the lamp shown in Figures 11 to 14 inclusive the resistance coil is mounted
on a vertical rock shaft and connected by a contact spring; which in normal position
bears on an insulating band surrounding the rock shaft or sleeve and on the
application of pressure to turn the rock shaft or sleeve in either direction, receives
contact from a projecting stud which serves the combined purposes of closing the
electric circuit at the time of the mid stroke or movement of the rock shaft or
sleeve and, by mechanical action, in conjunction with the spring throwing the
rock shaft or sleeve to the extremity of its oscillatory movement in either direction
so as to automatically break the contact, and also throw the lighting coil away
from the flame.
1 represents the body of the lamp, 2 the removable burner, 3 the cone thereof,
which surrounds the wick tube 4, 5 is an insulated rock shaft supported at bottom
in a step 6 of insulating material and vibrated by a handle 7, preferably of insulat-
ing material, projecting outward through a horizontal slot in the shell 2 of the
burner. The rock shaft 5 carries near its upper end a metallic sleeve 8 electrically
insulated from the said rock shaft by an interposed sleeve 9 of rubber or other
suitable material and in constant electrical connection with the shell 2 of the
burner in which it vibrates together with the rock shaft 5. The upper ends of
the grounded sleeve 8 and the insulated rock shaft 5 are connected by a coil 10,
of platinum wire or other suitable material, adapted to be rendered incandescent by
the electric current attached at its ends to studs 11, 12, on the rock shaft 5 and
sleeve 8 respectively, projecting horizontally in such position that the coil 10 will
be thrown over or in close proximity to the lamp wick at the mid stroke of the rock
shaft 5 and will be removed from the wick at each end of the vibrating movement.
In order to close the electric circuit when the rock shaft is at mid stroke, the
rock shaft.is provided with a pin 13 projecting horizontally through an insulating
band 14 surrounding the rock shaft at this point, which pin, as the rock shaft is
turned in either direction makes contact with the free end of a plate spring 15
which is permanently attached to a coupling piece 16 mounted by an insulator 17
in the shell 2 of the burner. The coupling 16 is in the form of a suitable socket
or clip to permit the ready connection and removal of an insulated conductor 18
connecting with one pole of a battery or other source of electricity 19 in the base
of the lamp, the other pole of which is grounded by a wire 20 connecting with the
body of the lamp.
↑
The operation is as follows:-
In the normal position of the lighter, as illustrated in Figure 2, the lighting
coil 10 is thrown completely away from the flame in either direction shown in full
and dotted lines respectively, and at the same time the pin 13 is removed from
contact with the spring 15, which rests upon the insulating band 14, surrounding
the lower end of the rock shaft 5. When it is desired to light the lamp, the
handle 7 is pressed with the finger, rotating the sleeve to its mid position at which
time the pin 13 engages with the spring 15 so as to close the electric circuit through
the coil 10, which is in this position in contact or close proximity with the wick,
and being rendered incandescent instantly ignites the lamp. The pressure of the
finger, moreover, carrying the rock shaft beyond the mid stroke, causes the
spring 15 to act upon the pin 13 so as to throw the rock shaft 5 with a sudden
movement to the extremity of its stroke, breaking the circuit, and at the same time
removing the igniting coil 10 away from the flame. It will thus appear that the
rock shaft carrying the lighting coil may be rotated in either direction from the
end of its stroke, at which it rests, and is, by the action of the spring automatically
thrown to the other end of its stroke, thereby again breaking the circuit.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. An electrical device for lighting lamps comprising a suitable source of
electricity and conductors; a resistance coil adapted to be rendered incandescent
by the electric current; a moving bar mounted on the burner, and on which the
coil is mounted, and whereby it is carried to and away from the wick or igniting
point of the burner, and a contact device with which the coil carrying bar engages
so as to close an electric circuit through the coil in the act of moving the coil
into lighting position as explained.
2. An electrical device for lighting lamps, comprising a resistance coil adapted
to be rendered incandescent by an electric current, a movable bar on which said
coil is mounted and the movement of which advances the coil to position for
lighting the burner and retracts it from such position, a suitable source of elec-
tricity and conductors, connected at one end with the movable ur and terminating
at the other end in a contact point with which the movable bar forms electric
connection so as to close a circuit through the coil in the act of moving the coil
into igniting position, substantially as explained.
3. An electrical device for lighting lamps, comprising a suitable source of
electricity, conductors connected therewith, a movable bar mounted on the lamp-
burner connected with one pole of the conductors and adapted by its movement
to make and break connection with the other pole and having an insulating device
interposed between its ends which thus connect with the respective poles of the
battery, and a resistance coil carried by the movable bar and electrically connecting
the ends thereof, whereby the forward movement of the bar will close an electric
circuit through the resistance coil and advance the said coil to lighting position
and the retraction of the bar will break such circuit and remove the lighting
coil from the flame of the lamp as explained.
4. An electrical device for lighting lamps comprising a suitable source of elec-
tricity, and conductors, a resistance coil adapted to be rendered incandescent by
the passage of an electric current, a movable bar in which said coil' is mounted,
adapted to be advanced by pressure of the finger and retracted automatically
when released, and in its advance movement carrying the coil to lighting position
and at the same time placing its ends in electrical connection with the respective
poles of the conductors, thereby closing an electric circuit through said coil, as
explained.
5. In an electrical device for lighting lamps the combination of a suitable
source of electricity and conductors connected therewith, a coil adapted to be
rendered incandescent by the electric current, a movable bar carrying the said
coil, mounted in the lamp burner and adapted in its forward movement to carry
the coil into lighting position and also close an electric circuit therethrough, and
a shield or casing within which the said coil is concealed in its retracted position,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 25th day of February 1898.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
Rooms 221-225, Birkbeck Bank Chambers,
Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.