Improvements in Apparatus for the Use of Electric Light for Photographic, Illuminating, and other Purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 29th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Use of Electric Light for
Photographic, Illuminating, and other Purposes.
I, ANDREW GEORGE ADAMSON, Electrical Engineer, 18, Eldon Street,
London, E.C. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This improved apparatus is designed not only to meet and remove objections to
the present forms, but to make it applicable for other purposes than those described
in my prior Patents No. 21379.A.D. 1893, No. 5971 A.D. 1894, and No. 2333
A.D. 1895.
I will first describe the swivelling arrangement. In my prior Patent No. 5971
A.D. 1894 it was found that the rocking motion unavoidably given to the whole
apparatus through its requiring to be so freely moved in all directions caused the
contact springs to part from the contact rings making dangerous arcs and so
destroying their surfaces rendering them at once unfit for use, and in like manner
the device shown in my Patent No. 2333 A.D. 1895 although an improvement on
the patent just referred to was found also very liable to serious arcing between the
frictional surfaces. This was caused not only by the rocking motion already
referred to, but mainly through its being nearly impossible to get all the frictional
surfaces so exactly turned.on the same plane as .to insure equally good electrical
contact between both pairs of rings, the slightest divergence causing one or other,
pair either to be completely parted, or so slightly in contact as to produce an.arc,
which, however slight, at once rendered the apparatus useless. According to my
improved form the swivelling apparatus consists of two metal 'tubes one placed
within the other and of such diameter as permit of their being properly insulated
from each other. 'To one end of each tube there is attached either by casting or
otherwise, a flange of any convenient breadth. The flange of the inner tube is so
constructed as to bear the weight of the whole pendant apparatus, while the outer
or larger tube must have sufficient length free at its upper end next to the base
of the upper section of carriage that, when the weight comes upon the under
section of the carriage and bears against the flange of the inner tube, there
will be no impediment to the whole of the rubbing surfaces :being drawn closely
together.
When current is made to enter it will pass along a plate or washer to the inner
tube and from this tube to another plate or washer by which it is connected to the
cable, which in turn carries it to the beam pivot. The return is made similarly by
entering on the under side and passing through a similar plate or washer to the
outer tube thence by another plate or washer and connected to main cable. Both
washers on the upper section of the carriage are shaped and fitted over their
respective tubes, so that the tubes remain stationary, whilst the plates or washers
on the under section are left.free to move and maintain a constant position relatively
with the revolving section of the carriage and the beam.
The same electrical pivot is adapted to support the reflector. The current is
conducted as already stated from terminals by means of flexible or other cables ito-
other terminals and from thence to the arms of the reflector and the reflector
pivots which distribute it to lamps. The arm attachment has a suitable hole cut

page_text: in its end to allow it to go neatly over the tube until it is close up to the flange and
it is then secured in its place. The flange is firmly screwed to the frame of the
reflector. The several wires are then bunched and electrically connected to the
thimbles from whence they are carried to the respective lamps in the circle.
The reflector may be made of any suitable material and the reflecting surface
behind the lamps may be in the form of a semi-circular channel or of any other
convenient shape, but it must not project inwards on the diameter of the circle more
than is necessary to completely screen the lamps from the back, the object of this
being to form a clear space of as large a diameter as possible in the reflector so
that the apparatus may be better adapted for copying or reproductive work, whilst
being equally suitable for portraiture, as in the event of a large flat surface
requiring to be very equally illuminated, it will be obvious that such a result could
be more easily secured if the light can be placed directly in front of the camera,
and the flat surface or picture viewed through the circle of lights.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the electrical pivots are assured of good
contact by the weight of the respective parts which they support, and that by the
combined operation of the four pivots a perfectly universal motion may be imparted
to the reflector.
It is to be understood that my improvements are also applicable to standards and
ceiling pendants which may be provided with one or more reflectors and used either
for photographic purposes or ordinary illumination.
Dated this 27th day of June 1896.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Patent Agents for Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Use of Electric Light for
Photographic, Illuminating, and other Purposes.
I, ANDREW GEORGE ADAMSON, Electrical Engineer, late of 184, Eldon Street,
London, E.C. and now of 88, and 90, Tabernacle Street, London, E.C., 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:-
This improved apparatus is designed, not only to meet and remove objections to
the present forms, but to make it applicable for other purposes than those described
in my prior Patents Nos. 21379 A.D. 1893, 5971 A.D. 1894, and 2333 A.D. 1895.
In my prior Patent No. 5971 A.D. 1894 it was found that the rocking motion
unavoidably given to the whole apparatus through its requiring to be so freely
moved in all directions caused the contact springs to part from the contact rings
making dangerous arcs and so destroying their surfaces rendering them at once
unfit for use, and in like manner the device shown in my Patent No. 2333 A.D. 1895
although an improvement on the patent just referred to was found also very liable
to serious arcing between the frictional surfaces. This was caused not only by the
rocking motion already referred to, but mainly to its being nearly impossible to get
all the frictional surfaces so exactly turned on the same plane as to ensure equally
good electrical contact between both pairs of rings, the slightest divergence causing
one or other pair either to be completely parted, or so slightly in contact as to
produce an arc, which, however slight, at once rendered the apparatus useless.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, we have hereunto appended two sheets of drawings of which corresponding
parts are marked with the same letters of reference.

