IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS OR LIGHTING APPARATUS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS OR LIGHTING APPARATUS" Communi-
cated to him from abroad by Charles Albert Hussey and Amzi Smith Dodd,
both of the City and State of New York, United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd January 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS
OR LIGHTING APPARATUS"-[A communication to him from abroad by Charles
Albert Hussey and Amzi Smith Dodd, both of the City and State of New York,
United States of America]
This Invention relates to improvements in electric lamps. The said Invention
comprises the combination with a rod for supporting a carbon, of clamping pieces
controlling the movement of the said rod, an electro magnet or solenoid, an
armature or core therefor, arms pivotted at one end directly to the said armature
or core and pivotted at the other end to the said clamping pieces, and stops for
limiting the upward movement of the clamping pieces so as to maintain them in
position to act upon the said rod. The said Invention further comprises the
combination with a rod for supporting a carbon, and a clutch or locking device
controlling the movement of the said rod, of two solenoids, arranged one within the
other, and located, one in a main circuit, and the other in a derived circuit, and a
core consisting of a cylindric or tubular piece fitting between the said solenoids.
Preferably two cylindric or tubular cores are used in lieu of one, the said tubular.
cores being connected by an intervening piece of either magnetic or diamagnetic
material.
According to the said Invention the carbons are both detachably secured in
metal holders, the lower of which has, adjacent to it, a globe-carrier. The holder for

page_text: the upper carbon is connected to a metal rod which extends up through a metal
case. The lamp is suspended by two metallic rods to which the line wires are
fastened. These rods are insulated from the said case by gaskets of hard india-
rubber and are secured to metal plugs which extend through the top of the case.
The lower carbon-holder is supported by two rods extending downwardly from the
cafe. These rods are insulated from the said case by gaskets of hard india-rubber.
Within the case is arranged a solenoid, hereinafter termed the outer solenoid, and a
wire extends from the metal plugs of one of the said metallic supporting rods to
one end of the wire of this solenoid, and a second wire leads from the other end of
the wire of the said outer solenoid to the outer case. From the outer case the
circuit extends to the upper carbon rod, thence to the upper carbon, thence to the
lower carbon, thence to one of the rods supporting the lower carbon holder, and
thence along a wire to the plug of the second metallic supporting rod. This
constitutes the main circuit of the lamp. The core of the outer solenoid consists of
an annular piece of metal and fits within the solenoid. A second solenoid, which I
hereinafter term the inner solenoid, whose coil of wire is of higher resistance than
that of the outer solenoid, is arranged a little lower than the outer solenoid and
carries the core of the said outer solenoid upon its outside, its own core inside, and
a connecting piece over its upper end. The said cores are severally of tubular or
cylindric form, and the connecting piece may be of magnetic or diamagnetic
material. One end of the coil of the inner solenoid is connected by a wire with a
wire connected to the outer solenoid, or with the plug of the first named metallic
supporting rod, and the other end of the coil of the inner solenoid is connected by
another wire also connected with the outer solenoid or with the plug of the second
metallic supporting rod. It will thus be seen that the inner solenoid is in a shunt!
or derived circuit.
Springs acting on lugs extending from the core of the outer solenoid tend to
force it upward. These springs may be compressed or relaxed by means of screws,
to adjust the lamp for electric currents of different potentials.
Two clamping pieces, which are of the form of segments of a cylinder, and are
adapted to gripe the upper carbon rod, are pivotted to arms which, at their outer
ends, are pivotted to the cores of the solenoids the upward motion of these
clamping plates is limited by stops attached to the said cores, and their downward
motion is also limited by a stop or stops.
When an electric current is supplied to the lamp, the outer solenoid is energized
and raises the cores of both solenoids. The arms are thus caused to force the
clamping pieces on the upper carbon rod with a toggle-like action, thereby locking
the said rod and the upper carbon in position. A considerable upward and
downward movement of the said arms is required to produce a comparatively
slight movement of the clamping pieces towards and from the rod to cause the
latter to be held or released.
When the resistance in the main circuit is increased by the consumption of the
carbons to a material extent, the outer solenoid becomes weakened, and, as a
greater quantity of the electric current is then caused to flow through the derived
circuit, the inner solenoid becomes correspondingly stronger. The cores are there-
fore caused to descend. When the cores thus move the arms, the clamping pieces
and the upper carbon rod descend until the said arms come in contact with the
stops. When the cores descend still farther the inner ends of the arms, and the
clainping pieces, are caused to move through arc-shaped paths and to thereby
release the upper carbon rod. The said rod, and the upper carbon, then descend
until the resistance in the main circuit is reduced to the normal amount.
causes the amount of the electric current passing through the outer solenoid to be
increased, and the amount of the electric current passing through the inner solenoid
to be decreased, hence the cores are caused to move upward. The arms then press
the clamping pieces against the upper carbon rod with a toggle-like action, and
cause them to gripe the rod and retain it in position. This operation is repeated
This

page_text: as the resistance of the main circuit is caused to vary by the consumption of the
carbons and the feeding of the upper carbon.
Preferably I combine with the stops for limiting the motion of the clamping
pieces, springs which have constant tendency to depress the said clamping pieces.
Screws fitted to the said stops may be used to act on the clamping pieces, if
desirable, in lieu of these springs.
It will be seen that by this improvement a very simple and desirable clutch for
controlling the feed of the upper carbon of an electric lamp is produced.
Where but one lamp is to be arranged in a circuit, one solenoid arranged in the
main circuit to operate the clamping piece will be sufficient. The core would then
descend by gravity. It is not absolutely necessary that the arms should be
pivotted to the clamping pieces. The arms and clamping pieces may, if desired, be
rigidly connected.

page_text: •
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd July 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake and Co, Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS
OR LIGHTING APPARATUS" a communication to me from abroad by Charles
Albert Hussey and Amzi Smith Dodd, both of the City and State of New York,
United States of America.
This invention relates to improvements in electric lamps or lighting apparatus
and the said invention comprises the combination with a rod for supporting a
carbon, of clamping pieces controlling the movement of the said rod, an electro-
magnet or solenoid, an armature or core therefor, arms pivoted at one end directly
to the said armature or core and at the other end to the clamping pieces, and stops
for limiting the upward movement of the said clamping pieces so as to maintain
them in position to act upon the said rod.
The said invention further comprises the combination with a rod for supporting
a carbon, and a clutch or locking device controlling the movement of the said rod,
of two solenoids arranged one within the other and located one in a main circuit,
and the other in a derived circuit, and a core consisting of a cylindric or tubular
piece fitting between the said solenoids. Preferably two cylindric or tubular cores
are used in lieu of one, the said tubular cores being connected by an intervening
pieco of either magnetic or diamagnetic material.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1, is a sectional elevation of an electric lamp constructed according to this
invention.
Figure 2, is a vertical section of certain parts of the same at right angles to
Figure 1; and
Figure 8 is a horizontal section of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A indicates the upper carbon and B the lower carbon, both of which are
detachably secured in metal holders, the lower of which has adjacent to it a globe
carrier C. The holder for the upper carbon is connected to a metal rod D which
extends up through a metal case E.
The lamp is suspended by two metallic rods F, F', to which the line wires are
fastened. These rods are insulated from the case E by gaskets a of hard india-
rubber and are secured to metal plugs b which extend up through the top of
the case.
E¹. E' indicate two rods, shown as of tubular form,
the case E and supporting the lower carbon holder.
from the case E by gaskets e of hard india rubber.
extending downwardly from
These rods are also insulated
G indicates a solenoid arranged within the case E. A wire c extends from the
metal plug b of the rod F to one end of the wire of the solenoid G, and a wire c'
leads from the other end of the wire of the said solenoid to the case E. From the
case E the circuit extends to the rod D, thence to the upper carbon, thence to the
lower carbon, thence to the rod E¹, and thence along a wire c to the plug b of
the rod F. This is the main circuit of the lamp. The core G₁ of the solenoid G
consists of an annular piece of metal and fits within the said solenoid.
H indicates a solenoid whose coil of wire is of higher resistance than that of the
solenoid G. The solenoid H is arranged a little lower than the solenoid G, and

page_text: has the core G' outside it, a core G inside it, and a connecting piece over its upper
end. The cores G' and G are severally of tubular or cylindric form and the
connecting piece may be of magnetic or diamagnetic material. One end of the
coil of the solenoid H is connected by a wire with the wire c, or with the plug b
of the rod F, and the other end is connected by a wire d' with the wire c³,
or with the plug b of the rod F'. It will thus be seen that the solenoid H is in a
shunt or derived circuit.
Springs G³ acting on lugs extending from the core G₁ tend to force it upward.
These springs may be compressed or relaxed by means of screws G³ to adjust the
lamp for electric currents of different potentials.
I indicates two clamping pieces which are of the form of segments of a cylinder
and are adapted to gripe the rod D. They are pivoted to arms J, which, at the
outer ends, are pivoted to the cores G' G of the solenoids. The upward motion
of these clamping plates is limited by stops K, attached to the cores G¹ G4, and
their downward motion is limited by a stop or stops L.
When an electric current is supplied to the lamp the solenoid G is energized and
raises the cores G³, G'. The arms J are thus caused to force the clamping pieces
on the rod D with a toggle-like action, thereby locking the said rod and the upper
carbon in position. A considerable upward and downward movement of the
sail arms is required to produce a comparatively slight movement of the clamping
pieces towards and from the rod to cause the latter to be held or released.
When the resistance in the main circuit is increased by the consumption
of the carbons to a material extent the solenoid G becomes weakened, and,
as a greater quantity of the electric current is then caused to flow through the
derived circuit the inner solenoid H, becomes correspondingly stronger; the
cores G¹, G, are therefore caused to descend. When the cores thus move, the arms
J, the clamping pieces I, and the rod D descend until the said arms come in contact
with the stops L. When the cores G¹ G' descend still further the inner ends of the
arms and the clamping pieces are caused to move through arc-shaped paths and to
thereby release the rod D; the said rod D and the upper carbon then descend until
the resistance in the main circuit is reduced to the normal amount. This causes the
amount of the electric current passing through the solenoid G, to be increased and
the amount of the electric current passing through the solenoid H to be decreased,
hence the cores G¹, G'are caused to move upward. The arins J then press the clamping
pieces against the rod D with a toggle-like action and cause them to gripe the rod
and retain it in position. This operation is repeated as the resistance of the maio
circuit is caused to vary by the consumption of the carbons and the feeding of the
upper carbon.
Preferably I combine with the stops K springs K' which have a constant tendency
to depress the clamping pieces. Screws fitted to the said stops may be used to act
on the clamping pieces if desirable in lieu of these springs.
It will be seen that by this improvement a very simple and desirable clutch for
controlling the feed of the upper carbon of an electric lamp is produced.
Where but one lamp is to be arranged in a circuit, one solenoid arranged in the
main circuit to operate the clamping piece will be sufficient. The core would then
descend by gravity. It is not absolutely necessary that the arms J should be
pivoted to the clamping pieces, for the arms and clamping pieces may, if desired,
be rigidly connected
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I Claim in an electric lamp or lighting apparatus.
First. The combination with a rod for supporting a carbon, of clamping pieces
controlling the movement of the said rod, an electro-magnet or solenoid, an armature
or core therefor, arms pivoted at one end directly to the said armature or core and
at the lower end to the said clamping pieces, and stops for limiting the upward
movement of the clamping pieces so as to maintain them in position to act upon
the said rod, substantially as specified.

page_text: Second. The combination with the rod D, of the clamping pieces I, the
arnis J, the solenoid G, the core G' therefor, and the stops K, L, substantially
as specified.
Third. The combination with a rod for supporting a carbon, and a clutch or
locking device controlling the movement of the said rod, of two solenoids,
arranged one within the other, and located one in a main circuit and the other in
a derived circuit, and a core consisting of a cylindric or tubular piece fitting
between the solenoids, substantially as specified.
Fourth. The combination with a rod for supporting a carbon and a clutch or
locking device controlling the movement of the said rod, of two solenoids arranged 1
one within the other and located one in a main circuit and the other in a derived
circuit, two cylindric or tubular cores for the solenoids, and a connecting piece
between the said cores, substantially as specified.
Fifth. The combination with a rod for supporting a carbon and a clutch for
engaging with the said rod, of two solenoids arranged one within the other, and 1
located, one in a main circuit and the other in a derived circuit, cores for the said
solenoids consisting of two cylindric or tubular pieces, and a connecting piece of
diamagnetic material, substantially us specified.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Thirtieth day of June in the year of our Lord one 2
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.