IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank William Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS."
A communication from abroad by Leonidas Gorham Woolley, of Mendon,
Cu
TTf Amavinn
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank William Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th July 1881.
FRANK WILLIAM HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
" IMPROVE-
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer.
MENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS." A communication from abroad by Leonidas Gorham
Woolley, of Mendon, St. Joseph County, in the State of Michigan, in the United
States of America.
The improvements relate to electric lamps, and consist in placing the whole of
the regulating apparatus inside the dash-pot that is formed in the upper carbon
holder, whereby all the parts of the regulating apparatus are kept immersed in
glycerine or other lubricant, and are thus kept lubricated and protected from
damp, atmospheric changes, dust, and dirt, and their more perfect action thereby
insured.
The improvements further consist in placing the regulating devices or apparatus
in the upper carbon-holder and operating them by means of a helix or axial magnet
which is applied directly to the outside of the upper end of the tube in which the
carbon holder moves, whereby the whole regulating apparatus is wholly concealed
from sight and the appearance of the lamp greatly improved so far as lightness and
elegance of finish is concerned.
The improvements further consist in the peculiar construction of the lifting
device whereby when the core to which the device is attached is raised upwards or
attached by the helix or axial magnet surrounding it, the elevator catches hold of

page_text: the inside of the carbon holder and raises it vertically upward without causing it
to bind upon its guides.
The improvements further consist in the two parts which form the upper carbon-
holder, and which are united by means of an easy fusible solder, so that in case
the carbon should become too short or entirely consumed, neither the carbon holders
nor any part of the generator will be injured or destroyed.
The improvements further consist in a chain which is electrically insulated for
the purpose of preventing the part which is dropped off by the melting of the solder
from breaking the glass globe or doing other injury.
The improvements further consist in the combination of a non-conducting
substance placed, in the end of the stem of one of the carbon holders; the carbon
holder made in two parts which are united by means of an easily fusible solder and
an insulated chain which is fastened to both parts of the holder so as to prevent
one of the parts from dropping downward in case it should be detached.
The improvements further consist in the arrangement and combination of parts
which will enable the upper carbon holder to be turned at any desired angle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frank William Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th January 1882.
FRANK WILLIAM HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS." A communication from abroad by Leonidas Gorham
Woolley, of Mendon, St. Joseph County, in the State of Michigan, in the United
States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in electric lamps, and it consists,
First. In placing the whole of my regulating apparatus inside of the dash pot
that is formed in the upper carbon holder, whereby all of the parts of the regulating
apparatus are kept constantly immersed in clycerine or other lubricant, and thus
they are kept constantly lubricated and are protected from dampness, all
atmospheric changes, dust, and dirt, and their perfect action always insured under
all circumstances.
Second. In placing the regulating devices or apparatus in the upper carbon holder
and operating them by means of a helix or axial magnet, which is applied directly
to the outside of the upper end of the tube in which the carbon holder moves,
whereby the whole regulating apparatus is wholly concealed from sight, and the
appearance of the lamp greatly improved so far as lightness and elegance of finish
is concerned.
Third. In the peculiar construction of the lifting device, whereby when the
core to which the device is attached is raised upward or attracted by the helix
or axial magnet surrounding it, the elevator catches hold of the inside of the
carbon holder and raises it vertically upward without causing it to bind upon its
guides.
Fourth. In the two parts which form the upper carbon-holder, and which are
united by means of an easily fusible solder, so that in case the carbon should become
too short or entirely consumed, neither the carbon holders nor any part of the
generator will be injured or destroyed.
Fifth. In a chain which is electrically insulated for the purpose of preventing
the part which is dropped off by the melting of the solder from breaking the glass
globe or doing other injury.
Sixth. In the combination of a non conducting substance placed in the end of a
stem of one of the carbon-holders; the carbon-holder made in two parts which are
united by means of an easily fusible solder, and an insulated chain which is fastened
to both parts of the holder so as to prevent one of the parts from dropping
downward in case it should be detached.
Seventh. In the arrangement and combination of parts which will enable the
upper carbon holder to be turned at any desired angle, all of which will be more
fully described hereinafter.
In the accompanying Drawings which embody this Invention,-
A represents the frame of the usual electric lamp which may be of any desired
shape, size, or construction that may be preferred. Screwed or otherwise attached
to the cross piece B which extends across the top of the frame A, is a tube C of any
desired size or length, and inside of which the upper carbon holder moves.
Screwed or otherwise fastened to the upper end of this tube C is the spool D upon
which the wire of the helix or axial magnet is wound, and this spool may be made
of brass or any other non-magnetic material. Upon the top of this spool D is
formed the extension F, which is provided with a bail or any other suitable device
by means of which the lamp is suspended from any suitable support. Inside of

page_text: this extension F is the shoulder G, upon which is placed the cross piece I which
forms a support for the rod Ij which extends upward from the dash or plunger J.
As the upper end of this rod or wire I is made screw-threaded, the lash can
be adjusted into any desired position with relation to the bottom of the upper
carbon-holder.
The upper carbon holder A' passes through the opening made in the centre of
the cross piece D, up into the lower part of the tube C, and through an opening
which is made in the centre of the guide L, which is secured to the inside of the
tube so as to cause the carbon holder to always move in a vertical line, and thus
avoid any binding upon the parts with which it comes in contact. This carbon
holder is made hollow and is filled to any desired height with glycerine or other
Buitable lubricant.
Placed inside of the spool D is a soft iron-core N which is made to rise and fall
inside of the helix or axial magnet as the electricity is passed through or shut off
from the helix. Screwed into the lower end of this core, which has a suitable
sized opening through its centre, is a rod or wire O which has pivoted to its lower
end the lifting lever P. This lever P is provided with a sharp point for biting into
the inner surface of the carbon holder whenever the core is lifted upward so as to
cause the lever to turn or move upon its pivot. This lever is pivoted upon one
end in the frame Q which has a groove R cut in its upper end to receive the lever,
and which frame may be grooved upon its surface or have a series of holes made
through its bottom, or both, for the purpose of allowing the clycerine or other
lubricant placed in the dash-pot to escape past it as the frame is raised and lowered
by means of the core. The rod by which this lever and frame are supported when
raised upward by the core causes the sharp point of the lever to catch against the
inner side of the carbon holder with just sufficient force to cause the carbon holder
to be raised upward inside of the tube C the same distance that the core is lifted
upward by the helix, and as the core is allowed to drop downward from its own
weight and the weight of the carbon-holder when the current through the helix is
weakened, the rod forces the frame of the lever downward until the lower end of
the frame comes in contact with the top of the dash or plunger, and then the
downward movement of the frame being arrested and the downward movement of
the rod being continued, the longer end of the lever is depressed so as to draw the
sharp end of the lever out of contact with the side of the carbon-holder when the
carbon-holder is free to descend from its own weight. The instant the current
through the helix is increased by the shortening of the arc, resulting from the near
approach of the two carbons to each other, the core is raised upward, and in raising
upward the lever is moved upon its fulcrum so as to cause its sharp point to again
catch against the inside of the carbon-holder and separate the carbons a suitable
distance to maintain the arc in its proper length and intensity.
The great advantage gained in placing this regulating apparatus inside of the
carbon-holder consists in lifting the carbon-holder vertically upward so that there
will be no binding or useless friction of the carbon-holder upon the guides through
which it passes, and thus requiring a greater amount of power to lift it, and
imparting the absolute certainty and the quickness of action that is absolutely
required in a perfect working lamp. Another advantage gained is that these
operating parts are always immersed in the glycerine or other lubricaut used in
the dash pot, and thus the parts are always kept lubricated, are always protected
from moisture or atmospheric changes of any kind, and are protected from dust
and dirt which would very soon impair by corroding or rusting their perfect action.
Another advantage gained is that clamps which are applied to the outer sides of
the carbon holder and which always have a tendency to tilt the carbon holder to
one side, and thus cause it to bind upon its guides, is entirely done away with.
Still another advantage consists in greatly simplifying and cheapening the con-
struction of the lamp and placing all of the operating apparatus entirely in the
carbon-holder, and thus giving the lamp a much more light, graceful, and pleasant
appearance.

page_text: In all of the lamps heretofore used the operating apparatus has been placed upon
the outside of the frame and enclosed in a box or case of some kind, and this casing
gives the lamp a heavy appearance which is entirely dispensed with by this
construction and arrangement of parts.
