INTENSIFYING FLUORESCENT OR PHOSPHORESCENT ELECTRIC LIGHTING WHEREBY THE SAME IS RENDERED SERVICEABLE FOR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE SAID INTENSIFICATION” PROAL SPATION
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Rankin Kennedy of Glasgow in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Electrician, for an Invention of "INTENSIFYING FLUORESCENT
OR PHOSPHORESCENT ELECTRIC LIGHTING WHEREBY THE SAME IS RENDERED
SERVICEABLE FOR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING
THE SAID INTENSIFICATION”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Rankin Kennedy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th October 1882.
"
:
RANKIN KENNEDY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark North Britain,
Electrician, INTENSIFYING FLUORESCENT OR PHOSPHORESCENT ELECTRIC LIGHTING
WHEREBY THE SAME IS RENDERED SERVICEABLE FOR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES, AND
APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE SAID INTENSIFICATION
»
It is well known that beautiful but faint electric lights can be produced by
discharging currents of high tension electricity between metallic points within
a vacuum: It is also known that a discharge of negative electricity in high vacua
when made to impinge on the surface of fluorescent or phosphorescent bodies,
renders these bodies or rather the surfaces thereof, luminous to a small degree.
The currents discharged into the vacuum tubes or bulbs (made either of ordinary
glass or of fluorescent or phosphorescent glass) used to show such lights are generally
produced by frictional electric machines driven by hand, or other power, or Holtz
electric machines, or Rhumkorff induction coils:
This Invention provides means of intensifying and increasing the lights produced
by discharging high tension charges of electricity in vacua between two or more.
metal or carbon or other conducting or partially conducting bodies, these bodies
may be pointed wires or balls or flat discs, and, sometimes both, partly or altogether.
coated with various fluorescent substances, or with phosphorescent substances such
as Sulphuret of Barium or Sulphuret of Calcium. In some cases I use a conducting
point of metal or carbon fixed immediately in front of a disc of thin paper, wood,
cork, glass or metal, this disc-being coated over one or both sides with a thin layer

page_text: of fluorescent or phosphorescent substance, or the fluorescent or phosphorescent
substance may be formed into a disc or ball and placed immediately in front of the
metallic or conducting point.
An important feature of this Invention is the use or application of the oxides of
the alkaline inetals for intensifying the light produced by the discharge of high
tension or negative electricity in vacua. For this purpose I use such oxides as
alumina or magnesia in the form of extremely thin strips, plates, or tissues and I
obtain such strips, plates, or tissues in the necessary condition either in the ash of
burnt paper in the manufacture of which alumina or clay is used, or the oxides
may be pressed or rolled into pieces of the necessary thinness or lightness.
In constructing a fluorescent lamp according to this Invention I take a globe or
bulb, of ordinary glass, or fluorescent glass, such as Uranium glass of any convenient
shape, with two or more openings (on opposite sides to each other) into this
opening (or into these openings as the case may be) I seal one or more conductors
such as a wire or wires of metal so that a small portion of it (or them) projects (or
project) within the bulb or globe and a portion or portions is (or are) left outside to
form a connecting part (or connecting parts). On the point (or points) projecting
inside the bulb, I sometimes fix a disc (or discs) or ball (or balls) of metal or
carbon, (or of other conducting or partially conducting material). The point (or
points,) disc (or disces), ball, (or balls,) is, (or are,) called the negative electrode (or
electrodes). Through the other opening (or openings) in the bulb, I pass another
wire (or wires,) with a disc or ball fixed on the end of it (or each of them) which
has, (or have), or may be coated with any fluorescent or phosphorescent substance
(or with the oxide of an alkaline metal) or the fluorescent or phosphorescent
substance or the oxide of an alkaline metal, is itself formed into. discs or balls or
into any shape convenient and fixed on the end of the wire (or wires) which passes
(or pass) into this second opening (or openings) this second disc or ball (or the
second discs or balls) is, (or are) passed far enough into the bulb to be within a
distance of from 18 th of an inch to an inch, or more, of the above first mentioned
point (or points) disc, (or discs,) or ball, (or balls). The opening (or openings) is (or
are) then sealed round the wire (or wires) sufficient of the wire (or wires) being
left out to form a connecting part (or parts).
山
It is to be understood that besides a single point or an even number of points
at the opposite sides of the bulb, I may use a single point at either side, and two,
three, or more points at the opposite side.
The bulb is finally exhausted to a certain extent sometimes to as near total
exhaustion, as can be obtained by the best type of vacuum pump, when a small
quantity of phosphorescent or fluorescent vapour or gas is admitted. Sometimes
the exhaustion is carried to the desired extent and the remaining air left in and
finally the bulb is hermetically sealed.
.
The lamp is lighted by connecting the wire carrying the fluorescent or
phosphorescent body to the positive pole of a high tension electric generator, the
other wire of the lamp being connected to the negative pole. If the tension and
quantity of electricity are sufficient, the ball or disc or other shaped body on the
positive wire is enveloped by the negative discharge and its surface becomes
luminous.
