Improved Regulator for Voltaic Aro Lamps.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 11th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Regulator for Voltaic Aro Lamps.
I, FREDERIC KLOSTERMANN. of 1 Rue Ernest, Puteaux (Seine) in the
Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce a regulator for arc lamps wherein the
lighting of the lamp is effected automatically by the main current, and the main-
tenance of the carbons at a constant distance apart by a current derived from the
main current. The carbon carriers, suitably guided vertically, are both suspended
to a cord which is wound on a drum the axis of which carries a brake and a ratchet
wheel. One end of this cord is guided by a grooved pulley placed on the armature
of the electro-magnet traversed by the main current and carries the negative
carbon-carrier, the other end carries the positive carbon carrier. By a novel
mechanical arrangement and the combination of the derived current the positive
carbon pencil is lowered and the negative one raised in proportion as they are
consumed so as to maintain the luminous point in a constant position.
The derived current may pass through an ordinary electro-magnet but I prefer
to einploy a magnet or solenoid of my invention which effects the demagnetization
of the electro-magnet or solenoid without altering the resistance of the wire and
without breaking the current.
The regulating apparatus is placed between two frame-plates firmly connected
together by two columns, the upper plate is furnished with a suspension ring and
terminals to which latter the conducters are attached. A cylindrical envelope
encloses the whole of the mechanism.
The lower or negative carbon is held in the spring clip of its carbon-carrier
which is preferably of cylindrical shape and slides freely in a tube fixed on, but
insulated from, the lower frame plate. The upper end of the negative carbon-
carrier is furnished with a forked guide piece which slides on one of the columns
but is insulated therefrom. By this means the negative carbon is always guided
in a vertical direction notwithstanding any play there may be between the carbon-
carrier and its guide tube. The ascension of the negative carbon-carrier is limited
by the aforesaid forked guide piece coming against a stop collar fixed at any
required point on the column.
The upper or positive carbon is held in the clip of its carbon-carrier which slides
in a tube secured on the top of the lower frame plate.
The two carbon carriers are suspended to the ends of a cord arranged in a
manner to be hereafter described.
A small column secured on the lower frame plate supports a plate on which
is secured, but insulated therefrom, an electro-magnet, wound with thick wire
which receives the main current from a. conductor connecting it with an insulated
terminal on the upper frame plate. The armature of this electro-magnet has a
stem which passes through a fixed guide and a nut at the bottom of this stem
regulates the distance the armature can move, the said armature being normally
pressed away from the electro-magnet by a spring. The aforesaid armature
serves as support for a guide pulley over which passes the end of the aforesaid
cord which is connected to the negative carbon-holder; it is also furnished with
two stop screws one of which holds a brake lever out of contact with its brake
sheave and the other holds a pawl out of gear with the teeth of a ratchet wheel.
The aforesaid cord is wound round a small drum fixed on an axis turning in
the jaws of a carriage fixed beneath the upper frame plate. Fixed on the same

page_text: axis are the aforesaid ratchet wheel and brake pulley. The brake lever bears by
one branch on the said brake pulley when the corresponding stop-screw on the
armature has descended far enough to allow of its doing so, the other branch of
the brake lever being acted on by a spring the tension of which may be regulated
at pleasure. The aforesaid pawl corresponds to the ratchet wheel and is jointed
to one end of a regulating lever the fulcrum of which is at its other end. This
lever also carries, suspended to it at the same end as the pawl, the armature of
the derivation electro-magnet. This end of the lever is normally pressed away
from the electro-magnet by a spring the tension of which can be regulated at
pleasure.
With the aforesaid regulating lever is combined a contact lever which oscillates
equally between two adjustable stops, one connected with the positive terminal, the
other with the negative. A spring assures the electric contact of the two levers
and a wire connects them with the coil of the derivation electro-magnet.
The current is conducted through one of the terminals on the upper frame
plate into the mass of the apparatus and thence into the positive carbon carrier and
the positive carbon, then through the negative carbon and its carbon-carrier to
the main electro-magnet and thence by a conductor back to the source of
electricity.
Thus arranged the regulator acts in the following manner.
At the moment of lighting, the carbons are in contact with each other. The
current passes into the main electro-magnet and when it is powerful enough the
armature of that magnet is attracted. This causes the descent of the aforesaid
guide pulley mounted on the armature and of the end of the cord that passes over
it, and consequently of the negative carbon carrier and of the negative carbon.
