Year: 1899

page_text: We, JOHN BRUNSWICK BARTON, of 35, Rue de Bagnolet, Paris, Engineer, and
JOHN MARSHALL GORIIAM, of 66, Victoria Street, Westminster, London, S.W.,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
Our invention relates to are lamp mechanism, and has for its object to prevent
the pounding which frequently takes place when current is switched on to an arc
lamp. We find in many are lamps where this pounding or pumping action of
the carbons between which the arc is being formed, takes place, giving an unsteady
arc, that placing the hand on one of the carbon holders pressing the carbons
into contact, and removing the pressure as soon as a steady arc is formed, is
sufficient to prevent this pounding action.
Our invention consists in automatically applying a similar pressure to the
upper carbon holder, so that it is loaded with an extra weight when the lamp
is not in action and that when the current is switched on, and a steady arc
formed, this weight will be removed from action on the carbon holder. A
similar effect may be obtained by means of one or more springs without departing
from our invention.
In carrying our invention into effect according to one modification, we provide
a pivoted bar, rail or slider, which lies normally when the lamp is out of action,
with its outer end resting on some part of the lamp frame, so that it is in nearly
a horizontal position but slightly inclined. toward the carbon holder. On this
pivoted rail or bar we provide a suitably proportioned sliding or rolling weight,
which, when the lamp is out of action, will lie next the carbon holder owing
to the pivoted bar or rail being slightly inclined toward the carbon holder. This
weight thus offers its greatest resistance to the raising of the carbon holder at
the moment of switching on the lamp, but when the carbon holder is raised by
means of the regulating solenoid, this weight will roll or slide to the outer end
of the pivoted rail or bar, and in that position will offer but little resistance
to, the motion of the carbon holder. This device we find to answer the purpose
perfectly, and to effectually prevent pounding of the carbons between which the
arc is being formed. It thus ensures the immediate production of a steady arc
when the lamp is switched in. This pounding difficulty has been found specially,
pronounced in alternating current lamps, but we find that our device effectually
prevents the pounding or pumping action in such lamps.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents,

page_text: Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
We, JOIN BRUNSWICK BARTON, of 35, Rue de Bagnolet, Paris, Engineer, and
JOHN MARSHALL GORHAM, of 66, Victoria Street, Westminster, London, S.W.,
Engineer, 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 :-
Our invention relates to arc lamp mechanism, and has for its object to prevent
the pounding which frequently takes place when current is switched on to an arc
lamp. We find in many arc lamps where this pounding or pumping action of
the carbons between which the arc is being formed, takes place, giving an unsteady
that placing the hand on one of the carbon holders pressing the carbons
into contact, and removing the pressure as soon as a steady arc is formed, is
sufficient to prevent this pounding action.
arc,
Our invention consists in automatically applying a similar pressure to the
upper carbon holder by means of a moving weight which augments the load on
the carbon holder when the lamp is not in action, and which, when the current
is switched on and a steady are formed, will be removed from action on the
carbon holder.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings:-
· Figures 1 and 2 illustrate in front and side elevation an arc lamp constructed
according to one modification of our invention.
Figures 3 and 4, drawn to a larger scale, are respectively an elevation and
a plan of the moving weight race, with its attachments, as used in this
modification.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the moving weight race and its attachments con-
structed according to a second modification of our invention.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the same according to a third modification of our
invention.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, a is the lower carbon, and b the upper carbon
suspended in the carbon holder c which can reciprocate up and down inside the
case d which is rigidly supported by the rods e e. Two tubes f f are hinged
at to the top edge of the case d, and are provided with a connecting
pin h, which engages with a slot k in a collar 7 fixed to the carbon holder e so
that the tubes lie nearly horizontally. The tubes are so mounted that, when
the carbons are in contact, the tubes are slightly inclined, the hinged ends being
the higher, but that when the arc is steady, and the carbons apart, the inclination
of the tubes is reversed, the hinged ends now being the lower. Balls, m, m
are provided, adapted to roll inside the tubes which are closed or stopped at
the ends to prevent the balls falling out; and it is obvious that these balls
will always tend to occupy which ever ends of the tubes are the lower. Therefore,
when the carbons are in contact, the balls will be at the free ends of the tubes
as shewn in the drawings, and will exert a considerable pressure on the upper
carbon holder; but, as soon as this carbon holder has been raised a certain
distance, the inclination of the tubes will be reversed and the balls will roll
to the other ends of the tubes where they will exert a force tending to raise
the carbon holder. Instead of using tubes, we may employ frames of bars as
in our second modification hereinafter described.
In the second modification of our invention, as illustrated in clevation and plan

