Improvements in and relating to Electric Arc Lamps.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan.,
4005
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 21st Dec.,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Arc Lamps.
We, ROBERT CORNELIUS QUIN, of Kensington House, Hamilton Road,
Brighton, in the County of Sussex, Electrical Engineer, and BENJAMIN SYMMONS,
of 15 Holland Road, Brighton, aforesaid, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:
Our invention relates to an open or closed convertible are lamp and to means for
governing or regulating the feed of the carbons or other electrodes employed.
According to our invention the regulating and feeding mechanism consists of an
armature of disc or other shape located between the pole-pieces of an electromagnet
which is wound with two separate coils, one opposed to the other, the one being
connected in series with the carbons and the other being connected from the positive
to the negative terminals of the lamp or from the positive to the negative carbon.
This disc or armature, which is made of copper or other metal of high electrical
conductivity, has attached to one part of its periphery a piece of soft iron or other
metal of good magnetic permeability and to a part diametrically opposite thereto
may be attached a counterpoise or weight balancing or partially balancing the
weight of the magnetic metal. The disc or armature is located in the field of the
An axial
electromagnet, being carried by a shaft or spindle in a suitable manner.
sleeve, having a male screwthread cut upon it, is formed with or attached to the
disc or armature. A nut or barrel with an inclined face, having a female screw-
thread at its one end, engages with that of the said sleeve. The inclined face of
this nut is surfaced with a soft smooth-face metal. Suitably secured to the body
of the nut is a pendulous weight adjustable both radially with the nut and in
the length of the pendulum arm. A metal sleeve, serving as a guide for the nut or
barrel and as a space-block between the disc with its attachments and the boss of
the pulley next hereinafter mentioned, passes within the opposite end of such nut
or barrel. Fitting over the same axle or spindle as the mechanism hereinbefore
described is a grooved pulley having a socketted boss with an inclined face surfaced
with a soft smooth-faced metal and adapted to engage with the inclined face of the
nut or barrel hereinbefore mentioned. A flexible cord or its equivalent passes
around this pulley and is connected to the upper and lower carbon carriers
respectively. Alternatively the mechanism might actuate a rack or racks or
pulleys and cords and might have attached to it an escapement or other means of
retarding or regulating the feed of the carbons or other electrodes employed. The
carbon holders may be of any usual or convenient form but preferably they
comprise finger pieces projecting from the respective sockets to steady the carbon
rods or other electrodes.
In the double-carbon alternate-feed form of lamp the mechanism will be
duplicated and in that case one set may conveniently be applied on each side of the
disc or armature.
--
The action of the mechanism will be readily understood: -When the lamp is at
rest the top and bottom carbons are in contact. Upon current commencing to flow
through the lamp the armature is attracted by the pole-pieces of the electromagnet,
propelling the nut or barrel, with its attached pendulous weight, along the axle or
shaft until the inclined face of the nut is engaged with the socketted boss of the

page_text: grooved pulley wheel or its equivalent, resulting in the separation of the carbons.
As the carbons become separated the current becomes weaker and is moreover
increasingly opposed by the current in the second coil. The separation continues
to increase until the magnetic force exerted by the "series" coil is in equilibrium
with that exerted by the opposing coil plus the gravitational forces exerted by the
pendulous weights. As the carbons are consumed the distance between them
increases and as a consequence the current diminishes in the "series" coil and
increases in its opposing coil, the magnetic force being thereby lessened, the
armature moves backward carrying with it the grooved pulley, or its equivalent,
thus bringing the carbons closer together, increasing the current in the series coil,
and diminishing that in the opposing coil until equilibrium is again established.
When so much of the carbon has been consumed that, to restore equilibrium the
pendulous weight has reached its original perpendicular position, any further
reduction of current in the series coil or increase of current in its opposing coil
will, by moving the armature backwards, operate to withdraw the nut or barrel
from the socketted boss of the grooved pulley, or its equivalent; the result being
that the carbons are brought closer together (by reason of the heavier top carbon
carrier), increasing the current in the " series coil and diminishing it in the
opposing coil until equilibrium is established. In the meantime the armature has
again been attracted forward and the nut or barrel propelled into the socketted
boss of the grooved pulley, or its equivalent. In this way the feed is constantly
maintained.
