Signals to Indicate the Approaching Exhaustion of the Carbons in Electric Arc Lamps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 11th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Signals to Indicate the Approaching Exhaustion of the Carbons in
Electric Arc Lamps.
We, ERNEST ALEXANDER CLAREMONT, of Endsleigh, Legh Road, Knutsford, in
the County of Chester, Electrical Engineer, and FREDERICK HENRY ROYCE, of
Brae Cottage, Legh Road, Knutsford, aforesaid, Electrical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has for its object the making of an electric arc lamp having a
visible signal seen from without, to indicate when the carbons (1) are approaching
exhaustion and (2) have become exhausted so as to avoid the inconvenience of a
lamp going out for want of trimming, and the waste of time involved in con-
stantly examining it.
We construct an electric arc lamp in the usual manner.
We use a small spindle, the end view of which is shewn in Fig. 1, at "A," this
spindle is free to rotate within certain limits, in a bearing or bearings, fixed to
the top of the lamp and may be fitted with collars, or shoulders to prevent end
play.
The position of this spindle "A" on the top of the lamp must be such that one
end of it is at the side of the carbon rod or rack "1" and the other beyond it
as shewn in the plan Fig. 2.
We fix to the said spindle "A" and at right angles to it a straight lever "B"
which may have a small wheel or roller "C" fixed at the end or top of it.
This lever "B" is fixed to the spindle "A" at a point opposite the carbon
rod or rack "D)," so that when the spindle "A" rotates the smaller roller "C"
will come in contact with the carbon rod or rack "D" as shewn in Fig. 1.
We fix to the said spindle "A," and at right angle to it, another lever "E"
to act as a hand or indicator. This second lever "E" which may have attached
to it a disc "F," is fixed to the spindle "A" at a point in front of the carbon
rod or rack "D" and is also so placed that when the small wheel, or roller "C"
at the end of the lever "B" is in contact with the carbon rod or rack "D" the
lever "E" is in front of the carbon rod or rack "D" the plane of the lever "B"
and the spindle "A" bearing to the plane of the lever "E" and the spindle "A"
an angle of about 20 degrees as shewn in Fig. 1.
The result of the above is that when the carbon rod or rack "D" is raised
the position of the disc "F" is as shewn in Fig. 1, and when the carbon rod or
rack has descended to within a short distance of its lowest point the disc "F"
of its own weight commences to fall, the small wheel or roller "C"
and the lever B" to which it is attached passing over the top of
the carbon rod or rack "D" until the position shewn in the Fig. 3 is attained. Or
we may fix the whole of the above inside the lamp, making an opening or aperture
in the case or cover of the lamp so that the disc, or other signal, as it descends
gradually comes into view.
Fig. 4 shews an arrangement which may be used for the operating of a visible

page_text: "
B
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signal, seen from without, by means of the movement of the machinery of an
are lamp constructed with a flexible cord, band or chain. A" is the spindle, or
shaft of a toothed wheel, or drum over which the flexible cord band or chain"
is passed. This spindle or shaft "A" has fixed upon it a wheel "C" which
wheel transmits the power or movement imparted to it 'to one or more other
wheels mounted on spindles, or shafts running in suitable bearings, one of which
wheels is shewn in the drawing at "D." The power or movement may be trans-
mitted from the wheel "C" by friction, toothed wheels (as shewn in the drawing)
or any like means.
On the spindle, or shaft, of one of these wheels may be fixed a hand or pointer
which the movement of the wheel will cause to move round a circular dial which
may be fixed on the outside of the lamp. This dial and pointer not being shewn
in the drawing.'
..
'
Or, as shewn in Fig. 5, the spindle or shaft of one of the before mentioned
wheels which may be the wheel "D" in Fig. 4, may have mounted, or fixed
upon or to it a drum or wheel shewn at "A" This drum, or wheel, winding or
coiling up upon itself or unwinding or uncoiling from itself, a flexible cord, band
or chain B," such flexible cord, band or chain being attached to a pointer "C"
sliding on a rod or other like support "D" and capable of being moved along
the scale "E" which may be fixed upon the outside of the lamp; by the winding
or coiling up, or the unwinding or uncoiling of the flexible cord, band or chain "B
upon, or from the drum Ain the manner herein described.
It is not necessary that the signal shall be operated simply by mechanical means.
It might be operated by the making of an electrical connection.
"T
Fig 6 shews diagrammatically an arrangement which may be used for the
operating of a visible signal seen from without, by means of an electrical connec-
tion. When the carbon rod, or rack "D" descends the projection marked A "
comes in contact with an insulated terminal "B" which is in electrical con-
nection with the coil "C," and which latter, becoming thus magnetized tilts the
lever "E" on its fulcrum "F" and allows the disc "G" fixed on the lever "H"
to fall round the fulcrum "I" into the new position as at "J."
It is not necessary that the particular mechanical or electrical arrangements
described or any of them be adopted.
There are many other mechanical or electrical arrangements which would
operate the movement of a signal.
But what is necessary to this invention is a mechanism or arrangement by which
a visible disc, or other signal visible from without is operated by the moving of
the machinery of the lamp.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1st. A visible signal as part of or used in connection with an electric arc lamp
and operated directly or indirectly by the movement of the machinery of the
lamp for the purposes above described.
2nd. A moving visible disc or other signal visible from without operated by
the movement of the machinery of an arc lamp in combination with an interposed
electrical connection for the purposes above described.
3rd. The construction of a visible signal for the purposes above described as
part of or used in connection with an electric arc lamp and operated by the
machinery of the lamp substantially as above described and illustrated in Figs. 1,
2 and 3.
4th. The construction of a visible signal for the purposes above described as
part of or used in connection with an electric arc lamp and opérated by the
machinery of the lamp substantially as above described and illustrated in Fig. 4.
5th. The construction of a visible signal for the purposes above described as
part of or used in connection with an electric arc lamp and operated by the
machinery of the lamp substantially as above described and illustrated in Fig. 5.

page_text: 6th. The construction of a visible signal for the purposes above described as
part of or used in connection with an electric arc lamp and operated by the
machinery of the lamp in combination with an interposed electrical connection
substantially as above described and illustrated in Fig. 6.
Dated this Third day of February 1899.