IMPROVEMENTS, IN OBTAINING LIGHT BY ELECTRICITY, AND IN EMPLOYING LIGHT SO OBTAINED FOR LIGHTHOUSES AND FOR GIVING SIGNALS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thomas Way, of Welbeck Street; in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS, IN OBTAINING LIGHT BY
ELECTRICITY, AND IN EMPLOYING LIGHT SO OBTAINED FOR LIGHTHOUSES AND FOR
GIVING SIGNALS."
Sealed the 29th October 1857, and dated the 4th May 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Thomas Way at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th May 1857.
I, John Thomas Way, of Welbeck Street, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING
LIGHT BY ELECTRICITY, AND IN EMPLOYING LIGHT SO OBTAINED FOR LIGHTHOUSES
AND FOR GIVING SIGNALS," to be as follows:-
1.
This Invention relates to improvements in obtaining light by electricity
when a flowing electrode, such as mercury, is employed, as is described in the
Specification of a former Patent granted to me, and dated the 29th day of
October 1856; but in that Specification the flowing electrode is described as
falling into a surface of mercury, or on to a point forming the other electrode.
Now, I have found that a superior light is obtained by employing two flowing
electrodes, such as two streams of mercury, one connected with each pole of
the battery and issuing from two jets, such streams meeting each other at a
point where one or both of them falls into drops. "I form the jets from which
.0

page_text: the flowing electrodes issue of pipe clay, or pipe clay mixed with precipitated
silica or phosphate of lime. To form the jets these substances are tooulded to
a suitable shape and burnt. When cups are used for containing one of the
electrodes, such cups are constructed in a similar manner and from suitablo
materials. In obtaining electric light by means of flowing electrodes of
mercury, I have found considerable difficulty in arranging glasses for enclosing
the light, because the liquid electrodes spirt in consequence of the violence of
the action, and the glasses become coated and the light obscured. Now,
I overcome this obstacle by placing the glass so close to the light that it
becomes heated to such an extent that the mercury is no longerable to adhere
to it. In some cases I employ tale for surrounding the light instead of glass.
When heretofore light has been obtained by electricity produced by galvanic
batteries, the current has been allowed to flow continuously to the electrodes,
between which the lightis exhibited. Now, I have found that great advantage
is obtained by very rapidly making and breaking the electric circuit, by which
the elements of the battery are greatly economised; and when flowing
electrodes are employed, the quality of the light is not sensibly altered. In
order to return the material, which in flowing constitutes the electrode, to the
cistern from which it issues, I employ an electro-magnet, which is kept con-
tinually revolving by the power of the galvanic battery; this rotating magnet
works a pump or other similar apparatus, and also serves to produce the rapid
make and break of the circuit, which, as before-mentioned, it is desirable to
obtain. Other apparatus, receiving motion from the electric current, may be
employed for these purposes in place of a revolving electro-magnet. In order
to regulate the height of the column of the material forming the flowing
electrode from the jet from which it issues, I find it convenient to employ a
glass tube with a scale attached to it, and the material is allowed to flow into
this glass tube from an upper cistern through a delicate stop-cock, by means of
which the material can be maintained at any desired height in the glass tube.
Or, the jet is connected with a cistern in which the material is kept at a
uniform level by a float so arranged as to regulate the descent of the material
from a cistern above. I have also found that electric light, obtained by the use
offlowing electrodes,is very suitable for signalling purposes, because the light so
obtained is instantaneously extinguished by breaking the electric circuit. And
when using the light for this purpose, I include in the electric circuit an
apparatus for making and breaking the circuit, similar to apparatus employed
for making and breaking electric circuits when telegraphing by electricity. In
order to adapt the electric light obtained by the use of flowing electrodes for
use in lighthouses, I surround it with glass lenses or zones, similar to those now

page_text: in use in lighthouses; and when I desire to obtain a flashing light, I arrange
a self-acting apparatus, actuated by clockwork, for breaking the circuit at
determined intervals.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Johu Thomas Way in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th November 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
THOMAS WAY, of Welbeck Street, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord
Que thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Thomas Way, Her special licence that I, the said John Thomas
Way, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Thomas Way, my executors, administrators, and assigns,should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OBTAINING LIGHT BY ELECTRICITY, 'AND IN EMPLOYING LIGHT SO OBTAINED FOR
LIGHTHOUSES AND FOR GIVING SIGNALS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Thomas Way, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Thomas Way, 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 follow-
ing statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to improvements in obtaining light by electricity
when a flowing electrode such as mercury is employed, as is described in the
Specification of a former Patent granted to me, and dated the 29th day of
October 1856; but in that Specification the flowing electrode is described as
falling into a surface of mercury, or on to a point forming the other electrode