"
In the double-carbon alternate-feed form of lamp one of the nuts or barrels is
so adjusted as to engage with its grooved pulley or the equivalent in advance of its
companion, thereby causing the circuit to be broken and the arc to strike at the
carbon points in connection with the nut or barrel which engages last. When
these carbons are consumed, the circuit is momentarily broken causing the second
pair of carbons to come together and the arc to strike.
The globe may be attached to the ash tray at the bottom, and the connection
between the crown of the lamp and the top of the globe or wind-guard consists of
two baffle-rings of U-shaped section, the one connected to, or forming part of, the
crown and being inverted and its inner arm fitting loosely between the arms of the
lower ring which is connected to the globe. The outer arm of the upper ring may
in some cases be dispensed with. Such an arrangement will admit the air without
allowing the wind to blow in violently and disturb the arc.
The lamp may be used either as an open or closed arc lamp. In the latter case
the space between the arms of the lower baffle-ring may be filled with heavy
petroleum residue or any other suitable liquid, or substance which is liquid at a
temperature not exceeding 100° Centigrade. A suitable safety valve may be fitted
at the base of the case containing the mechanism or in any other suitable position
and an adjustable air inlet valve may be fitted in the ash-tray or in any other
suitable position.
For the purpose of cleaning, renewing the carbons, and the like the globe with
its attachments may be lowered, being attached for that purpose to suitable piston
rods working in cylinders carried by the crown of the lamp, or by suitable hooks
and eyes attached to the globe and crown respectively, or by other suitable means.
Dated this 12th day of January 1895.
A. F. SPOONER,
124 Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Electric Arc Lamps.
We, ROBERT CORNELIUS QUIN, of Kensington House, Hamilton Road,
Brighton, in the County of Sussex, Electrical Engineer, and BENJAMIN SYMMONS,
of 15 Holland Road, Brighton, aforesaid, Electrical 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:-
Our invention relates to arc lamps and is designed to provide such a lamp of an
open or closed convertible form of either single or compound type; our invention
further relates to improved means for governing or regulating the feed of the
carbons or other electrodes employed and to other various improvements as
hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate our invention,
Figure 1 is a central vertical section (some of the parts being left in elevation)
showing a lamp of the double-carbon alternate-feed form fitted with our
improvements.
Figure 2 is a plan (the upper portion of the lamp and the globe being removed)
showing the governing or regulating mechanism.
Figure 3 is a central vertical section on the line a, a of Figure 2, and
Figure 4 is a portion of Figure 3 drawn to an enlarged scale showing details of
construction hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the crown of the lamp, B the globe thereof, and C, C the carbon holders
or carriers, which latter preferably comprise finger-picces projecting from the
respective sockets to steady the carbon rods or other electrodes employed.
c, c are screw-
According to our invention the improved regulating and feeding mechanism
comprises an electromagnet which is wound with two separate coils a, a¹ which are
opposed to each other, the one a (hereinafter called the "series" coil) being
connected in series with the carbons, and the other one a' (hereinafter called the
"shunt" coil) being connected from the positive to the negative terminals of the
lamp or from the positive to the negative carbon or electrode. is a disc-shaped
armature, which is mounted upon a shaft or spindle ¹ as hereinafter mentioned,
located between the pole-picces a² a² of the electromagnet and in the magnetic field
thereof. The disc or rotary armature b is made of copper or other metal of high
electrical conductivity and has attached to one part of its periphery or secured in
any other convenient position thereon, a strip or piece of soft iron or other
metal, of good magnetic permeability to balance or partially balance the weight
of which we attach to a diametrically opposite part of the said disc or rotary
armature a suitable counterpoise 3 as clearly shown in Figure 1.