The carbon-holder being made hollow and filled with a suitable liquid and
having the dash placed therein serves to prevent the carbon-holder from moving
too quickly, either in being raised upward by the regulating apparatus or in
descending, when it is left free to move from its own weight. The rod which
supports the dash passes through the frame of the lever, and the dash and the
lever frame are always adjusted into position in regard to each other by means of
the nut which is placed upon the upper end of the rod which supports the dash in
position. The length of the rod of course will depend upon the distance which the
carbon-holder is raised upward by means of the core, and the distance which the
core will raise upward depends entirely upon the distance which the core falls
when it is allowed to move from its own weight and the weight of the carbon-
holder. Should the dash be drawn upward so as to allow the lever frame to
descend but a very slight distance inside of the carbon-holder, when the current is
re-established through the helix the core can raise upward but a very slight
distance, and the distance which this core raises upwards regulates the distance
between the ends of the two carbons. Where the dash is depressed a suitable
distance, so soon as the current is weakened, the core will descend from its own
weight and the weight of the carbon-holder until the lever frame rests upon the
top of the dash, and then when the current is re-established and the core attracted
by the helix the core will raise upward a much greater distance than it would do
where the dash-pot is raised inside of the carbon-holder, as above described.
Should the fluid or lubricant in the carbon-holder be dispensed with, or leak out
or evaporate, so that the dash is no longer necessary or ceases to act, the same
perfection of action may be secured by having a small curved arm project from the
top of the lever frame, and then attaching to the end of this arm a small spiral
spring to pass down through the frame and be attached to the plate or dash below
it. By means of this spring enough resistance is opposed to the upward movement
of the frame to cause the lever to instantly act the moment the core begins to raise
upward. Were the spring not used it might be that the lever would slide along
the inside of the carbon-holder without catching hold thereof, but whenever there
is the slightest obstruction opposed to the upward movement of the frame the force
of the moving core becomes at once applied to the lever for the purpose of making
it bite against the inside of the carbon-holder.
All of the above described mechanism which is here shown as being applied
in connection with the upper carbon-holder only, but if so desired it may be
used in connection with the lower one alone, or both together, as circumstances
may require.
A represents the stem of the upper carbon-holder which has a hole B' mado
horizontally through it, and a recess C¹ made in its lower end to receive a
block of wood or other nonconducting material D'. Passing through the hole B'
is the pivoting rod E' which has the flat head D" formed on one end, and which
rods serve to adjust the upper-carbon-holder at any desired angle. As this rod
slips easily back and forth through the stem, the holder can be adjusted laterally
as well as at an angle, and secured rigidly in any desired position by means of the
set screw H¹. Secured to the outer side of the flat head D" on the end of this
pivotal rod, by means of any soft fusible solder or other substance which is readily
effected by heat, is the L shaped carbon holder I', which has the clamp J' secured
to the underside of its lower end. Fastened to the underside of the flat head D",
and to this L-shaped carbon-holder, is the electrically insulated chain or wire Li
which serves to support the carbon-holder when it drops downward, as shown in
Figure 6. The hook or other device by which the chain Ļ¹ is secured to the
head D, is inserted in or fastened to a noumagnetic substance, and then this
nonmagnetic substance is secured to the head in any suitable manner.
For

page_text: instance, the hook may be fastened to a piece of wood or bone, and then the wood
or bone inserted in a hole in the head D₁ made to receive it, and the piece held in
place by frictional contact by a pin or any other device.
In case the carbon point in the upper holder should have burned too short or
consumed entirely, the intense heat, where no preventative is used, melts or badly
injures the carbon-holder itself; and in case the upper carbon-holder should descend
so as to form a direct circuit through the two carbon holders themselves, a short
circuit is formed which will not only melt the carbon-holders themselves, but cause
the wire upon the generators to be destroyed. To prevent this the L-shaped
piece I' is secured to the pivotal rod or arm by means of solder or other equivalent
substance or device which is easily fused, so that as soon as the carbon-holder
becomes heated this solder will be melted, and the upper carbon holder will drop
downward and hang suspended by the chain, and thus break the circuit. In order
to prevent the chain then from acting as a conductor, it is electrically insulated as
described. When the carbon-holder drops the current is at once broken, and then
the stem A' descends by its own weight, and if no nonconducting substance were
placed between it and the lower carbon-holder, the current would again be
established, and the melting or destruction of the parts continue. It is for the
purpose of preventing the current from again being established when the two
carbon-holders come together, that the block of wood or other nonconducting
material D is placed in the lower end of the stem A', as shown. When the stem
of the upper holder descends, the block of wood rests upon the lower carbon point,
and the lamp is simply extinguished when the current is broken without any other
bad results.
