Improvements in Electrio Aro Lamps.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1891
Complete Spécification Left, 13th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrio Aro Lamps.
We, ALEXIS CANCE, Electrician and SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME D'APPAREILLAGES
ET D'ECLAIRAGES ELECTRIQUES (Lampes Electriques Cauce) an Incorporated
Company both of 9 Rue de Rocroy, Paris in the French Republic do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of electric are lamps which, in
addition to the advantages of regularity and security of working, are characterised
by a simplicity of construction which renders them valuable in installations where
economy is an object.
According to the present invention the action of gravity is utilised for effecting
the approach of the carbons, the diameters and relative speed of advance of which
are so calculated that the lamp shall have a fixed luminous.centre.
The regulating device is made to serve at the same time as the device for starting
the arc, in order to avoid the inconveniences inherent in the use of two separate
devices for these purposes.
-
Lastly, the lamps are so arranged according to this invention, that they can be
worked either in series or in parallel and can also be used with alternating
currents.
For these purposes the general arrangement of the lamp is as follows. Each of
the carbon holders is suspended from a cord chain or wire which is coiled round a
drum to which the one end is attached, the two cords being coiled in contrary
directions. The two drums are either made in one piece or are joined together, so
that any slipping of the cords is impossible; they are mounted on a spindle to
which they impart rotation and their diameters are proportioned to the relative
linear consumption of the two carbons, which depends upon the nature of the
currents employed and the diameters of the carbons, these being so proportioned,
as before stated, that the luminous centre remains stationary while the one cord is
coiled up and the other one is uncoiled.
The weight of the upper carbon holder exceeds that of the lower carbon holder
to the extent necessary for supplying the motive force which always tends to bring
the carbons in contact.
As the rotary motion of the drum spindle is dependent upon movement of the
carbon holders it will be seen that by regulating the motion of this spindle, the
movement of the carbons will also be regulated, and consequently the regulating
mechanism of the lamp may be made to act directly upon the spindle, which may
be arranged in a vertical, horizontal or other position. This system of two cords
made respectively to uncoil and to coil up simultaneously upon two drums, may be
employed in combination with any arrangements of mechanisms for effecting the
regulated movement of the carbons in arc lamps.
In the arrangement most generally employed, the mechanism for regulating and
starting the lamp is as follows:-
The drum spindle, which is placed vertical, carries at its upper end a collar
above which it is formed with one or more screw threads of suitable pitch with
which engage studs carried by a disc which rests on the collar of the spindle, which
disc with its studs consequently forms a screw nut, and which is carried round by
the rotation of the spindle. When, for the purpose of retarding or stopping the
approach of the carbons or for moving them apart, it is requisite to retard, stop or
reverse the motion of the spindle, electro-magnets or solenoids actuated by the
lamp current and by a shunt current effect automatically the lifting of a disc, which
can only rise or fall and not revolve, and which is thereby made to press more or

page_text: less against the under side of the disc-nut, producing frictional contact whereby the
rotation of the latter and consequently of the spindle is either retarded or stopped,
or, if the lifting force of the electro magnets is sufficient, the disc will raise the nut
and thereby cause it, in acting upon the screw threads of the spindle, to turn this
in the contrary direction. Thus, when by the above means the rotation of the
spindle is retarded or stopped the feed of the carbons towards cach other is corre
spondingly retarded or stopped, and when the motion is reversed the carbons are
moved apart from each other.
According to one arrangement the lamp is constructed as follows for carrying
ut the above described mode of action.
The vertical drum spindle with its two drums of different diameters, its upper
ollar and screw thread, is mounted centrally in an upper casing of the lamp. The
cords wound round the drums, which have by preference helical grooves to receive
them, are led off laterally over guide rollers, the cord for the upper carbon holder
being led over rollers back to a central position below the lower end of the spindle,
where it passes down and is attached to the upper carbon holder. This is of any
suitable construction and has a cross head, the ends of which can slide in grooves
in two vertical tubular guide rods extending down from the underside of the upper
casing the required distance determined by the lengths of the two carbons.
The lower carbon holder has two side rods that slide in the tubular guide rods,
and one of which is attached to the cord coming from the second drum. The
rotation of the spindle causes the last named drum to rotate so as to wind up its
cord, and thus to raise the lower carbon holder, while the first drum is rotated so
as to unwind its cord and thus allow the upper carbon holder to sink by gravity;
the weight of this carbon holder being, as before stated, such as to tend to impart
the above described motion to the drums and spindle. On opposite sides of the
spindle are two fixed vortical compound solenoids, the outer fine-wire coil of which
is connected to a shunt circuit, while the inner thick wire coil is connected to the
main circuit. Fixed tubular soft iron cores pass down the hollows of these solenoids
to a certain distance, being carried and connected together by a soft iron horizontal
crosshead supported by adjusting screws. Two other soft iron cores pass up from
the lower end of the solenoids to within a short distance of the ends of the other
cores; these lower cores are moveable, their lower ends being carried and connected
together by a soft iron cross piece, which is suspended from springs that counter-
balance a portion of the weight of the cores and cross piece.
The upper ends of these cores carry small brass rods that pass up through the
hollow upper cores, and bear with their upper ends against the underside of the
before described disc that acts on the screw nut of the spindle. The brass rods
are connected together near their upper ends by a brass cross piece which has
adjustable screws passing through it, the ends of which rest upon the top of the
solenoid frame when no currents pass through these. On starting the lamp, the
carbons being in contact, the full strength, or nearly so, of current passes through
-the thick solenoid coils, thereby causing these to raise the lower cores to such an
extent that the rods of these effect the raising of the screw nut and the rotation of
the spindle in the direction for the separation of the carbons and the production of
the arc:
On the resistance of the are increasing owing to the burning away of the carbons,
a greater portion of the current will pass through the shunt circuit and thin coils
of the solenoids, thereby weakening the attraction hereof and allowing the lower
cores to descend sufficiently to permit of the rotation of the spindle in the direction
for feeding the carbous towards each other, any excessive speed of rotation being
at once checked by the increasing upward pressure of the core rods, producing
resistance to the rotation of the spindle, as before described.
In order to ensure tho perfectly uniform action of the drums in winding up and
unwinding, they are not fixed on the spindle but can slide vertically thereon, while
rotating therewith, and fixed studs are made to enter the helical groove of the one
drum, so that at every complete rotation the drums are raised a distance equal to

page_text: the pitch of the groove, and thus the points at which the cords pass from and to
the drum to and from the guide pullies are always maintained at the same height
relatively to these.
The lamp current passes from a terminal screw to the clip of the upper carbon
holder through a flexible conducting cord; the said clip being insulated from
the crosshend of the carbon holder which is guided in the guide rods as
described.
From the lower carbon and carbon holder the current passes through the
moveable and fixed guide rods up to a plate on the underside of the upper lamp
casing and thence through a terminal screw into the circuit again.
It will be evident that the above described arrangement of the lamp might be
reversed, the actuating mechanism being arranged below instead of above the
carbons, the arrangement of the cords and guide pullies being suitably modified for
this purpose.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrio Aro Lamps.
We, ALEXIS CANCE, Electrician and SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME D'APPAREILLAGES
ET D'ÉCLAIRAGES ELECTRIQUES (Lampes Electriques Cance) an Incorporated.
Company, both of 9 Rúe de Rocroy, Paris in the French Republic 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved construction of electric arc lamps which,
in addition to the advantages of regularity and security of working, are characterised
by a simplicity of construction which renders them valuable in installations where
economy is an object.
According to the present invention, the action of gravity is utilised for effecting
the approach of the carbons, the diameters and relative speed of advance of which
are so calculated that the lamp shall have a fixed luminons centre.
The regulating device is made to serve at the same time as the device for starting
the arc, in order to avoid the inconveniences inherent in the use of two separate
devices for these purposes.
Lastly, the lamps are so arranged according to this invention, that they can be
worked either in series or in parallel and can also be used with alternating
currents.
For these purposes the general arrangement of the lamp is as follows. Each of
the carbon holders is suspended from a cord, chain, or wire which is coiled
round a drum to which the one end is attached, the two cords being coiled in
contrary directions. The two drums are either made in one piece or are joined
together, so that any slipping of the cords is impossible; they are mounted on a
spindle to which they impart rotation and their diameters are proportioned to the
relative linear consumption of the two carbons, which depends upon the nature of
the currents employed and the diameters of the carbous, these being so proportioned,
as before stated, that the luminous centre remains stationary while the one cord is
coiled up and the other one is uncoiled.
The weight of the upper carbon holder exceeds that of the lower carbon holder
to the extent necessary for supplying the motive force which always tends to bring
the carbons in contact.
As the rotary motion of the drum spindle is dependent upon movement of the
carbon holders it will be seen that by regulating the motion of this spindle, the
movement of the carbons will also be regulated, and consequently the regulating
mechanism of the lamp may be made to act directly upon the spindle, which may

page_text: be arranged in a vertical, horizontal or other position. This system of two cords
made respectively to uncoil and to coil up simultaneously upon two drums, may
be employed in combination with any arrangements of mechanisms for effecting
the regulated movement of the carbons in arc lamps.