threaded sleeves or elongated bosses, made of hard white alloy or other suitable
metal, formed with or attached to the disc or armature b. d, d, are nuts or barrels
having female screw-threads corresponding with the male threads upon the sleeves c,
and adapted to engage freely therewith. e, e are screw threaded pendulum arms
adjustably secured upon the nuts or barrels d, by means of clamps or otherwise, and
provided with adjustable pendulous weights, and set screws f',f' for enabling
them to be securely fixed in any desired position when properly adjusted. 9, 9, are
grooved wheels or pulleys also mounted upon the shaft or axie and having
conically socketted or recessed bosses g', 9' fitted with inclined surfaces g², g² of a
suitable smooth-faced metal or other alloy or material as shown more clearly in
the enlarged view Figure 4. Upon the free extremities of the nuts or barrels d
are provided corresponding taper or conical surfaces d', d', having also inclined
surfaces d², d² of similar or suitable smooth faced metal, which when the said nuts
or barrels d'are moved outwardly upon the screw-threaded sleeves or elongated

page_text: armature bosses c in the manner hereinafter described, engage with the surfaces 9*
thus forming practically cone-clutches acting to couple or connect the disc or rotary
armature 6 to one or other of the grooved wheels or pulleys g as the case may be.
h, are metal sleeves serving as guides for the nuts or barrels d and likewise as
space blocks between the disc or armature b with its attachments and the bosses of
the pulleys g. i, i are flexible cords, bands, or wires passing over the grooved
wheels or pulleys g, the extremities of each of which cords are connected to the
upper and lower carbon holders or carriers C respectively as shown in Figure 1.
j, are guide or antifriction pulleys over which the flexible cords, wires or their
equivalents pass on their way to their respective carbon holders. The shaft b¹ of
the rotary armature b is supported in suitable bearings secured to or formed on
brackets k, k upon the frame or case / carrying the lamp mechanism.
One of the hereinbefore mentioned conical ended nuts or barrels d is so adjusted
as to engage with its corresponding grooved wheel or pulley g in advance of the
other, thereby causing the circuit to be broken and the arc to strike at the carbon
points in connection with the nut or barrel which engages last. When these
carbons are consumed the circuit is momentarily broken causing the second pair of
carbons to come together and the arc to strike.
The globe B is provided at the bottom with an ash tray m, and is connected at
the top to the upper part or crown A of the lamp through a wind guard or
baffle n, o which consists, as shown, of a series of concentric rings or annular
plates U-shaped in transverse section suitably secured respectively to the globe and
to the upper part or crown A of the lamp, projecting or dipping into or between
each other. This arrangement admits of a free passage of air from the exterior
to the interior of the globe B through the zig-zag annular passage formed by the
said checks or baffles, but prevents any disturbance of the arc by the penetration
of violent draughts or currents of air.
When the lamp is used as a closed arc lamp, the space between the arms of the
baffle ring is filled (as shown in Figure 1) with heavy petroleum residue or any
other suitable liquid, or substance which is liquid at a temperature not exceeding
100 degrees Centigrade so as to form a seal. In this case a suitable safety valve/
is fitted at the base of the case or frame supporting the lamp mechanism, or in
any other convenient position, and an adjustable air inlet valve q is provided in the
ash tray m.
p
r, r, are the usual cylinders carried by the upper portion or crown A of the
lamp, and s, s, the piston rods working in the said cylinders. The piston rods s
are secured at their lower extremities to that portion of the wind guard or baffle
fastened to the upper extremity of the globe B, and the two portions or the said
baffle or guard are normally retained closed, or in the position shown in Figure 1,
by thumb screws t, t or other known means through the medium of which the said
piston rods s are firmly clamped in position in the cylinders r. By slackening
these thumb screws the globe and that portion of the baffle or wind guard
attached thereto may be lowered for the purpose of cleaning, renewing the carbons,
and the like in the usual way. The possibility of the said globe and attachments
falling completely off is obviated by the pistons on the upper extremities of the
rods s coming into contact with the internally projecting portions of the thumb
screws which form stops upon which they rest and thus maintain the globe in its
open position, or the globe may be further lowered by permitting the pistons to
descend to the bottoms of the cylinders and rest upon the caps screwed thereon.