The separation of the carbons and the production of the light is thereby effected.
The lowering of the armature of the main electro-magnet causes the stops of
the brake and pawl to descend, putting the brake lever into action and the pawl
into gear with the ratchet wheel.
When the distance apart of the carbons becomes too great, the resistance to the
current increases and a part of the current then passes through the coil of the
derivation magnet. But this part of the current immediately causes the armature
of that magnet to be attracted whereby the derivation current is broken and the
armature released, the effect being that the ratchet wheel is operated by the pawl,
the drum partially rotated and the positive carbon lowered while the negative
carbon is correspondingly raised.
In this manner I obtain regular successions in the operations of the armatures of
the main and derivation electro-magnets, that is to say of the correlative descents
and elevations of the carbons whereby a constant distance apart of the latter or an
arc of determinate size is maintained and the luminous point always kept in a
constant position.
By the arrangement of the derivation electro-magnet above described, the
interruptions of current may produce a hurtful oxidation at the point of contact
between the regulating and contact levers. I therefore propose to apply the
arrangements hereinafter described, which are also applicable to any system of
regulator acting by means of a derived current. In the said arrangement the
coiling of the wire of the derivation electro-magnet or solenoid is made all in the
same direction but it is divided into two equal parts, one of which is traversed by
the current in one direction in order to excite the magnet and when that is effected
the other half is traversed by the current in the opposite direction whereby the
demagnetization of the electro-magnet or solenoid is determined without change in
the resistance of the wire, that is to say without adding wire, and without inter-
rupting the current.
The regulating lever is connected with and is operated by the armature of the
electro-maguet or solenoid in one direction and by a spring in the other direction,
and the said regulating and contact levers are so arranged and connected together
electrically and with the positive current and the coiling of the electro-magnet or

page_text: solenoid on the one hand, and with the negative current on the other, that the
required contacts are made and broken at the proper times to effect the magneti-
zation and demagnetization of the electro-magnet or solenoid.
Dated this 10th day of February 1892.
FREDERIC KLOSTERMANN,
Per E. A. Groth,
3, Tokenhouse Buildings, London, E.C.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Regulator for Voltaic Arc Lamps.
I, FREDERIC KLOSTERMANN, of 1 Rue Ernest, Puteaux (Seine) in the
Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of
drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :—
The object of this invention is to produce a regulator for arc lamps wherein the
lighting of the lamp is effected automatically by the main current, and the
maintenance of the carbons at a constant distance apart by a current derived from
the main current. The carbon carriers, suitably guided vertically, are both
suspended to a cord which is wound on a drum the axis of which carries a ratchet
wheel. One end of this cord is guided by a grooved pulley placed on the armature
of the electro-magnet traversed by the main current and carries the negative
carbon-carrier; the other end carries the positive carbon-carrier. By a novel
mechanical arrangement, and the combination of the derived current, the positive
carbon pencil is lowered and the negative one raised in proportion as they are
consumed, so as to maintain the luminous point in a constant position.
The derived current may pass through an ordinary electro-magnet as shown in
the annexed drawing but I prefer to employ a magnet or solenoid of my invention
which effects the demagnetization of the electro-magnet or solenoid without
altering the resistance of the wire and without breaking the current as I shall
hereafter describe.
In the drawings hereto annexed
Figures 1 and 2 show my improved regulator in front and back elevation
respectively. Figure 3 is a side view, Figure 4 shows my new solenoid or
derivation magnet and Figure 5 is a plan of the iron arm marked ' in Figures 1,
2 and 3.
The regulating apparatus is placed between two frame plates a a' firmly connected
together by two columns a' a³, the upper plate a is furnished with a suspension
ring and terminals 66' to which latter the conductors are attached. A cylindrical
envelope c encloses the whole of the mechanism.
The lower or negative carbon d is held in the spring clip of the stem of the
carbon-carrier d' which is preferably of cylindrical shape and slides freely in a
tube d³ fixed on, but insulated from, the lower frame plate a'. The upper end of
the negative carbon-carrier is furnished with a forked guide piece d' which slides
on one of the columns a² but is insulated therefrom. By this means the negative
carbon is always guided in a vertical direction notwithstanding any play there
may be between the carbon-carrier and its guide tube. The ascension of the
negative carbon-carrier d' is limited by the aforesaid forked guide piece coming
against a stop arm a fixed at any required point on the column a².
