Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
I, WILLIAM HOPKIN AKESTER, of No. 27, Munster Road, Fulham, in the
County of Middlesex, Electrician, 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 :-
My said invention relates to improvements in the construction of electric arc
lamps, whereby the striking of the arc, the maintaining of the carbons at the
required distance from each other, and the feeding of the same, are effected in a
more regular and reliable manner than is the case with similar lamps as ordinarily
constructed, whilst, at the same time, the mechanism for effecting those objects is
greatly simplified, and less liable to get out of order.
a
The runner carrying the positive or upper carbon, which is made heavier than
that carrying the negative or lower carbon, is arranged to slide up and down on the
two vertical side rods of the lamp in the well known manner, and is connected to
one end of a chain or other suitable flexible connection, which passes over
sprocket or other suitable wheel or pulley mounted on a spindle at the upper part
of the lamp, the other end of the flexible connection being connected to the upper
part of a rod fixed to, and projecting vertically from, the runner carrying the
negative carbon.
In close proximity to the before mentioned wheel or pulley, is arranged a solenoid,
provided with a hollow moveable soft iron core, through the centre of which, passes
freely that end of the flexible connection which is connected to the runner of the
positive carbon.
The said wheel or pulley is mounted loosely on a spindle carried by suitable
bearings in a bracket fixed to the top plate, or other convenient part of the frame
of the lamp. Both ends of such spindle project beyond the sides of the wheel or
pulley, and upon one end, which is formed with screw threads, is placed a nut, the
aperture in which, is grooved to correspond with the screw threads on the spindle;
fixed to and projecting from the said nut is an arm, the outer end of which is con-
nected with the upper part of the core of the solenoid; on the opposite end of the
spindle is fixed an arm, the outer end of which is connected by a spring with the
frame of the lamp.
The action of the mechanism hereinbefore described, is as follows:-
When no current is passing through the lamp, the carbons are in contact, but on
a current being admitted, it passes to and through the upper and lower carbons,
The passage
through the frame of the lamp and the coil of the solenoid and out.
of the current through the said coil causes the soft iron core to be drawn further
into the centre of the solenoid, and in so doing, acts on the arm projecting from
the before mentioned nut, so that the latter is made to travel along the spindle
until it grips the wheel or pulley against a collar fixed on the spindle, and the
continued ascent of the core causes the spindle and wheel or pulley to be partially
revolved, whereby the carbons are operated and the arc struck. The intensity of
the current being consequently diminished, the core resumes its normal position,
and, in so doing, revolves the nut in the opposite direction, and releases the wheel
or pulley, the spindle being brought back to its former position by the action of the
before mentioned spring on the arm fixed to such spindle.
Dated this 17th day of September 1891.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps,
I, WILLIAM HOPKIN AKESTER, of No. 27, Munster Road, Fulham, in the
County of Middlesex, Electrician, 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:-
My said invention relates to improvements in the construction of electric arc
lamps, whereby the striking of the arc, the maintaining of the carbons at the
required distance from each other, and the feeding of the same, are effected. in a
more regular and reliable manner than is the case with similar lamps as ordinarily
constructed, whilst, at the same time, the mechanism for effecting those objects. is
greatly simplified and less liable to get out of order.
The runner, carrying the positive or upper carbon, which is made heavier. than
that carrying the negative or lower carbon, is arranged to slide up and down on the
two vertical side rods of the lamp, in the well known manner, and is connected to
one end of a chain or other suitable flexible connection which passes over a
sprocket or other suitable wheel or pulley mounted on a spindle at the upper part
of the lamp, the other end of the flexible connection being connected to the upper
part of a rod fixed to, and projecting vertically from, the runner carrying the
negative carbon.
.
In close proximity to the before mentioned wheel or pulley, is arranged a solenoid,
provided with a hollow moveable soft irou core, through the centre of which passes
freely that end of the flexible connection which is connected to the runner of the
positive carbon.
'
The said wheel or pulley is mounted loosely on a spindle carried, by suitable
bearings in a bracket fixed to the top plate or other convenient part of the frame
of the lamp. Both ends of such spindle project beyond the sides of the wheel or
pulley and upon one end, which is formed with screw threads, is placed a nut; the
aperture in which is grooved to correspond with the screw threads on the spindle;
fixed to and projecting from the said nut is an arm, the outer end of which is con-
nected with the upper part of the core of the solenoid, on the opposite end of the
spindle is fixed an arm the outer end of which is connected by a spring with the
frame of the lamp.
And in order that the said invention may he more clearly understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1. represents an elevation partly in section of an electric arc lamp
constructed according to the present invention and with the globe removed.
Figure 2. is an elevation thereof taken at right angles to Figure 1.
Figure 3. is a horizontal section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1.
Figure 4. represents a portion of the upper part of Figure 1. drawn to an enlarged
scale, and,
Figure 5. is a similar view of the upper part of Figure 2.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
a. represents the runner which carries the positive or upper carbon a'in the usual
manner, whilst b. represents; the carrier for the negative or lower carbon b¹.
The carrier as of the upper carbon, which is insulated by a mica plate a³×, is
made heavier than the carrier b. of the lower carbon, and it is arranged to slide up
and down upon two vertical side-rods c. of the lamp, in the manner now well known,
and the carrier ais connected by means of a rod a² to one end of a chain or other
suitable flexible connection d, which passes over a sprocket wheel di (or it might be

page_text: t
any other suitable form of wheel or pulley) mounted loosely on a short shaft or
axle carried in bearings in a bracket d* from a tube e¹ connecting the two
plates e. e* of the frame of the lamp, or, if desired, the bracket d* might be carried
by the top plate e. or other convenient part of the frame of the lamp.
The other end of the flexible connection d. is connected with the upper end of a
rod rising vertically from the carrier b. of the negative carbon b'.
Immediately beneath the sprocket wheel or pulley d¹ and fixed to the tube e¹, is
arranged a solenoid...provided with a hollow moveable soft iron core f¹ through
the centre of which passes freely the rod a³, which at one end is connected with the
flexible connection d. and at the other end is connected with the runner a. of the
positive carbon a¹.
The sprocket wheel d¹ is mounted at or near the centre of the shaft or axle ď
and one end of such shaft is mounted with capability of revolution in its bearings in
the bracket d", a disc or collar *** being formed or fixed upon the shaft d', and
located between the bearings thereof and the sprocket wheel d whilst the other end
of the shaft or axle is formed with several quick screw threads d** thereon, upon
which is placed a nut g. which is threaded to correspond with the threads d**.
The nut g. has formed thereon, or fixed thereto, an arm g', the outer end of
which is by a link g' connected with the upper end of the core fi of the solenoid f.
whilst upon the opposite end of the shaft or spindle as is fixed an arm d' the upper
end of which is by a spring d' connected with the frame of the lamp.
The action of the mechanism hereinbefore described is as follows:-
When no current is passing through the lamp the superior weight of the carrier a³
brings the carbons a¹ into contact, but upon a current being admitted it passes
by the terminalf* and conductor to the coil of the solenoid f, and after passing
therethrough it is led by the conductor to the carrier a' of the upper carbon a¹;
it thence passes through the carbons a' b', carrier b., rod b' and the frame of the
lamp to the terminal e*1.
The passage of the current through the coil f. of the solenoid causes the soft iron
core to be raised or drawn further into the centre of the solenoid, and the arm g¹
of the nut g. is through the link g³, thereby raised causing the nut g. to travel upon
the screw thread ** upon the spindle and to bind or grip the sprocket wheel d',
against the collar d* whilst in the continued ascent of the core ¹, the resistance
of the spring d will be overcome, and the spindle and sprocket wheel d' will be
partially revolved thereby separating the carbons a' b₁ and striking the arc.
The intensity of the current being now diminished the core of the solenoid f.
will descend to its normal position, and will thereby revolve the nut g. in the
opposite direction and release the sprocket wheel d' from the disc or collar d** the
spindle d² being restored to its normal position by the action of the spring & through
the arm d'.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. In an electric arc lamp, the combination of two carriers for the upper and
lower carbons, connected through suitable rods or the like, by means of a flexible
connection, a sprocket wheel or pulley loosely mounted upon its shaft over which
the flexible connection passes, a spring for normally holding the sprocket wheel
shaft in a given position, a collar upon the shaft located upon one side of the
sprocket wheel, a screw thread upon the other other end of the shaft, a nut loosely
engaging the screw thread, a solenoid, an arm or projection from the nut and a link
connecting the core of the solenoid with such arm, substantially as herein shown
and described and for the purpose stated.
2. In an electric arc lamp, a regulating device consisting of a shaft, a wheel
mounted loosely thereon, a spring or the like for normally retaining the shaft in a
given position, a screw thread upon the shaft, a nut loosely engaging the screw
thread and adapted to engage the wheel, means for causing the carbons to rise and

page_text: fall by the rotation of the wheel, a solenoid and suitable connections from the core
of the solenoid to the nut for causing the same to partially revolve with the rise or
fall thereof, substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 18th day of July 1892.
VAUGHAN & SON;
Agents for the Applicant.