To provide the high tension discharges of electricity necessary for the working
of these lamps, I have invented an inductorium which when excited by a battery
of galvanic cells, by a dynamo, or by a secondary battery, or any other source of
current electricity or by an armature within itself, and then being driven by powor,
generates currents of high tension electricity.
When this inductorium is made of small size, a dynamo machine or other source
of current is not required for exciting it as permanent steel magnets may be used
instead of electro-magnets..
Tho inductorium consists of one or more fixed, magnets and one or more fixed
solenoids through the centre of the solenoids are passed loosely fitted iron shafts
which can be rotated easily within the solenoids. At each end of the shafts are

page_text: :
fitted projecting masses of iron, as the shaft revolves these masses of iron pass in
front of the polar extremities of the fixed magnets, and in doing so they transmit
magnetism to the rotating iron shaft which passes through the solenoids, and this
magnetism generates currents in the wire of the solenoid.
The wire of the solenoids may be iron or copper, the shafts may be of solid soft
iron or cast iron, or may be of tube iron or iron wire built into a rod.
This inductorium having no commutator and no moving or revolving coils of
wire can be perfectly insulated and produces currents of almost any tension
specially suited for fluorescent lamps, and may be used generally for converting low
tension electricity into high tension electricity.
The lamp herein before described may be permanently attached to or formed into
one piece with one or more Rhumkorff or Induction coils, and which may be
connected in series and excited by alternate currents.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent fited
by the said Rankin, Kennedy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th April 1883.
RANKIN KENNEDY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Electrician "INTENSIFYING FLUORESCENT OR PHOSPHORESCENT ELECTRIC LIGHTING,
WHEREBY THE SAME IS RENDERED SERVICEABLE FOR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES,
AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE SAID INTENSIFICATION
"
It is well known that beautiful but faint electric lights can be produced by
discharging currents of high tension electricity between metallic points within a
vacuum. It is also known that a discharge of negative electricity in high vacua
when made to impinge on the surface of fluorescent or phosphorescent bodies,
renders these bodies or rather the surfaces thereof luminous to a small degree.—
The currents discharged into the vacuum tubes or bulbs (made either of ordinary
glass or of fluorescent or phosphorescent glass) used to show such lights, are
generally produced by frictional electric machines driven by hand or other power,
or Holtz electric machines, or Rhumkorff induction coils.
My invention provides means of intensifying and increasing the lights produced.
by discharging high tension charges of electricity in vacua between two or more
metal or carbon or other conducting or partially conducting bodies.-These bodies
may be pointed wires or balls or flat discs, and sometimes both partly or altogether
coated with various fluorescent substances or with phosphorescent substances,
such as Sulphuret of Barium or Sulphuret of Calcium.-In some cases I use a
conducting point of metal or carbon fixed immediately in front of a disc of thin
paper, wood, cork, glass or metal, this disc being conted over one or both sides
with a thin layer of fluorescent or phosphorescent substance or the fluorescent or
phosphorescent substance may be forined into a disc or ball and placed immediately
in front of the metallic or conducting point.
An important feature of my Invention is the use or application of the alkaline
metals for intensifying the light produced by the discharge of high tension or
negative electricity in vacua. For this purpose I use such oxides as alumina or
magnesia in the form of extremely thin strips, plates or tissues, and I obtain such
strips, plates or tissues in the necessary condition either in the ash of burnt paper
in the manufacture of which alumina or clay is used, or the oxides may be pressed
or rolled into pieces of the necessary thinness or lightness.
The lamp is lighted by connecting the wire carrying the fluorescent or
phosphorescent body to the positive pole of a high tension electric generator, the
other wire of the lamp being connected to the negative pole. If the tension and
quantity of electricity are sufficient, the ball or disc or other shaped body on the
positive wire is enveloped by the negative discharge and its surface becomes
luminous.
To provide the high. tension discharges of electricity necessary for the working
of these lamps I have invented an inductorium which when excited by a battery of
galvanic colls, by a dynamo or by a secondary battery or any other source of
current electricity or by an armature within itself, and then being driven by power,
generates currents of high tension electricity.-When this inductorium is made of
small size a dynamo machine or other source of current is not required for exciting
it, as permanent steel magnets may be used instead of electro-magnets.
The lamp herein before described may be permanently attached to or formed into
one piece with one or more Rhumkorff or Induction coils, and which may be
connected in series and excited by alternate currents.

page_text: And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood,. I now
proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode or manner in or under
which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference, being
had to the accompanying Drawings and to the Letters and Figures marked thereon;
that is to say :-
Figures. 1, 2 and 3, are respectively side elevation, plan and vertical section of
one form of lamp constructed according to and constituting a part of my present
Invention.
0
.
Figures 4 to 18 (inclusive) are respectively in series, similar views of various
forms of lamps constructed according to and constituting part of my present
Invention.
.
Figure 19, is a side elevation of an inductorium constructed according to and
constituting part of my present. Invention.
Figures 20, 21, and 22, are respectively plan, end elevation and transverse
section of the same.
Figures 23, 24, and 25 are respectively plan, side elevation and transverse
section of a detached portion of the same.
In constructing a lamp according to my Invention, I take a globe or bulb a, of
ordinary glass or fluorescent glass such as Uranium glass of any convenient shape
through one side of which I seal the wire conductor b, in such a manner that a
small portion of the same projects on either side of the glass forming the.bulb a,.
so that the necessary connections can be made to convey the current of electricity
therethrough. To the inner end of the conducting wire b, I may either fix the
disc c, or any of the various forms of metal or carbon or other conducting or
partially conducting electrodes as represented at Figures 4, to 18, (inclusive), these
electrodes constitute those of positive polarity.-Through the side of the bulb a,
opposite to that through which the conducting wire b, is sealed, or in any other
more suitable position the conducting wire d, is sealed in a similar manner to that
bereinbefore described with reference to the conducting wire b.-To the inner end
of the conducting wire d; I fix the metal point e, or in the lamps represented at
Figures 4, to 18, (inclusive) a similar form of electrode to that secured to the
wire b. These electrodes constitute those of negative polarity and are or may be
coated with any fluorescent or phosphorescent substance or with the oxide of an
alkaline metal or the fluorescent or phosphorescent substance or the oxide of an
alkaline metal may itself be formed into any of the forms herein before referred to.
With reference to Figures 4, to 18, (inclusive) the various forms of electrodes
therein represented can be described as being respectively of flat plates f, with their
planes vertical and turned edge to edge; of short tubes g, being turned end to end;
of spirals h, whose axes are horizontal; of vertical curved plates i, whose edges aré
turned towards each other, and of vertical flat plates j, whose faces are turned
towards each other.
It is to be understood although only one set of electrodes have been hereinbefore
specified, that I may place one, two or more such sets in any one globe or bulb a,
or I may use a globe or bulb a, with one positive electrode with one, two or more.
negative electrodes or vice versa.
After the conducting wires b, and d, with the electrodes attached thereto have
been sealed into the bulb a, it is exhausted to a certain extent, sometimes to as
near total exhaustion as can be obtained by the best type of vacuum pump, when a
small quantity of fluorescent or phosphorescent vapour or gas is admitted.-Some-
times the exhaustion is carried to the desired extent and the remaining air left in
and finally the bulb is hermetically sealed.
The lamp is lighted by connecting the wire carrying the fluorescent or
phosphorescent body (which in the accompanying Drawings is the wire b,) to the
positive pole of a tension electric generator the other wire of the lamp being
connected to the negative pole.
The inductorium which I have invented for providing the high tension discharges
of electricity necessary for the working of the lamps hereinbefore described is
•

page_text: constructed with the fixed electro-magnets k, k, secured. to the framing of the
machine or in any other convenient manner. These electro-magnets k, k, are:
connected by the wires o; and p, to a battery of galvanic cells, or to a dynamo, or a
secondary battery or any other source of current electricity and between these
electro-magnetsk, k, the fixed solenoid l, is secured through the centre of which the
revolving iron shaft m, passes. This shaft m, (which is shewn more particularly at
Figures 23, 24, and 25,) is provided at each end with a projecting mass n; of iron;
which masses n, n, pass as the shaft m, revolves, in front of the polar extremities
of the fixed electro-magnets.k, k, and in doing so they transmit magnetism to the
rotating iron shaft m, which passes through the solenoid 4, and this magnetism
generates currents in the wire of the solenoid l, which is connected by the wires q,
and r, with the lamp circuit. The wire of the solenoid , inay be of iron or
copper, the shaft m, may be of solid soft.iron or cast iron, or it may be of tube iron
or iron wire built into a rod.
It is to be understood although only one solenoid is shewu in the accompanying
drawings; tliat two or more such solenoids can be used, that is to say, that either the
solenoid could be divided in its length into several solenoids in which case pro-
jecting masses would be fitted to the shaft m, to pass the magnetism from the
shaft m, to magnets k, or a number of such solenoids could be provided with their
axes running parallel to the shafts m, in which case they would be driven by
gearing.
It is to be understood that when the inductorium is used to alter low tension
electricity to electricity of high tension, the solenoid , is wound with fine wire
and the magnets k, k, are wound with thick wire; but when the inductorium is
used for transforming the tension of electricity from high to a lower, tension, then
the solenoid , is wound with thick wire and the magnetsk, k, with fine wire.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode or manner in or under which the same is or may
be, used or practically carried into effect I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is:-
First The coating of the plates, points or other electrodes with substances which
become fluorescent or phosphorescent in a vacuum when high tension electricity is
discharged upon them and whereby a fluorescent or phosphorescent electric lamp is.
produced as hereinbefore described:
Second: In the vacuum chamber of an electric lamp the use of plates, points,
wires, tubes or other convenient form of electrode made of carbon coated with lime,
magnesia, alumina; or oxides of the other alkaline metals, or electrodes composed of
plates, points, wires, tubes or other forms of line, magnesin or alumina, or oxides
of the other alkaline metals coated with carbon or the use of calcined paper which
contains alumina or other oxide of alkaline metals and carbon as hereinbefore:
mentioned:
Third: The inductorium either for transforming the currents of electricity into
currents of high tension or low tension as hereinbefore. described.
In witness whereof I, the said Rankin Kennedy, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty-sixth day of March in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.