page_text: (Figures 5 and 6 respectively) only one ball m is used which is supported in a
wire framework c. This framework is radial with regard to the lamp case and
is hinged to the end of a bar p which projects from, and is rigidly fixed to, the
top of the case d. A pin at the inner end of the framework engages with the
slot in the collar attached to the carbon holder c as in our previous modifica-
tion, so that as the carbon holder is raised or lowered, the ball will roll to the
outer or inner end of the framework where its weight will diminish or increase
the downward force on the carbon holder. The outer end of the bar ? may be
turned up to act as a stop in preventing the framework o from tilting back too
far.
In the third modification of our invention, as illustrated in elevation and plan
in Figures 7 and 8 respectively, the frame o is hinged at a distance from its
outer end equal to about the radius of the ball m, so that, when the ball is at
its maximum distance from the centre of the lamp, its centre will be just at
the hinge and therefore the ball will exert neither an upward nor a downward
force on the carbon holder. The frame is provided with a slight depression q
in its lower member so that the inner end of the frame must tilt down to a
greater extent than in our previous modification before the ball will roll towards
it. By this device the upper carbon holder can move up and down through a
certain distance without the ball acting on it. In the figure the depression q
is shewn exaggerated for the sake of clearness.
In the last two modifications of our invention instead of using a wire frame-
work we may employ a single tube such as is used in our first modification.
In further modifications of our invention we may employ rolling cylinders
or sliding weights instead of balls and provide them with any suitable form of
channel or race. This device we find to answer the purpose perfectly, and to
effectually prevent pounding of the carbons between which the arc is being
formed. It thus ensures the immediate production of a steady arc when the
lamp is switched in. This pounding difficulty has been found specially pro-
nounced in alternating current lamps, but we find that our device effectually
prevents the pounding or pumping action in such lamps.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is―
(1) In arc lamps, a moving weight adapted to roll or slide along a race or
channel when the upper carbon holder is raised thereby diminishing the down-
ward force on this carbon holder, and to return when the carbon holder is lowered,
thereby increasing the downward force on it, substantially as set forth.
(2) In are lamps, the combination of a ball or other weight with a race or
channel in which the weight can roll or slide, and means for oscillating the
race or channel, the said race or channel being pivoted to a fixed part of the
lamp and adapted to be oscillated on both sides of the horizontal by the rise
and fall of the upper carbon holder, substantially as and for the purpose set.
forth.
(3) In are lamps, the combination of balls such as m with tubes such as f,
the tubes being hinged to a fixed part of the lamp, and oscillated on both sides of
the horizontal by the rise and fall of the upper carbon holder, substantially as
and for the purpose described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
(4) In arc lamps, the combination of a ball such as m with a frame such as o,
the frame being hinged to a bar such as p, and oscillated on both sides of the
horizontal by the rise and fall of the upper carbon holder, substantially as and
for the purpose described with reference to Figures 5 and 6.
(5) In arc lamps, the combination of a ball and a ball race pivoted on an axis
passing through the extreme outward position of the ball centre, substantially
as set forth with reference to Figures 7 and 8.
(6) In are lamps, the combination of a ball and a ball race pivoted on an

page_text: axis passing through the extreme outward position of the ball centre, said ball
race having a depression at its end to detain the ball, substantially as set forth
with reference to Figures 7 and 8.
Dated thin and dose of March 1900
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents,