IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS OR REGULATORS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City
of Westminster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS
OR REGULATORS." A communication from abroad by Emil Bürgin, Engineer,
of Basel, Switzerland.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lloyd Wise at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd November 1881.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS OR REGULATORS." A communication from
abroad by Emil Bürgin, Engineer, of Basel, Switzerland.
This Invention has for object improvements in electric lamps or regulators.
When, in an electric lamp according to this Invention, two sets of electrodes
are employed, the one set coming into action after the other set is consumed or
partially consumed, the current traverses an adjustable electro magnet having an
armature so suspended as to be capable of an upward and forward motion under
the attraction of the magnet. This armature formns one side of a parallelogram of
which two other sides are rods or links each pivotted at one end to the armature
and at the other end to a fixed object, which may conveniently be the case of the
lamp. To the armature there is attached a bracket or support carrying the upper
carbon holders, and a shaft or spindle upon which is a brake wheel and two
pinions in gear each with a rack on one of the carbon holders. The pinions
are loose on the shaft or spindle, but are each connected thereto by means of a pawl
and ratchet wheel.
Upon the said bracket or support there is also pivotted a spring lever which
bears with unequal force upon the two carbon holders, one of which it holds so
tightly that it cannot fall with relation to the armature until released from the
pressure of the said lever.
This release does not take place until the first carbon holder has descended to
the bottom of its stroke and the are has become abnormally extended.
When a current traverses the lamp the electro magnet attracts the armature, raising
it and the bracket or support together with the parts carried by it. By this movement
the brake wheel comes in contact with a spring which acts as a brake shoe and
prevents the said wheel from rotating. At the same time the carbon holders are
raised and the upper and lower carbons of each pair drawn apart. The free carbon
n

page_text: bolder is not raised so far as the one that is secured by the spring lever herein-
above described in consequence of the necessary play that exists between the
various parts and fittings, and the arc is consequently established between its
electrode and the corresponding lower one. When, by the consumption of the
carbons, the arc becomes increased in length the current and the power of the
electro magnet grow less, the armature desc-nds and the pressure of the shoe or
spring upon the brake wheel ceases or is diminished, allowing the wheel and shaft
and pinion to rotate and the carbon holder to move downwards until the attraction
of the electro magnet again presses the brake wheel against the spring. When the
carbons, by consumption, have become too short the upper carbon holder passes
below the plane of the spring lever mentioned above (which now rests against a
fixed stop) and its further descent with respect to the armature is arrested.
the are increases in length the attractive power of the magnet diminishes until the
armature falls sufficiently low for the spring lever to pass below the above
mentioned fixed stop and to take up a fresh position on the opposite side of it in
which its other end no longer bears against the second carbon holder which is thus
left free to descend and to place its electrode in contact with the corresponding
electrode whereby a new path is opened for the current and the arc is immediately
re-established. In some cases, as, for instance, when it is designed to burn two or
more lamps in series; a spring contact piece rests against the second carbon holder
in such a way that when the carbons become too short the spring is released and
short circuits the lamp.
As
The upper ends of both of the movable carbon holders are pointed so that when
returned to their raised portions they automatically readjust the spring lever and
the spring contact piece.
If
When it is desired that the action of the lamp should be very sensible, the
armature of the electro magnet is surrounded by a coil or bobbin of insulated wire
forining a parallel circuit-to-the-bobbins-of-the-electro-magnet-and-so-arranged
that unlike poles in the magnet and armature are opposed to each other.
several lamps are to be burned in series the coil or bobbin on the armature is
wound with fine wire having an electrical resistance many times greater than that
of the voltaic arc, and the ends of this coil are connected to the two terminals of
the lamps so as to form a shunt circuit to the current traversing the electro magnet
and the arc.
The direction of current in the said coil is such as to cause like poles
in the armature and electro magnet to be opposed.
It will be obvious that lamps as above described are equally applicable when
constructed with only one movable carbon holder. Under such condition the
pinion and rack may be replaced by a drum and a cord or chain, which, passing
over a pulley or sheave on the armature and descending through the armature
(which, in this case, is hollow) sustains a carbon holder of peculiar construction
moving in or on a guide or guides. The said carbon holder consists of a tubo or
case, the lower portion of which is taper or conical; within this tube or case is a
second tube of an internal diameter about equal to the diameter of the carbons
employed. Its lower end is of a bulbous form and is split, slit, or divided so as to
form two or more fingers to grasp or press against the carbon rod. To render the
grasp more certain the inner tube has its bulbous portion constantly pressed down
into the conical outlet of the exterior tube by a spring either acting directly upon
it or through the medium of a plunger. A guide, preferably of platinum, is
arranged to steady the carbon between the above described holder and the arc.