page_text: Now, I have found that a superior light is obtained by employing two flowing
electrodes, such as two streams of mercury, one connected with each pole of
the battery and issuing from two jets, such streams meeting each other at a
point where one or both of them falls into drops. I form the jets from which
the flowing electrodes issue of pipe clay or pipe clay mixed with precipitated
silica or phosphate of lime. To form the jets these substances are moulded to
a suitable shape and burnt. When cups are used for containing one of the
electrodes (as is described in the Specification of the Patent granted to me,
and dated 29th day of October 1856, such cups are constructed in a similar
manner and from suitable materials.
In obtaining electric light by means of flowing electrodes of mercury, I have
found considerable difficulty in arranging glasses for enclosing the light,
because the liquid electrodes spirt in consequence of the violence of the action,
and the glasses become coated and the light obscured; now, I overcome this
.obstacle by placing the glass so close to the light that it becomes heated to
such an extent that the mercury is no longer able to adhere to it.
In some cases I employ tale for surrounding the light instead of glass.
When heretofore light has been obtained by electricity produced by galvanic
batteries, the current has been allowed to flow continuously to the electrodes,
between which the light is exhibited. Now, I have found that great advantage
is obtained by very rapidly making and breaking the electriccircuit, by which
the elements of the battery are greatly economised; and when flowing
electrodes are employed, the quality of the light is not sensibly altered. In
order to return the material which in flowing constitutes the electrode to the
cistern from which it issues, I employ an electro-magnet, which is kept con-
tinually revolving by the power of the galvanic battery; this rotating. magnet
works a pump or other similar apparatus, and also serves to produce the rapid
make and break of the circuit, which, as before mentioned, it is desirable to
obtain. Other apparatus, receiving motion from the electric current, may be
employed for these purposes in place of a revolving electro-magnet.
In order to regulate the height of the column of the material forming the
flowing electrode from the jet on which it issues, I find it convenient to
employ a glass tube with a scale attached to it, and the material is allowed to
flow into this glass tube from an upper cistern through a delicate stop-cock,
by means of which the material can be maintained at any desired height in the
glass tube. Or, the jet is connected with a cistern in which the material is
kept at a uniform level by a float so arranged as to regulate the descent of the
material from.a cistern above.

page_text: 1 liave also found that electric light obtained by the use of flowing elec-
trodes is very suitable for signalling purposes, because the light so obtained is
instantaneously extinguished by breaking the electric circuit. And when using
the light for this purpose, I include in the electric circuit an apparatus for
making and breaking the circuit, similar to apparatus employed for making
and breaking electric circuits when telegraphing by electricity. In order to
adapt the electric light obtained by the use of flowing electrodes for use in
light hours, I surround it with glass lenses or zones, similar to those now in
use in lighthouses; and when I desire to obtain a flashing light, I arrange a
self-acting apparatus, actuated by clockwork, for breaking the circuit at
determined intervals.
In carrying out the first part of my said Invention, I proceed generally as
described in my former Patent, dated 29th October 1856, but employ two
cisterns, from which the streams of mercury forming the flowing electrodes
are supplied. These cisterns may be arranged at any height above the jet,
according to the pressure which it is desired to obtain. I prefer to have the
focal distance or breaking point of the mercurial stream at some distance from
the orifice of thejet, by which this latter is less exposed to any risk of injury from
the heat; for this purpose a pressure equal to a column of mercury, of from.
three to four feet, may with convenience be employed. It is obvious that
the streams of mercury may be thrown upon each other in any desired
direction, and that a great variety of form might be given to the lamp.
I shall therefore briefly describe the principles which must be kept in view
in arranging the lamp with two flowing electrodes, giving subsequently tlie
form and dimensions of an apparatus which I have found to answer. All
parts of the lamp should. be carefully made, so that no movement, other
than that required for the adjusting tho jets, should occur in it. The jets.
should be capable of ready adjustment, so that the streams of inercury can be
made to strike each other at any desired point, and means should be taken
that when so adjusted they may be fixed stendily in the required position.
The lamp and the connecting tubes are conveniently made of iron or steel,
other metals being liable to injury from the action of the mercury. One or
both of the rubes should be isolated by means of conduducting substances.
The glass, used to enclose the light, should be as infusible as possible and
well annealed. Its distance from the point of light is a matter of importance;
the object to be obtained is, that it should be heated sufficiently to prevent the
mercury from adhering to it (that is to say,) above the boiling point of
incrcerry, but not so much as to be in danger of being cracked or fused:
It is obvious therefore that the distance of the glass from the light should

page_text: bear some relation to the strength of the electric current, since the brilliancy
of the light and the heat produced will of course depend upon
the power
employed. I find that, when using four dozen cells of what is known as the
"Maynooth battery," each zinc plate of which exposes to the acid a surface of
about eighty square inches, that the glass, ifof a cylindrical form (of which form
it is described in the Specification of the Patent granted to me, and dated the
29th day of October 1856), may have a diameter of from 1 to two inches.
It is desirable that this glass should be protected from rain when the apparatus
is used in the open air; an advantage is gained in shielding it in all cases from
currants of cold air. When talc is used in place of glass these precautions
are not so necessary.
The annexed Drawing shews a form of lamp which will work well in
practice. A is a cylinder of cast iron, of from 4 to 5 inches in diameter, and
from 1 to 2 inches from front to back; it is supported by the tube B con-
nected with the cistern C. This tube, by which the condensed mercury is
carried to the cistern C, may be of from half an inch to one inch in diameter.
The mercury, which supplies the jets, is led by the tubes D, 11, from the
separate cisterns in which it is contained. These tubes may either be brought
directly from above, or they may, for convenience sake, be first carried to the
ground. E, E¹, are short pieces of stout india-rubber tube, connecting the
pipes 1), D', with the continuation pipes F, F. The tube F is capable of.
being moved in a line with its axis, and of being rotated on its axis. The tube
FI has a joint at G which allows it, by means of the screw IL and nut J, to be
elevated or depressed. By these arrangements the streams of mercury can be
made to strike each other at any required distance from the orifices of the jets
K, K. These jets are made of pipe clay, moulded and burnt as tobacco pipes
are made; or, from to one of precipitated silica may be mixed with the
pipe clay to increase the infusibility of the jets; phosphate of lime may be
substituted for the silica in the same proportions. The pipe F is maintained
in its position by the set screw L. Isolation of one or both of the pipes
F, F, is obtained by causing them to pass through collars of soapstone.
mica, asbestos, or other nonconducting material capable of bearing a high
temperature.
The following is the way in which the position of the jet K is adjusted:-
The pipe F by which it is carried passes through a larger tube M, which has
a screw thread cut on it externally, and is grooved longitudinally; this tube M
passes through a socket of soapstone or other insulating material N, in which
it is capable of sliding. O is a metal cap mounted on the end of the socket N,
and having an interior projection which enters the groove in the tube M, so as

page_text: to prevent it from turning on its axis. There is on the exterior of the tube M
a screw nut P having a flange on its side, which is turned down into a groove
in the cap 0; thus, by turning the nut P, the tube M with the pipe F' within
it can be moved to and from longitudinally, and it is caused to rotate on its axis
by means of the tangent screw Q, the worm of which takes into teeth cut
on to the exterior of the pipe F. The front and back of the lamp are furnished
with double glasses of the form of a large watch glass; the glasses are
cemented into an iron screw ring which fits accurately into the cylindar; their
distance from the light, when a power such as that already described is
employed, may be from of an inch to one inch.
A lamp of the form and dimensions now described is suitable for the appli-
cation of my Invention to many purposes;
but I repeat that any form may be
employed which fulfils the conditions that I have before mentioned. The size
also of the lamp would be varied with the greater or less power of the electric
current employed. In order rapidly to make and break the electric circuit, by
which, as before mentioned, the elements of the battery are economised without
sensibly altering the quality of the light, I enclose in the circuit an apparatus,
the construction of which is well understood. It consists of an electro-magnet
mounted on a vertical axis, and the two ends of the wire with which the electro-
magnet is coiled descend from it and dip into two mercury cups or come
in contact with two strips of metal, so as to complete the circuit through the
electro-magnet; and as this is mounted between the poles of a permanent
magnet; the effect is to cause it to make a partial revolution on its axis, and
this motion first withdraws the ends of the wire wound round the electro-
magnet froin the inercury cups, or from their contact with the metal strips, so
as to break the circuit, and then as the motion continues the circuit is again
complete, but in the opposite direction. In this way a continuous revolution
of the electro-magnet is obtained, and a rapid make and break of the circuit is
obtained. I prefer to arrange the apparatus in such a way that the duration
of the make shall be about the same as the duration of the break; and in
order to prevent unnecessary wear and tear of the apparatus, 1 limit its speed,
cither by applying friction to the axis of the magnet or otherwise, to about
four or five revolutions per second. A convenient way of limiting the speed of
the magnet, and at the same timo utilizing the power obtained, is to mount on
the axis a conical pulley, round which a band passes, and this band passes
round another conical pulley which gives motion to a small pumping apparatus
of an ordinary description, so as to raise the mercury or other material, or
a part of it, after it has flowed from the jets back into the cistern from which
has come. By shifting the band towards one or other end of the conical