When lighting the lamps in the evening, or when they are being burned longer
than usual, it frequently happens that the carbon points are almost or entirely
consumed before it is discovered, and as soon as the two carbon-holders approach
each other sufficiently near for the current to pass directly through them, the
intense heat will melt the holders themselves, and even if this melting should not
take place, the short circuit that is established will cause the generator to be
entirely ruined or very badly injured.
It is not necessary that a soft solder alone should be used in the upper carbon-
holder, for any other part of the holder may be made of a metal which fuses at a
low temperature, and which will become easily severed by heat so as to break the
current. Instead of the carbon-holder being made of two parts and secured
together by means of an easily fusible solder, it may be made wholly of a metal
which will fuse at a low heat.
It is evident that the construction above described can be applied to both
carbons if so preferred, or where the upper holder is stationary and the lower one
movable to the lower one alone.
The nonconducting substance D¹ can be placed in the end of the lower stem
instead of in the upper one, or there may be a piece placed in both of the holders
if so desired. I do not limit myself to any precise construction, as this may be
varied at the will of the operator, the object of this Invention being to prevent
injury to the lamp when the carbon is burned entirely up or very short.
In place of using carbon-points requiring a holder to guide them, any other
-suitable substance forming an electrode may be used.
Having thus described this Invention, I claim,-
1. In an electric lamp, the combination of a hollow carbon-holder and a regulating
.mechanism, the moving parts of the mechanism being placed in the carbon-holder,
substantially as shown.
2. In an electric lamp, the combination of a helix or axial magnet, a core and
hollow carbon-holder, and a regulating mechanism, the moving parts of which
are placed in the holder and operated by the core and helix, substantially as
described.
3. The combination of the hollow carbon-holder, a dash or plunger, and a
regulating mechanism, all the moving parts of which are placed therein, the

page_text: distance that the regulating mechanism shall move being controlled by the dash,
substantially as set forth.
4. In an electric lamp, the regulating mechanism, the device composed of a frame
and a pivoted lever, in combination with a core which raises the mechanism and
carbon-holder upward, the carbon-holder and the helix, substantially as specified.
5. In an electric lamp, the combination of the tube C having the axial magnet
applied to its upper end, a hollow carbon-holder which forms a dash-pot, the
core N having the rod O fastened to it, and a clamping device which is placed in
the dash-pot, and which is operated by the core, so that when the core is raised
upward, the clamp will engage with the inner side of the dash pot, and raise the
carbon holder upward, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination of a stem having a hollow through it. end, and provided
with a set screw, with a carbon or electrode holder made in two parts which are
united by a solder or other substance which fuses at a low temperature, and a
chain for holding the carbon-holder when detached from the stem, substantially as
shown.
7. In an electric lamp, the combination of a carbon or electrode holder which is
made in two parts, and united together by a substance which fuses at a low
temperature, with a chain which is fastened to both parts, substantially as set
forth.
8. In an electric lamp, a carbon-holder made in two parts, which are connected
together by a solder or other substance which will fuse at a low temperature, so
that in case the holder should become heated, the two parts will separate, substan-
tially as set forth.
9. In an electric lamp, the combination of the stem A having a nonconducting
substance secured to its lower end, with a carbon or electrode holder made in two
parts which are secured together by a substance which is fusible at a low ten-
perature, and a chain which is fastened to both parts for the purpose of preventing
one of them from falling, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
10. A carbon-holder or guide composed wholly or partially of a metal which
fuses at a low temperature, substantially as described.
11. A carbon-holder made in two or more parts which are united together by a
solder, or made of a metal which fuses at a low temperature, in combination with a
chain or other suitable device for preventing the carbon or its holder from falling,
substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank William Haddan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of January, A.D. 1881.