To raise the carbon holder upon the insertion of a fresh electrode there is provided
upon the side of the brake wheel a pulley upon which is wound a cord. By pulling
this cord the above mentioned drum may be rotated and the cord or chain which
carries the carbon holder be wound up.
Lamps according to this Invention may be constructed in various forms.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Lloyd Wise in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd May
1882.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS OR REGULATORS." (A communication from
abroad by Emil Bürgin, Engineer, of Basel, Switzerland.)
This Invention has for object improvements in electric lamps or regulators
When in an electric lamp according to this Invention two sets of electrodes are
employed, the one set coming into action after the other set is consumed or
partially consumed, the current traverses an adjustable electro-magnet having an
armature so suspended as to be capable of an upward and forward motion under
the attraction of the magnet. This armature forms one side of a parallelogram of
which two other sides are rods or links, each pivotted at one end to the armature
and at the other end to a fixed object which may conveniently be the case of the
lamp. To the armature there is attached a bracket or support carrying the upper
carbon holders and a shaft or spindle upon which is a brake wheel and two pinions
in gear, each with a rack on one of the carbon holders. The pinions are loose on
the shaft or spindle, but are each connected thereto by means of a pawl and ratchet
wheel. Upon the said bracket or support there is also pivotted a spring lever
which bears with unequal force upon the two carbon holders, one of which it holds
so tightly that it cannot fall with relation to the armature until released from the
pressure of the said lever. This release does not take place until the first carbon
holder has descended to the bottom of its stroke and the are has become abnormally
extended.
Referring to the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings, Figure 1, Sheet I., is an
elevation partly in section of a lamp with two sets of carbons, according to this
Invention seen from the front.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the same, partly in section, seen from the side.
Figure 3 is the plan of the upper part seen from below.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section passing through the axis of the wheel.
And Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the armaturo i.
N, S, is an electro magnet through which the electric current passes before
arriving at the electrodes c¹ and d'; an armature i is suspended before the magnet
and forms the side of a parallelogram of which the other sides are the connecting
links k, l, and the casing m. To this armature is fixed the support p carrying the
electrodes c, d, and the shaft q on which a wheel R and a disc N are fixed. The
carbon holders c, d, are each provided with a rack in gear respectively with the
pinions 8, t, which turn freely on the shaft q. One of these pinions t is in con-
nection with the wheel R by the pawl u, while the other 8 is in connection with
the disc by another pawl.
Above the support p is a lever a pivotted on the axis x, and so constructed that
while it bears lightly on the rod c it presses forcibly against the rod d and prevents
it from descending. When the rod c descends below the level of the lever a the
lever bears upon the stop .
bis a spring (Figure 3) which presses against the rod d so long as it stands above
the level of the lever a, but which bears against the nut e as soon as the rod d has
descended below the level of b.
When a current traverses the lamp the electro magnet attracts the armature i,
raising it and the bracket or support together with the parts carried by it. By
this movement the brake wheel R comes in contact with a spring W which acts
as a brake shoe, and prevents the said wheel from rotating. At the same time the
0

page_text: carbon holders c and d are raised and the upper and lower carbons of each pair
drawn apart. The free carbon holder c is not raised so far as the one that is
secured by the spring lever a, hereinabove described, in consequence of the
necessary play that exists between the various parts and fittings, and the arc is
consequently established between its electrode and the corresponding lower one.
When by the consumption of the carbons the arc becomes increased in length,
the current and the power of the electro-magnet grow less, the armature descends,
and the pressure of the shoe or spring upon the brake wheel R ceases or is
diminished, allowing the wheel and shaft and pinion to rotate and the carbon
holder c to move downwards until the attraction of the electro magnet again
presses the brake wheel against the spring. When the carbons c¹ by consumption
have become too short the upper carbon holder passes below the plane of the
spring lever a (which now will rest against a fixed stop 2) and its further descent
with respect to the armature is arrested. As the are increases in length the
attractive power of the magnet diminishes until the armature falls sufficiently low
for the spring lever a to pass below the fixed stop z, and to take up a fresh position
on the opposite side of it in which its other end no longer bears against the second
carbon holder d, which is thus left free to descend and to place its electrode in
contact with the corresponding electrode, whereby a new path is opened for the
current and the arc is immediately re-established. In some cases, as, for instance,
when it is designed to burn two or more lamps in series a spring contact piece b
rests against the second carbon holder in such a way that when the holder reaches
the end of its full the spring b becomes free, and moves up to the nut e, establishing
a direct communication between the two terminals of the lamp and cutting it out
of circuit. The upper ends of both of the moveable carbon holders c and d are
pointed, so that when returned to their raised positions they automatically readjust
the spring lever a and the spring contact piece b.
When-it-is-desired that the_action_of_the_lamp_should be very sensible, the
armature of the electro magnet is surrounded by a coil or bobbin of insulated
wire arranged in the circuit of the bobbins of the electro magnet, and so designed
that unlike poles in the magnet and armature are opposed to each other. The
dotted lines indicate the connection of the wire of the arinature with the wire of
the magnet; from which it will be seen that the current passes partly round the
magnet and partly round the armature. If several lamps are to be burned in
series, the coil or bobbin on the armature i is wound with fine wire, having an
electrical resistance many times greater than that of the voltaic arc, and the ends
of this coil are connected to the two terminals e and f of the lamp as shown in
lines, so as to form a shunt circuit to the current traversing the electro magnet and
the arc.
The direction of current in the coil is such as to cause like poles in the
armature and electro magnet to be opposed. The regulation of the lamp is effected
by drawing the electro magnet nearer or moving it further from its armature by
means of the screw v.
It will be obvious that lamps as above described are equally applicable when
constructed with only one movable carbon holder. Under such condition the
pinion and rack may be replaced by a drum and a cord, or chain, which passing
over a pulley or sheave on the armature and descending through the armature
(which in this case is hollow) sustains a carbon holder of peculiar construction
moving in or on a guide or guides. The said carbon holder consists of a tube or
case, the lower portion of which is taper or conical; within this tube or case is a
second tube of an internal diameter about equal to the diameter of the carbons
employed. Its lower end is of a bulbous form, and is split, slit, or divided, so as to
form two or more fingers to grasp or press against the carbon rod. To render the
grasp more certain, the inner tube has its bulbous portion constantly pressed down
into the conical outlet of the exterior tube by a spring either acting directly upon it
or through the medium of a plunger. A guide preferably of iron is arranged to steady
the carbou between the above described holder and the arc. Figure 6, Sheet 2, is a
vertical central section of a lamp according to this part of the Invention; Figure 7 is

page_text: :
section at right angles to Figure 6; Figure 8 is a sectional plan; Figure 9 is a general
external view of the lamp, according to this Invention, made in an ornainental
form; and Figures 10 and 11 are detailed views. a is a drum mounted on the shaft of
the wheel R, and wound with a string, cord, or chainf, which passes over a pulley b
into the hollow centre of the armature i, and is connected to the carbon holder C
which holds the upper carbon pencil d. The holder C is formed of a part g carrying
at its lower end the tube h provided with several longitudinal slits or divisions.
This tube has an interior diameter equal to the thickness of the carbon pencil, and
at the part is somewhat enlarged. A tube screwed to C locks the tube h against
the pencil d by means of its collar 7. The spring o pushes the part g constantly
downward. The wire n serves as guide to the pencil. To raise the carbon holder
upon the insertion of a fresh electrode there is provided upon the side of the brake
wheel R a pulley x upon which is wound a cord y. By pulling this cord the drum
may be rotated and the cord or chain which carries the carbon holder be wound
up. The other parts of the lamp are sufficiently indicated on the drawing. This
lamp may be of several forms, and be suspended in several ways as is seen in
Figures 6 and 9.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
carrying it into effect as communicated to me as aforesaid, I would have it under-
stood that what is considered to be novel and original and is therefore claimed as
secured to me by the Letters Patent hereinbefore in part recited is,―
1. In an electric lamp the use in conjunction with the controlling magnet of an
armature connected to and guided by radius rods or links in such a manner that
the armature itself forms one side of a parallelogram, whereof the said radius rods
or links form two other sides substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
2. In an electric lamp the use in combination of an armature such as i with a
support carrying an axis upon which are a brake wheel and pinions that engage
with the carbon holders substantially as described.
3. In an electric lamp the use in combination with the controlling magnet of
an armature with a conductor traversed by an electric current substantially as
described.
4. In an electric lamp wherein there are two or more pairs of electrodes in
holders the use of a lever so arranged that so long as it bears against one holder it
will prevent another from descending substantially as described.
5. In an electric lamp the use of a carbon holder substantially such as described
with reference to Figure 6 of the Drawings.
6. The improved electric lamp substantially as described with reference to Sheet
1 of the Drawings.
7. The improved electric lamp substantially as described with reference to
Figures 6, 7, and 8, Sheet 2, of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lloyd Wise, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
W. LLOYD WISE. (L.S.)