In the arrangement most generally employed, the mechanism for regulating and
starting the lamp is as follows:
The drum spindle, which is placed vertical, carries at its upper end a collar
above which it is formed with one or more screw threads of suitable pitch with
wlich engage studs carried by a disc which rests on the collar of the spindle, which
disc with its studs consequently forms a screw.nut, and which is carried round by
the rotation of the spindle. When, for the purpose of retarding or stopping the
approach of the carbons or for moving them apart, it is requisite to retard stop or
reverse the motion of the spindle, electro magnets or solenoids actuated by the
lamp current and by a shunt current effect automatically the lifting of a disc, which
can only rise or fall and not revolve, and which is thereby made to press more or
less against the under side of the disc-nut, producing frictional contact whereby
the rotation of the latter and consequently of the spindle is either retarded or
stopped, or, if the lifting force of the electro magnets is sufficient, the disc will
raise the nut and thereby cause it, in acting upon the screw threads of the spindle,
to turn this in the contrary direction. Thus, when by the above means the rotation
of the spindle is retarded or stopped, the feed of the carbons towards each other
is correspondingly retarded or stopped, and when the motion is reversed the carbons
are moved apart from each other.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shews a vertical section of the above
described improved lamp;
Fig. 2 shews a vertical section at right angles to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section.
Fig. 4 is a diagram shewing the action of the lamp.
Fig. 5 shewasa vertical section of a modification.
Fig. 6 is a section at right angles to Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on line A B Fig. 5 and
Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on line C D Fig. 6.
Referring to the construction shewn at Figs. 1 to 4, it will be seen that the
mechanism is very compact; it is enclosed in a casing formed of two platforms O O!
connected together by columns O, and of a removeable side casing O³.
The upper carbon P is held in the ordinary manner by a clutch piece P¹ fixed to a
cross bar of suitable weight; it is suspended from a cord C which is fixed to the
upper drum A round which it is coiled and from which it passes over guide
pullies P P P in order to avoid the mechanism, and is then led to the centre
again where it is attached to the cross bar P³.
The carbon holder is guided in its descent by wings P taking into grooves
formed in tubes P'; these are fixed in an insulated manner to a cross bar Pa fixed
to the lower platform of the casing.
The lower carbon holder Q provided with a clutch Q for holding the carbon Q
is suspended from a cord D which is fixed to the lower drum B round which it
is coiled and whence it passes over a guide pulley Q³ to one of the branches of the
lower carbon holder.
The two branches Q Q are guided in small tubes Q' accurately fitted in small
guiding tubes P on the upper carbon holder.
In the example shown on the drawing, the two carbons being of equal diameter,
and the electric current employed being assumed to be a continuous one, the
drum A, on which is coiled the cord C of the upper positive carbon holder, is
made of double the diameter of that of the drum B on which is coiled the cord of
the negative lower carbou holder. In order to allow of each of the cords always
occupying the most favorable position, which is determined beforehand; between
the guide pulley and the point where it leaves the groove of the drum, and to
prevent any tendency to leave such groove during its coiling or uncoiling, the two

page_text: drums, which are fixed rigidly together as above described, are shifted vertically
upon the spindle, either from upwards downwards, or inversely, at each revolution
to a height equal to the pitch of the groove. In order to effect this, the drums
which have to impart motion to the spindle E are not fixed on this spindle but
can slide freely along the same, the spindle being carried round by them by means
of two rods M M, which are carried by a sleeve fixed thereon and which pass into
the drums. Any other arrangement may, however, be employed for effecting the
same object, such for instance as a feather on the spindle and a groove in the hole
of the drums. On the other hand, fixed pins N N engage with the helical groove
of the drum B and thus act as a fixed nut obliging the drums to shift at each
revolution along the spindle E a distance equal to the pitch of the groove. Should
the drums be made without grooves, a special threaded portion is formed thereon
for effecting the above object. The spindle E is mounted between the two
platforms and O¹ of the casing. It carries at its upper part a disc E' above
which is the threaded portion El on which is threaded the plate G carrying, as
above described; three pins G¹ which engage with the threads of the screw El and.
which constitute the lighting and regulating screw nut.
The magnetic system of the lamp is composed of two bobbins J, the fixed cores J¹
of which, made of suitable length, are placed at the upper part and are connected
above the bobbins by means of a crosshead J', the position of which, and con-
sequently of the cores, can be regulated by means of screws J³. These bobbins
are of compound construction with differential magnetic action, the thick wire
being situated inside and the fine wire outside. At the lower ends the bobbins -
contain movable cores H fixed at the lower ends to a crosshead H', while in their
recessed upper ends are fixed copper rods K which pass through holes in the fixed
cores J and are connected together at their upper ends by a cross piece K'. The
movable cores thus form, with their lower crosshead and their upper cross piece, a
frame which is suspended by screws I that pass free through the crosshead of the
fixed cores and rest with their ends upon the cheeks of the bobbins, thus allowing
the position of the frame to be regulated and its descent to be limited. This
arrangement constitutes a magnetic circuit which is only open at the middle of the
total length of the bobbins, in which position all the lines of force are concentrated
and in which are produced all the magnetic effects of attraction and repulsion. The
most favorable results are thus obtained.
Adjustable springs are fixed on the one band to arms 1' fixed to the cross-
head H and connected on the other hand to arms J carried by the fixed
crosshead J, which springs serve to support the weight of the frame to any
desired extent. On the rods K K rests the friction disc F which is. guided and
held by means of the pin F1 screwed through the upper plate O of the casing.
These pins serve, in addition, to limit the distance apart of the carbons on lighting.
The regulating out G, with its pins G'engaged with the thread E' of the spindle E,
rests upon the disc E' when it is not lifted by the friction disc F. With this
arrangement the current will flow in the following manner: It enters the lamp
through an insulated binding screw R fixed on the upper plate O of the casing to
which is also fixed the suspending loop. From there it passes directly to an
insulated screw R" fixed to the lower plate O' of the casing from which starts the
flexible cord S of suitable length, which conducts the current to the upper positive
carbon. This flexible cord passes into the crosshead 12 of the carbon bolder and
is attached to the clutch P, which is insulated from the crosshead. The current
passes from the clutch to the positive carbon P and thence to the lower carbon Q
through the lower carbon holder Q to the branches QQ thereof, from which it
passes to the guide tubes Q by rubbing contacts with which these branches are
proivded. The current consequently also passes to the guide tubes P', which
surround the tubes Q, and is thus brought to the crosshead P. This crosshead is
in electric communication with an insulated screw R' as also with the crosshead of
the plate O' of the casing. From the screw R the current passes into the thick
threads of the bobbins and thence to the outgoing binding screw R'. The fines

page_text: thread of the bobbins starts from the screw R¹ which communicates directly with
the entrance binding screw; it is coiled round the thick threads of the bobbins
and has its other end connected to the outgoing binding screw R³, that is to
say it is mounted in a shunt on the lamp circuit. The action of the lamp will be
readily understood.
As soon as the current is admitted, as the carbons are in contact, almost the
whole of the current passes through the thick thread of the bobbins, and the
movable cores H, being strongly attracted, are lifted sufficiently not only for
bringing the friction plate Fin contact with the regulating and igniting nut G
but also for raising this out. As the nut cannot turn in consequence of its
frictional contact with the disc F, the screw E and consequently the spindle E
must turn and, with them the drums A B, in the desired direction for causing the
cord C to coil up and the cord D to uncoil. In consequence of this, the two
carbons are separated and the luminous arc is formed, but as the distance between
the carbons increases, in consequence of their burning away, the resistance in the
main circuit increases, and consequently a less proportion of the current passes
through the thick thread of the bobbins, while a greater proportion passes through
the fine thread. The differential action thus set up, the movable cores H are made
to descend, thus allowing the disc Faud the uut G also to descend. The spindle E
can then turn in the contrary direction, that is to say, in the normal direction under
the action of the motor weight, and the carbons can approach each other until
equilibrium is set up. When once the normal condition is thus established the
distance of the carbons continues to be regulated in the same manner.
The movable.cores H, in acting by their extensions K under the friction disc F
determines the regulation of the carbons in retarding or stopping, during very
short intervals of time, the rotation of the spindle E by the friction which they
cause between the disc F and the regulating nut G, or even in reversing the
direction of rotation of the spindle when the pressure of the rods K under the
disc F, is sufficient for lifting the nut G.
When two bobbins acting together are employed as just described, it may happen
that they do not possess identically the same strength, which might cause imperfect
action. This inconvenience can be avoided by using a single bobbin, which
arrangement presents in addition the advantage of saving space when the bobbins
require to be of considerable size.
As to the regulating and igniting nut, it might happen that the pins engaged in
the threads of the spindle cause a considerable friction, or produce, at the moment
when the action commences, shocks capable of injuring them in the course of time.
This may happen all the more in consequence of the necessity of making the screw
thread of a comparatively soft metal. For avoiding this disadvantage the screw
may be replaced by a pin passing through the spindle and caused by springs to rest
continuously in contact with conical surfaces carried by the friction disc and
replacing the nut. By this means, the spindle carrying the pin will be obliged to
turn in the one direction or the other in regulating the carbon according as the
friction disc rises or descends. The regulation will consequently be effected in
precisely the same manner as in the preceding arrangement. The just described
mechanism has the advantage of being very simple, the frictional pieces being
capable of being made in steel, and consequently subject to very littlo wear.
