Improvements in and connected with Electric Arc Lamps.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Electric Arc Lamps.
We, ERNST BUCHHOLTZ and PETER SPIES, both of 3 Fossdene Road, Charlton, in
the County of Kent, Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to the construction and arrangements of the several parts of
electric arc lamps, as hereinafter described.
1. To the form and construction of the body, which is composed of brass or
aluminium, and by means of which there is produced a shortening of the total length
of the lamp, a reduction in the weight of the lamp, and also a hermetic closure of the
glass globe. At the same time the said body serves for guiding, holding, and releasing
the upper carbon ;
2. The lower carbon holder is made of one single, say brass, casting in which are
turned two annular grooves. In each of these annular grooves there is arranged a
spiral spring, in such a manner that its two ends are in contact, and its shape is such
that it constitutes a flexible spring ring, which forms with each coil of the spiral a
firm and intimate contact with the carbon, and also serves to hold the carbon
constantly in a central position, said carbon being capable of being readily inserted
from the top, or from below.
3. The arrangement of the resistance as hereinafter described.
4. The upper carbon holder as hereinafter described.
5. The mode of fixing the glass globe as hereinafter described.
The connections of the lamp and consequently the path of the current are as
follows:-
The current enters at the positive terminal which is fixed in an insulated manner to
the body or to the protected cap of the latter; then the current passes through a
coil or bobbin mounted or coiled on the body and after it has traversed the said coil
it passes into the body. This body is connected with the upper carbon holder by
means of a flexible conducting cord, and the carbon holder is in turn connected, by
means of a flexible cord, with a carbon-guiding piece, mounted on the upper carbon.
Moreover the upper carbon holder is connected with the carbon-guiding piece by
means of an annulus of balls situated upon the same. From the upper carbon, the
current forms the arc in passing to the lower carbon. The current then passes
through the latter (lower carbon) and through the carbon holder which is mounted in
an insulated manner on the body, then through the screw which is insulated from the
body, and through the wire of the resistance frame to the terminal which is also
insulated. When no current is passing through the lamp, the upper carbon holder
falls, or slides down by its own weight, together with all the parts situated in and on
the same.
Instead of the clutch balls, we may use cones or coned segments, or
pivotted weighted levers.
The casing, or housing or iron tube, to carry the balls or cones, is capable of
receiving vertical motion, and is formed with holes for the balls, the holes being
inclined downwards towards the carbon, and arranged annularly round the latter.
When the casing which carries the balls descends, the lower projecting parts of the

page_text: balls themselves come in contact with a fixed table, and are thereby released from the
carbon, and the latter drops until it meets this lower carbon.
The passing current energises the coil which attract the casing and raises the clutch
balls, cones, or levers, and these sliding downwards in the holes, grip the upper
carbon, lift it, and strike the arc.
When the carbons burn away, less current flows through the coil; the iron sleeve,
carrying the housing, and with it the armature, sinks down until the balls bear upon
the fixed table, and release the carbon, which latter then falls down, that is to say,
falls upon the lower carbon. By this means more current passes through the coil.
This is repeated until the carbons are burnt away or are prevented from burning
away any further by means of a stop or stud of the carbon-guiding piece, which
prevents burning of the carbon holders. The glass globe has only one opening at its
upper end, and is pressed, (through its bead) by an annular spiral spring against the
jointing ring and the body, whereby an air tight closure is effected. At the same
time the spiral spring allows the glass sufficient space for expansion when it becomes
hot. Upon the body there is or may be mounted a small ball valve. Through this
valve the gases (produced by the combustion) escape, and the ball closes the valve
again immediately, thereby preventing the entrance of cold air. The consumption of
the carbons is extremely small in this space (globe) which is filled with very highly
rarified air and ozone gases. The consumption amounts to about one English inch
for each carbon, that is to say, two inches for the two carbons during fifty burning
hours.
The regulator for producing a uniform pull, that is to say, a not too rapid drawing
up and falling of the armature, and of the upper carbon, consists of, a screw in a
slot. The wire of the resistance for the lamp, is wound upon a ventilated porcelain
ring, which is formed with a helical groove, and is fixed in the top casing outside of
the coil. The coil,is, or may be, arranged laterally of the carbon holder, and its core
effect the attraction of an iron armature, by means of which a lever and with it the
ball casing and carbon are raised.
and on ICH DICTIO ATO Lamps,
We, ERNST BUCHHOLTZ, and PETER SPIES, both of 3 Fossdene Road, Charlton, in
the County of Kent, Electrical Engineers, 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 refers to electric arc lamps, having in the construction and arrange
hent thereof certain characteristic features as follows.
(1) The means for controlling and holding the upper carbon, comprising a guide
tube and ball wedge or lever clutches carried thereby.
(2) The body and globe so arranged that a practically air tight closure of the
carbons is obtained.
(3) The lower carbon holder composed of a single piece of metal containing
annular spiral springs or balls by which the carbon is held and the electrical
connection therewith assured.
(4) The means for fixing the glass globe

page_text: may
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reference to the accompanying drawings whereon
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation shewing an electric arc lamp constructed according
to our invention.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line X Y of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are
similar views taken respectively on the line X1 Y¹ and X Y' of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation shewing the means for regulating the motions of
the carbon guide tube.
Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional elevations illustrating modified constructions of the
clutch.
"
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures of the
drawings.
According to our invention we provide a closed tubular body or case A fixed to a
base part and fitted or formed with a cap A2 say by which the lamp may be
suspended. Vertically movable and centrally within the body A is an upper carbon
guide tube B within which tube B the carbon C is located. The movement of the
carbon C. within the tube is controlled by a clutch composed of a case D-formed with
or fixed to the guido tube B, and the case D has annularly arranged downwardly
inclined apertures D', see Figs. 1 and 2, each containing a ball D³, and the said
apertures D' continuing through the wall of the tubo B allow the balls to act upon
the carbon rod C and prevent its descent relatively to the tube B.
The apertures D' are open to some extent at the base sufficient to allow the balls to
project slightly, and when the latter, the base, comes (by the descent of the tube B).
into contact with the part A' of the body as shewn at Fig. 1, the balls D' are lifted
within the apertures and the carbon C released and allowed to descend.
In the drawing the case D is formed solid and the apertures D₁ are either drilled
out or cast therewith, but as will be understood we may build the case of a number of
parts.
Instead of the balls we may substitute wedge shape pieces D2 as shown at Fig. 6
the action and effect upon the carbon being similar to that of the balls; in some
cases we may provide pivotted weighted levers D2 as shewn at Fig. 7, the grip of
the latter upon the carbon guide tube B being released by the tails of the levers
being brought into contact with the part A¹.
Around the upper part of the tubular body A and supported by a flange A³
thereon we arrange or coil a bobbin E, and around and exterior to this coil E we
provide a porcelain ring F supported from the flange A³ aforesaid. This porcelain
ring F is formed with an exterior helical groove to receive the wire F¹ to form the
resistance coil of the lamp.
In order to regulate the movement of the carbon C that is to say to prevent a too
sudden drawing up or falling of the carbon guide tabe B and consequently of the
carbon C we provide a fixed screw or stud G carried by an extension A of the lamp
body, which stud extends into an angular slot in the carbon guide tube B, see also
Fig. 5, whereby the tube B and armature B2 are caused to partially rotate during
the rise or fall of the tube B, and we also provide a friction guide and electrical
contact composed of balls H arranged in radial holes H' in a flange B' of the tube B,
the balls being forced into contact with the carbon C by springs H* (see Fig. 3).
The carbou C at its upper end is fitted with a cap (guided by an annular ring of
balls C which also provide an effective electrical contact between carbon tube B and
the carbon C.
The flanged part B₁ of the tube B carries a tube part B' which forms the core or
armature of the electro-magnetic coil E.
It is to be noticed that with the construction of lamps shewn and described, the
moving parts controlling the upper carbon Care entirely enclosed within the
body A A' A', and exteriorally of the said body we provide an outer case J, of
suitable or preferred form, onto which is fixed the terminals J1 J2.
The lower carbon K is supported in a socket K' carried from the base A' by

page_text: insulated rods K³. In the socket K¹ we form annular grooves Fig. 4 to receive
annular spiral springs K³ by which the carbon K is held centrally and firmly
without the employment of screws or other fixings. Or instead of the springs K³ to
hold the lower carbon K we may substitute a series of balls D2 in inclined
apertures D'as is illustrated-in-connection with the carbon C in Figs. 1 and 2.
The glass globe has only one opening at its upper end, and is pressed by means
of its bead L by an annular spiral spring L2 against a jointing ring L³ and whereby
a practically air tight closure is effected, while at the same time the spiral spring
allows the glass to expand when it becomes heated.
Within the globe so fitted the consumption of carbon is very small, the space.
within the globe becoming filled with highly rarified air and ozone gases.
1
The connections of the lamp and consequently the path of the current are as
follows. The current enters at the positive terminal 11, passes by a suitable
From the
connection J to the electro-magnetic coil E and thence to the body A.
body A the current passes to the upper carbon holder B', they being in contact, and
from the latter to the upper carbon C, through the balls CH and D.
From the upper carbon C the current forms the arc in passing to the lower
carbon K, and then travels by the springs K³ and rod K³ to the insulated screw K³×,
and then by a conducting wire K' to the resistance coil F from which the current
is conducted to the terminal J²..
When the carbons burn away the carbon carrier and armature B B2 desconds,
the balls D bear upon the base A' and release the upper carbon C which falls upon
the lower carbon K; then a greater current passes through the coil E, raising the
armature B, and the balls D* clutch and raise the carbon, and strike the arc.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invon-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. In electric arc lamps, the means for holding and controlling the upper carbon,
consisting of a guide tube within which the upper carbon is capable of vertical
motion, a series of balls, wedges, or levers carried in a casing fixed to or formed
with the guide tube and acting to clutch the upper carbon when the guide tube is
raised, and to release same when the tube is lowered, in combination with a cylindrical
or tubular armature on the guide tube, a fixed enclosing tubular body part around
the guide tube and armature and an electro magnetic coil around the upper part of
the enclosing body, substantially as described.
2. In electric arc lamps, the construction and arrangement of the upper carbon
guide tube, with the ball wedge or lever clutch parts D D² to grip and release the
upper carbon, the friction ball guide H above the clutch, and the armature or core B²,
substantially as described.
3. In electric are lamps, enclosing the upper carbon controlling guide tube and
parts connected therewith within a closed tubular body part A A' A, and providing
the lower part of such body part with a practically hermetically closed globe to
contain the carbons, whereby the consumption of the carbons is reduced, substantially
as described.
4. In electric are lamps, the means for attaching the globe by a bead thereon, an
annular helical spring located in a circular groove on the lamp frame or body, and
adapted to retain the said bead of the globe and press the bead into contact with an
annular packing piece on the lamp, and form an air tight joint, substantially as
described.
.
5. In electric are lamps, the construction of the lower carbon holder K' with
annular helical springs K³ to grip the carbon and make contact therewith, substantially
as described.
6. In electric arc lamps, the upper carbon guide tube, clutches carried thereby
to grip and release the upper carbon through the rise and fall of the said guide tube;
a friction ball guide for the tube above the clutches, an armature or core on the
guide tube, in combination with a stud G carried by a fixed part of the lamp, said

page_text: stud entering a curved or inclined slot in the guide tube, whereby the latter is
caused to have a partial rotary motion as it rises or falls, and such movements are
rendered more regular, substantially as described.
7. The general arrangement and construction of parts composing our improved
electric arc lamp all combined and acting, substantially as and for the purposes
described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 3rd day of May 1897.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicants.