Improvement in Electrical Arc Lamps.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Electrical Arc Lamps.
WILLIAM HARDING LAUDER Photographer 33 Blessington Street Dublin
Ireland do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
An automatic clutch for breaking are and feeding same continuously as carbon
becomes consumed, it acts on the upper carbon rod, and consists of a brass framo
swung diagonally across the upper carbon rod, with a lever projecting from the
lower end of the brass frame at right angles and fastened to same. On the lever is
a weight that jambs the brass frame on the carbon rod at the two points where it.
touches it. This frame or clutch is pivotted between parallel levers fastened stiffly
apart, these levers in turn are pivotted on two supports on same side of rod as
jambing weight, these pivot holes are slotted in lever at this point. The other ends
of the levers are pivotted to a solenoid the coil of which is in lamp circuit or (to
the armature of an electro magnet). Under the weight rises a screw capable of
raising the weight and undoing the clutch to a more or less extent. To adjust lamp
for starting weight is slightly raised, clutch slightly undone, carbon rod free to
descend and points go together.
Figure 3. in the drawing shows a side view and the position of clutch when lamp
is not in use. When the current is switched on the coil C. which is in the circuit
becomes powerfully magnetised (as the weight E. is resting on the screw and as the
clutch His undone it is understood that the carbon points which are not shown are
touching) and brings the solenoid B. up into it B being pivotted at the point P to the
lever D brings it along with it, the lever D being pivotted to the clutch H at the
point N raises the clutch also until it goes so far that the weight E. leaves
the regulating screw F. When this takes place J J clutch tightly on the carbon
rod A. and for the remainder of the stroke the carbon rod is being lifted.
Figure 3. the near side support G. has been removed to show the position of the
slot L. when the lamp is at rest.
•
In
Figure 1. shows a side view of the different parts of the clutch and lever when
the arc has just been struck: As the voltage or resistance increases at the carbon
points the coil C becomes weaker the solenoid B drops bringing the lever D along
with it, the clutch H being pivotted to the lever at the point N and being tightly
clutched on the carbon rod drops with the lever D. bringing the carbon rod with
it, this dropping movement continues until the weight E rests lightly on the
adjusting screw F. the jambers J J become slightly undone and allows of the carbon
rod A slipping down a little, this at once decreases the resistance at the points the coil
again becomes pretty strongly magnetised, carrying up B the lever D the clutch H.
which fastens on the carbon rod bringing it with it, this process of feeding keeps on
automatically and continuously.
The invention consists of two parts-the clutch and an arrangement for lifting it.
The clutch which may be of any shape square or circular acts by being jambed
diagonally across the carbon rod with a weight or spring. In Fig. 2. which is a
plan of the clutch looking down on it the weight E being raised the clutch is shown
to consist of two side plates H. H and two rollers J J which might be covered
with rubber or have sharp edges at the points where they strike the brass rod A.
the rod A it will be remarked in Fig. 2. has been flatted on its sides to offer
additional surface for the clutch to catch on.
The pivots N. N. pass through two washers R. R. and out into the levers D. D.
these levers constitute second portion of the invention. This lever has three
functions to perform―
Firstly to raise and lower the clutch H. H. lifting carbon rod with it and lowering

page_text: when clutch lowers, this it does through the action of the coil C. Fig. 1. on the
solenoid B. which is pivotted at the point B.
Secondly to translate a long movement of the solenoid B. into a short movement
at the carbon points, this is done by arranging the relative difference between the
point P. the pivot N. and the pivot O. for instance if from P to pirot N. is 14 inch
and from N. to O be an inch (centres of pivots of course) if the solenoid B moves
up into the coil C. 1 inch it lifts the clutch H Ha inch, what we deduct from this
for the up movement of the carbon rod is the distance the lever D. had to travel at
the point N. before it took the weight E. completely off the regulating screw F.
The third function of lever D. D. is to raise and lower clutch H. H. in such a
manner that the pivots N. N. never leave the axis of the carbon rod in raising or
lowering, this is arranged by slotting the lever D. D. where the pivot O passes in
from the side supports G. G. the position of this slot is shown in Fig. 3. before the
arc is struck, its position is also shown in Fig. 1. after the arc is struck the alteration
in its position shows how it works.
Figure 5. represents a crank which if two were used to suspend lever D. D. at
point O: O. from the supports G. G would take place of slot, the basis of the
supports G. G are slotted at T. T. where binding screw goes through and allows of
the whole gear being drawn back and forwards until the clutch fastens on both sides
of carbon rod.
Figure 4. shows another form of the principle of the diagonal clutch, where the
pivotting centre is altogether outside the clutch and the clutch is hung on the
lever D. by the pivotted link V.
January 14th 1893.
WILLIAM HARDING LAUDER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Electrical Aro Lamps.
I, WILLIAM HARDING LAUDER, of 33 Blessington Street, in the City and
County of Dublin, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be. performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to electrical are lamps and has for its object the construction
of a special clutch mechanism for holding and feeding down the carbon pencil as
it is consumed in the burning of the lamp, in a more efficient manner than has been
achieved in lamps made up to the present, whereby increased steadiness of the
arc is attainable, the mechanism being of a simple construction so as to be
manufactured very cheaply in comparison with other lamps on the market.
My invention consists firstly in the specific form of clutch whereby the carbon
is lifted or controlled in a straight line parallel to or coincident with the axis
of the carbon with special regard to the grip of the clutch on the carbon rod
or its holder, and secondly in the mechanism whereby the controlling device
operated by the main current, communicates its motion with mechanical advan-
tage to the clutch in such a manner as to permit the carbon to be operated in a
straight line in a vertical plane.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I will now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawing left with the Provisional Specification,
reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters refer
to like parts in the various figures.
:
My improved clutch consists of a frame adapted to embrace the carbon rod
holder A diagonally across the rod A, by being mounted so as to turn on an axis
which passes approximately through the axis of the rod A, and at right angles to
the same.
The jamming being obtained by an adjustable weight E mounted upon
an arm attached to the clutch at a distance away from the axis, or equivalently
by a spring adapted to operate in an equivalent manner on the clutch as the weight,

