An Improved Portable Electric Lamp.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th June, 1892-Accented, 3rd Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION….
An Improved Portable Electric Lamp.
We, ROBERT THOMPSON of 325, Old Chester Road, Rockferry in the County
of Chester, Engineer, and HORACE SEYMOUR PYNE of Castletown in the Isle of
Man, Lecturer in Science at King William's College in the Isle of Man do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
-
Hitherto there has been great difficulty experienced in making electric lamps,
which whilst of a size not interfering with their being sufficiently portable to
enable them to be used for mining purposes are capable of giving a satisfactory
illumination for a sufficient length of time without having to renew any of the
chemicals or elements used in the battery.
In order to avoid any ambiguity we here state that wherever we have used the
phrase "electric lamp" we mean thereby a combination of an incandescent lamp,
with a two fluid primary battery, and wherever we have used the word "cell," we
mean a complete cell having one positive element in its exciting agent, and two or
more negative elements, each in its own porous vessel containing the depolarizing -
agent.
The improvements we have introduced in our electric lamp are the following:-
Firstly An improved construction of the body of the electric lamp and an.
improved arrangement of the parts.
Secondly-The employment of reserve negative elements in the cells of the
battery in manner herein after appearing.
Thirdly-An improved arrangement of the elements in the cells of the battery.
Fourthly The use of a special compound liquid as the depolarizing agent of the
battery.
We make the casing of the battery to contain the cells of suitable shape and size.
to receive them, or we sometimes divide the casing itself into compartments, s0
that each compartment will form a cell. In either case we extend the casing for
a sufficient height above the cells or compartments, to allow space for a plate to
support the elements as well as for the heads of the elements and the connections.
between the cells to complete the circuit. We prefer to make the lid of the casing
to hinge from one side, so that it can be easily opened or closed, and can be firmly
secured when closed. We support all the elements by a plate of non-conducting
material, which rests on the cells or on the divisions in the casing, and on the
porous vessels. And we cover this supporting plate on its under side with a sheet
of soft rubber, so that it will form a liquid-tight cover to the cells and porous
vessels when pressed firmly on them. We attach distance pieces to the under side
of the lid of the casing at suitable positions, so that when it is closed and fastened
down, these distance pieces will press on the supporting plate, and hold it firmly
on the cells or divisions, forming the compartments, as well as on the porous vessels
in the cells.
=
We prefer to place, the incandescent lamp on the top of the battery at about
the centre of the lid so as to be able when required to arrange a reflector in a
suitable position behind the lamp.
We mount the lamp in a brass tube of suitable size and connect one of the loops
on it with this tube; we connect the other loop on the lamp to a stout brass wire,.
which we fix in the centre of the tube by plaster of Paris or other non-conducting
material, and we extend this central wire below the tube sufficiently to enable it to.
pass through the lid when the lamp is in position. We support the mounted lamp

page_text: in a short brass pipe, having a flangeron' its lower, end, by which we fix it on the
lid of the casing.
We use zinc and carbon as the positive and negative elements respectively in
our battery, and we support the zinc elements by screws passing through the
supporting plate into the zinc elements, which are thus held firmly against the
rubber on the under side of the supporting plate, and we rest the heads of these
screws on washer plates fixed on. the supporting plate..
We pass the carbon elements through suitable holes in the supporting plate and
the rubber lining: and we supports them by heads cast or fixeddon the carbons,
which rest on the supporting plate to which we fix them by screws.
We insert a rubber washer between the headsrof. the carbons and the supporting
plate so as to make them liquid-tight at those parts. It will thus beeseen that we
are able to confine the exciting and. depolarizing, agents in their own celli. In
each cell we use two or more negative elements each in its own porous vessel, and
we place one positive element at about the centre of each cell, so that it willb
equally distant from each of the negative elements in that cell. We bring one-or-
more of the negative elements in each cell into action with the positive" element in
that cell as desired in the following manner;
To the lid of the casing we fix as many stout strips of brass as there are cell-in
the battery, each of these 'strips-being so placed' as to" bé" over all the negative 2
elements in the cell to which it'corresponds.
We pass' as many brass screws adjustable from the outside off the battery as
there are negativë elements in each cell 'through the lid, and screw theme into the
strips at such positions, that one of these screws will press upon the headª¹ offench'
negative element when it is screwed down through the strip. We can thus connect' 2
or disconnectionė“ or˜mořë of˜ther elements in each cell with the brass strips fixed
over each cell.
We connect one of these strips with the flange of the pipe which's supports the
incandescent lamp; and we connect the central wire from thecldmp with the positive
element in one of the adjoining cells by a strip of brass screwed to the«undër sidė 3
of the lid and passing over the head of such positive efément.
We bend 'down the end of this strip so that when the lid is closed it will press
firmly upon the head of this positive element. We similarly connect each of the
strips over the remaining cells of the battery" with the positive elements if the
remaining adjoining cells by strips of brass fired to the lid of the casing; and con
nected with the strips over the negative elements at one end, and having the other
ends bent down over the heads of the positive elements in the adjoining colliso
that when the lid is closed each of the positive elements will be in connection with':
the strip over the negative elements in adjoining cells:
We use a solution of sulphuric acid as the exciting agent on the positive elements; 4
and we use a liquid formed by a mixture of chromic acid solution and hydrochloric
acid, in suitable proportions, as the depolarizing agent in the porous vessell in··
connection with the negative elements
In the case of electric lamps for mining purposes we protect the incandescent
lamp by a guard having a reflector at the back end and having the sides whitened 4
on the inside: We close the top and front of this guard by glass so that the light
may be thrown forward and upwards towards the working place and the roof of the
mine respectively.
When we wish to use our electric lamp we proceed as follows:-Having fitted!
the cells and porous vessels and placed the elements-in-them and closed the lid of♬
the casing: We bring one or more of the negative elements in enth cell into con-
nection with the positive element in the adjoining cell by means of the straws over
the negative elementê; and · as soon as the circuit is completed the lamp will be
illuminated-
After working'a certain time the light pillt begin to dintuïdkh if - brightless: and s

page_text: screws over them, and so keep up the efficiency of the light, as well as utilisesthe
senergy left in the cells that have been partly used.
*Dated this Fifth’der of September 1891.
=
ROBERT THOMPSON.
HORACE SEYMOUR PYNE.
COMPLETE-SPECIFICATION.
'An Improved Portable Electric Lamp.
We ROBERT THOMPSON of 325 Old Chester Road Rockferry.in the County of
Chester Engineer and HORACE SEYMOUR PYNE of Castletown in the Isle of
Man Lecturer in Science at King William's College in the Isle of Man 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:
Hitherto there has been great difficulty experienced sin making. electric damps
which, whilst of a size not interfering with their being sufficiently portable .to
enable them to be used for mining purposes are capable of giving. a satisfactory
illumination for a sufficient length of time without having to renew any of the
chemicals.or.elements used in the battery. In order to avoid any ambiguity we
here state that wherever we have used the phrase "electric lamp" we mean thereby
a combination of an incandescent lamp with a two fluid -primary battery and
wherever we have used the word "cell" we mean a complete cell having one
positive element in its exciting agent and two or more negative elements each in its
own porous vessel-containing the depolarising agent.
The improvements we have introduced in our electric lamp are the following-
Firstly. An improved construction of the body of the electric lamp and an
improved arrangement of the parts.
"
Secondly..The employment of reserve negative elements in the cells of the
battery in manner hereinafter appearing.
Thirdly. An improved arrangement of the elements in the cells of the battery..
Fourthly. The use of a special compound liquid as the depolarising agent of the
battery.
We make the casing of the battery to contain the cells of suitable shape and size
to receive them or, we sometimes divide the casing itself into compartments so that
each compartment.will-form a cell. In either case we extend the casing for a
sufficient height above the cells or compartments to allow space for a plate-to
support the elements as well as for the heads of the elements and the connections
between the cells to complete the circuit. We prefer to make the lid of the casing
to hinge from ono side so that it can be easily opened or closed and firmly.secured
when closed. We support the elements by a plate of non conducting material. and
which rests on the cells or on the divisions in the casing and on the porous vessels
and we cover this supporting plate on its underside with a sheet of soft rubber-so
that it will form a liquid tight joint or cover to the cells and porous vessels-when
pressed firmly on them.
We attach distance-pieces to the underside of the lid of the casing at suitable
positions so that when it. is closed. and fastened down these distance-pieces will
press on the supporting plate and hold it firmly on the cells or divisions forming
the compartments as well as on the porous vessels in the cells.
We prefer to place the incandescent lamp on the top of the battery at about the
centre of the lid so as to be able-when-required to arrange a reflector in a suitable
position behind the lamp. We-mount the lamp in a brass tube of-suitable size and
connect one of the loops on it with this tube we connect the other loop on the
lamp to. a.stout brass wire which we fix in the-centre of the tube by plaster of Paris
or other non conducting material and we extend this central wire below the tube

page_text: -sufficiently to enable it to pass through the lid of the-casing when the lamp is in
-- position.
:
We support the lamp in a short brass pipe having a flange: on its lower end
by which we fix it on the lid of the casing, or, we sometimes fix a flange to the
tube on which the lamp is mounted and so dispense with the short pipe. We use
zinc and carbon as the positive and negative elements respectively in our battery
and we support the zinc elements by screws fixed to them and which pass through
the supporting plate to which they are fixed by brass nuts with rubber washers.
We support the carbon elements which pass through the supporting plate by heads
cast or fixed to them. We propose to screw these heads to the plate and we insert
rubber washers between the heads of the carbons.and the supporting plate so as to
make them liquid tight at those parts.
It will thus be seen that we are able to confine the exciting and depolarising
agents in their own cells. In each cell we use two or more negative elements each
in its own porous vessel and we piace one positive element at about the centre of
each cell so that it will be equally distant from each of the negative elements in
that cell. We bring one or more of the negative elements in each cell into action
with the positive element in that cell as desired in the following manner. To the
lid of the casing we fix as many strips of brass as there are cells in the battery.
Each of these strips being so placed as to be over all the negative elements in
the cell to which it corresponds. We pass as many brass screws adjustable from the
outside of the battery as there are negative elements in each cell through the lid
and screw them into the strips at such positions that one of these screws will press
upon the head of the element over which it is placed when it is screwed down.
We thus connect or disconnect any of the elements in each cell with the brass strip
fixed over each cell.
.
We connect one of these strips with the flange of the pipe or tube which
supports the lamp and we connect the central wire from the lamp with the positive
element in one of the adjoining cells by a strip of brass screwed to the underside of
.. the lid of the casing and passing over the head or nut of that positive element.
We bend down the ends of this strip so that when the lamp is fixed to the lid the
central wire from it will press on one end and the other end. will press on the nut
of the positive element when the lid is closed. We similarly connect each of the
strips over the remaining cells of the battery with the remaining positive elements
in adjoining cells by a brass strip screwed to the underside of the lid of the casing
and having one end in contact with the brass strip connected with the negative
elements and the other end passing over the positive element and bent down sons
to press on it when the lid is closed. It will thus be seen that when the lid of the
casing is closed each of the positive elements will be connected with the strip over
the negative elements in one of the adjoining cells. We use a solution of sulphuric
acid as the exciting agent on the positive elements and we use a compound liquid
--composed of hydrochloric acid and chromic acid as the depolarising agent on the
negative elements. We prefer to prepare this depolarising agent as follows.
To one pound of tri-oxide of chromium dissolved in water we add one quart of
hydrochloric acid and we regulate this compound liquor according to the size of
the porous vessels and the time for which they are intended to be kept at work
. by more or less diluting it with water.
We do not bind ourselves to these exact proportions of the hydrochloric acid and
the chromic acid but we have found the liquid thus mixed.to be efficient.
In the case of an electric lamp for mining purposes we protect the incandescent
lamp by a guard having a reflector at the back. We close this guard at the front
by a sheet of glass and we prefer to make the top at an 'angle of 45-degrees with
the front plate so as to allow the light to be thrown upwards as well as forwards
towards the roof and working face of the mine respectively.
When we wish to use our electric lamp we proceed as follows. Having filled
the cells and porous vessels and placed the elements in them we close and fasten
..the lid of the casing. We bring one or more of the negative elements in each cell

page_text: into connection with the positive element in the adjoiuing cell by means of the
screws over the negative elements and as soon as the circuit is completed the lamp
will be illuminated.
After working a certain time the light will begin to diminish in brightness
and thereupon we bring other or additional negative elements into the circuit
by means of the screws over them and so we keep up the efficiency of the light as
well as more completely utilise the energy left in the cells that have been partly
used.
In order more fully to describe this invention we have prepared a drawing of a
three celled battery in plan and sections and have marked the corresponding
parts with the same letters in each view. In the drawings
A is the casing, a the hinged lid of the same, B³, B & B are, the three cells,
C is the supporting plate for the elements, cis the india rubber for making
joints with the cells and porous vessels, D¹ D' & D³ are the zinc elements.
ddd are the nuts for fixing them to the supporting plate. E' E' E* are
the carbon elements, ele e³ are the heads of the same shown cast on them.
F, F, are the porous vessels. G, G are the distance pieces attached to the lid of
the casing for pressing on the supporting plate when the lid is closed. H is the
incandescent lamp, J is the tube for supporting it, K is the central wire passing
through the lid of the casing. L is the short flanged pipe fixed to the lid of the
casing and made to receive the tube J. M' is the strip over the cell B¹ connected
with the negative element E' by the screws N¹and with the flange of the pipe L.
M' is the strip connecting the central wire K with the nut on the positive
element D. M' is the strip connecting the negative elements E' with the positive
element D³. M* is the strip connecting the negative elements E with the
positive element D¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. The use of the depolarising liquor as described in connection with carbon
elements in the porous vessels of two Huid batteries.
2. The use of two or more carbons each in its own porous vessel in the same cell
of a two fluid primary battery.
3. The arrangement as described by which any carbon can be brought into or
taken out of circuit as described and
4. The general combination of the two fluid battery and lamp as described.
Dated this Sixth day of June 1892.
ROBERT THOMPSON.
HORACE SEYMOUR PYNE.