page_text: Figure 1 is a section of the swivelling apparatus.
Figure 2 is a view of the reflector.
Figure 3 is a section of the pivotal arrangement in connection with the suspension
of the reflector.
Figure 4 is a section of the pivotal arrangement in which the reflector turns.
Figure 5 is a view of the whole arrangement of the apparatus.
'
According to my improved form the swivelling apparatus of which Figure 1 is a
section, cousists of two metal tubes A. and B. one placed within the other and of
such diameter as to permit of their being properly insulated from each other by the
insulating tube C and flange D. To one end of each tube there is attached either
by casting or otherwise, a flange of any convenient breadth. The flange E of the
inner tube A Figure 1 is so constructed as to bear the weight of the whole pendant
apparatus, while the outer or larger tube B must have sufficient length free at its
upper end next to the base of the upper section of the carriage G that, when the
weight comes upon the under section F of the carriage G and bears against the
flange E of the inner tube A there will be no impediment to the whole of the rubbing
surfaces being drawn closely together.
When current is made to enter it will pass along a plate or washer H to the
inner tuhe A and from this tube to another plate or washer I by which it is
connected to the cable by means of the nut i which in turn carries it to the beam
pivot a Figure 2. The return is made similarly by entering on the under side at d
and passing through a similar plate or washer d¹ to the outer tube B. thence by
another plate or washer C and connected to main cable at C. Both washers C¹
and A on the upper section of the carriage G are shaped and fitted over their
respective tubes A and B, so that the tubes remain stationary, whilst the plates or
washers on the under section being fastened to the insulation plate J. are left free
to move and maintain a constant position relatively with the revolving section of
the carriage and the beam.
The same electrical pivot is adapted to support the reflector as shown at a
Figure 2. The current is conducted as already stated from terminals i and d
Figure 1 by means of flexible or other cables to terminals A", A", Figure 3, and
from thence through their respective tubes to the arms I" of the reflector G", G",
and the reflector pivots H", H", Figure 2 (shown in detail in Figure 4) which
distribute it to the lamps. The arm attachment I", I", Figure 2 has a suitable
hole cut in its end at B Figure 4 to allow it to go neatly over the tube C Figure 4
until it is close up to the flange and it is then secured in its place by means of the
washer and split-pin. The flange D Figure 4 is firmly screwed to the frame of
the reflector. The several wires are then bunched and electrically connected to
the thimbles T Figure 4 from whence they are carried to the respective lamps
in the circle.
The reflector E Figure 2 may be made of any suitable material and the reflecting
surface behind the lamps F may be in the form of a semi-circular channel, or of
any other convenient shape, but it must not project inwards on the diameter of the
circle more than is necessary to completely screen the lamps from the back, the
object being to form a clear space G, Figure 2 of as large a diameter as possible
in the centre of the reflector so that the apparatus may be better adapted for
copying or reproductive work, whilst being equally suitable for portraiture, as in
the event of a large flat surface requiring to be very equally illuminated, it will be
obvious that such a result could be more easily secured if the light can be placed
lirectly in front of the camera, and the flat surface or picture viewed through the
entral space G
From the foregoing it will be seen that the electrical pivots are ensured of good
ontact by the weight of the respective parts which they support, and that by the
ombined operation of the four pivots a perfectly universal motion may be imparted
o the reflector.
It is to be understood that my improvements are also applicable to standards and

page_text: ceiling pendants which may be provided with one or more reflectors and used either
for photographic purposes or ordinary illumination.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 'I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In apparatus for the use of electric light for photographic, illuminating and
other purposes, the various swivelling and pivotal arrangements constructed
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated on the
accompanying sheets of drawings.
2. In apparatus for the use of electric light for photographic, illuminating and
other purposes, the reflector constructed substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
3. The general arrangement, combination and operation of the parts of the
apparatus for the use of electric light for photographic, illuminating and other
purposes, substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated
in the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Dated this 27th day of March 1897.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.