IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS OR LIGHTING APPARATUS
Year: 1881

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." A com-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th December 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS OR
LIGHTING APPARATUS." [A communication from abroad by Jean Auguste
Mondos of Neuilly France.]
This Invention relates to electric lamps of that class in which no clockwork is
employed for controlling the movement of the carbons, the electric current being
utilized for effecting this movement. According to this Invention two successive
movements are imparted to the carbons, the first being a sudden movement which
separates the carbons and causes the electric arc to be developed, and the other a
movement which takes place in proportion to the wear of the carbons and
maintains them at the proper distance from each other.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a plate, preferably of
slate, which carries a standard upon which an arm is fixed serving as a guide for
the upper carbon-holder. To the said standard is pivoted a bent lever carrying at
one end a counterweight and at the other end rods of soft iron forming the
armatures of a solenoid. This lever is united by a screw to a piece fixed on the
tubular upper carbon-holder. To the upper part of this tube is fixed, by means of
a suitable piece, the axis of rotation of a second or upper lever which carries a
counterweight and a plate of soft iron in front of the bobbins of the solenoid.
This plate is hereinafter called the upper armature. Below this lever is fixed a
tongue piece which penetrates an opening provided for the purpose in the tube of
the carbon-holder and bears against the carbon, thus forming a check-piece or
retarding device for preventing the carbon from falling by its own weight. Under

page_text: the aforesaid slate plate two terminals are arranged, one being in communication
with the aforesaid standard, and the other with a frame at the lower end of which
there is a collar in which the lower carbon is fixed by means of a set screw.
Upon the bobbin is wound a fine wire causing great resistance to the current
which enters by means of the aforesaid standard and suitable wires, and which
leaves by suitable wires and the aforesaid frame.
Screws are provided by which the position of the lower armatures and of the
upper armature may be regulated.
When the apparatus is inoperative that is to say when the current is not
passing through the lamp, the first named counterweight keeps up the upper
carbon holder and the two carbons are not in contact, and the aforesaid tongue
piece retains the carbon against the combined action of the second counterweight
and the gravity of the carbon itself.
When the electric current is sent into the lamp it encounters too much resistance
between the carbons and passes through the solenoid. The armatures are at once
attracted, the bent lever oscillates and causes the upper carbon-holder to descend
and with it the carbon. At the same time the upper armature being attracted,
causes the tongue-piece to withdraw which releases the upper carbon and allows it
to come into contact with the lower carbon. The current finding immediately a
shorter circuit passes through the two carbons and the electro-solenoid loses its
magnetism-and-a-movement-of-the-levers-takes-place-in-the-opposite directions;
the bent or lower lever brought back by the counterweight suddenly lifts the
tubular carbon holder and separates the carbons between the points of which the
electric arc is then developed; at the same moment the counter-weight on the
upper lever brings back the lever with which it is connected, which not now held
by the attraction of the upper armature, so that the tongue piece again binds or
wedges the carbon. The current will thus continue to flow until the distance
being increased by reason of the wear or consumption of the carbons, and the
resistance becoming greater by degrees a part of the current will pass through the
wire of the solenoid and the armatures descend until the counterweight of the
bent lever balances the attractive power of the magnet; the magnetisation of the
armatures becomes sufficient by reason of their nearness to the poles to cause
the upper armature to be attracted which has the effect of diminishing the pressure
of the tongue upon the upper carbon which then descends in the direction of the
lower carbon. The distance decreasing, the solenoid ceases to attract and the
tongue piece or check again holds the carbon.
The above described apparatus will operate with tension currents either
continuous or intermittent, but according to a modification of my Invention I
provide a lamp which is arranged to operate either by derivation or tension with
continuous currents. In this apparatus an electro-magnet is used instead of the
electro-solenoid; the upper poles of the magnet are fixed upon a projecting piece
and the lower poles, terminating in two enlarged parts, are placed opposite to a
bent armature. The arrangement of the regulating levers is reversed. The
counterweight on the upper lever only serves in this case to balance the weight of
these levers. The counterweight on the lower lever balances a part of the weight
of the upper carbon-holder and of the electro-magnet. A screw serves to regulate
the distance of the poles of the magnet from the fixed armature. The entering
wire of the electro-maguet communicates with the bobbin and the exit wire with
the upper carbon-holder. The electro-maguet is thus within the circuit of the
lamp.
When the current is, not flowing the lower poles rest on the regulating screw,
and the upper carbon not being pressed by the tongue piece or brake, is in contact
with the lower carbon. If the current is now caused to flow the electro-magnet
becomes magnetized, the upper poles attract the upper armature and the check
piece wedges or holds the upper carbon. At the same time the lower poles,
attracted by the bent piece, lift up the electro-magnet the bent lever, and the
counterweight, and with this lever, the upper carbon holder rises with the carbon.