Figs. 5, 6, 7 & 8 show a lamp constructed in the just described 'manner. In this
example, as in the preceding one, the same letters indicate parts which serve the
Bame purpose. The movable core H of the single bobbin J actuates the friction
disc by means of the copper rods K which are fixed to the ends of its cross-
head Hand which rise up ou either side of the bobbin. In this arrangement the
friction disc F and the plate G act on an intermediate spindle E. connected to the
spindle E of the drums by a train of wheels E E. The plate G carries, in place
of the regulating nut before described, two steel cones G', while the spindle E³
carries a transverse pin E', also of steel, of which the two ends are kept con-
tinuously in contact with the cones G' by means of springs E' connected at the

page_text: one end to the pin and at the other end to a ring G² which is fixed on the plate G
by means of screws G fitting into grooves G₁ of the ring. Thiese grooves permit
of the turning of the ring G on the plate G for regulating the tension of the
springs E. In order to prevent the regulating action from being transmitted too
suddenly to the carbons, the spindle E of the drams is provided with a magnetic
brake which retards its rotation. This brake is composed of a disc of soft iron Fe
fixed on the spindle E or on the spindle E and a block also of soft iron J, which
is fixed by a screw J to the crosshead J of the fixed core J', of which it is
consequently only an enlargement. The screw J passes into a hole in the block
sufficiently large for allowing the distance between the block and the disc E' to
be regulated at will, and thus to regulate the magnetic attraction exerted by the
block upon the disc when the current is passing through. The block, instead of
being a segment, as shown, might be a complete ring acting upon the entire
periphery of the disc E'.
It will be evident that the above described variations of the first described
construction may be used in our improved lamp independently of each other. It
will be understood that the above described electric lamo is provided in the usual
manner with all the necessary accessories, such as claws for attaching the globe
carrier etc. It will be readily seen that the various details of construction of the
said lamp can be modified in various ways. Thus the relative positions of the.
carbons can be reversed, and the mechanism, instead of being above the carbons
may be arranged below the same, suitable alterations being made in the arrange-
ments for communicating the motion. Also, the suspension cord of the carbons
may be of metal, and if necessary may be replaced by a chain, in which case the
pullies and the drums may have their periphery formed to suit the links of the
ohain. The bobbins also, instead of having a differential action as described, may,
in certain cases, be made with only a single coil.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is,
1. In electric arc lamps, the use of combined winding and unwinding drums of
suitable diameter, for receiving the suspension cords of the carbon holders, the
said drums being placed either vertically horizontally or in any other desired
position, substantially as described.
2. The combination of the winding and unwinding drums referred to in the
preceding claim, with the herein described device for regulation by friction
substantially as described.
3. The described construction of combined winding and unwinding drums with
helical grooves, and arranged to shift in such manner that the points of coiling and
uncoiling thereof are always maintained in one and the same position, substantially
as described.
4. The combination of the said winding and unwinding drums, their spindle,
the friction disc and regulating and igniting nut, arranged and operating substantially
as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings.
5. The combination with the winding and unwinding drums with their spindle,
of an intermediate spindle fixed to the main spindle and carrying the frictional
regulating apparatus substantially as described.
6. In an electric are lamp the mechanism for regulating by friction composed of
a pin passing through the spindle and which has its motion controlled by a magnetic
device and which is maintained at both ends in contact with inclined or conical
surfaces whereby the spindle is made to turn in one direction or the other according
as the friction disc rises or falls under the action of the magnetic device, auch
motion of the spindle being transmitted to winding and unwinding drums carried
thereby or by a spindle connected thereto, substantially as described with reference
to Figs. 5 to 8 of the drawings.
7. The herein described' magnetic device composed of one or of two bobbins

page_text: with magnetic circuit which is only open at the middle of the bobbins, substantially
as described with reference to the drawings.
8. Mounting on the spindle of the winding and unwinding drums referred to in
the preceding claims, or on a spindle connected thereto, of an iron disc facing the
periphery of which is situated a soft iron block forming part of the magnetic device,
so as by its magnetic action to act as a brake to the said disc, substantially as
herein described.
9. The herein described arrangement of the upper insulated carbon holder sliding
in grooves of the tubes containing the guides for the lower carbon holder,
substantially as described.
10., The construction of electric arc lamps combined and operating as herein
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 13th day of Anril 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.