The upper or positive carbon f is held in the clip f' of its carbon-carrier/"1
which slides in a tube f³ secured on the top of the lower frame plate a¹.
The two carbon-carriers d' are suspended to the ends g¹ g³ of a cord 9 arranged
in a manner to be hereafter described.

page_text: The electro magnet h, wound with a thick wire, is fixed by its base to the lower
frame plate a. The armature k of this electro-magnet consists of a cylindrical iron
rod which enters the electro magnet k to the extent of about two-thirds of the total
height of the latter. In the lower part of the magnet is a plug which prevents
the armature from moving beyond the exact distance that it is desired to separate
the two carbons at the moment of lighting.
The armature is secured to the lighting lever m by the screw m³ in such
manner that the latter is perfectly free to turn in the armature. The lever m turns
on the axis m' which is fixed to the support i. It is furnished with a screw k³
which by bearing against the upper frame plate a stops the movement of the lever
towards the plate, the said moven.ent being produced by the spring acting by
compression. It is therefore this stop screw which regulates the movement of
the armature k.
The lever m also serves as a support for the guide pulley m³ of the cord g. It
is provided with a screw n for holding the pawl g free of the ratchet wheel o
On the armature k is fixed an iron arm ' shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5 which
acts by magnetic attraction on the wheel o' as will be hereafter described.
The end g' of the aforesaid cord is wound round a small drum o' fixed on an
axis o turning in the jaws of a carriage fixed beneath the upper frame plate a.
Fixed on the same axis is the ratchet wheel o³.
The pawl y gears with ratchet wheel of towards which it is drawn by the spring
and is jointed to one end of a regulating lever r the fulcrum r of which turns in a
bearing i. This lever also carries suspended to it at the other end the armature s
of the derivation electro-magnets. The end of the lever which carries the pawl
is acted on by a spring the tension of which can be regulated at pleasure by the
screwed stem ² secured to the adjusting arm a'.
With the aforesaid regulating lever is combined a contact levert which
oscillates equally between two adjustable stops t t. The lever comes into
contact with the lever t by means of the contact piece. Immediately the carbons
are separated the lowering of the lever breaks the connection between the levers
and t. A wire connects the coil of the derivation electro-magnet with the
contact piece on which the lever t rests.
yo
The main current is conducted through the terminal b on the upper frame plate
into the mass of the apparatus and thence by the cable into the positive carbon
carrier and the positive carbon f, then through the negative carbon d its carbon
carrier and the cable to the main electro-magnet h, thence by a conductor h³
to the terminal band from that back to the source of electricity.
Thus arranged the regulator acts in the following manner :-
At the moment of lighting, the carbons dfare in contact with each other. The
current passes into the main electro-magnet h, and when it is powerful enough the
armature & of that magnet is attracted.
At the same time the arm h¹ being magnetized is attracted by and comes to
bear against the face of the ratchet wheel o' which is of soft iron and prevents
the said wheel from turning on its axis. The effect of this is to instantaneously
stop the descent of the upper carbon-holder whilst the movement of the
armature causes the descent of the guide pulley m³ and consequently of the cord ggl
of the carbon-carrier d¹ and of the negative carbon d. The separation of the
carbons and the production of the light is thereby effected.
The lowering of the armature & of the main electro-magnet causes the stop n of
pawl to descend, putting the said pawl into gear with the teeth of the ratchet
wheel o².
g
When the distance apart of the carbons becomes too great, the resistance to the
current increases, and a larger portion of it then passes through the coil of the
derivation magnet s.
But this part of the current causes the armatures' of that
magnet to be attracted whereby the derivation current is interrupted at and the
armature s' is released by its electro-magnets,

page_text: The ascension of the armature s' causes the two carbons to approach each other
by the following means :-
By the rupture of the current the lever r, which carries the pawl q, is suddenly
returned to its normal position by the spring. This movement, which may be
limited by any suitable means, causes the ratchet wheel o' to be turned one tooth
by means of the pawl g, and this is repeated at regular intervals in proportion as the
carbons burn away.
In this manner I obtain regular successions in the operations of the armatures k
and of the main and derivation electro-magnets, that is to say correlative
descents and elevations of the carbons whereby a constant distance apart of the
latter or an arc of determinate size is maintained and the luminous point is always
kept in a constant position.
By the arrangement of the derivation electro-magnet above described the
interruptions of current may produce a hurtful oxidation at the point of contact ³,
I therefore propose to apply the arrangements shown in Figure 4 which are also
applicable to any system of regulator acting by means of a derived current.
The regulating lever r is in contact at A with the contact lever t. It carries the
armature s' of the electro-magnet or solenoid s. At the other end it moves between
the stops which are both in communication with the negative current. The
coiling of the wire of the derivation electro-magnet or solenoid in arc is made all
in the same direction but it is divided into two equal parts, both of which are traversed
by the current in one direction in order to excite the magnet and when that is
effected one half is traversed by the current in the opposite direction whereby the
demagnetization of the electro-magnet or solenoid is determined without change
in the resistance of the wire, that is to say without adding wire, and without
interrupting the current.
So long as the arc does not exceed its normal length, the derived portion of the
current coming from the positive terminal P, passes through the half of the
derivation bobbin as far as P. From there it goes to the lever t which is in
contact at t¹ with the contact piece A' on the lever r; it then goes to N' by the
conductor B, passes through the other half of the bobbin wire in the same direction
to N³, whence it passes through the contact piece the tongue x' and connecting
piece N to the negative terminal N.
When the arc increases in length by the burning away of the carbons a larger
portion of the current passes through the derivation bobbin, and draws the
armature s into the said bobbin to a certain distance defined by a suitable stop not
shown in the drawings. This downward movement of the armature s¹ effects the
separation of As from t¹ and consequently of 16 from ' on the one hand, and the
connection on the other hand of with, and of with. The pawl q follows
the upward movement of the end of the lever r to which it is connected. In
consequence of the change above described of the parts in electrical contact, the
passage of the current through the derivation bobbin is modified in the following
manner: From the terminal P the current passes through the half of the wire
to P¹, thence to the contact levert which communicates at that moment as above
described by the contact piece t with the contact piece, from which the
current passes by the conductor C to N', traverses the other half of the wire of the
bobbin, in the reverse direction, to N¹ and from thence it passes through A³, 4,
and N³ to the terminal N. In consequence of the division of the current into two
currents of equal quantity and resistance passing in opposite directions through the
wire surrounding the same iron core, complete demagnetization of the derivation
magnet is effected, the said magnet loses its attractive force, and the spring, then
returns the lever r to its normal position, re-establishing the contacts as shown in
Figure 4, so that the passage of the current through the two halves of the bobbin
wire takes place again in the same direction through its entire length as above
explained. Furthermore when the lever r is returned into its normal position by
the spring the pawl q descends and turns the ratchet wheel o² one tooth, which
effects the advancement of the carbons and restores the arc to its normal length as

page_text: before described. These movements take place at regular intervals as the carbons
are burnt away.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In a voltaic arc lamp the combination with the armature k of an electro-
magnet h interposed in the main circuit, of a guide pulley m², cord g, to which are
suspended the carbon carriers d'f', and the drum of and ratchet wheel o³, arranged
and operating so as to stop by magnetic attraction the drum o' supporting the upper
carbon holder in order to prevent the latter from descending otherwise than by the
action of a pawl on the aforesaid ratchet wheel at the moment of regulation, and so
that the attraction of the said armature k produces by the lowering of the said
guide pulley m³ and of the carbon d the required separation of the carbons for
effecting the automatic lighting, substantially as hereinbefore described, and
illustrated in the drawings.
Second. In a voltaic arc lamp the combination with the armature k of an electro-
magnet interposed in the main circuit, of a regulating lever ŕ carrying the pawl q
of the ratchet wheel o³, and of a contact levert for utilizing the derivation current
for effecting the approach of the carbons towards one another whilst maintaining
fixity of position of the luminous point, arranged and operating substantially as
herein before described, and illustrated in the drawings.
Third. In a voltaic arc lamp and for the purpose of actuating the mechanism by
which the carbons are moved towards one another as they are consumed, the use of
an electro-magnet or a solenoid excited by a derivation of the main current, the winding
of the wire of the said electro-magnet or solenoid being wound all in the same
direction but divided into two equal parts, one of which is traversed by a current
passing in one direction, and the other of which is traversed by a current passing
in the opposite direction, for the purpose of magnetizing and demagnetizing the
electro-magnet or solenoid without change in the resistance of the wire, and without
interrupting the current, substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in
Figure 4 of the drawings.
1
T
1
1060
ינג
Dated this 11th day of November 1802.
Δυναμώνει
F.
KLOSTERMANN,
Per W.
H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.