Improvements in and connected with Photographic Lighting Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1899-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Photographic Lighting
Apparatus.
I, JOSE FERREIRA GUIMARAES, Photographer, of 17, Rue de la Paix, Bois
Colombes, Seine, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of the present application is a novel apparatus for producing the
intense artificial light necessary for certain operations in instantaneous photo-
graphy. In addition to the device for producing the light my apparatus also
includes a box for holding the smoke resulting from the combustion of the
powder employed, so that there is no trace of this smoke in the place where
the process is carried out, the box being easily detached from the apparatus
and carried outside where the smoke it contains can be expelled.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of the complete apparatus.
Figure 2 is a front view of the complete apparatus, the smoke box occupying
its upper position.
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2, the box having been let down, ready
to be taken away.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 represent in vertical transverse section and on a larger
scale details of the arrangement of the lighting in three different positions.
Figure 4 corresponds to the position before the operation; Figure 5 after the
igniter has been lowered, and Figure 6 after the operation is completed.
Figure 7 is a full size transverse section of the complete parts productive
of the light.
Figure 8 is a partially transverse section following the line A B of Figure 4.
Figure 9 shews my special spirit distributor for supplying the igniter.
Figures 10 and 11 represent respectively in front view and in transverse
section a simplified arrangement of my lighting apparatus for constructions
where it is not provided with the smoke box.
I will first describe that part of my invention consisting of the arrange-
ment producing the light. This light is produced by the instantaneous com-
bustion of a magnesium powder, the composition of which is not claimed in
the present patent application. The arrangement in question is composed of
the following parts.
1. A long metallic rod I with a rim placed horizontally.
2. A metallic tube 2 of the same length as the rod 1 and open at 2" along its
upper part throughout its whole length. This tube is filled with asbestos 2b;
3. A cover 3 of partially circular section capable of fitting exactly over the
upper part of the tube 2 so as to hermetically close the longitudinal opening 2ª.
This lid which is lined inside with asbestos coth 3, is fixed to the end of two
arms 4 each hinged to an intermediate piece 5 screwed or rivetted on each of
г

page_text: the metal blades 6 which support at the same time the rod 1 and the tube 2.
These blades 6 are bent at their lower ends so as to be able to hook to the
horizontal bar 7 fixed in the supports 13 carried by the framework of the
apparatus.
In order to explain the operation of this essential portion of my invention,
I will assume the parts to be placed in their first position, shewn on a larger
scale in Figure 4. In this position it will be seen that the combination formed
by the rod 1 the tube 2 and the united blades 6 is so arranged that the flat
part of the rod 1 is perfectly horizontal; this position is maintained by means
of a wooden or other support 8 its lower extremity engaging in a slot 9 of
the piece 14, at the bottom of which is a rubber bag 10 united to a flexible
tube 11 and capable of being inflated with air by pressure upon a rubber ball 12
placed at the other end of the tube 11. Moreover the cover is raised and sup-
ported behind on supports 13 placed for this purpose at a suitable angle. Such
is the first position of my lighting device. Before placing it thus with a
view to operation, it must be carefully detached by unhooking it, from the rest
of the apparatus, and the necessary quantity of powder placed all along the
rod 1, and a small quantity of spirit poured into the tube 2 throughout its
entire length so as to wet the asbestos. The whole apparatus being finally
replaced as described above, it is ready to operate for producing
light, and at the desired moment and after having previously lighted the spirit
in the tube 2 it is only necessary to press the ball 12; the rubber bag 10
dilates and throws back the support 8 behind the notch 9; the lower part of
the device being now no longer supported, drops, and whilst doing so the
powder placed on the rule 1 slips off and falls on the tube 2 the spirit in
which is burning: it is instantly set alight and produces the intense illumina-
tion desired. At this point of the operation, the parts are in the position shewn
in Figure 5, but on the other hand the movable part which thus drops, in
coming in contact with the stop 14, causes a shock which throws forward the
lid 3 hinged as aforesaid; this lid fits on the tube 2 and instantly extinguishes
the flame. The different parts are then in the position shewn in Figure 6.
The object of the second position of my apparatus is to catch at the moment
of its production, the smoke resulting from the combustion of the powder.
This second part consists of a large canvas chamber 15 placed above the lighting
device, which chamber is so operated that having been opened before the
commencement of the operation, it shuts automatically and hermetically after
having caught the smoke. This chamber can then be let down and separated
from the apparatus, and afterwards taken outside for expelling the smoke
contained therein. By this means there is no smoke whatever left in the place
where the operation takes place.
I will now describe in detail this second part of my apparatus.
The box 15 18 placed at a suitable distance above the lighting portions of
the apparatus already described. This box 15 which should be light is pre-
ferably composed of a wooden framework to which are fastened canvas sides;
the top and bottom of this box are open but may be closed by means about to
be described.
The bottom is provided with two closing devices, first, a blind 16 rolled round
a cylinder 17 and then a lid 18 which is held open by the cord 19. The top
has a closing lid 20 opening into the interior of the chamber.
My apparatus works in the following manner:
When
Before the operation commences the bottom of the chamber 15 is completely
open and the top partially so. The whole is then as shown in Figure 1.
the combustion of the powder takes place the smoke produced rises naturally
into the chamber, driving out the air contained therein by the opening at the
top, then immediately afterwards the bottom and the top close and the smoke
is enclosed. The automatic closing of these apertures is produced as follows:
The blind 16 is composed of wooden slats glued on some textile material;

page_text: it, is fixed by one of its. edges at 16 to the chamber and can be extended and
completely close the lower opening fitting on the edges of the frame suitably
inclined. At the commencement of the process this blind 16 is wound round
a roller 17 and held thus at the top of the opening by means of the cord 21
which will be described later. On the other hand the lid 18 being open is held
by the cord 19 which encircles the chamber outside by passing over little
pulleys 22, 23, 24 and at its end is attached to a pin 25.
The upper lid 20 is closed by the same weight 26 which works by means of
the cord 27 which is also fastened to it and which passes over the pulleys 31,
32 and 29. The cord 27, however, is longer than the exact distance between
the two points it connects so as only to work the lid 20 at a certain moment
of the course of the weight 26 and not from the beginning.
The cord 19 is joined to the pin 25 by a ring or buckle but can be easily
detached by slipping over the pin. Immediately above the pin 25, a screw
traverses the piece of wood 14 and projects at the other side; the normal
position of this screw is so that its hinder end projects slightly behind the
piece of wood 14 to which is fixed the pin 25, but when during the movement
described, the chief portion of the lighting device falls into its lower position,
it strikes against the front end of the screw 30 and pushes it back; its hinder
part then pulls the cord 19 off the pin. This cord 19 being freed, the lid 18
18 no longer held open and consequently the counter-weight 26 is not
supported. The action of this counter-weight 26 on the cord 21,
moves the lid 18 in the direction of the arrow. It is understood that until the
lid 18 reaches the position indicated in dotted lines, the cord 21 is supported
against the blind 16 and keeps it rolled up; but when the lid reaches this
point, this cord 21 springs from its first position and the blind unrolls and
fits on the edges of the frame in proportion as the lid 18 closes. The object
of this combination of two simultaneous closings and their arrangement is to
prevent air currents which would be liable to disperse the smoke.
The counterweight in falling also actuates the cord 27 which causes the
closing of the top lid 20; the length of the cord 27 is fixed so that the counter-
weight does not act immediately on the lid 20 but only when the lower lid 18
has reached the position indicated in dotted lines and the blind 16 begins to
unroll. The upward action of the lid 20 and the firmness of its closing are
augmented by the use of two canvas bands 33 fixed on the two lateral edges of
the said lid.
The operation having been thus effected it only remains to take the
chamber 15 away in order to discharge the smoke in contains. For this pur-
pose this chamber 15 which is suspended in the framework of the apparatus
by means of cords and pulleys is let down to the ground (Figure 3) and then
unhooked and carried by the two handles 34. Outside, it is only necessary
to open the upper lid and leave the box which turning over, expels all the
smoke contained therein.
The whole apparatus is arranged on a wooden framework placed so that the
lighting device can be easily arranged in each case at the suitable height.
For permitting the necessary quantity of spirit to spread regularly and with-
out delay in the tube 2, I employ the following means (Figure 9). A gradu-
ated burette 35 has at its bottom at tube 36 which tube divides below a
cock 37 with which it is provided, into two narrow branches 38 supplying a
single and still smaller tube 39 of the same length as the tube 2. This tube 39
is perforated along its lower edge so that the spirit a measured quantity of
which has previously been poured into the receiver 35, easily distributes itself
by the opening of the cock over the length of the lighting tube 2. It is
obvious that the sections of the different tubes 36, 38 and 39 are designed for
the spirit to spread and flow equally over the whole length thereof.
It will be seen that the two portions of my apparatus are not invariably con-

page_text: nected with each other; the lighting device can thus be employed without the
smoke chambers when the latter does not appear to be necessary.
For example, the construction illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 can be
employed. This is so simple that it may be placed anywhere without a foot
or framework being necessary. A simple cross bar of wood 40 has near its ends
two metal hooks 41 for fixing the device which suitably bent against the bar 40
form loops 41" in which the blades 6 of the lighting apparatus engage.
central support 42 suitably inclined is placed for the better securing of the
different parts aforesaid. Figures 10 and 11 shew this simplified device and
render additional description unnecessary.
A
Finally by my system of intense lighting a vignette of life size is obtained
as perfect as a carte-visite portrait with 17 grammes of powder.
It is understood that I reserve the right of modifying the details of different
parts of my apparatus which I may consider advisable according to circum-
stances and application without departing from the essential characteristics of
the device which have been described above.
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. A system of producing intense artificial light for instantaneous photo-
graphy characterized essentially by the employment of a long rod or plate
which throws the magnesium powder with which it has been previously charged
into the length of a special combustion tube which receives the same,
this portion
of the operation being immediately followed by the fall of the lid, which covers
and instantaneously extinguishes the flame.
•
2. In combination with the process for producing intense artificial light
characterized in Claim 1, the employment of a device for storing the smoke
produced by the combustion of the powder, this device consisting of a box
normally open above and below and provided with a system of rapid closing
means actuated by the same means as the light producer. The whole apparatus
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Total 911...
T
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.