IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Banting Rogers, of the Electric Light Works,
49a, Farringdon Street, in the City of London, Engineer, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Banting Rogers at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th November 1881.
JOHN BANTING ROGERS, of the Electric Light Works, 49a, Farringdon Street,
in the City of London, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS."
"7
or the
The object of this Invention is, first, to arrange carbons that the arc
"incandescent" light can be produced in the same lamp and by the same carbons
at will, and so that the light may be changed from one to the other by a simple
movement.
Secondly. A special construction of lamp with two carbons disconnected from
each other and capable of adjustment by weights, the carbons being each in contact
with a non-combustible body, which also move.
Thirdly. A special method of establishing and of breaking the circuit of
suspended electric lamps on such lamps being raised and lowered, whereby the
usual unsightly loose hanging conducting wires can be dispensed with.
Fourthly. Fitting three carbons, two of them being held by a lower frame and
one in an upper frame which rests upon the two lower ones, and capable of being
shifted onto either of the lower ones, or both, or vice versa. The two carbons
may be arranged to the upper frame. These carbons may be increased in number
if desired.
According to the first part of my Invention I employ a hollow carbon and fill
the interior with asbestos, talc, or other non-combustible material, or a combustible
material if desired. This filled carbon is fitted in a frame which has an upward
motion under the action of a weight. In or to a lowering frame I fit a solid
carbon that it may rest upon the upper edge of the hollow or lower carbon to
produce the incandescent light, or be swung or moved to rest upon the central
1

page_text: filling portion to produce the
EE
"
arc light, for which purpose I mount the upper
carbon in a frame guided by a pillar of the lamp and kept in circuit during the
movement, and also when moved from one position to the other.
According to the second part of my Invention I mount one carbon in a lower
and upward travelling frame and a strip or stem of some non-combustible material
directly over it in an upper and downward travelling frame, this also having
fitted at a small distance from the strip or stem a carbon which rests upon a
non-combustible strip or stem fitted to the lower moveable frame directly
under it.
The two carbons are thus at a distance apart and out of circuit, this being
established by a bar or metallic lip piece, which can be pushed across to touch
both of them, and then be moved away again directly the light is produced, the
heat of the two carbons being then sufficient to maintain the circuit.
According to the third part of my Invention I fit buttons or other attachments
to the ceiling, or to any suitable portion of a lamp support, that studs on the upper
part of the lamp may, when the lamp is raised, come into contact and establish the
circuit, and to break circuit when the lamp is lowered for renewal of carbons or for
other purposes.
Each
According to the fourth part of my Invention I fit three or other greater
number of carbons in the same lamp, but preferably two of them in an upper
frame and one in the lower frame, so that the two may rest upon the one.
of the upper ones may have a motion to the right or to the left for "incandescent"
or for the "are" light by suitable appliances. By this means the light or lights in
-the same lamp may be increased.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Banting Rogers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th May 1982.
JOHN BANTING ROGERS, of the Electric Light Works, 49a, Farringdon Street,
in the City of London, Engineer. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS."
"
"
The object of this Invention is, first, to arrange carbons that the " arc or the
"incandescent" light, by distance or touch, can be produced in the same lamp and
by the same carbons at will, and so that the light may be changed from one to the
other by a simple movement.
Secondly. A special construction of lamp with two carbons disconnected from each
other and capable of adjustment by weights, the carbons being each in contact with
a non-combustible body, which also move.
Thirdly. A special method of establishing and of breaking the circuit of
suspended and wall or bracket electric lamps on such lamps being raised and
lowered, or slid into position, whereby the usual unsightly loose hanging conducting
wires can be dispensed with.
Fourthly. Fitting three carbons, two of them being held by a lower frame and
one in an upper frame which rests upon the two lower ones, and capable of being
shifted on to either of the lower ones, or onto both, or "vice versa." The two
carbons may be arranged to the upper frame. These carbons may be increased in
number if desired.
According to the first part of my Invention, as shown at Figures 1 and 2 of the
annexed Drawings, I employ a hollow carbon A and fill the interior with asbestos,
talc, or other non-combustible material B, or a combustible material if desired.
This filled carbon A is fitted in a frame C, which has an upward motion under the
action of a weight or weights through cords D and pullics E.
In or to a frame F I fit a solid carbon G that it may rest upon the upper edge
of the hollow or lower carbon A, as shown, to produce the incandescent light by
touch, or be swung or moved to rest upon the central filling portion to produce the
arc" light by distance, for which purpose I mount the upper carbon in a socket H
guided by a pillar I of the lamp and kept in circuit during the movement and
also when moved from one position to the other.
"
According to the second part of my Invention, shown at Figures 3 and 4 of the
annexed Drawings, I mount one carbon J in a lower and upward travelling
frame K, and a strip or stem of some non-combustible material L directly over it
in an upper and downward travelling frame M; this also having fitted at a small
distance from the strip or stem a carbon N, which rests upon a non-combustible
strip or stem P fitted to the lower moveable frame K directly under it. The two
carbons are thus at a distance apart and out of circuit, this being established by a
bar or metallic lip piece Q, which can be pushed across to touch both of the
carbons to establish conduction and then be moved away again directly the light
is produced, the heat of the two carbons J, N, being then sufficient to maintain
the circuit.
According to the third part of my Invention, as shown at Figure 5 of the
annexed Drawings, I fit buttons or other attachments R to the ceiling, or to any
suitable portion of a lamp support, that studs S on the upper part of the lamp T
nay when the lamp is raised come into contact and establish the circuit, and to
break circuit when the lamp is lowered for renewal of carbons, or for other

page_text: purposes. With bracket or wall lamps this make and break is established by a
sliding action.
According to the fourth part of my Invention I fit two, three, or other greater
number of carbons in the same lamp, but preferably two of them U, V, in an
upper frame W, as shown at Figures G of the annexed Drawings, and one X in the
Jower frame Y, so that the two U, V, may rest upon the one X. Each of the upper
ones U, V, may have a motion to the right or to the left by the screw rods Z or
otherwise for incandescent or for the are light, as described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2. By this means the light or lights in the same lamp may be
increased.
Instead of the two carbons U, V, being fitted as thus described and shown, they
may be connected to opposite poles and produce the light between themselves, for
which purpose I set the two carbons a, b, in insulated separate sockets c, d, within
a base plate e, as in Figure 7, and they fall and keep their points in electrical
contact under the action of weights f, g, at their upper ends, which weights are in
conductible connection by wires h, i, with the supporting frames j, k, to whose
upper ends the ordinary conducting wires are attached. This is shown as a
suspended or wall lamp, but the two carbons a, b, may be arranged to move
upwards, as in the table or pedestal lamp shown at Figures 8 and 9, under the
action of a weight g, shown in dotted lines, or it may be by springs. In the last
named Figure the carbons a, b, are in tubular guides l, m, within a slot of each of
which pins n, n, and sliders q, r, are free to move.
Figure 10 represents a table lamp, from the socket or stems of which the lower
carbon A is free to rise by an enclosed spring, said spring being connected with the
attachment of one pole wire, and the ring shaped supporter of the uppor
carbon G by the attachment u of the opposite pole wire for the completion of the
circuit.
The lower carbon A of this lamp may be solid and of the same size as that of
the upper carbon G, or the lower carbon A may be hollow, as described with
reference to Figures 1 and 2, the upper carbon G being shiftable from the asbestos
central core to the solid portion of the lower carbon by a swinging action of the
frame j.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
The means or method of converting the carbons of electric lamps for the
production of the "are" or "incandescent" light by distance or touch at will, as
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed Drawings.
Secondly. I claim charging the interior of a hollow carbon with a material to
enable the "are" or "incandescent" light to be obtained at will, as set forth.
Thirdly. I claim the arrangement of two carbons and two incombustible bodies,
as shown at Figures 3 and 4 of the annexed Drawings, for producing one light, as
set forth.
Fourthly. The means of making electrical connection automatically by the
raising action of a suspended lamp, and breaking such contact automatically by a
lowering action of sanie, as described with reference to Figure 5 of the annexed
Drawings, which represents the appliances I prefer to use, by which such
automatic make and break of contact may be obtained. This method is applicable
also to bracket and wall lamps, which can be dropped or slid into position for the
wires to touch.
Fifthly. The arrangement of suspended lamp, shown at Figure 6 of the annexed
Drawings, by which the lower ends of two carbons may be centralized on a single
carbon or opened out or set at a distance from each other thereon for the purposes
described.
Sixthly. I claim the arrangements of lamps, shown at Figures 7, 8, and 9, in
which the points of two carbons are kept in contact while being consumed, as
doceribad

page_text: Seventhly. I claim the arrangement of lamp, shown at Figure 10 of the annexed
Drawings, either with larger carbon in the lower than in the upper support or
guide, or otherwise, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Banting Rogers, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent,
166, Fleet St.,
London.
JOHN BANTING ROGERS. (L.S.)