Improvements in the Means of Suspending Arc and other Electric Lamps and Fittings.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 21st Sept., 1894-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means of Suspending Arc and other Electric
Lamps and Fittings.
I, ERNEST ALEXANDER CLAREMONT of Cooke Street, Hulme, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a means for suspending electric arc lamps and the like,
from ceilings or other elevated places.
The object of this invention is to enable said lamps to be lowered for inspection
from any of said elevated positions without requiring the connecting wires to be of
the length corresponding to the distance of the lamp from the ground, and thereby
hang in loops or festoons when the lamp is in use.
I effect this object by suspending the lamp from a ceiling or other elevated
position by means of a rope 6, as represented on the accompanying drawing, said
rope preferably having a metal core and passing over a pulley e through a bell
mouthed tube d', which is lined with insulating material. The upper part e of the
lamp that is connected to the aforesaid rope is tapered so as to ensure the entrance
of the part e into the bell mouth d of the tube d' when the lamp is pulled up, the
lamp being accurately adjusted in position by means of the upper edge e' fitting
into a corresponding recess e formed within the aforesaid bell mouthed tube d';
perfect contact is thereby obtained immediately the lamp is raised to the full
extent, the metallic insulated bands f and y forming the terminals of the lamp to
which the wires and j are attached, being placed in contact with the insulated
metal spring terminals k and I, to which the electric supply wires m and n are
connected.
In a modification of my invention, I construct the internal portion of the tube d'
with springs 9 projecting internally as in Fig. 2, and the insulated metallic ring f*
placed loosely on the shaft f¹.
り
When the lamp is raised into position by the rope b, the tapered end e, which is
of larger diameter than the shank, and forming one terminal of the arc lamp,
passes between the insulated terminals y that are in the form of springs, and presses
them apart until the underside ex of the tapered end e has passed through, when
the spring terminals 9 impinge under the shoulder ex formed by the increased
diameter of the aforesaid tapered end, and by which one contact is formed, the
insulated terminal impinging on the band g forming the second terminal of the
arc lamp making the second contact.
The lamp when thus suspended, cannot through nisadventure or from fault in
he rope, fall from its position. In order to release the lamp by withdrawing the
prings 9 from under the shoulder ex when required to be lowered, said lamp is
irst raised a short distance until the loose insulated ring f', which is of larger
liameter than the upper end e of lamp, is fixed between the spring terminals
forcing them apart and leaving a space of a sufficient size to reinsert the lower
edge ex of the tapered end e, when the lamp may be lowered, said lower edge e*
esting on the upper surface of the loose ring f³, and carrying said ring down with
he lamp.

page_text: By these means, the necessity of dependent and loose wires is avoided, without
requiring the attendant to mount vertical poles as when the lamps are fixed
permanently.
Dated this 20th day of December 1893.
THOMAS PRESCOTT,
53, Arcade Chambers, St. Mary's Gate, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means of Suspending Aro and other Electric
Lamps and Fittings.
I, ERNEST ALEXANDER CLAREMONT, of Cooke Street, Hulme, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Electrician, 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 a means for suspending electric arc lamps and the like,
from ceilings or other elevated places.
The object of this invention is to enable said lamps to be entirely released from
their connections and again connected, so as to be lowered for inspection from any
of said elevated positions without requiring the operator to mount vertical poles as
when lamps are fixed permanently, or the connecting wires to be of the length
corresponding to the distance of the lamp from the ground and thereby hang in
loops or festoons when the lamp is in use if otherwise suspended.
I effect this object by the means hereinafter described and as illustrated in the
accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 shows a vertical section of my invention applied to the upper portion of
the case of a lamp and represented in the form that my said invention would assume
when the lamp is elevated to the position required for use;
Fig. 2 represents my invention at the time, when, in order to disengage the
mechanism previous to being lowered, the lamp is further elevated for a short
distance, and
Fig. 3 represents my invention at the time when the lamp is free to be lowered.
Fig. 4 represents the lamp free from contact.
In these views similar letters refer to similar parts.
In this invention I screw into the upper part of the case of a lamp or otherwise
attach thereto, a metallic rod as H., and upon said rod I thread a block of slate E
of high insulation, then an ebonite tube L, and on the outside thereof so as to cover
said tube, I place a metal tube D with end pieces D' and D. At the upper end
of the aforesaid tube L and on the rod H I place a block of slate E' upon which
the end piece D' rests and supports the metal tube D' with the end piece D'
thereon, the whole of the aforesaid parts being secured by the nut F which is
screwed on to the rod H. This combination of parts I hereinafter call the plug.
The bolts A, A, which are connected to any suitably formed bracket by either
being cast thereon, or clamped or other convenient means, carry cross pieces B
and B' which are insulated from said bolts by the ferrules A' formed of ebonite or
other insulating material. 1 place springs as C and C' around the circular
apertures B and B³, the heels C and C of said springs being rivetted or otherwise
suitably connected to the projecting portions B and B, the free ends of said
springs extending inwardly towards the centre of the apertures and between which
the plug hereinbefore described is inserted: a greater or less number of stops J
are pivoted on lugs J' formed on the cross piece B' around near the edge of the
aperture B, said stops being formed with heels J so that they may always be
inclined inwards. I place a loose ring as G on the upper portion of the spindle H
and connect to the upper end of said spindle a cone shaped piece as K with a rope P

page_text: attached thereto for lowering and elevating the lamp, said rope being carried over
pullies to the side of the building or other convenient place. In order to raise the
lamp to the required position on the cross pieces B and B' that are permanently
connected to any suitably constructed bracket attached to a wall, column, or other
place, the free end of the rope P is pulled down, when the cone shaped piece K
will enter between the curved ends of the springs C as in Fig. 4, and being drawn
up between the springs C' will press open and pass between the stops J, said stops
closing in as in Fig. 1 as soon as the underside of said cone piece has passed
through, and by these means form a support for the lamp independently of
the rope.
The hereinbefore described springs C and C¹ form an effective rubbing contact
with the tubes D and D' which are connected to the terminals of the lamp. In.
order to release the lamp from the stops J when said lamp is required to be lowered
for any purpose, the rope P is pulled sufficiently to raise the lamp so as to cause
the loose ring G to press open the stops J as in Fig. 2 where said ring remains
fixed, until, when the lamp is again lowered, the bottom portion of the cone shaped
piece K which has thereby been permitted to enter between the upper ends of the
stops J as in Fig. 3. presses on the ring G, withdrawing said ring from between
the stops J, and the lamp is free to descend. By these means, the lamp may be
lowered and handled with safety, long loops or festoons of wire which are the
ordinary unsightly and troublesome accompaniment of electric arc lamps are
dispensed with, and the operator can remain on the ground.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1st. In arc and incandescent lamps and like apparatus, for the purpose of
insuring contact, without accurate adjustment, and for permitting vertical variation
of considerable extent without affecting the contact, the use of long contact
surfaces either of a cylindrical or other form, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2nd. In combination with arc and incandescent lamps and like apparatus, for the
purpose of preventing the accidental descent of said lamps either from fracture or
elongation of the suspending rope, the use of automatic supporting catches or
stops as J in the manner substantially as herein before described.
3rd. In arc and other electric lamps and fittings the combination of parts for the
purpose and in the manner substantially as herein before described.
Deted this 20th day of September 1894.
THOMAS PRESCOTT,
53, Arcade Chambers, St. Mary's Gate, Manchester,
Agent for Applicant.