When it is desired to entirely remove the globe and its attachments, the said caps
must be removed so as to admit of the withdrawal of the pistons from the cylinders
in the well-known manner.
The operation of our improved governing or regulating apparatus will be readily
understood. As regards one pair of carbons or electrodes, when the lamp is at rest
the top and bottom carbons or electrodes are in contact. Upon the current,
however, commencing to flow through the lamp, the "series" coil a of the electro-
magnet becomes magnetised, and the disc or rotary armature 6 is attracted by the

page_text: "
pole pieces a thereof, and is rotated through a certain angle in one direction,
which carries with it the right and left handed screw threaded sleeves or elongated
bosses c and causes that one on the operative side to propel or move the corre-
sponding nut or barrel d, and the attached pendulous weight j, along the shaft or
axle b', until the conical face d' of the said nut engages in the corresponding conical
recesses gl in the boss of the grooved wheel or pulley g, and by also rotating the
latter through a certain angle moves the flexible cord or band i and holders C so as
to separate the carbons or electrodes. Accordingly as the said carbons or electrodes
become more and more separated, the current becomes weaker, and is moreover
increasingly opposed by the current in the "shunt" coil a¹ which is connected from
the positive to the negative terminals of the lamp or from the positive to the
negative carbon, until the magnetic force exerted by the "series coil a is in
equilibrium with the latter, plus, however, the gravitational forces exerted by the
pendulous or swinging weight f. As the carbons or electrodes are consumed the arc
becomes wider, and as the resistance increases the current,diminishes in the "series
coil a and increases in the opposing or "shunt" coil a¹, and the magnetic force of
the former becoming thereby lessened the disc or rotary armature moves back-
ward or in the reverse direction through a certain angle, carrying with it the grooved
wheel or pulley 9 temporarily coupled or connected thereto, and through the cord
or band i adjusting the holders or carriers C so as to bring the carbons or electrodes
closer together, and thus again to increase or augment the current in the "series "
coil a, and diminish that in the opposing or "shunt" coil a¹ until an equilibrium is
again established. When so much of the carbons or electrodes have become
consumed that to restore equilibrium the pendulous weight has again assumed its
original perpendicular position, any further reduction of current in the "series"
coil or bobbin a, or increase of current in the opposing or "shunt" coil a', will by
moving the disc or rotary armature 6 backward through a certain angle operate to
withdraw the nut or barrel d, and by relieving the conical end d' thereof from the
socket gl in the boss of the grooved wheel or pulley 9 disengage the latter, when
by reason of the greater weight of the top carbon holder or carrier the latter will
fall, the said grooved wheel or pulley meanwhile rotating idly upon the shaft or
spindle b', and the carbons will come closer together thereby increasing the current
in the "series" coil a and diminishing that in the opposing or "shunt" coil a¹
until such time as equilibrium is established. In the meanwhile the disc or
rotary armature 6 has again been attracted forward and the nut or barrel d
operated or moved so as to re-engage with the grooved wheel or pulley g.
And so
on, the above action taking place alternately and the feed being constantly and
evenly maintained.
The action of the second or duplicate screw threaded sleeve h, nut or barrel d,
and grooved wheel or pulley 9 situated on the other side of the disc or rotary
armature b, is in every way identical. The first or one of the said nuts or barrels d
is however, as has been already mentioned, so adjusted as to engage with the corre-
sponding grooved wheel or pulley in advance of the other, so that the circuit is
broken and the arc is caused to strike at the carbon points in connection with that
put or barrel d which engages last. On the consumption of the carbons, the circuit
is momentarily broken, thus causing the second pair of carbons to come together and
the arc to strike.
If the governing or regulating device be actuated by a "series" coil or by a
"series" wound electro-magnet only, the normal resting position of the carbons is
the same as when an electro-magnet wound with two separate coils namely "series"
and "shunt," such as that shown in the compound lamp illustrated in the drawings
is employed. In this case however to regulate the feed either the "shunt"
coil or the "shunt" wound electro-magnet of the compound lamp would be replaced
by some suitable gravitational or other controlling force, such as a weight or
spring.