page_text: pullies, the adjustment required may be obtained. In order conveniently to
regulate the height of the column of the material forming the flowing
electrodes from the jets, I lead off the supply pipes D, D', to any convenient
position, and there I cause them to rise up again, so that they terminate
at about five feet above the level of the jets; and the ends of these tubes, for
the last three or four fect, I make of glass, having graduated scales fixed
thereto or marked thereon. The material for the'flowing electrodes is allowed
to descend from a cistern through delicate stop-cocks into these tubes, so that
by opening the stop-cocks to a greater or less degree, the material may be
caused to stand in the glass tubes at any desired level. In place of maintaining
a constant head in this way, the jets may be supplied from small cisterns, iuto
which the material descends from a large cistern above, and in this case there
are floats on the surface of the liquid in the smaller cisterns, and these floats,
as they rise and fall, open and close stop-cocks in the same way as low-pressure
steam boilers are sometimes supplied with water, and as will be well under-
stood. When using electric light obtained by the use of flowing electrodes for
signalling purposes, in place of arranging a direct metallic connection between
both of the electrodes and the battery poles, I only connect one of the electrodes
with the battery in this way, and the other electrode I connect with a straight
metal spring a, Figure A, and the battery pole I connect with a metal pro-
jection & placed under the end of the spring. It will thus be seen that, when the
spring a is pressed down by the finger on to the projection b, the battery circuit
will be completed aud the light produced, and that by discontinuing the
pressure on the spring, the light will be extinguished. In this way flashed of
light may be caused to succeed each other with great rapidity, and by arranging
a code of signals, similar to those now used in telegraphing by electricity,
intelligence may (at night) in this way be communicated at a distance. I
prefer to make the spring a aud the projection of platinum, otherwise they
will be destroyed rapidly by the spark produced at each make and break of the
circuit. Inadapting the electric light produced by the use of flowing electrodes
for use in light-houses, if the light is only required to be exhibited over a
small are of the horizon, a lamp such as I have shown in the annexed Drawing
may be employed, and it will only be necessary so as to arrange the lamp in
relation to the reflector or the arc of refracting and reflecting prisms employed,
that the breaking point of the streams forming the electrodes 1 may coincide
with the focus of the optical apparatus. If the light is required either all
round or over a large arc of the horizon, it becomes necessary to modify the
form of the lamp. In place of arranging it in a metal case with glasses front
and back, I employ a cylindrical glass closed at the top and bottom by a metal

page_text: plates; and in place of introducing the pipes F, F, horizontally, I pass them
obliquely through the top. so as to prevent them from interfering with the
light, and the supply pipes D, D', descend in place of ascending to the jets.
The lamp thus arranged I place in the focus of a combination of refracting
zones, with glass refracting and reflecting prisms such as are now frequently
employed. If a flashing light is required, I employ clockwork to make aud
break the battery circuit at the required intervals. This arrangement I prefer
to employing revolving lenses such as are now used to produce flashing lights.
as the rest which the battery obtains by the periodical breaking of the circuit
so increases its efficiency when in action as to compensate for the lesser con-
centration of the light. The material which I prefer to employ for the flowing
electrodesis mercury, but other substances may be used, such as fusible metal
kept liquid by heat; but in this case, in order to avoid the rapid oxidization
of the inetal, the case in which the light is exhibited should be kept full of
carbonic acid or other suitable gas to exclude the air. For these reasons I
consider it more convenient to use mercury.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to
the exact details described; but what I claim is,―
First, the obtaining electric light by the use of two flowing electrodes, as
herein described.
Second, the use of jets or cups of pipe clay, or pipeclay mixed with silica or
phosphate of lime, for the electrodes, as herein described.
Third, the placing the glass so close to the light as to cause it to become
sufficiently hot to prevent the material, forming the flowing electrode, from
adhering to it.
Fourth, the use of talc in place of glass.
Fifth, the rapidly making and breaking the electric current as it flows to
the electrodes, in place of allowing it to flow to them continuously, as
heretofore.
Sixth, the raising the material, forming the flowing electrode, back to the
cistern, from which it has descended, by apparatus worked by the electric
current.
Seventh, the methods, herein described, of regulating the height of head
of the material which, in flowing, forms the electrode.
Eighth, the combining apparatus for obtaining electric light by the use of a
Hlowing electrode with apparatus for conveniently making and breaking the
circuit, so as to render it suitable for communicating intelligence, by producing

page_text: flashes of light. succeeding each other at any desired intervals, as herein
described.
Ninth, the arranging an apparatus for producing electric light by the use of
a flowing electrode, in combination with glass lenses or zones, or other optical
apparatus, such as is now used in lighthouses, to direct the light in the required
direction; also, the producing a flashing light by making and breaking the
electric current at regular intervals by means of clockwork, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Thomas Way, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-sever.
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
J. THOMAS WAY. (LS.)