page_text: In Figure 2 the clutch is shown to consist of two side plates H H and two
rollers JJ supported between them, which may be covered if necessary with
rubber or have sharp edges at the portions of the rollers which come in contact
with the rod A. The rod A has two flats arranged along its length to afford a
better grip for the rollers. Upon the plates H H pivots N N are arranged one
on each plate upon an axis which passes through the centre of the clutch frame,
washers R R being threaded upon them. These pivots N N are attached to the
levers D D, which form a portion. of. the parallel operating and regulating
mechanism.
As shown in Figure 2 each lever D is composed of plate metal, and the two
levers are connected together by two shouldered distance pieces M M. The
pivots N N are situated toward one end of the.levers D D, the end of these levers
being pivotably attached to suitable supports G G on the main frame, while the
long ends of the said levers are pivotably connected to a solenoid regulating device,
the coil C of which is placed in series in the main circuit, the iron core B being
connected to the levers D at the point P.
G
The levers D D have three functions, firstly to raise and lower the clutch H
lifting carbon rod with it, which it does through the action of the coil C upon the
iron core B; secondly to translate a long movement of the iron core B into a short
movement at the carbon points which is effected by the relative distances of the
pivots with one another; and thirdly to raise and lower the clutch H in such a
manner that the pivots N never leave the axis of the carbon rod A, which is
effected by slotting the levers D D at the point where the pivots 0, on the
supports G engage with the levers as shown in Figure 3, which shows the position
of the mechanism before the arc is struck while Figure 1 shows it after it is struck.
Figure 5 represents a crank, two of which may be used to suspend the lever D D
at point O from the support G and would be a substitute for the slots.
The base of the supports G are slotted at T.T through which binding screws
pass to secure it firm while the slots permit the adjustment of the whole gear-to
such a position that the clutch fastens on both sides of the carbon rod.
Figure 3 shows the position of the mechanism when the lamp is not in use.
When the current is switched on the coil C which is in the main circuit attracts
the iron core B within it, which in turn lifts the lever D and with it the clutch
until it is raised so far that the weight E leaves the influence of a regulating device
which may preferably be a screw F. When this takes place the clutch jams
tightly on the carbon rod holder A. and lifts the same for the remainder of the
stroke. As the resistance at the points of carbons increases, the coil C becomes
weaker, the iron core B drops slightly lowering the clutch and carbon holder.
This dropping movement is maintained until the weight E rests lightly on the
adjusting screw F, the clutch is slightly released and the carbon holder is allowed
to drop through it, which it may do to too great an extent when the resistance
at once decreases the coil C again operating the clutch and lifting the carbon
holder, immediately the weight E has left the adjusting screw F. This operation
is maintained automatically and continuously until the carbon is wholly consumed.
In Figure 1 is shown a pin S fixed through the brass rod A and adapted to run
in a groove in the tube U to prevent the brass rod turning. I may use pads of
flexible and non-conducting material upon the faces of the clutch which are adapted
to grip upon the carbon rod itself or its holder, instead of the rollers as herein
before described.
The arrangement shown in Figure 4 of the drawing accompanying the
Provisional Specification I discard and therefore will not deal with it further in
this Specification.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1
.
1 11

page_text: carbon and to turn on an axis which passes through the axis of the carbon or its
holder, and provided with a load on one side of the axis to jam the clutch upon
that which it embraces when the load is carried by the clutch and adjustable means
to relieve the clutch of its load to release its hold on the carbon or its holder,
substantially as described.
2nd. A clutch jamming diagonally across the carbon or its holder in combination
with operating mechanism adapted to operate the said clutch by a controlling
device operated by the current so as to move the carbon or its holder in a straight
line with mechanical advantage substantially as described.
>
3rd. In an electrical are lamp a clutch and its operating mechanism constructed
and arranged substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
4th. In an electric arc lamp a clutch adapted to jam across the carbon rod or
its holder in combination with pads or rollers of flexible and non conducting
material to directly grip the carbon rod or its holder substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Dated this 16th day of January 1893.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.