In the case of a lamp governing or regulating mechanism containing, or being
actuated by a "shunt" coil, or by a "shunt" wound electro-maguet only, the

page_text: "
normal resting position of the carbons is such that a gap or distance exists between
them, and in like manner the "series" coil or series wound electro-magnet is
replaced by some suitable gravitational or other controlling_force.
Although we have herein before described a convenient and advantageous method
of carrying our said invention into practice it is obvious that it can be somewhat
modified without departing in any way from the nature of our said invention.
For instance the hereinbefore mentioned disc or rotary armature may be of any
suitable and convenient form or shape. The clutch arrangement may in some
instances consist of vertical faces corresponding with one another in lieu of the
hereinbefore mentioned conical ones. The bores of the hereinbefore mentioned
sleeves or elongated bosses may be enlarged throughout a portion or the whole of
their length and be internally screw-threaded, the nuts or barrels in this instance
being replaced by other sleeves having corresponding external screw-threads.
The mechanism might be so arranged as to actuate a rack or racks, or pulleys and
cords, and might have attached to it an escapement or other means of retarding or
regulating the feed of the carbons or other electrodes employed. Instead of the
electro-magnet which is wound with two separate coils or bobbins one opposed to
the other, two electro-magnets, the one coupled up in the "shunt" and the other in
the "series," may be used. Morcover either the "series" or the "shunt" coil
of the electro-magnet, when one electro-magnet only is used, as already mentioned,
or the "series" or the "shunt" wound electro-magnet when two of the latter are
employed may be replaced by a weight or spring. And the globe and its attach-
ments may be provided with an arrangement for lowering comprising books and
eyes attached to the globe and upper part or crown of the lamp respectively, or
other convenient means, instead of the cylinders, pistons, and rods hereiubefore
described.
It will be obvious that in applying our improved governing or regulating
apparatus to a single carbon lamp the screw threaded sleeve, nut, or barrel,
and grooved wheel or pulley on one side of the disc or rotary armature are
dispensed with.
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 the governing or feeding apparatus of an electric arc lamp the combination
of an armature consisting of a disc or other suitably shaped piece of metal of high|
electrical conductivity, a piece of soft iron or other highly magnetic metal and a
counterpoise attached thereto, and one or more electromagnets substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
2. A governing or feeding apparatus for an electric arc lamp comprising a disc-
shaped or other rotary armature located between the pole-pieces and in the magnetic
field of an electromagnet wound with two separate and opposed coils, or of two
electromagnets so arranged as to oppose one another, one or more grooved
wheels or pulleys connected by flexible cords or otherwise to the carbon holders
or carriers, and suitable clutch gearing for temporarily coupling the said rotary
armature with the said grooved wheel or wheels operating as and for the purposes
set forth.
3. In a governing or feeding apparatus for an electric arc lamp, the combination,
with an electromagnet its rotary armature and one or more wheels or pulleys
mounted upon the same spindle as the said armature, of clutch gearing comprising
one or more screw threaded sleeves or elongated armature bosses, and correspond-
ingly screw-threaded nuts or barrels carrying pendulous weights or their
equivalents adapted to engage with the bosses of the said wheels or pulleys
substantially as set forth.
4. In an electric arc lamp a series of concentric rings or annular plates secured
respectively to the globe part and to the upper part or crown of such lamp, projecting
or dipping into or between each other and serving as a wind guard or baffle in an

page_text: open lamp or, when containing liquid, as a seal in a closed lamp substantially as set
forth.
5. In an electric arc lamp of the closed form the combination of a series of
concentric rings or U-shaped plates projecting or dipping into or between each
other, heavy petroleum residue or its equivalent contained therein, an adjustable
air inlet valve and a safety valve substantially as set forth.
6. The modification of our improved governing or feeding apparatus for electric
arc lamps wherein the mechanism is arranged to actuate a rack or racks or pulleys
and cords, with or without an escapement or other means of retarding or regulating
the feed of the electrodes substantially as described.
7. The improved electric arc lamp constructed substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Deted this 11th dor of October 1805
A. F. SPOONER,
124 Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.