IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING CURRENTS FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS OR CANDLES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Imray, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS
FOR DISTRIBUTING CURRENTS FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS OR CANDLES." A commu-
nication from abroad by La Société Generale d'Electricité (Procédés Jab-
lochkoff), an Incorporated Company, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Imray at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th February 1880.
JOHN IMRAY, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING CURRENTS FOR ELECTRIC
LAMPS OR CANDLES." [A communication from abroad by La Société Generale
d'Electricité (Procédés Jablochkoff), an Incorporated Company, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to means and apparatus for distributing currents of elec-
tricity to electric lamps by a construction and arrangement of disconnecting and
commutating apparatus, such that if one of a number of lamps or groups of lamps
should by accident become extinguished, or should its carbons break or be con-
sumed, this lamp is automatically thrown out of circuit, and the next in order is
brought into circuit. When the lamp is of the kind known as the Jablochkoff
candle there is attached to the clamp that holds the candle a strip made of two
metals having unequal degrees of expansion. The strip is bent in U form inverted,
and is attached by one of its limbs, presenting its bend near the lower end of the
candle. When the candle is burnt down to this point, the heat of the voltaic are
acting on the bent strip causes it to partially unbend, so that its free limb comes
against a contact screw, and thus establishes a circuit of less resistance by which
the electricity passes without continuing to pass through the residuary carbons of
the candle. The free end of the bent strip may have attached to it a spring which
is usually held in a bent position by butting against a stop, until by the change of
shape of the strip it is released from the stop, whereupon it springs against the
contact screw and short circuits the current. The commutator whereby the electric
lamps or candles are brought successively into circuit on the extinction of some of
their number is of the following kind :-A vessel of ebonite, or other non-conducting
material, is divided into a number of parallel compartments, each containing

page_text: mercury connected by a wire with one of the lamps or candles. Above this vessel
is mounted a shaft which extends over all the compartments; it has on it a metallic
disc which dips into the mercury of the first compartment, and at intervals along
it, corresponding to the distance of each compartment from the next, it has a
number of metallic pins projecting from it, these pins being arranged helically on
the shaft, so that when the shaft is turned round, as one pin is leaving the mercury
in one of the compartments the next pin in order is entering the mercury in the
next compartment. On the shaft is an escapement wheel, which is worked by an
anchor on the armature of an electromagnet. The armaturo of a second electro-
magnet is attached to a lever, which carries at its end two metal pins immediately
over two cups containing mercury. Usually while one lamp of a series is in action
the electric current for the lamp passes through the coil of this second electro-
magnet, which by attracting its armature keeps the metal pins out of the mercury.
When, however, the lamp from any cause becomes extinguished, the second electro-
magnet being no longer excited by an electric current passing through its coil,
ceases to attract its armature; the armature lever thereupon moves so that its pins
dip into the mercury cups, giving passage for the electric current to to the first electro
magnet, the armature of which moving the anchor turns the escapement wheel and
its shaft partly round. By this movement of the shaft the one of its pins which
was in the mercury of one compartment closing the circuit to the lamp that was in
action is withdrawn from the mercury, so that this lamp becomes excluded from
the circuit, and the next pin on the shaft being now immersed in the mercury of
the next compartment closes the circuit for the next lamp in order. Immediately
on that lamp coming into action the electric current again passes through the coil
of the second electro-magnet, which attracting its armature withdraws the pins
thereof from the mercury cups in which they were immersed, and so causes the
first electro-magnet to be excluded from the circuit until it is again brought into
circuit by the extinction of the active lamp or candle. Thus, as lamp after lainp
ceases to act, fresh lamps are brought successively into circuit. It is convenient to
number these lamps consecutively, and to fix on the shaft an index which as it is
moved by the shaft over a dial marked with numbers corresponding to those of the
lamps indicates at any time which of the lamps is in action.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Imray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st April 1880.
