Improvements in Incandescent Electrical Devices.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 28th May, 1898
Improvements in Incandescent Electrical Devices.
A communication from abroad by CONRAD HUBERT, No. 231, Broadway, in the
Borough of Manhattan, in the City, County, and State of New York, United
States of America, Merchant.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 46, Lincoln's Tun Fields, in the County of London,
Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
The invention consists in the way of assembling the parts and in the manner
of making the electrical connections, and in other details, all as hereinaftér
described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of-this specification,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a form of the invention suitable for a portable
light, in which there is a cylindrical battery casing with an incandescent lamp at
one end.
Fig. 2 is an interior view of the same, the casing and lens being shown in
section.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a form of the invention suitable for a table light,
in which there is a rectangular battery casing with an incandescent lamp and
switch attached to one side.
Fig. 4 is an interior view of a form of the invention suitable for bicycle, carriage
or other portable use, in which there is a battery casing with an incandescent
lamp and reflector on one side and a handle at one end that also serves as a
switch.
Fig. 5 is a top view of the same.
Fig. 6 is a view of a form of the invention suitable for gas-lighting, in which
there is a battery casing which serves as a handle for the gas lighter, and an
incandescent element for effecting the ignition of the gas.
In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there is a cylindrical casing A of pasteboard
or other insulating material. At one end of the casing is a lens B and a metallic
parabolic reflector C. The incandescent lamp D is screwed into the base of the
reflector. A band E, with an inwardly projecting rim, holds the lens in place in
front of the reflector. The incandescent lamp is of the usual construction.. One of
the terminals is soldered to a threaded band F, and the other is a button G.
A dry battery is used. It is composed of cells H placed end to end. Each cell
has one pole formed in the shape of a metallic cup which holds the other elements.
The cells are separated by pasteboard disks K. The other pole of each cell pro-
jects at the middle of one end, and has attached to it a spring contact piece L which
extends through the pasteboard disk. The cells are thereby connected in series.
They are enclosed in a tube M of pasteboard or other suitable insulating material.
The cells taken together compose the battery.
The electrical connections are as follows: One pole of the battery contacts
directly with the button G of the lamp. The other pole of the battery connects

page_text: with the cover N at the opposite end of the casing from the lamp through a contact
spring O which is soldered to the inside of the cover. This cover fits over a
metallic band P with which one end of the casing is bound, and which is connected
by a wire Q leading therefrom to a metallic ring R. The threaded band F which
forms the other lamp terminal, connects through the reflector and wire S to the
metallic band T which surrounds the casing near the ring, so that the ring will
serve as a switch to close the circuit when brought down in contact with the band.
A spring U keeps the ring R from accidentally folding down in contact with
the band T and closing the circuit. The circuit is therefore completed only when the
ring is held down as by pressure of the thumb. The ring can also be folded in the
opposite direction against the side of the casing, and is thus folded when the lamp
is packed in a box, so that there will be no danger of accidental closure of the
circuit and undue use of the battery.
In the form shown in Fig 3, there is a metal covered casing A¹, having a rozette
Con one side, into which an incandescent lamp D is screwed.
The casing
encloses a dry battery consisting of cells H¹ which are placed side by side and
are connected in series by wires L¹. The cells are enclosed in tubes M¹ of paste-
board.
The electrical connections are as follows:
A contact spring O¹ soldered to one pole of the battery projects through an open-
ing in the enclosing pasteboard tube and connects with one terminal of the lamp.
The other pole of the battery connects through a wire Q₁ with a plate T¹ in contact
with the pivot of a spring switch R¹. A washer U of insulating material separates
the switch from the metal of the casing. The circuit is closed by pressing down
the end of the switch against the casing which conducts the current through the
rozette to the threaded terminal of the lamp. The spring switch opens as soon as
pressure is removed, but the circuit can also be closed by turning the switch
against the rozette, and in this position can be left closed.
In the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the battery is as in the preceding figure.
Into one side of the casing A2 is inserted a metallic reflector C2. The incandescent
lamp D2 is screwed into the base of the reflector.
The electrical connections are as follows: One pole of the battery connects
through the wire N² and plate 02 with one terminal of the lamp. The other pole
of the battery connects through a contact spring Q2 with a handle R². The other
terminal of the lamp connects through the reflector and wire S2 to the metallic
contact knob 12 which projects through the casing close to the handle, so that the
two can be brought in contact to close the circuit. The handle is of wire, which is
bent in the form of an arch or bale. Near each end of the wire forming the handle
are two or more flat sides, which are pressed by bowed spring plates U². The
handle is thus held either in an upright position or folded down against the contact,
as may be desired.
In the form shown in Fig. 6 the casing and battery are similar to that shown in
Figs. 1 and 2, but in place of the reflector there is a cap which carries a tubular
rod V through which passes an insulated wire W. The upper end of the rod carries
an igniting device consisting of a fine platinum wire or filament X which will be
heated to incandescence by the passage of current from the battery. A hood Y is
also attached to the end of the rod V and in conjunction with a wire gauze cap Z
encloses the igniting device and protects it from being struck and injured by the
gas-burner in the operation of lighting the gas. The electrical connections within
the casing are the same as in Figures 1 and 2, except that one pole of the battery
contacts with the end of the wire W and the wire S3 connects with the cap C³. The
current passes through the wire W to one end of the platinum wire and from the
other end of the platinum wire to the rod V, and thence to the cap C³ and through
connections already described.
It is to be noticed that in all the forms shown, the batteries may be removed
from the casings without first disconnecting any wire, and that when the batteries

page_text: are replaced in the casings the necessary connections will be automatically re-
established.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of a casing, a battery fitting into the casing, an incandescent
lamp supported from the casing and having one of its terminals in contact with a
metallic part thereof and its other terminal in direct contact with the battery
terminal, and a switch, a connection between the metallic part of the casing in
contact with the lamp and one side of the switch, and a connection between the
other side of the switch and the other terminal of the battery, the battery and the
lamp connections being established by the fitting of the battery and the lamp into
the casing, substantially as described.
2. The combination of a cylindrical casing, a battery, the cells of which are
arranged end to end in the casing, a filament to be heated by current from the
battery, and a switch, a connection between one terminal of the filament and one
terminal of the battery, a connection between the other terminal of the filament
and one side of the switch, a connection between the other side of the switch and
the cover of the casing, and a connection between the cover and the other terminal
of the battery, the connections being established by the fitting of the battery into
the casing, substantially as described.
3. The combination of a casing, a battery fitting into the casing, a filament to be
heated by current from the battery, a switch which is hinged to the casing so that
it can be folded down against the casing in two directions, a contact on the casing
against which the switch closes when folded in one direction, a spring to hold the
switch away from the contact, and connections between the filament, switch and
switch contacts and battery, substantially as described.
4. The combination of a casing, a battery fitting into the casing, a filament to
be heated by the current from the battery, a spring switch pivoted to the casing,
contacts on the casing against which the end of the switch may be pressed down,
elevated contacts on the casing against which the switch may be left closed, and
connections between the filainent switch and switch contacts and battery, sub-
stantially as described.
Dated this 26th day of Annil 1800
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.