IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS OR REGULATORS AND IN GENERATORS OF ELECTRICITY FOR USE THEREWITH
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELECTRIC LAMPS OR REGULATORS AND IN GENERATORS OF ELECTRICITY FOR
USE THEREWITH." A communication from abroad by the firm of Solignac
and Company, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th February 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS OR REGULATORS AND IN
GENERATORS OF ELECTRICITY FOR USE THEREWITH." [A communication from
abroad by the firm of Solignac and Company, of Paris, France.]
This Invention which is applicable both to electric lighting by the are and by
the imperfect contact system of incandescence, relates to improved means of regu-
Inting the feeding up of the carbon or carbons, and consists in making the
approximation of the carbons dependent on the fusion or softening of a tube, stick,
or other object of glass or other material capable of being fused, softened or
consumed by the heat of the are in such manner as to regulate the carbons in
virtue of the relation which exists between the length of the are and its
temperature.
The current for the lamp may be generated by any suitable dynamo or magneto
electric machine, battery, or other source of electricity, but it is preferred to use
the dynamo machine hereafter described and forming part of this Invention. The
mode of regulating the feeding up of the carbons by means of a substance capable
of being fused or softened, may be applied either to both or to one only of the
carbons, the other in the latter case being fixed or regulated either by a solenoid,
electro magnet, or other magnetic device acting either directly or through suitable
mechanism.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood, I bave illus.
trated examples in the accompanying Drawings and will proceed to describe it
with reference thereto.
•
Figure 1 represents in elevation a lamp in which this improved method of
regulation is applied to both carbons. Figure 2 represents on a larger scale the
details at the point of one of the carbons. Figure 8 represents a lamp in which
one carbon only is regulated by the method of this Invention, the other being

page_text: controlled by a solenoid. This Figure also illustrates the manner in which the
lamp is connected in the circuit of the generator. Figure 4 represents an elevation
of the machine which it is preferred to use in combination with the lamp of this
Invention.
In Figures 1 and 2, a are the carbons fed towards one another by chains or
cords b attached at c to the lamp frame d, passing round sheaves e on the rear ends
of the carbons and winding on spring barrels f. g g are rods of glass or other
suitable fusible or combustible substance respectively extending the whole length
of each carbon a parallel thereto and at the underside thereof as shown. These
rods g respectively abut against stops h of copper or other metal or material and
their ends bend downwards under the influence of the heat when raised to a
certain temperature corresponding to an arc of a given length, and permit of the
carbons being progressively fed towards one another. It will be readily under-
stood that the mass of the fusible material being only softened, this system may be
advantageously employed for low intensities.
In Figure 3, the upper carbon only is regulated by this method. The carbons a b
are enclosed in a globe o hermetically sealed, and the lower carbon a is regulated
by a solenoid d whilst the upper one b is enveloped by a glass tube f which abuts
against the return end g of a bridge piece or other fixed point. This glass tube
softens only when the temperature of the are is sufficiently high, and thus allows
the upper carbon to descend only as fast as it wastes away.
In the system of incandescence by imperfect contact, instead of employing two
carbons of unequal size butting together and to end as in some lamps, a glass rod
is fixed to and parallel with one of the carbons, which rod abuts against the other
carbon. So long as the current passes from one carbon to the other, they are
incandescent, but immediately they are so far consumed that the arc is formed, a
great quantity of heat is developed and the rod which had not until then become
softened, yields and allows the contact of the carbons to be renewed.
The con-
tinuous and gradual actions maintain a sort of semi-incandescence and almost an
aro, these two phenomena being produced in almost equal degrees throughout the
lighting, yield a uniform light.
I would here remark that instead of glass other material capable of being fused,
softened, or consumed such as wax, paper, &c, may be used, and that in the case of
lighting by the are, the mounting of the carbons and the mechanism for feeding
them up may be of any suitable description.
The machine shown in Figure 4 for use with lamps regulated as above described,
consists of rotary field or inducing magnets and stationary armature or induced
magnet ; a stationary collector m distributes the current to two brushes n carried
by the rotary frame of the field magnets.
The field is formed of two semi-cylindrical electro magnets which by their
juxtaposition form a complete cylinder the cheeks p of which are the poles and the
grouping is such that the two electro-magnets have poles of contrary sign opposite
one another. This magnetic cylinder turns upon its axis centrally within the
induced magnetsk which are very narrow and are arranged parallel to the axis of
the machine like the teeth of a lantern wheel, and fixed at their two ends to the
circular end frames o; the poles p project beyond the ends of the coils & as shown
and influence their poles. The collector m has as many blades as there are coils k
connecting the coils in series. The two brushes n suitably fixed upon the shaft of
the machine, collect the currents from the magnets k. The field magnets ? are
placed in a shunt circuit of the installation, as shown in Figure 3, whereby a
continual balance is maintained between the magnetism of the field and the external
resistance.
The form, arrangement, and construction of the lamps herein described may be
varied according to circumstances and they may be used in combination with any
other dynamo or magneto electric machine than that described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th August 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
Patent Agent. " IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS OR REGULATORS AND IN
A communication from
GENERATORS OF ELECTRICITY FOR USE THEREWITH."
abroad by the firm of Solignac and Company of Paris-France.
This Invention, which is applicable both to the arc and semi-incandescent systems
of electric lighting, consists in making the feed of the carbon or carbons dependent
on the fusion or softening of a tube or stick of glass or other material capable of
being fased, softened, or consumed by the heat of the are, so as to regulate the
interval between the carbons in virtue of the relation between the length and the
temperature of the arc.
The current for the lamp may be generated by any suitable dynamo or magneto-
electric machine, battery, or other source of electricity, but it is preferred to use
the dynamo machine hereafter described and forming part of this Invention. The
mode of regulating the feed of the carbons by means of a substance capable of
being fused or softened, may be applied either to both or to one only of the
carbons, the other in the latter case being fixed or regulated either by a solenoid,
electro-magnet, or other magnetic device acting either directly or through suitable
mechanism.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood, I have illustrated
examples in the accompanying Drawings and will proceed to describe it with
reference thereto.
Figure 1 represents in elevation a lamp in which this improved method of regu-
lation is applied to both carbons. Figure 2 represents the point of one of the
carbons on a larger scale. Figure 3 represents a lamp in which one carbon only is
regulated by the method of this Invention, the other being controlled by a solenoid.
This Figure also illustrates the manner in which the lamp is connected in the
circuit of the generator. Figure 4 represents an elevation of the dynamo-electrie
machine which it is preferred to use in combination with the lamp of this
Invention.
In Figures 1 and 2, a are the carbons fed towards one another by chains or
cords b attached at o to the lamp frame d, passing round sheaves e on the rear ends
of the carbons and winding on spring barrels. g g are rods of glass, or other
suitable fusible or combustible substance, respectively extending parallel to the
whole length of each carbon a and at the underside thereof as shown. These
rods g respectively abut against stops h of copper or other metal or material, and
their ends bend downwards under the influence of the heat when raised to a certain
temperature corresponding to an arc of a given length, and permit of the carbons
being progressively fed towards one another. It will be readily understood that
the mass of the fusible material being only softened, this system may be
advantageously employed for low intensities.
In Figure 8 the upper carbon only is regulated by this method. The carbons a b
are enclosed in a globe o hermetically sealed, and the lower carbon a is regulated
by a solenoid d, whilst the upper one b is enveloped by a glass tube which abuts
against the return end g of a bridge piece h or other fixed point. This glass tube
softens only when the temperature of the arc is sufficiently high and thus allows
the upper carbon to descend only as fast as it wastes away.
In the system of incandescence by imperfect contact, instead of employing two

page_text: carbons of unequal size butting together end to end, as in some lamps, a glass rod
is fixed to and parallel with one of the carbons, which rod abuts against the other
carbon. So long as the current passes from one carbon to the other, they are
incandescent, but immediately they are so far consumed that the arc is formed, a
great quantity of heat is developed, and the rod which had not until then become
softened, yields and allows the contact of the carbons to be renewed. These con:
tinuous and gradual actions maintain a sort of semi-incandescence and almost an
arc, and these two phenomena being produced in almost equal degrees throughout
the lighting, yield a uniform light.
I would here remark that instead of glass, other material capable of being fused
softened or consumed such as wax, paper, &c, may be used, and that in the case of
lighting by the are, the mounting of the carbons and the mechanism for feeding
them up may be of any suitable description.
The machine shown in Figure 4 for use with lamps regulated as above described
consists of rotary field or inducing magnets and stationary armature or induced
magnets ; a stationary collector m distributes the current to two brushes n
carried by the rotary frame of the field magnets.
The field is formed of two semi-cylindrical electro-magnets which by their
juxtaposition form a complete cylinder, the cheeks p of which are the poles, and
the grouping is such that the two electro magnets have poles of contrary siga
opposite one another. This magnetic cylinder turns upon its axis centrally within
the induced magnets which are very narrow and are arranged parallel to the
axis of the machine like the rundles of a lantern wheel and fixed at their two ends
to the circular end frames o; the poles p project beyond the ends of the coils k as
shown and influence their poles. The collector m has as many blades as there are
coils which are connected in series. The two brushes n suitably fixed upon the
shaft of the machine collect the currents from the magnets k. The field magnets
are placed in a shunt circuit of the installation as shown in Figure 3, whereby a
continual balance is maintained between the magnetism of the field and the
external resistance.
The form, arrangement, and construction of the lamps herein described may be
varied according to circumstances, and they may be used in combination with any
other dynamo or magneto electric machine than that described.
Having described the nature of the said Invention for "Improvements in electric
lamps or regulators and in generators of electricity for use therewith" and the
manner of performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is.
1st. In electric lamps on the arc or semi-incandescence systems, the method of
regulating the feed of the carbon or carbons, in virtue of the relation between the
length and temperature of the arc, by means of sticks or tubes of glass or other
material capable of being fused, softened, or consumed by the heat of the arc,
substantially as specified.
2nd. In an arc lamp, the employment, for regulating the carbons, of fusible or
combustible sticks or tubes abutting against fixed stops, in combination with
spring barrels or other mechanism for feeding the carbons, substantially as herein
described.
3rd. An arc lamp in which one of the carbons is regulated by means of a tube
of glass, or other fusible substance, abutting against a fixed stop, in combination
with a solenoid or other equivalent magnetic apparatus applied to the other carbon,
and the whole contained within a globe hermetically sealed, substantially as herein
described with reference to Figure 3.
4th. In a semi-incandescence lamp the combination of two carbons and a rod of
glass or other material capable of being fused or softened fixed parallel to one of
said carbons and abutting against the other, the whole substantially as described
and for the purpose specified.
5th. The combination with a lamp on the are or incandescence systems in which
the carbons are regulated as described, of a dynamo electric machine having long

page_text: narrow induced magnets and in which the inducing or field magnets are placed
in a shunt circuit of the installation, substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark have hereunto set
my hand and seal this fifteenth day of August A.D. 1882.
A
CLADI