Improved Means for Supporting Electric Incandescent Lamps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 14th July, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Supporting Electric Incandescent Lamps.
near
I, CHARLES DAVIDSON, of 24, Warwick Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy,
Manchester, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to and consists of a novel arrangement of travelling
light in which two wires or conductors, negative and positive, are extended across
a room or along a passage or corridor, etc., from two supports or casings, in or
on each of which is a spring or counter-balance designed to draw in one of the
conductors and wind it in a coil. These casings are oppositely set, and the tension
of one spring is equal to the tension of the other spring. At the point where
the two conductors join I arrange an insulator and from such insulator I suspend
a rubber cord from which in turn is suspended an electric incandescent lamp.
Around such cord I twist or wrap the conductors and finally connect to the lamp.
Above the aforesaid conductor wires I arrange a rigid supporting wire and
upon such wire I thread or otherwise place a small pot ring or insulator capable
of sliding freely along the wire. To such insulator I connect an extension of the
rubber cord aforesaid.
To the aforesaid lamp I attach a loop or hook by which the lamp may be taken
hold of and carried forward or backwards in the direction of the overhead wire,
the conteracting influences of the springs, one to the other, allowing of such
movement, and permitting the light to remain at any point at which it is released.
By reason of the elastic suspension the light can also be drawn down for light-
ing racks, cupboards and the like, and on being let go will return to its normal
position. In some cases I may dispense with the supporting wires and rely on
the conducting wires only, both for the sustaining and the drawing down of the
light.
Dated this 28th day of July 1899.
CHARLES DAVIDSON.
By John G. Wilson & Co.
Agents.
improveu means for suppor
near
I, CHARLES DAVIDSON, of 24, Warwick Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy,
Manchester, Clerk, 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 invention relates to, and consists of a novel arrangement of travelling

page_text: light in which two wires or conductors, negative and positive, are extended across
a room, or along a passage or corridor, etc., from two supports or casings in each
of which is a spring designed to draw in one of the conductors and wind it in
a coil. These casings are oppositely set, and the tension of one spring is equal
to the tension of the other spring. At the point where the two conductors join
I arrange an insulator, and from such insulator I suspend a rubber cord from
which in turn is suspended an electric incandescent lamp. Around such cord I
twist or wrap the conductors and finally connect to the lamp.
Above the aforesaid conductor wires I arrange a rigid supporting wire and
upon such wire I thread or otherwise place a small pot ring or insulator capable
of sliding freely along the wire. To such insulator I connect an extension of the
rubber cord aforesaid.
To the aforesaid lamp I attach a loop or hook by which the lamp may be taken
hold of and carried forward or backwards in the direction of the overhead wire,
the counteracting influences of the springs, one to the other, allowing of such
movement, and permitting the light to remain at any point at which it is released.
By reason of the elastic suspension the light can also be drawn downwards for
lighting racks, cupboards and the like, and on being "let go" will return to its
normal position.
In lieu of springs I may employ counter-balances.
To make my invention clear I have hereunto appended a sheet of drawings
and will now proceed to describe the same with the aid of the various figures and
letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 illustrates a travelling light with the conducting wires adapted to coil
and uncoil under the action of springs. Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the arrangement
and application of the counter-balances.
(A) and (A) are the two conducting wires, positive and negative. One end of
wire (A) I connect to a small drum or axle (B) within a casing (C) fixed to the
ceiling or an overhead support. One end of the wire (A) I connect to a similar
drum or axle (1) within a casing (E), also fixed to the ceiling or an overhead
support, and in line with or directly opposite the casing (C). Within each casing
is a coiled spring and the tension of the two springs is about equal.
Above or alongside the casings (C), (E), and extending from one to the other
I arrange a wire (F) secured to adjustable supports (G) and upon such wire I
thread or mount a small insulating ring or runner (H). From this ring or
runner I suspend an india-rubber cord (I) which reaches down to a point at which
it is desired to hang the light and to which is connected an electric incandescent
lamp (J).
The wires (A), (A³) pass through an insulator (K) threaded or fastened on to
the cord (I), and then each is neatly coiled around the cord in the manner shewn
in Fig. 1, and finally secured to the lamp. The electrical connections for the
opposite ends of the wires are effected by contacts (L) pressing against one end
of the axles (B), and (D).
With the lamp hanging centrally between, or at equal distances from the two
casings (C) and (E), the springs are about half wound up. As the lamp moves
towards the casing (C) the wire (A) under the action of the spring is coiled on
to the drum. (B), and the wire (A*) is uncoiled from drum (D). As the lamp
moves towards casing (E) the wire (A) is coiled and the wire (A) uncoiled. With
the tension of the springs equal, and the insulator (H) an easy fit on the wire (F),
the traversing of the lamp one way or the other is a very easy operation, and
when the lamp is released it remains at the point to which it has been drawn.
Due to the elastic cord (I) the lamp is also readily pulled down to any point,
and at any angle, for lighting up racks, shelves, etc., and when released returns
to its normal level.
In lieu of springs I may employ counter-balances for taking up the slack of
the conducting wires (A), and (A*) as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3. The wires each
pass around sets of pulleys (M) and (N) sustained from the ceiling, and the lower

page_text: set provided with a weight (O). Each wire leads from a ceiling rose (P), and
when connected to the lamp all the parts are in equilibrium, so that on moving
the lamp towards one or other of the sets of pulleys the conducting wires are
always in tension and counter-balanced due to the fall of one weight and the rise
of the other, and the lamp remains whereever it is released.
In both arrangements it will be seen that the two conducting wires, positive
and negative are kept separate, and in tension, and that I thereby overcome all
objections on the part of fire insurance companies in regard to the two wires get-
ting in contact, or of hanging loose and getting entangled or broken whilst the
current is passing through.
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 travelling light devices, two conducting wires, negative and positive,
separate from each other, and covered by insulating material, in combination with
means for sustaining the same in tension, and sustaining a lamp to which they
are connected, as set forth.
2: In travelling light devices, two conducting wires, negative and positive.
separate from each other and each covered with insulating material, a set of
casings each containing a spring-operated drum or axle, to which one of the said
wires is connected, and which in turn is electrically connected to the ordinary
electric light supply, in combination with a carrier wire sustained between adjust-
able supports at each end of the room or space to be lighted, an insulating ring or
carrier on the said wire, an india-rubber cord suspended from the said ring or
carrier, and the aforesaid conducting wires neatly coiled around the said cord and
connected to a lamp carried by the cord, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
3: In travelling light devices, two conducting wires, negative and positive,
separate from each other and each covered with insulating material, two counter-
balance weights sustained by set of pulleys at opposite ends of the room, or space
connected to an ordinary ceiling rose at one end and to a lamp at the other end,
to be lighted and by the said wires, which pass around the pulleys and are
a carrier wire and an elastic cord around which the conducting wires are neatly
coiled suspended from such wire substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
Dated this 27th day of Anril 1900.