IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Louis Auguste Dupont-Auberville, of Paris, France;
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS." A communi-
cation by Victor Delaye, of Paris, France, Civil Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Louis Auguste Dupont-
Auberville at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th April
1881.
JEAN LOUIS AUGUSTE DUPONT-AUBERVILLE, of Paris, France.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN ELECTRIC LAMPS." [A communication by Victor Delaye, of Paris, France, Civil
Engineer.].
My Invention relates to improvements in electric lighting apparatus or lamps,
whereby a greater lighting power and a more simple construction are obtained,
also a cheaper lamp than heretofore. Moreover the light produced by my lamp
has the quality and color of sun light, The lighting power or focus of this lamp is
stationary, and permits the employment of reflectors of any description, and the
construction of said lamp is such that it may operate in any position, and may be
efficiently employed in vehicles of any kind and on board of ships.
In order that my said Invention may be more easily understood, I will proceed
to describe the same with reference to the annexed Drawing, in which Fig. 1
shews an elevation partly in section of a lamp embodying my Invention; Fig. 2
shews a top view of the same. Same letters of reference indicate similar parts in
all the Figures.
a is the bed or base of the lamp, upon which are erected two hollow supports b,
which may be moved by means of grooves c and thumbscrews d. Two rods
carrying sockets e are introduced in supports b; carbon-holders f slide in said
sockets e. By this means the carbon holders may be moved either horizontally or
vertically by unscrewing the screws g, while they may be turned or moved length-
wise by unscrewing the screws h. In the carbon holders are placed the electrodes i,
the forward end of which abut respectively upon abutments or blocks / made of
any suitable non conducting and refractory material. Both the electrodes and their

page_text: abutments k may be placed either in a vertical or in a horizontal plane, or in any
other suitable position.
The electrodes i may be pressed upon their respective non-conducting and
refractory blocks or abutments either by means of springs or by a weight Z
attached to a cord q passing round pullies s, and acting upon rods or plungers m,
as shewn in Fig. 1.
The electric circuit enters the lamp by posts n and o, and is passed through the
electrodes by plates p provided with friction rollers r. I may however employ
any other suitable device for transmitting the electric current to said electrodes.
As may be seen on examination of annexed Drawing the two electrodes i
are not only in a parallel position, but their tapering extremities overlap each
other.
The result of the above described construction and disposition is that only the
part x, y, of the electrodes is heated.
The voltaic arc springs out between the electrodes i, while the non-conducting
and refractory abutments k become incandescent, so as to increase the power of
the light and impart to it the quality and color of sunlight.
The electrodes i being permanently pressed upon the blocks k the ashes (when
carbon is used for such electrodes) get loose as fast as they are produced, so that
the light obtained is free from any variation or irregularity to which ordinary
lamps are subjected, and which often produces complete extinction of the lamp..
It will be easily seen that whatever may be the position of the lamp (vertical,
horizontal, or other), and the oscillations or shocks to which it may be exposed, its
action remains efficient and unaffected.
The lighting point of the lamp being quite stationary, it is obvious that any
kind of reflector may be used in combination with it. Moreover the light given
by this lamp being very soft, although powerful, allows to dispense with spacious
globes now in use, which absorb nearly 60° of the light originally produced.
I do not limit myself to the precise disposition and construction herein described
and shewn in the annexed Drawing, as it may be varied according to the different
applications required by practice.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Jean Louis Auguste Dupont-Auberville at the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th October 1881.
JEAN LOUIS AUGUSTE DUPONT-AUBERVILLE, of Paris, France. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ELECTRIC LAMPS." A communication by Victor Delaye, of Paris, France, Civil
Engineer.
My Invention relates to improvements in electric lighting apparatus or lamps
whereby a greater lighting power and a more simple construction are obtained,
also a cheaper lamp than heretofore. Moreover the light produced by my lamp
has the quality and color of sun light. The lighting power or focus of this lamp is
stationary, and permits the employment of reflectors of any description, and the
construction of said lamp is such that it may operate in any position, and may be
efficiently employed in vehicles of any kind and on board of ships.
In order that my said Invention may be more easily understood, I will proceed
to describe the same with reference to the annexed Drawing, in which Fig. 1
shews an elevation partly in section of a lamp embodying my Invention, Fig. 2
shews a top view of the same. The same letters of reference indicate similar parts
in both the Figures.
a is the bed or base of the lamp, upon which are erected two. hollow supports b,
which may be moved along grooves c and set by thumb screws d. Two rods
carrying sockets e are introduced in supports b; carbon-holders f slide in these
sockets. The carbon holders may be moved horizontally or vertically by unscrewing
the screws g, and they may be turned or moved lengthwise by unscrewing the
screws h. In the carbon holders are placed the electrodes i, the forward ends of
which abut respectively upon abutments or blocks / made of any suitable non-
conducting and refractory material. Both the electrodes and their abutments k
may be placed either in a vertical or in a horizontal plane, or in any other suitable
position.
The electrodes i may be pressed against their respective abutments by springs,
or, as shewn in the Drawing, by. a weight 1 attached to cords 9 passing round
pullies s and acting upon rods or plungers m.
The electric current enters the lamp by posts n and o, and is passed through the
electrodes by plates p provided with friction rollers r. I may however employ
any other suitable device for transmitting the electric current to said electrodes.
As shewn in the Drawing the two electrodes i are parallel to one another, and
their tapering extremities overlap each other. The result of this arrangement is
that only the parts x, y, of the electrodes are heated.
The voltaic arc is formed between the electrodes while the abutments / become
incandescent, increasing the power of the light and imparting to it the quality and
color of sunlight.
The electrodes i being permanently pressed upon the blocks k, the ashes, when
carbons are employed, drop away as they are produced, and thus the light is free
from the variation or irregularity to which ordinary lamps are subjected, and which
often produces extinction.
Whatever be the position of the lamp, vertical, horizontal, or inclined, and even
if it be exposed to oscillations or shocks, its action remains efficient and unaffected.
The focus of the light being stationary, any kind of reflector may be used in
combination with it, and the light being very soft, though powerful, there is no
need for globes like those which are often used for other lamps, and which absorb a
large proportion of the light.
I do not limit myself to the precise arrangement and construction herein

page_text: described and shewn in the annexed Drawing, as these may be varied according to
the different applications required by practice, but I claim,-
The construction of electric lamp, in which two parallel electrodes are pressed in
opposite directions against non-conducting refractory abutments so placed that the
ends of the electrodes overlap each other, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Louis Auguste Dupont-Auberville, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
J. L. A. DUPONT-AUBERVILLE. (L.S.)