Improvements in Domestic Portable Electric Lamps and Batteries therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Domestic Portable Electric Lamps and Batteries
therefor.
We, AUGUSTE SERRAILLIER of 29 Meek Street West Brompton in the County of
Middlesex, Electrician, and GEORGE PULLING ARMSTRONG of Suffolk House Laurence
Pountney Hill London E.C. Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of our invention is to manufacture improved domestic portable electric
lamps.
Our invention consists of a set of cells (preferably formed of vulcanite) grouped
together in a circle. Carbon plates are suspended from a circular plate or disc attached
to a central rod. A travelling plate or disc is also fitted, to which a number of metallic
rods are fixed. These rods carry the zinc electrodes, which may be raised or lowered
out of or into the cells, as required
All parts of the apparatus are made detachable, for purposes of repair or renewal.
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and ascertained
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of our improved lamp, on the line A B, showing the
zinc electrodes raised. Fig. 2 is a plan of the cells grouped together. Fig. 3 is a view
of the underside of the plate C carrying the carbon electrodes a a and having holes h h
for the passage of the bars b b. Fig. 4 is a view of the underside of the travelling
plate D carrying the zinc electrodes. Fig. 5 is a separate view of the regulating
sleeve; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged section of the upper part of the central rod, showing
the contact surfaces.
The cells c¹ are grouped together, as shown, and the bottom ends are held together
by means of the nut p screwed to the rod k. This rod k passes through the disc (),
and is screwed into the rod G. The rod G is fitted with inlaid wires, one on each
side, leading to the plates i i, one conductor being connected, by the wire m, with one
The
of the metal rods e, and the other, by the wire n, with one of the carbons a.
rod G forms a suitable support and connection for the incandescent lamp holder
placed at the top of the rod. Each of the carbons a a is secured to the plate c,
and connected up with the zinc electrodes bb by means of the vertical rods ee;
springs d d passing through the holes in the plate D so as to press against the
rods e e and make the connections as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Each cell c¹ is thus
supplied with two fixed vertical carbon electrodes a a, and the usual exciting mixtures.
c. c are metallic rods fixed to the plate D and b b are the zinc electrodes screwed to the
rods c. c.
F is a nut secured to the travelling plate D. E is a sleeve having a quick
threaded helical groove cut in its outer surface, into which a pin or stud in the nut F
meshes, the sleeve being shown separately in Fig. 5.
The lower end of the sleeve E rests upon the plate C, and, by turning the sleeve E,
by means of the milled head, the zinc electrodes can be raised or lowered from or into
the cells C, and thus the electric light can be regulated as desired.
No binding screws or loose wire or other connections are required, as in ordinary
batteries.
We sometimes fit reflectors in the globe of the lamp, above and below the
incandescent light.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a portable electric lamp, the combination of a cellular battery, consisting of a

page_text: group of detachable cells, fitted with a stationary plate C sustaining a set of electrodes a a
and contact rods e e; and a movable plate D sustaining another set of electrodes bb,
attached to the screw rods c. c, and fitted with spring contact tongues d d ; the plate D
being raised and lowered by a nut F working upon a screw thread formed upon the
sleeve E, severally operating substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
the drawings.
2. The general construction, combination and arrangement of the several and
respective parts, together constituting our improvements in domestic portable electric
lamps and batteries therefor, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
by the drawings.
Dated this Sixteenth day of October One thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine.