IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Weightman Harrison, of 27, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Weightman Harrison.
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th August 1881.
CHARLES WEIGHTMAN HARRISON, of 27, Southampton Buildings, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING, AND IN THE
MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
"
This Invention relates to improvements in electric lighting, and in the means or
apparatus employed therein.
According to my Invention I, in order to intensify the luminosity at the focus
or point of light, place at or partially surrounding the poles of the electrodes and
arc a reflector which reflects back into the arc or focus of light the light and heat
rays passing in the direction of the reflector. I have found in practice that
uncrystalised oolite mineral is a suitable material or base with which to form these
blocks. When used alone it is cut out in solid slabs, and when used as a base is
ground to a powder and mixed with other bodies or materials such as are non-
flowing under very high temperatures and merely vitrifying on the face. These
are mixed with sufficient gypsum or plaster of Paris in a fluid state to bring the
whole to a semi-fluid or plastic condition. For this purpose I use liquid sulphates
of the elementary bodies, or some of them which exist in the solar spectrum or
its atmosphere, combining those whose colours are complimentary; for example,
sodium, giving a yellow light, and potasium, zinc, or mercury, giving a blueish
light, will in combination produce a white light. These blocks are moulded and
dried at a low heat. In place of the gypsum I may use freshly slacked lime, the
slacking being effected with liquid carbonates of the elementary bodies (or some of
them) before alluded to. These blocks when formed I submit to hydraulic or
percussive pressure so as to consolidate them into compact hard masses. The
Prine Ad

page_text: blocks of solid oolite may when desired be impregnated with these solutions of the
said elementary bodies, the object of their use being that their vapors given off,
when the reflector becomes highly heated, combine and produce the white light
desired. The arrangement and use of the reflectors, as described, so amplifies the
light vibrations as to render the light more diffusive.
In constructing one form of lamp according to my Invention, I form a chamber
of plaster of Paris or other suitable material moulded in one piece or in halves, the
chamber being for the reception of the electrodes, and having an aperture on one
side for the emission of the light rays. On each side of this aperture is a ledge
of the chamber, and on each of these ledges one of the electrodes is fixed by
cementing it on or otherwise. The two electrodes are thus parallel, or nearly,
with the aperture for the emission of the light between them, and opposite the
three is a reflecting wall of the plaster of Paris chamber, which wall may be
covered by any suitable refractory material. The plaster of Paris chamber may
be moulded in and supported by an outward metal case. The carbon electrodes
burn gradually from end to end, and are started by a priming or strip of carbon
uniting them at one end. When it is desired to provide against the possibility of
lamps so constructed in principle going out and having to be relit when the
carbons are partially consumed, the electrodes, instead of being cemented in their
places, as described, are so mounted that at any cessation of the current passing
through them they will be automatically brought together at one end (by means
as are well known), and so be in a condition for relighting, on which taking place
they are at once separated again.
In another form of lamp constructed according to my Invention the electrodes
are placed at an inclination to one another, so that their poles would meet at a
given point. At or near this point is placed a reversible block of my improved
material, and the electrodes are raised towards this by weights suitably attached.
On approaching said blocks, and their poles coming into contact with one another,
an electro-magnet is brought into play, drawing them back so as produce an arc
at a short distance from said block, which thus acts as a reflector in manner
previously described. When current ceases electrodes are released and allowed to
come into contact again.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Charles Weightman
Harrison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th March 1882.
CHARLES WEIGHTMAN HARRISON, of 27, Southampton Buildings, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING, AND IN THE
MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
"
This Invention relates to improvements in electric lighting, and in the means or
apparatus employed therein.
According to my Invention I, in order to intensify the luminosity at the focus
or point of light, place at or partially surrounding the poles of the electrodes and
are a reflector which reflects back into the arc or focus of light the light and heat
rays passing in the direction of the reflector which in ordinary electric lamps are
lost in space. I have found in practice that uncrystalised colite mineral commonly

page_text: known as roestone, is a suitable material or base with which to form these blocks.
When used alone it is cut out in solid slabs, and when used as a base is ground to
a fine powder and mixed with other bodies or materials also in a state of fine
powder, such as are non-flowing under very high temperatures, and merely
vitrifying on the face. These powders are well mixed together with sufficient
gypsum or plaster of Paris powder. I have found seven parts of powdered oolite
and six parts of gypsum a suitable proportion. This mixture is brought to a fluid
or semi fluid state by the addition of a medium solution of soda or compounds
thereof; or this solution may have an addition of potash or compounds of same.
Sometimes I add to the above, or use instead thereof, liquid sulphates of the
elementary bodies or some of them which exist in the solar spectrum or its
atmosphere, combining those whose colors are complimentary, and in the propor-
tions to give the tint of light required; for example, sodium, giving a yellow
light, and potasium, zinc, or mercury, giving a blueish light, will in combination
produce a white light. These blocks are moulded and then dried at a low heat.
In place of the gypsum I may use freshly slaked lime, the slakeing being effected
with liquid carbonates of the elementary bodies (or some of them) before alluded
to. These blocks when formed I submit to hydraulic or percussive pressure, so as
to consolidate them into compact hard masses. The blocks of solid oolite may
when desired be impregnated with the solutions of the said elementary bodies, the
object of their use being that their vapours given off when the reflector becomes
highly heated combine and produce the light desired. The arrangement and use
of the reflectors, as described, so amplifies the light vibrations as to render the
light more diffusive.
I will now proceed to describe the carrying out of my Invention with the aid of
the accompanying Drawings. Fig. 1 is a front or face view of the reflecting or
refractory chamber or block A, previously described; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional
view thereof; Fig. 3 shews the two carbons or electrodes B, C, introduced into
this chamber. They are fixed in their places by having the block moulded onto
them. They may be pencils, as shewn, or flat or other shaped slabs. Between
their extremities farthest from the introduction of the current a small priming of
carbon D is attached for the passage of the current at the lighting of the lamp.
When this is consumed the arc is formed between the two carbons, and they
gradually burn away along their lengths; Fig. 4 shews a similar lamp but with
provision for the relighting of the lamp in case from any cause it should go out.
One of the carbons (C) is mounted on a bearing E which forms part of the
armature of an electro-magnet F centered at e, the opposite end of the armature F
being attached to a coil spring G. The action of this spring is to raise its end of
armature and so to move the further end of the carbon C as to bring it against
carbon B. On the current being passed through the lamp the electro-magnet F
attracts its armature E, and so separates the two carbons B and C, and forms the
BTC. Should the light from any cause go out the spring G again acts, and brings
the carbons together for relighting; Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are cross sectional views of
different shapes of said reflecting or refracting chamber blocks A, Fig. 7, also
shewing a different form of carbons. These Figs. 5, 6, and 7 also shew block A
protected by an outer casing H of metal or other suitable material; Figs. 8 to 12
illustrate other forms of block A, and other methods of placing or adjusting the
carbons B and C in relation thereto and to one another. One form is shewn at
Figs. 8 and 9, Fig. 8 being a front or face view, and Fig. 9 a sectional view on the
line of the two carbons B and C. In this form the extremities of the carbons
(between which the light is produced) are kept each pressed by weight or other
means against an abutment formed in the block A, as shewn, the arc and light
being formed between the two carbons laterally. In Fig. 8 is shown the cup
shaped depression with circular aperture at the bottom thereof formed in the
face of block A for the emission of the light, the surface of the block behind the
carbons forming the reflecting or refracting surface; Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate
another form. In this form the carbons are fed point to point by any suitable

page_text: known means, the are being formed opposite the centre of the cup-shaped depression
in block A, shewn in the two Figures; Fig. 10 is a face sectional view on
the centre line of the two carbons; and Fig. 11, a cross sectional view on the
central line of carbons at right angles to Fig. 10. In this form the carbons are
fed through a woolly preparation of asbestos, as shewn at I; Fig. 12 shews another
form of block A applied to a pair of carbons fed point to point by any suitable
known means.
It is supported on a bracket J, and fixed in the required position
behind the arc by a set screw, as shewn; Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate another
modification. In this form a block A of my reflecting or refracting material is
placed over the point of junction of two carbons made to approach one another at
an inclination. When no current is passing the carbons rest against the block,
but on the current passing two electro-magnets K, acting on armatures L, draw
the carbons a short distance from the block A, and at the same time separate them
to the required degree to form the desired arc. The block A thus acts to reflect
and refract the light and heat rays back into the arc; Fig. 13 is a front sectional
view shewing the two carbons; and Fig. 14 is a side elevation. Block A is so
mounted that it may be turned round in its bearings so as to bring different
portions of its surface into action on the arc as rendered necessary by wear.
I claim as my Invention,―
1. In electric lamps the use of reflecting or refracting blocks of oolite or roestone
or other similar suitable material, or such compounds thereof as are non-flowing
under high temperatures, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set
forth and described.
2. Fixing the electrodes within a recess or chamber of reflecting or refracting
material so as to leave an aperture for the emission of the light rays, substantially
as herein before described and illustrated at Figs. 1 to 7 of the accompanying
Drawings.
3. Impregnating the reflecting and refracting blocks with sodium or other
elementary body or bodies which exist in the solar spectrum or compounds thereof,
substantially as set forth and described.
4. The use of an adjustable reflecting or refracting block A, as described in
reference to Figs. 13 and 14 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the 16th February 1882.
Witness,
JOHN W. GRAY, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
27, Southampton Buildings,
W.C.
CHAS. W. HARRISON. (LS)