page_text: The are is then developed and the mechanism remains at rest until the resistance
increasing, the power of the magnet decreases, the upper armature is attracted
with less force and the tongue-piece releases the carbon which then falls. The
current then regaining its intensity, the carbon is again held until it is again
necessary to cause the same to approach.
When the lamp is worked by a tension current the electro-magnet is provided
with two wires one being thick or coarse and traversed by the arc current, and the
other thin with its ends in connection with the poles of the lamp so that the
derived current may counteract the action of the principal current.
According to a modification of my Invention designed to produce a less powerful
light than the apparatus above described I provide a tube having at its lower end
a ring which supports the levers and an electro-magnot. Practically the upper
carbon alone is consumed and is of very small diameter (from 4 to 6 millimetres)
whilst the lower one is formed of a block of carbon or other conducting material
the wear of which is very slight and which is supported by a flexible tongue fixed
to one of the levers by a screw. This tongue carries an armature in front of the
pole of the magnet. The aforesaid ring is insulated from the tube and is formed
of two portions insulated with regard to each other. The entering wire of the
electro-magnet is in communication with an insulated terminal and the exit wire
with the lower carbon.
When the lamp is at rest the upper carbon falls and comes in contact with the
lower carbon. When the current flows the electro-maguet, which is in the circuit
of the lamp, attracts the armature, the lever then causes the tongue piece or check
to bear against the upper carbon which is thus held. At the same time the tongue
yielding, removes the lower carbon and a small arc is thus developed. When the
resistance increases, the power of the magnet decreases, the armaturo is attracted
with less force and the check-piece slightly releases the upper carbon which then
approaches the lower carbon.

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
15th June 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co. Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS
OR LIGHTING APPARATUS." A communication from abroad by Jean Auguste
Mondos, of Neuilly, France.
This Invention relates to electric lamps of that class in which no clockwork is
employed for controlling the movement of the carbons the electric current being
utilized for effecting this movement. With the regulating mechanism made
according to the said Invention, two successive movements are imparted to the
carbons, the first being a sudden movement which separates the carbons and causes
_the_electric.arc_to_be_developed,_and_the_other a movement which takes place in
proportion to the consumption of the carbons and maintains them at the proper
distance from each other."
In the accompanying Drawing-
Figure 1 represents a front sectional elevation of an electric lamp or lighting
apparatus constructed according to the said Invention.
Figure 2 represents a vertical sectional elevation of the same, at right angles to
Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a modified form of my improved lamp for producing a light
of small power.
Figure 4 represents the said Invention as applied to a lamp in which there are
two sets of carbons.
Figures 5 and 6 are detail views.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a plate A preferably of
slate, which carries a standard B upon which is fixed an arm G serving as a guide
for the upper carbon-holder T. To the standard B is pivoted a bent lever C
carrying at one end a counterweight Q and at the other end rods F of soft iron
forming the armatures of an electro-magnet E or of a solenoid. This lever C is
united by a screw c to the piece C¹ fixed on the tubular upper carbon-holder T.
To the upper part of this tube is fixed, by means of the piece H, the fulcrum of a
second lever L which carries a counterweight P and a plate a or armature of soft
iron in front of the bobbins of the electro-magnet. Below this lever is fixed a
tongue-piece which enters an opening provided for the purpose in the tube T and
bears against the carbon thus forming a check-piece or retarding device for
preventing the carbon from falling by its own weight. Under the plate A two
terminals bb' are arranged the terminal b being in communication with the
standard B and the other b with a frame I at the lower end of which there is a
collar S in which the lower carbon is fixed by means of a set-screw 8. Screws V VI
are provided by which the position of the armatures F and of the armature a may
be regulated.
When the apparatus is inoperative, that is to say, when the current is not passing
through the lamp the counterweight keeps up the upper carbon-holder T and
the two carbons remain out of contact, and the tongue piece retains the carbon
by the combined action of the counterweight P and the gravity of the carbon
itself.
When the electric current is sent into the lamp it encounters too much resistance
between the carbons and passes through the electro-magnet E. The armatures are
at once attracted, the bent lever C oscillates and causes the upper carbon-holder T

page_text: to descend and with it the carbon. At the same time the armature a, being
attracted, causes the tongue piece to withdraw, which releases the upper carbon K
and allows it to come into contact with the lower carbon. The current, finding
immediately a shorter circuit, passes through the two carbons, the electro-magnet
loses its power, and a movement of the levers takes place in the opposite direction;
the lever C brought back by the counterweight Q suddenly lifts the tubular carbon
holder T and separates the carbons between the points of which the electric arc is
then developed at the same moment the counterweight P brings back the lever L
with which it is connected and which is not now held by the attraction of the
armature a so that the tongue piece or stop again binds or wedges the carbon.
The current will thus continue to flow until the distance being increased by reason
of the wear or consumption of the carbons, and the resistance becoming greater by
degrees, a part of the current will pass through the wire of the electro-magnet and
the armatures F will descend until the counterweight balances the attractive
power of the magnet when the magnetization of the armatures F becomes sufficient,
by reason of their nearness to the poles to cause the armature a to be attracted
which has the effect of diminishing the pressure of the stop or tongue piece upon
the upper carbon K which then descends towards the lower carbon. The distance
decreasing, the electro-magnet ceases to attract and the tongue piece again holds
the carbon.
The type of lamp above described is designed to give a light equal to from thirty
to one hundred Carcel burners.
The modified form of lamp shewn in Figure 3 is designed to produce a light of
less intensity, equal to say, from five to twenty Carcel burners.
This lamp is constructed as follows, that is to say, the tube T has at its lower
end a ring A which supports the lever L, the tongue piece or check and the
electro magnet E; practically the upper carbon alone is consumed and is of very
small diameter (froin four to six millimetres) whilst the lower one is formed of a
block of carbon or other conducting material the consumption of which is very
slight and which is supported by a flexible tongue or plate R fixed to the lever L
by a screw V. This tongue or plate carries an armature a in front of the poles of
the electro-magnet E. The ring A is insulated from the tube T and is formed of
two portions insulated from one another. The entering wire of the electro-magnet
is in communication with a terminal insulated from the tube T, and the exit wire
is in communication with the lower carbon K¹.
When the lamp is inoperative, that is to say, when the current is not passing
through it the upper carbon K is in contact with the lower carbon K¹. When the
current flows, the electro magnet which is in the circuit of the lamp attracts the
armature a, the lever L then causes the tongue piece or check to bear against
the upper carbon K which is thus held. At the same time the tongue or plate R
yielding removes the lower carbon K' and a small arc is thus developed. When the
resistance increases the power of the magnet decreases, the arinature a is attracted
with less force and the check piece slightly releases the upper carbon K which
then approaches the lower carbon K¹
Figure represents a modification of my improved lamp or lighting apparatus
in which there are two sets of carbons. If desired, there may be three or more sets
of carbons but the current does not pass through more than one set.
The stop-
mechanisin L, H, 7 of the upper carbon is arranged at the top of the lamp. The
separation of the carbons to develop the arc is caused by the descent of the
armature F under the action of the electro-magnet E¹. Figure 5 shews the method
of connecting the electro magnet El to the cross-bar I.
In order to prevent the vibration of the carbons which are only supported at
the upper part, I may arrange below the stop-mechanism an electro-magnet E
(Figure 6) the poles of which are in front of two openings x, x in the tube T; this
magnet attracts the upper carbon and retains it in position and thus prevents any
vibration.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by

page_text: foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim-
First. An electric lamp provided with regulating mechanism, substantially as
herein before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3 or Figures 4, 5,
and 6 of the accompanying Drawing.
Second-The system of levers and counterweights upon which the electric current
acts by means of an electro-magnet or solenoid to produce two movements, one to
suddenly separate the carbons between which the arc is to be developed, and the
other to automatically feed the movable carbon towards the fixed oue in proportion
to the consumption, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Third-The stop or tongue piece which retains the movable carbon and is adapted
to be operated by the movement of the lever or levers to release the said carbon
when the resistance becomes too great by reason of the increased distance between
the carbons, substantially as set forth.
Fourth-The stop or check mechanism placed at the upper part of the lamp, and
the mechanism for separating the carbons to develop the are placed at the lower
part of the lamp, substantially as set forth.
Fifth The use of an electro-magnet below the stop or check mechanism to
prevent the vibration of the carbon by attracting the said carbon towards its poles,
substantially as set forth.
-In-witness-whereof
I-the-said-William-Robert-Lake-have-hereunto-set-my-
hand and seal this Fifteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.