John IMRAY, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING CURRENTS FOR ELECTRIC
LAMPS OR CANDLES," A communication from abroad by La Société Gonerale
d'Electricité (Procédés Jablochkoff), an Incorporated Company, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to means and apparatus for distributing currents of elec-
tricity to electric lamps by a construction and arrangement of disconnecting and
commutating apparatus, such that if one of a number of lamps or groups of
lamps should by accident become extinguished, or should its carbons break or be
consumed, this lamp is automatically thrown out of circuit, and the next in order
is brought into circuit. When the lanp is of the kind known as the Jablochkoff*
candle there is attached to the clamp that holds the candle a strip made of two
metals having unequal degrees of expansion. The strip is bent in Uform inverted,
and is attached by one of its limbs, presenting its bend near the lower end of the
candle. When the candle is burnt down to this point, the heat of the voltaic are
ncting on the bent strip causes it to partially unbend, so that its free limb coines
against a contact screw, and thus establishes a circuit of less resistance by which
the electricity passes without continuing to pass through the residuary carbons of
the candle. The freo end of the bent strip may have attached to it a spring which
is usually held in a bent position by butting against a stop, until by the change of
shape of the strip it is released from the stop, whereupon it springs against the
contact screw and short circuits the current. The commutator whereby the electric
lamps or candles are brought successively into circuit on the extinction of some of
their number is of the following kind:-A vessel of ebonite, or other non-conducting
material, is divided into a number of parallel compartments, each containing
mercury connected by a wire with one of the lamps or candles. Above this vessel
is mounted a shaft which extends over all the compartments; it has ou it a
metallic disc which dips into the mercury of the first compartment, and at intervals
along it, corresponding to the distance of each compartment from the next, it has a
number of metallic pins projecting from it, these pins being arranged helically on
the shaft, so that when the shaft is turned round, as one pin is leaving the mercury
in one of the compartments the next pin in order is entering the mercury in the
next compartment. On the shaft is an escapement wheel, which is worked by an
anchor on the armature of an electromagnet. The armature of a second electro-
magnet is attached to a lever, which carries at its end two metal pins immediately
over two cups containing mercury. Usually while one lamp of a series is in action
the electric current for the lamp passes through the coil of this second electro
magnet, which by attracting its armature keeps the metal pius out of the mercury.
When, however, the lamp from any cause becomes extinguished, the second electro-
magnet being no longer excited by an electric current passing through its coil,
ceases to attract its armature; the armature lever thereupon moves so that its pins
dip into the mercury cups, giving passage for the electric current to the first electro-
magnet, the armature of which moving the anchor turns the escapement wheel and
its shaft partly round. By this movement of the shaft the one of its pins which
was in the mercury of one compartment closing the circuit of the lamp that was in
action is withdrawn from the mercury, so that this lamp becomes excluded from the.
circuit, and the next pin on the shaft being now immersed in the mercury of the
next compartment closes the circuit for the next lamp in order. Immediately on
that lamp coming into action the electric current again passes through the coil of
the second electromagnet, which attracting its armature withdraws the pins thereof
from the mercury cups in which they were immersed, and so causes the first electro-
magnet to be excluded from the circuit until it is again brought into circuit by

page_text: the extinction of the active lamp or candle. Thus, as lamp after lamp ceases to act,
fresh lamps are brought successively into circuit. It is convenient to number these
lamps consecutively, and to fix on the shaft an index which as it is moved by the
shaft over a dial marked with numbers corresponding to those of the lamps indi-
cates at any time which of the lamps is in action.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a section, and Fig. 2 a plan shewing a group of Jablochkoff candles with
means, according to this Invention, of excluding each candle from the electric
circuit when its carbons are nearly consumed. D is the bent strip, consisting of two
metals having different degrees of expansion when heated; this strip is bent to the
form of an inverted U, and is secured by one of its limbs to one of the clamps
which hold the candle. While the strip D remains cold the electricity passes
through the candle and the connections M and N, but when by the consumption of
the candle the voltaic are approaches the bottom its heat causes the strip D to
partially unbend, and this unbending movement releases a small spring P, which
suddenly springs into contact with the screw o, whereupon a circuit of small
resistance is established from M to O, the connection O being formed on a frame
which carries the contact screws o for all the candles of the group; Fig. 3 shews a
similar arrangement, dispensing with the spring P; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section,
and Fig. 5 a plan of the commutating apparatus for bringing a number of electric
lights successively into circuit; Figs. 6 and 7 are end views, as they would be seen
looking in opposite directions. a is the vessel of non-conducting material, such as
ebonite, divided by vertical partitions into a number of compartments, a', a², a³, &c.,
there being two more compartments than there are lights in connection with the
apparatus. Each compartment contains mercury; in that of the first a¹ is partly
immersed a metal disc b which is fixed on the horizontal shaft c. On this shaft
there are fixed a number of metal pins d³, d³, &c., one for each light, each above one
of the compartments a², a³, &c., and these pins are arranged helically round the
shaft; so that as the shaft revolves one of these pins is leaving the mercury in its
compartment while the next pin in order is entering the mercury in the next com-
partment. At one end of the shaft c is fixed a star wheel i worked by an anchor
h, h, from the armature lever R of an electromagnet T. Another electro magnet B,
through the coil of which the current normally passes, has on its armature lever la
fork, the prongs of which are immediately over two cells e, el, containing mercury.
When by breach of the circuit the current ceases to excite the maguet B the
prongs ff. dip into the mercury in e, e', again closing the circuit, whereupon the
current again excites the magnet B, causing it to attract its armature and raise the
fork ff, out of the mercury. An index p fixed on the shaft c points to divisions
on a dial 9 shewing which lamp is in circuit.
To illustrate the action of the com-
mutating apparatus, Fig. 8 shews diagrammatically the connections for a number
of groups of Jablochkoff candles, for example, two groups Y, Y, each of 6 candles,
belonging to commutator X, and three similar groups Y₁, Y, Y', belonging to
commutator X', the producing, machine or other source of electricity being indi-
cated at Z. The current from Z reaches the commutator at C, passes through the
coil of B, raising the forks f out of the mercury. From B the current.passes to F,
which is connected by a metal stript with the compartment a', it thus passes by
the disc b and shaft c, and one or other of the pins d', d, &c., into the mercury of
the corresponding compartment a³, as, &c., whence by one of the connections 1, 2, 3,
&c., it is led to one of the screws N belonging to one of the candles of the first Y
group. From this candle the current proceeds to a candle of the second Y group,
and from the ring M of that group it returns to B' on the commutator, whence by
B there is a connection to C on the other commutator X'. The current follows a
similar course in respect of the Y' groups, returning finally to B' of the commutator
X, and thence by B of that commutator back to Z. When by extinction of one
of the candles the current is interrupted, the magnet B ceases for the moment to

page_text: The
attract its armature, whereupon the fork dips into the mercury in e, c'.
current then passes again through the coil of B to F, thence by a strip t¹ to e,
through the fork f to e¹, thence by a strip t² to I, and through the coil of T to B2,
B', and B, thus for the moment making a circuit independent of the candles, and
exciting the magnet T, which attracting its armature moves the anchor h, causing
the shaft c to turn partly round. The one of the pins d', d², &c., that was in the
mercury is thus raised out of it, and the pin next in order becomes immersed in the
mercury, bringing the next candle of the group into circuit. When several of the
candles become extinguished successively the shaft c is thus caused to make several
successive movements until a candle is brought into circuit which continues to
burn. When the candles are provided with the automatic extinction arrangement
described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the connections are arranged as
shewn diagrammatically at Fig. 9. While the candle burns the current from Z
passes through the commutator, as already described, to M, then through the candle
to N, back to B, B', & Z. But when by the action of the strip D contact is made
with O it returns to the commutator at I, and passes through the coil of the
magnet T to B2, B¹, and Z. The magnet T being thus excited causes the shaft c
to turn, bringing into circuit the next candle in order. Several groups of candles
may be thus arranged, as shewn diagrammatically in respect of two groups at
Fig. 10. When the last of the candles is consumed or extinguished the last of the
pins d, 3, &c., completes a circuit which introduces a resistance equivalent to that
of a candle, as shown diagrammatically at Fig. 11. The current enters by E and
returns by S; the wire from all the automatic extinguishers is connected to D, and
that from the candle clamps to P. The resistance M, which may consist of a
number of rods t wound with wire, is connected to R¹ and R. Although the com-
mutat g apparatus has been described above in connection with Jablochkoff
candles it may obviously be employed for the distribution of currents for electric
lamps of other kinds.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, I
claim,―
First. The use, in combination with an electric candle, of a bent compound
metal strip arranged to make contact, which excludes the candle from the circuit
when the strip becomes heated by the neighbourhood of the voltaic arc, substan-
tially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. Completing the circuits to a number of electric lamps or candles by
means of mercury cells and metal pins arranged helically on a shaft, which when
one light is extinguished is caused by an electromagnet brought temporarily into
circuit to turn partly round so as to bring the next light into circuit, substantially
as herein described.
Third. The construction and arrangement of commutating apparatus, whereby
electric lights are brought successively into circuit, as herein described with
reference to Figs. 4 to 11, inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Imray, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
JOHN IMRAY (L.S.)